Tostartwithfivepercenthandicapwasaverygreatadvantage；andifthemanwasreallyagoodman，hecouldnotbeovertaken。ButifthemanthoughtthathehadlearnedallabouttheprofessionofasoldierbecausehehadbeenintheNationalGuardorintheRegularArmyundertheconditionsIhavedescribed，thenhewasactuallyoflessusethanifhehadneverhadanymilitaryexperienceatall。Suchamanwasapttothinkthatnicetyofalignment，precisioninwheeling，andcorrectnessinthemanualofarmsweretheendsoftrainingandtheguaranteesofgoodsoldiership，andthatfromguardmountingtosentrydutyeverythinginwarwastobedoneinaccordancewithwhathehadlearnedinpeace。Asamatteroffact，mostofwhathehadlearnedwasneverusedatall，andsomeofithadtobeunlearned。Theonething，forinstance，thatasentryoughtnevertodoinanactualcampaignistowalkupanddownalinewherehewillbeconspicuous。Hisbusinessistoliedownsomewhereoffaridgecrestwherehecanseeanyoneapproaching，butwhereamanapproachingcannotseehim。Asfortheceremonies，duringthereallyhardpartofacampaignonlythebarestessentialsarekept。
Almostallofthejuniorregularofficers，andmanyoftheseniorregularofficers，werefinemen。But，throughnofaultoftheirown，hadbeenforcedtoleadlivesthatfairlyparalyzedtheirefficiencywhenthestrainofmodernwarcameonthem。Theroutineelderlyregularofficerwhoknewnothingwhateverofmodernwarwasinmostrespectsnearlyasworthlessasarawrecruit。Thepositionsandcommandsprescribedinthetext-booksweremadeintofetishesbysomeofthesemen，andtreatedasiftheyweretheends，insteadofthenotalwaysimportantmeansbywhichtheendsweretobeachieved。IntheCubanfighting，forinstance，itwouldhavebeenfollyformetohavetakenmyplaceintherearoftheregiment，thecanonicaltext-bookposition。MybusinesswastobewhereIcouldkeepmostcommandovertheregiment，and，inarough-and-tumble，scramblingfightinthickjungle，thishadtodependuponthecourseofevents，andusuallymeantthatIhadtobeatthefront。Isawinthatfightingmorethanoneelderlyregimentalcommanderwhounwittinglyrenderedtheonlyservicehecouldrendertohisregimentbytakinguphisproperpositionseveralhundredyardsintherearwhenthefightingbegan；
forthentheregimentdisappearedinthejungle，andforitsgoodfortunethecommandingofficerneversawitagainuntillongafterthefightwasover。
AfteroneCubanfightalieutenant-coloneloftheregulars，incommandofaregiment，whohadmetwithjustsuchanexperienceandhadrejoinedusatthefrontseveralhoursafterthecloseofthefighting，askedmewhatmymenweredoingwhenthefightbegan。I
answeredthattheywerefollowingintraceincolumnoftwos，andthattheinstanttheshootingbeganIdeployedthemasskirmishersonbothsidesofthetrail。Heansweredtriumphantly，“Youcan’tdeploymenasskirmishersfromcolumnformation“；towhichIresponded，“Well，I
did，and，whatismore，ifanycaptainhadmadeanydifficultyaboutit，Iwouldhavesenthimtotherear。”Mycriticwasquitecorrectfromtheparadegroundstandpoint。Theprescribedordersatthattimeweretodeploythecolumnfirstintoalineofsquadsatcorrectintervals，andthentogiveanorderwhich，ifmymemoryservescorrectly，ran：“Asskirmishers，bytherightandleftflanks，atsixyards，takeintervals，march。”TheorderIreallygaveranmorelikethis：“Scatterouttotherightthere，quick，you！scattertotheleft！lookalive，lookalive！”Andtheylookedalive，andtheyscattered，andeachtookadvantageofcover，andforwardwenttheline。
