For four centuries after the discovery of America, the Island of Cuba was one of the colonial possessions of Spain. While Spain was losing her other American provinces, one by one, the inhabitants of Cuba remained steadfast in their allegiance to the mother country. In 1808, when Napoleon overthrew the Spanish dynasty, the Cubans declared war against "the man of destiny." Their loyalty during all these years received a poor recompense, however, for in 1825 King Ferdinand issued a decree placing the lives and fortunes of the Cubans at the absolute disposal of the captains-general, or governors of the island. The "conquistadores" were slow in coming, but they had at last arrived.
With the decree of 1825, Spain's policy of inhumanity to her colonial subjects commenced. Some excuse for this policy may be found in the unsettled condition of the Spanish Government and the internal dissensions which rendered the authorities powerless as against the will of certain classes of citizens. With the death of Ferdinand in 1833, his daughter, Isabella, was proclaimed Queen. Don Carlos, Ferdinand's brother, claimed that this was a violation of the Salic law, which forbids the succession of women, and insisted that he should have ascended to the throne. He was not without followers in this claim, and for many years the "Carlist Party" was a menace to the Spanish Government.
As early as 1829 a conspiracy was formed in Cuba for the purpose of throwing off the Spanish yoke, but it was discovered and crushed by the Spanish Government before the revolutionists were prepared to begin active operations. In 1844 came the uprising of the blacks, which, like the former conspiracy, was suppressed with great cruelty on the part of the Spaniards. Some five years later (1849-50) Narciso Lopez, a former resident of Cuba, fatted out an expedition at New Orleans for the overthrow of Spanish power upon the island. Lopez was too quixotic for a military leader. His expedition ended in failure and some of his men perished in Spanish dungeons.
In 1868 the "Ten Years' War" broke out, the revolutionists taking advantage of dissensions in the mother country and hoping to establish the independence of Cuba. After the war had been going on for about two years, Amadeus, second son of Victor Emanuel of Italy, was called to the throne of Spain as "constitutional king." He resigned in 1873, when the provisional government under Castilla came into power. Castilla threatened to make a desert island of Cuba. He sent 257,000 soldiers to the island and so great was the sacrifice of human life that fewer than fifty thousand of them returned to Spain. Three hundred million dollars' worth of property was destroyed during the war and a heavy debt was contracted, which was settled upon the Cubans as a penalty for their revolt.
Not only was the debt laid upon the inhabitants, but the captains-general also became more tyrannical in their administration of affairs. The heavy burden of taxation and the unreasonable demands of the governors had the effect of strengthening the determination of the Cubans to achieve their independence. It was not long, therefore, until they began planning another insurrection. Experience had taught them the necessity of caution, and for more than fifteen years they carried on their preparations with the utmost secrecy. In 1895 the revolution was inaugurated at several places simultaneously. The revolutionists were led by Maceo and Gomez. Captain-General Campos, then governor of the island, conducted his military movements along the lines of warfare recognized by civilized nations. This policy did not meet the approval of the Spanish authorities at Madrid. Campos was therefore removed and General Weyler was placed in his stead. Instantly a change could be seen. Weyler issued his "I order and command" proclamation ordering the inhabitants of the rural districts to "concentrate themselves in the towns occupied by the troops." Any persons who failed to obey the order within eight days were to be considered rebels and were to be treated as such. The order also prohibited the transportation of provisions from one town to another without permission of the military authority. The supply of food in the cities and towns was inadequate to the demands of the "reconcentrados," as the people thus confined in them were called, and many actually starved to death. Weyler was no respecter of persons and women and children were the greatest sufferers.
The inhumanity of such a course aroused the indignation of the civilized world. European nations sent protests to Madrid, but they met with no response, so far as mitigating the conditions in Cuba were concerned. The people of the United States raised funds and sent relief to the starving reconcentrados, but in nearly all cases the contributions were diverted into the hands of the Spanish.
Political conventions, commercial organizations and several of the State Legislatures adopted ringing resolutions calling on the Government of the United States to intervene in behalf of the oppressed Cubans. The platform upon which William McKinley was elected President in 1896 insisted that some action must be taken in the interests of humanity. When this became known in Havana, riots resulted, friends of Weyler telling the people that intervention of any kind by the United States meant the ultimate annexation of Cuba to that country.
Nothing was done during the year 1897, but about the beginning of 1898 the Atlantic Squadron of the United States Navy was ordered to the Dry Tortugas, within six hours sail of Havana. On January 25, 1898. the Battleship Maine dropped anchor in the Harbor of Havana, the authorities having been notified the previous evening by the United States consul-general of the Maine's intended arrival. Prior to this, the Spanish Government had protested against this nation's sending cruisers bearing supplies to the reconcentrados. The presence of the Maine in Havana Harbor, while the United States and Spain were supposed to be at peace, was not pleasing to the Spanish officials, who, as a measure of retaliation, ordered the Cruiser Vizcaya to New York. Thus matters stood until February 9, 1898, when the Spanish minister to the United States resigned his position and asked for his passports. About twenty minutes before 10 o'clock, on the evening of February 15, 1898, the Maine was blown up, with a total loss of the vessel and 266 of her officers and men were either killed by the explosion or drowned. A court of inquiry afterward reported that "there were two explosions of a distinctly different character, with a short, but distinct interval between them, and the forward part of the ship was lifted to a marked degree by the first explosion. * * * In the opinion of the court the Maine was destroyed by the explosion of a submarine mine, which caused the partial explosion of two or more of her forward magazines."
The destruction of the Maine, with its consequent loss of life, increased the excitement in the United States and the demands for intervention grew more insistent. Still the administration declined to intervene, chiefly for the reason that General Weyler had been superseded by General Blanco, who issued a proclamation declaring a cessation of hostilities, and announced that the reconcentrados would be permitted to return to their homes. On March 8, 1898, Congress appropriated $50,000,000 for the national defense, but nothing further was done for some time, or until it was definitely learned that Blanco's promise to release the reconcentrados had been, and was being, systematically ignored. Another reason for delay was that President McKinley was awaiting the decision of the court of inquiry that was investigating the Maine disaster. On March 28, 1898, he sent a message to Congress, submitting the report of the court and "invoking the deliberate consideration" of Congress.
