President Theodore Roosevelt, Calling Himself the “Old Colonel”, Inscribes and Signs a Photo to One of His Rough Riders

The Rough Riders are one of the most famous fighting units in American history, and his leadership of them made Theodore Roosevelt’s career

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Congress declared war on Spain on April 25, 1898, and that same day Roosevelt was officially offered (and accepted) second in command of the Rough Riders; he would soon take over full command of the unit. He immediately set about assembling and training the regiment, which was made up of an effective...

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President Theodore Roosevelt, Calling Himself the “Old Colonel”, Inscribes and Signs a Photo to One of His Rough Riders

The Rough Riders are one of the most famous fighting units in American history, and his leadership of them made Theodore Roosevelt’s career

Congress declared war on Spain on April 25, 1898, and that same day Roosevelt was officially offered (and accepted) second in command of the Rough Riders; he would soon take over full command of the unit. He immediately set about assembling and training the regiment, which was made up of an effective assemblage of Western cowboys and frontiersmen, and Eastern athletes and sons of prominent citizens.

George L. Bugbee of New Mexico was inducted as a corporal in the unit, and went to Cuba with it. He served in the Battle of San Juan Hill on July 1, 1898, which brought fame and renown to both the Rough Riders and their leader.

By August 14, 1898 the Rough Riders were back in the United States and encamped at Montauk at the tip of Long Island. They would be mustered out on September 15 and pass into history.

Roosevelt transitioned into his role as Vice President and then President, but still kept the Rough Riders close to his heart. In June of 1904 Bugbee was attending a meeting of the Association of American Railway Accounting Officers at Saratoga, NY and wrote to President Roosevelt, “…after that meeting, if it is convenient [I] would like to call and have a talk with you about the old regiment and the boys, before returning home to Mexico. Do not want to talk politics or office seeking. If I can see you will go to Washington or Oyster Bay after the meeting, if not, will come on back from Saratoga.”

There is no record of whether Roosevelt and Bugbee got together to reminisce about their Rough Rider days, but in March of 1905, Roosevelt was still thinking of Bugbee and sent him this inscribed and signed photograph. “To George L Bugbee from his old colonel. Theodore Roosevelt March 2 1905”

A heartwarming connection between two men who fought side by side and the bond that ensued.

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