TOTHEADJUTANT-GENERAL，UNITEDSTATESARMY，Washington，D。C。
SIR：IhavethehonortomakethefollowingstatementrelativetotheconductofColonelTheodoreRoosevelt，lateFirstUnitedStatesVolunteerCavalry，duringtheassaultuponSanJuanHill，July1，1898。
Ihavealreadyrecommendedthisofficerforamedalofhonor，whichIunderstandhasbeendeniedhim，uponthegroundthatmypreviousletterwastooindefinite。IbasedmyrecommendationuponthefactthatColonelRoosevelt，accompaniedonlybyfourorfivemen，ledaverydesperateandextremelygallantchargeonSanJuanHill，therebysettingasplendidexampletothetroopsandencouragingthemtopassovertheopencountryinterveningbetweentheirpositionandthetrenchesoftheenemy。Inleadingthischarge，hestartedofffirst，ashesupposed，withquiteafollowingofmen，butsoondiscoveredthathewasalone。Hethenreturnedandgatheredupafewmenandledthemtothecharge，asabovestated。Thechargeinitselfwasanextremelygallantone，andtheexamplesetamostinspiringonetothetroopsinthatpartoftheline，andwhileitisperfectlytruethateverybodyfinallywentupthehillingoodstyle，yetthereisnodoubtthatthemagnificentexamplesetbyColonelRoosevelthadaveryencouragingeffectandhadgreatweightinbringingupthetroopsbehindhim。Duringtheassault，ColonelRooseveltwasthefirsttoreachthetrenchesinhispartofthelineandkilledoneoftheenemywithhisownhand。
IearnestlyrecommendthatthemedalbeconferreduponColonelRoosevelt，forIbelievethatheineverywaydeservesit，andthathisservicesonthedayinquestionwereofgreatvalueandofamostdistinguishedcharacter。
Veryrespectfully，LEONARDWOOD，Major-General，UnitedStatesVolunteers。
CommandingDepartmentofSantiagodeCuba。
THEADJUTANT-GENERAL，UNITEDSTATESARMY，Washington，D。C。
SIR：Ihavethehonortorecommendthata“CongressionalMedalofHonor“begiventoTheodoreRooseveltlateColonelFirstVolunteerCavalry，fordistinguishedconductandconspicuousbraveryincommandofhisregimentinthechargeonSanJuanHill，Cuba，July1，1898。
IncompliancewithG。O。135，A。G。O。1898，IenclosemycertificateshowingmypersonalknowledgeofColonelRoosevelt’sconduct。
Veryrespectfully，C。J。STEVENS，CaptainSecondCavalry。
IherebycertifythatonJuly1，1898，atthebattleofSanJuan，Cuba，IwitnessedColonelthenLieutenant-ColonelRoosevelt，FirstVolunteerCavalry，UnitedStatesofAmerica，mounted，leadinghisregimentinthechargeonSanJuan。ByhisgallantryandstrongpersonalityhecontributedmostmateriallytothesuccessofthechargeoftheCavalryDivisionupSanJuanHill。
ColonelRooseveltwasamongthefirsttoreachthecrestofthehill，andhisdashingexample，hisabsolutefearlessnessandgallantleadingrenderedhisconductconspicuousandclearldistinguishedaboveothermen。
C。J。STEVENS，CaptainSecondCavalry。
LateFirstLieutenantNinthCavalry。
YOUNG’SISLAND，S。C。，December28，1898。
