Rough Riders - wikipedia Rough Riders This article is about late 19th century US Cavalry. For other uses, see Rough Riders ( disambiguation ). First U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment Active 1898 Country United States of America Branch United States Army Type Cavalry Nickname ( s ) Rough Riders Engagements Spanish -- American War Battle of Las Guasimas Battle of San Juan Hill Siege of Santiago Commanders Notable commanders Leonard Wood Theodore Roosevelt The Rough Riders was a nickname given to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish -- American War and the only one of the three to see action. The United States Army was small and understaffed in comparison to its status during the American Civil War roughly thirty years prior. As a measure towards rectifying this situation President William McKinley called upon 125,000 volunteers to assist in the war efforts. The regiment was also called `` Wood 's Weary Walkers '' in honor of its first commander, Colonel Leonard Wood. This nickname served to acknowledge that despite being a cavalry unit they ended up fighting on foot as infantry. Wood 's second in command was former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Theodore Roosevelt, a man who had pushed for American involvement in the Cuban War of Independence. When Colonel Wood became commander of the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, the Rough Riders then became `` Roosevelt 's Rough Riders. '' That term was familiar in 1898, from Buffalo Bill who called his famous western show `` Buffalo Bill 's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World. '' The Rough Riders were mostly made of college athletes, cowboys, ranchers, miners, and other outdoorsmen. With these men being from southwestern ranch country, they were quite skilled in horsemanship. Contents 1 Formation and early history 1.1 Equipment 1.2 Training 2 Spanish -- American War 2.1 Departure from the United States 2.2 Battle of Las Guasimas 2.3 Battle of San Juan Hill 2.4 Siege of Santiago 3 Aftermath 3.1 Return home 3.2 Disbandment 4 Last survivors 5 World War I 6 Muster roll 7 Theatrical productions 8 See also 9 References 9.1 Sources 10 External links Formation and early History Colonel Theodore Roosevelt in his Rough Riders uniform on October 26, 1898, by Rockwood. The volunteers were gathered in four areas : Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. They were gathered mainly from the southwest because the hot climate region that the men were used to was similar to that of Cuba where they would be fighting. `` The difficulty in organizing was not in selecting, but in rejecting men. '' The allowed limit set for the volunteer cavalry men was promptly met. They gathered a diverse bunch of men consisting of cowboys, gold or mining prospectors, hunters, gamblers, Native Americans and college boys -- all of whom were able - bodied and capable on horseback and in shooting. Among these men were also police officers and military veterans who wished to see action again, most of whom had already retired. Men who had served in the regular army during campaigns against Native Americans or during the Civil War would serve as higher ranking officers, since they already had the knowledge and experience to lead and train the men. The unit thus would not be without experience. Leonard Wood, an Army doctor who served as the medical adviser for both the President and Secretary of War, was appointed colonel of The Rough Riders, with Roosevelt serving as lieutenant colonel. One particularly famous spot where volunteers were gathered was in San Antonio, Texas, at the Menger Hotel Bar. The bar is still open and serves as a tribute to the Rough Riders, containing much of their, and Theodore Roosevelt 's, uniforms and memorabilia. Equipment Before training began, Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt used his political influence as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to ensure that his volunteer regiment would be properly equipped to serve as any regular Army unit. The Rough Riders were armed with Model 1896 Carbines in caliber. 