Oregon in the Philippines : 2nd Division, 8th Army Corps, Second Regiment, Oregon Volunteer Infantry, 1899

Publication date: 1899

Pamphlet is 33 pages (17 cm)

Preface signed Wm. S. Gilbert, Chaplain

Two period albumen photographs of Oregonian soldiers in the Philippines, one a Manila studio portrait with ink caption on the verso identifying the young bearded soldier as "J. S. Wright, Philippine Islands 1899." The second photograph showing 5 soldiers posed outside their tent, titled on the verso, "Taken at Camp Merritt, Aug 11th, '98". This image of the 5 soldiers is signed by each man below the image, from left to right: Wm. Mitchell, F. E. Adams, J. S. Wright (shown as a fresh faced boy; later as a hardened and bearded soldier in the cabinet card), Herman Rodman, and Roy Newby. Camp Merritt was a San Francisco US military camp set up for American troops heading to the Philippines in the Spanish American War. The studio portrait of Wright has the photographer's imprint "Fran.co Van Cam (sic), Manila, Escolta 37" both below the image and on the verso. This is likely Francisco van Camp, the noted Dutch photographer who took over the Manila studio of British photographer Albert Honiss when he died in 1874. In addition to his portraits, van Camp is known to have produced an important series of photographs following the massive 1880 Luzon earthquake. The photographs are accompanied by a pamphlet titled Oregon in the Philippines, 2nd Division, 8th Army corps; Second Regiment Oregon Volunteer Infantry, published August 1899, commemorating the history of the regiment, with a 'Calendar" recording the actions of the regiment from April 1898, through to August 7, 1899, when the regiment returned to California and mustered out. It includes the roll of honor; the wounded in action; testimonials; and the regimental roster.