Wewereonthetransport。Therewasnohardlabortodo；andtheprisonconsistedofanothercow-puncherwhokeptguardoverhimwithhiscarbine，evidentlydividedinhisfeelingsastowhetherhewouldlikemosttoshoothimortolethimgo。Whenwelanded，somebodytoldtheprisonerthatIintendedtopunishhimbykeepinghimwiththebaggage。Heatoncecametomeingreatagitation，saying：“Colonel，theysayyou’regoingtoleavemewiththebaggagewhenthefightison。Colonel，ifyoudothat，IwillnevershowmyfaceinArizonaagain。Colonel，ifyouwillletmegotothefront，IpromiseIwillobeyanyoneyousay；anyoneyousay，Colonel。”withtheevidentfeelingthat，afterthisconcession，Icouldnot，asagentleman，refusehisrequest。AccordinglyIanswered：“Shields，thereisnooneinthisregimentmoreentitledtobeshotthanyouare，andyoushallgotothefront。”Hisgratitudewasgreat，andhekeptrepeating，“I’llneverforgetthis，Colonel，never。”Nordidhe。Whenwegotveryhardup，hewouldnowandthenmanagetogetholdofsomeflourandsugar，andwouldcookadoughnutandbringitroundtome，andwatchmewithadelightedsmileasIateit。Hebehavedextremelywellinbothfights，andafterthesecondoneIhadhimformallybeforemeandremittedhissentence——somethingwhichofcourseIhadnottheslightestpowertodo，althoughatthetimeitseemednaturalandpropertome。
Whenwecametobemusteredout，theregularofficerwhowasdoingthemustering，afterallthemenhadbeendischarged，finallyaskedmewheretheprisonerwas。Isaid，“Whatprisoner？”Hesaid，“Theprisoner，themanwhowassentencedtoayear’simprisonmentwithhardlaboranddishonorabledischarge。”Isaid，“Oh！Ipardonedhim“；towhichheresponded，“Ibegyourpardon；youdidwhat？”ThismademegraspthefactthatIhadexceededauthority，andIcouldonlyanswer，“Well，Ididpardonhim，anyhow，andhehasgonewiththerest“；
whereuponthemustering-outofficersankbackinhischairandremarked，“Hewassentencedbyacourtmartial，andthesentencewasapprovedbythemajor-generalcommandingthedivision。Youwerealieutenant-colonel，andyoupardonedhim。Well，itwasnervy，that’sallI’llsay。”
Thesimplefactwasthatunderthecircumstancesitwasnecessaryformetoenforcedisciplineandcontroltheregiment，andthereforetorewardandpunishindividualsinwhateverwaytheexigenciesdemanded。
Ioftenexplainedtothemenwhatthereasonsforanorderwere，thefirsttimeitwasissued，iftherewasanytroubleontheirpartinunderstandingwhattheywererequiredtodo。Theywereveryintelligentandveryeagertodotheirduty，andIhardlyeverhadanydifficultythesecondtimewiththem。If，however，therewastheslightestwillfulshirkingofdutyorinsubordination，Ipunishedinstantlyandmercilessly，andthewholeregimentcordiallybackedmeup。Tohavepunishedmenforfaultsandshortcomingswhichtheyhadnoopportunitytoknowweresuchwouldhavebeenasunwiseastohavepermittedanyoftheoccasionalbadcharacterstoexercisetheslightestlicense。Itwasaregimentwhichwassensitiveaboutitsdignityandwasverykeenlyalivetojusticeandtocourtesy，butwhichcordiallyapprovedabsenceofmollycoddling，insistenceupontheperformanceofduty，andsummarypunishmentofwrong-doing。
