Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-08-12
OF THE SIXTH
Part the Illinois Regiment Has
Taken in the War Now
Terminating.
THE MOVEMENTS OF OUR BOYS.

Among the First to- Respond at SPRING
n field, Then to theuf Nstionisi Capitol.
rThence to santhaEo. and Now Il Hsa din
Gen. Miles Advance Across Porto Rico
to Its Capital.
In view of the fact that the war
with Spain is rapidly nearing its ter
mination it is interesting no less than
it is gratifying to contemplate the
part Rock Islands soldier boys have
taken from the start. Among the
first to respond to the call for volun-
teers, first going to the state capital,
then being assigned to position close
to the nations capital when it was
not known to what proportions hos
tilities might extend. they have been
from the first in places where they
could be relied upon in cases of
emergency. They have been all along
in reserve for important develop
ments. They We're at Santiago with
their place assigned in the final adj
vance on the city, had another blow
been necessary. Having been dis
tinguished among the flower of the
army selected to accompany the gen
eral of the army, they went with him,
first to Cuba, and after the fall of
Spain's power there. accompanied
Gen. Miles to Porto Rico and effected
the first landing of American troops
on the island.
| Started For Springfield.
| The 9th regiment start ed for
Springfield April y, the day follow
ing Gov. Tanners call for troops,
which was the first to issue after the
presidents proclamation for volun-
teers. The cities which thus sent
| 1 POP men to Camp Tanner in a day
were Rock Island, Moline, Monmouth,
Dixon, Sterling, Galesburg, Geneseo,
Morrison, Lamoille, Freeport, Galena
and Kewanee. Then followed three
weeks of rejecting, recruiting, drill
ing and uniforming. With the first
movement of the army toward Cuba
came olGers for the 9th to 90 to
Washington, and few days afterward
the men settled down to the slow life
at Camp Alger. From May IS to
June 30 was spent i'll impatient wait
| ing for orders for the front. These
came when the campaign around San
tiago was at its height, and July 2
with the brigade under Gen. G. A.
| Garretson, the regiment left by rail
| for Charleston to accompany Gen.
Miles to the scene of fighting. The
| Yale, with Gen. Miles, and the Column
/ bia, the two war vessels having the
9th aboard, arrived off Santiago July
| II, when Gen. Toral was dickeringj
with Gen. Shafter over the terms of
surrender. When fire was opened on
| the city the following day Gen. Miles
decided at once to land the troops
which had arrived with him and
storm the works. The 9th Illinois
was detailed to lead the charge, and
| the men were landed, but it was I'M
necessary, owing to the capitulation.
On to Porto Rico.
The order went to Col. Foster july
IS to have his men at Guantanamo,
prepared to embark for Porto Rico,
and July 20, two companies were put
on board transport No. 81 and 10
companies on the Dixie. When Gen
Miles sailed the 9th regiment
made up one-thirtt of the 3,415 who
accompanied him to effect the first
landing in Porto Rico. They made
the landing at Guanica and were
ready for the march against Ponce.
That city surrendering, the boys were
at last accounts under Gen. Henry in
the vanguard of the column leading
Gen. Miles march of triumph across
the island in the direction of San
Juan.
The staff officers of the regiment
are:
Lieutenant Colonel-Edward KittiI-
sen, Moline.
Ma ors-William Il. Channon, Rock
Island; David +. Clarke. Monmouth;
William f. Baldwin. Dixon; Frank
Captains j. Gains Cadiu- |
tant), Chicago; Harrison G. Hopper
assistant surgeon), Galesburg; Ben
jamin Eick, l. K. p; John II. Holt |
quartermaster), Moline.
First Lieutenants-Ered w. Porter, |
Galesburg; Joseph II. Showalter, La
mcille.
Company A has lost but one MEM
Der since it left-Private Louis Bled-
soc succCmbing to fever at Camp |
Algers His remains were brought |
back to Rock Island where thew were
buried with high military honors.
The people of Rock Island have gen
erously remembered their soldiers
since their departure in numerous
shipments of supplies, the>largest of
which was car of provisions and
other good things sent to Camp Alger.
Death of Private Oberg.
Private Alfred Oberg. of Company
F. of Moline, died on board the hos
Pital ship Lampansas, at Porto Rico,
July %, the fatal ailment being tv-
phoid fever. The announcement of
his death came in letter from Capt.
F. j. Clendenin to Mrs. Johanna Oker-
berg. of Moline, with whom the dead
soldier formerly boarded. His remains