# Leonard Wood — The Rough Riders character guide

> Leonard Wood in The Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt.

**Role:** major

**Also known as:** Colonel Wood, Wood, General Wood, Dr. Leonard Wood, Wood Colonel

**First appearance:** 0002-the-rough-riders

## Snapshot

The regiment's first colonel, a physician-soldier whose bureaucratic cunning and hunger for the front line got the Rough Riders armed, mounted, and shipped before anyone else.

## Who they are

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.

## In the story

### [The Rough Riders](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters/the-rough-riders)

Colonel of the Rough Riders; Roosevelt's superior and co-commander during the regiment's training and deployment.

### [Raising the Regiment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters/i-raising-the-regiment)

Colonel of the regiment; emphasizes hygiene and discipline, and works closely with Roosevelt to train the men.

### [To Cuba](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters/ii-to-cuba)

Colonel Wood strains to secure equipment and commands the first three sections of the train to Tampa.

### [General Young’s Fight at Las Guasimas](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters/iii-general-young-s-fight-at-las-guasimas)

Colonel of the Rough Riders; his energy pushed the regiment to the front; took brigade command after Young fell ill.

### [IV: The Cavalry at Santiago](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters/iv-the-cavalry-at-santiago)

Brigade commander; arranges camping on El Poso hill; sleeps near Roosevelt.

### [Appendix A: Colonel Roosevelt’s Report to the Secretary of War of September 10th](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters/appendix-a-colonel-roosevelt-s-report-to-the-secretary-of-war-of-september-10th)

Brigade commander who ordered that only dire cases be sent to the rear; seized mules to get medical supplies before the fight of June 24th.

### [Appendix B: The "Round Robin" Letter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters/appendix-b-the-round-robin-letter)

Brigadier-General commanding the City of Santiago; signatory of the round robin.

### [Appendix D: Recommendations for the Medal of Honor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters/appendix-d)

Wrote a letter recommending Roosevelt for the Medal of Honor, describing his charge and personal bravery.

### [Appendix E](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters/appendix-e)

Placed in command of the Second Brigade after General Young fell ill, leading to Roosevelt taking command of the regiment.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters/colonel_wood
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_rough_riders_se/characters