Sold – TR Announces That He Has Been Named to Command the Rough Riders

In April of 1897 Roosevelt was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy as a reward for his tireless campaigning for the newly elected President, William McKinley. He foresaw that war could develop with Spain and was proven right, as when the U.S.S. Maine blew up in Havana harbor, the Spanish were blamed. From that moment, Roosevelt sprang into action, transporting ammunition, readying ships for action, and moving to have Congress allow for enlisting unlimited sailors. He cabled Admiral Dewey to be ready if war were to break out and gave him his objectives. TR also made it known to the President and others that if war came, he wanted to leave his post behind a desk in Washington and head for the front.

I am to be Lieutenant colonel of a regiment of mounted riflemen raised in the West

On April 20, 1898, the President gave an ultimatum requiring that the Spanish Government free Cuba in three days. On April 23, that ultimatum expired and the machinery was set in motion for an official declaration of war. Also on the 23rd, Secretary of War Russell Alger told Roosevelt of a proposed special regiment to be formed for the war; it would he known as the Rough Riders. When the war was commenced, he said, TR would be given the opportunity to command that regiment. Roosevelt expressed great interest. Congress declared war on the 25th, and that same day Roosevelt was officially offered the command of the Rough Riders, which he accepted. The news of his appointment would not be known, however, until later. On the 26th, TR set about planning to assemble, train and lead the regiment, which would be made up of an odd but effective assemblage of Western cowboys and frontiersmen, and Eastern athletes and sons of prominent citizens. It was not until May 6 that Roosevelt’s role became official and he resigned his post as Assistant Secretary of the Navy.

William Tudor was from a Boston Brahmin family, and he had made a fortune investing in mines. Well acquainted with Roosevelt, with war imminent, he wrote to TR in his capacity as Assistant Secretary of the Navy, to see if he could use his influence to get a commission to serve in the military. This letter was written before the public realized TR was taking a field command.

Typed Letter Signed on his Navy letterhead, April 26, 1898, to Tudor, announcing that he is to command the Rough Riders. “I am awfully sorry I can’t be of the least assistance to you. I am to be Lieutenant colonel of a regiment of mounted riflemen raised in the West and the companies will elect their own officers; so I am afraid I could not get you a commission. I am very sorry.”

The story does not end here, however, as though Tudor was not offered a commission, his son Bill was permitted to enlist in the Rough Riders. Bill served with the unit in Cuba, but was sent home in July because of illness. Hearing from his son that many of the men were ill, Tudor wanted to contribute money to aid with their care. So when the Rough Riders returned from Cuba in August, he wrote Roosevelt offering this help and sending a check.

Typed Letter Signed, Montauk, N.Y., September 3, 1898, to Tudor, telling him that the sick Rough Riders were being adequately cared for, and informing him that the unit was actually going to be leaving the service. “You are more than kind. Our Rough Riders are now alright, and  are being mustered out, and I shall turn most of your check over to the Red Cross.” The famed unit was mustered out less than two weeks later, and it passed into history. Professional restoration to the tail end of the signature.