The day following the receipt of this message bills relating to Cuban affairs were introduced in both houses of Congress, and on April 1st a naval appropriation bill was passed. On the 11nth of the same month the President sent to Congress another message, in which he said: "In the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American interests, which give us the right and duty to speak and to act, the war in Cuba must stop. In view of these facts and these considerations, I ask Congress to authorize and empower the President to take measures to secure a full and final termination of hostilities between the Government of Spain and the people of Cuba,"
Congress was prompt with its response. On the 13th the House of Representatives passed a resolution directing the President to intervene in Cuban affairs at once. The resolution was amended by the Senate, stronger language being used, and on the i8th the House concurred. The resolutions adopted on that date were as follows:
"1. That the people of the Island of Cuba are, and of right ought to be, free and independent.
"2. That it is the duty of the United States to demand, and the Government of the United States does demand, that the Government of Spain at once relinquish its authority and government in the Island of Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters.
"3. That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States, and to call into the actual service of the United States the militia of the several states to such an extent as may be necessary to carry these resolutions into effect.
"4. That the United States hereby disclaims any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control over said island, except for the pacification thereof, and asserts its determination when that is accomplished to leave the government and control of the island to its people."
Two days after the adoption of these resolutions, the United States Government presented its ultimatum to Spain, to relinquish its authority before noon on April 23, 1898, and to withdraw its land and naval forces, in accordance with the second resolution. Spain refused compliance and Rear Admiral Sampson was ordered to blockade the Cuban ports. On the 23d President McKinley issued his proclamation calling for 123.OCO volunteers, "the same to be apportioned, as far as practicable, among the several states and territories and the District of Columbia, according to population, and to serve for two years unless sooner discharged."
This proclamation was issued before a formal declaration of war had been made by Congress, but on April 25th it was enacted. "That war be, and the same is hereby declared to exist, and that war has existed since the 21st day of April. 1898. including said day. between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain." |
| WYOMING'S RESPONSE |
On April 25, 1898, Governor William A. Richards received notice from the secretary of war that Wyoming's allotment of troops was one battalion of four companies of infantry. The secretary's communication also stated that it was the President's wish that the National Guard should be used, as far as their numbers would permit, for the reason that the men were already armed, equipped and drilled. At that time the Wyoming National Guard consisted of one infantry regiment of seven companies, commanded by Col. Frank M. Foote, and a battery of light artillery, commanded by Capt. Granville R. Palmer. Immediately upon receipt of the call from Washington. Governor Richards called upon the several company commanders to report the number of men in their command who were willing to enlist for two years. When their replies were received at the executive office the work of selecting the four strongest companies devolved upon the governor and Colonel Foote. The companies chosen for the battalion were: C of Buffalo. G of Sheridan, F of Douglas, and H of Evanston. Later a portion of Company A of Laramie was accepted and united with Company F.
On May 2, 1898, these companies left their home stations and the next day they were all at the rendezvous at Cheyenne, which was named "Camp Richards' in honor of the governor. Here a week passed in recruiting each of the companies to eighty-one men and three commissioned officers and in the medical examinations. As soon as each company was ready it was mustered into the United States service, and on the morning of May 10, 1898, the governor telegraphed the secretary of war that the battalion was organized and awaiting orders. In his message to the Legislature which assembled on January 10, 1899. Governor Richards said:
"I am relialily informed that no other state had filled its quota at that time, so that to Wyoming must be accorded the honor of being the first to respond to the call for volunteers with a full quota. Our apportionment was 231 men. but 338 were mustered in with the battalion. The rather difficult task of taking four companies, where three times the number were anxious to go, and of selecting officers for them, when there were so many to choose from, was successfully accomplished, and, so far as I am informed, there was no dissatisfaction with the organization of the battalion among either the officers or enlisted men. Colonel Foote was commissioned major and gixen command." |
| THE BATTALION ROSTER |
| The field and staff officers of the battalion were as follows: Frank M. Foote major commanding: Hard D. Coburn, who was mustered in as first lieutenant of Company F, adjutant; Johnson W. Morgareidge, second lieutenant of Company G, quartermaster; John S. Morrison, first lieutenant and assistant surgeon, in charge of the battalion hospital department. In the company rosters following are included the names of all who enlisted and were mustered into the United States service. Some of the men were discharged before the battalion was mustered out, and some were transferred to other commands. |
| COMPANY C |
Most of the members of this company came from Johnson County, the headquarters of the company as a National Guard organization having been located at Buffalo. Thomas Millar, was captain; James D. Gallup and Charles Finney, first lieutenants: Loren Cheever and Henry A. Smith, second lieutenants: Charles H. Burritt and Christian J. Hepp. first sergeants; Frank Shortill. quartermaster sergeant: John D. Kilpatrick, William H. Fisher, John A. McConnell, William R. C. Xewell, Henry Sneddon and George Rogers, sergeants; Frank Ellis. William A. Miller, Park Bateman. Thomas H. Flamilton. Adam Freel, Flarry E. Smith, William Shortill and William FI. Baker, corporals; William A. Miller, Joseph A. Owenhouse and Arthur W. Warner, musicians: G. L. Kimball and Alexander A. Herron, artificers; J. L. Campbell and Robert A. Robinson, wagoners.
