USA > Idaho > History of Idaho, the gem of the mountains, Volume I > Part 55
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Trapping parties from all these posts came into the valleys of Idaho in quest of furs, and established friendly relations with the Indian tribes that inhabited the country, thus paving the way for the coming of the white men as permanent settlers.
JOHN M. SILCOTT
Born in Loudoun County, Va., January 14, 1824; went to California around Cape Horn in 1849; was head mechanic in the building of Fort Simcoe, Wash., in 1857; superintended the erection of the buildings of the Nez Perce agency at Lapwai in 1860; died at Walla Walla, November 18, 1902; and buried on his homestead on Clearwater River opposite Lewiston, Idaho.
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FORT LEMHI
In the spring of 1854 a company of Mormons came from Salt Lake City and undertook to form a settlement in the Lemhi Valley about twenty miles above the present City of Salmon. Fearing trouble with the Indians, they erected a stockade, to which they gave the name of Fort Lemhi, after a Nephite king men- tioned in the Book of Mormon. The stockade was afterward replaced by a more substantial structure inclosing a space about two hundred and sixty feet on each side, and inside the walls they built their dwellings. The walls of the new fort were of adobe, four feet thick at the base, two feet thick at the top, and about nine feet in height. Fort Lemhi was built for defense rather than offense and was occupied for about three years, when the colony was ordered by Brigham Young, then the head of the Mormon Church, to return to Salt Lake City. The old adobe walls still remain partially standing and it is hoped efforts will be made in the near future to preserve the old landmark.
FORT LAPWAI
In 1860-61 miners and prospectors in the Clearwater country began to tres- pass on the lands of the Nez Perce Indians, which aroused the resentment of the tribe, especially that element which had never been satisfied with the terms of the treaty of 1855. A council was held at the Lapwai Mission in August, 1861, for the purpose of pacifying the Indians and at the same time, if possible, securing some agreement that would permit prospectors to go upon the Nez Perce lands. Looking Glass, the war chief of the tribe, was growing old and Eagle-of-the- Light, a young chief who was ambitious to succeed to the military command, voted for war. He was supported by a number of the younger braves, but the influence of Lawyer, the head chief, was strong enough to prevent war and the council adjourned without anything definite being accomplished.
Shortly after the adjournment of the council, the Government, in anticipation of trouble, sent Captain Smith's company of dragoons to Lapwai, ostensibly to prevent the miners from tresspassing on the Indian lands, but really to be on the ground in the event of an outbreak on the part of Eagle-of-the-Light and his followers. During the next year relations with the Indians continued unsatis- factory and in the fall of 1862 Col. D. W. Porter, of the First Oregon Cavalry, was ordered to establish a permanent military post in the Nez Perce country. The result of this order was that Fort Lapwai was built on the right bank of Lapwai Creek, about three miles above its junction with the Clearwater and some twelve miles east of Lewiston, on a reservation of one mile square.
The fort was garrisoned for the greater part of the time until the close of the Civil war by detachments of the First Oregon Cavalry. Several important con- ferences were held here with the Indians and at the time Chief Joseph began his hostilities in 1877, the fort was garrisoned by two companies of United States Cavalry, numbering about one hundred men. After the surrender of Joseph, Camp Howard was established near Mount Idaho and Fort Coeur d'Alene was established on the lake of that name. Fort Lapwai continued in existence for a short time after the establishment of the two new posts and was then abandoned. The Village of Lapwai, Nez Perce County, is near the site of the old fort of that name.
