President Theodore Roosevelt Praises the Patriotism at the Battle of San Juan Hill of the Retiring West Point Superintendent and Medal of Honor Winner
"He is the type of American officer of whom the whole American people should be proud".
The U.S. declared war on Spain in April 1898, two months after the USS Maine exploded in Havana's harbor. The war went well from the start. Opening the battle with the famous quote, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley," on May 1, U.S. Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish squadron...
The U.S. declared war on Spain in April 1898, two months after the USS Maine exploded in Havana's harbor. The war went well from the start. Opening the battle with the famous quote, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley," on May 1, U.S. Commodore George Dewey defeated the Spanish squadron in Manila Bay, thus taking the Philippine Islands. Guam soon followed. Closer to home, U.S. and Cuban troops took El Viso Fort and the town of El Caney. San Juan Hill was taken with the help of the Rough Riders led by Col. Theodore Roosevelt. By mid-July, Spanish control of Cuba was at an end. The Rough Riders and their famous leader passed into legend, and just three years later, TR was in the White House.
The Rough Riders were not the only heros at the Battle of San Juan Hill. Albert L. Mills was a member of the 1st US Cavalry, fighting Plains Indians up to the Spanish American War. He then went to Cuba, and, alongside Roosevelt's regiment, fought at San Juan Hill. He was shot through the head there, was temporarily blinded, and yet continued to command his men. He won the Medal of Honor for these heroics.
After Mills recovered from his wounds, he was appointed by President McKinley as Superintendent at West Point, a position he held until August of 1906. At that time, Admiral J.B. Coghlan, who had commanded vessels in the Caribbean and around Panama, and former Senator Warner Miller, held a dinner in honor of his leaving West Point. Roosevelt was invited and responded with this letter, both explaining that he was unable to come and praising the patriotism of his old compatriot in arms and West Point leader.
Typed letter signed, as President, on White House letterhead, August 28, 1906, to Senator Warner Miller. "My dear Senator Miller: I wish I could be present at the dinner to be given by you and your associates, with my old friend Admiral Coghlan presiding, to General Mills. It has been my good fortune to have served with General Mills in battle, and he is the type of American officer of whom the whole American people should be proud. May all good fortune go with him everywhere."
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