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。