Original Items: Only One Available. This is a fantastic pair of items attributed to Corporal Andrew Parker “Park” Bateman of Company C, 1st Wyoming Volunteers. Corporal Bateman was born on August 20, 1876 in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. He lived in Morris Run, Pennsylvania. He mustered into service as a Private in Company C on May 7, 1898, at Camp Richards in Cheyenne, Wyoming; promoted to Corporal at an unknown date. He mustered out of service with the company on September 23rd, 1899, at San Francisco, California. He married Martha Eddings on February 14, 1901 and had two children. At some point he worked for the Erie Railroad, he was employed as a foreman with the Bower Coal Mine in Blossburg, Pennsylvania, served as a Borough Councilman, justice of peace for 10 years, constable Chief of Police for 18 years, borough assessor for 13 years, and as road commissioner, retiring in 1965. He was a member of the Supreme Sacrifice Post No. 8730 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. On September 10, 1970, Corporal Bateman was admitted to the Blossburg State Hospital in Blossburg, Pennsylvania. He died on December 4, 1970 while in the Blossburg State Hospital at the age of 94. He was buried at the Arbon Cemetery in Blossburg, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.

Included in the group are the following two items:

- An Indian Wars Spanish-American War Model 1883 - 1889 Campaign Hat: This felt pressed campaign cover is in absolutely beautiful condition. This is definitely an item that was properly cared for and stored since it was worn in 1889. The only thing missing unfortunately is the interior leatherette sweatband liner. There is no damage to the exterior or interior and doesn’t even have any mothing marks which is very common in material this old. There are no manufacturer markings but Corporal Bateman had written his name on the inside and it is still very easily read.

Park Bateman Co. C 1st Bat’l Wyoming Volunteer Infantry

These felt hats became symbolic of the Army on the western frontier and today is one of the most highly prized pieces of military headgear. The hat is approximately a size: 21 ¼ inches, 54cm or 6 ¾ fitted.

- The second item in this grouping is a very beautifully framed portrait of Bateman in correct period attire that a member of the 1st Wyoming Volunteer infantry would have worn in 1898. The painting features a soldier in a blue wool uniform dressed in field gear with his musket at order arms. On his head he wears the very same felt pressed hat. There is no artist information visible on this painting. We don’t want to remove it from the frame to check, risking the integrity of the artwork. The colors are still vibrant and exhibit no fading or flaking. In the frame it measures approximately 29 1/2" x 25 1/2" x 3"

This is an absolutely incredible pair of items and we can’t stress it enough on the condition of the campaign hat. Finding a campaign hat that is this old and in this condition is extremely hard to come by. You DO NOT want to miss your chance on adding these items to your collection! Both are ready for display!

The First Wyoming Volunteer Infantry was mustered into service between May 7 and 10, 1898 at Cheyenne, Wyoming. At the time of mustering in, the unit consisted of fourteen officers and 324 enlisted men.

First Wyoming Volunteer Infantry
After mustering into the service, the First Wyoming Volunteer Infantry proceeded to San Francisco. From there, it joined the Third Philippine Expedition which left for the Philippines between June 27 and 29, 1898. The 1st Wyoming would make the journey aboard the transports CITY OF PUEBLA and OHIO. Also part of this expedition were portions of the 18th U.S. Infantry, 23rd U.S. Infantry, four batteries of the 3rd U.S. Artillery, one company of the U.S. Engineers, the First Idaho Volunteer Infantry, the 13th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, the Astor Battery, and detachments of the Hospital and Signal Corps. After stopping at Hawaii enroute, the expedition arrived in Manila between July 25 and July 31, 1898.

On arrival in the Philippines, the unit was placed in General Arthur MacArthur's First Brigade, Second Division, of the Eighth Army Corps. The 1st Wyoming took part in the actions resulting in the fall of Manila on August 13, 1898, following the 18th U.S. Infantry into the city itself. Though fired upon, the 1st Wyoming never found itself in a position to adequately return fire or become actively engaged. This was probably good, since, by agreement, the city had already surrendered.

The Spanish American War ended on December 10, 1898 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. However, on February 4, 1899, the Philippine American War broke out, which would continue until 1902.

