August 27 , 1809. OMAHA ILLUSTRATED BEE.
Passing of the Famous
First Nebraska Regi *
ment Volunteers
The First Nebraska regiment Is now only
a memory , albeit n glorious one. The flnal
net by which Its existence was terminated
wag enacted at the Presidio , San Francisco ,
promptly on the day announced , Auguet 23.
The mustering officer found the men all
ready for this duty , just as they had always
been ready when called upn : tor any other
purpose. Camp was in order , with no lit
ter left for those who como after to clean
up , the rolls were prepared , the men re
ceived the money that was coming to thorn
and the members of the First became again
plain American citizens.
As cltlzono the men proceeded to hotels
or iboardlng houses to await the time when
the special train which , 4s to bear them
homo as the guests of the siate should bo
ready for tholr departure. As citizens they
behaved themselves as they had done while
soldiers , with credit to themselves and to
the elate which Is proud to call them Its
own.
own.Tho
The last days In camp were of an unevent
ful character. The time was taken up In
the routine duty of army Ilfo , with a little
more of the social features than arc allow
able under ordinary conditions. The men.
In companies and as Individuals , put In all
at San 'Francisco , but of the certainty that
greater pleasures than It was within the
( powers of the people of the const city to
offer wore waiting their homecoming. There
were wives , mothers , fathers and sweet
hearts who had waited anxiously for the day
when the soldier boy should return , nml the
prospective joy of these meetings must dim
the pleasure of anything that strangers
could offer , no matter what U might be.
As the train which was to bear them homo
started on Its long journey hearts werr
lighter than they had been for many a long
day , and na the thump of the revolving
wheels marked the passing of every rail
joint the spirits rose In the same degree.
The volunteers , who are the Idols of
everyone In Nebraska , arc now Hearing the
borders of their own state , and when they
cross the state line there will be a recep
tion beside which the great demonstration
which marked the trip through San Fran
cisco will appear feeble. There may not
bo so many people 'watching ' at the little
stations and prosperous towns through which
they pass as congregated In the great city
on the western coast , but they will be Ne
braska cheers which greet the ears of the
returning soldiers , the outward evidence
that their own people appreciate their sac-
THE FOUR STORCH BROTHEKS Courtesy of W. H. Totten , Fullerton , Neb.
tholr spare time taking In the sights and
accepting Invltatons to various excursions
and to pleasure resorts.
When the time came for muwer out the
men of the regiment were anxloua that no
unnecessary delay occur In starting on the
return trip to their homes and every effort
was made to expedite matters.
San Francisco met them with open anna
when the men from the Antelope state arrived -
rived on their way to the wr In the Orient ;
Its people bid them Godspeed when they
sailed away , and opened tholr doors to
them when CH the return trip the warwom
veterans returned through the Golden
Gate. The departure for home wa not
accompanied with any such elaborate cere
monies , but the friends they had made on
the Pacific slope were on hand to extend
their well wishes In an uncstcntatlcus way.
The last days In camp were filled wlui
pleasant memories even though disturbed
with an anxiety to hasten the departure.
This anxiety was not born of any discom
forts or lack of opportunities for enjoyment
rifices and accomplishments. When they
march up the streets of Nebraska's metropo
lis the climax of their soldier career should
have como.
Valor of the Storch
Brothers Recognized
"Among the many traits of character
which endear 'President McKInley to the
people of the country , " relates the Wash
ington Star , "none Is 'more prominent than
his prompt recognition of sacrifice and valor
on the part of the men who are FO devot
edly supporting our flag in distant lands.
Most of these acts of kindly Impulse ara
never heard of 'by ' the public. An In
stance camd to light at the War department
today In the appointment , by the president ,
of Joseph A. Storch , a lieutenant of Com
pany H , First Nebraska Infantry , to bo soo-
end lieutenant In the regular army.
If the complete history of the war with
Spain , with all Its Incidents , could he
GROUP OF RETURNED OFFICERS TAKEN AT SAN FRANCISCO.
written but few cases would bo found to
combine more of patriotism , devotion to
duty and sacrifice than the services of the
Storch brothers the fighting Starches at
Nebraska.
"The record of the Storch family Is an
unusual one. When the first call for vol
unteers In the war with Spain was made
tour sons of Peter Storch , a worthy and
honored citizen of Fullcrtou , Neb. , enlisted
in Company U of the First Nebraska volun
teer" Infantry. All went with their regi
ment to the Philippines and participated In
all the marches , the long watch-guards and
the many engagements In which that splen
did regiment participated. Joseph A. Storch ,
the young man who has just been appointed ,
Is the first lieutenant of bis company ; James
P. , a quartermaster sergeant ; Arthur , a
second sergeant , and Oscar , a member of
the band.
