This Day in Military History

April 23

1898: Spain declared war on the United States. U.S. President William McKinley called for 125,000 volunteers to fight. Among those who answered the call was Theodore Roosevelt, who resigned as secretary of the Navy to serve. Tennessee followed its tradition of volunteerism in the spring and summer of 1898.  Over 4000 men served in Tennessee’s four Volunteer Infantry units.  Of the four, only the First saw combat.  The Second and Third were discharged before they saw action, and the Fourth served as occupying forces in Cuba after the war was officially over.

Quote of the Day:

“[Dr. Leonard] Wood and I were speedily commissioned as Colonel and Lieutenant-Colonel of the First United States Volunteer Cavalry. This was the official title of the regiment, but for some reason or other the public promptly christened us the ‘Rough Riders.’” Theodore Roosevelt, from The Rough Riders (1899)

Brandus, Paul. This Day in U.S. Military History (p. 107). Bernan Press. Kindle Edition.

Tennessee Secretary of State. “The Spanish American War.” https://sos.tn.gov/tsla/guides/the-spanish-american-war.