Organization of the Wisconsin National Guard during Mexican Border Service

The WNG was mobilized by President Woodrow Wilson on 18 June 1916 as a result of the Mexican Border Crisis. The WNG was assembled at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin to be mustered into Federal Service. Most of the units were then sent to Camp Wilson (adjacent to Fort Sam Houston near San Antonio), Texas. Not all units were mobilized, mustered, moved to Texas and returned to Wisconsin on the same dates, the appropriate dates for each unit are listed in the tables below.

The organization below is as listed in the 1917 Wisconsin Blue Book, information in green text is from Wisconsin Troops in Federalized National Guard - Mexican Border Service, which offers more specific information about the WNG's deployment to Texas.

Wisconsin National Guard

September 1916

Commander-in-Chief
Emanuel L. Philipp
Governor of the State
Inaugurated 4 Jan. 1915

Adjutant General's Department
BG Orlando Holway, Merrillan
MAJ John G. Salsman, Madison

Inspector General's Department
MAJ Emanuel Rossiter, Superior

Judge Advocate General's Department
MAJ Horace M. Seaman, Milwaukee

Quartermaster Corps

MAJ Charles R. Williams, Camp Douglas
MAJ Edwin T. Markle, Fond du Lac
CPT Charles A. Green, Appleton
CPT Earl S. Driver, Madison
Medical Corps
MAJ Gilbert E. Seaman, Milwaukee, Chief Surgeon
MAJ Jas. W. Frew, Milwaukee, assigned to 1st Inf.
MAJ Charles H. Stoddard, Milwaukee, assigned to Field Hospital Co. #1
MAJ James R. Scott, Appleton, assigned to 2nd Inf.
MAJ Lewis A. Moore, Monroe, assigned to 3rd Inf.
CPT Geo. W. Neilson, Milwaukee, assigned to Field Hospital Co. #1
CPT Geo. H. Scheer, Sheboygan, assigned to 2nd Inf.
CPT Gustavus I. Hogue, Milwaukee, assigned to Field Hospital Co. #1
1LT Clarence J. Kenney, Milwaukee, assigned to Field Hospital Co. #1
1LT Robert L. Williams, Wales, assigned to Headquarters
1LT Dirk Bruins, Milwaukee, assigned to 1st Inf.
1LT Robt. H. Gray, La Crosse, assigned to 3rd Inf.
1LT Benj. B. Rowley, Milwaukee, assigned to 3rd Inf.
1LT Jesse R. Bryant, Wausau, assigned to 3rd Inf.
1LT Wm. C. Watkins, Oconto, assigned to 2nd Inf.
1LT Robt. W. Blumenthal, Milwaukee, assigned to 1st Inf.
1LT Arthur A. Mitten, Milwaukee, assigned to Field Hospital Co. #1
1LT Wm. N. Moore, Appleton, assigned to 2nd Inf.
1LT John E. Armitage, Milwaukee, assigned to 1st Inf.
1LT Herbert Graebner, Milwaukee, assigned to Field Hospital Co. #1
1LT Wm. W. Johnston, Racine, assigned to Battery C 1st FA
Dental Corps
1LT Wm. W. Barney, Milwaukee
1LT David H. August, Superior

Medical Reserve Corps
1LT Edward Evans, La Crosse

Stations of Sanitary Troops

Detachment 1st Inf., Milwaukee, MAJ James W. Frew, M.C.
Detachment 2nd Inf., Appleton, MAJ James R. Scott, M.C.
Detachment 3rd Inf., La Crosse, MAJ L. A. Moore, M.C.
Field Hospital Co. #1, Milwaukee, MAJ Charles H. Stoddard, M.C.
Ordnance Department
MAJ Charles R. Williams, Camp Douglas
MAJ Robert B. McCoy, Sparta

Aides to the Commander-in-Chief

COL Rutherford R. Pixley, Madison, Military Secretary
COL Julius A. Nemitz, Oshkosh, Aide-de-Camp
COL Oscar H. Pierce, Milwaukee, Aide-de-Camp
COL Robert F. Pfeil, Portage, Aide-de-Camp
COL Kenneth B. Smith, Viroqua, Aide-de-Camp
COL Horace M. Seaman, Milwaukee, Aide-de-Camp
MAJ Lorrain T. Richardson, Infantry, U.S.A., on detail by the War Dept.
CPT Charles King, U.S.A., Brigadier General, WNG, Retired, on detail by the War Dept.

