As the Spanish American War approached, the
U.S. Army Quartermaster Department began to plan for the tremendous logistical
problems presented by having to carry the U.S. Army, swelling in size,
to the enemy. The main emphasis was
on the Cuban Campaign. The possibility of sending an army to the Philippines
was not initially contemplated.
"Anticipating the possible needs of the Quartermaster's Department for ocean transportation fo the movement of troops and supplies to Cuba, early action was taken by this office [Quartmaster Department, Division of Transportation] communicating with the various American steamship companies conducting the ocean traffic on the Atlantic and Gul coasts to ascertain what vessels were available for charter for that purpose..."The Quartermaster's Department sent representatives to New York and various other locations to find vessels that would be suitable to charter. Using foresight, and acknowledging that the Army's Quartermaster Department was not the expert in purchasing ships, it requested that, whenever possible, respresentatives of the Navy accompany them to give their opinion on the suitability of the various ships.
Initially, from the declaration of war until June 30, the Quartermaster Department chartered 43 vessels for use on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts (total displacement of 104,201 tons, with a carrying capacity of 1,287 officers, 22,335 enlisted men and 6.746 horses and mules).
During the same period, the Quartermaster Department went to work trying to obtain transports for use on the Pacific coast. The move was somewhat belated, once the surprisingly complete naval victory at Manila Bay dictated the need for a land force. On the Pacific coast, obtaining transports was a more difficult task. First, though the steamship companies did agree to co-operate, most of the vessels were at sea in the vast Pacific, and waiting for them to arrive to be reviewed and contracted took time. Secondly, the Pacific transports would have to be larger and more substantial to carry the large number of men the 7,000 miles to the Philippines. This was not a short cruise as was the cruise to Cuba or Puerto Rico. From the declaration of war until June 30, the Quartermaster Department chartered 14 vessels for use on the Pacific coast (total displacement 41,152 tons, with a capacity of 629 officers and 13,059 enlisted men).
After obtaining the vessels, the Department had to modify the vessels to allow them to carry the troops. Sleeping accommodations had to be installed, stalls added for the animals, etc. Water tanks and electrical systems were upgraded, and fans added for ventilation. Galleys were upgraded to handle the large numbers of men, as were the sanitary facilities. Particular efforts were made to make the Pacific coast transports acceptable for their lengthy sojourn on the ocean since it was clearly understood that troops who arrived ill, could not be expected to fight. Later Pacific coast vessels were even equipped with refrigeration capabilities to enable fresh meat to be served aboard the vessel, and improved steaming capabilities (less roll).
In spite of the efforts of the Quartermaster Department, the transports were less than excellent. The crowding, the heat, insufficient sanitary facilities, and the resulting stench made the transports anything but pleasant.
Soon, however, it became apparent that still greater transport capacities would be needed as the estimates of the number of troops needed overseas continued to grow. On the Atlantic and Gulf coasts, four more vessels were located - the WANDERER, LA GRANDE DUCHESSE, TARPON and UTE - increasing the troop capacity to over 25,000 men. On the Pacific coast four more vessels were also located - the CITY OF RIO DE JANEIRO, PENNSYLVANIA, ST. PAUL, and TACOMA. The TACOMA was significant, and indicative of the difficult charter situation. She was was the only sailing vessel chartered by the Quartermaster Department. The remainder were all steamships.
As the demand for transports was still not met, an issue compounded by the U.S. Government's decision not to charter vessels of foreign registry, the Quartermaster Department was forced to take more drastic and long-term step. It had to purchase vessels outright.
Fourteen vessels were purchased by the Department for use on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts with two more purchased for use on the Pacific coast. The total cost of the vessels (not including refitting) was $6,231,000, a hefty amount for the period. These vessels had a capacity of 720 officers, 12,700 enlisted men, and 6,750 horses, mules, etc. Two of the purchased vessels were the RITA and the PANAMA, both of which had been captured by the U.S. Navy during the war, and sold as prizes.
The transport force was supplemented by some of the auxiliary cruisers of the Navy. These were oceanliners which were fitted with guns for use in the blockade. Many of these vessels spent a large amount of their time in transport duty. These included the HARVARD, YALE, ST. LOUIS and ST. PAUL and PANTHER.
