Cerro Gordo County Iowa
Part of the IaGenWeb Project
|
Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection
|
Cerro Gordo County Iowa
Part of the IaGenWeb Project
Cerro Gordo County Iowa
Spanish-American War
and the Philippine Insurrection
The United States waged war against the Spanish colonial forces in Cuba and the Philippine Islands during the spring and summer of 1898. The cause of this war was two-fold, one being the American reaction to ruthless Spanish tactics in suppressing a revolt in its Cuban colony. The other, being the American belief that 'manifest destiny' did not end at the Pacific shore. Although it was a brief war, it was a decisive one.
Secretary of State John HAY proclaimed it as a "splendid little war."
As a consequence, The United States emerged as a world power with her victory.
The U.S.S. Maine, docked in the harbor of Havana, Cuba, exploded and sank on February 15, 1898. The cause of the explosion was never conclusively discovered or proven. However, it was widely believed that the Maine had been blown up by a Spanish mine. With the war cry of "Remember the Maine!" ringing throughout the nation, on April 21st, 1898, President William McKINLEY approved Congress' resolution demanding Spain's withdrawal from Cuba. Spain replied by declaring war against the United States.
President McKINLEY sent out a nationwide call for 125,000 volunteers. The Iowa National Guard responded by providing four infantry regiments, two light artillery batteries, one signal company and one African-American infantry company. The entire Iowa National Guard force was mustered into federal service in Des Moines at the Iowa State Fairgrounds, named Camp McKinley, on April 26, 1898.
To follow numerical sequence provided by Iowa during the Civil War, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Infantry Regiments were renumbered as the 49th, 50th, 51st and 52nd Iowa Volunteer Regiments. The Artillery Batteries were designated as the 5th and 6th; the African-American unit, believed to have natural immunity to tropical diseases, became Company M of the 7th U.S. Infantry Volunteer Immunes.
The 49th was sent to the Camp Onward at Savannah, Georgia; the 50th went to the Jacksonville, Florida training camp; the 51st was sent to the Presidio, San Francisco, California; and, the 52nd was sent to Camp Boynton, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
The Spanish-American War was fought in two theaters - The Caribbean and the South Pacific.
The 49th became part of the U.S.'s occupational forces in Cuba from December 19, 1898 until April 5, 1899.
The 51st saw duty from March to August of 1899 on the Philippine island of Luzon. They saw action in engagements at Guadalupe Church, East and West Pulilan, Calumpit, Santo Tomas, San Fernando, Calulut and Angeles.
The 52nd was mustered out of federal service at Camp McKINLEY (Iowa State Fairground), Des Moines, on October 30, 1898.
The 50th was mustered out of service in November of 1898. The 49th, upon return from Cuba, was mustered out of service at Savannah, Georgia, on May 13th of 1899.
Iowa's participation in the Spanish-American War ended offically with the 51st mustered out of service on November 2nd of 1899, San Francisco, California.
American casualties were considerably light. Most deaths were the result of disease, particularly from typhoid fever: 55 in the 49th; 32 in the 50th; 40 in the 51st; and, 36 for the 52nd. 7 soldiers in the 51st, and 2 soldiers in the 52nd were wounded accidentally.
Cerro Gordo County's Spanish-American War Veterans
52nd Iowa Volunteer Infantry
Commander: HUMPHREY, Col. William B. Residence Sioux City
Appointed Lieutenant Cornol 26 Apr 1898
born 07 May 1846; died 17 Jun 1929; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
disability discharge 07 Jul 1898, Chickamauga Park GA
Arthur L. RULE, with his partners J. E. MARLEY and James BLYTHE had an office on the 2nd floor of the City National Bank and Park Hotel, designed by Frank Lloyd WRIGHT. They were also involved with the 1912 Rock Crest - Rock Glen Project, the Prairie School residential development project in Mason City. The RULE house at 11 S. Rock Glen was completed in 1912, designed by Prairie School architect Walter Burley GRIFFIN.
