Armed Forces--Officers

Letter from James Franklin Bell to Theodore Roosevelt

United States Army Chief of Staff Bell thanks President Roosevelt for the opportunity to read General Leonard Wood’s correspondence and states that he has always had a high respect for him. Bell agrees with Wood’s letters and orders, particularly one paragraph that highlights a system of military competition used by the French Army with much success. Although Bell would like to see more of this type of competition, he has not advocated for this in the entire Army due to a lack of officers in the United States, as most are stationed overseas. He concludes by informing Roosevelt that he has kept these matters strictly confidential as the president requested.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-09-12

Letter from Henry S. Pritchett to Theodore Roosevelt

Henry S. Pritchett suspects John F. Stevens, Chief Engineer of the Isthmian Canal Commission, is under considerable mental and emotional strain and is inadequate in “government methods of business.” While he praises Stevens’ work ethic, Pritchett believes he lacks the moral fortitude and patience necessary it succeed in this position. 

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-03-05

Secretary Root to the president–“Give it a yank–quick”

Secretary of War Elihu Root holds a rope that is attached to a “Lieut-Gen. in command” chair on which General Nelson Appleton Miles sits, typing at a typewriter. Miles has typed reports and speeches already, and is currently typing: “My charges against the Army: looting, water cure, murder, favoritism.” Root taps President Roosevelt on the shoulder and presents the rope to him, directing him to pull the chair out from underneath Miles.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-05-20

Theodore Roosevelt and Leonard Wood

Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt with Colonel Leonard Wood at camp near San Antonio, Texas. Horses graze in the background.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1898

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit and is concerned he has not been getting his letters so that he does not know he has been appointed a captain of artillery and must report to Madrid, Spain. He says Flora Payne Whitney has permission from her father to go to Europe and marry Quentin Roosevelt and Quentin is upset there are still no planes to fly over France. Roosevelt reports that Major Wadsworth is dead and the son of his friend Frederick Courteney Selous was killed.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-05-12

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say nineteen of his letters arrived in one day. Roosevelt discusses his views on the author Thomas Hardy and literature in general. He writes about Quentin Roosevelt’s death and how Mother and Quentin’s fiancee Flora Payne Whitney are doing. He adds he wrote to General John Pershing regarding Kermit being assigned to machine gun work.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-08-04

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say he is pleased Kermit was transferred to a motor machine gun battery. General Leonard Wood visited after being at the front and says equipment and supplies are needed. Archie Roosevelt is recovering from his wounds nicely.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-03-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt tells his son Kermit that his transfer from the British army to the American army is all set. Kermit will be sent to Madrid, Spain, to receive his orders and he can spend some time with his wife Belle and their children. Roosevelt encloses a newspaper article about himself.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to describe the christening of Ethel Roosevelt Derby’s daughter Edie and the lack of supplies and equipment for drafted men in military training camps. He also mentions a visit from Australian officers and novelist Major A. E. W. Mason.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-11-09

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say Archie Roosevelt has written from the trenches and Ted has handled his battalion admirably. He gives updates on friends and family back home and says Belle has not received half his letters.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-12-02

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit to say he is disappointed President Woodrow Wilson did not allow him to raise a volunteer cavalry troop to take to the war in Europe. He talks about prospects in the military for Kermit, Archie and Quentin Roosevelt.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-05-26

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit regarding possibilities for officer commissions for Kermit and updates him on some family members.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-06-25

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes to his son Kermit about a letter from the British ambassador regarding getting Kermit a commission in the British military to serve in Mesopotamia. He says everything is up in the air so Kermit should try and get a commission in the United States army and see what happens. He also reports that Quentin Roosevelt is engaged to Flora Whitney and Archie leaving has been difficult for his wife, Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-07-01

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes that he cannot wait until Kermit, Belle, and their new baby arrive in New York. He tells Kermit that Archie, Ted, and Quentin plan to go to the Plattsburg military training camp again this summer and he thinks Kermit should go too. Roosevelt fears that it will be difficult for Kermit to get a commission because he did not go last year. Roosevelt closes by describing his trip to the West Indies.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1916-02-24

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt reports on the achievements of Quentin, Archie, and Ted at the Plattsburgh military training camp, noting that they received good recommendations from their officers. To Roosevelt’s delight, Archie was placed in a position above Ted. Archie and Ted also traveled to Montreal, Quebec, to view the military preparations. The Plattsburgh camp has been very successful, and other camps are being formed across the country. Roosevelt criticizes President Wilson for his policy toward Germany and Mexico.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-08-28

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Kermit Roosevelt

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say that if America enters the war against Germany, Seth Bullock will put Kermit in as captain and Ted and Archie will also become officers. Roosevelt says unless there is a change, he will not be able to support either of the political parties next year. He closes by describing his trip to the Panama-Pacific Exposition in California.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-08-06

Note about message to Elihu Root

“Write to Root asking Scott for Col. of Constabulary in Philippines.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902

Speech by Theodore Roosevelt

President Roosevelt feels that it is the duty of military officers to set an example for the men under their command of temperance and clean living. In doing so, he will help soldiers avoid “the inevitable misery and disaster which follow upon intemperance and upon moral uncleanliness, and vicious living.” This draft of the speech shows a large number of handwritten edits and rearrangements of the text.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to William H. Taft

In the unlikely event of war with Mexico, Theodore Roosevelt requests permission to raise a division of cavalry similar to the Rough Riders of the Spanish-American War. He summarizes his plan for creating the unit and argues in favor of its potential effectiveness.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-03-14

Letter from Theodore Roosevelt to Leonard Wood

Theodore Roosevelt introduces General Leonard Wood to Colonel Frank A. Edwards, a friend who he regards highly. Roosevelt first met Edwards at Yellowstone National Park and considered him to be one of the best cavalry officers. Edwards enjoys using a revolver, wrote a technical Italian-English military dictionary, and was sent as a military attache to Rome by Roosevelt.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1911-09-15