144 The Rough Riders 



colored troops did as well as any soldiers could pos- 

 sibly do. 



In the course of the afternoon the Spaniards in 

 our front made the only offensive movement which 

 I saw them make during the entire campaign; for 

 what were ordinarily called "attacks" upon our lines 

 consisted merely of heavy firing from their trenches 

 and from their skirmishers. In this case they did 

 actually begin to make a forward movement, their 

 cavalry coming up as well as the marines and reserve 

 infantry,* while their skirmishers, who were always 

 bold, redoubled their activity. It could not be called 

 a charge, and not only was it not pushed home, but 

 it was stopped almost as soon as it began, our men 

 immediately running forward to the crest of the hill 

 with shouts of delight at seeing their enemies at last 

 come into the open. A few seconds' firing stopped 

 their advance and drove them into the cover of the 

 trenches. 



They kept up a very heavy fire for some time 

 longer, and our men again lay down, only replying 

 occasionally. Suddenly we heard on our right the 

 peculiar drumming sound which had been so wel- 

 come in the morning, when the infantry were assail- 

 ing the San Juan block-house. The Catlings were 

 up again ! I started over to inquire, and found that 



* Lieutenant Tejeiro, p. 154, speaks of this attempt to retake 

 San Juan and its failure. 



