The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1899-05-09
The Hero Who Commanded The
First Nebraska.
WAS A WEST FONT MAN
In honolulu as a Major OF tho Re.
siment- ADDED to His own Re.
oord-Lossss In the Command.


John Miller Stotsenberg OF the First
Nebraska Infantry, who held the rank
of Captain in the regular Army, killed
in the reconnaissance at Quengua, was
born in Indiana. November "a, 1865.
and appointed a cadet at the Military
Academy in July. 1877. and graduated
number Al in his class. He was APP
pointed Second Lieutenant Of the Sixth
Cavalry In 1881, and became a Captain
December II. 1898. He served with his
regiment in Arizona and New Mexico
from 1857 to 1880. at the close OF the
latter year participating In the Sioux
campaign In the battle at Wounded
Knee. He was at Fort Niobrara, and
served for few months at Fort Myer.
near Washington, going thence 10 the
infantry and cavalry school at Fort
Ieayenworth, Kas., where he gradual
ed with distinguished honors. Colonel
Stotsenberg then served with his regi-
ment at Fort Leavenworth until De
cember, 1897, and from that time to the
following April was professor OF mill
tary science and tactics at the Uniyer-
sity OF Nebraska. He was mustered in
as Major OF the First Nebraska In
fantry May 9th last. and as Colonel OF
the same regiment November 10. 1898
He sailed with his regiment for Manila
June 18th.
In appearance he was short and
slight and had rather an ascetic coun.
tenance, partly, perhaps, due TO the
fact that he was always a very studious
man. He was a strict disciplinarfan
and the recruits he had TO break in
during the early months OF his com
mand OF the First Nebraska resented
his methods so bitterly that they pro-
cured the passage OF a resolution OF
censure against him through the Ne
braska Legislature. Once they became
engaged IN actual warfare, however, the
merits OF his course became SO appa-
rent that in response to very strong
demand from the people OF the State
and the soldiers themselves the reso.
luton of censure, by formal vote, was
expunged from the legislative records
Colonel John NJ. Stotsenberg was in
command of the First Nebraska Volun.
teer Infantry as the result OF the I'll
ness of an officer and the detachment
OF another. The First Nebraska went
to Manila in command OF Colonel
Bratt, and under his command took
part in the operations south Of Manila
against Malate fort and the attack and
capture Of Manila on August 18th. In
the selection Of officers for serious po'
sitiOn in the organization OF the gov
eminent for the city, planned by Ma
jor-General Merritt and put into ex.
ecution by Major-General Otis, Lieu
ant-Colonel Cotton Of the First Ne
braska was made deputy collector OF
the port. Later Colonel Brat became
Ill and was condemned by a medical
board. General Otis ordered him home
and then, as he did not care to take
Colonel Cotton out Of the Custom
house, where he was doing excellent
work, decided to select some other Off.
Ger for the command OF the regiment
Ohoice fell upon Stotsenberg and he
was named. At first there was strong
opposition from within the command
many of the officers thinking that those
in regular line should be promoted.
Colonel Stotsenberg endeared him
self to every man in the regiment and
brought the command to a high state
~ efficiency.
WASHINGTON, April 2j.-Genera
Obs has furnished the War Department
with the following casualty list:
Killed-First Nebraska, April %
0olonel John NJ. Stotsenberg; X, Sec
end Lieutenant l.. L. SissOn; b, Quart.
srmaster Sergeant ]. F. Storch; II. Ser.
Eeant Charles Meleck.
Fourth Cavalry, Company ], PrIyates
William Is. Jackson, William ID. Skin
ler.
Wounded-K, Musician Charles Pow
o.. ankle, severe; Prlyates Ralph Whit
lsr. thigh, severe; Edward Quinn,
shoulder. severe; John u. Carey, thigh
slight; Paby O'Connor, head, severe.
First Nebraska-H, First Lieutenant
William X, Moore, leg, moderate; Is.
Second Lieutenant A. =, Wadsworth,
bsg, severe; Priyates william L. Rich
ards, arm, severe; d, Lee St0ner, Jaw,
severe; Edwin o, Peterson, check, Sc
we're James Richard, jaw, severe;
Oharles swartz, lilac region, seyerei y,
John White, leg, moderate; Musician
Walter q, Tingley, neck, severe IT, W
Liyatel and Walter Elifriiz, shoulder
severe Guy Minor, leg, severe, !, I'd.
win y, Gregg, forearm, severe, James
Keenan,, thigh, severe David wilkins
shsst, severe Sergeant Clyde osbursh