USA > New York > The first hundred years : records and reminiscences of a century of Company I, Seventh Regiment, N.G.N.Y., 1838-1938 > Part 30
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Of course it would be a comparatively simple matter to spend large amounts on triviali- ties and supposed luxuries for the Company, but frankly the men do not expect these things and they are such good sports they feel that to permit the Veterans to spend their money in this manner would be an imposition. When we first arrived here there were many things, such as lumber, brick, cement, kitchen utensils, and various other homely articles which we felt the need of, but were not available for issue at the time. They were not exactly essential to our life here, but the proper use of them has added materially to the comfort of everyone. Therefore, it is for such things as these that we have spent the generous amounts of money sent to us. Furthermore, the men have become such darn good soldiers that they really prefer to play the game exactly in accordance with the rules. Please do not construe this to mean that the generous action of you Veterans has not been appreciated to the utmost degree. In fact, it is because of your generosity and willingness
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THE START OF THE WORLD WAR
-
Company I camp on the river at Madero
to pamper us that the men have arrived at the conclusion that it would be an imposition to permit you to do it.
It is true that some of the Companies have spent as much as $1,500 since their arrival here, but they have not fared a bit better than we have and have absolutely nothing to show for the expenditure, except an unusually large number of men in the hospital.
There is a way, however, in which you Veterans can be of real service upon the return of the Company to New York. I fear that several of the men will find themselves without positions, owing to the fact that their employers have become disgruntled and have refused to live up to the promise to continue to pay them and retain their positions pending their return. I believe Lieutenant Nichols spoke to you about this when he was in New York, so it will be a waste of your time to go into it in great detail. Briefly, however, if you Veterans will organize with the idea of trying to help these men secure positions when they return and, in case of need, render them some temporary financial assistance, I believe that you will have been of far greater service than you could possibly be by just supplying us with money at the present time. We may find it necessary to call upon you again for some small financial assistance, but I do not anticipate having to do so unless we are retained here longer than all of us hope and expect at the present moment. If I at any time learn, prior to our return to New York, of specific cases that will require help in the way of positions, I will inform you at once so that work may be started along the lines suggested. I have already managed to secure a position for one of the men in the Company, whose employer became highly indignant with the Government because of its handling of the military situation and, in order to show his opposition, discontinued the man's pay and informed him that his position had already been filled. Of course, the man in question was not to blame for the action of the Government, yet his employer insisted upon making him the only sufferer. However, this proved to be a blessing in disguise to the man concerned, because the position which I have secured for him is much better than the one he had before and will pay him a salary fifty per cent greater than that which he was receiving.
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
Being in such intimate touch with the men of the Company as I have been for the past four months, I may be a bit prejudiced in their favor in feeling that they are entitled to every possible consideration on the part of the firms and corporations by whom they are employed, for if there ever existed a bunch of red-blooded, real men, the crowd that now constitutes the enlisted personnel of Company I is certainly "it." If I could only be present at your meeting and convey to you Veterans, even in a minor degree, the feeling of admira- tion, respect and personal affection that I have for every mother's son of the old Ninth Company, I am sure that there is not one of you who would not be willing to give them your shirt. Really they are superb and to speak of them without using every superlative in the dictionary is an exceedingly difficult task for me. And the beauty of it is that not one of them is of the opinion that he had done more than what is naturally expected of a Com- pany I man. Really the spirit they have shown at all times is the most inspiring thing I have ever encountered, so I wish you would say to the Veterans for me that the men of the Company without exception have made good in exactly the way you would wish them to. Also accept with all the sincerity which we individually and collectively can command our appreciation of the splendid interest in our welfare that you have manifested so delightfully at all times and in so many ways.
We send you our greetings freighted with the personal affection of every one of us and, whether our stay here be long or short, one of the pleasures we look forward to with the keenest anticipation is the opportunity to renew our relations with you upon our return.
Here's to the Veterans of Company I, and though we drink your health in grape juice, we feel an exhilaration far greater than most people could even though it were done with vintage wine.
Good-bye and God-bless-you for every one of you from every one of us.
Most sincerely and cordially yours, WADE H. HAYES
The principal event of the month was the field-firing exercise, at La Gloria, in which the Company got a figure of merit of 35.17, the second best in the Regiment and, so far as records have been given out, the second best in the New York Division. We marched to the range in two days instead of the four required on the Long Hike, spending the intervening night at Alton. Alton was held in force by an army of red ants who made sleep impossible. Francis de Raismes and Elihu Church managed to live through the night by keeping con- stantly in motion, while Bert Hemingway got a little rest after moving his bunk to the railroad tracks.
