The Rough Riders · Characters
Character guide
Key figures in The Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt.
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Theodore Roosevelt
major
Also known as Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Colonel Roosevelt, Roosevelt, Colonel, Lieutenant-Colonel Roosevelt, Hon. Theodore Roosevelt
Roosevelt begins the book already certain of his cause: he had preached intervention in Cuba and now means to answer his own call, recruiting a volunteer cavalry from the Territories and bullying supply bureaus into arming it in time to sail. The tension running through his account is between the chaos of a nation improvising a war and his own compulsion to impose order, speed, and personal presence on every stage of it. His voice—part commander, part partisan, part delighted participant—shapes how the regiment's early arc is told, and he is the reason the Rough Riders exist to be followed at all.
Leonard Wood
major
Also known as Colonel Wood, Wood, General Wood, Dr. Leonard Wood, Wood Colonel
Wood is the organizer Roosevelt defers to: he knows the ground, understands that smokeless powder and regular-army carbines will decide whether the regiment fights or festers, and works the ordnance and quartermaster bureaus with relentless persistence. His ambition is not for show but for position—he wants the brigade with the regulars, and he wants it now. Without his foresight and push, the Rough Riders would have arrived too late for Santiago, and the book's central claim—that this regiment saw the hardest fighting of any volunteer unit—rests on his early, unglamorous victories.
Bucky O'Neill
supporting
Also known as Bucky, O'Neill
O'Neill belongs to the rough, self-made West that Roosevelt recruits from—a leader whose authority comes from experience rather than rank, and whose troop follows him because they trust him. In the disputed accounts of Las Guasimas, Roosevelt defends the regiment's conduct against critics, and O'Neill's steadiness in that fight is part of what he is defending. His death in action gives the narrative one of its sharpest losses, and his example helps define what the Rough Riders were supposed to be: capable, unpretentious, and willing.
Allyn Capron
supporting
Also known as Captain Capron, Capron, Allyn Capron
Capron is the officer at the point of contact—the one who discovers the Spanish outpost and, in Roosevelt's account, has time to deploy his troop before the shooting starts. Roosevelt invokes him repeatedly to rebut the charge that the regiment blundered into an ambush, making Capron's skill and composure the factual hinge of that argument. His death at Las Guasimas makes him the regiment's first significant loss and gives the early Cuban fighting its human cost.
S. B. M. Young
supporting
Also known as Brigadier-General S. B. M. Young, General Young, Young, Brigadier General Young
Young is the regiment's bridge into the professional army: a Yellowstone commander and a soldier Roosevelt already knew and trusted from Washington conversations about the coming war. When the Rough Riders were raised, Young asked for them, and they got him—and the first fight on Cuban soil. His presence gives the volunteer regiment its place in a regular brigade, and his leadership at Las Guasimas sets the standard against which Roosevelt measures the regiment's own performance.
Joseph Wheeler
supporting
Also known as Major-General Joseph Wheeler, General Wheeler, Joseph Wheeler, Wheeler
Wheeler commands the cavalry division that includes the Rough Riders, and Roosevelt describes him with evident affection as a gallant old Confederate. His role is partly symbolic—a living link between the Civil War generation and the new volunteer army—and partly practical, as the officer whose decisions place the regiment in the fight. He matters to the early arc because he is the authority above Young and Wood, and because his willingness to push the division forward is what allows the Rough Riders to reach Las Guasimas at all.
John H. Parker
supporting
Also known as Lieutenant Parker, Parker
Parker commands the Gatling detachment that Roosevelt repeatedly borrows to guard roads and anchor the line, and his guns become the regiment's dependable answer to Spanish trench fire. He never exposes his pieces without purpose, yet the moment fighting turns serious he takes a hand, and the drumming of his Gatlings soon cuts through the crack of carbines. His readiness and restraint make him the quiet hinge on which the Rough Riders' defensive confidence rests through the Santiago trenches.
Captain Llewellen
minor
Also known as Captain Llewellen, Llewellen, gallant Captain Llewellen
New Mexico captain, noted for gallantry in action.
Woodbury Kane
minor
Also known as Woody Kane, Kane, Wood
Wealthy New York socialite who served as a trooper.