SIR：BelievingthatinformationrelatingtosuperiorconductonthepartofanyofthehigherofficerswhoparticipatedintheSpanish-AmericanWarandwhichinformationmaynothavebeengivenwouldbeappreciatedbytheDepartmentoverwhichyoupreside，IhavethehonortocallyourattentiontothepartbornebyColonelTheodoreRoosevelt，ofthelateFirstUnitedStatesVolunteerCavalry，inthebattleofJuly1stlast。IdothisnotonlybecauseIthinkyououghttoknow，butbecausehisregimentasawholewereveryproudofhissplendidactionsthatdayandbelievetheycallforthatmostcoveteddistinctionoftheAmericanofficer，theMedalofHonor。Heldinsupport，hebroughthisregiment，atexactlytherighttime，notonlyuptothelineofregulars，butwentthroughthemandheaded，onhorseback，thechargeonKettleHill；thisbeingdoneonhisowninitiative，theregularsaswellashisownmenfollowing。Hethenheadedthechargeonthenexthill，bothregularsandtheFirstUnitedStatesVolunteerCavalryfollowing。Hewassoneartheintrenchmentsonthesecondhill，thatheshotandkilledwitharevolveroneoftheenemybeforetheybrokecompletely。HethenledthecavalryonthechainofhillsoverlookingSantiago，whereheremainedinchargeofallthecavalrythatwasattheextremefrontfortherestofthatdayandnight。Hisunhesitatinggallantryintakingtheinitiativeagainstintrenchmentslinedbymenarmedwithrapidfiregunscertainlywonhimthehighestconsiderationandadmirationofallwhowitnessedhisconductthroughoutthatday。
WhatIherewriteIcanbearwitnesstofrompersonallyhavingseen。
Veryrespectfully，M。J。JENKINS，MajorLateFirstUnitedStatesCavalry。
PRESCOTT，A。T。，December25，1898。
IwasColonelRoosevelt’sorderlyatthebattleofSanJuanHill，andfromthattimeonuntilourreturntoMontaukPoint。Iwaswithhimallthroughthefighting，andbelieveIwastheonlymanwhowasalwayswithhim，thoughduringpartofthetimeLieutenantsFergusonandGreenwaldwerealsoclosetohim。HeledourregimentforwardonhorsebackuntilhecametothemenoftheNinthCavalrylyingdown。Heledusthroughtheseandtheygotupandjoinedus。HegavetheordertochargeonKettleHill，andledusonhorsebackupthehill，bothRoughRidersandtheNinthCavalry。Hewasthefirstonthehill，Ibeingverynearlyalongsideofhim。SomeSpanishriflemenwerecomingoutoftheintrenchmentsandhekilledonewithhisrevolver。Hetookthemenontothecrestofthehillandbadethembeginfiringontheblockhouseonthehilltoourleft，theonetheinfantrywereattacking。Whenhetookit，hegavetheordertocharge，andledthetroopsonKettleHillforwardagainsttheblockhouseonourfront。HethenhadchargeofallthecavalryonthehillsoverlookingSantiago，whereweafterwardsdugourtrenches。Hehadcommandthatafternoonandnight，andfortherestofthetimecommandedourregimentatthispoint。
Yoursverytruly，H。P。BARDSHAR。
DEARSIR：Atyourrequest，Isendyouthefollowingextractsfrommydiary，andfromnotestakenonthedayoftheassaultonSanJuan。Ikeptinmypocketasmallpadonwhichincidentswerenoteddailyfromthelandinguntilthesurrender。OnthedayofthefightnotesweretakenjustbeforeGrimesfiredhisfirstgun，justafterthethirdreplyfromtheenemy——whenweweremassedintheroadaboutseventypacesfromGrimes’guns，andwhenIwasbeginningtogetscaredandtothinkIwouldbekilled——atthehaltjustbeforeyouadvanced，andundertheshelterofthehillsintheevening。Eachtimethatnotesweretaken，thepagewasputinanenvelopeaddressedtomywife。Atthefirstchancetheyweremailedtoher，andonmyarrivalintheUnitedStatesthestoryofthefight，takenfromthesenotes，wasenteredinthediaryIkeepinabook。Imakethislengthyexplanationthatyoumayseethateverythingputdownwasfreshinmymemory。
