Hamilton Fish II (Rough Rider)

For other people named Hamilton Fish, see Hamilton Fish (disambiguation).

Hamilton Fish II
From 1899's "The Rough Riders" by Theodore Roosevelt
Nickname(s)	Ham
Born	June 27, 1873 New York City
Died	June 24, 1898 (age 25) Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Buried at	Saint Philip's Church Cemetery, Garrison, New York
Allegiance	United States of America
Service/branch	United States Army
Years of service	1898
Rank	Sergeant
Unit	1st United States Volunteer Cavalry Regiment
Battles/wars	Spanish–American War Battle of Las Guasimas

Hamilton Fish II, of the Rough Riders, a wealthy young New Yorker, was a Sergeant in the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, the Rough Riders, during the Spanish–American War.

Biography

Fish was a graduate of Columbia University where he was a member of St. Anthony Hall. Fish was son of diplomat and banker Nicholas Fish and grandson of the 26th United States Secretary of State, Hamilton Fish.

Fish was not the only soldier from a prominent family in the unit: "... To this rugged crew, Roosevelt added some 50 men with backgrounds closer to his own: Ivy Leaguers from wealthy Eastern families. In citing their qualifications for active duty, Roosevelt touted their athletic accomplishments. Dudley Dean was "perhaps the best quarterback who ever played on a Harvard 11." Bob Wrenn was "the champion tennis player of America." Other Easterners included "Waller, the high jumper; Craig Wadsworth, the steeplechase rider; Joe Stephens, the crack polo player; and Hamilton Fish, the ex-captain of the Columbia crew."^[1]

He was a member of "L" troop commanded by Captain Allyn K. Capron, Jr.. He was one of the first Americans killed in the Battle of Las Guasimas, near Santiago, Cuba, on June 24, 1898. He died of a gunshot just near the heart and survived less than a minute or so per the Rough Rider who was wounded by the same bullet that killed Fish.

Trivia

A dog given as a present by Teddy Roosevelt to Hamilton Fish became the mascot of Company B of the Rough Riders and a canine celebrity after the war. The animal, named "Don", reportedly also rushed up San Juan Hill with the Rough Riders. Don's subsequent owners were Col. William Wallace, then when Wallace died, Wallace's physician, Dr. Hadley. A contemporary account stated that "Since that time the big dog had had the freedom of the Quaker town (of Whittier, California), and had never walked through the streets without receiving much attention from small boys and girls to those of larger growth." Death came from "a big touring car containing four persons, going around a corner at so high a speed that the old dog, which was walking quietly along, could not get out of its way."^[2]

Movies

Hamilton Fish was played by Holt McCallany in the 1997 TV movie Rough Riders.^[3]

References

Rough Riders

Officers	Leonard Wood Theodore Roosevelt Alexander Oswald Brodie James H. McClintock Buckey O'Neill Seth Bullock John Campbell Greenway John Avery McIlhenny Allyn K. Capron Jr. Allyn K. Capron Sr. George Curry Woodbury Kane Thomas H. Rynning

Enlisted men	George G. McMurtry Chris Madsen Hamilton Fish Thomas Grindell Henry Barrett Billy McGinty Juan Alamia Frank Frantz Craig Wadsworth Henry Nash Ben Daniels Frank Knox Robert Wrenn

Engagements	Spanish–American War Battle of Las Guasimas Battle of San Juan Hill Siege of Santiago

Memorials	Rough Riders Memorial Buckey O'Neill Cabin Bucky O'Neill Monument Bronco Buster Theodore Roosevelt Monument Assemblage

Film	The Rough Riders (1927 film) Teddy, the Rough Rider (1940 film) Rough Riders (1997 mini-series)

See also	Buckhorn Saloon Arizona Rangers Three Guardsmen Canyon Diablo Train Robbery Tiburón Island Tragedy Roosevelt's World War I volunteers The Lost Battalion

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