Wisconsin Infantry Brigade

Up until this time, training in the WNG was usually only conducted up to the regimental level. For this deployment, the 3 regiments were organized as the Wisconsin Infantry Brigade.
BG Lorrain T. Richardson, Commanding MAJ James McCulley, Adjutant 1LT Fred Best, Aide-de-Camp

 

1st Regiment of Infantry

Headquarters, Madison

Mustered In 30 Jun. 1916 at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Left Camp Douglas 8 Jul. 1916
Arrived Camp Wilson, Texas 11 Jul. 1916
Mustered Out 19 Jan. 1917 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois

Green text below as of 8 Jan. 1916

COL John P. Joachim, Madison
LTC Peter Piasecki, Milwaukee, Executive Officer
CPT Gustave Stearns, Milwaukee, Chaplain
1LTs Alfred E. Gaartz, Milwaukee; Fred C. Best, Milwaukee; Henry W. Biemdieke (Biendieke), Milwaukee; Battalion Adjutants
MAJ James W. Frew, Chief Surgeon and CO Sanitary Troops
CPT Lewis A. Monroe, Medical Corps
CPT Martin D. Imhoff, A.I.S.A.P.
CPT Frank A. Shriner, Quartermaster
HQ Co. Madison CPT Myron C. West
Battalion SGM Thos. T. Sweetnam
Band Madison


MG Co. Milwaukee CPT Guy D. Armitage 1LT Ralph R. Hibbard
2LTs Arthur E. Mede (Arthur Mehl) & E. W. Kemmer (Frank W. Kemmer)
Supply Co. Milwaukee CPT Michael F. Blenski 2LT Marion M. Ziombek
Sanitary Det. Milwaukee MAJ James W. Frew 1LTs Dirk Bruins, Robert W. Blumenthal, John E. Armitage

1st Battalion

MAJ Glen W. Garlock, West Salem
1LT Henry Biendieke, Adjutant
Co. L Beloit CPT Chas. S. Buck 1LT E. Howe Allen 2LT Floyd C. Henderson (L. C. Henderson)
Co. G Madison CPT Wm. Smith, Jr 1LT Fred T. Finn 2LT S. O. Brigham
Co. C Whitewater CPT R. H. Lindbaum 1LT Otto J. Rennemo 2LT Edgar N. Caldwell
Co. H Monroe CPT Allen E. Mitchell 1LT Fred W. Heer 2LT Chas. H. Kohli

2nd Battalion

MAJ J. B. Schneller, Neenah
1LT Alfred E. Gaartz, Adjutant
Co. M Oconomowoc CPT Anthony G. Derse 1LT Geo. W. Russell 2LT H. H. Nack
Co. A Reedsburg CPT Leo M. Darrenougue 1LT Herbert H. Prange 2LT Thos. H. Tubor (T. H. Tudor)
Co. B Fort Atkinson CPT Arthur R. Langholff 1LT Delbert D. Hills (D. R. Hills) 2LT Louis B. Reich
Co. I Neenah CPT Bert L. Smith 1LT B. O. Bell 2LT Fred Peterson

3rd Battalion

MAJ I. A. Fish, Milwaukee
1LT Leo S. Kosak, Adjutant
Co. D Milwaukee CPT William Mehl 1LT Frank Meske 2LT Fred E. Theilacker
Co. K Milwaukee CPT Stanley E. Piasecki 1LT Leo S. Kosak 2LT Joseph B. Zawodney (J. B. Zarvodney)
Co. F Milwaukee CPT Paul Ahnert 1LT Edward A. Olson (Edw. A. Olsen) 2LT Carl L. Brosius
Co. E Milwaukee CPT Raymond Arnold 1LT Robt. S. Wheaton 2LT Nick P. Salm

 

2nd Regiment of Infantry

Headquarters, Oconto

Mustered In 30 Jun. 1916 at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Left Camp Douglas 10 Jul. 1916
Arrived Camp Wilson, Texas 14 Jul. 1916
Mustered Out 28 Feb. 1917 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois

Green text below as of 1 Jan. 1916

COL Wilbur M. Lee, Oconto
LTC Philip J. Zink, Beaver Dam, Executive Officer
CPT John T. Kendall,  Plover, Chaplian
1LTs Geo. Merkel, Appleton; John M. West, Appleton; E. M. Mayville, Marinette; Battalion Adjutants
MAJ James R. Scott, Chief Surgeon and CO Sanitary Detachment
CPT George A. Huntzicker, A.I.S.A.P.
HQ Co. Appleton CPT T. Byron Beveridge

