USA > Indiana > A history of the National Guard of Indiana, from the beginning of the militia system in 1787 to the present time, including the services of Indiana troops in the war with Spain > Part 23
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Lieutenant Williams was commissioned February 16, 1900. The present roster is:
Sergeants-Coppage, Henry C .; Gerard, Earle; Henry, Claude L .; Moore, Walter A .; Stephens, William.
Corporals-Harrington, Harry; Spillman, Theodore; Tutt, Frederick. Privates-Black, William; Boraker, Isaiah; Brattain, Elijah; Brat- tain, Harry; Britton, Walter, Jr., Burroughs, Frank; Caldwell, Harvey; Clements, Charles; Cox, L .; Cox, Ralph; Cunningham, Ira; Davidson, Edward H .; Davis, Walter; Dobson, Joseph; Elkins, Albert H .; Esra, Bert; Esra, Frank; Evans, Walter; Foreman, Frank; Frier, Bert; Hastaday, William; Heath, James N .; Hughes, Charles R .; Jones, El- mer; Jones, Paul; Kepler, Fred; Kinsey, Charles; Macey, Richard; Michael, Elmer J .; Miller, Harvey; Mitchell, Frank; McDonald, Earl; McDonald, Herbert; Nutt, Howard; Peare, George A .; Arnbaum, Ben; Regan, John; Reese, John; Sering, Jack; Shular, Earl; Tinsley, Lucius; Tomlinson, Ernest; Werliner, Bert; Werliner, Frank; Wert, Fred G .; Woodworth, Will; Zackary, Thomas J.
Company I, of Tipton, was organized April 25, 1898, just previous to the war with Spain, through the efforts of George Dyer and J. H. Barlow. It was first assigned to the Second Regiment as Company K, and later to the Fourth as Com- pany I. The officers commissioned were Captain George Dyer, First Lieutenant Robert Van Buskirk and Second Lieutenant George Knee. Captain Dyer resigned November 19, 1898, and each of the lieutenants were promoted. Sergeant J. H. Barlow was then elected second lieutenant, and so commissioned on November 30. The company served through the war with the regiment and was mustered out April 25, 1899.
The present company is largely due to the efforts of Captain Barlow, who took up the work of reorganization in less than a year. He was somewhat handicapped, as others had made unsuccessful efforts to organize a company. He was elected captain, and Harry Phares, who had served through the war as corporal, was elected first lieutenant. William McCreary, who had served as private and musician during the war, was elected second lieutenant.
The company was received into State service March 23, 1900, and was assigned to the Third Regiment with its pres- ent letter. It has a large armory and is able to maintain
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itself without assessment. It has had but one call since re- organization, having been ordered to the armory March 4, 1901.
The present roster is:
First Sergeant-Nelson, William.
Sergeants-Watson, Frank E .; Matthews, Otto K .; Furvy, Clen; Bennett, Frank; Hutchins, Harry.
Corporals-Kinder, Robert; Kitzmiller, Edward; Lane, Hallie; Con- ley, Charles; Partlow, Monroe.
Musician-Teter, Sam E.
Cook-Miller, Frank.
Privates-Bates, Clyde; Bowlin, Frederick E .; Campbell, Guy L .; Doty, Oscar; Foster, James I .; Frazer, Orville; Hertle, Isaac; Hilligoss, Arthur; Hilligoss, Orlean; Hopp, Fred; Hughes, Ben; Hughes, Otto; Jones, Richard T .; Jarrett, William A .; Johnson, James M .; Kirber, John; Ludwig, Charles; Lindsey, Lewis; Mahan, James M .; Moore, Walter; McEntee. John H .; McLucas, Fred E .; Nelson, Frank H .; O'Banion, Fred M .; Propst, Harry; Peetz, Herman; Porter, Albert C .; Porter, Spencer A .; Partlow, John C .; Richardson, Ora; Ridley, Caleb B .; Seright, Dilver; Showhan, Joseph E .; Smith, Alphus; Shupard, Charles; Smith, William H .; Staum, Arthur; Teter, Pearl W .; Teter, Ralph; Watson. Carl; Wilson, C. Perry; Wilcox, Lloyd.
