The following history of the 24th Infantry was published in the New Years Day edition of the Skagway Daily Alaskan, January 1, 1900. The article was written by one of the officers of Company L.

A listing of the members of the 24th Infantry while it was stationed in Alaska follows the article.

Skagway's Troops

The 24th Infantry was organized in 1869 by the consolidation of the 38th and 41st regiments of Infantry and was first commanded by Colonel Ronald S. Mackenzie, who was succeeded by General Abner Doubleday, late a Major General of volunteers, who had served in the late war of the Rebellion. He was followed by Brevet Brigadier General Joseph H. Potter, ultimately Brigadier General of the regular army; then came Zenus R. Bliss, now a retired Major General of the regular army, who was succeeded by J. Ford Kent who retired as a Brigadier General of the regular army, and by Henry J. Freeman who now commands the regiment.

The 24th Infantry served for eleven years in the State of Texas, during which time it was engaged in the Victorio Campaign and in chasing various bands of Indians who pestered the staked plains by their presence. The duties which fell upon this regiment during the eleven years were many and various, and called for a high order of discipline and the perfection of endurance and patience, since it was required to aid in restoring order to that distracted state under conditions calling for patience and perseverance of the highest types.

In 1880 the regiment was ordered to Indian Territory, where it served until 1888. During this time it held in control many tribes of Indians, and the duties that it performed were of a character which brings neither honor, not glory, only arduous and thankless service, the results of which are seen in the peaceful solution of the Indian troubles for which others claim and receive the credit.

In 1888 the regiment was ordered to New Mexico and Arizona, and took part in all the various difficulties there, ending in the settlement of the Apache troubles, the details of which it would take too long to write. In 1896 the regiment was ordered to Ft. Douglas, Utah, near Salt Lake City, where it served until the outbreak of the Spanish-American war. During the time of its service in New Mexico and Arizona, it was called upon to perform many duties of many kinds, from chasing horse thieves to protecting railroads, and all of these were performed in a manner which reflected credit upon the organization.

Upon the outbreak of the Spanish-American war, the regiment was ordered to Tampa, Florida, became a part of the Fifth Corps, and participated in the battles about Santiago, Cuba, during which it lost nearly forty per cent of its officers and about thirty-eight per cent of its men in the first two days of the fight. Afterwards it was ordered to Siboney to guard the yellow fever hospital, but upon arriving there, is was found necessary to nurse the sick instead of guarding them, and for forty days the regiment was cut off from all communication with the outside world. During this time the various nurses from the ranks were stricken with yellow fever, until a large part of the men were suffering from the disease, and the result was that at the end of the Spanish-American war, of the five hundred stalwart, well disciplined, fine, specimens of humanity who went to Cuba, less than two hundred and fifty were left in the regiment, the rest having succumbed to death or disability. No pen can depict the suffering endured by the officers and men in this regiment during the time it was in Cuba, and those who endured the agony of that ordeal decline to speak of it except in confidence.

Under the Act of April 26th, 1898, by which a Third Battalion was organized in each regiment, four new companies were added, I and K being already active only in name, and L and M were added to the organization. Owing to the war conditions it was impossible to organize these new companies until the return of the regiment for the Cuba campaign. The present Company L, therefore, now stationed in Skagway, is a new company having with it twelve men who were with the regiment prior to the Spanish-American war. This company was organized at Ft. Douglas, Utah, in March 1899; was sent from there to Presidio, San Francisco, thence to Vancouver Barracks, and from there to the D. K. T. Dock near Dyea, where if remained until burned out on the 28th of July last. The company is commanded by Captain Henry W. Hovey who has been an officer of the regiment since 1880.

The First Lieutenant is Isaac, C. Jenks who has been with the regiment since 1892. It has, as an organization, participated in none of the victories of the regiment, nor is it entitled in any way to any glory, beyond that which is reflected by being connected with a regiment whose record is second to none in the U. S. Army.

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Men of Company L. 24th Infantry stationed in Alaska

Notes:

The following list was obtained from the 1900 Census of Skagway, Fort Wrangell and Sitka Jail. Additional names were obtained from Post Returns of Dyea, Skagway and Fort Wrangell.

Due to the hand writing on some of the reports, spelling may not be correct - the (?) indicates questionable names. Some Post Returns listed only the last names of the enlisted men.