Privates–Peter Bertelson, George Binnall, Charles A. Birmingham. Robert A. Brennan, Thomas Brown, Robert Carlon, Jerry Cashman, Fred Chapman, Harry H. Chatterson. Nels Christensen. Harry Clay. Ephraim Cliburn. Lowell Coates, Sylvester B. Coates, George Denton, James S. Eddy, Homer Evans, John Evans, Ralph L. Ewing, Philip Gatch, William E. Gossett. Arthur Harrington, John Herron, Jr., Sidney Jacobs. Warren D. Jenkins, Ernest Knoedler, William J. Langiewicz, Frederick Lehman, Sterling S. Lewis. William McKay. Thomas R. McMaster, Charles Martin. Bruno Mediate. James S. Miller. Leroy S. Minnich, Ferdinand Peer. Charles A. Pettit. John T. Picard, Fred W. Raymond, Gustav Rossknacht, Andrew Rusnock, Henry Sell, Charles N. Smith, Joseph M. Spaeth, George B. Taylor, Basil E. Thomas. John T. Wallace, Ira H. Ward. Issac C. Ward, George White, James M. White. Ray F. Wiedmer. James T. Wright. John L. Zook. |
| COMPANY F |
This company was recruited at Douglas and Laramie and was mustered in with the following officers and enlisted men; John D. O'Brien, captain; Harol D. Coburn. first lieutenant; Willard H. Rouse, second lieutenant; William E. Yelton, first sergeant; Waldo E. Sherwin, quartermaster sergeant; Samuel L. Harris, William J. Mast. James L. Scanlon, Wallace F. Pease and Charles B. Negus, sergeants; Nathan E. Burns, Walter S. Briggs, Thomas Olson, John G. Pouting, Edward Rose, George E. Triggs and Frederick Frick, corporals; Walter Bartlett, cook; Edgar R. Rouse and John Frick, Jr., musicians : Jed A. Smith and Carl W. Fisher, artificers; Richard Eberhart, wagoner.
Privates–Ernest Adams, Charles H. Barton, Thomas B. Barton, Ernest R. Bowker, Charles W. Brandis, Joseph A. Brown, Arthur W. Brownlee, James Burton, Stephen A. D. Byerly, Wells Byers, Ralph C. Caylor, Charles A. Cole, Harry R. Crumrine, Benjamin F. Cunningham, Ernest A. Cunningham, Bert E. Dennis, Alexander Dobby, William T. Donahoo, Eric Ericson, William J. Evans, Joseph Frick, Jonathan E. Frisby, Edward M. Garfield, Arthur W. Gray, William D. Hudson, William A. Kellogg, Charles M. Knadler, John Knox, Jr., George R. Laird, Carl H. Lange, Charles J. Larson, John J. Lohlein, Orange S. Lucas, Wesley Lytle, James E. McCumber, George Marsh. John J. Marsh, Carl F. Miller, Fred A. Miller, George R. Moyer, Edward Niedheimer, Emile Olday, Reuben J. Reals, Albert Richards, Henry N. Roach, Howard Robb, Charles E. Robinson, Edwin O. Ruhl, Henry Ruhsert, Frank K. Schmidt, Mark A. Skinner, William F. Smith, George W. Snow, William B. Stockton, Joseph S. Trosper, James A. Vidal, William R. Watt, Harry G. Waechter, Ernest Wesche, Arthur White, Robert J. White, Henry J. Wiese, John F. Wyatt. |
| COMPANY G |
Company G was composed chiefly of men from Sheridan and Cheyenne. It was mustered in with Daniel C. Wrighter as captain; Hezekiah P. Howe, first lieutenant; Johnson W. Morgareidge, second lieutenant. The non-commissioned officers during the term of service were: Chester Z. Zander, Charles Fuer and Maynard J. Herron, quartermaster sergeants; John O. McClure, first sergeant; Frank Geere. John A. Brown, Edmund G. Guyer, Oscar E. Hoback, Alva T. Morgareidge and William D. June, sergeants; Henry T. Rule, Aimer D. Zander, Charles H. Cahill, Alfred A. Florida and James E. Morrison, corporals; Paul Spehr, cook; George E. Small, Joseph A. Owenhouse, Harry H. Clubb and Robert B. Robinson, musicians; Herbert E. Zullig, artificer; David Lewis, wagoner.
Privates–George N. Akin, Carl M. Anderson, Peter W. Anderson, Charles A. Ballard, Edwin Blackmer, George Briggs, Leslie S. Brookhart, Frank M. Bruner, Arlester L. Burnell, Wells Byers (transferred to Company F), Frank A. Cahill, Carter E. Calder, Charles C. Caldwell, George J. Clause, John E. Coleman, Niles R. Coleman, Martin L. Davidson, Cory W. Dudley, George H. Evans, William H. Ferris, Jeremiah J. Galvin, Herman J. Gaulke, Henry George, Emil R. Grable, William B. Grigg, Seeley S. Hawes, Thomas J. Henry, Charles Hohrman, Bert Humphrey, Max Idleman, Jr., Charles E. Jones, Maximilian P. E. Jordan. Robert C. Koontz, Andrew Lindberg. Richard B. Lloyd, Charles M. McClure, Vincent L. McGuire, Thomas McVeigh, John A. Monical, John C. Oder, Arthur W. Parker, James X. Petersen, Peter W. Petersen, Henry H. Preston, Charles N. Reece, Henry A. Richardson, Wilbur A. Richardson, Thomas Ryder, Lewis R. Schmidt, Charles J. Schubert, William D. Skinner, Eugene H. Stevens, Madison U. Stoneman, Olaf E. Strom, Daniel Sullivan, Everett W. Taylor. Sylvester B. Trowbridge, Oliver M. Walsh, Charles H. Wells. Tim Williams. Charles Wilseck. |
| COMPANY H |
Company H came from the southwestern part of the state, the National Guard company from which it was formed having its headquarters at Evanston. After reporting at Camp Richards a number of recruits were added from Rock Springs and Cheyenne. The organization of the company during its term of service was as follows : Edward P. Holtenhouse, captain ; Henry Ohlenkamp. first lieutenant; George F. Fast and Thomas A. Williams, second lieutenants; Benjamin Moore, battalion sergeant-major; William C. De Loney, first sergeant; William O. Taylor and Charles W. Fox, quartermaster sergeants; James A. Morganson, Frank A. Crase. James H. Winslow and John L. Townson, sergeants; Thomas Holden. William H. Houston, John J. Code, Rea Bender, Jacob Sherman, Peter F. Patterson and James E. Raferty. corporals: Harry Miller and Fred L. Siegel, musicians; John W. Thatcher, cook; Harry Jones, artificer; Joseph Shaw, Jr., wagoner.
