| 1918 KANSAS AND KANSANS | Chapter 67 | Part 6 |
The Field and Staff and account of service for each of the four regiments of the Spanish-American War, are quoted from the official Report of the Adjutant-General.
It was the good fortune of the Twentieth Kansas to be assigned to active service in the field in the Spanish-American War. There is no doubt that the other three regiments would have rendered distinguished service had the opportunity offered. They were, however, denied the privilege of demonstrating what they could do on the field of battle.
The achievement of the Twentieth will always be one of the events in Kansas history of which the State will be proud. Its campaign in the Philippine Islands makes it immortal. It never faltered in the full performance of any duty. Both the men and the officers of that regiment have continued to distinguish themselves, and to bring honor to the State. No better soldier nor competent officer is to-day in the army of the United States than General Frederick Funston. His brilliant record as a soldier is familiar to all the people of the United States. General Wilder S. Metcalf is one of the foremost citizens of the State, and has recently rendered pre-eminent service in the Kansas National Guard. He has been called to the councils of the State, having been recently elected State Senator from Douglas County. Dr. Charles S. Huffman, of Cherokee County, is one of the eminent physicians of Kansas. He has been a member of the Kansas State Senate for twelve years, and has just been elected to another four-year term. His service in capacity of Legislator has been of great value to Kansas. General Charles I. Martin is the present efficient Adjutant-General of Kansas. He has held this position for some years. His work has made the Kansas National Guard the equal to that of any State, and superior to many. He is favorably known in the military circles of America.
References of this nature might be indefinitely extended in speaking of the Twentieth Kansas. Captain Clad Hamilton and many others have rendered the country services beyond computation. Captain Hamilton is still at the front as this is written. He has been promoted to major in the Kansas National Guard.
The field and staff of the Twentieth Kansas were as follows:
Date of Date of
Name and Rank Residence Enrollment Muster-In Remarks
Colonel
Frederick Funston Iola May 13, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered in as Col.; pro. Brig. Gen'l May 4, '99; wnd. In a. May 4, '99, at Santo Tomas, P. I.
Wilder S. Metcalf Lawrence May 11, '98 May 9, '99 Mustered in as Maj.; pro. Col. May 9, '99; mustered out with regt.; wnd. in a, Feb. 23, '99, at
Caloocan, Luzon, P. I. and Mar. 29, '99, at Bocane, Luzon, P. I.
Lieut. Colonel
Edward C. Little Abilene May 10, 198 May 10, '98 Mustered in as Lt. Col.; mustered out with regt.; accidentally wnd. Jan. 17, '99, near Manila, P. I.
Major
Frank H. Whitman 1st Lt. 2d Inf. U. S. May 10, '98 May 10, '98 Mustered In as Maj.; mustered out with regt.
Wilder S. Metcalf Lawrence May 11, '98 May 11, '98 Mustered in as Maj.; pro. Col. May 8 99.
William H. Bishop Salina May 2, '98 May 9, '98 Mustered in as Capt. Co. M; pro. Maj. May 9, '99; disc. to accept commission as Maj. of 36th Inf.
U. S. V. July 12, '99: wnd. In. a. Apr. 27, '99: at Apalit, P. I.
Charles I. Martin Fort Scott April 30, '98 July 22, '99 Mustered in as Capt. Co. F; pro. Maj. July, 22, '99; mustered out with regt.
Major and Surgeon
John A. Rafter Holton May 13, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered in as Maj. and Surg.; mustered out with regt.
Capt. and Asst. Surg.
Henry D. Smith Washington May 13, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered In as Capt. and Asst. Surg. mustered out with regt.
Charles S. Huffman Columbus May 13, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered in as Capt. and Asst. Surg mustered out with regt.
Chaplain
John G. Schliemann Phillipsburg May 12, '98 May 12, '98 Mustered in as Chap.; mustered out with regt.
First Lieut. and Adj.
William A. DeFord Ottawa May 9, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered in as 1st Lt. and Adj.; resigned Aug. 24,
Charles B. Walker Kansas City April 27, '98 Aug. 28, '98 Mustered in as 1st Lt, Co. B; assigned Adj. Aug. 28, '98; pro, Capt. Aug. 17, '99; assigned to Co. B
Cassius E. Warner Fort Scott April 30, '98 Sept. 2, '99 Mustered in as Corp. Co. F; pro. Sergt.-Maj. Sept. 25, 198; pro. 2d Lt. Co. F, May 2. '99: pro.
