Rough Riders In The Civil War

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In 1898 the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry created a new unit. This new unit was named the “Rough Riders” This was one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three that saw action. The United States Army was weakened and left with little manpower after the American Civil War which ended 30 years ago. As a result, President William McKinley called upon volunteers to assist in the war efforts. The Rough Riders were a key part in the fight for Cuban Independence that made them one of the most popular fighting forces in American history. Secretary of War, General Russell Alger, offered Roosevelt his own regiment. Roosevelt turned it down, because he had little military knowledge and experience and recommend Colonel Leonard Wood be placed in charge (The Life and Times of Theodore Roosevelt,. p. 295). Theodore Roosevelt settled with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. The regiment, nicknamed the "Rough Riders", was made up of cowboys, gold or mining prospectors, hunters, gamblers, Native Americans and college boys. Other people would volunteer and be accepted. On May 15, 1898, Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt arrived at his new command near San Antonio, Texas. He quickly took to training the men, while expressing concern over the independent nature that many of the western members of the unit possessed. The Rough Riders men were…show more content…
Sixteen Rough Riders were killed in action and 50 were wounded, but the wounded Rough Riders continued to fight. One of the soldiers, who were seriously wounded in the hip, asked only for his canteen and his rifle and continued to fight until he died (Colonel Roosevelt: Theodore Roosevelt Goes to War, 1897-1898., p. 220). This showed how well trained and discipline the Rough Riders were. The battle was a victory! It would be their first of
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