103 files changed, 32522 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/46361-0.txt b/46361-0.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..19403d6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-0.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,5790 @@
+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 46361 ***
+
+  TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
+
+  Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Superscripts have been
+  converted to normal text.
+
+  Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected
+  after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and
+  consultation of external sources.
+
+  More detail can be found at the end of the book.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: COLONEL EMBURY P. CLARK]
+
+
+
+
+  SPRINGFIELD
+  IN THE
+  SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
+
+  BY
+  WALTER W. WARD
+
+  ILLUSTRATED
+
+  PRESS OF
+  ENTERPRISE PRINTING COMPANY
+  EASTHAMPTON, MASS.
+  1899.
+
+  TO THE
+  OFFICERS AND MEN
+  OF G, B AND K COMPANIES
+  SECOND REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS
+  INFANTRY, U. S. V., AND
+  H COMPANY, NAVAL BRIGADE.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+In the Spanish-American war of 1898, Springfield rose to the occasion
+as she did in 1776 and 1861 and sent her youngest and best and bravest
+sons to the front. It was her sons who fought and fell at El Caney, the
+one battle of modern times where infantry, practically unsupported by
+artillery, captured a well fortified town and it was her sons who were
+in the lead in drawing the attacking lines so tightly about the city of
+Santiago that its surrender had to follow. It was her sons also who,
+on the high seas, on a fast auxiliary cruiser, did faithful service as
+a portion of the navy and had the satisfaction of doing their share in
+remembering the Maine by sinking a Spanish transport and a gun boat.
+Her sons fell on the battlefield and died in the camps and hospitals
+after enduring as soldiers, the hardships and toils of one of the
+shortest yet most important and bloodiest campaigns in history and of
+the honors of that war, Springfield claims a goodly share for herself.
+
+In the near future a monument, the funds for which have been
+contributed from near and far, will be erected in Springfield to the
+memory of the officers and men of the Second Regiment, Massachusetts
+Infantry, U. S. Volunteers who fell or died in the Spanish war. On
+that monument, whatever form it may take, will be inscribed the names
+of Bowen, Harry and Paul Vesper, Bearse, Noone, Piper, Boone, Jones,
+Richmond, Packard, Kelly, Moody, Burnham, Malone, Burke, Little,
+Stetson, Creley, Lyons and Morehouse. But their names have long before
+this been permanently inscribed on the hearts of their comrades and
+in no place are they more secure. They died for the flag, the highest
+honor possible to an American citizen. This volume is written in the
+attempt to portray as clearly as memory serves what these men and their
+comrades did in the war with Spain. While not actually a history,
+the intention has been to show as clearly as possible the people of
+Springfield what it was their sons and brothers and friends in her four
+organizations at the front went through in their short campaign.
+
+Springfield, Nov. 1899.
+
+  W. W. W.
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF CONTENTS.
+
+
+  CHAPTER.                                    PAGE
+
+  I. Which is preliminary to those which
+  follow it,                                     9
+
+  II. Which tells about the calling out of
+  H company, Naval Brigade,                     14
+
+  III. How G, B and K companies went to
+  South Framingham,                             19
+
+  IV. Wherein is told how we were transformed
+  from "tin" soldiers into the
+  real article,                                 25
+
+  V. We get orders to leave for the sunny
+  South and obey them,                          32
+
+  VI. We go to the Southland and begin to
+  find out where we are at,                     38
+
+  VII. We stay in Ybor City and then
+  enjoy (?) life on the transports in the
+  harbor,                                       44
+
+  VIII. We have a lovely sail on the palatial
+  Knickerbocker and reach Cuba without
+  mishap,                                       51
+
+  IX. Wherein is related our landing at
+  Daiquiri and some things which subsequently
+  happened,                                     59
+
+  X. In which is to be found the tale of
+  Crab Hollow and some other things,            68
+
+  XI. Which tells how we got ready to
+  take the town of El Caney,                    76
+
+  XII. Wherein is related some events which
+  happened to us on July first,                 84
+
+  XIII. We learn some more things about the
+  art of war as conducted in these days,        94
+
+  XIV. We continue our education in the art
+  of war and learn a few things,               106
+
+  XV. We have to face another enemy more
+  deadly than the Spaniards,                   119
+
+  XVI. Our voyage homeward on the death
+  ship Mobile,                                 129
+
+  XVII. We and our friends enjoy ourselves
+  at Camp Wickoff, Montauk Point,              136
+
+  XVIII. In which is told how we prepare to
+  quit Uncle Sam's service,                    143
+
+  XIX. We become plain citizens once more
+  and square accounts with Uncle Sam,          151
+
+  XX. Wherein is narrated the adventures
+  on the high seas of Springfield's
+  sailors,                                     161
+
+  Roster,                                      172
+
+  The Roll of Honor,                           178
+
+  Springfield's Dead Heroes,                   180
+
+
+
+
+THE CAMPAIGN IN CUBA.
+
+Experiences of Co's G, B and K, M. V. M., and H Co., Naval Brigade in
+the war of 1898 and record of its service in the operations against
+Santiago.
+
+BY WALTER W. WARD.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+WHICH IS PRELIMINARY TO THOSE WHICH FOLLOW IT.
+
+
+Within the few years preceding the fateful one of 1898 a decided
+impetus had been given the military spirit in Springfield by the
+stationing of two additional companies of the state militia in this
+city. To the already organized companies, G and B of the Massachusetts
+Volunteer Militia, had been added K company, the company of that
+name in Amherst having been disbanded and its letter transferred to
+Springfield. The organization in this city of a company of the state
+naval brigade and the building of a handsome and commodious state
+armory helped to place the militia of Springfield on a higher level in
+the public interest and regard than had previously been the case.
+
+Springfield has always been rich in military tradition. Her earliest
+sons helped fight the Indians who disputed the right of the first
+settlers to the lands they roamed over in the fertile Connecticut
+valley; they had served in the Colonial wars and Springfield blood was
+shed in the Revolutionary war. Soon after this war Springfield was the
+scene of one of the episodes of Shay's rebellion. In the Civil war she
+sent her full quota and more of her young men to serve under the flag
+and after the war the ranks of her militia companies were always kept
+filled with her best young men. Undoubtedly the presence here of a
+United States military post and the famous Springfield arsenal has done
+much to aid in keeping up the military spirit.
+
+For long years, reaching back to a time before the rebel guns opened
+fire on Fort Sumter, Springfield's one military company was the City
+guard, which after being attached to several of the state militia
+organizations became under the final reorganization of the state troops
+B company of the Second regiment of infantry, M. V. M. In 1868 a number
+of the veterans of the Civil war organized the Peabody guard which was
+attached to the Second regiment as G company. Both these companies
+were always composed of good material and maintained a high place in
+the state militia, not only for excellence in drill but in discipline
+and marksmanship. The location of regimental headquarters here several
+years ago aided in making military interest more rife than for some
+years.
+
+With four companies of militia instead of two, with headquarters and a
+fine new armory in place of the more or less unsatisfactory quarters
+previously occupied and with public feeling more united in their
+support than it had been for years the militia of Springfield felt they
+had entered upon a new period and it was one, which though they did not
+then realize it, was to soon test the courage and soldierly qualities
+of many of the officers and men of the Springfield militia. But with
+this then unknown the spirit of soldierly pride and loyalty to their
+organizations led officers and men to constant striving to be at the
+top or as near the top as possible, of the militia of the state in
+all things soldierly. In drill, in discipline, in knowledge of guard
+duty, in marksmanship and in all the other details that go to make up
+a good soldier there was assiduous practice and to the furtherance of
+that end many of the ceremonial features of military life, to which
+great importance had previously been attached, were discarded as far
+as possible. This was thoroughly in line with the policy of the state
+military authorities and its value was to be proven sooner than was
+anticipated.
+
+It did not take a very far seeing mind to realize in the fall of 1897
+and the first two months of 1898 that matters with regard to the
+policy of the United States in the affairs of Cuba might soon produce
+a crisis so acute that the military power of the Republic would have
+to be called upon. Certainly it was realized by the militiamen and
+the progress of events from the beginning of 1898 to the night of the
+destruction of the Maine was by none more closely watched than by the
+men who gathered in the company rooms in the armory each night.
+
+When it was known definitely that the long anticipated call to arms
+could not be much longer delayed the local militia was never in finer
+fettle. The ranks of every company were filled and soldierly enthusiasm
+ran high. New arms, not comparable of course with those of the regular
+army but better than any previous militia armament, had been issued and
+the equipments and uniforms were in good and serviceable condition.
+Applications for enlistment were so numerous that had there been eight
+companies instead of four their ranks could have easily been filled up.
+
+It was on the 29th of April, 1898, that the call for troops came
+to Springfield. On the 23d President McKinley had issued the first
+call for troops and six days later Gov. Wolcott designated Col.
+E. P. Clark of the Second as one of the six commanding officers to
+raise a regiment of volunteers for the United States service. It was
+provided that members of the militia were to be given the preference
+in enlistments to the volunteer regiments, the residue being made up
+by enlistment of other citizens. The Second was ordered to report at
+the state camp ground at South Framingham on May 3 for muster into the
+United States service. April 29th fell on Friday and May 3 on Tuesday
+of the following week so that there was not any too much time in
+which to enlist men for the companies and get everything in readiness
+for service. But what time there was on hand was so well utilized
+that promptly at the hour ordered on the morning of May 3d the three
+Springfield companies were at the armory with full ranks and fully
+equipped, all the state property and equipage not needed packed up and
+ready for shipment to the state arsenal.
+
+Every officer of the three companies and fully 70 per cent. of the
+men who had been in their ranks in the militia service was on hand.
+Capt. John J. Leonard of G, a veteran in the militia, was at the head
+of his company and with him his two lieutenants, T. A. Sweeney and E.
+J. Leyden. Capt. Henry McDonald of B company, a veteran both of the
+regular army and the militia, and his lieutenants, William L. Young and
+Harry J. Vesper were on hand promptly and so was Capt. W. S. Warriner
+and Lieutenants P. C. Powers and Harry H. Parkhurst of K company. All
+three companies were proud of their officers and they had every reason
+to be.
+
+And here a little digression. No effort of any kind was made to
+transfer as absolute unities the companies of militia into companies
+of United States Volunteers. It can truthfully be said that no man was
+asked to go to South Framingham by the officers. On the contrary Col.
+Clark and the company officers were all careful to impress upon the
+men of the militia that their volunteering into the service of the
+United States was purely a voluntary and personal matter with them.
+There were dozens of instances in which the officers realized that the
+sacrifice was such as some of their men should not make. There were men
+with families dependent upon them or so otherwise circumstanced that it
+was best for them not to go and these men were talked to candidly and
+kindly and dissuaded from putting their names on the enlistment rolls.
+It was a volunteer movement purely and simply and the Second was in the
+highest sense of the word a volunteer regiment.
+
+Long before the orders for mobilization at South Framingham were issued
+preparations had been made to the end that Massachusetts might be ready
+to respond to the first call for troops from the national government.
+Early in April Gov. Wolcott had constituted some of the officers of the
+state militia as his advisory board in matters relating to the part
+Massachusetts would take in the war. On April 20, Col. Clark of the
+Second and some of his field and staff officers were called to Boston
+in consultation with the governor and on the 24th Gov. Wolcott in his
+capacity of commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the
+state issued an order calling upon the militia to hold themselves in
+readiness for duty within 24 hours.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+WHICH TELLS ABOUT THE CALLING OUT OF H COMPANY, NAVAL BRIGADE.
+
+
+Meanwhile, and while the infantry were getting in readiness,
+Springfield had already sent some of her sons on duty. The naval arm of
+the service was in a far more advanced state of preparation than was
+the army and it was the general opinion that of necessity the war would
+be one in which the navy would take the most prominent part, leaving
+but little for the land forces to do except garrison duty. Springfield
+had taken great pride in her company of the Massachusetts naval brigade
+since its organization and expected great things of it in the event of
+its being called upon for duty.
+
+On April 2 came the first intimation that Springfield was to be called
+upon for men. Although war had not been declared and strenuous efforts
+were being made to head it off by the peace-at-any-price men, the navy
+department had set about getting into commission all the vessels that
+it could. At the League Island navy yard, Philadelphia, there lay a
+number of the old time monitors, some of them having been moored there
+since shortly after the close of the civil war, and it was decided
+to put them into condition for harbor defense purposes. Two were to
+be assigned to Boston harbor and on April 2 came orders to Lieut. J.
+K. Dexter, the commander of H company naval brigade, to proceed to
+the League Island yard as an officer of one of the monitors. Lieut.
+Dexter left that night and remained on duty at the yard until April
+16, when he returned to bring down the detail of his company which was
+to form part of the crew of the single turreted monitor Lehigh. It was
+not until April 17th that the Lehigh detail left for the Philadelphia
+navy yard although there had been many rumors as to when the men would
+go and the quarters of the company at the state armory were filled
+every night with the men and their friends. On the 16th Lieut. Dexter
+returned unexpectedly from Philadelphia and at once set about getting
+his detail together. It was on Sunday, but with the aid of the alarm
+list system, the telephone and special messengers the men were soon
+notified and assembled at the armory. The detail as finally made up
+was: Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter; Chief Boatswain's Mate, Frank H. Bowen;
+Boatswain's Mates, Robert T. Whitehouse, A. T. Wright; Gunner's Mate,
+F. W. Baum; Coxswain, W. S. Johnson; Acting Coxswain, S. L. Ruden;
+Quartermaster, W. A. Sabin; and Seamen Paul H. Lathrop, R. H. B.
+Warburton, W. F. Bright, R. P. King, A. Mellor, A. N. Luce, and L. E.
+Ladd. The detail marched to the union station at about 8.30 and took
+the 9 o'clock train for New York, receiving an ovation as it passed
+through Main street and again at the station as the train pulled out.
+
+On the same day Lieut. (junior grade) Henry S. Crossman, who was in
+command of the company during the absence of Lieut. Dexter, received
+orders from Capt. Weeks of the naval brigade to hold himself in
+readiness to proceed to the Brooklyn navy yard and there report to
+Admiral Bunce, commanding the yard, as watch officer of the auxiliary
+cruiser Prairie to which the Massachusetts naval brigade was to be
+assigned. Lieut. (junior grade) W. O. Cohn was ordered to be in
+readiness to proceed to Boston and report for duty on the U. S. S.
+Minnesota, Ensign W. S. Barr was ordered to be in readiness to go to
+the Brooklyn navy yard as one of the watch officers of the Prairie and
+Ensign Fred T. Ley was ordered to the same ship as watch officer and
+Captain's clerk.
+
+On April 22d these orders were changed, Lieut. Cohn and Ensign Barr
+being ordered to report for duty on board the monitor Lehigh on her
+arrival in Boston harbor.
+
+On April 23d, Lieut. Crossman received orders to proceed with the
+remaining men of H company to the Brooklyn navy yard there to go on
+board the Prairie as part of her crew during the war. These orders were
+received on the morning of the 23d and as soon as it became known about
+the city that the men were to go, the war time scenes of 1861 were
+re-enacted. It was at first planned to have the company take an early
+evening train but as Lieut. Crossman found they could go just as well
+on the early morning train from Boston he decided to take that, thus
+giving the men more time in which to settle up their affairs and get
+everything in readiness for leaving.
+
+Information about the Prairie had already been pretty well disseminated
+about the city. It was known that she was formerly the fast steamer,
+El Sud, of the Morgan line and was capable of doing excellent duty
+as one of Uncle Sam's auxiliary cruisers. At the time she was in the
+Brooklyn navy yard being changed over from a passenger and freight
+vessel to a war ship and the job was requiring longer time than had
+been anticipated.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins.
+  Adjutant.
+
+  Major F. G. Southmayd.
+
+  Lieut. E. E. Sawtell.
+  Quartermaster.
+]
+
+The quarters of H company and the state armory were the busiest places
+in Springfield that afternoon and evening. The "jackies" were getting
+their dunnage rolls and equipment together and relatives and friends
+were on hand to say farewell and see their "boys" off. Owing to the
+time at which the company had orders to leave the armory, 1.30 A. M.,
+it was hardly expected there would be much of a crowd on hand to give
+the command a suitable farewell but this was a mistake. Long before
+the hour at which the company was to leave the streets leading to
+the union station were crowded and more enthusiasm was shown than had
+been the case in Springfield for many a day. It was at 1.30 o'clock in
+the morning of the 24th that the company, fully armed, equipped, in
+the regulation uniform of the jackies of the navy left the armory and
+marched through Main street to the union station to take the 2.20 train
+for New York, special cars for the company having been attached to the
+train. In spite of the lateness of the hour Springfield's citizens and
+the relatives, friends of the company were determined not to let the
+command leave the city without some demonstration. All night long up
+to the time for leaving the armory the building was filled with the
+relatives, friends of the members as well as those who while not bound
+to them by any intimate ties yet wished by their presence to show
+appreciation of the spirit which had prompted the young men to answer
+their country's call, even though it involved sacrifices hard indeed to
+make.
+
+From midnight until the hour for departure Main street was well filled
+with a waiting crowd and when the company marched from its armory,
+swinging into Main street, a cheer went up which was continuous
+until the train had borne the company out of sight of the assembled
+thousands. Rockets and colored fire lent brilliancy to the march and
+as the station was neared the denser grew the crowd until it was with
+difficulty a way was cleared for the company. Thousands, men and women,
+had gathered at the station and it was a scene worthy the pencil of a
+great artist, that farewell as the men marched up and boarded the cars
+with military precision. There were cheers and good wishes, personal
+farewells and tears, all commingling in one mass of sound that the
+station space had never heard before. But as the engine bell rang and
+the train began to move with slowly increasing swiftness out of the
+station all sounds merged into mighty cheers, which rose thunderously
+from the thousands of people. In that uproar of cheers were submerged
+for the time the sobs of a few whose near and dear ones were on the
+train.
+
+So Springfield sent her first contingent to serve under the old flag in
+the war against Spain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+HOW G, B AND K COMPANIES WENT TO SOUTH FRAMINGHAM.
+
+
+While the naval militiamen of Springfield were being sent off to their
+places of duty amid the cheers of the people plans for the mobilization
+of the land forces of the state were going on apace. The call of
+President McKinley for troops was issued on April 23 and six days later
+on April 29, Col. Embury P. Clark of the Second Regiment of Infantry,
+M. V. M., was designated by Gov. Wolcott to raise a regiment of
+volunteers to answer the President's call as one of the four volunteer
+infantry regiments assigned to Massachusetts. On the same day Col.
+Clark was ordered to have his regiment report for duty at the state
+camp ground, South Framingham, at noon of May 3d, he being also ordered
+to assume command of the camp formed there by the four volunteer
+regiments.
+
+On receipt of these orders Col. Clark immediately notified his field
+and staff and company officers and from that time on everything at
+the state armory was done with a snap and a jump. Only a few days
+remained before May 3d, for that day fell on Tuesday, and it was Friday
+afternoon when the orders were received. Under the call the company
+strength for infantry was fixed at three officers and 74 enlisted men,
+but had it been 174 instead of 74 there would have been but little
+trouble in filling up the ranks. More men were anxious to enlist than
+there were places for and a hard problem for the company officers to
+face was that of discouraging and rejecting applicants for enlistment
+most of whom pleaded for the privilege as strongly as a ward politician
+does for a paying office. On an average about 75 per cent. of the men
+in the militia companies enlisted in the volunteers and it is only
+just to state that a good number of those who did not were "talked"
+out of it by their officers who realized, perhaps better than the men
+themselves, that going to the front meant more sacrifices than men with
+dependent families or relatives should be called upon to make.
+
+Meantime all was hurry and bustle at the state armory but order soon
+came out of all the apparent chaos and early on the morning of Tuesday,
+May 3d the local field and staff officers of the regiment and G, B and
+K companies, thus formed in the order of seniority of their captains,
+stood in the big drill shed, in full marching uniform with knapsacks
+packed and overcoats rolled up on them looking soldierly, and ready for
+whatever duty might call them to do.
+
+It was a dismal morning in more than one way. A drizzling rain fell at
+intervals and there was gloom in many hearts among the crowds of people
+lining Main street and the union station and its approaches. Though
+not a shot had yet been fired in actual conflict between the United
+States and Spain on land and Dewey's great victory at Manila had been
+won without the loss of a single American life, yet the people were
+beginning to understand that the grim realities of war might be brought
+home to them and this thought had its influence in repressing any too
+enthusiastic demonstration.
+
+But there was a demonstration, nevertheless. Outside the armory were
+hundreds of spectators, including relatives and friends of the boys
+and awaiting them were the members of E. K. Wilcox post, G. A. R., the
+veteran corps of G company and some veterans of B company, all headed
+by the Second Regiment band to act as escort for the companies as far
+as the union station.
+
+Shortly after 8 o'clock the troops left the armory and headed by the
+escort marched through Main street and around Court square to city
+hall, where the column was reviewed by Mayor H. S. Dickinson and the
+city government. Thousands of people were massed here and there was
+some cheering. The fire department boys at headquarters on Pynchon
+street saluted the troops with a small cannon and on the rest of the
+way up Main street to the station there was some cheering but not any
+too much.
+
+At the corner of Main and Lyman streets the escort halted and formed
+in line. As the companies marched by the old soldiers of the civil
+war gave us three cheers, in which the militia veterans joined. The
+remainder of the march to the station was through a close packed crowd
+of men, women and children. There was some cheering, but as the soldier
+boys began to file into the waiting cars of the special train sobs and
+tears broke out from many of the women and as the train pulled out a
+few moments after 9 o'clock tears were more in evidence than cheers. As
+one of the boys put it, "They sent the naval boys off with cheers and
+kept the tears for us."
+
+This feeling was augmented by the enthusiasm with which the people of
+Worcester sent their three companies off. When our train pulled into
+the Worcester depot we found the building jammed with people, some
+perched upon the tops of standing engines and cars and the Worcester
+companies were so surrounded with people it was at first hard to tell
+where they were. When our special stopped and the Worcester men began
+to board it a volume of cheers went up that was almost enough to
+take the roof off the building. Everyone was cheering apparently and
+those who were not were so few in number that it was impossible to
+distinguish them.
+
+After leaving Springfield there were small crowds at every station
+between there and Worcester and though the train did not stop there
+was much cheering and waving of hats. This was repeated during the run
+from Worcester to South Framingham.
+
+It was shortly before noon when we reached South Framingham and marched
+to the camp ground amid the cheers of the townspeople. Reaching there
+the companies were dismissed to quarters and dinner, which the company
+caterers had ready for us, we not going on government rations until
+some days later. A majority of the boys had been in camp at South
+Framingham before but this was different. A state militia encampment
+is one thing and a camp of United States volunteers is another. The
+old familiar wall tents were there but without the customary big blue
+chests in which were always stored much that was good in the way of
+refreshment for tired and thirsty militiamen. There was a trifle of
+added sharpness to the commands of officers and non-commissioned
+officers and there were various other little things which combined to
+show us that we were on the way to be the "real things" instead of "tin
+soldiers" as we had been dubbed in our militia days.
+
+"Physical examination of recruits" was the rock on which the desires
+of many of us to get at the hated Spaniards were to split and the
+rock began to show itself that very afternoon when A of Worcester was
+ordered over to brigade headquarters for examination. Before the shades
+of evening fell thirteen of its men had been rejected by the examining
+surgeons and as bad news always spreads through a camp with greater
+rapidity than good, many of us were wondering whether we would meet the
+same fate or not within the next few days.
+
+All the line officers and 75 per cent. of our men in the militia had
+come with us while there were more than enough "rookies" to fill out
+the quota. The recruits were, some of them, in uniform and a number
+had formerly been in the militia service, so that they took kindly
+enough to the opening of camp life. But as the militia companies had
+only been composed of 58 enlisted men there were not uniforms enough
+at the time to equip the extra men and some of the "rookies" looked
+odd and felt it in their civilian attire. More than one practical joke
+was played upon them before "taps" sounded, but the great majority of
+the men were tired enough to get to quarters and hug their luxurious
+mattresses before the bugles sounded the last call of the day.
+
+Of the field and staff and non-commissioned staff resident in
+Springfield and vicinity not all came to camp. Col. Clark and Major
+Southmayd were on hand as was Lt. Paul R. Hawkins, the regimental
+adjutant. Quartermaster Colson of Holyoke did not come and to his place
+was appointed Corporal E. E. Sawtell of K company. Major Brown of
+Adams, the regimental surgeon and Lt. J. T. Hendrick of Springfield,
+assistant surgeon did not volunteer and a new surgical staff was
+appointed, consisting of Dr. Henry T. Bowen of Springfield as major and
+surgeon, Dr. Ernest A. Gates of Springfield and Dr. John S. Hitchcock
+of Amherst as assistant surgeons with the rank of first lieutenants.
+Dr. Hitchcock was a member of I company when appointed.
+
+There were several changes in the non-commissioned staff. Corporal
+Robert N. Ingersoll was made sergeant-major vice Paul Norton and Ross
+L. Lusk quartermaster-sergeant vice Melville Snow of Holyoke. Three
+hospital stewards instead of one were assigned to the regiment, and
+the appointees were Ulysses G. Fortier of Holyoke, S. H. Greenberg
+of Boston and Edson P. Howes of Springfield. No color sergeants were
+provided for in the volunteer regiments and these positions were filled
+by detail.
+
+It was a matter of much regret that no place was provided for the
+paymaster and inspector of rifle practice. In the Second as a militia
+regiment these positions had been filled respectively by Lieut. A.
+C. Edson of Holyoke and A. E. Taylor of Chicopee Falls but no such
+positions were provided for in the volunteer service and these
+officers were forced to remain behind.
+
+The first guard mount of the camp was held in the afternoon with First
+Lieut. P. C. Powers of K company as officer of the guard. So closed our
+first day at South Framingham.
+
+[Illustration: Surgeon Henry C. Bowen
+
+Surgeon Ernest A. Gates.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+WHEREIN IS TOLD HOW WE WERE TRANSFORMED FROM "TIN" SOLDIERS INTO THE
+REAL ARTICLE.
+
+
+It did not require many day's of camp life at South Framingham to
+convince about all of us that we were there strictly for business. The
+weather was rather cold and there were a few flurries of snow although
+it was in May. The nights were so cool that huge fires of wood were
+built on the color line each night and around these the men gathered
+spending the time in singing, story telling and in wondering how soon
+we would start for the front and just what part we of the Second would
+take in subduing the pride of the haughty Spaniard.
+
+But little in the way of drilling was done at first, but after a day
+or two the work of whipping the "rookies" into shape was begun, the
+process being the simple one of having them fall in with the company
+and learning the drill as best they could. Squad drills were also
+carried on and it was during these that the raw material was best
+worked up.
+
+Hardly had the regiment arrived in camp before regulation United States
+army blankets were issued to the men and issues of rubber blankets,
+"working suits" of brown canvas followed.
+
+Private Pomeroy of K company was the first of the Springfield men to
+be taken ill. He had not been feeling well before leaving home but
+pluckily made up his mind to go with his company just the same, and
+would not admit his illness. Soon after arriving in camp his condition
+became so serious that the surgeon was called to him and Pomeroy was
+found to be suffering with tonsilitis. He was removed from the camp to
+a hospital in South Framingham, but while there scarlet fever developed
+and he was sent home as soon as he had recovered sufficiently to be
+able to travel. Pomeroy felt much worse over his inability to go with
+his regiment than he did over his illness, serious as it was.
+
+The physical examinations soon made many sore hearts among the boys in
+camp, although the results of some of them were extremely satisfactory
+to the parents, relatives or friends of some of the would be soldiers.
+They were in charge of Capt. Bushnell U. S. A., who was assisted by the
+surgeons of the volunteer regiments in camp. B company was examined on
+Wednesday, the day after our arrival in camp and before sundown fully
+twenty men, including some of the oldest and best men of the company
+had been rejected for one cause or another. The commissioned officers
+of the regiment were also up for examination the same day, and among
+those rejected was First Lieut. Thomas A. Sweeney of G company and
+one of the most efficient and popular officers of the regiment. His
+rejection was a hard blow to him for he had set his heart on going
+with his men and to be rejected for what he considered to be a trivial
+cause was worse to him than being hit by a Spanish bullet. His grief
+was shared by his fellow officers and men, by whom he was exceedingly
+well liked. His place was filled by William C. Hayes, a former first
+lieutenant of the company.
+
+Lieut. W. L. Young of B company was officer of the guard on Wednesday,
+and among the incidents of his tour of duty that night was the rather
+unusual but efficient method by which a private of G company who had
+been placed on a somewhat remote post relieved himself from further
+duty after walking his post only a short time. The aforesaid private
+concluded that he would be much more comfortable in his tent with his
+"bunkies" than walking his post for the remainder of his two hours,
+and so proceeded to the guard house, placed his rifle in a corner and
+announced to the officer of the guard "I'm relieved." Before Lieutenant
+Young could recover from his astonishment at the new method of getting
+out of guard duty, the private had gone to his own quarters where he
+slept peacefully for the remainder of the night.
+
+The results of the physical examinations were to "throw out" many of
+the best men in the three Springfield companies, and as this was not at
+all satisfactory to their captains, some vigorous "kicking" resulted.
+In many cases men were rejected for trivial causes, but as the result
+of vigorous objections to the policy, made by Captains Leonard,
+McDonald and Warriner, a number of the rejected men were re-examined
+and the majority of them accepted. In some instances more than two
+examinations were given the same man, and an instance where grit and
+a determination to go with his company got the best of the examining
+surgeons was the case of Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, better known as
+"Dickie." He was twice examined and rejected but through his efforts,
+aided by those of Capt. McDonald, he was given a third trial and passed.
+
+Could those people who had been for some years in the habit of sneering
+at the militiamen as "tin soldiers" have seen the way in which the
+rejected ones took their fate they would have changed their minds as
+to the soldierly calibre of the men of the Second. It was easy to
+tell the rejected ones as they came across the parade ground from the
+surgeon's quarters, many of them with tears in their eyes, all with
+downcast faces, because their bodies had not been strong enough to
+let them go with the regiment. Their hearts were strong enough to go
+to the front and fight for the flag but the government demanded stout
+bodies as well as stout hearts, and so, many were refused. It was not
+always in tears and "blue" looks that the rejected appeared from the
+examining rooms. Often a rejected one would emerge, uttering sarcastic
+and profane remarks as to the amount of surgical knowledge possessed by
+the examiners, and their qualifications generally, and some of the men
+exhibited a versatility of language in discussing their rejection and
+the surgeon who was responsible for it only possessed by men of genius.
+
+The rejections left the ranks of the Springfield companies much
+depleted and it was necessary to send officers to that city for
+recruits to fill the vacancies before the companies could be mustered
+in. Capt. Leonard of G, Lieut. Young of B and Lieut. Powers of K were
+sent on this duty and with them went about all of the men who had
+been rejected. As soon as the purpose of their visit was known in
+Springfield they were besieged by applicants for enlistment but having
+learned wisdom from what had happened in camp they took the precaution
+to have all the applicants pass a medical examination before bringing
+them to South Framingham and as a result few of the new men they
+brought down failed to pass the examining surgeons at the camp.
+
+On May 6, another member of K company, Private Cook, was taken ill with
+tonsilitis and was sent home, much to his disgust.
+
+On the same day the field and staff officers of the Second were
+mustered into the United States service by Lieut. E. M. Weaver,
+2d artillery, who had been detailed as mustering officer for the
+Massachusetts volunteers. Adjutant Paul R. Hawkins was the first one to
+be mustered and he was followed by Quartermaster E. E. Sawtell. Surgeon
+Bowen and Assistant Surgeons Gates and Hitchcock had been mustered in
+on the day after our arrival in camp and had been assigned to duty in
+assisting in the examinations of recruits.
+
+First Lieut. W. C. Hayes of G joined his company on the afternoon of
+the 6th and after being examined and accepted was assigned to duty.
+
+On Saturday and Sunday, the 7th and 8th, three batches of additional
+recruits arrived in camp and were at once handed over to the examining
+surgeons. By Sunday K company had filled its ranks to the required
+number of 74 enlisted men and on that day was duly mustered into the
+military service of the United States for a period of two years "unless
+sooner discharged." The ceremony was a simple one. The company was
+marched over to brigade headquarters and formed in column of twos
+facing the mustering officer, Lieut. Weaver. The latter called out
+each man's name, beginning with the first sergeant and as each man
+answered he stepped to the front and facing about took position in
+front of the company in the same formation. The roll call over, the
+company was faced to the front, Lieut. Weaver removed his cap and the
+men uncovered. Then Lieut. Weaver read in impressive tones the oath of
+allegiance to the United States and administered it to the company,
+thus completing the ceremony which marked the transition of militiamen
+and raw recruits into soldiers of the United States. K company was the
+first company in Massachusetts to be mustered into the United States
+service and so far as known the first company in the country to be
+mustered in. That afternoon "government rations" were issued to K and
+the next day the men began eating them instead of the meals which had
+up to then been supplied by a caterer. Some of the men who failed to
+understand the difference between Uncle Sam's diet and that furnished
+at militia encampments found fault of course with the rations. Butter
+and milk are unknown in the regular soldiers' menu unless the company
+fund is drawn upon for them, and some of the men couldn't understand
+why they were not supplied and found fault accordingly. Later when we
+were all living luxuriously(?) in Cuba on "sowbelly" bacon, hardtack
+and coffee, sometimes without sugar, these men remembered with fond
+but unavailing regret the once despised government rations at South
+Framingham. The fond parents and relatives who were told in letters
+from camp of how meager and unsatisfactory the first food furnished
+by Uncle Sam was may correct their idea by glancing over the rations
+issued for the first five days to K company while at South Framingham:
+
+  300 lbs. potatoes; 422 lbs. flour; 27-3/4 lbs. bacon; 7 lbs. rice;
+  43-3/4 lbs. beans; 30 lbs. coffee; 56-1/2 lbs. sugar; 15 lbs. salt;
+  3/4 lb. pepper; 15 lbs. soap; 75 lbs. onions; 5-5/8 lbs. candles;
+  3-3/4 gallons vinegar and 422 lbs. fresh beef.
+
+It is understood of course that the soap and candles were not issued as
+edibles but for cleansing and illuminating purposes. And it can also
+be seen that in the above rations there are possibilities for good
+eating and plenty of it. As a matter of fact milk and butter were soon
+supplied from the company funds.
+
+G and B companies were mustered in on the 10th with full ranks. G was
+to have been mustered in the day previous but when the time arrived
+one private, a raw recruit, was missing and as the entire company was
+obliged to be on hand for muster the ceremony was dispensed with for
+that day and the men were marched back vowing vengeance upon the man
+who had kept them for 24 hours from getting into the service. Before
+very long another recruit was found and when the missing private turned
+up full of penitence and other things his uniform was taken off and
+after receiving a talking to from Capt. Leonard that made his cheeks
+burn with shame he was shipped out of camp.
+
+The boys found plenty of amusement during their camp life and with
+nearly 1000 young fellows in one regiment time did not hang very
+heavily on their hands during the times between drills and other
+duties. Base ball and other sports were indulged in and letter writing
+and visits to the other regiments or an occasional pass to town
+prevented anything like ennui. In the Springfield companies there were
+few tent crews that did not have some distinctive appellation for
+their habitation. Private J. C. Ryan of B made his tent famous as a
+"steam laundry" and in G street there was the "Hotel Dingbat," so named
+because the men who occupied it could not think of anything else to
+call it. In K there was quickly organized an outfit later to be known
+as the "Wee Haws" and which made itself somewhat famous by the gift of
+song possessed by its members.
+
+The "board of license commissioners" so famous during the encampment of
+1897 was on hand but its members had but little of an official nature
+to do as the camp of '98 was officially a "dry camp." A good share
+of the dryness was, however, confined to the weather and a careful
+search of the records fails to show that any inmate of the camp died of
+thirst, although there were some serious cases.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+WE GET ORDERS TO LEAVE FOR THE SUNNY SOUTH AND OBEY THEM.
+
+
+All of the time during our stay in camp speculation was rife as to when
+we were going to the front and how; also under what designation were
+we going. It had been circulated that we were to be known as the 63d
+United States Volunteers, and other rumors, all of which turned out to
+be just as near the truth as that one were put into commission. These
+marked the origin of the "Jo Jo" bureau of misinformation which later
+became an important feature of the campaign.
+
+[Illustration: COMMISSIONED AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF G
+COMPANY]
+
+On the night of Wednesday, May 11th at 9.30, orders were flashed over
+the wires from Washington to Lieut. Weaver to send the Second at once
+to Tampa, Fla., where the army of invasion of Cuba was gathering.
+Almost everyone except the guard and a few officers and attaches at
+regimental headquarters, was asleep when the orders came but within a
+very few moments after their purport had been announced, there was the
+wildest scene of excitement in the camp that had ever been witnessed
+in South Framingham. From Lieut. Weaver the orders were quickly
+transmitted to regimental headquarters and from there to the officers
+of the regiment. Inside of ten minutes from their receipt by Lieut.
+Weaver, every man of the Second was awake and in his company street
+and exultant shouts that went up, quickly aroused the other regiments.
+The Second was to be the first command from the old Bay State to be
+ordered outside her boundaries for active service and the men were so
+proud of it that they could not refrain from reminding the men of the
+other three regiments of the fact. To the credit of the latter it must
+be said that although at first they were a bit inclined to sulk because
+their regiment was not the first to be called upon, yet they soon
+realized that the honor was in a sense as much Massachusetts' as it was
+the Second's, and their cheers joined in with ours.
+
+Meanwhile, the regimental and company officers were doing some lively
+work. Col. Clark had gone to Springfield that morning, and a number
+of officers and men were away on leave, no one expecting that the
+orders would come for a day or two. The regiment was ordered to move
+the next day and before the orders had been known of but a very few
+minutes, telegraph and telephone messages were sent to the absent ones
+informing them of what had happened. This done, the work of completing
+the equipment of the regiment was taken up and pushed in lively
+fashion. There were many little details to be attended to and there
+was little sleep for headquarters that night. How well the work was
+done is attested by the fact that at an early hour the next morning the
+regiment had its tents struck and packed, and long before the hour at
+which many of the folks at home were eating their breakfasts, was in
+readiness to move. Reveille was sounded at 4 o'clock that morning and
+by 6 there was but little remaining to be done.
+
+Although anxious for active service there was one thing about the
+orders which was not at all relished by the regiment and that was the
+route to be followed. It had been expected and understood that when
+the Second would go south its route would be through Worcester and
+Springfield, thus giving us a chance for a genuine _au revoir_ to home
+and friends. We all of us knew that the "farewell" accorded us on
+leaving Springfield for the camp at South Framingham would be tame
+indeed to the reception we might expect when we passed through there as
+United States Volunteers, with a large V, and bound for the front. Some
+of the boys, to be sure, dreaded the thought of having to say "good
+bye" to the accompaniment of tears and sobs again but the majority were
+anxious for one more look at what part of Springfield to be seen from
+the union station and were consequently much disappointed when it was
+announced that instead of going via Springfield, the route was to be by
+way of Newport, R. I.
+
+There was much disappointment, too, in Springfield when the route was
+announced. But not to be beaten, a party of citizens headed by Major H.
+S. Dickinson, arranged for a special train to South Framingham, the day
+we were to leave and so we were not allowed to go without some sort of
+a farewell demonstration from the people of our own city.
+
+On the day previous to our receiving the "rush" orders to the south,
+a number of visitors including ex-Lieut. Gov. W. H. Haile, Col. A. H.
+Goetting and James D. Gill of Springfield were in camp, and it came to
+their attention that the Second was not provided with a band or even
+field music. No regimental bands were included in the organization of
+the volunteer regiments nor even field music, the sole musical property
+being the bugles of which there were two to each company. It was looked
+upon as a proper and desirable thing that the Second should at least
+have field music, or in civilian parlance, a drum corps, and these
+three gentlemen constituted themselves a committee on ways and means to
+that end. It was known that there were enough musicians in the regiment
+to form a drum corps if there were instruments provided for them and
+before the next day through the generosity of the three gentlemen
+named, the Second was provided with fifes, drums, etc., and the members
+of the corps selected.
+
+Thursday, May 12th, we bade good-bye to South Framingham. There was
+difficulty in getting transportation for our baggage and it was not
+until a late hour in the afternoon that everybody was in readiness.
+Meanwhile we hung around our former quarters and killed time as best
+we could. A short time after dinner, our last meal on the "old camp
+ground," the "assembly" and "adjutant's call" were sounded and the
+regiment was formed to pass in review before Gov. Wolcott. The march
+past over, hollow square was formed and the governor presented the
+officers their commissions and made a brief speech telling us to uphold
+the honor of the old commonwealth.
+
+While this was going on we heard the strains of a band and soon in
+marched a delegation from Springfield, headed by the Second regiment
+band and led by Mayor Dickinson, members of Wilcox post of the Grand
+Army and Peabody Guard Veterans, while relatives and friends of the
+boys made up the rest of the 500 in the party. Soon after their arrival
+we were dismissed and then followed one of the interesting scenes
+of our war experience. Hardly had we broken ranks before we were
+surrounded by the visitors and there was falling upon each other's
+necks, handshaking, good wishes, smiles and tears all commingled in one
+scene of such excitement as we had never been through before. Every
+male visitor brought cigars or refreshments for the boys and for an
+hour or so nothing was too good for us.
+
+But all things have an end and finally the bugles blew and after a
+last hurried kiss or handshake we fell in again and marched out to the
+parade ground for the last time. The colors dipped once more to the
+governor and then through a double line of cheering soldiers from the
+other regiments and our own friends we marched out of the camp and
+down the dusty road to the railroad station, escorted by two troops
+of cavalry and amid the cheers and good wishes of the thousands who
+thronged the walks. We passed under the handsome arch erected by the
+people of South Framingham in honor of the soldiers and after one last
+opportunity to say farewell went on board the special trains waiting
+for us. So we left good old Massachusetts.
+
+On our way to Newport we were shown how the people of other places
+regarded us. At every station our train passed through there were
+cheering crowds and enthusiasm seemed to be in evidence everywhere. We
+reached Newport about 9.30 and were transferred to the palatial steamer
+"Pilgrim" of the Fall River line.
+
+"This isn't so bad for army travelling," was the common remark as soon
+as the boys found what accommodations had been made for them. There
+were nearly enough staterooms to provide every man with a bunk and
+those who failed to get a room found nice, thick mattresses spread
+for them on the saloon floors. It brought the "Trip to New York" and
+Valiquet back to the memories of many of us because the accommodations
+were so different.
+
+But it was a tired lot of boys that boarded the Pilgrim that night and
+it was not long before all of them were testing the mattresses and
+bunks, after indulging by the way for the first time in the "travel
+ration." This was our first encounter with the canned beef department
+but somehow it tasted better then than it ever did afterwards. Also
+we allowed our teeth to play with the ligneous hardtack and finally
+fatigued with our exertions we slept soundly.
+
+The next morning when we woke up we were in the East river and at the
+sight of her blue coated cargo every steam craft that met the Pilgrim
+saluted with steam whistles while their crews or passengers as well as
+those of the sailing craft cheered and waved handkerchiefs or anything
+else waveable. From every factory along the shore came the shrieks of
+the steam whistles and the shouts of their occupants and our progress
+down the river to the Fall River line pier was a triumphal progress.
+
+When we reached the pier it was not long before we were transferred to
+the transports Saratoga and Vigilancia, the Springfield companies being
+on board the latter. Then it was that we began to realize what war was.
+Down in the dirty, dark and ill smelling hold we could see men at work
+building rough wooden bunks for us and the language used concerning
+these bunks and their location was copious and picturesque to a high
+degree. No "Pilgrim" accommodations were these. No mattresses 12
+inches thick to rest our weary bones upon but the soft and splintered
+pine boards were to form our couch. Also the travel ration with its
+components of canned roast beef(?), canned corn beef, canned beans and
+hardtack was beginning to pall upon our palates. We were not used to
+such Epicurean fare and began to fear gout and other incidentals of too
+luxurious living. So we gathered together and said things but all the
+time the carpenters went on constructing the bunks and no dinners were
+brought on for us from the Waldorf-Astoria.
+
+Our first cruise on the Vigilancia was further up the North river where
+we waited until late in the afternoon and while waiting many of the
+boys managed to get ashore. Some of them were nearly left behind as
+we pulled out of the dock and a few did get left on shore, but they
+chartered a tug and soon caught us. That night our transports sailed
+down the harbor as far as Bedloe's Island where we anchored opposite
+the Bartholdi statue and where we stayed anchored until the next
+afternoon. That night the much discussed wooden troughs officially
+named bunks were used and were the cause of much profane language
+for which the recording angel ought to be able to find a good excuse
+if he has any love for volunteer soldiers in his composition. Late
+that afternoon we were taken over to Jersey City and transferred to a
+special train of three sections of 14 cars each on which we were to
+make the trip to Tampa. And thus ended our first sea voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+WE GO TO THE SOUTHLAND AND BEGIN TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE AT.
+
+
+On Saturday evening, May 14, we started once more for the South, this
+time by train and had the distinguished honor of beating out the
+much-advertised 71st New York, which had been ordered to start at the
+same time, but forgot its tentage on board the steamers and was obliged
+to wait for several hours in consequence. Our train accommodations
+could have been much worse, the train being run in three sections of
+14 cars each and as four companies travelled on each section this
+arrangement gave each company three cars, while a sleeping car was
+reserved for the officers and with a baggage car made up the section.
+With three cars to a company there was plenty of room for the men and
+we managed to sleep quite comfortably. At every station along the route
+we received plenty of greetings and this happened so frequently after
+we got below Mason & Dixon's line that the boys wondered a little,
+inasmuch as we were from "Black Massachusetts." But it was evident that
+all but a very few of the people of the South realized that the civil
+war was over and we got no heartier reception anywhere along the route
+than in Virginia and North and South Carolina.
+
+We reached Washington early Sunday morning and made a brief stop just
+long enough to allow some of the boys to make a raid on a couple of
+milk wagons. To our disappointment the train did not run through the
+city but skirted it and we failed to get a glimpse of any of the show
+places. We kept on going and late Monday evening, the 16th, landed at
+Lakeland, Fla., where we went into camp, our destination having been
+changed by telegraphic orders received soon after crossing the Florida
+line.
+
+Life on the train was not very exciting. We made but few stops and
+those mainly to change engines. In South Carolina we made our first
+acquaintance with wood burning engines. After these were hitched on it
+was a case of stopping every few miles to "wood up." When the train did
+not stop for wood it did for water and between them both progress was
+slow to us but we found that according to southern ideas we were going
+at express speed.
+
+Our troop train was a great attraction for the children at the stations
+where we stopped and it was a common thing for the boys and girls of
+these places to hand us bunches of jessamine and magnolia flowers while
+the older folk looked on approvingly. The colored people were somewhat
+demonstrative but both they and the white folks never neglected an
+opportunity to sell us cakes and pies at every stop. The pies reminded
+us of those we had been getting at home, they were so different, but
+as a relief from canned meat and beans they were welcome. Occasionally
+when we stopped we found it possible to purchase bottled beer of an
+inferior grade, but better than most of the water we had to drink.
+
+On the trip south Lieuts. Young and Vesper of B company established
+records as sleepers that put them far ahead in their class. Captains
+Leonard and McDonald had the same section in the sleeping car and about
+every night there could be heard a more or less vigorous protest from
+the former against Capt. McDonald's use of a 700 horse power pipe.
+Lieut. Harry Parkhurst of K was the victim of much "jollying" over
+a story printed in a New York newspaper to the effect that he was
+a nephew of the Rev. Dr. Parkhurst of New York, but he took it good
+naturedly.
+
+At Dupont, Ga., Private William Ferrier of G foraged a little during a
+brief stop and captured a diminutive specimen of the "razor back" hog
+prevalent in that locality and bore him in triumph to the train. Any
+visions of pork chops which might have been indulged in were dispelled
+by a look at the pig's anatomy which was plainly visible through his
+skin but he was taken along just the same and met his fate at Lakeland
+when he was killed and roasted by Private "Dido" Hunt of G and served
+up to a small but select circle.
+
+At one of the many stops in Florida a portly colored lady hung about
+the train and made violent love to the good looking officers, her
+comments on the personal appearance of some of them being rather more
+pungent than flattering. So far as known she did not steal any of them.
+
+During the stay at South Framingham Privates E. N. Aiken and B. R.
+Madison of K company had blossomed out as composers and one of their
+effusions which was sung by the more or less able musicians of the
+company in camp and on the train to the tune of: "There'll be a Hot
+Time in the Old Town To-night" was as follows:
+
+    "When you hear those guns go bang, bang, bang,
+    We'll all join in and lick that Dago gang,
+    For we want war or we'll have no name at all,
+    There'll be a hot time when the bugle shall call."
+
+The above was Private Aiken's. Here is Private Madison's:
+
+    "In the battle front we stand with our rifles in our hand
+    And for Cuba's freedom we will ever fight;
+      And with showers of shot and shell,
+      We'll send the Spaniards straight to h----l,
+    When we march into Havana bye and bye.
+
+    CHORUS.
+
+      Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys are marching,
+      Cheer up, Cuba, we will come,
+        And beneath the starry flag
+        We'll tear down the Spanish rag
+      And float the Cuban flag forevermore."
+
+Our arrival at Lakeland was marked by an incident which went to show
+that we were not in the north. Just as our train pulled in a shooting
+affray, in which a couple of troopers from the Tenth U. S. cavalry, a
+colored regiment and some white people participated, occurred and a
+white citizen of the town was killed. As nearly as we could understand
+it the troopers were not to blame but shot in self defense but there
+was much excitement in the town and strong patrols of the First U. S.
+cavalry, a white regiment, were sent out. We were kept in the train
+that night and the next morning after a bath in one of the many lakes
+from which the town takes its name, marched to our camp at the fair
+grounds and on the shores of Lake Morton. The camp was pitched on an
+elevation and under the southern pine and cypress trees from which hung
+long festoons of Spanish moss. Much of this was gathered for bedding
+but it was soon abandoned for this purpose when it was found that it
+harbored numbers of lizards and sometimes small snakes.
+
+Our neighbors at the camp were the First and Tenth regular cavalry and
+the 71st New York which arrived a day after we did. The 71st men being
+from Manhattan were inclined to be a bit fresh at first but they soon
+came to understand that the Second was not exactly a "farmer" regiment
+and let us alone. One disagreeable incident went to show that among
+the New York officers were some snobs. Sergeant James Gibbons of G
+while "down town" one day went into the dining room of the hotel and
+ordered his dinner. The commanding officer of the 71st and some of his
+officers were in the room at the time and as soon as he realized that
+an enlisted man was actually daring to eat in the same room with him
+his indignation became so great that he walked over to the table where
+Sergeant Gibbons was seated and ordered him to leave the place, saying
+that only officers were allowed in the dining room. Sergeant Gibbons
+did not feel like moving and the hotel proprietor assured him that he
+would be served as well as any officer. So he refused to budge and
+enjoyed his dinner, much to the disgust of the New York officer.
+
+Life at Lakeland was fairly enjoyable. The temperature was high,
+ranging from 84 on one day it rained to 124 on a day it did not. We
+had our big wall tents we had brought with us from South Framingham
+and soon had them filled with more or less crude devices in the way
+of furniture. Mattresses there were none and our beds were Mother
+Earth which was of a brunette hue down there. Bathing in the lake was
+a favorite pastime between drills but after the muddy bottom had been
+stirred up a little it was a question whether we were dirtier before
+the bath or after it. There were all kinds of "Jo Jos" about a huge
+alligator who made his home in the lake but he had evidently heard of
+our appetites and kept out of sight.
+
+The First cavalry, camped some distance on our right, had established a
+canteen soon after its arrival and it became a favorite place for our
+boys. A couple of days after our arrival we got our first mail from
+home and that day was a red letter one in our Lakeland life.
+
+Just before reaching Lakeland some K company foragers had captured a
+goat at one of the stops but the owner pursued the animal to Lakeland
+and when he put in a claim for him Capt. Warriner ordered the "billy"
+given up. Our menu in camp was far more varied than on the train for
+"post" rations were being issued and the company cooks were "getting on
+to their jobs." Private Mandeville, who afterwards acquired much fame
+by being left behind at Fort Tampa, presided over the kitchen of G. In
+B company Walter Butler got up savory dishes and Private Harry Fisher
+looked after the culinary department for K. Butter was conspicuous by
+its absence from the table and one boy in K missed it so much that he
+dreamed of it. One night his dreams were so realistic that his cry of
+"Ma, please pass the butter," awoke his tent mates and that expression
+was the rallying cry in K for several days.
+
+The death of Private Weslie Brass of Westfield, a member of I company,
+cast a gloom over the regiment and all the companies turned out to do
+escort duty when the body was shipped home. His was the first death in
+the regiment.
+
+On Sunday, May 30th, orders came to break camp the following day and
+proceed to Tampa, which we did, arriving there on Monday afternoon, the
+31st.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+WE STAY IN YBOR CITY AND THEN ENJOY (?) LIFE ON TRANSPORTS IN THE
+HARBOR.
+
+
+Our stay in Tampa lasted from May 31st to June 7th and it was not
+wholly unenjoyable. In some respects the place was better than
+Lakeland, but we felt the heat far more than was the case in that town
+and the camp location was not as good as that of our camp there. But we
+were near Tampa and there were many opportunities for us to get to the
+city, our camp being in one of the suburbs some three miles from Tampa
+and known as Ybor City. Its population was made up mainly of Cubans and
+negroes and a number of cigar factories were located there. The Cubans
+were all "patriots" of course, but our disenchantment as to Cuban
+patriots had already begun and we paid them little attention. On our
+right was camped a battalion of the Fourth regular artillery (heavy)
+and this was probably the occasion of a rumor which had persistent
+circulation for several days that we were to be transformed from
+infantry to a heavy artillery regiment and assigned to sea coast duty.
+
+We had a lovely time pitching our tents and making camp. Owing to a
+delay in laying out the camp it was not until after dark on the day
+of our arrival that we set to work to pitch our tents and as a result
+it was not only late before we got to sleep but the next morning
+considerable work had to be done in rectifying the alignment of the
+company streets. The soil was nice white sand which made fairly good
+beds.
+
+On the afternoon of the next day we found out what a Florida "shower"
+could do when it tried. The rain came on unexpectedly and within a very
+few moments everything was in a flood. But few of the boys had taken
+the precaution to dig trenches around their tents and after the rain
+began to come down in sheets they were compelled to get out in it and
+dig or else have their quarters flooded. Here was where the value of
+the rubber blankets issued to us at South Framingham was shown.
+
+It was while we were at Ybor City that our regiment was definitely
+assigned. We were put into the First Brigade of the Second Division
+of the Fifth army corps, our brigade commander being temporarily Col.
+Van Horn of the 22nd infantry while Gen. H. W. Lawton was in command
+of the division. This set at rest all the rumors about our being heavy
+artillery, cavalry and several other things. It also meant that we were
+to go to Cuba among the very first of the invading troops and there was
+no end of enthusiasm when this was understood.
+
+During our stay in Ybor City Wagoners Kingston of B, Shene of G and
+Boule of K became expert drivers of the army mule wagon although their
+trials with the mule were many and various. In B street there were some
+pathetic scenes when the members of the Kanewah club got together and
+talked over how nice it would be "to be there" even if the gasoline
+stove did not always work.
+
+Payday came June 4th and we got our first "whack" at Uncle Sam's good
+money. It was welcome, for since leaving South Framingham but little
+had been in circulation among our boys and we gave the paymaster
+the "glad hand." In return, he lined us up by companies and gave us
+greenbacks and a little silver. We had expected a full month's pay but
+were disappointed, our pay being calculated from May 3d, the day we
+had officially been mustered in, to the first of June. There were many
+applications for passes to visit Tampa that day and the majority of
+them were granted. The Seminole hotel and the stores in Ybor City and
+Tampa did a rushing business that afternoon and evening.
+
+The "Wee Haws" of K contributed not a little to the gaiety of our camp
+life at this time and one of their songs to the air of "Rally 'Round
+the Flag" and reflecting upon the subsistence department was popular.
+It went like this:
+
+    Down with the hardtack!
+      Hurrah, boys, hurrah,
+    Down with the canned beef;
+      We wonder what you are;
+    For we'll rally 'round the beans, boys,
+      We'll rally once again
+    Shouting the battle cry of "Wee Haw."
+
+    'Please pass the butter,'
+      Hurrah, boys, hurrah!
+    If the coffee was much thicker
+      We'd sell it off for tar;
+    For we'll never look like Billy Fish
+      Unless we get more grub--
+    Shouting the battle cry of "Wee Haw."
+
+    Ade Potter's growing thinner,
+      Healey's just the same
+    Brazzil, Breck and Nesbitt swear,
+      Their biscuit box is lame;
+    For George Potter ate his canteen
+      And Aiken ate the strap
+    And McCullough shouts the battle cry of "Wee Haw!"
+
+About this time some brainless individual sent alarming news home
+in a letter, which was published in the Springfield newspapers, to
+the effect that sickness was prevalent in our camp and that a large
+proportion of the men of the three companies from that city were in
+the hospital seriously ill. As a result we soon began to get letters
+of anxious inquiry from the folks at home, and it was some time before
+we could fully reassure them that the reports had been extremely
+exaggerated and that there was but little illness and none of a serious
+nature in our ranks.
+
+While in Ybor City we lost two men, Privates Luther of K and Monteverde
+of G. Both were ordered to be discharged from the service, because
+of having enlisted while under age and without the consent of their
+parents or guardians. Monteverde was reluctant to leave the regiment
+and pleaded hard to be allowed to go with us to Cuba even as a civilian
+employee, and when that was refused he offered to go without any pay.
+But this was found to be impossible and he and Luther were obliged
+to return home. The case of Private John K. DeLoach of B company was
+a hard one. He had enlisted in South Framingham and in some way his
+relatives, who resided in Atlanta, Ga., heard of it, and as he was
+under age and had not their consent, applied for his discharge. Orders
+to have him discharged were issued but they failed to arrive while we
+were in Tampa, and did not reach us until after the regiment had landed
+in Cuba and done its share in capturing Santiago. DeLoach had done his
+duty during the most arduous part of the campaign, and as a result was
+given a "bob tail" discharge and left to get back to the United States
+as best he could. Sometimes the rewards of patriotism are not great,
+and this was certainly one of the instances.
+
+June 6th orders were received to break camp and proceed to Port Tampa,
+there to go on board the transports for Cuba. We broke camp all right,
+got our tents down and all baggage packed and saw them sent away
+and then proceeded to wait. We waited all that afternoon and night
+and until late in the afternoon of the next day before our belated
+transportation was arranged for. As a result of a blunder in the
+quartermaster's department, we were compelled to bivouac that night
+without any shelter. This was our first real acquaintance with the
+fact expressed in the statement attributed to Gen. Sherman, that "War
+is h--l."
+
+Late in the afternoon of June 7th, we marched to the railroad and
+went on board a train which after a couple of hours brought us to
+Port Tampa, distance about eight miles. Here we found some practical
+illustrations of the beautiful manner in which the quartermaster's
+department was working. It had been stated to Col. Clark that on
+arriving at Port Tampa we were to immediately go on board the
+transports, but after disembarking from the train and waiting for some
+time it was found that no transports had been assigned to us. Nothing
+could be done in the matter that night, and we were to be left to shift
+for ourselves as best we could. There were no barracks in Port Tampa,
+and it was too late to go into camp even if we had our tentage with us,
+which we did not. After considerable scouting, Col. Clark discovered
+that quarters might be found in the freight sheds on a long pier, and
+we started for them only to have the entire regiment halted and held up
+for some minutes at the point of the bayonet of a sentinel of the First
+Illinois regiment, who was on guard at the entrance to the pier and had
+orders to let no one pass. This obstacle was finally surmounted and we
+marched onto the pier and made ourselves comfortable as best we could.
+
+During that night on the pier the foraging instincts of Private "Dido"
+Hunt of G company became active, and as a result he and several members
+of that company passed the long hours of the night very comfortably.
+The freight sheds were divided into sections, and in that allowed to
+G was a lot of freight. Included were two innocent looking barrels,
+but guided solely by instinct "Dido" decided to investigate their
+contents. With this end in view he spread his roll and blanket by the
+side of the barrels, and, lying on his side began to cut a hole through
+the staves of one of them. This was rather difficult because of the
+sentries, but it was finally accomplished, and much to the forager's
+intense satisfaction, the insertion of his hand through the hole
+and into the barrel, revealed to him that it was filled with bottled
+beer. Satisfying himself in the only proper manner, that there was no
+mistake, he acquainted the members of his squad and a few others with
+his find and soon an impromptu picnic was in progress. Under the very
+noses of the sentries, the contents of that barrel of beer disappeared
+before morning, and to those in the secret the night passed very
+pleasantly.
+
+[Illustration: Lieut. William Young. Capt. Henry McDonald. Lieut. Harry
+Vesper.]
+
+The next morning four companies and headquarters of the Second were
+transferred to the transport Orizaba, the companies being G, B, K and
+D. The transport already had on board the Eighth and Twenty-second
+regular infantry, and as a result our boys were crowded about on the
+decks and compelled to sleep anywhere they could. The officers were
+crowded into the staterooms and their experiences on the Orizaba were
+not much more enjoyable than those of the men. Some of the regulars,
+with a fine contempt for volunteers, did their best to make things as
+unpleasant for us as possible, but the majority were of a different
+disposition and aided us all they could, which unfortunately was not
+much.
+
+We expected to sail that day but did not. The same could be said
+about our expectations and disappointments every succeeding day
+until we did finally sail on the 14th. Before that happened we were
+again transferred, this time to the well remembered transport,
+Knickerbocker. This event happened on the 13th and when we found that
+the Knickerbocker's number was 13, that she had that number of letters
+in her name and that about everybody and everything connected with her
+was more or less mixed up with the alleged unlucky number some of us
+began to wonder what would happen. Fortunately nothing did, but that
+was because somebody, not connected with the war department, or with
+this world, was looking after us. The third battalion was added to our
+force on board the Knickerbocker, the second being on the Seneca and
+the Manteo.
+
+On the evening of the 13th the 13 hoodoo began to work. A steam pipe
+burst and some of the boys, thinking a general explosion would follow,
+jumped from the deck to the dock, but although there was considerable
+fuss and excitement no one was hurt. That night sleep on the
+Knickerbocker was out of the question, for a gang of negro roustabouts
+was engaged all night in loading provisions onto our steamer and
+their cries, together with the noise of the steam winches prevented
+any sleep. On the afternoon of the next day, the 14th, the steamer
+finally cast off and started down the harbor in the wake of the other
+transports. After being tied up in Tampa harbor for six long days we
+were at last at sea and bound for Cuba.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+WE HAVE A LOVELY SAIL ON THE PALATIAL KNICKERBOCKER AND REACH CUBA
+WITHOUT MISHAP.
+
+
+Our voyage to Cuba on Transport No. 13, unofficially known as the
+Knickerbocker, will long linger in our memories. The Knickerbocker
+was a lovely ship but her loveliness was of such a nature that it was
+seldom referred to without a free and unlimited use of adjectives in
+the ratio of more than 16 to 1. After a while it got to be a case of
+"Don't speak of her past, boys," and we seldom did. The present was bad
+enough and as for her future, all of us had grave doubts concerning it.
+There was a story from apparently authentic sources, that before the
+government, in a moment of temporary aberation, engaged the services
+of the Knickerbocker as a transport, she had been engaged in conveying
+Italian emigrants from New York to New Orleans, and her interior
+condition when we boarded her gave conformation of the stories.
+
+Many words could be written concerning the Knickerbocker and our
+opinion of her, but as a good share of them would form language not
+generally used in the best society, it will be perhaps as well to draw
+the veil of silence over a good part of it.
+
+Her captain's name was Betts and he was an aged individual who savored
+much of the sea and who evidently had been the victim of an early or
+late disappointment, either in love or something else, that resulted
+in souring him towards himself and everybody else. The name of the
+steward of the boat is unknown, but this did not bother the boys much,
+their usual designation of him being "thief" or "robber" or any term of
+opprobrium that came handy. If he was a poor man when the Knickerbocker
+sailed with us from Tampa harbor, there was no reason why he could not
+have returned with money enough to start a fair sized bank account, for
+he sold us everything there was to sell, and considerable that he had
+no right to, and he always charged us Klondike prices for everything.
+He was never under suspicion of giving away anything, not even himself.
+Before the voyage was half over there came near being a mutiny among
+the crew which had discovered, so they said, that the steward was
+taking the provisions destined for them and selling them to such of our
+boys as had money and had become weary of the luxurious and varied fare
+given us by the government. At the same time his extortions had become
+so burdensome to our boys that muttered threats against him were heard
+and but for some of the cooler heads among the soldiers he might have
+been the victim of the vengeance both of the crew and the troops.
+
+There were thirteen staterooms on the boat and into these were crowded
+32 officers. The men were "bunked" in the hold, and if there was any
+provision for ventilation other than the hatches, no trace was ever
+found of it. On the first night out the men slept on the decks and so
+were enabled to pass the night in considerable comfort, for if the deck
+planks were hard, there was at least some air and the cool sea breeze
+made sleeping possible. But on the second night out there came trouble.
+The surgeon was fearful that the night dews would have a bad effect
+on the men, and had been told so much of the evil effects of sleeping
+out in the air in tropical latitudes that he believed it best for the
+men to sleep below decks. He pressed his views upon the commanding
+officer, and the result was an order to the officer of the day to
+allow no men to sleep above decks on that or the succeeding nights of
+the voyage.
+
+Naturally, when this order was communicated to the men, there was a
+protest. There was a decided difference of opinion between the men and
+the surgeon as to the evil results from sleeping on deck, and the men
+were inclined to rebel against the order. However, Capt. McDonald of B
+company was officer of the day, and no matter what his sympathies were,
+orders were orders. So soon after "taps" had sounded he and the guard
+made a tour of the boat and the sleepers were informed that they must
+retire to the bunks below and complete their slumbers. Then there was
+a howl of remonstrance, but it was without avail. The sleepers were
+rounded up and hustled below. In protest against this came all sorts
+of noise from the sleeping quarters. Songs and yells, and there was
+much satire in many of the songs, came up from below. The surgeons were
+alluded to as "Horse doctors" and "Salts," and one chorus that came
+floating up through the hatches ran something like this:
+
+"What do they give us for stomach ache?"
+
+"Salts."
+
+"What do they give us for a broken leg?"
+
+"Salts."
+
+"What do they give us for rheumatism?"
+
+"Salts."
+
+And so on through a catalogue of all the various diseases incident to
+man or animals.
+
+Finally the noise became so great that Capt. McDonald threatened to
+have the hatches closed, thus destroying the last faint chance of
+obtaining any air. This was met by the threat that if the hatches were
+closed bullets would be fired through them, but after a while the noise
+quieted down and the men dropped off to sleep. After that night the
+order to sleep below decks was pretty well obeyed as the reason for
+it begun to be understood by the men and they realized that it was
+prompted by a desire for their welfare and not to annoy them.
+
+Not all the boys slept below, however. Emery, Morehouse and Kelly of K
+had managed to secrete themselves in one of the ships boats and made it
+their sleeping quarters all the time of the voyage. As it was covered
+by a tarpaulin they were well protected from the dews or rains, and in
+any case they managed to keep the secret so well that they were not
+molested.
+
+G company suffered a terrible loss on the day we sailed. Private
+Mandeville, the company cook, had managed to cut himself so badly in
+the arm with a carving knife, during our stay at Lakeland, that he
+had been excused from that duty. On our last day at Port Tampa he had
+obtained shore leave and utilized it so well in looking at the wine
+when it was red, or something that had the same effect, that he was
+in a trance when the orders came to leave. So when the Knickerbocker
+sailed, G was one man short, and after the requisite ten days had
+elapsed Private Mandeville was put on the rolls as a deserter.
+Fortunately for him, it was established on our return that he was
+not technically a deserter, it appearing that when he woke up he had
+reported himself to an officer in Tampa, and had been assigned to
+remain with a party of the 71st New York which had likewise been left
+behind.
+
+Of mascots there were many on board. First of all came one James
+Sargent of Washington, D. C, a young colored lad better known as
+"Snowball." He had come on from Washington with some District of
+Columbia troops and finding that they were not going immediately to
+Cuba or for some other reason he got on board the Knickerbocker and
+attached himself for better or worse to the Second Massachusetts. Any
+member of the regiment can answer the query as to whether it was for
+better or worse for the Second.
+
+Then there were James and Willie Turner, two young white boys from
+Tampa who had an uncontrollable desire to hie themselves over the
+seas to Cuba and there end the lives of more or less Spaniards. They
+remained with us until the landing on the island and then divorced
+themselves from the Second and attached themselves to two regular
+regiments. Both stood the campaign in far better shape than the
+older men and returned to this country with enlarged views and a
+determination to enlist in the regulars as soon as they were of the
+requisite age.
+
+G company had two mascots in "Rations" and "Hardtack," dogs of the cur
+variety. Rations did not last out the voyage, her career being cut
+short by some miscreant who threw her overboard one night, much to the
+indignation of the men of the company.
+
+A predominating feature of the trip across was the excellent fare
+provided for the enlisted men by a thoughtful government. Life at sea
+on a steady diet of canned beef, canned beans and canned tomatoes,
+hardtack and ship's water is not conducive to embonpoint or a cheerful
+and contented disposition. In the hurry of fitting up the Knickerbocker
+as a transport no provision had been made to do any cooking for the
+men, even if there had been anything to cook, and there was not even
+a place where coffee, of which we had plenty, could be made. Finally
+after a couple of days out some vigorous "kicking" resulted in the
+company cooks being grudgingly allowed the use of the galley for coffee
+making purposes but with the poor water the coffee was hardly equal to
+that furnished at Delmonico's or other places where most of us had been
+in the habit of eating.
+
+As to the water an entire chapter could not do justice to its
+qualities. There were two brands on board, one being Mississippi
+river fluid with an equal quantity of mud of a rich brown color in
+suspension. After obtaining a cupful of this mixture it was necessary
+to allow it to stand for some little time in order that the mud might
+settle to the bottom. With all its faults, however, this water when
+strained was sweet and drinking it did not cause remorse.
+
+The other water had been obtained in Tampa and it was called water
+principally because it was contained in the water tanks. It did not
+look much like water and tasted still less like it. But that and the
+muddy fluid was all there was to drink and we had to make the best of
+it.
+
+One day when the canned beef was even worse than usual and the canned
+beans greasier than ever there came to the vision of certain members
+of the Springfield companies, who happened to be looking through the
+skylight into the steward's pantry, a delicious looking piece of
+cold roast beef hanging peacefully from a hook and destined for the
+officers' lunch. Constant looking at that well cooked piece of fresh
+beef begot longing, then covetousness and desire. By a silent but
+unanimous vote it was decided that such a nice piece of beef would be
+better appreciated by hungry enlisted men than by the officers who
+had been getting more or less of it, at their own expense, during the
+voyage and the next thing was the informal appointment of a committee
+on ways and means to procure the aforesaid beef. An examination
+revealed that the skylight could be opened from the deck and further
+that a boathook was handy. These facts ascertained, a watch was kept
+until the occupant of the pantry had gone out for a moment, the
+skylight was quickly opened, the boathook manipulated and the piece of
+beef lifted to the deck. The cook re-entered the pantry just as the
+beef was disappearing through the skylight and the expression on his
+face haunted the participants in the "Disappearing beef mystery" for
+many hours.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Lieut Phillip C. Powers
+  K. Co.
+
+  Captain W. S. Warriner
+  K. Co.
+
+  Lieut. Harry H. Parkhurst
+  K. Co.
+]
+
+In one corner of the upper deck that afternoon were a number of men
+upon whose faces rested an expression of perfect contentment and whose
+hands could occasionally be seen to wander over their stomachs as if to
+assure themselves that cold roast beef was a suitable article of diet
+for a voyage in the tropics. As no ill effects were recorded the
+question was settled satisfactorily to them but it is also on record
+that no more tempting bits were hung within reach of open skylights or
+wandering boathooks. It is also a matter of history that the officers'
+lunch that day was rather a poor meal and there was no cold meat on the
+table. But Bates didn't care.
+
+How the Knickerbocker ever escaped being run down or colliding with
+some other of the vessels of the fleet is one of the mysteries of the
+deep. Not less than half a dozen narrow escapes are on record in the
+memory of the men who were on her and on one or two occasions the
+escapes were so narrow that a few feet either way would have done the
+job for the Knickerbocker and her crew and passengers. On one occasion
+another boat came so near to running us down that half the men were
+ready to jump into the sea but the other boat finally sheered off
+by the closest margin. The "Thirteen" hoodoo came near to finding
+believers among those on the Knickerbocker before Cuba was reached.
+
+Bathing hours were established on board after the first day out, each
+company being allowed an hour aft each day during which the men could
+"turn the hose" on each other to their heart's content. As, however,
+there was but little salt water soap on board and that little was in
+the hands of the steward to be retailed by him at robber baron prices
+these attempts at cleanliness proved rather abortive, for it was soon
+ascertained that ordinary soap does not lather in salt water and the
+effects of the bath under these circumstances was worse if anything
+than in Lakeland.
+
+So the days went on until on the 20th we saw the low outline of the
+Cuban coast late in the afternoon and at the same time saw the flashes
+and heard the dull reports of big guns which told us that the navy was
+having a brush with the foe. It lasted only for a few moments, but
+this was the first time we had heard guns fired in actual conflict and
+although we could see but little the rigging was crowded until long
+after the guns were silent. We learned afterwards that it was only
+a little brush some of the blockading fleet were having with a fort
+near Santiago but it was mighty interesting to us while it lasted.
+All the next day the fleet cruised about apparently aimlessly and
+that night the Knickerbocker "got lost." How it ever happened no one
+knows excepting the captain of the ship and he never volunteered an
+explanation so far as we knew. It was expected that we would land that
+day but just before dusk a dispatch boat raced up alongside and without
+stopping speed an officer on board shouted through a megaphone an order
+to Captain Betts to continue "cruising to the northwest, keeping in
+touch with the fleet." So off we cruised to the northwest but the rest
+of the order as to keeping in touch with the fleet was not carried out.
+The next morning when we woke up we found the Knickerbocker all alone
+with not a sail or line of smoke on the horizon and with apparently no
+one knowing where we were or what we were doing there. Inquiries of
+Captain Betts met with gruff and non-committal response and it was not
+until just before noon that we came in sight of the rest of the fleet
+off Daiquiri and learned that the landing had begun and that had we got
+there when we should the Second would have been the first regiment to
+land on Cuban soil. Then things were said concerning Capt. Betts and
+his boat that would not look nice in print.
+
+Over on our left the big guns of the warships were pounding away at the
+fortifications while the small caliber guns were sending in a storm
+of bullets into the woods and hills along the shore, clearing them
+out before the landing. From the warships to the transports danced
+an almost steady stream of launches and small boats to assist in the
+landing. The invasion of Cuba by the Fifth army corps was a fact at
+last.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+WHEREIN IS NARRATED OUR LANDING AT DAIQUIRI AND SOME THINGS WHICH
+SUBSEQUENTLY HAPPENED.
+
+
+It was not until well along in the afternoon that the Knickerbocker's
+passengers started for the shore and as it was not all of them landed
+that day, the third battalion being left on board until the 23d.
+For many long hours the steamer backed and filled together with the
+other vessels and the men, loaded down as they were with their field
+equipment and waiting for the word to disembark, found plenty of time
+to enjoy the stirring scenes about them. There were the grim painted
+war ships, all ready for business and their hustling "Jackies" working
+like beavers to aid in landing us "doughboys." Between the big ships
+danced the saucy torpedo boats and destroyers and quick puffing
+launches having in tow strings of small boats, these being our means of
+transportation from the ship to the land. In front were the frowning
+hills which guarded the coast line and from which an enemy of any
+determination could have easily prevented our landing. On a plateau
+directly in front of us was the village of Daiquiri, abandoned that
+morning by the Spaniards after a brief bombardment by our fleet, while
+a force of Cubans got along in time to worry the retreating enemy. A
+portion of the village and the works were still smoldering, having been
+fired by the Spaniards before they left the place.
+
+Daiquiri was the seat of the Spanish-American Iron company and a
+narrow gauge railroad connects it with Juguaracito or Siboney where
+the company had quite an extensive establishment. Jutting out into the
+water was a high iron pier and it was supposed we were to land there,
+but this was found to be impossible after one or two trials.
+
+Meanwhile after long waiting a dinky little steam launch from the
+battleship Massachusetts and followed by a string of small boats,
+came alongside the Knickerbocker and the youthful ensign in charge
+allowed that he was ordered to take headquarters and as many others
+of the regiment as possible on shore. This was agreeable and Col.
+Clark and his field and staff embarked in the launch without much
+trouble, although the job of climbing down a slippery rope ladder,
+then hanging on by both hands to the side ropes and waiting until the
+next high wave brought the launch up to within a couple of feet of you
+and then falling more or less, mostly less, gracefully into it, was
+not particularly pleasing. After headquarters, a platoon of G company
+embarked and this filled the boats.