MAJOR A. B. SCHANZ ATTICA COMMANDING THE FIRST ARTILLERY
CHAPTER IX.
THE FIRST ARTILLERY.
The First Regiment of Light Artillery was organized No- vember 22, 1882, with five companies, and headquarters were established in Indianapolis. The artillery has been promi- nent in the State military service, and the fame of Indiana military organizations has been spread through the country more by organizations of this branch than of any other. When first organized the regiment was 194 strong, and the companies were equipped with five two-pound bronze cannon, four rifled cannon and two Gatling guns. By 1884 it had grown to eight batteries, a number that was maintained until 1886 when its strength was 422 officers and men.
In 1888 the headquarters were moved to Elkhart, and the strength of the regiment was 233 officers and men. In 1889 it was reduced to a battalion, and the headquarters were moved to Michigan City, but its strength remained at 212 men. A number of the small squads were disbanded, and there was a concentration of effort towards the organization of complete batteries. At this time the batteries had five 3-inch Rodman guns and four 12-pound brass cannon.
In 1891 the regiment reached a strength of 317 officers and men, and the headquarters were moved to Indianapolis the following year, when 206 officers and men constituted its strength. Captain J. B. Curtis, of Battery A, was in com- mand from this time until Batteries A and B entered the United States service for the war with Spain.
The battalion was reorganized July 6, 1900, and the pres- ent commanding officers appointed. The general officers since its organization and dates of commissions were:
REGIMENTAL.
Colonels-Eli Lilly, of Indianapolis, November 22, 1882; Joseph A. Closser, of Indianapolis, November 25, 1884; C. G. Conn, of Elkhart, April 18, 1888.
Lieutenant-Colonels-Joseph A. Closser, of Indianapolis, November 22, 1882; George W. Johnston, of Indianapolis, November 25, 1884.
Majors-H. H. Wood, of Michigan City, November 22, 1882; George W. Johnston, of Indianapolis, August 13, 1884; W. D. Stansifer, of Columbus, November 25, 1884.
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Surgeons-J. R. Bigelow, of Indianapolis, April 28, 1883; W. H. Lopp, of Columbus, June 16, 1886.
Assistant Surgeons-W. H. Lopp, of Columbus, June 8, 1883; Wil- liam Wands, of Indianapolis, November 25, 1884; D. A. Thompson, of Indianapolis, September 30, 1887.
Adjutants-Irvin Robbins, of Indianapolis, December 15, 1882; J. S. Dodge, of Elkhart, April 18, 1888.
Quartermaster-S. K. Fletcher, of Indianapolis, December 15, 1882. Judge Advocate-John R. Wilson, of Indianapolis, December 15, 1882.
Paymaster-Harris P. Wetsell, of Indianapolis, December 19, 1882.
BATTALION ORGANIZATION.
Majors -- H. H. Woods, of Michigan City, November 22, 1882; James B. Curtis, of Indianapolis, captain commanding; Alfred B. Schanz, of Attica, July 6, 1900.
Assistant Surgeons -- R. W. Garstang, of Indianapolis, December 9, 1896.
Adjutants-Daniel A. Thompson, of Indianapolis, September 9, 1889; Thomas A. Winterrowd, of Indianapolis, July 1, 1896; Robert T. Oliver, of Indianapolis. July 13, 1900; Raymond P. Van Camp, March 26, 1901.
Quartermasters-Joseph C. Willard, of Ft. Wayne, September 9, 1889; Bert B. Adams, of Indianapolis, July 7, 1892; Raymond P. Van Camp, of Indianapolis, July 13, 1900; Wm. Garrard Comly, of Indianap- olis, April 19, 1901.
