John Blackshoe Sends: Serendipity History – Halloween 1898- “Who Stole the Beer?” - Part IV

Regimental Flag of the 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry
Courtesy: Kentucky Museum, Western Kentucky University
Source

Cartridge belt worn by PVT Cecil W. Trotter, 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry

Author photo and collection

Here is a tangible artifact from the great beer theft, and the rest of the 3rd KY Volunteer story. PVT Cecil W. Trotter was issued this cartridge belt, and marked it on the inside “CECIL TROTTER, Co. K, 3rd KY VOLS.” These were issued at the same time as their single shot .45-70 trapdoor rifles, one of which was used in the provost marshal shooting of 12th New York Private Nygren. You can see a cartridge belt on one of the soldiers in the stereo view image (cropped) below, “In the Camp of the 3rd Kentucky Volunteers, Newport News, VA” where the unit was camped prior to moving to Lexington, KY.

3rd Kentucky in Newport News, VA
Source

While unit history books were usually done (if at all) shortly after being mustered out, the 3rd Kentucky did not get a unit history until 2016 When a retired USAF Colonel did an excellent one: Greg Eanes, Heroes of Peace: A History of the 3rd Kentucky Infantry in the Spanish American War. It is well researched and a bit more critical with access to many more records than the hastily done works.

Like most units, the 3rd Kentucky Volunteers were quickly shipped to Camp Thomas with all of its problems. However, invincible, or perhaps poorly informed young men were rather cavalier about their service adventures. Here is a letter from PVT William Taylor of Company A, written to his mother July 11, 1898, where he gets around to mentioning he had been in the hospital for five weeks with pneumonia!

A soldier's letter home from the 3rd Kentucky
Source

The incident where PVT Kitchen shot the 12th New York’s PVT Nygren is covered fairly in Eanes’ book. It concludes that the General Courts Martial acted fairly and properly in disposing of the case with no punishment. Kitchen acted in the line of duty and the orders he has been given. Originally charged in the civilian Lexington courts they dumped the hot potato into the Army’s laps before their town was endangered.

Interestingly, this history make no mention at all of the Halloween beer theft, and I suspect that the 160th Indiana mention of the 3rd Kentucky was done to deflect or at least share any blame for the incident.

Like the other two units, the 3rd Kentucky went to Cuba for occupation duty, and Eane’s book describes this in detail, mostly too boring to repeat here.

Camp of the 3rd Kentucky at Matanzas, Cuba during occupation duty in 1899.
Source

The 3rd Kentucky unit history notes several incidents where negligent discharges killed or injured the soldier themselves, or other soldiers or civilians. It also notes several cases where soldiers brought home Cuban civilians, usually orphans, and later adopted them. I am not aware of other units bringing home adoptees.

 

After the 3rd Kentucky was mustered out, our Private Trotter hung around Georgia for a while, but he must have missed Army life. In December 1899 he enlisted at Macon, Georgia for service in the 4th U.S. Infantry, then deployed to the Philippines. He was listed as 5’9” with brown eyes and hair, working as a collar maker. The 4th Infantry returned to the U.S. in 1902 and Trotter was discharged at Eagle Pass, TX April 20, 1902 on expiration of his enlistment, still a private. Never getting beyond 4th grade probably hampered his advancement, but his conduct was rated as excellent.

He ended up in Biloxi, MS, from 1912 onward, where he married the sister of the mayor and worked various menial jobs. He was active in the Spanish War Veterans group and played in a band. The 1940 Census reveals that Cecil Trotter only had a 4th grade education, and was working 12 hour shifts as a night watchman at a bulk oil plant in Biloxi, MS some time before his death that year.

PVT Cecil Trotter's grave, Biloxi, MS
Source

Source

So, was the 3rd Kentucky part of the Camp Hamilton beer heist on Halloween? Possibly, but the 160th Indiana, despite their Commander’s temperance tendencies seem to be the ones who stole the beer!

Losses By Unit
All started with about 50 officers and 1,000 enlisted, with some replacements arriving during their service period.
Source

Part 1 looked at “The Crime” of the beer theft

Part 2 looked at “The Victims”- the 12th New York.

Part 3 looked at “The Perps” from the 160th Indiana