Harrison County, Missouri - Chapter 26: Spanish-American War and Mexican Border Trouble, 1921

ORGANIZATION OF COMPANY G, FOURTH REGIMENT - OFFICERS - MUSTER ROLLVACANCIES FILLED - COMPANY CALLED TO MEXICAN BORDER - MOBILIZATION AT NEVADA - ENTERTAINED BY CITIZENS AT BETHANY - OFFICERS - PRIVATES - CHRISTMAS ON THE BORDERS-OFFICERS AND PRIVATES AT THAT TIME - SPANISH AMERICAN WAR - COMPANY D. FOURTH UNITED STATES VOLUNTEERS - OFFICERS AND MEN.

A meeting was held in Bethany, on Thursday, January 29, 1914, both afternoon and night in the K. P. Castle Hall for the purpose of examing recruits for a militia company, to be organized in our city. About eighty had signed the muster roll and a company was assured.

Major D. W. Stepp and Lieutenant Belshe of Trenton, were here at this meeting and the organization of Company G, Missouri National Guard, was perfected with a membership of more than sixty. The following officers were elected at this time: Captain, Randall Wilson; First Lieutenant, F. M. FVisby; Second Lieutenant, W. P. Bryant.

Tuesday, March 9, 1915, Company G held an election at their armory for the purpose of electing a first lieutenant, the vacancy being caused by the resignation of Lieutenant F. M. Frisby. Lieutenant W. P. Bryant was nominated and as no other nominations were announced was elected first lieutenant, unanimously. Lieutenant Bryant made good as second lieutenant, and was well deserving of his new office. The office of first lieutenant being filled the second lieutenant's office was open and Sergeant Axline, Sergeant Kavanaugh, Corporal Crouch were nominated. Sergeant Axline being elected by a vote of twenty-two of the members of Company G. The Bethany papers in speaking of the promotion of Axline said : "There was not a better qualified or more deserving member of the company than Sergeant Axline for second lieutenant."

There were several non-commissioned offices vacant at this time and were appointed in the near future best men of company. Then followed a period of weekly drills and a state encampment and on June 8, 1916, Captain Wilson received official communication that men would receive $1.00 per drill and same to go into effect July 1.

In June, 1916, Company G was called to the colors by order of the President and sent to the Mexican border to protect the lives and property of the citizens of the United States from outrages that were being committed by Mexican outlaws.

were ready to move to their point of mobilization, Nevada, Missouri, and all members of the company who were willing to take the oath of loyalty to the United States, were under arms to be sent to the Mexican border. At this time there was no law to compel any member of the National Guard to take the oath and leave his state to engage in warfare.

A banquet and entertainment was given Company G Tuesday, June 20, 1916, under the auspices of Bethany Commercial Club. There were fathers, mothers, wives, brothers, sisters and sweethearts at the entertainment which followed the banquet, and while the occasion was a sad one, all were of the opinion that "our boys" were going forth in defense of the grand old Flag - ^the Flag of flags.

"Whereas - Company G, National Guard of Missouri, has been called to protect and defend the flag of our country, because of differences arising between our neighbor republic, Mexico and ourselves ; be it

"Resolved - We the citizens of Bethany and Harrison County, State of Missouri, most heartily endorse the patriotism and readiness shown by Company G, National Guard of Missouri, to protect the flag, which stands for Freedom, Home and Country. Be it further

"Resolved - While we regret the unfortunate circumstances necessitating this call to arms, which takes from our midst the youth and bloom of our manhood. Having true confidence in their ability, bravery and patriotism, we humbly bow and bid them God-speed."

eight new recruits. The following was the roster of Company G who went to Nevada. Several did not sign up for service out of the state and returned home before the rest of the company went on to the border.

At this time Captain Wilson, commanding Company G, had under his command the following officers and men : First Lieutenant - William P. Bryant. Second Lieutenant - Arthur A. Axline. First Sergeant - Leslie Porter. Mess Sergeant - Carlisle R. Wilson. Supply Sergeant - Herman L. Kavanaugh.

A number of "G" boys signed up for service out of the state for duration of their original enlistment only, and as their time expired they returned home and took up their various walks in life, some in stores, in banks, in offices, others back to their Work in school. But in March, 1917, all the boys were home from border sei-vice. At this time another great banquet was given by the Commercial Club and many had the opportunity to hear Captain Wilson's interesting speech wherein he gave a brief synopsis of what his company had done. Captain Wilson saying "Not a better company on border."

When the United States declared war against Spain, Harrison County responded promptly. Company D, Fourth Regiment, under Capt. J. F. Slinger, left Bethany for service on May 10, 1898. This company spent several months in various military cantonments, although it never saw any service out of the United States.

Tuesday, May 10, 1898, is a day long remembered in the history of Bethany for it was the day when Company D, Fourth Regiment Missouri National Guards started for the Missouri troops rendezvous at Jefferson Barracks, St. Louis. The Saturday before Captain Slinger had received orders to have his company ready to entrain on Tuesday, and immediately plans were laid to give the boys a pleasant send-off. A dinner was prepared by the Bethany ladies and served in the armory. Promptly at noon Company D assembled at the bugle call and Chief Marshall R. H. Wren and his aides, John M. McPherson, Jere Weidner and Joseph Newland, formed the procession to escort the company to the depot. It is said that in that day there had never before been such a crowd in Bethany. Below are the names and addresses of the members of the company :