The transport service was put to its heaviest test in the Cuban campaign. Luckily the trip to Cuba, once the vessels were finally able to leave port and Cervera's Spanish Squadron was blockaded in Santiago harbor, was uneventful. It was, however, very uncomfortable as the vessels sat in the hot sun with inadequate sewage control and a build up of animal wastes. The uneventfulness was surprising, since the transport fleet was disorganized, spread out and inadequately screened. An attack by a torpedo vessel could have been devastating.
Problems became apparent once the time arrived to land the troops. The vessels were not supplied with an adequate number of lighters or cutters for taking the troops to shore from the vessels. The Navy was forced to supply all the lighters it could and crewmen to man them, but the number was less than needed. This problem would continue to plague Shafter's supply lines throughout the Vth Corps' time in Cuba. In addition, no adequate facility was supplied for unloading the horses. The use of cranes with slings was found to be slow and dangerous to the horses, prompting Rough Rider Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt to snort "like a bull," and yell "stop that goddamned animal torture!" The horses were eventually simply herded overboard to fend for themselves. Some made it ashore, some did not (Roosevelt lost one of his two horses in this manner).
The lack of lighters is significant for another reason. Had the vessels been torpedoed, there were no boats provided for use by the troops to save themselves. The loss in life would have been tremendous.
In the final analysis, the transport costs totalled $7,804,016.67. A total of 92,836 men were transported from one point to another (this does not men 92,836 different men!). The number also includes the transport of Spanish prisoners.
The following is a list of some of the transports, and the troops they were known to have carried. Note that the transport numbers are based on the designations listed in Secretary of War Alger's account. This is the only comprehensive list. However, various accounts give conflicting accounts of transport numerical designations.
If you have information on a specific tranport (either listed or not yet listed) or on the troops they carried, let us know!
Click here for an account of life aboard
the ALAMO
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This vessel transported:
Battery
C, Pennsylvania Light Artillery from Puerto Rico to the U.S.
2nd
Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry (3 companies) from Puerto Rico to the
U.S. (New York City)
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following, consisting of 33 officers and 74 enlisted men:
10th U.S. Infantry (Headquarters,
Band, Companies C, D, E and G) from Tampa to Cuba
Engineers Battalion (Companies
C and E) from Tampa to Cuba
2nd U.S. Infantry Brigade,
1st Division Headquarters staff
10th
U.S. Cavalry (2 Troops)
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This vessel transported:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried:
Headquarters
of the Cavalry Division (General Joe
Wheeler) and enlisted men caring for the horses on board consisting
of 14 officers
and 80 enlisted men
Signal Corps
members (1)
Hospital
Corps members (5)
Midshipman
Royal of the U.S. Navy
Volunteer
aid Mr. Mestre
Clerk (Mr.
Wilson)
Correspondent
Cramer of the Atlanta Constitution (Mr. Cramer)
Correspondent
Leighton of the New York Journal (Mr. Leighton)
Horses (58)
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This vessel transported:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the transportation equipment for the 3rd U.S. Infantry including 2 officers and 13 enlisted men.
Colonel Astor home from Cuba
Click here for info. on the ARIZONA's
trip across the Pacific
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This vessel transported the following from Honolulu, Hawai'i to Manila, Philippines as part of the Fifth Philippine Expedition:
1st Colorado Volunteer
Infantry (1st, 2nd battalions, Company C)
1st
Nebraska Volunteer Infantry (part)
10th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry (part)
18th
U.S. Infantry, Companies I, K, L, M
Click here for a photo of the AUSTRALIA
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This vessel transported the following:
1st New York Volunteer Infantry (Companies A, B, D I, and L) from Honolulu to San Francisco, California
2nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry (part)from San Francisco to the Philippines as part of the First Philippine Expedition.
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This vessel transported the following:
34th Michigan Volunteer Infantry from Santiago, Cuba to Camp Wikoff, Long Island, New York.BAY STATE
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Click here to read an account
of life aboard Berkshire
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This vessel transported the following:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
14 officers and 268 enlisted men:
2nd U.S. Artillery, Battery
A to Cuba
2nd U.S. Artillery, Battery
F (officers, men and horses only) to Cuba
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This vessel transported the following:
9th U.S. Volunteer Infantry from the
U.S. to Cuba
1st Illinois Volunteer Infantry from
Santiago, Cuba to Camp Wikoff, Montauk Point,
Long Island, New York
1st U.S. Infantry from Camp Wikoff,
Montauk Point, Long Island, New York to New York City
2nd U.S. Infantry from Camp
Wikoff, Montauk Point, Long Island, New York to New York City
1st Kentucky Volunteer Infantry from
Puerto Rico to Newport News, Virginia.
