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The Roster of the Gatling Gun Detachment

Vth Army Corps

Contributed by Patrick McSherry

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Click here for a brief history of the Gatling Gun Detachment
General:

The following is a roster of the Vth Army Corp's Gatling Gun Detachment, generally known as "Parker's Gatling Gun Detachment." The unit, unique in its origin and operation, saw action at the Battle of San Juan Hill, and were made famous by Theodore Roosevelt's actions at the battle. As the gatlings began to fire, some troops thought it was the Spanish machine guns, and Roosevelt yelled "It's the Gatlings, men, our Gatlings!" as Roosevelt noted in his account of the battle.

The members of the detachment were actually serving on detached service from the with own regiments. The following roster notes the regiment from which they were detached, and their position on the gun, designated by numbe. Each "number" had specific duties in operating the gun.

This roster represents the detachment as it existed on the day of the Battle of Santiago.

The Roster:

Officers:

Parker, John H., 1st Lt., 13th U.S. Infantry

Staff:

Weischaar, Alois, Acting 1st Sgt, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. A (relieved at own request)

Eyder, Willaim, Acting Quartermaster Sgt., 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. G

Detachments:

Gun #1:

Steigerwald, Charles C, Cpl., Acting Chief and Gunner, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. A

Privates:

No. 1- Voelker, 12th U.S. Infantry, Co. A
No. 2 – Elkins, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. D
No. 3 – Schmandt, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. G
No. 4 – Needles, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. E
No. 5 – Click, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. E
No. 6 – Jones, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. D
Driver – J. Shiffer, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. E
 

Gun #2:

Ryder, Wllliam, Sgt., Chief, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. G
Rose, George N., Cpl., Gunner, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. C

Privates:

No. 1- Seaman, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. B
No. 2 – Kastner, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. A
No. 3 – Pyne, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. H
No. 4 – Schulze, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. A
No. 5 – Barts, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. E
Driver – Correll, 12th U.S. Infantry, Co. C
 

Gun #3:

Green, Newton A., Sgt., Chief, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. H
Doyle, Matthew, Cpl., Gunner, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. C

Privates:

No. 1- Anderson, 12th U.S. Infantry, Co. C
No. 2 – Sine, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. E
No. 3 – Lauer, 12th U.S. Infantry, Co. C
No. 4 – Dellett, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. D
No. 5 – Cory, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. A
No. 6 – Greenberg, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. G
Driver – Merryman, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. A
 

Gun #4:

Weigle, John N., Sgt., Chief, 9th U.S. Infantry, Co. L (promoted to Acting 1st Sgt.)
Smith, Robert S., Cpl., Gunner, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. C

Privates:

No. 1- McGoin, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. D
No. 2 – Misiak, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. E
No. 3 – Power, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. A
No. 4 – McDonald, 17th U.S. Infantry, Co. B
No. 5 – Prazak, 12th U.S. Infantry, Co. E
Driver – Chase, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. H
 

Cook – Pvt. Hoft, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. D
Assistant Cook – Pvt. Bremer, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. G
Sick (at Tampa Florida) - Pvt. Murray, 13th U.S. Infantry, Co. F



Bibliography:

Parker, John Henry, History of the Gatling Gun Detachment. (Bibliobazaar, 2006) 62-63.


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