InthefinalfightingatSanJuan，whenwecapturedoneofthetrenches，JackGreenwayhadseizedaSpaniard，andshortlyafterwardsIfoundJackleadinghiscaptiveroundwithastring。Itoldhimtoturnhimovertoamanwhohadtwoorthreeothercaptives，sothattheyshouldallbetakentotherear。ItwastheonlytimeIeversawJacklookaggrieved。“Why，Colonel，can’tIkeephimformyself？”heasked，plaintively。IthinkhehadanideathatasatrophyofhisbowandspeartheSpaniardwouldmakeafinebodyservant。
Onereasonthatweneverhadtheslightesttroubleintheregimentwasbecause，whenwegotdowntohardpan，officersandmensharedexactlyalike。Itisallrighttohavedifferencesinfoodandthelikeintimesofpeaceandplenty，wheneverybodyiscomfortable。Butinreallyhardtimesofficersandmenmustsharealikeifthebestworkistobedone。AslongasIhadnothingbuttwohardtacks，whichwastheallowancetoeachmanonthemorningaftertheSanJuanfight，noonecouldcomplain；butifIhadhadanyprivatelittleluxuriesthemenwouldverynaturallyhaverealizedkeenlytheirownshortages。
SoonaftertheGuasimasfightwewereputonshortcommons；andasI
knewthatagooddealoffoodhadbeenlandedandwasonthebeachatSiboney，ImarchedthirtyorfortyofthemendowntoseeifIcouldnotgetsomeandbringitup。Ifinallyfoundacommissaryofficer，andheaskedmewhatIwanted，andIanswered，anythinghehad。Sohetoldmetolookaboutformyself。Ifoundanumberofsacksofbeans，Ithinkaboutelevenhundredpounds，onthebeach；andtoldtheofficerthatIwantedelevenhundredpoundsofbeans。Heproducedabookofregulations，andshowedmetheappropriatesectionandsubdivisionwhichannouncedthatbeanswereissuedonlyfortheofficers’mess。Thisdidmenogood，andItoldhimso。Hesaidhewassorry，andIansweredthathewasnotassorryasIwas。Ithen“studiedonit。”asBr’rRabbitwouldsay，andcamebackwitharequestforelevenhundredpoundsofbeansfortheofficers’mess。Hesaid，“Why，Colonel，yourofficerscan’teatelevenhundredpoundsofbeans。”towhichIresponded，“Youdon’tknowwhatappetitesmyofficershave。”HethensaidhewouldsendtherequisitiontoWashington。ItoldhimIwasquitewilling，solongashegavemethebeans。Hewasagoodfellow，sowefinallyeffectedaworkingcompromise——hegottherequisitionandIgotthebeans，althoughhewarnedmethatthepricewouldprobablybedeductedfrommysalary。
Undersomeregulationorotheronlytheregularsupplytrainswereallowedtoact，andweweresupposednottohaveanyhorsesormulesintheregimentitself。Thiswasveryprettyintheory；but，asamatteroffact，thesupplytrainswerenotnumerousenough。Mymenhadanaturalgeniusforacquiringhorsefleshinoddways，andI
continuallyfoundthattheyhadstakedoutinthebrushvariouscapturedSpanishcavalryhorsesandCubanponiesandabandonedcommissarymules。Puttingthesetogether，Iwouldorganizeasmallpacktrainandworkitindustriouslyforadayortwo，untiltheylearnedaboutitatheadquartersandconfiscatedit。ThenIwouldhavetowaitforaweekorsountilmymenhadaccumulatedsomemoreponies，horses，andmules，theregimentmeanwhilelivinginplentyonwhatwehadgotbeforethetrainwasconfiscated。
Allofourmenweregoodataccumulatinghorses，butwithinourownranksIthinkwewereinclinedtoawardthepalmtoourchaplain。