1st Lt. Sept. 2, '99; assigned as Adj. Sept. 2, 199; mustered out with regt.
First Lieut. and Q. M.
Lafayette C. Smith Waconda May 10, '98 May 10, '98 Mustered in as 1st Lt. and Q. IT.; resigned July 9, '98
Walter P. Hull Iola April 30, '98 July 9, '98 Mustered in as 1st Lt. Co. 1; appointed Q. M. July 9, 198; mustered out with regt.
Sergeant Major
Frederick R. Dodge Leavenworth May 13, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered in as Sergi. Mai. : pro. 2d Lt. Sept. 24, '98: assigned to Co. I
Cassius E. Warner Fort Scott April 30, '98 May 12, '98 Mustered In as Corp. Co. F; pro. Sergi. Maj. Sept. 25, '98; pro. 2d Lt. Co. F, May 2, '99
John G. Waste Leavenworth May 5, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered in as Sergi. Co. C; pro. 1st Sergt. May 12, 199; pro. Sergt. Maj. May 28, '99; Pro. 2d
Lt. Sept. 2 '99; assigned to Co. C
Harry W. Brent Parsons June 13, '98 June 13, '98 Enrolled as pet: Co. G; pro. Sergt. Maj. Sept. 3, '99; mustered out with regt.
Q. M. Sergeant
James A. Young Baldwin May 12, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered in as Q. M. Sergt.; dishonorably disc. Aug. 25, '98
Burton J. Mitchell Iola June 14, '98 June 14, '98 Enrolled as Pvt. Co. I; pro. Q. M. Sergt. Aug. 25, '98; pro. 2d Lt,: assigned to Co. D Max., 22. '99
Gen. W. Winterburn Fort Scott June 14, '98 June 14, '98 Enrolled as Pvt. Co. I; pro. Q. M. Sergt. Aug. 1, '99; mustered out with regt.
Wilfred W. Nelson Iola June 14, '98 June 14, '98 Enrolled as Pvt. Co. I; pro. Q. M. Sergi. Aug. 1, '99; mustered out with regt.
Hospital Steward
Jonathan E. Chastain Iola June 14, '98 June 14, '98 Enrolled as Pvt. Co. I; pro. Hosp. Stew. Oct. 13, '98; disc. Aug. 27, '99
Seth A. Hammel Topeka May 13, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew.; disc. Aug. 27, '99
Myron D. Rafter Holton Oct. 24, '98 Oct. 25, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew.; disc. Aug. 27, '99
Coryell Faulkner Topeka May 13, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew.; disc. for dis. Oct. 8, '98
Wm. E. Hungerford Topeka May 13, '98 May 13, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew.; disc. for dis. Oct. 8, '98
Elmer Butler Devon April 30, '98 May 12, '98 Enrolled as Pvt. Co. F; pro. Hosp. Stew, Sept. 3, 199: mustered out with regt.
Volney T. Boaz Girard June 14, 198 June 14, '98 Enrolled as Pvt. Co. D; pro. Hosp. Stew. Sept. 3, '99; mustered out with regt.
John A. Buchanan Topeka June 13, '98 June 13, '98 Enrolled as Pvt. Co. K; pro. Hosp. Stew. Sept. 3, '99; mustered out with regt.
Chief Trumpeter
Charles P. Barshfield Kansas City April 27, '98 May 8, '98 Mustered In as musc. Co. B: pro. chief trumpeter June 19, 199; trans. to Co. B: Pro. Sergt.
April 11, '99
The Twentieth Kansas Volunteer Infantry was organized at Topeka, May 9 to 13, 1898. The companies constituting the regiment were to a large extent raised in counties as designated below:
Company A, in Shawnee County, May 9, 1898.
Company B, in Wyandotte County, May 9, 1898.
Company C, in Leavenworth County, May 13, 1898.
Company D, in Crawford County, May 11, 1898.
Company E, in Anderson, Coffey and Woodson counties, May 10, 1898. Company F in
Bourbon County, May 12,1898.
