Rough Rider

Member of the 1st Volunteer Cavalry regiment in the Spanish-American War.

The group, organized and led by Theodore Roosevelt and Leonard Wood, included cowboys, miners, policemen, and college athletes. The most famous of its exploits in the fighting in Cuba was an uphill charge in the Battle of Santiago (July 1, 1898) in which the group helped capture Kettle Hill and then charged across a valley to assist in the seizure of San Juan Ridge and its high point, San Juan Hill. Wide coverage of the regiment in the U.S. press helped establish Roosevelt's reputation.

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▪ United States cavalry

member of  1st Volunteer Cavalry 

 in the Spanish–American War, one of a regiment of U.S. cavalry volunteers recruited by Theodore Roosevelt (Roosevelt, Theodore) and composed of cowboys, miners, law-enforcement officials, and college athletes, among others. Their colourful and often unorthodox exploits received extensive publicity in the U.S. press. Col. Leonard Wood (Wood, Leonard) resigned as White House physician to command the regiment; Roosevelt, who resigned as assistant secretary of the Navy, was second in command. It was a flamboyant unit that received more publicity than any other unit in that war, especially for its uphill charge in the Battle of Santiago (July 1, 1898). The Rough Riders joined in the capture of Kettle Hill, then charged across a valley to assist in the seizure of San Juan Ridge, the highest point of which is San Juan Hill.

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