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

THIRD MISSOURI INFANTRY
 

The Third Regiment was organized at Kansas City on April 3, 1886, with the following companies: Company A (Scott Rifles, formerly the McPherson Guards), Captain Alfred Brandt; Company B (Bullene Guards), Captain William Kelly; Company C (Marmaduke Guards), Captain John S. Perkins; Company D, Captain Thomas A. Harris; Company E, Captain Charles T. Swegler; Company F (Independence), Captain Josiah N. Lee. The field officers were Colonel Milton Moore, Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel F. Scott, Major W. D. Langstreet and Major Thomas Phelan. Colonel Moore was succeeded on May 7, 1891, by Colonel L. E. Irwin. Colonel Irwin was succeeded by Colonel Nathaniel P. Simonds on July 12, 1893. Colonel Simonds was succeeded by Colonel George P. Gross October 24, 1895.Upon the reorganization of the regiment after the Spanish-American war, Colonel Fred W. Fleming was made its regimental commander and served until January 12, 1901, when he was succeeded by Colonel Cusil Lechtman. Colonel Lechtman was succeeded by Colonel Fred A. Lamb on January 1, 1913. During Colonel Lamb's administration the regiment was refused federal recognition and disbanded. It was reorganized and again recognized by the Militia Bureau while in the mobilization camp at Nevada in June, 1916, and Colonel Philip J. Kealy was commissioned Colonel June 29, 1916.

While the regiment dates its organization from April 3, 1886, several of its companies had been in existence for a number of years prior to that time. The McPherson Guards was organized August 1, 1881, and its name changed to the Scott Rifles in 1885. The Bullene Guards was organized October 8, 1884, and the Marmaduke Guards September 15, 1884. The regiment has participated in the following camps of instruction: state camp, "Camp Marmaduke" at Sweet Springs, July 1217, 1886; regimental camp, Excelsior Springs, July 21-29, 1890; brigade camp, Lake Contrary (near St. Joseph), August 10-16, 1891; provisional brigade camp at Springfield, July 15-22, 1894, with Second Infantry; regimental camp, Pertle Springs (near Warrensburg), July 19-26, 1896; regimental camp, Excelsior Springs, July 17-24, 1897; brigade camp, Springfield, July 15-22, 1900; brigade camp, Nevada, July 21-28, 1901; provisional brigade camp with Fourth Regiment, 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; maneuvers at Fort Riley, Kansas, August 25-September 3, 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; brigade camp, State Rifle Range (Nevada), August 20-27, 1911; brigade camp, Nevada, July 7-13, 1912; brigade camp, State Rifle Range, Nevada, August 24-31, 1913; brigade camp, State Rifle Range Nevada, July 12-19, 1914; regimental camp, Excelsior Springs, August 1-8, 1915.

The regiment participated in the ceremonies incident to the funeral of General William T. Sherman at St. Louis February 21, 1891. Two provisional companies from the regiment attended the dedication of the World's Fair at Chicago, October 20-22, 1892. It also participated in the dedication of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, April 30, 1903, and camped with the Missouri Brigade on the grounds of the Exposition from October 5 to 15, 1904.

The regiment volunteered for service under the call of the President on the declaration of war against Spain and was mustered into federal service at Jefferson Barracks May 14, 1898, as the Third Missouri Volunteer Infantry. It moved to Camp Alger, Va., May 26, 1898, and remained there until August 23, 1898, when it moved to Camp Meade, Pa. The regiment left Camp Meade September 6, 1898, and was mustered out of federal service at Kansas City November 7, 1898. The field officers during the service of the regiment in the Spanish-American war were, Colonel George P. Gross, Lieutenant-Colonel Charles E. Wager, Major Fred W. Fleming, Major Sidney E. Kelsey and Major Thomas H. Slavens. The following companies constituted the regiment during that service: Company A (Kansas City), Captain Paul Shepard; Company B (Kansas City) Captain Edwin J. Griffith; Company C (Kansas City), Captain Fred A. Lamb; Company D (Kansas City), Captain Allen C. Kinneard; Company E ( Kansas City), Captain John W. Miller; Company F (Independence), Captain William H. Ward; Company G (Kansas City), Captain Schulyer C. Kelly; Company H (Kansas City), Captain Jerome M. Stuart; Company I (Kansas City), Captain Cusil Lechtman; Company K (Kansas City), Captain Fred. A. Thompson; Company L (Kansas City), Captain Charles T. Schwegler; Company M (Kansas City), Captain Alexander M. Casey.

In June, 1903, occurred the greatest flood in the history of Kansas City and a situation existed with which the civil authorities were unable to cope. The waters covered the railroad yards and the lower portions of the city and hundreds of its inhabitants were rendered homeless. The water supply and the light system of the city were threatened and in this situation the regiment was called out on June 1, 1903, and remained on duty until June 8, 1903. During this time it rendered the very greatest service, not only in maintaining law and order, but in assisting in the work of rescue.

Under the President's order of June 18, 1916, the companies of the regiment were mobilized at Nevada on June 23, 1916. Shortly prior to the call federal recognition had been withdrawn from the regiment and it became necessary to reorganize it on reaching the mobilization camp. This was done and it was mustered into federal service on July 7, 1916. It departed for the Border on July 8, 1916, and arrived at Laredo July 10, 1916. It remained on duty in Laredo District until September 2, 1916, when it returned to Camp Clark, near Nevada, and was finally released from federal service September 26, 1916.

 

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