Top This

I’ve been told my Grandfather Weddle’s maternal relatives, the Marshes, weren’t very close. In fact, on the rare occasions that they all got together, they typically spent their time and energy playing “Top This!” [1]

You know how that game goes: one sibling brags about their new car, or big bonus, or the latest remarkable feat of [insert name of family member] and no sooner do they finish their story than the other siblings jump in with their own tales of incredible proportion.

And on and on it goes… ad nauseum.

All families do it to some degree. What is so sad about this sort of one-up-man-ship, though, is that it detracts from real accomplishments.

Like receiving the Distinguished Service Cross for service in the Spanish-American War.

My great-great uncle, Robert Jesse Downing Marsh, received that honor in 1931.

Sandwiched between the Civil War and the World Wars, the 1898 Spanish-American conflict seems pretty insignificant. I mean, be honest, who among you even knows what the Spanish-American War was about? [Now, now. no fair googling…]

It’s not really one of the military actions covered in our standard history classes, now is it? [2]

Poor Robert. Here he was with a military award—the only military award, by the way, that I’ve found in all my research across all the many families into which I’m digging—for service in a war that paled in comparison. Not exactly the stuff of “Top This” competitions.

So, if you’ll indulge me, I’d like to share Robert’s accomplishments, meager as they are in light of bigger wars, and give them the honor they’re due…

Robert was twenty-six when he enlisted in September of 1895 (his sister, my great-grandmother, Albinnia was only nine years old) and was assigned to the 2nd U.S. Infantry, Company A. By June of 1898, his unit was deployed to Cuba, and Robert’s company fought in what is now known as the Siege of Santiago—an engagement lasting from July 1-11 that featured: Gatling guns, truces in negotiating and subsequent denial of terms of surrender, a yellow fever outbreak, and a blockade of the city’s food and water.

In August, the regiment went back to the United States only to return again in January of 1899 where they remained through September. [3] Uncle Robert must have liked Cuba, because when it came time for his regiment to leave to prepare for deployment in the Phillippines, Robert joined the 7th U.S. Cavalry (who were to remain in Cuba) in April of 1899.

While serving with the Cavalry, he quickly advanced to Corporal (early May 1899), then Sergeant (late May 1899), and finally to 1st Sergeant (May 1900). According to the 1900 Census, Robert was stationed in Pinar del Rio, the far west side of the island known as “the Mecca of Tobacco.” I sort of imagine him in uniform with a big ol’ stogy in one hand. Cuban cigars were famous, even then.

Now, about that Distinguished Service Cross… I’d like to say it was for running in and saving Private Ryan, or some such act of valour. And, perhaps it was, although the certificate simply states “distinguished service.”

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross, in lieu of a previously issued Certificate of Merit and Distinguished Service Medal, to Musician Robert J. Marsh, United States Army, for distinguished service as a member of Company A, 2d Infantry Regiment, in battle at Santiago, Cuba, 1 July 1898.

General Orders: D.S.C. issued in lieu of the Certificate of Merit and the D.S.M. under the provisions of the act of Congress (March 5, 1931)

I was surprised about the musician part; one doesn’t consider the modern army having/needing musicians. Turns out Robert was a bugler. [You can see the electronic record of the award here.]

Of course, there were other aspects of Robert’s military career that he could have definitely used to best his siblings in the “Top This” game, like a “close” association with Teddy Roosevelt, for example.

Close is a relative term, though. In Robert’s case, his regiment, the 2nd Infantry, fought in close proximity to Teddy Roosevelt and his Rough Riders during the Cuban conflict [4].

Which could be phrased as… “I met and fought with Teddy Roosevelt.” Of, better yet, exaggerated to… “Teddy and I were great friends in the war.”

Who knows? Maybe they were. Now I wonder who can top that?

 

Pictures (clockwise from top left): Robert Marsh on horseback with 7th Cavalry; Robert Marsh in uniform c1898; Camp Columbia Base Hospital where Robert was likely treated after his service injury caused by a horse falling on him; the Pinar Del Rio Barracks – Robert’s home per the 1900 census records; Military trenches used at the Siege of Santiago.

Notes & Sources

[1] This aspect of the Marsh family is, in legal parlance, hearsay. But it’s all I have to go on, and comes, indirectly, from my grandfather, who remembers Marsh family get-togethers as usually devolving into bragging contests. But that may just be the nature of Thanksgiving Gatherings, eh?

[2] Read more about the Spanish American War here and here.

[3] The Siege of Santiago and The Battle of Santiago were different—but related—offensives. You can read about the Siege of Santiago here.

[4] Learn about Teddy and his Rough Riders in this short video.