Company G, in Wilson and Montgomery counties May 12, 1898.
Company H, in Douglas County, May 9, 1898.
Company I, in Miami, Shawnee and Bourbon counties, May 12, 1898.
Company K, in Franklin and Linn counties, May 11, 1898.
Company L, in Geary and Dickinson counties, May 10, 1898.
Company M, in Salina, Ottawa and McPherson counties, May 10, 1898.
The regiment broke camp at Topeka and moved by rail to San Francisco, California, where it arrived May 20, 1898, and was assigned to Camp Merritt. Until June 18, the regiment was under command of Lieutenant-Colonel E. C. Little; at this date, Colonel Frederick Funston arrived and assumed command of the regiment. During June the regiment was recruited to its full complement of enlisted men. On August 5 the regiment moved station to Camp Merriam, San Francisco, California. The regiment remained here, undergoing constant drill and military instruction, until the latter part of October.
On the 27th of October the field and staff and second and third battalions embarked on the United States transport Indiana, and at four o'clock P. M. sailed for Manila, P. I., via Honolulu. The first battalion, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel E. C. Little, sailed from San Francisco for Manila by the same route at eleven o'clock A. M., November 9, on the United States transport Newport.
The Indiana arrived at Manila on December 1, and the Newport on December 6, 1898. The third battalion landed on December 8, and the first and second battalions on the 11th. The first battalion was stationed at "La Rosa Tobacco Warehouse;" the second battalion, with regimental headquarters, at the "Administracion de Hacienda;" and the third battalion at "Aldecoa & Co.'s godown." The first battalion was moved, on January 8, 1899, to the "Cuartel de Infanteria," the tobacco warehouse being located in the smallpox-infected district, but moved back again on the tenth, and remained there until January 25, when it was moved to "No. 73 Lunetta." This battalion lost a number of men from smallpox.
On February 4, at about ten o'clock P. M., the outpost of the regiment was attacked, and the second and third battalions, under regimental commander, moved rapidly to its support. These outposts were on the extreme left of the American lines, and were being firmly held by Captain A. G. Clarke and Lieutenant Krause with about sixty men from various companies. A sharp fire was kept up all night, and, intermittingly, until noon of the 5th, when an advance of the entire brigade line was ordered and executed, the first battalion having in the meantime joined the command. The enemy were quickly driven back beyond two lines of entrenchments to their blockhouse, about two miles north of Manila. Here our lines fell back about 1,000 yards, but advanced, without opposition, and reoccupied the advanced point the following morning (February 6). On the 7th, Colonel Funston asked and received permission to attack the insurgent forces in his front. He immediately moved against them with four companies (B, C, E, and I), driving them from their position, with heavy loss after a sharp fight lasting about forty-five minutes.
February 10, at 3:30 P. M., orders were received to assault and take the town of Caloocan in conjunction with the First Montana Infantry and the Third U. S. Artillery (acting as infantry). The left was protected by two companies of the First Idaho Infantry, and the line reenforced by two guns each from the Sixth U. S. and Utah Light Artillery. After a half hour's shelling of the town by the fleet the advance began gradually swinging to the right. The enemy was rapidly driven through and beyond the town, where our line was halted and formed for the night. On the day following (February 11), position was taken about one-half mile beyond Caloocan church, and entrenched, where the regiment lay in the face of an almost continuous fire from the enemy until the evening of March 24, when it was moved to LaLoma church, about a mile to the southeast.
March 25, at 6:30 A. M., the advance began - the Twentieth Kansas in the center of the brigade line - the entire division gradually swinging to the left until stopped by the Tuliajan River, where the enemy was strongly entrenched on the north bank. A crossing under the enemy's fire was finally accomplished by each company of the second and third battalions in its own front, company E, under command of Captain William J. Watson, meeting with especially strong resistance. The insurgents were driven from their position with heavy loss. The entire regiment had crossed to the north bank at about nine o'clock A. M. At seven o'clock A. M. the following day (26th) the command moved forward with little resistance from the enemy. On the 27th, shortly after noon, companies H and I were called into action on the left of the road, engaging the enemy across the Marilao River. Being unable to dislodge the enemy, the regimental commander, with one platoon of Company C, crossed the river on a raft and attacked the enemy in the rear, capturing twenty-eight prisoners and rifles, in addition to a large number of killed and wounded. This platoon returned and the command moved down and crossed at the town of Marilao, where an attack by the insurgents was met and the enemy driven beyond the Santo Maria, Bigaa and Guiguinto rivers. Just north of the Guiguinto River the advance was checked by a spirited fire from the enemy. A line was formed, and, after a sharp action lasting twenty minutes, the fire of the insurgents was checked.