Click here for a view of the BREAKWATER
seemingly aground at Siboney
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This vessel transported the following:
3rd U.S. Infantry from the U.S. to Cuba
12th U.S. Infantry (part) from Santiago, Cuba to Camp
Wikoff, Montauk, Long Island, New York
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(To read a report describing conditions on the CHEROKEE, click
here)
(To read a letter describing conditions on the CHEROKEE, click
here)
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For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
35 officers and 852 enlisted men:
7th U.S. Infantry (part) to Cuba
12th U.S. Infantry to Cuba
17th U.S. Infantry (3 companies and headquarters)
Vth Corps
(Parker's) Gatling Gun Detachment
Also transported the following:
U.S. Marine
Battalion (part) from Isle of Pines to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba
19th U.S. Infantry to Puerto Rico
Click here for images of the CHESTER
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This vessel transported:
4th Ohio Volunteer
Infantry to Puerto Rico
4th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry from Puerto Rico to the U. S.
General Thomas Schwan and staff from Ponce, Puerto
Rico to the U.S.
6th U.S. Volunteer Infantry from Puerto
Rico to Savannah, Georgia
Sixth U.S. Infantry from Camp Wikoff,
Montauk Point, Long Island, New York to New York City
Tenth U.S. Infantry from Camp Wikoff,
Montauk Point, Long Island, New York to New York City
Battery A, First U.S. Artillery from Camp
Wikoff, Montauk Point, Long Island, New York to New York City
Battery B, First U.S. Artillery from Camp
Wikoff, Montauk Point, Long Island, New York to New York City
Click here for an image of the CHINA
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This vessel was used to tranport the following during the 2nd Philippine Expedition (San Francisco to the Philippines):
Companies A and G, 18th U.S. Infantry
1st Colorado Volunteer Infantry
Utah Volunteer Light Artillery, Battery B, Sections 3, 4, 5.
U.S. Volunteer Engineers, Co. A
Click here for an image and description
of life aboard the CITY OF PARA
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This vessel tranported:
13th
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry from San Francisco to the Philippines
as part of the 3rd Philippine Expedition.
Click here for an image of the CITY
OF PEKING
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This vessel tranported:
1st
California Volunteer Infantry from San Francisco to Hawaii, Guam
and the Philippines as part of the First Philippine Expedition.
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This vessel tranported the following units as part of the 4th Philippine Expedition:
1st
California Volunteer Infantry (part)
1st
Wyoming Volunteer Infantry (part)
4th
U.S. Cavalry (part)
14th U.S. Infanrty, Companies
I, K, L & M
23rd
U.S. Infantry (part)
This vessel tranported the following units as part of the 5th Philippine Expedition:
1st Tennessee Volunteer
Infantry, Companies D, G, H, I, and K
2nd
Oregon Volunteer Infantry
6th
U.S. Artillery, Battery D
13th
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry (part)
18th
U.S. Infantry
23rd
U.S. Infantry
California Volunteer
Heavy Artillery
Nevada Cavalry, Troop
A
Click here for
an accunt of life aboard the CITY OF SIDNEY
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This vessel tranported the followng from San Francisco to Manila, via Hawaii and Guam as part of the First Philippine Expedition:
2nd
Oregon, Companies F, I, and M
14th U.S. Infantry, Companies
A C, D, E, and F
California Volunteer
Heavy Artillery, Batteries A and D
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This vessel was famous for being close by to the USS MAINE when she exploded in Havana Harbor. Boats were launched from the CITY OF WASHINGTON to help rescue survivors.
Click here to visit a site about the divable wreck of this ship.
This vessel tranported:
4th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry
to Puerto Rico (part of the regiment)
2nd Massachusetts Volunteer
Infantry - New York to Tampa (?)
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
33 officers and 751 enlisted men:
24th U.S. Infantry
to Cuba
21st U.S. Infantry, 1st Battalion to Cuba
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For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following:
2nd U.S. Infantry, Companies
B and D
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This vessel tranported as part of the Second Philippine Expedition
from San Francisco to Manila, Philippines:
Companies B, E of the
18th
U.S. Infantry
23rd
U.S. Infantry, Companies D, E, F and H
Utah Volunteer Artillery,
Battery A
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This vessel transported:
5th Artillery to Cuba
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
10 officers and 284 enlisted men:
7th U.S. Infantry, Company I, to Cuba
1st U.S. Artillery, Light Battery E
1st U.S. Artillery, Light Battery K
Baggage and rations for the 10th
U.S. Cavalry
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This vessel transported:
5th U.S. Artillery, Battery D from Puerto Rico to the U.S.