30 US. `` They succeeded in getting their cartridges, Colt Single Action Army revolvers, clothing, shelter - tents, and horse gear... and in getting the regiment armed with the Krag -- Jørgensen carbine used by the regular cavalry. '' The Rough Riders also used Bowie knives. A last - minute gift from a wealthy donor were a pair of modern tripod mounted, gas - operated M1895 Colt -- Browning machine guns in 7mm Mauser caliber. In contrast, the uniforms of the regiment were designed to set the unit apart : `` The Rough Rider uniform was a slouch hat, blue flannel shirt, brown trousers, leggings, and boots, with handkerchiefs knotted loosely around their necks. They looked exactly as a body of cowboy cavalry should look. '' This `` rough and tumble '' appearance contributed to earning them the title of `` The Rough Riders. '' Training Training was very standard, even for a cavalry unit. They worked on basic military drills, protocol, and habits involving conduct, obedience and etiquette. The men proved eager to learn what was necessary, and the training went smoothly. It was decided that the men would not be trained to use the saber as cavalry often did, as they had no experience with it. Instead, they used their carbines and revolvers as primary and secondary weapons. Although the men, for the most part, were already experienced horsemen, the officers refined their techniques in riding, shooting from horseback, and practicing in formations and in skirmishes. Along with these practices, the high - ranking men heavily studied books filled with tactics and drills to better themselves in leading the others. During times which physical drills could not be run, either because of confinement on board the train, ship, or during times where space was inadequate, there were some books that were read further as to leave no time wasted in preparation for war. The competent training that the volunteer men received prepared them best as possible for their duty. They were not simply handed weapons and given vague directions to engage in a disorderly brawl. Spanish -- American War Rough Riders heading to Cuba aboard the steamship Yucatan. Departure from the United States On May 29, 1898, 1060 Rough Riders and 1258 of their horses and mules made their way to the Southern Pacific railroad to travel to Tampa, Florida where they would set off for Cuba. The lot awaited orders for departure from Major General William Rufus Shafter. Under heavy prompting from Washington D.C., General Shafter gave the order to dispatch the troops early before sufficient traveling storage was available. Due to this problem, only eight of the twelve companies of The Rough Riders were permitted to leave Tampa to engage in the war, and many of the horses and mules were left behind. Aside from Lieutenant - Colonel Roosevelt 's first hand mention of deep, heartfelt sorrow from the men left behind, this situation resulted in a premature weakening of the men. Approximately one fourth of them who received training had already been lost, most dying of malaria and yellow fever. This sent the remaining troops into Cuba with a significant loss in men and morale. Upon arrival on Cuban shores on June 23, 1898, the men promptly unloaded themselves and the small amount of equipment they carried with them. Camp was set up nearby and the men were to remain there until further orders had been given to advance. Further supplies were unloaded from the ships over the next day including the very few horses that were allowed on the journey. `` The great shortcoming throughout the campaign was the utterly inadequate transportation. If they had been allowed to take our mule - train, they could have kept the whole cavalry division supplied. '' Each man was only able to carry a few days worth of food which had to last them longer and fuel their bodies for rigorous tasks. Even after only seventy - five percent of the total number of cavalry men was allowed to embark into Cuba they were still without most of the horses they had so heavily been trained and accustomed to using. They were not trained as infantry and were not conditioned to doing heavy marching, especially long distance in hot, humid, and dense jungle conditions. This ultimately served as a severe disadvantage to the men who had yet to see combat. Battle of Las Guasimas `` The Battle of Las Guasimas, June 24 - The heroic stand of the ' Rough Riders ' '' in Harper 's Pictorial History of the War with Spain. Main article : Battle of Las Guasimas Within another day of camp being established, men were sent forward into the jungle for reconnaissance purposes, and before too long they returned with news of a Spanish outpost, Las Guasimas. By afternoon, The Rough Riders were given the command to begin marching towards Las Guasimas, to eliminate opposition and secure the area which stood in the path of further military advance. Upon arrival at their relative destination, the men slept through the night in a crude encampment nearby the Spanish outpost they would attack early the next morning. The Spanish held an advantage over the Americans by knowing their way through the complicated trails in the area of combat. They predicted where the Americans would be traveling on foot and exactly what positions to fire on. They also were able to utilize the land and cover in such a way that they were difficult to spot. Along with this, their guns used smokeless powder which did not give away their immediate position upon firing as other gunpowders would have. This increased the