Rough Riders
1898 volunteer regiment
The Rough Riders were a volunteer cavalry regiment in the Spanish-American War of 1898, officially the First United States Volunteer Cavalry.
Led by Theodore Roosevelt, they became famous for their charge up San Juan Hill in Cuba.
The name evokes frontier toughness—cowboys and ranchers who could handle unbroken horses.
He idolized the Rough Riders as a boy.
Twenty-sixth American president
- San Juan HillSpanish-American War battleground
- Spanish-American War1898 US-Spain territorial conflict
- 1898A calendar year
- CubaCaribbean island country
Treaty of Paris · McKinley · war heroes · Medal of Honor · mustering out
Fixed in position
- chargersPower-restoring devices or warhorses
- horsesLarge domesticated hoofed mammals
- saddleMounted rider's seat
- reinsBit-attached steering straps
stirrups · gallop · sabers · carbine · troopers · scouts · patrol · horsemanship
Colonel-led military unit
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
- soldiersMilitary personnel who fight
- companyCommercial enterprise or guests
- squadronMilitary aviation unit
deployment · formation · Gatling guns · uniforms · campaign · assault · skirmish · battle line
Courage in danger
- courageFortitude facing danger
- heroismExceptional courage under duress
- gallantryCourage, especially in combat
- daringAdventurous courage
fearlessness · boldness · charge · audacity · intrepidity · pluck · mettle · resolve
Armed civilians, not professionals
- recruitsNewly joined members
- enlistmentVoluntary entry into service
- musteringGathering or summoning
- cowboysRanch hands tending herds
ranchers · Ivy Leaguers · athletes · frontiersmen · miners · lawmen · patriotism · motley crew
Teddy Roosevelt
Twenty-sixth American president
- San Juan HillSpanish-American War battleground
- Spanish-American War1898 US-Spain territorial conflict
- 1898A calendar year
Cuba · Treaty of Paris · McKinley · war heroes · Medal of Honor · mustering out
mounted
Fixed in position
- chargersPower-restoring devices or warhorses
- horsesLarge domesticated hoofed mammals
- saddleMounted rider's seat
reins · stirrups · gallop · sabers · carbine · troopers · scouts · patrol · horsemanship · cavalry charge
regiment
Colonel-led military unit
- troopsMilitary personnel collectively
- soldiersMilitary personnel who fight
- companyCommercial enterprise or guests
squadron · deployment · formation · Gatling guns · uniforms · campaign · assault · skirmish · battle line · field operations
valor
Courage in danger
- courageFortitude facing danger
- heroismExceptional courage under duress
- gallantryCourage, especially in combat
daring · fearlessness · boldness · charge · audacity · intrepidity · pluck · mettle · resolve · tenacity
citizen-soldiers
Armed civilians, not professionals
- recruitsNewly joined members
- enlistmentVoluntary entry into service
- musteringGathering or summoning
cowboys · ranchers · Ivy Leaguers · athletes · frontiersmen · miners · lawmen · patriotism · motley crew · diverse backgrounds
- 1898 AmericaSpanish-American War, USS Maine, McKinley, Cuba, Philippines
- RooseveltsTheodore Roosevelt, Teddy Roosevelt, Theodore, FDR, Franklin Roosevelt
- Southwest historySanta Fe Trail, frontier, Old West, Wild West, statehood
- US MilitaryArmy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Pentagon, West Point
- Early 1900sroaring twenties, flapper, jazz, speakeasy, prohibition
- warriorsfighter, knight, footsoldier, barbarian, samurai
Rough Ridersregular army
Nation's permanent military force
standing army · regulars · commissioned officers · line infantry
rough, ride, rider, roughly, roughness, riders, roughest, rougher, roughs