From Iowa to the Philippines; A History of Company M, Fifty-First Iowa Infantry Volunteers: Being a compilation of letters written to the Red Oak Express, a complete account of the Company's life in camp and on the battlefield, from the organization to the description given upon its return from the campaign in the Philippine Islands. Biographical sketches of the members who died in service, and of assistant engineer Darwin R. Merritt, who lost his life in the blowing up of the U. S. Battleship Maine. Brief sketch of Company B. Some events of the war.
Red Oak, IA: The Thos. D. Murphy Co., 1900. Presumed First Edition, First Printing. Hardcover. The format is approximately 6.625 inches by 8 inches. xiv, 15-320 pages. Illustrations. Maps. Sketch of Lieutenant Herbert C. Lane. Roster of Company M. Sketch of Company B. Roster of Company B. Bob and Drewry. Frontispiece shows members of Company M. Cover has some wear and soiling. Some page foxing and minor soiling. No dust jacket present. Joseph I. Markey (April 15, 1868 - June 2, 1930) served in the 51st Iowa Infantry Volunteers, and saw action in the Philippines during the Spanish American War. He would go on to authored a book about his military unit called "From Iowa To The Philippines". Joe Markey's ardent readers knew him as "Marque." Born in 1867 in Chillicothe, Missouri, he grew up in Red Oak, Iowa. A young man of considerable writing talent, he joined The Horse Review in 1901. In twenty-nine years with the famed journal he established himself as the foremost turf writer of the era. Markey was justly celebrated as one of the most careful and accurate judges of trotters, having been the first to predict stardom for the likes of Lou Dillon, Uhlan and Peter Manning. He was a prime mover in the establishment of the Hambletonian Stake and served as the first secretary of The Hambletonian Society, sponsor of this greatest of races for three-year-old trotters. Joe Markey died in 1930 after several years of ill health. The 51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment was raised in Iowa in 1898 for service in the Philippines Theater of the Spanish–American War. The volunteers trained in Iowa and San Francisco at Camp Merritt near the Presidio, where a monument to the regiment still stands. While in California nearly 27 men died from disease, which made disease the leading cause of death amongst the men. From California they embarked on the SS Pennsylvania for Manila. After a lengthy and illness plagued voyage, the regiment arrived and were made to wait on board ship near Cavite. Of the 1,344 who served, 2 died in combat, 41 died of disease, 38 were wounded, 81 were discharged on disability, and 1 deserted. The regiment left for the United States on September 22, 1899, arrived 30 days later, and on November 2, was released after 18 months of duty. This book chronicles the wartime experiences of Company M, an Iowa National Guard regiment that fought in the Spanish-American War and the Philippine-American War. The author, a correspondent for a local newspaper, provides a firsthand account of the regiment’s journey from its formation to its return home. Along the way, he captures the camaraderie, patriotism, and horrors of war, as well as the impact it had on the men and their families. The book offers a glimpse into a forgotten chapter of American history, shedding light on the sacrifices made by ordinary citizens in extraordinary times, and highlights the complexities and human cost of war through the eyes of those who fought it. From information found online: The 51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry served in the continental U.S. during most of the Spanish American War. As the war ended, the regiment was sent to the Philippines, where it took part in the ensuing Philippine American War. The 51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry was mustered into service at Des Moines, Iowa on May 30, 1898. At the time of mustering in, the regiment consisted of fifty officers and 789 enlisted men. Within days of being mustered in, the regiment was sent west to San Francisco, with portions of the regiment leaving Des Moines on June 5. The entire regiment arrived in California by June 10. On August 1, the regiment was relocated from Camp Merritt the Presidio (Camp Merriam). Spain and the United States reached an armistice effectively ending the war's fighting on August 13, 1898. On November 2, the regiment embarked on the transport PENNSYLVANIA bound for the Philippines. The regiment arrived at Manila on December 7. The war officially ended three days later with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The regiment continued to stay aboard the PENNSYLVANIA, and continued to stay aboard the transport until January 31, when it arrived back at Cavite, near Manila. Finally, the men were permitted to go ashore and go into quarters on February 3, 1899. The regiment was attached to the Second Brigade, Fourth Division of the Eighth Army Corps. The day after the men set foot on Philippine soil, the Philippine American War broke out. The regiment took part in the advance on San Roque on February 9, and was transferred to the Second Brigade, Second Division of the same Corps on April 14. The following day, the regiment went on campaign, taking part in actions at Quingua River, and Pulilan (April 24), Calumpit (April 25), Santo Tomas (May 4), San Fernando (May 5), and other actions in the vicinity until July 4. The regiment took part in the advance on Calulut on August 9, and served on outpost duty in that vicinity until September 6. On that date, the regiment returned to Manila. On September 22, 1899, the regiment sailed for the U.S. aboard the transport SENATOR, arriving in San Francisco's Presidio on October 22. On November 2, 1899, the 51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry was mustered out of service at San Francisco. During its term of service, the regiment lost one officer to suicide and 39 enlisted men to disease. In addition, 89 men were discharged on disability. Remarkably, the regiment only had one man desert. Condition: Good.
Keywords: 51st Iowa Infantry Volunteers, Spanish-American War, Camp Merritt, Military Training, SS Pennsylvania, Philippine-American, National Guard, Company M, Company B, Combat Operations, Cavite, War Correspondent, Presidio, Camp Merriam, Iloilo, Second Bri
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