NowIdonotwishwhatIhavesaidtobemisunderstood。Ifeverwehaveagreatwar，thebulkofoursoldierswillnotbemenwhohavehadanyopportunitytotrainsoulandmindandbodysoastomeettheironneedsofanactualcampaign。Longcontinuedandfaithfuldrillwillaloneputthesemeninshapetobegintodotheirduty，andfailuretorecognizethisonthepartoftheaveragemanwillmeanlazinessandfollyandnotthepossessionofefficiency。Moreover，ifmenhavebeentrainedtobelieve，forinstance，thattheycan“arbitratequestionsofvitalinterestandnationalhonor。”iftheyhavebeenbroughtupwithflabbinessofmoralfiberaswellasflabbinessofphysique，thentherewillbeneedoflongandlaboriousandfaithfulworktogivetheneededtonetomindandbody。Butifthemenhaveinthemtherightstuff，itisnotsoverydifficult。
AtSanAntonioweentrainedforTampa。InvarioussociologicalbooksbyauthorsofContinentalEurope，therearejeremiadsastothewayinwhichserviceinthegreatEuropeanarmies，withtheirminuteandmachine-likeefficiencyandregularity，tendstodwarfthecapacityforindividualinitiativeamongtheofficersandmen。ThereisnosuchdangerforanyofficerormanofavolunteerorganizationinAmericawhenourcountry，withplayfullight-heartedness，hasprancedintowarwithoutmakinganypreparationforit。IknownolargerorfinerfieldforthedisplayofanadvancedindividualismthanthatwhichopenedbeforeusaswewentfromSanAntoniotoTampa，campedthere，andembarkedonatransportforCuba。Nobodyeverhadanydefiniteinformationtogiveus，andwhateverinformationweunearthedonourownaccountwasusuallywrong。Eachofushadtoshowanalertandnotoverscrupulousself-relianceinordertoobtainfoodforhismen，provenderforhishorses，ortransportationofanykindforanyobject。OnelessonearlyimpressedonmewasthatifIwantedanythingtoeatitwaswisetocarryitwithme；andifanynewwarshouldarise，Iwouldearnestlyadvisethemenofeveryvolunteerorganizationalwaystoproceeduponthebeliefthattheirsupplieswillnotturnup，andtotakeeveryopportunityofgettingfoodforthemselves。
Tampawasasceneofthewildestconfusion。Thereweremilesoftracksloadedwithcarsofthecontentsofwhichnobodyseemedtohaveanydefiniteknowledge。GeneralMiles，whowassupposedtohavesupervisionovereverything，andGeneralShafter，whohadchargeoftheexpedition，wereboththere。But，thankstothefactthatnobodyhadhadanyexperienceinhandlingevensuchasmallforceasours——
about17，000men——therewasnosemblanceoforder。WoodandIwereboundthatweshouldnotbeleftbehindwhentheexpeditionstarted。
Whenwewerefinallyinformedthatitwastoleavenextmorning，wewereorderedtogotoacertaintracktomeetatrain。Wewenttothetrack，butthetrainnevercame。Thenweweresenttoanothertracktomeetanothertrain。Againitnevercame。However，wefoundacoaltrain，ofwhichwetookpossession，andtheconductor，partlyunderduressandpartlyinaspiritoffriendlyhelpfulness，tookusdowntothequay。
Allkindsofotherorganizations，infantryandcavalry，regularandvolunteer，werearrivingatthequayandwanderingaroundit，andtherewasnoplacewherewecouldgetanyspecificinformationastowhattransportweweretohave。FinallyWoodwastoldto“getanyshipyoucangetwhichisnotalreadyassigned。”Heborrowedwithoutleaveasmallmotorboat，andcommandeeredthetransportYucatan。Whenaskedbythecaptainwhathisauthoritywas，hereportedthatbewasacting“byordersofGeneralShafter。”anddirectedtheshiptobebroughttothedock。Hehadalreadysentmewordtobeready，assoonastheshiptouchedthepier，toputtheregimentaboardher。Ifoundthatshehadalreadybeenassignedtoaregularregiment，andtoanothervolunteerregiment，andasitwasevidentthatnotmorethanhalfofthemenassignedtohercouldpossiblygeton，Iwasdeterminedthatweshouldnotbeamongthemenleftoff。Thevolunteerregimentofferedacomparativelyeasyproblem。Isimplymarchedmymenpastthemtotheallottedplaceandheldthegangway。WiththeregularsIhadtobealittlemorediplomatic，becausetheircommander，alieutenant-colonel，wasmysuperiorinrank，andalsodoubtlessknewhisrights。Hesentwordtometomakeway，todrawmyregimentofftooneside，andlethistakepossessionofthegangway。Icouldseethetransportcomingin，andcoulddimlymakeoutWood’sfigurethereon。AccordinglyI
playedfortime。Isentrespectfulrequeststhroughhisofficerstothecommanderoftheregulars，enteredintoparleys，andmadeprotestations，untilthetransportgotnearenoughsothatbyyellingatthetopofmyvoiceIwasabletogetintoa——highlyconstructive——
communicationwithWood。WhathewassayingIhadnoidea，buthewasevidentlyspeaking，andonmyownresponsibilityItranslateditintodirectionstoholdthegangway，andsoinformedtheregularsthatI
wasundertheordersofmysuperiorandofarankingofficer，and——tomygreatregret，etc。，etc——couldnotgivewayastheydesired。Assoonasthetransportwasfastweputourmenaboardatthedouble。
Halfoftheregularregimentgoton，andtheotherhalfandtheothervolunteerregimentwentsomewhereelse。
Wewerekeptseveraldaysonthetransport，whichwasjammedwithmen，sothatitwashardtomoveaboutonthedeck。Thenthefleetgotunderway，andwesteamedslowlydowntoSantiago。Herewedisembarked，higgledy-piggledy，justaswehadembarked。Differentpartsofdifferentoutfitswerejumbledtogether，anditwasnolightlaborafterwardstoassemblethevariousbatteries。Forinstance，onetransporthadguns，andanotherthelocksfortheguns；thetwonotgettingtogetherforseveraldaysafteroneofthemhadbeenlanded。
Soldierswenthere，provisionsthere；andwhogotashorefirstlargelydependeduponindividualactivity。Fortunatelyforus，myformernavalaide，whenIhadbeenAssistantSecretaryoftheNavy，Lieutenant-
CommanderSharp，afirst-classfellow，wasthereincommandofalittleshiptowhichIhadsucceededingettinghimappointedbeforeI
lefttheNavyDepartment。Hegaveusablackpilot，whotookourtransportrightinshore，theothersfollowinglikeaflockofsheep；
andwedisembarkedwithourrifles，ammunitionbelts，andnotmuchelse。Intheoryitwasoutofourturn，butifwehadnotdisembarkedthen，Heavenonlyknowswhenourturnwouldhavecome，andwedidnotintendtobeoutofthefightingifwecouldhelpit。Icarriedsomefoodinmypockets，andalightwaterproofcoat，whichwasmysolecampequipmentforthenexttwoorthreedays。Twenty-fourhoursaftergettingashorewemarchedfromDaiquiri，wherewehadlanded，toSiboney，alsoonthecoast，reachingitduringaterrificdownpourofrain。Whenthiswasover，webuiltafire，driedourclothes，andatewhateverwehadbroughtwithus。