Band Marshfield


MG Co. Ashland CPT Mat. C. Tomkins 1LT Arthur S. Childs
2LTs Harvey J. Smith (Green Bay) & Stanley W. Smith
Supply Co. Green Bay CPT Ulysses G. Carl (Oshkosh) 2LT Frank H. Crane (Beaver Dam) 2LT Harvey F. Smith

1st Battalion

MAJ James McCully, Ashland
1LT Harry P. Ballard, Adjutant
When the Wisconsin Infantry Brigade was organized at Camp Wilson, Texas, MAJ McCully was selected to be Brigade Adjutant. CPT W. B. Hall, Co. M, became Battalion CO.
Co. E Fond du Lac CPT Adolph M. Trier 1LT Adelbert R. Brunet 2LT Thomas A. Watson
Co. K Beaver Dam CPT William Bearder 1LT Theodore Parker 2LT George E. Draheim (Wilbur Bennet)
Co. D Ripon CPT Emil G. Prellwitz (Prelliwitz) 1LT Aug. C. Buchholz 2LT Harry L. Dornbrook
Co. C Sheboygan CPT Paul W. Schmidt 1LT Peter Wirtz (John J. Hickey) 2LT Wm. M. Jensen (Peter Wirtz)

2nd Battalion

MAJ H. E. Pomeroy, Appleton
1LT George Merkel, Adjutant
Co. M Oconto CPT  William B. Hall 1LT  J. H. Kampo 2LT Rudolph L. Shultz (H. J. Pettigrew)
Co. I Marinette S. Robt. Brearley 1LT Harry Leanna 2LT Edw. M. Mayville
Co. L Rhinelander CPT Forest H. Himes 1LT Clarence J. Wesley 2LT Kirk W. White
Co. A Marshfield CPT Frank Reigel (H. L. Sommers) 1LT Edw. O. Witt (F. Reigel) 2LT Wm. J. Mittelstead, (Edwin O. Witt)

3rd Battalion

MAJ Walter A. Marden, Oshkosh
1LT John F. Voge, Adjutant
Co. F Oshkosh CPT Emil F. Kraning 1LT Gustave C. Schwandt 2LT Richard B. Salzsieder (Salsieder)
Co. H Manitowoc CPT Walter Abel 1LT Edw. J. Schmidt 2LT Wm. Jung
Co. B Oshkosh CPT John F. McCusker 1LT John D. Spencer 2LT E. H. Newton
Co. G Appleton CPT Lothar G. Graef 1LT Frederick W. Hoffman 2LT Walter E. Rosebush

 

3rd Regiment of Infantry

Headquarters, Eau Claire

Mustered In 30 Jun. 1916 at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Left Camp Douglas 12 Jul. 1916
Arrived Camp Wilson, Texas 15 Jul. 1916
Mustered Out 14 Dec. 1916 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois

Green text below as of 1 Jan. 1916.

COL Randolph A. Richards, Sparta
LTC John W. Hommel, Neillsville, Executive Officer
CPT George R. Longbrake, La Crosse, Chaplian
1LTs Orville L. Arnold, Sparta; Charles Butters, Viroqua; John H. Ensel, Mauston; Battalion Adjutants
MAJ D. S. McArthur, Chief Surgeon and CO Sanitary Detachment
CPT Paul B. Clemens, A.I.S.A.P.
HQ Co. Eau Claire CPT Percy C. Atkinson

Band Viroqua


MG Co. Rice Lake CPT Dan L. Remington (Mauston) (Frank G. Peterson) 1LT Herman G. Helstrom (Eau Claire) (no 1LT)
2LTs John McCullom & James P. Clemens (Superior) (only McCullom)
Supply Co. Superior CPT Paul B. Clemens (Dan L. Remington) 2LT Harvey F. Wiles (not listed) 2LTs Herman G. Helstrom, Alois A. Fix, James P. Clemens

1st Battalion

MAJ John Turner, Mauston (Marshall Cousins)
1LT Charles E. Butters, Adjutant

1st Battalion listed as Companies A, F, G and D

Co. A Neillsville CPT Anton C. Martin 1LT Allen W. Wildish 2LT Leo. M. Jackson
Co. B La Crosse CPT Herman A. Rupp 1LT Emil O. Shultz 2LT Paul F. Nuffke (Noffke)
Co. C Hudson CPT Otis H. King 1LT John P. Inglls (Inglis) 2LT Albert J. Lyksett
Co. D Mauston CPT Delos L. Strong 1LT Harry J. Lyon (Lyons) 2LT Charles G. Babcock (Ervie E. Petrie)

