The Fourteenth Regiment, Infantry, New York Volunteers, as the organization became known when, in May, 1898, it was mustered into the service of the United States to take part in the Spanish-American War, saw only about four months' camp service, and did not reach the front. Every preparation for duty in Cuba had been made, however, and the troops were in a fine state of organization. Officers and men were anxious to participate in the real action, but this ultimate movement was finally deemed unnecessary by the government.
Since its return from the battlefields of the War of the Rebellion, the Fourteenth had been in active service twice, during the quarantine disturbances at Fire Island in September, 1892, and throughout the Brooklyn motormen's strike in January, 1895.
Having volunteered its services, the Fourteenth was one of the regiments selected in General Orders, No.8, General Headquarters, State of New York, dated Adjutant General Office, Albany, April 27, 1898, to enter the service of the United States. The regiment consisted at that time of ten companies. Upon receipt of this order it began recruiting to fill these and organize two additional ones.
On May 1st another order was received to the effect that the regiment should report at 10 A.M. on the following day at the Flatbush Avenue station of the Long Island Railroad, in Brooklyn, and there take train for camp at Hempstead, L.I. This program was duly carried out, the regiment reporting to Maj. Gen. Charles F. Roe, who was in command of the National Guard.
Here the companies continued to recruit and replace the men rejected by the medical officers. Organization as a twelve company regiment, under the provisions of general orders, No. 11 A.G.O. Albany, May 3, 1898, was quickly effected. The fourteenth then mustered into service as follows: Companies A, G, K, and M on May 13th; the other companies on May 16th.
The next day, on the receipt of instructions from Washington, the regiment broke camp at Hempstead and proceeded by rail to Camp Geo. H. Thomas, Chickamauga Park, Georgia. It arrived there May 29th and was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, Third Army Corps.
Until September 3rd the routine of camp life was followed. The men received their full war equipment, were drilled, did sentry duty and various fatigue work at camp. As it happened this was the most severe experience the second generation of the old "Fighting Fourteenth" saw. That they would have continued to uphold the honor of the regiment in a harder, harsher test is undoubted. But they were never to "march in the enemy's country."
While here, recruiting officers were sent to Brooklyn in June, and they returned in July with 302 new men. Following orders issued at First Division, Third Corps Headquarters, August 31, the regiment moved by rail on September 3d to Camp Shipp, Anniston, Alabama. It went into camp there on the next day with the remainder of its brigade and division.
On September 5th, the Fourteenth received orders to prepare for muster-out and to proceed as soon as preliminary steps could be taken to the corner of Eighth Avenue and Fifteenth Street, Brooklyn, the armory, where the officers and men would be granted leaves of absence for thirty days, after which they would be mustered out of service of the United States . The men left Anniston on the 14th, arriving in Brooklyn September 16. They were mustered out October 27, 1898.