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NEW FORT BOISE
With the discovery of gold in the Boise Basin and the consequent rush to the "new diggins" some measure of protection against Indian hostilities was neces- sary. The war department therefore ordered Maj. Pinckney Lugenbeel, of the regular army, to the Boise Valley to select a site for a military post. Ac- companied by two companies of United States Cavalry, he arrived at the site of Boise City on June 28, 1863, and went into camp on the south side of the Boise River a short distance below where the city now stands. A few days were spent in looking over the surrounding country and on July 5, 1863, he selected a site near the foot of the mountains and a small stream of water, where he established the post and gave it the name of Fort Boise, from the river only a short distance south. Concerning his selection of a location for the fort, the souvenir edition of the Boise Sentinel issued in June, 1897, says :
"Among other good reasons, doubtless this site for the military post was selected largely because of the marvelous beauty of the landscape here presented to the view. Looking southward from the narrow plateau upon which the officers' quarters at the barracks are situated, the eye wanders over the great Snake River sage plains to the magnificent range known as the Owyhee Mountains, which close the view in that direction. To the right from the point of observa- tion, the view embraces the western course of the Boise River and of the valley, with its bright and verdant stretches of meadows, farms, orchards and forests of shade trees, while to the left and eastward the view is more abruptly closed by the neighboring mountain masses of the Boise River range."
That was written in 1897 and it should be borne in mind that at the time Major Lugenbeel selected the site for the post, the "bright and verdant stretches of meadows, farms, orchards and forests of shade trees" was only a vast expanse of arid country covered with sage brush with perhaps a few cottonwood trees along the river. The major, however, may have taken into consideration the possibilities of future development, as well as the natural advantages of the location for a military post. A reservation one mile wide by two miles long was laid out and the first fort was a substantial building of brown sandstone, with additional quarters for men and horses. The post was first known as Fort Boise, but as the city grew and was made the capital of the territory, still later the capital of the state, the Government made liberal appropriations for the equipment of a permanent post, which took the name of "Boise Barracks." Troops were stationed here until about the beginning of the great World war in Europe in 1914, soon after which they were sent to other posts in the country. Part of the buildings of the Boise Barracks have been occupied by inmates of the Idaho Soldiers' Home since the fire which destroyed the main building of the state institution on October 7, 1917.
FORT SHERMAN
About the close of the Nez Perce war in 1877, Gen. W. T. Sherman made a tour of inspection of the military posts of the Northwest and visited Northern Idaho among other parts of the country. Upon his recommendation the war department ordered the establishment of a military post on the north shore of Lake Coeur d'Alene and the next year the military reservation of 1,000 acres
ENTRANCE TO FORT SHERMAN, COEUR D'ALENE The fort was abandoned after the soldiers were sent to the Spanish-American War.
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was platted, bordering on the lake and the Spokane River. Buildings were erected and in the spring of 1879 Col. H. C. Merriam arrived with troops for the first garrison.
The post was first known as Fort Coeur d'Alene, but after the death of Gen- eral Sherman in 1891, the name was changed to Fort Sherman. Colonel Mer- riam remained in command of the post for about twenty years and when martial law was declared in Shoshone County in 1899, troops from Fort Sherman were ordered into the Coeur d'Alene mining districts to preserve order and protect the property of the mining companies. Orders for the abandonment of the fort had been issued before the Coeur d'Alene riots and the Idaho Legislature of 1899 sent a memorial to Congress asking that the grounds and buildings of the post be converted into a national soldiers' home. The petition was not granted, the troops were removed to Spokane in the fall of 1899, and the fort was for- mally abandoned in August, 1901. A large part of the old military reservation of Fort Sherman now constitutes one of the finest residential districts of the City of Coeur d'Alene.
Vol. 1-36
CHAPTER XXIX IDAHO IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
OPPRESSION OF CUBA BY SPAIN-EFFORTS TO FREE THE ISLAND THE TEN YEARS' WAR-REVOLUTION OF 1895-WEYLER'S INHUMANITY-SENTIMENT IN THE UNITED STATES-DESTRUCTION OF THE MAINE-CONGRESS DECLARES WAR --- PRESIDENT MC KINLEY'S CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS-HOW IDAHO RESPONDED- FIRST IDAHO REGIMENT-FIELD AND STAFF-ROSTER OF EACH OF THE COM- PANIES-FLAG PRESENTATION-IN THE PHILIPPINES-ROLL OF HONOR.
