SPANISH AMERICAN WAR VETERANS CAMP BADGE WORN BY MEMBERS OF M.D. RUSSELL CAMP NO.2 OF TROY, NEW YORK.

Rensselaer County sent troops to the Spanish-American War in Cuba in 1898 and one of these men, Marcus D. Russell was a member of Troop G, the Rough Riders, commanded by Theodore Roosevelt. Russell was killed in action at the battle of La Guasimas, Cuba on June 24, 1898. To honor his memory, the United Spanish War Veterans of Troy named their organization after him, i.e. Camp Marcus D. Russell #2. (A Surrogate Court record for Russell is in RCHS, File #278). One other Trojan died as a result of his service in Cuba; John Connolly, a bugler in Company D, First New York Infantry, was wounded and later died of yellow fever at his home at 484 Second Street, Troy, New York. Camp Russell was the second camp formed in the Department of New York of the U.S.W. V.. The first camp was formed in New York City and there were eventually about 131 camps in the Department of New York. The Camp Russell group was an active participant in statewide and national meetings of the United Spanish War Veterans and remained active until 1968 with a commander at least until 1971.

Item # CWB1994

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