(To read a report describing conditions on the CONCHO, click
here)
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This vessel transported:
Battery B, Pennsylvania Light Artillery from Puerto Rico to New York, U.S.
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
53 officers and 1,034 enlisted men:
2nd Infantry brigade,
2nd Division, Headquarters to Cuba
2nd
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, Third Battalion
4th
U.S. Infantry to Cuba
25th U.S. Infantry to
Cuba
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This vessel transported:
7th U.S. Infantry, Companies
E, G and H from the U.S. to Cuba
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This vessel transported:
3rd U.S. Cavalry from
Cuba to Montauk Point, Long Island, NY (Camp
Wikoff)
6th
U.S. Cavalry from Cuba to Montauk Point, Long Island, NY (Camp
Wikoff)
GRANDE DUCHESSE (a.k.a LA GRAND DUCHESSE)
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This vessel transported:
71st New York Volunteers (part) from Cuba to Montauk Point, Long Island, NY (Camp Wikoff)
2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry from Charleston to Puerto Rico.
3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry from Charleston to Ponce, Puerto Rico
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HARVARD (note: HARVARD was a U.S. Navy vessel and not an Army Transport. It is merely included for completeness).
Click here for a history of the HARVARD
and info. on the "Harvard Incident"
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This vessel transported:
34th
Michigan Volunteer Infantry, (except Companies F, I, K and L)
from Fort Monroe, VA to Siboney, Cuba
Spanish prisoners
of war from Cuba to the U.S.
33rd Michigan Volunteer
Infantry (except Companies E and G) from Santiago, Cuba to Montauk Point,
New York
Click here for images of the HAVANA
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This vessel transported:
6th
Missouri Volunteer Infantry from Havana, Cuba to Savannah, Georgia
49th
Iowa Volunteer Infantry from Havana, Cuba to Savannah, Georgia
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This vessel transported:
1st Kentucky Volunteer
Infantry, Companies F, H, I,
K, L and M, from Newport News, Virginia to Mayaguez, Puerto Rico
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This vessel transported the following units from San Francisco to
the Philippines :
Companies D & H of
the 18th U.S. Infantry
23rd
U.S. Infantry, Co. B, C, G,
and L
(Volunteer?) Engineers
Battalion, Company A
North
Dakota Volunteer Infantry, Co H.
20th
Kansas Volunteer Infantry, Companies C, D, E, F, G, H, I, K, M (5th
Philippine Expedition)
Click here for an image of the 2nd U.S.
Infantry embarking on the IROQUOIS
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This vessel transported:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
38 officers and 722 enlisted men:
2nd Infantry Division Headquarters
to Cuba
3rd Infantry Brigade, 2nd Division
Headquarters to Cuba
7th U.S. Infantry (Companies
A, B, C, D, F and the Headquarters) to Cuba
17th U.S. Infantry (Companies
C, G, H, and K) to Cuba
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This vessel transported:
Company H, First District
of Columbia Volunteers (Engineers) (Tampa to Key West (to Cuba?))
Company A, First Illinois
Volunteers (Engineers)(Tampa to Key West (to Cuba?))
Pontoon Train (Tampa
to Key West (to Cuba?))
(To read a report describing conditions on the LEONA, click
here)
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This vessel transported:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
51 officers and 910 enlisted men:
Brig. Gen. Young and
Staff (headquarters 2nd Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry
Division) to Cuba
First
U.S. Cavalry (8 troops) to Cuba
Tenth
U.S. Cavalry (8 Troops) to Cuba
Vth
Corps (Parker's) Gatling Gun Detachment from Santiago, Cuba, to Camp
Wikoff, Long Island, New York.
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This vessel transported:
The "Governor's
Troop" of Pennsylvania Cavalry to Puerto Rico
Battery
A, Pennsylvania Light Artillery ("Keystone Battery") to Puerto
Rico
Battery
C, Pennsylvania Light Artillery to Ponce, Puerto Rico
"Sheridan
Troop," Pennsylvania Cavalry to Puerto Rico
"Governor's
Troop," Pennsylvania Cavalry to Puerto Rico
6th
Illinois Volunteer Infantry from Ponce, Puerto Rico
to Weehawken, New Jersey
4th Tennessee Volunteer
Infantry from Savannah, Georgia to Trinidad Cuba and Sancto Spiritus, Cuba
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21st U.S. Infantry (part) from Santiago,
Cuba to Camp Wikoff, Montauk, Long Island,
New York
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This vessel transported:
First
Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry from the Newport News to Ponce, Puerto
Rico.
