Capt. Maximiliano Luna, (Rough Rider)

Captain Maximiliano Luna

Find A Grave Memorial ID # 46245736

Captain Maximiliano Luna (also asserted without citation "Maximilio"), born June 16, 1870 at Los Lunas, New Mexico, died November 18, 1899 at the Philippine Islands.

Many Hispanic patriots also served in the “Rough Riders” with Theodore Roosevelt. Among them were private John B. Alamia, Sergeant George W. Armijo, Private G.W. Aringo, Private Jose M. Baca, Private Frank C. Brito, Private Jose Brito, Private Abel B. Duran, Private Joseph L. Duran, Captain Maximiliano Luna, and Saddler Joe T. Sandoval. Of all these Latino patriots, perhaps Captain Maximiliano Luna was the most distinguished Latino member of the “Rough Riders.” He was descended directly from the conquistadors who settled New Mexico in 1650 and his family had lived along the Rio Grande River since the 17th century. At the time that he joined the Rough Riders, he was 38 years and was educated at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. Prior to joining the group, he had served as a sheriff in Valencia County, New Mexico.

Links

Camp Maximiliano Luna

NewMexicoHistory.org

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From The El Paso Daily Herald, of Tuesday, Nov. 21, 1899:

A Gallant New Mexican: Lieutenant Maximiliano Luna's Death by Drowning in the Philippines - well known in El Paso - He will be mourned by his many friends throughout the territory

General Lawton, in a dispatch to General Otis several days ago, reported the drowning of Lieutenant Maximiliano Luna, of the 34th Infantry, his aide and two men of his escort, while crossing the Agno River.

The reported drowning of Lieutenant Luna was a great shock to his many friends in the territory of New Mexico, where he was most favorably known, and also in El Paso where he enjoyed a large acquaintance.

Lieutenant Luna was a descendant of leading and most influential families of New Mexico on his father's and mother's side. he was born in Valencia County about 30 years ago, and was the son of Hon. Tranquilino Luna and Amalia Jaramillo de Luna. His father represented New Mexico as its delegate to congress and filled other important and honorable official positions. The deceased was educated at St. Michael's College in Santa Fe, and at the Georgetown University. After his majority he entered public life, and held the offices of probate clerk and sheriff of his county, and was twice elected a representative from his county to the legislative assembly, serving one of these terms as speaker. During the Spanish-American War, he served with gallantry and credit as captain of Troop F, 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, known as the Rough Riders. He particularly distinguished himself on the bloody field of Las Guaeimas and during the terrible onslaught of San Juan Hill.

He was mustered out with the regiment Sept. 15, 1898, receiving the highest commendations of his commanding officers, General Wood and Col. Roosevelt.

Upon the call of the president for volunteers to serve in the Philippine Islands, Lieutenant Luna was one of the first to offer his services and was commissioned in June last first lieutenant and adjutant of the 2nd Battalion of the 34th United States Volunteer Infantry.

He sailed with his regiment from San Francisco in September, reaching Manila Oct. 12, and was immediately assigned to duty as an aid upon the staff of Maj. Gen. W. H. Lawton and accompanied the latter on his present expedition against the insurgents in the northern part of the Island of Luzon.

The following letter, addressed by Brig. Gen. Wood to the editor of the New Mexican, show the esteem in which Lieutenant Luna was held for his meritorious services and gallant conduct during the Spanish-American War:

Santiago de Cuba, Aug. 4, 1898 - To the Editor of the New Mexican: I desire to inform you that the services of Captain Maximiliano Luna, 1st united States Volunteer Cavalary, have been of the highest order, and that his coolness and gallantry have been conspicuous in every action our regiment has been engaged in,

Very truly yours, Leonard Wood, Brigadier General, US Army, Late Colonel 1st US Volunteer Cavalry.

No doubt exists that this young soldier, had he been spared, would have distinguished himself greatly during his service in the Philippines, and would have added to his previous most commendable military record, and have shed luster and renown upon the Territory of New Mexico, of which he was a native, by many deeds of gallantry and valor.

Lieutenant Luna was a young man of great ability, finely educated, and an eloquent and convincing public speaker, very popular, and greatly liked by all who knew him. he was kind-hearted, courteous, and true to his friends and convictions. He leaves a young wife, the daughter of Maj. E. H. Keys, of the United States Army, and many other relatives and friends to mourn and deplore his early demise. Lieutenant Luna's wife is at San Antonio, Texas, with her parents.

His grandmother, Mrs. Isabel B. de Luna, and his aunt, Mrs. Bergere, reside in Santa Fe, and his uncle, Hon. Solomon Luna, resides at the family home, Los Lunas, in Valencia County.

-- His name is the first listed on the Rough Riders Memorial.
He drowned while crossing the Rio Agno on the island of Luzon in the Philippine Islands.
His remains were never recovered for burial.

He was the son of Tranquilino Luna and Amalia Jaramillo de Luna.
In August 1895, he married Berenice Keyes while she was on a visit to the Luna family of Los Lunas, New Mexico. They were engaged at the time of her visit.
Source: St. Louis Globe-Democrat, Sunday, August 11, 1905.

