22nd Infantry in El Paso 1912

1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

22nd Infantry - El Paso, Texas 1912

The following graphic from the Annual Reports to the Secretary of War shows the disposition of the 22nd Infantry
at the beginning of 1912, and is signed by the Commander of the Patrol District of El Paso at that time,
Colonel E.Z. Steever of the 4th Cavalry.

In 1912 the city of El Paso, Texas, held a week-long program of festivities to celebrate the admission of the new states
of Arizona and New Mexico into the United States. Called the "Os-Aple" Jubilee, the festival included parades, concerts,
rodeo events, and military exhibitions by US troops stationed along the US/Mexican border.

It also included a championship roping contest. Interestingly, calf and steer roping events had become illegal
in Texas by 1907, so that event was held across the border at Cowboy Park in Juarez, Mexico.
Many period photographs concerning this celebration are labeled with the words "Os-Aple", as in
"Os-Aple Jubilee" or "Os-Aple Week". "Os-Aple" is actually "El Paso" spelled backwards.

Since late February of 1911 the 22nd Infantry Regiment had been headquartered at Fort Bliss, just outside of El Paso.
The Regiment took part in the festivities, and in the big military parade through the streets of El Paso on October 24, 1912,
in which the 22nd Infantry occupied the position of honor as the lead unit in the line of march.

The announcement in the El Paso Herald of Wednesday October 23, 1912, outlining the next day's festivities,
mentioning participation by the 22nd Infantry.

from The Portal to Texas History website

The 22nd Infantry marching down the streets of El Paso, October 24, 1912.
The photo is marked " 22nd Infty, Os-Aple Week 1912".
Note the 46-star U.S. flags hanging from the Hotel St. Regis on the left.
The U.S. flag would be officially changed to a 48-star flag on July 4, 1912
but obviously the Hotel had not yet changed its flags with new ones.

Photo from Yale University Library, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

Enlargement of section of above photo.
In the foreground the Commanding Officer of the 22nd Infantry, Colonel Daniel A. Frederick
leads his staff all mounted on horseback, followed by the 22nd Infantry Regimental Band,
followed by more 22nd Infantry officers on horse, followed by the soldiers of the 22nd Infantry Regiment.
As noted in the article below the 22nd Infantry occupied the place of honor at the head of the line of march.

Photo from Yale University Library, Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library

The El Paso Herald, edition of October 24, 1912. The article below is taken from that edition,
and can be seen in the far left hand side of the newspaper above:

El Paso Herald articles from The Portal to Texas History website

Part of the military parade through the city of El Paso, coming south down Mesa St. and passing San Jacinto Plaza, October 24, 1912.
Sadly, the unit pictured is not identified. It may or may not be the 22nd Infantry.

Photo by Walter H. Horne
Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

The long line of march in the parade through downtown El Paso. Again, the unit in the immediate foreground
is not identified. However, with such a long line of formations coming after it, it may very well be the 22nd Infantry.

Photo from the El Paso Public Library

Also part of the Jubilee was the exhibition by the Soldiers of the 22nd Infantry, of the Butts Manual
of Physical Drill, carried out on the grounds of Ft. Bliss, just outside the city of El Paso.

Fort Bliss, Texas 1912 - The 22nd Infantry Regiment on the parade grounds.
The "Butts Manual" referred to was the Manual of Physical Drill, developed by Captain Edmund L. Butts
of the 18th Infantry. Butts finished the manual in 1897, and by 1905 it had been adopted by the US Army
as the standard by which Soldiers were given physical exercise. The manual included calisthenics, rope climbing,
wall scaling and rifle drill, and was conducted to the steady beat of miltary and marching music.

Photo by Frank C. Hecox
Yale Collection of Western Americana, Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library

An enlargement of the above photo, showing the Soldiers of the 22nd Infantry performing
exercises according to the Butts manual, using their model 1903 Springfield rifles.
Here the Soldiers are bent over at the waist, holding their rifles close to the ground.

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