ARTHUR D. CURTISS SERVICE RECORD 1901-1904

Arthur D. Curtiss joined the U.S. Army in 1901 just at the U.S. Artillery was being reorganized. He join up and was mustered into the new Coast Artillery. He was assigned to the 106th Company at Camp Skagway, Alaska as part of the Medical attachmant.

106th Company (32nd Company)
1901 – Fort Lawton, WA
1902 – Camp Skagway, AK
1902 – Fort Flagler, WA
1908 – Fort Worden, WA
1914 – Mine company
1916 – 4th Company, Fort Worden, WA
1917 – 4th Company, CD Puget Sound
1922 – 106th Company, CAC
1924 – HQ/14th CA Regiment (HD), Fort Worden, WA

U.S. Army Coast Artillery Corps 1901-1950
By the end of 1898, the US Army artillery was organized into seven regiments, two of which were created that year. In 1901, the regimental organization of the US Army artillery was abolished, and 126 companies of heavy (coast) artillery and 30 companies of light (field) artillery were established. In 1907, the artillery was split into a field artillery, with a regimental organization, and the coast artillery corps, with additional coast artillery companies, making a total of 170 companies. In 1924, a regimental organization of the Coast Artillery was instituted, an organizational status that lasted until the Coast Artillery regiments were broken up into separate battalions in 1943. Nearly all Coast Artillery units were deactivated 1944-1946. The Coast Artillery Corps was officially abolished in 1950.
1901 Corps Organization
In 1901, Congress became convinced that the coast artillery should have a task organization, and so it abolished the artillery regiments and created an artillery corps. Reflecting the divergence in methods and equipment since the old muzzleloading days, the corps was composed of 30 companies of field artillery and 126 companies of coast artillery. Coast artillery companies were numbered 1 to 126 and field artillery batteries from 1 to 30, but they were united in one branch of service, under a single chief of artillery. Eighty-two existing heavy batteries were designated coast artillery companies, and 44 new companies were created by splitting existing ones, after which both units filled out their ranks with new recruits. At the head of the Artillery Corps was a chief of artillery, with the rank of brigadier general. Although more of an inspectorate than a command position, the importance of this position can hardly be overstated. For the first time, there was a systematic attempt to regularize the equipment and training of the artillery. Further, seacoast defense planning, until now almost entirely the province of the Corps of Engineers, was now largely the responsibility of the artillery.
420 American Seacoast Defenses
Coast Artillery Companies were units of men, and batteries were the fixed emplacements with their guns. Each company was authorized 109 enlisted men, including non-commissioned officers. Although the secretary of war was empowered to fix the strength of individual companies as needed, it does not appear he took advantage of this authority.(4) Depending on its assignment, one company might man more than one battery. Companies were assigned to forts, which were administrative units commanded by the senior officer present.(5) The forts at each harbor were grouped into artillery districts (the occasional isolated small harbor was included in a larger artillery district), which were the primary tactical and administrative units, with the bulk of the staff and logistical services. The artillery district commander was analogous to a regimental commander in the infantry or cavalry; in turn, he was subordinate to the general who commanded all the troops in the territorial department.(6) The administrative relationship of these troop units was not markedly different from other army units, and was spelled out in detail in army regulations. Over the next half-century, the administrative organization was repeatedly changed, as the army struggled to balance the conflicting requirements and find the most efficient organization. As the new batteries were created and manpower grew, the new officer positions were filled by West Point graduates, transfers from other branches, and appointments from civilian life. Officers who had served in the Volunteers during the recent war took advantage of the opportunity to join the Regular Army. Unlike the infantry and cavalry, the Artillery Corps continued to be all white, reflecting both its level of technical sophistication and the prevailing views of the capabilities of blacks.

Coast Artillery Uniform

In 1902 a new uniform regulation was adopted. This is the uniform regulation most commonly associated with the Coast Artillery Corps. The new enlisted men’s dress jacket was still dark blue with red trim, but the style was updated to the cut of the current men’s clothing fashion. The jacket had shoulder straps and a standing collar. The short skirt was vented at the sides (later dropped) and sported new pattern buttons (smooth faced with the new national eagle motif ) and all new gilded insignia. The trousers were still sky blue and retained the late 1890s flared cuff. Black high top shoes completed the outfit, and brown leather belt and accessories were worn for dress occasions. The full dress ensemble was also adorned with a snazzy red breast cord with two big “waffles.” From head to toe, the new uniforms were very colorful and impressive to look at. The Coast Artillery Corps was supposed to use up the remaining stocks of the old pattern five-button sack coat. This may have made some economic sense, but the troops had other ideas.

In 1902 both the officers and enlisted men had new pattern four pocket jackets with a narrow stand and fall collar. Both coat and trousers were olive drab wool with brown leather accessories. Field equipment of brown leather and tan colored woven web began to be adopted. Eventually web material replaced much of the leather equipment. The coast artilleryman was equipped as infantry for field service. The 1889 pattern gray field or garrison hat remained in use with the olive drab bell crown cap for the service uniform. This bell crown cap became a symbol of the modern Army.

Footnotes
4. Army Reorganization Act (31 Stat. 748), February 2, 1901. WDGO 9, Feb. 6, 1901. WDGO 48, May 31, 1902.
5. War Department, Drill Regulations for Coast Artillery (Provisional) 1906, GPO, 1906, p. 13.
6. WDGO 81, June 13, 1901. WDGO 80, June 4, 1903.