+
+How to get on shore from the boats appeared to grow into a serious
+problem as we neared the landing place. This was an old wooden pier,
+which jutted out some little distance from the land. There was a heavy
+surf on and the little basin in which the pier stood was jammed with
+boats and launches, all apparently very much snarled up but which in
+reality were being ably managed. After much maneuvering our launch was
+jammed alongside the pier and the next problem was how to get upon
+it. The supporting piles rose high up from the water and their slimy
+surface offered no inducement to attempt climbing. One moment we would
+be down in the trough of a wave and then the launch would be lifted
+up almost to the top of the pier and the sailors would be hard put to
+it to keep the boats from being dashed against the huge piling of the
+pier. The method of our landing could hardly be called dignified. As
+the boat would be raised almost to a level with the floor of the pier
+by a wave our rolls and equipment would be tossed up to some soldiers
+waiting to assist us. Then down the boat would go again and when the
+next wave raised it we would stand up on the thwarts of the boat, reach
+up our hands, two of the men on the pier would grasp them and we would
+scramble up the best we could. In this way the first lot was landed and
+the boats hustled back to the ship after another load of passengers.
+The pier was connected with the land by some loose planks and across
+these we walked gingerly, finally reaching terra firma. We were on
+Cuban soil at last.
+
+On shore there was as much bustle and confusion as in the landing.
+Many of the regulars and a part of "Ours" had already landed but there
+appeared to be no system, and officers and men were scattered about
+everywhere. A short distance from the pier was a typical Cuban "shack"
+as the regulars called it, a roughly built shed with a roof of palm
+leaf thatch and around this was a lot of Cuban soldiers who were making
+themselves "good fellows" by giving away cocoanuts, of which they had
+a couple of large bags. They, the soldiers, were of varying shades of
+blackness and their "uniforms" consisted mostly of nothing. Some had
+more clothing than the others, but few had anything like a complete
+outfit. They were barefooted and bareheaded but all had the inevitable
+machete and some kind of a firearm, from the latest model Spanish
+Mauser and the navy Lee to an old shotgun. They could talk English
+about as well as we could Spanish and the sign language was used with
+more or less success.
+
+Having filled up on cocoanuts, which tasted good, we became thirsty.
+A water pipe ran along the ground and we soon found a faucet, but the
+first man to take a drink spat out the water and said some sharp and
+emphatic things concerning it at which we mildly wondered until he
+calmed down sufficiently to tell us that it was "hot enough to boil
+eggs in." Sure enough it was. The pipes ran along on the surface of the
+ground and the sun did the rest.
+
+"_Mucho caliente agua_," commented a ragged "Cubana" as he noticed our
+disgusted looks and one or two who understood enough Spanish to know
+what he meant agreed with him. Then he grinned as only a Cuban can and
+pointing to the plateau where the main part of the village was located,
+said: "_Agua fresca_," which being interpreted meant "cold water."
+So off we started for the plateau and there found several barrels of
+fresh water which was fairly cool. Among the "shacks" which composed
+the town we found a "brigade" of the "brave" Cuban soldiers. They were
+having a good time recounting their exploits and staring at "_los
+Americano soldados_," whose rough and ready manners were not always to
+their liking. A few of their field officers were almost white in color
+and decently uniformed but the majority, like the men, were black and
+distinguished from their men by small silver stars worn on a strap
+across the breast, three being the insignia of a captain, two of a
+first lieutenant and one of a second lieutenant.
+
+A point of much interest to our men were the burning shops, which the
+Spaniards had fired before retreating. On the railway track was a
+locomotive and some cars which had been disabled and burnt. Additional
+interest was caused by the pursuit, capture and summary execution of an
+unwise pig by a mob of our men and Cubans.
+
+All our battalions having landed, we began our march into the interior
+just before 5 o'clock. The brigade commander, Col. Van Horn of the 22d
+was injured on the 22d and the command was temporarily assigned to our
+commander, Col. Clark. As Lieut. Col. Shumway was left on the boat,
+Major Southmayd took command of the two battalions on shore. We marched
+some five miles toward Santiago, across country, the march being along
+a narrow and rough trail and halted for the night by the side of the
+trail. On our way we had to ford a stream and began to experience some
+of the realities of war.
+
+That night we had to face our first real experience at going hungry.
+It had been understood that we were not to go inland that day and
+that rations would be sent us from the ships so no orders to take any
+with us had been issued. A few of the men had the foresight to stuff
+whatever food they could into their haversacks but the majority had
+nothing and went supperless to bed. The regulars bivouacked near us
+were in the same fix and there was much grumbling. However, officers
+and men were in the same box and there was nothing to do but make the
+best of it.
+
+At dawn the next morning we rolled up our outfits and started off
+again. Our method of packing up was expeditious. Each man carried one
+half of a shelter tent, better known to us as a "dog" tent and later
+"pup" tents because of their small size, they being just about large
+enough for two men to crawl into. The half shelter was laid on the
+ground and upon it was spread first the rubber blanket and then the
+woolen one. Our canvas blouses and whatever personal property we had
+were then placed on top, together with the tent sticks and pegs and
+the whole neatly rolled. The ends were secured with the tent rope and
+the roll thus formed was carried over the left shoulder, the ends
+hanging down on the right side of the body. Thus equipped, with our
+full canteens and empty haversacks, we took to the road again after our
+first night on Cuban soil. Details of men from each company were sent
+back to the ships after rations and we started for Siboney. An early
+morning march on an empty stomach is not conducive to an appreciation
+of scenery be it ever so grand, but some of us enjoyed it. All about
+us were hills and mountains, their peaks clear cut against the blue
+sky, while from the tops of two or three rose thin smoke columns which
+we supposed were from signal fires. Our trail led us through valleys
+and over hills until finally about 11 o'clock we struck upon something
+that looked like a road and on which we were enabled to march for a
+short time in columns of fours. Anyone who had ever seen the Second on
+a parade in Springfield or Worcester or at camp and seen us straggling
+along the Cuban trail in single file would have laughed outright at the
+contrast, as we were forced to ourselves. Later on we looked even worse.
+
+That day the "stripping" process, familiar to all armies in a campaign,
+was begun. Two companies of the second battalion, E and M had "toted"
+their knapsacks with them from their transports and about the second
+day out they were sorry for so doing. Hardly had we been an hour on
+the march that morning before the knapsacks began to disappear and the
+troops which followed us soon knew that the Second Massachusetts had
+passed by, meeting scores of Cubans with E and M company knapsacks
+on their backs and sweltering but happy in the closely buttoned cape
+overcoats discarded with the knapsacks. Fortunately our knapsacks and
+all our heavy baggage had been left on board ship but it was not long
+before we found our rolls becoming heavy and burdensome. Pretty soon a
+man would quietly drop out of the line, off would come his roll which
+was quickly opened, and some article he fancied he could do without,
+thrown into the bush. Then the roll would be fastened together, thrown
+over the owner's shoulder and he would hasten to rejoin his company. A
+few moments afterward a ragged Cubano might be seen poking around about
+the bushes and next the discarded articles would be in his possession.
+
+And it may as well be told here that it was not only the Second
+Massachusetts that strewed more or less valuable or necessary articles
+along the trails. The regulars were with us in that, and although, as a
+rule, they had brought less baggage ashore with them than we did, they
+soon found it convenient to get rid of much of it. They even discarded
+their blankets, some cutting them in half and retaining only one part,
+while we stuck to the blankets and sacrificed other things. We never
+were sorry either that we kept our blankets, for if the days were
+intensely warm, the nights were cool and coverings came in handy.
+
+That afternoon, soon after we had struck the short piece of good road
+referred to above, we left it and following a narrow trail debouched
+into some woods and after passing through them, found ourselves in a
+cocoanut grove. There were hundreds of the trees all laden with the
+fruit, and a halt was ordered, arms stacked and we were allowed to
+rest. About this time we were decidedly hungry, our breakfast having
+consisted of nothing and our dinner menu being the same. The cocoanuts
+looked inviting but they were far away at the tops of the branchless
+trees. But hunger is a spur and it was not long before some daring ones
+were "shinning up" the trees and down came the fruit. Alas! It was a
+disappointment to hopes of a satisfactory meal. After the hard, green
+outer husks had been chopped away it was found that the cocoanuts were
+green, and a copious flow of soldier language greeted this discovery.
+But it was not long before it was discovered that the milk of the green
+cocoanut makes a very palatable drink, and in a few moments we all
+became milkmen.
+
+The march resumed we struck into another piece of woods, forded a brook
+or two, (we had by this time gotten over minding our feet being wet,)
+and found ourselves once more on a narrow and rough trail. On our way
+through the woods we saw, stretched along a rough fence, the body of
+a huge snake of the constrictor variety, not long killed and looking
+decidedly fierce. The reptile was about eight feet long and as thick as
+a man's arm. A little further along we saw something which indicated
+that we were in a rough country. This was a human skull nailed on top
+of a post and grinning at us with empty eye sockets and toothless jaws,
+as we passed.
+
+A little further along and we struck another narrow stream which, of
+course, had to be forded, and up a hill, just beyond that we came to a
+railroad station and the track. Here were some of our advance guard,
+men of the Eighth regulars who informed us that Siboney was "just
+'round the corner," as one of them put it, and sure enough after a few
+moments more of the "Weary Willie" act, we came to a collection of
+"shacks," and realized that we were in Siboney. Now that word "Siboney"
+means much to us because it reminds us that there we ate, a fact
+sufficiently momentous on that day to linger long in our memories.
+
+Now as to the methods of our eating. It was only a short time before
+our arrival that the Spaniards had evacuated Siboney after firing a
+few shots at our advance guard and the natives, who had "jumped the
+town" when the Spaniards told them there was going to be a big battle
+in which they were going to annihilate the "pigs of Yanquis," were
+just beginning to come back. We were ordered to camp on a low piece
+of ground on one side of the railroad embankment and after putting up
+our "pup" tents a few hungry ones went into the town to see what could
+be seen and incidentally to acquire what there was to acquire in the
+commissary line. They were successful in the latter. The natives were
+glad to see them and freely gave of what little they had. This wasn't
+much but there was some rice and some queer looking but good tasting
+messes of which our men were freely invited to partake. In one house in
+particular there were two aged women who busied themselves for hours
+cooking rice and other dishes for our men and who at first would not
+accept anything in payment. Finally it was forced upon them and before
+evening there was more silver money in that poor "shack" than had
+probably been the case for many a day. All through the village it was
+the same and the hospitality we received at Siboney did much to change
+for a time the unfavorable opinion we had formed of the Cubans.
+
+Not only was there food but drink. There was cool water in all the
+houses and there was also "bino," a sour Cuban wine like claret and
+some fiery "rou" or rum which brought tears to the eyes of more than
+one man who thought he was spirit proof. All that afternoon we mingled
+freely with the people, looked all through the town, examined with
+interest the Spanish block houses and some of us went in surf bathing
+on the pretty little beach in front of the town.
+
+Late that afternoon the third battalion came up and about the same time
+the details which had been sent back for rations, made their appearance
+with about enough provisions to whet our appetite, they having found
+the task of lugging supplies for a company, nearly ten miles, beyond
+their strength.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+IN WHICH IS TO BE FOUND THE TALE OF "CRAB HOLLOW" AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
+
+
+When we retired to our luxurious couches that night of June 23d, most
+of us, excepting the guards, anticipated sleep, but we little recked
+what that night had in store for us. As told before, our camp was
+pitched on a low piece of ground and among a lot of sparse bushes.
+We did not know until the next day that the camping ground was an
+old burial place, and we were also not well enough up in the natural
+history of things Cuban to understand that if there is any one place
+the dainty land crab prefers for its habitat it is a cemetery and this
+preference rests upon a purely gastronomic basis. The land crab and the
+vulture are the great scavengers of Cuba and while the latter disposes
+of anything eatable left above ground the land crab looks after bodies
+or anything else placed under ground. In the afternoon we had noticed
+the holes of the land crabs but paid little attention to them, and only
+saw a few of the crustaceans, but at night we made their acquaintance
+at close quarters. We were pretty well fagged out with the heat and
+the marching, and this, with the strange sensation of having something
+to eat in our stomachs, tended to drowsiness. But hardly had we got
+settled in our tents before there were strange rustlings and noises
+and then the sensation of something crawling. There were some quick
+arisings and the sound of matches hastily struck and then exclamations
+and profanity. In some of the companies there was hardly a tent that
+had not been pitched over one or more land crab holes and the occupants
+of these had begun an investigation. Crawling over the sleepers
+usually resulted in awakening them and then came the exclamations,
+the illumination by the matches and the pursuit and slaughter of the
+visitors. The land crab is not an aggressive animal towards man and
+the greeting tendered him usually resulted in his scuttling for his
+hole. Not always did he reach there, for many fell victims to ramrods,
+clubs and other weapons. One able bodied crab was caught in the act of
+backing into his hole with a stocking in his claws, and yielded up his
+life for his rapacity. It may have been that he intended to eat the
+stocking, and had he done so his fate would have been the same anyway.
+The crabs had a pleasant trick that night of crawling half way up the
+outside of the tents and then losing their hold and dropping to the
+ground. That was bad enough as a deterrent to sleep, but it was not
+all. In the afternoon some I company men had repaired a locomotive
+disabled by the Spaniards, and kept running it up and down the tracks,
+to an accompaniment of bell and whistle, until a late hour.
+
+Bright and early the next morning we were up and as on the day before
+looking for grub. Rations were still "shy" and once more we had
+recourse to our friends the Siboneyians who gave us what they could,
+which was not much, as their own supplies were running low.
+
+Meanwhile the remainder of the transports had come to Siboney and were
+landing the rest of the expedition. They had a little different method
+of doing it than at Daiquiri. The boats would be filled with men and
+towed in as near shore as possible when the men would have to jump out
+and wade ashore. Some of them didn't like getting their feet wet but
+they had to just the same.
+
+It was some little time before noon when we heard firing from over the
+hills and learned that the cavalry brigade had gone on a reconnoisance
+in force in that direction. It was only a short time afterwards when
+we saw the first wounded begin to come down the trail and learned
+that they had found the enemy in force at Las Guasimas and had quite
+a go with him. The First and Tenth United States cavalry, our old
+neighbors at Lakeland, and the Rough Riders were engaged and from all
+accounts were having a warm time. Col. Clark of the Second was acting
+as commander of our brigade and receiving orders from Gen. Lawton
+to reinforce the cavalry, left for the scene with the Eighth and
+Twenty-second Infantry. They arrived there just as the Spaniards were
+running and finding nothing for them to do returned to Siboney.
+
+One of the largest buildings in the town had been converted into
+a temporary hospital and it was soon filled with the wounded. Our
+regimental surgeons, Drs. Bowen, Gates and Hitchcock were pressed
+into service and rendered valuable aid. That hospital was our first
+introduction to some of the grim realities of war but the boys stood it
+well and were anxious to get to the front as quickly as possible. One
+of the warships with the transports added to the excitement by shelling
+the woods on top of a point near us and we began to conclude it would
+be our turn next.
+
+But it was not long before our thoughts were turned from the vision of
+great deeds in battle to a more prosaic but necessary matter. A lot of
+rations had been landed and soon we were revelling in such delicacies
+as hardtack, "sowbelly" bacon, coffee, canned beef (?) and canned
+tomatoes. Orders were issued for each man to take four days' rations
+but our haversack capacity was not equal to this and we packed all we
+could into our rolls. Even then we could not take all the issue and
+what was left we gave to our friends, the people of Siboney, who gladly
+accepted what we didn't want. The issue was hardly begun before Col.
+Clark gave us orders to move and off we started about 4.30 in the
+afternoon. We had not gone far in the direction of Las Guasimas before
+we came to the conclusion that the commissary department of the army
+had at least one genius who deserved a medal and some other things.
+About half the issue of tomatoes was in gallon cans and it was planned
+to have one man carry them a short distance and then let another sharer
+of the can relieve him. But our route lay up hill and we hit up a
+lively pace so that it was not long before there was a "kick" about
+the tomatoes. The ending of the kick in every case was a noise which
+indicated that the can had landed in the bushes and when tired out, we
+reached our bivouac place that night there were but few gallon cans of
+tomatoes left with the outfit.
+
+Meanwhile we kept steadily climbing up into the hills, finding rough
+footing and stumbling over rocks and everything else in the darkness
+until about 9 o'clock we reached the scene of the battle and found the
+First and Tenth cavalry burying their dead. We passed on in silence but
+we did quite a bit of thinking. A short distance further up we halted
+on a level bit of ground by the side of the Rough Riders and after
+making our simple preparations for our night's bivouac heard their tale
+of the fight. Our cooking fires were soon going and we not only heard
+Roosevelt's men tell their experiences and gave them our sympathy,
+but what they wanted more at that particular time, we gave them food,
+sharing our rations with them. One New York paper, in its story of
+the Las Guasimas fight spoke of the Second Massachusetts as having
+"supported the Rough Riders," but so far as we knew our only support to
+them was that night when we certainly did support them with our rations.
+
+When we landed in Cuba a detail of men from each company was left on
+the boats to look after property and as we learned afterwards they
+heard all sorts of stories about what happened to us that day. But
+all the stories agreed that the Second had been having a bad time of
+it and that our loss was heavy. One New York newspaper man had been
+given a circumstantial account of our regiment having been surrounded
+by the Spaniards and of our cutting our way out with a heavy loss in
+officers and men and was so impressed by it that he wrote a very pretty
+story which he was on the point of having cabled to his paper when a
+brother correspondent happened along and convinced him that as we were
+at Siboney until the action was all over we could hardly have been so
+badly cut up. So the story was not cabled but it was a narrow escape.
+
+When we left Siboney that afternoon G company was left behind to assist
+in unloading supplies for our brigade, one company from each regiment
+being detailed for that purpose. They left Siboney early the next
+morning and reached us just as we were preparing to resume the march
+again.
+
+Our next camping place was on a plateau near where had once been a
+sizeable plantation and which was only a short distance from Las
+Guasimas. Here we remained two days taking life easy before we again
+took up the march. On the 27th we reached Sevilla and there remained
+until late in the afternoon of June 30th. During our stay in
+Sevilla occurred another food shortage and also the great tobacco
+famine. Rations were hard to get and so were medicines. There was so
+much feeling over the delinquency in getting our supplies up to us that
+a meeting of the company commanders was held and a committee appointed
+to wait upon Col. Clark to see if something could not be done. The
+outcome of all the talk was the loan of some of the horses of the field
+and staff to a detail which, in charge of Lieut. Vesper of B, went back
+to the ships and obtained a small supply of provisions and tobacco.
+The cause of the failure to keep the troops supplied lay with the
+quartermaster's department which had apparently broken down utterly,
+for though there were tons upon tons of supplies already landed
+at Siboney there was not enough of pack trains or other means of
+transportation to get them up to us. We all fared alike at this time,
+officers and men, regulars and volunteers, and our brigade, the leading
+one in the army, had been hustled along so fast that it was difficult
+under any circumstances to get supplies to us owing to the distance and
+the condition of the roads.
+
+On the 28th the new commander of the brigade, Gen. Ludlow, reported and
+relieved Col. Clark who resumed command of the Second. Lieut. Harry
+Parkhurst of K who had been acting as aide-de-camp on the brigade staff
+was also relieved and rejoined his company.
+
+The tobacco famine was relieved somewhat by some of the weed brought
+from the ships by the various "relief expeditions" and also by the
+arrival of the details which had been left on the boats and the
+majority of the members of which had gained permission to rejoin us
+as soon as they heard the stories about our having been in action and
+losing heavily. The horse detail also came up and brought to Adjutant
+Hawkins the news that his horse had been drowned while being got
+ashore. As the chaplain's horse and one owned by Hospital Steward
+Fortier had been stolen while in Tampa by "Billy the Hostler" there was
+a shyness of horses around headquarters.
+
+While in Tampa Private T. C. Boone of K had been transferred to the
+signal corps with the rank of sergeant and afterwards became a member
+of the war balloon squad. On the afternoon of the 20th we saw the
+famous balloon for the first time and watched it with interest as it
+rose above the trees near our camp. We understood that Boone was one
+of the men in the car and for that reason the balloon had more than
+usual interest for us of the Springfield companies. The next afternoon
+another ascension was made and again we watched the "big gas bag" and
+speculated in a pessimistic vein upon its successful use. Our doubts
+as to its usefulness turned out to be correct.
+
+On the 28th the good news was announced that we could send mail home
+that afternoon and there was great scrambling for pens, pencils, paper
+and envelopes. It was our first opportunity since we had landed to send
+letters and that it was taken advantage of the big mail bags that left
+headquarters late that afternoon for division headquarters attested.
+
+Probably the condition in which about all our letters reached the folks
+at home was fully explained soon after our return, but it will bear
+retelling. When we landed most of us had paper, envelopes and stamps.
+But these were carried either in the haversacks or rolls and with the
+heat the envelope flaps became stuck together, likewise the stamps and
+paper became dirty. All were about in the same condition, so in order
+to get a letter into an envelope it was necessary to slit the latter
+at one end, insert the letter and then sew up the envelope. As most
+of the sewing was done with black thread and the envelopes were not
+especially clean the effect upon the good folks at home must have been
+rather startling, especially when the letters came without stamps, as
+they usually did. In place of stamps the government allowed the use of
+the words, "Soldier's Letter" in one corner of the envelope and when
+indorsed by an officer was allowed to go through.
+
+From our camp we could see a portion of the fortifications of Santiago
+and especially two large buildings which we were informed were barracks
+that had been transformed into hospitals and over which we could with
+field glasses see a number of Red Cross flags floating. We heard many
+weird tales as to what the Spaniards had done and would do and the
+stories, mainly of Cubans, as to how many troops were in the city,
+varied all the way from 10,000 to 40,000. On the 29th the much talked
+of "army" of Gen. Calixto Garcia arrived and it was a motley looking
+outfit, mostly black in color and of great variety, principally of
+lack of quantity, as to uniforms but fairly well supplied with arms
+and ammunition. The knowledge of English of the component parts of
+Garcia's forces was about equal to out knowledge of Spanish, but
+considerable interchange of ideas was effected, principally by signs.
+One or two of the warriors would stroll into camp and after standing
+around a bit with the inevitable Cuban grin would exclaim, "_Santiago,
+boum, boum?_" at the same time pointing to the city. We could do no
+less than to assure them there would be plenty of "_boum, boum_" and
+that when it happened Santiago would be "on the bum." The ice thus
+broken, the Cuban's machete was examined and the wearer induced to
+give an exhibition of its use both as a weapon and a handy tool for
+many purposes. Generally before they left camp they would "borrow"
+some "tobac" and if they could obtain some hardtack or bacon they went
+away happy. Sometimes they brought us some mangoes or "monkey plums"
+and then would follow some great bartering. The surgeons in an excess
+of zeal had warned us against the mango but we pinned our faith to the
+Cubans' declaration that if one didn't eat mangoes and drink liquor on
+the same day no evil effects would result from the free and unlimited
+use of the fruit. The mango tastes nice but it is an acquired art to
+know how to eat it without getting three-quarters of it over one's
+face and clothing. Still it came in handy when our rations were short,
+which was about always and we were not over fastidious as to how we ate
+anything in those days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+WHICH TELLS HOW WE GOT READY TO TAKE THE TOWN OF EL CANEY.
+
+
+It was shortly after noon on June 30th that the "JoJo" department began
+to circulate the news that we were to move on to Santiago that day or
+the next and for the first and only time during the campaign the "JoJo"
+happened to be right. Orders had arrived for a forward movement and
+although we had no idea of where we were to go or what we were to do
+there was a feeling of satisfaction that we were to go somewhere and do
+something.
+
+Of even more importance than the orders at this particular time was the
+arrival of a well laden pack train with rations. When the mules were
+first discerned coming "up the pike" it was supposed they were carrying
+ammunition as the last two or three pack trains had brought little
+excepting cartridges. But this time we were agreeably disappointed.
+There was a plentiful supply of "sowbelly," hardtack and coffee and
+it was not long before it was being distributed. The tobacco famine
+had temporarily been relieved and now we actually had food. So we were
+pretty well satisfied with life after all.
+
+How it rained that day! It came on in the forenoon and in less than
+ten minutes everybody and everything was saturated. It was a straight
+downpour of water and rubber blankets were of little use in keeping us
+or our belongings dry so we simply got wet and stayed in that condition
+until the sun came out and did his best to dry things up quickly.
+
+Early that afternoon we saw the war balloon again and watched it with
+much interest, everybody "rubbernecking" at the unwonted sight. In the
+car, although we did not know it at the time, was poor "Tom" Boone of
+"K" and those of us who knew him little recked what the next day would
+bring to him. For that matter there was considerable uncertainty as to
+what the future meant for any of us. We heard late in the day that we
+were sure to get into action on the next day but somehow the knowledge
+did not appear to worry but a few of the boys. The happenings of the
+campaign thus far had done much to produce a feeling of contempt for
+the fighting abilities of the Spaniards and some of us figured that all
+we would have to do was to make a demonstration in force and the enemy
+would then either retreat or surrender. How mistaken we were the next
+day was to tell us.
+
+It was late in the afternoon when the advance on El Caney by Lawton's
+division was begun and it was not until almost 6 o'clock that our
+brigade, which being one of the nearest to the city, was among the last
+to get away, made its start. Most of us will never forget that night
+march. The rain of the morning had resulted as usual in making whatever
+roads and trails there were into very fine specimens of mud puddles and
+unfortunately for us the greater part of our way led up hill. When the
+rations were issued in the afternoon the company commissaries had not
+time to complete their distribution and thinking that the march was
+to be a short and easy one those of G and B concluded that it would
+be better to have some of the provisions carried in bulk rather than
+to take time to divide and issue them. So a number of men from each
+company were detailed to carry a couple of slabs of "sowbelly" and
+others the remaining boxes of hardtack. This worked very nicely for a
+time until it became dark and the hill climbing act began. Then there
+was trouble. The trail up the hill was about as slippery as any we
+ever marched along in Cuba and it was moreover filled with rocks and
+boulders over which climbing was not the easiest matter in the world.
+Before they had gone very far the ration detail began to think that
+something was wrong and these thoughts developed into a certainty as
+we still kept climbing along up a pretty steep ascent and the boxes of
+hardtack and the sides of bacon (?) began to grow heavier and heavier
+and more difficult to handle. For convenience in packing them along
+with us both Sergeants Scully and Bearse had nailed long handles onto
+the hardtack boxes and had made a somewhat similar arrangement to carry
+the bacon but the carriers had not gone far before the handles worked
+off and after awhile it got to be a question of dropping the rations
+or killing the men trying to carry them. It was pitch dark, the trail
+was difficult and besides all the men had a pretty fair supply of
+"grub" in their haversacks, so a silent and informal vote was taken
+and the bulk of the extra rations were quietly left by the side of the
+trail. Meanwhile the rest of us were not having so much of a picnic
+even though we were not encumbered with extra baggage. The mud made
+marching difficult even along the road which led from the camp. Soon we
+left this and came to the San Juan creek, passing a company of soldiers
+who were actually bathing. Our surprise at this unwonted scene was not
+allowed to last long, for the trail lay on the other side of the creek
+and we were obliged to ford it. This was not by any means as easy as
+it looked. The banks were high and slippery with mud and the water was
+over our legging tops but in we plunged and scrambled across to the
+other side and into a thick piece of woods, shaking the water from
+ourselves dog fashion as we again took up the march. Hardly had we got
+across before low spoken orders came down the line for every man to
+keep silent and to march as quietly as possible. This made us realize
+that something was on and the orders were pretty well obeyed although
+all the orders in the world could not keep some of the men from saying
+things concerning the trail and night marches in general.
+
+In ragged fashion we stumbled along through the woods, the only
+military regulation we followed out being that of keeping well "closed
+up." We simply had to do this because it was so dark and the trail so
+narrow and rough that unless one kept very "close tabs" on his file
+leader it was a question of getting lost and going it alone and this
+none of us desired to do.
+
+We had not gone far before we came to another creek or it may have
+been another turn of the first one, we did not know or care which, but
+into it we plunged and again got our feet wet and muddy. Hardly had we
+gained the other side before we came across a forlorn looking figure
+in a bit of a clearing by the side of the trail and a voice with an
+unmistakeable western twang inquired if we were the Rough Riders. The
+owner of the voice was informed that we were the Second Massachusetts
+and he then remarked, "Well, you're a pretty good outfit and I guess
+I'll go along with you." He then announced himself as the chaplain of
+the Rough Riders and said he had left camp a little behind his regiment
+and had not only been unable to catch up with it but could obtain no
+trace of its whereabouts. We told him his regiment had probably gone
+over towards San Juan hill, it being in another division than ours and
+he then allowed that he would not bother looking further that night but
+would accompany us. We made no objection and he trudged along with us
+for the rest of the way.
+
+Soon after meeting the chaplain we forded creek number three but by
+this time we were used to getting our feet wet and did not mind it
+much. After fording this stream, a narrow but rather deep one, we
+began to get up in the world and soon discovered that we were on the up
+grade. For nearly two hours more we stumbled along, sometimes passing
+through thick woods and again along open country. The moon came out
+faintly after a bit, but her light did little towards revealing to
+us the difficulties of the route we were following. We had a couple
+of brief halts but it was not until a little after 10 o'clock that a
+whispered command to halt was given and we were informed that we were
+to go into bivouac by the road side.
+
+Following this order came a renewal of the previous ones against
+making any noise and we were also given strict orders not to make a
+fire or even strike a match. These precautions we assumed were to
+keep our presence unknown to the enemy and although most of us wanted
+the comfort of a pipe or cigarette after our fatiguing march yet we
+refrained. There was of course much speculation over the why and
+wherefore of the night march and the orders against noise or fire but
+the generally accepted assumption was that we had stolen a march upon
+the Spaniards, had penetrated their lines, and in the morning would
+march into Santiago before the astonished enemy had partaken of his
+morning coffee. This surmise was given color by the fact that from
+where we were we could look down into the city, its locality being
+indicated by the lights from the governor general's palace and other
+official buildings. We were on a plateau that overlooked the city,
+and so far as we could judge, our presence was absolutely undetected.
+Santiago appeared to be sleeping peacefully and looked for all the
+world like some small New England city which is locked up every night
+at 8.30 or 9 and whose residents then go to bed and stay there until
+morning.
+
+[Illustration: LEHIGH DETAIL FROM COMPANY H]
+
+For thinking such thoughts we were indeed what are known in the
+vernacular as "good things," for as it transpired afterwards the
+Spaniards knew all about where we were and where we were going. Had it
+not been for their traditional policy of "manana" they might have
+sallied out and done several things to us, but they preferred to wait
+until the next day, which was a lucky thing for us.
+
+Sleep comes quickly to a soldier in bivouac and soon after our halt
+every one of us, with the exception of the guards, was asleep. No
+attempt was made to put up the shelter tents, but we contented
+ourselves with unrolling them, spreading them upon the grass and
+wrapping ourselves up in our blankets. A few of us lunched upon
+hardtack and raw bacon washed down with muddy water from the canteens
+but the majority of the boys were too tired to think even of eating.
+
+That night the premonition came to some of our boys that the morrow
+would be their last day on earth and although we tried to laugh it out
+of them they stuck to it that their fate was settled. One of these boys
+was Frank Moody of K and so strongly was he impressed with the feeling
+of coming disaster to himself that he made one of his comrades take his
+watch and promise to deliver his farewell message to the loved ones at
+home.
+
+Tired soldiers sleep soundly and it seemed as if we had only slumbered
+a few moments when we were awakened, not by the usual bugle call, but
+by low whispers from the officers and non-commissioned officers. It was
+hardly dawn and a thin mist concealed from view the city below us and
+the hills that surrounded us. Little by little the mist disappeared
+before the advance of the sun and when dawn came the scene was so
+impressive in its grandeur that even the most careless amongst us
+felt it. Just below us was Santiago still wrapped in the morning mist
+and apparently still unaroused from its slumbers. All about us were
+frowning hills and mountains and in the distance we could see the
+harbor outside of which sat the grim war ships of the United States
+waiting for their prey to come out and be eaten up. Not a sign from the
+enemy and we wondered.
+
+But we wondered even more when we turned our eyes a little to the right
+and there saw Capron's light battery, still unlimbered and apparently
+in plain view of the sentries of the enemy and our wonder increased as
+we saw the smoke from the cooking fires of the batterymen and watched
+them preparing their morning meal. For, be it understood, our brigade
+commander had sent word along that the orders of the night before as to
+noise and fires were still in force and we had breakfasted on hardtack
+and water. And there were the artillerymen with their fires lighted and
+frying their bacon and making their coffee as if there were no such
+orders and not a Spaniard within fifty miles. We could not understand
+it and for that matter we do not to this day. Maybe somebody does but
+if so we never heard of it.
+
+It was bad enough to almost smell the hot coffee, for the morning air
+was cool and raw, and to see the batterymen drinking it with relish,
+but it was far worse to see them nonchalantly light their pipes and
+cigarettes and enjoy them. Since the night before we had been deprived
+of the solace of tobacco and anyone who has ever soldiered knows what
+that means. But when we saw the red striped gunners enjoying the weed
+we made up our minds to follow suit. In a very short time our pipes
+were going and the officers sympathetically not only forebore to stop
+us but soon began to puff their pipes. Even a cold breakfast can be
+enjoyed with a tobacco dessert and that early morning smoke on the
+threshold of the battlefield was a much appreciated one.
+
+Meanwhile we had been getting ready and as packing up did not take us
+long it was but a short time after we were aroused from our slumbers
+before we had fallen in and were ready for what the day might bring
+forth. While waiting for orders to march we heard the noise of hoofs
+coming up the trail and Gen. Lawton and his staff clattered by us on
+their way to the front. A couple of Cuban officers were with them and
+they were evidently pleased with the work cut out for the Americans
+that day. Only a few moments after the general had passed came the
+orders to march and we were soon "hitting the trail" again, this time
+on the down grade.
+
+It was then about 4.30 in the morning. We moved along slowly, the trail
+being so narrow it was necessary to go in column of files and it was
+fully as bad walking as the route we had gone over the previous night.
+After a little we came to a brook and took advantage of the opportunity
+to fill our canteens. Just on the other side of the brook we passed
+Capron's battery posted on a low hill, the muzzles of the three inch
+rifles pointed toward El Caney and the cannoneers at their posts
+waiting for the ball to open. By that time we all realized that this
+was the day we were to go into business.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+WHEREIN IS RELATED SOME EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED TO US ON JULY FIRST.
+
+
+Hardly had we passed the battery before we heard the boom of one of
+its guns, followed by another and another and we knew then the trouble
+had begun. We kept on the trail for a while longer, the men keeping
+well closed up now and keeping eyes and ears alert. El Caney was now
+replying to Capron and we could hear for the first time the squeal of
+the Mauser bullets as they began to go over us with a sound like that
+of a vicious cat at bay. We were under fire but hardly realized it as
+yet.
+
+It was a splendid morning. Our trail led along the side of what had
+once been well cultivated fields, the only indication of that now
+being the inevitable barbed wire fencing. The skies were cloudless and
+birds sang as we went along to battle. There were other birds too but
+they did not sing. Hardly had the first of Capron's cannon sent its
+"good morning" salute to El Caney before a speck was visible in the
+sky. Larger and larger it grew until we saw it was a buzzard scenting
+the battle and before long it was joined by hundreds of its kind, all
+circling about in the air only a short distance from the earth and
+waiting for the rich feast about to be spread for them. But we recked
+not of buzzards or what their presence presaged.
+
+A short distance further along the trail, a quick order and we changed
+direction to the right, leaving the trail and going across the field
+directly toward El Caney. Barbed wire fencing was in our way but
+the two wire cutters attached to each company soon made a gate for
+us. Our battalion swung through and into the field while the second
+battalion kept to the trail and took the field further along. The third
+battalion and I of the second, as we afterwards found, were halted by
+Capron's battery and were not given front seats to the performance.
+The field soon changed to scrub and bush through which way was made
+as best we could without much regard to alignment. Then came a bit of
+forest and then we debouched out upon the Santiago road, one of the
+few thoroughfares in Cuba that looked like a road. A halt and then we
+stripped for action. Rolls and haversacks were taken off and piled by
+the road side. The belts and the pockets of the brown canvas coats were
+filled with cartridges and we were ready for trouble.
+
+Meanwhile it was evident that there was trouble ahead of the Second.
+From El Caney's forts and trenches came a hail of bullets, while on our
+right and left there were the Krags of our regulars popping away with
+machine like regularity, their whip like sentences being punctuated at
+intervals by the 3-inch rifles of Capron's men. Over our heads went
+the Mausers in a steady stream and there wasn't a man of the Second
+marching up that road that morning who failed to bow his head, (most
+of us called it "ducking") in response to their salutation. The 8th
+and 22d of our brigade had gone on ahead of us, had deployed to the
+left and we could hear their Krags answering the Mausers. It was our
+first experience under fire and it is no wonder that nearly all of us
+wished ourselves, for just a few moments, somewhere else and remembered
+certain pressing engagements we had at Springfield that Friday morning.
+But this feeling was like going into a cold bath. The first plunge
+is the worst and within half an hour after getting into the action
+these same men that were "ducking" their heads to the bullets were up
+on the firing line and acting like veterans instead of men who up to
+that morning had never faced an armed foe. Our education had progressed
+rapidly.
+
+And here a word as to El Caney where Gen. Vara Del Ray and 620 Spanish
+troops held Lawton's division at bay from 6.30 in the morning until
+4.30 in the afternoon. In the general plan for the day's work of July
+1st Lawton's division was to sweep over to Caney, devote an hour or
+so to capturing it and then swing over to the San Juan forts and aid
+Kent's division to take them. Trustworthy (?) Cuban advices were that
+there were only a couple of hundred Spanish troops in El Caney and the
+taking of that outpost of Santiago was to be but an incident of our
+march to San Juan. But Gen. Del Ray had not been consulted as to this
+program and the result was our time schedule went to pieces. An entire
+division against 620 men looks like heavy odds in favor of the division
+but it must be remembered that the enemy were strongly entrenched with
+all the advantage of position and knew the ground thoroughly, while we
+were in the open with little or no shelter and with only a four-gun
+light battery against stone forts, strong blockhouses and well made
+intrenchments, so that our advantage in numbers was more than made up
+by the superior position of the enemy.
+
+El Caney lay almost directly in front of us, a small town backed up
+against a steep hill as if at bay and with forts, intrenchments and
+houses bristling with rifles. To our right on a small elevation was the
+famous stone fort over which floated the red and yellow flag of Spain.
+A little to the left was the village church, of stone and converted
+into a fortress while on either sides of both fort and church were the
+familiar Spanish blockhouses. And in front of all were the trenches,
+well built and covering all the front and sides of the town, a covered
+way connecting some of them with the fort and with their fronts
+guarded by fences and entanglements of barbed wire, a protection found
+of value against the Cubans, but which proved to be of less efficiency
+against the valor of American soldiers. This was what El Caney
+presented to us on that bright July morning.
+
+Our brigade's work had been mapped out and appeared to be comparatively
+easy. It was to take position on the left of the American line and cut
+off the retreat of the enemy towards Santiago when he was driven from
+Caney which, as already scheduled, was to be within an hour or so after
+the initial shot. But the program for Ludlow's brigade was changed by
+force of circumstances, for hardly had the 8th and 22d of our brigade
+got into position before they were attacked and replied in kind and
+within a few moments the hottest part of the action was taking place
+on the left instead of being confined to the right and center, as
+originally planned.
+
+And while this was happening we were down the "pike" getting ready to
+add our contribution to the din of battle. We were not long in getting
+ready and leaving one man from each company to guard the rolls left by
+the roadside the seven companies of the Second marched to the firing
+line. The first battalion, G, B, K and D companies, was by this time
+some distance ahead of the second, while the third was still held up by
+the battery. Col. Clark, Lieut. Col. Shumway and Adjutant Hawkins were
+standing beneath a huge tree at the intersection of the "sunken" road
+with the Santiago road and hardly had the companies come up before an
+order came from Gen. Ludlow to send four companies to strengthen the
+line of the 22d on our left. B and K companies of the first battalion
+and L and E of the second battalion, which had by this time come up,
+were detailed and B and K, under command of Major Southmayd started
+for the 22d. L and E followed but through some misunderstanding got
+into a "hot box" and after a time returned to the sunken road and took
+position there.
+
+B and K marched down the sunken road and then across an open space,
+across which the bullets were flying in a steady stream. It was
+necessary to "duck" here and it was done without any loss of dignity.
+This space cleared, the companies came to a bit of bush and then into
+a gully facing El Caney on the left. Here was the 22d, lying down and
+answering the fire of the Spaniards in good style.
+
+Hardly had B and K reached the gully and taken position when the hail
+of bullets began to fall among them and men began to drop. Private
+Frank E. Moody of K was one of the first hit and died almost instantly,
+the bullet having pierced his heart. On the march of the night before
+he had felt a presentiment of his fate and so strong was this feeling
+of his fate that he gave his watch to Private Fuller to take home to
+his parents. Before long Private John J. Malone of B got a fatal wound
+just below the heart and then men began to fall thick and fast. As
+soon as the two companies had taken their positions they were ordered
+to fire, but the enemy's return for the first few volleys was payment
+with compound interest. The smoke from the Springfield rifles showed
+the position of our men and lifting slowly, made just the target which
+the enemy needed. At this time the line was about 900 yards from
+the advanced Spanish trenches and it must have been just like rifle
+practice for the enemy. Within a moment after the first volley from
+the Springfields crashed out a hail of bullets was poured into the two
+companies from the trenches and men fell like sheep. Capt. Warriner,
+raising on one shoulder to give an order, sank back with a Mauser
+through his body. Corporal Ward Lathrop got one through his head,
+Corporal Hoadley got his "in the neck," the bullet going through the
+right side, Wagoner Boule had one through his left hand, Private Ashley
+of B was hit in the left forearm, Private James F. Ferrier was shot
+through the right shoulder and also had a bullet traverse the right
+side of his head, making an ugly wound, Howard Meyrick had a double
+one, one bullet striking his right leg, while another went through his
+left shoulder and the upper part of his left arm. Private C. J. Riordan
+got a bullet through his left hand while Private A. E. Rose got the
+thumb and one finger of his right hand nipped, Private W. B. Riopel was
+hard hit, the bullet entering his left shoulder and entering the lungs.
+Barkman of K got a Mauser through his left elbow and was also hit in
+the left leg below the knee.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Lieut. H. S. Crossman. J.G.
+  H. Co.
+
+  Lieut. J. K. Dexter. H. Co.
+
+  Lieut. W. O. Cohn. J.G.
+  H. Co.
+]
+
+As quickly as possible the wounded were picked up by their comrades
+and taken to the rear, a temporary dressing station being established
+beneath a huge tree on the Santiago road. The first aid bandages came
+in handily on the field and were used to advantage. Lieut. Powers took
+command of K and Capt. McDonald, as cool as if battles were everyday
+occurrences, kept a watchful eye on his men.
+
+The heavy fire which the powder smoke had drawn upon the two companies
+was also being felt by the 22d and its choleric commander, Major Van
+Horn, came rushing over with, "For God's sake, Second Massachusetts,
+stop firing! You're making us a regular target for the enemy." This was
+not all he said, either, but it was stronger language than politeness
+required. The firing did stop, that is, the volley firing did, but the
+company commanders gave their men orders to fire at will. Soon Major
+Van Horn came over with another protest and the two companies moved
+along a little further to the right but on the same line as the 22d and
+leaving quite a little gap between them. As the 22d advanced so did B
+and K, taking advantage of what cover there was and keeping up their
+fire for some time. It was perhaps that protest of Major Van Horn that
+gave the impression that the entire Second regiment was ordered off
+the firing line, an impression that is a very much mistaken one. From
+the time the two companies took position on the right of the 22d they
+fired at intervals and at will until the Spaniards were driven from the
+last trench and El Caney was taken.
+
+While these things were happening on our left G company was having
+troubles of its own on the extreme right of the line. Sending B and K
+to the 22d left Col. Clark with only G and D companies of the first
+battalion with him, the three companies of the second battalion having
+been placed in the sunken road, whose banks gave them some protection
+from the incessant fire from El Caney. G and D were sent further along
+up the Santiago road and G was halted directly in front of a cultivated
+field which was directly in front of the trenches and the town and
+was flanked by the stone fort. Halting here the second platoon of the
+company under Lieut. Edward J. Leyden deployed as skirmishers and
+advanced across the field, taking every possible advantage of cover,
+of which there was little, and halting at intervals to kneel and
+fire. The light brown uniforms advancing slowly across the field soon
+attracted the notice of the enemy, even before the first volley from
+the Springfields gave the Spaniards a target, and men began to drop.
+Still the line advanced until it was within 500 yards of the fort and
+then a halt was ordered and the men threw themselves flat on the ground
+and began firing at will. Now the bullets from both fort and trenches
+were hailing about them but they kept crawling along until within a
+range of 400 yards. Then Lieut. Leyden looked around and saw that
+his 14 men were isolated from the rest of the company and he at once
+realized that it was suicidal to go further without reinforcements.
+Arthur Packard, beloved of all his comrades, had fallen dead on the
+field with a Spanish bullet through his head and George Richmond,
+one of the "old timers" of the company, had fallen fatally wounded.
+"Goldie" Bresnan had been ordered to the rear with the blood dripping
+from a shattered hand and Ernest Marble, wounded in the head, lay on
+the field. Others had in the meantime joined the little force, men from
+other companies, but not enough to make a further advance successful.
+Among the reinforcements was Lieut. D. J. Moynihan of I company, who
+had left his position with the second battalion and walked across the
+field to join Leyden's men. He essayed his luck as a sharpshooter,
+borrowing a rifle from one of the men, and fired three shots before
+he himself sank to the ground with a bullet through his body. Before
+this happened, however, and when he first joined Lieut. Leyden, Lieut.
+Moynihan advised that the advance should continue and suggested a
+charge. But Lieut. Leyden pointed to the few men he had and asked what
+the result would be. There was no answer to this. Less than 20 men
+charging against a stone fort under a heavy fire from it and flanked
+by the trenches would have been heroic, no doubt, but it would have
+been deliberately throwing away men's lives and to no good result. So
+Lieut. Leyden refused to order a charge but sent Lieut. Moynihan back
+to Col. Clark for orders. These were for him to remain where he was
+and there the platoon stayed until the town was taken, although some
+of the men advanced even closer to the fort, taking advantage of some
+small piles of stones, which had evidently been heaped up as shelter
+for Spanish outposts. All the long afternoon the little squad lay under
+the pitiless sun, firing whenever there was a chance until they heard
+the cheers of the charging regulars and saw the red and yellow flag of
+Spain go down from the fort and the Stars and Stripes replace it. Then
+they sprang to their feet and cheered. But it was not all over then.
+The fort had been taken but from trench and blockhouse and church and
+every building in El Caney still came the hail of Mausers. The dead and
+wounded of the Second were being attended to as best could be done, but
+their comrades still fought on. Two guns of Capron's battery had been
+moved up to a position in the rear of D company and the balance of G
+and were knocking things about in the old town. Gen. Vara Del Ray was
+wounded unto death and the American troops were drawing their lines
+closer and closer around Caney, but still the Spaniards fought on with
+the courage of desperation. At the fork of the roads was Col. Clark,
+sending his staff officers, or rather officer, Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins,
+hither and thither and giving messages to his orderlies. Lieut.
+Hawkins, cool under fire, won a high place in the regard of the men who
+saw him that day and the orderlies, including Private Ross of B, showed
+coolness and courage. Two other Springfield men, Sergeant Scully and
+Corporal Ross of G were pressed into service as orderlies for a time
+and did their duty well. Two cool and collected men were Col. Clark
+and Lieut. Col. Shumway and both exposed themselves, at times against
+the wish of the brigade commander, along the line. Gen. Ludlow was for
+some time at the fork of the roads with Col. Clark, his dead horse,
+shot under him, almost at the outset of the action, lying near by, but
+once he was gone he did not return and neither he nor anyone else in
+authority gave the orders to withdraw the Second from the firing line,
+as has been stated by some. If any such orders were issued which is
+doubtful, they were never received by Col. Clark, and the companies of
+the Second stayed throughout the day where he placed them.
+
+Meanwhile the big tree a bit down the road was the scene of some
+grewsome work. Soon after the opening of the action Lieut. Hawkins had
+been ordered by Col. Clark to bring up the surgeons and the ground
+under the big tree was then transformed into a temporary hospital or
+rather a dressing station. Here Surgeon Bowen and his assistants,
+Lieuts. Gates and Hitchcock, aided by Hospital Stewards Fortier,
+Greenberg and Howes and the members of the hospital corps, labored
+until the enemy's sharpshooters, discerning the group under the tree,
+made it an object of attention and the bullet-torn leaves began to
+flutter down upon the wounded. Then the hospital was moved farther down
+the road and the dead and dying and wounded conveyed there as tenderly
+as possible under the circumstances. It was here the heroic Father
+Edwin Fitzgerald, the beloved chaplain of the 22d, labored from morning
+until far into the night, caring as tenderly as a mother for the
+wounded of all the regiments, making their places as easy as possible
+for them, bringing them water from the distant brook, giving the
+consolations of religion to all, whether of his creed or not. More than
+once he visited the firing line and aided in bringing some poor fellow
+down to the hospital. Danger he cared not for and he went on with his
+work apparently oblivious to his bullet-torn coat, two holes in which
+bore eloquent witness to narrow escapes. On that day Father Fitzgerald
+earned the lifelong affection of the officers and men of the Second.
+
+And so time wore on until between 4.30 and 5 in the afternoon, when
+ringing cheers announced that the last trench had been won and El Caney
+was ours. Then followed the reunion of the regiment. Lieut. Leyden
+marched his gallant platoon back and the men fell into their old places
+in G company. B and K came back from the left with the 22d and the
+regiment gathered once more on the Santiago road, soldiers now, stained
+with powder and battle smoke and grim with the thoughts of the day and
+its events. Further down the road in the improvised hospital lay the
+forms, cold in death, of five brave men and with them were 40 more or
+less seriously wounded, three of them mortally.
+
+The Second had received its baptism of blood.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+WE LEARN SOME MORE THINGS ABOUT THE ART OF WAR AS CONDUCTED IN THESE
+DAYS.
+
+
+It was not exactly a joyous reunion as the companies assembled in the
+Santiago road that afternoon. True, we were all glad to see one another
+again, but the heat and burden of the day had been great and there were
+many faces missing from the ranks. Nearly ten hours on the battlefield
+under the burning Cuban sun and without much to comfort us in the way
+of food or drink was not conducive to good temper and to this was added
+the spur of the ingratitude of our so-called Cuban allies. It will be
+remembered that just before the regiment went into action the rolls and
+haversacks had been discarded and placed by the roadside and it fell
+out that while the owners were up on the firing line fighting for _Cuba
+Libre_, some of the Cuban patriots came along and, the guards placed
+over the property being absent, helped themselves to the rations in
+the haversacks. These were the Cubans, by the way, who were supposed
+to be fighting over on our left that day, but it seems they had more
+important business, to them, on hand to bother much about fighting. So
+as we gathered there in the road in the stillness which followed the
+battle storm and realized that we were to go supperless there were some
+things said about our Cuban friends which indicated a not very high
+feeling of esteem for them.
+
+Once gathered together again and the roll called came the after work
+of the battle. Squads were sent over the field to bring in any dead or
+wounded that might have been overlooked and to gather up any property
+left there. The companies which had lost men prepared to march to the
+hospital to bury the dead and those fortunate ones whose haversacks
+had been untouched began to light their cooking fires. Hardly an hour
+had elapsed since Caney was taken when up came an aide with orders for
+Col. Clark and when he read them the assembly sounded and we heard with
+disgust the orders that the regiment was to move at once to San Juan to
+reinforce the first division. We had anticipated after our hard day's
+work a bite to eat and a night's rest and here we were disappointed in
+both. Faintly through that day at intervals we at Caney could hear the
+sounds of battle in our rear and we heard late in the afternoon that
+it was our troops attacking the San Juan forts but it was not until
+after we had finished our job at El Caney that we heard what the first
+division had done.
+
+But orders are orders and grumbling does not count against them. The
+details sent to dig graves were recalled, the equipments were donned
+again and in a short time we were once more "piking the pike." It was a
+gloomy march that evening, for the men were not very much inclined to
+conversation. On we went, now in columns of fours on a fairly decent
+road for Cuba, again in column of files through the bush and finally
+emerged onto another road. It was now dark, but we kept on until about
+10 o'clock we came to a stone bridge over the San Juan river and the
+order to halt was given as the head of our regiment reached the bridge.
+Whether it was to be a mere halt or a bivouac no one seemed to know
+and no one cared. Hardly had the order to halt been given before the
+men had dropped by the roadside and, worn out by the toilsome march
+of the night before and the day's work, followed by the march to the
+bridge, were asleep, many of them without even taking off their heavy
+rolls. It was not an ideal place for slumber, either. Troops were
+continually passing by and every now and then a mule team would pass
+with a clatter but the sleepers slumbered on. Until after midnight we
+lay there, waiting for further orders. About one o'clock up came mule
+wagons and a pack train and soon after the men were awakened and told
+to "hurry up" and get rations. In a few moments the scene was changed.
+Huge fires were lighted and by their light the rations were given out,
+the delights of slumber proving to be less strong than the desire to
+eat and every man awakening to the knowledge that we would soon be on
+the move again. So it was. Hardly had we drawn rations and began to
+cook them before a battery of artillery moved hurriedly by us to the
+rear, many of us just having time to draw our legs out of the way of
+the wheels. Next came the 8th and 22d of our brigade and by 2 o'clock
+we too were on the march. Following the road over which we had come for
+a short distance, we soon left it and changing direction to the right,
+swung into a trail across country. Along this we marched for hours amid
+the darkness, through woods and chaparral and fields, once cultivated.
+We climbed hills and forded streams, all in the darkness, we brushed
+the morning mist from the trees and grass as we passed, and when the
+dawn came found ourselves still on the march, wet and tired and sleepy
+and bedraggled. Daylight made no difference. On we pressed, climbing a
+long hill, crowned with plantation buildings and from which we could
+look down upon a scene of beauty, the green-clad hills and mountains,
+their tops still wreathed in the morning mist and with no sign that
+aught but peace and happiness lay in the valleys between them. No time,
+however, this to enjoy scenery, no matter how picturesque. On we went,
+now down the hill and into a thick piece of woods, where we halted
+for a little time, then on again until we once more struck a road and
+reached El Pozo, where there had been considerable trouble the day
+before. Without waiting for us the quadrille had already opened. During
+our halt in the woods we could hear the artillery and the rifles and
+soon after we reached the El Pozo road and once more swinging to the
+right started for San Juan we realized that it might be a case of
+El Caney over again, for we encountered a steady stream of wounded
+men going or being carried to the rear. Down the road screeched the
+Mausers, but still high over our heads and in the distance we could
+hear the boom of the guns of the Spanish forts as they answered our
+light artillery. Still onward, with no band or field music to give us
+the cadenced step, a minute's halt now and then until we were compelled
+to leave the road to make way for a battery banging recklessly along
+to take another position. Then across a stream and over an open
+field in full view of the enemy's trenches on the right, passing the
+battleground of the day before and, under fire by this time, we swung
+once more to the right and took position on a hill on nearly the
+extreme right of the American line.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Private R. G. Kelly.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Arthur Packard.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Geo. A. Richmond.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Andrew Little.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Francis A. Burk.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Corpl P. J. Noone.
+  G. Co.
+]
+
+Rolls had been again stripped off and it was expected we would go into
+action, but the Spaniards had been given pretty nearly all the fight
+they wanted that day and there was little for the Second to do but to
+take its position and stay there. For hours the men lay on the hill
+crest under the blazing sun, without a chance at cooking a meal and
+hard pressed for water until details were sent back to the stream with
+canteens. Sharpshooters made this mission dangerous but no one refused
+to go.
+
+It was not until early in the evening that the firing died down and it
+was safe to stand erect and walk about. The rolls and haversacks had
+been brought up and having been better guarded from prowling Cubans
+this time the contents of the haversacks were intact. By the time
+darkness came on the hillside on which we were camped for the day,
+tents had by this time been put up, was illuminated by the cooking
+fires and once more we enjoyed something that would pass for a meal.
+This over, sleep was the next necessity and we were not long in seeking
+our downy couches.
+
+But we did not slumber long. Just about 10 o'clock there was a
+disturbance of the peace by the Spaniards, who apparently wished to
+spoil the good time we were having. Three or four big guns boomed out
+and then came the, by this time familiar sound of the Mausers. It
+needed no bell boy to awake us. In a jiffy we were up and scrambling
+for rifles and cartridge belts. Then came quickly spoken orders to
+"fall in" from the company commanders and the voices of the hurrying
+non-coms as they rounded up the men. All was black darkness and men
+stumbled over the grass and roots or slipped on the steep hillside. It
+was a scene of the utmost din and confusion, orders coming fast and
+loud, the men, still sleep-blinded, hustling about in confusion, the
+night's stillness broken by the crash of the Spanish rifles and the
+noise of exploding shells over our heads while on our right we heard
+the whip-like crack of the Krags answering the Mausers. "Hell's broken
+loose," avowed a B man as he groped about for his cartridge belt and
+indeed it seemed so.
+
+Our battalion had its "shacks" on the top of the hill just below the
+crest while the other companies were scattered all along the hill but
+further below, so that the men of the Springfield companies were not
+long in falling in and making their way to the crest. But even then
+they were not quick enough to satisfy Major Van Horn, the choleric
+commander of the 22d, who appeared to have as bad a case of what was
+known to the boys as the "rattles" as any man ever had. Brandishing his
+sword, he ran about the hill, cursing the Second and ordering every man
+to the front, although it would have seemed he had enough to do to look
+after his own outfit. Col. Clark and his officers and the regiment were
+already on the top of the hill and awaiting events, but for some time
+Major Van Horn pranced and reared and vented his spleen upon the few
+men who happened to be a bit slow about getting up until finally his
+senses returned and he went where he belonged.
+
+All in all our officers and men acted with coolness, considering the
+circumstances. It is not pleasant or conducive to coolness of thought
+or action to be suddenly pulled out of bed after a day of great
+exertion and hustle around in black darkness to the accompaniment
+of rifle bullets and bombshells and especially when it is uncertain
+whether the enemy is in one's front, flank or rear and go stumbling up
+a steep hill so that it is small wonder if at the outset a few were
+"rattled." But in a very short time the lines were formed on the top of
+the hill and the Second waited.
+
+It was fortunate that none of our officers lost their heads and
+ordered their men to fire for the results could not fail to have been
+unfortunate all around. Just below us were three of our own regiments
+and had the Second fired the bullets would have hit our own men. It was
+a wonder that in the darkness and confusion nothing of the kind was
+done but officers and men kept their heads well and after the first
+confused rush up the hill all acted with commendable coolness.
+
+But if we did not use our rifles the enemy did theirs and before the
+affair was over two men of the Second had been hit, one of them,
+Private Robert G. Kelly of G, mortally. A Mauser struck him in the left
+cheek, passing through and severing the lingual artery, lodged in the
+muscles of the right jaw. The other man hit was Private Peter N. White
+of A company, whose wound was not serious.
+
+Poor Kelly was taken to his tent, where he lay in agony all night, the
+surgeons and hospital stewards doing all they could to relieve him. The
+next morning he was taken to the division hospital near Siboney where
+he lingered until July 7th, when he died. There was a story, which has
+never been denied, that his death was caused by internal hemorrhage
+caused by the imperfect manner in which his wound was cared for in the
+hospital.
+
+The affair lasted about an hour and when the attacking force of
+Spaniards had been pretty well cut to pieces the enemy retired within
+his lines once more and the Second returned to its slumbers. At 3 A. M.
+there was some more firing but this was merely an affair of outposts
+and lasted but a few moments, just long enough to break up sleep for
+the second time that night.
+
+Next day was Sunday, but it could hardly be called a peaceful one. From
+daybreak to early in the afternoon the sharpshooters of the enemy were
+active and a man had to walk humbly and keep well under cover unless
+he cared to make a target of himself. Many of these sharpshooters were
+inside our lines, not having had an opportunity to get to their own
+when their companions were driven back and hidden in thick foliaged
+trees and supplied with rations and water and plenty of ammunition they
+managed to make matters rather lively for us. Early in the day many
+squads were sent out to locate and capture these fellows but though
+many were located few were brought in as prisoners.
+
+Time wore on slowly that Sunday. About noon orders were promulgated
+that an armistice had been declared and that firing on both sides was
+to cease at 12 o'clock. This was not bad news but evidently all our
+Spanish friends did not hear of it until later, for up to 2 o'clock
+there was an occasional bullet sent toward us from the outlying
+trenches. After that hour it was possible to walk about without having
+to dodge.
+
+Early that morning we heard the distance-dulled boom of heavy guns
+from the direction of the mouth of the harbor. We knew that Sampson
+and Schley were outside waiting for Cervera and his ships but we had
+heard the guns of our fleet so often that we supposed it was simply
+another case of throwing a few shot at the Morro or the other Spanish
+batteries. Gradually the roar of the guns grew fainter and fainter
+until they died away altogether and it was supposed the attack of
+the fleet had again been fruitless. But soon after noon the "JoJo"
+department got at work again and rumors began to circulate that this
+time the fleet had been successful and had forced its way past the
+batteries and into the harbor.
+
+It was not until soon after 4 o'clock that afternoon, however, that we
+learned what had happened. Then we saw Major Webb of Shafter's staff
+riding up to our brigade headquarters, which were only a few yards away
+from Col. Clark's "shack." The major reined up, said a few words to
+Gen. Ludlow and the latter hastily summoned the regimental commanders
+and announced that the Spanish fleet had tried to cut its way out of
+the harbor and had been met by Schley's ships and destroyed. It did
+not take long for the good news to spread and then such cheering as
+went up. Hats went up into the air and there was general jubilation.
+For once the "JoJo" department had been outdone. All along our line we
+could hear the cheering and then what few regimental bands we had broke
+loose and gave a jubilee concert which was highly appreciated. We had
+no religious services that day but the bands played, "There'll be a hot
+time in Old Town to-night."
+
+Discipline was relaxed after the armistice had been declared and the
+men wandered along the lines, visiting other regiments and going over
+the battlegrounds of the two days previous. Many visited the outposts
+and took a look at the city and the forts. We could see the Spaniards
+taking life easy in their trenches and we wondered if they had heard
+what had happened to their fleet. Some of our boys, disgusted with
+their Springfields, went "grafting" Krags and picked up a good number,
+together with plenty of ammunition. Had the entire regiment been turned
+loose there is no question but what every man would have replaced
+his Springfield with a Krag-Jorgensen and as it was nearly 150 were
+obtained and a corresponding number of Springfields thrown away.
+
+Our sleep was unbroken that night and we were ready to celebrate
+July 4th the next morning. Our celebration took the form of a little
+excursion, for soon after our frugal breakfast we were on the march
+again and began our celebrated swing to the right with the object of
+encircling the city. Our brigade led the advance as it had from the
+start and after four hours of slow progress we swung to the left and
+took our position on the now famous "Misery hill," an elevation in rear
+of the city and overlooking it. From the crest we could plainly see the
+Spanish batteries and barracks, while almost directly in front of us
+were the hospital buildings with half a dozen Red Cross flags flying
+over them. We passed our Fourth of July quietly enough. Not a fire
+cracker was fired, principally because we did not have any and there
+was not even a rifle crack to mark the day. Late in the afternoon we
+heard the guns of the fleet again as they hammered away at the harbor
+batteries for awhile. We pitched our "day tents" and took notice of the
+fact that our rations were getting low again. Next day we were put at
+work for the first time digging trenches and we enjoyed the job. For
+tools there were in the entire regiment only a few shovels and picks
+but the trenches had to be dug and the boys went at it with their mess
+knives, spoons and tin plates. It was fierce work under the blazing
+sun and the soil was hard to dig, but the work was done by reliefs and
+by night of the next day the trenches of our battalion were completed
+and good ones they were, too. They were dug on the crest of the hill
+and were deep enough with the earth parapet to give us protection from
+anything the enemy might send over at us. They were wide enough to
+enable the men to move about and the earth was cut away at the rear so
+as to make a sort of seat. More trouble was anticipated at any moment
+and ammunition in plenty was placed along the trenches. In fact, there
+was more ammunition than rations about all the time during the campaign.
+
+Capron's battery, which was with us at El Caney, came up the 6th and
+took a position on the left of our line of trenches. The digging of
+intrenchments for this battery afforded us our first opportunity of
+seeing Cubans work and certainly they did work under Capt. Capron.
+Other regiments kept coming up and taking positions on our left and the
+circle about Santiago began to tighten.
+
+Meanwhile we had leisure to lie about and figure up our losses. Malone
+of B, shot at El Caney, had died in the field hospital the evening of
+July 2d and his death came as a shock to his friends in that company.
+Richmond of G died in the same hospital early the preceding evening and
+that made five good men in the three Springfield companies slain by
+Spanish bullets. There were many missing faces from the ranks, too, and
+we kept hearing rumors that this or that man wounded at Caney had died
+in the hospital. Besides we knew some exaggerated stories about the
+losses of the Second had gone home and we knew the anxiety which our
+friends and relatives in Springfield must be feeling.
+
+There were other losses aside from the bullets of the enemy. On July
+6th Major Southmayd and Capt. McDonald left camp, the former going
+home on sick leave and the latter having injured himself badly in the
+spine. He was accompanied to the hospital by First Sergeant Burke,
+who remained with him until he sailed for the United States. In Capt.
+McDonald's absence First Lieut. W. L. Young took command of B company.
+Capt. John J. Leonard of G was made acting major of Major Southmayd's
+battalion and retained the command to the close of the campaign. The
+command of K company devolved upon First Lieut. Phillip C. Powers and
+First Lieut. W. C. Hayes took command of G company.
+
+About this time many of our boys got "next" to a species of poison vine
+somewhat resembling the poison ivy of New England and with about the
+same results. The surgeons could find nothing to counteract the effects
+of the vine until a Cuban told them of another plant which being
+steeped was an effective antidote for the poison and a free use of this
+soon restored the swollen faces and hands of the sufferers to their
+normal condition.
+
+"Misery hill" was a delightful place especially when the rations began
+to get shy as they did soon after our arrival. The visits of the pack
+train were few and far between and it was just as likely as not to
+bring ammunition instead of rations. Issues of one or two hardtack
+and a thin slice of bacon for a twenty-four hours ration were common,
+and some of the boys supplemented their menu with mangoes and "monkey
+plumes." Sergeant Lovely of G enjoyed the distinction of eating
+twenty-four mangoes in one day, much to the horror of the surgeons when
+they heard of it, but with no bad results to him.
+
+It was while we were on "Misery hill" that "Dido" Hunt achieved added
+fame by his abilities as a butcher. Gen. Ludlow had a desire for
+beefsteak and had purchased a hungry looking cow from some Cubans,
+Private Hunt as regimental butcher, being detailed to kill the animal.
+It was just before dusk, one evening, when the cow was led forth to
+the slaughter and "Dido," armed with a revolver, got ready to act as
+executioner. He fired again and again at the cow, the animal after each
+shot, looking about in a surprised manner as if wondering what the
+racket was all about. Finally one of the bullets hit the cow somewhere,
+and with a bellow of pain and fright, she ran off and disappeared in
+the darkness, leaving Private Hunt and the man who had been holding
+the rope gazing at each other. Gen. Ludlow had no steak that evening
+and the fate of the cow was never learned although there were rumors
+that the animal had ended her career in the camp of one of the regular
+regiments, the men of which had a fresh meat supper that night.
+
+A "commissary" had been established near Siboney by some enterprising
+sutlers, and the company officers were enabled to purchase some tea,
+oatmeal, etc., for their men. These were especially valuable, as
+several had succumbed to the climate and the toil and exposure of the
+campaign, and the hardtack and bacon were not the best kind of food
+for them. About this time, too, we were threatened with an outbreak of
+measles, but the cases were promptly isolated and the disease did not
+spread.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+WE CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION IN THE ART OF WAR AND LEARN A FEW THINGS.
+
+
+Our stay on "Misery hill" lasted just seven days and in that time we
+learned a few things, the art of trench digging without intrenching
+tools, standing out in our memory as one most important lesson. We
+learned how to sleep on a side hill without our bodies slipping
+entirely out from the shelter tents during our slumbers, this being
+accomplished by the simple means of driving a couple of pegs into the
+ground at the opening of the tent and placing a stick against them, our
+feet resting against the stick and preventing us going any further.
+We acquired the art of making cigarettes and of using anything at all
+in the paper line to roll them in. The inner pith of the royal palm
+came in handily for this purpose when our supply of cigarette paper
+gave out. We learned how to make one match light several pipes or
+cigarettes, for matches were scarce and therefore not to be wasted.
+We learned how to make the brook water passably cool in our canteens,
+by thoroughly soaking the canvass covering of the canteen and then
+suspending it from a tree or tent pole, the evaporation of the moisture
+of the cover slowly cooling the contents. At night the canteens were
+hung from the tent poles and in the morning the water was usually quite
+cool. Later on long branches of bamboo were used as water vessels and
+one trip to the brook usually sufficed for the day. In the building of
+"shacks" by which the regulars who had served in the west designated
+about everything in the way of a shelter from the sun or rain, we
+obtained lessons from our friends of the 8th and 22d. A couple of
+crotched sticks across which was laid a center pole formed the usual
+frame work of the structure and the roof and sides were composed of
+bushes or palm leaves. These were more airy than our tents and more
+comfortable except when it rained heavily.
+
+Also, we learned to do without stockings, the fact being that the
+bulk of our hosiery was either worn out or thrown away, and we took a
+card from the regulars and discarded such things in the line thereof,
+greasing our feet with the luscious "sow belly." In laundry work we
+became expert. "Jim" Ryan's steam laundry had long since gone into
+voluntary bankruptcy, and every man was his own laundryman. Insect
+enemies began to appear, and obtained a lodgment in spite of strenuous
+efforts. Soap was scarce and there were times when water was not the
+easiest thing in the world to get. Our sleeping arrangements were
+primitive, the usual method of arranging them being to place the rubber
+blanket on the ground with the coated side down, on this place the
+woolen blanket and wrapping this about us, go to sleep. Our coats, or
+shoes, or anything else suitable, being utilized for pillows. While on
+"Misery hill" many of the boys cut grass and utilized it as mattresses,
+but we could not do this on our short bivouacs.
+
+As to cooking, we were "stars." That is when there was anything to
+cook. On these occasions our culinary preparations were delightfully
+simple and even chafing-dish outfits would have to bow to our superior
+ingenuity. Our cooking apparatus required a small fire of wood, and
+the utensils were all carried in our haversacks. They were a combined
+frying pan and plate of tin, the former having a handle, a sharp
+pointed knife, fork and spoon. The basis of our menu was especially
+noticeable for its simplicity, the staples being bacon, hardtack,
+canned tomatoes and coffee. Sometimes we had sugar and more times we
+didn't. Occasionally we had a bit of salt or pepper and on these rare
+occasions there was joy, for then we were enabled to make the stuff
+labelled "canned roast beef" palatable enough so that it could be
+forced down our throats. At other times, Ugh! If the devil hasn't a
+special corner in the hot room of his Turkish bath reserved for those
+responsible for that "canned roast beef," he isn't "onto his job."
+
+Even with such simple means we managed to vary the menus a bit at
+times. Our usual breakfast was bacon and hardtack and coffee. The bacon
+was usually without a bit of lean and after frying for a moment or two
+the pan was about half-filled with fat, leaving a shrivelled up and
+brittle piece of so-called bacon. But it was eaten just the same, our
+stomachs having been educated up to anything. Sometimes we fried our
+hardtack in the bacon grease and these with black coffee, sometimes
+without sugar, made up our breakfast. Thanks to a beneficent government
+we had coffee about all the time, if we had nothing else. It came to
+us in the berry, in paper packages, and our chief concern as to coffee
+was how to grind or pulverize it. Usually this was done by the simple
+but slow process of putting a few berries in our tin cups and pounding
+them with a stick or tent pole until they were broken enough to steep.
+Then the cup was filled with water and placed in the fire until the
+coffee boiled when the cup was taken out by means of a cleft stick
+or a bayonet and laid aside to cool sufficiently to drink. There was
+plenty of barbed wire everywhere and by means of the wire cutters rude
+grates were made on which the tin cup was placed. For dinner the bill
+of fare and the method of preparing it was about the same, likewise
+for supper. Sometimes, when we had canned tomatoes we made "sludge," a
+simple confection of tomatoes and broken hardtack, with at times a few
+"strings" of the corned beef thrown in to give it, not taste, but more
+body. This "beef" was also used to form the groundwork for an imitation
+stew, the only resemblance to stew being the name, for it was without
+onions or potatoes. Then we made "Santiago sludge cakes," composed of
+pulverized hardtack and water, the mixture being patted into cakes and
+fried in bacon grease. Sometimes a bit of sugar was sprinkled over
+them, and we deluded ourselves into the belief that we were eating
+something very fine. Another method of preparing this delicacy was to
+mix in some canned tomato. Mango stew we had at times, but not often,
+as sugar was scarce.
+
+Gout might fairly have been expected as the result of this high
+living, (we were camped on a hill,) but, strange to say, no cases were
+reported, and even dyspepsia was unknown. Our regular hours doubtless
+aided us in keeping off these two diseases. We were aroused by reveille
+very early in the morning, usually about dawn and retired early in the
+evening. It grew dark about 8 o'clock and by that time everyone but the
+sentries was in quarters and usually asleep.
+
+The personal appearance of our officers and men was not as
+prepossessing as it might have been. Coats and collars were not _de
+rigeur_ and the only headgear was very "bum" looking campaign hats.
+Usually our blue shirts were open at the neck and a blue handkerchief
+carelessly knotted _a la_ cow boy was our only ornament. Suspenders
+were viewed with suspicion and the cartridge belts, with their thimbles
+filled with ammunition, served also the purpose of keeping our trousers
+up. These trousers were showing the wear and tear of the campaign, and
+needed pressing badly, being also used for pajamas. Our leggings were
+mostly torn and frayed, and went well with the trousers so far as looks
+were concerned, as for shoes, they too had seen better days. Barbers
+were at a discount and full beards were popular, the most noticeable
+ones in the three Springfield companies being those of Lieuts. Powers
+and Parkhurst of K, and Sergeants Scully and Murphy of G, although
+Gardella's was not far behind.
+
+In K "Bert" Nichols and "Ad" Potter had trained down so fine that
+their bodies failed to cast a shadow, and "Billy" Fish had got down to
+less than 200 pounds. The beard possessed by Morris Grenowitz of B was
+nearly all that remained of him and Jack Fulton was travelling in the
+same road. Alberts of B was having a good time with the horses and the
+Chaplain, and in K the Turner brothers were having hourly arguments
+with each other on the relative nutritious qualities of canned roast
+and corned beef. "Wap" Packard of G was busy figuring how many men
+were by his brother's side when he was shot, and had already counted
+up 35 with several more districts to hear from, and "Jim" Shene of the
+same company was planning foraging expeditions with Private Mahoney
+of Mittineague. "Batty" Hayes had secured a divorce from "Marguerite"
+Gelinas and was busy trying to keep the case out of the papers.
+
+So the days passed on "Misery hill" until noon of the 10th, when we
+were ordered to move on, once more to the right, and we left our fine
+trenches only to have them occupied by the 71st New York, the "heroes"
+of San Juan. We halted after a couple of hours, there being some
+trenches dug by Garcia's Cubans, and occupied them at 4 o'clock when
+our batteries opened upon Santiago. The affair lasted until 6, but the
+enemy's reply was not very loud and we did not get a chance to use our
+Springfields.
+
+Next morning we were on the march again, and this time it lasted about
+all day, up hill and down hill, until just before dusk we halted for
+the night with the right of our brigade resting on the Cobre road, thus
+cutting off the last avenue of escape from the city for the Spaniards,
+and the only way by which reinforcements from Holguin or the rest of
+the province could be put into the city. Rumors that a large Spanish
+force was on the way, made us vigilant and our guards were instructed
+to keep the sharpest kind of a watch, but as events proved, it was not
+necessary. Hardly had the boys got their tents up and their supper
+cooked, before the mail came up, and such a rush as there was for it.
+We had received one mail from home while on "Misery hill," and every
+man who failed to receive a letter then, was certain there was one or
+more for him now and could hardly wait to have the contents of the
+sacks distributed.
+
+That night we had to take off our hats to the Cuban rain storm. Hardly
+had the mail been distributed when it began to rain. Up to this what
+rain there was had usually fallen in the afternoon and was not of
+long duration, but the rain of July 11th and 12th will be remembered
+by every one in the Fifth Army Corps. It came down all night in solid
+sheets and our shelter tents and rubber blankets were of little use
+against it. When morning came everybody and everything was drenched,
+and a more forlorn looking outfit can hardly be imagined. About 6 A.