Therewasnotabettermanintheregimentthanthechaplain，andtherecouldnothavebeenabetterchaplainforourmen。Hetookcareofthesickandthewounded，heneversparedhimself，andhedideveryduty。Inaddition，hehadanaturalaptitudeforacquiringmules，whichmadesomeadmirer，whentheregimentwasdisbanded，proposethatweshouldhaveaspecialmedalstruckforhim，with，ontheobverse，“AMulepassantandChaplainregardant。”AfterthesurrenderofSantiago，aPhiladelphiaclergymanwhomIknewcamedowntoGeneralWheeler’sheadquarters，andaftervisitinghimannouncedthatheintendedtocallontheRoughRiders，becauseheknewtheircolonel。
OneofGeneralWheeler’saides，LieutenantSteele，wholikedusbothindividuallyandasaregiment，andwhoappreciatedsomeofourways，askedtheclergyman，afterhehadannouncedthatheknewColonelRoosevelt，“ButdoyouknowColonelRoosevelt’sregiment？”“No。”saidtheclergyman。“Verywell，then，letmegiveyouapieceofadvice。
WhenyougodowntoseetheColonel，don’tletyourhorseoutofyoursight；andifthechaplainisthere，don’tgetoffthehorse！”
WecamebacktoMontaukPointandsoonafterweredisbanded。Wehadbeenintheserviceonlyalittleoverfourmonths。TherearenofourmonthsofmylifetowhichIlookbackwithmoreprideandsatisfaction。Ibelievemostearnestlyandsincerelyinpeace，butasthingsareyetinthisworldthenationthatcannotfight，thepeoplethathavelostthefightingedge，thathavelostthevirilevirtues，occupyapositionasdangerousasitisignoble。ThefuturegreatnessofAmericainnosmalldegreedependsuponthepossessionbytheaverageAmericancitizenofthequalitieswhichmymenshowedwhentheyservedundermeatSantiago。
Moreover，thereisonethinginconnectionwiththiswarwhichitiswellthatourpeopleshouldremember，ourpeoplewhogenuinelylovethepeaceofrighteousness，thepeaceofjustice——andIwouldbeashamedtobeotherthanaloverofthepeaceofrighteousnessandofjustice。Thetruepreachersofpeace，whostriveearnestlytobringnearerthedaywhenpeaceshallobtainamongallpeoples，andwhoreallydohelpforwardthecause，aremenwhoneverhesitatetochooserighteouswarwhenitistheonlyalternativetounrighteouspeace。
Thesearethemenwho，likeDr。LymanAbbott，havebackedeverygenuinemovementforpeaceinthiscountry，andwhoneverthelessrecognizedourcleardutytowarforthefreedomofCuba。
Butthereareothermenwhoputpeaceaheadofrighteousness，andwhocaresolittleforfactsthattheytreatfantasticdeclarationsforimmediateuniversalarbitrationasbeingvaluable，insteadofdetrimental，tothecausetheyprofesstochampion，andwhoseektomaketheUnitedStatesimpotentforinternationalgoodunderthepretenseofmakingusimpotentforinternationalevil。Allthemenofthiskind，andalloftheorganizationstheyhavecontrolled，sincewebeganourcareerasanation，allputtogether，havenotaccomplishedonehundredthpartasmuchforbothpeaceandrighteousness，havenotdoneonehundredthpartasmucheitherforourselvesorforotherpeoples，aswasaccomplishedbythepeopleoftheUnitedStateswhentheyfoughtthewarwithSpainandwithresolutegoodfaithandcommonsenseworkedoutthesolutionoftheproblemswhichsprangfromthewar。
Ourarmyandnavy，andaboveallourpeople，learnedsomelessonsfromtheSpanishWar，andappliedthemtoourownuses。Duringthefollowingdecadetheimprovementinournavyandarmywasverygreat；