Commissary-Ernest H. Burford, of Indianapolis, March 26, 1901.
The batteries which have composed the membership are:
1882-A, Indianapolis; B, Michigan City; C, Terre Haute; D, Butler; E, Columbus.
1884-A, Indianapolis; B, Michigan City: C, Terre Haute; D, Butler; E, Columbus; F, Rockville; G, Attica; H, Elkhart.
1886-A, Indianapolis; B, Elkhart: C, Lafayette; D, Rockville; G, Attica; H, Peru; I, Ft. Wayne; K, Elkhart; L, Peru.
1888-A, Indianapolis; B, Elkhart; C, Rockville; D, Attica; G, Ft. Wayne; I, Peru; K, Peru.
1889 -- A, Indianapolis: B, Elkhart; C, Rockville; D, Attica; E, Ft. Wayne.
1890-A, Indianapolis; C, Rockville; E, Ft. Wayne.
1891-A, Indianapolis; C, Rockville; E, Ft. Wayne.
1892 -- A, Indianapolis; C, Rockville; E, Ft. Wayne.
1893-A, Indianapolis; C, Rockville; E, Ft. Wayne.
1894-A. Indianapolis; C, Rockville; E, Ft. Wayne.
1895-A, Indianapolis; C, Rockville; E, Ft. Wayne.
1896-A, Indianapolis; C, Rockville; E, Ft. Wayne.
1897-A, Indianapolis; E, Ft. Wayne; Dana, unassigned.
1898-A, Indianapolis; C, Dana; E, Ft. Wayne.
1899 -- A, Indianapolis; C, Attica.
1900-A, Indianapolis; B, Ft. Wayne; C, Attica.
The present major commanding the battalion, Alfred B. Schanz, of Attica, first entered military life in Battery B, Sec- ond Brigade, National Guard of Pennsylvania, as a trum- peter. He enlisted at Pittsburg, May 25, 1884, and was pro- moted until by October 1. 1987, he was first sergeant. On
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that date he was discharged at Mt. Gretna, Pa., on account of his removal to New York State. In 1890-91, Major Schanz was the leader of the Leslie Exploring Expedition through Alaska. He held special commissions with the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey and in the eleventh United States census as expert for the Nushagak district. The expedition traveled through the wilderness by every possible method of progress-packing, rafting, skin-canoeing, dog-sledging and snow-shoeing-over 6,000 miles in thirteen months. The en- tire route was mapped and many important geographical dis- coveries were made.
In 1894 Major Schanz removed to Indiana and located at Indiana Mineral Springs, near Attica. In April, 1898, after the declaration of war with Spain, he organized the Attica Light Artillery and recruited over two hundred men for service, but the battery was unable to have an opportunity to serve. The entire battery was organized, uniformed and equipped without expense to the State, as the result of efforts made by Major Schanz. A practice march was made to La- fayette, where camp was established for drill and instruc- tion. It was named "Camp Wilson" for Colonel Charles E. Wilson, of Lafayette, at that time military secretary to Gov- ernor Mount.
The battery was mustered into State service June 20, 1899, and assigned as Battery C. On July 6, 1900, when the battalion was reorganized, Captain Schanz was promoted major.
Dr. Reginald W. Garstang, assistant surgeon of the bat- talion, was appointed to his present position with the rank of captain, December 8, 1896. He served in that capacity until the outbreak of the war with Spain, when he was mustered into the United States service with the One-hundred-and fifty-seventh Indiana Volunteer Infantry as assistant sur- geon. He accompanied the regiment to Chickamauga Park, Georgia, and thence to Port Tampa City, Florida, at which place he was detached and assigned to duty at the hospital of the Third Division, Fifth Army Corps. When orders were issued to move all troops from Tampa and Port Tampa City to Fernandina, Florida, Dr. Garstang was placed in charge of the Ambulance Corps of the Second and Third divisions, and preceded the troops to Fernandina in order to establish hospital arrangements. He remained with these organiza- tions until August 31, 1898, when he was returned to his regi- ment and accompanied it home. He was reappointed to his
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former position when the Artillery Battalion was re- organized.
