Jules Garesche Ord Jules Garesche " Gary " Ord ( September 9 , 1866 – July 1 , 1898 ) was a United States Army First Lieutenant who was killed in action after leading the charge of Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th U . S . Cavalry up San Juan Hill . History now records that Ord was responsible for the " spontaneous " charge that took the San Juan Heights during the Spanish - American War in Cuba on July 1 , 1898 . Early life . Young Garesche , as he was known to his parents , was the youngest surviving son of 15 children and born in Michigan in 1866 . His father , the then Captain Edward Otho Cresap Ord ( October 18 , 1818 Maryland – July 22 , 1883 in Havana , Cuba and buried on July 22 , 1898 in Arlington Cemetery ) , married Mary Mercer Thompson ( January 22 , 1831 Virginia – July 15 , 1894 San Antonio , Texas ) on October 14 , 1854 . His father was a career military officer who was a hero in the Civil War and had served as a Major General of Volunteers . After the war , he reverted to being a Brigadier General in the Regular Army . On August 2 , 1870 the family was in San Francisco , California with seven children . Young Garesche lived with servants and was taught by tutors . His life in the west was one of which his father was a senior military officer , a decorated Civil War hero and he was dotted upon by his mother . His life was privileged compared to others . As he grew up he watched both military officers and men show respect and courtesy to his parents . By June 1880 the family was in San Antonio , Bexar County , Texas . His father was the Commanding General of the Department of Texas . His elder brother James was at the United States Military Academy at West Point , New York . His father retired from the Army on December 6 , 1880 after serving 41 years . His father began a second career that built the Mexican Southern Railroad from Texas to Mexico City . The family stayed in San Antonio . Garesche became known as " Gary " , got into some minor trouble and struggled with school . In July 1883 his father died in Havana , Cuba of yellow fever while en route from Vera Cruz , Mexico to New York City . The family went back to Washington , D . C . for the funeral and an extended visit . By late 1886 young Ord was back in San Antonio . On August 16 , 1887 Gary received and turned down an appointment to West Point . Why he did this is not clear . He then walked into the Army Post and enlisted as " Gary Ordish . " Military service . Ord enlisted as an Army Private on August 16 , 1887 and it became known who he was due to his mother ' s visit to the post . He struggled but his leadership abilities were quickly seen . He rose through the ranks until he was a Quartermaster Sergeant . He was with the 1st United States Infantry until November 9 , 1890 . He took and passed a two day exam in which he received a commission to Second Lieutenant with the 18th United States Infantry effective on November 6 , 1890 . He served well and he was promoted to First Lieutenant , 6th United States Infantry on August 7 , 1897 . He volunteered for duty in the 1898 Spanish - American War and was temporarially transferred to the " negro " 10th U . S . Cavalry . Ord became a brigade staff officer under Brigadier General Hamilton S . Hawkins who then commanded the 1st Brigade , 1st Division , V Corps in Cuba . Due to disease and other casualties many staff officers were directed to serve with the line units . Ord asked to be sent to D Troop of the 10th where a family friend was in command . John Bigelow , Jr . whose diplomat father John Bigelow was a close friend with Ord ' s father General Otho Cresap Ord . John Bigelow had once dated Ord ' s elder sister Roberta ( Bertie ) and despite encouragements from both families the relationship waned . Before his final battle during a lull , Ord told Bigelow that he would come out of this battle either as a " colonel or a corpse . " Battle of San Juan Hill . The San Juan Heights with San Juan Hill and its main blockhouses were the highest point with a dip or draw in between another smaller hill later called Kettle Hill . These heights were aligned in a north - south axis and located about a mile east of Santiago . They were the last major obstacle before the Americans . Myths of the battle . The Rough Riders under Colonel Theodore Roosevelt would claim to have taken Kettle Hill on the American right with assistance from several troops of the " black " 10th Cavalry and the entire 3rd Cavalry ( " white " volunteers ) . The reality was that " the regulars " were supported by the 3rd & Roosevelt ' s 1st in taking the hill . Most of the 10th supported by elements of the 24th and 25th colored infantry on the left would take San Juan Hill , which was the main Spanish defensive position with several block houses . The 10th held the center position between the two hills and when they went forward the command would be split headed toward the tops of both hills . Roosevelt claimed