By the time I had taken possession of these buildings all firing had ceased everywhere.  I had not the faintest idea what had happened:  whether the fight was over; or whether this was merely a lull in the fight; or where the Spaniards were; or whether we might be attacked again; or whether we ought ourselves to attack somebody somewhere else.  I got my men in order and sent out small parties to explore the ground in front, who returned without finding any foe. (By this time, as a matter of fact, the Spaniards were in full retreat.) Meanwhile I was extending my line so as to get into touch with our people on the right.  Word was brought to me that Wood had been shot—­which fortunately proved not to be true—­and as, if this were so, it meant that I must take charge of the regiment, I moved over personally to inquire.  Soon I learned that he was all right, that the Spaniards had retreated along the main road, and that Colonel Wood and two or three other officers were a short distance away.  Before I reached them I encountered a captain of the Ninth Cavalry, very glum because his troopers had not been up in time to take part in the fight, and he congratulated me—­with visible effort!—­upon my share in our first victory.  I thanked him cordially, not confiding in him that till that moment I myself knew exceeding little about the victory; and proceeded to where Generals Wheeler, Lawton, and Chaffee, who had just come up, in company with Wood, were seated on a bank.  They expressed appreciation of the way that I had handled my troops, first on the right wing and then on the left!  As I was quite prepared to find I had committed some awful sin, I did my best to accept this in a nonchalant manner, and not to look as relieved as I felt.  As throughout the morning I had preserved a specious aspect of wisdom, and had commanded first one and then the other wing, the fight was really a capital thing for me, for practically all the men had served under my actual command, and thenceforth felt an enthusiastic belief that I would lead them aright.

It was a week after this skirmish before the army made the advance on Santiago.  Just before this occurred General Young was stricken down with fever.  General Wheeler, who had commanded the Cavalry Division, was put in general charge of the left wing of the army, which fought before the city itself.  Brigadier-General Sam Sumner, an excellent officer, who had the second cavalry brigade, took command of the cavalry division, and Wood took command of our brigade, while, to my intense delight, I got my regiment.  I therefore had command of the regiment before the stiffest fighting occurred.  Later, when Wood was put in command in Santiago, I became the brigade commander.