+M., the rain ceased for an hour or two and as soon as possible huge
+fires of bamboo were blazing and the men essayed to dry themselves and
+their clothing and to cook breakfast. Fortunately there was plenty of
+bamboo near our camp, and the wood burned as well wet as dry. But it
+was not long before down came the rain again just as bad as during the
+night, and to add to our discomfort, came orders to pack up and move on
+again.
+
+Rolling up our saturated tents and blankets, and wet to the skin, we
+took up the march and after wading through the deep mud of the Cobre
+road for a short distance, plunged into a trail which would take us to
+our new position and our last camp in Cuba. But it was not long before
+we found that the trail led through a piece of swampy ground, and
+before they had gone far the boys found themselves up to their legging
+tops in mud and the ooze of the swamp. It took a long time to flounder
+along through this, but it was finally done and the regiment emerged
+upon firm ground, and was soon on the spot selected for its occupancy.
+
+All this time the rain kept on, and it was not until nearly 4 P. M.,
+that it ceased and the sun came out. Meanwhile, the well soaked shelter
+tents had been put up and the men were either huddled under them and
+saying things about the wet season and Cuba, or were standing about
+with their rubber blankets thrown over their heads. But with the
+coming of the sun there was a great change. Its rays were so fierce
+that within half an hour there was scarcely any indication that it had
+been raining all night and all day, the ground dried up rapidly and so
+did the shelter tents. Off came the rubber blankets from the men, and
+clothing and equipments were spread out to dry in the afternoon sun.
+Wood was hustled for and with the blaze of the cooking fires and the
+smell of bacon and coffee cheerfulness returned.
+
+That evening the boys were put at work again digging trenches. Up to
+this Gen. Toral had hesitated to respond to Shafter's invitation to
+come out and surrender and the arrival of Gen. Miles having stiffened
+up the latter gentleman's backbone, some more trouble was looked for.
+Our brigade was, as usual, on the extreme right of the American line
+and the 8th regiment lay directly opposite the head of the harbor,
+the 22d next and then "ours." Right in front of our center and less
+than 500 yards away was the bull ring of Santiago, a circular wooden
+building filled with Spanish soldiers, while in front of that we could
+see the trenches with the soldiers lounging about, and with a glass
+could discern the barbed wire fencing and entanglements in front of the
+trenches. Our position was an exposed one, for from their position the
+enemy could have raked us front and flank, so at the trenches we went
+under the direction of Major Whipple.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Private Paul Vesper, B. Co.
+
+  Private John J. Malone, B. Co.
+
+  Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, B. Co.
+]
+
+By this time our regiment had been supplied with a fairly decent number
+of intrenching tools and the boys, appreciating the necessity for
+trenches, went at the work with but little grumbling. The trenches
+were dug on three sides of a square, one in front of each battalion,
+the work being done by each company in relays. Major Whipple's
+battalion now had the right, Major Fairbanks' the center and ours
+the left, so that it was in the rear of the other two. The work was
+continued to a late hour that night, and all the next day, and finished
+on the morning of the 14th. The trenches were even better than those
+dug on "Misery hill" and were complimented by Gen. Ludlow, who was a
+colonel of engineers before he became a general of volunteers. Not
+to be behind hand the non-commissioned staff of the regiment and the
+headquarters attaches dug a trench for themselves and the regiment was
+ready for the next move.
+
+Twelve o'clock at noon of the 24th was the hour set for the ending
+of the truce, and at 11.30 A. M. we were ordered into the trenches.
+Everyone felt there was going to be a hard fight this time, for it was
+considered certain that the enemy would make a determined resistance
+and our estimate of Spanish valor had gone up many degrees since El
+Caney. It was known that an assault by the Americans was to follow
+the bombardment and those who had noted the enemy's preparations for
+defense knew that we were in for a warm reception and that if we
+charged up to the barbed wire entanglements and the trenches many would
+not return. But that made little difference and we took our position
+in the trenches and waited for the opening gun from Capron's battery,
+posted on a hill in our rear. The horses and the Chaplain had gone to
+the rear and the surgeons and hospital corps were posted in readiness
+for what might happen. Hardly had we got into the trenches when the
+buzzards began to gather, and this to us was a certain indication of a
+battle.
+
+Noon came and the white flag of truce still waved from the governor's
+palace and the signal gun was not fired. Half after 12 and no change.
+We wondered what was up. Nothing much could be seen from the trenches
+and nearly all of the boys climbed to the top and sat down with eager
+eyes fastened upon the city we were going to capture. One o'clock and
+the white flag still floated. Now came the "Jo Jo" department to the
+front once again, and the news ran from trench to trench, that Shafter
+had postponed the assault and given the Spaniards a few days more
+in which to make up their mind. Following this came the information
+that Gen. Toral was merely trying to gain time in order that 10,000
+Spanish troops which were coming up, might attack us in the rear while
+Toral's men sallied out in our front. And then down came the rain in
+large and continuous sheets, soon flooding the trenches and making us
+forget the impending battle, "Jo Jo's," and everything else but the
+necessity of keeping as dry as possible. The rain lasted for an hour
+and a half, filling our lovely trenches with water and putting them in
+nice shape for a battle. But hardly had the sun reappeared before we
+saw a horseman clad in the Khaki uniform of Shafter's staff galloping
+along the lines toward us and in his wake we saw the hats of the men in
+the trenches being thrown into the air, and the wearers dancing as if
+some extra good news had come. Reining up in front of the center trench
+where Col. Clark was, the horseman gave him the welcome news that the
+city had surrendered, and as the constantly increasing knot of officers
+and men who had got within earshot, began to get ready for a vocal
+demonstration, the aide added, "Orders are not to cheer, boys, for the
+deal isn't quite fixed up, but you can throw your hats into the air all
+you wish." Well, the boys, followed instructions and the hats went up,
+while the aide dashed over to the 8th and 22d with the news.
+
+And it was good news. It meant no more trench digging, no more
+marching, no more fighting, and last but not least, as some of our long
+headed and practical ones figured it out, it meant more and varied
+rations, for now our ships could come into the harbor. The trenches
+were quickly emptied and we returned to our shacks in pretty good
+spirits.
+
+It was not until three days after, on Sunday the 17th, that the formal
+surrender took place. The troops were assembled in front of their
+trenches, and as the gun announcing the hoisting of our flag over the
+governor's palace, boomed out, we cheered, and then marched back only
+to be formed in front of Col. Clark's quarters, where certain men
+were given a "wigging" which they remembered for a long time. Since
+the 14th our men had been allowed to go freely outside our lines, and
+although not permitted to go into the city proper, yet they found
+some interesting things in the suburbs. One of these was the cemetery
+and some regulars and a number of Second men had gone there and
+thoughtlessly taken some flowers and trinkets from some graves. This
+desecration had been reported by the Spaniards to Gen. Shafter and the
+latter "wigged" Gen. Lawton about it, Lawton repeating the operation
+to Gen. Ludlow and the latter giving Col. Clark and the commanding
+officer of the 22d a bad quarter of an hour. So when it came his turn,
+Col. Clark let himself out on the men, and his remarks were of the keen
+and cutting style which makes a man feel good when he hears some other
+fellow getting them. This concluded the exercises of the day and we
+were dismissed to think it over.
+
+Next day the "Jo Jo" bureau resumed operations and we heard "on the
+best of authority," of course, that we were to be hustled on to Porto
+Rico with Gen. Miles. Next came the news that our brigade, having done
+so well was to be sent against Holguin in the interior of the province
+where there were some 8000 Spanish troops, who had been surrendered
+with those in Santiago but did not like it and proposed to fight.
+Within the next few days it was gravely announced by the "Jo Jo,"
+that we were going to be sent to the Philippines, as experienced and
+acclimated troops were wanted there; that we were to be sent to help
+capture Havana, marching from Santiago for that purpose, and best of
+all, that unless Spain sued for peace within a week, we were to embark
+for that country and invade it. As to the "Jo Jos" about double pay,
+the receipt by each man of a lump sum of money in consideration of
+waiving our claims to a pension, etc., they were numerous and varied
+enough to fill a large book. In its "Jo Jo" bureau the Second had some
+distinguished artists.
+
+But the most convincing sign of all that the city had surrendered, was
+the arrival of rations, and they were gladly received. For a day or
+two it was the familiar bacon and hardtack, but soon we were surprised
+and gladdened by the sound of mule wagons coming up the road from the
+city and laden with good looking loaves of soft bread. We then found
+that army ovens had been established in the city and that we would
+have bread in abundance. Next came some refrigerated beef, and it
+looked good and tasted better. Our first issue of the beef was quickly
+disposed of, each man's share being taken to the nearest fire and a
+"bluff" made at broiling it, the majority of the men being too "meat
+hungry" to do more than merely toast it. That first "beefsteak supper"
+of ours on the island is remembered yet. Next day came more beef, more
+bread and finally potatoes and onions, while with them were brought
+along rice and canned tomatoes and bacon and hardtack. The two latter
+we scorned. Eat hardtack and canned beef when we had fresh bread and
+meat and the materials for beef stew? Well, we guessed not. But it
+turned out we were too proud. There came days when the refrigerated
+beef became less relished, especially when our noses could learn of its
+being on the way long before it reached the camp, and we were glad to
+fall back on the despised, "sowbelly," and by this time in deference
+to our luxurious tastes, the conscience stricken commissary department
+was sending us something that resembled bacon far more than anything we
+had previously had, and that came in nice tin packages. Even the soft
+bread palled on us after a while, and we were glad to nibble a hardtack
+now and then, especially, when as sometimes happened the bread was sour.
+
+A few days after the surrender, B company was gladdened by the arrival
+of its cook, Walter Butler, who had remained on the ship and who,
+on his arrival, took charge of the culinary department and began to
+concoct some excellent stews. The Buzzicot field-cooking outfits, which
+we had brought from Massachusetts with us, were also landed, and that
+of G was at once set up with Private Carl Mueller as cook and Corporal
+"Nat" Gardella and "Dido" Hunt as steward and assistant steward, and
+"Daniel" Bellamy, the well-known temperance orator, as chief of the
+wood and water department. Private Fisher, the company cook of K, was
+ill, and K's Buzzicot was but little used.
+
+The day after our arrival in this camp, Private Bates of K severely
+injured his foot while chopping wood, the axe slipping and severing one
+of the arteries. He was laid up for some days.
+
+G and K moved their camps to the other side of the trenches about the
+20th, but B remained where it was. The wall tents which we brought
+with us from South Framingham and used at Lakeland and Tampa, also
+came up, and at once took the place of the "pup tents" we had used
+on the island. Our knapsacks and other property which we left on the
+Knickerbocker were also sent to us and we found that some of our things
+were left, although many knapsacks which had been left well filled, on
+the boat, had been "touched."
+
+Once again we began to have the same old shortage of rations, and
+this time with our ships in the harbor we couldn't understand it.
+One day we received two hardtack and a spoonful of coffee berries
+for a twenty-four hours issue. We were out of fresh meat, sugar and
+everything else, but this only lasted a couple of days and then we got
+fresh meat, vegetables and beans.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+WE HAVE TO FACE ANOTHER ENEMY MORE DEADLY THAN THE SPANIARDS.
+
+
+And now that the Spaniards had been conquered and Santiago was ours we
+found ourselves facing another enemy even more deadly than the Mauser
+bullets or the machete. Up to the surrender the health of our regiment,
+everything considered, had been fairly good. Sickness there was to be
+sure, but nothing more than was to be expected in a regiment of 900 men
+subjected to the exposures and hardships incidental to a campaign in a
+foreign land, and these exposures supplemented by a ration, which even
+when plentiful, which was not often, was entirely unfitted for soldiers
+campaigning in a warm climate. Again it must be remembered that our
+work in Cuba was performed in the rainy season and that sleeping in
+mud, marching and bivouacking in the rain and fording deep streams are
+not conducive to rugged health when persisted in day after day. But
+so long as the active campaign lasted, the excitement and novelty of
+it all kept the men up. After the surrender, when there was little or
+nothing for them to do, they were in condition to fall an easy prey to
+the "calentura" or malarial fever, and to the diseases of the stomach
+incident to camp life with a poorly adapted ration. Fat bacon and
+canned beans, containing fully as much grease as beans, are not the
+kind of food the sensible man going to spend a time in the tropics
+would select for his menu, but that is what we got and it was eat it or
+nothing.
+
+During the active campaign many men of the regiment were ill from one
+cause or another, but as a matter of fact, there was nothing like a
+general outbreak of sickness at any time until some days after the
+surrender. A number of the men contracted rheumatism from sleeping on
+the damp ground and there were scattered cases of measles and stomach
+disorders. But the average daily sick report never went much beyond a
+dozen cases, which it must be admitted is not bad for an organization
+of nearly 1000 men living under the conditions which we did.
+
+For the first few days after Santiago surrendered all went well.
+There were propositions to move the troops further inland and up into
+the mountains with a view of escaping any possibility of the dreaded
+yellow fever which was showing itself at Siboney, the houses of which
+village had been burned to the ground in order to remove the danger of
+infection, but the contemplated move was not made and we remained in
+our last station until the regiment sailed for Montauk Point.
+
+On the day after the surrender Col. Clark issued orders for daily
+company drills and inspections with a view of giving the men something
+to do, he recognizing, as an old soldier, that idleness is the worst
+possible thing in camp. He and his superiors realized, however, that
+the army had passed through a most trying, though short campaign, and
+that the men deserved a rest, but at the same time there were already
+warnings that the less active the men were, the easier they fell prey
+to the climatic diseases of the country. Even after we had been in our
+last camp for a few days, there were signs that the fever was at work
+and with our limited supply of medicines, it was feared that it might
+become epidemic. That these fears were only too well grounded was soon
+to be made manifest.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Corp'l Thos. C. Boon.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Pvt. J. L. Morehouse.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Private
+  Michael R.
+  Lyons.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Musician Frank P. Jones. K. Co.
+
+  Corp'l W. C. Piper.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Pvt. Arthur Burnham.
+  K. Co.
+]
+
+The day following the surrender, Col. Clark and Major Bowen, the
+regimental surgeon, established a hospital in an old and dilapidated
+wooden building a couple of hundred yards in front of our advanced line
+of trenches and which had been used as a railway station. It was in
+poor shape, the roof being partly gone and the flooring bad, but it was
+better than leaving the sick men in their stuffy little shelter tents
+or out in the open air. The division hospitals were already overcrowded
+with wounded and sick men and the regimental commanders were notified
+that they would have to care for their own sick as best they could.
+Even as bad as the building selected for our hospital was, it was
+looked upon with envy by the commanding officers of other regiments and
+it was even suggested to Col. Clark that he divide it up with the other
+regiments of our brigade.
+
+Whether it was the camping along the line of the recently made
+trenches, the earth of which was said to be full of malarial germs, or
+that the fever was already in the air that caused the epidemic among
+our men is not certain, but within a day or two after the Sunday on
+which the Stars and Stripes were hoisted over the city the fever began
+its career in our regiment and in a few days over fifty per cent. of
+the officers and men were affected with it. The daily drills soon had
+to be discontinued, for hardly enough men to make a decent showing
+were able to turn out for them in the majority of the companies. It
+was the same way at the daily inspections. Frequently a man standing
+in the ranks would fall down in his tracks from sheer weakness and
+would have to be carried to his tent by his comrades. Soon there was
+no pretence of conforming to the orders requiring these drills and
+inspections and the men, who were able to move at all, did so as if
+their feet were encased in lead. At surgeon's call every morning there
+were sights which were enough to appall the stoutest hearted among us.
+It was directly after reveille that this call was sounded, and then
+from all parts of the camp dreary processions of what had been strong
+and hearty looking young men, would drag themselves slowly to the
+surgeon's tent and stand or lie on the ground waiting for their turn to
+be treated. And it must be said that the treatment was not of a sort
+calculated to cheer them up. The only medicines on hand were quinine
+and salts and a preparation for stomach disorders. Of quinine there
+was a plenty, but after a time the systems of the men, in many cases,
+became so saturated with it that even doses of thirty grains or more
+produced but little effect. And what hurt the boys more than the fever
+or anything else was the feeling, right or wrong as it may have been,
+that we of the Fifth Army Corps, who had done our work uncomplainingly,
+and done it well, were being neglected by the government whose call
+we had obeyed among the first. It was known that our state had sent
+us away from South Framingham with a medicine chest second to none
+in the army, and that this chest was even now on board of one of the
+transports in the harbor, but for all practical uses, as far off as
+the North Pole. Some of us knew that requisition after requisition
+for medical supplies had been sent in by our surgeon and had not been
+honored, that in spite of all our surgeons and stewards could do it was
+next to an impossibility to obtain an ambulance, and that we were even
+denied the services of one of our assistant surgeons, Dr. Gates having
+been detailed to the Fourth infantry, which was at that time without a
+medical officer.
+
+All these things helped the fever. Depression was its best ally,
+and then came nostalgia, the homesickness which men who have never
+experienced sneer at, but which is the bane of armies, and which in the
+Cuban campaign helped kill more men than the bullets of the Spaniards.
+For nurses for the sick there were only their comrades, willing enough
+God knows, but unaccustomed to the work, and with their own nerves
+and tempers wrought up to a high pitch. With lack of surgeons, lack
+of medicines, lack of nurses, lack of proper food, lack of proper
+accommodations and lack of everything that sick men should have, it is
+a wonder that the entire regiment was not left behind to fill graves in
+Cuba.
+
+But even a more pitiful sight than the men who answered the surgeon's
+call every morning had to witness, was the spectacle of the poor
+fellows who were unable to get up from their beds on the ground, and
+who lay there day after day under the stuffy tents, their bodies
+burning up with the fever, too weak or too despairing to even accept
+the poor nourishment which their comrades tried to get for them, and in
+some cases so far gone with nostalgia that they refused everything and
+only wished for death. It is a known fact that fifty per cent. of the
+men of the Second who died in that last camp of ours in Cuba, died of
+nostalgia and nothing else.
+
+Meanwhile, everything that could be done with the limited resources at
+command, was being done. The company commanders sent into Santiago and
+bought at the commissary stores, such decent food for sick men as could
+be procured, and through the efforts of Col. Clark, some suitable food
+and delicacies were obtained from the Red Cross society. The Colonel
+also purchased, at his own expense, a number of cots and hammocks for
+the regimental hospital.
+
+It was indeed a trying time. Officer after officer and man after man
+went down with the fever. Adjutant Paul R. Hawkins was hard hit with it
+and was finally removed to the second division hospital. Major Henry
+C. Bowen, the regimental surgeon, also succumbed and was taken to the
+same hospital where he died. Quartermaster E. E. Sawtell was another
+victim but did not go to the hospital. Captain John J. Leonard of G,
+was stricken and for long days fought the disease in his quarters,
+and Lieut. Edward J. Leyden of his company was taken to the hospital.
+Lieut. W. L. Young and Lieut. Harry J. Vesper of B were attacked, the
+former not seriously, however. There were but few men in any of the
+companies fit for duty and it was difficult to get enough men for the
+necessary details. The drills were given up for not enough men to
+make a decent showing were fit to turn out and it was with difficulty
+that enough men for regimental and brigade guard were provided.
+Some necessary work had to be done and from brigade and division
+headquarters details were constantly being asked for and every man able
+to stand on his feet had to be pressed into service.
+
+The officers, during this trying time, did all in their power for their
+men, but it was not much they were able to do and the men felt at the
+time, that they should have done more. In this they were unjust, for
+the officers were suffering as much as the men, and the latter have
+since come to realize that many of the opinions expressed at this
+time and later, on this subject, were unjust. The fever and the other
+diseases spared no one, whether he wore shoulder straps or not.
+
+Dr. Hitchcock, our assistant surgeon, succumbed to the fever, and
+was taken to the division hospital and the surgeon, Dr. Bowen, soon
+followed him there. This left us without a medical officer, and for two
+or three days the outlook for the sick men of the Second was a dark
+one. But we were then provided with two contract surgeons, Dr. Persons
+and Dr. Dunwoody, and both proved themselves excellent gentlemen and
+hard workers. Soon after their arrival, Dr. Gates, our other assistant
+surgeon, who had been detailed to the Fourth infantry, was sent back
+to us, and his presence was as good as a tonic to the sick men. His
+cheery smile and sympathetic ways were even better than his medicines,
+and for a time, after his return, the health of the command appeared
+to improve. Meanwhile, the famous "round robin" had been sent, and its
+result was that the Fifth corps was ordered to return home as soon as
+transports could be procured. From then until August 12 the thoughts of
+the men were concentrated upon the time we were to go home.
+
+Meanwhile, the men who escaped the fever and other diseases, were
+doing all possible for their comrades. The company officers, finding
+that idleness at this time was the worst possible thing for the men
+who were at all able to get about, set them at work, and though this
+seemed at the time a hardship to the men, it turned out to be the best
+thing that could be done, for it not only served to keep them in better
+shape physically but helped to keep their minds occupied and prevented
+them from dwelling too much upon the gloomy situation in the camps and
+from thinking too much of home. They were encouraged and in most cases
+ordered to build raised bunks for themselves, these serving to keep
+their bodies off the ground while sleeping, and to erect shelters of
+boughs and palm leaves instead of remaining in their shelter tents.
+When the big wall tents arrived there was no further need of these
+"shacks" but they served a useful purpose even if not handsome looking.
+
+It was not long after the surrender that we began to get large packages
+of mail, including the Springfield papers and it is hardly necessary
+to say that they were welcome. In these papers we found stories of the
+campaign and of the part the Second had played in the actions at El
+Caney and San Juan. Many of the letters the boys had written from Tampa
+and Cuba had been printed and in the reading of these there was much
+fun. We learned from the papers of the big Fourth of July celebration
+that had been planned in Springfield, and how it had been given up when
+the news of El Caney and the rumors of heavy loss in "Ours" reached
+home. And we received the Fourth of July buttons which had been made
+in honor of that occasion and proudly wore them about the camp to the
+envy of some of the other companies of the regiment. It did us some
+good to know that we had not been entirely forgotten. And sometimes in
+the mails there were packages for us, sent by loving friends from home
+and welcome, whether they contained much or little. The arrival of the
+mail was an event in those days. Sometimes all that there was could be
+brought from Santiago on the back of one horse, but there were times
+when one of the two wheeled carretas was necessary to transport it.
+The array of bags would be dumped off in front of the office tent of
+the regiment and then the work of sorting out the contents would begin.
+That destined for each company having been piled up, there were usually
+enough men waiting to take it away, and for the next few hours the men
+would read their letters and papers and exchange news. The arrival of
+the mail was invariably followed by a time of letter writing and the
+return mail was sometimes nearly as heavy as that which had come in.
+
+As time went on the fever appeared to be wearing itself out and some
+of those who had it began to recover slowly until they were able to
+drag themselves around. For days there was a feeling that the worst was
+over, and this feeling was especially strong in our battalion, which,
+by the way, had not as yet been as hard hit by the fever as some of the
+other sections of the regiment. But then came the yellow fever scare
+and the deaths of one or two of our men and these resulted in a return
+of the old depression and consequently the sickness.
+
+Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse of B, was the first man of the
+Springfield companies to succumb to the fever and the nostalgia which
+accompanied it. He was taken sick soon after the surrender, but kept
+up and about for some time, as he had all through the campaign. But he
+went down at last and the end came on rapidly. He died on August 1st,
+and there was not a man in the regiment more regretted for all who ever
+knew "Dicky" Bearse, loved him.
+
+The second man to go, in the battalion, was Corporal W. C. Piper of K,
+who died in the division hospital, August 5th, of pernicious malarial
+fever. He had been taken there only the day before and his comrades
+were horror stricken when notified of his death. The day following
+a detail from his company was sent to the hospital and buried him.
+Private Paul Vesper of B, died the 10th, from the same cause as Piper,
+in the division hospital.
+
+It was a day or two afterwards that we heard of the famous "round
+robin" and its result. The thought of soon sailing for home did much
+to cheer us up and we began to make what few preparations we had to
+make, although there was as yet nothing authentic about our going. But
+on the 10th Col. Clark received orders to be ready to embark on short
+notice and the news spread like wildfire through our camp. Our working
+suits which we had worn all through the campaign, and our blankets and
+haversacks were ordered burned and in place of them we were issued the
+khaki uniforms of yellow with blue facings.
+
+A few days before Col. John F. Marsh, of Springfield, had arrived, and
+brought with him several boxes of good things sent by the people of
+Springfield. The time was so short that many of the boxes were unopened
+and were taken to the ship when we sailed. Nearly all their contents
+were looted, however, during our trip to Montauk point.
+
+August 11th we received orders to embark the following day, and on the
+12th those of the regiment able to march, fell in, and we "hiked the
+pike" for Santiago. With flags flying we marched through the Calle de
+Marina, or Marine street, and after a short wait on a pier, were put
+on a lighter and taken off to the transport Mobile, already occupied
+by the other two regiments of our brigade and a number of horses. The
+sick officers and men were sent to the pier in ambulances and those
+able to walk not only had to do that, but were also obliged to handle
+all the baggage, a job that would have been child's play at other
+times, but which in our debilitated condition was a task almost beyond
+our strength. Col. Clark had been attacked with the fever that morning
+and was unable to do anything. Lieut. Col. Shumway was so ill as to
+be unfit for duty but he stuck it out and did what he could. Lieut.
+Hawkins and Lieut. Leyden were brought down from the division hospital
+and Lieut. Vesper was brought down from his tent in our camp by Captain
+Crosier of D. Company.
+
+Meanwhile there were a number of our men sick in their quarters or
+in the hospitals who could not be moved to the ship, besides others
+who had been spotted as "suspicious" cases by the surgeons on the day
+previous, and ordered to remain behind, it being feared that they were
+in the first stages of yellow fever. It was necessary that some remain
+behind to care for these poor fellows, but who to detail to this hard
+duty was a problem which Col. Clark finally solved by detailing Lieut.
+W. H. Plummer of A Company of Worcester, and a detail of one man from
+each company in the regiment to remain. Private Dozilva Lamoreaux
+of G, Private Robert A. Draper of B and Private Albert Marsden of
+K volunteered to compose this detail from our companies, and their
+sacrifices in doing this will not be forgotten by their comrades.
+
+Privates Little, Stetson, Brownell and Dunn of G company, Corporal John
+B. Fulton, and Privates Judd, Rivers, Champagne, Smith, Wheeler and
+Frey of B company, and Privates Maynard, Solace and Hall of K were left
+behind on the island, either sick or as yellow fever suspects when the
+regiment was ordered home.
+
+[Illustration: 1ST TURRET'S CREW. MONITOR LEHIGH.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+OUR VOYAGE HOMEWARD ON THE DEATH SHIP MOBILE.
+
+
+Our voyage homeward on the Mobile was not exactly a pleasant one.
+At the very outset we again found that in army language we were "up
+against it." Our entire brigade, composing some 1500 officers and men,
+were on the boat, which although large, was not fitted up in very good
+shape for transport service and as a result there was at first much
+overcrowding. The Mobile had recently conveyed a cargo of mules to
+Porto Rico and on her return from that duty had lain for several days
+in the festering harbor of Santiago so that her sanitary condition
+could not be termed an ideal one. The officers were crowded together in
+her few staterooms and as for the men they were jammed below decks and
+above decks in any old way. The Eighth and Twenty-second regiments had
+been on board some time before our regiment arrived and of course had
+appropriated the best portions of the ship to themselves, something for
+which they could not be blamed so very much.
+
+That evening we of the Second just simply "bunked" anywhere we could
+and as a rule we went to bed supperless, for everything was in such a
+mixed up condition there was no effort made at giving out rations. And
+on our arrival we found that we were to pass another time with our old
+friends, the canned "beef" and the nourishing and palatable (!) travel
+rations. After bidding them farewell, as we thought, forever, this was
+felt to be the worst blow we had yet suffered but there was no use
+"kicking" and we made the best of it. Fortunately or unfortunately, as
+one looks at it, the majority of the men had money enough to purchase
+quantities of canned fruits and delicacies before they left Santiago
+and these helped us out to some extent.
+
+What we at first thought was a blessing but which afterward turned out
+to be the reverse was the presence of a large tank of ice water below
+decks to which we freely helped ourselves and with evil effect upon
+some of the men who developed dysentery from indulging too freely in
+the cold liquid. After a day or two the ice water was shut off from the
+men, and they were compelled to drink the regular ship's water. There
+was any amount of grumbling at this but it was the best thing to be
+done under the circumstances.
+
+We remained in the harbor the night of the 12th and early on the 13th,
+our old "hoodoo" number being with us again, the Mobile swung her nose
+around and steamed down the harbor. Every man able to be up was on deck
+as we started out and realized that we were homeward bound at last.
+There were mighty few regrets expressed at leaving Cuba and our chief
+concern now was to reach home as quickly as possible. It was known
+that our destination was Montauk Point, L. I., and beyond that our
+information was a trifle hazy.
+
+Passing down the harbor we came to the Merrimac as she lay about where
+Hobson had sunk her and we could see that she was not of much avail
+in stopping the channel. A little further we passed the wreck of the
+Reina Mercedes as she lay where the shells from our warships had put
+her out of business and just a little distance further along we passed
+out under the frowning walls and grim looking guns of Castle Morro,
+over which our flag was now floating. On the other side of the harbor
+entrance was an unimportant looking sand battery, but it was from it
+that the Spanish guns did their most effective work against our fleet.
+One turn more and we were out of the harbor and again on the bounding
+billows.
+
+This day quarters were assigned the various companies of our regiment
+below decks. The men were supplied with hammocks and as these had to be
+slung close together and the men were just a bit unfamiliar with their
+management there were many tumbles out of bed that night. We found the
+sleeping accommodations on the Mobile superb. If you say that word
+"superb" quick it sounds well and that's the way we said it. A number
+of the men were obliged to sleep on deck and under a covering of loose
+planks and as it happened to rain two or three nights in succession,
+they did not like their sleeping quarters any too well.
+
+The steward of the Mobile was an Englishman, like all her officers,
+and he was a direct descendant of thieves and inherited all their
+instincts of robbery. He thought nothing of charging $5 for a half-pint
+of vile liquor and his prices for anything else he could sell were
+in proportion. He contracted with some of the company commanders to
+furnish a number of loaves of bread each day for the men but the loaves
+turned out to be nothing more than biscuits and the prices asked were
+so exorbitant that a complaint was made to the captain of the ship and
+the steward was compelled to make restitution.
+
+One of the first incidents of our passage homeward was the stopping
+of the Mobile by a United States gunboat on our second evening out
+from Santiago harbor. It seems that the Mobile was not showing just
+the proper lights and the gunboat steamed close to her to investigate,
+firing a blank charge across her bows as a signal to stop. The Mobile
+stopped. Then after a brief colloquy between the little gunboat and
+the big Mobile the latter was allowed to proceed. It should be said,
+however, that when the officers and crew of the gunboat ascertained
+that the Second Massachusetts was on board they gave us three hearty
+cheers.
+
+Life on board the Mobile was not a bit more luxurious than it had been
+on the Knickerbocker or in Cuba. We had the same old travel rations
+and no means of cooking them. After the first day out an arrangement
+was made whereby Walter Butler, the cook for B company, was to have
+the use of the crew's galley to make coffee for the three Springfield
+companies. Walter did as well as he could under difficulties but
+ofttimes the water used in making the coffee was so poor in quality
+that the concoction was not exactly palatable. But it was better than
+ship's water.
+
+The men messed as best they could. The officers had their meals in
+the dining saloon, paying $1 a day for them and they were not over
+luxurious. Neither were their quarters, for with the entire brigade
+on board the staterooms were insufficient to accommodate them all and
+they were forced to double up and in some instances three officers were
+assigned to one room and forced to "bunk" as best they could.
+
+Many of the officers and men were just out of hospitals, and for them
+the voyage was a harder trial than those who were officially in good
+health. The ship's hospital was established on the aft deck and was
+protected from the elements only by canvas awnings and during the two
+or three times it rained during the voyage the sick men were drenched
+as they lay in their cots or hammocks. Surgeon Gates and Dr. Piersons,
+the contract surgeons who had done so much for our regiment in front
+of Santiago, were indefatigable in their attendance upon our sick and
+so were the hospital stewards, but the medical supplies were as usual
+insufficient and the accommodations entirely inadequate. Two men were
+detailed each day to assist in caring for the sick men from their
+companies and while of course they meant to do all they could for
+their comrades their performance very often fell far short of their
+intentions. Naturally the sick men were often peevish and troublesome
+and it cannot be said that the lot of the attendants was a very
+pleasant one.
+
+On our second day out occurred the first death in the regiment,
+Sergeant Harold B. Wentworth of C company, who had been ill with
+typhoid fever and malaria. His body was buried at sea a few hours after
+death and the sad event was the first of a series during the voyage.
+Private George Higgins of F company was the next victim, his death
+occuring on the 15th.
+
+August 17th was a black day for the Second. At 12.30 that morning
+Second Lieut. Harry J. Vesper of B company died after a long illness,
+with gastritis and malaria. He was a very sick man when brought on
+board but was nursed and cared for as tenderly as possible during the
+voyage. Private James Ryan of B was detailed as his attendant and was
+constantly with him, but even the best of care could not have saved
+him. The same day his body, wrapped in the folds of the American flag,
+was lowered into the deep, the Mobile being hove to for the purpose.
+The band of the 22d regiment played appropriate airs and Chaplain
+Wellwood of the Second conducted the services. The burial was nearly
+off Cape Hatteras. Lieut. Vesper, who was one of the most popular
+officers of the regiment, met his fate bravely and died in merciful
+ignorance of the fact that his brother, Private Paul Vesper of B
+company, had died a few days before the regiment left Cuba. At that
+time Lieut. Vesper was ill in the division hospital and it was deemed
+best to keep the knowledge of his brother's fate from him.
+
+On this same day another B company man, Wagoner Paul J. Kingston,
+answered his final roll call, dying in the afternoon. Privates Earle C.
+Clark of H company and Franklin W. Manning of M company, made up the
+death roll for the day and their bodies were given to the sea.
+
+On the 18th Privates Charles H. Cranston and Henry C. Collins, both of
+I company of Northampton, died and on the 20th just before we landed at
+Montauk Point Sergeant Ryder of E company passed away. On the voyage
+from Santiago to Montauk our regiment lost ten, one officer and nine
+men, and it is no wonder that the Mobile was referred to as a "death
+ship."
+
+It is no wonder either, under these circumstances, that the men became
+depressed. Cooped up in an ill-smelling hold during the night, fed on
+unsuitable food and seeing the bodies of their comrades cast overboard
+day after day it was not strange that they became blue. But happily the
+voyage did not last long for on the afternoon of the 19th we sighted
+Montauk Point and knew that in a day or two we would be on good United
+States soil once more.
+
+It was night when the Mobile cast anchor and early the next morning
+she was towed into what we supposed was quarantine. We passed several
+steamers with the yellow quarantine flag hoisted at their sterns and
+after a while the Mobile anchored and some quarantine officers came
+aboard and inspected the passengers and crew. Fortunately this ceremony
+did not last long and when it was over the Mobile was brought alongside
+a wharf as we in our innocence supposed to allow us to land.
+
+But as it happened we were not to land that day. On the wharf were
+sentries and those of "Ours" who happened to get as far as the wharf
+were at once driven back. Neither was any one allowed at first to come
+aboard. As we swung in the stream before the Mobile got to the wharf a
+small boat containing some Springfield newspaper men attempted to get
+within reach of the Mobile, but she was ordered away and at the wharf
+it was some time before anybody was allowed to come aboard the Mobile.
+The first Springfield man we saw was Dr. David Clark, the surgeon for
+years of the Second while it was in the militia service. He finally
+came on board and was at once surrounded by the men of the three
+Springfield companies so that it was some little time before he made
+his way to the quarterdeck, where Col. Clark and the officers were
+awaiting him. He brought plenty of news for us and much information
+concerning Montauk Point and the arrangement of the camps there. At
+the same time came aboard baskets of sandwiches and fruit which Dr.
+Clark had provided. Thanks to the kindness of Dr. Clark many messages
+were sent from the ship to the anxious ones at home announcing the safe
+arrival of the Mobile and that the senders were well.
+
+It was not until the next day that we were allowed to land and it was
+a sad spectacle to watch the disembarkation of the gallant Second from
+the ship. The men who were able to walk got down the steep gang plank
+in some kind of order and after an attempt at regimental formation,
+marched up to the quarantine camp, a distance of some two and a half
+miles, over the very roughest kind of a road. The sick were transported
+in mule wagons and they did not find the ride a very pleasant one. On
+arrival at the camp it was found all laid out with large wall tents
+arranged in company streets and the majority of the tents equipped with
+board floors, a luxury we had not experienced for many moons. Rough
+sinks had been made in rear of the company streets and supplies of
+soft bread, fruits and milk were waiting for us. A number of the sick
+officers and men were taken directly over to the hospitals and it began
+to look as if things might be half decent after all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+WE AND OUR FRIENDS ENJOY OURSELVES AT CAMP WIKOFF, MONTAUK POINT.
+
+
+From the beginning it was evident that our lines in Camp Wikoff were
+to be cast in more pleasant places than had been the case since we
+left Lakeland in June. To be sure the detention camp was not an abode
+of princely luxury and there were shortcomings in plenty about it, but
+there was an honest effort to care for our comfort. There were but few
+of the officers and men in our regiment in good health and even the men
+who did not go to the hospitals were in bad shape physically, but the
+knowledge of the fact that we were on United States soil at last and
+that but a short time would elapse before we would be en route for home
+was better than medicine. Then, too, there was the great improvement
+in our food, which was worth something, and there was the presence of
+our friends from Springfield, including some who had made all manner of
+sacrifices and had endured toil, discomforts and trouble to get to us
+with help and cheer.
+
+No one can doubt but what it was the full intent of those in authority
+at Washington to treat the returned soldiers from Cuba in the best
+possible manner, but it is a matter of common knowledge that as a
+paving material for a certain warm place good intentions is the
+very best material yet devised by the arch enemy of mankind. The
+performance at Montauk fell far short of the promise and this was aided
+by the over officiousness of some very young and very fresh officers
+who had no idea beyond the blind following of red tape regulations no
+matter what might happen. It was to these officers that the delay and
+vexatious troubles experienced by Dr. David Clark of Springfield in
+his mission of mercy to us of the Second can be attributed and others
+associated with him had to face the same difficulties. The story of
+how Dr. Clark, Lieut. T. A. Sweeney and others were "held up" at the
+mouth of the rapid fire guns of the converted yacht Aileen by one
+Lieut. Rhodes, whose name is still cursed by every Second regiment
+man, is still fresh in the minds of all of us and it was only when the
+presumptuous young officer was made to realize that he was not the only
+thing that ever happened that the supplies sent to us by loving hands
+in Springfield reached us. There is the memory too of the long and
+weary hours Dr. Clark spent underneath the pier at Montauk in order to
+remain inside the guard lines and be on hand to greet us when our ship
+came in. There are the memories of the good work done for us by our old
+surgeon when the Second was a militia regiment, Major Brown of North
+Adams, and of Lieut. Sweeney, E. S. Bradford, P. H. Quinn, Charles
+Lathrop as the representative of Dr. D. J. Brown, T. W. Hyde, and last
+but by no means least of Frank P. Frost of Springfield, who as the
+personal representative of Henry S. Lee, worked like a beaver day and
+night. The Springfield newspaper men, too, should not be forgotten and
+the thanks of many a poor fellow are due to H. L. Hines, G. H. Atwood
+and Frank Lee of the _Union_ and to H. K. Regal of the _Republican_
+and T. W. Burgess of the _Homestead_ for many kindnesses and unfailing
+sympathy.
+
+The sad scenes attending the disembarkation of the Second from the
+Mobile will not be forgotten for many a day by those who witnessed or
+participated in them. A number of the sick men were taken off late in
+the afternoon of the 19th, but when dusk fell Gen. Young, the commander
+of the camp, refused to allow any more to be brought ashore until the
+next day. The next morning the exodus from the ship began at an early
+hour and continued until at last we were all ashore. First came the
+sick in a ghastly procession down the steep gang planks and into the
+ambulances which were to convey them to the hospitals and the sight of
+the poor fellows was pathetic in the extreme. The sick ashore, then
+came those able to walk or totter and these men, the majority of them
+wrecks of their once vigorous selves, dragged themselves to the pier
+laden down with their baggage and fell in for the march to the camp.
+Those unable to walk were piled into mule wagons and the procession
+started.
+
+It was not a long march, but it was a fatiguing one for the men and
+they were glad when the big wall tents assigned to the Second appeared.
+This was the "detention" camp for in the eyes of the medical officers
+we were still suspects even if we had passed quarantine, and we were to
+be isolated for five days. It was not a bad camp. The tents were new
+and clean and many of them were provided with board floors, a luxury
+that reminded us of our militia days at South Framingham. It had been
+the intention of the war department to provide straw for us to sleep
+on but like many other intentions it was not fulfilled until Secretary
+Alger happened to visit the camp of the Second and found no straw.
+Then some came along in a hurry. There were cooking outfits, too, and
+the days of the canned roast beef and the other constituents of the
+palatable and nourishing (?) travel ration were numbered. In their
+place came the appetizing beef stew, the roast beef, soft bread and
+cool milk. There were also canned delicacies, and fruits, and tobacco
+in plenty. In fact, there were too many good things for some of the
+boys, as the hospital records attest.
+
+It is needless to say that the hospitals were filled. They were
+overcrowded, and that, too, in spite of the fact that additions were
+put on as fast as possible. The hospitals were of canvas but with
+raised floors and were equipped with cots. What the emotions of the
+sick boys were when they actually found themselves lying on a bed and
+between clean white sheets, and tended by kind and devoted nurses can
+be imagined. Not only that but they were given plenty of nourishing
+food and medicine was in plenty. After the lack of everything of the
+hospitals in Cuba the contrast was sharp, even though the Montauk
+hospitals lacked some things. As for the nurses and the doctors there
+was nothing they were unwilling to do to help the sick. Many of the
+nurses were Sisters of Charity or Sisters of Mercy, others were from
+the Red Cross society, others volunteers, but all were actuated by the
+same motives, and worked unremittingly to do all in their power for the
+boys. Some of the doctors were army surgeons and others were contract
+surgeons, but all worked alike. Then, too, there were any number of
+volunteer hospital assistants, all zealous to help us, some of them
+a little too much so, and it was a rare thing for the sick men in a
+hospital ward to lack for attention. Diet kitchens were established
+and a system of looking after convalescent and furloughed soldiers
+was established. In this work the noble efforts of the Massachusetts
+Volunteer Aid Association was pre-eminent and there are none of us who
+will forget what its representatives did, not only at Camp Wikoff but
+after our return to our homes. Not only did the society work among the
+soldiers from Massachusetts, but many a regular soldier was aided and
+comforted by its representatives.
+
+Under the influence of proper care and food the men in the
+hospitals and the camps began to improve and though many died, yet
+more recovered. As soon as a soldier inmate of the hospital was
+anywhere near convalescence he was given a furlough to his home and
+transportation furnished him. At first these furloughs were only for
+ten days but after a bit they were lengthened to 30 days so that when
+the Second came to leave Montauk a good percentage of the officers and
+men had preceded it home. A large number of the sick men were taken
+from the camp hospital and sent to New York, New London, New Haven and
+other places where the local hospitals had opened their doors to the
+soldiers and where the care they received was in some respects better
+than that possible under the crowded conditions at Montauk.
+
+In spite or all that could be done at Montauk there were many instances
+of individual hardship and although it seemed as if there were at least
+two or three people anxious and willing to look after every soldier
+yet there were cases of apparently unnecessary suffering. Soldiers
+discharged from the hospitals as convalescent would be sent to the
+depot at Montauk, a good two miles from the hospital, on foot and would
+be compelled to wait for hours in the hot sun before they could get
+transportation orders. At the depot there were often good men and women
+with cans of milk or lemonade and food, but even their zealous efforts
+could not prevent some suffering. All this was perhaps inseparable from
+the overcrowded condition of the camp and hospitals and the fact that
+there were not nearly enough officers to do the work properly.
+
+On the 24th the regiment was released from quarantine and moved from
+the detention to the general camp. By this time rumors that we were to
+be furloughed and sent home were rife again and the date was finally
+fixed for the 26th. Meanwhile there had been some important visitors
+in our camp, including Col. Roosevelt, Secretary of War Alger and Gen.
+Wheeler and they all had good words to say for the Second. Also there
+were many visitors from Springfield and Western Massachusetts and
+the men were fed upon all kinds of delicacies, in some cases to the
+detriment of their health.
+
+Musician Frank P. Jones of K company was the only Springfield man to
+die in Montauk, his death occuring on the 27th, after he had suffered
+for days with malarial fever of the Cuban type. He had not been ill in
+Cuba but the seeds of the disease lodged in his system there and in his
+weak condition when we landed at Montauk he was unable to resist it.
+We heard while at Montauk of the death in Cuba of Private Arthur M.
+Burnham of K and there were many regrets among his comrades. Private
+Burnham was ill when the regiment left Santiago for home and so was
+left behind.
+
+On the 25th verbal orders furloughing the Second for 60 days were
+received and the regiment was ordered to be in readiness the next day
+to proceed home. At the expiration of the furlough the regiment was to
+be mustered out at South Framingham but this was afterwards changed
+to Springfield. The officers and men were all ready on the 26th to go
+home and the night before had been spent in packing up and putting
+everything in shape. The rifles and equipments had been turned in and
+the morning was eagerly anticipated. There was much disappointment when
+the day came and there were no signs of an immediate movement from
+the camp. Hour after hour passed and when it was finally ascertained
+that the departure was deferred to the next day because of a lack
+of transportation, there was nothing but disappointment from the
+commanding officer down to the privates. But the Second had by this
+time learned resignation and so the men waited through the long day and
+the equally long night for the word that the boat which was to convey
+the regiment to New London was ready.
+
+The night of the 26th was made memorable by a wild stampede of a number
+of horses of the cavalry through the camp of the Second. The animals
+were being led to water and in some manner became frightened and
+getting away from the man in charge ran pell mell through the company
+streets of the regiment, upsetting stacks of arms and tents and leaving
+everything in much disorder. Fortunately no one was injured.
+
+There was but little sleep in the camp that night. The boys were too
+much excited over the prospect of being at home on the morrow to care
+much for slumber, and they were up long before reveille sounded.
+Breakfast was hastily cooked and eaten and the outfit, or what was left
+of it, fell in for the march to the boat, some three miles away. There
+were ambulances for the sick and these were filled again and again. The
+men able to march were not numerous, and the companies did not have
+full ranks by any means. The men were without arms and clad in all
+sorts of uniforms, the yellow and blue Khaki predominating, although
+there were some who preferred the old militia blue uniforms they had
+worn from South Framingham. The regiment finally started for the pier
+amid the cheers of the 22d and other regiments it passed, and a short
+time after embarking was once more on the water but bound for home this
+time. The sick men who were unable to stand the journey were left in
+the hospital and those allowed to go were carefully looked after.
+
+Arrived at New London the regiment fell at once into good hands. The
+people of that city had known of its coming and delegations were on
+hand when the boat came in, with food and refreshments for the boys.
+Meanwhile preparations had been made by the militia authorities of the
+state, and the people of Springfield and other places interested in the
+Second, to look after the men. Gen. Dalton had sent a detail of staff
+officers to Springfield with full power as to expenses to see that the
+returning soldiers who had shed credit upon Massachusetts were properly
+looked after, and a special train had been made up to go to New London
+to bring them on from there. Food and refreshments were taken on the
+train, and representatives of state and city were on board to render
+all possible assistance. The trip was a comparatively short one. At
+Palmer the three Worcester companies and F of Gardner were transferred
+to a train for their destination while the other companies came on to
+Springfield.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+IN WHICH IS TOLD HOW WE PREPARE TO QUIT UNCLE SAM'S SERVICE.
+
+
+The home coming of Springfield's soldiers was not as glittering or gay
+a spectacle as had been counted upon by those who watched us march away
+on the morning of May 3d. That morning was a rainy and disagreeable one
+and there were many who consoled themselves in thinking of the rather
+tame character of our farewell, that when we returned the scene would
+be a far more cheerful and inspiriting one. It wasn't. For days and
+days, ever since the story of our losses at El Caney and San Juan had
+been known and the people had become somewhat familiar with the tales
+of sickness and suffering in Cuba and Camp Wikoff, the return of the
+boys had been anxiously awaited, but when the time came, when it was
+known for a certainty that the companies were to return, there was a
+common feeling that the occasion would be an ill timed one for any
+display of ceremony or pageantry, and as it became more known that the
+majority of the officers and men were in the poorest possible condition
+to stand the strain of an official, or even a semi-official welcome it
+was settled that their return was to be as quiet as possible.
+
+The coming of the regiment from Montauk had been expected on the 26th
+and in anticipation a huge crowd had gathered at the union station
+to meet the soldiers. But the people were repaid for hours of waiting
+by the arrival only of a few men who had been furloughed from the
+hospitals. On the next day it was soon known that the regiment would
+surely arrive and long before the hour set for the special train to
+arrive from New London the station and its approaches were crowded with
+people, including the relatives and friends of the members, not only of
+the Springfield companies but of the companies from the other sections
+of Western Massachusetts. In view of the condition of the soldiers
+special efforts had been made to impress upon the people that the less
+excitement the men were made to undergo the better for them and to this
+end the station approaches were roped off and a large force of police
+was on hand to keep a passageway clear from the cars to the carriages
+which had been provided to bear the officers and men to their homes or
+wherever they felt inclined to go.
+
+The state and the city co-operated well in making plans for the comfort
+of the returning soldiers. Gov. Wolcott was on hand when the special
+train rolled in and three members of his staff had been at work for
+several days previous assisting in the preparations for the reception
+of the men. Mayor Dickinson and the city officials had done everything
+in their power to aid the soldiers and with them at all times were the
+officers and members of the Volunteer Aid association and many private
+citizens, good men and women who labored zealously in the good cause.
+Others there were, too, not connected officially with state or city
+or with any society, but whose work was ably done and is never to be
+forgotten.
+
+[Illustration: MONITOR LEHIGH IN ACTION]
+
+At 2.58 in the afternoon the train came in and the 10,000 people in
+waiting set up a cheer at the initiative of Gov. Wolcott. Then the
+people pressed hard against the ropes which marked the clear space on
+the platform through which the men were to go and the police officers
+had their hands full for a time in keeping them back. The north side
+waiting room had been cleared of occupants and outside were hundreds
+of public and private carriages waiting to carry the boys wherever they
+might wish. And in this one detail of carriages the thoughtfulness
+of the people of the city as well as their willingness to do all in
+their power for the boys of the Second were shown. Scores of them had
+volunteered the use of their carriages that day and their offers had
+been gladly accepted, for in the majority of cases the men were hardly
+able to walk any distance, and a ride on a jolting electric car would
+not have been the best thing in the world for them. But there were
+carriages in plenty and the men were quickly and carefully conveyed
+either to their homes or the hospitals.
+
+When the train stopped the people detailed to look after the
+disembarkation of the men at once got to work and the boys were
+quickly but tenderly taken through the waiting room and placed in the
+carriages. There were many who were unable to walk even this short
+distance unassisted, but in the majority of cases the men were so
+glad to be once more at home that the excitement kept them up and
+some lingered about on the platform, exchanging greetings with their
+relatives or friends in the crowd. A number of physicians were on
+hand to look after any of the men who were in immediate need of their
+attention and in many other ways provision had been made for all. The
+majority of the men were driven directly to their homes. Others went to
+the House of Mercy or the Springfield hospital.
+
+The 10,000 or more people which greeted the returned ones did so in
+sober but cordial fashion. There was no demonstrative welcome, for
+common sense told the people that it would have been the worst thing
+possible for the men whom the crowd wanted to honor. They were in no
+condition to endure such a welcome and what they wanted was to get to
+their homes or a resting place as quickly as possible. When the Second
+went away it was in the blue uniform of the militia of Massachusetts.
+The men in the ranks were all young and vigorous and looked a composite
+picture of youth and strength. When they came back it was in the faded
+yellow khaki uniforms issued to them in Cuba, although a few still wore
+the blue. The natty uniforms of the officers were worn and soiled and
+the faces of all were haggard and in many cases the beards of veterans
+had replaced the smooth cheeks and chins of the militiaman. On almost
+every face was the badge of the campaign against the pestilential
+fevers of Cuba and the sunken cheek-bones and emaciated forms bore
+eloquent witness to the hardships and sufferings that had been
+undergone. It had been no holiday excursion for the gallant Second.
+
+For days and weeks after the return the greatest interest was shown
+in the welfare of the men. Physicians placed their services at the
+disposal of the Volunteer Aid association and that body kept actively
+at work in its efforts to care for the men. Some of the boys were
+able to be out on the streets and in public places immediately after
+their arrival but in the majority of cases the men were glad enough to
+stay at home. Others were too ill to make their appearance in public,
+but those who were had no reason to complain of any lack of interest
+in them or their doings in Cuba. Columns were published daily in the
+newspapers concerning the condition of the sick men and the experiences
+of the well ones and the sight of the worn campaign uniform on the
+street was the occasion for a gathering of interested people. But as
+time went on the interest slackened, as it is in the nature of things
+so to be, the men showed a marked preference for citizens' dress
+instead of the uniform, and settled down again to the ordinary ways of
+life while waiting for their furloughs to expire and their muster out
+of the service of Uncle Sam.
+
+There had been much concern expressed over the orders instructing the
+Second to assemble at South Framingham for muster-out and there was
+much satisfaction when it was known that the orders had been changed
+and that Springfield had been selected as the place. It was felt that
+this was fitting and proper and both the local members of the regiment
+and the people of the city were well pleased at the decision of the war
+department.
+
+Meanwhile the men who had been left behind in Cuba, at Montauk and in
+hospitals at other places continued to arrive home and some time before
+the expiration of their furlough nearly all the surviving members of
+the Second were at home. From Cuba came the men who were left behind
+too sick to be moved when the regiment left for home and with them the
+men who had volunteered or been detailed to remain care for them. But
+all of them did not come. Privates Little and Stetson of G company had
+succumbed to disease and Dr. H. C. Bowen, the surgeon of the Second,
+was also a victim. He was in the division hospital when the regiment
+sailed and his death soon followed.
+
+The fate which befell Dr. Bowen was a hard one. Enthusiastic to
+volunteer at the outbreak of the war he was assigned to duty as the
+surgeon of the Second with the rank of major and he had high hopes
+of a useful career in the army as had his friends for him. But he
+was totally without experience in army medical life, his assistant
+surgeons, though young and enthusiastic in their profession, were
+also inexperienced in this line of work and at the very outset he
+and they were thwarted and discouraged by their incessant conflicts
+with army red tape and the consequent difficulty in obtaining needed
+medical supplies for the regiment. Time and time again Major Bowen
+sent in requisition after requisition but no supplies came in answer
+to them and had it not been for the finely appointed medical and
+surgical outfit furnished by the state of Massachusetts the equipment
+of the Second would have been meager indeed. With these on hand the
+lack of proper government supplies was not seriously felt until after
+the landing in Cuba and then with the brilliancy which marked so
+many other features of the campaign, the Second's medical chest was
+not brought ashore, but was left on board the Knickerbocker until
+some time after the surrender of Santiago. As a result the medical
+supplies were short and though he tried again and again Major Bowen
+could obtain no more. Soon after he landed he was attacked by the
+malarial fever and though at first it was in a mild form it combined
+with the discouragements to which he had been subjected to make him
+low-spirited and not altogether a genial minister to the sick men or a
+companion at the mess. Directly after the battle of El Caney Assistant
+Surgeon Gates was taken from the Second and attached temporarily to the
+Fourth infantry, which regiment had no surgeon and Assistant Surgeon
+Hitchcock became ill so that the entire work of caring for the Second
+was thrown upon Major Bowen. This added to his other troubles and his
+own illness resulted in making the latter extremely serious and though
+he struggled against it for many weeks he was at last forced to give
+up. Before this he had manfully stuck to his post and tried in every
+way to do his duty but results of his failing health and his heavy
+burden of work were mistaken by many of the officers and men for lack
+of sympathetic feeling and for this he was criticized. This criticism
+was a mistaken one, for at bottom Major Bowen was of a kindly and
+sympathetic nature but it was his misfortune to have his illness and
+troubles put a veneer of impatience upon his normal disposition and
+this conveyed the mistaken idea referred to above. In his service with
+the Second Major Bowen did all possible for a man to do and those who
+knew the heavy burden under which he toiled have always been willing to
+accord him the tribute he was justly entitled to. He died in the Second
+division hospital just outside of Santiago. Some months after his body
+was exhumed and sent to his family in Westfield. There was some mystery
+concerning the whereabouts of his watch and other effects but some
+time after his death they were accidentally discovered in New Orleans
+and restored to his parents.
+
+At Montauk Point K company suffered a loss in the death of Musician
+Frank P. Jones, who succumbed to fever in the camp hospital August
+27th. All through the campaign in Cuba Musician Jones not only kept
+himself well and his spirits up but his cheery speech did much to help
+his comrades. It was not until he reached Montauk that he gave in to
+the disease which laid so many of the Second low.
+
+Even after the regiment had returned home and the sick men were being
+given the best of medical attention and care in their homes or in the
+hospitals the death angel did not cease. On Sept. 13th Corporal Patrick
+J. Noone of G company died at his home after a long illness with the
+fever and two days later his remains were escorted to the grave by
+his comrades and laid to rest after the three volleys which mark the
+soldier's burial had been fired. On October 8, Private Frank Burke of G
+died and was laid to rest in the same cemetery.
+
+Meanwhile in both the Mercy and the Springfield hospitals all that was
+possible was being done for the sick "soldier boys," and physicians
+and nurses were untiring in their efforts. Both institutions had many
+soldier patients and they will long remember the devoted care and
+kindnesses they received.
+
+All this time preparations for the muster-out of the Second had been
+going steadily on. It had been settled that the outfit was to be
+formally discharged from the United States service in Springfield and
+on Sept. 28th First Lieut. Oliver Edwards, 11th Infantry U. S. A.,
+came on to assist in the work preliminary to muster-out. There was
+considerable to be done in the way of getting ready for the ceremony
+and there were many things to be explained to both officers and men
+before all was in readiness. In the effort to have everything clearly
+understood and all the "kinks" straightened out Lieut. Edwards was
+untiring and he made a most favorable impression upon all with whom his
+duties brought him in contact.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+WE BECOME PLAIN CITIZENS ONCE MORE AND SQUARE ACCOUNTS WITH UNCLE SAM.
+
+
+October 3d, 1898, is one of the "star" days in the history of the
+Second, that being the day on which we ceased to be soldiers of
+the United States and became plain and humble citizens once more.
+Incidentally it was something of a day for Springfield for one of
+the features of the muster-out was a brief parade of the regiment
+from the railway station to the state armory, where the exercises
+occurred. Before that, the armory had been for some time the scene of
+much activity. The furlough of the regiment, given it at Montauk, had
+expired October 24th, and for the rest of the time preceding muster-out
+the officers and men were required to make the armory their home
+during the day. Their meals were served there, a contract being made
+with a Springfield caterer, and it can be said that the daily menu was
+far more satisfactory than those we had in the campaign although the
+government paid for both. During this period, the officers and men were
+also required to appear in uniform and the streets took on a decidedly
+military appearance. Much interest was shown by the people of the city
+in everything that pertained to the muster-out and the armory had many
+visitors daily. But it was all play in those days for some of the
+officers and men. There is a lot of red tape and formality connected
+with putting volunteer organizations out of the United States service,
+and there was plenty of work to be done in making out rolls and all
+sorts of papers, so that those detailed for this work were kept busy
+for many days.
+
+Finally on the 3d of October, all the companies of the Second were
+assembled in Springfield, the local companies marching to the railway
+station to meet them and after passing in review before the city
+officials at the city hall, the regiment marched to the armory for
+muster-out. The parade, the first appearance of the Second since it
+left for the front, brought out thousands of people to watch the men
+who had done good service on a foreign soil, and had watered it with
+the blood of many who had marched away on the morning of May 3d. The
+regiment presented a curious sight in some respects and as a spectacle
+it must be said the affair was not an altogether happy one. The men
+were without rifles or equipments, some wore the faded khaki uniform
+issued just before leaving Cuba, others the old blue outfits of the
+Massachusetts militia and the ranks were thinner than when the regiment
+left South Framingham. There seemed to be a chill in the air, too, and
+instead of applause there was subdued comment on the appearance of the
+men as they marched past.
+
+[Illustration: THE PRAIRIE]
+
+Surely the men did not look like ballroom soldiers. The uniforms were
+in many cases ill-fitting and soiled, the marching was not done with
+the precision of some crack national guard organizations which did not
+go to the front, and the faces of the majority of the officers and men
+wore the yellow signal of service in a pestilential climate. But this
+in itself ought to have been warrant for some outburst of satisfaction
+in the gallant deeds of the regiment instead of curious stares and the
+silence of wonderment. However, there were sporadic cases of applause
+and as the men did not much care whether they received any or not, they
+found little fault with the lack of it. Only the members of the
+companies from outside the city wondered mildly what it all meant, and
+if after all it would not have been as well to have stayed at home and
+not have tried to stand by the flag when men were wanted.
+
+The ceremonies at the armory were informal enough. Each company
+was mustered out in turn by Lieut. Col. E. M. Weaver of the Fifth
+Massachusetts U. S. V., who as a lieutenant in the Second U. S.
+Artillery had mustered us in at South Framingham on May 3d. He was
+assisted by Lieut. Edwards and it did not take very long to put each
+company "out of business" as United States Volunteers. The company was
+formed, the men answered to their names and took position in the same
+manner as when mustered in, and this over the company commander was
+informed that the company was mustered out and that discharge papers
+for each man would be provided.
+
+But the discharge papers did not come that day nor for several days.
+The paymaster had failed to arrive with the funds and until these
+were distributed the men had but little use for discharge papers. It
+was explained that the reason for delay on the paymaster's part was
+due to errors in the rolls sent in from a few of the companies and as
+the men wanted their three months pay and allowances rather more than
+discharges, it is no wonder if some unkind things were said as to the
+paymaster and these companies.
+
+It was not until November 17th that the long looked for pay arrived,
+and the companies were ordered to once more assemble at the armory,
+this time for the purpose of settling accounts with Uncle Sam. This
+operation was simple enough, yet very interesting to the recipients
+of the contents of the small and dingy valise of the paymaster. The
+three months' pay with the allowances for clothing and ration money
+made quite a sizable sum for the great majority of the men, and the
+nice new greenbacks which they received were not refused. With the
+money came the discharge papers as a sure enough sign that we were
+no longer soldiers of the United States. Many of the officers and men
+failed, however, to settle up with Major Sherman on the 17th. Some of
+the officers had not squared their accounts with the war department and
+in some cases they were obliged to wait a considerable time before they
+accounted for every bit of property they were held responsible for and
+complied with all the red tape. A number of the men were not able to be
+on hand, owing to sickness and other causes, when Major Sherman finally
+arrived and they were likewise forced to wait. An interesting episode
+of "paying off" time was the breezy disagreement between Major Sherman
+and Capt. McDonald of B company, over the former's refusal to pay some
+eight men of the latter's company, who had, it seems, signed one pay
+roll and supposed that everything was all right. As it happened, when
+Major Sherman came to Springfield, he failed to bring the correct
+roll for B company, and insisted that the members should sign a new
+one. This was done, but as the eight men referred to were out of the
+city, they were unable to sign, and when they appeared for their pay,
+were told they would have to wait for some time. The majority of the
+men needed the money and needed it badly, but although Capt. McDonald
+exhausted every effort to obtain it for them, it was not till quite
+a while had elapsed that they were paid. The opportunity afforded
+Capt. McDonald for some caustic criticisms of the workings of the war
+department was not allowed to pass.
+
+In those days it was a great thing to be a returned soldier as was
+instanced in the cases of several of the boys who were members of more
+or less secret organizations. It got to be a common thing for these
+associations to show their appreciation of their soldier members by
+presenting them with money or badges, or some token of esteem, and
+a number of the men who served with the Springfield companies are
+wearing medals or badges thus presented. Probably none of them was
+prouder of his medal than Private Morris Grenowitz of B company who
+had the distinction of being the only Hebrew in the three Springfield
+companies. He was a member of the Young Men's Hebrew Association, and
+soon after his return the association held a public reception in his
+honor and presented him with a check for a small sum of money and a
+gold medal. Private Peter F. Boyer of B company was given a gold watch
+by the members of an organization to which he belonged and several of
+the other boys were similarly remembered, among them Private William
+Ferrier of G company who was given a handsome gold ring. A number of
+the members of the Springfield companies resided in West Springfield
+and the inhabitants of the village of Mittineague in that town honored
+their soldiers one evening by a big reception and entertainment with
+plenty of red fire, etc., included.
+
+A largely attended public reception and flag presentation was held in
+the city hall, on the evening of November 3d, to which the officers
+and members of the Springfield companies, and their relatives and
+friends were invited and the hall was packed to the doors. Gov. Wolcott
+and members of his staff were present and the governor spoke, as did
+a number of the prominent citizens, all eulogizing the work of the
+regiment and paying a tribute to the officers and men who had failed to
+return. The tattered colors of the regiment were in evidence and their
+appearance in the hall was the signal for an outburst of applause.
+On this occasion the stands of colors purchased for each company in
+connection with the Fourth of July celebration of 1898, which never
+came off, were formally presented, and as the representatives of each
+of the companies advanced to receive the new and handsome flags, the
+audience broke into applause and cheers. These flags were bought with
+the proceeds of the sales of the Fourth of July badges which were to
+have been a feature of the celebration and a good sum was realized.
+
+Previous to muster-out First Sergeant T. F. Burke of B company had been
+appointed on the recommendation of Col. Clark as Second Lieutenant to
+fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lieut. Harry J. Vesper.
+
+Immediately following the muster-out Dr. E. A. Gates, who had been
+promoted from Assistant Surgeon to Surgeon with the rank of Major,
+vice Bowen, deceased, was ordered to Boston and Worcester to assist
+in the work of examining the men of other regiments to be mustered
+out. Assistant Surgeon Hitchcock was also ordered on this same duty.
+Dr. Hitchcock was attacked with a serious spinal trouble and for some
+months his life was despaired of. He finally recovered but not until
+after weary months of suffering.
+
+Soon after the muster-out of the Second the provisional militia
+companies organized in the city during the war ceased practically
+to exist, although they were not formally disbanded for some time
+afterwards. The reorganization of the Second as a part of the
+Massachusetts Volunteer Militia did not start until after its muster
+out of the United States service and it was at one time freely
+predicted that the work of reorganization would be the hardest task
+ever experienced by those in charge. It looked so at times, but
+in spite of the croakers and pessimists who asserted that it was
+likely that the Second would never be the same regiment again the
+reorganization was quietly and successfully effected and it was not
+long before the outfit was once again in its old form. A surprisingly
+large number of the officers and men who had served in the war
+remained in the regiment and this was especially the case in the three
+Springfield companies, G and B having more of the veterans than K. The
+state granted the regiment a 30 days' furlough dating from Nov. 3 to
+Dec. 3 in order to allow time to get matters straightened out before
+its entrance upon a career of militia service again.
+
+Meanwhile steps had been taken toward an expedition to go to Cuba and
+bring back the bodies of the dead of the Second. The co-operation of
+the cities and towns from which the regiment was recruited was obtained
+and a number of meetings were held in this city, representatives from
+Worcester, Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield, Orange and Adams being
+present with authority from their respective cities and towns. After
+a number of meetings an expedition was organized which left for Cuba
+in January, 1899. The Springfield representatives were Lieut. T. F.
+Burke of B company, Lieut. Fred Jenks of K company, Private Dozilva
+Lamoreaux of G company and Private Alfred Rose of B, the latter going
+as interpreter. The progress of the expedition was slow at first, owing
+to many difficulties connected with obtaining permission to disinter
+the bodies and of getting transportation, but thanks to incessant work
+and powerful influence these were at last disposed of and the party
+sailed from New York on Jan. 29. It was necessary to go first to Porto
+Rico and remain there some days but after Santiago was reached there
+was comparatively little trouble. The bodies of the Springfield men
+were all located and identified with one exception, that of Private
+Robert E. Kelly of G, who was fatally shot on the night of July 2d at
+San Juan. The bodies were encased in metallic coffins and on arrival
+in Springfield were given proper burial. An elaborate service was held
+over the body of Sergeant Richard H. Bearse of B company in the State
+Street Baptist church, representatives of the city government and the
+organizations of which he was a member as well as his own company,
+being present. The church was crowded with friends and the ceremonies
+were impressive. Before this the body of Musician Frank P. Jones of
+K had been brought on from Montauk and buried in Oak Grove cemetery
+after largely attended services in the State Street Methodist church.
+The bodies of the G company men were buried with military honors also
+and those of Privates Little and Stetson, whose relatives could not
+be found, were interred in a lot which the company purchased in the
+Springfield cemetery.
+
+Twice within the year 1899 were the Springfield companies called
+together to go over again in memory the deeds of the previous year. For
+some time there had been desultory talk of public honors being paid to
+the dead of the companies and finally a memorial service was arranged
+for and was held in the city hall on Sunday afternoon, April 16. It was
+one of the most disagreeable days imaginable, a fall of mingled rain
+and snow filling the streets with slush, but despite this the building
+was jammed to suffocation. The platform was decorated with appropriate
+bunting and in front were representations of memorial tablets bearing
+the names of the officers and men of the companies who had given their
+lives in the cause. The war-worn regimental colors were brought on from
+Boston for the occasion and were draped in the rear of the platform.
+Affecting tributes were paid to the dead heroes and eulogies were
+pronounced by some of Springfield's most prominent citizens.
+
+The camp of the First Brigade M. V. M. at South Framingham in August,
+1899, brought the regiment once more onto the ground where it was
+mustered into the United States service the year before, but under much
+different circumstances than then. The ranks of the Second contained a
+very large percentage, a majority, in fact, of those who had gone out
+with it to Cuba and the red sleeve stripes indicating service in war
+were conspicuous on the blouses of the greater number of the men. At
+this time old friendships formed during the campaign were renewed and
+new ones formed.
+
+On the occasion of the annual fall drill of the state militia in Boston
+in October Admiral George Dewey was the guest of the city and the event
+was also made the occasion of the formal "turning over" of the "war
+colors" to the state. The Second came in for no little share of the
+honors of the occasion, as well it might.
+
+As time wore on after the return of the regiment from the fever
+stricken camps in Cuba the malarial poison left the bodies of the men
+and within six months afterwards the majority of them had regained
+their normal health. There were many, however, with whom the exposures
+and hardships of the campaign had raised havoc and to this day some
+show the effects of the short but eventful period when they were
+serving under the flag. The latest man in the Springfield companies
+to succumb to the ravages of disease contracted in the campaign was
+Private John L. Morehouse of K company, who died Nov. 12 of typhoid
+fever.
+
+In October, 1899, a number of the officers and men of the Springfield
+companies who had served in the Cuban war began the organization of a
+camp of the Legion of Spanish War Veterans, an order patterned after
+the model of the Grand Army of the Republic and which it is to be hoped
+will be to the veterans of the war with Spain what the Grand Army is to
+the men who fought in the Civil war. The camp was named after Henry S.
+Lee of Springfield, whose splendid and self-sacrificing work for the
+benefit of the soldiers and sailors in the Spanish war will never be
+forgotten by them or the people.
+
+Thus closes the record of Springfield's three infantry companies in the
+war with Spain. It is not a long chronicle but it is one in which the
+people of the City of Homes can always take a just pride. It is not
+confined to these companies alone either, for aside from the efficient
+duty performed by her company in the naval brigade, there were many
+individual enlistments in regular regiments and there was the splendid
+work done at the United States armory in turning out the arms with
+which the troops were equipped. As in the Civil war the works were
+run day and night and the force of employees trebled. There was good
+work done too at the recruiting station and it is not too much to say
+that Springfield was a prominent factor in the war from its beginning
+to its close. When the rebellion against the authority of the United
+States in the Philippines broke out and volunteers were again called
+for Springfield again showed its patriotism. A number enlisted from
+this city in the famous 26th and among them were many of the men who
+had seen service in Cuba. Others went into the 46th and more would have
+gone had it been necessary. As always the city and its men young and
+old showed their loyalty to the flag, whether it led the way to the
+hills around Santiago or to the rice swamps and jungles of Luzon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+WHEREIN IS NARRATED THE ADVENTURES ON THE HIGH SEAS OF SPRINGFIELD'S
+SAILORS.
+
+
+While the land soldiers which Springfield furnished the government were
+enjoying themselves in Florida and Cuba and toying with the canned
+roast beef and other incidentals of a campaign, the Springfield marine
+contingent was not having an altogether lovely time. On the monitor
+Lehigh and the auxiliary cruiser Prairie there was work and hard work
+too in plenty but on the whole the rations and the quarters were
+better than those enjoyed by the infantry contingent. But the boys of
+H company, naval brigade, pined for active service and those on the
+Lehigh were aggrieved at not getting it while their comrades on the
+Prairie were roaming the seas on a fast ship in chase of the enemy
+or doing blockade duty off the coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico. It was
+hard work for the Lehigh men to be cooped up on their old, "flat boat"
+in Boston harbor during the stirring times of the summer of 1898 but it
+is to their credit that although they grumbled at their lot as all good
+sailors do, yet they did their full duty and did it well.
+
+The bringing of the Lehigh from the League Island navy yard to Boston
+Harbor was in itself something of an achievement for the tug which
+towed her broke down and the monitor was forced to proceed under her
+own steam, much to the surprise of those on the tug Clara Clorita.
+This happened at Vineyard Haven and from that point to Boston the
+Lehigh was cast off from the tug and was sailed the remainder of the
+way under her own steam and by her own crew. When the Lehigh left
+Philadelphia the navy yard officials were apprehensive of her behavior
+at sea as she was primarily a coast defence vessel but the naval
+brigade men in the monitor found no great trouble in sailing her.
+
+The Lehigh reached Boston on May 5 and on the 9th the Springfield
+officers and men of the crew were given leaves of absence and
+furloughs to enable them to attend the presentation of "The Ensign" by
+Springfield amateurs at the Court Square theater for the benefit of the
+company fund. The crew included Lieut. J. K. Dexter, Lieut, (j. g.) W.
+O. Cohn, Ensign Walter S. Barr and Seamen W. A. Sabin, A. N. Luce, R.
+P. King, Paul H. Lathrop, L. E. Ladd, W. S. Johnson, W. F. Bright and
+R. H. B. Warburton. The presentation was a successful one in every way
+and netted quite a sum.
+
+Meanwhile the Lehigh had been permanently detailed for duty in Boston
+harbor as a coast defence vessel and a disagreeable surprise was in
+store for some of the Springfield men when they returned from their
+furloughs. They were all anxious to re-enlist for service and had been
+assured by Capt. Weeks, commanding the naval brigade, that if they
+telegraphed to him their willingness to re-enlist before a certain hour
+on the 10th, places would be kept for them. But on their arrival on
+the ship on May 12th they found that there was only one vacancy left.
+Just how the mistake was made was never thoroughly explained, but it
+was suspected by the Springfield men that there was a scheme to shut as
+many of them as possible out in favor of some Boston naval militiamen.
+They felt it keenly and Lieut. Dexter succeeded in straightening out
+matters so that Coxswain Johnson and Seamen Bright and Warburton were
+re-enlisted. Sabin, Luce and King had already done so and this left
+only Lathrop and Ladd out in the cold. In spite of their efforts they
+could not get in.
+
+The officers suffered also from the fact that there were not places
+enough for all of them in the Lehigh's complement as a coast defense
+ship. Lieut. Colin was offered the alternative of going on the waiting
+list or being reduced in rank to ensign. He chose the latter and
+remained with the ship but there was no place for Ensign Barr and he
+was placed on the waiting list and returned home to await orders. Later
+Lieut. Dexter was taken from the Lehigh and placed on the converted
+ferry boat "Governor Russell," the property of the City of Boston which
+had turned over to the government, as executive officer.
+
+All this time the "Prairie dogs," as the crew of that vessel were
+dubbed by their less fortunate comrades, were having a fairly good time
+at the Brooklyn navy yard. Much time was spent there in fitting up the
+vessel as an auxiliary cruiser and until the work was well advanced the
+crew was lodged and fed in hotels and later in the navy yard barracks.
+
+As it happened, Ralph H. Newcomb was the first of the Springfield men
+to reach the Prairie and report for duty. He was in Washington on a
+visit when orders were issued for H company to report at Brooklyn and
+when he was notified by Lieut. Crossman he lost no time in getting to
+that city and the navy yard, beating out his comrades by several hours.