Upon the discovery of America, the Island of Cuba became one of the colonial possessions of Spain and remained so for four centuries. While Spain was losing her other American provinces, one by one, the people of Cuba re- mained steadfast in their allegiance to the mother country. When Napoleon overthrew the Spanish dynasty in 1808, the Cubans declared war against the French Republic. Their loyalty during all these years received a poor recom- pense, however, for in 1825 King Ferdinand issued a decree which placed 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 at last they had arrived.
During the decade immediately following the decree of 1825, Spain's policy of tyranny, and in some instances inhumanity, toward her colonial subjects was inaugurated. Some excuse for this policy may be found in the unsettled condi- tions that surrounded the Spanish government and the internal dissensions which prevented the authorities from making any effort to improve conditions in the face of the opposition on the part of prominent citizens. With the death of Ferdinand in 1833, his daughter, Isabella, was proclaimed queen. Ferdi- nand's brother, Don Carlos, insisted that this was a violation of the Salic Law, which forbade women from exercising the royal prerogative and laid claim to the throne as Ferdinand's legitimate successor. He was not without supporters and for many years the "Carlist Party" was a menace to the Spanish govern- ment.
As early as 1829 a conspiracy was formed in Cuba for the purpose of throw- ing off the Spanish yoke, but it was discovered and crushed before the revolu- tionists were ready to begin open hostilities. In 1844 came the uprising of the negroes of the island, which, like the conspiracy of fifteen years before, was
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suppressed with great cruelty on the part of the Spaniards. Some five years later (1849-50) Narciso Lopez, who had formerly been a resident of Cuba, fitted out an expedition at New Orleans for the overthrow of Spanish power in the island. But Lopez was lacking in the elements of true military leadership, so that his expedition ended in failure and some of his men perished in Spanish prisons.
In 1868 the "Ten Years' War" broke out, the revolutionists taking advantage of dissensions in the mother country and hoping to establish their political inde- pendence. At the beginning of the third year of this war, Amadeus, the second son of Victor Emanuel of Italy, was called to the Spanish throne as "constitu- tional king" and reigned until 1873, when the provisional government under Castilla came into power. Castilla threatened to "make a desert island of Cuba," and to carry out his threat he sent an army of 57,000 men to Cuba, but so de- termined was the resistance of the islanders that fewer than fifty thousand of these soldiers returned to Spain. During the war property valued at $300,000,- 000 was destroyed 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 struggling Cubans, but the captains-general became more tyrannical in their administration of affairs.
The heavy burden of taxation imposed, and the unreasonable demands of the governors only served to render the inhabitants of the island more determined than ever to achieve their independence. Experience had taught them the neces- sity of caution, however, and for about fifteen years they carried on their prep- arations with the utmost secrecy. In 1895 the insurrection broke out at several places simultaneously under the leadership of Generals Gomez and Maceo. Captain-General Campos, then governor of the island, carried on his military operations according to rules of civilized warfare, but this policy did not meet the approbation of the Spanish authorities at Madrid. Campos was therefore removed and General Weyler appointed as his successor. Weyler at once issued his "I order and command" proclamation ordering the inhabitants of the rural districts to abandon their homes and "concentrate in the towns occupied by Spanish troops." The order also prohibited the transportation of provisions from one part of the island to another without permission of the military author- ity and declared that "Any persons failing to obey the order within eight days shall be considered rebels and treated accordingly." The supply of food in the cities and towns was not sufficient to meet the wants of the "reconcentrados," as the people 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.
Weyler's inhumanity aroused the indignation of the civilized world. Euro- pean nations sent protests to Madrid, but they met with no response so far as mitigating conditions in Cuba were concerned. The people of the United States raised funds and sent relief to the reconcentrados, but in nearly every case the contributions were diverted into the hands of Weyler or his subordinates. Politi- cal conventions, commercial organizations and several of the state legislatures adopted ringing resolutions calling upon the Government of the United States to intervene in behalf of the oppressed Cubans. The platform upon which Wil- liam McKinley was elected President in 1896 declared that some action must be
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taken in the interests of humanity. When this became known in Havana, riots resulted, friends of Weyler going among the people and telling them that inter- vention of any kind by the United States meant the ultimate annexation of Cuba to that country.
