Your TR Source
Statement of reasons for establishing officers training camp for African Americans. Document published by the Central Committee of Negro College Men.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1917
President Roosevelt congratulates Lieutenant Harris on his victory in the Military Rifle Championship. Although Roosevelt has also written to the two other winners, Harris’s high aggregate displays a superior excellence. Roosevelt believes all officers should be able to shoot with a rifle, especially infantry and cavalry officers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-26
President Roosevelt appreciates and agrees with what Major General Wood says about training officers in the same manner as enlisted men. Roosevelt will go over the matter in detail with Wood when he returns to the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-17
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit and daughter-in-law Belle to say the artillery training would be good for Kermit. Uncle Douglas Robinson’s funeral was touching and Archie Roosevelt will have his knee operated on again. Ted Roosevelt has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel and Roosevelt is working on another book. Roosevelt says the letters people have been writing about Quentin Roosevelt are wonderful.
1918-09-21
Theodore Roosevelt thinks that Herman Hoffman Birney’s son, Hoffman Birney, would make an excellent officer in the Engineering Corps but he is too old to enter the United States Military Academy. Roosevelt suggests that Birney write to his congressman or General Leonard Wood regarding the matter.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-02-04
President Roosevelt writes to Francis E. Warren, chairman of the Senate Committee on Military Affairs, about the poor horsemanship of field officers. The officers cannot be blamed because the mounts are not quality, and they do not have much chance to practice riding until they become officers. Roosevelt will ask the House and Senate committees to consider legislation to rectify this situation. The legislation would involve establishing re-mount stations to provide better horses and allowing infantry captains to be mounted so as to give potential officers more experience on horses.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-04
President Roosevelt asks Army Chief of Staff Bell about requiring field officers to ride thirty miles for three days in the spring and fall. Ultimately Roosevelt would like to test field officers thoroughly in jumping and rough riding before promotion. Roosevelt wants to hold American officers up to the high standards of the French and German armies.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-11-05
President Roosevelt instructs Secretary of War Taft to have John P. Story, Chief of Artillery, submit a report to the General Staff regarding the separation of coast and field artillery, the best way to accomplish this task, and related goals including training, drills, and examination for officers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1905-03-13
Theodore Roosevelt is returning William S. Sims’ report. Roosevelt appreciates Sims’ report and asks William H. Moody to also get reports from Sims’ on his suggestions about the gunner and officer training and the sights. Roosevelt would like Sims to report on whether or not specializing gunnery officers would leave ships “helpless” if “considerable slaughter is made among them.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-04-01
Superintendent Young of Yellowstone National Park describes actions he has taken to ensure that the officers, soldiers and scouts on duty observe and enforce park rules. Although there have been challenges retaining enlisted men, in three months he has been able to convict eleven poachers, including a non commissioned officer. Young describes the difficulties of working with state game wardens, and he hopes that being a civilian administrator in a position higher than that of the officer selected to command the troops does not breed resentment.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-12-06
Commandant of Cadets Howze recommends President Roosevelt implement a requirement for military officers to undertake a three-day riding expedition with overnight camping twice a year. Howze thinks this will be an important motivator for officers to stay in shape, as well as give them a reason to be familiar with being in the field. Howze believes the vast majority of current officers are not currently experienced in the field, recounting a recent excursion to Fort Myer. Howze asks Roosevelt not to forward this letter to the War Department, as it will not lead to positive results.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-10-26
Commissary General Sharpe sends Secretary of War Taft his recommendations for organization, recruitment, and promotion in the United States Army Supply Department, based on his studies of the British, French, and German armies and their supply networks. Sharpe suggests combining a number of departments into a new Supply Department and establishing new regulations for officer promotions. He also encourages the Transportation Department to establish depots of supplies throughout the country that could be quickly mobilized in times of need. Sharpe provides Taft with a list of changes he, as Secretary of War, could implement by his own directive, as well as those requiring approval from Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-09-26
Knowing President Roosevelt is actively interested in promoting military efficiency, Admiral Sims sends him an analysis of the army’s gunnery methods resulting from an action of the Joint Army and Navy Munitions Board. He concludes, “the army method is expensive, complicated, frequently comparatively inaccurate.” These issues result from a failure to update army training. To resolve this, Sims suggests adapting naval methods for land use.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-12
Leonard Wood has read the letter President Roosevelt sent to Secretary of War William H. Taft regarding examinations of field officers in horsemanship. Wood feels these examinations would be “a fine thing,” but fears that unless all department commanders are able to perform the required tests, the examinations will not be very rigorous.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-17
Soldiers are seen drilling and marching at the officer’s training camp in Plattsburgh, New York. Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. addresses a group of trainees. Noted Harvard hurdler William Henry Meanix jumps over a hurdle, and later smiles while standing at ease. Camp commander Colonel P. A. Wolf stands solemnly.
Sherman Grinberg Film Collection
1917
President Roosevelt writes to John A. T. Hull, chairman of the House Committee on Military Affairs, about the poor horsemanship of field officers. The officers cannot be blamed because the mounts are not quality, and they do not have much chance to practice riding until they become officers. Roosevelt will ask the House and Senate committees to consider legislation to rectify this situation. The legislation would involve establishing re-mount stations to provide better horses and allowing infantry captains to be mounted so as to give potential officers more experience on horses.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-01-04
President Roosevelt tells Army Chief of Staff Bell about Leonard Wood’s update about the recent field training. Roosevelt requests that Bell create a report of the commands which have had trouble with the practice marches.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-08-17
Kermit Roosevelt and his brothers are undergoing military training in Plattsburg, New York. Archibald B. Roosevelt and Ted Roosevelt have received commissions in the reserve corp and Quentin Roosevelt is doing well at the aviation camp. Richard Derby is a major in the Medical Reserve Corps, but has not gone to the front yet. Kermit hopes to be on the Mesopotamian front as he is familiar with that area. Belle Roosevelt is staying nearby and Kermit visits her when he can. Kim Roosevelt has been ill and may have German measles, which Kermit describes as very unpatriotic. They will join Belle’s family in Spain when Kermit goes to the front.
1917-06-14
Resolutions supporting the promotion of Civil War veterans over recent graduates of the military academies and against favoritism in the selection of commanders.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-08-04
Service record noting assignments and promotions for Rear Admiral Andrew E. K. Benham.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1902-01-09