Privates–Ferdinand Abel. Lloyd W. Allen, Andrew Anderson, Anton Anderson, Albert E. Arthurs, Frank Bowen, Harry Brown, Louis Burmeister, William C. Burns, William T. Byrnes, William F. Caldwell, Albert M. Calkins. Calvin Carpenter, Oscar O. Carson, Peter Christensen, William J. Clark, Robert Crosbie, Charles Ericksen, Reinhart Fermazin. William Freerks, Harry E. Hall, John Hangartner, John B. Hanson, Morley L. Hassard, Joseph Hemmelwright, James A. Howard. Philip S. Jackson. Ira Johns, Emil Johnson, Francis M. Jones, Lawrence A. Jones, Thomas O. M. Jones, John E. Karlburg, Christian Kaus, William Kelley, Edward La Comb, Joseph D. Leyshon, Edward Lyst, Alfred C. McDowell. Thomas Meguire. James Miles, William Nichols. Dennis Perry. John Raferty, Peter Roberts, Samuel C. Joslyn, Michael J. Rowland. Philip Schopp, Jr., Martin Sedlack, Edward L. Sellon, George W. Sessions. Peter E. Sperling, Hans Tuesen, Orie A. Vanblaricon. Paul Wilkinson, Robert Wilkinson, William A. Woolani. Dana N. Woods. Herbert S. Wright. Alfred Zemp. |
| IN THE PIIILIPINES |
On May i8. 1898. the battalion entrained at the Cnion Pacific Railroad station in Cheyenne for San Francisco, where it arrived on the morning of the 21st and went into camp at Camp Merritt, where the boys remained, drilling and doing camp duty until June 27, 1898. On that date the battalion embarked upon the steamer Ohio, which arrived at the mouth of Manila Bay on the last day of July. The troops remained on board until the 6th of August, when they were disembarked and went into camp at Paranaque. After a week's experience in the trenches came the Battle of Manila on August 13. 1898.
The battalion was assigned to the reserve of the First Brigade. First Division, on the extreme left of the Hue. This position caused some complaints among the men, who wanted to be "where there was something doing." Before noon Fort Malate was in the hands of the American troops and the reserves were ordered forward. Then the Wyoming boys made up for lost time and at 4:45 P. M. their battalion flag–the first United States flag raised in Manila–was seen floating over the captured city. General Anderson, commanding the First Division, as a mark of appreciation of the fact that the battalion was the first organization to reach the city, designated the Wyoming troops as his body guard.
After the Battle of Manila the battalion remained in the vicinity of the city until February 4, 1899, when it was attached to the Second Brigade, First Division. Early the next morning Major Foote received orders to join the movement toward San Pedro Macati. Some fierce fighting occurred along the Pasig River as the troops advanced toward Paco Church, but the California and Wyoming troops drove the insurgents steadily before them until the enemy made a stand in the churchyard of San Pedro Macati, from which position they opened a deadly fire upon the advancing line. Here Sergt. George Rogers and Private Ray F. Wiedmer of Company C were mortally wounded, and Harry Crumrine, a private in Company F, was slightly wounded as the battalion was taking a position behind some levees in a rice field. Once this position was gained the insurgents were driven from the churchyard and the Wyoming men occupied the firing line all the way into San Pedro Macati, which place was captured before 11 o'clock.
Upon being driven from the village, the insurgents retreated to Guadalupe Church. That afternoon a small party of the enemy were seen maneuvering on a hill south of the church and Companies F and G, under command of Captain O'Brien, were sent to drive them out. The movement was successfully executed without casualties, the two companies returning in about two hours. About 9 o'clock that evening Captain O'Brien was ordered to surround the church and hold his position until morning. He found the church deserted, broke in the door and found a small brass cannon and a number of rifles that had been left by the insurgents in their hasty departure.
On February 22, 1899, the battalion was engaged in the operations about Guadalupe Church, but no casualties resulted. Several days of comparative quiet followed, but on March 2d Company G was moved half a mile up the Pasig River, where trenches were constructed. Early on the morning of the "tli the Battle of San Juan del Monte was commenced by the Wyoming sharpshooters. A little later the line of Wyoming and Nebraska troops advanced and occupied a ridge about four hundred yards from the enemy's breastworks. The insurgents showed no signs of weakening until Companies C, F and H were ordered to charge. In this charge Private Joseph M. Spaeth of Company C fell mortally wounded near the enemy's works, Sergt. John A. McConnell of Company C, Capt. John D. O'Brien of Company F, and Oscar O. Carson of Company H were slightly wounded, but the insurgents fled precipitately before the impetuous charge. George E. Small of Company G was wounded near the Pasig River.