NAME	RANK	HOMETOWN	ALASKA POST	POB
Altmann, Webster	Private	New York, NY	Wrangell/Skagway	New York
Andrews, Harry	Private	Philadelphia, PA	Wrangell/Skagway	Philadelphia, PA
Arnold, George H.	HospSt		Wrangell
Ashton, George L	Private	Washington, DC	Skagway	Washington, DC
Banks, James	Private	Carterville, IL	Skagway	Illinois
Barnett, Peter W.	Private		Wrangell
Belcher, Thomas A.	Private	Bedford Co, VA	Skagway	Franklin Co, Va
Belcher, Walter	Private	Bedford Co, VA	Skagway	Franklin Co, VA
Bordinghammer, Edward	Musician	Pulaski, TN	Skagway	Giles Co. TN
Bracy, George	Private	Jacksonville, FL	Wrangell/Skagway	Jacksonville, FL
Bullilte, Marvin P.	Private		Skagway
Burckley, H. W.?	HospSt		Skagway
Callaway, Andy	Private	Nashville, TN	Skagway	Haywather Co?, GA
Caughman, David	Private	Columbia, SC	Wrangell/Skagway	Columbia, SC
Coats, Lafayette	Corporal	Rowletts?, KY	Skagway	Rowletts?, KY
Collins, Edward J.	Private	Piqua, OH	Wrangell/Skagway	Piqua, OH
Collins, Emery	Private	Benicia Barracks, CA	Wrangell
Collins, Frank	Private	Boston, MA	Skagway	Boston, MA
Collon, Robert	Corporal	Michellsburg, KY	Skagway	Boyle Co, KY
Cotton, Robert R.	Corporal	Benicia Barracks, CA	Wrangel	Kentucky
Daily, William	Private	Columbia, SC	Wrangell/Skagway	Sumter, SC
Dalton, Kitt	Corporal	Carlisle, IN	Skagway	Tennessee
Davis, John E.	Artifice	Woodsworth, NC	Skagway	Macklenburg, NC?
Davis, Reid W.	Private	St. Augustin, FL	Wrangell/Skagway	St. Augustin, FL
Dawson, Junius?	Private	Philadelphia, PA	Skagway	Washington, DC
Dewey, Edward G.	Corporal	Worchester, MA	Skagway	Newburn, NC
Eble, Francis	HospSt		Skagway
Emmuson, Victor	Private		Skagway
Fletcher, Charley	Private	Richmond Co. NC	Wrangell/Skagway	Richnond CO. NC
Franklin, John	Private		Wrangell
Gant?, Frank	Private	Washington, DC	Skagway	Washington, DC
Grant, Robert	Private	Philadelphia, PA	Skagway	Philadelphia, PA
Graves, John	Private	Pittsburgh, PA	Sitka Jail	Massachusetts
Green, Benjamin	Private	Dayton, OH	Wrangell/Skagway	Piqua, OH
Hamany?, William	Sargeant	Bloomington, IN	Skagway	Shelby Co, KY
Hanson, William	Sargeant	Benicia Barracks, CA	Wrangell	Kentucky
Harrill, Doc L.	Corporal	Rutherfordton, NC	Skagway	Rutherfordton, NC
Harris, Robert	Musician		Wrangell
Harris, Robert W.	Private		Wrangell/Skagway
Hayes, Allen	Sargeant	Earlington, KY	Wrangell/Skagway	Cherokee Co, NC
Hayman, Charles A.	Private		Wrangell
Henderson, Clinton F.	HospSt		Skagway
Henry, Oscar D.	Private	Ridgedale, TN	Skagway	Atlanta, GA
Holland, James H	Private	Boston, MA	Skagway	Norfolk, VA
Holloway, Isaac	Cook	San Francisco, CA	Sitka Jail	Alabama
Horne, John F.	Private		Wrangell
Howard, WIlliam	Private	Philadelphia, PA	Wrangell/Skagway	Greencastle, PA
Hutson?, Julious	Private	Gallatin, TN	Skagway	Gallatin, TN
Hyde, Edwin D.	Private		Skagway
Jackson, Lundon	Private	Chattanooga, TN	Skagway	Georgia
Jenkins, Frank	Private		Skagway
Jennings, William	Private	Princeton, NJ	Wrangell/Skagway	Somerset Co, NJ
Johnson, Charles S.	Private		Skagway
Johnson, A. J.	Recruit		Skagway
Johnson, Charles S.	Private		Wrangell
Johnson, Ernest L.	Private	Baltimore, MD	Skagway	Maryland
Johnson, Henry
Johnson, John J.	Private	Nashville, TN	Wrangell/Skagway	Tennessee
Jordan, Robert W.	Private		Wrangell/Skagway
Jordon, Harry V.	Private	Boston, MA	Wrangell/Skagway	Virginia
Jordon, Robert W.?	Private		Wrangell
Jovier, Fred	Private	Columbus, OH	Wrangell	Ohio
Jurner?, Ellis	Private		Skagway
Kennedy	Private		Skagway
Kinball, John	Private	Atlanta, GA	Skagway	Atlanta, GA
Kincaid, Orerlin? J.	Corporal	Indianapolis, IN	Skagway	Kentucky
King, Robert	Private	Philadelphia, PA	Skagway	King George Co, VA
Knox, Elijah H.	Private	New Bedford, MA	Wrangell/Skagway	New Bedford, MA
Lee, Elijah	Cook	Paducah, KY	Skagway	Puducah, KY
Lipscombs, Joseph M.	Private		Wrangell
Luttge? August	ComSgt		Skagway
