Jules Garesche Ord

Jules Garesche "Gary" Ord (September 9, 1866 – July 1, 1898) was a United States Army First Lieutenant who was killed in action after leading the charge of Buffalo Soldiers of the 10th U.S. Cavalry up San Juan Hill. History now records that Ord was responsible for the "spontaneous" charge that took the San Juan Heights during the Spanish–American War in Cuba on July 1, 1898.

Early life Young Garesche, as he was known to his parents, was the youngest surviving son of 15 children and born in Michigan in 1866. His father, the then Captain Edward Otho Cresap Ord (1818–1883), married Mary Mercer Thompson (1831–1894) in 1854. His father was a career military officer who was a hero in the Civil War and had served as a Major General of Volunteers. After the war, he reverted to being a Brigadier General in the Regular Army.

On August 2, 1870 the family was in San Francisco, California with seven children. Young Garesche lived with servants and was taught by tutors.

By June 1880 the family was in San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas. John Bigelow Jr. whose diplomat father John Bigelow had been a close friend with Ord's father General Otho Cresap Ord. John Bigelow had once dated Ord's elder sister Roberta (Bertie) and despite encouragements from both families the relationship waned. Before his final battle during a lull, Ord told Bigelow that he would come out of this battle either as a "colonel or a corpse."

Myths of the battle The Rough Riders under Colonel Theodore Roosevelt would claim to have taken Kettle Hill on the American right with assistance from several troops of the "black" 10th Cavalry and the entire 3rd Cavalry ("white" volunteers). The reality was that "the regulars" were supported by the 3rd & Roosevelt's 1st in taking the hill. Most of the 10th supported by elements of the 24th and 25th colored infantry on the left would take San Juan Hill, which was the main Spanish defensive position with several block houses. The 10th held the center position between the two hills and when they went forward the command would be split headed toward the tops of both hills.

His brother, then Captain Edward Otho Cresap Ord, II (1858–1923) then of the 22nd Infantry Regiment fought at Santiago July 3–17, 1898. He too would suffer from yellow fever and its second phase. He would live but require a long sabbatical from military service.