Historical Era : 1899-1917
Spanish-American War
In 1898, the regiment was located in Washington and Idaho when it was called to war once again. From Forts Sherman and Spokane troops of the 16th Infantry were railed from those posts in the Great Northwest to a temporary stay at Camp Thomas, Georgia where it was brigaded with other units in the new V Corps. From there it was sent to board ships at Tampa, Florida for service against the Spanish in Cuba. On 1 July 1898, during the advance on Santiago, a New York volunteer regiment refused to advance any further toward a well-placed Spanish position. The soldiers of the 16th Infantry surged along the jungle trail stepping over the prostrate militiamen and headed for the fight. Though suffering casualties from accurate fire, the regiment formed at the base of San Juan Hill and prepared for the final attack. The objective was a blockhouse on the top of the hill which was reinforced by enemy troops in well-prepared trenches. After his regiments were deployed for the assault, the brigade commander, Brigadier General Hamilton Hawkins moved to the front and announced, "Boys the time has come. Every man who loves his country, forward and follow me!" Hawkins turned to the 16th Infantry's regimental bugler, Private Henry C. Schroeder, to sound the charge. With fixed bayonets, the the men of the 16th cut and climbed their way through barbed wire entanglements and pushed up the hill under heavy fire. Once on top, they killed the defenders or drove them off the backside of the hill. A new laurel of honor was earned when Sergeant John P. Diehl and Corporal William G. Van Horne were the first to raise the US and regimental flags on the blockhouse. The battle and subsequent siege of Santiago were not without cost. The 16th Infantry suffered fourteen killed and 115 wounded by Spanish fire during the just the assault. Many others died later of wounds and disease.
American Travelers
After the capitulation of Santiago, the regiment returned to the U.S. shores and was stationed at Fort Crook, Nebraska and Jefferson Barracks, Missouri. However it was not long before events called the 16th Infantry to face America’s enemies once again. The regiment next sailed to the Philippines in June 1899 to help quell the emerging insurrection in the newly won Philippine Islands. During this tour in the Philippines, SGT Henry Schroder (who had been the regimental bugler at San Juan Hill) won the Medal of Honor for his actions at Carig, Philippine Islands on 14 September 1899. In this action he led 22 soldiers in the defeat of 400 insurgents, killing 36 and wounding 90. In 1902, after quelling unrest in the northeastern reaches of the island of Leyte, the 16th returned to the U.S. and served at Fort McPherson, Georgia, until May 1905, when it was again dispatched to the Philippines. This time, the 16th Infantry served a rather uneventful tour at Fort William McKinley near Manila. The regiment returned to the U.S. in 1907, and once again served at Fort Crook, Nebraska. In 1910, the 16th was sent to Alaska to assist in keeping public order in the Alaska gold fields. Two years later, the regiment was assigned to the Presidio of San Francisco where it remained until trouble broke out along the Mexican border. From March 1916 to January 1917, the 16th campaigned with Brigadier General John J. Perishing as part of the Punitive Expedition into Mexico to capture or kill Francisco “Pancho” Villa for his recent attack on Columbus, New Mexico. While the campaign was unsuccessful in its efforts to punish Villa for his lawless activities, this campaign afforded the regiment an opportunity to prepare itself for the rigors of wartime field duty. This was an opportune event, for the "Great War" loomed on the horizon….
Punitive Expedition in Mexico
16th Infantry During the Punitive Expedition in Mexico
16th Infantry During the Punitive Expedition in Mexico
16th Infantry During the Punitive Expedition in Mexico