Tennessee Volunteers: Philippines War Tour

Tennessee Camp in 1898

This valley, known as Tennessee Hollow, held tent camps for volunteer regiments throughout the Spanish American and Philippine wars.

This area is known as Tennessee Hollow because it was the camp site of the notoriously rowdy 1st Tennessee Volunteer Infantrymen, who trained at the Presidio from mid-June 1898 until they left for Manila on November 1. These men made a big impression on both the citizens of San Francisco and the local military establishment and the name has persisted through the years.

Oral Histories and letters from this regiment portray what it was like for the many young men from across America, who had volunteered to fight in a land far from anything they know. From oral histories we hear - about the trip to San Francisco:

No member of the regiment will ever forget the exciting moment when the news that we were to go to the Philippines spread through the camp. We did not know just where these islands were, but we wanted to go bad and find out their location.

Then came the preparations for the long trip to San Francisco, which we started on June 10, 1898. The trip to Frisco brings to us all the most pleasant memories-the open hospitality of the various cities and towns through which we passed, the cordial greetings and many kindnesses shown us, the good meals and hearty God-speeds--all will never be forgotten.

Then came the Grand Canyon, beautiful Salt Lake City, the snowy mountains, and finally San Francisco. We cannot congratulate ourselves on the soldierly appearance of the boys as we marched through the City to the sand dunes of Camp Merritt, near Golden Gate Park; but under the parti-colored coats beat manly hearts filled with patriotism and only awaiting opportunity to prove same.

To say we were given the glad hand by the people of San Francisco poorly expresses our reception by them. Never before was there seen such free-handed hospitality and welcome given to so ragged a lot of soldiers, or will we admit that there was ever a more appreciative lot of hungry boys with excellent digestions. We say hungry, but this condition did not last long, and though the strain on our digestions was great, we are proud to say that no man broke the first and most important rule of soldier life--eat whenever you get the chance.

A series of letters written by Richard Steele of the 1st Tennessee Infantry to his Aunt and Uncle reflect his impressions of his stay in San Francisco. Several letters report on the regiments activities and entertainment in the city.

June 20, 1898

Dear Auntie,
Friday evening after we settled, we all went to the Sutro bath house out on the coast about three miles and went in, which made us all feel like new boys. We all put on bathing suits and some of the boys went in 9 foot water, some in 6 and some in four, but I couldn't hardly swim in four foot, so I just contented myself by something good.

Yesterday we were allowed to go to town and stay two hours at a time, so I went to town twice and we got pretty view of the town, but the most important place was China town, it contains about four blocks and there the Chinese are all together and trade with each other.

Auntie tell all my friends to write to me even the little girls I used to know, for it would make me feel right happy to hear from a nice pretty little girl from Nashville, but Nashville can't beat Frisco on pretty girls because they are all pretty and are as sweet as these plums that grow out here. I don't see how I will ever be able to come to Nashville again after mixing with the western people.

July 4, 1898
We left camp this morning about 7:30 to enter the parade and suppose we marched about ten miles, but the time past away fast, for every step we marched we were cheered by the California people and some of them say we drilled better than any regiment out of fifteen or twenty although we were not equipped, the people would say they are ragged but they can drill.