Click here for an image of the MATTEAWAN
Click here for an account and photo of
the YUCATAN nearly ramming the MATTEAWAN
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This vessel transported:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
32 officers and 734 enlisted men:
Bates' Independent
Brigade Headquarters to Cuba
20th U.S. Infantry to
Cuba
2nd U.S. Cavalry (Troops
F and D) to Cuba
Click here for an image of the MIAMI
Click here to read
a report describing conditions on the MIAMI
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This vessel transported:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
55 officers and 919 enlisted men:
6th U.S. Infantry to
Cuba
9th U.S. Cavalry (8 Troops)
to Cuba
Signal Corps members
(Cavalry Division, 1st Brigade)
1st U.S. Volunteer Cavalry ("Rough Riders")
home from Cuba
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This vessel transported:
3rd Nebraska Volunteer Infantry from the U.S. to Cuba (December 31,
1898- January 2, 1899).
4th U.S. Artillery, Battery
B from Ponce, Puerto Rico to Savannah, Georgia.
5th U.S. Artillery, Battery
D from Ponce, Puerto Rico to Savannah, Georgia.
8th U.S. Artillery, Batteries
C and F from Ponce, Puerto Rico to Savannah, Georgia.
2nd U.S. Cavalry, Troop B from
Ponce, Puerto Rico to Savannah, Georgia.
6th U.S.
Cavalry, Troop F from Ponce, Puerto Rico to Savannah, Georgia.
8th
U.S. Infantry, Company F from Ponce, Puerto Rico to Savannah,
Georgia.
Click here for an image of the MINNEWASKA
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This vessel transported:
33rd Michigan Volunteer
Infantry, Companies E and G from Santiago, Cuba to Montauk Point, Camp
Wikoff, New York
1st District of Columbia
Volunteer Infantry from Santiago, Cuba to Montauk Point, New York
6th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry from Charleston, South Carolina to Cienfuegos,
Cuba
49th
Iowa Volunteer Infantry from Savannah, Georgia to Havana, Cuba
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This vessel transported:
Troop A and C of the
New York Cavalry From Purto Rico to Jersey City, NJ
"First
Troop, Philadelphia City Cavalry" from Ponce, Puerto Rico to Jersey
City, NJ and Philadelphia, PA
"Governor's
Troop" Pennsylvania Cavalry from Puerto Rico to Jersey City, NJ
"Sheridan
Troop" Pennsylvania Cavalry from Puerto Rico to Jersey City, NJ
Battery
A, PA Artillery from Puerto Rico to Jersey City, NJ
6th
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry from San Juan, Puerto Rico to Boson,
Massachusetts
6th
U.S. Volunteer Infantry from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico
Click here for an image of the MOBILE
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This vessel transported:
16th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry from Charleston, South Carolina, to Puerto Rico
6th
Illinois Volunteer Infantry, Co. D and M, from Charleston, South Carolina,
to Puerto Rico
8th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry from Santiago, Cuba to Montauk Point, New York
22nd
U.S. Infantry from Santiago, Cuba to Montauk Point, New York
9th
Illinois Volunteer Infantry from Savannah, Georgia to Havana, Cuba
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This vessel transported:
8th
Ohio, Company from Santiago, Cuba to Montauk Point, Long Island, New
York.
11th
U.S. Infantry Co. C from Port Tampa to Puerto Rico
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Click here to read an account
of life aboard the MORGAN CITY
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This vessel transported the following as part of the Third Philippine Expedition
1st
Idaho Volunteer Infantry
1st
Nebraska Volunteer Infantry (part)
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This vessel transported the following as during an early Philippine Expedition:
3rd U.S. Artillery, Batteries
H, K
Astor Battery
This vessel transported the following as during the Fifth Philippine Expedition:
1st
Washington Volunteer Infantry (part)
23rd
U.S. Infantry (part)
20th
Kansas Volunteer Infantry, Companies A, B, F, L
California Heavy Artillery
Wyoming Volunteer Artillery,
Battery A
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OBDAM (Click here for a brief account of life aboard the OBDAM)
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This vessel transported:
3rd Nebraska Volunteer Infantry,
Headquarters staff of the 1st Battalion staff (1st Battalion) which included the 3rd Nebraska Volunteer Infantry and some men of the 6th Missouri 1st Battalion from Savanna, Georgia to Cuba.