Samuel Sumner
minor
Also known as General Samuel Sumner, General Sumner, Sumner, Samuel S. Sumner
Brigadier general commanding a cavalry brigade.
Robb Church
minor
Also known as Dr. Robb Church, Dr. Church, Church
Regimental surgeon who tended the wounded.
Hamilton Fish
minor
Also known as Hamilton Fish, Sergeant Hamilton Fish, Fish, young Fish
Sergeant from a prominent New York family, killed in action.
Jack Greenway
minor
Also known as Jack Greenway, Greenway, Even Greenway, Happy Jack, John Greenway
Arizona cowboy and officer, known for his cheerful demeanor.
A. L. Mills
minor
Also known as Captain A. L. Mills, Captain Mills, Mills, Colonel A. L. Mills, Colonel Mills
Quartermaster officer who later became colonel.
Bert Holderman
minor
Also known as Holderman, good Holderman, Bert Holderman, poor Holderman
Trooper known for his loyalty and eventual wounding.
William R. Shafter
minor
Also known as General Shafter, Major-General Shafter, Shafter
Commanding general of the Cuban expedition.
C. J. Stevens
minor
Also known as Captain C. J. Stevens, Stevens, Captain Stevens
Captain of a Rough Rider company.
Colonel Humphrey
minor
Also known as Colonel Humphrey
Colonel of a regular army regiment.
Pollock
minor
Also known as Pollock
A trooper mentioned in the narrative.
David Goodrich
minor
Also known as David Goodrich, Goodrich, Lieutenants Goodrich
Lieutenant and later captain in the regiment.
Henry Bardshar
minor
Also known as Henry Bardshar, Bardshar
A trooper noted for his service.
Robert L. Howze
minor
Also known as Howze, Captain Howze
Regular army captain who fought alongside the Rough Riders.
Colonel Weston
minor
Also known as Colonel Weston of the Commissary Department, Colonel Weston
Commissary officer who helped the regiment.
J. Ford Kent
minor
Also known as Generals Kent, Kent
Brigadier general commanding an infantry brigade.
Frederic Remington
minor
Also known as Frederic Remington, Remington
Famous artist and correspondent covering the war.
Stephen Bonsal
minor
Also known as Mr. Stephen Bonsal, Mr. Bonsal, Bonsal
War correspondent embedded with the regiment.
George Rowland
minor
Also known as trooper Rowland, Rowland, Trooper Rowland, George Rowland
A trooper noted for his service in the regiment.
Alexander Brodie
minor
Also known as Major Alexander Brodie, Alexander Brodie, Brodie, Major Brodie
Major from Arizona, a key officer in the regiment.
Tom Darnell
minor
Also known as Darnell, Thomas, young Thomas, Tom Darnell
Young trooper from the Southwest, known for his youth.
Little McGinty
minor
Also known as little McGinty, McGinty, Little McGinty
A small but tough trooper from the West.
Thomas Isbell
minor
Also known as Thomas Isbell, Tom Isbell
Trooper who served as a scout and messenger.
Fred Herrig
minor
Also known as Fred Herrig, Herrig, solemn Fred Herrig, Fred
A solemn trooper from the West.
Harry Heffner
minor
Also known as Harry Heffner
A trooper who served in the regiment.
Morrison
minor
Also known as Morrison
A trooper mentioned in the narrative.
Crockett
minor
Also known as Crockett
A trooper from the West.
Edward Marshall
minor
Also known as Marshall, Edward Marshall
War correspondent wounded in action.
Proffit
minor
Also known as tall Proffit, Proffit
A tall trooper from the West.
Richard Harding Davis
minor
Also known as Harding Davis, Richard Harding Davis, Davis, Mr. Richard Harding Davis
Famous war correspondent covering the campaign.
Henry W. Lawton
minor
Also known as General Lawton, Lawton
Major general commanding an infantry division.
General Rubin
minor
Also known as General Rubin
Spanish general commanding at Santiago.
Hamilton S. Hawkins
minor
Also known as General Hawkins, Hawkins
Brigadier general leading an infantry brigade.
Fortescue
minor
Also known as Fortescue
A British observer with the American forces.
Bob Wrenn
minor
Also known as Bob Wrenn
A trooper and former baseball player.
Chaplain Brown
minor
Also known as Chaplain Brown
Regimental chaplain who provided spiritual support.