On March 30, at about 2:30 P. M., the advance was continued, with the first battalion in support, to the main road leading into Malolos, where, resistance being met with, the line was halted for the night. On the 31st the regiment, on the right of the brigade, advanced on the city of Malolos. Colonel Funston, with a small detachment of Company E, pushed forward in front of the command, and was the first to enter the public square of the city, meeting but slight resistance. A line was established about one mile north of Malolos, where the command rested.
April 25, active operations were again renewed, and the Twentieth Kansas, in conjunction with the First Montana, moved against the insurgent entrenchments north of the Bagbag River. After a spirited shelling of the enemy's works by the armored train from a position one-half mile away, Company K, under command of Captain Boltwood, advanced rapidly to the river and drove the enemy from their position. On the 26th the advance was renewed until opposite the town of Calumpit. An incessant firing was maintained for the remainder of the day and a part of the 27th. It being too costly to force a passage of the river at the railroad, the regimental commander, with forty-five men from various companies, crossed the river one-fourth of a mile below the railroad bridge and attacked the enemy in the rear, driving them from their position. The remainder of the Twentieth Kansas, with the Montana regiment, crossed at the railroad bridge, and the insurgents were rapidly driven northward through the town of Apalit, where the regiment halted until May 4.
On the morning of May 4 the Twentieth Kansas and First Montana marched north along the railroad. At about nine o'clock A. M. the third battalion, leading the advance, encountered the enemy entrenched on the north bank of the Santo Tomas River, and promptly engaged them. Company H, supporting a battery of one Hotchkiss and one Gatling gun, deployed on the right of the railroad, and later Company C deployed to the right of H. Company H running out of ammunition, was relieved by Company I. Company D advanced along the line of the railroad, firing on the enemy to the left. After a sharp engagement of an hour's duration, the insurgents retreated to their entrenchments north of Santo Tomas station and made a determined stand. Companies C, D and I crossed upon the broken railroad bridge, and, reenforced by companies G and E, of the second battalion, charged the enemy and drove them from the field. The regiment rested at Santo Tomas.
On May 6 the command occupied San Fernando. On the evening of May 8 the outposts were attacked by the enemy in force, who were driven off after an hour's engagement, in which companies B, C, D, H, I and M took part. On May 24, at 8:30 A. M., the regiment moved out under the command of Major Whitman to attack the enemy north of San Fernando, the third battalion being left in reserve. The first and second battalions made a detour to the right under cover of the woods, and arrived within 150 yards of the enemy before being discovered. The first battalion, consisting of companies A, B, and L, deployed, and attacked the enemy in front. The second battalion, companies E, G, K, and M, deployed at nearly right angles with the trenches and pushed the enemy in a southerly direction along the trenches, completely routing and driving them from the field in disorder. The first battalion followed the enemy through and beyond Bacolor.
May 25, at six o'clock A. M., General Funston, with a reconnoitering party consisting of companies D, H, and one platoon of I, and two companies of the First Montana, marched through Bacolor to Santa Rosa, engaging the enemy in a skirmish of about an hour's duration. Having accomplished the object of the movement, he returned to San Fernando at four P. M. At this hour, our outposts being threatened on the north, companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, and K, sent out to reinforce, engaged the enemy and drove them north beyond Calulit our forces retiring to that point. On the morning of May 26 the outposts being attacked, companies B and F reenforced company L and drove off the enemy. Until the 16th of June the outposts were quiet, although rumors of an attack on San Fernando caused extra vigilance to be observed.
