Camp Wikoff
STATE OF THE UNION, 1898
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It seems to me that the two most striking features developed by this war are the heroism of our line and the sacrifice and devotion to duty of trained women nurses in our hospitals. — American Red Cross Agent, Howard Townsend / Report page 530 – 537.
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Gen. Joseph Wheeler, West Point 1858, who rose to the rank of General in the Confederacy and the U.S. Army, came to personify the re-unification of the country, following the Civil War. Joseph Wheeler spent 19+ years in the U.S. Congress.
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“You have come home after two months of severe campaigning. which has embraced assault, siege and battle — so brilliant in achievement, so far-reaching in results as to earn the unstinted praise of all your countrymen.” — President McKinley addresses the soldiers of the Fifth Army Corps, Montauk, September 3, 1898.
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The people of the United States should ever be proud of its soldiers, who, co-operating with its sailors, in less than three months, put an end to Spanish colonial power, enfranchised oppressed people, and taught the world at large the strength and nobility of a great republic.
— Report of the War Commission, February 12, 1899.
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Chicago Tribune Masthead, 1898.
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CAMP WIKOFF Newsletter
March 25, 2026
ISSUE NUMBER TWO
The intent of this newsletter is to inform the general public about Camp Wikoff, the great military encampment established in Montauk, New York, 1898, for the rest & recuperation of Gen. William Shafter’s Fifth Army Corps in preparation for the fall campaign against Havana, Cuba, in the Spanish-American War.
The objective of this effort is to establish Camp Wikoff National Military Park as an enduring tribute to the civilian & military volunteers of 1898.
As America’s tenth national military park, Camp Wikoff would mark the historic transition from mainland wars to wars fought overseas on foreign soil.
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Fort Pond Bay is the main component of the proposed Camp Wikoff National Military Park.
As the Homeport of America’s first veterans of a war fought overseas on foreign soil,
Fort Pond Bay represents all homeports and points of return of America’s veterans of foreign wars.
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Comments & suggestions welcome.
Jeff Heatley, Editor
With appreciation for Brian Tadler’s review & advice.
Note: to receive Newsletter updates, please send request to info@aaqeastend.com
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Thank you to the following organizations for their letters of support:
Buckey O’Neill Camp No. 175 – AZ / Sons of Spanish-American War Veterans
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Lester F. Quinn Memorial Association
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Sons of Spanish-American War Veterans / National Organization
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UPDATED 3.28.26
Camp Wikoff National Military Park
Proposal for your consideration.
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Schedule of Annual Events
Note: Proposal takes into account the summer season of tourism in Montauk,
with annual events only scheduled in April, October & November.
Additions since CW Newsletter #1 in red.
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MONTH OF APRIL
FORT POND BAY ANCHORAGE
Navy Vessel anchors for the month of April in Fort Pond Bay, offering tours.
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Last Weekend
MONTH OF APRIL
Montauk Lectures
Lectures relating to Camp Wikoff: Quarantine — Shafter’s Fifth Army Corps — Roosevelt’s Rough Riders — President William McKinley — Black Jack Pershing & the Buffalo Soldiers — Theodore Roosevelt — American Red Cross ….
All lectures available via Zoom.
Camp Wikoff Half-Marathon / Last Sunday in April
Montauk Village to Lighthouse to Village to Station to CW Walkway to Fort Pond Bay
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MONTH OF MAY
Lectures Beyond Montauk
Lectures relating to the Spanish American War : Spanish Empire — Spanish-American War — Foreign Relations — Cuba: Then & Now — Warfare & Technology — Army Beef Scandal of 1898 — Yellow Journalism ….
All lectures available via Zoom.
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OCTOBER / Third Weekend
Re-Enactors / Demonstrations
Re-enactors delivering speeches by President McKinley, General William Shafter, General Joseph Wheeler & Colonel Theodore Roosevelt. Re-enactors: Edith Roosevelt, Laurie Wheeler, Ellen Walworth, Black Jack Pershing. Demonstrations — Bugle Calls, Wigwagging, Army Wagon rides to Montauk Point Lighthouse. Army Band w/ 1898 Music.