At La Gloria a Texas deluge, coming in the middle of the night, converted the camp ground into a series of lakes, showed up a thousand new leaks in each shelter half and brought cries of distress from Kinney and Prouty which lasted until morning. Charlie Cattus, who scorned the protection of a tent and slept in the open, took up permanent quarters beside the cook fire.
Another great event of the month was the "I" Company Privates' Ball at McAllen on October 5. Lyle Ray and Bill Chapman, constituting the committee in charge, provided the refreshments and engaged the Knights of Pythias Hall which was especially decorated for the occasion. Twenty-five men from the Company and twenty young ladies from McAllen were present. Galbreath and his partner, however, preferred the fire-escape balcony to the dance hall. Bill Prentiss and Jack Freeman tried to monopolize the attention of the young lady who manages the curio shop, while little Floyd Neely simulated a shadow for a tall blonde. Jimmy Kerr, all smiles, dashed across the hall to claim his
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partner, but like the good soldier that he is, came to an abrupt halt on signal from his superior officer. "Kitty" Hoge was also much in evidence, especially when anyone else attempted to dance with his partner. The affair was a great success and was mentioned in the local papers as the opening of the social season.
A soccer ball appeared in the Company street a few days ago and, under the direction of Ed Morris, two teams were soon formed and a game started which lasted nearly all day. Klupfel and Ransome showed the most energy, but the ball somehow stayed, most of the time, with Thayer Iaccaci who has played the game in Europe.
It is possible to drive through the rear end of a shelter tent, even when it is completely buttoned, in a small fraction of a second. At least Turner can do that when a snake enters at the other end.
The President has notified a freight conductor at Sterling's that he does not intend to order any more troop movements for some time. This is not a rumor. Spalding and Cutler got the information direct from the conductor.
It is bad enough to have Bill Eastman's collection of strange bugs forever present, but when Nick Dunning started keeping a pet live rattlesnake in a box under his cot the neighbors kicked and now nothing but the skin is left.
hould auld acquaintance be furloughed to the reserve?
6
NY.INF OFFICERS'GET TOGETHER DINNER AT THE
SEVENTH REGIMENT OFFICERS' MESS M'Allen . Texas. Friday . Nov. 341 1916
What are the bugles blowing for?" 'Said Files on parade. To lun you out. to turn you out". the Seventh sergeant said But what's the rumpus all about ?" said Files on parade "The og the by" the seventh"sergeant said. For we're dining of their coronel and their field and staff, they say, Their captains and liftinants are to be our Quests loday They've brought along their non coms loo. with our non coms to play , For we're dining Danny Huskell in the evening
MENU
GRAPE FRUIT
SOUP, BISQUE OF TOMATO
CELERY STUFFED OLIVES ROAST BEEF
MASHED POTATOES LIMA BEANS SALMON SALAD
ICE CREAM CAKE
ORANGES
APPLES BANANAS
CIG 40S
COFFEE CIGALLETTES
When the Seventh entertained the Sixty-ninth at dinner, McAllen, 1916
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
Burdick, Ralph, Galbreath and Prouty, having tried their luck at drilling the Company and got away with it in a manner which surprised everyone, have gone to Mercedes to take the examination for reserve officers.
The completion of the regimental tennis courts has provided amusement for Percy Hall, Jimmy Kerr, Paul Treanor and others during that part of the day when it is too hot to work !
Hunting has become a favorite amusement with several of the men. Charlie Schumacher goes forth with a shotgun every day and returns with a strange assortment of birds varying in size from mere insects to small ducks. Holt, Cat- tus, Eastman and Pruitt are also helping to make the surrounding country dangerous to walk in.
The following promotions have taken place during the month: Corporal Hawkins to be Sergeant, Privates Burdick and Talbot to be Corporals, and Privates Vogel, Ralph, Holt, Cutler and Ross to be First-class Privates.
The Company has also been fortunate in regaining Lieutenant Nichols who has been on leave and Lieutenant Grant who has been on recruiting duty.
-C. H. FLOYD
ORDERED HOME
McAllen and the Border were not popular with the men of the Ninth Com- pany or of any of the other companies in the New York Division. We had suffered real hardships. We had almost forgotten many of the things which had formerly been among the necessities of life. Some had broken down physi- cally and been sent home. Dysentery and other diseases had taken a few lives. We had most of us lost more weight than we could well spare and, after five months in Texas, we were heartily tired of it.
