The United States
Naval Academy
Alumni Online Community


The Gouge
After Steering
The Web Wardroom
Sports
Shore Lines
Port Captain



After Steering Pages
USNA Graphics
Message to Garcia
Memorials
Books about USNA


Message to Garcia Pages

A Message to Garcia

Elbert Hubbard: About
A Message to Garcia

The Man Who Carried The Message to Garcia

Colonel Andrew Rowan


COL. ANDREW ROWAN, who performed one of the celebrated feats in the history of the American Army...carrying the message to Garcia...died Jan. 10, 1943 at San Francisco. He was 85.

A Virginian who graduated from West Point in 1881, he executed minor military assignments in Central America, with the Army Information Bureau and as an attaché, and was still a lieutenant at the age of 41 when he became famous.

After his exploit...recognized some 20 years later by the award of the Distinguished Service Cross...he served in the Philippine campaigns, taught military science and tactics at Kansas State Agriculture College, and also served at Fort Riley, Kan., West Point, in Kentucky, and at American Lake, Washington. He was cited for gallantry in the Philippine action.

After his retirement from the Army, he spent the remainder of his life in San Francisco.

You may be interested in reading Col. Rowan's account of A Message to Garcia in his own words: How I Carried a Message to Garcia. This account is part of The Deer Meadow, the Rough Hill, and Crow's Landing: A Family History of the Hartley, Rowan, and McCreary Families, edited by Joseph E. Pontius, which also includes additional biographical information on Col. Rowan as well as another copy of A Message to Garcia. The Roycrofters (modern day disciples of Elbert Hubbard) also have a copy of the essay posted on their Web site.