During the year 1897 the United States took no decisive action, 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 Havana Harbor, the Spanish authorities having been notified by the United States consul the day before of the vessel's intended arrival. Previous to this time, the Spanish government had protested against the United States sending cruisers bearing supplies to the reconcentrados. It can easily be imagined therefore that 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 re- taliation, ordered the cruiser Vizcaya to New York. Thus matters stood until February 9, 1898, when the Spanish minister at Washington resigned his posi- tion and asked for his passports. His request was granted and Spain was with- out an official representative to the United States.
About half past nine o'clock on the evening of February 15, the Maine was blown up, with a total loss of the ship and 266 of her officers and men were either killed by the explosion or drowned while trying to reach the shore. A court of inquiry afterward reported that "there were two explosions of a distinctly dif- ferent character, with a short, but distinct interval between them, and the for- ward 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 excitement in the United States was increased by the destruction of the Maine, with its consequent loss of life, and the demands for intervention grew more insistent. Still the administration declined to yield to these demands, chiefly for the reason that General Weyler had been superseded by General Blanco, who issued a proclamation declaring a cessation of hostilities and an- nouncing that the reconcentrados would be permitted to return to their homes. Another reason for President McKinley's delay was that he was waiting for the decision of the court of inquiry that was investigating the cause of the Maine disaster. On March 8, 1898, Congress appropriated $50,000,000 for the national defense, and on the 28th the President sent a message to Congress, submitting the report of the court and "invoking the deliberate consideration" of Congress.
In the meantime it had been learned, through consular reports and other sources, that Blanco's promise to release the reconcentrados had been, and was being, systematically ignored. On the day following the submission to Congress of the court's decision, bills relating to Cuban affairs were introduced in both the Senate and the House of Representatives, and on the Ist of April a naval appropriation bill was passed. On the IIth of that month Mr. Mckinley sent another message to Congress, in which he used this language: "In the name of humanity, in the name of civilization, in behalf of endangered American inter- ests, which give us the right and duty to speak, the war in Cuba must stop. In view of these facts and these considerations, I ask Congress to authorize and
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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," etc.
Congress was prompt with its response. On the 13th the House of Repre- sentatives passed a resolution directing the President to intervene in Cuban af- fairs at once. The resolution was amended in the Senate, stronger language be- ing used, and on the 18th the House concurred. The resolutions as adopted on that date declared :
"I. 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 re- linquish 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 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."
On April 20, 1898, the Government of the United States presented its ulti- matum to Spain, demanding the relinquishment of Spanish authority in Cuba before noon of the 23d, and that the land and naval forces be withdrawn, in accordance with the second resolution. Spain refused to comply with these demands and Rear Admiral Sampson was ordered to blockade the Cuban ports. On the 23d President Mckinley issued his proclamation calling for 125,000 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."
Up to this time no formal declaration of war against Spain had been made, but on April 25, 1898, Congress enacted : "That war be, and the same is hereby, declared to exist, and that war has existed since the 21st day of April, 1898, in- cluding said day, between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain."
