George E. Stewart

George Edwin Stewart

Company B 22nd Infantry

KIA 03/13/1899

George E. Stewart was born in Ionia County, Michigan on May 1, 1870.

One account indicates he was married in 1894.

Stewart enlisted in Company B 22nd Infantry for a period of three years at Detroit, Michigan
on December 1, 1896. His enlistment record indicated that he had brown eyes, light brown hair,
a ruddy complexion and stood 5 feet 6 ¾ inches tall. His occupation was listed as farmer.

Stewart served with Company B 22nd Infantry during the fighting in Cuba in 1898.
At the end of the campaign in Cuba he contracted a severe case of chronic diarrhea. Upon the return of
the Regiment to the United States at Montauk, New York, Stewart was transported on the Ambulance Ship
Shinnecock to New York City, where he was given a furlough to return home to Michigan to recover
from his illness. The clipping below describes the arrival of the Shinnecock to New York harbor.

Stewart was one of the 44 men mentioned who received furloughs to travel home to recover
from their wounds and ailments.

From The New York Times September 7, 1898

Stewart recovered from his illness, rejoined the 22nd Infantry and sailed with the Regiment
to the Philippines.

Private George E. Stewart was killed in action during the attack by the 22nd Infantry and the 4th Cavalry
against the insurgent positions on the Guadalupe Ridge, during the battle for Pasig, east of Manila,
on the island of Luzon, Philippines on March 13, 1899.

Below is the listing of George Stewart's death and original burial (marked by the red star) in the report written by
2nd Lieutenant Frederick B. Kerr, Commanding Officer Company B 22nd Infantry, January 2, 1901.

The Belding Banner, Thursday, March 1, 1900

The remains of George E. Stewart, the soldier boy who gave up his life in the Philippines, arrived in this city last week,
Thursday. He was a member of Co. B, Twenty-second United States Infantry, and had served in the Cuban as well as the
Philippine war. He was shot March 13, near Guadelape, and was buried there until, through the efforts of his brother William,
also a member of the same regiment, it was taken up and encased in a fine casket and started on its long journey to this city.

It was proposed to hold a military funeral Tuesday, under the auspices of the G.A.R. and the Cuban soldier boys, but this
movement was thwarted by the authorities acting under the advice of the board of health insisting upon immediate burial,
and the interment was accordingly made Saturday.

It looks very strange that such haste was necessary. His death occurred nearly one year ago, the remains were properly
cared for and shipped 10,000 miles, only to be hustled out of the way like a dead dog. It seems like a shameful proceeding.

Besides the brother William spoken of above, who is now at Hot Springs, Ark., and is expected to return about May 10th,
he leaves his parents and four sisters. Two of the sisters, Edith and Alice, are employed in Belding Bros. &
Co.'s silk mill in this city and the parents live at Westville, his father being an invalid. He was 29 years of age.

From the Find A Grave website created by Bonnie Hoy

Private George E. Stewart's decorations

George E. Stewart was buried on the battlefield at Guadalupe in the Philippines.
His remains were returned to San Francisco, California on board the transport Ohio
on February 2, 1900. His body was shipped to Edith Stewart in Belding, Michigan
on February 17, 1900.

Burial:
River Ridge Cemetery
Belding
Ionia County
Michigan, USA
Plot: Lot 23 Sec: 2

Photo by Melody from the Find A Grave website

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