Missouri State Genealogy Trails
[Transcribed by Donna Walton - 2008]

 

FIRST BATTALION, FIELD ARTILLERY

 

The Field Artillery Battalion composed of Battery A (St. Louis), Battery B (Kansas City), and Battery C (Independence), was organized on February 4, 1915.  Major E. M. Stayton was commissioned major of the same on March 7, 1915.

 

Battery A (St. Louis)

 

Battery A, Captain Frank M. Rumbold, is the oldest military organization in Missouri.  It was organized in 1812 in response to a petition of citizens of St. Louis, headed by Charles Chouteau, to repel a threatened attack of Indians.  Its first captain was Robert Lucas, who was succeeded by his brother, Charles Lucas, who took the battery to Portage des Sioux to prevent the crossing of the river by hostile Indians.  We have no further record of the organization until the Mexican war, when it was reorganized as the Doniphan Battery and accompanied the Doniphan Expedition to Mexico.  It is worthy of mention that Sergeant Claude Kennelly, who was guidon of the battery in the Spanish-American war, was the son of Sergeant Kennelly, who acted as its guidon in the Mexican war.  The battery was held together in a loose way until 1861, when it was divided, part of it serving as Guibors Battery in the Confederate service and part of it forming a battery in the Federal Service.  Captain Charles W. Squires, afterward a brigadier general in the National Guard, became captain of the battery in 1877.  Captain Squires was succeeded by Captain J. R. Dougherty on April 15, 1878, who resigned July 31, 1879.  Captain Dougherty was succeeded by Captain S. D. Winters on November 18, 1879, and he in turn by Captain Peyton H. Skipworth, Jr., on March 23, 1883.  Upon Captain Skipworth’s resignation, Captain Winters again became captain of the battery on July 2, 1888.  He was succeeded by Captain Robert E. Williams on March 4, 1890.  On June 10, 1891, Captain Williams was succeeded by Captain Frank M. Rumbold, who has commanded the battery since that date.  Many members of the present organization are the descendants of men who have served with it in the early days of the state’s history.  Among these are a number of descendants of those who served in 1812.  During this long service this battery has always ranked high in efficiency and its esprit de corps has never been surpassed by any military organization in this county.  It is the only organization in the state service which has built its own armory and its traditions are kept alive and treasured not only by its members but by hundreds of the foremost citizens of St. Louis who, at some time in its history, have served with it.  Its commanding officer, Captain Rumbold, has been identified with the military history of the state for a third of a century and has been a factor in building up the National Guard of the state.  He has served as Adjutant General of Missouri and as one of two officers detailed to the Militia Bureau from the entire National Guard of the United States.

 

The battery has participated in the following camps of instruction:  state camp at Sweet Springs (Camp Marmaduke), July 12-17, 1886; camp with First Regiment, Mexico, Mo., July 9-14, 1890; brigade camp, Lake Contrary (near St. Joseph), August 10-16, 1891; camp of instruction at Meramec Highlands, near St. Louis, July 16-23, 1892; camp with Second Regiment at Springfield, July 15-22, 1894; camp with Second Regiment at Lamar, August 16-23, 1896; camp with Fourth Regiment at Moberly, August 22-29, 1897; brigade camp at Springfield, July 15-22, 1900; brigade camp at Nevada, July 21-28, 1901; brigade camp, Lake Contrary (near St. Joseph), July 19-26, 1903; brigade camp, Nevada, July 17-26, 1904; brigade camp, Lake Contrary (near St. Joseph), July 8-17, 1905; camp with First Regiment and Sixth Separate Battalion at Cape Girardeau, July 15-22, 1906; brigade camp, Lake Contrary (near St. Joseph), August 11-19, 1907; maneuvers at Fort Riley, Kansas, August 20-30, 1908; brigade camp, State Rifle Range, Nevada, July 18-25, 1909; practice march near St. Louis, August 13-22, 1910; camp of instruction, Sparta, Wis., September 10-19, 1911; practice march near St. Louis, July 20-28, 1912; target practice at Ft. Belle Fountain, on the Mississippi near St. Louis, October 17-24, 1914; camp of instruction at Ft. Riley, Kansas, July 5-14, 1915.

