Who stole the beer? “Not us, we were not at Camp Hamilton. “ Spanish American War era camp scene, possibly the 9th New York. Source- Author’s collection |
Monday, October 31st 1898 was a memorable day (and night) in Camp Hamilton, Kentucky, located just east of Lexington.
The troops were restless. They had volunteered to fight the evil Spanish oppressors in Cuba after the U.S. Battleship Maine was blown up in Havana Harbor on February 15, 1898. An act enthusiastically attributed to Spanish skullduggery, but later determined to have been from spontaneous combustion in a coal bunker adjacent to one of the ship’s magazines.
War was declared on April 20th followed by the President calling for 125,000 volunteers to augment our miniscule 28.000 man army.
On May 1st, the U.S. fleet, previously ordered to the Philippines by Under Secretary of the Navy Teddy Roosevelt (during SECNAV’s absence) defeated the Spanish fleet at Manila Bay, with the sole American death being a heat stroke victim.
Volunteer units mustered in their home states in late April and early May and moved on to four large federal camps. Health, sanitation, food and quartermaster support were huge problems everywhere.
Some of the newly raised volunteer troops were sent to
Tampa, Florida for the invasion of Cuba.
Most, but not all of those, actually boarded the invasion fleet
transports, hastily converted and ill-suited for passengers. Landings over the beach at Daquiri and at a
small pier in Sibony on June 22nd positioned them to besiege the
Spanish stronghold at Santiago, where the Spanish fleet was located.
A series of small battles culminated in the July 1st
attack on San Juan Hill. The victors
included publicity hogging Lt. Col.
Teddy Roosevelt (who had left his Navy job to volunteer) and his oddball mix of
cowboy and socialite “Rough Riders” in the 1st U.S. Volunteer
Cavalry who fought well. As did the Black
“Buffalo Soldiers” of the 10th U.S. Cavalry. First Lieutenant John J. “Black Jack”
Pershing (USMA 1886) was with them (a story in itself). Roosevelt said that “Pershing is the coolest
man under fire I ever saw in my life.”
The 71st New York Volunteer Infantry, and 3rd U.S. Cavalry
were also combatants deserving of praise along with Lt. John Parker’s Gatling
Gun Battery and Capron’s field artillery.
Roosevelt and his 1st. U.S.
Volunteer Cavalry on San Juan Hill after the battle. This often used photo is part of a larger one
where the 3rd U.S. Cavalry was on the left and the 10th
U.S. Cavalry was on the right. I have
not been able to find a decent quality copy of the uncropped photo.
Source:
Public Domain.
The capture of San Juan Hill was a strategic victory, placing the city and harbor of Santiago under siege while the Navy blockaded the exit from the harbor. This forced Cervera’s fleet to try to fight their way out on July 3rd, only to be mauled by the U.S. Navy. Within a few weeks the Spanish Army surrendered.
Still smoldering hulk of Spanish Cruiser
Vizcaya off Santiago July 3, 1898.
Source:
Public Domain
The Spanish government agreed to an armistice on August
12th, essentially ending the war, much to the dismay of troops who
had not seen combat and felt cheated out of a chance at glory. Peace talks began in Paris on October 1st,
and a formal treaty was signed December 10th, ending the “Splendid
Little War.”
“The conditions at Camp Grant
[near Newport News] were harsh – the sand and southern heat were hard for the
men to endure, combined with poor food (bacon and canned meat, much of which
was condemned, and hardtack), and unsanitary conditions. While stationed in
Newport News, Private Alonzo Andrews of [160th Indiana Infantry]
Company I was shot and killed by Sam Hall, a local saloon keeper, along with a
comrade who was wounded in the foot. History records that “The entire
regiment was infuriated, some suggested that the Negro suffer death for his
crime, and even attempted to carry out the suggestion by force of arms.
Happily, better judgment prevailed, justice was assured, and so quiet was
restored.” Hall was removed to Norfolk to prevent any attempts at lynching
him.”
The Puerto Rica expedition was canceled by the Armistice, and on August 21st, many units left Newport News to set up a new camp near Lexington, KY. Three weeks later they moved a few miles east to another new camp, “Camp Hamilton,” where they would stay until November 9thafter Halloween.
The Players
Hard feelings began brewing among the different regiments
even before there was any beer to be stolen.
Though brigaded together, the 3rd Kentucky was largely (in my
opinion) a rural “hillbilly” outfit, enthusiastic, inexperienced, but
patriotic. The 160th Indiana
were a cohesive group of average citizens, from existing National Guard units, from
a state just across the river from Kentucky so there was a natural affinity
between the two, and they have been paired together from the beginning. The 12th New York was, well, New
Yorkers, and their urban culture was foreign to the other regiments and among
the border state hillbillies, there may have been a lingering stench of “damn
Yankees.”
