Title: John C. Cadman Papers and Photographs
Inclusive Dates: 1893-1927

Creator:

• Cadman, John C.

Call Number: WVM Mss 975

Quantity: 0.3 linear ft. (1 archives box and two oversized folders) of papers and 0.7 linear ft. (3 flat boxes, and 3 oversized folders) of photographs.

Repository:

Wisconsin Veterans Museum
Have questions? Contact the Reference Archivist

Archival Locations:

Wisconsin Veterans Museum (Map)

See the catalog entry for current shelf locations and additions.

Abstract:

Papers and photographs of John C. Cadman, a bugler who served at Camp Shipp in Anniston, Alabama with Company I, 4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment during the Spanish-American War. Papers include a fairly large number of letters written from Cadman to his mother during his mustering at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin through his service at Camp Shipp. The letters include his observations of service, his role as a bugler, rumors of where his unit might serve, his impressions of the South including attitudes of racism, and illnesses among soldiers in camp. Other papers include military passes from Camp Shipp, a handwritten roster of Company I, a sketch of Camp Shipp, and train schedules from Alabama to Wisconsin. Photographs include an album of captioned, blue cyanotype photographs from Camp Shipp. The pictures show soldiers drilling and engaging in recreational activities such as drinking and sightseeing. There are also shots of the camp and local buildings such as poor white and black farmers' homes. This album, like the letters, provide a good look at the stateside service of the 4th Wisconsin. Other photographs show Cadman in uniform, Camps Douglas and Shipp, group shots of the 4th Wisconsin, and family photographs.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.wvm-mss00975

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John Carl Cadman was born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin around 1876. He worked as a clerk until enlisting into Company I, 4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment on June 30, 1898. Deemed too light for service as an infantryman, Cadman was allowed to serve as a bugler and was mustered into service on July 11, 1898 at Camp Douglas. He traveled with his regiment to Camp Shipp in Anniston, Alabama and served on garrison duty there from September 1898 through muster out in February 1899. Cadman passed away on November 15, 1941 in Stevens Point.

The papers of the John C. Cadman are divided into two series, Papers and Photographs.

Papers (1893-1927) consists largely of letters that Cadman wrote home to his mother during his service with Company I, 4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment during and after the Spanish-American War. Cadman often signed his letters "Carl," which was probably his middle name. The letters began discussing training at Camp Douglas, Wisconsin and mentioned that he was too light for regular service so he was allowed in as a bugler. His use of musical terminology implies that Cadman was a knowledgeable musician. Cadman wrote about mustering in, the issuing of supplies to the recruits, and pondered what would happen to his regiment as the war neared its end. After his unit traveled to Camp Shipp, Alabama for garrison duty, Cadman described illnesses in camp including "the fever," which was likely typhoid. His letters from Camp Shipp also mention Southern racism and how Cadman agrees with it to an extent, care packages received from his mother, unfounded rumors of his regiment being moved to Puerto Rico or Washington, D.C., and pranks in camp. The number and the quality of the letters present a unique look at a state unit serving stateside during this conflict. Also included in this series are military passes for Cadman and other men in his regiment to leave camp temporarily and visit friends in the hospital. Ephemeral items include a handwritten roster of Company I by Cadman's mother, some flyers to welcome home events, and train schedules from Alabama to Wisconsin. A sketch of Camp Shipp shows the area in which Cadman served. Also found are certificates from various Stevens Point, Wisconsin schools for Ada Cadman, likely John Cadman's daughter.

Photographs (1897-1921) includes a photo album that contains small cyanotype photographs from Cadman's service at Camp Shipp in Anniston, Alabama. The photographs all have short captions and show shots of men from the 4th Wisconsin Infantry and other units stationed there, buildings and scenery from Camp Shipp and its surroundings, and some local civilians. Many of the photographs show men in uniform engaging in activities such as drilling, drinking, blanket tossing, sightseeing, and posing for group and individual pictures. Scenery shots include the barracks and other buildings in camp, local landmarks in Anniston, and the homes of poor white and black farmers. The album provides a good look at what camp life was like for men in the 4th Wisconsin. Other, loose photographs include Cadman in uniform, two shots of the men of Company I mustering in to service in Stevens Point and several group shots at Camp Shipp. There are also shots of Camp Douglas and Camp Shipp. Non-military photographs include unidentified civilians who are likely Cadman's family, his house in Stevens Point, and two group shots of Stevens Point bands of which Cadman may have been a member.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Art Beltrone, Keswick, Virginia, 2006. Accession Number: Mss 2006.5.

Processing Information

Processed by Russell Horton in 2006

	Series: Papers
Box   1 Folder   1-4	Correspondence, 1893, 1898-1899
Box   1 Folder   5	Ephemera, 1898-1899
Ov   12 Folder   10	General view of Camp Shipp (Anniston, Ala.), 1898
Box   1 Folder   6	Military passes, 1898-1899
Ov   20 Folder   9	School certificates for Ada Cadman (daughter?), 1923, 1927
	Series: Photographs	⇧
Box   2 Folder   1	John C. Cadman [3] , circa 1898
Box   2 Folder   2	Family members [3] , undated
Box   2 Folder   3	Children [6] , undated
Box   2 Folder   4	Men [2] , undated
Box   3 Folder   1	Women [5] , 1897, undated
Box   3 Folder   2	House [1] , undated
	Military
	4th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment
PhOv   13 Folder   5	At Camp Shipp [3] , circa 1899
Box   3 Folder   3	Mustering in [2] , 1898
Box   3 Folder   4	Camp Douglas [1] , 1897
PhOv   14 Folder   7	Camp Shipp [2] , circa 1898
Box   3 Folder   5	Soldiers [4] , circa 1898
Box   4 Folder   1	Photo album [1] , 1898-1899
PhOv   14 Folder   8	Stevens Point bands [2] , 1921, undated