Biographical NoteThe Rough Riders was a nickname given to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish–American War and the only one to see combat. The volunteers were gathered in four areas: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas because the hot climate of the region that the men were used to was similar to that of Cuba where they would be fighting.
They were led by former White House physician Col. Leonard Wood and future president Theodore Roosevelt. The Rough Riders helped fight the Battle of San Juan Hill, which helped win the war.
Many of the members were from Arizona and included cowboys, ranchers and miners. Notable Arizonans included John Campbell Greenway, William “Buckey” O’Neill and future territorial governor Alexander Brodie.