The war ended within about a month.  Commodore Dewey had beaten the Spanish Fleet at Manila and Admiral Sampson and his fleet had destroyed the Spanish cruisers which were forced out of Santiago Harbor on July 3rd, as a result of the Army getting within striking distance of the city.  One other thing of importance was done by Roosevelt before the regiment was brought home to Montauk Point and mustered out.  After the surrender of Santiago it was supposed that the war was going on and that there would be a campaign in the winter against Havana.  But the American Army was full of yellow fever.  Half the Rough Riders were sick at one time, and the condition of other regiments was as bad.  The higher officers knew that unless the troops were taken to some healthier climate to recover, there would be nothing left of them.  Over four thousand men were sick, and not ten per cent, of the Army was fit for active work.  But the War Department would not listen to the suggestion that the army be sent for a while to a cooler climate.

What none of the regular Army officers could afford to do, Roosevelt did.  He wrote a letter to General Shafter, the commander of the expedition, explaining the state of things, and setting out how important it was, if any of the army was to be kept alive, that they should be sent away from Cuba, until the sickly season was over.  General Shafter really wished such a letter to be written, and he allowed the Associated Press reporter to have it as soon as it was handed to him.

Then, all the Generals joined with Roosevelt in a “Round Robin” to General Shafter, saying the same things.  The Government at Washington began to take notice, and in a short time ordered the army home.

Roosevelt had taken a leading part in an act which caused him to be severely blamed by many, to be denounced by all who worship military etiquette, and charged with “insubordination” by men who would rather make a mess of things and do it according to the rules of the book, than succeed in something useful and do it by commonsense rules made up at the time.  He had shocked the folks who like red tape, and he had helped save the lives of perhaps four thousand men.

CHAPTER IX

GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK

When the Rough Riders were disbanded at Montauk Point in September 1898, Theodore Roosevelt was the most popular man in America.  This is the judgment of his best historian, Mr. Thayer, and it is undoubtedly correct.  The war had made known to the country a number of professional soldiers or sailors—­especially Admiral Dewey and Admiral Sampson, whose conduct had been splendid.  It had also created some popular “heroes,” whose fame was brief.  But Colonel Roosevelt was first and foremost a citizen, his career as a soldier was for a few months only.  Behind that was a solid foundation of service in civil office.  Ahead of it were still finer achievements, also in civil life.  He felt the pride which all men feel—­despite much pretense and humbug—­to have had the chance to lead men in battle for a just cause, to have put his life in danger when his country needed such offer of sacrifice.