第41章

TOTHEADJUTANT-GENERAL，UNITEDSTATESARMY，Washington，D。C。

SIR：IhavethehonortomakethefollowingstatementrelativetotheconductofColonelTheodoreRoosevelt，lateFirstUnitedStatesVolunteerCavalry，duringtheassaultuponSanJuanHill，July1，1898。

Ihavealreadyrecommendedthisofficerforamedalofhonor，whichIunderstandhasbeendeniedhim，uponthegroundthatmypreviousletterwastooindefinite。IbasedmyrecommendationuponthefactthatColonelRoosevelt，accompaniedonlybyfourorfivemen，ledaverydesperateandextremelygallantchargeonSanJuanHill，therebysettingasplendidexampletothetroopsandencouragingthemtopassovertheopencountryinterveningbetweentheirpositionandthetrenchesoftheenemy。Inleadingthischarge，hestartedofffirst，ashesupposed，withquiteafollowingofmen，butsoondiscoveredthathewasalone。Hethenreturnedandgatheredupafewmenandledthemtothecharge，asabovestated。Thechargeinitselfwasanextremelygallantone，andtheexamplesetamostinspiringonetothetroopsinthatpartoftheline，andwhileitisperfectlytruethateverybodyfinallywentupthehillingoodstyle，yetthereisnodoubtthatthemagnificentexamplesetbyColonelRoosevelthadaveryencouragingeffectandhadgreatweightinbringingupthetroopsbehindhim。Duringtheassault，ColonelRooseveltwasthefirsttoreachthetrenchesinhispartofthelineandkilledoneoftheenemywithhisownhand。

IearnestlyrecommendthatthemedalbeconferreduponColonelRoosevelt，forIbelievethatheineverywaydeservesit，andthathisservicesonthedayinquestionwereofgreatvalueandofamostdistinguishedcharacter。

Veryrespectfully，LEONARDWOOD，Major-General，UnitedStatesVolunteers。

CommandingDepartmentofSantiagodeCuba。

THEADJUTANT-GENERAL，UNITEDSTATESARMY，Washington，D。C。

SIR：Ihavethehonortorecommendthata“CongressionalMedalofHonor“begiventoTheodoreRoosevelt(lateColonelFirstVolunteerCavalry)，fordistinguishedconductandconspicuousbraveryincommandofhisregimentinthechargeonSanJuanHill，Cuba，July1，1898。

IncompliancewithG。O。135，A。G。O。1898，IenclosemycertificateshowingmypersonalknowledgeofColonelRoosevelt’sconduct。

Veryrespectfully，C。J。STEVENS，CaptainSecondCavalry。

IherebycertifythatonJuly1，1898，atthebattleofSanJuan，Cuba，IwitnessedColonel(thenLieutenant-Colonel)Roosevelt，FirstVolunteerCavalry，UnitedStatesofAmerica，mounted，leadinghisregimentinthechargeonSanJuan。ByhisgallantryandstrongpersonalityhecontributedmostmateriallytothesuccessofthechargeoftheCavalryDivisionupSanJuanHill。

ColonelRooseveltwasamongthefirsttoreachthecrestofthehill，andhisdashingexample，hisabsolutefearlessnessandgallantleadingrenderedhisconductconspicuousandclearldistinguishedaboveothermen。

C。J。STEVENS，CaptainSecondCavalry。

(LateFirstLieutenantNinthCavalry。)

YOUNG’SISLAND，S。C。，December28，1898。

SIR：BelievingthatinformationrelatingtosuperiorconductonthepartofanyofthehigherofficerswhoparticipatedintheSpanish-AmericanWar(andwhichinformationmaynothavebeengiven)wouldbeappreciatedbytheDepartmentoverwhichyoupreside，IhavethehonortocallyourattentiontothepartbornebyColonelTheodoreRoosevelt，ofthelateFirstUnitedStatesVolunteerCavalry，inthebattleofJuly1stlast。IdothisnotonlybecauseIthinkyououghttoknow，butbecausehisregimentasawholewereveryproudofhissplendidactionsthatdayandbelievetheycallforthatmostcoveteddistinctionoftheAmericanofficer，theMedalofHonor。Heldinsupport，hebroughthisregiment，atexactlytherighttime，notonlyuptothelineofregulars，butwentthroughthemandheaded，onhorseback，thechargeonKettleHill；thisbeingdoneonhisowninitiative，theregularsaswellashisownmenfollowing。Hethenheadedthechargeonthenexthill，bothregularsandtheFirstUnitedStatesVolunteerCavalryfollowing。Hewassoneartheintrenchmentsonthesecondhill，thatheshotandkilledwitharevolveroneoftheenemybeforetheybrokecompletely。HethenledthecavalryonthechainofhillsoverlookingSantiago，whereheremainedinchargeofallthecavalrythatwasattheextremefrontfortherestofthatdayandnight。Hisunhesitatinggallantryintakingtheinitiativeagainstintrenchmentslinedbymenarmedwithrapidfiregunscertainlywonhimthehighestconsiderationandadmirationofallwhowitnessedhisconductthroughoutthatday。

WhatIherewriteIcanbearwitnesstofrompersonallyhavingseen。

Veryrespectfully，M。J。JENKINS，MajorLateFirstUnitedStat