friend be put in charge. Teddy was happy to be second Name in command.

Roosevelt went to help train the new soldiers. You could guess that with Teddy doing the training, it was going to be tough. Before long, Teddy Roosevelt and the the soldiers had strong muscles. They knew how to fight. Soon the unit was called to duty. By Toni Lee Robinson All the soldiers would go by ship to . Many units were waiting The rougher life was, the better Teddy to be sent. In all, there were around 30,000 men. There weren't nearly Roosevelt liked it. He loved riding, even enough ships to take them all. The cavalry units had to leave their with a cranky horse and a squeaky saddle. horses behind! They weren't happy about it. What was a cavalry He loved the feel of good, hard dirt under soldier without his horse? Some of Roosevelt's unit called themselves his bedroll. He loved hunting, exploring, the "Weary Walkers." Still, they went on to war. and being a cowboy. A tough job was his cup of tea, as long as it was outdoors. When the soldiers arrived, they had to make a long march through the jungle. The Americans weren't used to the tropical heat. Most of them Theodore was Teddy's real name. As a wore wool uniforms. Not Roosevelt's men! He had seen to it that his young boy, he had been sick. As he got soldiers had lighter clothes. Teddy's men felt lots better than those older, he was determined not to be a wearing hot, scratchy wool. weakling. He worked at making his body and his mind strong. He took up boxing and The 1st Volunteer unit fought in several battles in Cuba. The biggest other sports. He did anything that would make him tough. He said he was the Battle of San Juan Hill. By the time the men got to the battle, wanted to live "." (The word is pronounced Colonel Wood had been made leader over a larger group of cavalry. "STREN-you-us." It means vigorously active.) The 1st Cavalry was a part of this big group. Roosevelt then became leader of his unit. The troop was now called "Roosevelt's Rough In 1898, the U.S. was on the brink of war. A little island nation called Riders." Cuba was in trouble. It lies just south of Florida. At the time, it was a colony of Spain. The Spanish rulers weren't treating the very The battle wasn't easy. At first it was a waiting game. A third of the well. Newspapers in the U.S. told about terrible things being done to large group had been sent off to fight in another area. They were to the Cuban people. Many people thought the U.S. should help Cuba. join the main group in a couple of hours. The others waited and waited. They lay in trenches at the bottom of the hill. The sun was Roosevelt had an important job at this time. He was one of the men in dreadfully hot. Worse yet, Spanish troops held the top of the hill. charge of the U.S. Navy. He felt strongly that the U.S. should chase They were shooting at the U.S. soldiers. Many men died in the long Spain out of Cuba. Roosevelt made sure the navy was ready in case hours of waiting. the U.S. went to war with Spain. In April of 1898, war broke out. Roosevelt had found a horse. He rode up and down the lines of men, As the war got going, Teddy wasn't happy with sitting behind a desk. yelling things to keep their spirits up. Finally, Teddy got the okay to He felt he was missing his chance at adventure. He quit his job with lead his men forward. They ran uphill, directly into the rain of bullets. the navy. He helped gather men to go to Cuba and fight. Teddy It was better than waiting. As they made their way up, Roosevelt brought together all kinds of men. He signed up cowboys from the urged other units to join the charge. Some refused. They'd gotten no West. He brought in college athletes from the East. order to charge, they said.

The name of the unit was the 1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry. ("Cavalry" "Then let my men through, sir!" Roosevelt replied. The Rough Riders meant soldiers who rode horses into battle.) Roosevelt was offered the ran past the other soldiers. They and other volunteer units captured the job of leading the unit. He turned the job down. He asked that his top of a small hill called Kettle Hill. Then they fought on, pushing up 3. Why did many Americans in 1898 think the U.S. should go to Name war with Spain?

San Juan Hill. Soon other units began to follow the Rough Riders. The Spanish troops were chased out. The hill was in U.S. hands. The capture of San Juan Hill was the first step to a Spanish surrender. It was a big part of the U.S. victory in the Spanish American War.

By the time the fighting was over, many of the Rough Riders had 4. Before the 1900s, cavalry was: become ill. (Tropical diseases killed many more men in the war than bullets did!) Roosevelt made sure his men were shipped home quickly A. soldiers who fought in the Spanish American War so that they could recover. B. soldiers who ride horses into battle C. a group of soldiers The Rough Riders came home as heroes. They proved the cavalry D. a group of horseback riders could fight even without horses! Teddy went on to become the 26th president of the U.S. 5. Teddy Roosevelt was ordered to leave his job at the navy department and go to Cuba as a soldier. A. false Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders B. true Questions 6. Explain how Roosevelt's unit came to be called "Roosevelt's Rough Riders." 1. Write a sentence explaining what kind of life Teddy Roosevelt liked.

7. The most famous part of the Battle of San Juan Hill was the charge led by the Rough Riders and other volunteer units. But soldiers spent most of the battle: 2. Teddy was sick as a young child. What did he do about it? A. lying in trenches waiting for the order to charge A. He took all kinds of wacky cures thinking they might B. shouting insults at the Spanish soldiers keep him from being sick. C. riding up and down the hill B. He decided to take life easy so that he wouldn't get sick D. sleeping again. C. He became a doctor so he could help other ill children. D. He worked hard at building up his strength and being tough. Name

8. Write a sentence using the word "strenuous" in a way that shows its meaning.