"The Battle of Kettle Hill, July 1, 1898" Topic

"The San Juan Ridge (Kettle Hill) was the last obstacle to the complete investment of Santiago, the principal port on the southern coast of Cuba. This hill was just off the southern end of the ridge, crowned by a strong blockhouse with 750 Spanish defenders. They were led by Gen Arsenio Linares and armed with Model 1893 Mausers, which reloaded from a stripper clip. After waiting under fire for the troops from El Caney, Gen Samuel Sumner ordered his Dismounted Cavalry Division up the hill, supported by the fire of Gatling guns, while the infantry moved up San Juan Ridge and its own blockhouse, taking casualties from accurate Spanish fire.

Leading the charge mostly on horseback was former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt and his ‘Rough Riders', a volunteer cavalry regiment equipped with Winchester repeating carbines. Alongside them were the African-American ‘Buffalo Soldiers' of the 9th US Cavalry. The Spanish withdrew from the blockhouse, and the dismounted cavalry on Kettle Hill supported the attacks upon San Juan Ridge and the higher San Juan Hill behind the ridge, although the Spanish resisted stubbornly…"

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Amicalement
Armand

Not a well researched article. Parts of the 10th US Cavalry Regiment also featured prominently at Kettle Hill with one of the soldiers (Sgt Maj Edward L. Baker, Jr.) being awarded a Medal of Honor for his actions. The majority of the 10th as well as the 9th US Cavalry Regiment assaulted San Juan Hill, not Kettle Hill, along with other regiments.

The picture showing TR and his "Rough Riders" is severely cropped. The picture is actually much wider and shows three of the regiments involved, from left – 3rd US Cavalry, 1st US Volunteer Cavalry, and 10th US Cavalry.

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The reason that I'm so passionate about the services of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments is that I had the privilege of serving as the intelligence officer of the 1st Squadron (Armored Cavalry), 9th US Cavalry Regiment. We shared a motor pool at Fort Hood with the 3rd Battalion (Armored), 10th US Cavalry Regiment.

Jim

Thanks!

Amicalement
Armand