HOW IDAHO RESPONDED
On the same day that Congress formally declared war, telegrams were sent by the secretary of war to the governors of the several states advising them of the allotment of troops under the President's call for volunteers. The secretary 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 drilled, armed and equipped. As soon as Governor Steunenberg received this notice from the war department, he issued his orders for the companies composing the First Regiment to mobilize at Boise. Idaho's quota was two battalions of infantry of four companies each. As an example of how enlist- ment was encouraged, the Bunker Hill and Sullivan Mining Company offered $100 to each employe who enlisted, with a promise of employment upon his re-
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turn, and other companies in the state made similar offers. The companies mobilized at Boise as rapidly as transportation accommodations could be pro- vided and were mustered into the United States service in accordance with the President's call of April 23, 1898. The regimental organization was as follows:
FIELD AND STAFF
John W. Jones, lieutenant-colonel; Daniel W. Figgins and Edward McCon- ville, majors; Durbin L. Badley, sergeant-major; Louis N. Roos, adjutant ; James Graham, quartermaster; Harry C. Shellworth, quartermaster sergeant ; Jesse L. Conant, assistant surgeon with the rank of first lieutenant; Albert W. Reed, chief musician; George H. Maronheimer, principal musician; Fred D. Fenn, band sergeant; William D. Stephenson, chaplain. Several changes oc- curred in the field and staff during the service of the regiment. Lieutenant- Colonel Jones, a man of fine military attainments, had seen service as a colonel in the Confederate army during the Civil war and consequently was well along in years. He resigned on the recommendation of the surgeon and was succeeded by Capt. Thomas R. Hamer, who was mustered in as captain of Company E and who in turn was succeeded by Maj. Daniel W. Figgins. Marvin L. Gallagher succeeded James Graham as quartermaster, and T. M. Osborne succeeded Dur- bin L. Badley as sergeant-major. When Major Figgins was promoted to the command of the regiment, Capt. Frank A. Fenn, of Company H, was made major of the first battalion, and when Major McConville was killed on February 5, 1899, at the battle of Santa Ana, Capt. P. W. McRoberts, of Company A, was promoted to the vacancy. In the company rosters following are the names of all who were mustered into United States service at the formation of the regiment. Some of these men died in service, some were discharged before the regiment was mustered out, and a few were transferred to other commands.
COMPANY A
This company came chiefly from Canyon County and was mustered in with Phil W. McRoberts, captain; Henry J. Syms, first lieutenant ; George E. Steun- enberg, second lieutenant ; William H. Watson, first sergeant ; Willard C. Dyer, quartermaster sergeant ; Edward A. Martin, Frank Dement, Charles E. Peppard and Durbin L. Badley, sergeants; Jason W. Kelly, Arthur A. Brown, William B. Peppard, John C. Gaunt, Peter Gearhart and Morris E. Bruner, corporals ; Claude Hill and Howard R. Hill, musicians; Paul F. Graf, artificer ; Albert Hubner, wagoner.
Privates-Oskar Anderson, Charles W. Bechtol, Robert F. Beil, Silas W. Bernethy, Alfred H. Brainerd, John R. Berry, Robert Bonner, Charles O. Cobb, Bert Colvin, Ross J. Colvin, William G. Cottle, Harry F. Craig, William Dawn, Fred M. Dudley, Samuel J. Donaldson, John Dornen, James W. Farmer, George Farrell, Gus C. F. Fieseler, Herman Fuchs, Sidney C. Fuld, Percy W. George, Samuel D. Gilman, Henry Hacker, Silas P. Hagler, Barton S. Harris, Samuel A. Harris, William C. Hicinbothem, Fred Hofman, Asa C. Hylton, George W. Jackson, Jesse H. Jackson, Leslie Jones, Robert J. Kingston, Alonzo Lake, George W. Lee, Thomas McCaffrey, David McIlveen, Harry Mckinley, James Malloy, Wheeler H. Martin, Frank A. Morton, Benjamin F. Moore, James J. Mullalley, Thomas C. Napier, Arthur Pearson, Ralph Polker, William T. Rawl-
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HISTORY OF IDAHO
ings, Charles O. Renn, Harley E. Reynolds, Thomas G. Rutter, William E. Stull, John F. Swank, Wallace E. Tanner, James Taylor, Jesse Thompson, Fred Tucker, Herbert E. Van Housen, Alexander Vaughn, Charles Wilhelm, Fred Wilson, Ames D. Wooden.
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