Albuquerque Citizen
Monday, November 20, 1899
Lieut. Max Luna
New Mexico's Gallant Soldier Drowned in Discharge of His Duty
Short Biographical Sketch

The dispatch last Saturday afternoon from Manila briefly told of the drowning of Lieutenant Maximiliano Luna, of the Thirty-fourth Infantry, in the river Agno, his aide and two men of his escort also meeting the same death.

The following is a brief biographical sketch of New Mexico's dead soldier, who was making a gallant war record for himself when death came to him while crossing one of the treacherous streams of Luzon Island.

Lieutenant Luna was a descendant of leading and most influential families of New Mexico on his father's and mother's side. He was born in Valencia County about thirty years ago and was the son of Hon. Tranquilino Luna and Amalia Jaramillo de Luna, both deceased. His father represented New Mexico as its delegate to Congress and filled other important and honorable official positions. The deceased was educated at St. Michael's College in Santa Fe and at the Georgetown University, Washington. After his majority he entered public life and held the offices of probate clerk and sheriff of his county and was twice elected a representative from his county to the legislative assembly, serving one these of terms as speaker. During the Spanish American War, he served with gallantry and credit as captain of Troop F, First United States Volunteer Cavalry, known as the Rough Riders. He particularly distinguished himself on the bloody field of Las Guasimas and during the terrible onslaught of San Juan Hill. He was mustered out with the regiment September 15, 1898, receiving the highest recommendations of his commanding officers, General Wood and Colonel Roosevelt.

Upon the call of the president for volunteers to serve in the Philippine Islands, Lieutenant Luna was one of the first to offer his services and was commissioned din June last first lieutenant and adjutant of the Second Battalion of the Thirty-fourth United States Volunteer Infantry. He sailed on September 8, reaching Manila October 12 and was immediately assigned to duty as an aid upon the staff of Major General W.H. Lawton and accompanied the latter on the present expedition against the insurgents in the northern part of the island of Luzon.

The following letter addressed by Brigadier General Wood to the Santa Fee New Mexican in August last shows the esteem in which Lieutenant Luna was held for his meritorious services and gallantry during the Spanish American War.

Santiago de Cuba, August 4, 1898. To the editor of the New Mexican: I desire to inform you that the services of Captain Maximiliano Luna, First United States Volunteer Cavalry, have been of the highest order and that his coolness and gallantry have been conspicuous in every action our regiment has bene engaged in. Very truly yours,
Leonard Wood

Brigadier General United States Army, late Colonel First United States Volunteer Cavalry.

No doubt exists that this young soldier, had he been spared, would have distinguished himself greatly during his service in the Philippines and would have added to his previous most commendable military record and would have shed luster and renown upon the territory of New Mexico, of which he was a native, by many deeds of gallantry and valor.

Lieutenant Luna was a young man of great ability, finely educated and an eloquent and convincing public speaker, very popular and greatly liked by all who knew him. He was kind hearted, courteous and true to his friends and convictions. He leaves a young wife, the daughter of Major A.S.B. Keyes of the United States Army and many other relatives and friends to mourn and deplore his early demise. Lieutenant Luna's wife is at San Antonio, Texas, with her parents. His grandmother, Mrs. Isabel B. de Luna and his aunt, Mrs. A.M. Bergere, reside in Santa Fe and his uncle, Hon. Solomon Luna. Resides at the family home, Los Lunas, in Valencia County.

In response to a telegram from the Denver Republican, asking something about the career of Lieut. Luna, the local correspondent of that paper wired the following:

Lieut. Maximiliano Luna, whom General Lawton reports as having been drowned in the river Agno, in the Philippines, is a member of a wealthy Spanish family that has resided for generations at Los Lunas, within twenty miles of this city. His war career started early in the spring of last year, when he recruited a troop of rough riders in this city and went to the front with Roosevelt, storming San Juan Hill as their captain.

On returning to New Mexico and after a long siege with the Cuban fever, he received an appointment as lieutenant in the volunteer army and when President McKinley made a call for additional soldiers to do service in the Philippines, he recruited for the Thirty-fourth infantry throughout New Mexico and Arizona, making the first recruiting station in this city. After the infantry had remained at Fort Logan for a month or so, orders were issued to move and on Friday, September 8, on the transport Columbia the lieutenant with the Thirty-fourth sailed for the Philippines.

In his native county of Valencia, this territory, the people honored him with many offices of trust. He filled the office of sheriff, besides several minor positions. He was elected to the House of Representatives of the Territorial Legislature on several occasions and during one legislature presided with marked ability as the speaker.

A few years ago he was married to Miss Keyes, a daughter of Major Keyes, who is now stationed at San Antonio, Texas. Mrs. Luna accompanied her husband as far as San Francisco on his journey Philippines. She is now at San Antonio, Texas. Lieut. Luna was the son of ex Delegate to Congress Tranquilino Luna, deceased and a nephew of Hon. Solomon Luna, the Republican National Committeeman of New Mexico.