Thebureauchiefswereforthemostpartelderlyincompetents，whoseideawastodotheirroutinedutiesinsuchwayastoescapethecensureofroutinebureaucraticsuperiorsandtoavoidaCongressionalinvestigation。Theyhadnottheslightestconceptionofpreparingthearmyforwar。Itwasimpossiblethattheycouldhaveanysuchconception。ThepeopleandtheCongressdidnotwishthearmypreparedforwar；andthoseeditorsandphilanthropistsandpeaceadvocateswhofeltvaguelythatifthearmywereincompetenttheirprinciplesweresafe，alwaysinveighedagainstanyproposaltomakeitefficient，onthegroundthatthisshowedanaturalbloodthirstinessintheproposer。Whensuchweretheconditions，itwasabsolutelyimpossiblethateithertheWarDepartmentorthearmycoulddowellintheeventofwar。SecretaryAlgerhappenedtobeSecretarywhenwarbrokeout，andalltheresponsibilityfortheshortcomingsoftheDepartmentwerevisiteduponhisdevotedhead。HewasmadethescapegoatforourNationalshortcomings。Thefaultwasnothis；thefaultandresponsibilitylaywithus，thepeople，whoforthirty-threeyearshadpermittedourrepresentativesinCongressandinNationalexecutiveofficetobearthemselvessothatitwasabsolutelyimpossibletoavoidthegreatbulkofallthetroublethatoccurred，andofalltheshortcomingsofwhichourpeoplecomplained，duringtheSpanishWar。
Thechiefimmediatecausewastheconditionsofred-tapebureaucracywhichexistedintheWarDepartmentatWashington，whichhadpreventedanygoodorganizationorthepreparationofanygoodplanofoperationforusingourmenandsupplies。Therecurrenceoftheseconditions，eventhoughinsomewhatlessaggravatedform，inanyfutureemergencyisascertainassunriseunlesswebringabouttheprincipleofafouryears’detailinthestaffcorps——aprinciplewhichCongresshasnowforyearsstubbornlyrefusedtogrant。
Therearenationswhoonlyneedtohavepeacefulidealsinculcated，andtowhommilitarismisacurseandamisfortune。Thereareothernations，likeourown，sohappilysituatedthatthethoughtofwarisneverpresenttotheirminds。Theyarewhollyfreefromanytendencyimproperlytoexaltortopracticemilitarism。Thesenationsshouldneverforgetthattheremustbemilitaryidealsnolessthanpeacefulideals。TheexaltationofNogi’scareer，setforthsostrikinglyinStanleyWashburn’slittlevolumeonthegreatJapanesewarrior，containsmuchthatisespeciallyneededforusofAmerica，proneaswearetoregardtheexigenciesofapurelycommercialandindustrialcivilizationasexcusingusfromtheneedofadmiringandpracticingtheheroicandwarlikevirtues。
Ourpeoplearenotmilitary。Weneednormallyonlyasmallstandingarmy；butthereshouldbebehinditareserveofinstructedmenbigenoughtofillituptofullwarstrength，whichisovertwicethepeacestrength。Moreover，theyoungmenofthecountryshouldrealizethatitisthedutyofeveryoneofthemtopreparehimselfsothatintimeofneedhemayspeedilybecomeanefficientsoldier——adutynowgenerallyforgotten，butwhichshouldberecognizedasoneofthevitallyessentialpartsofeveryman’straining。
Inendeavoringtogetthe“RoughRiders“equippedImetwithsomeexperienceswhichwerebothoddandinstructive。Therewerenotenougharmsandothernecessariestogoround，andtherewaskeenrivalryamongtheintelligentandzealouscommandersofthevolunteerorganizationsastowhoshouldgetfirstchoice。Wood’sexperiencewaswhatenabledustoequipourselvesinshortorder。TherewasanothercavalryorganizationwhosecommanderwasattheWarDepartmentaboutthistime，andwehadbeeneyeinghimwithmuchalertnessasarival。
OnedayIaskedhimwhathisplanswereaboutarminganddrillinghistroops，whowereofpreciselythetypeofourownmen。Heansweredthatheexpected“togiveeachoftheboystworevolversandalariat，andthenjustturnthemloose。”IreportedtheconversationtoWood，withtheremarkthatwemightfeelourselvessafefromrivalryinthatquarter；andsafewewere。