Most seriously, on October 9th, the 3rd Kentucky was assigned as Provost Guard [Military Police/ Shore Patrol] in Lexington, and when a soldier from the 12th New York Volunteer Infantry refused to show his pass and ran away, the Kentuckian shot and killed him. It was later found that he had a pass belonging to someone else. That morning Provost Marshall orders had been changed to no longer permit firing at persons who were fleeing, but PVT Kitchen was absent from morning muster when that was announced. The New Yorkers were all for lynching the Kentuckian. (A courts martial later found he acted in the line of duty and was not punished.)
The
Indiana version of this incident is probably pretty accurate:
“On October 9th occurred a very
grievous event, — the killing of a private of the Twelfth New York by Private
Kitchen, of the Third Kentucky, on duty as a provost guard. Private Kitchen was immediately arrested and
placed in jail to await investigation.
It was [later] proven that the killing was done in the line of duty, but,
however, some of the Twelfth New York began to plot to avenge what they thought
a wrong.
On the night of the 10th they
attempted to carry out their plan to mob Kitchen, but Gen. Wiley heard of the
intention, and at 7:00 p.m."To Arms" was sounded, the entire 160th Indiana
and a battalion of the Third Kentucky being ordered out.
Ten rounds of ammunition having been
issued to each man, the battalions reported to General Wiley for further
orders. After waiting an hour and a half
they were ordered to return to camp. At
9:00 P.M. "To Arms" sounded again, the battalions reporting at 7:00
quickly responded and were soon on their way to the city. It was a weary march of five miles. On arriving at Lexington, the companies were
divided into squads with orders to patrol the streets and arrest every soldier
regardless of his rank or pass. Each and
every arrested man was made to march to camp and it was long after midnight
when the long column with its four hundred prisoners ended in the field near
camp, in which the arrested men, except commissioned officers, were compelled to
await the morning, guarded by the Third Kentucky, but when morning came the
guard was withdrawn and all were free again. The Twelfth New York felt very
unkind towards the 160th for the part it took in this affair. The 160th has no pardon to ask, it realizes
that obedience is the first lesson of the soldier, they only did what they were
commanded to do. “
Source:
We’ll see different versions of this event in the next installment, maybe tomorrow, Part 2.
The
Beer
Pabst and Schlitz beer bottles circa 1898
and unit history of the 160th Indiana
Source: Author
photo and collection
Shortly after the October 9th incident, Friends and supporters of the 12th New York, hoping to cheer up their home town troops sent two (or three?) box cars filled with beer down to Camp Hamilton in Lexington for them to enjoy. These were from the two most popular brands at the time, Schlitz and Pabst, some in bottles and some in kegs. On Halloween, or perhaps the night before sometimes known as “Mischief Night” the box cars with the beer arrived at a siding near the camp.
But, before the New Yorkers could take the beer to their section of the camp, troops from the 160th Indiana and 3rd Kentucky showed up and helped themselves. Accounts vary but some 250 cases of bottled beer and many kegs were taken, and promptly hidden in those camps, buried under tents, or submerged in the stream running through the camp.
Naturally, the thirsty New York troops, the beer companies, and the folks who bought the beer were very unhappy. Let’s just say that the troops from Indiana and Kentucky were very happy!
While this is an amusing incident of soldier life, commemorated
by a ribbon and badge at a reunion of the 160th Indiana in 1912, there
is a lot more to understand about the troops involved and the events of the
time.
So, this
Halloween, why not celebrate like they did in 1898? Have a beer, any beer, but just don’t steal
it.
Part 2 will look at “The Victims”- the 12th New York.
Part 3 will look at “The Perps” from the 160th Indiana
Part 4 will look at “The Perps” from the 3rd
Kentucky
And some people say history is boring! A great little sidebar that brings it all alive, thanks.
ReplyDeleteSplendid tale! Amazing what mischief the troops will get into if they're not kept busy.
ReplyDeleteThis is the sort of thing that makes history so interesting to me, the little vignettes that never make into the larger history books. Thanks J_B!
ReplyDeleteGood description of the conditions of barracks life. Most people do not pay any thought to what conditions were like in the field, let alone "in camp".
Fascinating!
ReplyDeleteHuge thanks to Tuna for his work getting this posted. I am but a humble historian scribbler of tales and know nothing of the secrets of argle bargle publishing software. I just chuck it over the transom and Sarge or Tuna makes pixels appear.
ReplyDeleteHope Sarge is getting better, getting better, getting better. Gotta be in good shape for his retirement party!
JB
JB, Hall owned a saloon that was frequented by white soldiers? Seems quite the E.O. achievement for the time.
ReplyDeleteBattleships are/were named for states, so it was the Maine, not Main.... That is why SSBNs are named for states now.
ReplyDeleteAyuh, as they say in Maine. I blame spelling and grammatical errors on gubmint skools or fat fingers, your choice. And, you are correct on naming conventions, fish don't vote, as Rickover noted.
DeleteYou can turn down the snark boys, it's a typo, which has been corrected.
DeleteLooking at my draft for tomorrow, there were a more typos! Sorry... dock my pay.
DeleteJB