1st Idaho Volunteers Company B The First Regiment, Volunteer Infantry of Idaho, was enrolled at Boise on 25 May 1898 to serve in the Spanish-American War after President William McKinley called for 120,000 volunteers. Members were gathered from around the new state into more than 8 companies. A total of 32 officers and 644 enlisted men were enrolled. Company B was centered at Lewiston and used sternwheelers to Portland to catch ships south to San Francisco. The unit arrived in the Philippines on 31 July 1898. Officers of the 1st Idaho Volunteers The company was commanded by Captain Edward O. Martinson ( d. 1931).     His second-in-command was 1st Lieutenant Robert D. Stainton (d. 1910).     Men of the 1st Idaho Volunteer Infantry, Co. B. Front Row (left to right): Sgt. Frank A. McCall, James R. Fraser, Thomas Nance (Artificer), and Herbert M. Caswell Rear Row (left to right): Cpl. Alvis Kaloris, Cpl. John H. Little, Thomas Martin, and Musician Isaac Hutchinson. Fraser was killed on February 5, 1899, the second day of the Philippine American War.  Frank McCall was wounded the same day. (image courtesy of Ward Parker) Company B stands at attention at 2nd and D Streets, May 3, 1898, before embarking on the steamer "Almota" for Pasco WA, from whence they took a train to Boise for 2 weeks of training before transferring to the Presidio (San Francisco). Between 2,500 and 3,000 gathered to see the company depart.  The local G.A.R. presented a flag to the unit.  The public schools were closed, including Lewiston State Normal.   On 27 June, they shipped out on the S.S. Morgan City for Honolulu, reaching the Philippines on 31 July. Lewiston residents included on the Company's roles included: Sergeants Ernest Scott, Q.M. Sergeant John Wiggin William Keller Charles Gordon Fred Beckwith Corporals Samuel Blue Alois Kalous Charles Byers Len Koen Henry C. Mattheson Privates W. Kittsmiller Ferdinand Roos E. A. Scott Richard Pelky Isaac Hutchison D.E. Crites Joseph Rustmeyer N.W. Robertson G.B. Gorman M.E. Watson J.A. Gill L.L. Crocker J.H. Oswald F.T. Barton Adam Kobel W.T. Nance Jerry Harrington S.E. Masters John Lucey C.C. Miles Jeffrey Kinard Louis Peterson The 1st Idaho Volunteers parade in San Francisco in September 1899 before returning home.   A total of 1 officer and 4 enlisted men were killed in action. Totals deaths numbered 22. Restoration of 1st Idaho Volunteers flag Images source: Idaho Military History Museum Lewiston Morning Tribune, 1942, 1952.