Near Gap Mills in Monroe County, West Virginia — The American South (Appalachia)

Andrew S. Rowan

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 30, 2015

1. Andrew S. Rowan Marker

Inscription. Colonel Rowan was born here, April 23, 1857; graduated from West Point, 1881. Famed for securing vital information from Garcia, rebel leader of Cuba, during the War with Spain, 1898. For this exploit, he was given the D.C.S. Died, Jan 11, 1943.

Erected 1978 by West Virginia Department of Culture and History.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, Spanish-American. In addition, it is included in the Distinguished Service Cross/Navy Cross/Air Force Cross Recipients, and the West Virginia Archives and History series lists. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1833.

Location. 37° 33.832′ N, 80° 24.73′ W. Marker is near Gap Mills, West Virginia, in Monroe County. Marker is at the intersection of West Virginia Route 3 and County Route 8, on the right when traveling south on State Route 3. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Gap Mills WV 24941, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 8 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. William J. Humphreys / Gap Mills (approx. 0.3 miles away); Great Eastern Divide (approx. 4.8 miles away); Rehoboth (approx. 5.4 miles away); Rehoboth Church (approx. 5½ miles away); First Corn Club

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(approx. 7.3 miles away); Union College (approx. 7.3 miles away); Bishop Matthew W. Clair, Sr. (approx. 7.4 miles away); Gen. John Echols House (approx. 7.4 miles away).

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. It is to a nearby marker about Colonel Rowan.

Also see . . .
1. Wikipedia entry for Andrew Summers Rowan. “With tensions between the United States and the Spanish (who then ruled Cuba) growing, President William McKinley saw value in establishing contact with the Cuban rebels who could prove a valuable ally in case of war with Spain. McKinley asked Colonel Arthur L. Wagner to suggest an officer to make contact with Garcia's rebels. Wagner suggested Rowan, by now Captain, who then traveled to Cuba via Jamaica. Rowan met Garcia in the Oriente Mountains and established a rapport. Rowan garnered information from Garcia who was eager to cooperate with Americans in fighting the Spanish. Rowan returned to the US and was given command of a force of ‘Immunes,’ African-American troops assumed to be immune to tropical diseases found in Cuba. He received the Distinguished Service Cross.” (Submitted on June 1, 2015.)

2. Wikipedia entry for Calixto García. “The essay ‘A

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 30, 2015

2. Andrew S. Rowan Marker

Message to Garcia’ by Elbert Hubbard was written in reference to U.S. intelligence officer Andrew Rowan's successful mission, against great odds, to establish contact with García early in the Spanish–American War. According to language expert Charles Earle Funk, ‘to take a message to Garcia,’ meaning to accept an extremely difficult challenge, was a popular U.S. slang expression for years. The essay was made into two American films, the 1916 silent A Message to Garcia with Garcia played by Charles Sutton and the 1936 film A Message to Garcia featuring Enrique Acosta.” (Submitted on June 1, 2015.)

Lt. Andrew S. Rowan, US Army (1857–1943) image. Click for full size.

Collection of Dr. Antonio Rafael de la Cova, Indiana University, Boomington

3. Lt. Andrew S. Rowan, US Army (1857–1943)

Andrew S. Rowan image. Click for full size.

From the collection of Ernest Troth, University of Chicago, April 23, 1942

4. Andrew S. Rowan

Photo taken at his birthday in 1942, taken in California.

Photographed By J. J. Prats, May 30, 2015

5. Andrew S. Rowan Marker

The house is visible through the trees.

Credits. This page was last revised on April 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 1, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 575 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on June 1, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 4. submitted on April 7, 2024, by Ernest Troth of Everett, Washington. 5. submitted on June 1, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.