+
+Hammocks were "swung" on the Prairie for the first time on Saturday,
+May 7th, and from that time until muster-out in September hotel fare
+was a dream of the past to which the boys looked back with considerable
+regret. The Prairie, completely transformed into a war ship, left
+the navy yard and steamed down the harbor to Tompkinsville. This was
+on Friday, the 13th of May, but if there was any "hoodoo" it failed
+to work. The next day the Prairie steamed out to sea and had target
+practice, badly frightening some of the residents of the coast with
+the big guns. Late in the afternoon the Prairie gave chase to a
+suspicious craft which turned out to be an English tramp steamer.
+
+The Prairie had been assigned to patrol duty on the North Atlantic
+coast with the San Francisco. The "Frisco" was sighted on the day
+following and both ships steamed into Provincetown and remained there
+for the next day, sailing out late in the afternoon. It is recorded
+that the sailors washed clothes during their stay in Provincetown and
+it is evident they were getting a taste of the life of a jolly tar. The
+regular patrol tour of the Prairie was from Provincetown north to some
+40 miles above Boston, then south to Nantucket to Provincetown, meeting
+the San Francisco off the cape and obtaining mail.
+
+These were not idle days by any means. What with battalion drills,
+inspection, target practice, painting ship and the regular routine of
+ship's work the long hours of duty passed quickly and the men were
+pretty well tired out as a rule when the time came to get into their
+hammocks. But the men of H company learned fast and soon accustomed
+themselves to life on one of Uncle Sam's war ships. The one thing they
+did not take to very kindly in the line of work was coaling ship and
+this came rather oftener than they had any relish for.
+
+In the way of food there was little to complain of, although the fare
+was not Delmonico-like by any means. One of the mess cooks kept a diary
+of what he served up for every meal during the service of the Prairie
+and it shows that the menus, while probably simple enough to the men
+on board, would have been regarded as the acme of luxurious living by
+their brethren of the Second. A few samples are given: breakfast, June
+10, Indian meal and coffee; dinner, soup, roast beef and potatoes;
+supper, hash and French toast. June 12th, breakfast, bacon and
+potatoes; dinner, sausages and potatoes; supper, beans, cold meat and
+sausages. The daily average was fully up to the samples given above.
+
+Capt. Train of the Prairie was a disciplinarian and there were
+punishments meted out for various small offences. One man was deprived
+of shore liberty for three months for throwing swill out of a port
+hole. For smoking outside of "smoking hours" the customary punishment
+was 48 hours of extra duty, while for being late with hammocks the
+sentence was for the delinquents to parade the deck for an hour or two
+hours with the hammocks on their shoulders.
+
+The Prairie sailed from Provincetown June 10th for a brief cruise
+southward, but returned on the 14th. The weather was very foggy during
+the cruise and on the 14th the ship came near running down an English
+tramp steamer passing within a boat's length of her.
+
+On the 16th the Prairie sailed again from Provincetown for Delaware
+breakwater, arriving there on the 18th. The next day she sailed for
+New York, anchoring off Tompkinsville the 20th. Coaling ship was one
+of the innocent amusements of the day and the men stowed away 83 tons
+in the afternoon. Early next morning the sport was resumed and before
+breakfast 28 tons more had been put away in the bunkers, the record for
+the day being 182 tons. The next day the coal situation again took the
+attention of the crew but they finished the job. Shore liberty resulted
+in some of the men overstaying it and being shut off from any more
+during the stay. On Sunday, June 26th, the men got into blue dress for
+inspection but before the ceremony was over orders came to sail at once
+for Key West. Off came the blue suits and the men got into their "coal"
+suits again and finished coaling ship at 1.30 in the morning. The
+Prairie sailed for Key West on the 27th, arriving there June 1st. Her
+stay was short, for the same day she left with mail for the blockading
+squadron off Cuba and sighting the Amphitrite the next day transferred
+her mail to her. Later that day the Prairie gave the mail to the
+Newport, Montgomery, Vicksburg and Marietta. That afternoon the men on
+the Prairie saw the Marietta pick up a refugee from the shore and saw
+the guns from Morro Castle fire at her but fail to strike.
+
+On July Fourth the men paraded in blue and fired the national salute.
+The Prairie for a day or two acted as flagship of the squadron during
+the absence of the Amphitrite at Key West.
+
+On Tuesday, July 5th, the Hawk came alongside the Prairie with orders
+for the latter to proceed to Mariel, 23-1/2 miles from Havana, and
+assist in the capture of a liner supposed to have been trying to run
+the blockade. The liner proved to be the Spanish transport Alphonso
+XII, with a large number of soldiers on board. She had tried to run the
+blockade but had been discovered and chased so sharply by a couple of
+the converted yachts attached to the blockading squadron that she was
+run ashore and lay head on. The troops and her crew had managed to get
+ashore by the time the Prairie came up, but it was not certain that she
+was not manned and several shots were sent at her from the starboard
+six-inch guns. After the fourth or fifth shot there was an explosion,
+evidently her magazine, and as she did not return the fire the Prairie
+ceased firing. During the firing a saucy little Spanish gunboat stuck
+her nose out of the harbor but a couple of six-inch shells settled her
+fate and she was sunk in quick time. The firing at the Alphonso XII
+was first-rate target practice and at long range, too, all the shells
+hitting her, although the range was 6600 yards.
+
+On July 7th the Tecumseh brought a lot of mail from Key West for the
+Prairie and a good share of the day was put in in reading it. On the
+9th a small shark was caught and some of the boys secured teeth as
+souvenirs.
+
+Monday, July 11th, the Prairie was relieved of blockade duty off Mariel
+and ordered to Gibara with the Topeka, Mayflower and Badger, the
+Prairie being made the flagship of the squadron. The trip to Gibara
+was without special incidents and the ships arrived there on the 13th.
+Just as the blockaders appeared a schooner and two fishing smacks which
+were just coming out made haste to get back into the port. Blockade
+duty was kept up for several days and occasionally the ship would go in
+so close to the town that the people could be seen in the streets. The
+search-lights were used about every night and this work was pleasing to
+the men detailed for it.
+
+The San Francisco arrived on the 17th and took off a lot of mail for
+the United States. Since leaving Havana the crew of the Prairie had
+not received any mail and were eagerly expecting some. On the 18th
+the supply of sugar gave out and this was keenly felt until some was
+procured. On the 20th the Maple, which had joined the squadron, caught
+a small sloop with a crew of four men and laden with tobacco, making
+the first prize of the tour.
+
+One of the marine detail on the Prairie was a Springfield man named
+John Fenton and on the 21st he was the victim of a severe accident
+caused by the slipping of a six-inch shell from his hands at gun
+practice. The shell landed on his foot, badly crushing it.
+
+This same day a delegation of the prominent citizens of Gibara came
+out in a small boat and offered to surrender the town as the Spanish
+garrison was about to leave and the inhabitants were afraid of the
+negroes in the vicinity. On receiving the offer the Prairie steamed to
+Nipe bay where the Topeka was found engaged in shelling the town. The
+Dupont took a message to the Topeka and the Prairie returned to Gibara.
+From a Cuban who came out in a dory it was learned that the inhabitants
+had raised an American flag over the town and were anxious that a force
+be landed to take possession of the place. It was also learned that
+the town was short of provisions. The Cuban's heart was gladdened by
+the gift of hardtack, canned meat, corn and coffee. On the 25th the
+Mangrove brought orders to proceed to Guantanamo bay and coal up at
+once. At Guantanamo fresh meat and also newspapers a week or two old
+were received.
+
+Wednesday, July 27th, marked the close of the third month of service
+of the Prairie's crew and as if to celebrate the event the Supply came
+in with a lot of provisions. The work of coaling ship was begun on the
+night of the 25th and did not cease until the 27th, the men standing
+their regular watches and doing their trick with the coal as if it was
+nothing unusual.
+
+The Prairie sailed from Guantanamo bay on the evening of the 27th and
+reached San Juan, Porto Rico, on the 29th. Some ammunition brought from
+Guantanamo for the cruiser New Orleans was transferred to her in boats.
+The Prairie did not stay long at San Juan but sailed for Ponce on the
+other side of the island on the 31st, arriving there the next day.
+Troops were being landed at Ponce and the roadstead was filled with
+war ships and transports. One of the transports became stuck on a bar
+outside the light-house and the Prairie had hard work getting her off
+the bar. A lot of mangoes brought aboard resulted in a number of the
+men being made ill from indulging too freely in the fruit. The soldiers
+on the transport Massachusetts, the one which was stuck, were taken on
+board the Prairie and fed, being landed the next day.
+
+News of the cessation of hostilities reached the ship August 5th and
+was received at first with incredulity. The night of Friday, August
+12th, was made memorable by Burgess tumbling out of his hammock three
+times in rapid succession. "Rags," the canine mascot, had become
+subject to fits and was assisted to commit suicide one day while in the
+harbor.
+
+The Prairie received orders to sail for the United States and on August
+18th left for Santiago, arriving there the 20th. The ship left Santiago
+the 21st, with three companies of the Seventh infantry on board. All
+went well until the 25th, when a heavy fog came on and the Prairie ran
+aground near Amagansett Point, 15 miles from Montauk Point. There was
+considerable confusion, of course, but the Prairie was handled well.
+All the boats were lowered and two kedge anchors were put out, one from
+the starboard quarter and the other from the starboard forecastle. The
+boats were out all night and it was not until at high tide the next day
+that the Prairie was hauled off by the tug Brittania and a light-house
+tender. The soldiers were landed and taken to Montauk Point. After
+being hauled off the Prairie sailed for Montauk Point, arriving there
+early in the evening. At Montauk the Prairie was put into quarantine
+until the 28th. Hardly was she out of quarantine before she steamed
+to Newport and from there to Fall River, where a warm reception was
+given the Fall River men on board the ship. That evening the Fall
+River and New Bedford men went ashore but the Springfield contingent
+was kept on board, much to their disappointment. On the 30th the
+Prairie left Fall River and steamed down to Newport, the event of the
+evening being the playing of the "Fu-Fu" band. The next day the ship
+started for New York and remained there until the 19th, when she went
+to Delaware Breakwater. Rumors of discharge began to agitate the crew
+soon after arriving in New York and Capt. Train went to Washington to
+confer with the Navy Department concerning it but returned with no
+definite knowledge of the exact time the muster-out would take place.
+From Delaware Breakwater the Prairie steamed up to the League Island
+navy yard where some of the guns were taken off and transferred to the
+New York. During the stay in New York and at League Island the "Rough
+Riders" made several successful initiations.
+
+Sunday, September 25, hammocks were lashed for the last time and after
+the dunnage had been loaded on a tug, the crew mustered and gave three
+cheers for Capt. Train and Lieuts. Stone and Stimpson. This done, the
+crew bade good bye to the Prairie and went ashore, going to Jersey
+City by train. After a brief trip on a ferry, the Fall River boat was
+boarded for the trip to that city and Boston. The latter place was
+reached about 10 o'clock Monday morning and after passing in review
+before the governor at the state house the Prairie men proceeded
+to the receiving ship Wabash, where they were furloughed until the
+following Wednesday. The boys enjoyed themselves hugely in Boston until
+Wednesday, when they were mustered out and given their discharges from
+the service of the United States.
+
+At 9.15 that evening, the Springfield part of the crew arrived home
+and were given an enthusiastic welcome in which red fire and fireworks
+played a prominent part. At the armory the men were greeted by glad
+relatives and soon dispersed to their homes plain naval militiamen once
+more after doing their full duty to Uncle Sam and serving him well.
+
+Lieut. H. S Crossman, who went out with the Prairie detail remained on
+the ship until she was ordered south, when he and some of the other
+officers were sent out on special duty. He was assigned to duty as
+recruiting officer on the Minnesota and remained there until a short
+time before the dismissal of the Prairie's crew from the service.
+
+Lieut. J. K. Dexter was detailed from duty on the Lehigh to duty as
+navigator on the converted ferry boat, Gov. Russell, and ordered to
+take her to Key West. The trip was an eventful one, for the Gov.
+Russell as a war boat was a fearfully and wonderfully constructed piece
+of marine architecture, and there were times when it was a question
+whether she would ever reach a port or not. But finally she was
+navigated as far as Newport News, and after looking her carefully over,
+the naval authorities decided that it was not wise to expose her again
+to the high seas.
+
+After muster-out of the Lehigh detail H company was once more at home
+and it was not long before the reorganization of the command as a part
+of the state militia was begun and successfully carried out, a good
+number of the officers and men who had seen service remaining. Today
+the company is once more in its old position of the best all-round
+company in the Massachusetts naval brigade.
+
+On October 27th, a number of prominent citizens tendered H company a
+banquet at Hotel Worthy, and the occasion will long be remembered as a
+very pleasant one. During the evening the handsome silk American flag,
+purchased for the company by citizens, was presented by Rev. Dr. P. S.
+Moxom.
+
+
+
+
+ROSTER.
+
+
+FIELD STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
+
+  COLONEL, EMBURY P. CLARK.
+  MAJOR, FREDERICK G. SOUTHMAYD.
+  ADJUTANT, FIRST LIEUT. PAUL R. HAWKINS.
+  QUARTERMASTER, FIRST LIEUT. EDWARD E. SAWTELL.
+  MAJOR AND SURGEON, HENRY C. BOWEN.
+  MAJOR AND SURGEON, ERNEST A. GATES.
+
+
+  SERGEANT-MAJOR, ROBERT N. INGERSOL.
+  QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT, ROSS L. LUSK.
+  HOSPITAL STEWARD, EDSON P. HOWES.
+
+
+G. COMPANY.
+
+  CAPTAIN, JOHN J. LEONARD.
+  FIRST LIEUTENANT, WILLIAM C. HAYES.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, EDWARD J. LEYDEN.
+  FIRST SERGEANT, WILLIAM BUTEMENT.
+  SERGEANTS, JEREMIAH F. SCULLY.
+             JOSEPH N. LOVELY.
+             WALTER W. WARD.
+             JOSEPH A. MURPHY.
+             JAMES A. GIBBONS.
+  CORPORALS, ROBERT A. ROSS.
+             PATRICK J. NOONE.
+             MICHAEL J. MCHALE.
+             FRANK C. KEATING, Chicopee Falls.
+             NATALINE GARDELLA.
+             ERNEST E. ROBINSON.
+  MUSICIANS, PATRICK J. O'CONNELL.
+             ROBERT D. CARGILL.
+  WAGONER, JAMES R. SHENE.
+  ARTIFICER, BENJAMIN A. SEAMANS.
+
+
+PRIVATES
+
+  Frank A. Anderson                  Dozilva P. Lamoreaux, Chicopee
+  Timothy T. Austin                  Andrew Little
+  Elmer B. Barrowcliffe              Christopher T. Lovett
+  Frank J. Barsalow                  John J. Mahoney, W. Sp'f'd
+  Daniel J. Bellamy                  Thomas F. Mahoney
+  Wilbur G. Brassard, Thompsonville  George H. Markham
+  James H. Bresnahan                 John B. Mandeville
+  Patrick J. Bresnan                 Ernest P. Marble
+  Alfred C. Brownell                 Dennis F. McCarthy
+  Francis C. Burke                   Henry E. Merchant
+  Thomas Burke                       Louis Monteverde
+  Henry T. Conrad                    Fred H. Morrill
+  George W. Campbell                 Carl A. Mueller
+  Thomas M. Conlin                   James J. O'Brien
+  William E. Coolidge                Charles A. Nelson
+  Timothy J. Crowley                 John J. O'Leary
+  William R. Dillon, W. Sp'f'd       Arthur H. Packard
+  John H. Dunn                       Walter A. Packard
+  George E. Easton                   Jacob Peterson
+  William Ferrier                    George A. Richmond
+  Charles R. Fisher                  William J. Rooney
+  Theodore Gelinas, Holyoke          William J. Root
+  Frank M. Hannon                    Jeremiah J. Shea
+  Patrick J. Hayes                   Cyrus A. Shufelt
+  Andrew F. Higgins                  Henry J. Slattery
+  Frank N. Hunt                      Fred S. Stetson
+  Robert G. Kelly                    John E. Tobin
+  Edward K. Lathrop                  Henry B. Whitmore
+  Henry H. Lawler                    Samuel Wilson
+
+
+B COMPANY.
+
+  CAPTAIN, HENRY MCDONALD.
+  FIRST LIEUTENANT, WILLIAM J. YOUNG.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, HARRY J. VESPER.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, THOMAS F. BURKE.
+  SERGEANTS, RICHARD H. BEARSE.
+             SAMUEL E. SMITH.
+             GEORGE J. MCKEOWN.
+             JOHN J. O'CONNELL.
+             EVERETT W. WILCOX.
+  CORPORALS, FRANK A. WAKEFIELD.
+             MELVIN H. RANSOM.
+             RICHARD B. BLANEY.
+             MICHAEL J. DONAHUH.
+             JOHN B. FULTON.
+             THOMAS F. HANDY.
+  MUSICIANS, HENRY F. LADBURY.
+             BERNARD E. COMEY.
+  WAGONER, PAUL J. KINGSTON.
+  ARTIFICER, ORVIN E. ALBERTS.
+
+
+PRIVATES
+
+  Charles H. Ashley          Donald A. McPhee
+  John Bryson                William J. Mack
+  Peter F. Boyer             Daniel J. Moriarty
+  William F. Barton          Frank C. Mattoon
+  William J. Barton          Axel Mahlstrom, East Longmeadow
+  John M. Carey              John J. Malone
+  William F. Childs          Howard S. Meyrick, Agawam
+  Matthew J. Clark           John J. O'Donnell
+  Theophile J. Champagne     Arthur M. Partridge
+  Clarence E. Chapman        Giles S. Potter, Pittsfield
+  William W. Chadbourne      Alwin B. Richter
+  Albert M. Chandler         Christopher J. Riordan
+  Lewis R. Dikeman           Thos. R. Rooney, Westfield
+  Frank F. Dingman           Wilmore S. Riopel
+  Robert D. Draper           Matthew M. P. Ryan
+  Daniel S. Devine           James C. Ryan
+  Albert R. Dunn             Henry P. Roberts
+  George DeGray              Frank X. Rivers
+  John K. DeLoach            Clarence B. Ross
+  Frank L. Edson             Harry H. Richards, West Springfield
+  Henry T. Ellis             Alfred E. Rose
+  James F. Ferrier           John J. Smith
+  Ellsworth Frey             Frank Twohey, Worcester
+  Eugene B. Grenier          Paul L. Vesper
+  Morris Grenowitz           Harry C. Wakefield
+  Joseph Genereaux           Ernest C. Whitcomb
+  John C. Hurley             Edwin W. Wright
+  Robert J. F. Judd
+  Michael F. Kelleher
+  Ernest J. Monseau
+
+
+K COMPANY.
+
+  CAPTAIN, WILLIAM S. WARRINER.
+  FIRST LIEUTENANT, PHILIP C. POWERS.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, HARRY H. PARKHURST.
+  FIRST SERGEANT, ARTHUR J. BERRY.
+  SERGEANTS, FRED A. JENKS, Chicopee.
+             G. BURTON HALL.
+             DAVID A. TURNER.
+             J. LEWIS KELLY.
+             HYATT W. AVERY.
+  CORPORALS, WILLIAM C. PIPER.
+             THOMAS C. BOONE.
+             BURDETT A. MADISON.
+             WILLIAM E. TURNER.
+             ALBERT MARSDEN.
+             BERT F. NICHOLS.
+  MUSICIANS, FRANK P. JONES.
+             LOUIS P. CASTALDINI.
+  WAGONER, FRANK N. BOULE.
+  ARTIFICER, WILSON C. EMERY.
+
+
+PRIVATES.
+
+  Ernest L. Alderman              Charles Hoadley
+  Edward N. Aiken                 Irving J. Johnson
+  Horace W. Allen                 Ward Lathrop
+  Wallace H. Brown                Michael R. Lyons
+  George L. Bates                 Everett W. Luther
+  Ralph A. Barkman                Myron W. Maynard
+  Arthur N. Broulette             Charles E. McLeod
+  Arthur M. Burnham               Wm. C. McCulloch, Chicopee
+  Albert J. Brunell               Frank E. Moody
+  Michael E. Breck                John L. Morehouse
+  James W. Britton                Homer G. Munson
+  James A. Brazzil                Samuel W. Nesbitt
+  Frank L. Carr                   Charles Owens
+  Arthur L. Chapman               A. L. Potter
+  William C. Colvin               George W. Potter
+  Alwin A. Cameron                Walter J. Reardon
+  George S, Creeley               Phillip H. Robinson
+  William R. Dunse                William E. Stephens
+  Edwin A. Elwell                 George E. Sollace
+  Horatio M. Field                Edgar W. Snell
+  Wm. J. Fish, W. Springfield     Harry J. Symonds
+  Harry D. Fisher                 Alfred Stone
+  Ralph Fisk                      Robert B. Terrell
+  Herman H. Fuller                Nicholas D. Vassilli
+  Julian B. Hawkes                William J. Walsh
+  Louis H. Hall                   Harry O. Wilkins
+  Frank B. Hendricks              Joseph G. Woodbury
+  George Hallier                  Henry Wright, Jr.
+  Edward R. Hubbard               William A. Webb
+
+[Illustration: HENRY S. LEE]
+
+
+H COMPANY NAVAL BRIGADE.
+
+  Name                    Rating                   Ship
+
+  Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter             U. S. S. Gov. Russell
+  Lieut. (j. g.) Henry S. Crossman          U. S. S. Prairie
+  Lieut. (j. g.) William O. Cohn             U. S. S. Lehigh
+  William A. Dearden, Boatswain's Mate, 2d class     Prairie
+  William Owens, Gunner's Mate, 2d class                "
+  James A. Turnbull, Gunner's Mate, 3d class            "
+  Curtis H. Jennings, Gunner's Mate, 3d class           "
+  Arthur H. Strong, Chief Q. M.                       Saturn
+  Winfred A. Sabin, Coxswain                          Lehigh
+  Herbert E. Burns, Bayman                           Prairie
+  Ernest F. Gilbert, Shipwright                         "
+  George H. Nobbs, Pay Yeoman                           "
+  Albert M. Pease, Cook                                 "
+
+
+SEAMEN.
+
+  William H. Brundett      Prairie  George W. Lyman          Prairie
+  Weston F. Bright            "     Irving C. Lombra            "
+  A. W. Blauvelt              "     George L. Meacham           "
+  Webster C. Clark            "     Charles B. Miller           "
+  Lewis B. Clark              "     Ralph Newcomb               "
+  Winfred W. Crosier          "     Guy A. Preble               "
+  Charles Crosier             "     Gilbert G. Patnode          "
+  Charles W. Dearden          "     Goulding S. Patnode         "
+  Lawrence W. Erricson        "     Walter Swazey               "
+  Arthur J. C. Fischer        "     Edwin S. Smith              "
+  Robert C. Goodale           "     Fred C. Steele              "
+  Robert P. King            Lehigh  McClellan E. Streeter       "
+  Albert N. Luce           Prairie  Rupert H. B. Warburton    Lehigh
+  Howard Loomis               "     Robert H. Wheeler        Prairie
+  Ward H. Long                "     Henry W. Watson             "
+  Frank Ladd                  "
+
+
+
+
+THE ROLL OF HONOR.
+
+
+  Henry C. Bowen, Major and Surgeon, died in Second Division
+    Hospital, Santiago, August 13, of malarial fever.
+
+
+G COMPANY
+
+  Corporal Patrick J. Noone, died in Springfield, September 20, 1898,
+    typhoid fever.
+
+  Private George A. Richmond, died in field hospital near El Caney,
+    July 1, 1898, of wound in head.
+
+  Private Walter A. Packard, killed on field, El Caney, July 1, 1898.
+
+  Private Robert G. Kelly, died in division hospital of wound
+    received in action July 2d, at San Juan.
+
+  Private Francis A. Burke, died at Springfield, October 24, 1898.
+
+  Private Andrew Little, died in second division hospital, Santiago,
+    August 22, 1898.
+
+  Private Fred S. Stetson, died in second division hospital,
+    Santiago, August 24, 1898.
+
+
+B COMPANY.
+
+  Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper, died on S. S. Mobile, August 17,
+    1898, of gastric enteritis.
+
+  Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, died in camp before
+    Santiago, August 1, 1898, of malarial fever.
+
+  Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, died on S. S. Mobile, August 27, 1898, of
+    malarial fever.
+
+  Private John J. Malone, died in field hospital, July 5, 1898, of
+    wound received at El Caney, July 1.
+
+  Private Paul Vesper, died in camp before Santiago, August 10, 1898,
+    of malarial fever.
+
+
+K COMPANY.
+
+  Corporal William C. Piper, died in second division hospital, August
+    5, 1898.
+
+  Corporal Thomas C. Boone, died in Springfield, March 19, 1899.
+
+  Musician Frank P. Jones, died at Montauk Point, L. I., August 27,
+    1898.
+
+  Private Frank E. Moody, killed on field, July 1, 1898, at El Caney.
+
+  Private Arthur M. Burnham, died in division hospital, Santiago,
+    August 18, 1898, of typhoid fever.
+
+  Private Michael R. Lyons, died in Springfield, April 20, 1899.
+
+  Private George S. Creley, died in Springfield, June 28, 1899.
+
+  Private John L. Morehouse, died in Springfield, November 12, 1899.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Since the muster-out three more of Springfield's contingent, all K
+company men, have answered the final roll call. Corporal Thomas C.
+Boone died in Massachusetts general hospital at Boston, March 19, 1899,
+and Private Michael R. Lyons at Springfield, April 20. Private George
+C. Creley died June 25, at his home after a long illness. Private John
+L. Morehouse died in Springfield, November 12, 1889.
+
+
+
+
+SPRINGFIELD'S DEAD HEROES.
+
+
+HENRY C. BOWEN.
+
+Henry C. Bowen, major and surgeon of the Second regiment, died in the
+Second Division hospital, near Santiago, after making a gallant fight
+against sickness and death, not only for himself but for the regiment
+under his care. It is not too much to say that but for the heavy burden
+he was under with the care of over 800 sick and dying men on his hands,
+he might have recovered from the Cuban fever and been alive to-day,
+but as it was he succumbed. It was his misfortune to go to the front
+ignorant of the red tape which forms an even more effectual barrier
+to individual action than did the Spanish barbed wire to our troops,
+and it was this same red tape which was indirectly responsible for
+his death. When the regiment was in its worst condition in front of
+Santiago, when he was alone in the work of caring for the sick and
+dying, he found it next to impossible to obtain needed medical supplies
+for his men, and yet knew he was held responsible for their welfare. It
+is not to be wondered at under these circumstances that he grew nervous
+and irritable, and repelled rather than attracted those who tried to
+help him. The wonder of it was, that sick in body and mind as he was,
+he bore up as long as he did. But he did what he could and gave his
+health, and strength, and life in his duty.
+
+Major Bowen was born in Castle Creek, N. Y., the son of Dr. Charles W.
+Bowen of Westfield, and he studied in the public schools there and at
+Wilbraham academy. He gained his medical education in the University
+of New York and served in Bellevue hospital for eighteen months and in
+the Broome street lying-in hospital. He began practice in Springfield
+in 1894 and was fast reaching a high place in his profession when the
+war broke out. At the time of his appointment he was a member of the
+surgical staff of the Mercy hospital where he was liked by patients and
+officials.
+
+
+HARRY J. VESPER.
+
+Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper of B company, came of fighting stock,
+his father, O. R. Vesper, of Springfield, being a one armed veteran of
+the civil war. Harry was born in Springfield and was 31 years of age
+when he died on the Mobile. He studied in the public schools, leaving
+the high school to enter the employ of the Springfield Homestead. There
+he rose by steady industry and ability, to be head of the mailing
+department and business manager of the electrotyping department. For
+several years he had been deeply interested in the militia and had
+enlisted in B company, rising through the grades of corporal and
+sergeant to the second lieutenantcy, to which he was elected and
+commissioned May 11, 1896. For two years he had served as adjutant of
+the first battalion of the regiment, and was popular with everyone in
+the command.
+
+
+RICHARD H. BEARSE.
+
+The news of the death of no member of the Second was received in
+Springfield with more regret than that of Sergeant "Dickie" Bearse of
+B company. A member of the company for several years, he was known and
+liked by all the officers and men of the Springfield companies, for to
+know "Dick" Bearse was to like him. With his pride in B company and the
+regiment, not to speak of his patriotism, it was only natural he should
+be anxious to go to the front with the Second, and he did so, although
+he had to twice overcome the examining surgeon's objections. In camp
+and on the march he was cheerful and helpful and at El Caney he was up
+with the best of them. But all the while the hardships and toils of
+the campaign were sapping his vitality, and when the deadly calentura
+came, he had no strength left to resist it, but simply laid down and
+died. In him B company and the Second lost one of their best. Sergeant
+Bearse was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bearse and was 24 years of
+age. His body was brought home and interred in the family lot in Oak
+Grove cemetery, after such a funeral as has seldom been witnessed in
+Springfield, an outpouring of grief from hundreds of friends.
+
+
+WILLIAM C. PIPER.
+
+Corporal William C. Piper of K, was born at Marysville, O., in 1874,
+and his father is a well known lawyer and probate judge of that state.
+Corporal Piper came to Springfield in 1895 as manager of the Stetson
+Shoe store and had charge of the establishment at the time he was
+mustered in to the United States service. He enlisted in K company in
+1897.
+
+
+FRANK P. JONES.
+
+Musician Frank P. Jones of K, and one of the best fellows in the
+Second, died in the hospital at Camp Wikoff, August 27, after passing
+through all the hardships of the campaign in Cuba without being
+seriously ill. He was a native of Ludlow, Mass., and was 21 years of
+age. He had served in K for three years and though opposed by his
+parents, could not be kept from enlisting as a volunteer when the call
+came for troops. Of a cheerful, happy disposition, he did much in the
+dark days of sickness and death in the camp before Santiago, to help
+his comrades, and his example helped many a sick man.
+
+
+PAUL J. KINGSTON.
+
+Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, B company, was an efficient soldier and well
+liked member of the command. He was 24 years of age when he died on
+the Mobile and was the son of George Kingston, an expressman. He was
+serving the third year of his enlistment in B when the war came and at
+once volunteered to go to the front.
+
+
+PAUL VESPER.
+
+Private Paul Vesper of B was younger than his brother, Lieut. Harry J.
+Vesper, but had many of the qualities which made the latter so well
+liked. He was serving his first enlistment in B company when the war
+came, and promptly expressed a desire to volunteer. He died in the camp
+before Santiago, August 10, 1898.
+
+
+ROBERT G. KELLY.
+
+Robert G. Kelly was the third G company man to fall in the fighting in
+front of Santiago. At 10 o'clock on the night of July 2d, the crashing
+of rifle volleys and the screams of shells awoke the Second from the
+sleep of fatigue, and the officers and men rushed to the crest of the
+hill behind which they had bivouacked. The attack was to the right of
+the Second's position, but while waiting for orders the regiment had to
+stand the rain of scattering shot and Kelly was the first to be hit.
+The bullet struck him in the left cheek, going through and lodging in
+the muscles of the other side. He was taken to the division hospital
+and died there July 15. He was the son of Samuel Kelly of Springfield
+and enlisted just before the Second was ordered to South Framingham.
+
+
+ARTHUR M. BURNHAM.
+
+Private Arthur M. Burnham of K was the son of George M. Burnham, a
+well known contractor and builder of Springfield. Arthur was born
+in 1876 and studied in the public schools. He was popular with his
+school fellows and with all who knew him. For three years previous to
+the breaking out of the war he had been associated with his father
+in business. He enlisted in K company soon after its transfer to
+Springfield and after serving three years, left the company, a short
+time before the war broke out. He was one of the first of the former
+members to reenlist when it was known that war was certain and bore
+himself manfully through the campaign. He was ill with typhoid when the
+regiment left Cuba and was obliged to be left behind.
+
+
+FRED A. STETSON.
+
+Fred A. Stetson enlisted in G company at the outbreak of the war and
+served faithfully until he was attacked by the disease which laid him
+low, only a day or two after his comrades had left Cuba for home. He
+was employed in Springfield when he enlisted, but had only been in the
+city a short time, and had no near relatives living so far as known. He
+was 24 years old.
+
+
+JOHN J. MALONE.
+
+John J. Malone, fatally wounded at El Caney, was a member of B company
+and had been for two years previous to the outbreak of the war. He was
+a bright, cheerful young fellow and was well liked by his acquaintances
+as well as by his comrades. His parents died during his childhood and
+John made his home with a relative. He was employed in the Homestead
+office. At El Caney, Malone was one of the first men hit, the fatal
+bullet striking him within a few moments after B company had taken its
+position with the 22d. He died in the field hospital.
+
+
+FRANK E. MOODY.
+
+Frank E. Moody of K company, killed in action at El Caney, was the son
+of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Moody of Springfield and was 20 years old when
+he enlisted in K, only a few days before the regiment left for South
+Framingham. He was shot soon after B and K companies took position on
+the right flank of the 22d.
+
+
+ARTHUR HOWARD PACKARD.
+
+Killed instantly at El Caney, July 1, 1898. He was the son of Mrs.
+Helen N. Packard, who, the wife of a soldier of the civil war, saw her
+two sons go to the front in the war with Spain, both being members of G
+company. Arthur would have been 19 years of age in November, 1898, and
+had been employed in the Homestead office. When only 17 he enlisted in
+G company and was well liked by his comrades. When the war came Arthur
+insisted on being one of the men to go with the company. Through the
+campaign he was soldierly and cheerful and his bright, if sometimes
+caustic sayings, did much to help his comrades. He was on the advanced
+firing line of the Second in the squad under Lieut. Leyden when the
+fatal bullet struck him and he died instantly.
+
+
+GEORGE A. RICHMOND.
+
+George A. Richmond was one of the oldest members of G company and was
+born in Springfield. He enlisted in 1887, and remained a member of
+the company for several years. When it was seen that war was coming,
+Richmond was one of the first to apply to Capt. Leonard for a place
+in the ranks and joined the company at South Framingham. At El Caney
+Richmond was with Lieut. Leyden's squad, and was shot through the head
+early in the engagement. Willing hands bore him to the improvised field
+hospital where he lay in agony for several hours before death came. He
+was comforted and consoled by Chaplain Fitzgerald of the 22d, who took
+his last messages. Richmond's mother died in his early youth and he had
+made his home with relatives. He had been employed in the Springfield
+post office. He took a small camera with him to Cuba and made a number
+of pictures.
+
+
+FRANCIS A. BURKE.
+
+Private Francis A. Burke of G company, who died at the House of Mercy
+hospital, October 8, 1898, was the son of Thomas Burke and resided at
+196 Spring street. He was employed as a clerk in the store of Forbes
+& Wallace and was well liked by his associates. He was 22 years of
+age. As a youth he took much interest in military matters and was for
+some time a member of the Cathedral cadets. Later he enlisted in G
+company and had served some time when the war broke out. He promptly
+volunteered and served well in the campaign.
+
+
+THOMAS C. BOONE.
+
+The circumstances surrounding the death of Sergeant Thomas C. Boone,
+who went to the front with K company, but was transferred to the U. S.
+Signal Corps, were particularly sad as at the time his many friends
+supposed he was practically recovered from the terrible experience
+he underwent while in the service. Boone died in the Mass. General
+Hospital, Boston, on March 19, 1899, after a comparatively brief
+illness. He was a native of Maryland, being born in Annapolis in 1876,
+and came to Springfield in 1894, enlisting in K company soon after
+his coming here. At South Framingham Boone was appointed a corporal
+by Capt. Warriner, but the number of these positions in the companies
+being reduced Boone was obliged to serve as a private. Soon after
+the arrival of the Second at Tampa he was transferred to the signal
+corps with the rank of sergeant. He was an expert telegrapher and
+was selected for that reason. On July 2d he with Col. Drew and Major
+Maxfield were in the war balloon at San Juan and while the balloon
+was at a height of 2700 feet and was being taken over a creek it was
+pierced by three pieces of shrapnel from the Spanish lines and fell.
+The basket caught in the top of a tree and Boone was caught in the
+anchor and hung suspended over the stream for a long time with the
+iron hook pressing into his side. Then he fell into the water. He was
+badly injured, but did not realize it at the time. A few days later
+he was sent to the hospital, but while being conveyed there in a mule
+team the vehicle was upset and he was again injured. On his return to
+the United States through an error on the part of some officer he was
+accused of desertion but after several months the stain was taken away
+and he received an honorable discharge. Boone was a popular member of
+the company and also popular among a large number of friends.
+
+
+MICHAEL R. LYONS.
+
+Michael R. Lyons of K company, died in the Mercy hospital, Springfield,
+April 20th, 1899, just a year from the time he enlisted and after
+making a gallant fight against the effects of the hardships he
+underwent in Cuba. He was a well-liked member of the company and
+made an excellent soldier, doing his duty quietly and faithfully.
+All through the campaign, although ill at times, he was cheerful and
+uncomplaining and his example was not lost on his comrades. His body
+was taken to Palmer for burial. His parents and brothers reside in
+Springfield.
+
+
+ANDREW LITTLE.
+
+Andrew Little was one of the "recruits" of G company, he having gone
+to the camp at South Framingham with the first batch of extra men
+assembled in Springfield after it was known that several vacancies had
+been caused in the company through rejections by the surgeons. He lived
+in Middlebury, Vermont, but had been employed in Springfield for some
+time. During the campaign he served as assistant company cook and stood
+the hardships and exposure fairly well until a short time before the
+regiment left Santiago for the United States.
+
+
+GEORGE C. CRELEY.
+
+George C. Creley, 21, was one of the last men of K company to die, his
+death being due to consumption contracted in service in Cuba. His death
+occurred June 28, 1899, after a long illness. Creley left a father and
+a sister, the former living in Springfield. He was a recruit, enlisting
+in K as soon as there was an opportunity and his service was faithful.
+
+
+JOHN L. MOREHOUSE.
+
+The last member of K company to pass away up to the time of issuing
+this volume, was Private John L. Morehouse who died Nov. 12, 1899,
+after an illness of several weeks. He was a cousin of Lieut. H. H.
+Parkhurst of K and was well liked by his comrades, being easily one of
+the most popular members of the company. He was 29 years of age and
+aside from cousins, had no near relatives.
+
+
+
+
+  TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
+
+  Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Superscripts have been
+  converted to normal text.
+
+  Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected
+  after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and
+  consultation of external sources.
+
+  Except for those changes noted below, inconsistent or archaic spelling
+  of a word or word-pair within the text has been retained. For example:
+  blockhouses, block houses; good-bye, good bye; reenlist, re-enlist;
+  warships, war ships.
+
+  p 10.  'andmaintained' changed to 'and maintained'.
+  p 10.  'hereseveral' changed to 'here several'.
+  p 12.  'T. A. Sweney' changed to 'T. A. Sweeney'.
+  p 16.  'a. m.' changed to 'A. M.' for consistency.
+  p 20.  'Manilla' changed to 'Manila'.
+  p 34.  'to be be beaten' changed to 'to be beaten'.
+  p 36.  'somehew' changed to 'somehow'.
+  p 47.  'employe' changed to 'employee'.
+  p 54.  'utillized' changed to 'utilized'.
+  p 60.  'guage' changed to 'gauge'.
+  p 69.  'oocupants' changed to 'occupants'.
+  p 71.  'olock' changed to 'clock'.
+  p 72.  'in the the afternoon' changed to 'in the afternoon'.
+  p 74.  'envolope' changed to 'envelope'.
+  p 79.  'anothor' changed to 'another'.
+  p 80.  'oolor' changed to 'color'.
+  p 86.  'advavtage' changed to 'advantage'.
+  p 88.  'Boulè' changed to 'Boule'.
+  p 89.  'Backman' changed to 'Barkman'.
+  p 97.  'illuminatad' changed to 'illuminated'.
+  p 102. 'Sprinfields' changed to 'Springfields'.
+  P 110. 'Greenowitz' changed to 'Grenowitz'.
+  p 114. 'Khakir' changed to Khaki'.
+  p 115. 'Santiano' changed to 'Santiago'.
+  p 119. 'machette' changed to 'machete'.
+  p 124. 'round robbin' changed to 'round robin'.
+  p 131. 'suberb' changed to 'superb'.
+  p 141. 'recieved' changed to 'received'.
+  p 145. 'eht use of' changed to 'the use of'.
+  p 148. 'mpatience' changed to 'impatience'.
+  p 157. 'Lamoreau' changed to 'Lamoreaux'.
+  p 159. 'employes' changed to 'employees'.
+  p 159. 'Phillippines' changed to 'Philippines'.
+  p 161. 'chase of of the' changed to 'chase of the'.
+  p 163. 'Tomkinsville' changed to 'Tompkinsville'.
+  p 176. 'Frnak P. Jones' changed to 'Frank P. Jones'.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Springfield in the Spanish American War, by 
+Walter W. Ward
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 46361 ***
diff --git a/46361-h/46361-h.htm b/46361-h/46361-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8fdb2a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/46361-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,6968 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=UTF-8" />
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Springfield in the Spanish-American War, by Walter W. Ward.
+    </title>
+    <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" />
+    <style type="text/css">
+
+body {
+    margin-left: 10%;
+    margin-right: 10%;
+}
+
+    h1,h2 {
+    text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+    clear: both;
+}
+
+h3  {
+    text-align: center;
+    clear: both;
+    margin-top: 1.75em;
+    margin-bottom: 1em;
+    word-spacing: 0.4em;
+    font-size: 85%;
+}
+
+p {
+    margin-top: .51em;
+    text-align: justify;
+    margin-bottom: .49em;
+    text-indent: 1em;
+}
+
+.p2       {margin-top: 2em;}
+.p4       {margin-top: 4em;}
+.pad5     {padding-left: 5.5em;}
+.pad8     {padding-left: 8em;}
+
+.negidt1   {margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; text-align: justify;}
+
+.pfs150   {font-size: 150%; text-align: center;}
+.pfs120   {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;}
+.pfs80    {font-size: 80%; text-align: center;}
+
+.small    {font-size: small;}
+.noindent {text-indent: 0em;}
+
+hr {
+    width: 33%;
+    margin-top: 2em;
+    margin-bottom: 2em;
+    margin-left: 33.5%;
+    margin-right: 33.5%;
+    clear: both;
+}
+
+  hr.tb   {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;}
+  hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;}
+  hr.r15  {width: 15%; margin-left: 42.5%; margin-right: 42.5%;}
+
+@media  handheld
+{
+  hr {
+    width: 0%;
+    margin-top: 2em;
+    margin-bottom: 2em;
+    margin-left: auto;
+    margin-right: auto;
+    clear: both;
+  }
+
+  hr.tb   {width: 0%;}
+  hr.chap {width: 0%}
+  hr.r15  {width: 0%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;}
+}
+
+.corr    {
+         text-decoration: none;
+         border-bottom: thin dotted blue;
+         }
+
+@media handheld  {
+  .corr  {
+         text-decoration: none;
+         border-bottom: none;
+         }
+}
+
+img.drop-capi   {
+   float: left;
+   margin: 0 0.5em 0 0;
+   position: relative;
+   z-index: 1;
+}
+
+p.drop-capi, p.drop-capi2  {
+   text-indent: 0em;
+}
+
+p.drop-capi:first-letter, p.drop-capi2:first-letter  {
+   padding-right: .2em;
+}
+
+p.drop-capi:first-letter  {
+   margin-left: -0.9em;
+}
+
+p.drop-capi2:first-letter  {
+   margin-left: -1.35em;
+}
+
+@media handheld
+{
+   img.drop-capi  {
+     display: none;
+     visibility: hidden;
+   }
+   p.drop-capi:first-letter, p.drop-capi2:first-letter  {
+     padding-right: 0em;
+     margin-left: 0em;
+   }
+}
+
+@media handheld
+{
+.p-brk
+  {
+    page-break-before: always;
+  }
+
+  h2.no-break
+  {
+    page-break-before: avoid;
+    padding-top: 0;
+  }
+}
+
+table {
+    margin-left: auto;
+    margin-right: auto;
+}
+
+.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */
+    /*  visibility: hidden;  */
+    position: absolute;
+    color: #A9A9A9;
+    left: 90%;
+    font-size: smaller;
+    text-align: right;
+} /* page numbers */
+
+.blockquot {
+    margin-left: 5%;
+    margin-right: 10%;
+}
+
+.center   {text-align: center;}
+.right   {text-align: right;}
+.smcap    {font-variant: small-caps;}
+
+.caption  {font-weight: bold;}
+
+/* Images */
+.figcenter   {
+    margin: auto;
+    text-align: left;
+}
+
+/* Poetry */
+.poem {
+    margin-left:10%;
+    margin-right:10%;
+    text-align: left;
+}
+
+.poem br {display: none;}
+
+.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
+    .poem span.i0     {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i2     {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i4     {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i20     {display: block; margin-left: 10em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+
+/* Transcriber's notes */
+.transnote    {
+     background-color: #E6E6FA;
+     color: black;
+     font-size:smaller;
+     padding:0.5em;
+     margin-bottom:5em;
+     font-family:sans-serif, serif;
+}
+
+.customcover {visibility: hidden; display: none;}
+@media handheld {
+  .customcover {visibility: visible; display: block;}
+}
+
+    </style>
+  </head>
+
+<body>
+<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 46361 ***</div>
+
+<div class="transnote">
+
+<strong>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE</strong><br />
+
+<p class="customcover"><br />The cover image was created by the transcriber
+and is placed in the public domain.</p>
+<br />
+Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected<br />
+after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text<br />
+and consultation of external sources.<br />
+<br />
+More detail can be found <a href="#TN">at the end of the book.</a><br />
+</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="400" height="565" alt="Frontispiece" />
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Colonel Embury P. Clark</span></div>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p class="p4" />
+
+<h1>
+SPRINGFIELD<br /><br />
+<small>IN THE</small><br /><br />
+SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR</h1>
+
+<p class="p4" />
+<p class="pfs80">BY</p>
+<p class="pfs150">WALTER W. WARD</p>
+<p class="p4" />
+
+<p class="pfs120">ILLUSTRATED</p>
+<p class="p4" />
+
+<p class="pfs80">PRESS OF<br />
+ENTERPRISE PRINTING COMPANY<br />
+EASTHAMPTON, MASS.<br />
+1899.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p class="p4" />
+<p class="pfs120 p-brk"><span class="smcap">To the<br />
+Officers and Men<br />
+of G, B and K Companies<br />
+Second Regiment Massachusetts<br />
+Infantry, U. S. V., and<br />
+H Company, Naval Brigade.</span></p>
+<p class="p4" />
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<div>
+
+<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</a></h2>
+
+<p>In the Spanish-American war of 1898, Springfield rose to
+the occasion as she did in 1776 and 1861 and sent her youngest
+and best and bravest sons to the front. It was her sons
+who fought and fell at El Caney, the one battle of modern
+times where infantry, practically unsupported by artillery,
+captured a well fortified town and it was her sons who were
+in the lead in drawing the attacking lines so tightly about
+the city of Santiago that its surrender had to follow. It
+was her sons also who, on the high seas, on a fast auxiliary
+cruiser, did faithful service as a portion of the navy and had
+the satisfaction of doing their share in remembering the
+Maine by sinking a Spanish transport and a gun boat. Her
+sons fell on the battlefield and died in the camps and hospitals
+after enduring as soldiers, the hardships and toils of one
+of the shortest yet most important and bloodiest campaigns
+in history and of the honors of that war, Springfield claims
+a goodly share for herself.</p>
+
+<p>In the near future a monument, the funds for which have
+been contributed from near and far, will be erected in
+Springfield to the memory of the officers and men of the
+Second Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. Volunteers
+who fell or died in the Spanish war. On that monument,
+whatever form it may take, will be inscribed the names of
+Bowen, Harry and Paul Vesper, Bearse, Noone, Piper,
+Boone, Jones, Richmond, Packard, Kelly, Moody, Burnham,
+Malone, Burke, Little, Stetson, Creley, Lyons and
+Morehouse. But their names have long before this been
+permanently inscribed on the hearts of their comrades
+and in no place are they more secure. They died
+for the flag, the highest honor possible to an American
+citizen. This volume is written in the attempt to
+portray as clearly as memory serves what these men and
+their comrades did in the war with Spain. While not actually
+a history, the intention has been to show as clearly as
+possible the people of Springfield what it was their sons and
+brothers and friends in her four organizations at the front
+went through in their short campaign.</p>
+
+<p>Springfield, Nov. 1899.</p>
+<p class="right">W. W. W.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p class="p4" />
+
+</div><div>
+
+<h2><a name="LIST_OF_CONTENTS" id="LIST_OF_CONTENTS">LIST OF CONTENTS.</a></h2>
+
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="Table of Contents">
+<tr><td align="right">CHAPTER.</td><td></td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">I.</td><td>Which is preliminary to those which follow it,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#THE_CAMPAIGN_IN_CUBA">9</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td>Which tells about the calling out of H company, Naval Brigade,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">14</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td>How G, B and K companies went to South Framingham,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">19</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td>Wherein is told how we were transformed from "tin" soldiers into the real article,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">25</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td>We get orders to leave for the sunny South and obey them,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">32</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td>We go to the Southland and begin to find out where we are at,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">38</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td>We stay in Ybor City and then enjoy (?) life on the transports in the harbor,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">44</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td>We have a lovely sail on the palatial Knickerbocker and reach Cuba without mishap,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">51</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IX.</td><td>Wherein is related our landing at Daiquiri and some things which subsequently happened,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">59</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">X.</td><td>In which is to be found the tale of Crab Hollow and some other things,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">68</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XI.</td><td>Which tells how we got ready to take the town of El Caney,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">76</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XII.</td><td>Wherein is related some events which happened to us on July first,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">84</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIII.</td><td>We learn some more things about the art of war as conducted in these days,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">94</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIV.</td><td>We continue our education in the art of war and learn a few things,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">106</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XV.</td><td>We have to face another enemy more deadly than the Spaniards,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">119</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVI.</td><td>Our voyage homeward on the death ship Mobile,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">129</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVII.</td><td>We and our friends enjoy ourselves at Camp Wickoff, Montauk Point,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">136</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVIII.</td><td>In which is told how we prepare to quit Uncle Sam's service,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">143</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIX.</td><td>We become plain citizens once more and square accounts with Uncle Sam,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">151</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XX.</td><td>Wherein is narrated the adventures on the high seas of Springfield's sailors,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">161</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="TOC Part 2">
+<tr><td>Roster,</td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#ROSTER">172</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td>The Roll of Honor,</td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#THE_ROLL_OF_HONOR">178</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td>Springfield's Dead Heroes,</td><td> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#SPRINGFIELDS_DEAD_HEROES">180</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p class="p4" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="pfs150 p-brk"><a name="THE_CAMPAIGN_IN_CUBA" id="THE_CAMPAIGN_IN_CUBA">THE CAMPAIGN IN CUBA.</a></p>
+<hr class="r15" />
+
+<p class="pfs120">Experiences of Co's G, B and K, M. V. M., and H<br />
+Co., Naval Brigade in the war of 1898 and<br />
+record of its service in the opera-<br />
+tions against Santiago.</p>
+<hr class="r15" />
+<p class="pfs150">BY WALTER W. WARD.</p>
+<hr class="r15" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER I.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHICH IS PRELIMINARY TO THOSE WHICH FOLLOW IT.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i011.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">WITHIN the few years preceding the fateful one of
+1898 a decided impetus had been given the military
+spirit in Springfield by the stationing of two additional
+companies of the state militia in this city.
+To the already organized companies, G and B of
+the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, had been added K company,
+the company of that name in Amherst having been
+disbanded and its letter transferred to Springfield. The
+organization in this city of a company of the state naval
+brigade and the building of a handsome and commodious
+state armory helped to place the militia of Springfield on a
+higher level in the public interest and regard than had previously
+been the case.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Springfield has always been rich in military tradition.
+Her earliest sons helped fight the Indians who disputed the
+right of the first settlers to the lands they roamed over in the
+fertile Connecticut valley; they had served in the Colonial
+wars and Springfield blood was shed in the Revolutionary
+war. Soon after this war Springfield was the scene of one
+of the episodes of Shay's rebellion. In the Civil war she
+sent her full quota and more of her young men to serve
+under the flag and after the war the ranks of her militia
+companies were always kept filled with her best young men.
+Undoubtedly the presence here of a United States military
+post and the famous Springfield arsenal has done much to
+aid in keeping up the military spirit.</p>
+
+<p>For long years, reaching back to a time before the rebel
+guns opened fire on Fort Sumter, Springfield's one military
+company was the City guard, which after being attached to
+several of the state militia organizations became under the
+final reorganization of the state troops B company of the Second
+regiment of infantry, M. V. M. In 1868 a number of
+the veterans of the Civil war organized the Peabody guard
+which was attached to the Second regiment as G company.
+Both these companies were always composed of good material
+<ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'andmaintained'">
+and maintained</ins> a high place in the state militia, not only for
+excellence in drill but in discipline and marksmanship. The
+location of regimental headquarters <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'hereseveral'">here several</ins> years ago
+aided in making military interest more rife than for some
+years.</p>
+
+<p>With four companies of militia instead of two, with headquarters
+and a fine new armory in place of the more or less
+unsatisfactory quarters previously occupied and with public
+feeling more united in their support than it had been for
+years the militia of Springfield felt they had entered upon a
+new period and it was one, which though they did not then
+realize it, was to soon test the courage and soldierly qualities
+of many of the officers and men of the Springfield militia.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>
+But with this then unknown the spirit of soldierly pride and
+loyalty to their organizations led officers and men to constant
+striving to be at the top or as near the top as possible, of the
+militia of the state in all things soldierly. In drill, in discipline,
+in knowledge of guard duty, in marksmanship and in
+all the other details that go to make up a good soldier there
+was assiduous practice and to the furtherance of that end
+many of the ceremonial features of military life, to which
+great importance had previously been attached, were discarded
+as far as possible. This was thoroughly in line with
+the policy of the state military authorities and its value was
+to be proven sooner than was anticipated.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take a very far seeing mind to realize in the fall
+of 1897 and the first two months of 1898 that matters with
+regard to the policy of the United States in the affairs of
+Cuba might soon produce a crisis so acute that the military
+power of the Republic would have to be called upon. Certainly
+it was realized by the militiamen and the progress of
+events from the beginning of 1898 to the night of the destruction
+of the Maine was by none more closely watched
+than by the men who gathered in the company rooms in the
+armory each night.</p>
+
+<p>When it was known definitely that the long anticipated
+call to arms could not be much longer delayed the local
+militia was never in finer fettle. The ranks of every company
+were filled and soldierly enthusiasm ran high. New
+arms, not comparable of course with those of the regular
+army but better than any previous militia armament, had
+been issued and the equipments and uniforms were in good
+and serviceable condition. Applications for enlistment were
+so numerous that had there been eight companies instead of
+four their ranks could have easily been filled up.</p>
+
+<p>It was on the 29th of April, 1898, that the call for troops
+came to Springfield. On the 23d President McKinley had
+issued the first call for troops and six days later Gov. Wolcott<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>
+designated Col. E. P. Clark of the Second as one of the
+six commanding officers to raise a regiment of volunteers for
+the United States service. It was provided that members of
+the militia were to be given the preference in enlistments to
+the volunteer regiments, the residue being made up by enlistment
+of other citizens. The Second was ordered to report at
+the state camp ground at South Framingham on May 3 for
+muster into the United States service. April 29th fell on
+Friday and May 3 on Tuesday of the following week so that
+there was not any too much time in which to enlist men for
+the companies and get everything in readiness for service.
+But what time there was on hand was so well utilized that
+promptly at the hour ordered on the morning of May 3d the
+three Springfield companies were at the armory with full
+ranks and fully equipped, all the state property and equipage
+not needed packed up and ready for shipment to the state
+arsenal.</p>
+
+<p>Every officer of the three companies and fully 70 per cent.
+of the men who had been in their ranks in the militia service
+was on hand. Capt. John J. Leonard of G, a veteran in the
+militia, was at the head of his company and with him his
+two lieutenants, <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'T. A. Sweney'">T. A. Sweeney</ins> and E. J. Leyden. Capt.
+Henry McDonald of B company, a veteran both of the regular
+army and the militia, and his lieutenants, William L.
+Young and Harry J. Vesper were on hand promptly and so
+was Capt. W. S. Warriner and Lieutenants P. C. Powers
+and Harry H. Parkhurst of K company. All three companies
+were proud of their officers and they had every reason
+to be.</p>
+
+<p>And here a little digression. No effort of any kind was
+made to transfer as absolute unities the companies of militia
+into companies of United States Volunteers. It can truthfully
+be said that no man was asked to go to South Framingham
+by the officers. On the contrary Col. Clark and the
+company officers were all careful to impress upon the men of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>
+the militia that their volunteering into the service of the
+United States was purely a voluntary and personal matter
+with them. There were dozens of instances in which the
+officers realized that the sacrifice was such as some of their
+men should not make. There were men with families
+dependent upon them or so otherwise circumstanced that it
+was best for them not to go and these men were talked to
+candidly and kindly and dissuaded from putting their names
+on the enlistment rolls. It was a volunteer movement purely
+and simply and the Second was in the highest sense of the
+word a volunteer regiment.</p>
+
+<p>Long before the orders for mobilization at South Framingham
+were issued preparations had been made to the end that
+Massachusetts might be ready to respond to the first call for
+troops from the national government. Early in April Gov.
+Wolcott had constituted some of the officers of the state militia
+as his advisory board in matters relating to the part
+Massachusetts would take in the war. On April 20, Col.
+Clark of the Second and some of his field and staff officers
+were called to Boston in consultation with the governor and
+on the 24th Gov. Wolcott in his capacity of commander-in-chief
+of the military and naval forces of the state issued an
+order calling upon the militia to hold themselves in readiness
+for duty within 24 hours.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER II.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHICH TELLS ABOUT THE CALLING OUT OF H COMPANY,
+NAVAL BRIGADE.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i016.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">MEANWHILE, and while the infantry were getting in
+readiness, Springfield had already sent some of her
+sons on duty. The naval arm of the service was
+in a far more advanced state of preparation than
+was the army and it was the general opinion that
+of necessity the war would be one in which the navy
+would take the most prominent part, leaving but little
+for the land forces to do except garrison duty. Springfield
+had taken great pride in her company of the Massachusetts
+naval brigade since its organization and expected great things
+of it in the event of its being called upon for duty.</p>
+
+<p>On April 2 came the first intimation that Springfield was
+to be called upon for men. Although war had not been declared
+and strenuous efforts were being made to head it off by
+the peace-at-any-price men, the navy department had set
+about getting into commission all the vessels that it could.
+At the League Island navy yard, Philadelphia, there lay a
+number of the old time monitors, some of them having been
+moored there since shortly after the close of the civil war,
+and it was decided to put them into condition for harbor defense
+purposes. Two were to be assigned to Boston harbor
+and on April 2 came orders to Lieut. J. K. Dexter, the commander
+of H company naval brigade, to proceed to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>
+League Island yard as an officer of one of the monitors.
+Lieut. Dexter left that night and remained on duty at the
+yard until April 16, when he returned to bring down the detail
+of his company which was to form part of the crew of
+the single turreted monitor Lehigh. It was not until April
+17th that the Lehigh detail left for the Philadelphia navy
+yard although there had been many rumors as to when the
+men would go and the quarters of the company at the state
+armory were filled every night with the men and their
+friends. On the 16th Lieut. Dexter returned unexpectedly
+from Philadelphia and at once set about getting his detail
+together. It was on Sunday, but with the aid of the alarm
+list system, the telephone and special messengers the men
+were soon notified and assembled at the armory. The detail
+as finally made up was: Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter; Chief
+Boatswain's Mate, Frank H. Bowen; Boatswain's Mates,
+Robert T. Whitehouse, A. T. Wright; Gunner's Mate, F.
+W. Baum; Coxswain, W. S. Johnson; Acting Coxswain,
+S. L. Ruden; Quartermaster, W. A. Sabin; and Seamen
+Paul H. Lathrop, R. H. B. Warburton, W. F. Bright, R.
+P. King, A. Mellor, A. N. Luce, and L. E. Ladd. The detail
+marched to the union station at about 8.30 and took the
+9 o'clock train for New York, receiving an ovation as it
+passed through Main street and again at the station as the
+train pulled out.</p>
+
+<p>On the same day Lieut. (junior grade) Henry S. Crossman,
+who was in command of the company during the absence
+of Lieut. Dexter, received orders from Capt. Weeks of
+the naval brigade to hold himself in readiness to proceed to
+the Brooklyn navy yard and there report to Admiral Bunce,
+commanding the yard, as watch officer of the auxiliary cruiser
+Prairie to which the Massachusetts naval brigade was to
+be assigned. Lieut. (junior grade) W. O. Cohn was ordered
+to be in readiness to proceed to Boston and report for duty on
+the U. S. S. Minnesota, Ensign W. S. Barr was ordered to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>
+be in readiness to go to the Brooklyn navy yard as one of the
+watch officers of the Prairie and Ensign Fred T. Ley was
+ordered to the same ship as watch officer and Captain's clerk.</p>
+
+<p>On April 22d these orders were changed, Lieut. Cohn and
+Ensign Barr being ordered to report for duty on board the
+monitor Lehigh on her arrival in Boston harbor.</p>
+
+<p>On April 23d, Lieut. Crossman received orders to proceed
+with the remaining men of H company to the Brooklyn
+navy yard there to go on board the Prairie as part of her
+crew during the war. These orders were received on the
+morning of the 23d and as soon as it became known about
+the city that the men were to go, the war time scenes of 1861
+were re-enacted. It was at first planned to have the company
+take an early evening train but as Lieut. Crossman found
+they could go just as well on the early morning train from
+Boston he decided to take that, thus giving the men more
+time in which to settle up their affairs and get everything in
+readiness for leaving.</p>
+
+<p>Information about the Prairie had already been pretty well
+disseminated about the city. It was known that she was
+formerly the fast steamer, El Sud, of the Morgan line and
+was capable of doing excellent duty as one of Uncle Sam's
+auxiliary cruisers. At the time she was in the Brooklyn
+navy yard being changed over from a passenger and freight
+vessel to a war ship and the job was requiring longer time
+than had been anticipated.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i019" id="i019" href="images/i019-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i019.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">
+Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins. Adjutant.<br />
+&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Major F. G. Southmayd.<br />
+&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lieut. E. E. Sawtell. Quartermaster.
+</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>The quarters of H company and the state armory were the
+busiest places in Springfield that afternoon and evening.
+The "jackies" were getting their dunnage rolls and equipment
+together and relatives and friends were on hand to say
+farewell and see their "boys" off. Owing to the time at
+which the company had orders to leave the armory, 1.30 <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'a. m.'">A.
+M.</ins>, it was hardly expected there would be much of a crowd
+on hand to give the command a suitable farewell but this
+was a mistake. Long before the hour at which the company<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>
+was to leave the streets leading to the union station were
+crowded and more enthusiasm was shown than had been the
+case in Springfield for many a day. It was at 1.30 o'clock in
+the morning of the 24th that the company, fully armed,
+equipped, in the regulation uniform of the jackies of the
+navy left the armory and marched through Main street to the
+union station to take the 2.20 train for New York, special
+cars for the company having been attached to the train. In
+spite of the lateness of the hour Springfield's citizens and the
+relatives, friends of the company were determined not to let
+the command leave the city without some demonstration.
+All night long up to the time for leaving the armory the building
+was filled with the relatives, friends of the members as
+well as those who while not bound to them by any intimate
+ties yet wished by their presence to show appreciation of the
+spirit which had prompted the young men to answer their
+country's call, even though it involved sacrifices hard indeed
+to make.</p>
+
+<p>From midnight until the hour for departure Main street
+was well filled with a waiting crowd and when the company
+marched from its armory, swinging into Main street, a cheer
+went up which was continuous until the train had borne the
+company out of sight of the assembled thousands. Rockets
+and colored fire lent brilliancy to the march and as the station
+was neared the denser grew the crowd until it was with
+difficulty a way was cleared for the company. Thousands,
+men and women, had gathered at the station and it was a
+scene worthy the pencil of a great artist, that farewell as the
+men marched up and boarded the cars with military precision.
+There were cheers and good wishes, personal farewells
+and tears, all commingling in one mass of sound that
+the station space had never heard before. But as the engine
+bell rang and the train began to move with slowly increasing
+swiftness out of the station all sounds merged into mighty
+cheers, which rose thunderously from the thousands of people.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>
+In that uproar of cheers were submerged for the time
+the sobs of a few whose near and dear ones were on the
+train.</p>
+
+<p>So Springfield sent her first contingent to serve under the
+old flag in the war against Spain.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER III.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>HOW G, B AND K COMPANIES WENT TO SOUTH FRAMINGHAM.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i023.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">WHILE the naval militiamen of Springfield were being
+sent off to their places of duty amid the
+cheers of the people plans for the mobilization of
+the land forces of the state were going on apace.
+The call of President McKinley for troops was issued on
+April 23 and six days later on April 29, Col. Embury P.
+Clark of the Second Regiment of Infantry, M. V. M., was
+designated by Gov. Wolcott to raise a regiment of volunteers
+to answer the President's call as one of the four volunteer
+infantry regiments assigned to Massachusetts. On the same
+day Col. Clark was ordered to have his regiment report for
+duty at the state camp ground, South Framingham, at noon
+of May 3d, he being also ordered to assume command of the
+camp formed there by the four volunteer regiments.</p>
+
+<p>On receipt of these orders Col. Clark immediately notified
+his field and staff and company officers and from that time on
+everything at the state armory was done with a snap and a
+jump. Only a few days remained before May 3d, for that
+day fell on Tuesday, and it was Friday afternoon when the
+orders were received. Under the call the company strength
+for infantry was fixed at three officers and 74 enlisted men,
+but had it been 174 instead of 74 there would have been but
+little trouble in filling up the ranks. More men were anxious
+to enlist than there were places for and a hard problem for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>
+the company officers to face was that of discouraging and
+rejecting applicants for enlistment most of whom pleaded for
+the privilege as strongly as a ward politician does for a paying
+office. On an average about 75 per cent. of the men in the
+militia companies enlisted in the volunteers and it is only just
+to state that a good number of those who did not were
+"talked" out of it by their officers who realized, perhaps better
+than the men themselves, that going to the front meant
+more sacrifices than men with dependent families or relatives
+should be called upon to make.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime all was hurry and bustle at the state armory
+but order soon came out of all the apparent chaos and early
+on the morning of Tuesday, May 3d the local field and staff
+officers of the regiment and G, B and K companies, thus
+formed in the order of seniority of their captains, stood in
+the big drill shed, in full marching uniform with knapsacks
+packed and overcoats rolled up on them looking soldierly, and
+ready for whatever duty might call them to do.</p>
+
+<p>It was a dismal morning in more than one way. A drizzling
+rain fell at intervals and there was gloom in many
+hearts among the crowds of people lining Main street and
+the union station and its approaches. Though not a shot had
+yet been fired in actual conflict between the United States
+and Spain on land and Dewey's great victory at <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Manilla'">Manila</ins> had
+been won without the loss of a single American life, yet the
+people were beginning to understand that the grim realities
+of war might be brought home to them and this thought had
+its influence in repressing any too enthusiastic demonstration.</p>
+
+<p>But there was a demonstration, nevertheless. Outside the
+armory were hundreds of spectators, including relatives and
+friends of the boys and awaiting them were the members of
+E. K. Wilcox post, G. A. R., the veteran corps of G company
+and some veterans of B company, all headed by the
+Second Regiment band to act as escort for the companies as
+far as the union station.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Shortly after 8 o'clock the troops left the armory and
+headed by the escort marched through Main street and
+around Court square to city hall, where the column was
+reviewed by Mayor H. S. Dickinson and the city government.
+Thousands of people were massed here and there was
+some cheering. The fire department boys at headquarters
+on Pynchon street saluted the troops with a small cannon and
+on the rest of the way up Main street to the station there was
+some cheering but not any too much.</p>
+
+<p>At the corner of Main and Lyman streets the escort halted
+and formed in line. As the companies marched by the old
+soldiers of the civil war gave us three cheers, in which the
+militia veterans joined. The remainder of the march to the
+station was through a close packed crowd of men, women
+and children. There was some cheering, but as the soldier
+boys began to file into the waiting cars of the special train
+sobs and tears broke out from many of the women and as
+the train pulled out a few moments after 9 o'clock tears were
+more in evidence than cheers. As one of the boys put it,
+"They sent the naval boys off with cheers and kept the tears
+for us."</p>
+
+<p>This feeling was augmented by the enthusiasm with which
+the people of Worcester sent their three companies off.
+When our train pulled into the Worcester depot we found
+the building jammed with people, some perched upon the tops
+of standing engines and cars and the Worcester companies
+were so surrounded with people it was at first hard to tell
+where they were. When our special stopped and the
+Worcester men began to board it a volume of cheers went up
+that was almost enough to take the roof off the building.
+Everyone was cheering apparently and those who were not
+were so few in number that it was impossible to distinguish
+them.</p>
+
+<p>After leaving Springfield there were small crowds at every
+station between there and Worcester and though the train<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>
+did not stop there was much cheering and waving of hats.
+This was repeated during the run from Worcester to South
+Framingham.</p>
+
+<p>It was shortly before noon when we reached South Framingham
+and marched to the camp ground amid the cheers of
+the townspeople. Reaching there the companies were dismissed
+to quarters and dinner, which the company caterers
+had ready for us, we not going on government rations until
+some days later. A majority of the boys had been in camp
+at South Framingham before but this was different. A state
+militia encampment is one thing and a camp of United
+States volunteers is another. The old familiar wall tents
+were there but without the customary big blue chests in
+which were always stored much that was good in the way of
+refreshment for tired and thirsty militiamen. There was a
+trifle of added sharpness to the commands of officers and
+non-commissioned officers and there were various other little
+things which combined to show us that we were on the way
+to be the "real things" instead of "tin soldiers" as we had
+been dubbed in our militia days.</p>
+
+<p>"Physical examination of recruits" was the rock on which
+the desires of many of us to get at the hated Spaniards were
+to split and the rock began to show itself that very afternoon
+when A of Worcester was ordered over to brigade headquarters
+for examination. Before the shades of evening fell
+thirteen of its men had been rejected by the examining surgeons
+and as bad news always spreads through a camp with
+greater rapidity than good, many of us were wondering
+whether we would meet the same fate or not within the next
+few days.</p>
+
+<p>All the line officers and 75 per cent. of our men in the militia
+had come with us while there were more than enough
+"rookies" to fill out the quota. The recruits were, some of
+them, in uniform and a number had formerly been in the
+militia service, so that they took kindly enough to the opening<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>
+of camp life. But as the militia companies had only
+been composed of 58 enlisted men there were not uniforms
+enough at the time to equip the extra men and some of the
+"rookies" looked odd and felt it in their civilian attire.
+More than one practical joke was played upon them before
+"taps" sounded, but the great majority of the men were
+tired enough to get to quarters and hug their luxurious mattresses
+before the bugles sounded the last call of the day.</p>
+
+<p>Of the field and staff and non-commissioned staff resident
+in Springfield and vicinity not all came to camp. Col. Clark
+and Major Southmayd were on hand as was Lt. Paul R.
+Hawkins, the regimental adjutant. Quartermaster Colson
+of Holyoke did not come and to his place was appointed
+Corporal E. E. Sawtell of K company. Major Brown of
+Adams, the regimental surgeon and Lt. J. T. Hendrick of
+Springfield, assistant surgeon did not volunteer and a new
+surgical staff was appointed, consisting of Dr. Henry T.
+Bowen of Springfield as major and surgeon, Dr. Ernest A.
+Gates of Springfield and Dr. John S. Hitchcock of Amherst
+as assistant surgeons with the rank of first lieutenants. Dr.
+Hitchcock was a member of I company when appointed.</p>
+
+<p>There were several changes in the non-commissioned staff.
+Corporal Robert N. Ingersoll was made sergeant-major vice
+Paul Norton and Ross L. Lusk quartermaster-sergeant vice
+Melville Snow of Holyoke. Three hospital stewards instead
+of one were assigned to the regiment, and the appointees were
+Ulysses G. Fortier of Holyoke, S. H. Greenberg of Boston and
+Edson P. Howes of Springfield. No color sergeants were
+provided for in the volunteer regiments and these positions
+were filled by detail.</p>
+
+<p>It was a matter of much regret that no place was provided
+for the paymaster and inspector of rifle practice. In the Second
+as a militia regiment these positions had been filled
+respectively by Lieut. A. C. Edson of Holyoke and A. E.
+Taylor of Chicopee Falls but no such positions were provided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>
+for in the volunteer service and these officers were forced to
+remain behind.</p>
+
+<p>The first guard mount of the camp was held in the afternoon
+with First Lieut. P. C. Powers of K company as officer
+of the guard. So closed our first day at South Framingham.</p>
+
+<p class="p4" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i029.jpg" width="400" height="611" alt="" />
+<div class="caption">Surgeon Henry C. Bowen<br />
+&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Surgeon Ernest A. Gates.</div></div>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHEREIN IS TOLD HOW WE WERE TRANSFORMED FROM
+"TIN" SOLDIERS INTO THE REAL ARTICLE.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i031.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi">IT did not require many day's of camp life at South Framingham
+to convince about all of us that we were there
+strictly for business. The weather was rather cold and
+there were a few flurries of snow although it was in May.
+The nights were so cool that huge fires of wood were
+built on the color line each night and around these the
+men gathered spending the time in singing, story telling and
+in wondering how soon we would start for the front and just
+what part we of the Second would take in subduing the pride
+of the haughty Spaniard.</p>
+
+<p>But little in the way of drilling was done at first, but after
+a day or two the work of whipping the "rookies" into shape
+was begun, the process being the simple one of having them
+fall in with the company and learning the drill as best they
+could. Squad drills were also carried on and it was during
+these that the raw material was best worked up.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had the regiment arrived in camp before regulation
+United States army blankets were issued to the men and
+issues of rubber blankets, "working suits" of brown canvas
+followed.</p>
+
+<p>Private Pomeroy of K company was the first of the Springfield
+men to be taken ill. He had not been feeling well before
+leaving home but pluckily made up his mind to go with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>
+his company just the same, and would not admit his illness.
+Soon after arriving in camp his condition became so serious
+that the surgeon was called to him and Pomeroy was found
+to be suffering with tonsilitis. He was removed from the
+camp to a hospital in South Framingham, but while there
+scarlet fever developed and he was sent home as soon as he
+had recovered sufficiently to be able to travel. Pomeroy felt
+much worse over his inability to go with his regiment than he
+did over his illness, serious as it was.</p>
+
+<p>The physical examinations soon made many sore hearts
+among the boys in camp, although the results of some of
+them were extremely satisfactory to the parents, relatives or
+friends of some of the would be soldiers. They were in
+charge of Capt. Bushnell U. S. A., who was assisted by the
+surgeons of the volunteer regiments in camp. B company
+was examined on Wednesday, the day after our arrival in
+camp and before sundown fully twenty men, including some
+of the oldest and best men of the company had been rejected
+for one cause or another. The commissioned officers of the
+regiment were also up for examination the same day, and
+among those rejected was First Lieut. Thomas A. Sweeney
+of G company and one of the most efficient and popular officers
+of the regiment. His rejection was a hard blow to him
+for he had set his heart on going with his men and to be rejected
+for what he considered to be a trivial cause was worse
+to him than being hit by a Spanish bullet. His grief was
+shared by his fellow officers and men, by whom he was exceedingly
+well liked. His place was filled by William C.
+Hayes, a former first lieutenant of the company.</p>
+
+<p>Lieut. W. L. Young of B company was officer of the guard
+on Wednesday, and among the incidents of his tour of duty
+that night was the rather unusual but efficient method by
+which a private of G company who had been placed on a
+somewhat remote post relieved himself from further duty
+after walking his post only a short time. The aforesaid private<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>
+concluded that he would be much more comfortable in
+his tent with his "bunkies" than walking his post for the
+remainder of his two hours, and so proceeded to the guard
+house, placed his rifle in a corner and announced to the officer
+of the guard "I'm relieved." Before Lieutenant Young
+could recover from his astonishment at the new method of
+getting out of guard duty, the private had gone to his own
+quarters where he slept peacefully for the remainder of the
+night.</p>
+
+<p>The results of the physical examinations were to "throw
+out" many of the best men in the three Springfield companies,
+and as this was not at all satisfactory to their captains,
+some vigorous "kicking" resulted. In many cases men
+were rejected for trivial causes, but as the result of vigorous
+objections to the policy, made by Captains Leonard, McDonald
+and Warriner, a number of the rejected men were re-examined
+and the majority of them accepted. In some instances
+more than two examinations were given the same
+man, and an instance where grit and a determination to go
+with his company got the best of the examining surgeons was
+the case of Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, better known as
+"Dickie." He was twice examined and rejected but through
+his efforts, aided by those of Capt. McDonald, he was given
+a third trial and passed.</p>
+
+<p>Could those people who had been for some years in the habit
+of sneering at the militiamen as "tin soldiers" have seen
+the way in which the rejected ones took their fate they would
+have changed their minds as to the soldierly calibre of the
+men of the Second. It was easy to tell the rejected ones as
+they came across the parade ground from the surgeon's quarters,
+many of them with tears in their eyes, all with downcast
+faces, because their bodies had not been strong enough
+to let them go with the regiment. Their hearts were strong
+enough to go to the front and fight for the flag but the government
+demanded stout bodies as well as stout hearts, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>
+so, many were refused. It was not always in tears and
+"blue" looks that the rejected appeared from the examining
+rooms. Often a rejected one would emerge, uttering
+sarcastic and profane remarks as to the amount of surgical
+knowledge possessed by the examiners, and their qualifications
+generally, and some of the men exhibited a versatility
+of language in discussing their rejection and the surgeon who
+was responsible for it only possessed by men of genius.</p>
+
+<p>The rejections left the ranks of the Springfield companies
+much depleted and it was necessary to send officers to that
+city for recruits to fill the vacancies before the companies
+could be mustered in. Capt. Leonard of G, Lieut. Young
+of B and Lieut. Powers of K were sent on this duty and
+with them went about all of the men who had been rejected.
