United States. Army

Letter from Dan T. Moore to Theodore Roosevelt

Dan T. Moore, Edith Kermit Carow Roosevelt’s cousin, writes to President Roosevelt to wish him a merry Christmas and happy New Year, and to update him on recent events. Moore’s wife, Luvie Jones Butler Moore, has recently been ill, but has seen doctors in Germany and seems to be recovering now. Moore was pleased to hear that President-elect William H. Taft had won the election, although he regrets that Roosevelt did not run himself. Moore has been enjoying his time studying with the German army, and hopes to be able to extend his time abroad in order to attend an artillery shooting school. If it is convenient, he would like to receive a copy of Roosevelt’s message to Congress, and comments on several sections of it that he has already heard about, including sections addressing promotions in the military. Moore will be having his son, Dan T. Moore, Jr., baptized while they are in Geneva, and asks if Roosevelt would want to be the godfather.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

Leonard Wood has spoken with Albert L. Key about many of the present discussions going on in reference to the Navy, and encourages President Roosevelt to read some letters that Key will send to him. Wood has been working on a question involving Cuba, and will send Roosevelt his recommendations.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-26

Letter from Henry T. Allen to Fred C. Ainsworth

Major Henry T. Allen sends Adjutant General of the United States Army, Fred C. Ainsworth, a statement of facts in connection with the relief of the Second Squadron, 8th Cavalry, from duty in Yellowstone National Park. Allen explains the history of how the squadron came to serve at Yellowstone, the conditions while they were there, and the generally how the squadron had been received. Allen quotes from several letters mentioning his conduct specifically, as well as that of the squadron, which commend the efforts of both.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-12

Letter from Leonard Wood to Charles Laurie McCawley

General Wood clarifies for Lieutenant Colonel McCawley that his previous letter was confidential, and says that President Roosevelt did not ask Wood to use his influence in the matter of merging the Marine Corps with the Army, but to prepare his views of such a move. Wood understands that Roosevelt would favor such a merger if a basis of transfer could be reached. He will be in Washington soon, and is willing to meet with General George F. Elliott, Colonel Frank L. Denny, and McCawley at that time to explain his position. Wood asks McCawley to not quote the President’s opinion, as it can easily be misunderstood.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-26

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

General Wood encloses several self-explanatory letters to President Roosevelt, and tells him that he had personal talks with Colonel Frank L. Denny and Lieutenant Colonel Charles Laurie McCawley in order to determine what the attitude of the Marine Corps would be if it were to be transferred into the United States Army. Wood believes that such a transfer would be good, as the Marines are off the ships and are already essentially infantry, and so therefore should report to the Secretary of War. He also believes that General George F. Elliot hopes to get an increase in the Marine Corps and have it branch out as a separate branch of marine infantry, which Wood considers potentially harmful to the Army.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-26

Letter from Leonard Wood to George F. Elliott

While General Wood believes that the conversation he had with President Roosevelt was personal, he understands General Elliott’s interest in the subject matter, and clarifies the situation for him. Roosevelt did not ask Wood to use his influence to have the Marine Corps merged into the Army, but asked him to prepare his views on the matter should the opportunity arise. Roosevelt favors such a merger, as does Wood. Wood spoke with Colonel Frank L. Denny and Lieutenant Colonel Charles Laurie McCawley to get their opinions on the subject if such a transfer were going to happen, and Wood presented only his personal views on the matter.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-26

Letter from Alexander Lambert to Theodore Roosevelt

Alexander Lambert informs President Roosevelt that he has accepted an invitation from Surgeon General Robert M. O’Reilly to serve on a board to evaluate whether inoculations against typhoid should be given to soldiers in the army. Lambert asks if he might be able to stay with Roosevelt while he is in town. He additionally congratulates Roosevelt on the recent victory of Harvard’s football team over Yale, and mentions a pair of books that he thinks that Roosevelt may be interested in reading. Lambert recently saw Robert Harry Munroe Ferguson, and comments on his health.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-12-01

Letter from George F. Elliott to Leonard Wood

Major General Elliott has been informed that General Wood said that President Roosevelt had asked Wood to use his influence to have the Marines “turned over to the Army.” Elliott does not believe that Roosevelt would ask for this transfer without first telling either Elliott, or the Secretary of the Navy.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-24

Letters from Charles Laurie McCawley and Frank L. Denny to Leonard Wood

In separate letters, Colonel Denny and Lieutenant-Colonel McCawley remind General Wood of a conversation in which Wood told them that President Roosevelt supported transferring the Marine Corps to the Army, and asked them to ask their fellow officers what they thought about it. General George F. Elliott not only does not support such a move, but does not believe Denny and McCawley correctly understood the conversation, and has written Wood for clarification.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-11-24

