Who are Rough Riders?

Day 5,913, 00:12 Published in USA USA by Alegretto

Yesterday I went out in the city. It was rumored that pirates have invaded Tampa again and are asking the mayor to hand over the key of the city.
For about 120 years, pirates have been invading this magical corner of Florida, turning everything into a big event: Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

Arriving there, when, what to see? Rough Riders dismount in full downtown.
Well no, now I ask: did they come to defend the city or to help the pirates?