Class of 1872

Vol. IV
p218 [Supplement, Vol. IV: 1890‑1900]

Military History. —

(Brevet 1st Lieutenant, Feb. 27, 1890, for gallant services in action against Indians at the Big Hole, Mont., Aug. 9, 1877)

Served: On recruiting service, Cleveland and Buffalo, N. Y., May, 1889 to Aug., 1890. — With company at Ft. Logan, Colo., Aug., 1890 to Dec. 1, 1890. — On campaign against Sioux Indians, Dec., 1890 and Jan., 1891. — At Fort Logan, Colo., Feb., 1891 to June, 1893. — Acting Indian Agent, Fort Hall Agency, Ida., July 1, 1893 to Nov. 11, 1894. — Fort Logan, Colo., Nov., 1894 to April 20, 1898. — With regiment during Spanish-American war, on expedition to Santiago de Cuba, June 7, 1898 to Aug. 20, 1898. — Participated in battle of El Caney, Cuba, July 1, 1898, and subsequent operations against Santiago to the surrender. — At Montauk, N. Y., Aug. 26 to Oct. 14, 1898. — Ft. Wayne, Mich., Oct. 16, 1898 to April 9, 1899. — Commanding battalion, 7th Infantry, Aug. 26, 1898 to Jan. 14, 1899, and Feb. 12 to April 9, 1899.

(Major of Infantry, 7th Infantry, April 1, 1899)

— At Plattsburg Barracks, N. Y., commanding post, April 10, 1899 to –––––

Recommended by General John Gibbon and Colonel Richard Comba, for Medal of Honor for services at Big Hole, Mont., 1877. — Recommended for Brevet of Major for gallantry at the battle of El Caney, Cuba, July 1, 1898.

Vol. V
p188 [Supplement, Vol. V: 1900‑1910]

Military History. — At Plattsburg Barracks, N. Y., to Jan. 12, 1900. — At Fort Wayne, Mich., commanding Battalion 7th Infantry to April, 1900. — En route to Alaska, commanding battalion, to June 28, 1900. — Commanding at post of Fort Davis, Nome, Alaska, and assisting civil authorities in preserving order, protecting life and property during rush, mining excitement and troubles incident thereto, June 28, 1900 to Sept., 1901. — En route to San Francisco, Sept. and Oct., 1901, and joined headquarters 7th Infantry, Vancouver Barracks, Nov., 1901.

(Lieut.‑Colonel, 8th Infantry, April, 1902)

— Transferred to 7th Infantry May, 1902. — At Presidio, San Francisco, Cal., commanding Camp and Depot of Recruits and Casuals, June, 1902 to Feb., 1903. — Transferred to 17th Infantry Feb. 7, 1903, and joined regiment at Vancouver Barracks, March 2, 1903. — Commanding regiment and post March and April. — En route with regiment to Philippine Islands June 24 to July 26, date of arrival at Manila.

 p189  (Colonel, 17th Infantry, Aug. 14, 1903)

— Commanding rooming almost continuously since July 1, 1908. — Commanding Port of Cotabato, Mindanao, P. I., Aug. 7, 1903 to Sept. 16, 1904. — In operations against Dato Ali Djimbaugan and other hostile Moros of Rio Grande (Cotabato) Valley, Mindanao, March 5 to Sept., 1904, being on expeditions under General Wood to Serenaya and Simpetan, March 5 to 12 and May 12 to 18, and exercising supervision over troops stationed in and operating against the hostiles in said valley March 12 to May 12 and May 18 to Sept. 16, 1904. — In skirmish at Capumpernau and operations against fortified position of Serenaya, March 7 to 11 and officially mentioned by General Wood for prompt and energetic performance of duties. — At Gamboanga, Mindanao, Sept., 1904 to July 4th, 1905. — Returned with regiment to States Aug. 9, 1905 and to Fort McPherson, Ga., Aug. 25, 1905. — Participated with regiment in maneuvers at Chickamauga Park, Ga., July, August and September, 1906, and commended by General Bubb for splendid discipline and valuable work of regiment at same. — With headquarters, two Battalions and machine gun platoons 17th Infantry, en route to and in Cuba, as part of Army of Cuban Pacification, Oct. 4, 1906 to July 1, 1908, with station greater part of time at Camaguey, Province of Camaguey, Cuba. — On Provisional Court, Camp Columbia, Havana, Cuba, May 25 to June 17, 1908.

Vol. VI
p170 [Supplement, Vol. VI: 1910‑1920]

(John Timothy Van Orsdale, Born March 12, 1850.)

Military History. —

Colonel, 17th Infantry, Aug. 14, 1903.

Served: With headquarters, two battalions and machine gun platoons, 17th Infantry, en route to and in Cuba as part of the Army of Cuban Pacification, Oct. 4, 1906, to January, 1909; at Fort McPherson, Ga., January, 1909; participated with regiment in maneuvers at Chickamauga Park, Ga., 1910; commanded Department of the Gulf at intervals during absence of permanent commander, 1909 and '10; commanding regiment with First Division at San Antonio, Texas, March 9 to July, 1911; commanding re‑enforced Brigade, San Antonio, Texas, August to November, 1911, when he returned with regiment to Fort McPherson, Ga.; commanding Department of the Gulf during spring and summer of 1912; in command of the maneuver camps at Anniston., Ala., and at Columbus, Miss., July and August, 1912; commanded 2nd Brigade, First Division, at intervals during the year 1913.

Colonel, U. S. A., Retired, March 12, 1914,
By Operation of Law.

Recalled to active service, April 19, 1917, and assigned to command of war Prison Barracks (German prisoners), at Fort McPherson, Ga.; assumed command, May 2, 1917; relieved from active duty and ordered to his home, Aug. 6, 1918.

Vol. VII
p109 [Supplement, Vol. VII: 1920‑1930]

Military History: —

Colonel, U. S. A., Retired, March 12, 1914,
By Operation of Law.

Died, Oct. 18, 1921, at Hollywood, Calif.: Aged 71.

Cited posthumously "for gallantry in action against Spanish forces at El Caney, Cuba, July 1, 1898."

Portrait and obituary in Annual Report, Association of Graduates, for 1923.