Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/430

 370 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI gauizations of women called the Women's Re- lief Corps. It was due to the initiative of a chapter of this organization that a statue fountain was recently placed in the court- house square in Cape Girardeau and dedi- cated with appropriate ceremonies, the chief address being delivered by Governor Hadley. There are also to be found in almost every community organizations of the great secret, social and philanthropic orders. As we have seen at a very early date lodges of the Ma- sonic order were formed in Southeast ]Iis- souri and the activity of this order was soon followed by others. A detailed account of their organization cannot be presented here, but they have been and still are powerful and vital forces in the life of the people. Every profession and business has its or- ganization.s. Commercial clubs exist in many of the larger towns, the club at Cape Girar- deau being regarded as one of the most ac- tive and efficient organizations of the kind in the state. There ai-e organizations of farmers, lawyers, physicians, dentists. All of them are active in advancing the interests of this pai't of the state. Spanish-American War The only regiment raised in Southeast ilis- souri was the Sixth Regiment which was nuis- tered in at Jefferson Barracks, July 20 to 23, 1898. The regiment officers were Letcher Hardemann, Colonel ; H. C. Clark, Lieuten- ant Colonel ; Orlando F. Guthrie, Ma.jor ; J. J. Dickinson, ]Iajor, and E. A. Hickman, Ad- jutant. Not all the companies of the regi- ment were from Southeast ^Missouri ; Company D was recruited priucipalh' at Bloomtield and Stoddard county. Its officers were Mack Richardson, Captain; Grant Gillispie. First Lieutenant ; Ward Wilson, Second Lieuten- ant. Company E was recruited at Doniphan and in Ripley county, its officers were Pierre D. Ladd, Captain; Giboney Houck, First Lieutenant ; Walter F. Martin, Second Lieu- tenant. Company H was from Bollinger county being recruited principally at Lutes- ville; its officers were: Captain, John W. Revelle; First Lieutenant, Robert V. Cor- dell; Second Lieutenant, Stanley Gordon. Company I was from Dunklin eount.v ; its of- ficers were : Albert D. Sloan, Captain ; Rob- ert A. Cox, First Lieutenant : W. H. Clopton, Second Lieutenant. Company K was re- cruited in Jefferson and St. Louis counties; its officers were: Captain, Robert E. Lee; First Lieutenant, Charles A. Conklin ; Sec- ond Lieutenant, Arthur W. Brent. This regiment was the last to take the field during the Spanish- American war, but it saw a more extensive service than any other of the ^Missouri regiments. It was mustered in at Jefferson Barracks July 20 to 23, 1898, and soon afterward was sent to Florida,' where it stayed for sometime, the men being thoroughl,v drilled. It became a part of the arm,v under General Lee and went with him to Culia and took possession of Havana. The fact that its commanding officer. Colonel Hardeman, was an officer of the regular army and a skilled tactician, enaliled the regiment to be brought to a high degree of discipline. It was regarded as the best regiment in General Lee's army. It remained on duty in Havana until ]Iay 10. 1899. when it was re- turned to Georgia and nuistered out at Sa- vannah. At the ceremon,v of nuistering out the regiment presented a beautiful saber to Colonel Hardeman as a token of the esteem in which he was held.