difficulty of finding the opposition for the U.S. soldiers. In some locations the jungle was too thick to see very far. General Young, who was in command of the regulars and cavalry, began the attack in the early morning. Using long - range, large - caliber Hotchkiss guns he fired at the opposition, who were reportedly concealed along trenches, roads, ridges, and jungle cover. Colonel Wood 's men, accompanied by Lieutenant - Colonel Roosevelt, were not yet in the same vicinity as the other men at the start of the battle. They had a more difficult path to travel around the time the battle began, and at first they had to make their way up a very steep hill. `` Many of the men, footsore and weary from their march of the preceding day, found the pace up this hill too hard, and either dropped their bundles or fell out of line, with the result that we went into action with less than five hundred men. '' Lieutenant - Colonel Roosevelt became aware that there were countless opportunities for any man to fall out of formation and resign from battle without notice as the jungle was often too thick in places to see through. This was yet another event that left the group with fewer men than they had at the start. Regardless, The Rough Riders pushed forward toward the outpost along with the regulars. Using careful observation, the officers were able to locate where the opposition was hidden in the brush and entrenchments and they were able to target their men properly to overcome them. Toward the end of the battle, Edward Marshall, a newspaper writer, was inspired by the men around him in the heat of battle to pick up a rifle and begin fighting alongside them. When he suffered a gunshot wound in the spine from one of the Spaniards another soldier mistook him as Colonel Wood from afar and ran back from the front line to report his death. Due to this misconception, Roosevelt temporarily took command as Colonel and gathered the troops together with his leadership charisma. The battle lasted an hour and a half from beginning to end with The Rough Riders suffering only 8 dead and 31 wounded, including Captain Allyn K. Capron, Jr. Roosevelt came across Colonel Wood in full health after the battle finished and stepped down from his position to Lieutenant - Colonel. The United States had full control of this Spanish outpost on the road to Santiago by the end of the battle. General Shafter had the men hold position for six days while additional supplies were brought ashore. During this time The Rough Riders ate, slept, cared for the wounded, and buried the dead from both sides. During the six day encampment, some men died from fever. Among those stricken by illness was General Joseph Wheeler. Brigadier General Samuel Sumner assumed command of the cavalry and Wood took the second brigade as Brigadier General. This left Roosevelt as Colonel of The Rough Riders. Battle of San Juan Hill US Army encampment, 1st Volunteer Cavalry, Rough Riders, at the base of Kettle Hill about July 5, 1898. San Juan Hill and block houses are in back ground. US Army photo taken near the base of Kettle Hill about July 4, 1898. The soldier is pointing up to the top of Kettle Hill. In the background are the block houses on San Juan Hill and the American encampment. The Fight for Santiago. The `` Rough Riders '' charging up the San Juan Hill, July 1, and driving the Spanish from their intrenchments ( sic ). Illustration from McClure 's, October 1898 Main article : Battle of San Juan Hill The order was given for the men to march the eight miles along the road to Santiago from the outpost they had been holding. Originally, Colonel Roosevelt had no specific orders for himself and his men. They were simply to march to San Juan Heights where over one thousand Spanish soldiers held the area and hold position. It was decided that Brigadier General Henry Lawton 's division would be the main fighters in the battle while taking El Caney, a Spanish stronghold, a few miles away. The cavalry was to simply serve as a distraction while artillery and battery struck the Spanish from afar. Lawton 's infantry would begin the battle and The Rough Riders were to march and meet with them mid-battle. In this way, The Rough Riders were not seen as a critical tool to the United States Army in this battle. San Juan Hill and another hill were separated by a small valley and pond ; the river ran near the foot of both. Together, this geography formed San Juan Heights. Colonel Roosevelt and The Rough Riders made their way to the foot of what was dubbed Kettle Hill because of the old sugar refinement cauldrons that lay along it. The battle of San Juan Heights began with the firing of the artillery and battery at the Spanish location. Soon after battery - fire was returned and The Rough Riders, standing at the position of the friendly artillery, had to