On the morning of June 16 a large body of insurgents attacked the Kansas and Montana lines, the assault extending around the city. Companies D and G were on duty at the outposts, and were promptly reenforced by companies C and H, followed shortly by the entire regiment. Companies C and E, under command of Major Bishop, moving under cover of a strip of timber, surprised a body of insurgents, and, moving by the left flank, drove them to the west and north in the greatest disorder, killing and wounding a large number. After an engagement lasting an hour the enemy retreated, having suffered a heavy loss. The forces at San Fernando were again attacked during the night of June 22, the firing beginning on the east side of the city. It was heavy for a time, but by the time it reached the Twentieth Kansas it became half-hearted and was easily repulsed.
On June 24 the first and third battalions, and on the 25th the second battalion, were returned to Manila, having been on the firing line since February 4 - 140 days. Those had been days of hardship and misery, beneath a tropical sun, whose intense rays beat down on the heads of the struggling lines as they fought their way forward across marshy ricefields, through stagnant pools and over innumerable rivers, and through almost impassable bamboo jungles; it was a period of constant discomfort. Yet, with all this, every duty was cheerfully performed. The first and third battalions were quartered at the "Cuartel de Espana," and the second battalion at the "Cuartel del Fortin," where they remained, performing provost duty, until the 12th of July. On this date, companies C, D, H, and I, constituting the third battalion, were moved to Paranaque, and there reported to General Lawton, relieving a detachment of the Fourteenth U. S. Infantry. This battalion remained performing duty at this station until August 9, at which date they were marched back to Manila and assigned to the "Cuartel de Espana."
The foregoing sketch has made no reference to the losses that the regiment suffered. During those days of constant fighting the regiment suffered a loss of 3 officers and 30 enlisted men killed and 10 officers and 120 enlisted men wounded. The entire loss of the regiment by disease was 35 enlisted men. During that period on the firing line the regiment always advanced, driving the enemy before them - never making a retrograde movement.
On the 2nd of September, 1899, the regiment embarked on the United States transport Tartar, and sailed out of Manila Bay on September 3, at 5:30 P. M., arriving at Hong-Kong on the morning of September 6, and remaining at this port until the afternoon of September 14. On this date the Tartar sailed by way of Maji and the Inland Sea to Yokohama, arriving on the evening of the 20th. On the morning of the 25th the transport sailed for San Francisco, reaching that port on the evening of October 10.
On the morning of the 11th the regiment disembarked and marched to camp at the Presidio, and on the 28th of October was mustered out and discharged from the service of the United States.
On the 3rd of November, at Topeka, a reception was extended to the members of the regiment by the people of Kansas, who came in vast numbers from all quarters of the state to do honor to the brave boys who had added a new luster to the name of Kansas.
The Twenty-first Kansas Volunteer Infantry was organized and mustered into the United States service at Topeka, Kansas, on May 12-14, 1898. As indicated by the muster-out rolls, the several companies were recruited at points indicated below:
Company A, Great Bend, May 14, 1898.
Company B, Garden City, Dodge City, and Larned, May 14, 1898.
Company C, Wichita, May 12, 1898.
Company D, Smith Center, May 14, 1898.
Company E, Hutchinson, May 12, 1898.
Company F, Winfield, May 13, 1898.
Company G, Osage City, May 13, 1898.
Company H, El Dorado, May 13, 1898.
Company I, Hays City, May 14, 1898.
Company K, Kingman, May 14, 1898.
Company L, Wellington, May 14, 1898.
Company M, Marion and McPherson, May 13, 1898.
The field and staff of the Twenty-first Kansas Volunteer Regiment were as follows:
Date of Date of
Name and Rank Residence Enrollment Muster-In Remarks
Colonel
Thomas G. Fitch Wichita May 14, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Col.; mustered out with regt.
Lieut. Colonel
Charles McCrum Garnett April 25, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Lt. Col.; mustered out with regt.
Major
Harry A. Smith 5th U. S. Infantry April 26, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Maj.; mustered out with regt.
Willis L. Brown Kingman April 27, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Maj.; mustered out with regt.
First Lieut. and Adj.
John B. Nicholson Atchison May 14, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as 1st Lt. and Adj.; resigned June 1, '98
Henry W. Parker Leavenworth May 14, '98 June 3, '98 Mustered in as Sergt. Maj.; pro. 1st Lt. and Adj. June 3,'98; resigned Oct. 22, '98
William W. McCarty Winfield May 3, '98 Oct. 24, '98 Mustered in as 2d Lt. Co. F; pro. 1st Lt. and Adj. Oct. 24, 198; mustered out with regt.
