# Appendix B: The "Round Robin" Letter explained — The Rough Riders

> Chapter companion for The Rough Riders by Theodore Roosevelt.

## What happens

Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, commanding the Second Cavalry Brigade, writes a forceful letter to General Shafter arguing for the immediate evacuation of the Fifth Army Corps from Cuba due to widespread malarial fever and the threat of yellow fever. After Roosevelt's initiative, all American general officers unite in a 'round robin' letter to Shafter, unanimously demanding the army be moved north at once to prevent catastrophic loss of life. The appendix includes the full text of both Roosevelt's letter and the round robin, as reported by the Associated Press.

## Themes in this chapter

### Suffering and Sacrifice

Roosevelt describes the men as 'weakened and shattered' and warns of 'an appalling disaster' if they remain, emphasizing the extreme physical toll of the campaign.

### Individual Initiative vs. Bureaucracy

Roosevelt takes the initiative to write directly to Shafter and the press, bypassing official channels to force a decision, contrasting with the bureaucratic inertia of the War Department.

### American Exceptionalism

Roosevelt frames the army as 'the flower of the American army' and argues that its preservation is vital for future campaigns, reflecting a belief in America's unique military destiny.

## Character check-ins

### Theodore Roosevelt

Author of the initial letter to General Shafter, arguing forcefully for the army's immediate withdrawal from Cuba due to malaria and yellow fever risk.

### William R. Shafter

Major-General commanding the Fifth Corps; convenes the meeting of officers and receives both Roosevelt's letter and the round robin.

### J. Ford Kent

Major-General commanding First Division, Fifth Corps; first signatory of the round robin letter.

### Samuel Sumner

Brigadier-General commanding First Brigade, Cavalry; signatory of the round robin.

### Leonard Wood

Brigadier-General commanding the City of Santiago; signatory of the round robin.

### Russell A. Alger

Secretary of War; sends cable message ordering the army to move into the interior, which the officers oppose.

## Key lines

> To keep us here, in the opinion of every officer commanding a division or a brigade, will simply involve the destruction of thousands.

Every division and brigade commander agrees that staying in Cuba will kill thousands of soldiers.

_Roosevelt summarizes the unanimous view of senior officers at the meeting._

> This army must be moved at once, or perish.

The army must be evacuated immediately or it will be destroyed by disease.

_The round robin's stark conclusion, emphasizing the urgency of the situation._

> If there were any object in keeping us here, we would face yellow fever with as much indifference as we faced bullets. But there is no object.

We would willingly risk yellow fever if there were a military purpose, but there is none.

_Roosevelt argues that continued occupation serves no strategic goal, making the risk of disease pointless._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters/appendix-b-the-round-robin-letter
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rough_riders_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_rough_riders_se/chapters