A Magazine Exploring Indiana History IndianaThe Historian Indiana State Archives. Indiana in the Spanish-American War This year marks the centen- teer. That view is expanded by nial of the Spanish-American photographs and boxed items. Focus War. It lasted barely four months, On page 11, there is a brief from April to August 1898. The explanation of the dilemma of Throughout this issue quota- major focus of this issue is on the black citizens and soldiers in the tions from primary sources home front experience. war. contain original spelling and grammar. An overview of the war is on Disease was the biggest killer pages 3-4. The timeline through- in this war. The role of nurses and out provides greater detail. development of the U.S. Army On pages 5-6 is an overview Medical Department is summa- The Indiana Historian of the official Indiana response to rized on page 12. The experience of September 1998 ISSN 1071-3301 the call for volunteers to fight the one Indiana soldier in the Hospital Order Number 7045 war. The chart on page 6 summa- Corps is provided on pages 13-14. Editor Pamela J. Bennett rizes the organization and service Resources are provided on Lead Researcher of Indiana volunteers. page 15. Paula A. Bongen Designer A diary on pages 7-10 pro- The front and back cover Dani B. Pfaff vides an extensive record of images demonstrate the pride of Contributing Editors Carole M. Allen, Janine Beckley, service in the words of one volun- Indiana volunteers. Alan Conant, Dani B. Pfaff, Virginia Terpening The Indiana Historian provides re- sources and models for the study of local You be the historian history to encourage Indiana’s citizens of all ages to become engaged with the his- • Explore in more depth some of ciety or museum, local newspaper, tory of their communities and the state of Indiana. the topics on the Spanish-Ameri- local national guard armory, and The Indiana Historian (formerly The Indiana Junior Historian) is issued quar- can War in this issue. There are local historians. Are there descen- terly from September through June. extensive resources on the Internet dants still in the area who might It is a membership benefit of the Indi- ana Junior Historical Society. One compli- as well as in library collections. have stories or artifacts from the mentary subscription is provided to Indi- ana libraries, school media centers, and • Explore the resources in your war that they would share? cultural and historical organizations. community about the role its • What has happened to the coun- Annual subscriptions are available for $5.00 plus tax. Back issues are available people played in the war. The offi- tries on the map on page 3 of this at individual and bulk pricing. This material is available to visually cial Record of Indiana Volunteers issue? What is their status today? impaired patrons in audio format, cour- (see Bibliography, page 15) pro- • Newspapers played a large role tesy of the Indiana History Project of the Indiana Historical Society. Tapes are avail- vides the town of each volunteer. in forming public opinion about able through the Talking Books Program of the Indiana State Library; contact the Talk- Your community or county seat the war. How has the media influ- ing Books Program, 317-232-3702. also might have a war memorial enced wars that were fought after The Indiana Historian is copyrighted. Educators may reproduce items for class which lists war volunteers. Be this one. What role does the media use, but no part of the publication may be reproduced in any way for profit without sure, for example, to work with play in forming public opinion in written permission of the Indiana Histori- your public library, historical so- the present? cal Bureau. The U.S.S. Indiana, built 1891-1895, was the first state-of-the-art battleship of the new U.S. Navy. It played an important role in the blockade of Cuba and the battle off Santiago on July 3, 1898. Cassard, [vi]. The ship chaplain, William G. Cassard, edited a book for the crew: Battleship Indiana and Her Part in the Spanish-American War (New York: privately published, 1899). The ship also served in World War I. The U.S. sank it in 1920 in tests of aerial bombs. The citizens of Indiana demonstrated their pride in the ship by presenting a Tiffany and Co. silver service on September 21, 1896; the story is in Indiana’s Gift to the Battleship Indiana (Indianapolis: privately published, 1896). Pieces of this silver set are presently on loan to the Indiana Governor’s Residence from the Naval Supply Systems Command, Mechanicsburg, Pa. 2 The Indiana Historian, September 1998 © Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1998 Remember the Maine ! In 1898, Spain ruled the island of Cuba located south of