Wyoming
State Archives

Remembering a Past And Distant War

The sinking of the US Maine in Havana harbor on February 15, 1898, led to the outbreak of war in April between Spain and America. It was a short war, lasting three months. US Secretary of State John Jay called it, “A Splendid Little War” but in many ways the Spanish-American War proved anything but “little.”At the conclusion, the United States emerged as a world power.

This April marks the 100th anniversary of the Spanish-American war. Florida is the only state that has opted to commemorate this historical event. This is not too surprising since Florida was the staging ground for military operations in the Caribbean and thus witnessed a sudden cultural transformation due to the influx of men and material within its borders.

There is no reason Wyoming should ignore this centennial event. Obviously, Wyoming is geographically far from Florida, the Caribbean, and the Philippines. Yet the war fever was just as strong here as anywhere else. Newspapers of the day echoed public sentiment and enthusiasm for war. Governor William A. Richards was flooded with requests from old and young Wyoming men who wanted to join in what they perceived to be a noble and exciting cause.

After the fighting had ended abroad, remembrances of the war abounded in Wyoming. Regimental and general histories painted an uplifting picture about the military campaigns and the men who fought them. In 1899, the legislature approved a bill to build a statue in the veteran’s honor. It still stands at the corner of the Capital building. In 1901, the state awarded medals to men who had served in the war..

Some visible reminders of the war were Spanish-American War veterans. Patriotic parades soon featured veterans walking alongside Civil War veterans. In addition, veterans’ associations or camps arose, providing a forum for fellowship and for voicing veteran’s concerns about personal, patriotic, and legislative matters. For a while, veterans and camps were common social fixtures within some communities.

Yet over time, their presence began to fade and eventually disappear from public view as the number of veterans dwindled. In the early 1960's, as other camps dwindled away, Camp 22 in Cheyenne became Camp Number 5. According to its last minutes in 1964, there were four members. In 1966, Company I, J.L. Torrey Camp at Sheridan was abandoned following the death of its last member.

Today the Spanish-American War has become but a footnote in Wyoming history. Yet, that history is not entirely lost. Governor’s records, newspaper accounts, and historical collections about the state and local camps can be found in the Wyoming State Archives. Through these records one can see how the war changed Wyoming’s cultural history. It is a history worth rediscovering during this centennial year.

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