IntryingtogettheequipmentImetwithchecksandrebuffs，andinreturnwasthecauseofworryandconcerntovariousbureauchiefswhowereunquestionablyestimablemenintheirprivateanddomesticrelations，andwhodoubtlesshadbeengoodofficersthirtyyearsbefore，butwhowereasunfitformodernwarasiftheyweresomanysmooth-bores。Onefineoldfellowdidhisbesttopersuadeustotakeblackpowderrifles，explainingwithpaternalindulgencethatnooneyetreallyknewjustwhatsmokelesspowdermightdo，andthattherewasagooddealtobesaidinfavorofhavingsmoketoconcealusfromtheenemy。Isawthispleasingtheoryactuallyworkedoutinpracticelateron，fortheNationalGuardregimentswithusatSantiagohadblackpowdermuskets，andtheregularartilleryblackpowderguns，andtheyreallymightalmostaswellhavereplacedtheseweaponsbycrossbowsandmangonels。Wesucceeded，thankstoWood，ingettingthesamecavalrycarbinesthatwereusedbytheregulars。Weweredeterminedtodothis，notonlybecausetheweaponsweregood，butbecausethiswouldinallprobabilitymeanthatwewerebrigadedwiththeregularcavalry，whichitwascertainwouldbesentimmediatelytothefrontforthefighting。
Therewasoneworthybureauchiefwhowascontinuallyrefusingapplicationsofmineasirregular。IneachcaseIwouldappealtoSecretaryAlger——whohelpedmeineveryway——andgetanorderfromhimcountenancingtheirregularity。Forinstance，IfoundoutthataswewerenearertheJulydatethantheJanuarydatefortheissuanceofclothing，andasithadlongbeencustomarytoissuethewinterclothinginJuly，soastogiveampleleisureforgettingittoallthevariousposts，itwasthereforesolemnlyproposedtoissuethissamewinterclothingtouswhowereabouttostartforasummercampaigninthetropics。Thiswouldseemincredibletothosewhohaveneverdealtwithaninertofficialdom，ared-tapebureaucracy，butsuchisthefact。Irectifiedthisandgotanorderforkhakiclothing。Wewerethentoldwewouldhavetoadvertisethirtydaysforhorses。ThismeantthatwewouldhavemissedtheSantiagoexpedition。
SoImadeanothersuccessfulappealtotheSecretary。Otherdifficultiescameupaboutwagons，andvariousarticles，andineachcasethesameresultfollowed。Onthelastoccasion，whenIcameupintriumphwiththeneededorder，theworriedofficehead，whoboremenoanimosity，butwhodidfeelthatfatehadbeenveryunkind，threwhimselfbackinhischairandexclaimedwithasigh：“Oh，dear！Ihadthisofficerunninginsuchgoodshape——andthenalongcamethewarandupseteverything！”HisfeelingwasthatwarwasanillegitimateinterruptiontotheworkoftheWarDepartment。
Therewereofcoursedepartmentheadsandbureauchiefsandassistantswho，inspiteoftheworthlessnessofthesystem，andoftheparalyzingconditionsthathadprevailed，remainedfirst-classmen。AnexampleofthesewasCommissary-GeneralWeston。Hisenergy，activity，administrativeefficiency，andcommonsenseweresupplementedbyaneagerdesiretohelpeverybodydothebestthatcouldbedone。BothinWashingtonandagaindownatSantiagoweowedhimverymuch。WhenI
wasPresident，itwasmygoodfortunetorepayhiminpartourdebt，whichmeansthedebtofthepeopleofthecountry，bymakinghimamajor-general。
TheregimentassembledatSanAntonio。WhenIreachedthere，themen，rifles，andhorses，whichweretheessentials，werecominginfast，andthesaddles，blankets，andthelikewerealsoaccumulating。ThankstoWood’sexertions，whenwereachedTampawewereratherbetterequippedthanmostoftheregularregiments。Weadheredstrictlytofieldequipment，allowingnoluxuriesoranythingelseunnecessary，andsowewereabletomoveoffthefieldwhenordered，withourowntransportation，leavingnothingbehind。
Isupposeeverymantendstobragabouthisregiment；butitdoesseemtomethatthereneverwasaregimentbetterworthbraggingaboutthanours。Woodwasanexceptionalcommander，ofgreatpower，witharemarkablegiftfororganization。Therankandfilewereasfinenaturalfightingmenasevercarriedarifleorrodeahorseinanycountryoranyage。Wehadanumberoffirst-classyoungfellowsfromtheEast，mostofthemfromcollegeslikeHarvard，Yale，andPrinceton；butthegreatmajorityofthemenwereSouthwesterners，fromthethenterritoriesofOklahoma，IndianTerritory，Arizona，andNewMexico。Theywereaccustomedtotheuseoffirearms，accustomedtotakingcareofthemselvesintheopen；theywereintelligentandself-
reliant；theypossessedhardihoodandenduranceandphysicalprowess；
and，aboveall，theyhadthefightingedge，thecoolandresolutefightingtemper。Theywentintothewarwithfullknowledge，havingdeliberatelycountedthecost。Inthegreatmajorityofcaseseachmanwaschieflyanxioustofindoutwhatheshoulddotomaketheregimentasuccess。Theybought，firstandlast，about800copiesofthecavalrydrillregulationsandstudiedthemindustriously。Suchmenwerepracticallysoldierstostartwith，inalltheessentials。Itissmallwonderthatwiththemasmaterialtoworkupontheregimentwasraised，armed，equipped，drilled，sentontrainstoTampa，embarked，disembarked，andputthroughtwovictoriousoffensive——notdefensive——