+As soon as the purpose of their visit was known in Springfield
+they were besieged by applicants for enlistment but having
+learned wisdom from what had happened in camp they
+took the precaution to have all the applicants pass a medical
+examination before bringing them to South Framingham and
+as a result few of the new men they brought down failed to
+pass the examining surgeons at the camp.</p>
+
+<p>On May 6, another member of K company, Private Cook,
+was taken ill with tonsilitis and was sent home, much to his
+disgust.</p>
+
+<p>On the same day the field and staff officers of the Second
+were mustered into the United States service by Lieut. E. M.
+Weaver, 2d artillery, who had been detailed as mustering
+officer for the Massachusetts volunteers. Adjutant Paul R.
+Hawkins was the first one to be mustered and he was followed
+by Quartermaster E. E. Sawtell. Surgeon Bowen and
+Assistant Surgeons Gates and Hitchcock had been mustered
+in on the day after our arrival in camp and had been assigned
+to duty in assisting in the examinations of recruits.</p>
+
+<p>First Lieut. W. C. Hayes of G joined his company on the
+afternoon of the 6th and after being examined and accepted
+was assigned to duty.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On Saturday and Sunday, the 7th and 8th, three batches
+of additional recruits arrived in camp and were at once
+handed over to the examining surgeons. By Sunday K
+company had filled its ranks to the required number of 74
+enlisted men and on that day was duly mustered into the
+military service of the United States for a period of two
+years "unless sooner discharged." The ceremony was a
+simple one. The company was marched over to brigade
+headquarters and formed in column of twos facing the mustering
+officer, Lieut. Weaver. The latter called out each
+man's name, beginning with the first sergeant and as each
+man answered he stepped to the front and facing about took
+position in front of the company in the same formation. The
+roll call over, the company was faced to the front, Lieut.
+Weaver removed his cap and the men uncovered. Then
+Lieut. Weaver read in impressive tones the oath of allegiance
+to the United States and administered it to the company,
+thus completing the ceremony which marked the transition
+of militiamen and raw recruits into soldiers of the United
+States. K company was the first company in Massachusetts
+to be mustered into the United States service and so far as
+known the first company in the country to be mustered in.
+That afternoon "government rations" were issued to K and
+the next day the men began eating them instead of the meals
+which had up to then been supplied by a caterer. Some of
+the men who failed to understand the difference between
+Uncle Sam's diet and that furnished at militia encampments
+found fault of course with the rations. Butter and milk are
+unknown in the regular soldiers' menu unless the company
+fund is drawn upon for them, and some of the men couldn't
+understand why they were not supplied and found fault
+accordingly. Later when we were all living luxuriously(?)
+in Cuba on "sowbelly" bacon, hardtack and coffee, sometimes
+without sugar, these men remembered with fond but
+unavailing regret the once despised government rations at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>
+South Framingham. The fond parents and relatives who
+were told in letters from camp of how meager and unsatisfactory
+the first food furnished by Uncle Sam was may correct
+their idea by glancing over the rations issued for the first
+five days to K company while at South Framingham:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot small">
+
+<p>300 lbs. potatoes; 422 lbs. flour; 27-3/4 lbs. bacon; 7 lbs. rice; 43-3/4 lbs.
+beans; 30 lbs. coffee; 56-1/2 lbs. sugar; 15 lbs. salt; 3/4 lb. pepper; 15 lbs.
+soap; 75 lbs. onions; 5-5/8 lbs. candles; 3-3/4 gallons vinegar and 422 lbs.
+fresh beef.</p></div>
+
+<p>It is understood of course that the soap and candles were
+not issued as edibles but for cleansing and illuminating purposes.
+And it can also be seen that in the above rations
+there are possibilities for good eating and plenty of it. As a
+matter of fact milk and butter were soon supplied from the
+company funds.</p>
+
+<p>G and B companies were mustered in on the 10th with
+full ranks. G was to have been mustered in the day previous
+but when the time arrived one private, a raw recruit, was
+missing and as the entire company was obliged to be on hand
+for muster the ceremony was dispensed with for that day and
+the men were marched back vowing vengeance upon the
+man who had kept them for 24 hours from getting into the
+service. Before very long another recruit was found and
+when the missing private turned up full of penitence and
+other things his uniform was taken off and after receiving a
+talking to from Capt. Leonard that made his cheeks burn
+with shame he was shipped out of camp.</p>
+
+<p>The boys found plenty of amusement during their camp
+life and with nearly 1000 young fellows in one regiment time
+did not hang very heavily on their hands during the times
+between drills and other duties. Base ball and other sports
+were indulged in and letter writing and visits to the other
+regiments or an occasional pass to town prevented anything
+like ennui. In the Springfield companies there were few
+tent crews that did not have some distinctive appellation for
+their habitation. Private J. C. Ryan of B made his tent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>
+famous as a "steam laundry" and in G street there was the
+"Hotel Dingbat," so named because the men who occupied
+it could not think of anything else to call it. In K there was
+quickly organized an outfit later to be known as the "Wee
+Haws" and which made itself somewhat famous by the gift
+of song possessed by its members.</p>
+
+<p>The "board of license commissioners" so famous during
+the encampment of 1897 was on hand but its members had
+but little of an official nature to do as the camp of '98 was
+officially a "dry camp." A good share of the dryness was,
+however, confined to the weather and a careful search of the
+records fails to show that any inmate of the camp died of
+thirst, although there were some serious cases.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER V.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE GET ORDERS TO LEAVE FOR THE SUNNY SOUTH
+AND OBEY THEM.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i038.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">ALL of the time during our stay in camp speculation
+was rife as to when we were going to the front and
+how; also under what designation were we going.
+It had been circulated that we were to be known as
+the 63d United States Volunteers, and other rumors,
+all of which turned out to be just as near the truth as that one
+were put into commission. These marked the origin of the
+"Jo Jo" bureau of misinformation which later became an
+important feature of the campaign.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i039" id="i039" href="images/i039-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i039.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers of G Company</span></div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>On the night of Wednesday, May 11th at 9.30, orders were
+flashed over the wires from Washington to Lieut. Weaver to
+send the Second at once to Tampa, Fla., where the army of
+invasion of Cuba was gathering. Almost everyone except
+the guard and a few officers and attaches at regimental headquarters,
+was asleep when the orders came but within a very
+few moments after their purport had been announced, there
+was the wildest scene of excitement in the camp that had
+ever been witnessed in South Framingham. From Lieut.
+Weaver the orders were quickly transmitted to regimental
+headquarters and from there to the officers of the regiment.
+Inside of ten minutes from their receipt by Lieut. Weaver,
+every man of the Second was awake and in his company
+street and exultant shouts that went up, quickly aroused the
+other regiments. The Second was to be the first command
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>from the old Bay State to be ordered outside her boundaries
+for active service and the men were so proud of it that they
+could not refrain from reminding the men of the other three
+regiments of the fact. To the credit of the latter it must be
+said that although at first they were a bit inclined to sulk because
+their regiment was not the first to be called upon, yet
+they soon realized that the honor was in a sense as much
+Massachusetts' as it was the Second's, and their cheers joined
+in with ours.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the regimental and company officers were doing
+some lively work. Col. Clark had gone to Springfield
+that morning, and a number of officers and men were away
+on leave, no one expecting that the orders would come for a
+day or two. The regiment was ordered to move the next
+day and before the orders had been known of but a very few
+minutes, telegraph and telephone messages were sent to the
+absent ones informing them of what had happened. This
+done, the work of completing the equipment of the regiment
+was taken up and pushed in lively fashion. There were
+many little details to be attended to and there was little sleep
+for headquarters that night. How well the work was done
+is attested by the fact that at an early hour the next morning
+the regiment had its tents struck and packed, and long before
+the hour at which many of the folks at home were eating
+their breakfasts, was in readiness to move. Reveille was
+sounded at 4 o'clock that morning and by 6 there was but little
+remaining to be done.</p>
+
+<p>Although anxious for active service there was one thing
+about the orders which was not at all relished by the regiment
+and that was the route to be followed. It had been expected
+and understood that when the Second would go south
+its route would be through Worcester and Springfield, thus
+giving us a chance for a genuine <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">au revoir</i> to home and
+friends. We all of us knew that the "farewell" accorded
+us on leaving Springfield for the camp at South Framingham<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>
+would be tame indeed to the reception we might expect when
+we passed through there as United States Volunteers, with a
+large V, and bound for the front. Some of the boys, to be
+sure, dreaded the thought of having to say "good bye" to
+the accompaniment of tears and sobs again but the majority
+were anxious for one more look at what part of Springfield
+to be seen from the union station and were consequently
+much disappointed when it was announced that instead of
+going via Springfield, the route was to be by way of Newport,
+R. I.</p>
+
+<p>There was much disappointment, too, in Springfield when
+the route was announced. But not <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'to be be beaten'">to be beaten</ins>, a party
+of citizens headed by Major H. S. Dickinson, arranged for a
+special train to South Framingham, the day we were to leave
+and so we were not allowed to go without some sort of a
+farewell demonstration from the people of our own city.</p>
+
+<p>On the day previous to our receiving the "rush" orders to
+the south, a number of visitors including ex-Lieut. Gov. W.
+H. Haile, Col. A. H. Goetting and James D. Gill of Springfield
+were in camp, and it came to their attention that the
+Second was not provided with a band or even field music.
+No regimental bands were included in the organization of the
+volunteer regiments nor even field music, the sole musical
+property being the bugles of which there were two to each
+company. It was looked upon as a proper and desirable
+thing that the Second should at least have field music, or in
+civilian parlance, a drum corps, and these three gentlemen
+constituted themselves a committee on ways and means to
+that end. It was known that there were enough musicians
+in the regiment to form a drum corps if there were instruments
+provided for them and before the next day through the
+generosity of the three gentlemen named, the Second was
+provided with fifes, drums, etc., and the members of the
+corps selected.</p>
+
+<p>Thursday, May 12th, we bade good-bye to South Framingham.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>
+There was difficulty in getting transportation for
+our baggage and it was not until a late hour in the afternoon
+that everybody was in readiness. Meanwhile we hung
+around our former quarters and killed time as best we could.
+A short time after dinner, our last meal on the "old camp
+ground," the "assembly" and "adjutant's call" were
+sounded and the regiment was formed to pass in review before
+Gov. Wolcott. The march past over, hollow square
+was formed and the governor presented the officers their
+commissions and made a brief speech telling us to uphold
+the honor of the old commonwealth.</p>
+
+<p>While this was going on we heard the strains of a band
+and soon in marched a delegation from Springfield, headed
+by the Second regiment band and led by Mayor Dickinson,
+members of Wilcox post of the Grand Army and Peabody
+Guard Veterans, while relatives and friends of the boys
+made up the rest of the 500 in the party. Soon after their
+arrival we were dismissed and then followed one of the interesting
+scenes of our war experience. Hardly had we
+broken ranks before we were surrounded by the visitors and
+there was falling upon each other's necks, handshaking,
+good wishes, smiles and tears all commingled in one scene
+of such excitement as we had never been through before.
+Every male visitor brought cigars or refreshments for the
+boys and for an hour or so nothing was too good for us.</p>
+
+<p>But all things have an end and finally the bugles blew
+and after a last hurried kiss or handshake we fell in again
+and marched out to the parade ground for the last time.
+The colors dipped once more to the governor and then
+through a double line of cheering soldiers from the other
+regiments and our own friends we marched out of the camp
+and down the dusty road to the railroad station, escorted by
+two troops of cavalry and amid the cheers and good wishes
+of the thousands who thronged the walks. We passed
+under the handsome arch erected by the people of South<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>
+Framingham in honor of the soldiers and after one last
+opportunity to say farewell went on board the special trains
+waiting for us. So we left good old Massachusetts.</p>
+
+<p>On our way to Newport we were shown how the people
+of other places regarded us. At every station our train
+passed through there were cheering crowds and enthusiasm
+seemed to be in evidence everywhere. We reached Newport
+about 9.30 and were transferred to the palatial steamer
+"Pilgrim" of the Fall River line.</p>
+
+<p>"This isn't so bad for army travelling," was the common
+remark as soon as the boys found what accommodations
+had been made for them. There were nearly enough staterooms
+to provide every man with a bunk and those who
+failed to get a room found nice, thick mattresses spread for
+them on the saloon floors. It brought the "Trip to New
+York" and Valiquet back to the memories of many of us
+because the accommodations were so different.</p>
+
+<p>But it was a tired lot of boys that boarded the Pilgrim
+that night and it was not long before all of them were testing
+the mattresses and bunks, after indulging by the way
+for the first time in the "travel ration." This was our first
+encounter with the canned beef department but <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'somehew'">somehow</ins> it
+tasted better then than it ever did afterwards. Also we
+allowed our teeth to play with the ligneous hardtack and
+finally fatigued with our exertions we slept soundly.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning when we woke up we were in the East
+river and at the sight of her blue coated cargo every steam
+craft that met the Pilgrim saluted with steam whistles while
+their crews or passengers as well as those of the sailing
+craft cheered and waved handkerchiefs or anything else
+waveable. From every factory along the shore came the
+shrieks of the steam whistles and the shouts of their occupants
+and our progress down the river to the Fall River
+line pier was a triumphal progress.</p>
+
+<p>When we reached the pier it was not long before we were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>
+transferred to the transports Saratoga and Vigilancia, the
+Springfield companies being on board the latter. Then it
+was that we began to realize what war was. Down in the
+dirty, dark and ill smelling hold we could see men at work
+building rough wooden bunks for us and the language used
+concerning these bunks and their location was copious and
+picturesque to a high degree. No "Pilgrim" accommodations
+were these. No mattresses 12 inches thick to rest our
+weary bones upon but the soft and splintered pine boards were
+to form our couch. Also the travel ration with its components
+of canned roast beef(?), canned corn beef, canned beans and
+hardtack was beginning to pall upon our palates. We were
+not used to such Epicurean fare and began to fear gout and
+other incidentals of too luxurious living. So we gathered
+together and said things but all the time the carpenters went
+on constructing the bunks and no dinners were brought on
+for us from the Waldorf-Astoria.</p>
+
+<p>Our first cruise on the Vigilancia was further up the North
+river where we waited until late in the afternoon and while
+waiting many of the boys managed to get ashore. Some of
+them were nearly left behind as we pulled out of the dock
+and a few did get left on shore, but they chartered a tug and
+soon caught us. That night our transports sailed down the
+harbor as far as Bedloe's Island where we anchored opposite
+the Bartholdi statue and where we stayed anchored until the
+next afternoon. That night the much discussed wooden
+troughs officially named bunks were used and were the cause
+of much profane language for which the recording angel
+ought to be able to find a good excuse if he has any love for
+volunteer soldiers in his composition. Late that afternoon
+we were taken over to Jersey City and transferred to a special
+train of three sections of 14 cars each on which we were
+to make the trip to Tampa. And thus ended our first sea
+voyage.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE GO TO THE SOUTHLAND AND BEGIN TO FIND OUT WHERE
+WE ARE AT.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i046.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">ON Saturday evening, May 14, we started once more
+for the South, this time by train and had the distinguished
+honor of beating out the much-advertised
+71st New York, which had been ordered to start at
+the same time, but forgot its tentage on board the
+steamers and was obliged to wait for several hours in consequence.
+Our train accommodations could have been much
+worse, the train being run in three sections of 14 cars each
+and as four companies travelled on each section this arrangement
+gave each company three cars, while a sleeping car was
+reserved for the officers and with a baggage car made up the
+section. With three cars to a company there was plenty of
+room for the men and we managed to sleep quite comfortably.
+At every station along the route we received plenty of greetings
+and this happened so frequently after we got below
+Mason &amp; Dixon's line that the boys wondered a little, inasmuch
+as we were from "Black Massachusetts." But it was
+evident that all but a very few of the people of the South
+realized that the civil war was over and we got no heartier
+reception anywhere along the route than in Virginia and
+North and South Carolina.</p>
+
+<p>We reached Washington early Sunday morning and made
+a brief stop just long enough to allow some of the boys to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>
+make a raid on a couple of milk wagons. To our disappointment
+the train did not run through the city but skirted
+it and we failed to get a glimpse of any of the show places.
+We kept on going and late Monday evening, the 16th, landed
+at Lakeland, Fla., where we went into camp, our destination
+having been changed by telegraphic orders received soon
+after crossing the Florida line.</p>
+
+<p>Life on the train was not very exciting. We made but
+few stops and those mainly to change engines. In South
+Carolina we made our first acquaintance with wood burning
+engines. After these were hitched on it was a case of stopping
+every few miles to "wood up." When the train did
+not stop for wood it did for water and between them both
+progress was slow to us but we found that according to
+southern ideas we were going at express speed.</p>
+
+<p>Our troop train was a great attraction for the children at
+the stations where we stopped and it was a common thing for
+the boys and girls of these places to hand us bunches of jessamine
+and magnolia flowers while the older folk looked on
+approvingly. The colored people were somewhat demonstrative
+but both they and the white folks never neglected an
+opportunity to sell us cakes and pies at every stop. The pies
+reminded us of those we had been getting at home, they were
+so different, but as a relief from canned meat and beans they
+were welcome. Occasionally when we stopped we found it
+possible to purchase bottled beer of an inferior grade, but
+better than most of the water we had to drink.</p>
+
+<p>On the trip south Lieuts. Young and Vesper of B company
+established records as sleepers that put them far ahead in
+their class. Captains Leonard and McDonald had the same
+section in the sleeping car and about every night there could
+be heard a more or less vigorous protest from the former
+against Capt. McDonald's use of a 700 horse power pipe.
+Lieut. Harry Parkhurst of K was the victim of much "jollying"
+over a story printed in a New York newspaper to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>
+effect that he was a nephew of the Rev. Dr. Parkhurst of
+New York, but he took it good naturedly.</p>
+
+<p>At Dupont, Ga., Private William Ferrier of G foraged a
+little during a brief stop and captured a diminutive specimen
+of the "razor back" hog prevalent in that locality and bore
+him in triumph to the train. Any visions of pork chops
+which might have been indulged in were dispelled by a look
+at the pig's anatomy which was plainly visible through his
+skin but he was taken along just the same and met his fate
+at Lakeland when he was killed and roasted by Private
+"Dido" Hunt of G and served up to a small but select circle.</p>
+
+<p>At one of the many stops in Florida a portly colored lady
+hung about the train and made violent love to the good looking
+officers, her comments on the personal appearance of
+some of them being rather more pungent than flattering.
+So far as known she did not steal any of them.</p>
+
+<p>During the stay at South Framingham Privates E. N.
+Aiken and B. R. Madison of K company had blossomed out
+as composers and one of their effusions which was sung by
+the more or less able musicians of the company in camp and
+on the train to the tune of: "There'll be a Hot Time in the
+Old Town To-night" was as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="poem small"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"When you hear those guns go bang, bang, bang,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We'll all join in and lick that Dago gang,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For we want war or we'll have no name at all,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">There'll be a hot time when the bugle shall call."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The above was Private Aiken's. Here is Private Madison's:</p>
+
+<div class="poem small"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"In the battle front we stand with our rifles in our hand<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And for Cuba's freedom we will ever fight;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And with showers of shot and shell,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">We'll send the Spaniards straight to h&mdash;&mdash;l,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">When we march into Havana bye and bye.<br /></span>
+
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i20 small">CHORUS.</span>
+
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i2">Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys are marching,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Cheer up, Cuba, we will come,<br /></span>
+<span class="i4">And beneath the starry flag<br /></span>
+<span class="i4">We'll tear down the Spanish rag<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And float the Cuban flag forevermore."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p>
+<p>Our arrival at Lakeland was marked by an incident which
+went to show that we were not in the north. Just as our
+train pulled in a shooting affray, in which a couple of troopers
+from the Tenth U. S. cavalry, a colored regiment and some
+white people participated, occurred and a white citizen of the
+town was killed. As nearly as we could understand it the
+troopers were not to blame but shot in self defense but there
+was much excitement in the town and strong patrols of the
+First U. S. cavalry, a white regiment, were sent out. We
+were kept in the train that night and the next morning after
+a bath in one of the many lakes from which the town takes
+its name, marched to our camp at the fair grounds and on
+the shores of Lake Morton. The camp was pitched on an
+elevation and under the southern pine and cypress trees from
+which hung long festoons of Spanish moss. Much of this
+was gathered for bedding but it was soon abandoned for this
+purpose when it was found that it harbored numbers of lizards
+and sometimes small snakes.</p>
+
+<p>Our neighbors at the camp were the First and Tenth regular
+cavalry and the 71st New York which arrived a day after
+we did. The 71st men being from Manhattan were inclined
+to be a bit fresh at first but they soon came to understand
+that the Second was not exactly a "farmer" regiment and
+let us alone. One disagreeable incident went to show that
+among the New York officers were some snobs. Sergeant
+James Gibbons of G while "down town" one day went into
+the dining room of the hotel and ordered his dinner. The
+commanding officer of the 71st and some of his officers were
+in the room at the time and as soon as he realized that an enlisted
+man was actually daring to eat in the same room with
+him his indignation became so great that he walked over to
+the table where Sergeant Gibbons was seated and ordered
+him to leave the place, saying that only officers were allowed
+in the dining room. Sergeant Gibbons did not feel like moving
+and the hotel proprietor assured him that he would be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>
+served as well as any officer. So he refused to budge and
+enjoyed his dinner, much to the disgust of the New York
+officer.</p>
+
+<p>Life at Lakeland was fairly enjoyable. The temperature
+was high, ranging from 84 on one day it rained to 124 on a
+day it did not. We had our big wall tents we had brought
+with us from South Framingham and soon had them filled
+with more or less crude devices in the way of furniture.
+Mattresses there were none and our beds were Mother Earth
+which was of a brunette hue down there. Bathing in the
+lake was a favorite pastime between drills but after the
+muddy bottom had been stirred up a little it was a question
+whether we were dirtier before the bath or after it. There
+were all kinds of "Jo Jos" about a huge alligator who made
+his home in the lake but he had evidently heard of our appetites
+and kept out of sight.</p>
+
+<p>The First cavalry, camped some distance on our right, had
+established a canteen soon after its arrival and it became a
+favorite place for our boys. A couple of days after our
+arrival we got our first mail from home and that day was a
+red letter one in our Lakeland life.</p>
+
+<p>Just before reaching Lakeland some K company foragers
+had captured a goat at one of the stops but the owner pursued
+the animal to Lakeland and when he put in a claim for
+him Capt. Warriner ordered the "billy" given up. Our
+menu in camp was far more varied than on the train for
+"post" rations were being issued and the company cooks
+were "getting on to their jobs." Private Mandeville, who
+afterwards acquired much fame by being left behind at Fort
+Tampa, presided over the kitchen of G. In B company
+Walter Butler got up savory dishes and Private Harry Fisher
+looked after the culinary department for K. Butter was conspicuous
+by its absence from the table and one boy in K
+missed it so much that he dreamed of it. One night his
+dreams were so realistic that his cry of "Ma, please pass<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>
+the butter," awoke his tent mates and that expression was
+the rallying cry in K for several days.</p>
+
+<p>The death of Private Weslie Brass of Westfield, a member
+of I company, cast a gloom over the regiment and all
+the companies turned out to do escort duty when the body
+was shipped home. His was the first death in the regiment.</p>
+
+<p>On Sunday, May 30th, orders came to break camp the following
+day and proceed to Tampa, which we did, arriving
+there on Monday afternoon, the 31st.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE STAY IN YBOR CITY AND THEN ENJOY (?) LIFE ON
+TRANSPORTS IN THE HARBOR.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i052.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">OUR stay in Tampa lasted from May 31st to June 7th
+and it was not wholly unenjoyable. In some respects
+the place was better than Lakeland, but we
+felt the heat far more than was the case in that town
+and the camp location was not as good as that of our
+camp there. But we were near Tampa and there were
+many opportunities for us to get to the city, our camp
+being in one of the suburbs some three miles from Tampa
+and known as Ybor City. Its population was made up
+mainly of Cubans and negroes and a number of cigar factories
+were located there. The Cubans were all "patriots"
+of course, but our disenchantment as to Cuban patriots had
+already begun and we paid them little attention. On our
+right was camped a battalion of the Fourth regular artillery
+(heavy) and this was probably the occasion of a rumor which
+had persistent circulation for several days that we were to be
+transformed from infantry to a heavy artillery regiment and
+assigned to sea coast duty.</p>
+
+<p>We had a lovely time pitching our tents and making camp.
+Owing to a delay in laying out the camp it was not until
+after dark on the day of our arrival that we set to work to
+pitch our tents and as a result it was not only late before we
+got to sleep but the next morning considerable work had to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>
+be done in rectifying the alignment of the company streets.
+The soil was nice white sand which made fairly good beds.</p>
+
+<p>On the afternoon of the next day we found out what a
+Florida "shower" could do when it tried. The rain came on
+unexpectedly and within a very few moments everything was
+in a flood. But few of the boys had taken the precaution to
+dig trenches around their tents and after the rain began to
+come down in sheets they were compelled to get out in it and
+dig or else have their quarters flooded. Here was where the
+value of the rubber blankets issued to us at South Framingham
+was shown.</p>
+
+<p>It was while we were at Ybor City that our regiment was
+definitely assigned. We were put into the First Brigade of
+the Second Division of the Fifth army corps, our brigade
+commander being temporarily Col. Van Horn of the 22nd
+infantry while Gen. H. W. Lawton was in command of the
+division. This set at rest all the rumors about our being
+heavy artillery, cavalry and several other things. It also
+meant that we were to go to Cuba among the very first of
+the invading troops and there was no end of enthusiasm
+when this was understood.</p>
+
+<p>During our stay in Ybor City Wagoners Kingston of B,
+Shene of G and Boule of K became expert drivers of the
+army mule wagon although their trials with the mule
+were many and various. In B street there were some
+pathetic scenes when the members of the Kanewah club got
+together and talked over how nice it would be "to be there"
+even if the gasoline stove did not always work.</p>
+
+<p>Payday came June 4th and we got our first "whack"
+at Uncle Sam's good money. It was welcome, for since leaving
+South Framingham but little had been in circulation
+among our boys and we gave the paymaster the "glad hand."
+In return, he lined us up by companies and gave us greenbacks
+and a little silver. We had expected a full month's
+pay but were disappointed, our pay being calculated from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>
+May 3d, the day we had officially been mustered in, to the
+first of June. There were many applications for passes to
+visit Tampa that day and the majority of them were granted.
+The Seminole hotel and the stores in Ybor City and Tampa
+did a rushing business that afternoon and evening.</p>
+
+<p>The "Wee Haws" of K contributed not a little to the
+gaiety of our camp life at this time and one of their songs to
+the air of "Rally 'Round the Flag" and reflecting upon the
+subsistence department was popular. It went like this:</p>
+
+<div class="poem small"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Down with the hardtack!<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Hurrah, boys, hurrah,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Down with the canned beef;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">We wonder what you are;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For we'll rally 'round the beans, boys,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">We'll rally once again<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Shouting the battle cry of "Wee Haw."<br /></span>
+
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">'Please pass the butter,'<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Hurrah, boys, hurrah!<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">If the coffee was much thicker<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">We'd sell it off for tar;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For we'll never look like Billy Fish<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Unless we get more grub&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Shouting the battle cry of "Wee Haw."<br /></span>
+
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Ade Potter's growing thinner,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Healey's just the same<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Brazzil, Breck and Nesbitt swear,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Their biscuit box is lame;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For George Potter ate his canteen<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And Aiken ate the strap<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And McCullough shouts the battle cry of "Wee Haw!"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>About this time some brainless individual sent alarming
+news home in a letter, which was published in the Springfield
+newspapers, to the effect that sickness was prevalent in
+our camp and that a large proportion of the men of the three
+companies from that city were in the hospital seriously ill.
+As a result we soon began to get letters of anxious inquiry
+from the folks at home, and it was some time before we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>
+could fully reassure them that the reports had been extremely
+exaggerated and that there was but little illness and none of a
+serious nature in our ranks.</p>
+
+<p>While in Ybor City we lost two men, Privates Luther of
+K and Monteverde of G. Both were ordered to be discharged
+from the service, because of having enlisted while
+under age and without the consent of their parents or guardians.
+Monteverde was reluctant to leave the regiment and
+pleaded hard to be allowed to go with us to Cuba even as a
+civilian <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'employe'">employee</ins>, and when that was refused he offered to go
+without any pay. But this was found to be impossible and
+he and Luther were obliged to return home. The case of
+Private John K. DeLoach of B company was a hard one.
+He had enlisted in South Framingham and in some way his
+relatives, who resided in Atlanta, Ga., heard of it, and as he
+was under age and had not their consent, applied for his discharge.
+Orders to have him discharged were issued but they
+failed to arrive while we were in Tampa, and did not reach
+us until after the regiment had landed in Cuba and done its
+share in capturing Santiago. DeLoach had done his duty
+during the most arduous part of the campaign, and as a result
+was given a "bob tail" discharge and left to get back to
+the United States as best he could. Sometimes the rewards
+of patriotism are not great, and this was certainly one of
+the instances.</p>
+
+<p>June 6th orders were received to break camp and proceed
+to Port Tampa, there to go on board the transports for Cuba.
+We broke camp all right, got our tents down and all baggage
+packed and saw them sent away and then proceeded to wait.
+We waited all that afternoon and night and until late in the
+afternoon of the next day before our belated transportation
+was arranged for. As a result of a blunder in the quartermaster's
+department, we were compelled to bivouac that
+night without any shelter. This was our first real acquaintance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>
+with the fact expressed in the statement attributed to
+Gen. Sherman, that "War is h&mdash;l."</p>
+
+<p>Late in the afternoon of June 7th, we marched to the railroad
+and went on board a train which after a couple of hours
+brought us to Port Tampa, distance about eight miles. Here
+we found some practical illustrations of the beautiful manner
+in which the quartermaster's department was working. It
+had been stated to Col. Clark that on arriving at Port Tampa
+we were to immediately go on board the transports, but after
+disembarking from the train and waiting for some time it was
+found that no transports had been assigned to us. Nothing
+could be done in the matter that night, and we were to be
+left to shift for ourselves as best we could. There were no
+barracks in Port Tampa, and it was too late to go into camp
+even if we had our tentage with us, which we did not. After
+considerable scouting, Col. Clark discovered that quarters
+might be found in the freight sheds on a long pier, and we
+started for them only to have the entire regiment halted and
+held up for some minutes at the point of the bayonet of a sentinel
+of the First Illinois regiment, who was on guard at the
+entrance to the pier and had orders to let no one pass. This
+obstacle was finally surmounted and we marched onto the
+pier and made ourselves comfortable as best we could.</p>
+
+<p>During that night on the pier the foraging instincts of
+Private "Dido" Hunt of G company became active, and as
+a result he and several members of that company passed the
+long hours of the night very comfortably. The freight sheds
+were divided into sections, and in that allowed to G was a lot
+of freight. Included were two innocent looking barrels, but
+guided solely by instinct "Dido" decided to investigate their
+contents. With this end in view he spread his roll and blanket
+by the side of the barrels, and, lying on his side began to
+cut a hole through the staves of one of them. This was rather
+difficult because of the sentries, but it was finally accomplished,
+and much to the forager's intense satisfaction, the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>insertion of his hand through the hole and into the barrel,
+revealed to him that it was filled with bottled beer. Satisfying
+himself in the only proper manner, that there was no mistake,
+he acquainted the members of his squad and a few others
+with his find and soon an impromptu picnic was in progress.
+Under the very noses of the sentries, the contents of
+that barrel of beer disappeared before morning, and to those
+in the secret the night passed very pleasantly.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i057" id="i057" href="images/i057-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i057.jpg" width="600" height="390" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">
+Lieut. William Young.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Capt. Henry McDonald.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lieut. Harry Vesper.</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>The next morning four companies and headquarters of the
+Second were transferred to the transport Orizaba, the companies
+being G, B, K and D. The transport already had on
+board the Eighth and Twenty-second regular infantry, and
+as a result our boys were crowded about on the decks and
+compelled to sleep anywhere they could. The officers were
+crowded into the staterooms and their experiences on the
+Orizaba were not much more enjoyable than those of the
+men. Some of the regulars, with a fine contempt for volunteers,
+did their best to make things as unpleasant for us as
+possible, but the majority were of a different disposition and
+aided us all they could, which unfortunately was not much.</p>
+
+<p>We expected to sail that day but did not. The same could
+be said about our expectations and disappointments every
+succeeding day until we did finally sail on the 14th. Before
+that happened we were again transferred, this time to the
+well remembered transport, Knickerbocker. This event happened
+on the 13th and when we found that the Knickerbocker's
+number was 13, that she had that number of letters
+in her name and that about everybody and everything connected
+with her was more or less mixed up with the alleged
+unlucky number some of us began to wonder what would
+happen. Fortunately nothing did, but that was because
+somebody, not connected with the war department, or with
+this world, was looking after us. The third battalion was
+added to our force on board the Knickerbocker, the second
+being on the Seneca and the Manteo.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On the evening of the 13th the 13 hoodoo began to work.
+A steam pipe burst and some of the boys, thinking a general
+explosion would follow, jumped from the deck to the dock,
+but although there was considerable fuss and excitement no
+one was hurt. That night sleep on the Knickerbocker was
+out of the question, for a gang of negro roustabouts was
+engaged all night in loading provisions onto our steamer and
+their cries, together with the noise of the steam winches prevented
+any sleep. On the afternoon of the next day, the
+14th, the steamer finally cast off and started down the harbor
+in the wake of the other transports. After being tied up
+in Tampa harbor for six long days we were at last at sea and
+bound for Cuba.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE HAVE A LOVELY SAIL ON THE PALATIAL KNICKERBOCKER
+AND REACH CUBA WITHOUT MISHAP.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i061.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">OUR voyage to Cuba on Transport No. 13, unofficially
+known as the Knickerbocker, will long linger in our
+memories. The Knickerbocker was a lovely ship
+but her loveliness was of such a nature that it was
+seldom referred to without a free and unlimited use
+of adjectives in the ratio of more than 16 to 1. After a while
+it got to be a case of "Don't speak of her past, boys," and
+we seldom did. The present was bad enough and as for her
+future, all of us had grave doubts concerning it. There was
+a story from apparently authentic sources, that before the
+government, in a moment of temporary aberation, engaged
+the services of the Knickerbocker as a transport, she had
+been engaged in conveying Italian emigrants from New
+York to New Orleans, and her interior condition when we
+boarded her gave conformation of the stories.</p>
+
+<p>Many words could be written concerning the Knickerbocker
+and our opinion of her, but as a good share of them would
+form language not generally used in the best society, it will
+be perhaps as well to draw the veil of silence over a good part
+of it.</p>
+
+<p>Her captain's name was Betts and he was an aged individual
+who savored much of the sea and who evidently had
+been the victim of an early or late disappointment, either in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>
+love or something else, that resulted in souring him towards
+himself and everybody else. The name of the steward of the
+boat is unknown, but this did not bother the boys much,
+their usual designation of him being "thief" or "robber" or
+any term of opprobrium that came handy. If he was a poor
+man when the Knickerbocker sailed with us from Tampa
+harbor, there was no reason why he could not have returned
+with money enough to start a fair sized bank account, for he
+sold us everything there was to sell, and considerable that he
+had no right to, and he always charged us Klondike prices
+for everything. He was never under suspicion of giving
+away anything, not even himself. Before the voyage was
+half over there came near being a mutiny among the crew
+which had discovered, so they said, that the steward was
+taking the provisions destined for them and selling them to
+such of our boys as had money and had become weary of the
+luxurious and varied fare given us by the government. At
+the same time his extortions had become so burdensome to
+our boys that muttered threats against him were heard and
+but for some of the cooler heads among the soldiers he might
+have been the victim of the vengeance both of the crew and
+the troops.</p>
+
+<p>There were thirteen staterooms on the boat and into these
+were crowded 32 officers. The men were "bunked" in the
+hold, and if there was any provision for ventilation other
+than the hatches, no trace was ever found of it. On the first
+night out the men slept on the decks and so were enabled to
+pass the night in considerable comfort, for if the deck planks
+were hard, there was at least some air and the cool sea breeze
+made sleeping possible. But on the second night out there
+came trouble. The surgeon was fearful that the night dews
+would have a bad effect on the men, and had been told so
+much of the evil effects of sleeping out in the air in tropical
+latitudes that he believed it best for the men to sleep below
+decks. He pressed his views upon the commanding officer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>
+and the result was an order to the officer of the day to allow
+no men to sleep above decks on that or the succeeding nights
+of the voyage.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally, when this order was communicated to the men,
+there was a protest. There was a decided difference of opinion
+between the men and the surgeon as to the evil results
+from sleeping on deck, and the men were inclined to rebel
+against the order. However, Capt. McDonald of B company
+was officer of the day, and no matter what his sympathies
+were, orders were orders. So soon after "taps" had sounded
+he and the guard made a tour of the boat and the sleepers
+were informed that they must retire to the bunks below and
+complete their slumbers. Then there was a howl of remonstrance,
+but it was without avail. The sleepers were rounded
+up and hustled below. In protest against this came all sorts
+of noise from the sleeping quarters. Songs and yells, and
+there was much satire in many of the songs, came up from
+below. The surgeons were alluded to as "Horse doctors"
+and "Salts," and one chorus that came floating up through
+the hatches ran something like this:</p>
+
+<p>"What do they give us for stomach ache?"</p>
+
+<p>"Salts."</p>
+
+<p>"What do they give us for a broken leg?"</p>
+
+<p>"Salts."</p>
+
+<p>"What do they give us for rheumatism?"</p>
+
+<p>"Salts."</p>
+
+<p>And so on through a catalogue of all the various diseases incident
+to man or animals.</p>
+
+<p>Finally the noise became so great that Capt. McDonald
+threatened to have the hatches closed, thus destroying the
+last faint chance of obtaining any air. This was met by the
+threat that if the hatches were closed bullets would be fired
+through them, but after a while the noise quieted down and
+the men dropped off to sleep. After that night the order to
+sleep below decks was pretty well obeyed as the reason for it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>
+begun to be understood by the men and they realized that it
+was prompted by a desire for their welfare and not to annoy
+them.</p>
+
+<p>Not all the boys slept below, however. Emery, Morehouse
+and Kelly of K had managed to secrete themselves in
+one of the ships boats and made it their sleeping quarters all
+the time of the voyage. As it was covered by a tarpaulin
+they were well protected from the dews or rains, and in any
+case they managed to keep the secret so well that they were
+not molested.</p>
+
+<p>G company suffered a terrible loss on the day we sailed.
+Private Mandeville, the company cook, had managed to cut
+himself so badly in the arm with a carving knife, during our
+stay at Lakeland, that he had been excused from that duty.
+On our last day at Port Tampa he had obtained shore leave
+and <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'utillized'">utilized</ins> it so well in looking at the wine when it was red,
+or something that had the same effect, that he was in a
+trance when the orders came to leave. So when the Knickerbocker
+sailed, G was one man short, and after the requisite
+ten days had elapsed Private Mandeville was put on the rolls
+as a deserter. Fortunately for him, it was established on
+our return that he was not technically a deserter, it appearing
+that when he woke up he had reported himself to an officer
+in Tampa, and had been assigned to remain with a party
+of the 71st New York which had likewise been left behind.</p>
+
+<p>Of mascots there were many on board. First of all came
+one James Sargent of Washington, D. C, a young colored
+lad better known as "Snowball." He had come on from
+Washington with some District of Columbia troops and finding
+that they were not going immediately to Cuba or for
+some other reason he got on board the Knickerbocker and attached
+himself for better or worse to the Second Massachusetts.
+Any member of the regiment can answer the query
+as to whether it was for better or worse for the Second.</p>
+
+<p>Then there were James and Willie Turner, two young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>
+white boys from Tampa who had an uncontrollable desire to
+hie themselves over the seas to Cuba and there end the lives
+of more or less Spaniards. They remained with us until the
+landing on the island and then divorced themselves from the
+Second and attached themselves to two regular regiments.
+Both stood the campaign in far better shape than the older
+men and returned to this country with enlarged views and a
+determination to enlist in the regulars as soon as they were of
+the requisite age.</p>
+
+<p>G company had two mascots in "Rations" and "Hardtack,"
+dogs of the cur variety. Rations did not last out
+the voyage, her career being cut short by some miscreant
+who threw her overboard one night, much to the indignation
+of the men of the company.</p>
+
+<p>A predominating feature of the trip across was the excellent
+fare provided for the enlisted men by a thoughtful government.
+Life at sea on a steady diet of canned beef,
+canned beans and canned tomatoes, hardtack and ship's
+water is not conducive to embonpoint or a cheerful and
+contented disposition. In the hurry of fitting up the Knickerbocker
+as a transport no provision had been made to do any
+cooking for the men, even if there had been anything to
+cook, and there was not even a place where coffee, of which
+we had plenty, could be made. Finally after a couple of
+days out some vigorous "kicking" resulted in the company
+cooks being grudgingly allowed the use of the galley for
+coffee making purposes but with the poor water the coffee
+was hardly equal to that furnished at Delmonico's or other
+places where most of us had been in the habit of eating.</p>
+
+<p>As to the water an entire chapter could not do justice to its
+qualities. There were two brands on board, one being
+Mississippi river fluid with an equal quantity of mud of a
+rich brown color in suspension. After obtaining a cupful of
+this mixture it was necessary to allow it to stand for some
+little time in order that the mud might settle to the bottom.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>
+With all its faults, however, this water when strained was
+sweet and drinking it did not cause remorse.</p>
+
+<p>The other water had been obtained in Tampa and it was
+called water principally because it was contained in the water
+tanks. It did not look much like water and tasted still less
+like it. But that and the muddy fluid was all there was to
+drink and we had to make the best of it.</p>
+
+<p>One day when the canned beef was even worse than usual
+and the canned beans greasier than ever there came to the
+vision of certain members of the Springfield companies, who
+happened to be looking through the skylight into the steward's
+pantry, a delicious looking piece of cold roast beef hanging
+peacefully from a hook and destined for the officers' lunch.
+Constant looking at that well cooked piece of fresh beef begot
+longing, then covetousness and desire. By a silent but unanimous
+vote it was decided that such a nice piece of beef
+would be better appreciated by hungry enlisted men than by
+the officers who had been getting more or less of it, at their
+own expense, during the voyage and the next thing was the
+informal appointment of a committee on ways and means to
+procure the aforesaid beef. An examination revealed that
+the skylight could be opened from the deck and further that a
+boathook was handy. These facts ascertained, a watch was
+kept until the occupant of the pantry had gone out for a moment,
+the skylight was quickly opened, the boathook manipulated
+and the piece of beef lifted to the deck. The cook
+re-entered the pantry just as the beef was disappearing
+through the skylight and the expression on his face haunted
+the participants in the "Disappearing beef mystery" for
+many hours.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i067" id="i067" href="images/i067-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i067.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">
+Lieut Phillip C. Powers K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Captain W. S. Warriner K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Lieut. Harry H. Parkhurst K. Co.
+</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>In one corner of the upper deck that afternoon were a
+number of men upon whose faces rested an expression of perfect
+contentment and whose hands could occasionally be seen
+to wander over their stomachs as if to assure themselves that
+cold roast beef was a suitable article of diet for a voyage in
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>the tropics. As no ill effects were recorded the question was
+settled satisfactorily to them but it is also on record that no
+more tempting bits were hung within reach of open skylights
+or wandering boathooks. It is also a matter of history that
+the officers' lunch that day was rather a poor meal and there
+was no cold meat on the table. But Bates didn't care.</p>
+
+<p>How the Knickerbocker ever escaped being run down or
+colliding with some other of the vessels of the fleet is one of
+the mysteries of the deep. Not less than half a dozen narrow
+escapes are on record in the memory of the men who were on
+her and on one or two occasions the escapes were so narrow
+that a few feet either way would have done the job for the
+Knickerbocker and her crew and passengers. On one occasion
+another boat came so near to running us down that half
+the men were ready to jump into the sea but the other boat
+finally sheered off by the closest margin. The "Thirteen"
+hoodoo came near to finding believers among those on the
+Knickerbocker before Cuba was reached.</p>
+
+<p>Bathing hours were established on board after the first day
+out, each company being allowed an hour aft each day during
+which the men could "turn the hose" on each other to
+their heart's content. As, however, there was but little salt
+water soap on board and that little was in the hands of the
+steward to be retailed by him at robber baron prices these
+attempts at cleanliness proved rather abortive, for it was
+soon ascertained that ordinary soap does not lather in salt
+water and the effects of the bath under these circumstances
+was worse if anything than in Lakeland.</p>
+
+<p>So the days went on until on the 20th we saw the low outline
+of the Cuban coast late in the afternoon and at the same
+time saw the flashes and heard the dull reports of big guns
+which told us that the navy was having a brush with the foe.
+It lasted only for a few moments, but this was the first time
+we had heard guns fired in actual conflict and although we
+could see but little the rigging was crowded until long after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>
+the guns were silent. We learned afterwards that it was
+only a little brush some of the blockading fleet were having
+with a fort near Santiago but it was mighty interesting to us
+while it lasted. All the next day the fleet cruised about
+apparently aimlessly and that night the Knickerbocker "got
+lost." How it ever happened no one knows excepting the
+captain of the ship and he never volunteered an explanation
+so far as we knew. It was expected that we would land that
+day but just before dusk a dispatch boat raced up alongside
+and without stopping speed an officer on board shouted
+through a megaphone an order to Captain Betts to continue
+"cruising to the northwest, keeping in touch with the fleet."
+So off we cruised to the northwest but the rest of the order
+as to keeping in touch with the fleet was not carried out.
+The next morning when we woke up we found the Knickerbocker
+all alone with not a sail or line of smoke on the
+horizon and with apparently no one knowing where we were
+or what we were doing there. Inquiries of Captain Betts
+met with gruff and non-committal response and it was not
+until just before noon that we came in sight of the rest of the
+fleet off Daiquiri and learned that the landing had begun and
+that had we got there when we should the Second would have
+been the first regiment to land on Cuban soil. Then things
+were said concerning Capt. Betts and his boat that would not
+look nice in print.</p>
+
+<p>Over on our left the big guns of the warships were pounding
+away at the fortifications while the small caliber guns
+were sending in a storm of bullets into the woods and hills
+along the shore, clearing them out before the landing. From
+the warships to the transports danced an almost steady
+stream of launches and small boats to assist in the landing.
+The invasion of Cuba by the Fifth army corps was a fact at
+last.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHEREIN IS NARRATED OUR LANDING AT DAIQUIRI AND
+SOME THINGS WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY HAPPENED.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i071.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi">IT was not until well along in the afternoon that the
+Knickerbocker's passengers started for the shore and
+as it was not all of them landed that day, the
+third battalion being left on board until the 23d.
+For many long hours the steamer backed and
+filled together with the other vessels and the men, loaded
+down as they were with their field equipment and waiting for
+the word to disembark, found plenty of time to enjoy the
+stirring scenes about them. There were the grim painted war
+ships, all ready for business and their hustling "Jackies"
+working like beavers to aid in landing us "doughboys."
+Between the big ships danced the saucy torpedo boats and
+destroyers and quick puffing launches having in tow strings
+of small boats, these being our means of transportation from
+the ship to the land. In front were the frowning hills which
+guarded the coast line and from which an enemy of any determination
+could have easily prevented our landing. On a
+plateau directly in front of us was the village of Daiquiri,
+abandoned that morning by the Spaniards after a brief bombardment
+by our fleet, while a force of Cubans got along in
+time to worry the retreating enemy. A portion of the village
+and the works were still smoldering, having been fired
+by the Spaniards before they left the place.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Daiquiri was the seat of the Spanish-American Iron company
+and a narrow <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'guage'">gauge</ins> railroad connects it with Juguaracito
+or Siboney where the company had quite an extensive
+establishment. Jutting out into the water was a high iron
+pier and it was supposed we were to land there, but this was
+found to be impossible after one or two trials.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile after long waiting a dinky little steam launch
+from the battleship Massachusetts and followed by a string of
+small boats, came alongside the Knickerbocker and the youthful
+ensign in charge allowed that he was ordered to take
+headquarters and as many others of the regiment as possible
+on shore. This was agreeable and Col. Clark and his field
+and staff embarked in the launch without much trouble,
+although the job of climbing down a slippery rope ladder,
+then hanging on by both hands to the side ropes and waiting
+until the next high wave brought the launch up to within a
+couple of feet of you and then falling more or less, mostly
+less, gracefully into it, was not particularly pleasing. After
+headquarters, a platoon of G company embarked and this
+filled the boats.</p>
+
+<p>How to get on shore from the boats appeared to grow into
+a serious problem as we neared the landing place. This was
+an old wooden pier, which jutted out some little distance
+from the land. There was a heavy surf on and the little
+basin in which the pier stood was jammed with boats and
+launches, all apparently very much snarled up but which in
+reality were being ably managed. After much maneuvering
+our launch was jammed alongside the pier and the next problem
+was how to get upon it. The supporting piles rose high
+up from the water and their slimy surface offered no inducement
+to attempt climbing. One moment we would be down
+in the trough of a wave and then the launch would be lifted
+up almost to the top of the pier and the sailors would be hard
+put to it to keep the boats from being dashed against the
+huge piling of the pier. The method of our landing could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>
+hardly be called dignified. As the boat would be raised
+almost to a level with the floor of the pier by a wave our
+rolls and equipment would be tossed up to some soldiers waiting
+to assist us. Then down the boat would go again and
+when the next wave raised it we would stand up on the
+thwarts of the boat, reach up our hands, two of the men on
+the pier would grasp them and we would scramble up the
+best we could. In this way the first lot was landed and the
+boats hustled back to the ship after another load of passengers.
+The pier was connected with the land by some loose
+planks and across these we walked gingerly, finally reaching
+terra firma. We were on Cuban soil at last.</p>
+
+<p>On shore there was as much bustle and confusion as in the
+landing. Many of the regulars and a part of "Ours" had
+already landed but there appeared to be no system, and officers
+and men were scattered about everywhere. A short distance
+from the pier was a typical Cuban "shack" as the
+regulars called it, a roughly built shed with a roof of palm
+leaf thatch and around this was a lot of Cuban soldiers who
+were making themselves "good fellows" by giving away
+cocoanuts, of which they had a couple of large bags. They,
+the soldiers, were of varying shades of blackness and their
+"uniforms" consisted mostly of nothing. Some had more
+clothing than the others, but few had anything like a complete
+outfit. They were barefooted and bareheaded but all
+had the inevitable machete and some kind of a firearm, from
+the latest model Spanish Mauser and the navy Lee to an old
+shotgun. They could talk English about as well as we could
+Spanish and the sign language was used with more or less
+success.</p>
+
+<p>Having filled up on cocoanuts, which tasted good, we became
+thirsty. A water pipe ran along the ground and we
+soon found a faucet, but the first man to take a drink spat
+out the water and said some sharp and emphatic things concerning
+it at which we mildly wondered until he calmed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>
+down sufficiently to tell us that it was "hot enough to boil
+eggs in." Sure enough it was. The pipes ran along on
+the surface of the ground and the sun did the rest.</p>
+
+<p>"<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Mucho caliente agua</i>," commented a ragged "Cubana"
+as he noticed our disgusted looks and one or two who understood
+enough Spanish to know what he meant agreed with
+him. Then he grinned as only a Cuban can and pointing to
+the plateau where the main part of the village was located,
+said: "<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Agua fresca</i>," which being interpreted meant "cold
+water." So off we started for the plateau and there found
+several barrels of fresh water which was fairly cool. Among
+the "shacks" which composed the town we found a "brigade"
+of the "brave" Cuban soldiers. They were having a good
+time recounting their exploits and staring at "<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">los Americano
+soldados</i>," whose rough and ready manners were not always
+to their liking. A few of their field officers were almost
+white in color and decently uniformed but the majority, like
+the men, were black and distinguished from their men by
+small silver stars worn on a strap across the breast, three
+being the insignia of a captain, two of a first lieutenant and
+one of a second lieutenant.</p>
+
+<p>A point of much interest to our men were the burning
+shops, which the Spaniards had fired before retreating. On
+the railway track was a locomotive and some cars which had
+been disabled and burnt. Additional interest was caused by
+the pursuit, capture and summary execution of an unwise
+pig by a mob of our men and Cubans.</p>
+
+<p>All our battalions having landed, we began our march
+into the interior just before 5 o'clock. The brigade commander,
+Col. Van Horn of the 22d was injured on the 22d
+and the command was temporarily assigned to our commander,
+Col. Clark. As Lieut. Col. Shumway was left on
+the boat, Major Southmayd took command of the two battalions
+on shore. We marched some five miles toward Santiago,
+across country, the march being along a narrow and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>
+rough trail and halted for the night by the side of the trail.
+On our way we had to ford a stream and began to experience
+some of the realities of war.</p>
+
+<p>That night we had to face our first real experience at going
+hungry. It had been understood that we were not to go
+inland that day and that rations would be sent us from the
+ships so no orders to take any with us had been issued. A
+few of the men had the foresight to stuff whatever food
+they could into their haversacks but the majority had nothing
+and went supperless to bed. The regulars bivouacked
+near us were in the same fix and there was much grumbling.
+However, officers and men were in the same box and there
+was nothing to do but make the best of it.</p>
+
+<p>At dawn the next morning we rolled up our outfits and
+started off again. Our method of packing up was expeditious.
+Each man carried one half of a shelter tent, better
+known to us as a "dog" tent and later "pup" tents because
+of their small size, they being just about large enough for
+two men to crawl into. The half shelter was laid on the
+ground and upon it was spread first the rubber blanket and
+then the woolen one. Our canvas blouses and whatever
+personal property we had were then placed on top, together
+with the tent sticks and pegs and the whole neatly rolled.
+The ends were secured with the tent rope and the roll thus
+formed was carried over the left shoulder, the ends hanging
+down on the right side of the body. Thus equipped, with
+our full canteens and empty haversacks, we took to the road
+again after our first night on Cuban soil. Details of men
+from each company were sent back to the ships after rations
+and we started for Siboney. An early morning march on
+an empty stomach is not conducive to an appreciation of
+scenery be it ever so grand, but some of us enjoyed it. All
+about us were hills and mountains, their peaks clear cut
+against the blue sky, while from the tops of two or three
+rose thin smoke columns which we supposed were from signal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>
+fires. Our trail led us through valleys and over hills
+until finally about 11 o'clock we struck upon something that
+looked like a road and on which we were enabled to march
+for a short time in columns of fours. Anyone who had
+ever seen the Second on a parade in Springfield or Worcester
+or at camp and seen us straggling along the Cuban trail
+in single file would have laughed outright at the contrast, as
+we were forced to ourselves. Later on we looked even
+worse.</p>
+
+<p>That day the "stripping" process, familiar to all armies
+in a campaign, was begun. Two companies of the second
+battalion, E and M had "toted" their knapsacks with them
+from their transports and about the second day out they
+were sorry for so doing. Hardly had we been an hour on
+the march that morning before the knapsacks began to disappear
+and the troops which followed us soon knew that the
+Second Massachusetts had passed by, meeting scores of
+Cubans with E and M company knapsacks on their backs
+and sweltering but happy in the closely buttoned cape overcoats
+discarded with the knapsacks. Fortunately our knapsacks
+and all our heavy baggage had been left on board ship
+but it was not long before we found our rolls becoming
+heavy and burdensome. Pretty soon a man would quietly
+drop out of the line, off would come his roll which was
+quickly opened, and some article he fancied he could do
+without, thrown into the bush. Then the roll would be fastened
+together, thrown over the owner's shoulder and he
+would hasten to rejoin his company. A few moments afterward
+a ragged Cubano might be seen poking around about
+the bushes and next the discarded articles would be in his
+possession.</p>
+
+<p>And it may as well be told here that it was not only the
+Second Massachusetts that strewed more or less valuable or
+necessary articles along the trails. The regulars were with
+us in that, and although, as a rule, they had brought less<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>
+baggage ashore with them than we did, they soon found it
+convenient to get rid of much of it. They even discarded
+their blankets, some cutting them in half and retaining only
+one part, while we stuck to the blankets and sacrificed other
+things. We never were sorry either that we kept our blankets,
+for if the days were intensely warm, the nights were
+cool and coverings came in handy.</p>
+
+<p>That afternoon, soon after we had struck the short piece of
+good road referred to above, we left it and following a narrow
+trail debouched into some woods and after passing
+through them, found ourselves in a cocoanut grove. There
+were hundreds of the trees all laden with the fruit, and a
+halt was ordered, arms stacked and we were allowed to rest.
+About this time we were decidedly hungry, our breakfast
+having consisted of nothing and our dinner menu being the
+same. The cocoanuts looked inviting but they were far
+away at the tops of the branchless trees. But hunger is a
+spur and it was not long before some daring ones were "shinning
+up" the trees and down came the fruit. Alas! It was
+a disappointment to hopes of a satisfactory meal. After the
+hard, green outer husks had been chopped away it was found
+that the cocoanuts were green, and a copious flow of soldier
+language greeted this discovery. But it was not long before
+it was discovered that the milk of the green cocoanut makes a
+very palatable drink, and in a few moments we all became
+milkmen.</p>
+
+<p>The march resumed we struck into another piece of woods,
+forded a brook or two, (we had by this time gotten over
+minding our feet being wet,) and found ourselves once more
+on a narrow and rough trail. On our way through the
+woods we saw, stretched along a rough fence, the body of a
+huge snake of the constrictor variety, not long killed and
+looking decidedly fierce. The reptile was about eight feet
+long and as thick as a man's arm. A little further along we
+saw something which indicated that we were in a rough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>
+country. This was a human skull nailed on top of a post
+and grinning at us with empty eye sockets and toothless
+jaws, as we passed.</p>
+
+<p>A little further along and we struck another narrow stream
+which, of course, had to be forded, and up a hill, just beyond
+that we came to a railroad station and the track. Here were
+some of our advance guard, men of the Eighth regulars who
+informed us that Siboney was "just 'round the corner," as
+one of them put it, and sure enough after a few moments
+more of the "Weary Willie" act, we came to a collection of
+"shacks," and realized that we were in Siboney. Now that
+word "Siboney" means much to us because it reminds us
+that there we ate, a fact sufficiently momentous on that day
+to linger long in our memories.</p>
+
+<p>Now as to the methods of our eating. It was only a short
+time before our arrival that the Spaniards had evacuated
+Siboney after firing a few shots at our advance guard and
+the natives, who had "jumped the town" when the Spaniards
+told them there was going to be a big battle in which
+they were going to annihilate the "pigs of Yanquis," were
+just beginning to come back. We were ordered to camp on a
+low piece of ground on one side of the railroad embankment
+and after putting up our "pup" tents a few hungry ones
+went into the town to see what could be seen and incidentally
+to acquire what there was to acquire in the commissary line.
+They were successful in the latter. The natives were glad to
+see them and freely gave of what little they had. This
+wasn't much but there was some rice and some queer looking
+but good tasting messes of which our men were freely invited
+to partake. In one house in particular there were two aged
+women who busied themselves for hours cooking rice and
+other dishes for our men and who at first would not accept
+anything in payment. Finally it was forced upon them and
+before evening there was more silver money in that poor
+"shack" than had probably been the case for many a day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>
+All through the village it was the same and the hospitality
+we received at Siboney did much to change for a time the
+unfavorable opinion we had formed of the Cubans.</p>
+
+<p>Not only was there food but drink. There was cool water
+in all the houses and there was also "bino," a sour Cuban
+wine like claret and some fiery "rou" or rum which brought
+tears to the eyes of more than one man who thought he was
+spirit proof. All that afternoon we mingled freely with the
+people, looked all through the town, examined with interest
+the Spanish block houses and some of us went in surf bathing
+on the pretty little beach in front of the town.</p>
+
+<p>Late that afternoon the third battalion came up and about
+the same time the details which had been sent back for rations,
+made their appearance with about enough provisions to
+whet our appetite, they having found the task of lugging
+supplies for a company, nearly ten miles, beyond their
+strength.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER X.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>IN WHICH IS TO BE FOUND THE TALE OF "CRAB HOLLOW"
+AND SOME OTHER THINGS.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i080.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">WHEN we retired to our luxurious couches that night
+of June 23d, most of us, excepting the guards, anticipated
+sleep, but we little recked what that night
+had in store for us. As told before, our camp was
+pitched on a low piece of ground and among a lot
+of sparse bushes. We did not know until the next day that
+the camping ground was an old burial place, and we were also
+not well enough up in the natural history of things Cuban
+to understand that if there is any one place the dainty land
+crab prefers for its habitat it is a cemetery and this preference
+rests upon a purely gastronomic basis. The land crab
+and the vulture are the great scavengers of Cuba and while
+the latter disposes of anything eatable left above ground the
+land crab looks after bodies or anything else placed under
+ground. In the afternoon we had noticed the holes of the
+land crabs but paid little attention to them, and only saw
+a few of the crustaceans, but at night we made their acquaintance
+at close quarters. We were pretty well fagged out
+with the heat and the marching, and this, with the strange
+sensation of having something to eat in our stomachs, tended
+to drowsiness. But hardly had we got settled in our tents
+before there were strange rustlings and noises and then the
+sensation of something crawling. There were some quick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>
+arisings and the sound of matches hastily struck and then
+exclamations and profanity. In some of the companies there
+was hardly a tent that had not been pitched over one or more
+land crab holes and the <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'oocupants'">occupants</ins> of these had begun an investigation.
+Crawling over the sleepers usually resulted in
+awakening them and then came the exclamations, the illumination
+by the matches and the pursuit and slaughter of the
+visitors. The land crab is not an aggressive animal towards
+man and the greeting tendered him usually resulted in his
+scuttling for his hole. Not always did he reach there, for
+many fell victims to ramrods, clubs and other weapons.
+One able bodied crab was caught in the act of backing into
+his hole with a stocking in his claws, and yielded up his life
+for his rapacity. It may have been that he intended to eat
+the stocking, and had he done so his fate would have been
+the same anyway. The crabs had a pleasant trick that night
+of crawling half way up the outside of the tents and then
+losing their hold and dropping to the ground. That was bad
+enough as a deterrent to sleep, but it was not all. In the
+afternoon some I company men had repaired a locomotive
+disabled by the Spaniards, and kept running it up and down
+the tracks, to an accompaniment of bell and whistle, until a
+late hour.</p>
+
+<p>Bright and early the next morning we were up and as on
+the day before looking for grub. Rations were still "shy"
+and once more we had recourse to our friends the Siboneyians
+who gave us what they could, which was not much, as
+their own supplies were running low.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the remainder of the transports had come to
+Siboney and were landing the rest of the expedition. They
+had a little different method of doing it than at Daiquiri.
+The boats would be filled with men and towed in as near
+shore as possible when the men would have to jump out and
+wade ashore. Some of them didn't like getting their feet
+wet but they had to just the same.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was some little time before noon when we heard firing
+from over the hills and learned that the cavalry brigade had
+gone on a reconnoisance in force in that direction. It was
+only a short time afterwards when we saw the first wounded
+begin to come down the trail and learned that they had found
+the enemy in force at Las Guasimas and had quite a go with
+him. The First and Tenth United States cavalry, our old
+neighbors at Lakeland, and the Rough Riders were engaged
+and from all accounts were having a warm time. Col. Clark
+of the Second was acting as commander of our brigade and
+receiving orders from Gen. Lawton to reinforce the cavalry,
+left for the scene with the Eighth and Twenty-second Infantry.
+They arrived there just as the Spaniards were running
+and finding nothing for them to do returned to Siboney.</p>
+
+<p>One of the largest buildings in the town had been converted
+into a temporary hospital and it was soon filled with
+the wounded. Our regimental surgeons, Drs. Bowen, Gates
+and Hitchcock were pressed into service and rendered valuable
+aid. That hospital was our first introduction to some of
+the grim realities of war but the boys stood it well and were
+anxious to get to the front as quickly as possible. One of the
+warships with the transports added to the excitement by
+shelling the woods on top of a point near us and we began to
+conclude it would be our turn next.</p>
+
+<p>But it was not long before our thoughts were turned from
+the vision of great deeds in battle to a more prosaic but necessary
+matter. A lot of rations had been landed and soon we
+were revelling in such delicacies as hardtack, "sowbelly"
+bacon, coffee, canned beef (?) and canned tomatoes. Orders
+were issued for each man to take four days' rations but our
+haversack capacity was not equal to this and we packed all
+we could into our rolls. Even then we could not take all the
+issue and what was left we gave to our friends, the people of
+Siboney, who gladly accepted what we didn't want. The
+issue was hardly begun before Col. Clark gave us orders to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>
+move and off we started about 4.30 in the afternoon. We
+had not gone far in the direction of Las Guasimas before we
+came to the conclusion that the commissary department of
+the army had at least one genius who deserved a medal and
+some other things. About half the issue of tomatoes was in
+gallon cans and it was planned to have one man carry them
+a short distance and then let another sharer of the can relieve
+him. But our route lay up hill and we hit up a lively pace
+so that it was not long before there was a "kick" about the
+tomatoes. The ending of the kick in every case was a noise
+which indicated that the can had landed in the bushes and
+when tired out, we reached our bivouac place that night
+there were but few gallon cans of tomatoes left with the
+outfit.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile we kept steadily climbing up into the hills,
+finding rough footing and stumbling over rocks and everything
+else in the darkness until about 9 o'<ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'olock'">clock</ins> we reached
+the scene of the battle and found the First and Tenth cavalry
+burying their dead. We passed on in silence but we did
+quite a bit of thinking. A short distance further up we
+halted on a level bit of ground by the side of the Rough
+Riders and after making our simple preparations for our
+night's bivouac heard their tale of the fight. Our cooking
+fires were soon going and we not only heard Roosevelt's men
+tell their experiences and gave them our sympathy, but what
+they wanted more at that particular time, we gave them food,
+sharing our rations with them. One New York paper, in its
+story of the Las Guasimas fight spoke of the Second Massachusetts
+as having "supported the Rough Riders," but so far
+as we knew our only support to them was that night when
+we certainly did support them with our rations.</p>
+
+<p>When we landed in Cuba a detail of men from each company
+was left on the boats to look after property and as we
+learned afterwards they heard all sorts of stories about what
+happened to us that day. But all the stories agreed that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>
+Second had been having a bad time of it and that our loss
+was heavy. One New York newspaper man had been given
+a circumstantial account of our regiment having been surrounded
+by the Spaniards and of our cutting our way out
+with a heavy loss in officers and men and was so impressed
+by it that he wrote a very pretty story which he was on the
+point of having cabled to his paper when a brother correspondent
+happened along and convinced him that as we were
+at Siboney until the action was all over we could hardly have
+been so badly cut up. So the story was not cabled but it
+was a narrow escape.</p>
+
+<p>When we left Siboney that afternoon G company was left
+behind to assist in unloading supplies for our brigade, one
+company from each regiment being detailed for that purpose.
+They left Siboney early the next morning and reached us just
+as we were preparing to resume the march again.</p>
+
+<p>Our next camping place was on a plateau near where had
+once been a sizeable plantation and which was only a short
+distance from Las Guasimas. Here we remained two days
+taking life easy before we again took up the march. On the
+27th we reached Sevilla and there remained until late <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'in the the afternoon'">in the
+afternoon</ins> of June 30th. During our stay in Sevilla
+occurred another food shortage and also the great tobacco
+famine. Rations were hard to get and so were medicines.
+There was so much feeling over the delinquency in getting
+our supplies up to us that a meeting of the company commanders
+was held and a committee appointed to wait upon
+Col. Clark to see if something could not be done. The outcome
+of all the talk was the loan of some of the horses of
+the field and staff to a detail which, in charge of Lieut.
+Vesper of B, went back to the ships and obtained a small
+supply of provisions and tobacco. The cause of the failure
+to keep the troops supplied lay with the quartermaster's department
+which had apparently broken down utterly, for
+though there were tons upon tons of supplies already landed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>
+at Siboney there was not enough of pack trains or other
+means of transportation to get them up to us. We all fared
+alike at this time, officers and men, regulars and volunteers,
+and our brigade, the leading one in the army, had been hustled
+along so fast that it was difficult under any circumstances
+to get supplies to us owing to the distance and the
+condition of the roads.</p>
+
+<p>On the 28th the new commander of the brigade, Gen.
+Ludlow, reported and relieved Col. Clark who resumed command
+of the Second. Lieut. Harry Parkhurst of K who
+had been acting as aide-de-camp on the brigade staff was
+also relieved and rejoined his company.</p>
+
+<p>The tobacco famine was relieved somewhat by some of the
+weed brought from the ships by the various "relief expeditions"
+and also by the arrival of the details which had been
+left on the boats and the majority of the members of which
+had gained permission to rejoin us as soon as they heard the
+stories about our having been in action and losing heavily.
+The horse detail also came up and brought to Adjutant Hawkins
+the news that his horse had been drowned while being
+got ashore. As the chaplain's horse and one owned by Hospital
+Steward Fortier had been stolen while in Tampa by
+"Billy the Hostler" there was a shyness of horses around
+headquarters.</p>
+
+<p>While in Tampa Private T. C. Boone of K had been transferred
+to the signal corps with the rank of sergeant and
+afterwards became a member of the war balloon squad. On
+the afternoon of the 20th we saw the famous balloon for the
+first time and watched it with interest as it rose above the
+trees near our camp. We understood that Boone was one of
+the men in the car and for that reason the balloon had more
+than usual interest for us of the Springfield companies. The
+next afternoon another ascension was made and again we
+watched the "big gas bag" and speculated in a pessimistic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>
+vein upon its successful use. Our doubts as to its usefulness
+turned out to be correct.</p>
+
+<p>On the 28th the good news was announced that we could
+send mail home that afternoon and there was great scrambling
+for pens, pencils, paper and envelopes. It was our first
+opportunity since we had landed to send letters and that it
+was taken advantage of the big mail bags that left headquarters
+late that afternoon for division headquarters attested.</p>
+
+<p>Probably the condition in which about all our letters
+reached the folks at home was fully explained soon after
+our return, but it will bear retelling. When we landed
+most of us had paper, envelopes and stamps. But these
+were carried either in the haversacks or rolls and with the
+heat the envelope flaps became stuck together, likewise the
+stamps and paper became dirty. All were about in the same
+condition, so in order to get a letter into an <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'envolope'">envelope</ins> it was
+necessary to slit the latter at one end, insert the letter and
+then sew up the envelope. As most of the sewing was done
+with black thread and the envelopes were not especially clean
+the effect upon the good folks at home must have been rather
+startling, especially when the letters came without stamps, as
+they usually did. In place of stamps the government allowed
+the use of the words, "Soldier's Letter" in one corner of the
+envelope and when indorsed by an officer was allowed to go
+through.</p>
+
+<p>From our camp we could see a portion of the fortifications
+of Santiago and especially two large buildings which we
+were informed were barracks that had been transformed into
+hospitals and over which we could with field glasses see a
+number of Red Cross flags floating. We heard many weird
+tales as to what the Spaniards had done and would do and
+the stories, mainly of Cubans, as to how many troops were
+in the city, varied all the way from 10,000 to 40,000. On the
+29th the much talked of "army" of Gen. Calixto Garcia
+arrived and it was a motley looking outfit, mostly black in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>
+color and of great variety, principally of lack of quantity, as
+to uniforms but fairly well supplied with arms and ammunition.
+The knowledge of English of the component parts of
+Garcia's forces was about equal to out knowledge of Spanish,
+but considerable interchange of ideas was effected, principally
+by signs. One or two of the warriors would stroll into
+camp and after standing around a bit with the inevitable
+Cuban grin would exclaim, "<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Santiago, boum, boum?</i>" at
+the same time pointing to the city. We could do no less
+than to assure them there would be plenty of "<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">boum, boum</i>"
+and that when it happened Santiago would be "on the bum."
+The ice thus broken, the Cuban's machete was examined and
+the wearer induced to give an exhibition of its use both as a
+weapon and a handy tool for many purposes. Generally before
+they left camp they would "borrow" some "tobac" and
+if they could obtain some hardtack or bacon they went away
+happy. Sometimes they brought us some mangoes or "monkey
+plums" and then would follow some great bartering.
+The surgeons in an excess of zeal had warned us against the
+mango but we pinned our faith to the Cubans' declaration
+that if one didn't eat mangoes and drink liquor on the same
+day no evil effects would result from the free and unlimited
+use of the fruit. The mango tastes nice but it is an acquired
+art to know how to eat it without getting three-quarters of it
+over one's face and clothing. Still it came in handy when
+our rations were short, which was about always and we were
+not over fastidious as to how we ate anything in those days.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XI.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHICH TELLS HOW WE GOT READY TO TAKE THE TOWN
+OF EL CANEY.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i088.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi">IT was shortly after noon on June 30th that the
+"JoJo" department began to circulate the news that
+we were to move on to Santiago that day or the next
+and for the first and only time during the campaign
+the "JoJo" happened to be right. Orders had
+arrived for a forward movement and although we had no idea
+of where we were to go or what we were to do there was a
+feeling of satisfaction that we were to go somewhere and do
+something.</p>
+
+<p>Of even more importance than the orders at this particular
+time was the arrival of a well laden pack train with rations.
+When the mules were first discerned coming "up the pike"
+it was supposed they were carrying ammunition as the last
+two or three pack trains had brought little excepting cartridges.
+But this time we were agreeably disappointed.
+There was a plentiful supply of "sowbelly," hardtack and
+coffee and it was not long before it was being distributed.
+The tobacco famine had temporarily been relieved and now
+we actually had food. So we were pretty well satisfied with
+life after all.</p>
+
+<p>How it rained that day! It came on in the forenoon and
+in less than ten minutes everybody and everything was saturated.
+It was a straight downpour of water and rubber<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>
+blankets were of little use in keeping us or our belongings
+dry so we simply got wet and stayed in that condition until
+the sun came out and did his best to dry things up quickly.</p>
+
+<p>Early that afternoon we saw the war balloon again and
+watched it with much interest, everybody "rubbernecking"
+at the unwonted sight. In the car, although we did not
+know it at the time, was poor "Tom" Boone of "K" and
+those of us who knew him little recked what the next day
+would bring to him. For that matter there was considerable
+uncertainty as to what the future meant for any of us. We
+heard late in the day that we were sure to get into action
+on the next day but somehow the knowledge did not appear
+to worry but a few of the boys. The happenings of the campaign
+thus far had done much to produce a feeling of contempt
+for the fighting abilities of the Spaniards and some of
+us figured that all we would have to do was to make a
+demonstration in force and the enemy would then either
+retreat or surrender. How mistaken we were the next day
+was to tell us.</p>
+
+<p>It was late in the afternoon when the advance on El
+Caney by Lawton's division was begun and it was not until
+almost 6 o'clock that our brigade, which being one of the
+nearest to the city, was among the last to get away, made
+its start. Most of us will never forget that night march.
+The rain of the morning had resulted as usual in making
+whatever roads and trails there were into very fine specimens
+of mud puddles and unfortunately for us the greater
+part of our way led up hill. When the rations were issued
+in the afternoon the company commissaries had not time to
+complete their distribution and thinking that the march was
+to be a short and easy one those of G and B concluded that
+it would be better to have some of the provisions carried in
+bulk rather than to take time to divide and issue them. So a
+number of men from each company were detailed to carry a
+couple of slabs of "sowbelly" and others the remaining<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>
+boxes of hardtack. This worked very nicely for a time
+until it became dark and the hill climbing act began. Then
+there was trouble. The trail up the hill was about as slippery
+as any we ever marched along in Cuba and it was
+moreover filled with rocks and boulders over which climbing
+was not the easiest matter in the world. Before they
+had gone very far the ration detail began to think that
+something was wrong and these thoughts developed into a
+certainty as we still kept climbing along up a pretty steep
+ascent and the boxes of hardtack and the sides of bacon (?)