he started the charge on the right up Kettle Hill , but in reality he supported " the regulars " in the charge up the hill after being asked to by Lt . Ord . When the Spanish soldiers withdrew from Kettle Hill toward San Juan Hill , which was still being contested , the regulars ( the black troops ) fired toward them . They did this in support of their comrades fighting on the adjacent hill . When Roosevelt tried to direct his volunteers down and across the steep draw to San Juan Hill , his men balked . Later came the myth that " the regulars " would not obey Roosevelt and caused a delay in taking San Juan Hill . Another so called myth stated that the Rough Riders alone took the Kettle Hill . This is not true . Sergeant George Berry of the 10th took his regimental colors and that of the 3rd Cavalry ' s colors to the top of Kettle Hill before the Rough Riders ' flag arrived . This is supported in the writings of John J . " Black Jack " Pershing who fought with the 10th to the top of Kettle Hill and was present when Roosevelt arrived . Later Roosevelt would lead some of his men down and around toward the main heights . He was intercepted by General Summers and ordered back to Kettle Hill to prepare for a counterattack by the Spanish . When the counterattack came , those men he led were exhausted from the heat . The main attack . On July 1 , 1898 , the commander of D Troop , 10th Cavalry , Captain Bigelow was in a quandary like many of the officers that waited below the San Juan Heights . His troops had been the first to arrive on line and had been receiving fire from the Heights that was fortified by the Spanish defenders . Other American units went into position on the left and the right . But still no orders to advance came . Bigelow ' s second in command , First Lieutenant Ord , volunteered and was sent to Brigadier General Hamilton S . Hawkins asking permission to attack . Ord went forward and encouraged other officers to support the regulars when they charged . When he reached D Troop , he was out - of - breath , but with a wide grin . He reported to Bigelow what had happened and that other units on the right were going to support a charge . He asked his friend for permission to give the command . It was granted . Ord then drew his revolver and his sword . Then with eyes upon him he stood and yelled , " Forward ! " With a determined step he went up the hill . The black Buffalo soldiers of the 10th then rose from where they had been hiding from the Spanish fire and began a stride toward the steep heights . Ord advanced through blistering fire and was heard to yell , " Come on - - come on , you fellows ! Come on - - we can ' t stop now . " About 150 yards from the top the men began a maniacal rush toward the top . Bigelow was hit but continued to urge his men forward . He was then hit in quick succession by three Spanish bullets which caused him to fall . Several soldiers present reported that he encouraged them with , " Men , don ' t stop for me , just keep up the charge until you get to the top of the hill . " His men did so and were able to take the main block house and provided covering fire for those attacking adjacent to them . Ord was reportedly the first officer to reach the top and began directing supporting fire when he was hit in the throat , mortally wounded . He dropped his pistol and sword and sat down grasping his neck . Corporal Walker of D Troop killed his officer ' s assailant , then tried to help Ord . Walker stated that Ord had made a statement before he bled to death . The essence was that if the 10th had not been separated by the draw between the two hills , they would have taken the heights already . Ord was then buried on the hill . Black First Sergeant Givens then took command of D Troop on San Juan Hill and held his position until relieved . Major " Black Jack " Pershing , recent regimental quartermaster , who had charged up Kettle Hill , was given temporary command of D Troop after the fighting ceased . Later Lieutenant A . E . Kennington would command D Troop . On that one day and one place , one half of the 10th ' s officers and one - fifth of its soldiers became casualties . Aftermath . Young Gary Ord did not receive recognition for his actions on San Juan Hill . The Army quietly turned down the requests for a medal for his heroism from his commanding officer and his commanding general . Partly was the reason he was listed as a member of the 6th Cavalry on reports and not the 10th . Tragically , his father General E . O . C . Ord died in Havana , Cuba of yellow fever in 1883 . Both men were laid to final rest at Arlington National Cemetery in section 2 with others of their family . His brother , then Captain Edward Otho Cresap Ord , II ( November 9 , 1858 – April 4 , 1923 ) then of the 22nd Infantry Regiment fought at Santiago July 3 to July 17 , 1898 . He too would suffer from yellow fever and its second phase . He would live but require a long sabbatical from military service .