March, Peyton Conway, 1864-1955

Adna Romanza Chaffee forwards a report from Captain March on his observations with the Japanese Army.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-02-02

Theodore Roosevelt tells his son Kermit that General Peyton Marsh has made Kermit a captain of artillery in the American army and that he is to proceed to Madrid, Spain, for orders. Roosevelt feels the American army is too small to fight the German advances and mentions his ill feelings toward President Woodrow Wilson.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-05-08

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit to say he wrote General Peyton March to get orders for Kermit. He reports that Quentin Roosevelt shot down a German plane and Eleanor wants Belle to join her in Paris. He recounts a visit from his friends Chapman and Cherrie and a story about Cherrie’s sons enlisting. Roosevelt says he and Mother ride horses and row and he was a pallbearer at former New York Mayor John Mitchell’s funeral.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-07-13

Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit regarding transferring Kermit from the British army to the American army. He has been sending cables to the British Minister of War Lord Derby and General Peyton March. Roosevelt says how proud he is of all his sons and how he cannot wait for them to return. Tommy Hitchcock is still a German prisoner of war and slightly wounded and there have been many complimentary letters about Archie Roosevelt.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-04-21

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

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of State Hay about Captain John F. Morrison’s assessment of the Japanese army. Morrison spent time with Japanese General Yasukata Oku’s army and observed that American attachés were favored over British attachés and the Russian prisoners—most of whom were wounded—were treated kindly. Morrison was impressed by the training and preparedness of the Japanese army, especially in comparison to the Russian army.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-05

President Roosevelt begins his letter to Cecil Spring Rice discussing the presidential election and how Alton B. Parker and the Democratic Party chose to campaign. Roosevelt mentions his plans to send Ambassador to Italy George von Lengerke Meyer to St. Petersburg, and spends the rest of the letter discussing Japan and Russia. The Japanese government treats Americans well, while Russia has treated the United States, England, and Japan poorly. However, Roosevelt believes the Japanese Army groups all white men together and considers such men inferior to themselves, as evidenced by the experience of American military attachés in Japan. The president opines that Russia is the main enemy of Japan, as long as it focuses on China, Korea, and Manchuria. However, if Japan desires to become a maritime power, it could threaten the United States, England, and the Netherlands. Roosevelt concludes his letter by saying, “[W]e must trust in the Lord and keep our powder dry and our eyes open.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1904-12-27

President Roosevelt explains to Senator Proctor why he chose Captain Benjamin Alvord to be promoted to Assistant Chief of the Record and Pension Office. Roosevelt personally wanted to appoint his friend John H. Parker, while Proctor suggested Eugene Frederick Ladd. However, in order to avoid the appearance of favoritism, Roosevelt asked Secretary of War William H. Taft to have the general staff evaluate all the candidates and make a recommendation.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-31

President Roosevelt gives Secretary of War Taft his thoughts on several weapons used in the military, saying especially that he believes “that ramrod bayonet about as poor an invention as I ever saw.” Roosevelt wishes officers could carry rifles, but if they must carry swords, Roosevelt believes “it ought to be a sword that can do damage.” Roosevelt also requests the opinions of Captain Peyton Conway March and officers in the Philippines about bayonets and swords.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-01-04

Film of Theodore Roosevelt’s funeral. Civil War veterans march in front of the funeral home, waving flags. Pallbearers transport the flag-draped casket from the hearse to the grave uphill, led by Reverend George E. Talmadge. General Peyton Conway March and Vice President Thomas R. Marshall are seen standing at the train station. William Howard Taft is helped down the hill following the ceremony.

Collection

Sherman Grinberg Film Collection

Creation Date

1955

The funeral procession for and internment of Theodore Roosevelt in Oyster Bay, New York.

Collection

Sherman Grinberg Film Collection

Creation Date

1919-01-09

The Bismarck Tribune reports on the death of Theodore Roosevelt at his home in Oyster Bay, New York, early on the morning of January 6, 1919. His secretary Josephine M. Stricker, who reported it to the press, received the news from Roosevelt’s wife Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt. It is believed that Roosevelt passed away painlessly, and that his death was due to inflammatory rheumatism. News of Roosevelt’s death quickly drew a large number of telegrams expressing condolence and sympathy, and both houses of Congress adjourned out of respect for Roosevelt. Following this article, The Bismarck Tribune also presents a brief biography of Roosevelt’s life and political achievements. Apart from news of Roosevelt’s death, the paper also has several articles related to North Dakota politics, a brief mention of troop movements occurring in Europe, and a comment on the success of a recent Liberty Loan drive for the Ninth federal reserve district.

Collection

Dickinson State University

Creation Date

1919-01-06

President Roosevelt outlines for Ambassador Meyer his opinions regarding the Russian and Japanese people and their militaries, and comments on England’s similar interest regarding the “Oriental complication.”

Collection

Massachusetts Historical Society

Creation Date

1905-02-06

The first part of the film is from October 27, 1919, when the Roosevelt memorial flag, which has been carried across New York State in Theodore Roosevelt’s honor, is brought to rest at his grave in Youngs Memorial Cemetery, Oyster Bay, New York. Shots from different angles of the memorial flag as it is borne by young men up the steep pathway to the grave site. Five girls sew the 48th and final star on flag at what is probably Cove School in Oyster Bay with group of children and Boy Scouts visible in background. Final view is of children and adults on cemetery grounds.

The second part of the film contains views of Theodore Roosevelt’s funeral on January 8, 1919. New York City mounted police lead the funeral procession past crowds lining snow-covered roads. Roosevelt’s casket is borne from the entrance of Christ Episcopal Church with a flag-bearer behind, and Reverend George E. Talmadge visible beside the hearse. William H. Taft is seen with others at the cemetery grounds and the casket is carried up the path, followed by Archibald Roosevelt in uniform and other family members. The film closes with a shot of Vice-President Thomas R. Marshall, official U.S. Government representative at the funeral, and General Peyton Conway March, Army Chief of Staff, at what appears to be a train station followed by a shot of Taft, assisted by an unidentified man, walking down hill after ceremony at the grave site.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound