The Rough Riders - Paperback

by Theodore Roosevelt (Author), Matthew Oyos (Introduction by)

The Spanish-American War of 1898 was brief but decisive, marking the United States as a world power, Theodore Roosevelt as a national hero, and the Rough Riders as a legendary force in winning the independence of Cuba from Spain. This volunteer cavalry regiment was one of the most colorful ever assembled, with lawyers, cowboys and ranchers, actors and musicians, hunters and trappers, football players, Indian fighters, ivy-league scholars, and blacksmiths proving equal to each other in stoic bravery. Commanding them, inspiring them, dashing through gunfire, was the ebullient Colonel Roosevelt.

The Rough Riders, published the year after "the splendid little war," is Roosevelt's account of the mustering of the regiment, the perils endured, and the horseback charge up Kettle Hill during the battle for the San Juan Heights. It offers many glimpses of the heroic men who quickly won the hearts of Americans. This Bison Books edition gathers eleven important photographs from earlier editions of the work and also contains two new maps and an index.

Back Jacket

The advent of war with Spain was a glorious opportunity for forceful leadership not to be missed by the hotheaded young Theodore Roosevelt. He resigned his post as Assistant-Secretary of the Navy in April, 1898 and, despite the strong disapproval of family and friends, he joined the Army as Lt. Colonel of a regiment to be raised in the territories of Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. He ordered a uniform from Brooks Brothers, a dozen pairs of steel spectacles, 'a couple of good, stout, quiet horses, ' and he was off to train his volunteers at San Antonio.

Author Biography

Introducer Matthew M. Oyos is a professor of history at Radford University in Virginia.