+began to grow heavier and heavier and more difficult to
+handle. For convenience in packing them along with us
+both Sergeants Scully and Bearse had nailed long handles
+onto the hardtack boxes and had made a somewhat similar
+arrangement to carry the bacon but the carriers had not
+gone far before the handles worked off and after awhile it
+got to be a question of dropping the rations or killing the
+men trying to carry them. It was pitch dark, the trail was
+difficult and besides all the men had a pretty fair supply of
+"grub" in their haversacks, so a silent and informal vote
+was taken and the bulk of the extra rations were quietly
+left by the side of the trail. Meanwhile the rest of us
+were not having so much of a picnic even though we were
+not encumbered with extra baggage. The mud made
+marching difficult even along the road which led from the
+camp. Soon we left this and came to the San Juan
+creek, passing a company of soldiers who were actually
+bathing. Our surprise at this unwonted scene was not
+allowed to last long, for the trail lay on the other side of the
+creek and we were obliged to ford it. This was not by any
+means as easy as it looked. The banks were high and slippery
+with mud and the water was over our legging tops but
+in we plunged and scrambled across to the other side and
+into a thick piece of woods, shaking the water from ourselves
+dog fashion as we again took up the march. Hardly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>
+had we got across before low spoken orders came down the
+line for every man to keep silent and to march as quietly as
+possible. This made us realize that something was on and
+the orders were pretty well obeyed although all the orders
+in the world could not keep some of the men from saying
+things concerning the trail and night marches in general.</p>
+
+<p>In ragged fashion we stumbled along through the woods,
+the only military regulation we followed out being that of
+keeping well "closed up." We simply had to do this because
+it was so dark and the trail so narrow and rough that
+unless one kept very "close tabs" on his file leader it was a
+question of getting lost and going it alone and this none of
+us desired to do.</p>
+
+<p>We had not gone far before we came to another creek or
+it may have been another turn of the first one, we did not
+know or care which, but into it we plunged and again got
+our feet wet and muddy. Hardly had we gained the other
+side before we came across a forlorn looking figure in a bit
+of a clearing by the side of the trail and a voice with an
+unmistakeable western twang inquired if we were the
+Rough Riders. The owner of the voice was informed that
+we were the Second Massachusetts and he then remarked,
+"Well, you're a pretty good outfit and I guess I'll go along
+with you." He then announced himself as the chaplain of
+the Rough Riders and said he had left camp a little behind
+his regiment and had not only been unable to catch up with it
+but could obtain no trace of its whereabouts. We told him his
+regiment had probably gone over towards San Juan hill, it
+being in <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'anothor'">another</ins> division than ours and he then allowed that
+he would not bother looking further that night but would
+accompany us. We made no objection and he trudged along
+with us for the rest of the way.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after meeting the chaplain we forded creek number
+three but by this time we were used to getting our feet wet
+and did not mind it much. After fording this stream, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>
+narrow but rather deep one, we began to get up in the world
+and soon discovered that we were on the up grade. For
+nearly two hours more we stumbled along, sometimes passing
+through thick woods and again along open country. The
+moon came out faintly after a bit, but her light did little
+towards revealing to us the difficulties of the route we were
+following. We had a couple of brief halts but it was not
+until a little after 10 o'clock that a whispered command to
+halt was given and we were informed that we were to go into
+bivouac by the road side.</p>
+
+<p>Following this order came a renewal of the previous ones
+against making any noise and we were also given strict
+orders not to make a fire or even strike a match. These precautions
+we assumed were to keep our presence unknown to
+the enemy and although most of us wanted the comfort of a
+pipe or cigarette after our fatiguing march yet we refrained.
+There was of course much speculation over the why and
+wherefore of the night march and the orders against noise or
+fire but the generally accepted assumption was that we had
+stolen a march upon the Spaniards, had penetrated their lines,
+and in the morning would march into Santiago before the
+astonished enemy had partaken of his morning coffee. This
+surmise was given <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'oolor'">color</ins> by the fact that from where we were
+we could look down into the city, its locality being indicated
+by the lights from the governor general's palace and other
+official buildings. We were on a plateau that overlooked the
+city, and so far as we could judge, our presence was absolutely
+undetected. Santiago appeared to be sleeping peacefully
+and looked for all the world like some small New England
+city which is locked up every night at 8.30 or 9 and
+whose residents then go to bed and stay there until morning.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i093" id="i093" href="images/i093-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i093.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Lehigh Detail from Company H</span></div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>For thinking such thoughts we were indeed what are known
+in the vernacular as "good things," for as it transpired afterwards
+the Spaniards knew all about where we were and
+where we were going. Had it not been for their traditional
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>policy of "manana" they might have sallied out and done
+several things to us, but they preferred to wait until the next
+day, which was a lucky thing for us.</p>
+
+<p>Sleep comes quickly to a soldier in bivouac and soon after
+our halt every one of us, with the exception of the guards,
+was asleep. No attempt was made to put up the shelter
+tents, but we contented ourselves with unrolling them,
+spreading them upon the grass and wrapping ourselves up in
+our blankets. A few of us lunched upon hardtack and raw
+bacon washed down with muddy water from the canteens
+but the majority of the boys were too tired to think even of
+eating.</p>
+
+<p>That night the premonition came to some of our boys that
+the morrow would be their last day on earth and although we
+tried to laugh it out of them they stuck to it that their fate
+was settled. One of these boys was Frank Moody of K and
+so strongly was he impressed with the feeling of coming disaster
+to himself that he made one of his comrades take his
+watch and promise to deliver his farewell message to the loved
+ones at home.</p>
+
+<p>Tired soldiers sleep soundly and it seemed as if we had
+only slumbered a few moments when we were awakened,
+not by the usual bugle call, but by low whispers from the
+officers and non-commissioned officers. It was hardly dawn
+and a thin mist concealed from view the city below us and
+the hills that surrounded us. Little by little the mist disappeared
+before the advance of the sun and when dawn came
+the scene was so impressive in its grandeur that even the
+most careless amongst us felt it. Just below us was Santiago
+still wrapped in the morning mist and apparently still unaroused
+from its slumbers. All about us were frowning hills
+and mountains and in the distance we could see the harbor
+outside of which sat the grim war ships of the United States
+waiting for their prey to come out and be eaten up. Not a
+sign from the enemy and we wondered.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But we wondered even more when we turned our eyes a
+little to the right and there saw Capron's light battery, still
+unlimbered and apparently in plain view of the sentries of
+the enemy and our wonder increased as we saw the smoke
+from the cooking fires of the batterymen and watched them
+preparing their morning meal. For, be it understood, our
+brigade commander had sent word along that the orders of
+the night before as to noise and fires were still in force and
+we had breakfasted on hardtack and water. And there were
+the artillerymen with their fires lighted and frying their
+bacon and making their coffee as if there were no such orders
+and not a Spaniard within fifty miles. We could not understand
+it and for that matter we do not to this day. Maybe
+somebody does but if so we never heard of it.</p>
+
+<p>It was bad enough to almost smell the hot coffee, for the
+morning air was cool and raw, and to see the batterymen
+drinking it with relish, but it was far worse to see them nonchalantly
+light their pipes and cigarettes and enjoy them.
+Since the night before we had been deprived of the solace of
+tobacco and anyone who has ever soldiered knows what that
+means. But when we saw the red striped gunners enjoying
+the weed we made up our minds to follow suit. In a very
+short time our pipes were going and the officers sympathetically
+not only forebore to stop us but soon began to puff their
+pipes. Even a cold breakfast can be enjoyed with a tobacco
+dessert and that early morning smoke on the threshold of the
+battlefield was a much appreciated one.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile we had been getting ready and as packing up
+did not take us long it was but a short time after we were
+aroused from our slumbers before we had fallen in and were
+ready for what the day might bring forth. While waiting
+for orders to march we heard the noise of hoofs coming up
+the trail and Gen. Lawton and his staff clattered by us on
+their way to the front. A couple of Cuban officers were
+with them and they were evidently pleased with the work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>
+cut out for the Americans that day. Only a few moments
+after the general had passed came the orders to march and
+we were soon "hitting the trail" again, this time on the
+down grade.</p>
+
+<p>It was then about 4.30 in the morning. We moved along
+slowly, the trail being so narrow it was necessary to go in
+column of files and it was fully as bad walking as the route
+we had gone over the previous night. After a little we came
+to a brook and took advantage of the opportunity to fill our
+canteens. Just on the other side of the brook we passed
+Capron's battery posted on a low hill, the muzzles of the
+three inch rifles pointed toward El Caney and the cannoneers
+at their posts waiting for the ball to open. By that time we
+all realized that this was the day we were to go into business.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XII.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHEREIN IS RELATED SOME EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED TO
+US ON JULY FIRST.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i098.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">HARDLY had we passed the battery before we heard
+the boom of one of its guns, followed by another
+and another and we knew then the trouble had
+begun. We kept on the trail for a while longer, the
+men keeping well closed up now and keeping eyes
+and ears alert. El Caney was now replying to Capron and
+we could hear for the first time the squeal of the Mauser
+bullets as they began to go over us with a sound like that of
+a vicious cat at bay. We were under fire but hardly realized
+it as yet.</p>
+
+<p>It was a splendid morning. Our trail led along the side of
+what had once been well cultivated fields, the only indication
+of that now being the inevitable barbed wire fencing. The
+skies were cloudless and birds sang as we went along to
+battle. There were other birds too but they did not sing.
+Hardly had the first of Capron's cannon sent its "good
+morning" salute to El Caney before a speck was visible in
+the sky. Larger and larger it grew until we saw it was a
+buzzard scenting the battle and before long it was joined by
+hundreds of its kind, all circling about in the air only a short
+distance from the earth and waiting for the rich feast about
+to be spread for them. But we recked not of buzzards or
+what their presence presaged.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A short distance further along the trail, a quick order and
+we changed direction to the right, leaving the trail and going
+across the field directly toward El Caney. Barbed wire
+fencing was in our way but the two wire cutters attached to
+each company soon made a gate for us. Our battalion
+swung through and into the field while the second battalion
+kept to the trail and took the field further along. The third
+battalion and I of the second, as we afterwards found, were
+halted by Capron's battery and were not given front seats to
+the performance. The field soon changed to scrub and bush
+through which way was made as best we could without
+much regard to alignment. Then came a bit of forest and
+then we debouched out upon the Santiago road, one of the
+few thoroughfares in Cuba that looked like a road. A halt
+and then we stripped for action. Rolls and haversacks were
+taken off and piled by the road side. The belts and the
+pockets of the brown canvas coats were filled with cartridges
+and we were ready for trouble.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile it was evident that there was trouble ahead of
+the Second. From El Caney's forts and trenches came a
+hail of bullets, while on our right and left there were the
+Krags of our regulars popping away with machine like regularity,
+their whip like sentences being punctuated at intervals
+by the 3-inch rifles of Capron's men. Over our heads went
+the Mausers in a steady stream and there wasn't a man of
+the Second marching up that road that morning who failed
+to bow his head, (most of us called it "ducking") in response
+to their salutation. The 8th and 22d of our brigade had
+gone on ahead of us, had deployed to the left and we could
+hear their Krags answering the Mausers. It was our first
+experience under fire and it is no wonder that nearly all of us
+wished ourselves, for just a few moments, somewhere else
+and remembered certain pressing engagements we had at
+Springfield that Friday morning. But this feeling was like
+going into a cold bath. The first plunge is the worst and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>
+within half an hour after getting into the action these same
+men that were "ducking" their heads to the bullets were up
+on the firing line and acting like veterans instead of men who
+up to that morning had never faced an armed foe. Our education
+had progressed rapidly.</p>
+
+<p>And here a word as to El Caney where Gen. Vara Del Ray
+and 620 Spanish troops held Lawton's division at bay from
+6.30 in the morning until 4.30 in the afternoon. In the general
+plan for the day's work of July 1st Lawton's division
+was to sweep over to Caney, devote an hour or so to capturing
+it and then swing over to the San Juan forts and aid
+Kent's division to take them. Trustworthy (?) Cuban advices
+were that there were only a couple of hundred Spanish
+troops in El Caney and the taking of that outpost of Santiago
+was to be but an incident of our march to San Juan. But
+Gen. Del Ray had not been consulted as to this program and
+the result was our time schedule went to pieces. An entire
+division against 620 men looks like heavy odds in favor of
+the division but it must be remembered that the enemy were
+strongly entrenched with all the advantage of position and
+knew the ground thoroughly, while we were in the open with
+little or no shelter and with only a four-gun light battery
+against stone forts, strong blockhouses and well made intrenchments,
+so that our <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'advavtage'">advantage</ins> in numbers was more
+than made up by the superior position of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>El Caney lay almost directly in front of us, a small town
+backed up against a steep hill as if at bay and with forts, intrenchments
+and houses bristling with rifles. To our right
+on a small elevation was the famous stone fort over which
+floated the red and yellow flag of Spain. A little to the left
+was the village church, of stone and converted into a fortress
+while on either sides of both fort and church were the familiar
+Spanish blockhouses. And in front of all were the
+trenches, well built and covering all the front and sides of the
+town, a covered way connecting some of them with the fort<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>
+and with their fronts guarded by fences and entanglements
+of barbed wire, a protection found of value against the
+Cubans, but which proved to be of less efficiency against the
+valor of American soldiers. This was what El Caney presented
+to us on that bright July morning.</p>
+
+<p>Our brigade's work had been mapped out and appeared to
+be comparatively easy. It was to take position on the left of
+the American line and cut off the retreat of the enemy towards
+Santiago when he was driven from Caney which, as
+already scheduled, was to be within an hour or so after the
+initial shot. But the program for Ludlow's brigade was
+changed by force of circumstances, for hardly had the 8th
+and 22d of our brigade got into position before they were attacked
+and replied in kind and within a few moments the
+hottest part of the action was taking place on the left instead
+of being confined to the right and center, as originally
+planned.</p>
+
+<p>And while this was happening we were down the "pike"
+getting ready to add our contribution to the din of battle.
+We were not long in getting ready and leaving one man from
+each company to guard the rolls left by the roadside the
+seven companies of the Second marched to the firing line.
+The first battalion, G, B, K and D companies, was by this
+time some distance ahead of the second, while the third was
+still held up by the battery. Col. Clark, Lieut. Col. Shumway
+and Adjutant Hawkins were standing beneath a huge
+tree at the intersection of the "sunken" road with the Santiago
+road and hardly had the companies come up before an
+order came from Gen. Ludlow to send four companies to
+strengthen the line of the 22d on our left. B and K companies
+of the first battalion and L and E of the second battalion,
+which had by this time come up, were detailed and B
+and K, under command of Major Southmayd started for the
+22d. L and E followed but through some misunderstanding
+got into a "hot box" and after a time returned to the sunken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>
+road and took position there.</p>
+
+<p>B and K marched down the sunken road and then across
+an open space, across which the bullets were flying in a
+steady stream. It was necessary to "duck" here and it was
+done without any loss of dignity. This space cleared, the
+companies came to a bit of bush and then into a gully facing
+El Caney on the left. Here was the 22d, lying down and
+answering the fire of the Spaniards in good style.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had B and K reached the gully and taken position
+when the hail of bullets began to fall among them and men
+began to drop. Private Frank E. Moody of K was one of
+the first hit and died almost instantly, the bullet having
+pierced his heart. On the march of the night before he had
+felt a presentiment of his fate and so strong was this feeling
+of his fate that he gave his watch to Private Fuller to take
+home to his parents. Before long Private John J. Malone
+of B got a fatal wound just below the heart and then men
+began to fall thick and fast. As soon as the two companies
+had taken their positions they were ordered to fire, but the
+enemy's return for the first few volleys was payment with
+compound interest. The smoke from the Springfield rifles
+showed the position of our men and lifting slowly, made just
+the target which the enemy needed. At this time the line
+was about 900 yards from the advanced Spanish trenches and
+it must have been just like rifle practice for the enemy.
+Within a moment after the first volley from the Springfields
+crashed out a hail of bullets was poured into the two companies
+from the trenches and men fell like sheep. Capt.
+Warriner, raising on one shoulder to give an order, sank
+back with a Mauser through his body. Corporal Ward
+Lathrop got one through his head, Corporal Hoadley got his
+"in the neck," the bullet going through the right side,
+Wagoner <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Boulè'">Boule</ins> had one through his left hand, Private Ashley
+of B was hit in the left forearm, Private James F.
+Ferrier was shot through the right shoulder and also had a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>bullet traverse the right side of his head, making an ugly
+wound, Howard Meyrick had a double one, one bullet striking
+his right leg, while another went through his left shoulder
+and the upper part of his left arm. Private C. J. Riordan
+got a bullet through his left hand while Private A. E.
+Rose got the thumb and one finger of his right hand nipped,
+Private W. B. Riopel was hard hit, the bullet entering his
+left shoulder and entering the lungs. <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Backman'">Barkman</ins> of K got a
+Mauser through his left elbow and was also hit in the left leg
+below the knee.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i103" id="i103" href="images/i103-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i103.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">
+Lieut. H. S. Crossman. (J.G.) H. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Lieut. J. K. Dexter. H. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Lieut. W. O. Cohn. (J.G.) H. Co.</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>As quickly as possible the wounded were picked up by
+their comrades and taken to the rear, a temporary dressing
+station being established beneath a huge tree on the Santiago
+road. The first aid bandages came in handily on the field
+and were used to advantage. Lieut. Powers took command
+of K and Capt. McDonald, as cool as if battles were everyday
+occurrences, kept a watchful eye on his men.</p>
+
+<p>The heavy fire which the powder smoke had drawn upon
+the two companies was also being felt by the 22d and its
+choleric commander, Major Van Horn, came rushing over
+with, "For God's sake, Second Massachusetts, stop firing!
+You're making us a regular target for the enemy." This
+was not all he said, either, but it was stronger language
+than politeness required. The firing did stop, that is, the
+volley firing did, but the company commanders gave their
+men orders to fire at will. Soon Major Van Horn came over
+with another protest and the two companies moved along
+a little further to the right but on the same line as the 22d
+and leaving quite a little gap between them. As the 22d advanced
+so did B and K, taking advantage of what cover
+there was and keeping up their fire for some time. It was
+perhaps that protest of Major Van Horn that gave the impression
+that the entire Second regiment was ordered off the
+firing line, an impression that is a very much mistaken one.
+From the time the two companies took position on the right of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>
+the 22d they fired at intervals and at will until the Spaniards
+were driven from the last trench and El Caney was taken.</p>
+
+<p>While these things were happening on our left G company
+was having troubles of its own on the extreme right of the
+line. Sending B and K to the 22d left Col. Clark with only
+G and D companies of the first battalion with him, the three
+companies of the second battalion having been placed in the
+sunken road, whose banks gave them some protection from
+the incessant fire from El Caney. G and D were sent further
+along up the Santiago road and G was halted directly in
+front of a cultivated field which was directly in front of the
+trenches and the town and was flanked by the stone fort.
+Halting here the second platoon of the company under Lieut.
+Edward J. Leyden deployed as skirmishers and advanced
+across the field, taking every possible advantage of cover, of
+which there was little, and halting at intervals to kneel and
+fire. The light brown uniforms advancing slowly across the
+field soon attracted the notice of the enemy, even before the
+first volley from the Springfields gave the Spaniards a target,
+and men began to drop. Still the line advanced until it was
+within 500 yards of the fort and then a halt was ordered and
+the men threw themselves flat on the ground and began firing
+at will. Now the bullets from both fort and trenches
+were hailing about them but they kept crawling along until
+within a range of 400 yards. Then Lieut. Leyden looked
+around and saw that his 14 men were isolated from the rest
+of the company and he at once realized that it was suicidal to
+go further without reinforcements. Arthur Packard, beloved
+of all his comrades, had fallen dead on the field with a Spanish
+bullet through his head and George Richmond, one of the
+"old timers" of the company, had fallen fatally wounded.
+"Goldie" Bresnan had been ordered to the rear with the
+blood dripping from a shattered hand and Ernest Marble,
+wounded in the head, lay on the field. Others had in the
+meantime joined the little force, men from other companies,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>
+but not enough to make a further advance successful.
+Among the reinforcements was Lieut. D. J. Moynihan of I
+company, who had left his position with the second battalion
+and walked across the field to join Leyden's men. He
+essayed his luck as a sharpshooter, borrowing a rifle from
+one of the men, and fired three shots before he himself sank
+to the ground with a bullet through his body. Before this
+happened, however, and when he first joined Lieut. Leyden,
+Lieut. Moynihan advised that the advance should continue
+and suggested a charge. But Lieut. Leyden pointed to the
+few men he had and asked what the result would be. There
+was no answer to this. Less than 20 men charging against
+a stone fort under a heavy fire from it and flanked by the
+trenches would have been heroic, no doubt, but it would have
+been deliberately throwing away men's lives and to no good
+result. So Lieut. Leyden refused to order a charge but sent
+Lieut. Moynihan back to Col. Clark for orders. These were
+for him to remain where he was and there the platoon stayed
+until the town was taken, although some of the men advanced
+even closer to the fort, taking advantage of some
+small piles of stones, which had evidently been heaped up as
+shelter for Spanish outposts. All the long afternoon the little
+squad lay under the pitiless sun, firing whenever there was a
+chance until they heard the cheers of the charging regulars
+and saw the red and yellow flag of Spain go down from the
+fort and the Stars and Stripes replace it. Then they sprang
+to their feet and cheered. But it was not all over then.
+The fort had been taken but from trench and blockhouse and
+church and every building in El Caney still came the hail of
+Mausers. The dead and wounded of the Second were being
+attended to as best could be done, but their comrades still
+fought on. Two guns of Capron's battery had been moved
+up to a position in the rear of D company and the balance of
+G and were knocking things about in the old town. Gen.
+Vara Del Ray was wounded unto death and the American<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>
+troops were drawing their lines closer and closer around
+Caney, but still the Spaniards fought on with the courage of
+desperation. At the fork of the roads was Col. Clark, sending
+his staff officers, or rather officer, Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins,
+hither and thither and giving messages to his orderlies.
+Lieut. Hawkins, cool under fire, won a high place in the
+regard of the men who saw him that day and the orderlies,
+including Private Ross of B, showed coolness and courage.
+Two other Springfield men, Sergeant Scully and Corporal
+Ross of G were pressed into service as orderlies for a time and
+did their duty well. Two cool and collected men were Col.
+Clark and Lieut. Col. Shumway and both exposed themselves,
+at times against the wish of the brigade commander, along the
+line. Gen. Ludlow was for some time at the fork of the roads
+with Col. Clark, his dead horse, shot under him, almost at the
+outset of the action, lying near by, but once he was gone he
+did not return and neither he nor anyone else in authority gave
+the orders to withdraw the Second from the firing line, as
+has been stated by some. If any such orders were issued
+which is doubtful, they were never received by Col. Clark,
+and the companies of the Second stayed throughout the day
+where he placed them.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the big tree a bit down the road was the scene
+of some grewsome work. Soon after the opening of the
+action Lieut. Hawkins had been ordered by Col. Clark to
+bring up the surgeons and the ground under the big tree was
+then transformed into a temporary hospital or rather a dressing
+station. Here Surgeon Bowen and his assistants, Lieuts.
+Gates and Hitchcock, aided by Hospital Stewards Fortier,
+Greenberg and Howes and the members of the hospital corps,
+labored until the enemy's sharpshooters, discerning the group
+under the tree, made it an object of attention and the bullet-torn
+leaves began to flutter down upon the wounded. Then
+the hospital was moved farther down the road and the dead
+and dying and wounded conveyed there as tenderly as possible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>
+under the circumstances. It was here the heroic Father
+Edwin Fitzgerald, the beloved chaplain of the 22d, labored
+from morning until far into the night, caring as tenderly as a
+mother for the wounded of all the regiments, making their
+places as easy as possible for them, bringing them water from
+the distant brook, giving the consolations of religion to all,
+whether of his creed or not. More than once he visited the
+firing line and aided in bringing some poor fellow down to
+the hospital. Danger he cared not for and he went on with
+his work apparently oblivious to his bullet-torn coat, two
+holes in which bore eloquent witness to narrow escapes. On
+that day Father Fitzgerald earned the lifelong affection of
+the officers and men of the Second.</p>
+
+<p>And so time wore on until between 4.30 and 5 in the afternoon,
+when ringing cheers announced that the last trench
+had been won and El Caney was ours. Then followed the
+reunion of the regiment. Lieut. Leyden marched his gallant
+platoon back and the men fell into their old places in G company.
+B and K came back from the left with the 22d and
+the regiment gathered once more on the Santiago road,
+soldiers now, stained with powder and battle smoke and grim
+with the thoughts of the day and its events. Further down
+the road in the improvised hospital lay the forms, cold in
+death, of five brave men and with them were 40 more or less
+seriously wounded, three of them mortally.</p>
+
+<p>The Second had received its baptism of blood.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE LEARN SOME MORE THINGS ABOUT THE ART OF WAR
+AS CONDUCTED IN THESE DAYS.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i110.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi">IT was not exactly a joyous reunion as the companies
+assembled in the Santiago road that afternoon.
+True, we were all glad to see one another again, but
+the heat and burden of the day had been great and
+there were many faces missing from the ranks.
+Nearly ten hours on the battlefield under the burning Cuban
+sun and without much to comfort us in the way of food or
+drink was not conducive to good temper and to this was
+added the spur of the ingratitude of our so-called Cuban
+allies. It will be remembered that just before the regiment
+went into action the rolls and haversacks had been discarded
+and placed by the roadside and it fell out that while the owners
+were up on the firing line fighting for <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Cuba Libre</i>, some
+of the Cuban patriots came along and, the guards placed
+over the property being absent, helped themselves to the
+rations in the haversacks. These were the Cubans, by the
+way, who were supposed to be fighting over on our left that
+day, but it seems they had more important business, to them,
+on hand to bother much about fighting. So as we gathered
+there in the road in the stillness which followed the battle
+storm and realized that we were to go supperless there were
+some things said about our Cuban friends which indicated a
+not very high feeling of esteem for them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Once gathered together again and the roll called came the
+after work of the battle. Squads were sent over the field to
+bring in any dead or wounded that might have been overlooked
+and to gather up any property left there. The companies
+which had lost men prepared to march to the hospital
+to bury the dead and those fortunate ones whose haversacks
+had been untouched began to light their cooking fires.
+Hardly an hour had elapsed since Caney was taken when up
+came an aide with orders for Col. Clark and when he read
+them the assembly sounded and we heard with disgust the
+orders that the regiment was to move at once to San Juan to
+reinforce the first division. We had anticipated after our
+hard day's work a bite to eat and a night's rest and here we
+were disappointed in both. Faintly through that day at intervals
+we at Caney could hear the sounds of battle in our rear
+and we heard late in the afternoon that it was our troops
+attacking the San Juan forts but it was not until after we
+had finished our job at El Caney that we heard what the first
+division had done.</p>
+
+<p>But orders are orders and grumbling does not count
+against them. The details sent to dig graves were recalled,
+the equipments were donned again and in a short time we
+were once more "piking the pike." It was a gloomy march
+that evening, for the men were not very much inclined to
+conversation. On we went, now in columns of fours on a
+fairly decent road for Cuba, again in column of files through
+the bush and finally emerged onto another road. It was
+now dark, but we kept on until about 10 o'clock we came to
+a stone bridge over the San Juan river and the order to halt
+was given as the head of our regiment reached the bridge.
+Whether it was to be a mere halt or a bivouac no one seemed
+to know and no one cared. Hardly had the order to halt
+been given before the men had dropped by the roadside and,
+worn out by the toilsome march of the night before and the
+day's work, followed by the march to the bridge, were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>
+asleep, many of them without even taking off their heavy
+rolls. It was not an ideal place for slumber, either. Troops
+were continually passing by and every now and then a mule
+team would pass with a clatter but the sleepers slumbered
+on. Until after midnight we lay there, waiting for further
+orders. About one o'clock up came mule wagons and a pack
+train and soon after the men were awakened and told to
+"hurry up" and get rations. In a few moments the scene
+was changed. Huge fires were lighted and by their light
+the rations were given out, the delights of slumber proving
+to be less strong than the desire to eat and every man awakening
+to the knowledge that we would soon be on the move
+again. So it was. Hardly had we drawn rations and began
+to cook them before a battery of artillery moved hurriedly
+by us to the rear, many of us just having time to
+draw our legs out of the way of the wheels. Next came the
+8th and 22d of our brigade and by 2 o'clock we too were on
+the march. Following the road over which we had come for
+a short distance, we soon left it and changing direction to
+the right, swung into a trail across country. Along this we
+marched for hours amid the darkness, through woods and
+chaparral and fields, once cultivated. We climbed hills and
+forded streams, all in the darkness, we brushed the morning
+mist from the trees and grass as we passed, and when the
+dawn came found ourselves still on the march, wet and tired
+and sleepy and bedraggled. Daylight made no difference.
+On we pressed, climbing a long hill, crowned with plantation
+buildings and from which we could look down upon a scene
+of beauty, the green-clad hills and mountains, their tops still
+wreathed in the morning mist and with no sign that aught
+but peace and happiness lay in the valleys between them.
+No time, however, this to enjoy scenery, no matter how picturesque.
+On we went, now down the hill and into a thick
+piece of woods, where we halted for a little time, then on
+again until we once more struck a road and reached El Pozo,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>where there had been considerable trouble the day before.
+Without waiting for us the quadrille had already opened.
+During our halt in the woods we could hear the artillery and
+the rifles and soon after we reached the El Pozo road and
+once more swinging to the right started for San Juan we
+realized that it might be a case of El Caney over again, for
+we encountered a steady stream of wounded men going or
+being carried to the rear. Down the road screeched the
+Mausers, but still high over our heads and in the distance
+we could hear the boom of the guns of the Spanish forts as
+they answered our light artillery. Still onward, with no
+band or field music to give us the cadenced step, a minute's
+halt now and then until we were compelled to leave the road
+to make way for a battery banging recklessly along to take
+another position. Then across a stream and over an open
+field in full view of the enemy's trenches on the right, passing
+the battleground of the day before and, under fire by
+this time, we swung once more to the right and took position
+on a hill on nearly the extreme right of the American line.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i113.jpg" width="400" height="598" alt="Soldiers of G Co." />
+
+<div class="caption">
+Private R. G. Kelly. G. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp;Private Arthur Packard. G. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Private Geo. A. Richmond. G. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Private Andrew Little. G. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Private Francis A. Burk. G. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Corpl P. J. Noone. G. Co.
+</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>Rolls had been again stripped off and it was expected we
+would go into action, but the Spaniards had been given
+pretty nearly all the fight they wanted that day and there
+was little for the Second to do but to take its position and
+stay there. For hours the men lay on the hill crest under
+the blazing sun, without a chance at cooking a meal and
+hard pressed for water until details were sent back to the
+stream with canteens. Sharpshooters made this mission
+dangerous but no one refused to go.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until early in the evening that the firing died
+down and it was safe to stand erect and walk about. The
+rolls and haversacks had been brought up and having been
+better guarded from prowling Cubans this time the contents
+of the haversacks were intact. By the time darkness came
+on the hillside on which we were camped for the day, tents
+had by this time been put up, was <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'illuminatad'">illuminated</ins> by the cooking
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>
+fires and once more we enjoyed something that would
+pass for a meal. This over, sleep was the next necessity and
+we were not long in seeking our downy couches.</p>
+
+<p>But we did not slumber long. Just about 10 o'clock there
+was a disturbance of the peace by the Spaniards, who apparently
+wished to spoil the good time we were having. Three
+or four big guns boomed out and then came the, by this
+time familiar sound of the Mausers. It needed no bell boy
+to awake us. In a jiffy we were up and scrambling for
+rifles and cartridge belts. Then came quickly spoken orders
+to "fall in" from the company commanders and the voices
+of the hurrying non-coms as they rounded up the men. All
+was black darkness and men stumbled over the grass and
+roots or slipped on the steep hillside. It was a scene of the
+utmost din and confusion, orders coming fast and loud, the
+men, still sleep-blinded, hustling about in confusion, the
+night's stillness broken by the crash of the Spanish rifles and
+the noise of exploding shells over our heads while on our
+right we heard the whip-like crack of the Krags answering
+the Mausers. "Hell's broken loose," avowed a B man as he
+groped about for his cartridge belt and indeed it seemed so.</p>
+
+<p>Our battalion had its "shacks" on the top of the
+hill just below the crest while the other companies were
+scattered all along the hill but further below, so that the
+men of the Springfield companies were not long in falling in
+and making their way to the crest. But even then they
+were not quick enough to satisfy Major Van Horn, the choleric
+commander of the 22d, who appeared to have as bad a
+case of what was known to the boys as the "rattles" as any
+man ever had. Brandishing his sword, he ran about the
+hill, cursing the Second and ordering every man to the front,
+although it would have seemed he had enough to do to look
+after his own outfit. Col. Clark and his officers and the
+regiment were already on the top of the hill and awaiting
+events, but for some time Major Van Horn pranced and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>
+reared and vented his spleen upon the few men who happened
+to be a bit slow about getting up until finally his
+senses returned and he went where he belonged.</p>
+
+<p>All in all our officers and men acted with coolness, considering
+the circumstances. It is not pleasant or conducive to
+coolness of thought or action to be suddenly pulled out of
+bed after a day of great exertion and hustle around in black
+darkness to the accompaniment of rifle bullets and bombshells
+and especially when it is uncertain whether the enemy
+is in one's front, flank or rear and go stumbling up a steep
+hill so that it is small wonder if at the outset a few were
+"rattled." But in a very short time the lines were formed
+on the top of the hill and the Second waited.</p>
+
+<p>It was fortunate that none of our officers lost their heads
+and ordered their men to fire for the results could not fail to
+have been unfortunate all around. Just below us were three
+of our own regiments and had the Second fired the bullets
+would have hit our own men. It was a wonder that in the
+darkness and confusion nothing of the kind was done but
+officers and men kept their heads well and after the first confused
+rush up the hill all acted with commendable coolness.</p>
+
+<p>But if we did not use our rifles the enemy did theirs and
+before the affair was over two men of the Second had been
+hit, one of them, Private Robert G. Kelly of G, mortally.
+A Mauser struck him in the left cheek, passing through and
+severing the lingual artery, lodged in the muscles of the
+right jaw. The other man hit was Private Peter N. White
+of A company, whose wound was not serious.</p>
+
+<p>Poor Kelly was taken to his tent, where he lay in agony
+all night, the surgeons and hospital stewards doing all they
+could to relieve him. The next morning he was taken to
+the division hospital near Siboney where he lingered until
+July 7th, when he died. There was a story, which has
+never been denied, that his death was caused by internal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>
+hemorrhage caused by the imperfect manner in which his
+wound was cared for in the hospital.</p>
+
+<p>The affair lasted about an hour and when the attacking
+force of Spaniards had been pretty well cut to pieces the
+enemy retired within his lines once more and the Second
+returned to its slumbers. At 3 A. M. there was some more
+firing but this was merely an affair of outposts and lasted
+but a few moments, just long enough to break up sleep for
+the second time that night.</p>
+
+<p>Next day was Sunday, but it could hardly be called a
+peaceful one. From daybreak to early in the afternoon the
+sharpshooters of the enemy were active and a man had to
+walk humbly and keep well under cover unless he cared to
+make a target of himself. Many of these sharpshooters
+were inside our lines, not having had an opportunity to get
+to their own when their companions were driven back and
+hidden in thick foliaged trees and supplied with rations and
+water and plenty of ammunition they managed to make
+matters rather lively for us. Early in the day many squads
+were sent out to locate and capture these fellows but though
+many were located few were brought in as prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>Time wore on slowly that Sunday. About noon orders
+were promulgated that an armistice had been declared and
+that firing on both sides was to cease at 12 o'clock. This
+was not bad news but evidently all our Spanish friends did
+not hear of it until later, for up to 2 o'clock there was an
+occasional bullet sent toward us from the outlying trenches.
+After that hour it was possible to walk about without having
+to dodge.</p>
+
+<p>Early that morning we heard the distance-dulled boom of
+heavy guns from the direction of the mouth of the harbor.
+We knew that Sampson and Schley were outside waiting for
+Cervera and his ships but we had heard the guns of our fleet
+so often that we supposed it was simply another case of
+throwing a few shot at the Morro or the other Spanish batteries.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>
+Gradually the roar of the guns grew fainter and
+fainter until they died away altogether and it was supposed
+the attack of the fleet had again been fruitless. But soon
+after noon the "JoJo" department got at work again and
+rumors began to circulate that this time the fleet had been
+successful and had forced its way past the batteries and into
+the harbor.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until soon after 4 o'clock that afternoon, however,
+that we learned what had happened. Then we saw
+Major Webb of Shafter's staff riding up to our brigade headquarters,
+which were only a few yards away from Col.
+Clark's "shack." The major reined up, said a few words to
+Gen. Ludlow and the latter hastily summoned the regimental
+commanders and announced that the Spanish fleet had tried
+to cut its way out of the harbor and had been met by Schley's
+ships and destroyed. It did not take long for the good news
+to spread and then such cheering as went up. Hats went up
+into the air and there was general jubilation. For once the
+"JoJo" department had been outdone. All along our line
+we could hear the cheering and then what few regimental
+bands we had broke loose and gave a jubilee concert which
+was highly appreciated. We had no religious services that
+day but the bands played, "There'll be a hot time in Old
+Town to-night."</p>
+
+<p>Discipline was relaxed after the armistice had been declared
+and the men wandered along the lines, visiting other regiments
+and going over the battlegrounds of the two days
+previous. Many visited the outposts and took a look at the
+city and the forts. We could see the Spaniards taking life
+easy in their trenches and we wondered if they had heard
+what had happened to their fleet. Some of our boys, disgusted
+with their Springfields, went "grafting" Krags and
+picked up a good number, together with plenty of ammunition.
+Had the entire regiment been turned loose there is no
+question but what every man would have replaced his Springfield<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>
+with a Krag-Jorgensen and as it was nearly 150 were
+obtained and a corresponding number of <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Sprinfields'">Springfields</ins> thrown
+away.</p>
+
+<p>Our sleep was unbroken that night and we were ready to
+celebrate July 4th the next morning. Our celebration took
+the form of a little excursion, for soon after our frugal breakfast
+we were on the march again and began our celebrated
+swing to the right with the object of encircling the city.
+Our brigade led the advance as it had from the start and
+after four hours of slow progress we swung to the left and
+took our position on the now famous "Misery hill," an elevation
+in rear of the city and overlooking it. From the crest
+we could plainly see the Spanish batteries and barracks, while
+almost directly in front of us were the hospital buildings with
+half a dozen Red Cross flags flying over them. We passed
+our Fourth of July quietly enough. Not a fire cracker was
+fired, principally because we did not have any and there was
+not even a rifle crack to mark the day. Late in the afternoon
+we heard the guns of the fleet again as they hammered
+away at the harbor batteries for awhile. We pitched our
+"day tents" and took notice of the fact that our rations were
+getting low again. Next day we were put at work for the
+first time digging trenches and we enjoyed the job. For
+tools there were in the entire regiment only a few shovels and
+picks but the trenches had to be dug and the boys went at it
+with their mess knives, spoons and tin plates. It was fierce
+work under the blazing sun and the soil was hard to dig, but
+the work was done by reliefs and by night of the next day
+the trenches of our battalion were completed and good ones
+they were, too. They were dug on the crest of the hill and
+were deep enough with the earth parapet to give us protection
+from anything the enemy might send over at us. They
+were wide enough to enable the men to move about and the
+earth was cut away at the rear so as to make a sort of seat.
+More trouble was anticipated at any moment and ammunition<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>
+in plenty was placed along the trenches. In fact, there
+was more ammunition than rations about all the time during
+the campaign.</p>
+
+<p>Capron's battery, which was with us at El Caney, came
+up the 6th and took a position on the left of our line of
+trenches. The digging of intrenchments for this battery
+afforded us our first opportunity of seeing Cubans work and
+certainly they did work under Capt. Capron. Other regiments
+kept coming up and taking positions on our left and
+the circle about Santiago began to tighten.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile we had leisure to lie about and figure up our
+losses. Malone of B, shot at El Caney, had died in the field
+hospital the evening of July 2d and his death came as a
+shock to his friends in that company. Richmond of G died
+in the same hospital early the preceding evening and that
+made five good men in the three Springfield companies slain
+by Spanish bullets. There were many missing faces from
+the ranks, too, and we kept hearing rumors that this or that
+man wounded at Caney had died in the hospital. Besides we
+knew some exaggerated stories about the losses of the Second
+had gone home and we knew the anxiety which our friends
+and relatives in Springfield must be feeling.</p>
+
+<p>There were other losses aside from the bullets of the
+enemy. On July 6th Major Southmayd and Capt. McDonald
+left camp, the former going home on sick leave and the
+latter having injured himself badly in the spine. He was
+accompanied to the hospital by First Sergeant Burke, who
+remained with him until he sailed for the United States. In
+Capt. McDonald's absence First Lieut. W. L. Young took
+command of B company. Capt. John J. Leonard of G was
+made acting major of Major Southmayd's battalion and
+retained the command to the close of the campaign. The
+command of K company devolved upon First Lieut. Phillip
+C. Powers and First Lieut. W. C. Hayes took command of
+G company.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>About this time many of our boys got "next" to a species
+of poison vine somewhat resembling the poison ivy of New
+England and with about the same results. The surgeons
+could find nothing to counteract the effects of the vine until a
+Cuban told them of another plant which being steeped was
+an effective antidote for the poison and a free use of this soon
+restored the swollen faces and hands of the sufferers to their
+normal condition.</p>
+
+<p>"Misery hill" was a delightful place especially when the
+rations began to get shy as they did soon after our arrival.
+The visits of the pack train were few and far between and it
+was just as likely as not to bring ammunition instead of rations.
+Issues of one or two hardtack and a thin slice of bacon
+for a twenty-four hours ration were common, and some
+of the boys supplemented their menu with mangoes and
+"monkey plumes." Sergeant Lovely of G enjoyed the distinction
+of eating twenty-four mangoes in one day, much to
+the horror of the surgeons when they heard of it, but with
+no bad results to him.</p>
+
+<p>It was while we were on "Misery hill" that "Dido" Hunt
+achieved added fame by his abilities as a butcher. Gen.
+Ludlow had a desire for beefsteak and had purchased a hungry
+looking cow from some Cubans, Private Hunt as regimental
+butcher, being detailed to kill the animal. It was
+just before dusk, one evening, when the cow was led forth to
+the slaughter and "Dido," armed with a revolver, got ready
+to act as executioner. He fired again and again at the cow,
+the animal after each shot, looking about in a surprised manner
+as if wondering what the racket was all about. Finally
+one of the bullets hit the cow somewhere, and with a bellow
+of pain and fright, she ran off and disappeared in the darkness,
+leaving Private Hunt and the man who had been holding
+the rope gazing at each other. Gen. Ludlow had no
+steak that evening and the fate of the cow was never learned
+although there were rumors that the animal had ended her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>
+career in the camp of one of the regular regiments, the men
+of which had a fresh meat supper that night.</p>
+
+<p>A "commissary" had been established near Siboney by
+some enterprising sutlers, and the company officers were enabled
+to purchase some tea, oatmeal, etc., for their men.
+These were especially valuable, as several had succumbed to
+the climate and the toil and exposure of the campaign, and
+the hardtack and bacon were not the best kind of food for
+them. About this time, too, we were threatened with an
+outbreak of measles, but the cases were promptly isolated
+and the disease did not spread.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XIV.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION IN THE ART OF WAR AND
+LEARN A FEW THINGS.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i124.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">OUR stay on "Misery hill" lasted just seven days and
+in that time we learned a few things, the art of
+trench digging without intrenching tools, standing
+out in our memory as one most important lesson.
+We learned how to sleep on a side hill without our
+bodies slipping entirely out from the shelter tents during our
+slumbers, this being accomplished by the simple means of
+driving a couple of pegs into the ground at the opening of the
+tent and placing a stick against them, our feet resting against
+the stick and preventing us going any further. We acquired
+the art of making cigarettes and of using anything at all in
+the paper line to roll them in. The inner pith of the royal
+palm came in handily for this purpose when our supply of
+cigarette paper gave out. We learned how to make one
+match light several pipes or cigarettes, for matches were
+scarce and therefore not to be wasted. We learned how to
+make the brook water passably cool in our canteens, by thoroughly
+soaking the canvass covering of the canteen and then
+suspending it from a tree or tent pole, the evaporation of the
+moisture of the cover slowly cooling the contents. At night
+the canteens were hung from the tent poles and in the morning
+the water was usually quite cool. Later on long branches
+of bamboo were used as water vessels and one trip to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>
+the brook usually sufficed for the day. In the building of
+"shacks" by which the regulars who had served in the west
+designated about everything in the way of a shelter from the
+sun or rain, we obtained lessons from our friends of the 8th
+and 22d. A couple of crotched sticks across which was laid
+a center pole formed the usual frame work of the structure
+and the roof and sides were composed of bushes or palm
+leaves. These were more airy than our tents and more comfortable
+except when it rained heavily.</p>
+
+<p>Also, we learned to do without stockings, the fact being
+that the bulk of our hosiery was either worn out or thrown
+away, and we took a card from the regulars and discarded
+such things in the line thereof, greasing our feet with the
+luscious "sow belly." In laundry work we became expert.
+"Jim" Ryan's steam laundry had long since gone into voluntary
+bankruptcy, and every man was his own laundryman.
+Insect enemies began to appear, and obtained a lodgment in
+spite of strenuous efforts. Soap was scarce and there were
+times when water was not the easiest thing in the world to
+get. Our sleeping arrangements were primitive, the usual
+method of arranging them being to place the rubber blanket
+on the ground with the coated side down, on this place the
+woolen blanket and wrapping this about us, go to sleep.
+Our coats, or shoes, or anything else suitable, being utilized
+for pillows. While on "Misery hill" many of the boys cut
+grass and utilized it as mattresses, but we could not do this
+on our short bivouacs.</p>
+
+<p>As to cooking, we were "stars." That is when there was
+anything to cook. On these occasions our culinary preparations
+were delightfully simple and even chafing-dish outfits
+would have to bow to our superior ingenuity. Our cooking
+apparatus required a small fire of wood, and the utensils
+were all carried in our haversacks. They were a combined
+frying pan and plate of tin, the former having a handle, a
+sharp pointed knife, fork and spoon. The basis of our menu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>
+was especially noticeable for its simplicity, the staples
+being bacon, hardtack, canned tomatoes and coffee. Sometimes
+we had sugar and more times we didn't. Occasionally
+we had a bit of salt or pepper and on these rare occasions
+there was joy, for then we were enabled to make the stuff
+labelled "canned roast beef" palatable enough so that it could
+be forced down our throats. At other times, Ugh! If the
+devil hasn't a special corner in the hot room of his Turkish
+bath reserved for those responsible for that "canned roast
+beef," he isn't "onto his job."</p>
+
+<p>Even with such simple means we managed to vary the
+menus a bit at times. Our usual breakfast was bacon
+and hardtack and coffee. The bacon was usually without a
+bit of lean and after frying for a moment or two the pan was
+about half-filled with fat, leaving a shrivelled up and brittle
+piece of so-called bacon. But it was eaten just the same, our
+stomachs having been educated up to anything. Sometimes
+we fried our hardtack in the bacon grease and these with
+black coffee, sometimes without sugar, made up our breakfast.
+Thanks to a beneficent government we had coffee about
+all the time, if we had nothing else. It came to us in the
+berry, in paper packages, and our chief concern as to coffee
+was how to grind or pulverize it. Usually this was done by
+the simple but slow process of putting a few berries in our
+tin cups and pounding them with a stick or tent pole until
+they were broken enough to steep. Then the cup was filled
+with water and placed in the fire until the coffee boiled when
+the cup was taken out by means of a cleft stick or a bayonet
+and laid aside to cool sufficiently to drink. There was plenty
+of barbed wire everywhere and by means of the wire cutters
+rude grates were made on which the tin cup was placed.
+For dinner the bill of fare and the method of preparing it was
+about the same, likewise for supper. Sometimes, when we
+had canned tomatoes we made "sludge," a simple confection
+of tomatoes and broken hardtack, with at times a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>
+"strings" of the corned beef thrown in to give it, not taste,
+but more body. This "beef" was also used to form the
+groundwork for an imitation stew, the only resemblance to
+stew being the name, for it was without onions or potatoes.
+Then we made "Santiago sludge cakes," composed of pulverized
+hardtack and water, the mixture being patted into
+cakes and fried in bacon grease. Sometimes a bit of sugar
+was sprinkled over them, and we deluded ourselves into the
+belief that we were eating something very fine. Another
+method of preparing this delicacy was to mix in some canned
+tomato. Mango stew we had at times, but not often, as
+sugar was scarce.</p>
+
+<p>Gout might fairly have been expected as the result of this
+high living, (we were camped on a hill,) but, strange to say,
+no cases were reported, and even dyspepsia was unknown.
+Our regular hours doubtless aided us in keeping off these two
+diseases. We were aroused by reveille very early in the
+morning, usually about dawn and retired early in the evening.
+It grew dark about 8 o'clock and by that time
+everyone but the sentries was in quarters and usually asleep.</p>
+
+<p>The personal appearance of our officers and men was not
+as prepossessing as it might have been. Coats and collars
+were not <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">de rigeur</i> and the only headgear was very "bum"
+looking campaign hats. Usually our blue shirts were open
+at the neck and a blue handkerchief carelessly knotted <em>a la</em>
+cow boy was our only ornament. Suspenders were viewed
+with suspicion and the cartridge belts, with their thimbles
+filled with ammunition, served also the purpose of keeping
+our trousers up. These trousers were showing the wear
+and tear of the campaign, and needed pressing badly, being
+also used for pajamas. Our leggings were mostly torn and
+frayed, and went well with the trousers so far as looks were
+concerned, as for shoes, they too had seen better days.
+Barbers were at a discount and full beards were popular, the
+most noticeable ones in the three Springfield companies being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>
+those of Lieuts. Powers and Parkhurst of K, and Sergeants
+Scully and Murphy of G, although Gardella's was not far
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>In K "Bert" Nichols and "Ad" Potter had trained down so
+fine that their bodies failed to cast a shadow, and "Billy"
+Fish had got down to less than 200 pounds. The beard possessed
+by Morris <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Greenowitz'">Grenowitz</ins> of B was nearly all that remained
+of him and Jack Fulton was travelling in the same
+road. Alberts of B was having a good time with the horses
+and the Chaplain, and in K the Turner brothers were having
+hourly arguments with each other on the relative nutritious
+qualities of canned roast and corned beef. "Wap" Packard
+of G was busy figuring how many men were by his
+brother's side when he was shot, and had already counted
+up 35 with several more districts to hear from, and "Jim"
+Shene of the same company was planning foraging expeditions
+with Private Mahoney of Mittineague. "Batty" Hayes
+had secured a divorce from "Marguerite" Gelinas and was
+busy trying to keep the case out of the papers.</p>
+
+<p>So the days passed on "Misery hill" until noon of the
+10th, when we were ordered to move on, once more to the
+right, and we left our fine trenches only to have them occupied
+by the 71st New York, the "heroes" of San Juan. We
+halted after a couple of hours, there being some trenches
+dug by Garcia's Cubans, and occupied them at 4 o'clock
+when our batteries opened upon Santiago. The affair lasted
+until 6, but the enemy's reply was not very loud and we did
+not get a chance to use our Springfields.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning we were on the march again, and this time
+it lasted about all day, up hill and down hill, until just before
+dusk we halted for the night with the right of our brigade
+resting on the Cobre road, thus cutting off the last avenue
+of escape from the city for the Spaniards, and the only
+way by which reinforcements from Holguin or the rest of
+the province could be put into the city. Rumors that a large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>
+Spanish force was on the way, made us vigilant and our
+guards were instructed to keep the sharpest kind of a watch,
+but as events proved, it was not necessary. Hardly had the
+boys got their tents up and their supper cooked, before the
+mail came up, and such a rush as there was for it. We
+had received one mail from home while on "Misery hill,"
+and every man who failed to receive a letter then, was certain
+there was one or more for him now and could hardly
+wait to have the contents of the sacks distributed.</p>
+
+<p>That night we had to take off our hats to the Cuban rain
+storm. Hardly had the mail been distributed when it began
+to rain. Up to this what rain there was had usually fallen
+in the afternoon and was not of long duration, but the rain
+of July 11th and 12th will be remembered by every one in
+the Fifth Army Corps. It came down all night in solid
+sheets and our shelter tents and rubber blankets were of little
+use against it. When morning came everybody and
+everything was drenched, and a more forlorn looking outfit
+can hardly be imagined. About 6 A. M., the rain ceased
+for an hour or two and as soon as possible huge fires of bamboo
+were blazing and the men essayed to dry themselves
+and their clothing and to cook breakfast. Fortunately there
+was plenty of bamboo near our camp, and the wood burned
+as well wet as dry. But it was not long before down came
+the rain again just as bad as during the night, and to add to
+our discomfort, came orders to pack up and move on again.</p>
+
+<p>Rolling up our saturated tents and blankets, and wet to
+the skin, we took up the march and after wading through
+the deep mud of the Cobre road for a short distance,
+plunged into a trail which would take us to our new position
+and our last camp in Cuba. But it was not long before
+we found that the trail led through a piece of swampy
+ground, and before they had gone far the boys found themselves
+up to their legging tops in mud and the ooze of the
+swamp. It took a long time to flounder along through this,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>
+but it was finally done and the regiment emerged upon firm
+ground, and was soon on the spot selected for its occupancy.</p>
+
+<p>All this time the rain kept on, and it was not until nearly
+4 P. M., that it ceased and the sun came out. Meanwhile,
+the well soaked shelter tents had been put up and the men
+were either huddled under them and saying things about the
+wet season and Cuba, or were standing about with their rubber
+blankets thrown over their heads. But with the coming
+of the sun there was a great change. Its rays were so fierce
+that within half an hour there was scarcely any indication
+that it had been raining all night and all day, the ground
+dried up rapidly and so did the shelter tents. Off came the
+rubber blankets from the men, and clothing and equipments
+were spread out to dry in the afternoon sun. Wood was
+hustled for and with the blaze of the cooking fires and the
+smell of bacon and coffee cheerfulness returned.</p>
+
+<p>That evening the boys were put at work again digging
+trenches. Up to this Gen. Toral had hesitated to respond to
+Shafter's invitation to come out and surrender and the arrival
+of Gen. Miles having stiffened up the latter gentleman's
+backbone, some more trouble was looked for. Our brigade
+was, as usual, on the extreme right of the American line and
+the 8th regiment lay directly opposite the head of the harbor,
+the 22d next and then "ours." Right in front of our center
+and less than 500 yards away was the bull ring of Santiago,
+a circular wooden building filled with Spanish soldiers, while
+in front of that we could see the trenches with the soldiers
+lounging about, and with a glass could discern the barbed
+wire fencing and entanglements in front of the trenches.
+Our position was an exposed one, for from their position the
+enemy could have raked us front and flank, so at the trenches
+we went under the direction of Major Whipple.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i131" id="i131" href="images/i131-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i131.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="Soldiers of B Co." /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">
+Private Paul Vesper, B. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp;Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, B. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Private John J. Malone, B. Co.
+</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>By this time our regiment had been supplied with a fairly
+decent number of intrenching tools and the boys, appreciating
+the necessity for trenches, went at the work with but little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>
+grumbling. The trenches were dug on three sides of a
+square, one in front of each battalion, the work being done
+by each company in relays. Major Whipple's battalion now
+had the right, Major Fairbanks' the center and ours the left,
+so that it was in the rear of the other two. The work was
+continued to a late hour that night, and all the next day,
+and finished on the morning of the 14th. The trenches
+were even better than those dug on "Misery hill" and
+were complimented by Gen. Ludlow, who was a colonel of
+engineers before he became a general of volunteers. Not to
+be behind hand the non-commissioned staff of the regiment
+and the headquarters attaches dug a trench for themselves
+and the regiment was ready for the next move.</p>
+
+<p>Twelve o'clock at noon of the 24th was the hour set for
+the ending of the truce, and at 11.30 A. M. we were ordered
+into the trenches. Everyone felt there was going to be a
+hard fight this time, for it was considered certain that the
+enemy would make a determined resistance and our estimate
+of Spanish valor had gone up many degrees since El Caney.
+It was known that an assault by the Americans was to follow
+the bombardment and those who had noted the enemy's
+preparations for defense knew that we were in for a warm
+reception and that if we charged up to the barbed wire entanglements
+and the trenches many would not return.
+But that made little difference and we took our position in
+the trenches and waited for the opening gun from Capron's
+battery, posted on a hill in our rear. The horses and the
+Chaplain had gone to the rear and the surgeons and hospital
+corps were posted in readiness for what might happen.
+Hardly had we got into the trenches when the buzzards began
+to gather, and this to us was a certain indication of a
+battle.</p>
+
+<p>Noon came and the white flag of truce still waved from
+the governor's palace and the signal gun was not fired.
+Half after 12 and no change. We wondered what was up.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>
+Nothing much could be seen from the trenches and nearly
+all of the boys climbed to the top and sat down with eager
+eyes fastened upon the city we were going to capture. One
+o'clock and the white flag still floated. Now came the "Jo
+Jo" department to the front once again, and the news ran
+from trench to trench, that Shafter had postponed the assault
+and given the Spaniards a few days more in which to
+make up their mind. Following this came the information
+that Gen. Toral was merely trying to gain time in order
+that 10,000 Spanish troops which were coming up, might
+attack us in the rear while Toral's men sallied out in our
+front. And then down came the rain in large and continuous
+sheets, soon flooding the trenches and making us forget
+the impending battle, "Jo Jo's," and everything else but
+the necessity of keeping as dry as possible. The rain lasted
+for an hour and a half, filling our lovely trenches with water
+and putting them in nice shape for a battle. But hardly
+had the sun reappeared before we saw a horseman clad in
+the <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Khakir'">Khaki</ins> uniform of Shafter's staff galloping along the
+lines toward us and in his wake we saw the hats of the men
+in the trenches being thrown into the air, and the wearers
+dancing as if some extra good news had come. Reining up
+in front of the center trench where Col. Clark was, the
+horseman gave him the welcome news that the city had surrendered,
+and as the constantly increasing knot of officers
+and men who had got within earshot, began to get ready for
+a vocal demonstration, the aide added, "Orders are not to
+cheer, boys, for the deal isn't quite fixed up, but you can
+throw your hats into the air all you wish." Well, the boys,
+followed instructions and the hats went up, while the aide
+dashed over to the 8th and 22d with the news.</p>
+
+<p>And it was good news. It meant no more trench digging,
+no more marching, no more fighting, and last but not
+least, as some of our long headed and practical ones figured
+it out, it meant more and varied rations, for now our ships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>
+could come into the harbor. The trenches were quickly
+emptied and we returned to our shacks in pretty good
+spirits.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until three days after, on Sunday the 17th,
+that the formal surrender took place. The troops were assembled
+in front of their trenches, and as the gun announcing
+the hoisting of our flag over the governor's palace,
+boomed out, we cheered, and then marched back only to be
+formed in front of Col. Clark's quarters, where certain men
+were given a "wigging" which they remembered for a long
+time. Since the 14th our men had been allowed to go freely
+outside our lines, and although not permitted to go into the
+city proper, yet they found some interesting things in the
+suburbs. One of these was the cemetery and some regulars
+and a number of Second men had gone there and thoughtlessly
+taken some flowers and trinkets from some graves.
+This desecration had been reported by the Spaniards to Gen.
+Shafter and the latter "wigged" Gen. Lawton about it,
+Lawton repeating the operation to Gen. Ludlow and the latter
+giving Col. Clark and the commanding officer of the 22d
+a bad quarter of an hour. So when it came his turn, Col.
+Clark let himself out on the men, and his remarks were of
+the keen and cutting style which makes a man feel good
+when he hears some other fellow getting them. This concluded
+the exercises of the day and we were dismissed to
+think it over.</p>
+
+<p>Next day the "Jo Jo" bureau resumed operations and we
+heard "on the best of authority," of course, that we were to
+be hustled on to Porto Rico with Gen. Miles. Next came
+the news that our brigade, having done so well was to be
+sent against Holguin in the interior of the province where
+there were some 8000 Spanish troops, who had been surrendered
+with those in <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Santiano'">Santiago</ins> but did not like it and proposed
+to fight. Within the next few days it was gravely
+announced by the "Jo Jo," that we were going to be sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>
+to the Philippines, as experienced and acclimated troops
+were wanted there; that we were to be sent to help capture
+Havana, marching from Santiago for that purpose, and best
+of all, that unless Spain sued for peace within a week, we
+were to embark for that country and invade it. As to the
+"Jo Jos" about double pay, the receipt by each man of a
+lump sum of money in consideration of waiving our claims
+to a pension, etc., they were numerous and varied enough
+to fill a large book. In its "Jo Jo" bureau the Second had
+some distinguished artists.</p>
+
+<p>But the most convincing sign of all that the city had surrendered,
+was the arrival of rations, and they were gladly
+received. For a day or two it was the familiar bacon and
+hardtack, but soon we were surprised and gladdened by the
+sound of mule wagons coming up the road from the city and
+laden with good looking loaves of soft bread. We then
+found that army ovens had been established in the city and
+that we would have bread in abundance. Next came some
+refrigerated beef, and it looked good and tasted better.
+Our first issue of the beef was quickly disposed of, each
+man's share being taken to the nearest fire and a "bluff"
+made at broiling it, the majority of the men being too "meat
+hungry" to do more than merely toast it. That first "beefsteak
+supper" of ours on the island is remembered yet.
+Next day came more beef, more bread and finally potatoes
+and onions, while with them were brought along rice and
+canned tomatoes and bacon and hardtack. The two latter we
+scorned. Eat hardtack and canned beef when we had fresh
+bread and meat and the materials for beef stew? Well, we
+guessed not. But it turned out we were too proud. There
+came days when the refrigerated beef became less relished,
+especially when our noses could learn of its being on the way
+long before it reached the camp, and we were glad to fall
+back on the despised, "sowbelly," and by this time in deference<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>
+to our luxurious tastes, the conscience stricken commissary
+department was sending us something that resembled
+bacon far more than anything we had previously had, and
+that came in nice tin packages. Even the soft bread palled
+on us after a while, and we were glad to nibble a hardtack
+now and then, especially, when as sometimes happened
+the bread was sour.</p>
+
+<p>A few days after the surrender, B company was gladdened
+by the arrival of its cook, Walter Butler, who had remained
+on the ship and who, on his arrival, took charge of the culinary
+department and began to concoct some excellent stews.
+The Buzzicot field-cooking outfits, which we had brought
+from Massachusetts with us, were also landed, and that of G
+was at once set up with Private Carl Mueller as cook and
+Corporal "Nat" Gardella and "Dido" Hunt as steward and
+assistant steward, and "Daniel" Bellamy, the well-known
+temperance orator, as chief of the wood and water department.
+Private Fisher, the company cook of K, was ill, and
+K's Buzzicot was but little used.</p>
+
+<p>The day after our arrival in this camp, Private Bates of K
+severely injured his foot while chopping wood, the axe slipping
+and severing one of the arteries. He was laid up for
+some days.</p>
+
+<p>G and K moved their camps to the other side of the
+trenches about the 20th, but B remained where it was. The
+wall tents which we brought with us from South Framingham
+and used at Lakeland and Tampa, also came up, and at
+once took the place of the "pup tents" we had used on the
+island. Our knapsacks and other property which we left on
+the Knickerbocker were also sent to us and we found that
+some of our things were left, although many knapsacks
+which had been left well filled, on the boat, had been
+"touched."</p>
+
+<p>Once again we began to have the same old shortage of rations,
+and this time with our ships in the harbor we couldn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>
+understand it. One day we received two hardtack and a
+spoonful of coffee berries for a twenty-four hours issue.
+We were out of fresh meat, sugar and everything else, but
+this only lasted a couple of days and then we got fresh meat,
+vegetables and beans.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XV.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE HAVE TO FACE ANOTHER ENEMY MORE DEADLY THAN
+THE SPANIARDS.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i139.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">AND now that the Spaniards had been conquered and
+Santiago was ours we found ourselves facing
+another enemy even more deadly than the Mauser
+bullets or the <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'machette'">machete</ins>. Up to the surrender the
+health of our regiment, everything considered, had
+been fairly good. Sickness there was to be sure, but nothing
+more than was to be expected in a regiment of 900 men
+subjected to the exposures and hardships incidental to a campaign
+in a foreign land, and these exposures supplemented
+by a ration, which even when plentiful, which was not often,
+was entirely unfitted for soldiers campaigning in a warm
+climate. Again it must be remembered that our work in
+Cuba was performed in the rainy season and that sleeping in
+mud, marching and bivouacking in the rain and fording deep
+streams are not conducive to rugged health when persisted in
+day after day. But so long as the active campaign lasted,
+the excitement and novelty of it all kept the men up. After
+the surrender, when there was little or nothing for them to
+do, they were in condition to fall an easy prey to the "calentura"
+or malarial fever, and to the diseases of the stomach
+incident to camp life with a poorly adapted ration. Fat bacon
+and canned beans, containing fully as much grease as
+beans, are not the kind of food the sensible man going to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>
+spend a time in the tropics would select for his menu, but
+that is what we got and it was eat it or nothing.</p>
+
+<p>During the active campaign many men of the regiment
+were ill from one cause or another, but as a matter of fact,
+there was nothing like a general outbreak of sickness at any
+time until some days after the surrender. A number of the
+men contracted rheumatism from sleeping on the damp
+ground and there were scattered cases of measles and stomach
+disorders. But the average daily sick report never went
+much beyond a dozen cases, which it must be admitted is not
+bad for an organization of nearly 1000 men living under the
+conditions which we did.</p>
+
+<p>For the first few days after Santiago surrendered all went
+well. There were propositions to move the troops further inland
+and up into the mountains with a view of escaping any
+possibility of the dreaded yellow fever which was showing
+itself at Siboney, the houses of which village had been burned
+to the ground in order to remove the danger of infection, but
+the contemplated move was not made and we remained in
+our last station until the regiment sailed for Montauk Point.</p>
+
+<p>On the day after the surrender Col. Clark issued orders for
+daily company drills and inspections with a view of giving
+the men something to do, he recognizing, as an old soldier,
+that idleness is the worst possible thing in camp. He and
+his superiors realized, however, that the army had passed
+through a most trying, though short campaign, and that the
+men deserved a rest, but at the same time there were already
+warnings that the less active the men were, the easier they
+fell prey to the climatic diseases of the country. Even after
+we had been in our last camp for a few days, there were
+signs that the fever was at work and with our limited supply
+of medicines, it was feared that it might become epidemic.
+That these fears were only too well grounded was soon to be
+made manifest.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i141.jpg" width="400" height="597" alt="Soldiers of K Co." />
+
+<div class="caption">
+Corp'l Thos. C. Boon. K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp;Pvt. J. L. Morehouse. K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Private Michael R. Lyons. K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Musician Frank P. Jones. K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Corp'l W. C. Piper. K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Pvt. Arthur Burnham. K. Co.
+</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p>
+<p>The day following the surrender, Col. Clark and Major
+Bowen, the regimental surgeon, established a hospital in an
+old and dilapidated wooden building a couple of hundred
+yards in front of our advanced line of trenches and which
+had been used as a railway station. It was in poor shape,
+the roof being partly gone and the flooring bad, but it was
+better than leaving the sick men in their stuffy little shelter
+tents or out in the open air. The division hospitals were already
+overcrowded with wounded and sick men and the regimental
+commanders were notified that they would have to
+care for their own sick as best they could. Even as bad as
+the building selected for our hospital was, it was looked upon
+with envy by the commanding officers of other regiments
+and it was even suggested to Col. Clark that he divide it up
+with the other regiments of our brigade.</p>
+
+<p>Whether it was the camping along the line of the recently
+made trenches, the earth of which was said to be full of malarial
+germs, or that the fever was already in the air that
+caused the epidemic among our men is not certain, but within
+a day or two after the Sunday on which the Stars and
+Stripes were hoisted over the city the fever began its career
+in our regiment and in a few days over fifty per cent. of the
+officers and men were affected with it. The daily drills soon
+had to be discontinued, for hardly enough men to make a
+decent showing were able to turn out for them in the majority
+of the companies. It was the same way at the daily inspections.
+Frequently a man standing in the ranks would
+fall down in his tracks from sheer weakness and would have
+to be carried to his tent by his comrades. Soon there was no
+pretence of conforming to the orders requiring these drills
+and inspections and the men, who were able to move at all,
+did so as if their feet were encased in lead. At surgeon's
+call every morning there were sights which were enough to
+appall the stoutest hearted among us. It was directly after
+reveille that this call was sounded, and then from all parts
+of the camp dreary processions of what had been strong and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>
+hearty looking young men, would drag themselves slowly to
+the surgeon's tent and stand or lie on the ground waiting for
+their turn to be treated. And it must be said that the treatment
+was not of a sort calculated to cheer them up. The
+only medicines on hand were quinine and salts and a preparation
+for stomach disorders. Of quinine there was a plenty,
+but after a time the systems of the men, in many cases, became
+so saturated with it that even doses of thirty grains or
+more produced but little effect. And what hurt the boys
+more than the fever or anything else was the feeling, right or
+wrong as it may have been, that we of the Fifth Army
+Corps, who had done our work uncomplainingly, and done it
+well, were being neglected by the government whose call we
+had obeyed among the first. It was known that our state
+had sent us away from South Framingham with a medicine
+chest second to none in the army, and that this chest was
+even now on board of one of the transports in the harbor,
+but for all practical uses, as far off as the North Pole. Some
+of us knew that requisition after requisition for medical supplies
+had been sent in by our surgeon and had not been honored,
+that in spite of all our surgeons and stewards could do
+it was next to an impossibility to obtain an ambulance, and
+that we were even denied the services of one of our assistant
+surgeons, Dr. Gates having been detailed to the Fourth infantry,
+which was at that time without a medical officer.</p>
+
+<p>All these things helped the fever. Depression was its best
+ally, and then came nostalgia, the homesickness which men
+who have never experienced sneer at, but which is the bane
+of armies, and which in the Cuban campaign helped kill
+more men than the bullets of the Spaniards. For nurses for
+the sick there were only their comrades, willing enough God
+knows, but unaccustomed to the work, and with their own
+nerves and tempers wrought up to a high pitch. With lack
+of surgeons, lack of medicines, lack of nurses, lack of proper
+food, lack of proper accommodations and lack of everything<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>
+that sick men should have, it is a wonder that the entire regiment
+was not left behind to fill graves in Cuba.</p>
+
+<p>But even a more pitiful sight than the men who answered
+the surgeon's call every morning had to witness, was the
+spectacle of the poor fellows who were unable to get up from
+their beds on the ground, and who lay there day after day
+under the stuffy tents, their bodies burning up with the fever,
+too weak or too despairing to even accept the poor nourishment
+which their comrades tried to get for them, and in some
+cases so far gone with nostalgia that they refused everything
+and only wished for death. It is a known fact that fifty per
+cent. of the men of the Second who died in that last camp of
+ours in Cuba, died of nostalgia and nothing else.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, everything that could be done with the limited
+resources at command, was being done. The company commanders
+sent into Santiago and bought at the commissary
+stores, such decent food for sick men as could be procured,
+and through the efforts of Col. Clark, some suitable food and
+delicacies were obtained from the Red Cross society. The
+Colonel also purchased, at his own expense, a number of cots
+and hammocks for the regimental hospital.</p>
+
+<p>It was indeed a trying time. Officer after officer and man
+after man went down with the fever. Adjutant Paul R.
+Hawkins was hard hit with it and was finally removed to
+the second division hospital. Major Henry C. Bowen, the
+regimental surgeon, also succumbed and was taken to the
+same hospital where he died. Quartermaster E. E. Sawtell
+was another victim but did not go to the hospital. Captain
+John J. Leonard of G, was stricken and for long days fought
+the disease in his quarters, and Lieut. Edward J. Leyden of
+his company was taken to the hospital. Lieut. W. L. Young
+and Lieut. Harry J. Vesper of B were attacked, the former
+not seriously, however. There were but few men in any of
+the companies fit for duty and it was difficult to get enough
+men for the necessary details. The drills were given up for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>
+not enough men to make a decent showing were fit to turn
+out and it was with difficulty that enough men for regimental
+and brigade guard were provided. Some necessary work
+had to be done and from brigade and division headquarters
+details were constantly being asked for and every man able
+to stand on his feet had to be pressed into service.</p>
+
+<p>The officers, during this trying time, did all in their power
+for their men, but it was not much they were able to do and
+the men felt at the time, that they should have done more.
+In this they were unjust, for the officers were suffering as
+much as the men, and the latter have since come to realize
+that many of the opinions expressed at this time and later, on
+this subject, were unjust. The fever and the other diseases
+spared no one, whether he wore shoulder straps or not.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Hitchcock, our assistant surgeon, succumbed to the
+fever, and was taken to the division hospital and the surgeon,
+Dr. Bowen, soon followed him there. This left us without a
+medical officer, and for two or three days the outlook for the
+sick men of the Second was a dark one. But we were then
+provided with two contract surgeons, Dr. Persons and Dr.
+Dunwoody, and both proved themselves excellent gentlemen
+and hard workers. Soon after their arrival, Dr. Gates, our
+other assistant surgeon, who had been detailed to the Fourth
+infantry, was sent back to us, and his presence was as good
+as a tonic to the sick men. His cheery smile and sympathetic
+ways were even better than his medicines, and for a
+time, after his return, the health of the command appeared
+to improve. Meanwhile, the famous "<ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'round robbin'">round robin</ins>" had
+been sent, and its result was that the Fifth corps was ordered
+to return home as soon as transports could be procured.
+From then until August 12 the thoughts of the men were
+concentrated upon the time we were to go home.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the men who escaped the fever and other diseases,
+were doing all possible for their comrades. The company
+officers, finding that idleness at this time was the worst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>
+possible thing for the men who were at all able to get about,
+set them at work, and though this seemed at the time a
+hardship to the men, it turned out to be the best thing that
+could be done, for it not only served to keep them in better
+shape physically but helped to keep their minds occupied and
+prevented them from dwelling too much upon the gloomy
+situation in the camps and from thinking too much of home.
+They were encouraged and in most cases ordered to build
+raised bunks for themselves, these serving to keep their bodies
+off the ground while sleeping, and to erect shelters of
+boughs and palm leaves instead of remaining in their shelter
+tents. When the big wall tents arrived there was no further
+need of these "shacks" but they served a useful purpose
+even if not handsome looking.</p>
+
+<p>It was not long after the surrender that we began to get
+large packages of mail, including the Springfield papers and
+it is hardly necessary to say that they were welcome. In
+these papers we found stories of the campaign and of the
+part the Second had played in the actions at El Caney and
+San Juan. Many of the letters the boys had written
+from Tampa and Cuba had been printed and in the reading
+of these there was much fun. We learned from the papers
+of the big Fourth of July celebration that had been planned
+in Springfield, and how it had been given up when the news
+of El Caney and the rumors of heavy loss in "Ours" reached
+home. And we received the Fourth of July buttons which
+had been made in honor of that occasion and proudly wore
+them about the camp to the envy of some of the other companies
+of the regiment. It did us some good to know that
+we had not been entirely forgotten. And sometimes in the
+mails there were packages for us, sent by loving friends from
+home and welcome, whether they contained much or little.
+The arrival of the mail was an event in those days. Sometimes
+all that there was could be brought from Santiago on
+the back of one horse, but there were times when one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>
+two wheeled carretas was necessary to transport it. The array
+of bags would be dumped off in front of the office tent of
+the regiment and then the work of sorting out the contents
+would begin. That destined for each company having been
+piled up, there were usually enough men waiting to take it
+away, and for the next few hours the men would read their
+letters and papers and exchange news. The arrival of the
+mail was invariably followed by a time of letter writing and
+the return mail was sometimes nearly as heavy as that which
+had come in.</p>
+
+<p>As time went on the fever appeared to be wearing itself
+out and some of those who had it began to recover slowly until
+they were able to drag themselves around. For days
+there was a feeling that the worst was over, and this feeling
+was especially strong in our battalion, which, by the way,
+had not as yet been as hard hit by the fever as some of the
+other sections of the regiment. But then came the yellow
+fever scare and the deaths of one or two of our men and these
+resulted in a return of the old depression and consequently
+the sickness.</p>
+
+<p>Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse of B, was
+the first man of the Springfield companies to succumb to the
+fever and the nostalgia which accompanied it. He was taken
+sick soon after the surrender, but kept up and about for
+some time, as he had all through the campaign. But he
+went down at last and the end came on rapidly. He died on
+August 1st, and there was not a man in the regiment more
+regretted for all who ever knew "Dicky" Bearse, loved him.</p>
+
+<p>The second man to go, in the battalion, was Corporal W.
+C. Piper of K, who died in the division hospital, August 5th,
+of pernicious malarial fever. He had been taken there only
+the day before and his comrades were horror stricken when
+notified of his death. The day following a detail from his
+company was sent to the hospital and buried him. Private<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>
+Paul Vesper of B, died the 10th, from the same cause as Piper,
+in the division hospital.</p>
+
+<p>It was a day or two afterwards that we heard of the famous
+"round robin" and its result. The thought of soon
+sailing for home did much to cheer us up and we began to
+make what few preparations we had to make, although there
+was as yet nothing authentic about our going. But on the
+10th Col. Clark received orders to be ready to embark on short
+notice and the news spread like wildfire through our camp.
