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This was another commission Request to feature Red Shetland in History.

I chose the Spanish American war of 1898. And especially the Rough Riders. Outside of Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, very few people today even are aware of the Events that took place in February of 1898 with the destruction of the USS Maine in Havana harbor. Immediately it was blamed on the Spanish setting off a mine sinking the ship. It was pretty much the 9-11 of its time. ( A huge coffer dam was raised around the Maine in 1912, the ship thoroughly investigated, the ship was later towed out to the straights of Florida and ceremonially sunk. It was much later, around 1997 it was determined that it was likely a coal dust fire in a coal bin next to the forward main powder room that caused the explosion.)

But the Span-Am war would be a huge awakening to the European nations. The US Navy utterly destroyed the Spanish Navy at Cuba and Manila harbor and the Spanish had the third largest navy in the world at the time. The US would gain the Territories of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines ( President McKinley would promise the independence of the Philippines in 50 years, which did happen.) The war also finally buried the hatred of the US Civil war between the states.

I featured Red as one of Roosevelts 1st Volunteer Cavalry, the Rough Riders. Armed with a 1896 Krag Carbine in .30-40, a Mills belt with 50 rounds of ammunition, Bolo knife. The Rough Riders earned wide respect and admiration. Plus was the only true non-segregated unit in the war. Roosevelt didn't care what your race, religion, status was, all he cared about was were they willing to fight. And fight they did. Roosevelt would as president unsegregated the military, Only to have President Wilson resegregate the military in time for WW1, that wouldn't end til 1947.

Description
This was another commission Request to feature Red Shetland in History.

I chose the Spanish American war of 1898. And especially the Rough Riders. Outside of Teddy Roosevelt and the Rough Riders, very few people today even are aware of the Events that took place in February of 1898 with the destruction of the USS Maine in Havana harbor. Immediately it was blamed on the Spanish setting off a mine sinking the ship. It was pretty much the 9-11 of its time. ( A huge coffer dam was raised around the Maine in 1912, the ship thoroughly investigated, the ship was later towed out to the straights of Florida and ceremonially sunk. It was much later, around 1997 it was determined that it was likely a coal dust fire in a coal bin next to the forward main powder room that caused the explosion.)

But the Span-Am war would be a huge awakening to the European nations. The US Navy utterly destroyed the Spanish Navy at Cuba and Manila harbor and the Spanish had the third largest navy in the world at the time. The US would gain the Territories of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, Guam and the Philippines ( President McKinley would promise the independence of the Philippines in 50 years, which did happen.) The war also finally buried the hatred of the US Civil war between the states.

I featured Red as one of Roosevelts 1st Volunteer Cavalry, the Rough Riders. Armed with a 1896 Krag Carbine in .30-40, a Mills belt with 50 rounds of ammunition, Bolo knife. The Rough Riders earned wide respect and admiration. Plus was the only true non-segregated unit in the war. Roosevelt didn't care what your race, religion, status was, all he cared about was were they willing to fight. And fight they did. Roosevelt would as president unsegregated the military, Only to have President Wilson resegregate the military in time for WW1, that wouldn't end til 1947.