During the next three months several slight skirmishes with the insurgents occurred. In one of these on March 27, 1899, Private James M. White of Company C was slightly wounded, and on May 15th Private Alexander Dobby of Company F was wounded. Early in June the battalion took part in the Morong expedition and on July 6, 1899, orders were received to return to the United States. The troops embarked on the steamer Grant, which sailed out of Manila Bay on the last dav of July and arrived at San Francisco on the 29th of August. |
| THE WYOMING BATTERY |
On May 25, 1898. President McKinley issued a proclamation calling for 75,000 more volunteers. Under this call the Alger Light Artillery of Cheyenne was accepted, on the condition that it should number 125 men. The work of recruiting commenced on June 11, 1898, and four days later the organization was mustered into the United States service as "Battery A. Wyoming Light Artillery," with 127 names on the roll, to wit:
Granville R. Palmer, captain: Harry A. Clarke.* first lieutenant; James M. Gilmore,* second lieutenant; Elton E. Fay,* first sergeant; Edwin O. Glenn, quartermaster sergeant; James L. Madden, veterinary sergeant; Charles A. Bristol,* Granville M. King.* Robert N. La Fontaine,* John E. McCabe, William M. Daily and John F. Rigdon, sergeants; Edward W. Hirst, Rufus W. Shrader, William C. Mills,- Joseph T. Dyer, William C. Wolcott, Robert B. Graham, Albert G. Cayler and Charles W. Mahan,* corporals; Thomas A. Sladden and Robert McFadden, farriers; Edwin C. Mentz and James Sullivan, artificers ; John Olson, saddler: William Dillman * and Isaac W. Dreifuss, trumpeters; John F. Farrell,* wagoner.
Privates–Glenn W. Abbott,* Emil G. Abry,* John Anderson. Peter Anderson, Alonzo A. Bailey,* David Barnett,* George Barth,* Frank Bradley, George Bristol, Herman A. Brookhart,* Cliiiford H. Buck,* Charles Bushman,* John Caffrey,* James H. Connors,* Ernest R. B. Croston,* Henry L. Dale, John Darling,* George k. Davis,* John L. DeCory,* William DeHaas,* Charles S. Elkins. Daniel R. Ellis,* William M. Enslow.* Gus Fardy, Edward B. Fear, Fay Fifield,* Malcolm L. Freed. George B. Gale. Ira L. Garner,* William Gauflf, William Gideon.* Martin E. Goden, Sidney D. Gonser,* Joseph P. Green, Edward Guinan, August Gustafson, William Haner.* Albert Hefele, Andrew Hofifman, Arthur C. Holway, Herbert Hollyman.* John G. Honnold, James Humphrey. George A. Jackson, James S. Jackson,* Howard H. Jordan, Martin Joyce.* August Keilquist. John Kroeger, John T. Lane.* Victor Lardi,* Lauritz A. P. Lasson, Peter Lawless,* Abe Levett, Alsinon C. Lish. Wiliiam J. McCall.* Marion IMcCullum.* Robert S. McDole. Edward L. McKiernan. Charles J. Marble, John Martin, Edward Meredith,* George Monroe,* John Mulligan, Flerbert A. Murphy, John Oliver, Otto Pearson, John Peterson. Peter Peterson,* John Pointinen,* Charles Porter-field.* John J. Quinn, Andreas Rasmussen, John Rawson,* John P. Reedy,* Frank Robidon,* James F. Roberts,* Lee B. Sackett, Emil A. Sandberg,* W. A. Schilling.* \Mlliam Sehestedt. Don L. Shirley. Frank J. Sinex, James T. Slane, George H. Smith.* Leslie E. Snow,* Martin Stamm.* Henry Steinhoff, William A. Stone, Oliver E. Swartz,* Edwin P. Taylor. Joseph Templin, William L. Tighe, Frank J. Timmins,* Bryant Turner,* Wilh'am Van Noy, Herbert E. Wale. Charles Willard, William Weir.* |
| Note—Harry A. Clarke was promoted to the captaincy on November 12. 1898, upon the death of Captain Palmer. Not all the men named on the above muster roll accompanied the battery to the Philippines, and several were discharged before the battery returned home. Those who were mustered out with the battery on September 23, 1899, are marked with a *. |
On June 24, 1898, the battery started for San Francisco, where it remained in different camps and under different commanders until November 8, 1898, when it embarked on the transport Newport, with Brig.-Gen. M. P. Miller's command, and arrived at Manila on the 7th of December. It served under various commanders in the Military District of Cavite until July 8, 1899, when the guns were turned over to the Sixth United States Artillery and the men returned home with the Wyoming battalion on the steamer Grant, arriving at San Francisco or. Augtist 29, 1899.
In his message to the Legislature on January 9, 1901, Governor De Forest Richards said : "When the news reached Wyoming that our state troops, after their arduous campaign in the Philippines, were about to be returned to their homes, it was the general sentiment of our people that Wyoming should follow the example of other states and provide transportation for our soldiers from San Francisco to their homes. The intention in doing this was to arrange it so that our brave soldiers, many of whom were weak and debilitated from a long service in a foreign clime, might save the travel pay allowed them by the General Government and not reach their homes utterly destitute.
"The people of the state demanded that this be done, and as there were no funds available, several hundred public spirited gentlemen from all over the state, signed two notes, one to the Stockgrowers National Bank and one to the First National Bank of Cheyenne, dated August 24, 1899, for $4,442.10 bearing 6 per cent interest per annum, and with these funds our volunteers were transported to their various homes without cost to themselves, thus being shown in the most satisfactory manner the appreciation in which their services were held by the state."
Upon the recommendation of the governor, the Legislature made an appropriation sufficient to pay the notes, and also made an appropriation of $750 for the purpose of securing medals for the members of the battalion and battery, each medal being inscribed with the name of the recipient, etc. |
| TORREY'S ROUGH RIDERS |
In addition to the troops already mentioned, Wyoming furnished seven troops to the Second United States Volunteer Cavalry, more commonly known as "Torrey's Rough Riders." The regiment was raised by Col. Jay L. Torrey, a Wyoming man, who commanded it during its entire term of service. Troops A and B came from Colorado; C, E, F, G, H, K and L, from Wyoming; D, from Idaho; I, from Utah: and M, from Nevada. Of the field and staff officers, Wyoming furnished Col. Jay L. Torrey; Maj. James G. Marbord; Lieut. Herbert V. Lacey. adjutant; Lieut. Fred Rapp, quartermaster; Capt. Henry G. Golden, chaplain; Alaj. Mortimer Jesurum, chief surgeon.
