Archives West Finding Aid

When President McKinley called for volunteers to fight in the Spanish-American War, Montana had two organized military units: the First Montana Volunteer Infantry and one squadron of cavalry made up of Troops F, L, M and I. These two units were mustered into service in Helena, Montana, on May 7, 8, and 9, 1898. The first Montana Volunteer Infantry proceeded to San Francisco, California, and on July 19, 1898, sailed for the Philippine Islands. These troops were in active service until August 23, 1899, when they returned to California. On October 17, 1899, this unit was mustered out of service. The cavalry troops proceeded to Camp Thomas, Georgia, and were consolidated there with the Third U.S. Volunteer Cavalry (known as Grigsby's Rough Riders). These troops remained in Georgia without seeing action until September 8, 1898, when they were mustered out of service. After returning to Montana, several "camps" of veterans were organized and joined the National Association of Spanish-American War Veterans. Camps were chartered in Butte, Bozeman, Billings, Great Falls, Lewistown, Kalispell, Anaconda, and Helena. In 1901 Comrade C.F. Lloyd was commissioned by the commander-in-chief of the national organization to organize the Montana camps into the Department of Montana. The first meeting for this purpose was called on June 19, 1902, in Great Falls. Lloyd was made provisional department commander. The National Association of Spanish-American War Veterans joined with the National Army and Navy Spanish War Veterans and the National Encampment Servicemen of the Spanish War to form the United Spanish War Veterans. Membership in United Spanish War Veterans was only available to those men having a "certificate of honorable discharge from the armies and navies of the nation during the Spanish-American War, the Philippine Insurrection, or the China Relief Expedition."