Iquotefrommydiary：“Thetensiononthemenwasgreat。Suddenlyalineofmenappearedcomingfromourright。Theywereadvancingthroughthelonggrass，deployedasskirmishersandwereunderfire。Attheirhead，orratherinfrontofthemandleadingthem，rodeColonelRoosevelt。Hewasveryconspicuous，mountedashewas。Themenwerethe’RoughRiders，’so-called。Iheardsomeonecallingtothemnottofireintous，andseeingColonelCarrol，reportedtohim，andwastoldtogooutandmeetthem，andcautionthemastoourposition，webeingbetweenthemandtheenemy。I
didso，speakingtoColonelRoosevelt。Ialsotoldhimwewereunderordersnottoadvance，andaskedhimifhehadreceivedanyorders。HerepliedthathewasgoingtochargetheSpanishtrenches。ItoldthistoColonelCarrol，andtoCaptainDimmick，oursquadroncommander。AfewmomentsafterthewordpasseddownthatourleftCaptainTaylorwasabouttocharge。CaptainMcBlaincalledout，’wemustgoinwiththosetroops；wemustsupportTaylor。’IcalledthistoCaptainDimmick，andhegavetheordertoassault。”
“Thecheerwastakenupandtakenupagain，ontheleft，andinthedistanceitrolledonandon。Andsowestarted。ColonelRoosevelt，oftheRoughRiders，startedthewholemovementontheleft，whichwasthefirstadvanceoftheassault。”
Thefollowingistakenfrommynotesandwashastilyjotteddownonthefield：“TheRoughRiderscameinline——ColonelRooseveltsaidhewouldassault——Taylorjoinedthemwithhistroop——McBlaincalledtoDimmick，’letusgo，wemustgotosupportthem。’
Dimmicksaidallright——andso，withnoorders，wewentin。”
Ifindmanyofmynotesareillegiblefromperspiration。MyauthorityforsayingTaylorwentinwithyou，“joinedwithhistroop“wasthewordpassedtomeandrepeatedtoCaptainDimmickthatTaylorwasabouttochargewithyou。Icouldnotseehistroop。Ihavenotputitinmydiary，butinanotherplaceIhavenotedthatColonelCarrol，whowasactingasbrigadecommander，toldmetoaskyouifyouhadanyorders。
Ihavethehonortobe，Veryrespectfully，Yourobedientservant，HENRYANSONBARBER，CaptainTwenty-EighthInfantry，formerlyofNinthCavalry。
HEADQUARTERSPACIFICDIVISION，SANFRANCISCO，CAL。，May11，1905。
DEARMR。PRESIDENT：AssomediscussionhasariseninthepublicprintsregardingthebattleofSanJuan，Cuba，July1，1898，andyourpersonalmovementsduringthatdayhavebeenthesubjectofcomment，itmaynotbeamissinmetostatesomefactscomingundermypersonalobservationasCommandingGeneraloftheCavalryDivisionofwhichyourregimentformedapart。Itwill，perhaps，beadvisabletoshowfirsthowIcametobeincommand，inorderthatmystatementmayhavedueweightasanauthoritativestatementoffacts：IwasplacedincommandoftheCavalryDivisionontheafternoonofJune30thbyGeneralShafter；theassignmentwasmadeowingtothesevereillnessofGeneralWheeler，whowasthepermanentcommanderofsaidDivision。
BrigadierGeneralYoung，whocommandedtheSecondCavalryBrigade，ofwhichyourregiment——theFirstVolunteerCavalry——formedapart，wasalsoveryill，andIfounditnecessarytorelievehimfromcommandandplaceColonelWood，oftheRoughRiders，incommandoftheBrigade；thischangeplacedyouincommandofyourregiment。