 

The battery participated in the ceremonies incident to the funeral of General William T. Sherman at St. Louis on February 21, 1891.  It was present at the dedication of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis April 30, 1903, and at the dedication of the Missouri Building at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition June 3, 1904, and in the ceremonies incident to Missouri Day, October 11, 1904.

 

In March, 1885, the battery was called out in connection with the railroad strike at Sedalia and accompanied the First Regiment to Centertown, where the troops were held for seven days ready to be rushed into Sedalia if required.

 

Following the tornado of May 29, 1896, Battery A was on duty in St. Louis and rendered great service, both in military way and in caring for the injured.

 

The battery volunteered for service in the war with Spain and was mustered into federal service at Jefferson Barracks on May 9, 1898.  It moved to Camp George H. Thomas, Chicamauga, Ga., on May 21, 1898, and was attached to an artillery brigade.  It was part of the expedition which was sent to Porto Rico under General Miles, embarking on the Roumania at Newport News, Va., July 27, 1898, arriving at Arroyo, Porto Rico on August 8, 1898.  On August 12th it proceeded to Guayama and took up its position to open fire on the Spanish trenches and blockhouses.  Its guns had been loaded and sighted and the first shot was about to be fired when a courier arrived with a message announcing the signing of the protocol and the cessation of hostilities.  On August 27th it arrived at Ponce and remained there until September 7th, when it embarked on the transport Concho and arrived at New York September 15, 1898.  The battery reached St. Louis September 17, 1898, and was formally mustered out of federal service November 30, 1898.

 

Under the President’s order of June 18, 1916, Battery A reported at the state mobilization camp, near Nevada, and was mustered into federal service on June 25, 1916.  It departed for the Mexican Border on July 3, 1916, reaching Laredo on July 5, 1916.  It remained on duty in the Laredo District until December 18, 1916, when it moved to Ft. Riley, Kan., and was formally released from federal service on December 21, 1916.

 

 

BATTERY B (KANSAS CITY)

 

Battery B was organized on April 24, 1905, by Captain George R. Collins, who became its first commanding officer.  Captain Collins resigned on May 31, 1912, and was succeeded by Captain Harry M. Boyer on July 30, 1912.  Captain Arthur J. Elliott succeeded Captain Boyer

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Contrary (near St. Joseph), August 11-19, 1907; maneuvers at Ft. Riley, Kan., August 20-30, 1908; brigade camp, State Rifle Range, Nevada, July 14-28, 1909; practice march, leaving Kansas City July 17 and returning July 26, 1910; maneuvers at Sparta, Wis., September 10-19, 1911; maneuvers at Ft Riley, Kan., June 25-July 4, 1912; practice march to Belton; August 23-30, 1914; maneuvers at Ft. Riley, Kan., July 5-14, 1915.

 

Under the President’s order of June 18, 1916, the battery reported at the state mobilization camp near Nevada on June 22, 1916, and was mustered into federal service on June 25, 1916.  It entrained for the Mexican Border on July 3, 1916, and arrived at Laredo on July 5, 1916.  It remained on duty in Laredo district until December 18, 1916, when it moved to Ft. Riley, Kan., and was formally released from federal service on December 22, 1916.

 

 

BATTERY C (INDEPENDENCE)

 

Battery C was originally Company F, Third Regiment Infantry, which dates its organization from June 21, 1886.  Company F became Battery C, First Battalion, Missouri Field Artillery, on February 4, 1915.

 

Battery C attended the following camp of instruction:  maneuvers at Ft. Riley, Kan., June 24-July 3, 1915.

 

Under the President’s order of June 18, 1916, the battery reported at the state mobilization camp near Nevada on June 22, 1916, and was mustered into federal service on June 25, 1916, and was mustered into federal service on June 25, 1916.  It entrained for the Mexican Border on July 3, 1916, and arrived at Laredo on July 5, 1916.  It remained on duty in the Laredo district until December 18, 1916, when it moved to Ft. Riley, Kan., and was formally released from federal service on December 22, 1916.

 

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Missouri Genealogy Trails