Spanish American War Website Banner

A Typical Day Aboard U.S. Army Transport RIO DE JANEIRO


Contributed by Wendie Thomas,  great-granddaughter of Cpl. William Schmoker, Co. L

Please Visit our Home Page to learn more about the Spanish American War
Click here to read a letter from 1st Lt. Jay Beck, written while in transit aboard the Transport RIO DE JANEIRO
Troops aboard the Transport Rio de Janeiro
This is a view of the troops aboard the transport RIO DE JANEIRO. This vessel was part of the 4th expedition to the Philippines which consisted of this vessel and the ST. PAUL. The expedition carried 4,720 men and 172 officers as well as General Otis, who would replace General Merritt as the commander of the Eighth Army Corps.
General:

The following orders provide the plan of the day for the troops being transported aboard the RIO DE JANEIRO. This copy of the orders was found among the papers of Corporal William Schmoker of the 1st South Dakota Volunteer Infantry

The Orders:

HEADQUARTERS FIRST SOUTH DAKOTA INFANTRY U. S. V.
Steamer "Rio de Janeiro"
at Sea, July 26, 1898

GENERAL ORDERS
No. 14.
The following order of Service and Roll Calls will be observed until further orders.

Reveille 5.20. A. M.

Assembly (3 Bells) 5.30.

Breakfast (4 Bells) 6.00.

All bedding, including ticks, on deck immediately after breakfast for inspection.

Parade for inspection 8.30.

Drill call 9.30.

Recall 11.30.

Between the hours of 9.30 and 11.30 A. M. companies will drill as follows:

Co. A, 9.30 (3 Bells) to 10. A. M.
Co. M 10. (4 Bells) to 10.30 A. M.
Co. D 10.30 (5 Bells) to 11. A. M.
Co. E, 11.00 (6 Bells) to 11.30 A.M.
These companies will drill on the Hurricane Deck from the Pilot House forward.
First Sergeant's Call 11.45

Dinner 12.00

Drill Call 1.25 P. M.

Assembly 1.30

Recall 4.30

Between the hours of 1.30 and 4.30 P. M., companies will drill as
follows:

Co. G, 1.30 (3 Bells) to 2.00 P. M.
Co. C, 2.00 (4 Bells) to 2.30 P. M.
Co. F, 2.30 (5 Bells) to 3.00 P. M.
Co. L, 3.00 (6 Bells) to 3.30 P. M.
Band and Signal corps, 3.30 (7 Bells) to 4.00 P. M.
Utah Light Artillery, 4.00 (8 Bells) to 4.30 P. M.
These companies will occupy the space on the Hurricane Deck from the Cabin aft.
Guard Mounting 5.00

Supper 6.00

Tattoo 9.30

Taps 10.00

Bathing privileges will be given the companies from 9.30 to 11.30 A. M. and from 2.30 to 5.30 P. M. companies will bathe at the hours designated below, beginning tomorrow:

Co. F, on alternate days from 9.30 to 10.30 A. M.
Co. L on alternate days from 10.30 to 11.30 A. M.
The Band & Signal Corps will alternate at corresponding hours with Co. F.
The Utah Light Artillery will alternate at corresponding hours with Co. L.
Co. A, on alternate days from 2.30 to 3.30 P.M.
Co. M, on alternate days from 3.30 to 4.30 P. M.
Co. D on alternate days from 4.30 to 5.30 P. M.
Companies E, G, and C, will alternate at corresponding hours with Companies A, M and D respectively
By order of Colonel Frost.

Bibliography:

(As a service to our readers, clicking on title in red will take you to that book on Amazon.com):

Cohen, Stan. Images of Spanish American War, April-August,1998.  (Missoula:Pictorial Histories Publishing Co., Inc., 1997). 254. (Image of Rio de Janeiro).

Schmoker, Corporal William, Personal Papers.

Support this Site by Visiting the Website Store! (help us defray costs!)
We are providing the following service for our readers. If you are interested in books, videos, CD's etc. related to the Spanish American War, simply type in "Spanish American War" (or whatever you are interested in) as the keyword and click on "go" to get a list of titles available through Amazon.com.

Visit Main Page for copyright data

Return to the Transport Page

Return to US Navy

Return to Main Page