fightsinwhichathirdoftheofficersandone-fifthofthemenwerekilledorwounded，allwithinsixtydays。Itisagoodrecord，anditspeakswellforthemenoftheregiment；anditspeakswellforWood。[*]
[*]Tocounterbalancethenewspaperswhichignorantlyandindiscriminatelypraisedallthevolunteerstherewereotherswhoseblamewasofthesameintelligentquality。TheNewYork/EveningPost/，onJune18，gaveexpressiontothefollowinggloomyforeboding：“CompetentobservershaveremarkedthatnothingmoreextraordinaryhasbeendonethanthesendingtoCubaoftheFirstUnitedStatesVolunteerCavalry，knownasthe’roughriders。’Organizedbutfourweeks，barelygiventheirfullcomplementofofficers，andonlyaweekofregulardrill，thesemenhavebeensenttothefrontbeforetheyhavelearnedthefirstelementsofsoldieringanddiscipline，orhaveevenbecomeacquaintedwiththeirofficers。Inadditiontoallthis，liketheregularcavalry，theyhavebeensentwithonlytheircarbinesandrevolverstomeetanenemyarmedwithlong-rangerifles。Therehavebeenfewcasesofsuchmilitarycrueltyinourmilitaryannals。”Aweekorsoafterthisnotwhollyhappyprophecywaspromulgated，the“cruelty“wasconsummated，firstatLasGuasimasandthenintheSanJuanfighting。
WoodwassobusygettingtheregimentreadythatwhenIreachedSanAntonioheturnedmostofthedrillingofitovertome。Thiswasapieceofgreatgoodfortuneforme，andIdrilledthemenindustriously，mountedandunmounted。Ihadplentytolearn，andthemenandtheofficersevenmore；butwewentatourworkwiththeheartiestgoodwill。Wespeedilymadeitevidentthattherewasnoroomandnomercyforanymanwhoshirkedanyduty，andweaccomplishedgoodresults。Thefactisthattheessentialsofdrillandworkforacavalryoraninfantryregimentareeasytolearn，whichofcourseisnottruefortheartilleryortheengineersorforthenavy。Thereasonwhyittakessolongtoturntheaveragecivilizedmanintoagoodinfantrymanorcavalrymanisbecauseittakesalongwhiletoteachtheaverageuntrainedmanhowtoshoot，toride，tomarch，totakecareofhimselfintheopen，tobealert，resourceful，cool，daring，andresolute，toobeyquickly，aswellastobewilling，andtofithimself，toactonhisownresponsibility。
Ifhealreadypossessesthesequalities，thereisverylittledifficultyinmakinghimasoldier；allthedrillthatisnecessarytoenablehimtomarchandtofightisofasimplecharacter。Paradegroundandbarracksquaremaneuversareofnoearthlyconsequenceinrealwar。Whenmencanreadilychangefromlinetocolumn，andcolumntoline，canformfrontinanydirection，andassembleandscatter，andcandothesethingswithspeedandprecision，theyhaveafairlygoodgraspoftheessentials。WhenourregimentreachedTampaitcouldalreadybehandledcreditablyatfastgaits，andbothinmassandextendedformations，mountedanddismounted。
IhadservedthreeyearsintheNewYorkNationalGuard，finallybecomingacaptain。Thisexperiencewasinvaluabletome。Itenabledmeatoncetotrainthemeninthesimpledrillwithoutwhichtheywouldhavebeenamob；foralthoughthedrillrequirementsaresimple，theyarealsoabsolutelyindispensable。ButifIhadbelievedthatmyexperienceintheNationalGuardhadtaughtmeallthattherewastoteachaboutasoldier’scareer，itwouldhavebeenbetterformenottohavebeeninitatall。TherewereintheregimentanumberofmenwhohadservedintheNationalGuard，andanumberofotherswhohadservedintheRegularArmy。SomeoftheselatterhadservedinthefieldintheWestundercampaignconditions，andwereaccustomedtolongmarches，privation，risk，andunexpectedemergencies。Thesemenwereoftheutmostbenefittotheregiment。Theyalreadyknewtheirprofession，andcouldteachandhelptheothers。ButifthemanhadmerelyservedinaNationalGuardregiment，orintheRegularArmyatsomepostinacivilizedcountrywherehelearnednothingexceptwhatcouldbepickedupontheparadeground，inthebarracks，andinpracticemarchesofafewmilesalonggoodroads，thenitdependedpurelyuponhisowngoodsensewhetherhehadbeenhelpedorhurtbytheexperience。Ifherealizedthathehadlearnedonlyfivepercentofhisprofession，thatthereremainedninety-fivepercenttoaccomplishbeforehewouldbeagoodsoldier，why，hehadprofitedimmensely。
