Spanish American War, Company B, 4th Wisconsin Regiment
Spanish American War was a period of armed conflict was April 21 - August 13, 1898 between Spain and the United States. Hostilities began in the aftermath of the internal explosion of USS Maine in Havana Harbor in Cuba, leading to the United States intervention in the Cuban War of Independence.
However, at the end of the Spanish-American War in August 1898, and with a final peace settlement still in the future, the U.S. Army deemed it unwise to muster out troops and needed a suitable site to quarter a large reserve force. Anniston Alabamba was chosen and there was a camp established on September 3, 1898 and existed through January, 1899.
There were five regiments of state volunteers there throughout much of the winter. The Alabama winter was not pleasant and a February 14, 1899 report in the February 25, 1899 Army and Navy Journal indicates temperatures had reached 14 degrees below zero and that "life in tents is not what one might call comfortable". Wikipedia and NEGenWeb Project
Most names matched with Fourth Regiment, Company B, Stoughton - Roster of Wisconsin Troops in the Spanish American War,
pages 26-27
Spanish American War, Anniston Alabama, October 27, 1898
Order unknown: (faint names on back)
Adjunct H. Greene Milwaukee
Lieutenant Moses Elgin IL
Captain C.J.Rollis Stoughton
Artificer James NewLisbon
Orderly Bednarz NewLisbon
Sergeant J.N.Ramstad Stou
Corporal O.S.Seaborg Stou
Sergeant J.J. Week Stou
Private Copanhefer Richland Center WI
Private Swenson Deerfield WI
Private G Hammond Evansville WI
(most names have been confirmed on the Rolls, 4th WI Infantry, Co. B.)
Captain Christopher J. Rollis, 21 Jan 1857 - 15 Aug 1930
Christopher J. "Cap" Rollis emigrated to the U.S. at a young age with his parents from Norway. He went to Albion Academy and Normal Institute in Dane County and Milton College in Rock County, Wisconsin. He was the publisher and editor of the Oregon Observer and later the Stoughton Courier Hub. He was a veteran of three wars, after the Spanish American War he served in the Philippine American War and then in World War I, 107th M.P. He died from a heart attack at the age of 71 and is buried in Riverside Cemetery along with his wife Edna M Tipple Rollis.
Also listed from Stoughton:
First Sergeant - John N. Ramstad
Corporal Olaf S. Seaborg (listed as Sergeant, on the Roster of Wisconsin Troops in the Spanish American War, Albertson Memorial Library, page 27)
Sergeant John J. Week