Alaska Florida in the Caribbean Sea. Since 1895, Cubans had been in revolt against Spanish rule. American Spanish rulers on the island Overseas became more and more cruel to Involvement the Cubans. There was wide- spread belief by Americans that 1898 the U.S. had to defend the free- dom of the Cuban revolutionaries Hawaiian Cuba Puerto and help to free them from Span- Philippine Islands Rico ish oppression. Also, valuable Islands American trade with Cuba was Guam being interrupted. In January 1898, the U.S. Steamship Maine was sent to Havana, Cuba as a show of sup- Map adapted from: Morris and Morris, 628. port for American interests. On February 15, 1898, the Maine was sunk in the harbor by an explo- (Cosmas, 1). However, many sion. “Remember the Maine” volunteer soldiers mustered into First battle death became a battle cry in many the U.S. Army never left the U.S. American newspapers. Two New Many historians believe that Private Jesse K. Stork, York newspapers trying to in- the Cuban situation became an Holland, Dubois County crease circulation led the way opportunity for politicians who was reportedly the first with stories—some of them false— wanted to increase U.S. posses- which caused Americans to sions, influence, and trade. These American soldier killed in sympathize with the Cuban fight politicians are called expansion- battle in the Spanish- for independence and blame ists. Theodore Roosevelt was an American War. His tomb- Spain for the Maine sinking. expansionist. Indiana’s U.S. U.S. President William Senator Albert J. Beveridge was a stone in Fairmount Cem- McKinley tried to avoid war leader in this movement (Phillips, etery, Huntingburg com- through various diplomatic activi- 62-63). Others, called isolation- memorates this fact. ties. Finally, however, at the ists, believed that the U.S. should Indianapolis News, June 10, 1963. request of President McKinley, the not acquire further external U.S. Congress declared war on territory and not govern other Spain on April 25, 1898, retroac- countries. The U.S. had begun tive to April 21. acquiring external territory with During the war the recently the purchase of Alaska from upgraded U.S. Navy performed Russia in 1867. The U.S. annexed with great success. The U.S. Army the Hawaiian Islands on July 7, is generally remembered for the 1898. glory of the Rough Riders and The war ended with the Theodore Roosevelt winning San signing of a protocol on August Juan Hill from the Spanish 12, 1898. During the short war 1888 1888 1889 1889 1889 1889 1890 1890 George Eastman November 6 Singer Manufacturing April 22 First May May 31 Census shows July introduces the Republican Company of The great Day Flood kills 2,295 U.S. population of Idaho and Kodak, a square Benjamin Elizabethport, New Oklahoma land celebration persons when dam 62,947,714; the Wyoming are box camera using Harrison of Jersey, produces and rush begins at is held in on Conemaugh River center of admitted to the roll film, making Indiana is elected markets the first noon; thousands Paris above Johnstown, population is Union as the photography president of the electric sewing of settlers race (Grun, 445). Pennsylvania, breaks placed 20 miles 43rd and 44th practical for the United States machine known in the to stake a claim due to heavy rain east of Columbus, states first time (Carruth, 348). U.S. (Carruth, 351). (Carruth, 350). (Carruth, 352). Indiana (Carruth, 354). (Carruth, 349). (Carruth, 354). © Copyright Indiana Historical Bureau 1998 The Indiana Historian, September 1998 3 over 5,000 American soldiers died; 379 of the deaths were battle casualties. The rest of the men died from diseases in camps in the U.S. and on foreign soil. The U.S. concluded a peace treaty with Spain on December 10, 1899. The war was a turning point in world politics. Spain lost its navy, its territories, and its posi- tion as a world power. As a result Indiana Historical Society, Negative C7938. of the war, U.S. influence as a world power increased. The U.S. acquired the Philippines, Puerto Rico, and Guam, occupied Cuba for a time, and acquired Guantanamo Naval Station in Cuba. U.S. problems in conducting the war also brought about lasting changes: Walter Reed discovered the cause of yellow fever; a new The wreckage of the U.S. Steamship Maine, pictured above after it exploded on February 15, 1898, remained in Havana harbor until 1911. The explosion could have respect for medical needs brought been caused by an external mine or an accident. Several investigations of the event great improvements in the U.S. have occurred. The background and latest work is described in Thomas B. Allen, Army Medical Department; the “Remember the Maine?” National Geographic, 193:2 (February 1998), 92-111.