Lions Led By Donkeys Podcast Episode 176 - The Spanish American War Part 3: The Stolen Valor of Teddy Roosevelt
Oct 4, 2021
A brisk rundown of the Santiago campaign, focusing on chaotic planning, disease, and command failures. The role of Buffalo Soldiers, junior officers, and Gatling guns in taking the heights is highlighted. The conversation digs into Teddy Roosevelt's mythmaking, disputed Medal of Honor claims, and how narratives erased Black soldiers. It closes on Cuba and Puerto Rico's political fallout and the war’s heavy toll from illness.
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San Juan Myth Versus Reality
- The popular San Juan Hill myth centers on Teddy Roosevelt but misrepresents who truly secured the heights.
- The battle's real dynamics favored Spanish defensive design and machine-gun suppression, not a heroic Rough Rider solo charge.
Failed Sequencing At El Caney
- El Caney's capture was intended to enable artillery to shell San Juan, but failure to coordinate made that plan moot.
- Tactical sequencing collapsed when El Caney dragged on twelve hours, negating its intended support for the main assault.
Sick Spanish Defenders Hold Strong
- Joe recounts the overwhelmed Spanish defenders: half-dead from disease, dug into blockhouses with intersecting fields of fire.
- Their prepared positions and Mauser rifles inflicted heavy losses despite extreme numerical inferiority.
