The grey granite shaft was erected by surviving members of the Rough Riders and their friends and supporters.

Cuba had been waging a war of independence against Spain since 1895, an effort largely supported by the United States, which had extensive economic interests on the island.

To ensure the safety of American citizens and property in Cuba, the United States sent the battleship USS Maine (ACR-1) to Havana in late January 1898.

The Maine exploded and was destroyed with large loss of life on February 15, and Spain and the U.S. declared war on each other on April 25.

[6] With only 25,000 men in the United States Army but more than 100,000 needed to prosecute the war, Assistant Secretary of the Navy Theodore Roosevelt convinced Secretary of War Russell A. Alger that he could raise an all-volunteer force of 1,000 men and form a cavalry regiment.

[9] They participated in the Battle of Las Guasimas on June 24, during which they successfully turned the right flank of a retreating Spanish Army force with superior weapons and more men.

Rough-hewn pieces of dark grey granite were cemented together to form a rectangular plinth (square in cross-section) atop the flagstones.

A tapered square column, made of the same rough-hewn, cemented granite, rose to a flat top.

The plaque read: "In Memory / Of the men of /The First and Tenth United States Cavalry, / Young's Brigade / Wheeler's Division, / Who Were Killed in the / Battle of Las Guásimas / June 24th 1898."

The other members of the board of directors included Charles E. Hunter, an Oklahoma Republican politician and clerk of the Oklahoma Federal District Court; William Henry Harrison Llewellyn, a New Mexico Territory Republican politician and United States Attorney; Captain James R. Church, M.D., U.S. Army;[17] and the Reverend Henry A.

[19][20] During the event, a saber was raffled off, various donated items sold, and the United States Marine Band gave a two-hour concert.

[21] Another fund-raiser was held on February 8, 1907, when members of the 13th Cavalry and the 4th Battery, U.S. Light Field Artillery, put on a display of horsemanship at Fort Myer, adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery.

The tablet included the Rough Riders insignia at the top and the plaque's tentative language read: "In memory of the deceased members of the First United States Volunteer Cavalry, Spanish–American War.

Included in the capsule were copies of each daily newspaper in Washington, D.C.; an American flag; and one of each American silver coin in circulation, and a copy of Theodore Roosevelt's book, The Rough Riders in Cuba, autographed by President Roosevelt, the Reverend Doctor Denis J. Stafford, rector of St. Patrick's Catholic Church of Washington, D.C., Presidential Secretary William Loeb Jr., and members of the memorial committee.

The crowd sang Nearer, My God, to Thee and then Mrs. Capron unveiled the memorial as the bands played "The Star-Spangled Banner".

[4] Those attending included all Cabinet officers; Lieutenant General Adna Chaffee, the incumbent Army Chief of Staff; Secretary of the Navy Victor H. Metcalf; Major General George F. Elliott, Commandant of the Marine Corps;[15] Rear Admiral William S. Cowles; Presidential secretary Loeb; Brigadier General J. Franklin Bell; Assistant Secretary of War Robert Shaw Oliver; Assistant Secretary of the Navy Truman Newberry;[5] the Commissioners of the District of Columbia; and the commanding general of the D.C. National Guard.

[4] Many former Rough Riders were also present, as well as representatives of the Spanish War Veterans, Army and Navy Union, Grand Army of the Republic, Society of the Army of the Tennessee, Oldest Inhabitants of the District of Columbia, United Confederate Veterans, Daughters of the American Revolution, George Washington Memorial Association, Sons of the Revolution, Union Veteran Legion, Loyal Legion, and Washington National Monument Society.

[5] The Rough Riders Memorial is constructed of a grey granite block 14 feet (4.3 m) tall and quarried near Barre, Vermont.

[18] The obelisk-like memorial is rough-hewn everywhere, except for the panels on the north, south, and east faces where the names of the dead are carved.

[4] Near the top of the front (western face) of the memorial is a smooth bar of granite, on which the words "ROUGH RIDERS'" is carved in bas-relief.

[5] Below this is a rectangular dark bronze plaque whose edges are ornamented with laurel leaves (a symbol of victory).

An "RR" (for Rough Riders") is inscribed on the insignia, and the name of the three major battles in which the unit fought (Las Guasimas, San Juan Hill, Santiago) ring the emblem.

[27] At the funeral of General Leonard Wood in August 1927, the approximately 400 living Rough Riders gathered for an informal reunion at Arlington National Cemetery.

[4][5] President Roosevelt's own published collection of major speeches notes that the date of dedication was April 12, 1907.