Edgar Senseney Shively was the oldest child of Benjamin F. Shively and Elmina Thomas. (His parents were the subjects of last week's Shively blog article). Edgar Senseney Shively was born 23-Dec-1871 in Chambersburg, Franklin County, PA and died 11-Jan-1946 in Los Angles County, CA. He was married on 8-Jan-1901 in St. Louis, MO to Della A. Lightner. Della was born 22-Jan-1875 and died 27-Jan-1956 in Los Angeles County, CA.
Edgar Shively served in the Battery D, 6th U. S. Artillery during the Spanish American War. A brief chronology of this unit is as follows:
February 15, 1898 - Battleship Maine sinks in Havana, Cuba harbor after an explosion
March 1898 - The 6th Artillery Regiment is formed at Ft. McHenry, Baltimore, MD
April 25, 1898 - The U.S. declares war on Spain
July 1898 - Two batteries of the 6th Artillery ship from San Francisco to the Philippines, arriving in August. Battery D went to Manila and Battery G to Iloilo, on the Island of Panay
August 13, 1898 - Manila falls. Armistice declared and fighting between the U.S. and Spain ends
December 10, 1898 - Spanish American War ends with signing of the Treaty of Paris
During his service in the Spanish American War Edgar Shively was writing to his family in Rooks County, KS. Some of this information was shared with the editors of the local newspaper which they then published. The following article was extracted from The Stockton Review And Rooks County Record, Stockton, Kansas, Friday, April 29, 1898, Page 8, Column 2:
Edgar Shively writes very entertainingly of his life in Washington, and gives his views in unmistakable language of the mistaken economical policy of the government toward the regular army in time of peace. He is anxious to be on to assist in avenging the death of the brave boys on the Maine, and quotes the battle cry of the boys in blue "Remember the Maine". His only regret is that at least six months will be required to get the new battery in working order, so much more drill being required to perfect artillerymen than in any other branch of the service.
Extracted from The Stockton Review And Rooks County Record, Stockton, Kansas, Friday, June 17, 1898, Page 8, Col 4:
Battery B, sixth artillery, who have been in Washington, D.C., for some time are now ordered to San Francisco, Cali., with Manila as a probable destination, writes Edgar Shively; and all are jubilant over the prospect of taking an active part in the present unpleasantness. Mr. Shively had endeavored to be allowed to leave his command and go to the Phillipines, even as a private, but did not succeed and so rejoices that the battery has been ordered that way.
From The Stockton Review And Rooks County Record, Stockton, Kansas, Friday, September 2, 1898, Page 8, Column 4:
Edgar Shively sends back home a glowing account of the beauty of Honolulu, while his battery was there the last of July while enroute to Manilla. The boys had a very enjoyable time. Nothing was too good for Uncles Sam's boys in blue. They visited many ponts of interest in the city and were handsomely entertained one day in the palace grounds, where thirteen hundred soldier boys sat down at one time to tables arranged under stately palm trees. Banana and coconut trees grow by the walks and the product may be plucked at eaten almost any time. The city has electric lights, street cars and most of the modern improvements. Old Glory floated from almost every store and residence and the general feeling was one of gratification that the islands would soon be under the protection of the stars and stripes. Mr. Shively hoped his command would be allowed to remain until after the flag raising in August. The major part of the population of Honolulu is white and English the chief language spoken. The natives impressed him as a fine class of people, who would be a welcome addition to our population. His next letter will probably give his experience at a pineapple farm which he was invited to visit the day after his letter was sent.
The following was recorded in The Stockton Review And Rooks County Record, Stockton, Kansas, Friday, October 21, 1898, Page 8, Column 3:
From The Philippines
A letter from a former Rooks county boy, a member of battery D, 6th U. S. artillery:
Manila, Luzon Island
Sept 5th, 1898
Dear Folks: -- Well, as I have plenty of spare time, I will drop you a few lines. We have very nice quarters in what is called New Manila about 1/3 of a mile from the bay. We are living in a fine house, comparatively speaking, and my section has six rooms and a bath room in connection. The house was formerly the home of a Spanish colonel and has a fine flower garden in the front yard with a fountain flowing in the center. There are palm trees, coconut trees and various other tropical trees and plants.
