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2nd Missouri Volunteer Infantry In Camp 1898
The Second Regiment of Missouri Infantry United States Volunteers, familiarly called the “Second Missouri” (2d Mo.), is really the first regiment to have volunteered and be mustered in from the grand Commonwealth of Missouri, the State that provided more soldiers for the Civil War than any other, and among which were numbered the gallant “Shelby Brigade,” too unconquerable to surrender, but rather preferred exile in Mexico than to return without their shields and arms.
The subject of this sketch was a militia organization, consisting of companies at Pierce City, Lamar, Nevada, Joplin, Clinton, Carthage, Springfield, Butler, Sedalia, and Jefferson City, Mo., with Regimental Headquarters at Carthage, Mo., and designated the “Second Regiment of the Missouri National Guard;” and when permitted to go into the service of the United States, they preferred to cling to the old designation “Second,” rather than take “First,” – a case wherein attachment was formed for an Arabic figure; “2” number represented a sentiment to be cherished.
Pursuant to permission from Governor Stephens, of Missouri, the regiment mobilized and rendezvoused at Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis, Mo., May 6, 1898, and was mustered into the service of Uncle Sam on May 12th, having been first reduced to the minimum strength of 1,031 officers and men.
This regiment was sent to Chickamauga Park, Georgia, where it arrived on May 20, 1898, and was brigaded with the Ninth Pennsylvania and First New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry, into the Third Brigade, Third Division of the First Army Corps, under command of Major-General Brooks. Soon after going into camp at Chickamauga, a special order permitted the recruiting of the regiment to the full quota of 1,337 officers and men.
From the time of muster in to the present day, during all the season of alternate hope and despair, sickness and fatigue, the Second Missouri has taken first rank in discipline and drill, being equaled by few, if any, volunteers, and surpassed by none; and, as one regular army officer expressed, “more like what regulars ought to be than regulars are.”
The men have the nerve, muscles, and easy grace of trained athletes, together with the courteous demeanor of intelligent, educated gentlemen; and, though no braggarts, all take a pardonable pride in the good name and fame of the Second Missouri.
The officers are all representative business men in the communities where they resided as citizens. War and soldiering is not a profession with them, merely an incident in their lives; therefore, they are justly proud of the fact that their organization has attained such a high character and reputation for drill, discipline, and efficiency, without the assistance of any professional or regular army officers – there being none with the regiment. They are natural leaders of men, and, while they enforce and require strict discipline of their men, the best of good feeling exists between them.
The men are proud of their officers, and the officers are proud of their men, and each have high ideas of their duties and obligations to the other, and strive to perform and fulfill them.
COMPANY C, LAMAR.
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Captain – Frank M. Thorpe.
First Lieutenant – James M. Allen.
Second Lieutenant – Roy W. Aldrich.
First Sergeant, Percy H. Barney; Quartermaster Sergeant, Paul Tucker; Sergeants: Joseph H. Hall, Charles Coulter, Elbert L. Castle, Lovell B. Wilson.
Corporals – Wilber J. Stemmons, Henry S. Weissenpluh, Andrew F. Wright, James A. Elliott, Chas. H. Burkey, Wm. L. Neiswender, Jas. E. Crabb, Lawrence W. Hedgecock, Wm. J. Givens, John J. Frick, Victor A. Stephenson, Carl A. Nelson.
Artificer – Joseph W. Beck.
Wagoner – Robert F. Vest.
Musicians – Chris. B. Hulston, Merrill M. Griffith.
Privates – Harry M. Abbott, Albert I. Albright, Rush U. Albright, Ernest T. Allen, Joseph B. Allen, James L. Arnold, Robert E. Boudy, Chas. B. Brown, Robt. S. Bell, David E. Bell, Wm. B. Blankenship, Jas. B. Blankenship, Andrew J. Bridgewater, Wm. R. Bryant, Christopher C. Burton, Chas. O. Cautry, Jas. G. Cautry, Jas. C. Carson, Thos. A. Chapman, Geo. G. Cody, Lester L. DeGood, Isaac R. Dingman, Roy P. Dix, Harry Dye, Geo. Elroy, Jesse K. Elsie, Frank F. Emmering, Eph England, Edw. L. Frick, Jas. R. Gale, Chas. T. Garlick, Samuel Gates, Ralph M. Gilmore, Jos. Golliday, Robt. E. L. Gregory, Chas. E. Hall, Jesse H. Harlan, Daniel Hewitt, Elbert L. Hobbs, Wm. T. Houchins, Pearle Hutchison, Chas. H. Isaacks, Jas. W. Jobe, Wm. O. Jones, Frederick W. Knehl, Hiram S. Kilgore, Isaac S. Leabo, Chas. Lyngar, Frank Lyngar, Samuel J. Lyons, Arthur T. McGee, Harry E. Meddick, Geo. P. Mertz, Harry C. Moore, Arthur J. Morgan, James W. Morrison, Frederick R. Nourse, Deigh. S. Forris, Vollie Odneal, Wm. E. Owens, Edward R. Pegg, Robert A. Poage, Fred E. Ragsdale, Jos. H. Raney, Adolph Rempo, Wm. T. Robertson, Adam Seibli, Luther M. Shaw, John W. Simmons, Benj. J. Smith, Chas. E. Stanley, Fred G. Stewart, Orval A. Steiner, Geo. C. Stinger, Thos. L. Studdard, Fred Sullens, Eunice Tackett, James E. Thompson, Everett I. Thornton, Clayton Vaughn, Howard Vint, Charles W. Weber, Reed Wilson.
Deaths – Federick W. Kuehl, at Division Hospital, Third Division, First Army Corps, Camp Geo. H. Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Ga., July 26, 1898, at 6:30 A. M., of typhoid fever. Buried at National Cemetery, July 26, 1898. Grave No. 13180.
George C. Stinger, at Second Missouri Infantry, U. S. V. Hospital, Camp Geo. H. Thomas, Ga., Aug. 11, 1898, at 5 P. M., of typhoid fever. Buried at National Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tenn., Aug. 12, 1898, Grave No. 13211.
Discharged – James E. Thompson, October 8, 1898, by reason of physical disability. Overcome by heat July 1, 1898, which rendered him unfit for service.
Submitted by Marsha Wise on May 14, 2004.