The Rough Riders

The Rough Riders (1899) is Theodore Roosevelt’s firsthand account of the Spanish-American War, focusing on the volunteer cavalry regiment he helped organize and lead. Roosevelt describes the diverse backgrounds of the soldiers, their training, and their experiences in Cuba-especially the famous Battle of San Juan Hill. Blending military narrative with patriotic reflection, the book emphasizes courage, discipline, and national unity, while also revealing Roosevelt’s views on leadership, masculinity, and American expansion at the turn of the 20th century.