288 The Rough Riders 



spects the Spanish rations were preferable to ours, 

 notably in the use of rice. After we had been ashore 

 a month the supplies began to come in in abundance, 

 and we then fared very well. Up to that time the 

 men were under-fed x during the very weeks when 

 the heaviest drain was being made upon their vi- 

 tality, and the deficiency was only partially supplied 

 through the aid of the Red Cross, and out of the 

 officers' pockets and the pockets of various New 

 York friends who sent us money. Before, during, 

 and immediately after the fights of June 24th and 

 July ist, we were very short of even the bacon and 

 hardtack. About July I4th, when the heavy rains 

 interrupted communication, we were threatened 

 with famine, as we were informed that there was 

 not a day's supply of provisions in advance nearer 

 than the sea-coast; and another twenty-four hours' 

 rain would have resulted in a complete breakdown 

 of communications, so that for several days we 

 should have been reduced to a diet of mule-meat 

 and mangos. At this, time, in anticipation of such 

 a contingency, by foraging and hoarding we got a 

 little ahead, so that when our supplies were cut 

 'down for a day or two we did not suffer much, 

 and were even able to furnish a little aid to the 

 less fortunate First Illinois Regiment, which was 

 camped next to us. Members of the Illinois Regi- 

 ment were offering our men $i apiece for hard- 

 tacks. 



I wish to bear testimony to the energy and ca- 



