Spanish-American War

The author of the book, Russell A. Alger, who was the Secretary of War during the Spanish-American War, married Huldana Annette Henry, who was my son-in-law's 1st cousin 4x removed.

Jim's Photo

From The Spanish-American War, by Russell Alexander Alger:

Thousands of men offered to enlist before the formal declaration of hostilities War was declared April 21, 1898.*

Secretary Of War Alger

From The Spanish-American War, by Russell Alexander Alger:

The statements in this volume are based upon either my own knowledge or upon the official reports, verbal and written, made during my incumbency of the office of Secretary of War. The descriptions of the fights of Las Guasimas, Caney, San Juan, and Manila are based upon official documents conversation with participants and letters from officers high in authority received since the war. A personal visit to the battlefield of San Juan in the spring of 1899 has been of much service, making that field of operations somewhat familiar to me.

Unprepared For War

From The Spanish-American War, by Russell Alexander Alger [Secretary of War]:

See an anecdote regarding the Spanish-American War's tribulations here.

Frances Wheeler's Encounter With General Joseph Wheeler

From "Roses in December," the autobiography of Frances Parkinson (Wheeler) Keyes:

My (Frances Wheeler's) first meeting with General Joseph Wheeler, which took place at the Capitol a few days later, was less disastrous than my meeting with General Miles at the White House...  An aura of grandeur surrounded the names of the men who had fought under the Stars and Bars and who, thirty years later, volunteered to serve under the Stars and Stripes; in the case of Fitzhugh Lee and 'Little Joe' Wheeler this aura became a positive radiance.  The pint-sized cavalry officer---'a diminutive Alabamian of terrific energy'--had had twenty-four horses killed under him during the War Between the States, but undeterred had continued to go galloping onward; the greater the danger the more he seemed to thrive.  Nothing could have been better suited his tastes and talents than the charge on San Juan Hill and, in my eyes, he was the outstanding hero of the Spanish-American War.  Therefore, I could hardly believe my good fortune when the distinguished companion with whom I was just entering the Rotunda...shouted to an officer who was just entering it, 'Hold on a minute, Joe!  come and meet a Yankee relative of yours!'"

The general turned at once, smiling broadly and saluting swiftly.  'Well, well,' he said in response to the quick introductions.  'So your name's Wheeler, too, is it?  Frances Parkinson Wheeler?  John Wheeler's daughter?  Well, well.  But what do they mean by calling you a Yankee then, my dear child?  Weren't you born in James Monroe's house, at the University of Virginia?  If that doesn't make you a southerner, I don't know what would!'

Scenes of Rough Riders charging Kettle Hill (from a movie) can be found on YouTube here.  My blog about authentic YouTube images for the Spanish-American War can be found here.

Frances And General Miles

From "Roses in December," the autobiographical story of Frances Parkinson (Wheeler) Keyes, who was not only a prolific author but also the wife of Senator Henry Keyes (and Governor of New Hampshire).  As a young girl, Frances visited the White House with her mother on two separate occasions.  Mrs. Keyes (rhymes with "eyes") related what made her first two visits to the White House memorable.

Anticipating a second visit to the White House, Frances' mother warned her that she "...must avoid doing, a second time, anything which would so greatly embarrass her.... (Frances and her cousin had "briefly basked in the glory of a great impersonation" when other visitors thought they were President Harrison's grandchildren).  Benjamin Harrison was President 1889-1893.

Though Frances assured her mother that she would not embarrass her a second time,  "As the long line of guests advanced to the Blue Room where President and Mrs. McKinley were receiving...I heard someone addressing a thick-set, white-haired, red-faced man, just in front of me, as 'General Miles.'  Greatly excited at being so close to a celebrity, I leaned forward and spoke to him.  'Oh General Miles!' I exclaimed.  'I am so thrilled to see what you really look like.  I have been reading all about you in the papers!'"

From the U.S. Congressional serial set , Issue 3872

"My impetuous action had really been prompted by admiration, but the general did not so interpret it.  The papers were full of stories about the tainted meat which had caused as many deaths as Spanish bullets among the soldiers in the recent war.  Though part of the responsibility for this outrage was attributed to the Secretary of War, Russell Alger, General Miles had permitted distribution of the meat and evidence against him was also very strong.  He naturally concluded from my remark that I wished to see whether or not he rally did have horns and a tail, figuratively speaking.  Instead of responding to my greeting, he glared at me and drew stiffly away."

"Too late, I realized I had done or said something amiss and, eager to leave the scene of my faux pas, I rushed blindly ahead, reaching the head of the receiving line before my mother."

Secretary of War Russell Alger was a Michigan politician whose wife, Annette Henry, was Squier descendant as are my grandchildren.  Annette's grandfather was Wait Squier (Sr.); he was my granchildren's 5th great-grandfather.