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Show 584 LEADING FACTS OF NEW MEXICAN HISTORY 1880 The others came from ao Oklahoma, and the Indian Territory. versities, aristocratic social clubs, and other eastern and New England sources. This regiment was a perfect exemplification of the adaptability of the average American citizen. Its service in Cuba demonstrated its equality with veteran troops and few trained men in the regular service showed more soldier-like qualities. The regiment had a reputation for bravery, based upon the supposition that every man was a cowboy direct from that reputation had to be sustained. Roosevelt’s Rough Riders were the short-grass country, and The fact remains, however, that clerks, stenographers, college men, coal diggers, bar tenders, printers, railroad men, mechanics, hack drivers, miners, prospectors, and a _ respectable contingent of ‘‘punchers’’ of the true southwestern plains variety. That they were rough riders or very shortly became such That they were good soldiers every one admits. no doubt exists. It may seem disap- pointing to dispel the romance built around a regiment of whieh New Mexico and the whole nation is so proud, but it is only justice to the average young American to state the truth. It made no differ- ence to the man who hurried to Santa Fé to enlist in this noted reg! ment what had been his calling. He responded to the call of ” president of the nation in time of need; he performed his duty in whether cow puncher, coal digger, college graduate, or millonaire, he became a soldier, by his action under fire, commanding the admiration of the world. On May 29, 1898, the regiment broke camp at San Antonio, Texas, and proceeded by rail to Tampa, Florida, the trip consumms four days. On the morning of June 14th, the troops poarded the transport Yucatan bound for Cuba. One troop, Captain a be Wood Colonel by announced was It behind. left was Curry’s, only three troops from New Mexico would be permitted to take Lye: in the campaign in Cuba, Muller’s, Llewellyn’s, and Curry i Luna’s. To settle the matter Captains Luna and Curry flipped com to determine whose command should be the third troop. o_o Luna won. For nearly a week prior to the departure of the is Riders transports loaded with troops steamed to the southwestwat escorted by battleships, cruisers, and torpedo boats. On the mee of June 22, the troops began disembarking at Daiquiri, a small ae near Santiago de Cuba, after this and other nearby points had bee TO 1912 039 shelled for the purpose of dislodging the enemy if found in that locality. Before leaving the United States the regiment had been brigaded with the First and Tenth Regular Cavalry under Brigadier General Young, as the Second Brigade, BATTLE OF LAS GUASIMAS which, with the First Brigade, formed a division of cavalry commanded by Major General Joseph Wheeler, a Confederate veteran of the Civil War. On the afternoon following the landing, the troops were ordered for ward through a narrow trail, arriving after midnight at Siboney. On the 24th, the order to advance was given. All unexpectedly the enemy opened fire. During the advance Henry J. Haefner, of Troop G, fell, mortally wounded. His comrades dragged him behind a tree where he was propped up and, asking for his canteen and rifle, which were handed to him by Colonel Roosevelt in person, he began loading and firing, which he kept up until the line moved forward. He died during the engagement. The enemy was soon driven from his position when a temporary lull followed on the American right. The firing was soon resumed. A perfect hail of bullets swept high over the advancing line. A rapid charge by the American Position in the skirmish line. forees’and the enemy abandoned ‘his The loss to the Rough Riders was eight killed **7 and thirty-four ‘wounded; the 10th cavalry lost one Killed and ten wounded. This engagement, the first on Cuban soil, is known officially as the battle of Las Guasimas. The day following the engagement at Las Guasimas saw the regiment moving forward a distance of about two miles. During this Period General Young was stricken with the fever and Colonel Wood Succeeded to the command of the brigade, leaving Colonel Roosevelt In Command of the regiment. On June 30th, orders were received tor the march against the city of Santiago, but it was not until the middle of the afternoon that the regiment took its position in the Marching columns. _ About Six o’clock, on the following morning, July 1, the fighting ee rte officers and men in the New Mexican troops killed and wounded at uasimas were, killed: Haefner, Troop G; wounded: Corporal James M. 4 Troop E; Sergeant George W. Armijo, Troop F; H. L. Albers, Troop F; ne Albertson, Troop F; Robt. Z. Bailey, Troop F; Albert C. Hartle, Troop B; Clifford L, Reed , Tr oop F; Luther L. Stewart, Troop G; Michael H. Coyle, ‘op G; Robert W. Reed. Troop G; George Roland, Troop G. |