United States. Marine Corps

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

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

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

Charles Laurie McCawley, of the Quartermaster’s Office of the U.S. Marine Corps, sends President Roosevelt two coats and four pairs of pants, which Roosevelt had requested. The items are made of two different types of material, as the standard materials for officers’ clothing has changed. If Roosevelt does not like the new material and prefers the old, McCawley asks that he return the new items, and he will have replacements and alterations made.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1908-03-12

Attorney General Bonaparte informs President Roosevelt that a Private Lennon, a marine court-martialed for desertion, was pardoned.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-05-21

Gunnery Sergeant Clark reports on his experience using the Corrector System during target practice, comparing it to the one and two eye methods. He forwards a score book that records the accuracy of his shots and notes that using the Corrector System seemed to eliminate all eyestrain. Also included are four endorsements.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-21

Secretary of War Taft expects to leave Cuba for the United States on the USS Louisiana around October 14th. Admiral Couden believes it is no longer necessary for the battleships to remain after this date and requests instructions from the bureau. Couden also reports that Hannibal has sailed for Cienfuegos and the USS Kentucky and Prairie have arrived in Havana.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-10-05

Acting Secretary of State Adee encloses forwards to President Roosevelt an interview Jacob Sleeper had with Cuban President Tomás Estrada Palma, in which the latter requested United States intervention to protect U.S. citizens from Cuban rebels. Also enclosed is Estrada Palma’s address to the Cuban congress.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-25

Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte assures President Roosevelt that he is consulting with the Department of State regarding actions in Cuba. Bonaparte made transportation arrangements for Secretary of War Taft and Acting Secretary of State Bacon to travel to Havana by way of Key West, but they decided to go via Tampa instead. Bonaparte believes Taft should command the Navy in Cuban waters during an emergency and urges Roosevelt to send instructions to that effect. On another matter, Bonaparte encloses a letter from Philllips Lee Goldsborough inquiring whether he may serve as chairman of William H. Jackson’s congressional campaign. Bonaparte believes that allowing Goldsborough to do so would benefit Roosevelt politically. Having Jackson in Congress will offset losses elsewhere.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-18

This memorandum details the number of marines that could be assembled to send to Cuba, and how many would remain at various ports. It also lists the number of marines serving on board ships currently in North Atlantic waters.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-15

Consul Holaday sends a telegram to Secretary of State Root through William Loeb about the situation in Cuba. Holaday has received reliable information that “at least 500 well-armed men” are in revolt. Provisional Governor Taft denies this information, though he reports smaller groups in certain districts. The marines landing has produced good effect. Holaday asks if he should continue to send reports to the State Department.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-14

The minister at the Legation of Peking recommends that his infantry guard be replaced by Marines.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-24

Adna Romanza Chaffee outlines the benefits and challenges of having a company of Marines relieve the Army’s 9th Infantry in Peking, China.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-07-21

William King is an applicant for a commission in the Marine Corps. He is the cousin of the Lilies and is a non-commissioned officer in the Virginia National Guard. Robert Barnwell Roosevelt wishes President Roosevelt to make the appointment.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-05-01

Tweed Roosevelt recounts the Battle of Cuzco Well during the Spanish-American War in Cuba. A combined Navy and Marine Corps force captured the water supply that supplied the Spanish garrison at Guantanamo Bay, one of the finest natural harbors in the Caribbean. Roosevelt believes that the successful seizure of the well allowed American forces to hold and use Guantanamo for naval operations that were crucial to the prosecution of the war. Roosevelt asserts that the Battle of Cuzco Well was instrumental in maintaining the existence of the Marine Corps whose usefulness had been called into question at the time of the conflict. Roosevelt relates some of the earlier history of the area, describing battles between British and Spanish forces during the War of Jenkins’ Ear in the mid nineteenth century. 

Three photographs, two illustrations, and a map supplement the essay. A text box with the mission statement of the Theodore Roosevelt Association (TRA) appears at the end of the essay. 

Collection

Theodore Roosevelt Association Journal

President Roosevelt fires a “Republic of Panama” machine gun with cartridges for each day of the week: “Mon. U.S. warship arrives at Colon,” “Tue. Republic proclaimed,” “Wed. U.S. Marines landed,” Thu. Panama asks for recognition,” “Fri. Recognition by U.S.,” “Sat. Call to form a government,” and “Sun.” The rest of the shells remaining in the magazine are all labeled with question marks.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-11

President Roosevelt tells Secretary of the Navy Moody that the Margaret Love Skerrett says that Admiral C. H. Taylor recommends her son-in-law for appointment in the Marine Corps.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1903-06-18

Because Hilary A. Herbert and Herbert J. Hirshinger were appointed to the Marine Corps without examination, President Roosevelt directs the Department of the Navy to appoint Howard W. Stone in the same manner. General George F. Elliott believes he is fit to be appointed.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1905-03-22

Acting Secretary of the Navy Newberry notifies President Roosevelt that the USS Kentucky and Indiana, as well as all marines from Admiral Robley D. Evans’s fleet, have been ordered to proceed to Havana, Cuba. About 1,000 more marines will be ready by Thursday.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-09-25

This film shows a parade on a broad street in an undetermined location. Features a single line of mounted policemen, a military marching band, sailors or marines carrying rifles, and soldiers marching in formation. A dignitary riding in a closed carriage follows lines of marching policemen. The soldiers and sailors may be returning from the Spanish-American War.

Collection

Library of Congress Motion Picture, Broadcasting and Recorded Sound

Creation Date

1898