promptly move to avoid shells. The men moved down from their position and began making their way through and along the San Juan River towards the base of Kettle Hill. There they took cover along the riverbank and in the tall grass to avoid sniper and artillery fire that was being directed towards their position, however they were left vulnerable and pinned down. The Spanish rifles were able to discharge eight rounds in the twenty seconds it took for the United States rifles to reload. In this way they had a strong advantage over the Americans. The rounds they fired were 7mm Mauser bullets which moved at a high velocity and inflicted small, clean wounds. Some of the men were hit, but few were mortally wounded or killed. Theodore Roosevelt, deeply dissatisfied with General Shafter 's inaction with sending men out for reconnaissance and failure to issue more direct orders, became uneasy with the idea of leaving himself and his men sitting in the line of fire. He sent messengers to seek out one of the generals to try to coax orders from them to advance from their position. Finally, the Rough Riders received orders to assist the regulars in their assault on the hill 's front. Roosevelt, riding on horseback, got his men onto their feet and into position to begin making their way up the hill. He claimed that he wished to fight on foot as he did at Las Guasimas ; however he would have found it difficult to move up and down the hill to supervise his men in a quick and efficient manner on foot. He also recognized that he could see his men better from the elevated horseback, and they could see him better as well. Roosevelt chided his own men to not leave him alone in a charge up the hill, and drawing his sidearm promised nearby black soldiers separated from their own units that he would fire at them if they turned back, warning them he kept his promises. His Rough Riders chanted ( likely in jest ) `` Oh he always does, he always does ! '' The soldiers, laughing, fell in with the volunteers to prepare for the assault. As the troops of the various units began slowly creeping up the hill, firing their rifles at the opposition as they climbed, Roosevelt went to the captain of the platoons in back and had a word with him. He stated that it was his opinion that they could not effectively take the hill due to an insufficient ability to effectively return fire, and that the solution was to charge it full - on. The captain reiterated his colonel 's orders to hold position. Roosevelt, recognizing the absence of the other Colonel, declared himself the ranking officer and ordered a charge up Kettle Hill. The captain stood hesitant, and Colonel Roosevelt rode off on his horse, Texas, leading his own men uphill while waving his hat in the air and cheering. The Rough Riders followed him with enthusiasm and obedience without hesitation. By then, the other men from the different units on the hill became stirred by this event and began bolting up the hill alongside their countrymen. The ' charge ' was actually a series of short rushes by mixed groups of regulars and Rough Riders. Within twenty minutes Kettle Hill was taken, though casualties were heavy. The rest of San Juan Heights was taken within the hour following. The Rough Riders ' charge on Kettle Hill was facilitated by a hail of covering fire from three Gatling Guns commanded by Lt. John H. Parker, which fired some 18,000. 30 Army rounds into the Spanish trenches atop the crest of both hills. Col. Roosevelt noted that the hammering sound of the Gatling guns visibly raised the spirits of his men : `` There suddenly smote on our ears a peculiar drumming sound. One or two of the men cried out, `` The Spanish machine guns ! '' but, after listening a moment, I leaped to my feet and called, `` It 's the Gatlings, men ! Our Gatlings ! '' Immediately the troopers began to cheer lustily, for the sound was most inspiring. '' Trooper Jesse D. Langdon of the 1st Volunteer Infantry, who accompanied Col. Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders in their assault on Kettle Hill, reported : `` We were exposed to the Spanish fire, but there was very little because just before we started, why, the Gatling guns opened up at the bottom of the hill, and everybody yelled, `` The Gatlings ! The Gatlings ! '' and away we went. The Gatlings just enfiladed the top of those trenches. We 'd never have been able to take Kettle Hill if it had n't been for Parker 's Gatling guns. '' A Spanish counterattack on Kettle Hill by some 600 infantry was quickly devastated by one of Lt. Parker 's Gatling guns recently emplaced on the summit of San Juan Hill, which killed all but forty of the attackers before they had closed to within 250 yards of the Americans on Kettle Hill. Col. Roosevelt was so impressed by the actions of Lt. Parker and his men that he placed