Mack, Thomas	Private	Franklin, VA	Wrangell/Skagway	Franklin Co, VA
Mack, William	Private	Clifton, SC	Skagway	Clifton, SC
Madison, Charles H.	Private		Skagway
Martin, Henry C.	Private	Mobile, AL	Wrangell/Skagway	Mobile, AL
Martin, Thomas	Corporal	Columbus, OH	Skagway	Martinville, VA
Matthews, James C.	Private	Philadelphia, PA	Skagway	Charleston, SC
McClellan, George A.	Private	Talladega, AL	Skagway	Talladega, AL
McClinton, Willis	Corporal	Little Rock, AR	Wrangell/Skagway	Russell Co, AL
McGee, Allen	Corporal	Franklinville, NC	Wrangell/Skagway	North Carolina
McIntire?, David	Private	Benicia Barracks, CA	Wrangell	Masschusetts
McKnight, George A.	Private		Skagway
McPherson, James W.	Private		Wrangell
Merritt, Edgar	Private	Evanville, IN	Wrangell/Skagway	Hopkinsville, KY
Moore, Harry?	Private		Skagway
Moore, Lonnie	Soldier	Durham, SC	Sitka Jail	NC
Moore, Lovey			Skagway
Morris, Ernest	Private	East St. Louis, IL	Skagway	Cario, IL
Morton, Thomas	Private	Burbon Co, KY	Wrangell/Skagway	Burbon Co, KY
Mozeak?, Thomas	Private	Morganton, NC	Skagway	Morganton, NC
Nash, Joseph A.	Musician	Richmond, VA	Wrangell/Skagway	London, OH
O'Connor, Robert	1stSgt	Charlotte, NC	Skagway	North Carolina
Oakford	Private		Skagway
Oley, John W.	Private	Pittsburgh, PA	Skagway	Woodstock, VA
Pale, William	Private	Worchester, MA	Wrangell/Skagway	New Berm, NC
Parr?, Jacob A.	Cook	Orangeburg, SC	Wrangell/Skagway	Orangeburg, SC
Payne, George M	Corporal	Good Hope PO, DC	Wrangell/Skagway	Washington, DC
Perkins, John A.	Private	Buckingham Co, AL	Skagway	Buckingham Co, VA
Powell, Weleome? W.	ComSgt		Skagway
Randall, Ernest C..	Private	Worchester, MA	Skagway	Worchester, MA
Ray, Charles F.	Private	Pittsburgh, PA	Skagway	Bristol, TN
Reed, Charles	QMSgt	Pittsburgh, PA	Skagway	Berryville, VA
Reed. James E. B.	Private	Buffalo, NY	Skagway	S. Charleston, OH
Richards, Charles D.	Private	Philadelphia, PA	Skagway	Philadelphia, PA
Robinson, Henry C.	Sargeant	Charlotteville, VA	Skagway	Charlotteville, VA
Rudisell ?, William	Private	Mobile, AL	Wrangell/Skagway	Williamtown? TN?
Sanders, Chester	Private	Indianapolis, IN	Skagway	Carlton, KY
Shannan, Huston	Private
Simmons, Esaw	Private	Indianapolis, IN	Wrangell/Skagway	Dugan Co. NC
Sims, William	Private	Spartenburg, SC	Skagway	Carlisle, SC
Slone, Leroy H.	Private	Chillicothe, OH	Wrangell/Skagway	Clinton, OH
Snoten?, Augustus	Corporal	Sulmer Co. TN	Skagway	Sulmer Co. TN
Stewart, Harry	Corporal	Indianapolis, IN	Skagway	Xenia, OH
Stokes?, Edward	Private	Brunswick Co. NC	Skagway	Brunswick Co, NC
Suace, Will T.	Corporal		Wrangell
Swanson, Eugene	Private	Chicago, IL	Wrangell/Skagway	Chicago, IL
Sweeny, John S.	Corporal		Wrangell
Taylor, John	Private	Macon, GA	Wrangell/Skagway	Macon, GA
Thorwell?, George	Private	Eagle Rock, VA	Skagway	Eagle Rock, VA
Trice, Benton	Private	Almagro, VA?	Skagway	Almagro, VA?
Turner, Ellis	Private	Withville, VA	Skagway	Virginia
Washington, James	Sargeant	Warrenton, VA	Wrangell/Skagway	Alabama
Waters, James A.	Private	Pocomoke City, MD	Skagway	Pocomoke City, MD
Watkins, Leonard	Private	Milledgeville, GA	Skagway	Frankfort, KY
Watson, Frank W.	Private	Amanda?, TN	Skagway	Amanda?, TN
Watus?? Waters?	Private		Skagway
Wesley, Morris P.	Private	Philadelphia, PA	Skagway	Oakhill, PA
White, Charlie J.	Private	Philadelphia, PA	Skagway	May City, NJ
White, William	Private		Skagway
White, William H.	Private	Martins Ferry, OH?	Skagway	Martins Ferry, OH?
Williams, Herbert	Private	Columbus, OH	Wrangell/Skagway	Columbus, OH
Williams, Thomas	Private	Barbadoes, W.I.	Skagway	Barbadoes, W. I.
Wilson, George L.	Privvate	Boston, MA	Skagway	Boston, MA
Wood, George E.	Private		Skagway
Wood, George W.

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Links

• 24th Infantry Regiment (United States) - Wikipedia

• Blacks in Alaska History - Recommended Reference Books

• A Guide to Skagway, Alaska