notinmaterialonly，butalsoinpersonnel，and，aboveall，intheabilitytohandleourforcesingood-sizedunits。By1908，whenourbattlefleetsteamedroundtheworld，thenavyhadbecomeineveryrespectasfitafightinginstrumentasanyothernavyintheworld，fleetforfleet。Eveninsizetherewasbutonenation，England，whichwascompletelyoutofourclass；andinviewofourrelationswithEnglandandalltheEnglish-speakingpeoples，thiswasofnoconsequence。Ofourarmy，ofcourse，asmuchcouldnotbesaid。
Neverthelesstheimprovementinefficiencywasmarked。OurartillerywasstillveryinferiorintrainingandpracticetotheartilleryarmofanyoneofthegreatPowerssuchasGermany，France，orJapan——aconditionwhichweonlythenbegantoremedy。Buttheworkmanlikespeedandefficiencywithwhichtheexpeditionofsome6000troopsofallarmswasmobilizedandtransportedtoCubaduringtherevolutionof1908showedthat，asregardsourcavalryandinfantry，wehadatleastreachedthepointwherewecouldassembleandhandleinfirst-
ratefashionexpeditionaryforces。Thisismightylittletoboastof，foraNationofourwealthandpopulation；itisnotpleasanttocompareitwiththeextraordinaryfeatsofcontemporaryJapanandtheBalkanpeoples；but，suchasitis，itrepresentsalongstrideinadvanceoverconditionsastheywerein###第40章
Therewasasequeltothe“roundrobin“incidentwhichcausedalittlestiratthemoment；SecretaryAlgerhadaskedmetowritehimfreelyfromtimetotime。Accordingly，afterthesurrenderofSantiago，I
wrotehimbeggingthatthecavalrydivisionmightbeputintothePortoRicanfighting，preparatorytowhatwesupposedwouldbethebigcampaignagainstHavanainthefall。IntheletterIextolledthemeritsoftheRoughRidersandoftheRegulars，announcingwithmuchcomplacencythateachofourregimentswasworth“threeoftheNationalGuardregiments，armedwiththeirarchaicblackpowderrifles。”[*]SecretaryAlgerbelieved，mistakenly，thatIhadmadepublictheroundrobin，andwasnaturallyirritated，andIsuddenlyreceivedfromhimapublishedtelegram，notalludingtotheroundrobinincident，butquotingmyreferencetothecomparativemeritsofthecavalryregimentsandtheNationalGuardregimentsandrebukingmeforit。ThepublicationoftheextractfrommyletterwasnotcalculatedtohelpmesecurethevotesoftheNationalGuardifIeverbecameacandidateforoffice。However，Ididnotmindthemattermuch，forIhadatthetimenoideaofbeingacandidateforanything——whileinthecampaignIateanddrankandthoughtanddreamedregimentandnothingbutregiment，untilIgotthebrigade，andthenI
devotedallmythoughtstohandlingthebrigade。Anyhow，therewasnothingIcoulddoaboutthematter。
[*]Iquotethissentencefrommemory；itissubstantiallycorrect。
WhenourtransportreachedMontaukPoint，anarmyofficercameaboardandbeforedoinganythingelsehandedmeasealedletterfromtheSecretaryofWarwhichranasfollows：——
WARDEPARTMENT，WASHINGTON，August10，1898。
DEARCOL。ROOSEVELT：
YouhavebeenamostgallantofficerandinthebattlebeforeSantiagoshowedsuperbsoldierlyqualities。Iwouldratheraddto，thandetractfrom，thehonorsyouhavesofairlywon，andIwishyouallgoodthings。Inamomentofaggravationundergreatstressoffeeling，firstbecauseIthoughtyouspokeinadisparagingmannerofthevolunteers(probablywithoutintent，butbecauseofyourgreatenthusiasmforyourownmen)andsecondthatIbelievedyourpublishedletterwouldembarrasstheDepartmentIsentyouatelegramwhichwithanextractfromaprivateletterofyoursI
