Military service, Voluntary

If the United States is drawn into the war, Theodore Roosevelt hopes that Congress will authorize him to raise a cavalry division. He gives an overview of how he conceives of the division’s organization and would like Captain McCoy to serve as Chief of Staff. Roosevelt has several potential officers in mind but wants to consult with McCoy. It might be difficult to raise the division if there is only war with Mexico.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-07-10

Theodore Roosevelt has received Captain McCoy’s letter and will discuss its suggestions with Gordon Johnston when he visits the Plattsburgh Camp. He has discussed the machine gun division with Mr. Smedburg. Roosevelt is unsure if the Wilson administration can be “kicked into war” but the Germans might declare war.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1915-08-24

Theodore Roosevelt does not think that one brother should serve under another, as accusations of favoritism are inevitable. He requests that Archibald B. Roosevelt write occasional letters to Robert Perkins. Grace Stackpole Lockwood Roosevelt is delighted to be pregnant and is leaning toward the name Dabney if the baby is a girl. Roosevelt delivers speeches occasionally and is having a difficult time fending off constant requests for patriotic speeches. He regrets that he was not allowed to raise troops and serve with them in France. Original and typewritten copy.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-08-23

Theodore Roosevelt appreciates William Roscoe Thayer’s letter. Roosevelt wants to go abroad with the troops but he doubts the Wilson administration will allow it.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-05-05

Theodore Roosevelt is disappointed that he will not be able to participate in the war. He has a low opinion of President Wilson and suggests that the Allies will not seek Roosevelt’s services for fear of antagonizing Wilson, a man that would sacrifice anything for personal advancement. Ted Roosevelt and Archie Roosevelt attempted to enlist as privates with General Pershing but they were refused as this would be a “waste of material.” He is pleased that James Russell Parsons is preparing for military service, even though he cannot enlist for many months.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-05-24

Theodore Roosevelt provides advice on what James Russell Parsons should do to become an officer in the military. Kermit Roosevelt is sailing on Saturday, and Quentin Roosevelt, now a first lieutenant in the Aviation Corps, is leaving next week.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917-07-11

Theodore Roosevelt is pleased that James Russell Parsons will be sent to Europe and he invites Frances Theodora Parsons to Sagamore Hill.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-08-18

Theodore Roosevelt compliments Archibald Roosevelt on his promotion to captain. He cautions Archie against overworking himself and damaging his health. Roosevelt is disappointed in the inefficiency and unpreparedness of the military but the same problems existed during his service in the Spanish-American War. He believes that a regiment raised from volunteers at the outset would be superior to a regular regiment. Roosevelt continues to speak about speeding up the war and improving military training.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-01-05

Theodore Roosevelt is proud of Archibald Roosevelt and his three brothers for their military service. Although Roosevelt agrees with Archie’s complaints about inefficiencies in the military, he cautions against being too vocal as it could make Archie’s situation more difficult. Roosevelt is seeing signs that the public is beginning to comprehend the extent of military shortages and inefficiencies. There has been some backlash against Roosevelt’s outspokenness on the war effort and he would like the government to move against him as it would only help carry his message farther. He concludes with updates on Roosevelt family members.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1918-01-20

Collection of correspondence between Theodore Roosevelt and Secretary of War Newton Diehl Baker regarding Roosevelt’s efforts to raise a division of volunteers for military service abroad in light of the conflict in Europe. Baker and Roosevelt have conflicting views on the potential composition of an American expeditionary force and a volunteer division is opposed by Baker and the Wilson administration. Published in Metropolitan Magazine, August 1917.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1917

Theodore Roosevelt is shown addressing men who had paid for voluntary military instruction at a military summer camp in Plattsburgh, New York. Major General Leonard Wood had given Roosevelt the opportunity to speak at the camp; the event resulted in Wood’s reprimand by his superior.

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site

Creation Date

1915-08

Governor Roosevelt notifies General Johnson that his copy of Rough Riders is on its way and of his hesitation to collect photographs of all the men in his Rough Riders regiment. Roosevelt also thanks Johnson for the lithograph and notes that Mrs. Roosevelt very much enjoyed it.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1899-07-31

Vice President Roosevelt congratulates General Johnson on the monument commissioned in his honor and expresses his reverence for Civil War servicemen. Roosevelt also describes a particular meeting in Oklahoma where he marched alongside Civil War veterans and felt especially “stirred.”

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1901-07-07

Theodore Roosevelt speaks in commemoration of Decoration Day in Nassau County, New York.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

Unknown

Colonel Roosevelt, from his camp in Santiago de Cuba, describes to General Johnson the outbreak of yellow fever plaguing his volunteer regiment. Roosevelt also describes how, despite the loss of life and difficult conditions, he and the men see the value of their volunteerism and expresses his hopes for moving on to Puerto Rico soon.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1898-07-19

From camp, Colonel Roosevelt tells General Johnson that if he is able to make arrangements, he would surely enjoy a visit with him, but that at this time he cannot guarantee their meeting.

Collection

Harvard College Library

Creation Date

1898-09-03

Walter Gordon-Cumming is serving with the British during the South African War. He summarizes the war’s progress and believes that it is being carried out in a “weak lenient manner.” Typed copy of original handwritten letter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-16

Walter Gordon-Cumming is serving with the British during the South African War. He summarizes the war’s progress and believes that it is being carried out in a “weak lenient manner.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1902-01-16

Cartoon depicts Theodore Roosevelt dressed as a Rough Rider holding a horse labeled “American Legion” as he saluted the First Emergency Reserves. A typed note in the scrapbook says this cartoon is how the name American Legion came to be. Caption: An American Legion of 250,000 men, to act as a reserve army, is being formed. Colonel Roosevelt says he and his four sons will gladly join.

comments and context

Comments and Context

There is no direct link to the concept, in 1915, of an “American Legion” as the name never gained traction with the Plattsburgh Training Camp movement that commenced in 1915; nor was associated with the putative “Roosevelt Division” of volunteers after the declaration of war. Perhaps coincidentally, it was Theodore Roosevelt’s son, a veteran of World War I, who helped found the American Legion that remains in existence as a veterans’ organization. Cartoonist Bushnell was an artist with the Cincinnati newspapers Post and Times-Star; and was syndicated by the Newspaper Enterprise Association. 

Poem praising Theodore Roosevelt for volunteering himself and four sons to go fight in World War I.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1915