Lieutenant Tiffany
minor
Also known as Tiffany, poor Tiffany, poor young Lieutenant Tiffany
Young lieutenant killed in the assault on San Juan Hill.
Captain Beck
minor
Also known as Captain Beck, Beck
Captain of a Rough Rider company.
Josephine
minor
Also known as Josephine
A woman mentioned in passing, possibly a nurse.
Captain Day
minor
Also known as Day, Captain Day, Lieutenant Day
Officer who served with the Rough Riders.
Captain McBlain
minor
Also known as Captains McBlain, McBlain, Captain McBlain
Captain of a Rough Rider company.
Captain Dimmick
minor
Also known as Captain Dimmick, Dimmick
Regular army captain attached to the cavalry.
Captain Taylor
minor
Also known as Captain Taylor, Taylor
Captain of a Rough Rider company.
Sherman Bell
minor
Also known as Sherman Bell, Bell
A trooper from the West.
Captain Jenkins
minor
Also known as Captain Jenkins, Jenkins
Captain of a Rough Rider company.
Henry Carroll
minor
Also known as Colonel Henry Carroll, Colonel Carroll, Colonel Carrol
Colonel of a regular infantry regiment.
Captain Ayres
minor
Also known as Captain Ayres, Ayres
Regular army captain serving with the cavalry.
Winslow Clark
minor
Also known as Winslow Clark
A trooper mentioned in the narrative.
Dabney Royster
minor
Also known as Dabney Royster
A trooper from the South.
Guy Murchie
minor
Also known as Guy Murchie
A trooper who served in the regiment.
Dudley Dean
minor
Also known as Dudley Dean, Dean
A trooper and former Harvard athlete.
Horace Devereux
minor
Also known as Devereux, Horace Devereux
A trooper from the East.
Cherokee Bill
minor
Also known as Cherokee Bill
A Native American trooper in the regiment.
Colbert
minor
Also known as Colbert
A trooper mentioned in the narrative.
Major Bell
minor
Also known as Major Bell
Major of a regular army battalion.
Captain Knox
minor
Also known as Captain Knox
Captain of a Rough Rider company.
Byram
minor
Also known as Byram
A trooper from the West.
Captain McClintock
minor
Also known as Captain McClintock
Captain of a Rough Rider company.
Color-Sergeant Wright
minor
Also known as Wright, Color-Sergeant Wright, Sergeant Wright
Color sergeant who carried the regimental flag.
Major Wessels
minor
Also known as Major Wessels the Third, the Third, Major Wessels
Major of a regular army battalion.
Charles Karsten
minor
Also known as Sergeant Charles Karsten
Sergeant in the Rough Riders.
Milton F. Davis
minor
Also known as Lieutenant Milton F. Davis, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Davis
Lieutenant in the Rough Riders.
Clarence Gould
minor
Also known as Clarence Gould, Gould
A trooper from the East.
Lieutenant Carr
minor
Also known as Carr, Lieutenant Carr
Lieutenant in the Rough Riders.
Russell A. Alger
minor
Also known as Secretary Alger
U.S. Secretary of War during the campaign.
Robert Munro Ferguson
minor
Also known as Robert Munro Ferguson, Munro Ferguson, Ferguson
A British friend of Roosevelt who served as a volunteer aide.
John McIlhenny
minor
Also known as John McIlhenny, McIlhenny
A trooper from Louisiana.
Arthur Lee
minor
Also known as Captain Arthur Lee, Captain Lee
British military attaché observing the campaign.
Elliot Cowdin
minor
Also known as Trooper Elliot Cowdin, Cowdin, Elliot Cowdin
A trooper from New York.
Captain Luna
minor
Also known as Captains Luna, Luna
Spanish captain defending Santiago.
Lieutenant Hartwick
minor
Also known as Hartwick, Lieutenant Hartwick
Lieutenant in the Rough Riders.
Colonel Dorst
minor
Also known as Lieutenant-Colonel Dorst, Lieutenant Colonel Dorst, Colonel Dorst, Dorst
Colonel of a regular cavalry regiment.
Astor Chanler
minor
Also known as Captain Astor Chanler, Chanler
A wealthy volunteer aide to the general staff.