First Lieut. and Q. M.
John C. Little Columbus May 7, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as 1st Lt. and Q. M. ; mustered out with regt.
Major and Surg.
Frank C. Armstrong El Dorado May 2, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Maj. and Surg.; mustered out with regt.
Capt. and Asst. Surg.
Thomas C. Biddle Emporia April 27, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Capt. and Asst. Surg.; mustered out with regt.
Frederick W. Turner Marysville May 8, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Capt. and Asst. Surg.; mustered out with regt.
Chaplain
Wm. E. Woodward Larned May 10, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Chap.; mustered out with regt.
Sergeant Major
Parker, Henry W Leavenworth May 14, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered In as Sergt. Maj.; pro. 1st Lt. and Adj. June 1, '99
Wilson, Frank Junction City April 10, '98 May 10, '98 Mustered In as pvt. Co. L, 20th Kan. Vol. Inf.; trans. to Co. E, 21st Kan., June 4, '98: pro.
Sergt. Maj. June 4, '98: red. to rks. Co. E Nov. 12. '98
O'Conner, John H Winfield May 4, '98 May 12, '98 Mustered in as Q. If. Sergi. Co. F; pro. Sergi. Maj. Nor. 13, '98; mustered Out With regt.
Q. M. Sergeant
Wood, Ira N. Larned May 2, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Regt. Q. If. Sergt.; mustered out with regt.
Hospital Steward
Britenstine, Charles El Dorado May 5, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew. ; mustered out with regt.
McKenzie, Jay A El Dorado May 14, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew.; mustered out with regt.
Spencer, Herbert Lawrence May 11, '98 May 14, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew. ; on detached duty: disc. Dec. 11, '98
On the 17th of May, 1898, the regiment left Topeka by rail for Lysle, Georgia, where it went into camp at Camp George H. Thomas, and remained at that station until August 25, 1898. During the time spent at this camp, the regiment was given constant and thorough military instruction, and soon became a well-disciplined body of troops; and, the officers and men waited anxiously for orders that would take them into active field service. Much sickness prevailed in the regiment during this time, and the twenty deaths from disease that the regiment suffered were nearly all at this camp, and from typhoid fever.
On August 25 the regiment was moved by rail to Camp Hamilton, Kentucky, arriving there on the 26th. The regiment remained at this station until September 25, 1898, on which date it was ordered to proceed to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, preparatory to the muster-out of the regiment.
Arrived at Fort Leavenworth September 27, and immediately went into camp. On the succeeding day the regiment was furloughed for thirty days. This furlough was extended to November 10, 1898.
The regiment was mustered out and discharged from the United States service on December 10, 1898.
This regiment was made up of sturdy material, well officered, and it is a source of regret to officers and men that they were not given an opportunity to demonstrate their efficiency in the field.
The companies constituting the Twenty-second Kansas Volunteer Infantry were made up from the local county and the counties adjacent to the several recruiting stations designated below:
Company A, at Parsons.
Company B, at Concordia.
Company C, at Beloit.
Company D, at Holton.
Company E, at Emporia.1
Company F, at Columbus.
Company G, at Norton.
Company H, at Emporia.'
Company I, at Clay Center.
Company K, at Seneca.
Company L, at Atchison.
Company M, at Blue Rapids.2
TWENTY-SECOND KANSAS VOLUNTEER REGIMENT
The field and staff of the Twenty-second Kansas Volunteer Regiment were as follows:
Date of Date of
Name and Rank Residence Enrollment Muster-In Remarks
Colonel
Henry C. Lindsey Topeka May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Col.; mustered out with rest.
Lieutenant Colonel
James Graham St. Mary's May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Lt. Col.; mustered out with regt.
Major
Alexander M. Harvey Topeka May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Maj.: mustered out with regt.
Chase Duster Topeka May 18, '98 May 18, '98 Mustered in as Maj.; mustered out with regt.
First Lieut. and Adj.
Clay Allen Erie May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Adj.; mustered out with regt.
First Lieut. and Q. M.
