 The Rough Riders, without horses, led the charge. They and the black soldiers of the 9th and 10th Cavalry Regiments were the first up Kettle Hill, and San Juan Hill was taken soon thereafter. Then we found ourselves overlooking our major objective, Santiago, and the next day the siege of the city began. On July 3rd, the Spanish fleet was destroyed by our naval fleet, and on July 17th, the Spanish surrendered the city and Cuba to us.