Letter from Alexander Lambert to Theodore Roosevelt

Alexander Lambert details his recent goat hunt in the mountains for President Roosevelt. Lambert has responded to Secretary of the Interior James Rudolph Garfield with his honest opinion about Yellowstone National Park. Although Lambert does not have legal evidence, he details William H. Wright’s observations on the military custodians and the diminishing bear population. Lambert inquires about scheduling for his visit, and will discuss the details further in person.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-09-29

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

Per President Roosevelt’s request, Leonard Wood sends his thoughts on increasing the efficiency of the Army. Wood feels emphatically that the most important thing to do is get rid of “worn out” field generals and promote younger men.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-06

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

William H. Taft introduces John Donovan, president of the Army Tournament Association, to President Roosevelt. Taft explains that he cannot attend the tournament Donovan is organizing because he must stay in Ohio but encourages Roosevelt to attend as Commander-in-Chief.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-08-12

Letter from Edgar Alexander Mearns to Theodore Roosevelt

Edgar Alexander Mearns is delighted to be reminded of his upcoming role as naturalist and medical adviser on Theodore Roosevelt’s trip to Africa. Mearns advises Roosevelt on approaches for sterilizing water, medical outfits, and equipment. Medicine for “native ‘boys’ and friends can be conveniently boxed.”

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-31

Memorandum for the Chief of Staff

Brigadier General Wotherspoon reports to Army Chief of Staff Bell concerning the proposition of constructing a naval base at Subic Bay in the Philippines. While Wotherspoon concedes the point that this location is very easily defended from the sea, there are many problems related to its defense from the land, which he outlines. Wotherspoon believes a base at this position would not be able to be defended long enough for reinforcements from the United States to arrive, and so recommends the construction of a base at Manila Bay or Corregidor instead.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-02

Letter from William H. Taft to William Loeb

William H. Taft thinks he ought to respond to the charge that he favored Chinese labor and English materials for the khaki uniform of the Army, and he sends a draft statement for William Loeb to review with President Roosevelt. The statement clarifies that purchases of soldiers’ uniforms go through the Quartermaster General and the Assistant Secretary of War, not the Secretary of War. The purchase in question was made at the recommendation of General Leonard Wood, who said the uniforms ordered were better suited to the climate. Taft had no knowledge of the order until just before leaving office, at which point he referred the question to Roosevelt, recommending that the order be rescinded. Roosevelt’s handwritten emendations to the statement are visible.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-07-08

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

If a bill by Senator Frances E. Warren regarding the Brownsville affair passes, President Roosevelt will need to “make every effort possible” to identify the men who actually did the shooting. To that end, Secretary of War Taft has spoken with William Gibboney Baldwin and Herbert J. Browne, who will investigate the issue for thirty days in an attempt to find out more information.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-16

Letter from Albert L. Key to Theodore Roosevelt

Albert L. Key argues that President Roosevelt has been more successful in placing younger officers in higher positions in the Army than he believes, and thinks that he could have the same success in the Navy. Key argues that many of the problems in the Navy right now, both practically and administratively, could be solved by placing younger and more efficient officers in higher-graded positions and promoting based on merit, rather than age. Key also briefly comments on the controversy concerning the placement of armor belts on battleships, disagreeing with Admiral Robley D. Evans’s position that it would be a mistake to raise the armor belts of ships.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-04-14

Letter from William H. Taft to Theodore Roosevelt

Secretary of War Taft returns a letter from General Leonard Wood to President Roosevelt. He comments on some aspects of Wood’s character that he feels that the letter illustrates, as well as some of Wood’s observations about the state of the Philippines. Taft thinks that Wood is correct regarding the necessity of completing fortifications in the Philippines, and agrees with the desirability in keeping the United States’ fleet in the Pacific, but realizes that it may be impractical. He thinks that Wood is perhaps overly suspicious of the Japanese.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-10

Memorandum for the Third Division

Army Chief of Staff James Bell Franklin requests a report regarding the construction of a naval base in the Philippines. Bell highlights several issues that should be given consideration and explained when examining the differences between Subig Bay and Manila Bay, especially highlighting several statements made in a report by the Board of Officers that should be replied to directly. This prior report, Franklin says, considered the sites for naval defense only, did not give proper consideration to inland defenses, and suggested that the entrance to Manila Bay could not be held.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-05

Letter from George Dewey to Victor Howard Metcalf

Admiral Dewey, President of the General Board of the Department of the Navy, provides a response for Secretary of the Navy Metcalf regarding President Roosevelt’s questions about the choice of Subig Bay as a naval base in the Philippines. Subig Bay had previously been evaluated by the General Board and selected as a better site for the construction of a naval base than Manila Bay. The General Board acknowledges the Army’s point that Subig Bay would be difficult to defend from the land side, and asks that the Army study the issue further with regard to plans for permanent fortifications.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-02-18