201st Regiment Infantry New York Volunteers Spanish-American War

History

TWO HUNDRED AND FIRST REGIMENT, INFANTRY.
Under the provisions of general orders, No. 8, general headquarters, state of New York, adjutant-general's office, June 27, 1898, this regiment was organized at the armory of the twelfth regiment, national guard, New York city, and recruited in that city and Brooklyn.
Recruiting commenced about July 10th. preference being given to members of the national guard.
Companies A, C and I were mustered in July 16th; companies D and E, July 17th; companies G- and 11. July 18th; company F, July 21st; companies K and M, July 22d; company L, July 23d, and company B, July 26. 1898.
As soon after muster-in as practicable, companies were sent to and the whole regiment assembled at Camp Black, Long Island.
September 9th, the regiment left Camp Black, and proceeded to Camp Meade, via Long Island railroad to Long Island City, by ferry from Long Island City to Jersey City, via Central Railroad of New Jersey, and Philadelphia & Reading railroad to Mid-dletown.Pa., where it arrived about daylight.
September 10th, breakfasted and marched two and one-half miles to camp near High Spire, Pa., previously occupied by the sixth Pennsylvania regiment. The third battalion occupied four separate company camps and performed three weeks provost duties.
A picked battalion, under the command of Colonel Hubbell, attended the peace celebration at Philadelphia, Pa.
November 15th, the regiment proceeded via Baltimore, Washington & Southern railroad to Greenville, S. C. where it was assigned to the second brigade, second division, second army corps, the camp of all the troops being known as " Camp Wether-ill."
During the stay of the regiment at this point Lieutenant-Colonel Edmund P. Cottle was detailed as provost marshal at Greenville. He performed his duties in such a manner that he received the full appreciation and commendation of the commander of the division in an official communication, and the citizens of Greenville presented him with a sword and belt as a testimonial of the valuable service rendered by him.
Before leaving Camp Meade the regiment received orders assigning it to duty near Havana, Cuba, and in February, 1899, it was ordered to Augusta, Ga. These orders, however, were not carried out.
The regiment was mustered out at Greenville, S. C, April 3, 1899.
The following extract from a report of inspection made in March, 1899, bears on the condition and efficiency of the regiment :
" I had an ample opportunity to observe the regiment at drills and ceremonies, as well as the conduct of the men in a most trying and disagreeable camp, and it has been my privilege during my tour as mustering officer to have the opportunity of observing the general conduct of the men, and the drill and efficiency of the entire first and second brigades, of the second division of the second army corps, and my opinion is, that the two hundred and first New York volunteer infantry far excelled the other regiments of those brigades in general efficiency and discipline. This can be due to only one cause, and that, the excellent administration of Colonel Hubbell, and the support he received from his competent and zealous officers. The officers treated the enlisted men, as men and soldiers, and considering the enlisted strength of the regiment was recruited from the streets of New York city, and possessed every attribute that tends toward insubordination and mutinous conduct, I was never for a time led to believe that the regiment was other than a well disciplined organization. The greatest pleasure to me was to observe the strong affection and respect that the officers had for their colonel, and this was shared in by the enlisted men; the latter also showed great respect for their company officers. Familiarity between officers and men was entirely absent. Regimental feeling and pride was evident at all times. It would be useless to designate by name any officer who possessed especial fitness for the profession of arms, for all seemed to perform their duty in a zealous and efficient manner, and reflected credit on the state from whence they come.
" (Signed) MONTGOMERY D. PARKER, "
Capt. Eighth U. 8. Inf., Ass't Mustering Officer:"

Other Resources

Annual Report of the Adjutant General of the State of New York for the Year of 1899. Albany: James B. Lyon, State Printer, 1900.

New York in the Spanish-American War 1898: Part of the Report of the Adjutant General of the State for 1900. Vols. 1-3. Albany: James B. Lyon, State Printer, 1900.

New York and the War with Spain: History of the Empire State Regiments. Albany: Argus Company Printers, 1903.