Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-11-01


tached service at Johnstown, Pa, imHe-
diately after the great flood at that place.
Rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
With the Inauguration of the Spanish war
he was appointed chief engineer, with the
rank of lieutenant colonel, United States
Volunteers. He was first duty at Chick
amauga Park with Major General Brooke
Major Biddle accompanied General Miles
expedition to Porto Rico, arriving at Ponce
July %. After landing in Porto Rico he
was engaged in accommodating the enemy's
positions, exploring and mapping the coun-
try. He participated in the capture of
Coamo, F: r.. August 0, 1898 under Brig.
Gen. o. Fl. Ernst, United States Folun-
teers. The 10th Pennsylvania, Colonel HUI
lings commanding, led by Lieutenant Col
onel Bfddle, having made a turning move
ment through the mountains, striking the
Afbonito road half mile beyond town, cap
tured the entire garrison, amounting to $50
men.
Major Biddle was designated, with two
other officers by Major General James II.
Wilson, United States Volunteers, to pro-
coed to this city, taking with them the
royal ensign of Spain. captured by the
troops at Coame on August 0, Cor the pur-
pose of presenting same to the President at
the Executive Mansion. The flag seems
to be the only one taken in actual battle in
the conquest of this island.
With Army of Occupation.
He remained in Washington for only
few months, leaving for the south, where
the army of occupation for Cuba was en-
camped. He arrived at Trinidad, Cuba,
December 8, 1898. with the 4th Tennessee
Volunteers, and assisted in placing them
in camp at that point and at Sanc,i Spir-
titus, making examination of the country
from Trinidad to Sancti Spiritus
Major Biddie was then ordered to Ma
tanZas, where he arrived December 81 1898
A battalion of Sd United States Volunteer
EnSyin dI1tu of Mot
December %, 1898, to April 10, 1899, and
was placed directly under his orders.
On the arrival of this battalion, which
until the late afternoon of January 1, 1899,
We're the only troops at this point, there
were 1900 to 10000 Spanish soldiers in the
city. assembled from different towns in the
province.
The camp established was within the city
limits, but the landing of the engineer bat
talon had to be made on the San Juan
river and all property carried out in wagons
to the camp, which was quietly and
promptly done. Before the arrival of the
troops, January !, the battalion had built
a dock at the camp for unloading.
On this battalion devolved the honor of
receiving the city and province of Matan-
zas from the Spanish authorities. This
took place with all military ceremo-
MES at noon at Fort San Severino and the
city hall. For several days and nights the
battalion acted as provost guard, and, with
the cooperation of the Spanish and Cuban
oluCldlS, maintained perfect OEUeT ana quiet
III the city.
Discharged From Volunteer Service.
After having served as engineer officer of
the department of Matanzas and Santa
Clara he was honorably discharged from
the volunteer army May u, 1899. He did
not leave Cuba, however, but accompanied
General ]. H. Wilson in inspections of the
province of Santa Clara. He made plans
and estimates for cleaning and repairing
streets, emptying cesspools, and for the
thorough sanitation of cities and towns for
surveys of harbors and for construction
and repair Of roads in the province, and
for water supply for Cienfuegos, defenses
of MatanZas.
In the autumn Of 1899 his field of duty was
quickly changed from Cuba to the Philip
pines, where the insurrection was in prog
resS and where active services were need
ed. Major Biddle left Matanzas, Cuba
September 10, 1885, for New York, and
arrived in Manila, November 90
He was announced as'engineer officer De-
partment of the Pacific and the Sth Army
Corps.
On March 30 1900, the Department Of the.
Pacific having been been discontinued. he
was announced as engineer officer. division
of the Philippines and retained charge of
this duty until April u, 1901, when re-
lieved by Major Clinton B. Sears
The character of this work was both mill
tary and civil on account of the nature of
the government in these islands. The mill
tary work consisted in the prepare ton and
issue of a large number of maps and blue
prints, and in connection with the officers
and men of the engineer companies in re-
pairing roads in this division under an ap-
preparation of 81, 100000 gold. by the Phil
ippine commission. This latter was the
main work of the office after July 1900.
large amount of material for road purposes
was ordered from the United States.
Major Bidde has submitted detailed plans
and descriptions of the present defenses of
such portions of the Philippine Islands as
are under the control Of the United States.
Guam Harbor improvements.
From August Z, 1900, to the date of his
relief from duty in the Philippines, April
%, 1901, he was member of board 1.-TWO
naval officers and one engineer officer, I'M
der the direction of the Secretary of the
Navy, to make a survey, plans and esti-
mates for the improvement of harbor at
the Island Of Guam. He attended a meet
ing of the board at Guam, November % to
December 20, 1900.
Commended by SuperfOrs
Major General James H. Wilson, U. S. ",
In a report dated August %, 1893, highly
commended him for his great activity, en-
durance and courage, and recommended
that he be brevetted major, United States
army, and colonel of volunteers for distin-
guished gallantry under fire at the affair at
Coamo, August 8, 1893
He also commended by Brigadier
General o. H. Ernst, U. S. ", commanding
LIST Brigade, list Division, 1st Army Corps,
for daring and skillful accommodating in the
movement on Coamo; by Col. Hulings of
the 10th Pennsylvania Volunteers for val
liable services in movement before Coamo;
by Major General James H. Wilson, United
States Volunteers, in report dated August
l. 1899, for valuable and efficient services
in the Department of Matanzas and Santa
Clara, Cuba; and by Brigadier General
James H. Wilson, United States Volunteers,
in report dated July %. 1900 for his enter
prise, courage, skill and ambition.
In letter to the Secretary of War June
6, last, the chief OF engineers, U. s. A.,
recommended:
THAT Major John Biddle, Corps of Engi-
neers formerly chief engineer of the 9Th
Army Corps, with the rank of lieutenant
colonel, United States Volunteers) be bre-
vetted lieutenant colonel, United States
army, and colonel, United States army for
distinguished gailantry under fire at the
affair at Coamo, August 0, $685. and that
ne be appointed brigadier general Of voiun-
teers for daring and skiIful accommodating
in the movement on Coamo, resulting in
notable captures, including a royal ensign
of Spain, which he was afterward dele
gated to bring to the United States and
NV 70