The Mockingbird's Ballad

Alerted to the dangerous position of the Spanish, they were to do more than watch and wait. Cuba Libre General Demetrio Castillo Duany reported to General Wheeler the disposition of the entrenched Spaniards with artillery on the heights of Las Guasimas. This ridge runs roughly parallel to the landing beaches three miles to the northwest. General Castillo advised General Wheeler of the Spanish plan to bombard and attack the landing Americans.

General Wheeler with three of his staff, did a personal reconnaissance of the Spanish positions to confirm this information. The feisty cavalry veteran saw nothing special in the ride deep into enemy territory. He called it, 'Just a little vedette.' Good readers, 'vedette' is an old cavalry word meaning 'a mounted scout forward of position to observe and report enemy movements'. His personal scouting mission validated the threat reported by General Castillo."

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Taking a sip of her root beer, Lou chuckled and said to herself," Lordy, General, you ain't twenty eight anymore. But what else could we expect outta you." Pulling her handkerchief from her cuff, she patted her forehead and cheeks. The heat in the Elk River Valley was intense this summer morning. Returning to the newspaper story she found her place and read.

"He held a council of war with his officers and the order was given: 'Move on the enemy positions at 0600, the next day, June 24. Aroused at 3 AM and after a breakfast of hardtack and bacon, washed down with black coffee, the troopers checked their equipment and formed ranks. The weather was oppressive even before daybreak, but morale soared. America's finest had come to do freedom's work with good cheer.

Two columns of some 500 men moved out at 6 AM as dismounted cavalry (foot soldiers).

This looks like only the first of such dismounted deployments for these horse soldiers. Only a few horses and mules for the artillery pieces and officers' mounts were brought on the hasty and poorly planned expedition. The War Department was very neglectful of the situation and needs of this operation, but our brave young men did wonderfully despite all the difficulties.

The terrain restricted a unified line of ground movement; thus, the Rough Riders and the Regulars struck at different ends of the Spanish entrenchment. Each segment made slow, destructive progress. Both American elements encountered strong resistance with increasing casualties. Nine regiments of regular US infantry 2nd Division had moved up behind the cavalry attack, a mile back in support. General Wheeler ordered General Henry W. Lawton and his command to come forward. Almost immediately after that order the Spanish retreated west. At this break of will and effort, the dismounted cavalry attack became a Spanish rout with the infantry joining in the victory.