Glacier County chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1931-1940, 1939-06-09
Secretary Woodring Invited
to Reunion of First Montana

An invitation to Secretary of
War Harry h. Woodring to at
tend the reunion of the First Mon
tana regiment, which fought in
the Spanish-American war, at
Lewistown June II and II has
been extended by Joe Montgomery
of Lewistown, in charge of the
celebration. In a lengthy letter,
Mr.. Montgomery gives a brief
resume of the First Montana's ac-
tivities in the Spanish-American war
and Of its organization.
The letter reads:
There was much excitement back
In 80 when word dripped into Lewis
town, lbs miles inland from the rail-
road, that the Spaniards had blown up
the battleship Maine in Havana
harbor.
THAT night at a called meeting of
patriotic citizens held at the Big Te-
pee saloon and dance hall, Major
Byrd. late of the Confederate army,
in hell roarin'' speech, said: 1t
meant war No damned Spaniard can
blow up our ships. We Rebels and you
this time and we will all remember
the Maine as my people down in Texas
remember the Alamo
Colorful Group
That was the start of the organiza-
ton OF Company I OF the First Mon
tana regiment. The major was right.
A few weeks later our government de-
clared war on Spain. Six days after
war was declared, Company I, COM
posed of cowpunchers, trappers, bull
whackers, prospectors, freighters, gam
blers and two preachers, started on
their long hike to Great Falls, l25
miles distant, where they entrained for
Helena to join the regiment: Their
and two four-horse roundup chuck
wagons. They left on Tuesday and
arrived in Great Falls Saturday.
five-day trip. A few days later at Hell
ena the regiment was sworn in to ma
tional service. the first of the volun-
teer regiments to be mustered to fight
San Francisco where they Joined the
goth Kansas and other volunteer and
regular regiments to form the first
expedition to Manila. After they cap
tured Manila it was quiet for a while;
but We held no ground to speak OF
outside of Manila.
Instruction
Then came the insurrection, and
all hell broke loose. For months our
soldiers fought one of the greatest
guerilla wars of all history. And then
In the spring of SO, with our army
on a 7O-mile battle front, the supreme
court ruled that all volunteer enlist
ments expired with the peace treaty
with Spain. The Montana regiment,
followed by all the other regiments,
volunteered to carry on until the Joo
was done, and our regiment stayed out
on the lines for months after they
were entitled to their discharge. 1t
orders, voted a medal, and given the
thanks of congress. Many were killed
in action and many were invaded
home. The First Montana, was one OF
the last to be mustered out at san
Francisco. The government, paid a
bonus Of several hundred dollars to
any Montana man who wanted to stay
in the islands and join some OF the
newer regiments that were being
formed.
Its First Reunion
so, for the first time in 40 years,
that regiment, the First Montana, IS
going to hold a reunion in LewistoWn,
Mont, June II and IL, this year. The
state encampment of the Spanish War
Veterans and a meeting Of the Fam
boanga society will be held on the same
dates. The boys will rally: the bands
will play, the canteen will open, and
as we back-track down the long trail
Be Hot Time in the Old Town To-
night, My Baby as we sang 1t out in
front of San Fernando a long, long
time ago.
The remnants Of Company I, that
company that marched out from Lew
istown Al years ago, will be the host
company to the other II companies of
the regiment at this reunion.
Our committee on arrangements is
planning to assemble some of our dis
tinguiShed comrades and guests at
Great Falls on Sunday morning. June
II, 1899, and fly them to Lewistown
in As minutes over the same ground
that it took Company I five days to
march, Al years ago. In the group to
fly over will be Gov. Roy E. Ayers,
Colonel Richie, state commander of
the G. A. R.; Gen. Phil Greenan,
Johnny Ritch, and several others. Also
an escort of about all the flying ma
chimes in the state.
Invited to Attend
Mr.. Secretary, on behalf of the
remnants OF that old Montana regi-
ment and of the Eighth army corps,
am asking you, as secretary of war
and as citizen Of the state that pro-
duced Colonel Funston and the goth
Kansas regiment, to come out here to
Lewistown, Mont, and make a talk to
and review the old boys as they march,
for the last time, perhaps. We would