The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-24
THESE SOLDIERS WERE MONT ANAS STURDY ROUGH RIDERS

The first organization of a volunteer
company for the Spanish American war
was in Montana. On March 80 1898,
before war had been declared, Will
Cave of Missoula circulated a paper
to which he secured more than so sig
natures, the signers pledging them
selves to enlist for the war in case hos
tilities commenced. Mr. Cave at once
notified Governor Smith that Missoula
was ready to furnish a company for
the war, should it be declared On
April the governor wrote to Mr.
Cave, acknowledging receipt of his in
formation. In closing the governor
said; Il thank you for the Informal
tions and@will place your letter on file
for future consideration. should there
be call for volunteers from this
state"
Mr. Cave at once proceeded with the
organization of his company. and the
result was that Troop f, Third United
States volunteer cavalry, was formed
in Missoula, with the following officers:
Captain, Frank G, Higgins; first lieu
tenant, Will Cave; second lieutenant.
Charles Fl. Hall. AS far as can be
learned. this was the first volunteer
organization formed in the United
States for the Spanish war. The troop
was certainly the first volunteer or
ganization that was mustered in. That
interesting ceremony was performed by
Captain Ahern of the 18th infantry. in
the Union opera house in Missoula. Nav
10. Two days later the boys went into
camp at Fort Mssoula where for 10
days they were drilled night and day.
during this time they were QUILTED
with uniforms from the quartermas-
ter's department at the fort and their
horses were selected by the govern
ment purchasing board. They worked
hard, and when they left the state they
were proficient in the simpler maneu-
vers.
In the meantime other cavalry com
panies had been organized in the state.
Butte furnished one under the cap
taincy of Decay Stivers: Billings sent
one commanded by John c. Bond: Miles
Citys troop was led by the veteran
Joe Brown. Great Falls and Bozeman
also raised troops, but they could noL
be accepted, as the required number
had already been raised. In fact, it
was with no little difficulty that the
TOUR troops thai were accepted forced
their way into the army. Montana's
quota was more than made up by her
infantry. and it required no little
manipulation to secure the acceptance
OF the four splendid troops that Mon
tana furnished to the cavalry branch
of the service. But they were finally
received and attached to the Third
United States volunteer cavalry, which
was popularity known as Grggsby's
Rough Riders.
May % was an important day in Mis-
soula. On that day. by order Of the
war department, Troop F left its tenn
porary camp at Fort Mssoula and
started for Camp Thomas, the rendez-
rous at ChickamauGa. At Silver Bow
the troop was Joined by Troop l. of
Butte and there began friendship be-
tween the two troops that was never
broken A few days later Troops l and
n ut
ceeded to the Tennessee camp by DIFF
ferent route. AT Camp Thomas they
joined the western Montana COMPANIES
ana the Montana squadron of Grisss-
hy's regiment was formed. 1T was
May 80, Decoration day, when the
troops reached the camp and they re-
manned there till their muster out
September IS.
There were $50 men in the squadron
Troops l, L and NJ had SO men each,
and Troop F had 81. The Montana
squadron was differed as follows:
Troop Tanking troop of the resi-
menD captain. Frank G. Higgins; first
lieutenant, Will Cave; second lieuten-
ant. Charles H. Hall. Troop M, can
tain. John c. Bond; first lieutenant,
Herbert V. Bailey: second lieutenant,
DGay stivers; first lieutenant, George
Wedekind; second lieutenant, Frank
w. Haskins. Troop I, captain, Joseph
r. Brown; first lieutenant, John Nc
Kay; second lieutenant, John McEn-
teri. Montana also furnished the lieu
tenant colonel of the regiment Charles
h. Lloyd of Butte. Lieutenant Bailey
of Troop NJ was appointed regimental
quartermaster. and the chief bugler of
the regiment was taken from Troop NJ
Sergeant Mcdonnell of Troop f was
made canteen sergeant of the regiment
Under the direction ofColonel Griggs-
by, the regiment soon became proficient
in drill and maneuvers and its evolu-