+Our working suits which we had worn all through the campaign,
+and our blankets and haversacks were ordered burned
+and in place of them we were issued the khaki uniforms of
+yellow with blue facings.</p>
+
+<p>A few days before Col. John F. Marsh, of Springfield, had
+arrived, and brought with him several boxes of good things
+sent by the people of Springfield. The time was so short
+that many of the boxes were unopened and were taken to the
+ship when we sailed. Nearly all their contents were looted,
+however, during our trip to Montauk point.</p>
+
+<p>August 11th we received orders to embark the following
+day, and on the 12th those of the regiment able to march,
+fell in, and we "hiked the pike" for Santiago. With flags
+flying we marched through the Calle de Marina, or Marine
+street, and after a short wait on a pier, were put on a lighter
+and taken off to the transport Mobile, already occupied by
+the other two regiments of our brigade and a number of
+horses. The sick officers and men were sent to the pier in
+ambulances and those able to walk not only had to do that,
+but were also obliged to handle all the baggage, a job that
+would have been child's play at other times, but which in our
+debilitated condition was a task almost beyond our strength.
+Col. Clark had been attacked with the fever that morning
+and was unable to do anything. Lieut. Col. Shumway was
+so ill as to be unfit for duty but he stuck it out and did what
+he could. Lieut. Hawkins and Lieut. Leyden were brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span>
+down from the division hospital and Lieut. Vesper was
+brought down from his tent in our camp by Captain Crosier
+of D. Company.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile there were a number of our men sick in their
+quarters or in the hospitals who could not be moved to the
+ship, besides others who had been spotted as "suspicious"
+cases by the surgeons on the day previous, and ordered to
+remain behind, it being feared that they were in the first stages
+of yellow fever. It was necessary that some remain behind
+to care for these poor fellows, but who to detail to this
+hard duty was a problem which Col. Clark finally solved by
+detailing Lieut. W. H. Plummer of A Company of Worcester,
+and a detail of one man from each company in the regiment
+to remain. Private Dozilva Lamoreaux of G, Private
+Robert A. Draper of B and Private Albert Marsden of K volunteered
+to compose this detail from our companies, and their
+sacrifices in doing this will not be forgotten by their comrades.</p>
+
+<p>Privates Little, Stetson, Brownell and Dunn of G company,
+Corporal John B. Fulton, and Privates Judd, Rivers,
+Champagne, Smith, Wheeler and Frey of B company, and
+Privates Maynard, Solace and Hall of K were left behind on
+the island, either sick or as yellow fever suspects when the
+regiment was ordered home.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i151" id="i151" href="images/i151-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i151.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="" /></a>
+<div class="caption">1st TURRET'S CREW. MONITOR LEHIGH.</div></div>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XVI.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>OUR VOYAGE HOMEWARD ON THE DEATH SHIP MOBILE.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i153.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">OUR voyage homeward on the Mobile was not
+exactly a pleasant one. At the very outset we
+again found that in army language we were "up
+against it." Our entire brigade, composing some
+1500 officers and men, were on the boat, which
+although large, was not fitted up in very good shape for
+transport service and as a result there was at first much
+overcrowding. The Mobile had recently conveyed a cargo
+of mules to Porto Rico and on her return from that duty
+had lain for several days in the festering harbor of Santiago
+so that her sanitary condition could not be termed an ideal
+one. The officers were crowded together in her few staterooms
+and as for the men they were jammed below decks
+and above decks in any old way. The Eighth and Twenty-second
+regiments had been on board some time before our
+regiment arrived and of course had appropriated the best
+portions of the ship to themselves, something for which they
+could not be blamed so very much.</p>
+
+<p>That evening we of the Second just simply "bunked"
+anywhere we could and as a rule we went to bed supperless,
+for everything was in such a mixed up condition there was
+no effort made at giving out rations. And on our arrival
+we found that we were to pass another time with our old
+friends, the canned "beef" and the nourishing and palatable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>
+(!) travel rations. After bidding them farewell, as we
+thought, forever, this was felt to be the worst blow we had
+yet suffered but there was no use "kicking" and we made
+the best of it. Fortunately or unfortunately, as one looks
+at it, the majority of the men had money enough to purchase
+quantities of canned fruits and delicacies before they
+left Santiago and these helped us out to some extent.</p>
+
+<p>What we at first thought was a blessing but which afterward
+turned out to be the reverse was the presence of a large
+tank of ice water below decks to which we freely helped
+ourselves and with evil effect upon some of the men who
+developed dysentery from indulging too freely in the cold
+liquid. After a day or two the ice water was shut off from
+the men, and they were compelled to drink the regular
+ship's water. There was any amount of grumbling at this
+but it was the best thing to be done under the circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>We remained in the harbor the night of the 12th and
+early on the 13th, our old "hoodoo" number being with us
+again, the Mobile swung her nose around and steamed down
+the harbor. Every man able to be up was on deck as we
+started out and realized that we were homeward bound at
+last. There were mighty few regrets expressed at leaving
+Cuba and our chief concern now was to reach home as
+quickly as possible. It was known that our destination was
+Montauk Point, L. I., and beyond that our information was
+a trifle hazy.</p>
+
+<p>Passing down the harbor we came to the Merrimac as she
+lay about where Hobson had sunk her and we could see that
+she was not of much avail in stopping the channel. A little
+further we passed the wreck of the Reina Mercedes as she
+lay where the shells from our warships had put her out of
+business and just a little distance further along we passed
+out under the frowning walls and grim looking guns of Castle
+Morro, over which our flag was now floating. On the
+other side of the harbor entrance was an unimportant looking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>
+sand battery, but it was from it that the Spanish guns
+did their most effective work against our fleet. One turn
+more and we were out of the harbor and again on the
+bounding billows.</p>
+
+<p>This day quarters were assigned the various companies of
+our regiment below decks. The men were supplied with
+hammocks and as these had to be slung close together and
+the men were just a bit unfamiliar with their management
+there were many tumbles out of bed that night. We found
+the sleeping accommodations on the Mobile <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'suberb'">superb</ins>. If you
+say that word "superb" quick it sounds well and that's the
+way we said it. A number of the men were obliged to sleep
+on deck and under a covering of loose planks and as it happened
+to rain two or three nights in succession, they did not
+like their sleeping quarters any too well.</p>
+
+<p>The steward of the Mobile was an Englishman, like all
+her officers, and he was a direct descendant of thieves and
+inherited all their instincts of robbery. He thought nothing
+of charging $5 for a half-pint of vile liquor and his prices
+for anything else he could sell were in proportion. He contracted
+with some of the company commanders to furnish a
+number of loaves of bread each day for the men but the
+loaves turned out to be nothing more than biscuits and the
+prices asked were so exorbitant that a complaint was made
+to the captain of the ship and the steward was compelled to
+make restitution.</p>
+
+<p>One of the first incidents of our passage homeward was
+the stopping of the Mobile by a United States gunboat on
+our second evening out from Santiago harbor. It seems
+that the Mobile was not showing just the proper lights and
+the gunboat steamed close to her to investigate, firing a
+blank charge across her bows as a signal to stop. The
+Mobile stopped. Then after a brief colloquy between the
+little gunboat and the big Mobile the latter was allowed to
+proceed. It should be said, however, that when the officers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>
+and crew of the gunboat ascertained that the Second Massachusetts
+was on board they gave us three hearty cheers.</p>
+
+<p>Life on board the Mobile was not a bit more luxurious
+than it had been on the Knickerbocker or in Cuba. We had
+the same old travel rations and no means of cooking them.
+After the first day out an arrangement was made whereby
+Walter Butler, the cook for B company, was to have the use
+of the crew's galley to make coffee for the three Springfield
+companies. Walter did as well as he could under difficulties
+but ofttimes the water used in making the coffee was so
+poor in quality that the concoction was not exactly palatable.
+But it was better than ship's water.</p>
+
+<p>The men messed as best they could. The officers had
+their meals in the dining saloon, paying $1 a day for them
+and they were not over luxurious. Neither were their quarters,
+for with the entire brigade on board the staterooms
+were insufficient to accommodate them all and they were
+forced to double up and in some instances three officers were
+assigned to one room and forced to "bunk" as best they
+could.</p>
+
+<p>Many of the officers and men were just out of hospitals,
+and for them the voyage was a harder trial than those who
+were officially in good health. The ship's hospital was
+established on the aft deck and was protected from the elements
+only by canvas awnings and during the two or three
+times it rained during the voyage the sick men were
+drenched as they lay in their cots or hammocks. Surgeon
+Gates and Dr. Piersons, the contract surgeons who had done
+so much for our regiment in front of Santiago, were indefatigable
+in their attendance upon our sick and so were the
+hospital stewards, but the medical supplies were as usual
+insufficient and the accommodations entirely inadequate.
+Two men were detailed each day to assist in caring for the
+sick men from their companies and while of course they
+meant to do all they could for their comrades their performance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>
+very often fell far short of their intentions. Naturally
+the sick men were often peevish and troublesome and it cannot
+be said that the lot of the attendants was a very pleasant
+one.</p>
+
+<p>On our second day out occurred the first death in the regiment,
+Sergeant Harold B. Wentworth of C company, who
+had been ill with typhoid fever and malaria. His body was
+buried at sea a few hours after death and the sad event was
+the first of a series during the voyage. Private George
+Higgins of F company was the next victim, his death occuring
+on the 15th.</p>
+
+<p>August 17th was a black day for the Second. At 12.30
+that morning Second Lieut. Harry J. Vesper of B company
+died after a long illness, with gastritis and malaria. He
+was a very sick man when brought on board but was nursed
+and cared for as tenderly as possible during the voyage.
+Private James Ryan of B was detailed as his attendant and
+was constantly with him, but even the best of care could not
+have saved him. The same day his body, wrapped in the
+folds of the American flag, was lowered into the deep, the
+Mobile being hove to for the purpose. The band of the 22d
+regiment played appropriate airs and Chaplain Wellwood of
+the Second conducted the services. The burial was nearly
+off Cape Hatteras. Lieut. Vesper, who was one of the
+most popular officers of the regiment, met his fate bravely
+and died in merciful ignorance of the fact that his brother,
+Private Paul Vesper of B company, had died a few days
+before the regiment left Cuba. At that time Lieut. Vesper
+was ill in the division hospital and it was deemed best to
+keep the knowledge of his brother's fate from him.</p>
+
+<p>On this same day another B company man, Wagoner
+Paul J. Kingston, answered his final roll call, dying in the
+afternoon. Privates Earle C. Clark of H company and
+Franklin W. Manning of M company, made up the death roll
+for the day and their bodies were given to the sea.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On the 18th Privates Charles H. Cranston and Henry C.
+Collins, both of I company of Northampton, died and on the
+20th just before we landed at Montauk Point Sergeant
+Ryder of E company passed away. On the voyage from
+Santiago to Montauk our regiment lost ten, one officer and
+nine men, and it is no wonder that the Mobile was referred
+to as a "death ship."</p>
+
+<p>It is no wonder either, under these circumstances, that the
+men became depressed. Cooped up in an ill-smelling hold
+during the night, fed on unsuitable food and seeing the bodies
+of their comrades cast overboard day after day it was
+not strange that they became blue. But happily the voyage
+did not last long for on the afternoon of the 19th we sighted
+Montauk Point and knew that in a day or two we would be
+on good United States soil once more.</p>
+
+<p>It was night when the Mobile cast anchor and early the
+next morning she was towed into what we supposed was
+quarantine. We passed several steamers with the yellow
+quarantine flag hoisted at their sterns and after a while the
+Mobile anchored and some quarantine officers came aboard
+and inspected the passengers and crew. Fortunately this
+ceremony did not last long and when it was over the Mobile
+was brought alongside a wharf as we in our innocence supposed
+to allow us to land.</p>
+
+<p>But as it happened we were not to land that day. On the
+wharf were sentries and those of "Ours" who happened to
+get as far as the wharf were at once driven back. Neither
+was any one allowed at first to come aboard. As we swung
+in the stream before the Mobile got to the wharf a small boat
+containing some Springfield newspaper men attempted to get
+within reach of the Mobile, but she was ordered away and
+at the wharf it was some time before anybody was allowed
+to come aboard the Mobile. The first Springfield man we
+saw was Dr. David Clark, the surgeon for years of the Second
+while it was in the militia service. He finally came on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span>
+board and was at once surrounded by the men of the three
+Springfield companies so that it was some little time before
+he made his way to the quarterdeck, where Col. Clark and
+the officers were awaiting him. He brought plenty of news
+for us and much information concerning Montauk Point and
+the arrangement of the camps there. At the same time
+came aboard baskets of sandwiches and fruit which Dr.
+Clark had provided. Thanks to the kindness of Dr. Clark
+many messages were sent from the ship to the anxious ones
+at home announcing the safe arrival of the Mobile and that
+the senders were well.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until the next day that we were allowed to land
+and it was a sad spectacle to watch the disembarkation of the
+gallant Second from the ship. The men who were able to
+walk got down the steep gang plank in some kind of order
+and after an attempt at regimental formation, marched up
+to the quarantine camp, a distance of some two and a half
+miles, over the very roughest kind of a road. The sick were
+transported in mule wagons and they did not find the ride a
+very pleasant one. On arrival at the camp it was found all
+laid out with large wall tents arranged in company streets and
+the majority of the tents equipped with board floors, a luxury
+we had not experienced for many moons. Rough sinks had
+been made in rear of the company streets and supplies of soft
+bread, fruits and milk were waiting for us. A number of the
+sick officers and men were taken directly over to the hospitals
+and it began to look as if things might be half decent
+after all.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XVII</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE AND OUR FRIENDS ENJOY OURSELVES AT CAMP
+WIKOFF, MONTAUK POINT.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i160.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">FROM the beginning it was evident that our lines in
+Camp Wikoff were to be cast in more pleasant
+places than had been the case since we left Lakeland
+in June. To be sure the detention camp was not an
+abode of princely luxury and there were shortcomings
+in plenty about it, but there was an honest effort to care
+for our comfort. There were but few of the officers and
+men in our regiment in good health and even the men who
+did not go to the hospitals were in bad shape physically, but
+the knowledge of the fact that we were on United States soil
+at last and that but a short time would elapse before we
+would be en route for home was better than medicine. Then,
+too, there was the great improvement in our food, which was
+worth something, and there was the presence of our friends
+from Springfield, including some who had made all manner
+of sacrifices and had endured toil, discomforts and trouble to
+get to us with help and cheer.</p>
+
+<p>No one can doubt but what it was the full intent of
+those in authority at Washington to treat the returned soldiers
+from Cuba in the best possible manner, but it is a matter
+of common knowledge that as a paving material for a certain
+warm place good intentions is the very best material yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>
+devised by the arch enemy of mankind. The performance at
+Montauk fell far short of the promise and this was aided by
+the over officiousness of some very young and very fresh officers
+who had no idea beyond the blind following of red tape
+regulations no matter what might happen. It was to these
+officers that the delay and vexatious troubles experienced by
+Dr. David Clark of Springfield in his mission of mercy
+to us of the Second can be attributed and others associated
+with him had to face the same difficulties. The story of how
+Dr. Clark, Lieut. T. A. Sweeney and others were "held up"
+at the mouth of the rapid fire guns of the converted yacht
+Aileen by one Lieut. Rhodes, whose name is still cursed by
+every Second regiment man, is still fresh in the minds of all
+of us and it was only when the presumptuous young officer
+was made to realize that he was not the only thing that ever
+happened that the supplies sent to us by loving hands in
+Springfield reached us. There is the memory too of the long
+and weary hours Dr. Clark spent underneath the pier at
+Montauk in order to remain inside the guard lines and be on
+hand to greet us when our ship came in. There are the
+memories of the good work done for us by our old surgeon
+when the Second was a militia regiment, Major Brown of
+North Adams, and of Lieut. Sweeney, E. S. Bradford, P. H.
+Quinn, Charles Lathrop as the representative of Dr. D. J.
+Brown, T. W. Hyde, and last but by no means least of
+Frank P. Frost of Springfield, who as the personal representative
+of Henry S. Lee, worked like a beaver day and
+night. The Springfield newspaper men, too, should not be
+forgotten and the thanks of many a poor fellow are due to H.
+L. Hines, G. H. Atwood and Frank Lee of the <cite>Union</cite> and
+to H. K. Regal of the <cite>Republican</cite> and T. W. Burgess of the
+<cite>Homestead</cite> for many kindnesses and unfailing sympathy.</p>
+
+<p>The sad scenes attending the disembarkation of the Second
+from the Mobile will not be forgotten for many a day by
+those who witnessed or participated in them. A number of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>
+the sick men were taken off late in the afternoon of the 19th,
+but when dusk fell Gen. Young, the commander of the camp,
+refused to allow any more to be brought ashore until the next
+day. The next morning the exodus from the ship began at
+an early hour and continued until at last we were all ashore.
+First came the sick in a ghastly procession down the steep
+gang planks and into the ambulances which were to convey
+them to the hospitals and the sight of the poor fellows was
+pathetic in the extreme. The sick ashore, then came those
+able to walk or totter and these men, the majority of them
+wrecks of their once vigorous selves, dragged themselves to
+the pier laden down with their baggage and fell in for the
+march to the camp. Those unable to walk were piled into
+mule wagons and the procession started.</p>
+
+<p>It was not a long march, but it was a fatiguing one for
+the men and they were glad when the big wall tents assigned
+to the Second appeared. This was the "detention" camp
+for in the eyes of the medical officers we were still suspects
+even if we had passed quarantine, and we were to be isolated
+for five days. It was not a bad camp. The tents were new
+and clean and many of them were provided with board floors,
+a luxury that reminded us of our militia days at South Framingham.
+It had been the intention of the war department to
+provide straw for us to sleep on but like many other intentions
+it was not fulfilled until Secretary Alger happened to visit the
+camp of the Second and found no straw. Then some came
+along in a hurry. There were cooking outfits, too, and the
+days of the canned roast beef and the other constituents of
+the palatable and nourishing (?) travel ration were numbered.
+In their place came the appetizing beef stew, the roast beef,
+soft bread and cool milk. There were also canned delicacies,
+and fruits, and tobacco in plenty. In fact, there were too
+many good things for some of the boys, as the hospital records
+attest.</p>
+
+<p>It is needless to say that the hospitals were filled.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span>
+They were overcrowded, and that, too, in spite of the fact
+that additions were put on as fast as possible. The hospitals
+were of canvas but with raised floors and were equipped with
+cots. What the emotions of the sick boys were when they
+actually found themselves lying on a bed and between clean
+white sheets, and tended by kind and devoted nurses can be
+imagined. Not only that but they were given plenty of nourishing
+food and medicine was in plenty. After the lack of
+everything of the hospitals in Cuba the contrast was sharp,
+even though the Montauk hospitals lacked some things. As
+for the nurses and the doctors there was nothing they were
+unwilling to do to help the sick. Many of the nurses were
+Sisters of Charity or Sisters of Mercy, others were from the
+Red Cross society, others volunteers, but all were actuated by
+the same motives, and worked unremittingly to do all in their
+power for the boys. Some of the doctors were army surgeons
+and others were contract surgeons, but all worked
+alike. Then, too, there were any number of volunteer hospital
+assistants, all zealous to help us, some of them a little
+too much so, and it was a rare thing for the sick men in a
+hospital ward to lack for attention. Diet kitchens were
+established and a system of looking after convalescent and
+furloughed soldiers was established. In this work the noble
+efforts of the Massachusetts Volunteer Aid Association was
+pre-eminent and there are none of us who will forget what
+its representatives did, not only at Camp Wikoff but after
+our return to our homes. Not only did the society work
+among the soldiers from Massachusetts, but many a regular
+soldier was aided and comforted by its representatives.</p>
+
+<p>Under the influence of proper care and food the men in the
+hospitals and the camps began to improve and though many
+died, yet more recovered. As soon as a soldier inmate of
+the hospital was anywhere near convalescence he was given
+a furlough to his home and transportation furnished him.
+At first these furloughs were only for ten days but after a bit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>
+they were lengthened to 30 days so that when the Second
+came to leave Montauk a good percentage of the officers and
+men had preceded it home. A large number of the sick men
+were taken from the camp hospital and sent to New York,
+New London, New Haven and other places where the local
+hospitals had opened their doors to the soldiers and where the
+care they received was in some respects better than that possible
+under the crowded conditions at Montauk.</p>
+
+<p>In spite or all that could be done at Montauk there were
+many instances of individual hardship and although it
+seemed as if there were at least two or three people anxious
+and willing to look after every soldier yet there were cases of
+apparently unnecessary suffering. Soldiers discharged from
+the hospitals as convalescent would be sent to the depot at
+Montauk, a good two miles from the hospital, on foot and
+would be compelled to wait for hours in the hot sun before
+they could get transportation orders. At the depot there
+were often good men and women with cans of milk or lemonade
+and food, but even their zealous efforts could not prevent
+some suffering. All this was perhaps inseparable from the
+overcrowded condition of the camp and hospitals and the fact
+that there were not nearly enough officers to do the work
+properly.</p>
+
+<p>On the 24th the regiment was released from quarantine and
+moved from the detention to the general camp. By this time
+rumors that we were to be furloughed and sent home were
+rife again and the date was finally fixed for the 26th. Meanwhile
+there had been some important visitors in our camp,
+including Col. Roosevelt, Secretary of War Alger and Gen.
+Wheeler and they all had good words to say for the Second.
+Also there were many visitors from Springfield and Western
+Massachusetts and the men were fed upon all kinds of delicacies,
+in some cases to the detriment of their health.</p>
+
+<p>Musician Frank P. Jones of K company was the only
+Springfield man to die in Montauk, his death occuring on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>
+27th, after he had suffered for days with malarial fever of
+the Cuban type. He had not been ill in Cuba but the seeds
+of the disease lodged in his system there and in his weak
+condition when we landed at Montauk he was unable to
+resist it. We heard while at Montauk of the death in Cuba
+of Private Arthur M. Burnham of K and there were many
+regrets among his comrades. Private Burnham was ill when
+the regiment left Santiago for home and so was left behind.</p>
+
+<p>On the 25th verbal orders furloughing the Second for 60
+days were <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'recieved'">received</ins> and the regiment was ordered to be in
+readiness the next day to proceed home. At the expiration
+of the furlough the regiment was to be mustered out at
+South Framingham but this was afterwards changed to
+Springfield. The officers and men were all ready on the 26th
+to go home and the night before had been spent in packing
+up and putting everything in shape. The rifles and equipments
+had been turned in and the morning was eagerly anticipated.
+There was much disappointment when the day
+came and there were no signs of an immediate movement
+from the camp. Hour after hour passed and when it was
+finally ascertained that the departure was deferred to the next
+day because of a lack of transportation, there was nothing
+but disappointment from the commanding officer down to the
+privates. But the Second had by this time learned resignation
+and so the men waited through the long day and the
+equally long night for the word that the boat which was to
+convey the regiment to New London was ready.</p>
+
+<p>The night of the 26th was made memorable by a wild
+stampede of a number of horses of the cavalry through the
+camp of the Second. The animals were being led to water
+and in some manner became frightened and getting away
+from the man in charge ran pell mell through the company
+streets of the regiment, upsetting stacks of arms and tents
+and leaving everything in much disorder. Fortunately no
+one was injured.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>There was but little sleep in the camp that night. The
+boys were too much excited over the prospect of being at
+home on the morrow to care much for slumber, and they
+were up long before reveille sounded. Breakfast was hastily
+cooked and eaten and the outfit, or what was left of it, fell in
+for the march to the boat, some three miles away. There
+were ambulances for the sick and these were filled again and
+again. The men able to march were not numerous, and the
+companies did not have full ranks by any means. The men
+were without arms and clad in all sorts of uniforms, the yellow
+and blue Khaki predominating, although there were some
+who preferred the old militia blue uniforms they had worn
+from South Framingham. The regiment finally started for
+the pier amid the cheers of the 22d and other regiments it
+passed, and a short time after embarking was once more on
+the water but bound for home this time. The sick men who
+were unable to stand the journey were left in the hospital and
+those allowed to go were carefully looked after.</p>
+
+<p>Arrived at New London the regiment fell at once into good
+hands. The people of that city had known of its coming and
+delegations were on hand when the boat came in, with food
+and refreshments for the boys. Meanwhile preparations had
+been made by the militia authorities of the state, and the people
+of Springfield and other places interested in the Second,
+to look after the men. Gen. Dalton had sent a detail of staff
+officers to Springfield with full power as to expenses to see
+that the returning soldiers who had shed credit upon Massachusetts
+were properly looked after, and a special train had
+been made up to go to New London to bring them on from
+there. Food and refreshments were taken on the train, and
+representatives of state and city were on board to render all
+possible assistance. The trip was a comparatively short one.
+At Palmer the three Worcester companies and F of Gardner
+were transferred to a train for their destination while the
+other companies came on to Springfield.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>IN WHICH IS TOLD HOW WE PREPARE TO QUIT UNCLE
+SAM'S SERVICE.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i167.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">THE home coming of Springfield's soldiers was not as
+glittering or gay a spectacle as had been counted
+upon by those who watched us march away on the
+morning of May 3d. That morning was a rainy
+and disagreeable one and there were many who consoled
+themselves in thinking of the rather tame character of
+our farewell, that when we returned the scene would be a far
+more cheerful and inspiriting one. It wasn't. For days and
+days, ever since the story of our losses at El Caney and San
+Juan had been known and the people had become somewhat
+familiar with the tales of sickness and suffering in Cuba and
+Camp Wikoff, the return of the boys had been anxiously
+awaited, but when the time came, when it was known for a
+certainty that the companies were to return, there was a common
+feeling that the occasion would be an ill timed one for
+any display of ceremony or pageantry, and as it became more
+known that the majority of the officers and men were in the
+poorest possible condition to stand the strain of an official, or
+even a semi-official welcome it was settled that their return
+was to be as quiet as possible.</p>
+
+<p>The coming of the regiment from Montauk had been expected
+on the 26th and in anticipation a huge crowd had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>
+gathered at the union station to meet the soldiers. But the
+people were repaid for hours of waiting by the arrival only
+of a few men who had been furloughed from the hospitals.
+On the next day it was soon known that the regiment would
+surely arrive and long before the hour set for the special
+train to arrive from New London the station and its approaches
+were crowded with people, including the relatives
+and friends of the members, not only of the Springfield companies
+but of the companies from the other sections of Western
+Massachusetts. In view of the condition of the soldiers
+special efforts had been made to impress upon the people that
+the less excitement the men were made to undergo the better
+for them and to this end the station approaches were roped
+off and a large force of police was on hand to keep a passageway
+clear from the cars to the carriages which had been provided
+to bear the officers and men to their homes or wherever
+they felt inclined to go.</p>
+
+<p>The state and the city co-operated well in making plans for
+the comfort of the returning soldiers. Gov. Wolcott was on
+hand when the special train rolled in and three members of
+his staff had been at work for several days previous assisting
+in the preparations for the reception of the men. Mayor
+Dickinson and the city officials had done everything in their
+power to aid the soldiers and with them at all times were the
+officers and members of the Volunteer Aid association and
+many private citizens, good men and women who labored
+zealously in the good cause. Others there were, too, not
+connected officially with state or city or with any society, but
+whose work was ably done and is never to be forgotten.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i169" id="i169" href="images/i169-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i169.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">MONITOR LEHIGH IN ACTION</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>At 2.58 in the afternoon the train came in and the 10,000
+people in waiting set up a cheer at the initiative of Gov.
+Wolcott. Then the people pressed hard against the ropes
+which marked the clear space on the platform through which
+the men were to go and the police officers had their hands full
+for a time in keeping them back. The north side waiting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>
+room had been cleared of occupants and outside were hundreds
+of public and private carriages waiting to carry the
+boys wherever they might wish. And in this one detail of
+carriages the thoughtfulness of the people of the city as well
+as their willingness to do all in their power for the boys of
+the Second were shown. Scores of them had volunteered <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'eht use of'">the
+use of</ins> their carriages that day and their offers had been
+gladly accepted, for in the majority of cases the men were
+hardly able to walk any distance, and a ride on a jolting
+electric car would not have been the best thing in the world
+for them. But there were carriages in plenty and the men
+were quickly and carefully conveyed either to their homes or
+the hospitals.</p>
+
+<p>When the train stopped the people detailed to look after
+the disembarkation of the men at once got to work and the
+boys were quickly but tenderly taken through the waiting
+room and placed in the carriages. There were many who
+were unable to walk even this short distance unassisted, but
+in the majority of cases the men were so glad to be once
+more at home that the excitement kept them up and some
+lingered about on the platform, exchanging greetings with
+their relatives or friends in the crowd. A number of physicians
+were on hand to look after any of the men who were in
+immediate need of their attention and in many other ways
+provision had been made for all. The majority of the men
+were driven directly to their homes. Others went to the
+House of Mercy or the Springfield hospital.</p>
+
+<p>The 10,000 or more people which greeted the returned ones
+did so in sober but cordial fashion. There was no demonstrative
+welcome, for common sense told the people that it
+would have been the worst thing possible for the men whom
+the crowd wanted to honor. They were in no condition to
+endure such a welcome and what they wanted was to get to
+their homes or a resting place as quickly as possible. When
+the Second went away it was in the blue uniform of the militia<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>
+of Massachusetts. The men in the ranks were all young
+and vigorous and looked a composite picture of youth and
+strength. When they came back it was in the faded yellow
+khaki uniforms issued to them in Cuba, although a few still
+wore the blue. The natty uniforms of the officers were worn
+and soiled and the faces of all were haggard and in many
+cases the beards of veterans had replaced the smooth cheeks
+and chins of the militiaman. On almost every face was the
+badge of the campaign against the pestilential fevers of Cuba
+and the sunken cheek-bones and emaciated forms bore eloquent
+witness to the hardships and sufferings that had been
+undergone. It had been no holiday excursion for the gallant
+Second.</p>
+
+<p>For days and weeks after the return the greatest interest
+was shown in the welfare of the men. Physicians placed
+their services at the disposal of the Volunteer Aid association
+and that body kept actively at work in its efforts to care for
+the men. Some of the boys were able to be out on the streets
+and in public places immediately after their arrival but in
+the majority of cases the men were glad enough to stay at
+home. Others were too ill to make their appearance in public,
+but those who were had no reason to complain of any
+lack of interest in them or their doings in Cuba. Columns
+were published daily in the newspapers concerning the condition
+of the sick men and the experiences of the well ones and
+the sight of the worn campaign uniform on the street was the
+occasion for a gathering of interested people. But as time
+went on the interest slackened, as it is in the nature of things
+so to be, the men showed a marked preference for citizens'
+dress instead of the uniform, and settled down again to the
+ordinary ways of life while waiting for their furloughs to
+expire and their muster out of the service of Uncle Sam.</p>
+
+<p>There had been much concern expressed over the orders
+instructing the Second to assemble at South Framingham for
+muster-out and there was much satisfaction when it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>
+known that the orders had been changed and that Springfield
+had been selected as the place. It was felt that this was fitting
+and proper and both the local members of the regiment
+and the people of the city were well pleased at the decision of
+the war department.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the men who had been left behind in Cuba, at
+Montauk and in hospitals at other places continued to arrive
+home and some time before the expiration of their furlough
+nearly all the surviving members of the Second were at
+home. From Cuba came the men who were left behind too
+sick to be moved when the regiment left for home and with
+them the men who had volunteered or been detailed to remain
+care for them. But all of them did not come. Privates
+Little and Stetson of G company had succumbed to disease
+and Dr. H. C. Bowen, the surgeon of the Second, was also a
+victim. He was in the division hospital when the regiment
+sailed and his death soon followed.</p>
+
+<p>The fate which befell Dr. Bowen was a hard one. Enthusiastic
+to volunteer at the outbreak of the war he was
+assigned to duty as the surgeon of the Second with the rank
+of major and he had high hopes of a useful career in the
+army as had his friends for him. But he was totally without
+experience in army medical life, his assistant surgeons,
+though young and enthusiastic in their profession, were also
+inexperienced in this line of work and at the very outset he
+and they were thwarted and discouraged by their incessant
+conflicts with army red tape and the consequent difficulty in
+obtaining needed medical supplies for the regiment. Time
+and time again Major Bowen sent in requisition after requisition
+but no supplies came in answer to them and had it not
+been for the finely appointed medical and surgical outfit furnished
+by the state of Massachusetts the equipment of the
+Second would have been meager indeed. With these on
+hand the lack of proper government supplies was not seriously
+felt until after the landing in Cuba and then with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>
+brilliancy which marked so many other features of the campaign,
+the Second's medical chest was not brought ashore,
+but was left on board the Knickerbocker until some time
+after the surrender of Santiago. As a result the medical
+supplies were short and though he tried again and again
+Major Bowen could obtain no more. Soon after he landed
+he was attacked by the malarial fever and though at first it
+was in a mild form it combined with the discouragements to
+which he had been subjected to make him low-spirited and
+not altogether a genial minister to the sick men or a companion
+at the mess. Directly after the battle of El Caney
+Assistant Surgeon Gates was taken from the Second and
+attached temporarily to the Fourth infantry, which regiment
+had no surgeon and Assistant Surgeon Hitchcock became
+ill so that the entire work of caring for the Second was
+thrown upon Major Bowen. This added to his other
+troubles and his own illness resulted in making the latter
+extremely serious and though he struggled against it for
+many weeks he was at last forced to give up. Before this he
+had manfully stuck to his post and tried in every way to do
+his duty but results of his failing health and his heavy burden
+of work were mistaken by many of the officers and men
+for lack of sympathetic feeling and for this he was criticized.
+This criticism was a mistaken one, for at bottom Major
+Bowen was of a kindly and sympathetic nature but it was
+his misfortune to have his illness and troubles put a veneer
+of <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'mpatience'">impatience</ins> upon his normal disposition and this conveyed
+the mistaken idea referred to above. In his service with the
+Second Major Bowen did all possible for a man to do and
+those who knew the heavy burden under which he toiled
+have always been willing to accord him the tribute he was
+justly entitled to. He died in the Second division hospital
+just outside of Santiago. Some months after his body was
+exhumed and sent to his family in Westfield. There was
+some mystery concerning the whereabouts of his watch and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>
+other effects but some time after his death they were accidentally
+discovered in New Orleans and restored to his
+parents.</p>
+
+<p>At Montauk Point K company suffered a loss in the death
+of Musician Frank P. Jones, who succumbed to fever in the
+camp hospital August 27th. All through the campaign in
+Cuba Musician Jones not only kept himself well and his
+spirits up but his cheery speech did much to help his comrades.
+It was not until he reached Montauk that he gave in
+to the disease which laid so many of the Second low.</p>
+
+<p>Even after the regiment had returned home and the sick
+men were being given the best of medical attention and care
+in their homes or in the hospitals the death angel did not
+cease. On Sept. 13th Corporal Patrick J. Noone of G company
+died at his home after a long illness with the fever and
+two days later his remains were escorted to the grave by his
+comrades and laid to rest after the three volleys which mark
+the soldier's burial had been fired. On October 8, Private
+Frank Burke of G died and was laid to rest in the same
+cemetery.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile in both the Mercy and the Springfield hospitals
+all that was possible was being done for the sick "soldier
+boys," and physicians and nurses were untiring in their
+efforts. Both institutions had many soldier patients and
+they will long remember the devoted care and kindnesses
+they received.</p>
+
+<p>All this time preparations for the muster-out of the Second
+had been going steadily on. It had been settled that the
+outfit was to be formally discharged from the United States
+service in Springfield and on Sept. 28th First Lieut. Oliver
+Edwards, 11th Infantry U. S. A., came on to assist in the
+work preliminary to muster-out. There was considerable to
+be done in the way of getting ready for the ceremony and
+there were many things to be explained to both officers and
+men before all was in readiness. In the effort to have everything<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>
+clearly understood and all the "kinks" straightened
+out Lieut. Edwards was untiring and he made a most favorable
+impression upon all with whom his duties brought him
+in contact.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XIX.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE BECOME PLAIN CITIZENS ONCE MORE AND SQUARE
+ACCOUNTS WITH UNCLE SAM.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i177.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">OCTOBER 3d, 1898, is one of the "star" days in the
+history of the Second, that being the day on which
+we ceased to be soldiers of the United States and
+became plain and humble citizens once more. Incidentally
+it was something of a day for Springfield for
+one of the features of the muster-out was a brief parade of the
+regiment from the railway station to the state armory, where
+the exercises occurred. Before that, the armory had been for
+some time the scene of much activity. The furlough of the
+regiment, given it at Montauk, had expired October 24th,
+and for the rest of the time preceding muster-out the officers
+and men were required to make the armory their home during
+the day. Their meals were served there, a contract being
+made with a Springfield caterer, and it can be said that the
+daily menu was far more satisfactory than those we had in
+the campaign although the government paid for both. During
+this period, the officers and men were also required to appear
+in uniform and the streets took on a decidedly military
+appearance. Much interest was shown by the people of the
+city in everything that pertained to the muster-out and the
+armory had many visitors daily. But it was all play in those
+days for some of the officers and men. There is a lot of red<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>
+tape and formality connected with putting volunteer organizations
+out of the United States service, and there was plenty
+of work to be done in making out rolls and all sorts of
+papers, so that those detailed for this work were kept busy
+for many days.</p>
+
+<p>Finally on the 3d of October, all the companies of the Second
+were assembled in Springfield, the local companies
+marching to the railway station to meet them and after passing
+in review before the city officials at the city hall, the regiment
+marched to the armory for muster-out. The parade,
+the first appearance of the Second since it left for the front,
+brought out thousands of people to watch the men who had
+done good service on a foreign soil, and had watered it with
+the blood of many who had marched away on the morning of
+May 3d. The regiment presented a curious sight in some
+respects and as a spectacle it must be said the affair was not
+an altogether happy one. The men were without rifles or
+equipments, some wore the faded khaki uniform issued just
+before leaving Cuba, others the old blue outfits of the Massachusetts
+militia and the ranks were thinner than when the
+regiment left South Framingham. There seemed to be a
+chill in the air, too, and instead of applause there was subdued
+comment on the appearance of the men as they marched
+past.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i179" id="i179" href="images/i179-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i179.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">The Prairie</span></div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>Surely the men did not look like ballroom soldiers. The
+uniforms were in many cases ill-fitting and soiled, the marching
+was not done with the precision of some crack national
+guard organizations which did not go to the front, and the
+faces of the majority of the officers and men wore the yellow
+signal of service in a pestilential climate. But this in itself
+ought to have been warrant for some outburst of satisfaction
+in the gallant deeds of the regiment instead of curious stares
+and the silence of wonderment. However, there were sporadic
+cases of applause and as the men did not much care
+whether they received any or not, they found little fault with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>
+the lack of it. Only the members of the companies from outside
+the city wondered mildly what it all meant, and if after
+all it would not have been as well to have stayed at home and
+not have tried to stand by the flag when men were wanted.</p>
+
+<p>The ceremonies at the armory were informal enough. Each
+company was mustered out in turn by Lieut. Col. E. M.
+Weaver of the Fifth Massachusetts U. S. V., who as a lieutenant
+in the Second U. S. Artillery had mustered us in at
+South Framingham on May 3d. He was assisted by Lieut.
+Edwards and it did not take very long to put each company
+"out of business" as United States Volunteers. The company
+was formed, the men answered to their names and took
+position in the same manner as when mustered in, and this
+over the company commander was informed that the company
+was mustered out and that discharge papers for each man
+would be provided.</p>
+
+<p>But the discharge papers did not come that day nor for several
+days. The paymaster had failed to arrive with the
+funds and until these were distributed the men had but little
+use for discharge papers. It was explained that the reason
+for delay on the paymaster's part was due to errors in the
+rolls sent in from a few of the companies and as the men
+wanted their three months pay and allowances rather more
+than discharges, it is no wonder if some unkind things were
+said as to the paymaster and these companies.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until November 17th that the long looked for
+pay arrived, and the companies were ordered to once more
+assemble at the armory, this time for the purpose of settling
+accounts with Uncle Sam. This operation was simple enough,
+yet very interesting to the recipients of the contents of the small
+and dingy valise of the paymaster. The three months' pay
+with the allowances for clothing and ration money made quite
+a sizable sum for the great majority of the men, and the nice
+new greenbacks which they received were not refused.
+With the money came the discharge papers as a sure enough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>
+sign that we were no longer soldiers of the United States.
+Many of the officers and men failed, however, to settle up with
+Major Sherman on the 17th. Some of the officers had not
+squared their accounts with the war department and in some
+cases they were obliged to wait a considerable time before
+they accounted for every bit of property they were held responsible
+for and complied with all the red tape. A number
+of the men were not able to be on hand, owing to sickness
+and other causes, when Major Sherman finally arrived and
+they were likewise forced to wait. An interesting episode of
+"paying off" time was the breezy disagreement between
+Major Sherman and Capt. McDonald of B company, over the
+former's refusal to pay some eight men of the latter's company,
+who had, it seems, signed one pay roll and supposed
+that everything was all right. As it happened, when Major
+Sherman came to Springfield, he failed to bring the correct
+roll for B company, and insisted that the members should
+sign a new one. This was done, but as the eight men referred
+to were out of the city, they were unable to sign, and
+when they appeared for their pay, were told they would have
+to wait for some time. The majority of the men needed the
+money and needed it badly, but although Capt. McDonald
+exhausted every effort to obtain it for them, it was not till
+quite a while had elapsed that they were paid. The opportunity
+afforded Capt. McDonald for some caustic criticisms of
+the workings of the war department was not allowed to pass.</p>
+
+<p>In those days it was a great thing to be a returned soldier
+as was instanced in the cases of several of the boys who were
+members of more or less secret organizations. It got to be a
+common thing for these associations to show their appreciation
+of their soldier members by presenting them with money
+or badges, or some token of esteem, and a number of the men
+who served with the Springfield companies are wearing medals
+or badges thus presented. Probably none of them was
+prouder of his medal than Private Morris Grenowitz of B<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>
+company who had the distinction of being the only Hebrew
+in the three Springfield companies. He was a member of
+the Young Men's Hebrew Association, and soon after his return
+the association held a public reception in his honor and
+presented him with a check for a small sum of money and a
+gold medal. Private Peter F. Boyer of B company was given
+a gold watch by the members of an organization to which
+he belonged and several of the other boys were similarly
+remembered, among them Private William Ferrier of G company
+who was given a handsome gold ring. A number of
+the members of the Springfield companies resided in West
+Springfield and the inhabitants of the village of Mittineague
+in that town honored their soldiers one evening by a big reception
+and entertainment with plenty of red fire, etc., included.</p>
+
+<p>A largely attended public reception and flag presentation
+was held in the city hall, on the evening of November 3d, to
+which the officers and members of the Springfield companies,
+and their relatives and friends were invited and the hall was
+packed to the doors. Gov. Wolcott and members of his staff
+were present and the governor spoke, as did a number of the
+prominent citizens, all eulogizing the work of the regiment
+and paying a tribute to the officers and men who had failed
+to return. The tattered colors of the regiment were in evidence
+and their appearance in the hall was the signal for an
+outburst of applause. On this occasion the stands of colors
+purchased for each company in connection with the Fourth
+of July celebration of 1898, which never came off, were formally
+presented, and as the representatives of each of the companies
+advanced to receive the new and handsome flags, the
+audience broke into applause and cheers. These flags were
+bought with the proceeds of the sales of the Fourth of July
+badges which were to have been a feature of the celebration
+and a good sum was realized.</p>
+
+<p>Previous to muster-out First Sergeant T. F. Burke of B
+company had been appointed on the recommendation of Col.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>
+Clark as Second Lieutenant to fill the vacancy caused by the
+death of Lieut. Harry J. Vesper.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately following the muster-out Dr. E. A. Gates,
+who had been promoted from Assistant Surgeon to Surgeon
+with the rank of Major, vice Bowen, deceased, was ordered
+to Boston and Worcester to assist in the work of examining
+the men of other regiments to be mustered out. Assistant
+Surgeon Hitchcock was also ordered on this same duty. Dr.
+Hitchcock was attacked with a serious spinal trouble and
+for some months his life was despaired of. He finally recovered
+but not until after weary months of suffering.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after the muster-out of the Second the provisional
+militia companies organized in the city during the war
+ceased practically to exist, although they were not formally
+disbanded for some time afterwards. The reorganization of
+the Second as a part of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia
+did not start until after its muster out of the United States
+service and it was at one time freely predicted that the work
+of reorganization would be the hardest task ever experienced
+by those in charge. It looked so at times, but in spite of the
+croakers and pessimists who asserted that it was likely that
+the Second would never be the same regiment again the reorganization
+was quietly and successfully effected and it was
+not long before the outfit was once again in its old form.
+A surprisingly large number of the officers and men who
+had served in the war remained in the regiment and this was
+especially the case in the three Springfield companies, G and
+B having more of the veterans than K. The state granted
+the regiment a 30 days' furlough dating from Nov. 3 to Dec.
+3 in order to allow time to get matters straightened out before
+its entrance upon a career of militia service again.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile steps had been taken toward an expedition to
+go to Cuba and bring back the bodies of the dead of the
+Second. The co-operation of the cities and towns from
+which the regiment was recruited was obtained and a number<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>
+of meetings were held in this city, representatives from
+Worcester, Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield, Orange
+and Adams being present with authority from their respective
+cities and towns. After a number of meetings an expedition
+was organized which left for Cuba in January, 1899.
+The Springfield representatives were Lieut. T. F. Burke of
+B company, Lieut. Fred Jenks of K company, Private
+Dozilva <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Lamoreau'">Lamoreaux</ins> of G company and Private Alfred Rose
+of B, the latter going as interpreter. The progress of the
+expedition was slow at first, owing to many difficulties connected
+with obtaining permission to disinter the bodies and
+of getting transportation, but thanks to incessant work and
+powerful influence these were at last disposed of and the
+party sailed from New York on Jan. 29. It was necessary
+to go first to Porto Rico and remain there some days but
+after Santiago was reached there was comparatively little
+trouble. The bodies of the Springfield men were all located
+and identified with one exception, that of Private Robert E.
+Kelly of G, who was fatally shot on the night of July 2d at
+San Juan. The bodies were encased in metallic coffins and
+on arrival in Springfield were given proper burial. An elaborate
+service was held over the body of Sergeant Richard H.
+Bearse of B company in the State Street Baptist church,
+representatives of the city government and the organizations
+of which he was a member as well as his own company,
+being present. The church was crowded with friends and
+the ceremonies were impressive. Before this the body of
+Musician Frank P. Jones of K had been brought on from
+Montauk and buried in Oak Grove cemetery after largely
+attended services in the State Street Methodist church. The
+bodies of the G company men were buried with military
+honors also and those of Privates Little and Stetson, whose
+relatives could not be found, were interred in a lot which the
+company purchased in the Springfield cemetery.</p>
+
+<p>Twice within the year 1899 were the Springfield companies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>
+called together to go over again in memory the deeds of
+the previous year. For some time there had been desultory
+talk of public honors being paid to the dead of the companies
+and finally a memorial service was arranged for and
+was held in the city hall on Sunday afternoon, April 16.
+It was one of the most disagreeable days imaginable, a fall
+of mingled rain and snow filling the streets with slush, but
+despite this the building was jammed to suffocation. The
+platform was decorated with appropriate bunting and in
+front were representations of memorial tablets bearing the
+names of the officers and men of the companies who had
+given their lives in the cause. The war-worn regimental
+colors were brought on from Boston for the occasion and
+were draped in the rear of the platform. Affecting tributes
+were paid to the dead heroes and eulogies were pronounced
+by some of Springfield's most prominent citizens.</p>
+
+<p>The camp of the First Brigade M. V. M. at South Framingham
+in August, 1899, brought the regiment once more
+onto the ground where it was mustered into the United
+States service the year before, but under much different circumstances
+than then. The ranks of the Second contained
+a very large percentage, a majority, in fact, of those who
+had gone out with it to Cuba and the red sleeve stripes
+indicating service in war were conspicuous on the blouses of
+the greater number of the men. At this time old friendships
+formed during the campaign were renewed and new
+ones formed.</p>
+
+<p>On the occasion of the annual fall drill of the state militia
+in Boston in October Admiral George Dewey was the guest
+of the city and the event was also made the occasion of the
+formal "turning over" of the "war colors" to the state.
+The Second came in for no little share of the honors of the
+occasion, as well it might.</p>
+
+<p>As time wore on after the return of the regiment from the
+fever stricken camps in Cuba the malarial poison left the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>
+bodies of the men and within six months afterwards the
+majority of them had regained their normal health. There
+were many, however, with whom the exposures and hardships
+of the campaign had raised havoc and to this day some
+show the effects of the short but eventful period when they
+were serving under the flag. The latest man in the Springfield
+companies to succumb to the ravages of disease
+contracted in the campaign was Private John L. Morehouse
+of K company, who died Nov. 12 of typhoid fever.</p>
+
+<p>In October, 1899, a number of the officers and men of the
+Springfield companies who had served in the Cuban war
+began the organization of a camp of the Legion of Spanish
+War Veterans, an order patterned after the model of the
+Grand Army of the Republic and which it is to be hoped
+will be to the veterans of the war with Spain what the
+Grand Army is to the men who fought in the Civil war.
+The camp was named after Henry S. Lee of Springfield,
+whose splendid and self-sacrificing work for the benefit of
+the soldiers and sailors in the Spanish war will never be forgotten
+by them or the people.</p>
+
+<p>Thus closes the record of Springfield's three infantry companies
+in the war with Spain. It is not a long chronicle but
+it is one in which the people of the City of Homes can
+always take a just pride. It is not confined to these companies
+alone either, for aside from the efficient duty performed
+by her company in the naval brigade, there were many individual
+enlistments in regular regiments and there was the
+splendid work done at the United States armory in turning
+out the arms with which the troops were equipped. As in
+the Civil war the works were run day and night and the
+force of <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'employes'">employees</ins> trebled. There was good work done too at
+the recruiting station and it is not too much to say that
+Springfield was a prominent factor in the war from its beginning
+to its close. When the rebellion against the authority
+of the United States in the Philippines broke out and volunteers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>
+were again called for Springfield again showed its
+patriotism. A number enlisted from this city in the famous
+26th and among them were many of the men who had seen
+service in Cuba. Others went into the 46th and more would
+have gone had it been necessary. As always the city and its
+men young and old showed their loyalty to the flag, whether
+it led the way to the hills around Santiago or to the rice
+swamps and jungles of Luzon.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XX.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHEREIN IS NARRATED THE ADVENTURES ON THE HIGH
+SEAS OF SPRINGFIELD'S SAILORS.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i189.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">WHILE the land soldiers which Springfield furnished
+the government were enjoying themselves in Florida
+and Cuba and toying with the canned roast beef
+and other incidentals of a campaign, the Springfield
+marine contingent was not having an altogether lovely
+time. On the monitor Lehigh and the auxiliary cruiser
+Prairie there was work and hard work too in plenty but on
+the whole the rations and the quarters were better than those
+enjoyed by the infantry contingent. But the boys of H company,
+naval brigade, pined for active service and those on the
+Lehigh were aggrieved at not getting it while their comrades
+on the Prairie were roaming the seas on a fast ship in <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'chase of of the'">chase
+of the</ins> enemy or doing blockade duty off the coasts of Cuba and
+Porto Rico. It was hard work for the Lehigh men to be
+cooped up on their old, "flat boat" in Boston harbor during
+the stirring times of the summer of 1898 but it is to their
+credit that although they grumbled at their lot as all good
+sailors do, yet they did their full duty and did it well.</p>
+
+<p>The bringing of the Lehigh from the League Island navy
+yard to Boston Harbor was in itself something of an achievement
+for the tug which towed her broke down and the monitor
+was forced to proceed under her own steam, much to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span>
+surprise of those on the tug Clara Clorita. This happened at
+Vineyard Haven and from that point to Boston the Lehigh
+was cast off from the tug and was sailed the remainder of the
+way under her own steam and by her own crew. When the
+Lehigh left Philadelphia the navy yard officials were apprehensive
+of her behavior at sea as she was primarily a coast
+defence vessel but the naval brigade men in the monitor
+found no great trouble in sailing her.</p>
+
+<p>The Lehigh reached Boston on May 5 and on the 9th the
+Springfield officers and men of the crew were given leaves of
+absence and furloughs to enable them to attend the presentation
+of "The Ensign" by Springfield amateurs at the Court
+Square theater for the benefit of the company fund. The
+crew included Lieut. J. K. Dexter, Lieut, (j. g.) W. O.
+Cohn, Ensign Walter S. Barr and Seamen W. A. Sabin, A.
+N. Luce, R. P. King, Paul H. Lathrop, L. E. Ladd, W. S.
+Johnson, W. F. Bright and R. H. B. Warburton. The presentation
+was a successful one in every way and netted quite
+a sum.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the Lehigh had been permanently detailed for
+duty in Boston harbor as a coast defence vessel and a disagreeable
+surprise was in store for some of the Springfield men
+when they returned from their furloughs. They were all
+anxious to re-enlist for service and had been assured by Capt.
+Weeks, commanding the naval brigade, that if they telegraphed
+to him their willingness to re-enlist before a certain
+hour on the 10th, places would be kept for them. But on
+their arrival on the ship on May 12th they found that there
+was only one vacancy left. Just how the mistake was made
+was never thoroughly explained, but it was suspected by the
+Springfield men that there was a scheme to shut as many of
+them as possible out in favor of some Boston naval militiamen.
+They felt it keenly and Lieut. Dexter succeeded in
+straightening out matters so that Coxswain Johnson and
+Seamen Bright and Warburton were re-enlisted. Sabin,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>
+Luce and King had already done so and this left only Lathrop
+and Ladd out in the cold. In spite of their efforts they
+could not get in.</p>
+
+<p>The officers suffered also from the fact that there were not
+places enough for all of them in the Lehigh's complement as
+a coast defense ship. Lieut. Colin was offered the alternative
+of going on the waiting list or being reduced in rank to
+ensign. He chose the latter and remained with
+the ship but there was no place for Ensign Barr and he was
+placed on the waiting list and returned home to await orders.
+Later Lieut. Dexter was taken from the Lehigh and placed
+on the converted ferry boat "Governor Russell," the property
+of the City of Boston which had turned over to the government,
+as executive officer.</p>
+
+<p>All this time the "Prairie dogs," as the crew of that vessel
+were dubbed by their less fortunate comrades, were having a
+fairly good time at the Brooklyn navy yard. Much time was
+spent there in fitting up the vessel as an auxiliary cruiser and
+until the work was well advanced the crew was lodged and
+fed in hotels and later in the navy yard barracks.</p>
+
+<p>As it happened, Ralph H. Newcomb was the first of the
+Springfield men to reach the Prairie and report for duty. He
+was in Washington on a visit when orders were issued for H
+company to report at Brooklyn and when he was notified by
+Lieut. Crossman he lost no time in getting to that city and
+the navy yard, beating out his comrades by several hours.</p>
+
+<p>Hammocks were "swung" on the Prairie for the first time
+on Saturday, May 7th, and from that time until muster-out
+in September hotel fare was a dream of the past to which the
+boys looked back with considerable regret. The Prairie, completely
+transformed into a war ship, left the navy yard and
+steamed down the harbor to <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Tomkinsville'">Tompkinsville</ins>. This was on Friday,
+the 13th of May, but if there was any "hoodoo" it
+failed to work. The next day the Prairie steamed out to sea
+and had target practice, badly frightening some of the residents<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>
+of the coast with the big guns. Late in the afternoon
+the Prairie gave chase to a suspicious craft which turned out
+to be an English tramp steamer.</p>
+
+<p>The Prairie had been assigned to patrol duty on the North
+Atlantic coast with the San Francisco. The "Frisco" was
+sighted on the day following and both ships steamed into
+Provincetown and remained there for the next day, sailing
+out late in the afternoon. It is recorded that the sailors
+washed clothes during their stay in Provincetown and it is
+evident they were getting a taste of the life of a jolly tar.
+The regular patrol tour of the Prairie was from Provincetown
+north to some 40 miles above Boston, then south to
+Nantucket to Provincetown, meeting the San Francisco off
+the cape and obtaining mail.</p>
+
+<p>These were not idle days by any means. What with battalion
+drills, inspection, target practice, painting ship and the
+regular routine of ship's work the long hours of duty passed
+quickly and the men were pretty well tired out as a rule when
+the time came to get into their hammocks. But the men of
+H company learned fast and soon accustomed themselves to
+life on one of Uncle Sam's war ships. The one thing they
+did not take to very kindly in the line of work was coaling
+ship and this came rather oftener than they had any relish
+for.</p>
+
+<p>In the way of food there was little to complain of, although
+the fare was not Delmonico-like by any means. One of the
+mess cooks kept a diary of what he served up for every meal
+during the service of the Prairie and it shows that the menus,
+while probably simple enough to the men on board, would
+have been regarded as the acme of luxurious living by their
+brethren of the Second. A few samples are given: breakfast,
+June 10, Indian meal and coffee; dinner, soup, roast
+beef and potatoes; supper, hash and French toast. June
+12th, breakfast, bacon and potatoes; dinner, sausages and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>
+potatoes; supper, beans, cold meat and sausages. The daily
+average was fully up to the samples given above.</p>
+
+<p>Capt. Train of the Prairie was a disciplinarian and there
+were punishments meted out for various small offences. One
+man was deprived of shore liberty for three months for
+throwing swill out of a port hole. For smoking outside of
+"smoking hours" the customary punishment was 48 hours of
+extra duty, while for being late with hammocks the sentence
+was for the delinquents to parade the deck for an hour or two
+hours with the hammocks on their shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>The Prairie sailed from Provincetown June 10th for a brief
+cruise southward, but returned on the 14th. The weather
+was very foggy during the cruise and on the 14th the ship
+came near running down an English tramp steamer passing
+within a boat's length of her.</p>
+
+<p>On the 16th the Prairie sailed again from Provincetown for
+Delaware breakwater, arriving there on the 18th. The next
+day she sailed for New York, anchoring off Tompkinsville the
+20th. Coaling ship was one of the innocent amusements of
+the day and the men stowed away 83 tons in the afternoon.
+Early next morning the sport was resumed and before breakfast
+28 tons more had been put away in the bunkers, the record
+for the day being 182 tons. The next day the coal situation
+again took the attention of the crew but they finished
+the job. Shore liberty resulted in some of the men overstaying
+it and being shut off from any more during the stay.
+On Sunday, June 26th, the men got into blue dress for inspection
+but before the ceremony was over orders came to sail at
+once for Key West. Off came the blue suits and the men
+got into their "coal" suits again and finished coaling ship
+at 1.30 in the morning. The Prairie sailed for Key West on
+the 27th, arriving there June 1st. Her stay was short, for
+the same day she left with mail for the blockading squadron
+off Cuba and sighting the Amphitrite the next day transferred
+her mail to her. Later that day the Prairie gave the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>
+mail to the Newport, Montgomery, Vicksburg and Marietta.
+That afternoon the men on the Prairie saw the Marietta pick
+up a refugee from the shore and saw the guns from Morro
+Castle fire at her but fail to strike.</p>
+
+<p>On July Fourth the men paraded in blue and fired the
+national salute. The Prairie for a day or two acted as flagship
+of the squadron during the absence of the Amphitrite at
+Key West.</p>
+
+<p>On Tuesday, July 5th, the Hawk came alongside the
+Prairie with orders for the latter to proceed to Mariel, 23-1/2
+miles from Havana, and assist in the capture of a liner supposed
+to have been trying to run the blockade. The liner
+proved to be the Spanish transport Alphonso XII, with a
+large number of soldiers on board. She had tried to run the
+blockade but had been discovered and chased so sharply by a
+couple of the converted yachts attached to the blockading
+squadron that she was run ashore and lay head on. The
+troops and her crew had managed to get ashore by the time
+the Prairie came up, but it was not certain that she was not
+manned and several shots were sent at her from the starboard
+six-inch guns. After the fourth or fifth shot there was an
+explosion, evidently her magazine, and as she did not return
+the fire the Prairie ceased firing. During the firing a saucy
+little Spanish gunboat stuck her nose out of the harbor but a
+couple of six-inch shells settled her fate and she was sunk in
+quick time. The firing at the Alphonso XII was first-rate
+target practice and at long range, too, all the shells hitting
+her, although the range was 6600 yards.</p>
+
+<p>On July 7th the Tecumseh brought a lot of mail from Key
+West for the Prairie and a good share of the day was put in
+in reading it. On the 9th a small shark was caught and
+some of the boys secured teeth as souvenirs.</p>
+
+<p>Monday, July 11th, the Prairie was relieved of blockade
+duty off Mariel and ordered to Gibara with the Topeka, Mayflower
+and Badger, the Prairie being made the flagship of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>
+squadron. The trip to Gibara was without special incidents
+and the ships arrived there on the 13th. Just as the blockaders
+appeared a schooner and two fishing smacks which
+were just coming out made haste to get back into the port.
+Blockade duty was kept up for several days and occasionally
+the ship would go in so close to the town that the people
+could be seen in the streets. The search-lights were used
+about every night and this work was pleasing to the men
+detailed for it.</p>
+
+<p>The San Francisco arrived on the 17th and took off a lot of
+mail for the United States. Since leaving Havana the crew
+of the Prairie had not received any mail and were eagerly
+expecting some. On the 18th the supply of sugar gave out
+and this was keenly felt until some was procured. On the
+20th the Maple, which had joined the squadron, caught a
+small sloop with a crew of four men and laden with tobacco,
+making the first prize of the tour.</p>
+
+<p>One of the marine detail on the Prairie was a Springfield
+man named John Fenton and on the 21st he was the victim
+of a severe accident caused by the slipping of a six-inch shell
+from his hands at gun practice. The shell landed on his foot,
+badly crushing it.</p>
+
+<p>This same day a delegation of the prominent citizens of
+Gibara came out in a small boat and offered to surrender the
+town as the Spanish garrison was about to leave and the inhabitants
+were afraid of the negroes in the vicinity. On
+receiving the offer the Prairie steamed to Nipe bay where the
+Topeka was found engaged in shelling the town. The
+Dupont took a message to the Topeka and the Prairie returned
+to Gibara. From a Cuban who came out in a dory it was
+learned that the inhabitants had raised an American flag over
+the town and were anxious that a force be landed to take possession
+of the place. It was also learned that the town was
+short of provisions. The Cuban's heart was gladdened by
+the gift of hardtack, canned meat, corn and coffee. On the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>
+25th the Mangrove brought orders to proceed to Guantanamo
+bay and coal up at once. At Guantanamo fresh meat and
+also newspapers a week or two old were received.</p>
+
+<p>Wednesday, July 27th, marked the close of the third
+month of service of the Prairie's crew and as if to celebrate
+the event the Supply came in with a lot of provisions. The
+work of coaling ship was begun on the night of the 25th and
+did not cease until the 27th, the men standing their regular
+watches and doing their trick with the coal as if it was nothing
+unusual.</p>
+
+<p>The Prairie sailed from Guantanamo bay on the evening of
+the 27th and reached San Juan, Porto Rico, on the 29th.
+Some ammunition brought from Guantanamo for the cruiser
+New Orleans was transferred to her in boats. The Prairie
+did not stay long at San Juan but sailed for Ponce on the
+other side of the island on the 31st, arriving there the next
+day. Troops were being landed at Ponce and the roadstead
+was filled with war ships and transports. One of the transports
+became stuck on a bar outside the light-house and the
+Prairie had hard work getting her off the bar. A lot of
+mangoes brought aboard resulted in a number of the men
+being made ill from indulging too freely in the fruit. The
+soldiers on the transport Massachusetts, the one which was
+stuck, were taken on board the Prairie and fed, being landed
+the next day.</p>
+
+<p>News of the cessation of hostilities reached the ship August
+5th and was received at first with incredulity. The night of
+Friday, August 12th, was made memorable by Burgess
+tumbling out of his hammock three times in rapid succession.
+"Rags," the canine mascot, had become subject to fits and
+was assisted to commit suicide one day while in the harbor.</p>
+
+<p>The Prairie received orders to sail for the United States and
+on August 18th left for Santiago, arriving there the 20th.
+The ship left Santiago the 21st, with three companies of the
+Seventh infantry on board. All went well until the 25th,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>
+when a heavy fog came on and the Prairie ran aground near
+Amagansett Point, 15 miles from Montauk Point. There
+was considerable confusion, of course, but the Prairie was
+handled well. All the boats were lowered and two kedge
+anchors were put out, one from the starboard quarter and
+the other from the starboard forecastle. The boats were out
+all night and it was not until at high tide the next day that
+the Prairie was hauled off by the tug Brittania and a light-house
+tender. The soldiers were landed and taken to Montauk
+Point. After being hauled off the Prairie sailed for
+Montauk Point, arriving there early in the evening. At
+Montauk the Prairie was put into quarantine until the 28th.
+Hardly was she out of quarantine before she steamed to
+Newport and from there to Fall River, where a warm reception
+was given the Fall River men on board the ship. That
+evening the Fall River and New Bedford men went ashore
+but the Springfield contingent was kept on board, much to
+their disappointment. On the 30th the Prairie left Fall River
+and steamed down to Newport, the event of the evening
+being the playing of the "Fu-Fu" band. The next day the
+ship started for New York and remained there until the 19th,
+when she went to Delaware Breakwater. Rumors of discharge
+began to agitate the crew soon after arriving in New
+York and Capt. Train went to Washington to confer with
+the Navy Department concerning it but returned with no
+definite knowledge of the exact time the muster-out would
+take place. From Delaware Breakwater the Prairie steamed
+up to the League Island navy yard where some of the guns
+were taken off and transferred to the New York. During
+the stay in New York and at League Island the "Rough
+Riders" made several successful initiations.</p>
+
+<p>Sunday, September 25, hammocks were lashed for the last
+time and after the dunnage had been loaded on a tug, the
+crew mustered and gave three cheers for Capt. Train and
+Lieuts. Stone and Stimpson. This done, the crew bade good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>
+bye to the Prairie and went ashore, going to Jersey City by
+train. After a brief trip on a ferry, the Fall River boat was
+boarded for the trip to that city and Boston. The latter
+place was reached about 10 o'clock Monday morning and
+after passing in review before the governor at the state house
+the Prairie men proceeded to the receiving ship Wabash,
+where they were furloughed until the following Wednesday.
+The boys enjoyed themselves hugely in Boston until Wednesday,
+when they were mustered out and given their discharges
+from the service of the United States.</p>
+
+<p>At 9.15 that evening, the Springfield part of the crew arrived
+home and were given an enthusiastic welcome in which
+red fire and fireworks played a prominent part. At the armory
+the men were greeted by glad relatives and soon dispersed
+to their homes plain naval militiamen once more after
+doing their full duty to Uncle Sam and serving him well.</p>
+
+<p>Lieut. H. S Crossman, who went out with the Prairie detail
+remained on the ship until she was ordered south, when
+he and some of the other officers were sent out on special
+duty. He was assigned to duty as recruiting officer on the
+Minnesota and remained there until a short time before the
+dismissal of the Prairie's crew from the service.</p>
+
+<p>Lieut. J. K. Dexter was detailed from duty on the Lehigh
+to duty as navigator on the converted ferry boat, Gov. Russell,
+and ordered to take her to Key West. The trip was an
+eventful one, for the Gov. Russell as a war boat was a fearfully
+and wonderfully constructed piece of marine architecture,
+and there were times when it was a question whether
+she would ever reach a port or not. But finally she was navigated
+as far as Newport News, and after looking her carefully
+over, the naval authorities decided that it was not wise
+to expose her again to the high seas.</p>
+
+<p>After muster-out of the Lehigh detail H company was
+once more at home and it was not long before the reorganization
+of the command as a part of the state militia was begun<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>
+and successfully carried out, a good number of the officers
+and men who had seen service remaining. Today the company
+is once more in its old position of the best all-round
+company in the Massachusetts naval brigade.</p>
+
+<p>On October 27th, a number of prominent citizens tendered
+H company a banquet at Hotel Worthy, and the occasion
+will long be remembered as a very pleasant one. During the
+evening the handsome silk American flag, purchased for the
+company by citizens, was presented by Rev. Dr. P. S.
+Moxom.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="ROSTER" id="ROSTER"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">ROSTER.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>FIELD STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.</h3>
+
+<p class="noindent">
+<span class="smcap">Colonel, Embury P. Clark</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Major, Frederick G. Southmayd</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Adjutant, First Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Quartermaster, First Lieut. Edward E. Sawtell</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Major and Surgeon, Henry C. Bowen</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Major and Surgeon, Ernest A. Gates</span>.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="noindent">
+<span class="smcap">Sergeant-Major, Robert N. Ingersol</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Quartermaster-Sergeant, Ross L. Lusk</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Hospital Steward, Edson P. Howes</span>.<br />
+</p>
+
+<h3>G. COMPANY.</h3>
+
+<p class="noindent">
+<span class="smcap">Captain, John J. Leonard.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">First Lieutenant, William C. Hayes.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Second Lieutenant, Edward J. Leyden.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">First Sergeant, William Butement.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Sergeants, Jeremiah F. Scully.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Joseph N. Lovely.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Walter W. Ward.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Joseph A. Murphy.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">James A. Gibbons.</span></span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Corporals, Robert A. Ross.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Patrick J. Noone.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Michael J. McHale.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Frank C. Keating</span>, Chicopee Falls.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Nataline Gardella.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span><span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Ernest E. Robinson.</span></span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Musicians, Patrick J. O'Connell.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Robert D. Cargill.</span></span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Wagoner, James R. Shene.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Artificer, Benjamin A. Seamans.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">PRIVATES</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Privates G Co.">
+<tr><td align="left">Frank A. Anderson</td><td align="left">Dozilva P. Lamoreaux, Chicopee</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Timothy T. Austin</td><td align="left">Andrew Little</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Elmer B. Barrowcliffe</td><td align="left">Christopher T. Lovett</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank J. Barsalow</td><td align="left">John J. Mahoney, W. Sp'f'd</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Daniel J. Bellamy</td><td align="left">Thomas F. Mahoney</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Wilbur G. Brassard, Thompsonville &nbsp; &nbsp;</td><td align="left">George H. Markham</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">James H. Bresnahan</td><td align="left">John B. Mandeville</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Patrick J. Bresnan</td><td align="left">Ernest P. Marble</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Alfred C. Brownell</td><td align="left">Dennis F. McCarthy</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Francis C. Burke</td><td align="left">Henry E. Merchant</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Thomas Burke</td><td align="left">Louis Monteverde</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Henry T. Conrad</td><td align="left">Fred H. Morrill</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George W. Campbell</td><td align="left">Carl A. Mueller</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Thomas M. Conlin</td><td align="left">James J. O'Brien</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William E. Coolidge</td><td align="left">Charles A. Nelson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Timothy J. Crowley</td><td align="left">John J. O'Leary</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William R. Dillon, W. Sp'f'd &nbsp; &nbsp;</td><td align="left">Arthur H. Packard</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">John H. Dunn</td><td align="left">Walter A. Packard</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George E. Easton</td><td align="left">Jacob Peterson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William Ferrier</td><td align="left">George A. Richmond</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Charles R. Fisher</td><td align="left">William J. Rooney</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Theodore Gelinas, Holyoke</td><td align="left">William J. Root</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank M. Hannon</td><td align="left">Jeremiah J. Shea</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Patrick J. Hayes</td><td align="left">Cyrus A. Shufelt</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Andrew F. Higgins</td><td align="left">Henry J. Slattery</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank N. Hunt</td><td align="left">Fred S. Stetson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Robert G. Kelly</td><td align="left">John E. Tobin</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Edward K. Lathrop</td><td align="left">Henry B. Whitmore</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Henry H. Lawler</td><td align="left">Samuel Wilson</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p>
+
+<h3>B COMPANY.</h3>
+
+<p class="noindent">
+<span class="smcap">Captain</span>, <span class="smcap">Henry McDonald</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">First Lieutenant</span>, <span class="smcap">William J. Young</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Second Lieutenant</span>, <span class="smcap">Harry J. Vesper</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Second Lieutenant</span>, <span class="smcap">Thomas F. Burke</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Sergeants</span>, <span class="smcap">Richard H. Bearse</span>.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Samuel E. Smith</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">George J. McKeown</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">John J. O'Connell</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Everett W. Wilcox</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Corporals</span>, <span class="smcap">Frank A. Wakefield</span>.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Melvin H. Ransom</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Richard B. Blaney</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Michael J. Donahuh</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">John B. Fulton</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Thomas F. Handy</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Musicians</span>, <span class="smcap">Henry F. Ladbury</span>.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Bernard E. Comey</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Wagoner</span>, <span class="smcap">Paul J. Kingston</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Artificer</span>, <span class="smcap">Orvin E. Alberts</span>.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">PRIVATES &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Privates B Co.">
+<tr><td align="left">Charles H. Ashley</td><td align="left">Donald A. McPhee</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">John Bryson</td><td align="left">William J. Mack</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Peter F. Boyer</td><td align="left">Daniel J. Moriarty</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William F. Barton</td><td align="left">Frank C. Mattoon</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William J. Barton</td><td align="left">Axel Mahlstrom, East Longmeadow</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">John M. Carey</td><td align="left">John J. Malone</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William F. Childs</td><td align="left">Howard S. Meyrick, Agawam</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Matthew J. Clark</td><td align="left">John J. O'Donnell</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Theophile J. Champagne &nbsp; &nbsp;</td><td align="left">Arthur M. Partridge</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Clarence E. Chapman</td><td align="left">Giles S. Potter, Pittsfield</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William W. Chadbourne</td><td align="left">Alwin B. Richter</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Albert M. Chandler</td><td align="left">Christopher J. Riordan</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Lewis R. Dikeman</td><td align="left">Thos. R. Rooney, Westfield</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank F. Dingman</td><td align="left">Wilmore S. Riopel</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Robert D. Draper</td><td align="left">Matthew M. P. Ryan</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Daniel S. Devine</td><td align="left">James C. Ryan</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Albert R. Dunn</td><td align="left">Henry P. Roberts</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George DeGray</td><td align="left">Frank X. Rivers</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">John K. DeLoach</td><td align="left">Clarence B. Ross</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank L. Edson</td><td align="left">Harry H. Richards, West Springfield</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Henry T. Ellis</td><td align="left">Alfred E. Rose</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">James F. Ferrier</td><td align="left">John J. Smith</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ellsworth Frey</td><td align="left">Frank Twohey, Worcester</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Eugene B. Grenier</td><td align="left">Paul L. Vesper</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Morris Grenowitz</td><td align="left">Harry C. Wakefield</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Joseph Genereaux</td><td align="left">Ernest C. Whitcomb</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">John C. Hurley</td><td align="left">Edwin W. Wright</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Robert J. F. Judd</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Michael F. Kelleher</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ernest J. Monseau</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<h3>K COMPANY.</h3>
+
+<p class="noindent">
+<span class="smcap">Captain</span>, <span class="smcap">William S. Warriner</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">First Lieutenant</span>, <span class="smcap">Philip C. Powers</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Second Lieutenant</span>, <span class="smcap">Harry H. Parkhurst</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">First Sergeant</span>, <span class="smcap">Arthur J. Berry</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Sergeants</span>, <span class="smcap">Fred A. Jenks</span>, Chicopee.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">G. Burton Hall</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">David A. Turner</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">J. Lewis Kelly</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Hyatt W. Avery</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Corporals</span>, <span class="smcap">William C. Piper</span>.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Thomas C. Boone</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span><span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Burdett A. Madison</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">William E. Turner</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Albert Marsden</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Bert F. Nichols</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Musicians</span>, <span class="smcap"><ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'FRNAK P. JONES'">Frank P. Jones</ins></span>.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Louis P. Castaldini</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Wagoner</span>, <span class="smcap">Frank N. Boule</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Artificer</span>, <span class="smcap">Wilson C. Emery</span>.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">PRIVATES.</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Privates K Co.">
+<tr><td align="left">Ernest L. Alderman</td><td align="left">Charles Hoadley</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Edward N. Aiken</td><td align="left">Irving J. Johnson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Horace W. Allen</td><td align="left">Ward Lathrop</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Wallace H. Brown</td><td align="left">Michael R. Lyons</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George L. Bates</td><td align="left">Everett W. Luther</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ralph A. Barkman</td><td align="left">Myron W. Maynard</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Arthur N. Broulette</td><td align="left">Charles E. McLeod</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Arthur M. Burnham</td><td align="left">Wm. C. McCulloch, Chicopee</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Albert J. Brunell</td><td align="left">Frank E. Moody</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Michael E. Breck</td><td align="left">John L. Morehouse</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">James W. Britton</td><td align="left">Homer G. Munson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">James A. Brazzil</td><td align="left">Samuel W. Nesbitt</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank L. Carr</td><td align="left">Charles Owens</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Arthur L. Chapman</td><td align="left">A. L. Potter</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William C. Colvin</td><td align="left">George W. Potter</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Alwin A. Cameron</td><td align="left">Walter J. Reardon</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George S, Creeley</td><td align="left">Phillip H. Robinson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William R. Dunse</td><td align="left">William E. Stephens</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Edwin A. Elwell</td><td align="left">George E. Sollace</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Horatio M. Field</td><td align="left">Edgar W. Snell</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Wm. J. Fish, W. Springfield&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Harry J. Symonds</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Harry D. Fisher</td><td align="left">Alfred Stone</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ralph Fisk</td><td align="left">Robert B. Terrell</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Herman H. Fuller</td><td align="left">Nicholas D. Vassilli</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Julian B. Hawkes</td><td align="left">William J. Walsh</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Louis H. Hall</td><td align="left">Harry O. Wilkins</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank B. Hendricks</td><td align="left">Joseph G. Woodbury</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George Hallier</td><td align="left">Henry Wright, Jr.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Edward R. Hubbard</td><td align="left">William A. Webb</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<img src="images/i205.jpg" width="400" height="451" alt="" />
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Henry S. Lee</span></div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+
+<h3 class="p-brk">H COMPANY NAVAL BRIGADE.</h3>
+
+<p>Name<span class="pad8">Rating</span><span class="pad8">Ship</span></p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Naval Brigade Part 1">
+<tr><td align="left">Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter</td><td align="right">U. S. S. Gov. Russell</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Lieut. (j. g.) Henry S. Crossman</td><td align="right">U. S. S. Prairie</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Lieut. (j. g.) William O. Cohn</td><td align="right">U. S. S. Lehigh</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William A. Dearden, Boatswain's Mate, 2d class</td><td align="right">Prairie</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William Owens, Gunner's Mate, 2d class</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">James A. Turnbull, Gunner's Mate, 3d class</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Curtis H. Jennings, Gunner's Mate, 3d class</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Arthur H. Strong, Chief Q. M.</td><td align="right">Saturn</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Winfred A. Sabin, Coxswain</td><td align="right">Lehigh</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Herbert E. Burns, Bayman</td><td align="right">Prairie</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ernest F. Gilbert, Shipwright</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George H. Nobbs, Pay Yeoman</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Albert M. Pease, Cook</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p class="center">SEAMEN.</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Naval Brigade Part 2">
+<tr><td align="left">William H. Brundett</td><td align="left">Prairie&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">George W. Lyman</td><td align="left">Prairie</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Weston F. Bright</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Irving C. Lombra</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">A. W. Blauvelt</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">George L. Meacham</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Webster C. Clark</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Charles B. Miller</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Lewis B. Clark</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Ralph Newcomb</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Winfred W. Crosier</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Guy A. Preble</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Charles Crosier</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Gilbert G. Patnode</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Charles W. Dearden</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Goulding S. Patnode</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Lawrence W. Erricson</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Walter Swazey</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Arthur J. C. Fischer</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Edwin S. Smith</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Robert C. Goodale</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Fred C. Steele</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Robert P. King</td><td align="left">Lehigh</td><td align="left">McClellan E. Streeter</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Albert N. Luce</td><td align="left">Prairie</td><td align="left">Rupert H. B. Warburton&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Lehigh</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Howard Loomis</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Robert H. Wheeler</td><td align="left">Prairie</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ward H. Long</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Henry W. Watson</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank Ladd</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="THE_ROLL_OF_HONOR" id="THE_ROLL_OF_HONOR"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">THE ROLL OF HONOR.</a></h2>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Henry C. Bowen, Major and Surgeon, died in Second Division
+Hospital, Santiago, August 13, of malarial fever.</p>
+
+<h3>G COMPANY</h3>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Corporal Patrick J. Noone, died in Springfield, September 20,
+1898, typhoid fever.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private George A. Richmond, died in field hospital near El
+Caney, July 1, 1898, of wound in head.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Walter A. Packard, killed on field, El Caney, July
+1, 1898.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Robert G. Kelly, died in division hospital of wound
+received in action July 2d, at San Juan.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Francis A. Burke, died at Springfield, October 24,
+1898.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Andrew Little, died in second division hospital, Santiago,
+August 22, 1898.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Fred S. Stetson, died in second division hospital, Santiago,
+August 24, 1898.</p>
+
+<h3>B COMPANY.</h3>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper, died on S. S. Mobile,
+August 17, 1898, of gastric enteritis.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, died in camp
+before Santiago, August 1, 1898, of malarial fever.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, died on S. S. Mobile, August
+27, 1898, of malarial fever.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private John J. Malone, died in field hospital, July 5, 1898,
+of wound received at El Caney, July 1.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Paul Vesper, died in camp before Santiago, August
+10, 1898, of malarial fever.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p>
+
+<h3>K COMPANY.</h3>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Corporal William C. Piper, died in second division hospital,
+August 5, 1898.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Corporal Thomas C. Boone, died in Springfield, March 19,
+1899.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Musician Frank P. Jones, died at Montauk Point, L. I.,
+August 27, 1898.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Frank E. Moody, killed on field, July 1, 1898, at El
+Caney.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Arthur M. Burnham, died in division hospital, Santiago,
+August 18, 1898, of typhoid fever.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Michael R. Lyons, died in Springfield, April 20,
+1899.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private George S. Creley, died in Springfield, June 28, 1899.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private John L. Morehouse, died in Springfield, November
+12, 1899.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb" />
+
+<p>Since the muster-out three more of Springfield's contingent,
+all K company men, have answered the final roll call. Corporal
+Thomas C. Boone died in Massachusetts general hospital
+at Boston, March 19, 1899, and Private Michael R. Lyons
+at Springfield, April 20. Private George C. Creley died
+June 25, at his home after a long illness. Private John L.
