Embarkation of the Rough Riders, 1st Volunteer Cavalry: Authentic footage from the 1898 war with Spain, courtesy of president-to-be Theodore Roosevelt. Although space on the transports was so cramped that all but a few officers had to leave their horses behind in Florida, Roosevelt saw to it that motion-picture cameramen came along to record his every heroic deed (not to in any way diminish his genuine courage). The Rough Riders' roster included a large proportion of celebrity sportsmen leavened with 3 Native American scouts and several Caucasian ethnics. In this clip troops are seen embarking and sailing aboard a side-wheel ferryboat; training and digging trenches; performing a boisterous blanket toss. The Sousa soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission -- reminding one that Teddy also guaranteed passage of an entire orchestra on the transports to inspire the men with patriotic airs.
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