USA > Iowa > Buchanan County > History of Buchanan County, Iowa, and its people, Volume I > Part 27
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The company had on its roll during the period of service a total of 108 men and four officers. During the stay at Jacksonville the company suffered from an epidemie of typhoid fever and lost a large number of men-fourteen in all. Searcely any one in the company escaped a fit of sickness, and at one time out of the 106 men and three officers composing the company there were eighty-three men sick or on sick furlough.
This was a very trying time for the men and their people at home, as the Government had not made provisions for any such amount of siekness. Siek men were often compelled to lie on the ground while awaiting arrangements for a bed. and there were no nurses other than men detailed for that work. These men were entirely, or in a great majority of cases, without any experience whatever.
It was necessary for the company commander during this period to supply his siek with ice, milk, eggs, and such artieles as typhoid patients required, as the Government had made no provision for these articles until the latter part of
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September, when it was arranged so we could draw 60 eents per day, in lieu of the ration, for the sick. The company commander had no fund with which to pay for this except such as had been contributed by the citizens of the home town and his own pocket book, neither of which was ample to meet the calls. There were many cases of hardship and unnecessary suffering at that time, and ealls upon private funds which were rightfully matters which the Government should have taken care of.
It was satisfactorily demonstrated in the Spanish-American war that our country was in a state of utter unpreparedness and that such a condition shows not only the rankest folly but criminal neglect is not questioned. But we do not think that the unprepared condition of the Government is entirely responsible for the direful result. We believe that the long list of casualties, not of actual warfare but of disease proves not the necessity of more armoured eruisers, more standing armies and greater armament, but the demand for less red tape, more concerted action and less jealousy and irresponsibility among the Goverment officials and all those in authority. The whole responsibility of that lamentable calamity in that germ infested camp at Jacksonville rests upon the officials who selected such an unsanitary and unhealthy location and with those who failed to see the consequence or to act. It certainly would not take either an army surgeon or a United States army inspector to decide that the swamps of Florida were not a fit camping place for northern soldiers and that alligators and farmer boys are not homogeneous.
But from whatever cause or condition, these brave soldiers sacrificed their lives to their country's cause and although it was not in the glory of battle with the inspiration and stimulus of active service to goad them on, nor in the gloom of death and defeat, who shall decide which is harder to endure ? Let him who has witnessed the two deeide-death on a glorious battle field or on a hospital cot -- and justice and honor will demand that as much respect be shown the heroes of 1898 as of 1861.
NAMES OF SOLDIERS WHO DIED
Company E: Morse A. Wolcott, private, September 23d, at Camp Cuba Libre, of typhoid.
Charles Helmick, private, September 5th, at Camp Cuba Libre, of malarial remittant.
William E. Dorman, private, September 20th, at Camp Cuba Libre, of typhoid.
Alonzo L. Hartman, private, September 10th, at Camp Cuba Libre, of typhoid.
Edward W. Lizer, private, August 24th, at Camp Cuba Libre, of typhoid Frank J. MeKray, private, October 13th, at Camp Cuba Libre, of typhoid. Otto E. Nelson, private, October 20th, at Camp Cuba Libre, of typhoid.
Roy Guernsey (detailed in signal corps), at sea, en route to Havana, January 15th. of pneumonia.
Ray Moffitt, at Camp Onward, May 16th, of typhoid.
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"IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN"
When the call to arms was issued by President Mckinley, it seemed as though the whole nation rose as one man, there was an embarrassment of riches and the difficulty was, not how to seeure soldiers, but to choose out of the myriads offered-lowa was called upon for three regiments and a most perplexing problem was put to Governor Shaw to solve. Which of the four lowa Volunteer Regi- ments would be sent home when all were so eager to go. It undoubtedly caused the governor many sleepless nights and the possible effect on the coming cam- paign much anxiety to the politicians. And the conclusion that the Forty- ninth Regiment, of which Company E was a part (being under command of the junior eolonel), should be dismissed was a terrible disappointment to the soldiers. But through the personal efforts of several influential men (with the associate editor of the Des Moines Register) as prime mover, the consent of the governor was obtained to let them intercede on behalf of the regiment. Telegrams were sent back and forth to the state representative at Washington, D. C., but the reply came back that no change could be made, as there were so many states asking for changes in their qnotas that the War Department did not dare to show any partiality. That same evening. April 29th, the particular friends of the forty-ninth held a meeting at the Savery llotel, at which Bernard Murphy of Vinton presided. Nearly all the cities which had companies in the regiment were represented. Governor Shaw was besought to change the ruling made by his adjutant general. Never were sueh appeals made to the governor and all this time the friends and relatives of the companies were praying that their own boys would be the ones sent home.