The First Wyoming Volunteer Infantry left the Philippines on July 30, 1899 arriving back in the United States on August 29. The regiment was mustered out of service on September 23. At the time of mustering out, the regiment consisted of fourteen officers and 239 enlisted men. During its term of service one man was killed in action and two men died as a result of wounds received in action. In addition, ten men died from disease, four men deserted, and nine were discharged on disability.

Report on the fall of Manila:
Below is the report of the commanding officer of the 1st Wyoming Volunteer Infantry concerning the unit's actions at the fall of Manila on August 13, 1898. The map referred to is included below, also.

MANILA, P. I., August 15, 1898.
Gen. ARTHUR McARTHUR,
Commanding First Brigade, Second Division, Eighth Army Corps.

SIR: In obedience to your request, I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the movements of my command on Saturday, August 13, 1898, as follows:

My command, according to orders, left Camp Dewey at 7.05 a. in. and marched as directed to the open field north of Camp Dewey and about 400 yards to the left and rear of the road leading to Pasai - location marked on the accompanying map (a). We arrived at this position at 8.05 a. m. and remained there until and during the bombardment by the fleet. When this ceased, we were informed that the city had surrendered and were ordered to move on toward the city.

We followed the Idaho troops up the road, following the route marked out and indicated by the dotted line to the point marked "B," where we were met by Lieutenant Clark, of General Anderson's staff, who gave us orders from the general to move forward, find the Eighteenth Infantry, and follow them into the city.

I pushed forward as rapidly as possible, passing the Idaho troops at the old house and embankments marked on the map (c). Here we were informed that the Eighteenth had just passed, going straight down the road. After going about 500 yards down this road we saw ahead of us, about 150 yards and to the right of the road, a body of our own troops behind a line of intrenchments. On reaching the point marked (d) and at the time of the discovery of the body of troops above mentioned, we were fired upon by the enemy, as I judged, from some distance to the front and directly ahead. The enemy were out of sight and I immediately moved the column off the road behind a line of entrenchments, sent forward a point and flankers to patrol ahead, and sent a messenger across the field to the troops on our right to discover if they were the Eighteenth and also find out what the situation was, as we had supposed that the city had surrendered and that the fighting was over. The messenger returned, informing me that it was the Eighteenth, and that they were advancing as a line of skirmishers, and that Colonel Van Valzah, or the commanding officer, thought we had better hold our position for a few minutes until we saw his line advance, and then move forward up the road. In a few minutes he began to advance and we moved forward up the road, there being at this time only an occasional shot in our vicinity, with some very lively skirmish firing to the right and forward. We advanced to the point marked (e), where there was a sharp turn in the road to the left. Here we met a detachment of the Eighteenth, which had become separated from the main body, and we directed them toward their command and followed immediately in their wake, turning to the right somewhat and passing through a swamp covered with canes and felled brush and trees, toward the line of entrenchments running to the east of the fort on the beach. We came to the line of intrenchments, and crossing hem proceeded down the line westward to the stone bridge, marked (f), thence north up the street, endeavoring to overtake the Eighteenth, who were some short distance ahead of us. There were so many detachments moving into this street from toward the beach that it was difficult to keep them in sight, but this we managed to do.

There was considerable firing still on our right, and upon reaching the point marked (g) we were again fired upon from the right, the line of fire being down a side street and from an invisible enemy. I again moved my troops into position, facing the fire and partly covered, and prepared to move forward in their direction should occasion require, but knowing that there were some of our troops in that direction I held my command ready to reenforce, in case there was any force trying to drive back our advance, by making a counter attack. The firing soon ceased and we continued to advance up the street in the same direction as before, turning to the eastward upon the street running along the moat and walled city to a point a short distance below the first bridge leading into the old town. Here we halted and awaited orders, and we waited until 5 o'clock, when General Anderson ordered us to take possession of the barracks facing the above-mentioned bridge, which we did at 5.30 p.m., and raised our flag and arranged a guard for our own quarters and for General Anderson's headquarters, which was only a short distance down the street to the eastward. This closed the movements of the command for the day.

Very Respectively
Frank M. Foote
Major, commanding First Battalion, Wyoming First Volunteer Infantry