Henry A. Lamb Parsons May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Q. M.; died of dis. at Washington, D. C., Aug. 25, '98.
Charles Lindsey Topeka May 11, '98 Sept. 3, '98 Mustered in as Regt. Q. M. Sergi.; pro. 1st Lt. and Q M. Sept. 3. '98; mustered out with regt.
Major and Surgeon
Josephus P. Stewart Clay Center May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Maj. and Surg.; mustered out with regt.
Capt. and Asst. Surg.
Louis C. Duncan Meriden May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Capt. and Asst. Surg.; mustered out with regt.
1st Lt. and Asst. Surg.
Waldimir F. de Niedman Pittsburg May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as 1st Lt. and Asst. Surg.; pro. Maj. and Brig. Surg. July 15. '9
Frank H. Martin Topeka May 17, '98 July 16, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew.; pro. 1st Lt. and Asst. Surg. July 16, '98; mustered out with regt.
Chaplain
Valeda H. Biddison St. Mary's May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered In as Chip.; mustered out with regt.
Sergeant Major
Peters, Samuel H. Mankato May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Sergt. Mai.; mustered out with regt.
Q. M. Sergeant
Lindsey, Charles Topeka May 11, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered In as Regt. Q. Al. Sergt,; pro, Q. M. Sept. 3, '98
Streeter, Herbert C Topeka May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Enrolled pvt. Co. 1; pro. Q. M. Sergt. Sept. 5, 198; mustered out with regt.
Chief Musician
Lieurance, Thurlow W Cherryvale, May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as chief muse. ; mustered out with regt.
Principal Musician
Maus, John A., Jr Winfield May 3, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as princ. musc.; mustered out with regt.
Carrell, Charles L Oswego May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as princ. musc.; mustered out with regt.
Hospital Steward
Martin. Frank H Topeka May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew.; pro. 1st Lt. and Asst. Surg.; July 16, '98
Gordon, Fred J Topeka May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew.; mustered out with regt.
Beil, J. Wallace Clay Center May 17, '98 May 17, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew.; mustered out with regt.
Latta, J. Craig Clay Center June 15, '98 June 15, '98 Enrolled pvt Co. I; trans. to U. S. hospital corps, June 21, 198: trans. back July 26, '98; pro.
Hosp. Stew. Aug. 1, '98; mustered out with regt.
Immediately after organization the various companies proceeded by rail to Topeka and went into quarters at Camp Leedy, where the men of each company were re-examined and mustered into the service of the United States, on the several dates from May 11 to 17, inclusive, for a period of two years, unless sooner discharged.
The regiment remained at Camp Leedy until May 25, when it broke camp and proceeded by the Missouri Pacific and Baltimore & Ohio railways to Camp Alger, Virginia, where it arrived May 28. While at Camp Alger the War Department directed the regiment to be recruited to a maximum of 106 enlisted men to each company. For this purpose a limited number of officers were obtained to fill the regiment to its maximum strength of 1,272 enlisted men.
After a little more than two months of incessant drill and other military instruction necessary to fit recruits for active service in the field, the regiment marched from Camp Alger to Thoroughfare, Virginia, a distance of about fifty miles, camping by way at Burke's Station, Bull Run, and Bristow, arriving at Thoroughfare on August 9. On August 27 the regiment was again moved, by rail, to Camp Meade, near Middletown, Pa., and on September 9, from thence to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
At Fort Leavenworth the regiment was furloughed for thirty days, preparatory to being mustered out of the service. The regiment was mustered out and discharged on November 3, 1898.
The Twenty-second Kansas was composed largely of farmers' sons, with a liberal percentage of young men from the various institutions of learning of the state. With such material, had the exigencies of the service called the regiment to the field, its record would not have discredited the fair name of the state it represented.
TWENTY-THIRD KANSAS VOLUNTEER REGIMENT
The field and staff of the Twenty-third Kansas Volunteer Regiment were as follows:
Date of Date of
Name and Rank Residence Enrollment Muster-In Remarks
Lieutenant Colonel
James Beck Manhattan June 27, '98 July 14, '98 Commissioned Maj. June 27, '98; mustered in as Lt. Col. mustered out with regt.