What is known as the old city has a stone wall about 20 feet high, 100 feet wide at the bottom and tapers to 75 feet at the top. At the entrance there are large gates or doors which are let down from the inside with strong chains and the old style moat around the wall. The top of the wall is covered with old muzzle loading guns and a few modern disappearing guns, which all fall to us of course.
You should see the natives here how they dress. There is a half breed Japanese and Malay woman across the street from where I am writing, who has a kid about 18 months old under her left arm with nothing on it except a string around its neck; another youngster with her about 10 years old with nothing but a shirt of some kind of light stuff, which does not come down low enough to make it fit for respectable society. The mother is barefoot, has a narrow skirt on with a bodice of the decolate style, and of course is always in evening dress. I am afraid the law in our country would not tolerate such nudeness, but here nobody pays any attention to such things.
There are a great many of the soldiers here sick with dysentery and typhoid fever, and it seems almost impossible to cure either. The former is caused by fruit eating and the latter by the poor water. We have to boil all the water before using it. I heard last night that 450 of the sick and wounded would be returned to the U.S. About 40 nurses of the Red Cross society arrived from the U.S. the other day and are doing a good work among the sick soldiers, so I am told.
We expect trouble with the insurgents as they have refused to lay down their arms. I have been all over the city among them and around with them at night without being armed having no trouble. We are permitted to run around the city just the same was we would in the U.S. I was invited to the house of a Spanish officer the other evening and had a fine time but have forgotten his address so will have to wait until I run across him again to get his name.
I cannot think of anything more to write at present. As to the war I guess you know more than we do for the latest paper we have in July 27th, so you see how we are situated; do not know anything late. Have not had any letters from the states yet and am very anxious to hear from you, so when you receive this I wish you would answer at once for you know it takes a long time to get mail from there. I will close for the present by saying I am well, and with love and best wishes to all I am as ever your son, Edgar Shively
(By the courtesy and wish of B. F. Shively, his father, the above letter is published and trust it will interest our readers. --Ed)
The following was taken from The Stockton Review And Rooks County Record, Stockton, Kansas, Friday, April 14, 1899, Page 8, Column 2:
Shively In A Battle
In Camp Aobut Four Miles South Of Manilla, On Firing Line,
February 22, 1899
Dear Folks: As everything is quiet and the chaplain of the 23d infantry just been out and given us envelopes I will drop you a few lines. I am in good health. We are here in line of battle and have been for three days, but have done no fighting since the 16th. We are not going to move until we get the rest of our troops, as they don't want to take the troops too far from the city until we get more men, which will be in a few days. We have not had a man killed in our battery yet and only two wounded.
We had an engagement on the 15th at long range. We bombarded a church about 10 miles east of Manila, at a little town. Two guns was up on top of a mountain and threw shells over into them; in the meantime tow of our other guns got near the mountain from which the other guns was working; and shelled the out-skirts of the city, while the gun boat used their gatling guns. We they withdrew to a little village called San Pedre Mactia, which was formerly our out-post. The opposition, thinking we had been whipped made big advances and next morning they showed up coming over the hills by the thousands. We soon formed line of battle with the Washington's, California and Idaho troops. Our men lay waiting for them to advance and make the attack which they soon did. Our lines finally opened fire; the battery was bout the center of the line and fairly well protected. The firing began on the right but it soon proved that they were only making a feint on the right and then they opened heavily on the left, thinking they could turn it and flank us. But they mistook their men. Our troops now poured a deadly fire into them. We kept shelling the woods where they gathered for protection. One of our shrapnel killed 16 in one bunch. They finally broke and ran after suffering fearful loss.
We had no men killed but quite a few of our men were overcome by the intense heat. I sweat fearfully. I was setting fuses and the sweat litterly run off. I had to be careful not to let it drop into the powder and wet it, but I did not suffer any inconveniences from it afterwards. We have now been out since the 5th of February. I have not had my clothes off for nearly a week, and have been sleeping out for the last four days. This is the dry season and we are all in fine shape. Well I will have to close for this time so good-bye. I am sitting on one of our ammunition carts with my feet hanging out. I am as ever
E. S. Shively,
Sergt. Light battery D, 6th Art.
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