Activities, Officers & Crowding: Philippines War Tour

Row of officer housing

Almost overnight the Presidio grew in size and importance. Now, in addition to the soldiers stationed here to defend San Francisco Harbor and the west coast, the post took on responsibilities for staging the operations in the Philippines and elsewhere in the Pacific. In April 1900, Presidio post commander briefed his superiors on the Presidio's activities since the beginning of the war:

"The Presidio has become the most important post in the U.S. Army, forming a defense of the Golden Gate with fifty-two modern defense guns and mortars. The Presidio garrison amounts to upwards of 1,000 men. The post processes all the regulars and volunteers going to the Philippine Islands. It handles recruits, furloughed soldiers, and discharged men. All the sick returning from the Pacific pass through the reservation, and the remains of deceased soldiers are received here. In addition, animals destined for the far Pacific are handled at the post."

With the increase in troops at the Presidio, overcrowding became a real problem, not only for the enlisted men, many of whom were camping in tents, but also for the officers. In 1901 the San Francisco Call had this account of activities at the Presidio:

"The Presidio presents an animated scene since the return of the volunteers commenced and the issuance of orders calling for the organization of new regiments. There are at present quartered on the military reservation more than 7000 men, exclusive of the 600 patients in the general hospital. Within the next few days 2300 men will leave for Manila, but their places will-be filled by the incoming recruits and returning regiments."

The same year, post commander Colonel Rawles reported:

"A captain in Texas who has orders for the Philippines has asked for quarters for his family, but I answered no and suggested he apply to Benicia Barracks. Even the chaplain has complained that the post chapel is too crowded and has requested the construction of a larger chapel."

The arrival of newly assigned officers produced a kind of musical chairs at the post. In 1904 the San Francisco Call reported:

"The arrival of Colonel Edward A. Godwin, Ninth Cavalry, has raised a great commotion at the Presidio. His rank entitles him to select any quarters except those of the commanding officer of the post. His eye lighted on the beautiful grounds and commodious home of Major Stephenson, so the major was politely requested to seek other quarters. As Major Stephenson has his two sisters visiting him and desires to entertain in their behalf, he will naturally choose the next best quarters in the line, which will oust a captain, and this will result in a grand change all down the line. Things will be merry in the moving line next week."