Old Missoula

Spanish – American War Found Missoula Prepared [See Dillon’s Dirty Dozen]

The Garden City responded immediately in 1898 to the call of the War Department. The Spanish-American War might have caught the United States unprepared, but not Missoula. Missoula had the first civilian unit to volunteer and be accepted for war service in the country. As early as March 30, 1898, Will Cave had circulated a petition among the citizens who pledged their services to Gov. Robert B. Smith in the event of hostilities. Gov. Smith obtained authority from the War Department to form a volunteer infantry company in Missoula.

Cave and others organized the outfit and began drilling. Later it was found there was no more room for infantry companies and the unit was redesignated a cavalry troop. Many of the members dropped out because they couldn’t ride horses. But the strength of the troop shortly reached 120.

Higgins Takes Command

A former mayor, Capt. Frank G. Higgins, took command of the troop. Cave was first lieutenant and Charles H. Hall was second lieutenant. The men drilled for a month, usually on what is now Broadway in front of the courthouse. Later a Regular Army officer arrived and purchased horses, which he examined on West Pine street in front of St Francis Xavier Church. About 30 head were purchased and the troop spent considerable time riding in a column of twos about the town and surrounding country.

War Declared

A formal declaration of war had been made by Spain April 24. The next day the U. S. Congress declared war had existed since April 21. The action was precipitated by the sinking of the battleship “Maine” which was destroyed in February in Havana harbor with a loss of 266 lives. A board of inquiry reported in March that the explosion was caused externally by a mine. Public opinion placed the blame on Spain.

Since Spain did not comply with the demand of the United States that she relinquish authority and government on the island of Cuba, the United States ordered Commodore Dewey to proceed to the Philippine Islands, property of Spain, to capture or destroy the Spanish fleet at anchor in Manila Bay. The order was carried out.

An act of Congress of April 22 provided for the temporary increase of the militia. The result of this was the organization of three regiments of cavalry of which the unit from Missoula, Troop F, became a part.

Troop Leaves Missoula

The troop was complete by May 13 and left Missoula May 26 for Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Ga., where it arrived May 30. Chickamauga was the end of the line.

There it became apparent that the United States was unprepared for war. It was not until the end of June that uniforms were procured. By this time many of the men were barefoot and their clothes were in tatters. Horses for the regiment began to arrive in June. Saddles were issued June 27 together with halters, nose bags, saddle blankets and bridles. Carbines were issued June 28. On June 30 the regiment went on its first mounted drill.

By July 9, “Grigsby’s Rough Riders,” as the regiment of which the Missoula troop was a part was called, were recognized as one of the best drilled, proficient regiments at Camp Thomas. Then typhoid struck. By Sept. 11, 1898, the men were dismissed from the service without leaving the United States.

As Bad as War

The effects were as bad, if not worse, than war. Of the Missoula men, who were at Chickamauga, nearly all were so ill as to have their lives shortened or seriously affected. One veteran of the war in the Philippines said he was better off in the war zone than were those who went to Chickamauga.

E. G. Mulroney, who left law school during his freshman year to join the 52^nd Iowa volunteer Infantry Regiment, was sent to Chickamauga and bivouacked next to the Missoula volunteers. He remembered a baseball game between his company and the Missoula troop which the Missoula troop won.

Mulroney was one of three in his company of 120 who did not get sick while at Chickamauga. He said, “We used to take turns, on regular details, going over to the hospital to keep the flies off the sick men. If this wasn’t done they would soon be covered with flies.

Ft. Missoula Abandoned

In Missoula at the outbreak of the war, the battalion of the 25^th Infantry stationed at Ft. Missoula was ordered to field service and left for the East. This battalion, comprised of Negroes, made a good showing in Cuba, being among the first to arrive, according to one of Missoula’s unofficial historians, Claude Elder. He said they were credited with helping Teddy Roosevelt out when he was surrounded by Spanish. The first to get home, Cpl. Sam Lundy, who was slightly wounded, was immediately surrounded at the depot and asked for news.

Few men occupied Ft. Missoula from 1898 to 1901. During the interval the fort remained in charge of Sgt. Pillow and a detachment of the 6^th Cavalry who were hospital corps men.

State Sends Regiment

In addition to the cavalry regiment, Montana called out the 1^st Regiment consisting of 50 officers and 1,091 enlisted men. This regiment went to the Philippines and served there throughout the entire insurrection, being in the service 18 months. A section of the Volunteer Signal Corps, consisting of two officers and fifteen men, was also raised in Montana. These men assisted in building a complete police telegraph system through Manila, equipped with American instruments, in the wake of advancing enemy troops.

L. E. Seeley, a member of Company L, 1^st Montana Volunteer Infantry Regiment, took part in 35 engagements, five of them major. Dr. F. D. Pease, long-time Missoula physician and health officer, became regimental surgeon of the 1^st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He sailed for the Philippines after a month of drilling – the average for most of the volunteers.

Typhoid Main Killer

He recalled that typhoid was the main killer, but at that time medical science was unable to cope with it. The medical men also were almost helpless against dysentery and malaria, according to Dr. Pease.

James J. Maloney, of the 26^th U. S. Volunteer Infantry, which he joined in Massachusetts, remembered the trench warfare in the mud in the Philippines and also recalled that he was ill in a hospital in Iloilo where Dr. Pease was. The hospital consisted of tents in a coconut grove.

Dillon Recalls Fighting

George Dillon, of the 12^th U. S. Infantry Regiment, a Regular Army outfit known as the “Dirty Dozen” for its toughness, fought against the Insurrectos. Dillon recalled that it was a long chore to go through the muddy islands in the rainy season ferreting out guerrillas and hunting up their arms, which were sometimes hidden in graves.

Louis M. Matthew, of the 2^nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment, recalled climbing all over the island, carrying 10 day’s rations and 500 rounds of ammunition weighing 35 pounds, for the old-style 45-70 rifle. The initial use of the Krag-Jorgenson .30 caliber rifle was on the basis of 20 per company.

Thirty-Seven Killed

During the 18 months that Montanans served, 19 noncommissioned officers and enlisted men received commissions, two officers resigned, 17 were discharged, one was killed, one died of disease and 10 were wounded in battle. Of the enlisted men, 277 were discharged because of sickness and other reasons, 21 were killed in battle or died of wounds received in action, 13 died of disease, one drowned and 121 received wounds.

Peace was restored in August 1898. The real difficulty arose when the United States attempted to subjugate the Philippines. The Filipinos declared war against the United States and fought bravely until 1901.

Photo on Page 23 [This Photo can be found on the internet]

Officers of Missoula Volunteers, Troop F

Officers of Troop F. Missoula Volunteers, 3^rd U. S. Cavalry, in 1898 were from left, 2^nd Lt. Charles H. Hall, Capt. F. G. Higgins and 1^st Lt. Will Cave. The troop had three officers, 16 noncommissioned officers, two trumpeters, two farriers and blacksmiths, one saddler, one wagoner and 55 privates. (Courtesy of H. S. Jewett)