Authored by Monika Leubner

This is a letter from Lieutenant Gibson to Ella Allard about the death of her son Clayton Allard which talks about how he died and when. From the Allard Papers in Melvil Dewey Library at Jefferson Community College.

A mother’s worse nightmare: “It is my painful duty to inform you of the death of your son” (Lawerance 1902, 1). Unfortunately Ella Allard had to read this from Lieutenant Gibson in a letter about her son, Clayton Allard. On June 4th, 1898, Clayton Allard enthusiastically enlisted into the army at Sacket’s Harbor, New York. During the time that Allard enlisted, the United States was seven months away from ending its war with Spain. In December of 1898, President McKinley issued an order to extend the role of the United States to the Philippines. In a testimony by future President William Howard Taft, “A government ought to be established under American guidance which and under which the Philippines shall gradually improve their knowledge of what is individual liberty” (Graff 1969, 52). Taft’s testimony explained why the U.S. wanted to take over the Philippines.   Continue reading →