Missouri & Joplin’s Involvement During The Spanish American War 
- Written by Brad Belk, Joplin Historian

By the mid-1890s, the Spanish colony of Cuba, located only 90 miles off the coast of Florida, had aroused intense public interest. Missourians recognized the value of Cuban exports – St. Louis, as a distribution center for the West, bought vast amounts of sugar, coffee, and tobacco. Likewise, Cuba purchased a significant amount of grain and flour from Kansas City.  

The US battleship Maine sank on February 15, 1898, claiming 260 American lives. Spain was blamed for the disaster. Despite President McKinley’s reservations, he declared war on Spain on April 25, 1898. Four days later the President requested that Missouri’s National Guard supply five regiments of infantry and one battery of light artillery. With limited resources and a frugal governor, the state militia organized the following: Battery A of light artillery at St. Louis, the First Regiment at St. Louis, the Second Regiment at Joplin, the Third Regiment at Kansas City, the Forth Regiment at St. Joseph and the Fifth Regiment at Kansas City. Missouri Governor Lon Stephens, anticipating a muster call from the president, ordered Battery A and the First Regiment to Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis to await federal service. The other regiments followed during the next two weeks. After the second call for troops in June, the Sixth Regiment of Missouri Volunteers was formed.  

The Spanish American War lasted only 3 ½ months. None of the Missouri volunteer units participated in combat, and an armistice was announced shortly after Battery A reached the front lines. Over 8,000 Missourians served as volunteers, and about 3,500 Missouri men participated in the war through regular service in the United States Army and Navy. Only four states contributed more soldiers and sailors than Missouri. Men from the Show-Me state were sent to both the Caribbean and Pacific theaters.  A number of Missouri women also volunteered for medical service and braved exposure to dreaded diseases such as typhoid and malaria. 

Several Missourians, including two future admirals, Leigh C. Palmer and Arthur L. Willard, and three future generals, Enoch H. Crowder, John J. Pershing, and John H. Parker distinguished themselves during the war. 

The Joplin Globe reported on the local story. – “A company of army guardsmen was ordered to active duty in May 1898 and hundreds of local citizens watched and cheered their departure. The guardsmen assembled at the Joplin courthouse, (7^th & Virginia) and marched to Main Street, then south to the railroad station at 10^th Street.”  

These members became part of Company G departing for St. Louis. At 6:30 most of the whistles began to blow and church bells rang as the men marched to the depot. 

“The drum corps led the procession and were followed by the old soldiers both the blue and the grey, who carried a banner bearing this inscription: ‘Company G Remembers the Maine.” 

“The train departed at 7:05 and as it slowly left the depot there was scarcely a dry eye from the womenfolk. Every widow contained the head of a boy in blue, who waved their hats until they were fairly on their way. The cannon was kept booming until the train was out of sight.” 

Joplin soldiers returned home one year later in March 1899 to cheering crowds that welcomed them with a patriotic parade and a program in their honor at the Club Theatre. The opera house was filled to capacity.   

The Joplin Globe stated, “Members of Company G were met by an enormous crowd at the Memphis depot 10^th and Main when they arrived. The atmosphere was filled with noise from 165 steam whistles and citizens resorted to any other means of making noise.  

The parade was formed with forty boys in line. After arriving at the Club theatre, they were met with a series of ovations from a standing-room crowd. Joplin  Mayor Thomas Cunningham presided over the event.  

Shortly after 2 p.m., the soldiers accompanied with their lady friends or sweethearts assembled at the high school (4^th & Byers). Later a banquet was offered by the ladies of Joplin and the Volunteer Relief corps. They provided “chicken, turkey, ham, and everything else good to eat.”