Scope and Content Note
The papers of John Wills Greenslade (1880-1950) span the years 1900-2010, with the bulk of the material dating from 1900 to 1933. The collection is comprised almost entirely of transcripts of correspondence written between Greenslade and his first wife, Marie Taylor Greenslade, but also includes letters to and from his mother, Nell Wills Greenslade, and his sister, Sophia J. Greenslade, as well as letters written by his sons, John F. Greenslade and Robert W. Greenslade. The correspondence documents Greenslade's naval career at sea, notably during the Philippine American War, 1900-1902; the Banana Wars in the Caribbean, 1902-1904, 1906-1909, and 1912-1914; the North Sea mine barrage, 1918; as commander of the Galveston (cruiser) in European and Mediterranean waters, 1919; commander of Mine Squadron I, 1923-1925; as chief of staff, battleship divisions, 1929-1930; and commander, Submarine Force, 1932-1934. There are no letters for 1926 and only three for 1927. Included in a miscellany grouping are biographical material consisting of a résumé of his career written by a family member, a synopsis of his career provided by the United States Navy, and correspondence written by miscellaneous family members. Digital files in the collection consist of transcriptions of the letters in text documents in Word format that duplicate the paper copies.
The correspondence begins in March 1900 during the Philippine American War. Greenslade describes duty aboard the gunboats Basco and Princeton around Cavite and Cebu, differences between the Filipino and Moro insurrectionists and their activities, his life aboard ship and ashore, and sightseeing trips. In a letter dated October 13, 1900, he recounts the capture of the gunboat Urdaneta in September 1899 by insurrectionists and the recovery over a year later of the remains of Naval Cadet Wellborn C. Wood, commander of the gunboat, and one of his men. Also of interest is a letter from 1902 describing a visit by the Sultan of Jolo and his retinue.
After leaving the Philippines, Greenslade sailed in Caribbean waters where letters with his mother and sister were now joined by ones with his wife, Marie. A couple of letters from September 1906 recount his command of an expedition near Cienfuegos, Cuba, to relieve the marines guarding Plantation Constancia from looting by the rebels. From 1907 to 1909, Greenslade served aboard a number of ships and sailed to Nicaragua, Haiti, and Honduras during the revolutions in those areas. He returned to the Caribbean in 1912 aboard the Michigan (battleship) and commanded the Michigan Battalion during the occupation of Vera Cruz, Mexico, landing on April 22, 1913.
Greenslade commanded the Housatonic (minelayer) during the North Sea mine barrage of May-October 1918 during World War I. His letters employed veiled comments about his activities and in one instance he refers to the laying and testing of mines as "laying and hatching eggs." Greenslade's next command was the cruiser Galveston based at Harwich, England. A few letters recount the ferrying of Allied troops to Kola and Murmansk and returning with others during the Russian civil war. His letters discuss the behavior of British, French, and Russian military personnel and the British motives in Russia. During his year-long command, Greenslade sailed to many ports including Vigo, Spain, Hamburg, Germany, Constantinople, Turkey, and Baku, Azerbaijan.
From 1923 to 1925, Greenslade commanded Mine Squadron I from aboard his flagship Shawmut (minelayer). While sailing the Atlantic coast, his letters mention drills, gunnery practice, and mine deployment practice. By 1924, the squadron had been deployed to the Caribbean. Of interest is Greenslade's letter of April 1 describing the first time that light minelayers had ever attempted to coordinate attacks with destroyers and light cruisers. Tactical instructions for minelayers were developed during Greenslade's command.
In May 1929, Greenslade was detached from the Pennsylvania (battleship) and reported for duty as chief of staff to Admiral Lucius Allyn Bostwick, commander battleship divisions. The letters are sparse after May 1929, with Greenslade's last letter written on May 5. His letters resume on February 22, 1930, while aboard the West Virginia (battleship) in the Caribbean for fleet exercises. Mostly Greenslade wrote about the exercises, unhappiness with superiors and subordinates, and family finances.
Greenslade served as commander, Submarine Force, from 1932 to 1934. He hoisted his flag on the Bushnell (submarine tender) in Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, in June 1932. During his command, Greenslade developed a manual on the employment of submarines.
The collection provides a comprehensive look at naval life as Greenslade discusses his family, his daily routines, drills, duties and obligations as an officer, foreign ports, people encountered, and entertainment aboard ship and ashore. Letters from his wife, Marie, reflect the life of a naval wife and family.