The Frederick J. Liesmann Papers contain correspondence (1898-1901), documents relating to Liesmann’s military service (c.1898-c.1966), reminiscences (1946), two short stories (1932), and photographs (1898-1918). The photographs relate to Liesmann’s military service in Cuba and the Philippine Islands; to the military service of his friend Edward St. Clair; and to the service of his younger brother, Jake Liesmann, in World War I. The folders are arranged alphabetically by title. The first two letters to Liesmann’s parents were written from Cuba. A letter dated 19 July 1898 described the trip to Cuba, the fierce battle at El Caney, and the march through the jungle. Fred’s 27 July 1898 letter describes camp life and the soldier’s contempt for the Cubans. There is also a letter that he wrote just after his arrival at camp near Huntsville, Alabama, on 9 October 1898. The stationary upon which he wrote celebrated the American victory against Spain. The pages carry an illustration that reads, “A Bursted Bubble: Spain 1898.” The envelope illustration is much more elaborate and reads, “Wave On – Wave Ever” and “Victors o’er land and sea.” Fred added his own pencil illustration on the first page, “The view from my tent.” (f.1) In March 1899, Edward St. Clair wrote to Fred and passed along a name of a friend from Greenton, Missouri, Miss Nellie Tebbs. Fred and Nellie corresponded throughout his Philippine service. Nellie lived near Wellington, Missouri, and described the area including an island in the Missouri River known as Workman’s Island (f.2). She also mentioned seeing the Edward St. Clairs, presumably the parents of their mutual friend Edward St. Clair. St. Clair wrote to Fred again after he volunteered with the 33rd Infantry U.S. Volunteers in Texas, explaining that their uniforms were different than the wool worn in Cuba and that he had photos taken that he will send to Emma, Fred’s sister. Possibly these are the group photos of the 33rd in the collection (f.21). The remaining correspondence was written primarily during Liesmann’s military service in the Philippine-American War from 1899 to 1901, with a gap between October 1900 and January 1901. Most of the letters are between Fred and his parents, but his younger brother Jake also wrote to him. The letters from home include news of family and neighbors. Fred’s father often shares his political views. For example, in his 13 August 1900 letter he tells his son not to risk his life for McKinley (f.2). Several of Liesmann’s letters were given to the local paper in Dixon, Missouri, The Echo, and were published. Those published included his 29 October 1899 letter in which he described the trip from Jefferson Barracks to the Presidio in San Francisco (f.1) and the 6 January 1900 letter after his arrival in Manila (f.2). Some of Liesmann’s letters were also published in the St. Louis Globe, but only the two previously mentioned appear in the collection. In a few of the later letters, Fred requests that certain letters not be published. Fred’s letters often retold his scouts’ battles and skirmishes in great detail. His 2 May 1900 letter written at das Marinas, explained their unit’s movements and how they traced an insurgent to a hut where they recovered war plunder including chests filled with Spanish records from the Batangas Province and captured the commission papers for Capt. Gregorio de Castro. The letter included three of Liesmann’s sketches: an unidentified profile, “The Indian,” and “The Company Wagon.” Only one month later, 12 June 1900, Fred’s letter recounted the trials in capturing Capt. Gregorio with such detail that it reads like a short story. On the same day, Fred wrote a letter in German to his father (f.2). On 28 July 1900, in a letter to Emma, Fred lists the souvenirs and photos that he has sent home. He also told her that he had been recommended for a Medal of Honor (f.3). On 5 September 1900 Fred wrote to his father of his journey on the Villabos, a ship purchased from Spain, and the beauty of Luzon’s coast. Unfortunately, his friend and fellow scout, John Walls of Springfield, Missouri, died in the hospital while he was away. Fred tells of his dislike for the Filipinos and Chinese and explains that is different than fighting the Spanish in Cuba. He also expressed his hope that the U.S. will give the Philippine Islands their independence and not perpetuate the policies of Europe. In his 10 March 1901 letter, Liesmann said that one of his letters home might have gone down with the Rio de Janiero when it sank near San Francisco Bay in February. He declined an offer to take an exam for a regular army commission explaining that he did not want a commission