TheDivisionmovedfromitscampontheeveningofJune30th，andbivouackedatandaboutElPoso。IsawyoupersonallyinthevicinityofElPoso，about8A。M。，July1st。IsawyouagainontheroadleadingfromElPosototheSanJuanRiver；youwereattheheadofyourregiment，whichwasleadingtheSecondBrigade，andimmediatelybehindtherearregimentoftheFirstBrigade。MyordersweretoturntotherightatSanJuanRiverandtakeupalinealongthatstreamandtryandconnectwithGeneralLawton，whowastoengagetheenemyatElCaney。OnreachingtheriverwecameunderthefireoftheSpanishforcespostedonSanJuanRidgeandKettleHill。TheFirstBrigadewasfacedtothefrontinlineassoonasithadclearedtheroad，andtheSecondBrigadewasorderedtopassinrearofthefirstandfacetothefrontwhenclearoftheFirstBrigade。Thismovementwasverydifficult，owingtotheheavyundergrowth，andtheregimentsbecamemoreorlesstangledup，buteventuallytheformationwasaccomplished，andtheDivisionstoodinanirregularlinealongtheSanJuanRiver，theSecondBrigadeontheright。WeweresubjectedtoaheavyfirefromtheforcesonSanJuanRidgeandKettleHill；ourpositionwasuntenable，anditbecamenecessarytoassaulttheenemyorfallback。KettleHillwasimmediatelyinfrontoftheCavalry，anditwasdeterminedtoassaultthathill。TheFirstBrigadewasorderedforward，andtheSecondBrigadewasorderedtosupporttheattack；personally，IaccompaniedaportionoftheTenthCavalry，SecondBrigade，andtheRoughRidersweretotheright。Thisbroughtyourregimenttotherightofthehousewhichwasatthesummitofthehill。ShortlyafterIreachedthecrestofthehillyoucametome，accompanied，Ithink，byCaptainC。J。
Stevens，oftheNinthCavalry。WeweretheninapositiontoseethelineofintrenchmentsalongSanJuanRidge，andcouldseeKent’sInfantryDivisionengagedonourleft，andHawkins’assaultagainstFortSanJuan。YouaskedmeforpermissiontomoveforwardandassaultSanJuanRidge。Igaveyoutheorderinpersontomoveforward，andIsawyoumoveforwardandassaultSanJuanRidgewithyourregimentandportionsoftheFirstandTenthCavalrybelongingtoyourBrigade。IheldaportionoftheSecondBrigadeasareserveonKettleHill，notknowingwhatforcetheenemymighthaveinreservebehindtheridge。TheFirstBrigadealsomovedforwardandassaultedtheridgetotherightofFortSanJuan。TherewasasmalllakebetweenKettleHillandSanJuanRidge，andinmovingforwardyourcommandpassedtotherightofthislake。ThisbroughtyouoppositeahouseonSanJuanRidge——
notFortSanJuanproper，butaframehousesurroundedbyanearthwork。Theenemylostanumberofmenatthispoint，whosebodieslayinthetrenches。LaterinthedayIrodealongtheline，and，asIrecallit，aportionoftheTenthCavalrywasimmediatelyaboutthishouse，andyourregimentoccupiedanirregularsemi-circularpositionalongtheridgeandimmediatelytotherightofthehouse。Youhadpicketsouttoyourfront；andseveralhundredyardstoyourfronttheSpaniardshadaheavyoutpostoccupyingahouse，withriflepitssurroundingit。Laterintheday，andduringthefollowingday，thevariousregimentsformingtheDivisionwererearrangedandbroughtintotacticalformation，theFirstBrigadeontheleftandimmediatelytotherightofFortSanJuan，andtheSecondBrigadeontherightoftheFirst。
ThiswasthepositionoccupiedbytheCavalryDivisionuntilthefinalsurrenderoftheSpanishforces，onJuly17，1898。
Inconclusionallowmetosay，thatIsawyou，personally，atabout8A。M。，atElPoso；later，ontheroadtoSanJuanRiver；
later，onthesummitofKettleHill，immediatelyafteritscapturebytheCavalryDivision。IsawyoumoveforwardwithyourcommandtoassaultSanJuanRidge，andIsawyouonSanJuanRidge，wherewevisitedyourlinetogether，andyouexplainedtomethedispositionofyourcommand。
Iam，sir，withmuchrespect，Yourobedientservant，SAMUELS。SUMNER，Major-GeneralUnitedStatesArmy。