164 The Rough Riders 



tiative; but at whatever hour of the twenty-four 

 serious fighting began, the drumming of the Gat- 

 lings was soon heard through the cracking of our 

 own carbines. 



I have spoken thus of Parker's Catling detach- 

 ment. How can I speak highly enough of the regu- 

 lar cavalry with whom it was our good fo*rtune to 

 serve? I do not believe that in any army of the 

 world could be found a more gallant and soldierly 

 body of fighters than the officers and men of the 

 First, Third, Sixth, Ninth, and Tenth United 

 States Cavalry, beside whom we marched to blood- 

 bought victory under the tropic skies of Santiago. 

 The American regular sets the standard of excel- 

 lence. When we wish to give the utmost possible 

 praise to a volunteer organization, we say that it is 

 as good as the regulars. I was exceedingly proud 

 of the fact that the regulars treated my regiment as 

 on a complete equality with themselves, and were 

 as ready to see it in a post of danger and respon- 

 sibility as to see any of their own battalions. Lieu- 

 tenant-Colonel Dorst, a man from whom praise 

 meant a good deal, christened us "the Eleventh 

 United States Horse," and we endeavored, I think 

 I may say successfully, to show that we deserved the 

 title by our conduct, not only in fighting and in 

 marching, but in guarding the trenches and in po- 

 licing camp. In less than sixty days the regiment 



