Promotional materials suggest that the name of Rough Rider largely represented the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, " that the name was naturally transferred to and fitted it like a glove. In much of the press coverage about the regiment and particularly in the early history represented in the Wild West, the men in the regiment are described as having physical prowess, unqualified bravery, premium equestrian skill, ice-water in their veins, and the intelligence to carry out orders.
This perfectly resembles the image of the "true American frontiersman," or Western American man that Buffalo Bill Cody articulated. In examining the occupations of the men who made up the Roosevelt's Rough Riders one can understand the type of man that the public associated with the regiment and its actual composition. Men of many occupations comprised the ranks, but according to The Rough Rider illustrated periodical, the three main types were the cowboy, hunter, and miner, as "there could be no better material for soldiers than that afforded by these grim hunters of the mountains, these wild, rough riders of the plains, some of whom had served on the frontier However, the occupations of the men do not appear to match up to the public image.
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! 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. John H. Parker, which fired some 18, 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! Our Gatlings" Immediately the troopers began to cheer lustily, for the sound was most inspiring. 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! The Gatlings just enfiladed the top of those trenches. We'd never have been able to take Kettle Hill if it hadn't been for Parker's Gatling guns. 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 yards of the Americans on Kettle Hill.
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, rounds of captured 7mm Mauser ammunition - at tactical firing points in the American line. Colonel Roosevelt's example of valor and fearlessness in the face of danger served as motivation to his men to promptly follow his command and spring into the fray.
Had it been another leader with less charisma and spunk, the order to charge may not have been given and the cavalry may not have had the same enthusiasm in their charge uphill. As for Roosevelt himself, he gave most of the credit 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 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 defense.
The ultimate goal of capturing the San Juan Heights also known as Kettle Hill and San Juan Hill was from that strategic position to move downhill and take Santiago de Cuba, a strong point for the Spanish army. The Spanish had a fleet of their cruisers in port. By taking areas around Santiago and consequently moving in on the city from many sides, the United States hoped to scare the Spanish cruisers into leaving port out to sea where they would encounter the United States Navy.
This, in fact, was the exact result. Only a couple of days after the battle on San Juan Heights, the Spanish cruiser fleet was quickly sunk. This took a tremendous toll on the Spanish army due to the fact that a large portion of a nation's military power lies upon their naval capabilities. However, the sinking of the Spanish cruisers did not mean the end of the war. Battles continued in and around Santiago. Various battles in the region continued on and the United States was continuously victorious.
On August 12 the Spanish Government surrendered to the United States and agreed to an armistice that relinquished their control of Cuba. This was an enormous turning point for America which had been wounded by civil war for over thirty years. Gaining such a large mass of land all at once brought the United States up on the ladder of world powers. The Spanish-American War also began a trend of United States intervention in foreign affairs which has lasted to present day.
There, they met up with the other four companies that had been unfortunately 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.
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. Some of the men died after reaching home, and many were very sick.
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 "The Bronco-buster" which portrayed a cowboy riding a violently bucking horse. 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. On the morning of September 15 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 1st U. 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. Wood, as Colonel, and Roosevelt, as Lt. Colonel, began recruiting and organizing the First U. Volunteer Cavalry. They sorted through twenty-three thousand applications to form the regiment! Roosevelt's fame and personality turned him into the de-facto leader of this rag-tag group of polo players, hunters,cowboys, Native Americans, and athletic college buddies.
The regiment of "Roosevelt's Rough Riders" was born. The Rough Riders participated in two important battles in Cuba. The first action they saw occurred at the Battle of Las Guasimas on June 24, where the Spanish were driven away. The Rough Riders lost seven men with thirty-four wounded. Roosevelt narrowly avoided bullets buzzing by him into the trees, showering splinters around his face.
He led troops in a flanking position and the Spanish fled. American forces then assembled for an assault on the city of Santiago through the San Juan Hills. Colonel Wood was promoted in the field, and in response, Roosevelt happily wrote,"I got my regiment. He rode up and down the hill encouraging his men with the orders to "March!
Other regiments continued alongside him, and the American flag was raised over San Juan Heights. The war had lasting impacts. The "splendid little war" lasted ten weeks. It destroyed the Spanish Empire and ushered in a new era of American Empire. Roosevelt's political career ignited as he returned a war hero and national celebrity. He charged on horseback to victory at Kettle Hill and, collectively, San Juan Heights, and continued riding that horse all the way to the White House just three years later.
Roosevelt was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor, one hundred years later, for what was described as "…acts of bravery on 1 July, , near Santiago de Cuba, Republic of Cuba, while leading a daring charge up San Juan Hill. The video shown below this text is of Theodore Roosevelt leaving his job as Assistant Secretary to the Navy.
It is a silent film, apart from the introduction, which informs the viewer that this video is from the Library of Congress. The south portico of the White House is visible through trees in background.
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