The session at the hotel lasted until after mid-night and probably no more impassioned speeches were ever uttered on Iowa soil. Some of the speakers almost threatened the governor with a rebellion, but he held his ground firmly with the decision of the committee and the friends of the other regiments were just as insistent.
Finally when all hope seemed past, Mr. Lafe Young, who was present sug- gested that another appeal be made to Washington and he believed if enough pressure was brought to bear on the Washington delegation that they might win their point. It was a desperate ease and demanded a desperate appeal, and al- ready prepared for the emergency, he pulled out of his pocket the following telegram which was forwarded to Washington : Des Moines, April 29, 1898, Ilon. William B. Allison, Hon. J. A. T. Hull, Washington, D. C. "After exhausting every power of compromise, we find there is no possible way out of our trouble, exeept by calling for full regiments of infantry. Any other course now would create such a ruction as we nor yon have never known in lowa. For God's sake see Secretary of War at onee. Four full regiments would only exceed quota by 200. If necessary, drop out call for light infantry artillery. You can not imagine the excitement here in the state."
The telegram was signed largely by prominent men and had the desired result. Secretary Alger telegraphed aceepting four instead of three regiments, and the work of organization began at onee.
After reading the above paragraph, with its painfully suggestive heading, the deplorable result of that well intentioned effort on the part of the regiments'
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friends strikes us with particular force. For while the forty-ninth lost not a single man in battle during that short service over sixty were sacrificed to disease (some few dying soon after being mustered out) over fifty of whom died of typhoid fever contracted from unsanitary conditions of the camp at Jackson- ville and impure food and water. Every company in the regiment lost from two to a dozen men. Of this total number, Company E had several more than any other company (due possibly to their youth and inexperience ).
The experiences of this company were very similar to those of Company D, Forty-seventh Regiment under command of Captain Herrick in the War of the Rebellion. They were part of the one hundred day men and were stationed at Ilelena, Arkansas, where they suffered an epidemie of fever and bowel trouble.
Another coincidence (if the former can be called one), is that the first com- pany that left Independence for the front in the Civil war was also Company E.
At the time when the Fiftieth and Fifty-second Iowa Regiments were mus- tered out of the service (in October, 1898), the same influential friends who had procured the acceptance of the forty-ninth by the Government, made intercession to the President to have the regiment relieved of duty and sent home. Much force was brought to bear to influence this move, but evidently their good inten- tioned interference was not appreciated for when the regiment was notified of this, they sent a delegation from Camp Cuba Libre to Washington to personally entreat President MeKinley to let them remain in the service until the war was over if by any possibility their services would be required. This showed real sol- dier spirit. President MeKinley was very gratified and pleased with the attitude of the Forty-ninth lowa and wrote a most commendatory letter to Governor Shaw, expressing his appreciation and admiration of them, which is cherished in the state archives.
COMPANY E AUXILIARY
On Friday evening, May 6th, the ladies of Independence met at the Munson building and organized the Company E Auxiliary, to aid not only Company E and the First Regiment, but to render assistance whenever and wherever it may be needed. The organization was completed by the election of the following officers : President, Dr. Georgia A. Nims; vice president, Caroline Littell, treas- urer, Katharyn Allen; corresponding secretary, Elizabeth Rodney; recording secretary, Harriet Lake ; ex-officio members, executive committee, Mesdames H. A. Allen and A. J. Kloeker; a soliciting board composed of a member from each ward, Kate Rodney, First Ward; Carrie Steinmetz, Second Ward; Kate Clarke, Third Ward; Mabel Palmer, Fourth Ward; and Ida Littlejohn, Fifth Ward. The regular meetings were held the first and third Friday evenings in each month.