WewerebrigadedwiththeFirstandTenthRegularCavalry，underBrigadier-GeneralSamYoung。HewasafinetypeoftheAmericanregular。LikeGeneralChaffee，anotherofthesametype，hehadenteredthearmyintheCivilWarasaprivate。Later，whenIwasPresident，itwasmygoodfortunetomakeeachoftheminsuccessionLieutenant-GeneralofthearmyoftheUnitedStates。WhenGeneralYoungretiredandGeneralChaffeewastotakehisplace，theformersenttothelatterhisthreestarstowearonhisfirstofficialpresentation，withanotethattheywerefrom“PrivateYoungtoPrivateChaffee。”Thetwofineoldfellowshadservedintheranks，oneinthecavalry，oneintheinfantry，intheirgoldenyouth，inthedaysofthegreatwarnearlyhalfacenturybefore；eachhadgrowngrayinalifetimeofhonorableserviceundertheflag，andeachclosedhisactivecareerincommandofthearmy。GeneralYoungwasoneofthefewmenwhohadgivenandtakenwoundswiththesaber。Hewasanoldfriendofmine，andwheninWashingtonbeforestartingforthefronthetoldmethatifwegotinhisbrigadehewouldputusintothefightingallright。Hekepthisword。
GeneralYounghadactivelysuperintendedgettinghistworegularregiments，oratleastasquadronofeach，offthetransports，andlatethatnighthesentuswordthathehadreceivedpermissiontomoveatdawnandstriketheSpanishadvanceposition。HedirectedustomovealongaridgetrailwithourtwosquadronsonesquadronhavingbeenleftatTampa，whilewiththetwosquadronsofregulars，oneoftheFirstandoneoftheTenth，underhispersonalsupervision，hemarchedupthevalleytrail。AccordinglyWoodtookusalongthehilltrailearlynextmorning，tillwestrucktheSpaniards，andbeganourfightjustastheregularsbeganthefightinthevalleytrail。
Itwasamountainouscountrycoveredwiththickjungle，amostconfusingcountry，andIhadanawfultimetryingtogetintothefightandtryingtodowhatwasrightwheninit；andallthewhileI
wasthinkingthatIwastheonlymanwhodidnotknowwhatIwasabout，andthatalltheothersdid——whereas，asIfoundoutlater，prettymucheverybodyelsewasasmuchinthedarkasIwas。Therewasnosurprise；westrucktheSpaniardsexactlywherewehadexpected；
thenWoodhaltedusandputusintothefightdeliberatelyandinorder。Heorderedustodeployalternatelybytroopstotherightandleftofthetrail，givingourseniormajor，Brodie，aWestPointerandasgoodasoldieraseverworeauniform，theleftwing，whileItooktherightwing。Iwastoldifpossibletoconnectwiththeregularswhowereontheright。Intheorythiswasexcellent，butasthejunglewasverydensethefirsttroopthatdeployedtotherightvanishedforthwith，andIneversawitagainuntilthefightwasover——havingafrightfulfeelingmeanwhilethatImightbecourt-martialedforlosingit。ThenexttroopdeployedtotheleftunderBrodie。Thenthethirdcamealong，andIstartedtodeployittotherightasbefore。
BythetimethefirstplatoonhadgottenintothejungleIrealizedthatitlikewisewoulddisappearunlessIkeptholdofit。Imanagedtokeeppossessionofthelastplatoon。Onelearnsfastinafight，andImarchedthisplatoonandmynexttwotroopsincolumnthroughthejunglewithoutanyattempttodeployuntilwegotonthefiringline。Thissoundssimple。Butitwasnot。IdidnotknowwhenIhadgottenonthefiringline！Icouldhearagooddealoffiring，someovertomyrightatagooddistance，andtheresttotheleftandahead。Ipushedon，expectingtostriketheenemysomewherebetween。
Soonwecametothebrinkofadeepvalley。Therewasagooddealofcrackingofrifleswayoffinfrontofus，butastheyusedsmokelesspowderwehadnoideaastoexactlywheretheywere，orwhotheywereshootingat。Thenitdawnedonusthatwewerethetarget。Thebulletsbegantocomeoverhead，makingasoundliketherippingofasilkdress，withsometimesakindofpop；afewofmymenfell，andI