124 The Rough Riders 



mind that in the absence of orders I had better 

 "march toward the guns," when Lieutenant-Colonel 

 Dorst came riding up through the storm of bullets 

 with the welcome command "to move forward and 

 support the regulars in the assault on the hills in 

 front." General Sumner had obtained authority to 

 advance from Lieutenant Miley, who was represent- 

 ing General Shafter at the front, and was in the thick 

 of the fire. The General at once ordered the first 

 brigade to advance on the hills, and the second to 

 support it. He himself was riding his horse along 

 the lines, superintending the fight. Later I over- 

 heard a couple of my men talking together about 

 him. What they said illustrates the value of a dis- 

 play of courage among the officers in hardening 

 their soldiers ; for their theme was how, as they were 

 lying down under a fire which they could not return, 

 and were in consequence feeling rather nervous, 

 General Sumner suddenly appeared on horseback, 

 sauntering by quite unmoved; and, said one of the 

 men, "That made us feel all right. If the General 

 could stand it, we could." 



The instant I received the order I sprang on my 

 horse and then my "crowded hour" began. The 

 guerillas had been shooting at us from the edges 

 of the jungle and from their perches in the leafy 

 trees, and as they used smokeless powder, it was 

 almost impossible to see them, though a few of my 