The initiation fee was 50 cents and was used to establish a working fund and any patriotic woman, young or old, was eligible to membership. Colonel Dows, Major Clarke and ('aptain Allen were informed that the services of this society were at their disposal. The first call for aid was from General Lincoln, through the Des Moines Sanitary Commission and in response to this 117 gingham pillow- slips, and 73 "housewives" or needle, thread, and button eases, were sent to Company E. The second request from Company E for granite plates and cups for the new recruits to supplement the tins which had already rusted was
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promptly complied with, also one from Surgeon Clarke of the First Regiment for pillow casings and sheets to supply nine beds in the Regimental hospital. So far every demand made upon this society was promptly responded to and their powers of assistance were limited only by the funds in the treasury. The next donation to the army by this zealous society was 174 abdominal bands. When the boys left Des Moines, the Auxiliary raised $150 which they forwarded to Captain Allen to be held as a sick fund, which fund by being economically dis- bursed, lasted many weeks.
The reported siekness prevalent in Company E aroused the sympathies of the entire community and enlisted the Auxiliary to greater effort. They made prompt appeal to the citizens for subseriptions and met with a liberal response. In a short time they had raised $79.00 which was turned over to Mayor W. F. Miller to forward.
The Auxiliary did excellent and efficient work all the time the soldiers were in the South, and finished their career with the grand reception tendered the company on their return home.
This band of loyal women were tested in a small degree as their mothers had been before them, during the awful and trying years of the Civil war-and the balance scale found them not wanting in patriotic zeal and fervor.
Vol. I~14
CHAPTER XI MISCELLANEOUS MILITARY AFFAIRS
THE ARMY AND NAVY-THE GUARDS-THE MILITIA-CAMP WOLCOTT
BUCHANAN COUNTY'S REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ARMY AND NAVY
The first representative Independence had to the Government School at West Point and Annapolis was Engene Woodruff. He received the appoint- ment while in the Union army and entered West Point July 1, 1862, and graduated seventh in his class in 1866, was commissioned as seeond lien- tenant in the Engineer Corps and in about two years was promoted to first lieutenant. He held various important charges and in 1871 was transferred to Major Howell's department with headquarters at New Orleans, and con- tinned in that department until the time of his death.
In the fall of 1871 he was sent by Major Howell to make a thorough sur- vey of the "raft obstructions" in the Red River, with the view of their removal if found praetieable and the opening of the channel. On the strength of his report of the survey in the spring of 1872, Congress made an appropriation of $150,000 to become available for the commencement of operations on July 1, 1872. Lieutenant Woodruff was sent North by Major Howell to organize an expedition and purchase a "snag boat" and the other necessary material for carrying on the work. He had charge of the survey and of two operations for the removal of the raft, making his own plans. The work of the expedi- tion commenced in December, 1872, with headquarters at Shreveport, Lonisi- ana. lle also had charge of the operations for removing obstrnetions in Cypress Bayou, Texas, the survey of which included a chain of lakes con- necting this bayon with the Red River about two miles above Shreveport.
George S. Woodruff, brother of Lieutenant Woodruff, joined the latter at St. Louis in the month of September, 1872, as clerk and steward of the snag boat and private secretary to his brother and continued with the expedition until its work was accomplished. After the death of Lieutenant Woodruff he was appointed lientenant by Major Howell and remained acting in that capae- ity to the entire satisfaction of the department until it disbanded on April 1, 1874. The channel was opened to investigation through its entire length in November, 1873, for the first time in thirty years. This was the last great work in which Lientenant Woodruff was officially engaged and in which he won an almost world wide fame as an engineer.
At that time Shreveport was undergoing a terrible seonrge of yellow fever and the expedition of which he had charge was some fifty-seven miles above
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that ill-fated eity. Upon visiting the city on business, and unaware that the epidemic had broken out, he found the city panic stricken. The citizens, as many as could get away, fled for ther lives, and hundreds sick and dying, with little or no attention to their wants. His generous sympathetic nature could not hear without heeding the appeal of suffering and dying humanity. He joined the Howard Association and, forgetting his business, devoted himself with tireless assiduity with the relief of the sick and thereby did untokl good and in all probability saved many lives. Thus he labored for one week, when he himself was taken down with the disease. After three or four days he was pronounced convalescent but many patients were sick and dying in the house where he was and the excitement and exposure proved too much for his over- taxed system and he suffered a relapse and died on the 30th of September. His funeral was marked with general grieving and as though a public calamity. About a year after his death the citizens of Shreveport erected a beautiful monument to his memory.