Raymond P. Van Camp, of Indianapolis, adjutant of the battalion, first entered the service as a private in Battery A, April 11, 1898. He entered United States service with the battery, and was appointed wagoner on July 1, 1898. He served with the battery through the war and was on the firing line on San Juan road, Porto Rico, when the news of the peace protocol having been signed was received. He was mustered out with the battery November 25. He was ap- pointed first lieutenant and quartermaster of the battalion July 17, 1900, and adjutant March 26, 1901.
William Gerrard Comly of Indianapolis was appointed quartermaster, with the rank of first lieutenant, on April 19, 1901. He was born in San Antonio, Texas, and graduated from Yale University in 1893. He located in Indianapolis in 1895, and is secretary and treasurer of the Varney Electrical Supply Company.
Ernest H. Burford, of Indianapolis, was appointed com- missary, with the rank of first lieutenant, on March 26, 1901.
The battalion today consists of three batteries-A, the Indianapolis Light Artillery; B, of Ft. Wayne, and C, of Attica.
THE INDIANAPOLIS LIGHT ARTILLERY.
BY CAPT. J. B. CURTIS.
In August, 1882, a half dozen young men held a meeting at the Denison House, where they discussed the feasibility of organizing a single section of artillery. This meeting was attended by Harry Allen, afterwards first sergeant; Lewis Cooper, afterward gun corporal of the prize section; Edward Miller, afterwards sergeant and member of the famous drill team; Frederick Dietrichs, afterwards known as "the best No. 1 in the United States"; Leslie Richardson, Charles H. New and James B. Curtis, afterwards captain and for seven- teen years drill master of the famous championship team. Their interest in battery work had been aroused by a com- petitive drill held in Indianapolis in July. At that drill many of the famous companies of the country were pitted against one another and the contest was a most interesting one. Im- mediately thereafter several military companies were organ- ized in Indianapolis, but the Light Artillery is the only one which has survived. The first meeting was soon followed by others, and within less than two months, as a result thereof,
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an entire battery was sworn into the Indiana Legion, under command of George W. Johnston. With the exception of Captain Johnston. the members averaged about twenty-one years of age. As a result, their work was begun with youth- ful enthusiasm, which was fortunately retained as the years advanced. While sworn into the service as Battery A, the organization was also incorporated and became popularly known as the "Indianapolis Light Artillery."
Another contest was announced shortly after the organi- zation of the battery, to occur during the following summer, and the services of Lieutenant Hamilton, U. S. A., were se- cured as an instructor. He proved to be a most painstaking and efficient officer, as a result of which the primary work of the battery was begun upon a proper basis. It had made such progress in drill by the spring of 1883 that it entered in four classes of the contests for prizes at the encampment of that year, in each of which it won, which was a powerful incentive to the members, giving the organization an unusual strength for a new one.
In the spring of 1884 the battery was challenged by the Cincinnati Light Artillery for a contest. The meeting took place at Richmond, where a clean victory was scored, the Cin- cinnati artillerymen falling behind twenty per cent. Just after that drill Captain Johnston resigned and was suc- ceeded by Lieutenant Curtis, who had begun his career with the battery as a private, and who had commanded "the team" in all the victorious drills. After this victory effort was made to procure an armory as the private property of the organization, and one was completed in March, 1885. Work was at once begun for the great Southern drills announced for May. After six weeks of preparation, the battery went to Mobile to compete with all the famous artillery organiza- tions of the country. There it met its first reverse, which was due to an unfortunate accident. After the drill was more than two-thirds completed in a faultless manner, it was found that the cartridges were too large and the cannon could not be loaded, which made it impossible for it to com- plete the work in this contest. Notwithstanding this unfor- tunate result, the battery went to New Orleans the following week, where it met all its Mobile competitors, in addition to others. in a contest for the Cotton Centennial Medal and cash prizes offered by the Cotton Exposition directors. The other competitors seemed to feel that the battery was out- classed on account of its misfortune at Mobile, but they were doomed to disappointment, as the Mobile prize would un-
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doubtedly have gone to this battery except purely for an accident, which was not appreciated by these competitors. The battery captured the cash prize at New Orleans, and the beautiful Cotton Centennial Championship Medal was awarded to Captain Curtis for making the highest score of any officer in the drill. This victory, of course, at once put the organization at the top of the list of batteries in the country, as it was the first time the famous New Orleans batteries, and especially the Washington Artillery, with its proud record, had been defeated in a contest where no objec- tion could be made.
In 1886 the battery entered three drills at the Lafayette contest and won first prize in each. It is claimed that no other company of any class, in the United States, ever made a similar record in one week, and this statement is thought to be true.
In 1887 the great National Encampment at Washington was announced. The members of the battery had been look- ing forward to a visit to the capital and were naturally en- thusiastic. All other previous drills had been in the "man- ual of the piece, mechanical maneuvers and foot move- ments." As a result, their ardor was somewhat dampened when it was announced that the Washington drill would be a mounted one. The battery had no horses of its own, but was soon at work, and appeared upon the drill field at Wash- ington in magnificent condition, where its competitors were easily swept from the field before it, and it received first prize at the hands of General Sheridan, in addition to another medal for the captain. The Washington drill became a his- torical one and added much to the reputation of the battery, as more than forty crack military organizations participated, coming from every part of the United States.
At Nashville, in 1888, the battery again appeared in the South to meet the organizations of that section. That drill was one of great perfection on the part of all companies, but victory once more perched upon the Indianapolis banners. This was the last contest in which the New Orleans batteries appeared against the battery, and after it was announced that first prize had again gone to Indianapolis, Captain Thompson, of the Louisville Field Artillery, stated that he would follow them no farther, as they seemed invincible. However, a new Southern organization took up the effort to wrest the laurels from the battery. The Dallas (Tex.) bat- tery had appeared at Nashville, and notwithstanding its de- feat, it entered the lists at Kansas City in 1890, where the
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Indianapolis battery appeared in new territory and before an entirely new set of United States army officers for judges. Its work, however, on this occasion was so absolutely perfect and superior, that it easily took first prize, and there was not even a murmur from the Dallas, St. Louis, Kansas City and other batteries which engaged in the contest.
Having up to this time won thirteen prizes and visited many cities in different parts of the country, the organization felt it to be its duty to, entertain the famous companies of the country at Indianapolis, and announced that it would man- age a prize drill in 1891, in which it would take no part, so as to leave the fight open to the visitors. This drill was the most successful one ever given in the country, not only in a financial sense, but because all the companies departed for their homes after the prizes were awarded without the usual "kick" that so often followed the announcement of the result. The judges on this occasion had been most carefully selected by Captain Curtis, after mature deliberation, and as a result of his experience and personal knowledge of a large number of army officers. The board was composed of Lieutenants Birkheimer, Rumbough and Campbell, all of the Third United States Artillery. Forty military companies participated in this encampment, four of them coming from Texas; and on this occasion, with the Indianapolis Battery not in the con- test, the Dallas (Tex.) Battery won first prize, Rockville (Ind.) second, and Danville (Ill.) third.
In 1892 the battery again appeared in the West, partici- pating in a contest at Omaha, Nebraska, which was indeed a very sharp one, as the Dallas Battery, encouraged by its vic- tory of the year previous, when the Indianapolis Battery was not in, had set its heart upon defeating the old time cham- pions. In this, however. they were doomed to disappoint- ment, as the announcement of the judges awarded first prize to the Indianapolis Battery and gave to it the highest score which had ever been recorded in a drill contest.
In 1894 the battery once more turned its face to the South, and at Little Rock met many of its old time competi- tors, including the Dallas team, where the contest was sharp but decisive in favor of the Indiana Battery, which again was awarded first prize. This contest, like many of those in the Southern cities, as well as the one at Indianapolis, was made exceedingly interesting on account of the attendance of the beautiful Sponsors and Maids of Honor, upon the drill, which, of course, inspired the various organizations to their best
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work. The chivalry and beauty of the South made these con- tests, when they were being held so frequently, most inter- esting. They were especially enjoyed by the Indianapolis Battery, as it was the only Northern military company which continuously attended every great drill in the South to which it was invited. It was always free from any of the alleged jealousy which is said to exist against Northern com- panies, and never had reason to complain of its treatment in any Southern city. On the other hand, it was overwhelmed with evidences of good will and friendship on every hand.
In 1895 one of the greatest drills ever announced was taken in charge by the St. Louis Fair Association, which had made a success of so many public enterprises in the city of St. Louis. The prizes hung up were the largest ever offered. As a result the preparation was unusually complete and every company participating was upon its mettle. Notwith- standing this fact, the judges once more awarded first prize to the Indianapolis Battery, second prize on this occasion going to Rockville, and Dallas, which had so many years been upon the heels of the "pride of Indiana," got only third. At this drill second prize was won by an Indiana battery, as just stated, going to the Rockville Battery, which had for years watched with great interest and longing eyes the progress of the battery at the Capital City and taken it as a model for its work.
In 1896 the battery appeared at Savannah, Georgia, at the beautiful May Festival and Military Contest held in that city. As a result of the continuous successes of the Indian- apolis Battery, no contestant could be procured, and the money set aside for artillery was given to the Indianapolis Battery by default, it, however, giving daily exhibition drills for the benefit of the management and audiences. This prac- tically closed the competition work of the battery. While its continuous successes had been a source of unalloyed satis- faction, yet they had practically brought to an end competi- tion. It had met and vanquished in a dozen different sections of the country all of the crack organizations of its class. Its victories had really been too continuous for the good of com- petitive drills, as no organization could any longer be induced to drill against it. With this important class out, it was practically impossible to make a success of competitive drills in other classes. One was announced for St. Louis later, but the announcements were afterwards withdrawn. Artillery, of course, is one of the picturesque features of any drill field, and without it success can hardly be expected.
USK XX
1 2
LIEUT. F. A. SWAN LIEUT. C. H. DUNLOP CAPT. H. A. CALLON LIEUT. W. W. HEISKELL COMMISSARY E. H. BURFORD
ADJ. R. P. VAN CAMP
W. G. COMLY. Q. M.
OFFICERS OF FIRST ARTILLERY
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From 1885 until 1900 the "drill team" held itself in con- stant readiness to meet any challenge, and was continuously under the supervision of Captain James B. Curtis, who had been twice promoted and commissioned as a colonel and three times offered the majority of his regiment during that period, but who declined in order to remain with the organization with which his military record was made. No other company in the United States can show a continuous record of entry to all contests to which it was invited for fifteen years and the winning of eighteen prizes. The record easily marks the Indianapolis Light Artillery as the champion military com- pany of the United States. The result attained is due very largely to the personnel of the organization and the esprit de corps brought about to a large extent by its very early suc- cesses. Another reason for the success of the organization is the fact that it changed officers so seldom. Captain John- ston, who was a veteran of the Civil War, retired in less than two years after the organization of the battery, and was suc- ceeded by Captain James B. Curtis, who continued in com- mand until September 25, 1900, having been captain of the battery over sixteen years and having always had charge of the preparation of the men for the contests and command of the "drill team" in competition. At the date just men- tioned, when his services as commander of the battery termi- nated, the following order was issued:
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