New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-10-05
By Theodore Roosevelt.

II HAD not enjoyed the Guasimas fight
at all, because l had been so UNI
- certain as to what l ought TO do.
But the San Juan fight was entirely diff
ferent. The Spaniards had hard posi-
ton TO attack, it is true, but we could
see them, and ] knew exactly how to
proceed. l kept on horseback merely be-
cause found it difficult to convey orders
along the line as the men were lying
down, and it is always hard to get men
TO start when they cannot see whether
their comrades are also going. So 1 rode
up and down the lines, keeping them
Strengthened out, and gradually worked
through line after line until | found my
self at the head Of the regiment. BY the
time had reached the lines of the regu-
lars Of ths LIST Brigade had come to the
conclusion that it was silly TO stay in the
valley firing at the hills. because that
was really where we were most exposed
and that the thing to do was 10 try 10
rush the intrenchments. Where l struck
the regulars there was no one OF superior
rank to mine, and after asking why they
did not charge, and being answered that
they had no orders, / said L would give
the order. There was naturally little
reluctance shown by the elderly officer IN
command TO accept my order. so l SAID:
Then let my men through, SIR" and
marched through. followed by my grim
ming men. The younger officers and the
enlisted men of the regulars jumped up
and Joined Us. I waved my hat, and we
went up the hill with rush. Having
taken ii, we looked across at the Span
H.
blockhouse to our left. which Hawkins's
brigade was assaulting. I ordered our
men to open fire on the Spaniards In the
trenches.
Memory plays funny tricks in such
fight, where things happen quickly, and
all kinds of mental images succeed one
another in a detached kind OF way while
the work goes on. As l gave the order in
question there slipped through my mind
Mahan's account of Nelson's orders that
each ship as Il sailed forward, if it saw
another ship engaged with an enemy's
ship, should rake the latter as IL passed
When Hawkins's soldiers captured the
blockhouse, ]. very much elated, ordered
charge on my own hook to line Of hills
still further on. Hardly anybody heard
THIS OfdeE, nOWe.cTS Oily lOuI men Slhit
ed with me, three OF whom were shot. /
gave one Of them, who was only wounded,
my canteen OF water. and ran back, much
irritated that / had not been followed
which was quite unjustifable, because l
found that nobody had heard my orders.
General Sumner had come up by this
time, and / asked his permission to lead
the charge. He ordered me 10 do so. and
this time away we went and stormed the
Spanish intrenchments. There was some
close fighting, and we took few prison
ers. We also captured the Spanish pro-
visions, and ate them that night with
great relish. One of the items was sailed
Aying-fish, by the way. There were also
bottles Of wine, and jugs OF fiery spirit,
and as soon as possible l had these bro
ken. although not before one or two OF
my men had taken too much liquor. Lieu
tenant Howe. of the regulars, an aide OF
General Summers, brought me an order
10 halt where was; he could not make
M his mind to return until he had spent
nm hour or two with us under fire. The
spaniards attempted counter-attaek In
the middle OF the afternoon, but were
driven back without effort. our men laugh