his regiment 's two 7mm Colt -- Browning machine guns and the volunteers manning them under Parker, who immediately emplaced them -- along with 10,000 rounds of captured 7mm Mauser ammunition -- at tactical firing points in the American line. Colonel Roosevelt gave a large share of the credit for the successful charge to Lt. Parker and his Gatling Gun Detachment : `` I think Parker deserved rather more credit than any other one man in the entire campaign... he had the rare good judgment and foresight to see the possibilities of the machine - guns... He then, by his own exertions, got it to the front and proved that it could do invaluable work on the field of battle, as much in attack as in defence. '' Original title : `` Colonel Roosevelt and his Rough Riders at the top of the hill which they captured, Battle of San Juan Hill. '' US Army victors on Kettle Hill about July 3, 1898 after the battle of `` San Juan Hill ( s ). '' Left to right is 3rd US Cavalry, 1st Volunteer Cavalry ( Col. Theodore Roosevelt center ) and 10th US Cavalry. A second similar picture is often shown cropping out all but the 1st Vol Cav and TR. Siege of Santiago Main article : Siege of Santiago Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders played a key role in the outcome of the Spanish -- American War by assisting the American forces in forming a constricting ring around the city of Santiago de Cuba. The ultimate goal of the Americans in capturing the San Juan Heights ( also known as Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill ) was to attain a strategic position from which to move downhill and attack Santiago, a strong point for the Spanish military. The Spanish had a fleet of cruisers in port. The United States drove the Spanish cruisers out of their port by taking areas around Santiago and subsequently moving in on the city from multiple directions. Two days after the battle on San Juan Heights, the US navy destroyed Spain 's Caribbean cruiser fleet at Santiago Bay. This took a tremendous toll on the Spanish military due to their widespread empire and heavy reliance upon naval capabilities. However, the sinking of the Spanish cruisers did not mean the end of the war. Battles continued in and around Santiago. By July 17, 1898, the Spanish forces in Santiago surrendered to General Shafter and the United States military. Various battles in the region continued on and the United States was continuously victorious. On August 12, 1898, the Spanish Government surrendered to the United States and agreed to an armistice that relinquished their control of Cuba. The armistice also gained the United States the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines. This large acquisition of land elevated the United States to the level of an imperial power. The Spanish -- American War also began a trend of United States intervention in foreign affairs which has lasted to the present day. Aftermath Return home On August 14, the Rough Riders landed at Montauk Point on Long Island, New York. There, they met up with the other four companies that had been left behind in Tampa. Colonel Roosevelt made note of how very many of the men who were left behind felt guilty for not serving in Cuba with the others. However, he also stated that `` those who stayed had done their duty precisely as did those who went, for the question of glory was not to be considered in comparison to the faithful performance of whatever was ordered. '' During the first portion of the month that the men stayed in Montauk they received hospital care. Many of the men were stricken with Malarial fever ( described at the time as `` Cuban fever '' ) and died in Cuba, while some were brought back to the United States on board the ship in makeshift quarantine. `` One of the distressing features of the Malaria which had been ravaging the troops was that it was recurrent and persistent. Some of the men died after reaching home, and many were very sick. '' Aside from malaria, there were cases of yellow fever, dysentery and other illnesses. Many of the men suffered from general exhaustion and were in poor condition upon returning home, some twenty pounds lighter. Everyone received fresh food and most were nourished back to their normal health. The rest of the month in Montauk, New York was spent in celebration of victory among the troops. The regiment was presented with three different mascots that represented the Rough Riders : a mountain lion by the name of Josephine that was brought to Tampa by some troops from Arizona, a war eagle named in Colonel Roosevelt 's honor brought in by some New Mexican troops, and lastly a small dog by the name of Cuba who had been brought along on the journey overseas. Accompanying the presented mascots was a young boy who had stowed away on the ship before it embarked to Cuba. He was discovered