116 years ago today, May 20, 1898, the 1st Regiment of Arkansas Volunteer Infantry completed mustering in for federal service for the Spanish-American War. The regimental units traveled to Little Rock and reported to “Camp Dodge”, a temporary facility established on part of the estate of the late Dr. Roderick Dodge at the corner of College Avenue and Seventeenth Street.

With the legislature not in session, and no appropriation existing for this purpose, Governor Jones was forced to borrow $10,000 from banks across the state with a promise to recommend an appropriation at the next legislative session. That session, in January of 1899, did appropriate the money to repay the loans.

The 1st Regiment was ordered to Camp Thomas at Chickamauga Park, GA, arriving on the 27th. There they were fully armed and equipped and began training. Spirits in the 1st rose when they were ordered to Puerto Rico on August 3rd, but quickly fell when the war ended on August 12th and the orders were cancelled. The regiment wanted to go home. They had suffered greatly from disease, especially malaria and typhoid fever. At least 22 members of the regiment died from either disease or accident during their time at Camp Thomas.

The 1st Regiment departed Camp Thomas on September 25, 1898 and members were mustered out at Fort Roots on October 25, 1898.