John W. French

Commanding Officer 22nd Infantry

March 26, 1899 - November 11, 1901

Born in Washington, D.C., John W. French enlisted as a Private in the 7th N.Y. Infantry (State Militia)
on April 17, 1861. He was discharged on June 3, 1861 and received a commission as a
2nd Lieutenant in the 8th Infantry on October 24, 1861, accepting his commission on November 2nd
of that year. He was breveted to 1st Lieutenant on August 19, 1864, for gallant and meritorious service
in the Battle on Weldon Railroad, Virginia. On October 28, 1864 he was given the brevet rank of Captain,
for gallant and meritorious service in the Battle of Hatcher's Run, Virginia. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant
of the 8th Infantry on January 9, 1866, and served as the Regimental Adjutant from January 31 to November 20, 1866.
He was appointed as Captain in the 40th Infantry on July 28, 1866, which he accepted on November 20.

He transferred to the 25th Infantry on April 20, 1869,
He was promoted to Major of the 14th Infantry on November 1, 1891. On July 5, 1895
French was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the 23rd Infantry and was serving with that organization
in the Philippines, when called upon to take command of the 22nd Infantry.

When Colonel Harry Egbert, Commander of the 22nd Infantry, was killed in action at Malinta, P.I.,
on March 26, 1899, Lt. Col. French was promoted to Colonel of the 22nd Infantry and assumed
command of the Regiment. He led the 22nd Infantry through much fighting for the next two and a half years.
The 1904 Regimental history lists Colonel French as dying of disease in the Philippines on November 11, 1901.
The Army Register of 1902 lists French as dying at Fort McPherson, Georgia, so, though not detailed in the
Regimental history, French must have been transported back to the States for care, where he succumbed to his illness.

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