The Supreme Sacrifice Made by the 20th Kansas in the Spanish American War and Philippine Insurrection

The officers and enlisted men of the 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment were mustered into active duty for the Spanish American War and were held over for service in the Philippine Islands. The regiment became known as the “Fighting Twentieth” for their heroic battles against brutal insurgents during the Philippine Insurrection from February 4, 1899, to June 22, 1899.

20th Kansas at the Battle of Caloocan.
Painting by G.W. Peters, February 27, 1899, Manila, PI.Those Who Made The Supreme Sacrifice

Remembering Those Who Made The Supreme Sacrifice

The following members of the 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment were killed in action (KIA), died of wounds (DOW), or died of disease (DOD).

Company A was organized in Topeka in Shawnee County: Private Etcyl P. Blair, DOD; Private Reseil Manahan, KIA; Private Frank M. McFadden, DOD; Private Edward A. Rethemeyer, DOD; Private William L. Sullivan, KIA; Private John D. Young, DOD.

Company B was organized in Kansas City in Wyandotte County: First Lieutenant Alfred Cecil Alford, KIA; Sergeant Morris J. Cohen, KIA; Sergeant Sylvester F. Rothwell, DOD; Corporal Isaac C. Cooper, DOD); Private Lewis Wren Ferguson, DOD; Private Ivers J. Howard, KIA; Private Fred Leroy Maxfield, DOD; Private Louis Moon, DOD; Private Harlie Pearson, DOD; Private Marvin J. Powell, DOD; Private Charles B. Snodgrass, DOD.

Company C was organized in Leavenworth, in Leavenworth County: Corporal Frank I. Sample, DOW; Private Raymond B. Dawes, DOD; and Private Charles Graves, DOD.

Company D was organized in Pittsburg, Crawford County: Quartermaster Raymond Clark, DOD; Private Orlin L. Birlew, KIA; Private David L. Campbell, DOD; Private William Carroll, KIA; Private Troy E. Fairchild, KIA; and Private Larry Jones, KIA.

Company E was organized in LeRoy, Coffey County: Private Bert Cornett, DOD; Private Curran Clarence Craig, DOW; Private Albert Edgar Fergus, DOD; Private Joseph Mardick, DOD; Private Elmer E. McIntire, of Company E, DOD; Private John C. Muhr, DOW; Private Hiram L. Plummer, KIA.

Company F was organized in Fort Scott, Bourbon County: Sergeant Jarvis Drew, DOD; Corporal Robert M. Lee, DOD; Private Lewis R. Badger, DOD; Musician Oscar G. Thorne, KIA; Private John H. Bartlett, DOD; Private William H. Bash, DOD; Private Powhattan T. Hackett, DOD; Private Orville R. Knight, DOD; Private George H. Munro, KIA; Private Howard Olds, DOW; and Private Walter Leroy Sherburne, DOD.

Company G was organized in Independence, Montgomery County : Captain David Stewart Elliott, Commanding Officer of Company G, DOW; Second Lieutenant William A. McTaggart, KIA; Corporal James William McCulley, DOD; Cook John Scherrer, KIA; Cook Frederick C. Sharland, DOD; Private Albert S. Anibal, KIA; Private Sim F. Barber, DOD; and Private Alva L. Dix, KIA.

Company H was organized in Lawrence, Douglas County: Private Edward R. Hook, DOD; Private Charles A. King, DOD; Private Joseph A. Wahl, DOW; and Private Merton A. Wilcox, KIA.

Company I was organized in Paola and Osawatomie in Miami County: Sergeant Jay Sheldon, DOW; Private William Vancil, DOD; Private Adrian Hatfield, DOW; Private William Keeney, KIA; Private Richard Mapes (alias Dallas Day), DOD; Private George W. Mills, DOD; Private Guy Nebergall, DOD; Private Harry Pepper, DOD; and Private Alonzo V. Ricketts, KIA.

Company K was organized in Osawatomie in Miami County: Corporal Oscar Mallicoat, DOW; Private Fred Maxwell, DOD.

Company L was organized in Abilene in Dickinson County: Private Cecil Flowers, DOD; Private Clifford Knight Greenough, DOD; Private Norman E. Hand, DOD; Private John M. Ingenthron, DOD; Private James W. Kline, KIA; Private Ernest Ryan, DOW; Private Benjamin W. Squires, DOD; and Private Albert H. Terry, DOW.

Company M was organized in Salina in Saline County: Corporal Wilson H. McAllister, DOD; Private Henry H. Morrison, DOW; Private Charles Pratt, KIA; Private Samuel M. Wilson, KIA.