Young's Scouts

Young's Scouts was a select group of United States Army soldiers during the Philippine-American War organized under a Vermont civilian named William H. Young. Because of his previous experience as a soldier and soldier of fortune and his demonstrated coolness under fire, Young came to the notice of General Henry W. Lawton, who hired Young as his Chief Scout during Lawton's Northern Campaign. Young's Scouts acted as an advance guard and engaged in search and destroy missions. The exploits and valor of Young's Scouts soon brought them to the attention of the American public.

Members of Young's Scouts came from several units in Lawton's command, including the 1st North Dakota Volunteers, the 2nd Oregon Volunteers, and the 4th U.S. Cavalry (dismounted). Although the original unit was composed of 25 men, Scouts came and went as casualties and sickness took their toll. In two different engagements a number of Scouts were recommended for the Medal of Honor, which at the time was the only Army award for valor. On May 14 1899, William Young was wounded in the knee in an engagement at San Miguel de Mayumo with what was described as a minor wound. He was conveyed to the 1st Reserve Hospital in Manila with a request by Lawton that he receive the best of care. Ironically, although the initial assessment of Young's wound was that he would probably end up with nothing more serious than a stiff knee, he died a few days later, presumably of tetanus.

Young's Scouts continued to operate under several different officers for the remainder of Lawton's Northern Campaign.

Medal of Honor recipients

*Captain William Edward Birkhimer (commander). Birkhimer later retired as a Brigadier General
*Corporal Frank L. Anders who later became a geologist and historian
*Private Otto Boehler
*Private Charles P. Davis
*Private Willis H. Downs, later Wagoner
*Private Sterling Archibald Galt
*Private Frank Charles High
*Private Gotfred Jensen, later Sergeant
*Private John Baxter Kinne
*Private Richard Moses Longfellow
*Private Edward Eugene Lyon
*Private Peter H. Quinn
*Private Marcus William Robertson
*Private Frank F. Ross
*Corporal Thomas Sletteland

References

* [http://www.desertgold.com/america/1899.html Soldiers In The Sun ............. San Isidro, Luzon, Philippine Islands, May 6, 1899]
* [http://www.prairiepublic.org/programs/datebook/bydate/04/0504/051404.jsp Dakota Datebook May 14, 2004 "Philippine-American War"]