Troop C was recruited in the vicinity of Laramie and was mustered in at Fort D. A. Russell on May 23, 1898, with the following officers and enlisted men: George R. Shanton, captain; Morgan F. Knadler, first lieutenant; William J. Abrams, second lieutenant; Charles W. Gilmore, first sergeant; Otto Zoller, quartermaster sergeant; George S. Kline, Brutus H. Clay, Joseph T. Orr, Charles K. Harrington and Chris J. Silberg, sergeants; William A. Grosvenor, William J. Sine, Herman C. Peterson, Winter P. Hepburn, Thomas C. Hunt, Albert R. King, Mortimer McKnight and Fred C. Hecht, corporals; Herbert Wallis and Hiram F. Davis, trumpeters; Charles M. Johnson and Jonas H. Farr, farriers; Charles Trew, saddler; Willis D. Jacus, wagoner.
Troopers–Joseph Aaron, Kirt Acor, Daniel L. Aldridge, James Barber, George W. Barker, Alfred A. Benjamin, Patrick Boyle, Henry A. Brown, Harvey B. Burk, George H. Burke, Arthur W. Chesebro, DeWitt Clary, Samuel Coen, William Craver, Tony Cuerden, Frank Curren, Alfred Daykin, Charles S. Dunlap, Sidney H. Dyer, Jack Fee, Jr., Hugh A. Ferguson, Paul Flackstein, Frank Flaherty, George R. Gardner, Harry Griffin, Rasmus Hansen, Hans T. Hansen, Tim Hamlin, Frederick C. Jenkins, Samuel Johnson, William E. Johnston, Meredith Jones, Fred Kassahn, William E. King, Hans T. Kulewatz, Cornelius Lenihan, Frank A. May, Charles W. Mans, Henry S. Mapes, John C. Matheson, Christian W. Miller, Hugh M. McPhee, Andrew C. Neilsen, James U. Nisbet, Adolph A. Olsen, Perry Parish, Albert F. Price, Frank P. Price, Charles B. Peirce, John J. Schenck. Lewis Sherwood, George Schaefer, Henry Steltz, William C. Tipler, Hugh Vass, William B. Wallace. James E. Walsh, Harry H. Whitman, William C. Whittenberg.
Troop E was recruited in the counties of Sheridan, Crook and Weston and was mustered into the United States service at Fort D. A. Russell on May 23, 1898, with the following officers and men: Henry H. Austin, captain; Norvel H. Baker, first lieutenant; Lewis S. Magruder, second lieutenant; T. J. Gatchell, first sergeant; Daniel L. Van Meter, quartermaster sergeant; George L. Wade, Harve Springer, Patrick J. Conway, Philo Carmon, George Skinner and Robert Long, sergeants; Arthur C. Schneider, Guy Campbell, Charles S. Brown, Ellioft W. Brown, Joseph Sellers, Edward Anderson, William Hymer and Bird Moore, corporals: Truman L. Fox and Anton Jenson, trumpeters, Herman Gerdel and William McWilliams, farriers; Milo Hamilton, saddler; Frank Valentine, wagoner.
Troopers–Richard Alleyne. Guy R. Barton, Ross Bennett, Charles C. Blake, William E. Bollen, Joseph L. Bomar, Marnus J. Cannon, Peter Cannon, Edward Clark, John Cole, Russell Conger, Harry L. Cooper, Harry CosgrifT, Albert M. Crafts, James W. Croghan, John Davey, William Davis, John Davaney, Frank Dooley, Benjamin F. Draper, Arthur Evans, Benjamin Freeman, Carl Gleason, John Gurney, Clarence E. Hefiner, William J. House, Charles Hulett, Charles Kolberg, Arthur Krusee, Harry M. Krusee, Wesley Leaming, John Loafman, Finley Lowry, Roland J. Lytle, Eugene McCarthy, Henry McConaghy, James H. Magoon, William Moncriefife, Samuel B. Pohlman, Chris Rasmussen, Burl Robinett, Alonzo Robinett, Walter Robinson, James F. Rose, Charles Ross, Luther M. Roush, Warren Sawyer, Nelson Simpson, Edward J. Smith, Guy L. Smith, Archie Sollars, David Spitz, Jacob E. StaufTer, Daniel Sweeney, Robert C. Wilkerson, Paul Willitts, Charles F. Wilson, Frank E. Wood.
Troop F came from Rock Springs, Green River and Cheyenne. It was mustered in at Fort Russell on May 27, 1898, with Willis F. Hoadley as captain; Leonard L. Deitrick, first lieutenant; Thomas J. King, second lieutenant; Frank Kidd, first sergeant; Daniel B. Shields, quartermaster sergeant; John A. Jackson, George E. Artist, George Landenberger, George D. Solomon, William A. Crawford and Jeremiah Maly, sergeants; John W. Peters, Bert McClure, Angus J. Matheson, Jacob L. Parrott, Frank C. Wells, Melville W. James, Josiah H. Eardley and John E. O'Riley, corporals; Frank J. Gunther and Edward F. Ely, trumpeters; Lucius A. Place, saddler: James Paulson, wagoner.
Troopers–Benjamin Benz, Joseph Bird, Henry C. Bloom, John N. Bodendick, John E. Brooks, Samuel K. Brown, Morrison Chester, Charles W. Cole, Bert Collins, Thomas Craig, Allison Davis, Walter Durbin, Albert B. Ekdall, Max Fairbanks, William Farley, Rufus E. Garner, Frederick Hagen, Patrick W. Haley, Frank O. Johnson, Leo Leffler, Milton M Lewis, George H. McBride, James W. McGuire, Robert McKlem. Arthur Maher. Robert Manassa, Philip Michaels, William D. Moffatt, John Muir, Robert Myers, Charles O'Brien, William O'Brien, James H. Patterson, Harry N. Pauley, Walter J. Peckham, Emile Peterson, Edward Petteys, Charles A. Pierson, Ellsworth Porter, Lawrence Riordan, George G. Robinson, George W. Sadlier, Adolph C. Saunders, Edward G. Schoel, Benjamin Smith, Edgar M. Smith, Eugen Tiberghein, Frederick O. Wale.