The rumors which are always floating about an army encampment nearly all had to do with going home. The Regimental Supply Sergeant called over to Company A, "Come and get your meat." This was passed from Company to Company and by the time it reached Company I it had somehow been changed into "We are going home next week." This travelled back to "A" Company amid enthusiastic cheering. Everything must have an end, however, and finally the order to return to New York did come. No one would believe it after so many false alarms until Captain Hayes assembled the Company and read the order. A wild celebration broke out, but the necessity of packing up restored the usual decorum of Company I and everyone worked with en- thusiasm.
The last day in McAllen-Wednesday, November 22-the Regiment marched by Companies to the corresponding units of the 69th New York where we were feasted and entertained in a way which the 7th Regiment should never forget. Our hosts of the fine old Regiment, in spite of their own disappointment at be- ing left behind, left no stone unturned to give us a royal send-off.
The journey home was much like the journey down except for the lack of reception committees and cheering citizens along the way. In New York, how- ever, the Regiment was escorted by the Veterans of the 7th through streets
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THE START OF THE WORLD WAR
filled with an applauding multitude, back to the Armory from which we emerged once more, on December 2, as private citizens, free from Army dis- cipline, free to do what we pleased. It was a grand and glorious feeling.
-C. H. F.
BACK FROM THE CACTUS AND THE BUGS
December 20, 1916 The Officers and men of Company I, 7th Infantry, N.Y., who have been on the Border for the past five months, have made a splendid record, and it is only right that we Veterans should let these men know how much we appreciate their good work and the sacrifices which they have made in answering the call of duty. With this in view, it has been proposed by many of the Veterans that we tender to the Active Company a dinner at Hotel McAlpin on Saturday night, January 13, 1917, at 7 o'clock p.m., as an expression of our appreciation of their wonderful record on the Border, and the new lustre they have added to the dear old Company. As they are to be our guests, and we expect one hundred per cent present, it will be necessary to make a charge for the dinner of ten dollars a plate. We sincerely hope that you can be present with us, so that they can see that we stay-at- homes are behind those who are carrying the load for all of us at the front. We also hope that you can be with us to renew the old friendships, as the Veteran Dinner will not be held this year.
Captain Hayes has consented to tell us of what Company I has done at McAllen, Tex., which will undoubtedly interest us all, and possibly pictures of military life on the Border will be shown, followed by a good cabaret show.
We want to give the boys a rousing good time, and one which they will long remember, but to do this, it is necessary for the Committee to be assured of a large attendance of Veterans.
Kindly state on enclosed postal, whether you will be present or not, and if you will, please send your subscription to Colonel B. B. McAlpin, Hotel McAlpin, New York City.
Dinner Committee,
COLONEL BENJ. B. McALPIN CAPTAIN F. W. HUBBY, JR. MR. E. C. DENISON MR. STANLEY FOSTER MR. T. HAYES GEE SERGEANT F. L. GOULD.
* X
At the Welcome Home dinner on January 13 the Veterans presented a silver etched cigarette box to Captain Wade Hayes and to each of the returning rank and file a fine silver-mounted swagger stick engraved "I," "7" "Texas-1916" with the recipient's initials.
ROSTER OF COMPANY I ON LEAVING FOR THE BORDER, JUNE 1916
Captain W. H. Hayes; First Lieutenant G. P. Nichols; First Sergeant P. M. Hall; Mess Sergeant G. F. Miles; Supply Sergeant W. H. Abbott; Sergeants W. G. Lush, F. L. Gould, E. C. Church, G. O. Carleton, A. N. Milne, A. C. Sherman; Corporals E. M. Hawkins, H. W. Durham, J. C. Smillie, H. C. Hemingway, W. Eastman, H. O. Clayberger, C. H. Floyd, E. H. Morris, B. Osterhout, J. S. Roberts, H. M. Graham; Mechanic E. B. Curtis; Cooks G. N. Stanton, G. H. Crofton; First Class Privates S. C. Baldwin, H. H. Burdick, F. G. Burgoyne, C. B. Cattus, B. R. Coudert, E. V. D. Cox, Jr., F. E. de Raismes, T. R. Dolan, R. D. Grout, C. C. Headley, C. L. Jellinghaus, R. W. Kluepfel, S. M. F. Peters, K. V. Preston, R. S. Rose, W. M. Sperry, II, A. Talbot, P. L. Treanor, J. D. Walsh; Privates P. E. Aldrich, J. N. Anhut, H. Booth, F. H. Brown, W. C. Chapman, W. I.
