The Regiment in the Spanish American War

While there are many other factors that contributed, it was after the explosion that sank the USS Maine in the harbor at Havana, Cuba that the United States declared war on Spain. The national army only had 26,000 soldiers of all ranks and it was necessary to mobilize state militias and raise units to conduct the war. At first 125,000 and then 200,000 volunteers were authorized for this mobilization. The Commonwealth of Virginia had already begun to assess the possibility of response 6-days before war was declared. Virginia was then given a quota of 3 12-company infantry regiments. The regiments chosen were the 2nd, 3rd and 4th which mustered in as the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Virginia Volunteer Infantry regiments. In order to attain the required strength, 4 companies from the 1st Regiment and new companies from Fairfax, Wytheville and Lynchburg were brought into these Volunteer Infantry regiments. When the national mobilization strength was increased to 200,000 Virginia was required to bring 8 companies of black soldiers to active duty. These would be organized as the 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry. 

2nd Virginia Volunteers playing with rattlesnake at Camp Cuba Libre

A preliminary peace agreement was signed 12 Aug 1898 and no Virginia regiment had yet to move overseas. The 2nd Virginia Volunteer Infantry regiment, commanded by COL James Carr Baker, camped at Pablo Beach or Camp Cuba Libre (now Jacksonville Beach), Florida until 19 Sep 1898, moved to Richmond on the 20th and 21st, received 1-month furloughs and then reported to their home armories for formal mustering out in December 1898. The unit mustered in 46 officers and 946 enlisted and mustered out 46 officers and 1,146 enlisted. 1 officer was resigned or was discharged and 1 officer died of disease. 24 enlisted soldiers were transferred, 10 were discharged for disability, 76 were discharged by order, 20 died of disease, 1 drowned and 5 deserted. The Harrisonburg Guards lost 2 men.

Officers and NonComs of 3rd Virginia Volunteers

The 3rd Regiment remained at Camp Russell G. Alger in Fairfax county until 8 Sep 1898 when it returned to Richmond and all men were given 1-month furloughs before returning to the Exchange and Ballard hotels in that city for mustering out on 5-7 November 1898. The 3rd mustered in 46 officers and 955 enlisted and mustered out 46 officers and 1,122 enlisted. 5 officers resigned or were discharged and 1 officer died of disease. 16 enlisted soldiers were transferred, 26 were discharged for disability, 1 was discharged by court martial, 56 were discharged by order, 12 enlisted died of disease and 1 soldier committed suicide.

Corporals of 4th Virginia Volunteers at Camp Cuba Libre

The 4th Virginia Volunteers moved from Camp Cuba Libre in Florida to Savannah, Georgia from where they were shipped to Havana for occupation duties. The regiment was returned to Savannah on 28 Mar 1899 and mustered out there on 27 Apr 1899 receiving bonuses rather than furloughs. The 4th Regiment mustered in 44 officers and 954 enlisted and mustered out 46 officers and 1,077 enlisted. 5 officers were promoted or transferred and 6 officers resigned or were discharged. 65 enlisted were transferred, 63 discharged for disability, 5 discharged by court martial, 326 discharged by order, 30 died of disease and 22 enlisted deserted.

Black Officers of the 6th Virginia Volunteer Infantry

The 6th Regiment moved from Camp Poland outside of Knoxville, Tennessee to Macon, Georgia on 18 Nov 1898 and remained there until mustered out 26-28 Jan 1899. The unit mustered in 29 officers and 824 enlisted and mustered out 28 officers and 825 enlisted soldiers. 9 officers resigned or were discharged. 7 enlisted were transferred, 2 were discharged for disability, 2 were discharged by court martial, 3 were discharged by order, 2 died of disease, 2 were murdered, and 3 enlisted soldiers deserted.