General:
This military had a very short history, all of which seems to have been spent in the state of Washington. The unit did not see service abroad. Sometimes this unit is listed as the 2nd Washington Volunteer Infantry or simply the Washington Infantry Battalion.
Unit History:
The Washington Volunteer Infantry Battalion was mustered into service at Tacoma, Washington between July 2 and July 15, 1898. At the time of muster in, the unit consisted of fourteen officers and 412 enlisted men. The unit, commanded by Colonel Wholly, remained a battalion because it only ever consisted of four companies, instead of the usual ten to twelve companies that would comprise a regiment. When it was originally being organized, it was expected that the battalion would be sent east to serve at Chicago, Illinois or St. Paul, Minnesota. The unit formed quite late, since the fighting ended on August 12, 1898 when an armistice was declared.
From its official mustering, the 1st Washington Volunteer Infantry Battalion was held in reserve at the Vancouver Barracks, serving as part of the Department of Columbia. The men of the regiment were not particularly happy with this as they correctly ascertained that they would spend their period of service in garrison duty rather seeing service elsewhere. In September, the unit was replaced by the 8th California Volunteer Infantry. It appears that the regiment was furloughed at this point, and ordered to return on October 9th in preparation for being mustered out. The commander of the Department of Columbia, which included Washington, makes no further note of the unit in his official report.
The unit was mustered out at Vancouver Barracks on October 28, 1898. At the time of muster out, the unit consisted of almost the same number of officers and men, experiencing a net loss of one enlisted man. During its term of service lost one man who died of disease, two more who were discharged on disability, and four men who deserted.
The War ended on December 10, 1898, with the signing of the Treaty of Paris.
Clerk of Joint Committee on Printing, The Abridgement of Message from the President of the United States to the Two Houses of Congress. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899). Vol. 3, 181.
Columbia Twice-A-Week Chronicle. Untitled article, Dayton, Washington, Friday, September 16, 1898, p 4, col. 1
"It May be Ordered East," The Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington, Sunday, June 26, 1898, p 2.
The Spokesman-Review. Untitled article, Spokane, Washington,
Wednesday, July 20, 1898, p 4, col. 2.
Statistical Exhibit of Strength of Volunteer Forces Called into Service During the War with Spain; with Losses from All Causes. (Washington: Government Printing Office, 1899).