with a rifle and boxes of ammunition and was, of course, sent ashore before departure from the United States. He was taken in by the regiment that was left behind, given a small Rough Riders uniform, and made an honorary member. The men also made sure to honor their colonel in return for his stellar leadership and service. They presented him with a small bronze statue of Remington 's `` Bronco Buster '' which portrayed a cowboy riding a violently bucking horse. `` There could have been no more appropriate gift from such a regiment... most of them looked upon the bronze with the critical eyes of professionals. I doubt if there was any regiment in the world which contained so large a number of men able to ride the wildest and most dangerous horses. '' After the turning over of their gift, each and every man in the regiment walked by and shook Colonel Roosevelt 's hand and bid him a good - bye. Disbandment On the morning of September 15, 1898, the regimental property including all equipment, firearms and horses were turned back over to the United States government. The soldiers said one last good - bye to each other and the United States First Volunteer Cavalry, Roosevelt 's Rough Riders, was disbanded at last. Before they all returned to their respective homes across the country, Colonel Roosevelt gave them a short speech that commended their efforts in the war, expressed his profound pride and reminded them that, although heroes, they would have to integrate back into normal society and work as hard as everyone else. Many of the men were unable to gain their jobs back from when they lost them before leaving for war. Some, due to illness or injury, were unable to work for a long time. Money was donated by a number of wealthier supporters of the regiment and used to supplement the well being of the needy veterans, many of whom were too proud to accept the help. US Postage Stamp, 1948 issue, commemorating 50th anniversary of Theodore Roosevelt 's Rough Riders. A first reunion of the Rough Riders was held in the Plaza Hotel in Las Vegas, New Mexico in 1899. Roosevelt, then Governor of New York, attended this event. In 1948, fifty years after the Rough Riders disbandment, the U.S. Post office issued a commemorative stamp in their honor and memory. The stamp depicts Captain William Owen `` Bucky '' O'Neill, who was killed in action while leading troop A at the Battle of San Juan Hill, July 1, 1898. The Rough Riders continued to have annual reunions in Las Vegas until 1967, when the sole veteran to attend was Jesse Langdon. He died in 1975. Last survivors The last two surviving veterans of the regiment were Frank C. Brito and Jesse Langdon. Brito, from Las Cruces, New Mexico, whose father was a Yaqui Indian stagecoach operator. Brito was 21 when he enlisted with his brother in May 1898. He never made it to Cuba, having been a member of H Troop, one of the four left behind in Tampa. He later became a mining engineer and lawman. He died April 22, 1973, at the age of 96. Langdon, born 1881 in what is now North Dakota, `` hoboed '' his way to Washington, D.C., and called on Roosevelt at the Navy Department, reminding him that his father, a veterinarian, had treated Roosevelt 's cattle at his Dakota ranch during his ranching days. Roosevelt arranged a railroad ticket for him to San Antonio, where Langdon enlisted in the Rough Riders at age 16. He was the last surviving member of the regiment and the only one to attend the final two reunions, in 1967 and 1968. He died June 29, 1975 at the age of 94, twenty - six months after Brito. World War I Just after the United States entered the war against the Central Powers, the U.S. Congress gave Roosevelt the authority to raise up to four divisions similar to the Rough Riders. Roosevelt immediately selected eighteen officers ( including : Seth Bullock, Frederick Russell Burnham, and James Rudolph Garfield ) to raise a volunteer infantry division, and began corresponding with Newton D. Baker, Secretary of War. After several months, many more men joined Roosevelt 's World War I volunteers, but Baker refused to offer any assistance or guidance to the new unit. Frustrated, Roosevelt telegraphed President Woodrow Wilson requesting his assistance ; however, as Commander - in - chief, Wilson refused to make use of the volunteers and Roosevelt disbanded the unit. Muster Roll Ticket for a 1906 fund - raising event to help finance a monument for the Rough Riders erected later in 1906 Mustered In : Officers : 56 Enlisted Men : 994 Mustered Out : Officers : 76 Enlisted Men : 1,090 Total Number Accounted for on Muster Out Roll : Officers : 52 Enlisted Men : 1,185 Losses While in Service : Officers : Promoted or Transferred : 0 Resigned or Discharged : 2 Dismissed : 0 Killed in Action : 2 Died of Wounds : 0 Died of Disease : 1 Died of Accident : 0 