vesselwouldnothavebeenaformidablefoetoanyantagonistsofmuchmoremodernconstructionthanthegalleysofAlcibiadesseemedtodisturbnobody。
Thiswasonesideofthepicture。Theothersidewasthatthecrisisatoncebroughttothefrontanyamountoflatentfightingstrength。
TherewereplentyofCongressmenwhoshowedcool-headedwisdomandresolution。Theplainpeople，themenandwomenbackofthepersonswholosttheirheads，setseriouslytoworktoseethatwedidwhateverwasnecessary，andmadethejobathoroughone。Theyoungmenswarmedtoenlist。Intimeofpeaceithadbeendifficulttofillthescantyregulararmyandnavy，andtherewereinnumerabledesertions；
nowtheshipsandregimentswereover-enlisted，andsomanydesertersreturnedinordertofightthatitbecamedifficulttodecidewhattodowiththem。England，andtoalessdegreeJapan，werefriendly。ThegreatpowersofContinentalEuropewereallunfriendly。Theyjeeredatourshipsandmen，andwithfatuouspartisanshipinsistedthattheSpaniardswouldprovetoomuchforour“mercenaries“becausewewereacommercialpeopleoflowidealswhocouldnotfight，whilethemenwhomweattemptedtohireforthatpurposewerecertaintorunonthedayofbattle。
AmongmyfriendswasthethenArmySurgeonLeonardWood。Hewasasurgeon。Nothavinganincome，hehadtoearnhisownliving。HehadgonethroughtheHarvardMedicalSchool，andhadthenjoinedthearmyintheSouthwestasacontractdoctor。Hehadeveryphysical，moral，andmentalqualitywhichfittedhimforasoldier’slifeandfortheexerciseofcommand。IntheinconceivablywearingandharassingcampaignsagainsttheApacheshehadservednominallyasasurgeon，reallyincommandoftroops，onmorethanoneexpedition。HewasasanxiousasIwasthatiftherewerewarweshouldbothhaveourpartinit。IhadalwaysfeltthatiftherewereaseriouswarIwishedtobeinapositiontoexplaintomychildrenwhyIdidtakepartinit，andnotwhyIdidnottakepartinit。Moreover，IhadverydeeplyfeltthatitwasourdutytofreeCuba，andIhadpubliclyexpressedthisfeeling；andwhenamantakessuchaposition，heoughttobewillingtomakehiswordsgoodbyhisdeedsunlessthereissomeverystrongreasontothecontrary。Heshouldpaywithhisbody。
Assoonaswarwasuponus，WoodandIbegantotryforachancetogotothefront。CongresshadauthorizedtheraisingofthreeNationalVolunteerCavalryregiments，whollyapartfromtheStatecontingents。
SecretaryAlgeroftheWarDepartmentwasfondofmepersonally，andWoodwashisfamilydoctor。AlgerhadbeenagallantsoldierintheCivilWar，andwasalmosttheonlymemberoftheAdministrationwhofeltallalongthatwewouldhavetogotowarwithSpainoverCuba。
Helikedmyattitudeinthematter，andbecauseofhisremembranceofhisownexperienceshesympathizedwithmydesiretogotothefront。
Accordinglyheofferedmethecommandofoneoftheregiments。Itoldhimthataftersixweeks’serviceinthefieldIwouldfeelcompetenttohandletheregiment，butthatIwouldnotknowhowtoequipitorhowtogetitintothefirstaction；butthatWoodwasentirelycompetentatoncetotakecommand，andthatifhewouldmakeWoodcolonelIwouldacceptthelieutenant-colonelcy。GeneralAlgerthoughtthisanactoffoolishself-abnegationonmypart——insteadofitsbeing，whatitwas，thewisestactIcouldhaveperformed。Hetoldmetoacceptthecolonelcy，andthathewouldmakeWoodlieutenant-
colonel，andthatWoodwoulddotheworkanyway；butIansweredthatI
didnotwishtoriseonanyman’sshoulders；thatIhopedtobegiveneverychancethatmydeedsandabilitieswarranted；butthatIdidnotwishwhatIdidnotearn，andthataboveallIdidnotwishtoholdanypositionwhereanyoneelsedidthework。HelaughedatmealittleandsaidIwasfoolish，butIdonotthinkhereallyminded，andhepromisedtodoasIwished。Truetohisword，hesecuredtheappointmentofWoodascolonelandofmyselfaslieutenant-coloneloftheFirstUnitedStatesVolunteerCavalry。Thiswassoonnicknamed，bothbythepublicandbytherestofthearmy，theRoughRiders，doubtlessbecausethebulkofthemenwerefromtheSouthwesternranchcountryandwereskilledinthewildhorsemanshipofthegreatplains。