"Quartermaster Sergeant James F. Storch
was among the number killed In that gallant
charge at Qulngua , where Colonel Stotscn-
berg , ithe commander of the regiment , also
lest his life at the head of his men.
"When the circumstances surrounding
these brothers' service -were casually
brought to the attention of the president he
was deeply Impressed and at once sent an
order to .tho War department to appoint
Joseph A. Storch a second lieutenant In the
regular army and directed that General Otis
bo Immediately notified by cable , so that the
young man's examination niluht take place
without delay.
"Tho young man who has been appointed
a lieutenant In the regular army Is a gradu
ate of 'the Fullerton High school , as well as
of the Nebraska State university. Ho Is 2G
years of age and has served over a year as a
lieutenant In the First Nebraska , which
regiment has been on the lighting line
ncaHy all of the time since the outbreak of
the Insurgent hostilities on February 4. The
honor which comes to him as official recog
nition of patriotic devotion forges a strong
link In the chain of evidence that a republic
Is not ungrateful when a generous and ap
preciative man directs Its affairs. "
The accompanying Illustration shows these
four Nebraska heroes In the uniform of
tholr country. The quartermaster sergeant
who gave up his Ilfo Is seated In the center
nnd on his left Is Second Sergeant Arthur
Storch and on the extreme loft Is Oscar , the
bandsman. On the right Is Joseph A. Storch ,
I
COMPANY H STREET AT SANTA MESA.
who has just been honored by the president
Cjr the fDleiidld devotion and patriotism of
this tiiwrtct of Nebraska heroes.
Utah's Fighting
Artillerists
The members of the famous light artillery
of Utah , which did such splendid service at
the battle of Manila and In the wnr against
the Tagals , reached Salt Lake City Satur
day of last week and received a royal wel
come home. They deserved the Worm , en
thusiastic welcome they received. No body
of volunteers of equal number rendered
greater or more effective service for the
government or shed greater luator on Ameri
can arms.
An Idea of their skill as artillerists maybe
bo gleaned from a letter of the Manila cor
respondent of Leslie's weekly. Ho writes :
"Major Young of the Utah Light Artillery
IH Genornl MacArthur's chief of artillery.
He has frequently rushed his guns up to
within from fifty to 200 yards of the enemy's
pcsltlon , and there poured In a fearful lire
that has forced the little browu Insurgents
to take to their heels , leaving behind groups
of dead. It is noti mere bravado that makes
Major Young fight his pieces a little mor j
than arm's length , and thus upset all the
traditions of Held artillery practice. The
nature of the country makes It necessary
to run the field pieces up' In the enemy's
faces. At greater ranges the enemy would
generally bo invisible to the gunners on ac
count of the numerous clumps of bamboo
and the dense jungles. Major Young Is a
West Pointer , and a former army officer , nnd
his hard fighting proclivities , as well ns
those of the splendid men under him , have
made the Utnhs famous all along the line.
Wherever they go past troops on the way
Into action they are lustily cheered , and
Americans have found that wherever these
Utah men show up during ,1 .battle the light
Is quickly over at that point.
"In every flght that has taken place so
far at least one gun of the Utah Light artil
lery has taken part. Captain Wedgewood
and Captain Grant , commanding the two
batteries of this organization , have had
some of the liveliest work to do that could
fall to the lot of an artillery officer. A list
of the ranges at which these fighting men
have fired would make old artillery ofllcciv )
open their eyes. At Calabahnn the range
was flOO yards ; at the Tnllahan river , 125
yards ; near Mallntc , 1,600 yards ; near
Meycaunyan , 1,700 yards ; at Marllao , sixty
yards , and afterward at 2,000 ; at Uocauc ,
' .iflO and 700 yards. From hero Major Young
took a shot at 3,200 yards at a moving In
surgent train on the railway at nigua , this
COMPANY C , IIEATRICE. AT DINNER-
PRESIDIO.
shell striking the train nnd driving out eov-
oral Insurgents in n panic. At Gulgulnto the
range was 1,500 yards ; nt Santa Isabel , l,0iO !
yards , and at Qulngun , 250 yards. On the
Caloocan road , on February 5 , the ranges
ran from ICO to 1,000 yards ; at La Lomn , 450
to 1,200 yards ; at San Palco , 300 to 1,000
( Continued on Page Six. )
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COLONEL STOTSENHEHQ AT MA HI IX ) .
