Beatrice's Own - Civil War and the Spanish-American War

Beatrice's Own - Civil War and the Spanish-American War. We Answered the Call. , April 12, 1861: Fort Sumter, South Carolina was fired on by Rebel forces. On the 18th of May, Nebraska Territory Governor Alvin Saunders issued a proclamation calling for volunteers to either answer the call from President Lincoln for service in the United States Army or to protect the citizens of the state from Indians., During June 1861, Beatrice residents, Frederick Elwood, 23 and Jonathan Potts, 27 and other Gage County volunteers went to Nebraska City and joined the First Regiment Nebraska Infantry. They saw action at Fort Donelson, Shiloh, and Cornith., They [1st Nebraska] met the storm, no man flinching and their fire was terrible... , General Lew Wallace, , report on action at , Fort Donelson, February, 1862., In the spring of 1898, Spain and the United States declared war. Nebraskans mobilized en masse at President McKinley's call for volunteers., In the Philippines, First Nebraska Company C from Beatrice took part in the assault on Manila, August 1898. After Spain surrendered, the First Nebraska remained in the Philippines to quell uprising by Filipino insurgents unhappy with American occupation. It was here that they earned their reputation., The First Nebraska suffered 232 casualties, more than any other regiment in the Spanish-American War and Philippine Insurrection. Eleven citations for gallantry in action and two Certificates of Merit were awarded., [Captions to select photos] , 1. Two First Nebraska soldiers, 1864, 2. Civil War Veterans gather in Beatrice for their 40th Reunion in 1912., 3. The First Nebraska advances on Manila, August 13, 1898., 4. Nebraska Volunteers embarking for home, June 23, 1899 Pasig Manila