Doll-A-Day 2023 #243:Teddy Roosevelt

   Today's doll is one Emma bought recently. He's Teddy Roosevelt.

He's a 12 inch, GI Joe sized articulated figure. The articulation includes his neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, waist, hips, knees, and ankles.

  This isn't meant to represent President Roosevelt, but instead, Lt. Colonel Roosevelt, of the Rough Riders.

The Rough Riders was a nickname given to the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry. There were three units organized, (by Roosevelt), in 1898, or the Spanish American War. The Rough Riders were composed of miners, cowboys, college athletes, as well as some law enforcement officials, and members of the Chickasaw, Pawnee, and Cherokee Native American tribes. The 1st was the only one of the three units who actually saw combat. In the end, they lost 1/5 of their members in battle. 

 

This particular doll was part of the GI Joe Classic Collection, and made to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of GI Joe in 1999.

He's actually a pretty good likeness, as unflattering as that may be!

Of course he has Teddy's huge teeth.

   Teddy's outfit include his shirt, neckerchief, pants with suspenders and belt, coat, and hat. And of course he has his glasses.

.His accessories are an American flag, a gun, and his boots. 

   For all of the emphasis on Teddy Roosevelt and his leading the charge up San Juan Hill, there is a bit of debate about how much of the battle he actually fought in. Through no fault of Roosevelt's, he apparently only managed to participate in the end of the battle. He tried to rouse soldiers   to charge the hill, but only managed to get five to listen to him. He then retreated back down the hill to round up more soldiers, and returned up the hill to fight. Also, most of the soldiers charging the hill weren't the volunteer Rough Riders, but, rather, regular Cavalry. There were in fact only about 1000 Rough Riders out of a total of about 8000 soldiers in all. There were more Buffalo Soldiers, which were African American soldiers, at about 2000, than there were Rough Riders. You can read a good article about it HERE.