2nd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry(9 companies) from Puerto Rico to the U.S. (New York City)
3rd Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, from Charleston to Ponce, Puerto Rico
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This vessel transported the following from San Francisco to the Philippines as part of the 3rd Philippine Expedition:
1st
Wyoming Volunteer Infantry (part of the unit)
3rd U.S. Artillery, batteries
G, L
Headquarters staff, and
companies C, F, and I of the 18th U.S. Infantry
This vessel transported the following from San Francisco to the Philippines as part of the 5th Philippine Expedition:
1st
Montana Volunteer Infantry (part of the unit)
1st
Washington Volunteer Infantry, Companies A, B, C, D, E, H, K, and M
2nd
Oregon Volunteer Infantry
4th U.S. Cavalry
23rd
U.S. Infantry
California Heavy Artillery
Detachment (part of the unit)
Click here for an account of a trip on ORIZABA
Click here to read
a report describing conditions on the ORIZABA
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This vessel transported:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
35 officers and 622 enlisted men:
2nd Massachusetts Volunteer
Infantry (one battalion)
22nd U.S.
Infantry from Tampa to Cuba.
4th U.S. Artillery, Batteries
G and H (Siege Artillery battalion)
USS PANTHER (note: PANTHER was a U.S. Navy vessel and not an Army Transport. It is merely included for completeness).
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This vessel transported:
First
Marine Battalion to Cuba
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This vessel transported the following from the U.S. to the Philippines:
1st
California Volunteer Infantry (part)
1st
Montana Volunteer Infantry (part)
1st
Nebraska Volunteer Infantry (part)
14th U.S. Infantry
18th
U.S. Infantry
51st
Iowa Volunteer Infantry
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This vessel transported the following from the U.S. to the Philippines as part of the 4th Philippine Expedition:
4th
U.S. Cavalry (part)
6th U.S. Artillery, Batteries
D and G
Click here for an image of the RIO GRANDE
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This vessel transported:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
49 officers and 882 enlisted men:
1st Cavalry Brigade,
Cavalry
Divsion, headquarters (General Sumner and staff)
Lt. Col. Joseph Maxfield
(Balloon Signal Detachment) and his balloon apparatus to Cuba (part).
3rd U.S. Cavalry (8 Troops)
to Cuba
6th
U.S. Cavalry (8 Troops) to Cuba
General Sumner and staff
Click here for a letter written
aboard the RIO DE JANEIRO
Click here the plan of the day aboard
the RIO DE JANEIRO
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The vessel reverted back to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company after the war. On February 22, 1901, the vessel was approaching San Francisco, inbound from Hong Kong and Yokohoma, in a fog. Against the suggestions of the pilot, the vessel's captain, William Ward, did not stop the vessel and wait for the conditions to clear while approaching the Golden Gate. Being slightly off course to the south, she struck the rocks near Land's End and Fort Point and sunk in eighteen minutes, with only 81 of her 210 passengers and crew being rescued. One of the major issues was that the Asian crew was unable to understand the orders of the English-speaking officers in the crisis, resulting in lifeboats not being launched, and confusion. There also had been inadequate training in the launching of the boats. The vessel sunk in 320 feet of water. It is now listed on the National Register and is owned by the State of California's State lands Commission.