Major
John M. Brown Topeka June 28, '98 July 15, '98 Mustered in as Maj.: mustered out with regt.
George W. Ford Fort Scott July 15, '98 July 15, '98 Mustered in as Maj.; mustered out with regt.
2d Lieut, and Adj.
Samuel T. Jones Kansas City, Kan July 2, '98 July 9, '98 Mustered in as 2d Lt. Co. C; detailed Batt. Adj. July 15, '98; appointed acting Regt. Adj. July 27,
'98; mustered out with regt.
2d Lieut. and Q. M.
Frederick M. Stone Lawrence June 28, '98 July 5, '98 Mustered in as 2d Lt. Co. B; detailed Batt. Q. M. July 12, '98; appointed acting Regt. Q. M. July
26, '98; mustered out with regt.
1st Lt. and Asst. Surg.
Charles S. Sunday Topeka June 27, '98 June 27, '98 Mustered In as 1st Lt. and Asst. Surg. honorably disc. Dec. 24, '98
Fred'k D. G. Harvey Kansas City, Kan June 28, '98 June 28, '98 Mustered in as 1st Lt. and Asst. Surg. honorably disc. Dec. 24, '98
Sergeant Major
Jones, Theophulis T Topeka July 2, '98 July 19, '98 Mustered in as Sergi. Co. H; pro. Sergi. Maj. Oct. 3, '98; mustered out with regt.
Q. M. Sergeant
Harris. Arthur C Topeka July 2, '98 July 2, '98 Mustered in as Q. M. Sergi. Co. A; red. to rks. Aug. 20, '98: pro. Sergt. Sept. 6, '98; pro. Regt.
Q. M. Sergt. Oct. 12, '98; mustered out with regt.
Hospital Steward
White, James F Topeka July 18, '98 July 18, '98 Mustered in as Hosp. Stew. ; mustered out with regt.
Patterson, Robert E Kansas City, Kan July 2, '98 July 9, '98 Mustered in as Sergi. Co. C; pro. Hosp. Stew. Aug. 8, '98; mustered out with regt.
The Twenty-third Kansas Volunteer Infantry was a two-battalion organization, of eight companies, and was composed entirely of colored men. Lieut.-Colonel James Beek commanded the regiment during its term of service. The membership was well scattered through the towns in the eastern part of the state. A majority of each company was recruited in the vicinity of the towns specified below; the date given is the date of the muster-in of each company:
Company A, Topeka, July 2, 1898.
Company B, Lawrence, July 5, 1898.
Company C, Kansas City, Kan., July 9, 1898.
Company D, Fort Scott, July 9, 1898.
Company E, Wichita, July 14, 1898.
Company F, Parsons, Coffeyville, and Fort Scott, July 16, 1898.
Company G, Kansas City, Kan., July 16, 1898.
Company H, Atchison, July 19, 1898.
The regiment broke camp at Topeka on August 22, 1898, and proceeded to New York by rail.
It sailed from New York on August 25, on the steamer Vigilancia for Santiago, Cuba, arriving there August 31, 1898. The regiment proceeded immediately by rail to San Luis, reaching that point on September 1. Hostilities having ceased, the duties which devolved upon the regiment, though arduous, were of a peaceful character. Excellent discipline was maintained and all duties were cheerfully and faithfully performed.
The regiment camped in the vicinity of San Luis until February 28, 1899, when it proceeded by rail to Santiago, where it embarked on the steamer Minnewaska, on March 1, 1899, and sailed for Newport News, Virginia, arriving there March 5, 1899.
On March 6 the regiment proceeded by rail to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, reaching that point on the 10th of same month. The regiment was mustered out on April 10, 1899.
The Twenty-third Kansas was an organization that soon became thoroughly drilled and maintained at all times excellent discipline. The officers were all men of intelligence, and the enlisted men obedient and prompt in the performance of all duties required of them, and the regiment received the commendation of the officers under whose command it served. The state of Kansas may be well proud of the record of the Twenty-third Kansas.
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1 Company H was known as the "College Company," and was made up of students of the State Normal School, the State University, and the State Agricultural College and Washburn College. 2 A majority of Company M were from Manhattan. |
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A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans , written and compiled by William E. Connelley, transcribed by Carolyn Ward, 1998.
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