But immediately on top of this came one of the hardest blows the Rough Riders had to endure, and one which some of them will probably never forget.
As already stated, volunteers from all over our nation were anxious to get into the fight, and it was no easy matter for the authorities at Washington to decide who should go and who should be left behind.
"Only eight troops of seventy men each of the Rough Riders will embark on the transport," was the order sent to Colonel Wood. More than this, it was ordered that the command should be on board of the transport by the following morning, otherwise it could not go.
"Four troops to be left behind!" exclaimed Theodore Roosevelt.
"Too bad," returned Colonel Wood. "Every man expects to go, and wants to go."
It was a hard task to tell some of the men that they could not go. Mr. Roosevelt tells us that many of them actually cried at the news. They were willing to go under any conditions. They did not want any pay, they did not want any pensions if they were disabled, and some, who had money, even offered to pay their way, just for the privilege of fighting for Uncle Sam. After such an exhibition, let nobody dare to say that true patriotism is dying out in this country.
But orders were orders, and as quickly as possible those to go were selected. Then the command marched to the railroad tracks to await the cars. None came, and they were given orders to march to another track. This they also did; but still no train appeared.
"We'll be left, that is certain," said Colonel Wood, anxiously.
"It certainly looks like it, unless we march the boys down to the port."
It was a train, but only of empty coal cars. It was about to pass by when the Rough Riders halted it.
"What's the matter with riding down to the port in the coal cars?" was the question asked by several.
"Good enough!" came the answer. "Into the cars, boys, and don't waste time!" And into the dirty coal cars they piled, and persuaded the engineer of the train to take them down to Port Tampa as quickly as he could.
If there had been bustle and confusion up at Tampa, it was far worse at the port. Everybody was in a hurry, and ten thousand soldiers stood around, not knowing what to do with their baggage, and not knowing which of the many transports to board.