Troop G was raised in and around Sheridan, Charles Lenwood being especially active in recruiting. Owing to a defect in his sight, Mr. Lenwood was rejected by the board of medical examiners. Had it not been for this he would undoubtedly have been captain of the troop. It has been said of Troop G that it had "on its roster more representatives of the genus frontiersman than any other troop in the regiment. To the manner born, these men were most at home on the arid plain? of the west. Sitting their horses like centaurs, they handle their 'shooting irons' with that perfection of ease and deadly aim which springs only from long familiarity."
The personnel of the troop at the time it was mustered in was as follows: John B. Mahardi, captain; John H. Ivey, first lieutenant; Ralph B. Cooper, second lieutenant; John Timothy, first sergeant; Joseph V. E. Marsh, quartermaster sergeant; John G. Thornton, Robert Holland, Wallace B. Hodge. Homer R. Peret. Samuel L. Brown and Adelbert Flores, sergeants; Thomas L. Coble, Charles W. Fischer, Peter H. Jones, Clarence Milner, Oscar Palmer. Thomas H. MacCallum and James A. Brown, corporals; Ethan T. Chilcott. farrier; Thomas E. DeNike. blacksmith; George E. Dorsey and George P. Webster, trumpeters; Samuel E. Bayless, saddler, Augustus C. Hitt, wagoner.
Troopers–Edward F. Beam, Frank Bodle, Albert W. Bristol, Bert R. Bross. Elijah L. Brown, Frederick G. Burto, William Callahan, Alden Carpenter, George W. Curtis, John S. Dugan. John W. Embree, John G. Fletcher. William J. Fox. Thomas Gallagher, George R. Goulding. August Gronen. Alexander Hagan. Lester B. Haley, Hans P. Hansen, William C. Hopkins. Marion V. Inskeep. John F. Karling, George L. LaDomas, Charles C. Langley, John H. Latta, John C. Lee. Thorwald Leesborg, Ira Loud, John D. L6wry, William McAdam, George W. McDonald. Rudolph R. Mayer, Walter Meldrum. James Menecle, Leonard Metz, Elias O. Moore, Merion M. Moore. Joseph M. Morrow, Charles A. Peavey, John M. Pelfrey, William I. Powell, Richard H. Redmond, Arthur Reece, A. S. Reynolds, Charles W. Reynolds, Archie A. Sackett, Thomas Saven,', Ara Sawyer, William B. Schrantz. William Schurr, William Shoemaker, James H. Skillen. William H. Smith, Emerie Swick, Charles R. Thompson. William A. Waldo, Jeffrey E. Walker, Ford L. Wanamaker, Roy Withington.
Troop H was raised in Carbon County by Louis G. Davis, who resigned the office of sheriff for the purpose, and who was elected captain of the troop. The other officers were: Charles B. Osborne, first lieutenant: John H. Albro, second lieutenant; John J. Fagan, first sergeant; Frank J. Doyle, quartermaster sergeant; George W. Sisson, Frank Wyman, Richard Higbee, Xorris P. Ballou, Herman C. Franke and James Blackball, sergeants; Daniel J. Callahan, William M. Collins, Nelson A. Ekdahl, Edgar W. Hewitt, Clarke E. McGregor, Hartly B. Keeler, F"red M. Wolfe and William E. Lamb, corporals; Louis Stellenberger, trumpeter; George W. McDonald, farrier; Alfred Gasswint, saddler; John W. Hollandsworth, wagoner.
Troopers–George W. Adams, Joseph il. Adams, Herman F. J. Anderson. Stuart M. Anderson, Edgar F. Bailey, Ernest Brink, John R. Brown. William W. Brown, James Buckley, Albert Cariboni, Duncan Carr, William H. Childers, Richard Clark, Charles H. Cook, Luke Corrigan, John Cripe, Frederick J. Davis, John H. Davis, James Demaree, John Doner, George E. Franklin. Jesse D. Fonts. John H. Glazier, Ambrose Hemingway, John M. Mott, Robert J. Houston, Oliver E. Hunter, Thomas M. Hutchinson, Chauncy Hurlburt, Evan Jones, William .S. Kinnaman. William Kruger. Ralph W. Leach, John J. Madden. Edward J. Marsh, Joseph Matthews, Charles A. Meeker, Elkana B. Miller. Richard Moran, Lawrence T. MuKaney. Martin O'Brien, George E. Parker, George E. Priest, Perry M. Richardson. Conrad Rowland, Henry W. Sacknus, James Sherwood, John Siltomaki. William H. Slee. Charles J. Talbott. Hugh Thompson. Matthew Walsh, Robert L. Wheeler, Julius Wolff.
Troop K was made up of men from Rawlins. Casper and Douglas, and was composed of expert riders and marksmen. It was mustered in at Fort D. A. Russell in the latter part of May, 1898, with the following officers and enlisted men: Morgan H. Maghee, captain; Hugh L. Patton. first lieutenant; Alva C. Rice, second lieutenant; Edward S. White, first sergeant; Edward D. Johnson, quartermaster sergeant; William A. Duncan. Robert McAdams. Robert W. Wallace. Louis W. Launiere. Don A. Williams and George C. Thompson, sergeants : Albert J. Cook, Charles C. Carnham, Robert J. Allen, George W. Duffy, David A. Williams. Sheridan H. Reilly. George W. Timmons and Charles E. Nichols, corporals; Gustave Hakola and Albert W. Reed, farriers; Charles H. Lilly and William J. Faulkner, trumpeters; Hugi A. Beck, cook; Frank Fay. saddler; Melvin P. Wain, wagoner.