Woodinstantlybegantheworkofraisingtheregiment。Hefirstassembledseveraloldnon-commissionedofficersofexperience，puttheminoffice，andgavethemblanksforrequisitionsforthefullequipmentofacavalryregiment。HeselectedSanAntonioasthegathering-place，asitwasinagoodhorsecountry，neartheGulffromsomeportonwhichwewouldhavetoembark，andnearanoldarsenalandanoldarmypostfromwhichwegotagooddealofstuff——someofitpracticallycondemned，butwhichwefoundserviceableatapinch，andmuchbetterthannothing。HeorganizedahorseboardinTexas，andbeganpurchasingallhorsesthatwerenottoobigandweresound。A
dayortwoafterhewascommissionedhewroteoutintheofficeoftheSecretaryofWar，underhisauthority，telegramstotheGovernorsofArizona，NewMexico，Oklahoma，andIndianTerritory，insubstanceasfollows：
ThePresidentdesirestoraise——volunteersinyourTerritorytoformpartofaregimentofmountedriflementobecommandedbyLeonardWood，Colonel；TheodoreRoosevelt，Lieutenant-Colonel。Hedesiresthatthemenselectedshouldbeyoung，sound，goodshotsandgoodriders，andthatyouexpeditebyallmeansinyourpowertheenrollmentofthesemen。
(Signed)R。A。ALGER，SecretaryofWar。
AssoonashehadattendedtoafewmoreoddsandendsheleftWashington，andthedayafterhisarrivalinSanAntoniothetroopsbegantoarrive。
ForseveralweeksbeforeIjoinedtheregiment，towhichWoodwentaheadofme，IcontinuedasAssistantSecretaryoftheNavy，tryingtogetsomecoherenceofplanbetweentheWarDepartmentandtheNavyDepartment；andalsobeingusedbyWoodtofinishgettingtheequipmentfortheregiment。AsregardsfindingoutwhattheplansoftheWarDepartmentwere，thetaskwassimple。Theyhadnoplans。Evenduringthefinalmonthsbeforetheoutbreakofhostilitiesverylittlewasdoneinthewayofefficientpreparation。Ononeoccasion，wheneveryoneknewthatthedeclarationofwarwassuretocomeinafewdays，Iwentonmilitarybusinesstotheofficeofoneofthehighestlinegeneralsofthearmy，amanwhoatthatmomentoughttohavebeenworkingeighteenhoursoutofthetwenty-fouronthevitalproblemsaheadofhim。Whathewasactuallydoingwastryingonanewtypeofsmart-lookinguniformoncertainenlistedmen；andhecalledmeintoaskmyadviceastothepositionofthepocketsintheblouse，withaviewtomakingitlookattractive。Anaideofthisgeneral——funnilyenoughagoodfightingmaninactualservice——whenIconsultedhimastowhatmyuniformforthecampaignshouldbe，laidspecialstressuponmypurchasingapairofblacktopbootsforfulldress，explainingthattheywereveryeffectiveonhotelpiazzasandinparlors。Ididnotintendtobeinanyhotelifitcouldpossiblybeavoided；andasthingsturnedout，Ihadnofull-dressuniform，nothingbutmyserviceuniform，duringmybriefexperienceinthearmy。
Isupposethatwaralwaysdoesbringoutwhatishighestandlowestinhumannature。Thecontractorswhofurnishpoormaterialstothearmyorthenavyintimeofwarstandonalevelofinfamyonlyonedegreeabovethatoftheparticipantsinthewhiteslavetrafficthemselves。
Butthereisconductfarshortofthiswhichyetseemsinexplicabletoanymanwhohasinhimanyspiritofdisinterestedpatriotismcombinedwithanypowerofimagination。Respectablemen，whoIsupposelacktheimaginationthoroughlytorealizewhattheyaredoing，trytomakemoneyoutoftheNation’snecessitiesinwarattheverytimethatothermenaremakingeverysacrifice，financialandpersonal，forthecause。IntheclosingweeksofmyserviceasAssistantSecretaryoftheNavywewerecollectingshipsforauxiliarypurposes。Somemen，atcosttotheirownpurses，helpedusfreelyandwithefficiency；otherstreatedtheaffairasanordinarybusinesstransaction；andyetothersendeavored，atsomegivencrisiswhenourneedwasgreat，tosellusinferiorvesselsatexorbitantprices，andusedeverypressure，throughSenatorsandCongressmen，toaccomplishtheirends。Inoneortwocasestheydidaccomplishthemtoo，untilwegotareallyfirst-
classboardestablishedtosuperintendsuchpurchases。AmorecuriousexperiencewasinconnectionwiththepointchosenforthestartingoftheexpeditionagainstCuba。Ihadnotsupposedthatanyhumanbeingcouldconsiderthismattersavefromthestandpointofmilitaryneed。
