Jericho McAdams

Jericho McAdams

By: Stephen Tully

Most of us remember, at least in general terms, the story about Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders and how they turned the tide in the Spanish American War with their heroic actions at the Battle of San Juan Hill in Cuba. As the story goes, Teddy Roosevelt led his men in an attack on the hilltop entrenchments held by the Spanish. But the truth about what inspired the attack has largely been lost to history. One of the lesser known Rough Riders whose name has languished in the deep, dark recesses of history’s dustbin was a certain Private Jericho McAdams. Remarkably, he had mistakenly volunteered for military service after a hard night of drinking when he stumbled into an army recruitment center in San Francisco, thinking it was a hotel, and signed his name on what he thought was the hotel register. Five weeks later he was standing in Cuba, in uniform, scared out of his wits - for he was, by nature, a very cowardly man. As the troops prepared for battle, Jericho, who had traded his rifle for a fifth of whiskey, stood drunken and quivering in the rear of the line, intermittently crying and cursing his luck. He was terrified. Some of his fellow soldiers decided to have some fun with him so they said "Hey Jericho here they come...here come those bloodthirsty Spaniards!" and they pointed to the rear of the line, in the opposite direction of the hill. Jericho let out a shriek and ran like a man possessed through the ranks of his own men and up the hill, crying and cursing the whole way. Teddy, who couldn't decide if he should hold his ground or attack, saw Jericho sprint past him and was truly inspired by what he would later call, "The bravest act I have ever witnessed." Mounting his steed, he shouted "Follow that man...Charge!" and he rode up the hill and into history. Years later, a simple headstone marks the grave of our accidental hero. On its face are etched the words "Here Lies Jericho "Scalded Dog" McAdams." Next to his name is an arrow pointing downward with the inscription, "This Way To Heaven."