Spanish-American War Soldiers Return Home - May, 1899

Quite a group of Defiance men were part of Company M, 6th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, a group formed in Toledo.  The regiment, with 46 officers and 874 enlisted men, left Toledo on April 29, 1898, for Columbus and then went on to Camp George H. Thomas (former site of the Chickamauga battlefield in the Civil War).  While they were there, the Spanish-American war ended, but not officially, since the Treaty of Paris was not signed until December 10, 1898.

Conditions at Camp Thomas were crowded and unsanitary and a lack of clean water for the soldiers soon led to the rampant spread of disease.  The 6th Regiment was relocated to Camp Poland, Tennessee, and eventually they were shipped off to Cuba.  American soldiers were needed to occupy the lands that the U.S. acquired as a result of the war, so the regiment shipped out on December 29, 1898 on the Minnewaska.

Minnewaska (formerly the Persia and afterwards, the Thomas)

 The troops arrived in Cuba on January 4, 1899, and there they remained until their departure on April 22, 1899.  The left Cuba for Savannah, Georgia on the Sedgwick and when they arrived there, they immediately went into a quarantine camp for awhile.

On May 6, Company M's 2nd Lieutenant, Wesley E. King, wrote a letter to the newspaper, apprising the community of Defiance of the intention to muster out on May 24, 1899 and giving a summary of the state of the company of Defiance men, listing their names. 

The Defiance Weekly Express of May 11, 1899 printed King's letter:

"COMPANY M

The Day For Muster Out Has Been Fixed at May 24.

'Camp MacKenzie,

Augusta, Ga.

May 6, 1899

Our days as soldiers are numbered, for on the morning of Wednesday, May 24th, the muster out of the Sixth will begin, according to a communication from headquarters received today.  Every captain and with a full force of clerks is now at work upon the company records, muster out rolls, and final statements which must be completed before the date set for muster out rolls around.  It

is generally conceded that the last of us will be civilians before the sun sets on the day of May 24th.

In that case, we shall start homeward that night or the day following.  It is not yet decided what route shall be taken home.  A committee consisting of one enlisted man from each company, the band and non-commissioned staff and one officer from each battalion, was selected at quarantine camp to arrange the route of travel and a special rate for the entire regiment.

Camp fire chats all center on the welcome which is being planned by the dear people at home for us.  I am sure that the sentiment of every man in the company is expressed when I say that we are deeply touched by the evident interest manifested in our behalf.  We shall be glad to receive a hearty welcome and we intend to depart ourselves, one and all, modestly and creditably, as soldiers, and as men.

We number at present 89 enlisted men and three officers as follows:

James F. Crandall, Captain
Edward Welsh, 1st Lieut.
Wesley E. King, 2nd Lieut.
Sylvis Garver, 1st Sergt.
John C. Tuttle, Q. M. Sergt.
Harry H. VanHorn, Detailed as Sergt. Maj., third batallion

Sergeants:
David Phillips - William O. Ash - Albert V. Votrie


Corporals:
Robert R. Weaver - Herman A Spangler
Milo W. Partee - Leroy E. Beardsley
Webb Woods - Earl Weisenburger
Michael A. Wisda - Herman F. Bartels
Karl R. Ralston - George M. Rath
Frank B. Gorman - Ben. E. Abell

Musicians:
William M. Prosser - Frank L. Gilmore
Albert R. Dils, Artificer
Willis A. Newell, Cook

Typical uniform

Privates: 
August C. Barth - Jesse Lantz
Frank Barbillion - Henry C. Lewis
Wilbur D. Beardsley - Herman J. Luken
Charles E. Beal  - Clinton Ledyard
Walter Beaverson - Howard McCauley
Uri Britegan - Charley F. Meyers
Charles Bowen - Clem L. Miller
Fred'k L. Bartels - Elijah C. Morris
Rush Brubaker - Wilson Motter
Wm. H. Bowers - Fred. U. Mink
Frank M. Clark - Edson E. Myers
Edward M. Conway - John H. Neaderhauser
Louis Corcellious - Orlo J. Noe
Edward B. Daniels - Volney A. Palmer
Clyde E. Davis - John Fred Patton
James J. Ellsworth - Bertram Powell
Wm. H. Emmel - Merle Richardson
Edward McFast - Albert L. Rollins
Irvin C. Hatfield - Edward A. Schultz
James J. Harper - Claud Shunnan
John R. Hawkins - Charles H. Switzer

Elijah Hardesty - John Scott
Gale E. Hale - Albert V. Sieren
James Hawk - Charles Tiller
Jos. Hesselschwardt - Alfred L. Ulrich
Brice Hilton - Dan Wade
Wm. E. Houck - Harry M. Whitney
Max Hoover - Jasper Williamson
Theadore Keffer - John Wirock
Frank G. Korn - Charles White
Miley B. Koup - Joseph Wolf
Christ Kraback - Otto B. Wolf
Martin O. Young - Fred H. Zoller
Jesse Bermingham

Of the remaining number with which we originally left Defiance, one resigned, Harry B. Lewis; two died, Edward Kindig and Joseph Gardner;one transported to U.S. hospital corps, recently discharged, Norton Travers; fourteen discharged, Sergeant Carl H. Schmick, Corporal Fred G. Root, Corporal Lem Sapp, Privates Charles Mann, Louis L. Carpenter, Robert McCullough, Robert C. Barr, John C. Rowan, Wm. Conners, George Lee, Fred A. Mills, Haddie Warren, Alva Glassmire, and Frank Clark.  Travers is now in Savannah, Glassmire and Clark are employed in the Quartermaster's corral at Cienfuegos, Cuba.

Our camp is located on a splendid plat of rising ground some four miles southwest of Augusta and connected with the city by electric railway.  Though the sand is ankle deep, all around us the quarters are commodious and comfortable.  We are occupying the winter quarters of the 35th Michigan regiment with the 3rd engineers to west of us, the 9th Illinois, 3rd Nebraska and 3rd U.S. Cavalry to west of us.  

Typical housing

Each tent is supplied with a good floor, a storm door and rough weather boarding on the sides.  The companies are provided with large wooden cook shanties with long dining halls for the men. The streets are broad and clean, barring the sand and many are the frolics which occur thereon, for our return home is no longer in doubt.  The hour is fixed, the time, which moves all too slowly, is being counted as it reels along.  A spirit of boyishness pervades the whole regiment.  As we lay upon our peaceful cots in the cool evenings, we picture the hour of our home going, of our welcome with loved ones and the good time to follow.  Yet we have not forgotten how to be soldiers.        
  

The colonel has occasion to be proud of his command.  Last evening we assembled for the first dress parade held since Dec. 20th, 1898, almost five months past.  Despite the scorching sun which peered into our eyes and the sand which impeded our steps, the manual of arms was executed with a snap of soldierly precision worthy of seasoned regulars, while cheer after cheer was sent up by the crowd of spectators as each company passed in review.

Again M company came in for her share of honors, being conceded by all as having the best line.  Our captain was called into the Colonel's tent directly after the parade and personally compliment(ed) for the excellent appearance of his men.

Hurrah for 'M!'  She will be at home soon and may her loyal sons conduct themselves as nobly as citizens as they have as soldiers.

Non later,
W. E. K"