Troopers–John W. Arden, Mathew Barber, Otto C. Bartz, Frank F. Berry, Frank H. Betz, Fred G. Boiler, Lyman Brown, William O. Comstock, Thomas G. Cook. John B. Dawson, Jesse L Dement, Jacob N. Doersam. Oscar Donoho, Richard C. Doyle, Elmer C. Edgerly, Albert L. Evans, Horace Evans. James H. Finley, Frank E. Fletcher, Raymond N. Gourley, Randall Hayes, Gilman A Hackett, Frank M. Heuet. Charles Holland, Fred R. Ingalls, John F. Janecek, Samuel P. Kennison. Charles H. Laughrey. George Lobmeir. Maurice Locknane, James McGinners. Colin J. Mackenzie. Anton Maybaum. Walter Merrill. Charles H. Aloore. Jonathan Morris. Roy W. Morse, August F. Neeseman, Eugene H. O'Brien. Charles T. Paden. Frank J. Payne, Fred Roediger, Erastus W. Ruhl. Albert N. Sandberg, Frank L. Schott, Lewis D. Scott, Booker L. Smith. Bryden F. Spencer. Percy E. Springford. William E. Van Curen, James H. Webber, Elmer E. Wheeler. George E. White. Grant E. Williams. Thomas H. Williams.
Troop L was composed of men from around Evanston and Kemmerer and was mustered into the United States service on May 18, 1898, being one of the first to complete its organization. Robert A. Hocker was commissioned captain; Edgar D. Shurtliff, first lieutenant; Thomas W. Davies, second lieutenant. The non-commissioned officers were: Charles E. Davis, first sergeant; George Ellis, quartermaster sergeant; Frederick Richardson, Charles Dempsey, A. C. B. Lauder, Lewis C. Marx, Martin J. Cleary and Harry Shepherd, sergeants; Henry B. Dexter, William H. Evans, Henry N. Laskey. Sylvester Whalen, Curtis Durnford, Thomas Fife. Charles F. Coggle and James Walton, corporals; William Morrow, trumpeter; William T. Lane and William R. Welch, farriers; John L. Lee, saddler; Edward C. Sims, wagoner.
Troopers–Harold R. Aniens, Case Bennett, Charles S. Beveridge, John B. Dowdige, William J. L. Carpenter, John C. Christensen, Thomas Cook, William Cook, Ralph Crumbaugh. William P. Darby, Byron C. DeLano, Norman E. Dempsey, George DeVore, Samuel J. Dickey, James Eardley. Dell GeHove, Clarence E. Gimmer, Arthur Goodman, Frank Hall, William P. Hartzell. Clarence Johnson, Joseph Johnson, Peter J. Johnson, Walter M. Johnston. Jonathan Jones, Jr., Frank Kennedy, Henry Lanstring, ClilTord W. Long, Hiram Loveday, Garrett Lowham, Joseph Lowham, William R. Lush, Lewis W. McCarl, Orin McRea, James O. Mansfield, Orson Mathews, William T. Moore, Olaf Naster, Andrew Niemela, Harry Nye, E. Perkins, Glen J. Purdy, Orin Oueal, Arthur L. Quinn, Tohn Reed, Reuben A. Robinson, Henry Scharff', John Simpson, Charles H. Smith, Samuel Stover, Calvin E. Sturm, Jesse M. Taylor, James R. Tennant, Ernest Weeks, Joseph Wilkinson. |
| CAMP CUBA LIBRE |
The regiment left Cheyenne on June 22, 1898, for Camp Cuba Libre, Jacksonville, Fla. At Tupelo, Miss., on the 26th, the second section of the troop train ran into the first section, which resulted in the immediate death of three troopers, three others died later, and eleven others were more or less injured. The killed were Samuel Johnson, Cornelius Lenihan and William B. Wallace, all of Troop C. Those who died later were Henry S. Mapes and Henry Stehz of Troop C, and Clarence E. Gimmer, of Troop L. The injured who recovered were Col. Jay L. Torrey, Joseph Aaron, Hiran F. Davis, Jonas H. Farr, George R. Gardner, William A. Grosvenor and John J. Schenck of Troop C, Arthur Evans of Troop E, Wallace B. Hodge of Troop G, and E. Perkins and Joseph Wilkinson of Troop L. Two Colorado men were also slightly injured. The regiment remained at Camp Cuba Libre until October, when it was mustered out.
In the battalion, the battery and the Second United States Volunteer Cavalry, the State of Wyoming furnished a number of men aggregating four and a half times her proper quota, as apportioned by the war department—more in proportion to population than any other state in the Uuion. |
| SOLDIER'S MONUMENT |
In his message to the Legislature in January, 1899, Governor Richards said: "The Wyoming Volunteer Aid Association, composed of the patriotic women of the state, has inaugurated a movement for the erection of a monument to the memory of the volunteers from this state who sacrificed their lives in maintaining the honor of their country. It is desired that permission be given for the erection of this monument within the grounds of the capitol, and that a suitable contribution to the fund be made by the state."
By the act of February 20, 1899, the requested permission was given and the sum of $1,500 was set apart as a "Heroes' Monument Fund," to be delivered to the Volunteer Aid Association when so ordered by the governor. The monument was erected in 1900 by LaFontaine & Bradley and was at first located immediately east of the walk leading to the main entrance of the capitol. In 1917 it was removed to its present location at the southeast corner of the capitol grounds. The monument is of Vermont granite, surmounted by the figure of a soldier in the attitude of "Taking the Oath," and inscribed with the names of the organizations it was erected to honor. The figure on the top of the monument is supposed to be that of Tack Owens of Kentucky, then a soldier at Fort D. A. Russell, but the statue can hardly be said to be a "speaking likeness." |
| History of Wyoming, Volume I, by I. S. Bartlett, 1918 |
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