gavetothepress。IwouldgladlyrecallbothifIcould，butunabletodothatIwriteyouthisletterwhichIhopeyouwillreceiveinthesamefriendlyspiritinwhichIsendit。Comeandseemeataveryearlyday。NoonewillwelcomeyoumoreheartilythanI。
Yoursverytruly，(Signed)R。A。ALGER。
Ithoughtthisamanlyletter，andpaidnomoreheedtotheincident；
andwhenIwasPresident，andGeneralAlgerwasSenatorfromMichigan，hewasmystanchfriendandonmostmattersmysupporter。
TheSanJuanfighttookitsnamefromtheSanJuanHillorhills——Idonotknowwhetherthenameproperlybelongedtoalineofhillsortoonlyonehill。
Tocomparesmallthingswithlargethings，thiswaspreciselyastheBattleofGettysburgtookitsnamefromthevillageofGettysburg，whereonlyasmallpartofthefightingwasdone；andthebattleofWaterloofromthevillageofWaterloo，wherenoneofthefightingwasdone。WhenitbecamethepoliticalinterestofcertainpeopletoendeavortominimizemypartintheSantiagofighting(whichwasmerelylikethatofvariousothersquadron，battalionandregimentalcommanders)someofmyopponentslaidgreatstressontheallegedfactthatthecavalrydidnotchargeupSanJuanHill。Wecertainlychargedsomehills；butIdidnotasktheirnamesbeforechargingthem。TosaythattheRoughRidersandthecavalrydivision，andamongotherpeoplemyself，werenotintheSanJuanfightispreciselylikesayingthatthemenwhomadePickett’sCharge，orthemenwhofoughtatLittleRoundTopandCulpsHill，werenotatGettysburg；orthatPictonandtheScotchGreysandtheFrenchandEnglishguardswerenotatWaterloo。ThepresentVice-PresidentoftheUnitedStatesinthecampaignlastyearwasreportedinthepressasrepeatedlysayingthatIwasnotintheSanJuanfight。Thedocumentsfollowingherewithhavebeenprintedformanyyears，andwereaccessibletohimhadhecaredtoknowortotellthetruth。
Thesedocumentsspeakforthemselves。ThefirstistheofficialreportissuedbytheWarDepartment。FromthisitwillbeseenthattherewereintheSantiagofightingthirtyinfantryandcavalryregimentsrepresented。Sixofthesewerevolunteer，ofwhichonewastheRoughRiders。Theothertwenty-fourwereregularregiments。Thepercentageoflossofourregimentwasaboutseventimesasgreatasthatoftheotherfivevolunteerregiments。Ofthetwenty-fourregularregiments，twenty-twosufferedasmallerpercentageoflossthanwesuffered。
Two，theSixthUnitedStatesInfantryandtheThirteenthUnitedStatesInfantry，sufferedaslightlygreaterpercentageofloss——twenty-sixpercentandtwenty-threepercentasagainsttwenty-twopercent。
TobeColonelbyBrevetLieutenant-ColonelTheodoreRoosevelt，FirstVolunteerCavalry，forgallantryinbattle，LasGuasima，Cuba，June24，1898。
TobeBrigadier-GeneralbyBrevetLieutenant-ColonelTheodoreRoosevelt，FirstVolunteerCavalry，forgallantryinbattle，SantiagodeCuba，July1，1898。
(Nominatedforbrevetcolonel，torankfromJune24，1898。)
FORTSANJUAN，CUBA，July17，1898。
THEADJUTANT-GENERALUNITEDSTATESARMY，Washington，D。C。
(Throughmilitarychannels)
SIR：IhavethehonortoinviteattentiontothefollowinglistofofficersandenlistedmenwhospeciallydistinguishedthemselvesintheactionatLasGuasimas，Cuba，June24，1898。
Theseofficersandmenhavebeenrecommendedforfavorableconsiderationbytheirimmediatecommandingofficersintheirrespectivereports，andIwouldrespectfullyurgethatfavorableactionbetaken。
