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An application for William O. Trenor for volunteer military service. The application requests personal information, skills, and references. Contains “Composition of Infantry Units” information.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1917-01
Adjutant General McCain requests information from William O. Trenor to complete his application for military service, including personal information, skills, and references. The document includes Trenor’s responses to questions about his skills and references.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1917-01
Captain Miller urges William O. Trenor not to drop his application for a commission in the army despite setbacks that have occurred with the examining board.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1917-04-03
William O. Trenor appeals to Secretary of War Baker for a commission as colonel in cavalry or infantry during World War I. He encloses letters of reference which he has been gathering for his application for a commission in the Officers’ Reserve Corps.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1917-02-07
Secretary of War Baker acknowledges William O. Trenor’s offer to serve and returns his letters of reference as requested.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1917-02-16
Theodore Roosevelt thanks W. Frank James for the speeches and tells him that he is in agreement with his positions. Roosevelt expresses his support for obligatory military service and also for those who wish to volunteer for military service to fill in the gaps before enacting a draft. He compares President Woodrow Wilson leading the country in war to fighting the Civil War under James Buchanan
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-06-01
E. W. Williamson expresses to Theodore Roosevelt that he is in urgent financial need and respectfully requests $40 to cover pressing obligations. He explains that he has secured a job starting on the 15th of the month and promises to repay the amount. Williamson recalls assisting Roosevelt during military service and hopes Roosevelt will remember his past support.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-09-09
Douglas Robinson wants to help Henry Corn, president of the Improved Property Holding Company. Corn wants to get his son transferred from Troop E to Troop H of the cavalry, so that his two sons can be together.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-01-10
Brigadier-General Boynton analyzes the military record of President Roosevelt.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1904
The writer describes the success and hardships of the Allotment System, a program designed to deduct money from soldiers’ pay and have it sent home to their families during the Civil War. Theodore Roosevelt, Sr., W. E. Dodge, and Theodore Bailey Johnson were appointed commissioners by the President to visit regiments of volunteer soldiers in New York State.
Sagamore Hill National Historic Site
1862-02-18
Theodore Roosevelt writes his son Kermit after his speaking tour to say he does not enjoy making speeches when what is needed is action, but he felt compelled to do so after hearing Robert M. La Follette criticize the war. He gives updates on various family members and male acquaintances as to their status with the war. Roosevelt also criticizes the War Department.
1917-10-10
Daniel H. Reese provides a brief sketch of his military service during the American Civil War and his post-war political activities.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1901
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.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1911-03-14
Theodore Roosevelt was pleased to hear what Edith Wharton had to say about Quentin Roosevelt and American soldiers. Quentin’s death has been heartbreaking but he did his duty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1918-08-15
Theodore Roosevelt wishes he could have been of service to the country, but Woodrow Wilson insists that he should only be a “looker-on.”
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1917-05-26
Theodore Roosevelt tells Judge Pritchard to have his boy “go on with that troop.” If it comes up to the requirements, Roosevelt will gladly accept it in the event he raises a division, but he must have as competent captain.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-06-29
Theodore Roosevelt expresses his desire to have Lieutenant Thomas Jonathan Jackson Christian and two others serve under his command should he raise a division. The others named are Lieutenant Roscoe and Wainwright.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-07-01
It appears that President Wilson is drifting into war with Mexico without any preparations. Theodore Roosevelt hopes to raise a division and will stop being a critic once in uniform. Roosevelt wants to serve and be a public example of service even if the division is used to further the political goals of Wilson and the Democratic Party. Sending the National Guard to the border was a mistake that allowed the “hardships of war” without the “benefits of efficient war.” Many families are suffering as their men patrol the border.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1916-07-03
Theodore Roosevelt writes to Colonel Foreman commending him for arranging a “cavalry ride for the officers of the militia regiments.” Roosevelt suggests that it would be nice to have the people of Washington raise an efficient militia and expresses his opinion that there should be universal service in the United States.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-11-27
Theodore Roosevelt agrees with William Farley Brewster that peace does not always come easily and sometimes must be fought for. Roosevelt also shares Brewster’s sentiment about the regular army and believes expert military opinions are needed regarding the army and navy. Roosevelt would like to see universal service in the United States, similar to the Swiss model.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1915-10-30