The Rough Riders

Before he became an American President, Theodore Roosevelt helped form the first U.S. Volunteer Cavalry Regiment during the early days of the Spanish-American War. The men were nicknamed “The Rough Riders” and were a curious collection of cowboys, Ivy Leaguers, African Americans, Native Americans, miners, lawmen, and speculators. The men were handpicked because they were the most outstanding riders and shooters of their generation. For four weeks, they undertook a fierce training program in the Texan sun before setting sail to Cuba. Roosevelt was wise enough to keep a detailed diary of their exploits, which went on to become an instant bestseller when it was published in 1899.

Within these pages, you'll find the exploits of a rare breed of men cut from a different cloth. For Roosevelt’s Rough Riders, personal safety was not a consideration when faced with overcoming almost impossible odds. This is very much a tale of death or glory, and as such is a gripping tale of courage, sacrifice, and heady machoism. The legendary battle of Las Guasimas, San Juan Hill, and the Siege of Santiago are all retold in an energetic and infectious style. In the words of Roosevelt, “We knew not whither we were bound, nor what we were to do; but we believed that the nearing future held for us many chances of death and hardship, of honour and renown.”