Second Army Corps (Spanish–American War)


The Second Army Corps was a unit of the United States Army raised for the Spanish–American War.
A defining event of the Spanish–American War was the typhoid fever epidemic of July to November 1898. The Army consequently undertook a series of mass-retreats and attempted evasions. The Typhoid Board concluded that only one of the five army corps stricken with epidemic typhoid succeeded in suppressing the disease actively, the 2nd Army Corps. In the wake of two fruitless relocations and months of casualties, commanders finally managed to impose an effective latrine-policy. A three-part strategy of draconian defecation-management, mass-disinfection, and flight received the Typhoid Board's imprimatur as the principal, recommended method for suppressing existing epidemics.

Second Army Corps

The corps was constituted May 7, 1898; on May 16, Maj. Gen. William M. Graham was assigned to the command and the troops which were to compose the corps were ordered to Camp Alger.
After the declaration of war McKinley revised that arrangement and approved the organization of eight army corps, each of which was to consist of three or more divisions of three brigades each. Each brigade was to have approximately 3,600 officers and enlisted men organized into three regiments and, with three such brigades, each division was to total about 11,000 officers and men. Thus the division was to be about the same size as the division of 1861, but army corps were to be larger. The division staff
initially was to have an adjutant general, quartermaster, commissary, surgeon, inspector general, and engineer, with an ordnance officer added later. The brigade staff was identical except that no inspector general or ordnance officer was authorized.
In mid-May the volunteers were moved to a few large unfinished camps in the South, and when they arrived only seven instead of the eight projected army corps were organized. Two army corps, the Fourth and Fifth consisted of regulars and volunteers, while the others like the Second Corps were made up of volunteers.
Before the new army completed its organization and training, it was thrust into combat. About two-thirds of Fifth Army Corps, in the form of one dismounted cavalry division and two infantry divisions, sailed for Cuba in June 1898. Expeditions also were mounted for Puerto Rico and the Philippine Islands, in which partial army corps provided the troops.

Corps headquarters

The following troops were attached to Second Corps Headquarters:
  • 6th company, U.S.V. Signal Corps.
  • The 11th Company, U.S.V. Signal Corps, Capt. Carl F. Hartmand, Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., July 13, 1898, with a strength of 3 officers and 56 enlisted men.
  • The Squadron New York Volunteer Cavalry, Capt. Bertram T. Clayton, Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 22, 1898, with a strength of four officers and 180 enlisted men. This squadron served in Puerto Rico during August 1898 with the Squadron Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry.
  • The Squadron Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, Capt. John C. Groome. Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., July 8, 1898, with a strength of 9 officers and 287 enlisted men. Which consisted of The Governor's Troop, The Sheridan Troop, and the First Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry, all of which served in Puerto Rico during August 1898 with the Squadron New York Volunteer Cavalry.
  • The 9th Battalion Ohio V.I., from 1st Brigade to Corps Headquarters Guards
  • Reserve Hospital Company.

    1st Division

Brigadier General Francis L. Guenther, U.S. Vols., who had joined the troops at Camp Alger about the 15th of May, 1898, was assigned to the Command of the 1st Division. Being absent on sick leave at the time of the arrival of Major General Matthew C. Butler, U.S.V., Brigadier General Guenther was relieved from the Command of the 1st Division and assigned to the Command of the 3rd Division.
On September 15, 1898, Samuel B.M. Young, Major General of United States Volunteers took command of the division.

1st Brigade, 1st Division

Brigadier General Joseph W. Plume U.S.V.
The troops assigned to the 1st Brigade, 1st Division at various times included the following:
  • The 1st Regiment, New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Edward A. Campbell, Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 21, 1898, with a strength of 51 officers and 933 enlisted men.
  • The 7th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Arthur L. Hamilton Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 20, 1898, with a strength of 47 officers and 672 enlisted men.
  • The 65th Regiment, New York Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Samuel M. Welch, Jr., Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 20, 1898, with a strength of 50 officers and 979 enlisted men. In May 1899 the sixty-fifth regiment, National Guard New York, issued orders constituting the armory a military post and naming it "Camp Joseph W. Plume," in honor of the commanding general.
  • The 9th Battalion, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from the 2nd Brigade June 23, 1898. to Corps Headquarters Guards.
  • The 10th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel H. A. Axline, joined at Camp Meade, Pa., August 20, 1898, with a strength of 45 officers and 1,246 enlisted men.
  • The 1st Regiment, Maryland Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel William P. Lane, joined at Camp Meade, Pa., September 8, 1898, with a strength of 44 officers and 1,211 enlisted men.
  • The 35th Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel E. M. Irish, joined at Camp Meade, Pa., September 17, 1898, with a strength of 49 officers and 1,264 enlisted men.