that was not earned via his service. In June, Liesmann was discharged and sent home. There are two folders of military documents relating to Liesmann’s service (f.5-6). Included are his discharge papers for both wars and the recommendations for a Certificate of Merit dated 1902. There is small handwritten list on which records are kept concerning costs and/or amounts of hay, oats, oil, and wood relating to the 38th mounted detachment, the 26th mounted detachment, the native scouts, and to detachments led by Stone, Capt. Morris, Lt. Thompson, and Lt. Jacobs during the month of March. This list may have been kept in 1900 or in 1901. There is also a handwritten list with the names of Filipino insurgents and notes on their locations and if they had rifles, circa 1901. On the back of this list is another list with names of the 3rd Battalion Scouts with Captain Nelson, Sargent. Liesmann and twelve privates: Davis, Halbert, Chambers, Ramsay, Jordan, Crismon, Perry, Riddle, Odd, Ralston, Walls, and Springon. There is one receipt for April 1901 to Liesmann from Captain Morris, possibly for pay. (f.5) Liesmann’s pension papers from 1933 provide a timeline for his service in the two wars. There is a photocopy of the certificate that accompanied his Distinguished Service Medal and his Oak Leaf Cluster, both awarded in 1927. A 1945 program for the 8th annual reunion of the 38th U.S. Volunteers Infantry held at the Coronado Hotel contains photos from the Philippines. The final item is a certificate honoring the memory of Liesmann signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, c.1966. Liesmann made lists of infantrymen who were awarded Medals of Honor and Certificates of Merit (f.4). He also told stories of his military life to his son-in-law, Gerry Devereuax, who typed them and added notes by Mrs. Liesmann (f.17). Fred was a writer and two of his published short stories relating to the Philippines have been saved: “Hi Pole” and “Adventures All” (f.18). “Adventures All” is similar to an incident recounted in Fred’s 12 June 1900 letter to his parents. Liesmann collected photographs during his service and many of them are identified. There is one unidentified group photograph that is most likely at an undisclosed location in Missouri (f.16). Among the mounted photos of Santiago, Cuba (f.9) is a photo of the Maine after it sank and a photo of Edward St. Clair with an unidentified soldier. Each of the Santiago photos are identified and annotated. Many of the photos of the camp at the Presidio are from the Sutro Heights Gallery in San Francisco. However, the few photos of scenery, the Government House, and the queen’s palace in Honolulu are snapshots most likely taken by Liesmann. Most of the photos from the Philippines are also snapshots and are divided between military photos, (e.g. soldiers, prisoners of war, hospital wagon, and the San Jose Scouts marching, f.10-12) and general photos of the Philippines (e.g. scenery, architecture, and Filipinos, f.13-15). Many of these photos are identified and/or captioned. There is one photo of Liesmann (looking down) with Pvt. Wilson and Pvt. Walls (f.10). There are several mounted official military portraits, of both individuals and groups, which the men traded. Many of these are identified (f.12). The photographs of Jacob (“Jake”) Liesmann and his friends are most likely those that he sent home (f.19). The soldiers in many of these snapshots are only identified by last name but there is no information provided for location or date. Edward St. Clair began writing to Emma Liesmann, whom he called “Speck,” when he lived in Paris, Texas, and worked a cook at a café in June 1899. By 24 July 1899, he had reenlisted and explained the supplies they were required to draw for their eventual deployment. St. Clair also told Emma that he had won a sharp shooter’s badge with her namesake, which he referred to in subsequent letters. He mentions having met the Liesmann family and often sends his love to her parents. St. Clair declared his love for Emma in his 30 July 1899 letter, lamenting their age difference, she was 18 and he was 44. There is a gap in the letters from August 29th to November 1st. St. Clair mentioned that he had not received any letters from Emma for a long time and continued to describe camp life, his duties on Luzon, the beauty of the island, and his distaste for the Filipinos. In his final letter, 24 April 1900, St. Clair informed Emma that he joined a group of native scouts commanded by white officers (f.20). There are three photographs that St. Clair sent to Fred and Emma and their mother. The group photos are of men in 33rd Regiment and all are identified (f.21).