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NOVEMBER / Third Sunday
HOMECOMING
Tribute to Military & Civilian Volunteers, 1898
On the Beach at Fort Pond Bay
BUGLE CALL: REVEILLE
The Military & Historic Importance of Camp Wikoff / Speech.
Tribute to Military & Civilian Volunteers, 1898, with reading of names –transports and regiments — that arrived in August & September, as well as the names of the 340+ soldiers who died at Camp Wikoff and those who were buried at sea during the 2,000-mile, seven-day voyage from Santiago de Cuba.
HOME! SWEET HOME!
Singing of John Howard Payne’s ‘Home! Sweet Home!’
— the most popular song on board the returning transports —
BUGLE CALL: TAPS
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On-going Annually
Self-Guided Bike / Hike / Run / Ocean Swim / Horseback Riding — Historic Camp Wikoff Tour
Army Tent Platform Camping @ Montauk County Park (Third House) w/ Select Veterans Only Weekends
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Montauk Point Lighthouse was a beacon of hope to the soldiers returning home on transports from Santiago de Cuba.
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Rough Rider Edwin Emerson Photograph / Courtesy of Theodore Roosevelt Collection, Harvard College Library.
Fort Pond Bay at location of the Iron Pier.
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Overlay Park Components
Select State, County & Town Parks
Monuments – Signage – Dedicated Benches – Markers
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OVERLAY PARK CONCEPT: because Montauk has been developed over the 128 years since Camp Wikoff, lands that were part of the 4,000-acre encampment and that are now Town, County & State parklands, would add signage, monuments & dedicated benches. Other sites, since developed, would add signage / markers.
Proposed Camp Wikoff Memorial Walkway between Montauk Station & Fort Pond Bay
w/ Info Kiosk & Monument to Shafter’s Fifth Army Corps.
Re-construction of the Iron Pier, originally built by the Long Island Railroad.
Construction or Re-Use of Existing Building for a Spanish-American War Museum
Re-construction of Barn near Third House for a Rough Rider Museum.
Roadside Monument near Rita’s Stables — site of Rough Rider camp, Roosevelt’s First Bully Pulpit & Farewell Address.
Monuments at Fort Pond Bay, Montauk Village Green, Shadmoor State Park, Ditch Plains, Third House & Montauk Point.
— contributed by individuals, regiments & organizations.
Site Markers at Fort Hill Cemetery (Detention Hospital) & Montauk Downs Golf Course (General Hospital).
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Archival map of Camp Wikoff / September, 1898.
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National Military Parks / Listed Chronologically by year established:
Chickamauga & Chattanooga, 1890
Shiloh, 1894
Gettysburg, 1895
Vicksburg, 1899
Guilford Courthouse, 1917
Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania, 1927
Kings Mountain, 1931
Pea Ridge, 1956
Horseshoe Bend, 1959
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Camp Wikoff / Spanish American War NMP, 2026?
BULLY!
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For further information, please visit these portfolios:
Spanish-American War, 1898 / Timeline — Nation State to International Power …. link
Camp Wikoff: U.S. Fifth Army Corps / Montauk, 1898 / Illustrated …. link
Colonel Theodore Roosevelt & The Rough Riders …. link
Camp Wikoff Historic Bike Tour …. link
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Echoing Through New York City Streets & Avenues
EXTRA! EXTRA!
QUARANTINE IN MONTAUK!
YELLOW FEVER! MALARIA! TYPHOID!
READ ALL ABOUT IT!
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Second Edition, 2023, with added Appendix (McKinley’s Message to Congress, San Juan Hill, Medal of Honor, Army Beef Scandal of 1898, Treaty of Paris, American Red Cross Report…and additional archival photographs). Published by Montauk Historical Society, East End Press, with a Grant from the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.
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Available on Amazon …. BULLY! link
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“A goldmine of information,” Dr. John Gable, Exec. Director, Theodore Roosevelt Association, 1998.
“BULLY!’ is as close to a time machine as one is likely to find between book covers,”
Author & Journalist, Russell Drumm review, East Hampton Star, 1998
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Art & Architecture Quarterly / East End
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