Jacob A. Riis (1849–1914). Theodore Roosevelt, the Citizen. 1904.
Page 169
| troops) picked them off like ducks and rushed on, up and up. |
| “The more Spaniards were killed, the more seemed to take their places. The rain of shells and bullets doubled. Men dropped faster and faster, but others took their places. Roosevelt sat erect on his horse, holding his sword and shouting for his men to follow him. Finally, his horse was shot from under him, but he landed on his feet and continued calling for his men to advance. He charged up the hill afoot. |
| “It seemed an age to the men who were watching, and to the Rough-Riders the hill must have seemed miles high. But they were undaunted. They went on, firing as fast as their guns would work. |
| “At last the top of the hill was reached. The Spaniards in the trenches could still have annihilated the Americans, but the Yankees’ daring dazed them. They wavered for an instant, and then turned and ran. |
| “The position was won and the block-house captured.… In the rush more than half of the Rough-Riders were wounded.” |
| In how many American homes was that splendid story read that morning with a thrill |