So Onward we go. We met the men of the 25th Infantry in their preparations for the ultimate journey in our previous article. Let’s ride along now to learn more about these fine young men and their brave spirit.
Lt. Moss was positive the 2 previous bike trips proved how useful bicycles could be to the army, but the top military brass weren’t convinced. The Corp was determined to prove their value. They would ride from Fort Missoula to St. Louis. Lt. Moss chose this route because it would encounter everything – “high and low altitudes; moist and dry climates; upgrades and downgrades; the mountainous and stony roads of MT; the hummock earth roads of NE and clay roads of MO.” The unit’s motto was “Onward” and suited the personalities and characters of the soldiers.
The bicycle Corp would find an extremely challenging life on the trail. 20 men out of the 40 soldiers who volunteered were chosen. They ranged from 24-34 years old. They could weigh no more than 140 pounds and be no taller than 5’8”. Only 5 men selected to hit the trail to St. Louis had taken part in any previous trips. One didn’t even know how to ride a bicycle. Divided into 2 squads, they added a physician and a very young newspaper reporter from the ‘Daily Missoulian’.
The bikes for the cross country trek were furnished by the Spalding Bicycle Company. They had steel tire rims, (Remember the wooden ones from the 1st trip?) steel frames, rubber encased chains and an improved seat design. They would test 8 different brands of tires along the way. Provisions were very basic as resupply stops were 50 – 120 miles apart. The men carried hundreds of repair tools and spare parts.
Again each man would carry a blanket roll strapped to the handlebars which contained shelter and sleeping gear, clothes, soap, towel, toothbrush etc. for a total of 10 pounds. Each man carried food for 2 days and eating utensils along with cooking utensils. Each bike carried around 220 pounds of gear combined with the bike (which weighed 59 lbs.). A 10 pound rifle and 50 rounds of ammo were added to the average soldier’s weight of 148 pounds.
On June 14, 1897 the Corp set out to prove their worth. Mother Nature continued not to be kind. Once again they encountered a rainstorm which turned the road into mud. They managed to clear 54 miles and pitch camp around today’s Clearwater Junction (Cottonwood, MT) for the first day.
Fighting rain and wind the men continued their trek with mosquitoes plaguing them. Approaching the Continental Divide they encountered blowing and freezing snow. Crowds gathered wherever they went. They were often treated to meals, drinks and places to stay.
The Corp reached Billings on day 10. Leaving Billings they headed to Fort Custer. Low on food and rough impassable road conditions taxed the men to their core. It was considered one of the low points of the journey. They arrived at the Little Big Horn Battlefield on June 25, 1897, the 21st anniversary of the fateful fight.
Passing into Wyoming the men sank deeper into exhaustion as the weather and roads remained horrible, almost impassable. Behind schedule they continued to experience bad weather, roads, illness and bike damage. They soon had a break from their grueling journey once they passed through the SW corner of SD. Reaching Alliance, NE they celebrated their 1,000 mile mark.
Once into NE, high temperatures reached 110 degrees with little water available. The metal bikes grew so hot it became difficult to hold onto the handlebars. On July 16, they reached the Missouri River. Crossing the river on a ferry into Missouri brought hope and renewed spirit as the soldiers knew they would soon reach St. Louis.
The adventures were well documented by the reporter and the “Uncle Sam’s Rider” fame and story stretched across the nations. As the Corp neared St. Louis nearly 1,000 cyclists rode to meet them on July 24th. The 1,900 mile expedition officially ended at the Cottage Restaurant in Forest Park. The trip had taken 40 days with 6 resting and 34 traveling days. The Corp traveled by train back to Fort Missoula; arriving on August 19, 1897.
History remembers this brave spunky group in the words of LT. Moss. “Lt. Moss praised his men for the ‘spirit, plunk and fine soldierly qualities they displayed’ and noted that the journey had ‘tested to the utmost not only their physical endurance but their moral courage and disposition.’ It is for these qualities that history remembers them.”
The Army and Navy Journal declared the experiment an unqualified success. Lt. Moss believed the Bicycle Corp could not replace the cavalry, but would be effective messengers and scouts. However the Army declined to pursue a Bicycle Corp for a multitude of reasons.
The Spanish American War exploded on scene months after the return of the Corp. The 25th Infantry was one of the 1st units ordered to Cuba. On April 10, 1898 the 25th Infantry left Fort Missoula. They served honorably in Cuba and were praised for their action in the Philippines. The men were split up to different posts.
The U.S. Army conducted more bicycle experiments, but never established a permanent Bicycle Corp. They did however employ bikes during World War I and II as supplementary transportation.
Lt. James Moss served in the army until 1922. All of his commands earned praise and honors. Later in life Moss wrote books on the history of the U.S. flag, instructional manuals for the military and spearheaded the move to make Flag Day (June 14) an official holiday.
So what became the fate of the enlisted men of the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps? Unfortunately, one died in the Philippines in 1901, others served in the army and eventually retired. Most were later discharged without honor because of the “Brownsville Affair”. Poor reward for the honor and bravery they exhibited while serving their country. Vindication 66 years did little to honor the brave men of the 25th Bicycle Corp.
In 1974 Professors from U of M organized a trip to honor the Bicycle Corp. 10 cyclists followed the soldier’s route. On paved terrain the group worried more about traffic. They still faced weather and steep terrain, but unlike their predecessors, they did not have to contend with the vexing mud. The Professors and their group acknowledged they could not fully appreciate what the Bicycle Corp soldiers endured on their expedition. “Uncle Sam’s Soldiers were some of the greatest unsung pioneers of the American West.” If you would like to know more of Uncle Sam’s soldiers and their Bicycle Experiment stop by the library and check it out.