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY 1
Clayton, W. C. Compton, S. Cutler, H. N. Dunning, Jr., J. C. Freeman, W. G. Freeman, T. M. Galbreath, Jr., P. Garey, W. Greer, Jr., R. E. Gilson, J. B. P. Green, E. Harrah, E. Le R. M. Holt, M. R. Houston, P. T. Iaccaci, T. Iaccaci, E. Jenkins, C. P. Jennewein. J. F. Kenny, J. K. Kerr, H. M. Littlefield, H. M. McCormack, H. D. McGown, G. T. Metcalf, W. Moneypenny, F. S. Neely, Jr., J. H. Olhausen, R. P. Patterson, E. C. Pennal, W. A. Prentiss, E. C. Prouty, Van F. Pruitt, H. W. Ralph, L. Ransome, L. C. Ray, M. H. Roberts, J. K. Ross, C. Schumacher, II, M. G. Shepard, M. P. Spalding, F. B. Stokes, G. B. Teller, W. T. Thomas, A. C. Turner, H. J. Uhl, Jr., B. R. Value, C. G. Vogell, P. T. Wadsworth, R. M. Walsh, D. A. Wilcox, R. Wilkins.
Joined at McAllen, Tex .: G. H. Hodenpyl, Jr., N. E. Hurst, G. Hoge.
On detached duty: Lieutenant G. H. Grant, Recruiting Officer, New York; joined Company with recruits in August.
VIII THE WORLD WAR YEARS
RAISING A REGIMENT FOR T. R.
A FTER the return of the 7th from the Mexican Border Campaign scores of non-coms and privates began to arrange to leave the organ- ization for Plattsburg and other training centers with a view to com- missions in other regiments. This was natural. The 7th had always been a school for officers, and after toting a pack and rifle across the hot sands of Texas every man jack thought he could serve his country much better from the back of a horse or at least from the back seat of an automobile with about two stars on his shoulder straps!
As the country slowly but surely drifted into war there were new rumors every day about the future of the Regiment. It was to be broken up. It was to be recruited up and officered by regulars. It was to be-the Lord knows what.
In this period of uncertainty and mental confusion occurred an incident that was typical of the spirit of the citizen soldiery of our grand old outfit. And it started with the Ninth Company, as might have been expected.
Late in March after it had been reported that ex-President Theodore Roose- velt would raise a division of volunteers for immediate service and offer it to the Government, a group of 7th men met and took steps to organize a regi- mental unit. The head and front of this movement was the signer of the following letter :
April 9, 1917
The Adjutant General of the Army
Washington, D.C.
Dear Sir :
I have offered my services before, but wish to again renew the offer with an application for the Colonelcy of a Volunteer Infantry Regiment, if such be organized.
I enclose herewith my record and the names of endorsers; the original endorsements arc already on file in the War Department.
I have organized from men with military training, who have asked to serve under me, a skeleton infantry regimental unit, consisting of, besides myself, three majors and fifteen captains.
I have asked the majors to select their own adjutants; the captains one lieutenant, leaving open the other lieutenancy so as to be able to promote one man from the ranks of each company; all such appointments of course with my approval. I have selected no man for lieutenant colonel as I would request the War Department to detail, for that position, a Regular.
This infantry unit will volunteer for the war, and is ready for active duty at once, and I have the honor and satisfaction of herewith tendering to you their services.
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
At my own request I was placed on the Reserve List N.G.N.Y., June 19, 1916, my request for such transfer dating March 1916.
I have the honor to be
Respectfully yours, FRANCIS G. LANDON, Major, Reserve List, N.G.N.Y.
A few days later, on April 12, 1917, the services of the proposed unit were duly offered to Colonel Roosevelt and this offer was acknowledged with much gratification by the Colonel.
After the skeleton organization was completed weekly schools of instruction began and were well attended.
It was agreed that recruiting stations should be established in the five bor- oughs and that these as well as the twelve infantry companies, from A to M, should be drawn for. Each Captain, however, was to locate his own recruiting headquarters with the approval of the commanding officer or change stations with another Captain by mutual consent.
The Machine Gun Company, being the only strictly technical unit, was to be assigned to the officer with some technical knowledge who applied for it, or in case of two or more applicants the command would be drawn for.
Major Landon's choice for Lieutenant Colonel of the Regiment was Cap- tain George H. White, United States Army.
The rest of the organization was as follows:
Colonel *Francis G. Landon
Lieutenant Colonel A Regular
Majors
*Buchanan Houston
*Wade Hampton Hayes
Regimental Adjutant
A Regular
Supply Officer
John Farr, Jr.