    2nd Brigade, 1st Division

Brigadier General George A. Garretson, U.S.V. took command on June 8, 1898.
The troops assigned to the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, at various times were as follows:
  • The 6th Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Colonel D. Jack Foster, Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 20, 1898, with a strength of 47 officers and 971 enlisted men. The regiment was mustered into Federal Service at Springfield, Ill., on May 11, 1898; served in Porto Rico from July 25, 1898, until September 7, 1898; and was mustered out of the service of the United States at Springfield, Ill., on November 25, 1898.
  • The 6th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Charles F. Woodward, Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 20, 1898, with a strength of 36 officers and 888 enlisted men. The regiment served in Porto Rico from July 25, 1898, until September 7, 1898.
  • The 8th Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Curtis V. Hard, Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 19, 1898, with a strength of 50 officers and 837 enlisted men. Nicknamed "McKinley's Own" or "The President's Own" because three companies were from President William McKinley's hometown of Canton. The regiment served in Puerto Rico from July 25, 1898, until September 7, 1898.
  • The 9th Battalion, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, from 2nd Brigade, 2nd Division June 8, 1898, to 1st Brigade.
  • The 14th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel William J. Glenn, Commanding, joined at Camp Meade, Pa., August 23, 1898, with a strength of 30 officers and 838 enlisted men.
  • The 3rd Regiment Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Augustus C. Tyler, Commanding, joined at Camp Meade, Pa., September 10, 1898, with a strength of 43 officers and 1,233 enlisted men.
  • The 202nd Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Steven Y. Seyburne, Commanding, joined at Camp Meade, Pa., September 14, 1898, with a strength of 42 officers and 1,230 enlisted men.

    3rd Brigade, 1st Division

Brigadier General John P. S. Gobin, U.S.V. took command on June 24, 1898.
The troops assigned to 3rd Brigade were the following:
The 13th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Henry A. Coursen, Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 19, 1898, with a strength of 36 officers and 603 enlisted men.
The 12th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel James B. Coryell Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 19, 1898, with a strength of 36 officers and 603 men.
The 8th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Theodore F. Hoffmann Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 18, 1898, with the strength of 41 officers and 770 men.
The 15th Regiment Minnesota, Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Harry A. Leonhaeuser, Commanding, joined at Camp Meade, Pa., September 18, 1898, with a strength of 46 officers and 1,256 enlisted men.

2nd Division

Brigadier General George W. Davis, U. S. Vols. took Command May 29, 1898.

1st Brigade, 2nd Division

Brigadier General Mark W. Shaefe, U.S. Vols. took command June 30, 1898.
The troops assigned to the 1st Brigade were:
  • The 159th Regt. Indiana V.I., Colonel John T. Barnett, Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 24, 1898, with a strength of 50 officers and 976 enlisted men. Ordered mustered out and left for State rendezvous September 11, 1898, for Indianapolis, Ind.
  • The 22nd Regt. Kansas V.I., Col. Henry C. Lindsay. Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 28, 1898, with a strength of 46 officers and 974 enlisted men. Ordered mustered out and left for State rendezvous September 9, 1898, for Fort Leavenworth, Kan.
  • The 3rd Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry, Colonel Edward M. Hoffman, Commanding, joined at Camp Alger, Va., May 29, 1898, with a strength of 44 officers and 973 enlisted men. Ordered mustered out and left for State rendezvous September 12, 1898, for Company armories.
  • The 2nd Regt. West Virginia V.I., Colonel D. T. E. Casteel, Commanding, joined at Camp Meade, Pa., August 20, 1898, with a strength of 44 officers and, 1,251 enlisted men.
  • The 18th Pennsylvania V.I., Colonel Norman M. Smith, Commanding, joined at Camp Meade, Pa., August 23, 1898, with a strength of 34 officers and 838 enlisted men. Ordered mustered out and left for State rendezvous September 11, 1898, for Pittsburgh, Pa.
  • The 203rd New York V.I., Colonel Walter S. Schuyler, Commanding, joined at Camp Meade, Pa., September 12, 1898, with a strength of 44 officers, 1,172 enlisted men.