July 1, 2018

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On the morning of this day 120 years ago, the United States was hardly a recognized “world power”—this accolade went to Great Britain (and remained there until the early 20th Century). But by sunset of this day, America had taken its place—if not yet the lead—among the world’s dominant countries.

The impetus for this rising began, one might strongly suggest, with the BATTLE OF SAN JUAN HILL, in Cuba on July 1, 1898. This decisive battle—the bloodiest and most famous of the Spanish-American War—gave rise also to the fame and respect, duly deserved, of former Assistant Secretary of the Navy, now Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, and the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry: “Roosevelt’s Rough Riders.”

The Rough Riders were certainly the least homogeneous of any military group ever formed, and TR himself recruited many. They were cowboys, bronco busters, Ivy League athletes, ranchers, miners; the one thing, however, that all had in common was superb horsemanship. Despite this unique skill, neither the Rough Riders nor their two companion regiments ever truly “rode into battle.” In fact, of the three regiments raised, only one—the Rough Riders—ever saw action on the battlefields of Cuba…but afoot. Because the plans for bringing and debarking the hundreds of horses required for a cavalry unit were so ill-constructed, very few actually arrived dockside at the port of Daiquiri (one of TR’s personal horses drowned while attempting to come ashore; “Little Texas,” TR’s second horse did survive and later served the Colonel well at San Juan Heights). Without horses, the Rough Riders were re-designated “dismounted cavalry”—in practical effect, infantry.

Nevertheless, Colonel Roosevelt and the Rough Riders—small in number for a “regiment,” horseless, and wearing wool uniforms in the Cuban July heat of day, took first Kettle Hill and immediately thereafter San Juan Hill itself, turning the entire tide of battle against highly destructive artillery, rifle, and machine gun fire, and by sunset secured the Heights and opened the way to Santiago and final victory itself.

Later, in 1906, Theodore Roosevelt became the first American ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, for having negotiated the Treaty of Portsmouth, thereby ending the Russo-Japanese War. As he was the President of the United States at the time of this award, this landmark event stood singularly for over a century. It took, however, even longer for TR to be recognized by the U.S. Congress with the Medal of Honor, posthumously in 2001.

One of the many things that set TR apart from his predecessors and successors was how he commanded. In that battle 120 years ago, TR didn’t point and “go there.” He waved, and shouted “Follow me!”

Andy

[7/1/2018 – Copyright © Andy McCommish 2018]