Butonemorningaverywealthyandinfluentialman，arespectableanduprightmanaccordingtohisownlights，calledonmetoprotestagainstourchoiceofTampa，andtoputinapleaforacertainotherport，onthegroundthathisrailroadwasentitledtoitsshareoftheprofitforhaulingthearmyandequipment！Ihappenedtoknowthatatthistimethisverymanhadkinsfolkwiththearmy，whoservedgallantly，andthecircumstancesofhiscomingtomeweresuchastoshowthathewasnotactingsecretly，andhadnoideathattherewasanythingoutofthewayinhisproposal。Ithinkthefactsweremerelythathehadbeentrainedtoregardbusinessasthesoleobjectinlife，andthathelackedtheimaginationtoenablehimtounderstandtherealnatureoftherequestthathewasmaking；and，moreover，hehadgoodreasontobelievethatoneofhisbusinesscompetitorshadbeenundulyfavored。
TheWarDepartmentwasinfarworseshapethantheNavyDepartment。
TheyoungofficersturnedoutfromWestPointarepreciselyasgoodastheyoungofficersturnedoutfromAnnapolis，andthisalwayshasbeentrue。Butatthattime(somethinghasbeendonetoremedytheworstconditionssince)，andeversincethecloseoftheCivilWar，theconditionsweresuchthatafterafewyearsthearmyofficerstagnatedsofarashisprofessionwasconcerned。WhentheSpanishWarbrokeoutthenavyreallywaslargelyonawarfooting，asanynavywhichisevenrespectablycaredforintimeofpeacemustbe。Theadmirals，captains，andlieutenantswerecontinuallypracticingtheirprofessioninalmostpreciselythewaythatithastobepracticedintimeofwar。Exceptactuallyshootingatafoe，mostofthemenonboardshipwentthroughintimeofpeacepracticallyallthattheywouldhavetogothroughintimeofwar。TheheadsofbureausintheNavyDepartmentwereforthemostpartmenwhohadseenseaservice，whoexpectedtoreturntoseaservice，andwhowerepreparingforneedswhichtheythemselvesknewbyexperience。Moreover，thecivilianheadofthenavyhadtoprovideforkeepingtheshipsinastateofreasonableefficiency，andCongresscouldnothopelesslymisbehaveitselfaboutthenavywithoutthefactatoncebecomingevident。
Allthiswaschangedsofarasthearmywasconcerned。Notonlywasitpossibletodecreasetheefficiencyofthearmywithoutbeingcalledtoaccountforit，buttheonlywayinwhichtheSecretaryofWarcouldgaincreditforhimselfortheAdministrationwasbyeconomy，andtheeasiestwaytoeconomizewasinconnectionwithsomethingthatwouldnotbefeltunlesswarshouldarise。Thepeopletooknointerestwhateverinthearmy；demagoguesclamoredagainstit，and，inadequatethoughitwasinsize，insistedthatitshouldbestillfurtherreduced。Popularoratorsalwaysappealedtothevolunteers；theregularshadnovotesandtherewasnopointinpoliticiansthinkingofthem。ThechiefactivityshownbyCongressmenaboutthearmywasingettingspecialarmypostsbuiltinplaceswheretherewasnoneedforthem。EventheworkofthearmyinitscampaignsagainsttheIndianswasofsuchacharacterthatitwasgenerallyperformedbysmallbodiesoffiftyorahundredmen。Untilamanceasedbeingalieutenantheusuallyhadplentyofprofessionalworktoattendtoandwasemployedinthefield，and，inshort，hadthesamekindofpracticethathisbrotherinthenavyhad，andhedidhisworkaswell。Butoncepastthisstagehehadalmostnoopportunitytoperformanyworkcorrespondingtohisrank，andbutlittleopportunitytodoanymilitaryworkwhatsoever。Theverybestmen，menlikeLawton，Young，Chaffee，Hawkins，andSumner，tomentiononlymenunderorbesidewhomIserved，remainedgoodsoldiers，soldiersofthebeststamp，inspiteofthedishearteningconditions。Butitwasnottobeexpectedthattheaveragemancouldcontinuetogrowwheneveryinfluencewasagainsthim。Accordingly，whentheSpanishWarsuddenlyburstuponus，anumberofinertelderlycaptainsandfieldofficerswere，muchagainsttheirownwishes，suddenlypitchforkedintothecommandofregiments，brigades，andevendivisionsandarmycorps。
Oftenthesemenfailedpainfully。Thiswasnottheirfault；itwasthefaultoftheNation，thatis，thefaultofallofus，ofyou，myreader，andofmyself，andofthoselikeus，becausewehadpermittedconditionstobesuchastorenderthesemenunfitforcommand。Takeastoutcaptainofanout-of-the-waytwo-companypost，wherenothingintheworldeveroccurredevenresemblingmilitaryaction，andwheretheonlymilitaryproblemthatreallyconvulsedtheposttoitsfoundationswasthequarrelbetweenthecaptainandthequartermasterastohowhighamule’stailoughttobeshaved(Iamspeakingofanactualincident)。Whatcouldbeexpectedofsuchaman，eventhoughthirty-fiveyearsbeforehehadbeenagallantsecondlieutenantintheCivilWar，if，afterthisinterveningdo-nothingperiod，hewassuddenlyputincommandofrawtroopsinamidsummercampaigninthetropics？