2nd Battalion

MAJ Wm. Y. Burton, Hudson
1LT Fred E. Burbach, Adjutant

2nd Battalion listed as Companies H, E, I, C

Co. E Eau Claire CPT  Richard F. Sortomme 1LT  Harvey C. Vermilyea (Carl A. Johnson) 2LT Roy W. Boberg (H. C. Vermilyen)
Co. F Portage CPT Samuel B. Ernsberger (Guy F. Goodell) 1LT Frank B. Ernsberger (Samuel B. Ernsberger) 2LT Gregory W. Dempsey (F. B. Ernsberger)
Co. G Wausau CPT Elmer I. Lucas 1LT Frank M. Drake 2LT Carl E. Behnke
Co. H Menomonie CPT Albert Nathness 1LT Herbert W. Quilling 2LT Harry C. Nelson (no 2LT)

3rd Battalion

MAJ Marshall Cousins, Eau Claire (John Turner)
1LT Orville L. Arnold, Adjutant

3rd Battalion listed as Companies M, L, K and B

Co. I Superior CPT Alex. W. Fluegel 1LT Martin Ackerson 2LT Elmer Olson (no 2LT)
Co. K Tomah CPT John G. Graham (John H. Graham) 1LT Clyde G. Strachan (Fred S. Barrows) 2LT R. A. Scherdel (Ed. C. Van Wie)
Co. L Sparta CPT Robert A. Merrill 1LT Wm. A. Holden 2LT Geo. B. Jensen
Co. M La Crosse CPT Frank H. Fowler 1LT Geo. H. Hale 2LT Daniel M. Erickson (Wm. W. Ruplin)

 

1st Separate Company - Infantry

Station Chippewa Falls

Was not deployed

CPT Edgar A. Firth 1LT Edward H. Monat 2LT Harlie C. Wilson

 

2nd Separate Company - Infantry

Station Janesville

Was not deployed

CPT Hans G. Jaeke 1LT Henry M. Friis 2LT Roy Worthington

 

Troop A First Cavalry

Station Milwaukee

Mustered In 27 Jun. 1916 at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Left Camp Douglas 1 Jul. 1916
Arrived Camp Wilson, Texas 5 Jul. 1916
Mustered Out 20 Oct. 1916 at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin

CPT Carl Penner 1LT August H. Bengs 2LT Herbert B. Einfeldt

 

Troop B First Cavalry

Station Milwaukee

Mustered In 24 Jul. 1916 at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Left Camp Douglas 7 Aug. 1916
Arrived Camp Wilson, Texas 11 Aug. 1916
Mustered Out 6 Mar. 1917 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois

CPT August M. Krech 1LT Oliver O. Treadwell 2LT Paul C. Burrill

 
 

1st Field Artillery

1st Battalion

MAJ P. C. Westfahl, Milwaukee
Green text as of 12 Feb. 1916

Only Battery A was mustered and mobilized
Mustered In 30 Jun. 1916 at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Left Camp Douglas 1 Jul. 1916
Arrived Camp Wilson, Texas 5 Jul. 1916
Mustered Out 26 Oct. 1916 at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin

Battery A Milwaukee 1LT Alonzo J. Comstock Phillip C. Westphal 1LT John G. Reed (and Alonzo J. Comstock) 2LTs Wm. F. Fraedich (Fraedrick) & Alvin (Alano) A. Kuechenmeister
Battery B Green Bay
1LT Leland Wells 2LT Leroy Hoberg
Battery C Racine CPT George W. Rickeman 1LTs James W. Gilson & Richard Drake 2LTs Richard C. Bryant & Harry J. Sanders

 

Wisconsin Field Hospital, Company #1

Station Milwaukee
As of 12 Feb. 1917

Mustered In 27 June 1916 at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin
Stationed at Camp Wilson, Texas
Mustered Out 13 Jan. 1917 at Fort Sheridan, Illinois

MAJ Charles H. Stoddard CPTs George W. Nielson and Gustavus I. Hogue 1LTs Clarence J. Kenney, Arthur A. Mitten and Herbert H. Graebner
Sources include:
1917 Wisconsin Blue Book
Wisconsin Troops in Federalized National Guard - Mexican Border Service


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