Drowned : 0 Suicide : 0 Murdered : 0 Total Officer losses : 5 Enlisted Men : Transferred : 0 Discharged for Disability : 9 Discharged by General Court Martial : 0 Discharged by Order : 31 Killed in Action : 21 Died of Wounds Received in Action : 3 Died of Disease : 19 Died of Accident : 0 Drowned : 0 Suicide : 14 Murdered or Homicide : 0 Deserted : 12 Total enlisted Losses : 95 Wounded : Officers : 7 Enlisted Men : 97 ( Source : The Adjutant General 's Office, Statistical Exhibit of Strength of Volunteer Forces Called Into Service During the War With Spain ; with Losses From All Causes. ( Washington : Government Printing Office, 1899 ) As presented in an Electronic Edition by the US Army Center of Military History ) Theatrical productions Buffalo Bill 's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World, c. 1898 William H. West 's Big Minstrel Jubilee : The Charge of San Juan Hill Colonel Theodore Roosevelt and the Rough Riders were popularly portrayed in Wild West Shows such as Buffalo Bill 's Wild West and Congress of Rough Riders of the World and in Minstrel shows such as William H. West 's Big Minstrel Jubilee. Roosevelt himself had a hand in popularizing the legends of the Rough Riders, recruiting Mason Mitchell, a fellow Rough Rider with theatrical talent, to perform for the Republican State Committee of New York. More than anyone else, William Frederick Cody, better known as Buffalo Bill, can be credited with helping to create and preserve the dramatic myth of the Rough Riders and the American Old West. His extravaganzas glamorized it into an appealing show for Eastern American audiences and helped permanently preserve the legends. See also Canyon Diablo Train Robbery Battleground Gunfight Rough Riders Memorial Leonard Wood Theodore Roosevelt Woodbury Kane References Jump up ^ Paul Mathingham Hutton, `` T.R. takes charge, '' American History 33. n3 ( August 1998 ), 30 ( 11 ). ^ Jump up to : Roosevelt, Theodore ( 1899 ). Rough Riders. P.F. Collier & Son Publishers. Retrieved September 30, 2013. Jump up ^ David S. Pierson, `` What the Rough Riders lacked in military discipline, they made up for with patriotic fervor and courage, '' Military History, XV ( June 1899 ), 10. Jump up ^ https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/dgm02 ^ Jump up to : Hutton, `` T.R. takes charge, '' 30 ( 11 ). ^ Jump up to : Pierson, `` What the Rough Riders lacked..., '' 10. Jump up ^ Parker, John H., The Gatlings At Santiago, preface by Theodore Roosevelt, Middlesex, U.K. : Echo Library ( reprinted 2006 ) Jump up ^ Roosevelt, Theodore, The Rough Riders, Scribner 's Magazine, Vol. 25, May 1899, New York : Charles Scribner 's Sons, p. 568 Jump up ^ Jones, V.C., Before The Colors Fade : Last Of The Rough Riders, American Heritage Magazine, August 1969, Vol. 20, Issue 5, p. 26 Jump up ^ Parker, John H. ( Lt. ), The Gatlings At Santiago, Middlesex, U.K. : Echo Library ( reprinted 2006 ), pp. 59 -- 61 Jump up ^ Parker, John H. ( Lt. ), History of the Gatling Gun Detachment, Kansas City, MO : Hudson - Kimberly Publishing Co. ( 1898 ), pp. 160 -- 161 Jump up ^ Roosevelt, Theodore ( Col. ), The Rough Riders, Scribner 's Magazine, p. 568 ^ Jump up to : Dale L. Walker, `` from the San Juan Heights, '' Military History, XXV ( Jul / Aug 2008 ), 17. Jump up ^ `` New Mexico History / Plaza Hotel ''. Trips into History. 2012 - 07 - 23. Retrieved 2014 - 07 - 31. ^ Jump up to : Harris, Richard K. ( 2006 - 11 - 01 ). New Mexico. Globe Pequot Press. ISBN 978 - 0 - 7627 - 4205 - 9. Retrieved 2014 - 07 - 31. Jump up ^ Smithsonian National Postal Museum : Rough Riders Issue Jump up ^ Roosevelt, Theodore ( 1917 ). The Foes of Our Own Household. New York : George H. Doran company. p. 347. LCCN 17025965. Jump up ^ `` Theodore Roosevelt Arranges a Dramatic Presentation About the Rough Riders, 1898 ''. Shapell Manuscript Collection. SMF. Sources `` Rough Riders ''. Smithsonian National Postal Museum. Retrieved January 11, 2014. External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rough Riders. Theodore Roosevelt on Government Neglect of the Rough Riders After San Juan Hill Shapell Manuscript Foundation The Rough Riders at Project Gutenberg Roosevelt 's personal recollections of the campaign Rough Riders Memorial Collection : Roosevelt and the campaign at TR.com The Rough Riders public domain audiobook at LibriVox 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 Theodore Roosevelt 26th President of the United States, 1901 -- 1909 25th Vice President of the United States, 1901 33rd Governor of New York, 1899 -- 1900 Assistant Secretary of the Navy, 1897 -- 1898 New York City Police Commissioner, 1895 -- 1897 New York State Assemblyman, 1882 1883 1884 Presidency First inauguration historic site Second inauguiration `` Square Deal '' Booker T. Washington dinner Conservation Newlands