OFFICERS
InFirstUnitedStatesVolunteerCavalry——ColonelLeonardWood，Lieutenant-ColonelRoosevelt。
Respectfully，JOSEPHWHEELER，Major-GeneralUnitedStatesVolunteers，Commanding。
SIR：Bydirectionofthemajor-generalcommandingtheCavalryDivision，IhavethehonortosubmitthefollowingreportoftheengagementofapartofthisbrigadewiththeenemyatGuasimas，Cuba，onJune24th，accompaniedbydetailedreportsfromtheregimentalandothercommandersengaged，andalistofthekilledandwounded：
IcannotspeaktoohighlyoftheefficientmannerinwhichColonelWoodhandledhisregiment，andofhismagnificentbehavioronthefield。TheconductofLieutenant-ColonelRoosevelt，asreportedtomebymytwoaides，deservesmyhighestcommendation。BothColonelWoodandLieutenant-ColonelRooseveltdisdainedtotakeadvantageofshelterorcoverfromtheenemy’sfirewhileanyoftheirmenremainedexposedtoit——anerrorofjudgment，buthappilyontheheroicside。
Veryrespectfully，S。B。M。YOUNG，BrigadierGeneralUnitedStatesVolunteers，Commanding。
SIR：IhavethehonortorecommendHon。TheodoreRoosevelt，lateColonelFirstUnitedStatesVolunteerCavalry，foramedalofhonor，asarewardforconspicuousgallantryatthebattleofSanJuan，Cuba，onJuly1，1898。
ColonelRooseveltbyhisexampleandfearlessnessinspiredhismen，andbothatKettleHillandtheridgeknownasSanJuanheledhiscommandinperson。Iwasaneye-witnessofColonelRoosevelt’saction。
AsColonelRoosevelthaslefttheservice，aBrevetCommissionisofnoparticularvalueinhiscase。
Veryrespectfully，SAMUELS。SUMNER，Major-GeneralUnitedStatesVolunteers。
WESTPOINT，N。Y。，December17，1898。
MYDEARCOLONEL：Isawyouleadthelineupthefirsthill——youwerecertainlythefirstofficertoreachthetop——andthroughyourefforts，andyourpersonallyjumpingtothefront，alinemoreorlessthin，butstrongenoughtotakeit，wasledbyyoutotheSanJuanorfirsthill。Inthisyourlifewasplacedinextremejeopardy，asyoumayrecall，andasitprovedbythenumberofdeadleftinthatvicinity。CaptainStevens，thenoftheNinthCavalry，nowoftheSecondCavalry，waswithyou，andIamsureherecallsyourgallantconduct。Afterthelinestartedontheadvancefromthefirsthill，Ididnotseeyouuntilourlinewashalted，underamostgallingfire，attheextremefront，whereyouafterwardsentrenched。IspoketoyouthereandgaveinstructionsfromGeneralSumnerthatthepositionwastobeheldandthattherewouldbenofurtheradvancetillfurtherorders。
Youweretheseniorofficerthere，tookchargeoftheline，scoldedmeforhavingmyhorsesohighupontheridge；atthesametimeyouwereexposingyourselfmostconspicuously，whileadjustingtheline，fortheexamplewasnecessary，aswasprovedwhenseveralcoloredsoldiers——abouteightorten，Twenty-fourthInfantry，Ithink——startedataruntothereartoassistawoundedcoloredsoldier，andyoudrewyourrevolverandputashortandeffectivestoptosuchapparentstampede——itquietedthem。Thatpositionwashot，andnowImarvelatyourescapingthere……
Verysincerelyyours，ROBERTL。HOWZE。
WESTPOINT，N。Y。，December17，1898。
IherebycertifythatonJuly1，1898，Colonel(thenLieutenant-
Colonel)TheodoreRoosevelt，FirstVolunteerCavalry，distinguishedhimselfthroughtheaction，andontwooccasionsduringthebattlewhenIwasaneye-witness，hisconductwasmostconspicuousandclearlydistinguishedaboveothermen，asfollows：