Others who have been appointed from Independence are as follows:
Wells Woods was appointed to West Point sometime in the eighties but did not complete the course.
Dewitt Blamer was appointed to Annapolis in 1887. His standings while at Annapolis were always high -- he ranked fourth in a class of seventy. After graduation he was on a three years' cruise along the Pacific Coast.
Harry Yarnell was appointed to Annapolis in 1893, graduated in June, 1897, and began his two years' cruise around the world. He was on board the Oregon when she made her memorable trip around the Horn.
On June 10 and 11, 1896, competitive examinations were conducted at Waterloo for the military appointment to West Point and all the honors were carried away by Independence boys. Ont of twenty-three candidates com- peting, Carlos E. Jones won first honors and reecived the conditional appoint- ment. Harry E. Jones won second place and Herbert Higbee, third place.
Owing to minor defects of the first two appointees the choice fell to Her- bert Higbee who availed himself of the opportunity. He was one of the thirty- three of a class of ninety-six who passed the rigid requirements. He was a student at the school for two years and on account of some class trouble did not complete the course.
Ernest MeKee, an Independence boy, who afterwards became a resident of Howard, South Dakota, passed the examinations and received the appoint- ment in 1904, as midshipman, by Senator A. B. Kittredge and is now second lieutenant on board the Texas, which was stationed at Vera Cruz, Mexico.
Paul Goen was appointed to the Naval Academy in 1912 by Rep. C. E. Picket and has enjoyed two cruises.
THE INDEPENDENCE GUARDS
Company H. I. N. G., was organized in Independence in July, 1877. The first eaptain was Fred Merrill. The following officers were elected: Captain, F. C. Merrill : first lieutenant, E. E. Hasner ; second lieutenant, E. B. Backus ; first sergeant, H. S. Palmer; second sergeant, C. E. Purdy ; third sergeant. Frank Megow ; fourth sergeant, Doctor Wilson; first corporal, Charles Sher-
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COMPANY H, CAMP SLURMAN, WATERLOO, AUGUST, 1891
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wood ; second corporal, Charles McEwen; third corporal, Sidney S. Toman; fourth corporal, J. L. Cilley. The officers eleeted of the civil department of the organization were: President, W. Il. Baily; secretary, C. A. Clarke; treasurer, W. S. Boggs. After the election the muster roll was presented and received some twenty-six signers, which was inereased to a full com- pany later, and immediately the company began regular drill practice. Then Capt. W. H. Thrift. These followed by O. D. Burr, who died in office; P. A. Sutkamp was then elected, LeRoy Cummings followed Sutkamp and then P. A. Sntkamp was reelected to the office. In February, 1891, he resigned and E. C. Lillie was elected; W. F. Miller and E. S. Stroman were also captains of the company. Company H attended all the state eneampment and were a very active organization in the early days of its career.
This company was one of the crack companies of the state, winning many laurels in drill and rifle practice. In the fall of 1891, after fourteen years of existence, they disbanded. Captain Thrift after leaving Independence was elected as adjutant-general.
Company E, First Regiment 1. N. G., was mustered into the State Militia, Thursday, June 4, 1896, by Adjutant-General Wright of Des Moines, Colonel Mahin of Clinton, and Captain Thrift of Dubuque. The following officers were elected: 11. A. Allen, captain; C. A. Rosemond, first lieutenant ; C. A. Rosemond, George Blamer, second lieutenant. The selection of non-commis- sioned officers was deferred to a later date.
Arms, uniforms and other equipment was sent from Des Moines and the company started drilling. Colonel Mahin announced that he had secured the use of the grounds at Rush Park for the annual encampment to be held in August, that he considered them the best for the purpose he had seen in the state. At the rifle shoot, the next week after the company was organized, it ranked fifth and seven companies below them.