Reclamation Act Transfer Act of 1905 Antiquities Act Pelican Island Devils Tower National Monument Muir Woods National Monument Other National Monuments United States Forest Service, United States Reclamation Service National Wildlife Refuge System Roosevelt Arch Conference of Governors Northern Securities Company breakup court case Coal strike of 1902 Pure Food and Drug Act Food and Drug Administration Meat Inspection Act Expediting Act Elkins Act Hepburn Act Aldrich -- Vreeland Act Federal Employers Liability Act Kinkaid Act Big Stick ideology Hay -- Bunau - Varilla Treaty Panama Canal Zone Panama Canal Venezuelan crisis Roosevelt Corollary Occupation of Cuba Russo - Japanese War Treaty of Portsmouth 1906 Nobel Peace Prize Gentlemen 's Agreement of 1907 College football meetings Bureau of Investigation Department of Commerce and Labor Bureau of Corporations Keep Commission Inland Waterways Commission Bureau of the Census Great White Fleet Perdicaris incident Cabinet White House West Wing State of the Union Address, 1901 1906 1908 White House desk Federal judiciary appointments Other events Spanish -- American War Rough Riders Battle of Las Guasimas Battle of San Juan Hill `` Bull Moose '' Progressive Party New Nationalism Assassination attempt Boone and Crockett Club Smithsonian -- Roosevelt African Expedition `` River of Doubt '' Amazonian expedition Life and homes Birthplace, boyhood home replica Sagamore Hill Home and Museum Oyster Bay Elkhorn Ranch Maltese Cross Cabin Pine Knot cabin Gravesite Writings and speeches Theodore Roosevelt bibliography The Naval War of 1812 ( 1882 book ) `` The Strenuous Life '' ( 1899 speech ) `` Citizenship in a Republic '' ( 1910 speech ) `` I have just been shot '' ( 1912 speech ) Theodore Roosevelt : An Autobiography ( 1913 book ) The Forum magazine articles Theodore Roosevelt Cyclopedia Archival collections Elections New York state election, 1898 Republican National Convention, 1900 1904 1912 1916 United States presidential election, 1900 1904 1912 Legacy Mount Rushmore Theodore Roosevelt Center and Digital Library White House Roosevelt Room Theodore Roosevelt National Park Theodore Roosevelt Wilderness Theodore Roosevelt Island Roosevelt National Forest Roosevelt Study Center Theodore Roosevelt Association Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park Monument Assemblage Roosevelt River Theodore Roosevelt Award Roosevelt Road U.S. Postage stamps Theodore Roosevelt, Rough Rider sculpture Equestrian statue Popular culture Teddy bear `` Speak softly, and carry a big stick '' Books Films Roosevelt in Africa 1910 documentary The Roosevelts 2014 documentary Related Political positions `` Bully pulpit '' Ananias Club `` Nature fakers '' Progressive Era A Guest of Honor Porcellian Club `` Muckraker '' National Collegiate Athletic Association `` Roosevelt Republican '' Family Alice Hathaway Lee ( first wife ) Edith Kermit Carow ( second wife ) Alice Lee Roosevelt ( daughter ) Theodore Roosevelt III ( son ) Kermit Roosevelt ( son ) Ethel Carow Roosevelt ( daughter ) Archibald Roosevelt ( son ) Quentin Roosevelt ( son ) Theodore Roosevelt Sr. ( father ) Martha Stewart Bulloch ( mother ) Anna Roosevelt ( sister ) Elliott Bulloch Roosevelt ( brother ) Corinne Roosevelt ( sister ) Cornelius Roosevelt ( grandfather ) James Stephens Bulloch ( grandfather ) James A. Roosevelt ( uncle ) Robert Roosevelt ( uncle ) James Dunwoody Bulloch ( half - uncle ) Irvine Bulloch ( uncle ) Theodore Douglas Robinson ( nephew ) Corinne Robinson ( niece ) Anna Eleanor Roosevelt ( niece ) Hall Roosevelt ( nephew ) ← William McKinley William Howard Taft → Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rough_Riders&oldid=816316440 '' Categories : Rough Riders Cavalry regiments of the United States Army American military personnel of the Spanish -- American War Military units and formations of the Spanish -- American War Military history of the United States Theodore Roosevelt History of Arizona 1898 establishments in Arizona Territory Cowboys American Old West Military units and formations established in 1898 1898 disestablishments in the United States Hidden categories : Use mdy dates from May 2014 Pages using deprecated image syntax Articles with Project Gutenberg links Articles with LibriVox links Talk Contents About Wikipedia Deutsch Español Français Italiano मराठी 日本 語 Norsk Polski Português Русский Svenska Edit links This page was last edited on 20 December 2017, at 16 : 10. 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Question: what were rough riders in the spanish american war
Answer: the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish–American War and the only one of the three to see action; the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry; a nickname given to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry