Roosevelt's Savior at San Juan Hill is Dead

Colonel Ammon A. Auger of the United States army dies of Bright's disease, leaving behind a legacy of heroism and “gallantry in his actions.”

Cincinnati, O., June 26 - Lieut. Col. Ammon A. Auger, United States Army, who for the past two months has been stationed at Fort Thomas Ky., died last night at that post after a lingering illness. Col. Auger was afflicted with Bright’s disease. He was born in Michigan 55 years ago and graduated at West Point. A widow and three children survive. Col. auger was promoted from Captain of the Twenty-fourth Infantry for bravery at San Juan Hill. When the rough riders, led by Col. Roosevelt charged up the hill to capture the Spanish blockhouse they were subjected to a murderous fire. A New York regiment which was expected to support them failed to make the charge and the Twenty-fourth Infantry, composed of colored regular troops, commanded by white officers, charged over their prostrated bodies. With this reinforcement the Roosevelt regiment swept up the hill and captured the blockhouse, the strategic point in the first day’s battle. The Twenty-fourth Infantry suffered severe losses in the fight. Nearly all of its officers were either killed or disabled. Col. Auger, however, escaped unscathed. In the second day’s battle he was given the command of a battalion of the regiment and again led his troops to victory. For gallantry in this action he was promoted to major and later became lieutenant colonel of the regiment. Col. Auger was taken seriously ill Indians in the West. He served three terms of service in the Philippines. Following the Cuban campaign he was stricken with yellow fever and was near death. Col. Auger was taken seriously ill in Japan last february while bringing his regiment, the Twenty-fourth Infantry, home from the Philippines. Death was due to a complication of diseases which were caused, it is believed by hardships of service in the tropics.

“Roosevelt's Savior at San Juan Hill is Dead,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed February 14, 2026, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/650.