born 04 Jan 1876; died 04 Nov 1940; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
Regimental band musician
transferrred to Division Hospital 19 June 1898
son of Dr. Smith G., M.D. and Emily G. (SHARP) BLYTHE
born 19 Feb 1874; died 05 Oct 1947; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
born 1875; died 1955; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
Transferred to Division Hospital 19 Jun 1898
aged 22 Promoted Corporal 01 Jul 1898
born 1875; died 1930; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
born 12 Jun 1876; died 01 Nov 1964; inter Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
Promoted Corporal 01 Jul 1898
son of Llewellyn Sr. and Clara Marie (STEVENS) COLE; moved to Los Angeles CA
born 14 May 1875; died 18 Sep 1951; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
CRONIN, John W. Company A. Nativity Iowa, residence Mason City, aged 21
Died of disease 05 Sep 1898, Cottage Hospital, Des Moines IA
born 1874; died 1954; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
born 29 Sep 1880; died 23 Sep 1898 of typhoid fever, Camp McKinley
interred Linn Grove Cemetery, Rockwell
born 27 Dec 1877; died 14 Jul 1900; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
Regimental band musician
born 1874; died 1947; Interred Grant Center Cemetery, Cerro Gordo County IA
born 31 Jul 1873; died 18 Jun 1931; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
born 10 Jan 1879; died 19 Oct 1952; Interred Linn Grove Cemetery, Rockwell IA
Promoted Corporal 01 Jul 1898
Promoted Artificer 12 Oct 1898
born 1875; died 1919; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
born 07 Jan 1872 IL; died 04 Apr 1948; interred Memorial Park, Mason City
born 20 Jan 1855; died 06 Aug 1919; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
Interred Linn Grove Cemetery, Rockwell IA
Interred Linn Grove Cemetery, Rockwell IA
Interred Linn Grove Cemetery, Rockwell IA (Surname also recorded as "Lapman")
Appointed 1st Lieutenant 26 Apr 1898
born 1877; died 1910; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
Interred Linn Grove Cemetery, Rockwell IA
Disability discharge 11 Aug 1898, Chickamauga Park GA
Promoted Corporal 01 Jul 1898
born 1859; died 1932; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
born 1873; died 1929; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
born 09 Jun 1877; died 27 Jun 1955; inter Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
Promoted Sergeant 12 Oct 1898
born 1878; died 1938; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
born 06 Oct 1874; died 11 Apr 1916; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
Promoted Artificer 01 Jul 1898; Promoted Corporal 12 Oct 1898
Appointed Captain 26 Apr 1898
Newspaper man; 1900 - G.A.R. vice-commander & chairman of National Military College
born 17 May 1868; died 04 Feb 1946; inter Owens Grove Cemetery, Cerro Gordo Co. IA
Promoted Sergeant Major 12 Oct 1898
born 09 Oct 1869; died 26 Mar 1951; interred Elmwood-St. Joseph Cemetery, Mason City
Promoted Corporal 01 Jul 1898
Promoted Corporal 01 Jul 1898
Transferred to Division Hospital Corps 19 Jun 1898
Fifty-Second Infantry, Spanish-American War
The Fifty-second Regiment was organized from the Fourth Regiment Iowa National Guard. The twelve companies of which it was composed were ordered into quarters by Governor SHAW on the 25th day of April, 1898. The designated rendezvous was Camp McKinley, near Des Moines, Iowa. The promptness with which the order was obeyed was evidenced by the fact that, at 10 P. M., April 26th, the last of the twelve companies had reported at the rendezvous.
The regiment was engaged in the ordinary routine of camp duty until the 25th day of May, 1898, on which date it was mustered into the service of the United States, by Captain J. A. OLMSTED of the Regular Army. On May 28, 1898, Colonel HUMPHREY received an order, by telegraph, from the War Department, directing him to proceed with his regiment, by rail, to Chickamauga Park, Georgia, and report to the General in command of the troops which were being concentrated there.