Chaplain
Rev. Frank L. Janeway
Line Captains
*Henry H. Adams S. Hinman Bird
*Ralph P. Buell Lyman C. Butler Robert A. Byrns
*Arthur Coppell
Alvin Devereux *C. Harold Floyd
*Francis L. Gould
*John A. LeBoutillier
*Arthur W. Little
*George P. Nichols Alex. D. B. Pratt Samuel J. Reid, Jr.
*Harry L. Stratton
*Byrd W. Wenman
Lieutenants
Eugene K. Austin Colby M. Chester, Jr.
C. Whitney Dall
Charles F. Dean Marston E. Drake
*Howard Grose
*J. Fred. Hahn Henry Leigh Hunt Don M. Kelley
Claude G. Leland
*Archibald N. Milne George H. Towle George A. Vondermuhll
*Robert M. Walsh
* Ninth Company Men.
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CAMP WADSWORTH
While Colonel Roosevelt could not at this time promise to accept the pro- posed organization in case he should be allowed to raise a division-which was then extremely doubtful-he wrote Major Landon the following letter :
HARVARD CLUB 27 West 44th Street
April 24, 1917
Dear Mr. Landon :
Mr. Little, my secretary, will explain to you that, of course, I cannot go somewhere to meet any body of men at present. I can see the men, at some time which I appoint, if they come round to where I am in the city, or out to Oyster Bay.
Sincerely yours,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT
The next day, April 25, 1917, the following members visited Colonel Roose- velt at Oyster Bay, where he received them most cordially, and where some two hours were spent in a delightful visit.
Francis G. Landon
Buchanan Houston
J. Frederick Hahn Arthur W. Little
Wade Hampton Hayes
George P. Nichols
Henry H. Adams
Alexander D. B. Pratt
Robert A. Byrns
Samuel J. Reid, Jr.
Alvin Devereux
Harry L. Stratton
Francis L. Gould
Before this visit a letter had also been received from General Wood at Gov- ernors Island as follows :
April 23, 1917
My dear Major Landon :
Yours of the 21st received. I think you have done exactly right. If I can be of any assistance as time goes on let me know. I would suggest you keep pretty closely in touch with the situation.
Sincerely yours, LEONARD WOOD
The schools of instruction were kept open until the first part of June and after that when the chances of the unit being accepted in its entirety seemed to be on the wane, the members gradually dropped out and started joining officers' training camps or went back to work in building up the 7th Regiment.
The end of the proposed regiment came after Major Landon had received the following letter from Theodore Roosevelt, which even after twenty years brings a thrill of pride to the hearts of every man who wanted to go with T. R.
Major F. G. Landon, 29 Broadway, New York City. My dear Sir :
You have doubtless seen the President's announcement wherein he refused to make use of the Volunteer Forces which Congress had authorized him to permit me to raise.
Prior to this announcement by the President, I had sent him a telegram as follows:
"I respectfully ask permission immediately to raise two divisions for immediate service at the front under the bill which has just become law and hold myself ready to raise four divisions if you so direct. I respectfully refer for details to my last letters
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THE FIRST HUNDRED YEARS OF COMPANY I
to the Secretary of War. If granted permission I carnestly ask that Captain Frank McCoy be directed to report to me at once. Minister Fletcher has written me that he is willing. Also if permission to raise the divisions is granted I would like to come to Washington as soon as the War Department is willing so that I may find what supplies are available and at once direct the regular officers who are chosen for brigade and regimental commands how and where to get to work."
To this the President answered as follows:
"I very much regret that I cannot comply with the request in your telegram of yesterday. The reasons I have stated in a public statement made this morning and I need not assure you that my conclusions were based entirely upon imperative consid- erations of public policy and not upon personal or private choice."
Accordingly, I communicated with as many of the men who had agreed to raise units for service in this division as possible, and after consultation with about twenty of them I issued a statement which was made public through the press.
I now release you and all your men. I wish to express my deep sense of obligation to you and to all those who had volunteered under and in connection with this division.
As you doubtless know, I am very proud of the Rough Riders, the First Volunteer ('avalry, with whom I served in the Spanish American War. I believe it is a just and truthful statement of the facts when I say that this regiment did as well as any of the admirable regular regiments with which it served in the Santiago campaign. It was raised, armed, equipped, drilled, mounted, dismounted, kept two weeks aboard transports and put through two victorious aggressive fights in which it lost one-third of the officers and one- fifth of the men; all within sixty days from the time I received my commission.
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