1。AtthebaseofSanJuan，orfirsthill，therewasastrongwirefence，orentanglement，atwhichthelinehesitatedunderagallingfire，andwherethelossesweresevere。ColonelRooseveltjumpedthroughthefenceandbyhisenthusiasm，hisexampleandcouragesucceededinleadingtothecrestofthehillalinesufficientlystrongtocaptureit。InthischargetheCavalryBrigadesuffereditsgreatestloss，andtheColonel’slifewasplacedinextremejeopardy，owingtotheconspicuouspositionhetookinleadingtheline，andbeingthefirsttoreachthecrestofthathill，whileunderheavyfireoftheenemyatcloserange。
2。Attheextremeadvancedpositionoccupiedbyourlines，ColonelRooseveltfoundhimselfthesenior，andunderhisinstructionsfromGeneralSumnertoholdthatposition。Hedisplayedthegreatestbraveryandplacedhislifeinextremejeopardybyunavoidableexposuretoseverefirewhileadjustingandstrengtheningtheline，placingthemeninpositionswhichaffordedbestprotection，etc。，etc。Hisconductandexamplesteadiedthemen，andononeoccasionbyseverebutnotunnecessarymeasurespreventedasmalldetachmentfromstampedingtotherear。Hedisplayedthemostconspicuousgallantry，courageandcoolness，inperformingextraordinarilyhazardousduty。
ROBERTL。HOWZE，CaptainA。A。G。，U。S。V。
(FirstLieutenantSixthUnitedStatesCavalry。)
TOTHEADJUTANT-GENERALUNITEDSTATESARMY，Washington，D。C。
HEADQUARTERSUNITEDSTATESMILITARYACADEMY，WESTPOINT，N。Y。，April5，1899。
LIEUTENANT-COLONELW。H。CARTER，AssistantAdjutant-GeneralUnitedStatesArmy，Washington，D。C。
SIR：Incompliancewiththerequest，containedinyourletterofApril30th，oftheBoardconvenedtoconsidertheawardingofbrevets，medalsofhonor，etc。，fortheSantiagoCampaign，thatI
stateanyfacts，withinmyknowledgeasAdjutant-GeneraloftheBrigadeinwhichColonelTheodoreRooseveltserved，toaidtheBoardindetermining，inconnectionwithColonelRoosevelt’sapplicationforamedalofhonor，whetherhisconductatSantiagowassuchastodistinguishhimaboveothers，Ihavethehonortosubmitthefollowing：
MydutiesonJuly1，1898，broughtmeinconstantobservationofandcontactwithColonelRooseveltfromearlymorninguntilshortlybeforetheclimaxoftheassaultoftheCavalryDivisionontheSanJuanHill——theso-calledKettleHill。Duringthistime，whileundertheenemy’sartilleryfireatElPoso，andwhileonthemarchfromElPosobytheSanJuanfordtothepointfromwhichhisregimentmovedtotheassault——abouttwomiles，thegreaterpartunderfire——ColonelRooseveltwasconspicuousaboveanyothersIobservedinhisregimentinthezealousperformanceofduty，intotaldisregardofhispersonaldangerandinhiseagernesstomeettheenemy。AtElPoso，whentheenemyopenedonthatplacewithartilleryfire，ashrapnelbulletgrazedandbruisedoneofColonelRoosevelt’swrists。Theincidentdidnotlessenhishazardousexposure，buthecontinuedsoexposeduntilhehadplacedhiscommandundercover。InmovingtotheassaultofSanJuanHill，ColonelRooseveltwasmostconspicuouslybrave，gallantandindifferenttohisownsafety。He，intheopen，ledhisregiment；noofficercouldhavesetamorestrikingexampletohismenordisplayedgreaterintrepidity。
Veryrespectfully，Yourobedientservant，A。L。MILLS，ColonelUnitedStatesArmy，Superintendent。