The regiment left its rendezvous in Des Moines on the afternoon of the same day the order was received, and was conveyed by rail - in three sections - to Chattanooga, Tennessee, where it arrived on the evening of May 30th, and moved thence on the next day to Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, where it was assigned to the Third Brigade, Second Division, Third Army Corps, Major General James F. WADE commanding. In this camp the patriotic young men of the North and South were commingled, all embued with the one thought and desire - to serve their reunited country in active warfare against the Spanish Monarchy. It was a war of humanity, entered into on the part of the United States, for the purpose of securing justice to an oppressed race, and not for the purpose of conquest.
It was the earnest desire of all the troops in camp at Chickamauga that their stay there would be brief, and that they would soon be called upon to embark and proceed to the Island of Cuba; but, in this, they were doomed to disappointment, The resources of Spain were so entirely inadequate that active hostilities soon came to an end, and the war was of short duration. But two of the splendidly equipped regiments from Iowa were given an opportunity for foreign service - as will be seen from the preceding historical sketches - the fortune of war having denied to the others the opportunity which they so much craved.
During the month of June, 1898, the Fifty-second Iowa was recruited to the maximum strength of a regiment of infantry - fifty officers and twelve hundred seventy-six enlisted men - an aggregate of thirteen hundred twenty-six, rank and file, On August 8, 1898, the regiment was selected as part of a provisional division, under the command of Major General James F. WADE with orders to proceed to the Island of Porto Rico; but, just as the troops were about to move, the order was revoked, and the regiment was obliged to settle back into the dull monotony of camp life. Up to this time, the regiment had been in a fairly healthy condition, but, in less than two weeks after the order to proceed to Porto Rico had been countermanded, it had as many men unfitted for duty as any regiment in its brigade or division. This decline in the health of the men was largely attributed to their disappointment in not having been given the opportunity for active service, even had that service only allowed them a change in environment.
These high spirited young men, many of them the sons of veterans of the great Civil War, had entered the service with high hopes that they would have the chance to distinguish themselves in battle. Instead of realizing that hope, they had been. kept in camp in their own country, during their entire term of service. They had, however, performed their whole duty in the limited field to which they were assigned.
The official report of Colonel HUMPHREY - from which the foregoing sketch has been condensed - closes with the following statement: "Had the opportunity presented, the regiment would have acquitted itself with honor and credit to the State."
The regiment left Chickamauga August 29, 1898, under orders to proceed to Des Moines, Iowa, by rail, and, upon its arrival there, to report to the commanding General of the Department of the Missouri, at Omaha, for further orders. After reaching Des Moines, the regiment was granted a thirty day furlough, at the expiration of which the officers and men reassembled at Camp McKinley, and were there mustered out of the service of the United States on the 30th day of October, 1898.
The Des Moines Leader
Des Moines, Iowa
October 12, 1898
THE BOYS ARE AGAIN IN CAMP MCKINLEY After enjoying a thirty days furlough, the Fifty-Second Iowa regiment is again quartered at Camp McKinley. Early yesterday morning the troops began arriving, and at 7 O'clock last evening the last company reached the grounds and and went into camp.
The companies were assigned to the same quarters they occupied when they returned from the South [Georgia]. The barns have been overhauled and made comfortable for the expected cold weather. Two large Sibley stoves have been placed in each barn and extra bedding provided.
"So far as can be determined, the regiment will not leave here before October 30. There was a general impression among the men who arrived that they would not be kept here over a week, but Captian OLMSTED has informed the war department the services for the paymaster for this regiment will not be needed before the last of the month, and it is certain the boys will not get away before they get their pay. Many are of the opinion that the work ahead of the officers will delay the regiment beyond October 30 but every effort will be made to complete the work by that time.
SOURCES:
www.iowanationalguard.com/Museum/IA_History/SA_War_Phil_Insurrection.htm
www.kinyon.com/iowa/iaroster06/52.htm
www.prairieschooltraveler.com/html/ia/masoncity/griffin/rule.html
The Des Moines Leader, 12 Oct 1898
Photograph credits - National Archives & Iowa National Guard Gold Museum
Compilation & Submission by Sharon R. Becker, March of 2011
