As it was, the Spaniards thought the Rough Riders had already
disregarded all the rules of war.
"When we fired a volley," one of the prisoners said later, "instead
of falling back they came forward. That is not the way to fight, to
come closer at every volley." And so, when instead of retreating on
each volley, the Rough Riders rushed at them, cheering and filling
the hot air with wild cowboy yells, the dismayed enemy retreated upon
Santiago, where he announced he had been attacked by the entire
American army.
One of the residents of Santiago asked one of the soldiers if those
Americans fought well.
"WELL!" he replied, "they tried to catch us with their hands!"
I have not attempted to give any account of General Young's fight on
our right, which was equally desperate, and, owing to the courage of
the colored troops of the Tenth in storming a ridge, equally worthy
of praise. But it has seemed better not to try and tell of anything
I did not see, but to limit myself to the work of the Rough Riders,
to whom, after all, the victory was due, as it was owing to Colonel
Wood's charge, which took the Spaniards in flank, that General
Wheeler and General Young were able to advance, their own stubborn
attack in front having failed to dislodge the enemy from his rifle-
pits.