Later in July the non-commissioned officers were chosen for efficiency in drill. First sergeant, Frank Litts; second sergeant, Will Berger; third ser- geant, A. B. Cates : fourth sergeant, Alex. Domman ; fifth sergeant, Charles Me- Clure ; first corporal, Ray Snow ; second corporal, Will Poor; third corporal, E. H. Tyson ; fourth corporal, Herbert Higbee. Encampment at Camp Jordan, Rush Park.
Together with the Y. M. C. A. they leased King's Hall for an armory and association purposes-drills were held in order to get company into shape for eneampment in August. Range was parallel with the west side of kite track.
Baths were put in, parlors fitted up in the front rooms and the auditorium utilized for gymnasium and drilling purposes.
Corporal A. L. MeFarland, of Company H, Twenty-second Regulars, U. S. A., was detailed in Independence to drill Company E. He stayed here a month and evidence of his excellent work was manifested at the state eneamp- ment which took place in August at which Company E made a splendid show- ing, and as a slight evidence of the appreciation of his efforts and the high re- gard in which Company E held him, Captain Allen, on behalf of the company, presented him a purse.
The fine showing which the company made at the encampment in August was ample reward for the conscientious and untiring efforts made by Corporal
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McFarland and Captain Allen in their behalf and the company's quick re- sponse and interest in the work but demonstrated the splendid material of which this company was composed and that their future excellent record in the Spanish-American war service was but a reflection of what had been their start, was fully demonstrated. Company E attended the state encampments, held numerous fairs, carnivals, field meets, gave various entertainments, ex- hibition drills and participated in all public affairs.
The company always ranked high and once the highest in the regiment as we mention specially and boasted some particularly fine shots.
COMPANY L
The lowa National inspection in the spring of 1902 placed Company E of Independence in the foot ranks where it was sure to be mustered ont un- less something in the way of reorganization was done immediately. This was the company that had seen service in the Spanish-American war and which had gained an enviable reputation both in the regiment, and having had as they thought plenty of experience in army life and drill, many had with- drawn.
The membership had been made up to some extent of boys who lived in the country and on account of this the weekly drills were not attended as they should be. The inspector general further instructed the company that they must provide a more adequate armory. This the company had made several unsnecessful attempts to do but since it had come to the point of getting an armory, and being mnstered ont, they rented the Leach factory building and arranged a fine club room in connection. Recruiting for the organized com- pany commenced immediately and their efforts were successful.
Company L, of the Forty-ninth Regiment, I. N. G., was mustered into the service by Major Allen, in August, 1902, with the following officers: Cap- tain, R. A. Campbell ; first lieutenant, W. A. Fiester; second lieutenant, Edward M. Sheehan. R. M. Campbell resigned in 1905, and Roy A. Cook was elected to the office, and served for five years when he resigned and First Lient. Floyd Jones was elected captain. He served but a few months when he resigned and Mr. Cook was again installed as its eaptain.
The company attended all the state encampments and were one of the prize companies in drill and at the state shoots in the regiment but later in- terest began to wane and the armory used by the company not proving satis- factory to the army officials and another not being obtainable, the company was disbanded in the spring of 1912.
Company L, during the first few years of its existence, was one of the most popular organizations in the city. They were extremely active in the social way and participated in all publie celebrations. Their Monday night dances at the armory were social events of the town and their public receptions and exhibitions were attended by enthusiastic, admiring crowds.
All this by way of peaceful pursuits. The only real touch of soldier life that this company ever experienced was on June 17, 1903, when Capt. R. A. Camp- bell received orders from Adjutant-General Byers to assemble Company L at once to be ready to report at Dubuque at any time. It had been known that
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a strike on a street car line had been going on for several weeks and on Tues- day evening a mob of union men visited the office of the Union Eleetrie Com- pany and did considerable damage. Company L of that eity had been imme- diately called out and orders were sent to other companies besides Com- pany L. On Thursday Captain Campbell received orders to dismiss Company L as there had been no further trouble reported from Dubuque but on Satur- day orders came to assemble the company, take the first train to Dubuque. Major Allen accompanied the boys on the afternoon train as he had been placed in charge of the four companies ordered to keep peace in the Key. City. On the following Tuesday evening, the street car strike came to an end and Company L returned to their homes in this city on Wednesday afternoon, after a four days' service on guard duty in Dubuque. They experieneed no difficulty from the strikers.
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