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Historical Sketch
Company M, Seventh U. S. Volunteer Infantry
Immunes
The records in the office of the Adjutant General of
Iowa show that on June 28, 1898, Amos W. Brandt was commissioned
Captain, and authorized to organize a company of Colored Immunes.
The company was organized and left Des Moines July 17, 1898,for
Jefferson Barracks, Mo., at which place it was mustered into the service
of the United States as Company M, Seventh United States Volunteer
Infantry Immunes, Colonel Edwin A. Godwin, commanding. The
regiment remained at Jefferson Barracks until September 18, 1898, on
which date it was ordered to proceed by rail to Lexington, Ky., where it
arrived September 21, 1898. Its duties at the latter place were of
the same general character as those it had performed at Jefferson
Barracks, and consisted mainly of the monotonous routine of the camp and
garrison, relieved occasionally by brigade and division drills and
reviews. During its stay at Lexington, the regiment---with the
other troops stationed there---passed in review before the Secretary of
War, Company M having the honor to act as the color company of its
regiment on that occasion. Governor Bradley, of Kentucky,
subsequently reviewed the troops at Lexington.
The regiment left Lexington November 21, 1898, and was
conveyed by rail to Macon, Ga., where it was assigned to the Second
Brigade, Second Division, Second Army Corps. The Second Brigade
was constituted as follows: The Seventh United States Volunteer
Immunes, the Tenth United States Volunteer Immunes, the Third North
Carolina Volunteer Infantry, and the Sixth Virginia Volunteer Infantry.
All these regiments were composed of colored men, except officers, and,
in the case of the Seventh Infantry, the field and staff officers and
captains of that regiment were white men, while the lieutenants were all
colored. The Second Army Corps was under orders to proceed to
Matanzas, Cuba, but the order was countermanded on account of the close
of the war. During its stay at Macon, the regiment, with the other
troops of the corps, passed in review before President McKinley.
On the 28th day of February, 1899, the regiment was
mustered out of the service of the United States at Macon, Ga. The
officers and men of Company M returned to Des Moines, bringing with them
the flag which had been presented to the company---at the time of its
organization---by Hon. Isaac Brandt, father of Captain Amos W. Brandt.
The Captain commends the conduct of his company during its term of
service, and especially mentions the faithful and capable manner in
which his Lieutenants---Edward G. McAfee and Robert A.
Wilburn---discharged the duties of their respective offices.
Captain Brandt was subsequently commissioned (July 5, 1899,) as Captain
of Company F, Thirty-second United States Volunteer Infantry, and served
with that regiment in the Philippine Islands until the close of
hostilities. The following testimonial is selected by the
compiler, from several others of a similar character, as evidence of the
gallant manner in which the Captain performed his duty:
Headquarters Thirty-Second Infantry U.
S. Vols.
Balanga, P. I., May 29, 1900
Captain Amos W. Brandt,
Commanding Company F, Abucay, P. I.
Sir: I am directed by the Colonel
to extend congratulations to you, to Lieutenant Frank Werner, and to the
enlisted men of your company, referring to the very gallant and
successful engagement with the Insurgents on the early morning of the
25th instant, by which they were repulsed with a sever loss, and driven
away after an attempted attack on the town of Abucay.
It is very gratifying to him to read in
your report that "many deeds of merit were done by non-commissioned
officers and privates, and that to mention one of the many above another
would be an injustice to all." Please publish this letter to your
company, and furnish Lieutenant Werner with a copy for his private file.
Very respectfully,
Henry M. Morrow,
First Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant,
Thirty-Second Infantry U. S. V.
It will thus be seen that this typical
Iowa soldier nobly sustained the honor of his State, in the service he
rendered during the Spanish-American and Philippine Wars.
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