Cervera y Topete, Pascual, 1839-1909

President Roosevelt thanks French Ensor Chadwick for the letter, and compares the fight at San Juan to the boxing match between James J. Corbett and John Lawrence Sullivan, where the beginning of the fight was very difficult, but eventually the Americans gained the momentum and were assured of victory. Roosevelt sends Chadwick a copy of his book The Rough Riders, and asks him to look at the notes and letter in the last appendices. He agrees with Chadwick that Pascual Cervera y Topete acted with courage, but does not rank him quite so high as Chadwick does.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-01

French Ensor Chadwick has researched the history of the Spanish-American War for several years, and writes to congratulate President Roosevelt on the tenth anniversary of “the most heroic thing in the records of war” that Roosevelt took part in, that is, the charge to take the San Juan Heights.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-06-30

French Ensor Chadwick thanks President Roosevelt for the copy of the book Rough Riders, but stands his ground regarding what constitutes heroism. Chadwick puts a great deal of emphasis on the different characters of Americans and Spaniards, writing of the “fatalism and fanaticism” of the Spanish character, and how this was shown in the actions of Pascual Cervera y Topete.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-06

Colorized stereograph of the USS Oregon. Several soldiers, many wearing white uniforms, can be seen on the deck of the ship, and an American flag is raised at the back of the ship. Text on the reverse of the stereograph details the history of the Oregon as a battleship in the Spanish-American War, as well as various features of the ship and the armaments on board.

Comments and Context

As printed on the reverse of the stereograph, “Even if we have a magnificent fleet going around the Horn, we must not forget the Oregon that made the phenomenal trip from San Francisco and took part in the battle at Santiago while the nation held its breath, while American learnt what a battleship really meant, nor can we in this generation forget the Oregon even if it has not the first place in our fleet; it has the first place in our hearts, so in presenting the magnificent types of battleships we offer you no apology for giving you a view of the battleship Oregon.

The battleship Oregon is of special interest on account of her trip from the Pacific Coast around Cape Horn to Key West to fight the nation’s battles. Leaving San Francisco March 12th, 1898, she arrived at Jupiter Inlet, Florida, May 24th, covering a distance of 17,000 miles with pauses for coal only, without a break of any sort, and played an important part in the destruction of Cervera’s fleet. After her long journey, without having had any repairs, she gave chase to and aided in defeating the Christobal Colon, one of the fleetest cruisers in the world.

Collection of newspaper clippings of articles, photographs, and maps showing some of the actors, naval vessels, and events making up parts of the Spanish-American war. Includes some handwritten notes and hand-colored photographs.

Collection

Dickinson State University

Creation Date

1898

Governor Roosevelt encloses a document from an Oyster Bay, New York, neighbor who has questions regarding what circumstances would allow his discharge. Roosevelt is confused over Secretary of State Hay’s and President McKinley’s views on the canal treaty. If such a canal as they suggest existed during the Spanish-American War there would have been a great deal of anxiety over the Spanish fleet using the canal to attack the Pacific coast or Admiral Dewey in the Philippines. Roosevelt wants a canal held and fortified by the United States.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-02-16

Governor Roosevelt believes that the proposed canal should be fortified. If it is not, the canal would be another weak point to watch over during a conflict. If the canal had existed during the Spanish-American War, American forces would have needed to defend the canal to prevent the Spanish fleet from crossing into the Pacific Ocean and causing problems in a new theater. Roosevelt also favors an American canal as he does not want to see European powers gain new interests in the Americas.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1900-02-26

J. H. Woodard submits a statement for President Roosevelt that he believes might end the Schley-Sampson controversy over credit for the Battle of Santiago de Cuba, the major naval engagement of the Caribbean theater during the Spanish-American War. He argues that all who participated should get credit for the victory.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902