Page:Theodore Roosevelt Rough Riders.djvu/336

328 ,

December 30, 1898.

,

Washington, D. C.



I have already recommended this officer for a medal of honor, which, I understand, has been denied him, upon the ground that my previous letter was too indefinite. I based my recommendation upon the fact that Colonel Roosevelt, accompanied only by four or five men, led a very desperate and extremely gallant charge on San Juan Hill, thereby setting a splendid example to the troops and encouraging them to pass over the open country intervening between their position and the trenches of the enemy. In leading this charge, he started off first, as he supposed, with quite a following of men, but soon discovered that he was alone. He then returned, and gathered up a few men and led them to the charge as above stated. The charge in itself was an extremely gallant one, and the example set a