Need info on 47th Infantry during Spanish American War

Question

OK Harry Deters served in the Spanish American War.  His 1900 Census Record show him in Co. L 47th Inf based at Gubat Island, Philippine Islands 1900 Census

His Pennsylvania Spanish War Compensation Record has him in Co. L of the 47th Inf. PA Comp Record

His U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans shows him also in Co. L 47th Inf. Headstone Application

Yet the only mention of a 47th Infantry I can find serving during the Spanish American War is for the NY 47th Volunteer Infantry and they never served in the Philippines, only Puerto Rico..  I need a little help here.  Thanks

Answer 1

Hmmm. I can’t find a 47th but out of New York. Check this out...

https://en.m.wikisource.org/wiki/American_Volunteer_Forces_in_the_War_with_Spain

These were not regular army, so lemme look somewhere else.

Comments

Bulusan is definitely the Philippines.

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Link: http://hendersonheritage.com/deaths-in-spanish-american-war-and-philippine-american-war/

Mention of Co. L. 47th in first death on this page.

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Thanks Pip, saw the first one myself and while it's good to the see other has mention of the 47th Co. L, it does not help me out.  I have 3 records that mention the 47th Infantry.  I need to know who the unit was tied to. Probably the 8th Corp., but I need a record of their official existence. Are they Regular Army or a Volunteer Group.  If a Volunteer Group, how and where was it formed.  Right now the only records are basically anecdotal except for the 1900 Census.

Given the places of birth for the men in the Census Record, it does not appear that this is a state specific unit as they are from all over the US: Ohio, Kansas, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, North Carolina and so on.

Oh, and Thomas Hollingsworth does show up in the Census as well with the notation of having been killed in action on the date specified on that web page.

Thanks for looking out for me Pip.  ;)

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Hi LJ, If you are still looking for alternative information then it might be a good idea to remove the best answer star to encourage more people to read your post and join in the research. Sometimes people see the star and assume a solution has been found.

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Thanks Lynda and I am still looking. I agree with you that the awarding of Best Answer does stop folks from answering the post. I don't know why people give out the Best Answer when it is not their question. I will decide what is the Best Answer.  I think I'll put that in all my postings from now on.

Sorry Pip, that was not the best answer.  That site only mentions the 47th NY Volunteer Infantry which I have already said is not the unit he was in. So whoever gave it the Best Answer was incorrect in their decision. 

I really wish that only the person who posts the question can award the Best Answer.  At least for the first 48 hours.  This 3rd party awarding of Best Answer seems to be getting a bit out of hand lately and I have seen many awarded where a later answer was actually the best answer or the so called Best Answer really wasn't an answer as in this case.  Maybe G2G points shouldn't be awarded for marking the Best Answer, bet that stops it's practice real quick.  LOL

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MY GREAT GRANDPA ENLISTED IN SCRANTON , PA . INTO COMPANY I, 47TH U.S. INFANTRY. ENGAGEMENTS /  CABUSAY-FEB. 14; ALBAY-APRIL 27; LIBOY-MARCH 2; MALABOG-MARCH 14; CAMALEG QUINOBATAM- MARCH 16; BALAGAN- JUNE20; CAMALEG- JULY 11; TOLLGATE- MAY 1900. MUSTERED OUT ON JULY 2, 1901 AT PRESIDIO, SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.

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Thanks Anon., but I need a source that affirms the 47th Infantry.  Do you have one?

Answer 2

I found one record which lists a Harry Deters, born 1878, who served in the Spanish-American War from Pennsylvania who was in the 47th Infantry in the Philippines. Specific designation is Field Staff, Band, 47th Infantry.

Comments

Thanks very much for looking into this old post.  Unfortunately,, I have the records on Harry and where he served.  I just have no information on the actual unit he served in, the 47th Infantry itself.

I've googled and did wikipedia and some other sites offering data on military units and designations of the US Armed Forces and nothing on the 47th.  The only 47th I can find is the 47th NY Vol Inf whose records show they were never in the Philippines, but I have a 1900 US Census Record for Harry as follows 1900 Gubat Island, Philippine Islands, Military and Naval Forces, USA. Relation to Head: Private.  The top of the census page states the named soldiers are in the 47th Infantry. And I have his PA  Spanish War Compensation Application where he states his tour in the Philippines in Co. L of the 47th Inf.

This is my quandary.   Many thanks for your interest and time.

LJ