Our men always made it a rule to join the nearest command when separated from our own, and those who had been so unfortunate as to lose their way altogether were, both colored and white, straggling up from the time the line was established until far into the night, showing their determination to reach the front.

In explaining the desire of our men in going back to look for their comrades, it should be stated that, from the contour of the ground, the Rough Riders were so much in advance of the Tenth Cavalry that, to reach the latter regiment from the former, one had really to go straight to the rear and then turn sharply to the right; and further, it is a well known fact, that in this country most persons of color feel out of place when they are by force compelled to mingle with white persons, especially strangers, and although we knew we were doing our duty, and would be treated well as long as we stood to the front and fought, unfortunately some of our men (and these were all recruits with less than six months’ service) felt so much out of place that when the firing lulled, often showed their desire to be with their commands.  None of our older men did this.  We knew perfectly well that we could give as much assistance there as anywhere else, and that it was our duty to remain until relieved.  And we did.  White soldiers do not, as a rule, share this feeling with colored soldiers.  The fact that a white man knows how well he can make a place for himself among colored people need not be discussed here.

I remember an incident of a recruit of my troop, with less than two months’ service, who had come up to our position during the evening of the 1st, having been separated from the troop during the attack on San Juan Hill.  The next morning, before the firing began, having seen an officer of the Tenth, who had been sent to Colonel Roosevelt with a message, returning to the regiment, he signified his intention of going back with him, saying he could thus find the regiment.  I remonstrated with him without avail and was only able to keep him from going by informing him of the Colonel’s threat of the day before.  There was no desire on the part of this soldier to shirk duty.  He simply didn’t know that he should not leave any part of the firing line without orders.  Later, while lying in reserve behind the firing line, I had to use as much persuasion to keep him from firing over the heads of his enemies as I had to keep him with us.  He remained with us until he was shot in the shoulder and had to be sent to the rear.

I could give many other incidents of our men’s devotion to duty, of their determination to stay until the death, but what’s the use?  Colonel Roosevelt has said they shirked, and the reading public will take the Colonel at his word and go on thinking they shirked.  His statement was uncalled for and uncharitable, and considering the moral and physical effect the advance of the Tenth Cavalry had in weakening the forces opposed to the Colonel’s regiment, both at La Guasima and San Juan Hill, altogether ungrateful, and has done us an immeasurable lot of harm.