# The Rough Riders — Character guide

> Key figures in The Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt.

- [Theodore Roosevelt](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/theodore_roosevelt.md): 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 armi
- [Leonard Wood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/colonel_wood.md): 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 bur
- [Bucky O'Neill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/bucky_oneill.md): 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 L
- [Allyn Capron](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/captain_capron.md): 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 
- [S. B. M. Young](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/general_young.md): 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, Y
- [Joseph Wheeler](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/general_wheeler.md): 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 gener
- [John H. Parker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/lieutenant_parker.md): 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 withou
- [Captain Llewellen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/captain_llewellen.md): New Mexico captain, noted for gallantry in action.
- [Woodbury Kane](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/woodbury_kane.md): Wealthy New York socialite who served as a trooper.
- [Samuel Sumner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/general_sumner.md): Brigadier general commanding a cavalry brigade.
- [Robb Church](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/dr_robb_church.md): Regimental surgeon who tended the wounded.
- [Hamilton Fish](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/hamilton_fish.md): Sergeant from a prominent New York family, killed in action.
- [Jack Greenway](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/jack_greenway.md): Arizona cowboy and officer, known for his cheerful demeanor.
- [A. L. Mills](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/captain_mills.md): Quartermaster officer who later became colonel.
- [Bert Holderman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/bert_holderman.md): Trooper known for his loyalty and eventual wounding.
- [William R. Shafter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/general_shafter.md): Commanding general of the Cuban expedition.
- [C. J. Stevens](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/captain_stevens.md): Captain of a Rough Rider company.
- [Colonel Humphrey](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/colonel_humphrey.md): Colonel of a regular army regiment.
- [Pollock](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/pollock.md): A trooper mentioned in the narrative.
- [David Goodrich](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/david_goodrich.md): Lieutenant and later captain in the regiment.
- [Henry Bardshar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/henry_bardshar.md): A trooper noted for his service.
- [Robert L. Howze](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/captain_howze.md): Regular army captain who fought alongside the Rough Riders.
- [Colonel Weston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/colonel_weston.md): Commissary officer who helped the regiment.
- [J. Ford Kent](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/general_kent.md): Brigadier general commanding an infantry brigade.
- [Frederic Remington](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/frederic_remington.md): Famous artist and correspondent covering the war.

HTML index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters