USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 71
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favorable sanitary conditions was apparent in the unusually large number of men who were confined to the hospitals or sick in their quarters. The experience of this war showed clearly the almost total unpreparedness of the United States for an encounter with a Nation of any considerable military strength-a condition that was nothing less than criminal and that cost the lives of hundreds of our brave boys.
STARTING FOR HOME
On September 3d, the 32d broke camp at Fernandino, and entrained for Huntsville, Alabama, where it arrived at noon on the 5th. In the evening of that day, the regiment marched in a heavy downpour of rain to a camp just vacated by the Fifth Maryland Infantry at the foot of Monte Sano and occupied the tents they had left standing. The ex- posure incident to this march resulted in much additional sickness and the field hospitals were soon filled to overflowing. Some of the sick had been transferred from the field hospitals at Tampa and Fernandino to the general hospitals at Atlanta, Ft. Thomas, and other points, and on September 14th, a hospital train sent out by Governor Pingree ar- rived at Huntsville and took all of the Michigan men, who were seri- ously ill, among them Captain Hatch of Company D.
On September 17th, camp was again broken and the regiment en- trained, this time the objective point being Island Lake, Michigan, where it arrived on September 18th. Here the transfer and accounting for Federal property and equipment was accomplished, and on September 23d, Company "D" returned to Battle Creek, where it was given a hearty welcome by the home folks. Many of the boys were in extremely bad physical condition and a large number were cared for in Nichols Hospital at the expense of the city. The company had lost none of its members while in the south, in spite of the large percentage disabled by sickness, but congratulations on this score were of short duration, for on October 1st, Private Don Stevens died at Nichols Hospital and on October 16th, Private Roy B. North died at his home, both deaths re- sulting from typhoid fever contracted in the service of their country.
A furlough was granted all the members of the company and the month of October was occupied in preparations for muster out, which occurred on November 3, 1898.
Although by far the majority of those who served in the Spanish- American war from Calhoun county were members of Company "D," there were a considerable number who joined the Regular Army and saw service in either Cuba or the Philippines, prominent among these was Captain D. Edwin Lyle, who was graduated from West Point in the spring of 1898, and assigned to the 19th Infantry with the rank of second lieutenant. His regiment was ordered to the Philippines and par- ticipated in many engagements there under Generals Otis and Merritt. Captain Lyle died from disabilities contracted in the Philippine Cam- paign.
There were also some few Calhoun county boys enlisted in other regiments in the Volunteer Service, notable among them being Captain Richard Lockton, of Marshall, who was captain of Company K. 35th
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Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Captain Lockton was stricken with fever and died at his home in Marshall.
WELCOME HOME
Although Company "D" failed to get to Cuba and engage in active hostilities, its members and the people of their home county and cities have every reason to be proud of their record. It has been customary to belittle the services rendered by the soldiers of the Spanish-American war and they are often referred to as "feather bed soldiers." Nothing could be more unjust than this. They answered their country's call and by enlisting in the United States service showed their willingness to go wherever they were ordered and perform any service required of them, and this they did with cheerful and resolute spirit that won for them the praise and commendation of their superior officers. The lot of a soldier is at the best a hard one and in the fever camps of the south drilling and working in the boiling sun and drenching tropical rains, it was far from being the pleasant pastime that some appear to regard it. The boys of Company "D" did their full duty and that is the most that any man can do. Many of them contracted disabilities from which they will suffer as long as they live and, in fact, the lives of many will be materially shortened on account of their brief, but arduous service in the Spanish-American War.
On Sunday, November 13, 1898, a special service was held for the members of Company "D" at the Independent Congregational Church, Battle Creek, Michigan. Reverend Samuel J. Stewart, who had taken a keen interest in the local company, delivered a most eloquent address, using for his subject : "A Welcome Home and a Call to Higher Duty and Privilege." This sermon was afterwards published in pamphlet form by the members of the Company.
ROSTER OF COMPANY D
William M. Hatch, captain; Miles W. Ward, first lieutenant; Paul W. Geddes, second lieutenant; Charles G. Peters, first sergeant ; Syra E. Lewis, Q. M. sergeant ; D. P. Beach, second sergeant ; Eugene R. Cole, third sergeant ; Harry A. Hamilton, fourth sergeant; Melburn E. Truitt, fifth sergeant; Ralph R. Stewart, George N. Bliss, Ernest E. Wilbur, Clarence L. Cole, Orton G. Culver and Jay R. Snedeker, corporals ; Clarence S. Bartlett, musician ; Thomas C. Beanblossom, artificer ; Charles T. Crawford, wagoner; Harry S. Bidwell, musician.
Privates : George F. Ames, Albert Amy, Roy Adams, Walter M. Buechner, Charles F. Bacon, Frank O. Barton, William E. Bryant, Otis J. Cessna, Lewis R. Cope, Benjamin F. Chambers, Geo. F. Condon, Earl Cox, Wallace Carr, Henry C. Chase, David E. Calkins, Frank J. Carns, Benjamin Chapman, Geo. David, Frank J. Darrow, Walter W. Evans, Gilbert Erard, Edward H. Ellis, Frank L. Finch, Josiah N. Freeman, Fred H. Ferguson, Roscoe C. Free, Norman N. Geddes, William T. Grenier, Joseph F. Gregory, Orvie H. Gould, Albert M. Gilbert, John
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Grodevant, Fred H. Hamilton, Chas. A. Hamilton, Alexander II. IIynd- man, William H. Halladay, Jesse J. Iloles, Guy Jimerson, Claude C. Jones, John E. Jones, Harry P. Knibloe, William N. Kenzie, Nelson A. Kellogg, Lewis A. Kress, Loring Lane, Floyd Long, J. Roy Lewis, George Leth, Allen Marsh, Fred J. Martin, Eugene Munn, John M. MeClellan, Lewis R. McLeod, Elton L. Miller, Grant J. Miller, Thomas C. Morgan, Francis J. Murphy, Irwin I. Meck, Edwin Macomber, Edwin C. MePeake, Charles Mackinder, Roy B. North, Wilfred N. Nelson, William Nevans, Michael R. O'Malley, Fred B. Payne, Percy Pendleton, Lester Quigley, Stephen J. Rathbun, Allan C. Reed, Martin Sloan, Wil- liam Schmidt, Joseph G. Stewart, Fred H. Skinner, Fred T. Shaver, Reynolds Smith, Alexander L. Smith, Don Stevens, George S. Scoville, James Soules, Sylvenns A. Soules, Frank Sweet, Alfred M. Smith, Charles F. Scheifer, Sanny B. Vessey, Lewis F. Werstein, Glenn II. Wilder. John M. Wilder, Jesse F. Waldron, Alva W. Walton, Law- rence Warner, Charles J. Wooley, Harry W. Yager.
CAPTAIN D. E. W. LYLE
Captain D. Edwin W. Lyle was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on Novem- ber 28th, 1872. When eight years of age he came to Battle Creek, Michi- gan, graduating from our high school, the youngest member of his class, only a few months following his seventeenth birthday.
Before attaining his eighteenth year he was accorded the important position of superintendent of mail carriers in our post office department, which office he efficiently held for nearly four years, or until he was sum- moned to West Point, N. Y., to take examination for admission to the military academy at that plaee. Successfully passing he telegraphed his resignation to Postmaster W. H. Mason.
He remained four years at West Point, graduating therefrom on April 26th, 1898, just in time to engage in the Spanish-American War. Just three weeks following his graduation he was assigned to official duty in the 18th United States Regular Infantry, with which regiment he immediately sailed for the Philippine Islands. Under General Merritt he took active part in the seige and capture of Manila, being also present during the bombardment of Iloilo, the second largest city of the archi- pelago, being also upon the firing line, doing loyal duty for his country during the series of battles of February, 1899, in and around Manila.
In less than a year he was promoted from second to first lieutenant, less than fourteen months he received a captain's commission, being as- signed to the 37th regiment United States Volunteer Infantry, with which command he made an enviable record until the said regiment was mustered out of the service, its time having expired, when Captain Lyle returned to his own regiment, the 18th Regulars.
After a service of three years and three months in the Orient he returned to this country and was stationed at Fort Douglas, Utah, from which he was furloughed home to enjoy a much needed and well-earned respite from his arduous service ..
During his stay here he was transferred to the 14th regiment, sta- tioned at Fort Wayne, Detroit, where in March, 1902, he was, for dis-
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tinguished gallantry, recommended for promotion to the office of brevet major. From Fort Wayne he accompanied his regiment to Fort Brady, Sault Ste Marie.
As a further recognition of his soldierly qualities, he was, in Decem- ber, 1902, promoted to captain in the regular service. In April, 1903, he sailed for the second time for the Philippine Islands upon the official staff of the 27th Regulars, with which command he remained for eight months in and around Manila, from whence, owing to continual dis- ability he was in November invalided home. Arriving in this country he remained a few weeks in California. His health not improving he proceeded to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where he was under treatment in the United States Hospital for about three months, after which he returned to his boyhood home. After remaining here about three months he left to join his own company and regiment, the 27th Regulars then stationed at Fort Thomas, Kentucky. His health not improving, on the contrary becoming more and more precarious, he proceeded to Washing- ton, D. C., where under treatment in the government hospital he seemed at first to improve, but where, alas, death came suddenly from heart trouble, that organ for years having been the weakest physical point.
He was buried at West Point, 'neath the shadow of his Alma Mater, on historie ground, he too, having been actively engaged in making our country's glorious history.
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