This vessel transported the following units from San Francisco to Manila, Philippines as part of the 4th Philippine Expedition:
1st
Montana Volunteer Infantry (part of the unit)
1st
South Dakota Volunteer Infantry
Utah Volunteer Light
Artillery (part of the unit)
Click here for an account of the RITA
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This vessel transported the following:
6th
Illinois Volunteer Infantry Co.C, E(?) G, H K, and L (Charleston, South
Carolina to, Cuba and then to Puerto Rico)
Click here for a stereoview of the ROUMANIAN
Click here for an
account of life aboard ROUMANIAN
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This vessel transported:
Battery
B, Pennsylvania Light Artillery from Newport News, Virginia to Puerto
Rico
Battery A, Missouri Volunteer
Artillery from Newport News, Virginia to Puerto Rico
27th
Battery, Indiana Volunteer Artillery from Newport News, Virginia to
Puerto Rico
6th
Missouri, 2nd and 3rd battalions from Savannah, Georgia to Cuba
1st
North Carolina Volunteer Infantry to Havana, Cuba
2nd
South Carolina Volunteer Infantry from Savannah, Georgia to Havana,
Cuba
8th
U.S. Infantry from Camp Wikoff, Montauk
Point, Long Island, New York to Alabama
16th U.S. Infantry from
Camp
Wikoff, Montauk Point, Long Island, New York to Alabama
Click here for more info. on this vessel
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This vessel transported:
9th
U.S. Infantry from Santiago, Cuba to Montauk Point, Long Island, NY
(Camp Wikoff)
10th U.S. Infantry from
Santiago, Cuba to Montauk Point, Long Island, NY (Camp
Wikoff)
71st New York Volunteer
Infantry (2 companies) from Santiago, Cuba to Montauk Point, Long Island,
NY (Camp Wikoff)
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This vessel transported the following as part of the Fourth Philippine Expedition:
1st Colorado Volunteer
Infantry (part)
1st
South Dakota Volunteer Infantry
13th
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry (recruits)
Click here for more info. on this vessel
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This vessel transported:
2nd U.S. Infantry from
Cuba to Montauk Point, Long Island, NY (Camp
Wikoff)
71st New York Volunteer
Infantry (part) from Cuba to Montauk Point, Long Island, NY (Camp
Wikoff)
4th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry from Hampton Roads to Puerto Rico
8th
Ohio Volunteer Infantry from New York to Cuba
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This vessel transported:
2nd
U.S. Infantry (1 Battalion)
16th U.S. Infantry from
Tampa to Cuba
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This vessel transported the following:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
51 officers and 739 enlisted men:
1st
Infantry Divsion Headquarters, Staff and Guard (General Kent)
9th
U.S. Infantry from Port Tampa, Florida to Daiquiri, Cuba
10th U.S. Infantry, First
Battalion (Co. A, B, F, H)
4th
U.S. Infantry from Santiago, Cuba to the U.S.
(To read a report describing conditions on the SARATOGA, click
here)
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This vessel transported the following:
13th U.S. Infantry
21st U.S. Infantry (headquarters, band
and Companies C, D,E, and H)
Division Hospital #3 (Maj. LaGarde, surgeon)
Headquarters, 3rd Infantry Brigade, 1st
Division
160th Indiana Volunteer Infantry from Charleston,
South Carolina to Matanzas, Cuba
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This vessel transported the following as part of the Fourth Philippine Expedition:
1st
MontanaVolunteer Infantry (part)
1st
New York Volunteer Infantry (Headquarters, band, and Companies A, B,
part of Company D from San Francisco to Honolulu
California Volunteer
Heavy Artillery detachment
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This vessel transported:
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
33 officers and 477 enlisted men and 5 oberservers:
1st U.S. Infantry
Balloon Signal Detachment
(part)
General
Shafter and his staff (5th Corps
Headquarters)
Foreign military observors
to Cuba
Click here for an image and account of life
aboard SENECA
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This vessel transported:
4th
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry to Puerto Rico (part of regiment)
71st New York Volunteer
Infantry to from New York to Hoboken (?)
For the invasion of Cuba, she carried the following consisting of
32 officers and 656 enlisted men:
2nd
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry
8th
U.S. Infantry (2 companies)
Headquarters 1st Infantry
Brigade, 2nd Division
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This vessel transported the following as part of the Second Philippine Expedition:
1st Nebraska Volunteer Infantry (part)
This vessel transported the following as part of the Fifth Philippine Expedition:
1st
Montana Volunteer Infantry
1st
Nebraska Volunteer Infantry (part)
1st
South Dakota Volunteer Infantry
1st Tennessee Volunteer
Infantry
13th
Minnesota Volunteer Infantry (part)
14th U.S. Infantry, (detachment)
18th
U.S. Infantry (detachment)
20th
Kansas Volunteer Infantry
23rd
U.S. Infantry, Companies A, I, K, M
California Volunteer
Artillery, Battery D.
This vessel as transported part of the 10th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry to the U.S. from the Philippines
This vessel transported the 51st Iowa Volunteer
Infantry from Manila to San Francisco in 1899.
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The vessel carried sick soldiers from Camp
Wikoff to New York City.
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