+Morehouse died in Springfield, November 12, 1889.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="SPRINGFIELDS_DEAD_HEROES" id="SPRINGFIELDS_DEAD_HEROES"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">SPRINGFIELD'S DEAD HEROES.</a></h2>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<p class="pfs120">HENRY C. BOWEN.</p>
+
+<p>Henry C. Bowen, major and surgeon of the Second regiment,
+died in the Second Division hospital, near Santiago,
+after making a gallant fight against sickness and death, not
+only for himself but for the regiment under his care. It is
+not too much to say that but for the heavy burden he was
+under with the care of over 800 sick and dying men on his
+hands, he might have recovered from the Cuban fever and
+been alive to-day, but as it was he succumbed. It was his
+misfortune to go to the front ignorant of the red tape which
+forms an even more effectual barrier to individual action
+than did the Spanish barbed wire to our troops, and it was
+this same red tape which was indirectly responsible for his
+death. When the regiment was in its worst condition in
+front of Santiago, when he was alone in the work of caring
+for the sick and dying, he found it next to impossible to obtain
+needed medical supplies for his men, and yet knew he
+was held responsible for their welfare. It is not to be wondered
+at under these circumstances that he grew nervous
+and irritable, and repelled rather than attracted those who
+tried to help him. The wonder of it was, that sick in body
+and mind as he was, he bore up as long as he did. But he
+did what he could and gave his health, and strength, and
+life in his duty.</p>
+
+<p>Major Bowen was born in Castle Creek, N. Y., the son of
+Dr. Charles W. Bowen of Westfield, and he studied in the
+public schools there and at Wilbraham academy. He
+gained his medical education in the University of New York
+and served in Bellevue hospital for eighteen months and in
+the Broome street lying-in hospital. He began practice in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>
+Springfield in 1894 and was fast reaching a high place in his
+profession when the war broke out. At the time of his appointment
+he was a member of the surgical staff of the
+Mercy hospital where he was liked by patients and officials.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">HARRY J. VESPER.</p>
+
+<p>Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper of B company, came
+of fighting stock, his father, O. R. Vesper, of Springfield,
+being a one armed veteran of the civil war. Harry was
+born in Springfield and was 31 years of age when he died on
+the Mobile. He studied in the public schools, leaving the
+high school to enter the employ of the Springfield Homestead.
+There he rose by steady industry and ability, to be
+head of the mailing department and business manager of the
+electrotyping department. For several years he had been
+deeply interested in the militia and had enlisted in B company,
+rising through the grades of corporal and sergeant to
+the second lieutenantcy, to which he was elected and commissioned
+May 11, 1896. For two years he had served as
+adjutant of the first battalion of the regiment, and was popular
+with everyone in the command.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">RICHARD H. BEARSE.</p>
+
+<p>The news of the death of no member of the Second was
+received in Springfield with more regret than that of Sergeant
+"Dickie" Bearse of B company. A member of the
+company for several years, he was known and liked by all
+the officers and men of the Springfield companies, for to
+know "Dick" Bearse was to like him. With his pride in B
+company and the regiment, not to speak of his patriotism, it
+was only natural he should be anxious to go to the front with
+the Second, and he did so, although he had to twice overcome
+the examining surgeon's objections. In camp and on
+the march he was cheerful and helpful and at El Caney he
+was up with the best of them. But all the while the hardships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>
+and toils of the campaign were sapping his vitality,
+and when the deadly calentura came, he had no strength
+left to resist it, but simply laid down and died. In him B
+company and the Second lost one of their best. Sergeant
+Bearse was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bearse and was
+24 years of age. His body was brought home and interred
+in the family lot in Oak Grove cemetery, after such a funeral
+as has seldom been witnessed in Springfield, an outpouring
+of grief from hundreds of friends.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">WILLIAM C. PIPER.</p>
+
+<p>Corporal William C. Piper of K, was born at Marysville,
+O., in 1874, and his father is a well known lawyer and probate
+judge of that state. Corporal Piper came to Springfield
+in 1895 as manager of the Stetson Shoe store and had
+charge of the establishment at the time he was mustered in
+to the United States service. He enlisted in K company in
+1897.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">FRANK P. JONES.</p>
+
+<p>Musician Frank P. Jones of K, and one of the best fellows
+in the Second, died in the hospital at Camp Wikoff, August
+27, after passing through all the hardships of the campaign
+in Cuba without being seriously ill. He was a native of
+Ludlow, Mass., and was 21 years of age. He had served in
+K for three years and though opposed by his parents, could
+not be kept from enlisting as a volunteer when the call
+came for troops. Of a cheerful, happy disposition, he did
+much in the dark days of sickness and death in the camp
+before Santiago, to help his comrades, and his example
+helped many a sick man.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">PAUL J. KINGSTON.</p>
+
+<p>Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, B company, was an efficient
+soldier and well liked member of the command. He was
+24 years of age when he died on the Mobile and was the son<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>
+of George Kingston, an expressman. He was serving the
+third year of his enlistment in B when the war came and at
+once volunteered to go to the front.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">PAUL VESPER.</p>
+
+<p>Private Paul Vesper of B was younger than his brother,
+Lieut. Harry J. Vesper, but had many of the qualities which
+made the latter so well liked. He was serving his first enlistment
+in B company when the war came, and promptly
+expressed a desire to volunteer. He died in the camp before
+Santiago, August 10, 1898.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">ROBERT G. KELLY.</p>
+
+<p>Robert G. Kelly was the third G company man to fall in
+the fighting in front of Santiago. At 10 o'clock on the night
+of July 2d, the crashing of rifle volleys and the screams of
+shells awoke the Second from the sleep of fatigue, and the
+officers and men rushed to the crest of the hill behind which
+they had bivouacked. The attack was to the right of the
+Second's position, but while waiting for orders the regiment
+had to stand the rain of scattering shot and Kelly was the
+first to be hit. The bullet struck him in the left cheek, going
+through and lodging in the muscles of the other side.
+He was taken to the division hospital and died there July 15.
+He was the son of Samuel Kelly of Springfield and enlisted
+just before the Second was ordered to South Framingham.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">ARTHUR M. BURNHAM.</p>
+
+<p>Private Arthur M. Burnham of K was the son of George
+M. Burnham, a well known contractor and builder of
+Springfield. Arthur was born in 1876 and studied in the
+public schools. He was popular with his school fellows and
+with all who knew him. For three years previous to the
+breaking out of the war he had been associated with his father
+in business. He enlisted in K company soon after its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>
+transfer to Springfield and after serving three years, left the
+company, a short time before the war broke out. He was
+one of the first of the former members to reenlist when it
+was known that war was certain and bore himself manfully
+through the campaign. He was ill with typhoid when the
+regiment left Cuba and was obliged to be left behind.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">FRED A. STETSON.</p>
+
+<p>Fred A. Stetson enlisted in G company at the outbreak of
+the war and served faithfully until he was attacked by the
+disease which laid him low, only a day or two after his comrades
+had left Cuba for home. He was employed in Springfield
+when he enlisted, but had only been in the city a short
+time, and had no near relatives living so far as known. He
+was 24 years old.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">JOHN J. MALONE.</p>
+
+<p>John J. Malone, fatally wounded at El Caney, was a
+member of B company and had been for two years previous
+to the outbreak of the war. He was a bright, cheerful
+young fellow and was well liked by his acquaintances as
+well as by his comrades. His parents died during his childhood
+and John made his home with a relative. He was employed
+in the Homestead office. At El Caney, Malone was
+one of the first men hit, the fatal bullet striking him within
+a few moments after B company had taken its position with
+the 22d. He died in the field hospital.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">FRANK E. MOODY.</p>
+
+<p>Frank E. Moody of K company, killed in action at El
+Caney, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Moody of
+Springfield and was 20 years old when he enlisted in K, only
+a few days before the regiment left for South Framingham.
+He was shot soon after B and K companies took position on
+the right flank of the 22d.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">ARTHUR HOWARD PACKARD.</p>
+
+<p>Killed instantly at El Caney, July 1, 1898. He was the
+son of Mrs. Helen N. Packard, who, the wife of a soldier
+of the civil war, saw her two sons go to the front in the war
+with Spain, both being members of G company. Arthur
+would have been 19 years of age in November, 1898, and
+had been employed in the Homestead office. When only 17
+he enlisted in G company and was well liked by his comrades.
+When the war came Arthur insisted on being one of the men
+to go with the company. Through the campaign he was
+soldierly and cheerful and his bright, if sometimes caustic
+sayings, did much to help his comrades. He was on the advanced
+firing line of the Second in the squad under Lieut.
+Leyden when the fatal bullet struck him and he died
+instantly.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">GEORGE A. RICHMOND.</p>
+
+<p>George A. Richmond was one of the oldest members of G
+company and was born in Springfield. He enlisted in 1887,
+and remained a member of the company for several years.
+When it was seen that war was coming, Richmond was one
+of the first to apply to Capt. Leonard for a place in the ranks
+and joined the company at South Framingham. At El
+Caney Richmond was with Lieut. Leyden's squad, and was
+shot through the head early in the engagement. Willing
+hands bore him to the improvised field hospital where he lay
+in agony for several hours before death came. He was comforted
+and consoled by Chaplain Fitzgerald of the 22d, who
+took his last messages. Richmond's mother died in his early
+youth and he had made his home with relatives. He had
+been employed in the Springfield post office. He took a
+small camera with him to Cuba and made a number of
+pictures.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">FRANCIS A. BURKE.</p>
+
+<p>Private Francis A. Burke of G company, who died at the
+House of Mercy hospital, October 8, 1898, was the son of
+Thomas Burke and resided at 196 Spring street. He was
+employed as a clerk in the store of Forbes &amp; Wallace and
+was well liked by his associates. He was 22 years of age.
+As a youth he took much interest in military matters and
+was for some time a member of the Cathedral cadets. Later
+he enlisted in G company and had served some time when
+the war broke out. He promptly volunteered and served
+well in the campaign.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">THOMAS C. BOONE.</p>
+
+<p>The circumstances surrounding the death of Sergeant
+Thomas C. Boone, who went to the front with K company,
+but was transferred to the U. S. Signal Corps, were particularly
+sad as at the time his many friends supposed he was
+practically recovered from the terrible experience he underwent
+while in the service. Boone died in the Mass. General
+Hospital, Boston, on March 19, 1899, after a comparatively
+brief illness. He was a native of Maryland, being born in
+Annapolis in 1876, and came to Springfield in 1894, enlisting
+in K company soon after his coming here. At South Framingham
+Boone was appointed a corporal by Capt. Warriner,
+but the number of these positions in the companies being
+reduced Boone was obliged to serve as a private. Soon after
+the arrival of the Second at Tampa he was transferred to the
+signal corps with the rank of sergeant. He was an expert
+telegrapher and was selected for that reason. On July 2d he
+with Col. Drew and Major Maxfield were in the war balloon
+at San Juan and while the balloon was at a height of 2700
+feet and was being taken over a creek it was pierced by three
+pieces of shrapnel from the Spanish lines and fell. The basket
+caught in the top of a tree and Boone was caught in the
+anchor and hung suspended over the stream for a long time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>
+with the iron hook pressing into his side. Then he fell into
+the water. He was badly injured, but did not realize it at
+the time. A few days later he was sent to the hospital, but
+while being conveyed there in a mule team the vehicle was
+upset and he was again injured. On his return to the United
+States through an error on the part of some officer he was
+accused of desertion but after several months the stain was
+taken away and he received an honorable discharge. Boone
+was a popular member of the company and also popular
+among a large number of friends.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">MICHAEL R. LYONS.</p>
+
+<p>Michael R. Lyons of K company, died in the Mercy hospital,
+Springfield, April 20th, 1899, just a year from the time
+he enlisted and after making a gallant fight against the effects
+of the hardships he underwent in Cuba. He was a well-liked
+member of the company and made an excellent soldier,
+doing his duty quietly and faithfully. All through the campaign,
+although ill at times, he was cheerful and uncomplaining
+and his example was not lost on his comrades. His body
+was taken to Palmer for burial. His parents and brothers
+reside in Springfield.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">ANDREW LITTLE.</p>
+
+<p>Andrew Little was one of the "recruits" of G company,
+he having gone to the camp at South Framingham with the
+first batch of extra men assembled in Springfield after it was
+known that several vacancies had been caused in the company
+through rejections by the surgeons. He lived in Middlebury,
+Vermont, but had been employed in Springfield for
+some time. During the campaign he served as assistant
+company cook and stood the hardships and exposure fairly
+well until a short time before the regiment left Santiago for
+the United States.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">GEORGE C. CRELEY.</p>
+
+<p>George C. Creley, 21, was one of the last men of K company
+to die, his death being due to consumption contracted in
+service in Cuba. His death occurred June 28, 1899, after a
+long illness. Creley left a father and a sister, the former
+living in Springfield. He was a recruit, enlisting in K as
+soon as there was an opportunity and his service was faithful.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">JOHN L. MOREHOUSE.</p>
+
+<p>The last member of K company to pass away up to the
+time of issuing this volume, was Private John L. Morehouse
+who died Nov. 12, 1899, after an illness of several weeks.
+He was a cousin of Lieut. H. H. Parkhurst of K and was
+well liked by his comrades, being easily one of the most popular
+members of the company. He was 29 years of age and
+aside from cousins, had no near relatives.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<div class="transnote">
+<a name="TN" id="TN"><strong>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE</strong></a><br />
+<br />
+
+Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected<br />
+after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text<br />
+and consultation of external sources.<br />
+<br />
+Except for those changes noted below, inconsistent or archaic<br />
+spelling of a word or word-pair within the text has been retained.<br />
+For example: blockhouses, block houses; good-bye, good bye;<br />
+reenlist, re-enlist; warships, war ships.<br />
+<br />
+<a href="#Page_10">p 10.</a>  'andmaintained' changed to 'and maintained'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_10">p 10.</a>  'hereseveral' changed to 'here several'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_12">p 12.</a>  'T. A. Sweney' changed to 'T. A. Sweeney'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_16">p 16.</a>  'a. m.' changed to 'A. M.' for consistency.<br />
+<a href="#Page_20">p 20.</a>  'Manilla' changed to 'Manila'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_34">p 34.</a>  'to be be beaten' changed to 'to be beaten'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_36">p 36.</a>  'somehew' changed to 'somehow'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_47">p 47.</a>  'employe' changed to 'employee'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_54">p 54.</a>  'utillized' changed to 'utilized'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_60">p 60.</a>  'guage' changed to 'gauge'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_69">p 69.</a>  'oocupants' changed to 'occupants'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_71">p 71.</a>  'olock' changed to 'clock'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_72">p 72.</a>  'in the the afternoon' changed to 'in the afternoon'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_74">p 74.</a>  'envolope' changed to 'envelope'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_79">p 79.</a>  'anothor' changed to 'another'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_80">p 80.</a>  'oolor' changed to 'color'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_86">p 86.</a>  'advavtage' changed to 'advantage'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_88">p 88.</a>  'Boulè' changed to 'Boule'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_89">p 89.</a>  'Backman' changed to 'Barkman'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_97">p 97.</a>  'illuminatad' changed to 'illuminated'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_102">p 102.</a> 'Sprinfields' changed to 'Springfields'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_110">P 110.</a> 'Greenowitz' changed to 'Grenowitz'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_114">p 114.</a> 'Khakir' changed to Khaki'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_115">p 115.</a> 'Santiano' changed to 'Santiago'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_119">p 119.</a> 'machette' changed to 'machete'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_124">p 124.</a> 'round robbin' changed to 'round robin'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_131">p 131.</a> 'suberb' changed to 'superb'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_141">p 141.</a> 'recieved' changed to 'received'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_145">p 145.</a> 'eht use of' changed to 'the use of'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_148">p 148.</a> 'mpatience' changed to 'impatience'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_157">p 157.</a> 'Lamoreau' changed to 'Lamoreaux'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_159">p 159.</a> 'employes' changed to 'employees'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_159">p 159.</a> 'Phillippines' changed to 'Philippines'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_161">p 161.</a> 'chase of of the' changed to 'chase of the'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_163">p 163.</a> 'Tomkinsville' changed to 'Tompkinsville'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_176">p 176.</a> 'Frnak P. Jones' changed to 'Frank P. Jones'.<br />
+
+</div>
+
+<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 46361 ***</div>
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/46361-h/images/cover.jpg b/46361-h/images/cover.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ccc090
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/cover.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i002.jpg b/46361-h/images/i002.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a80d4d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i002.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i011.jpg b/46361-h/images/i011.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..acccf91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i011.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i016.jpg b/46361-h/images/i016.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2dd8b86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i016.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i019-large.jpg b/46361-h/images/i019-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..954078f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i019-large.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i019.jpg b/46361-h/images/i019.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e34e89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i019.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i023.jpg b/46361-h/images/i023.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c76073
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i023.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i029.jpg b/46361-h/images/i029.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2d86d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i029.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i031.jpg b/46361-h/images/i031.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3295cb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i031.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i038.jpg b/46361-h/images/i038.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a24239
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i038.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i039-large.jpg b/46361-h/images/i039-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab65ca3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i039-large.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i039.jpg b/46361-h/images/i039.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6432203
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i039.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i046.jpg b/46361-h/images/i046.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7247411
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i046.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i052.jpg b/46361-h/images/i052.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..184ef98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i052.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i057-large.jpg b/46361-h/images/i057-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1906d0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i057-large.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i057.jpg b/46361-h/images/i057.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f7c535
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i057.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i061.jpg b/46361-h/images/i061.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3eae37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i061.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i067-large.jpg b/46361-h/images/i067-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a17431
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i067-large.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i067.jpg b/46361-h/images/i067.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..478bd68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i067.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i071.jpg b/46361-h/images/i071.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ed66fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i071.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i080.jpg b/46361-h/images/i080.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b97bf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i080.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i088.jpg b/46361-h/images/i088.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5510427
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i088.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i093-large.jpg b/46361-h/images/i093-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..11cf115
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i093-large.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i093.jpg b/46361-h/images/i093.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..467de57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i093.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i098.jpg b/46361-h/images/i098.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43c9c5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i098.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i103-large.jpg b/46361-h/images/i103-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d676e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i103-large.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i103.jpg b/46361-h/images/i103.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5e097af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i103.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i110.jpg b/46361-h/images/i110.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d8a9d2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i110.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i113.jpg b/46361-h/images/i113.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..affb68d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i113.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i124.jpg b/46361-h/images/i124.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..806b59f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i124.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i131-large.jpg b/46361-h/images/i131-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd2bc12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i131-large.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i131.jpg b/46361-h/images/i131.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2042591
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i131.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i139.jpg b/46361-h/images/i139.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..66cb2a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i139.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i141.jpg b/46361-h/images/i141.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4729446
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i141.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i151-large.jpg b/46361-h/images/i151-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9323b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i151-large.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i151.jpg b/46361-h/images/i151.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4424f94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i151.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i153.jpg b/46361-h/images/i153.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fea37b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i153.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i160.jpg b/46361-h/images/i160.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d82f934
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i160.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i167.jpg b/46361-h/images/i167.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46f4750
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i167.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i169-large.jpg b/46361-h/images/i169-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c32d39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i169-large.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i169.jpg b/46361-h/images/i169.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d25a0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i169.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i177.jpg b/46361-h/images/i177.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..10cbc9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i177.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i179-large.jpg b/46361-h/images/i179-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55e8813
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i179-large.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i179.jpg b/46361-h/images/i179.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e220123
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i179.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i189.jpg b/46361-h/images/i189.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..844156f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i189.jpg
diff --git a/46361-h/images/i205.jpg b/46361-h/images/i205.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64c8338
--- /dev/null
+++ b/46361-h/images/i205.jpg
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..42177f9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #46361 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/46361)
diff --git a/old/46361-8.txt b/old/46361-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..66a1a31
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6182 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Springfield in the Spanish American War, by 
+Walter W. Ward
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Springfield in the Spanish American War
+
+Author: Walter W. Ward
+
+Release Date: July 22, 2014 [EBook #46361]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPRINGFIELD IN SPAN-AMER. WAR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by John Campbell, and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+  TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
+
+  Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Superscripts have been
+  converted to normal text.
+
+  Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected
+  after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and
+  consultation of external sources.
+
+  More detail can be found at the end of the book.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: COLONEL EMBURY P. CLARK]
+
+
+
+
+  SPRINGFIELD
+  IN THE
+  SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
+
+  BY
+  WALTER W. WARD
+
+  ILLUSTRATED
+
+  PRESS OF
+  ENTERPRISE PRINTING COMPANY
+  EASTHAMPTON, MASS.
+  1899.
+
+  TO THE
+  OFFICERS AND MEN
+  OF G, B AND K COMPANIES
+  SECOND REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS
+  INFANTRY, U. S. V., AND
+  H COMPANY, NAVAL BRIGADE.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+In the Spanish-American war of 1898, Springfield rose to the occasion
+as she did in 1776 and 1861 and sent her youngest and best and bravest
+sons to the front. It was her sons who fought and fell at El Caney, the
+one battle of modern times where infantry, practically unsupported by
+artillery, captured a well fortified town and it was her sons who were
+in the lead in drawing the attacking lines so tightly about the city of
+Santiago that its surrender had to follow. It was her sons also who,
+on the high seas, on a fast auxiliary cruiser, did faithful service as
+a portion of the navy and had the satisfaction of doing their share in
+remembering the Maine by sinking a Spanish transport and a gun boat.
+Her sons fell on the battlefield and died in the camps and hospitals
+after enduring as soldiers, the hardships and toils of one of the
+shortest yet most important and bloodiest campaigns in history and of
+the honors of that war, Springfield claims a goodly share for herself.
+
+In the near future a monument, the funds for which have been
+contributed from near and far, will be erected in Springfield to the
+memory of the officers and men of the Second Regiment, Massachusetts
+Infantry, U. S. Volunteers who fell or died in the Spanish war. On
+that monument, whatever form it may take, will be inscribed the names
+of Bowen, Harry and Paul Vesper, Bearse, Noone, Piper, Boone, Jones,
+Richmond, Packard, Kelly, Moody, Burnham, Malone, Burke, Little,
+Stetson, Creley, Lyons and Morehouse. But their names have long before
+this been permanently inscribed on the hearts of their comrades and
+in no place are they more secure. They died for the flag, the highest
+honor possible to an American citizen. This volume is written in the
+attempt to portray as clearly as memory serves what these men and their
+comrades did in the war with Spain. While not actually a history,
+the intention has been to show as clearly as possible the people of
+Springfield what it was their sons and brothers and friends in her four
+organizations at the front went through in their short campaign.
+
+Springfield, Nov. 1899.
+
+  W. W. W.
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF CONTENTS.
+
+
+  CHAPTER.                                    PAGE
+
+  I. Which is preliminary to those which
+  follow it,                                     9
+
+  II. Which tells about the calling out of
+  H company, Naval Brigade,                     14
+
+  III. How G, B and K companies went to
+  South Framingham,                             19
+
+  IV. Wherein is told how we were transformed
+  from "tin" soldiers into the
+  real article,                                 25
+
+  V. We get orders to leave for the sunny
+  South and obey them,                          32
+
+  VI. We go to the Southland and begin to
+  find out where we are at,                     38
+
+  VII. We stay in Ybor City and then
+  enjoy (?) life on the transports in the
+  harbor,                                       44
+
+  VIII. We have a lovely sail on the palatial
+  Knickerbocker and reach Cuba without
+  mishap,                                       51
+
+  IX. Wherein is related our landing at
+  Daiquiri and some things which subsequently
+  happened,                                     59
+
+  X. In which is to be found the tale of
+  Crab Hollow and some other things,            68
+
+  XI. Which tells how we got ready to
+  take the town of El Caney,                    76
+
+  XII. Wherein is related some events which
+  happened to us on July first,                 84
+
+  XIII. We learn some more things about the
+  art of war as conducted in these days,        94
+
+  XIV. We continue our education in the art
+  of war and learn a few things,               106
+
+  XV. We have to face another enemy more
+  deadly than the Spaniards,                   119
+
+  XVI. Our voyage homeward on the death
+  ship Mobile,                                 129
+
+  XVII. We and our friends enjoy ourselves
+  at Camp Wickoff, Montauk Point,              136
+
+  XVIII. In which is told how we prepare to
+  quit Uncle Sam's service,                    143
+
+  XIX. We become plain citizens once more
+  and square accounts with Uncle Sam,          151
+
+  XX. Wherein is narrated the adventures
+  on the high seas of Springfield's
+  sailors,                                     161
+
+  Roster,                                      172
+
+  The Roll of Honor,                           178
+
+  Springfield's Dead Heroes,                   180
+
+
+
+
+THE CAMPAIGN IN CUBA.
+
+Experiences of Co's G, B and K, M. V. M., and H Co., Naval Brigade in
+the war of 1898 and record of its service in the operations against
+Santiago.
+
+BY WALTER W. WARD.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+WHICH IS PRELIMINARY TO THOSE WHICH FOLLOW IT.
+
+
+Within the few years preceding the fateful one of 1898 a decided
+impetus had been given the military spirit in Springfield by the
+stationing of two additional companies of the state militia in this
+city. To the already organized companies, G and B of the Massachusetts
+Volunteer Militia, had been added K company, the company of that
+name in Amherst having been disbanded and its letter transferred to
+Springfield. The organization in this city of a company of the state
+naval brigade and the building of a handsome and commodious state
+armory helped to place the militia of Springfield on a higher level in
+the public interest and regard than had previously been the case.
+
+Springfield has always been rich in military tradition. Her earliest
+sons helped fight the Indians who disputed the right of the first
+settlers to the lands they roamed over in the fertile Connecticut
+valley; they had served in the Colonial wars and Springfield blood was
+shed in the Revolutionary war. Soon after this war Springfield was the
+scene of one of the episodes of Shay's rebellion. In the Civil war she
+sent her full quota and more of her young men to serve under the flag
+and after the war the ranks of her militia companies were always kept
+filled with her best young men. Undoubtedly the presence here of a
+United States military post and the famous Springfield arsenal has done
+much to aid in keeping up the military spirit.
+
+For long years, reaching back to a time before the rebel guns opened
+fire on Fort Sumter, Springfield's one military company was the City
+guard, which after being attached to several of the state militia
+organizations became under the final reorganization of the state troops
+B company of the Second regiment of infantry, M. V. M. In 1868 a number
+of the veterans of the Civil war organized the Peabody guard which was
+attached to the Second regiment as G company. Both these companies
+were always composed of good material and maintained a high place in
+the state militia, not only for excellence in drill but in discipline
+and marksmanship. The location of regimental headquarters here several
+years ago aided in making military interest more rife than for some
+years.
+
+With four companies of militia instead of two, with headquarters and a
+fine new armory in place of the more or less unsatisfactory quarters
+previously occupied and with public feeling more united in their
+support than it had been for years the militia of Springfield felt they
+had entered upon a new period and it was one, which though they did not
+then realize it, was to soon test the courage and soldierly qualities
+of many of the officers and men of the Springfield militia. But with
+this then unknown the spirit of soldierly pride and loyalty to their
+organizations led officers and men to constant striving to be at the
+top or as near the top as possible, of the militia of the state in
+all things soldierly. In drill, in discipline, in knowledge of guard
+duty, in marksmanship and in all the other details that go to make up
+a good soldier there was assiduous practice and to the furtherance of
+that end many of the ceremonial features of military life, to which
+great importance had previously been attached, were discarded as far
+as possible. This was thoroughly in line with the policy of the state
+military authorities and its value was to be proven sooner than was
+anticipated.
+
+It did not take a very far seeing mind to realize in the fall of 1897
+and the first two months of 1898 that matters with regard to the
+policy of the United States in the affairs of Cuba might soon produce
+a crisis so acute that the military power of the Republic would have
+to be called upon. Certainly it was realized by the militiamen and
+the progress of events from the beginning of 1898 to the night of the
+destruction of the Maine was by none more closely watched than by the
+men who gathered in the company rooms in the armory each night.
+
+When it was known definitely that the long anticipated call to arms
+could not be much longer delayed the local militia was never in finer
+fettle. The ranks of every company were filled and soldierly enthusiasm
+ran high. New arms, not comparable of course with those of the regular
+army but better than any previous militia armament, had been issued and
+the equipments and uniforms were in good and serviceable condition.
+Applications for enlistment were so numerous that had there been eight
+companies instead of four their ranks could have easily been filled up.
+
+It was on the 29th of April, 1898, that the call for troops came
+to Springfield. On the 23d President McKinley had issued the first
+call for troops and six days later Gov. Wolcott designated Col.
+E. P. Clark of the Second as one of the six commanding officers to
+raise a regiment of volunteers for the United States service. It was
+provided that members of the militia were to be given the preference
+in enlistments to the volunteer regiments, the residue being made up
+by enlistment of other citizens. The Second was ordered to report at
+the state camp ground at South Framingham on May 3 for muster into the
+United States service. April 29th fell on Friday and May 3 on Tuesday
+of the following week so that there was not any too much time in
+which to enlist men for the companies and get everything in readiness
+for service. But what time there was on hand was so well utilized
+that promptly at the hour ordered on the morning of May 3d the three
+Springfield companies were at the armory with full ranks and fully
+equipped, all the state property and equipage not needed packed up and
+ready for shipment to the state arsenal.
+
+Every officer of the three companies and fully 70 per cent. of the
+men who had been in their ranks in the militia service was on hand.
+Capt. John J. Leonard of G, a veteran in the militia, was at the head
+of his company and with him his two lieutenants, T. A. Sweeney and E.
+J. Leyden. Capt. Henry McDonald of B company, a veteran both of the
+regular army and the militia, and his lieutenants, William L. Young and
+Harry J. Vesper were on hand promptly and so was Capt. W. S. Warriner
+and Lieutenants P. C. Powers and Harry H. Parkhurst of K company. All
+three companies were proud of their officers and they had every reason
+to be.
+
+And here a little digression. No effort of any kind was made to
+transfer as absolute unities the companies of militia into companies
+of United States Volunteers. It can truthfully be said that no man was
+asked to go to South Framingham by the officers. On the contrary Col.
+Clark and the company officers were all careful to impress upon the
+men of the militia that their volunteering into the service of the
+United States was purely a voluntary and personal matter with them.
+There were dozens of instances in which the officers realized that the
+sacrifice was such as some of their men should not make. There were men
+with families dependent upon them or so otherwise circumstanced that it
+was best for them not to go and these men were talked to candidly and
+kindly and dissuaded from putting their names on the enlistment rolls.
+It was a volunteer movement purely and simply and the Second was in the
+highest sense of the word a volunteer regiment.
+
+Long before the orders for mobilization at South Framingham were issued
+preparations had been made to the end that Massachusetts might be ready
+to respond to the first call for troops from the national government.
+Early in April Gov. Wolcott had constituted some of the officers of the
+state militia as his advisory board in matters relating to the part
+Massachusetts would take in the war. On April 20, Col. Clark of the
+Second and some of his field and staff officers were called to Boston
+in consultation with the governor and on the 24th Gov. Wolcott in his
+capacity of commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the
+state issued an order calling upon the militia to hold themselves in
+readiness for duty within 24 hours.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+WHICH TELLS ABOUT THE CALLING OUT OF H COMPANY, NAVAL BRIGADE.
+
+
+Meanwhile, and while the infantry were getting in readiness,
+Springfield had already sent some of her sons on duty. The naval arm of
+the service was in a far more advanced state of preparation than was
+the army and it was the general opinion that of necessity the war would
+be one in which the navy would take the most prominent part, leaving
+but little for the land forces to do except garrison duty. Springfield
+had taken great pride in her company of the Massachusetts naval brigade
+since its organization and expected great things of it in the event of
+its being called upon for duty.
+
+On April 2 came the first intimation that Springfield was to be called
+upon for men. Although war had not been declared and strenuous efforts
+were being made to head it off by the peace-at-any-price men, the navy
+department had set about getting into commission all the vessels that
+it could. At the League Island navy yard, Philadelphia, there lay a
+number of the old time monitors, some of them having been moored there
+since shortly after the close of the civil war, and it was decided
+to put them into condition for harbor defense purposes. Two were to
+be assigned to Boston harbor and on April 2 came orders to Lieut. J.
+K. Dexter, the commander of H company naval brigade, to proceed to
+the League Island yard as an officer of one of the monitors. Lieut.
+Dexter left that night and remained on duty at the yard until April
+16, when he returned to bring down the detail of his company which was
+to form part of the crew of the single turreted monitor Lehigh. It was
+not until April 17th that the Lehigh detail left for the Philadelphia
+navy yard although there had been many rumors as to when the men would
+go and the quarters of the company at the state armory were filled
+every night with the men and their friends. On the 16th Lieut. Dexter
+returned unexpectedly from Philadelphia and at once set about getting
+his detail together. It was on Sunday, but with the aid of the alarm
+list system, the telephone and special messengers the men were soon
+notified and assembled at the armory. The detail as finally made up
+was: Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter; Chief Boatswain's Mate, Frank H. Bowen;
+Boatswain's Mates, Robert T. Whitehouse, A. T. Wright; Gunner's Mate,
+F. W. Baum; Coxswain, W. S. Johnson; Acting Coxswain, S. L. Ruden;
+Quartermaster, W. A. Sabin; and Seamen Paul H. Lathrop, R. H. B.
+Warburton, W. F. Bright, R. P. King, A. Mellor, A. N. Luce, and L. E.
+Ladd. The detail marched to the union station at about 8.30 and took
+the 9 o'clock train for New York, receiving an ovation as it passed
+through Main street and again at the station as the train pulled out.
+
+On the same day Lieut. (junior grade) Henry S. Crossman, who was in
+command of the company during the absence of Lieut. Dexter, received
+orders from Capt. Weeks of the naval brigade to hold himself in
+readiness to proceed to the Brooklyn navy yard and there report to
+Admiral Bunce, commanding the yard, as watch officer of the auxiliary
+cruiser Prairie to which the Massachusetts naval brigade was to be
+assigned. Lieut. (junior grade) W. O. Cohn was ordered to be in
+readiness to proceed to Boston and report for duty on the U. S. S.
+Minnesota, Ensign W. S. Barr was ordered to be in readiness to go to
+the Brooklyn navy yard as one of the watch officers of the Prairie and
+Ensign Fred T. Ley was ordered to the same ship as watch officer and
+Captain's clerk.
+
+On April 22d these orders were changed, Lieut. Cohn and Ensign Barr
+being ordered to report for duty on board the monitor Lehigh on her
+arrival in Boston harbor.
+
+On April 23d, Lieut. Crossman received orders to proceed with the
+remaining men of H company to the Brooklyn navy yard there to go on
+board the Prairie as part of her crew during the war. These orders were
+received on the morning of the 23d and as soon as it became known about
+the city that the men were to go, the war time scenes of 1861 were
+re-enacted. It was at first planned to have the company take an early
+evening train but as Lieut. Crossman found they could go just as well
+on the early morning train from Boston he decided to take that, thus
+giving the men more time in which to settle up their affairs and get
+everything in readiness for leaving.
+
+Information about the Prairie had already been pretty well disseminated
+about the city. It was known that she was formerly the fast steamer,
+El Sud, of the Morgan line and was capable of doing excellent duty
+as one of Uncle Sam's auxiliary cruisers. At the time she was in the
+Brooklyn navy yard being changed over from a passenger and freight
+vessel to a war ship and the job was requiring longer time than had
+been anticipated.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins.
+  Adjutant.
+
+  Major F. G. Southmayd.
+
+  Lieut. E. E. Sawtell.
+  Quartermaster.
+]
+
+The quarters of H company and the state armory were the busiest places
+in Springfield that afternoon and evening. The "jackies" were getting
+their dunnage rolls and equipment together and relatives and friends
+were on hand to say farewell and see their "boys" off. Owing to the
+time at which the company had orders to leave the armory, 1.30 A. M.,
+it was hardly expected there would be much of a crowd on hand to give
+the command a suitable farewell but this was a mistake. Long before
+the hour at which the company was to leave the streets leading to
+the union station were crowded and more enthusiasm was shown than had
+been the case in Springfield for many a day. It was at 1.30 o'clock in
+the morning of the 24th that the company, fully armed, equipped, in
+the regulation uniform of the jackies of the navy left the armory and
+marched through Main street to the union station to take the 2.20 train
+for New York, special cars for the company having been attached to the
+train. In spite of the lateness of the hour Springfield's citizens and
+the relatives, friends of the company were determined not to let the
+command leave the city without some demonstration. All night long up
+to the time for leaving the armory the building was filled with the
+relatives, friends of the members as well as those who while not bound
+to them by any intimate ties yet wished by their presence to show
+appreciation of the spirit which had prompted the young men to answer
+their country's call, even though it involved sacrifices hard indeed to
+make.
+
+From midnight until the hour for departure Main street was well filled
+with a waiting crowd and when the company marched from its armory,
+swinging into Main street, a cheer went up which was continuous
+until the train had borne the company out of sight of the assembled
+thousands. Rockets and colored fire lent brilliancy to the march and
+as the station was neared the denser grew the crowd until it was with
+difficulty a way was cleared for the company. Thousands, men and women,
+had gathered at the station and it was a scene worthy the pencil of a
+great artist, that farewell as the men marched up and boarded the cars
+with military precision. There were cheers and good wishes, personal
+farewells and tears, all commingling in one mass of sound that the
+station space had never heard before. But as the engine bell rang and
+the train began to move with slowly increasing swiftness out of the
+station all sounds merged into mighty cheers, which rose thunderously
+from the thousands of people. In that uproar of cheers were submerged
+for the time the sobs of a few whose near and dear ones were on the
+train.
+
+So Springfield sent her first contingent to serve under the old flag in
+the war against Spain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+HOW G, B AND K COMPANIES WENT TO SOUTH FRAMINGHAM.
+
+
+While the naval militiamen of Springfield were being sent off to their
+places of duty amid the cheers of the people plans for the mobilization
+of the land forces of the state were going on apace. The call of
+President McKinley for troops was issued on April 23 and six days later
+on April 29, Col. Embury P. Clark of the Second Regiment of Infantry,
+M. V. M., was designated by Gov. Wolcott to raise a regiment of
+volunteers to answer the President's call as one of the four volunteer
+infantry regiments assigned to Massachusetts. On the same day Col.
+Clark was ordered to have his regiment report for duty at the state
+camp ground, South Framingham, at noon of May 3d, he being also ordered
+to assume command of the camp formed there by the four volunteer
+regiments.
+
+On receipt of these orders Col. Clark immediately notified his field
+and staff and company officers and from that time on everything at
+the state armory was done with a snap and a jump. Only a few days
+remained before May 3d, for that day fell on Tuesday, and it was Friday
+afternoon when the orders were received. Under the call the company
+strength for infantry was fixed at three officers and 74 enlisted men,
+but had it been 174 instead of 74 there would have been but little
+trouble in filling up the ranks. More men were anxious to enlist than
+there were places for and a hard problem for the company officers to
+face was that of discouraging and rejecting applicants for enlistment
+most of whom pleaded for the privilege as strongly as a ward politician
+does for a paying office. On an average about 75 per cent. of the men
+in the militia companies enlisted in the volunteers and it is only
+just to state that a good number of those who did not were "talked"
+out of it by their officers who realized, perhaps better than the men
+themselves, that going to the front meant more sacrifices than men with
+dependent families or relatives should be called upon to make.
+
+Meantime all was hurry and bustle at the state armory but order soon
+came out of all the apparent chaos and early on the morning of Tuesday,
+May 3d the local field and staff officers of the regiment and G, B and
+K companies, thus formed in the order of seniority of their captains,
+stood in the big drill shed, in full marching uniform with knapsacks
+packed and overcoats rolled up on them looking soldierly, and ready for
+whatever duty might call them to do.
+
+It was a dismal morning in more than one way. A drizzling rain fell at
+intervals and there was gloom in many hearts among the crowds of people
+lining Main street and the union station and its approaches. Though
+not a shot had yet been fired in actual conflict between the United
+States and Spain on land and Dewey's great victory at Manila had been
+won without the loss of a single American life, yet the people were
+beginning to understand that the grim realities of war might be brought
+home to them and this thought had its influence in repressing any too
+enthusiastic demonstration.
+
+But there was a demonstration, nevertheless. Outside the armory were
+hundreds of spectators, including relatives and friends of the boys
+and awaiting them were the members of E. K. Wilcox post, G. A. R., the
+veteran corps of G company and some veterans of B company, all headed
+by the Second Regiment band to act as escort for the companies as far
+as the union station.
+
+Shortly after 8 o'clock the troops left the armory and headed by the
+escort marched through Main street and around Court square to city
+hall, where the column was reviewed by Mayor H. S. Dickinson and the
+city government. Thousands of people were massed here and there was
+some cheering. The fire department boys at headquarters on Pynchon
+street saluted the troops with a small cannon and on the rest of the
+way up Main street to the station there was some cheering but not any
+too much.
+
+At the corner of Main and Lyman streets the escort halted and formed
+in line. As the companies marched by the old soldiers of the civil
+war gave us three cheers, in which the militia veterans joined. The
+remainder of the march to the station was through a close packed crowd
+of men, women and children. There was some cheering, but as the soldier
+boys began to file into the waiting cars of the special train sobs and
+tears broke out from many of the women and as the train pulled out a
+few moments after 9 o'clock tears were more in evidence than cheers. As
+one of the boys put it, "They sent the naval boys off with cheers and
+kept the tears for us."
+
+This feeling was augmented by the enthusiasm with which the people of
+Worcester sent their three companies off. When our train pulled into
+the Worcester depot we found the building jammed with people, some
+perched upon the tops of standing engines and cars and the Worcester
+companies were so surrounded with people it was at first hard to tell
+where they were. When our special stopped and the Worcester men began
+to board it a volume of cheers went up that was almost enough to
+take the roof off the building. Everyone was cheering apparently and
+those who were not were so few in number that it was impossible to
+distinguish them.
+
+After leaving Springfield there were small crowds at every station
+between there and Worcester and though the train did not stop there
+was much cheering and waving of hats. This was repeated during the run
+from Worcester to South Framingham.
+
+It was shortly before noon when we reached South Framingham and marched
+to the camp ground amid the cheers of the townspeople. Reaching there
+the companies were dismissed to quarters and dinner, which the company
+caterers had ready for us, we not going on government rations until
+some days later. A majority of the boys had been in camp at South
+Framingham before but this was different. A state militia encampment
+is one thing and a camp of United States volunteers is another. The
+old familiar wall tents were there but without the customary big blue
+chests in which were always stored much that was good in the way of
+refreshment for tired and thirsty militiamen. There was a trifle of
+added sharpness to the commands of officers and non-commissioned
+officers and there were various other little things which combined to
+show us that we were on the way to be the "real things" instead of "tin
+soldiers" as we had been dubbed in our militia days.
+
+"Physical examination of recruits" was the rock on which the desires
+of many of us to get at the hated Spaniards were to split and the
+rock began to show itself that very afternoon when A of Worcester was
+ordered over to brigade headquarters for examination. Before the shades
+of evening fell thirteen of its men had been rejected by the examining
+surgeons and as bad news always spreads through a camp with greater
+rapidity than good, many of us were wondering whether we would meet the
+same fate or not within the next few days.
+
+All the line officers and 75 per cent. of our men in the militia had
+come with us while there were more than enough "rookies" to fill out
+the quota. The recruits were, some of them, in uniform and a number
+had formerly been in the militia service, so that they took kindly
+enough to the opening of camp life. But as the militia companies had
+only been composed of 58 enlisted men there were not uniforms enough
+at the time to equip the extra men and some of the "rookies" looked
+odd and felt it in their civilian attire. More than one practical joke
+was played upon them before "taps" sounded, but the great majority of
+the men were tired enough to get to quarters and hug their luxurious
+mattresses before the bugles sounded the last call of the day.
+
+Of the field and staff and non-commissioned staff resident in
+Springfield and vicinity not all came to camp. Col. Clark and Major
+Southmayd were on hand as was Lt. Paul R. Hawkins, the regimental
+adjutant. Quartermaster Colson of Holyoke did not come and to his place
+was appointed Corporal E. E. Sawtell of K company. Major Brown of
+Adams, the regimental surgeon and Lt. J. T. Hendrick of Springfield,
+assistant surgeon did not volunteer and a new surgical staff was
+appointed, consisting of Dr. Henry T. Bowen of Springfield as major and
+surgeon, Dr. Ernest A. Gates of Springfield and Dr. John S. Hitchcock
+of Amherst as assistant surgeons with the rank of first lieutenants.
+Dr. Hitchcock was a member of I company when appointed.
+
+There were several changes in the non-commissioned staff. Corporal
+Robert N. Ingersoll was made sergeant-major vice Paul Norton and Ross
+L. Lusk quartermaster-sergeant vice Melville Snow of Holyoke. Three
+hospital stewards instead of one were assigned to the regiment, and
+the appointees were Ulysses G. Fortier of Holyoke, S. H. Greenberg
+of Boston and Edson P. Howes of Springfield. No color sergeants were
+provided for in the volunteer regiments and these positions were filled
+by detail.
+
+It was a matter of much regret that no place was provided for the
+paymaster and inspector of rifle practice. In the Second as a militia
+regiment these positions had been filled respectively by Lieut. A.
+C. Edson of Holyoke and A. E. Taylor of Chicopee Falls but no such
+positions were provided for in the volunteer service and these
+officers were forced to remain behind.
+
+The first guard mount of the camp was held in the afternoon with First
+Lieut. P. C. Powers of K company as officer of the guard. So closed our
+first day at South Framingham.
+
+[Illustration: Surgeon Henry C. Bowen
+
+Surgeon Ernest A. Gates.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+WHEREIN IS TOLD HOW WE WERE TRANSFORMED FROM "TIN" SOLDIERS INTO THE
+REAL ARTICLE.
+
+
+It did not require many day's of camp life at South Framingham to
+convince about all of us that we were there strictly for business. The
+weather was rather cold and there were a few flurries of snow although
+it was in May. The nights were so cool that huge fires of wood were
+built on the color line each night and around these the men gathered
+spending the time in singing, story telling and in wondering how soon
+we would start for the front and just what part we of the Second would
+take in subduing the pride of the haughty Spaniard.
+
+But little in the way of drilling was done at first, but after a day
+or two the work of whipping the "rookies" into shape was begun, the
+process being the simple one of having them fall in with the company
+and learning the drill as best they could. Squad drills were also
+carried on and it was during these that the raw material was best
+worked up.
+
+Hardly had the regiment arrived in camp before regulation United States
+army blankets were issued to the men and issues of rubber blankets,
+"working suits" of brown canvas followed.
+
+Private Pomeroy of K company was the first of the Springfield men to
+be taken ill. He had not been feeling well before leaving home but
+pluckily made up his mind to go with his company just the same, and
+would not admit his illness. Soon after arriving in camp his condition
+became so serious that the surgeon was called to him and Pomeroy was
+found to be suffering with tonsilitis. He was removed from the camp to
+a hospital in South Framingham, but while there scarlet fever developed
+and he was sent home as soon as he had recovered sufficiently to be
+able to travel. Pomeroy felt much worse over his inability to go with
+his regiment than he did over his illness, serious as it was.
+
+The physical examinations soon made many sore hearts among the boys in
+camp, although the results of some of them were extremely satisfactory
+to the parents, relatives or friends of some of the would be soldiers.
+They were in charge of Capt. Bushnell U. S. A., who was assisted by the
+surgeons of the volunteer regiments in camp. B company was examined on
+Wednesday, the day after our arrival in camp and before sundown fully
+twenty men, including some of the oldest and best men of the company
+had been rejected for one cause or another. The commissioned officers
+of the regiment were also up for examination the same day, and among
+those rejected was First Lieut. Thomas A. Sweeney of G company and
+one of the most efficient and popular officers of the regiment. His
+rejection was a hard blow to him for he had set his heart on going
+with his men and to be rejected for what he considered to be a trivial
+cause was worse to him than being hit by a Spanish bullet. His grief
+was shared by his fellow officers and men, by whom he was exceedingly
+well liked. His place was filled by William C. Hayes, a former first
+lieutenant of the company.
+
+Lieut. W. L. Young of B company was officer of the guard on Wednesday,
+and among the incidents of his tour of duty that night was the rather
+unusual but efficient method by which a private of G company who had
+been placed on a somewhat remote post relieved himself from further
+duty after walking his post only a short time. The aforesaid private
+concluded that he would be much more comfortable in his tent with his
+"bunkies" than walking his post for the remainder of his two hours,
+and so proceeded to the guard house, placed his rifle in a corner and
+announced to the officer of the guard "I'm relieved." Before Lieutenant
+Young could recover from his astonishment at the new method of getting
+out of guard duty, the private had gone to his own quarters where he
+slept peacefully for the remainder of the night.
+
+The results of the physical examinations were to "throw out" many of
+the best men in the three Springfield companies, and as this was not at
+all satisfactory to their captains, some vigorous "kicking" resulted.
+In many cases men were rejected for trivial causes, but as the result
+of vigorous objections to the policy, made by Captains Leonard,
+McDonald and Warriner, a number of the rejected men were re-examined
+and the majority of them accepted. In some instances more than two
+examinations were given the same man, and an instance where grit and
+a determination to go with his company got the best of the examining
+surgeons was the case of Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, better known as
+"Dickie." He was twice examined and rejected but through his efforts,
+aided by those of Capt. McDonald, he was given a third trial and passed.
+
+Could those people who had been for some years in the habit of sneering
+at the militiamen as "tin soldiers" have seen the way in which the
+rejected ones took their fate they would have changed their minds as
+to the soldierly calibre of the men of the Second. It was easy to
+tell the rejected ones as they came across the parade ground from the
+surgeon's quarters, many of them with tears in their eyes, all with
+downcast faces, because their bodies had not been strong enough to
+let them go with the regiment. Their hearts were strong enough to go
+to the front and fight for the flag but the government demanded stout
+bodies as well as stout hearts, and so, many were refused. It was not
+always in tears and "blue" looks that the rejected appeared from the
+examining rooms. Often a rejected one would emerge, uttering sarcastic
+and profane remarks as to the amount of surgical knowledge possessed by
+the examiners, and their qualifications generally, and some of the men
+exhibited a versatility of language in discussing their rejection and
+the surgeon who was responsible for it only possessed by men of genius.
+
+The rejections left the ranks of the Springfield companies much
+depleted and it was necessary to send officers to that city for
+recruits to fill the vacancies before the companies could be mustered
+in. Capt. Leonard of G, Lieut. Young of B and Lieut. Powers of K were
+sent on this duty and with them went about all of the men who had
+been rejected. As soon as the purpose of their visit was known in
+Springfield they were besieged by applicants for enlistment but having
+learned wisdom from what had happened in camp they took the precaution
+to have all the applicants pass a medical examination before bringing
+them to South Framingham and as a result few of the new men they
+brought down failed to pass the examining surgeons at the camp.
+
+On May 6, another member of K company, Private Cook, was taken ill with
+tonsilitis and was sent home, much to his disgust.
+
+On the same day the field and staff officers of the Second were
+mustered into the United States service by Lieut. E. M. Weaver,
+2d artillery, who had been detailed as mustering officer for the
+Massachusetts volunteers. Adjutant Paul R. Hawkins was the first one to
+be mustered and he was followed by Quartermaster E. E. Sawtell. Surgeon
+Bowen and Assistant Surgeons Gates and Hitchcock had been mustered in
+on the day after our arrival in camp and had been assigned to duty in
+assisting in the examinations of recruits.
+
+First Lieut. W. C. Hayes of G joined his company on the afternoon of
+the 6th and after being examined and accepted was assigned to duty.
+
+On Saturday and Sunday, the 7th and 8th, three batches of additional
+recruits arrived in camp and were at once handed over to the examining
+surgeons. By Sunday K company had filled its ranks to the required
+number of 74 enlisted men and on that day was duly mustered into the
+military service of the United States for a period of two years "unless
+sooner discharged." The ceremony was a simple one. The company was
+marched over to brigade headquarters and formed in column of twos
+facing the mustering officer, Lieut. Weaver. The latter called out
+each man's name, beginning with the first sergeant and as each man
+answered he stepped to the front and facing about took position in
+front of the company in the same formation. The roll call over, the
+company was faced to the front, Lieut. Weaver removed his cap and the
+men uncovered. Then Lieut. Weaver read in impressive tones the oath of
+allegiance to the United States and administered it to the company,
+thus completing the ceremony which marked the transition of militiamen
+and raw recruits into soldiers of the United States. K company was the
+first company in Massachusetts to be mustered into the United States
+service and so far as known the first company in the country to be
+mustered in. That afternoon "government rations" were issued to K and
+the next day the men began eating them instead of the meals which had
+up to then been supplied by a caterer. Some of the men who failed to
+understand the difference between Uncle Sam's diet and that furnished
+at militia encampments found fault of course with the rations. Butter
+and milk are unknown in the regular soldiers' menu unless the company
+fund is drawn upon for them, and some of the men couldn't understand
+why they were not supplied and found fault accordingly. Later when we
+were all living luxuriously(?) in Cuba on "sowbelly" bacon, hardtack
+and coffee, sometimes without sugar, these men remembered with fond
+but unavailing regret the once despised government rations at South
+Framingham. The fond parents and relatives who were told in letters
+from camp of how meager and unsatisfactory the first food furnished
+by Uncle Sam was may correct their idea by glancing over the rations
+issued for the first five days to K company while at South Framingham:
+
+  300 lbs. potatoes; 422 lbs. flour; 27-3/4 lbs. bacon; 7 lbs. rice;
+  43-3/4 lbs. beans; 30 lbs. coffee; 56-1/2 lbs. sugar; 15 lbs. salt;
+  3/4 lb. pepper; 15 lbs. soap; 75 lbs. onions; 5-5/8 lbs. candles;
+  3-3/4 gallons vinegar and 422 lbs. fresh beef.
+
+It is understood of course that the soap and candles were not issued as
+edibles but for cleansing and illuminating purposes. And it can also
+be seen that in the above rations there are possibilities for good
+eating and plenty of it. As a matter of fact milk and butter were soon
+supplied from the company funds.
+
+G and B companies were mustered in on the 10th with full ranks. G was
+to have been mustered in the day previous but when the time arrived
+one private, a raw recruit, was missing and as the entire company was
+obliged to be on hand for muster the ceremony was dispensed with for
+that day and the men were marched back vowing vengeance upon the man
+who had kept them for 24 hours from getting into the service. Before
+very long another recruit was found and when the missing private turned
+up full of penitence and other things his uniform was taken off and
+after receiving a talking to from Capt. Leonard that made his cheeks
+burn with shame he was shipped out of camp.
+
+The boys found plenty of amusement during their camp life and with
+nearly 1000 young fellows in one regiment time did not hang very
+heavily on their hands during the times between drills and other
+duties. Base ball and other sports were indulged in and letter writing
+and visits to the other regiments or an occasional pass to town
+prevented anything like ennui. In the Springfield companies there were
+few tent crews that did not have some distinctive appellation for
+their habitation. Private J. C. Ryan of B made his tent famous as a
+"steam laundry" and in G street there was the "Hotel Dingbat," so named
+because the men who occupied it could not think of anything else to
+call it. In K there was quickly organized an outfit later to be known
+as the "Wee Haws" and which made itself somewhat famous by the gift of
+song possessed by its members.
+
+The "board of license commissioners" so famous during the encampment of
+1897 was on hand but its members had but little of an official nature
+to do as the camp of '98 was officially a "dry camp." A good share
+of the dryness was, however, confined to the weather and a careful
+search of the records fails to show that any inmate of the camp died of
+thirst, although there were some serious cases.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+WE GET ORDERS TO LEAVE FOR THE SUNNY SOUTH AND OBEY THEM.
+
+
+All of the time during our stay in camp speculation was rife as to when
+we were going to the front and how; also under what designation were
+we going. It had been circulated that we were to be known as the 63d
+United States Volunteers, and other rumors, all of which turned out to
+be just as near the truth as that one were put into commission. These
+marked the origin of the "Jo Jo" bureau of misinformation which later
+became an important feature of the campaign.
+
+[Illustration: COMMISSIONED AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF G
+COMPANY]
+
+On the night of Wednesday, May 11th at 9.30, orders were flashed over
+the wires from Washington to Lieut. Weaver to send the Second at once
+to Tampa, Fla., where the army of invasion of Cuba was gathering.
+Almost everyone except the guard and a few officers and attaches at
+regimental headquarters, was asleep when the orders came but within a
+very few moments after their purport had been announced, there was the
+wildest scene of excitement in the camp that had ever been witnessed
+in South Framingham. From Lieut. Weaver the orders were quickly
+transmitted to regimental headquarters and from there to the officers
+of the regiment. Inside of ten minutes from their receipt by Lieut.
+Weaver, every man of the Second was awake and in his company street
+and exultant shouts that went up, quickly aroused the other regiments.
+The Second was to be the first command from the old Bay State to be
+ordered outside her boundaries for active service and the men were so
+proud of it that they could not refrain from reminding the men of the
+other three regiments of the fact. To the credit of the latter it must
+be said that although at first they were a bit inclined to sulk because
+their regiment was not the first to be called upon, yet they soon
+realized that the honor was in a sense as much Massachusetts' as it was
+the Second's, and their cheers joined in with ours.
+
+Meanwhile, the regimental and company officers were doing some lively
+work. Col. Clark had gone to Springfield that morning, and a number
+of officers and men were away on leave, no one expecting that the
+orders would come for a day or two. The regiment was ordered to move
+the next day and before the orders had been known of but a very few
+minutes, telegraph and telephone messages were sent to the absent ones
+informing them of what had happened. This done, the work of completing
+the equipment of the regiment was taken up and pushed in lively
+fashion. There were many little details to be attended to and there
+was little sleep for headquarters that night. How well the work was
+done is attested by the fact that at an early hour the next morning the
+regiment had its tents struck and packed, and long before the hour at
+which many of the folks at home were eating their breakfasts, was in
+readiness to move. Reveille was sounded at 4 o'clock that morning and
+by 6 there was but little remaining to be done.
+
+Although anxious for active service there was one thing about the
+orders which was not at all relished by the regiment and that was the
+route to be followed. It had been expected and understood that when
+the Second would go south its route would be through Worcester and
+Springfield, thus giving us a chance for a genuine _au revoir_ to home
+and friends. We all of us knew that the "farewell" accorded us on
+leaving Springfield for the camp at South Framingham would be tame
+indeed to the reception we might expect when we passed through there as
+United States Volunteers, with a large V, and bound for the front. Some
+of the boys, to be sure, dreaded the thought of having to say "good
+bye" to the accompaniment of tears and sobs again but the majority were
+anxious for one more look at what part of Springfield to be seen from
+the union station and were consequently much disappointed when it was
+announced that instead of going via Springfield, the route was to be by
+way of Newport, R. I.
+
+There was much disappointment, too, in Springfield when the route was
+announced. But not to be beaten, a party of citizens headed by Major H.
+S. Dickinson, arranged for a special train to South Framingham, the day
+we were to leave and so we were not allowed to go without some sort of
+a farewell demonstration from the people of our own city.
+
+On the day previous to our receiving the "rush" orders to the south,
+a number of visitors including ex-Lieut. Gov. W. H. Haile, Col. A. H.
+Goetting and James D. Gill of Springfield were in camp, and it came to
+their attention that the Second was not provided with a band or even
+field music. No regimental bands were included in the organization of
+the volunteer regiments nor even field music, the sole musical property
+being the bugles of which there were two to each company. It was looked
+upon as a proper and desirable thing that the Second should at least
+have field music, or in civilian parlance, a drum corps, and these
+three gentlemen constituted themselves a committee on ways and means to
+that end. It was known that there were enough musicians in the regiment
+to form a drum corps if there were instruments provided for them and
+before the next day through the generosity of the three gentlemen
+named, the Second was provided with fifes, drums, etc., and the members
+of the corps selected.
+
+Thursday, May 12th, we bade good-bye to South Framingham. There was
+difficulty in getting transportation for our baggage and it was not
+until a late hour in the afternoon that everybody was in readiness.
+Meanwhile we hung around our former quarters and killed time as best
+we could. A short time after dinner, our last meal on the "old camp
+ground," the "assembly" and "adjutant's call" were sounded and the
+regiment was formed to pass in review before Gov. Wolcott. The march
+past over, hollow square was formed and the governor presented the
+officers their commissions and made a brief speech telling us to uphold
+the honor of the old commonwealth.
+
+While this was going on we heard the strains of a band and soon in
+marched a delegation from Springfield, headed by the Second regiment
+band and led by Mayor Dickinson, members of Wilcox post of the Grand
+Army and Peabody Guard Veterans, while relatives and friends of the
+boys made up the rest of the 500 in the party. Soon after their arrival
+we were dismissed and then followed one of the interesting scenes
+of our war experience. Hardly had we broken ranks before we were
+surrounded by the visitors and there was falling upon each other's
+necks, handshaking, good wishes, smiles and tears all commingled in one
+scene of such excitement as we had never been through before. Every
+male visitor brought cigars or refreshments for the boys and for an
+hour or so nothing was too good for us.
+
+But all things have an end and finally the bugles blew and after a
+last hurried kiss or handshake we fell in again and marched out to the
+parade ground for the last time. The colors dipped once more to the
+governor and then through a double line of cheering soldiers from the
+other regiments and our own friends we marched out of the camp and
+down the dusty road to the railroad station, escorted by two troops
+of cavalry and amid the cheers and good wishes of the thousands who
+thronged the walks. We passed under the handsome arch erected by the
+people of South Framingham in honor of the soldiers and after one last
+opportunity to say farewell went on board the special trains waiting
+for us. So we left good old Massachusetts.
+
+On our way to Newport we were shown how the people of other places
+regarded us. At every station our train passed through there were
+cheering crowds and enthusiasm seemed to be in evidence everywhere. We
+reached Newport about 9.30 and were transferred to the palatial steamer
+"Pilgrim" of the Fall River line.
+
+"This isn't so bad for army travelling," was the common remark as soon
+as the boys found what accommodations had been made for them. There
+were nearly enough staterooms to provide every man with a bunk and
+those who failed to get a room found nice, thick mattresses spread
+for them on the saloon floors. It brought the "Trip to New York" and
+Valiquet back to the memories of many of us because the accommodations
+were so different.
+
+But it was a tired lot of boys that boarded the Pilgrim that night and
+it was not long before all of them were testing the mattresses and
+bunks, after indulging by the way for the first time in the "travel
+ration." This was our first encounter with the canned beef department
+but somehow it tasted better then than it ever did afterwards. Also
+we allowed our teeth to play with the ligneous hardtack and finally
+fatigued with our exertions we slept soundly.
+
+The next morning when we woke up we were in the East river and at the
+sight of her blue coated cargo every steam craft that met the Pilgrim
+saluted with steam whistles while their crews or passengers as well as
+those of the sailing craft cheered and waved handkerchiefs or anything
+else waveable. From every factory along the shore came the shrieks of
+the steam whistles and the shouts of their occupants and our progress
+down the river to the Fall River line pier was a triumphal progress.
+
+When we reached the pier it was not long before we were transferred to
+the transports Saratoga and Vigilancia, the Springfield companies being
+on board the latter. Then it was that we began to realize what war was.
+Down in the dirty, dark and ill smelling hold we could see men at work
+building rough wooden bunks for us and the language used concerning
+these bunks and their location was copious and picturesque to a high
+degree. No "Pilgrim" accommodations were these. No mattresses 12
+inches thick to rest our weary bones upon but the soft and splintered
+pine boards were to form our couch. Also the travel ration with its
+components of canned roast beef(?), canned corn beef, canned beans and
+hardtack was beginning to pall upon our palates. We were not used to
+such Epicurean fare and began to fear gout and other incidentals of too
+luxurious living. So we gathered together and said things but all the
+time the carpenters went on constructing the bunks and no dinners were
+brought on for us from the Waldorf-Astoria.
+
+Our first cruise on the Vigilancia was further up the North river where
+we waited until late in the afternoon and while waiting many of the
+boys managed to get ashore. Some of them were nearly left behind as
+we pulled out of the dock and a few did get left on shore, but they
+chartered a tug and soon caught us. That night our transports sailed
+down the harbor as far as Bedloe's Island where we anchored opposite
+the Bartholdi statue and where we stayed anchored until the next
+afternoon. That night the much discussed wooden troughs officially
+named bunks were used and were the cause of much profane language
+for which the recording angel ought to be able to find a good excuse
+if he has any love for volunteer soldiers in his composition. Late
+that afternoon we were taken over to Jersey City and transferred to a
+special train of three sections of 14 cars each on which we were to
+make the trip to Tampa. And thus ended our first sea voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+WE GO TO THE SOUTHLAND AND BEGIN TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE AT.
+
+
+On Saturday evening, May 14, we started once more for the South, this
+time by train and had the distinguished honor of beating out the
+much-advertised 71st New York, which had been ordered to start at the
+same time, but forgot its tentage on board the steamers and was obliged
+to wait for several hours in consequence. Our train accommodations
+could have been much worse, the train being run in three sections of
+14 cars each and as four companies travelled on each section this
+arrangement gave each company three cars, while a sleeping car was
+reserved for the officers and with a baggage car made up the section.
+With three cars to a company there was plenty of room for the men and
+we managed to sleep quite comfortably. At every station along the route
+we received plenty of greetings and this happened so frequently after
+we got below Mason & Dixon's line that the boys wondered a little,
+inasmuch as we were from "Black Massachusetts." But it was evident that
+all but a very few of the people of the South realized that the civil
+war was over and we got no heartier reception anywhere along the route
+than in Virginia and North and South Carolina.
+
+We reached Washington early Sunday morning and made a brief stop just
+long enough to allow some of the boys to make a raid on a couple of
+milk wagons. To our disappointment the train did not run through the
+city but skirted it and we failed to get a glimpse of any of the show
+places. We kept on going and late Monday evening, the 16th, landed at
+Lakeland, Fla., where we went into camp, our destination having been
+changed by telegraphic orders received soon after crossing the Florida
+line.
+
+Life on the train was not very exciting. We made but few stops and
+those mainly to change engines. In South Carolina we made our first
+acquaintance with wood burning engines. After these were hitched on it
+was a case of stopping every few miles to "wood up." When the train did
+not stop for wood it did for water and between them both progress was
+slow to us but we found that according to southern ideas we were going
+at express speed.
+
+Our troop train was a great attraction for the children at the stations
+where we stopped and it was a common thing for the boys and girls of
+these places to hand us bunches of jessamine and magnolia flowers while
+the older folk looked on approvingly. The colored people were somewhat
+demonstrative but both they and the white folks never neglected an
+opportunity to sell us cakes and pies at every stop. The pies reminded
+us of those we had been getting at home, they were so different, but
+as a relief from canned meat and beans they were welcome. Occasionally
+when we stopped we found it possible to purchase bottled beer of an
+inferior grade, but better than most of the water we had to drink.
+
+On the trip south Lieuts. Young and Vesper of B company established
+records as sleepers that put them far ahead in their class. Captains
+Leonard and McDonald had the same section in the sleeping car and about
+every night there could be heard a more or less vigorous protest from
+the former against Capt. McDonald's use of a 700 horse power pipe.
+Lieut. Harry Parkhurst of K was the victim of much "jollying" over
+a story printed in a New York newspaper to the effect that he was
+a nephew of the Rev. Dr. Parkhurst of New York, but he took it good
+naturedly.
+
+At Dupont, Ga., Private William Ferrier of G foraged a little during a
+brief stop and captured a diminutive specimen of the "razor back" hog
+prevalent in that locality and bore him in triumph to the train. Any
+visions of pork chops which might have been indulged in were dispelled
+by a look at the pig's anatomy which was plainly visible through his
+skin but he was taken along just the same and met his fate at Lakeland
+when he was killed and roasted by Private "Dido" Hunt of G and served
+up to a small but select circle.
+
+At one of the many stops in Florida a portly colored lady hung about
+the train and made violent love to the good looking officers, her
+comments on the personal appearance of some of them being rather more
+pungent than flattering. So far as known she did not steal any of them.
+
+During the stay at South Framingham Privates E. N. Aiken and B. R.
+Madison of K company had blossomed out as composers and one of their
+effusions which was sung by the more or less able musicians of the
+company in camp and on the train to the tune of: "There'll be a Hot
+Time in the Old Town To-night" was as follows:
+
+    "When you hear those guns go bang, bang, bang,
+    We'll all join in and lick that Dago gang,
+    For we want war or we'll have no name at all,
+    There'll be a hot time when the bugle shall call."
+
+The above was Private Aiken's. Here is Private Madison's:
+
+    "In the battle front we stand with our rifles in our hand
+    And for Cuba's freedom we will ever fight;
+      And with showers of shot and shell,
+      We'll send the Spaniards straight to h----l,
+    When we march into Havana bye and bye.
+
+    CHORUS.
+
+      Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys are marching,
+      Cheer up, Cuba, we will come,
+        And beneath the starry flag
+        We'll tear down the Spanish rag
+      And float the Cuban flag forevermore."
+
+Our arrival at Lakeland was marked by an incident which went to show
+that we were not in the north. Just as our train pulled in a shooting
+affray, in which a couple of troopers from the Tenth U. S. cavalry, a
+colored regiment and some white people participated, occurred and a
+white citizen of the town was killed. As nearly as we could understand
+it the troopers were not to blame but shot in self defense but there
+was much excitement in the town and strong patrols of the First U. S.
+cavalry, a white regiment, were sent out. We were kept in the train
+that night and the next morning after a bath in one of the many lakes
+from which the town takes its name, marched to our camp at the fair
+grounds and on the shores of Lake Morton. The camp was pitched on an
+elevation and under the southern pine and cypress trees from which hung
+long festoons of Spanish moss. Much of this was gathered for bedding
+but it was soon abandoned for this purpose when it was found that it
+harbored numbers of lizards and sometimes small snakes.
+
+Our neighbors at the camp were the First and Tenth regular cavalry and
+the 71st New York which arrived a day after we did. The 71st men being
+from Manhattan were inclined to be a bit fresh at first but they soon
+came to understand that the Second was not exactly a "farmer" regiment
+and let us alone. One disagreeable incident went to show that among
+the New York officers were some snobs. Sergeant James Gibbons of G
+while "down town" one day went into the dining room of the hotel and
+ordered his dinner. The commanding officer of the 71st and some of his
+officers were in the room at the time and as soon as he realized that
+an enlisted man was actually daring to eat in the same room with him
+his indignation became so great that he walked over to the table where
+Sergeant Gibbons was seated and ordered him to leave the place, saying
+that only officers were allowed in the dining room. Sergeant Gibbons
+did not feel like moving and the hotel proprietor assured him that he
+would be served as well as any officer. So he refused to budge and
+enjoyed his dinner, much to the disgust of the New York officer.
+
+Life at Lakeland was fairly enjoyable. The temperature was high,
+ranging from 84 on one day it rained to 124 on a day it did not. We
+had our big wall tents we had brought with us from South Framingham
+and soon had them filled with more or less crude devices in the way
+of furniture. Mattresses there were none and our beds were Mother
+Earth which was of a brunette hue down there. Bathing in the lake was
+a favorite pastime between drills but after the muddy bottom had been
+stirred up a little it was a question whether we were dirtier before
+the bath or after it. There were all kinds of "Jo Jos" about a huge
+alligator who made his home in the lake but he had evidently heard of
+our appetites and kept out of sight.
+
+The First cavalry, camped some distance on our right, had established a
+canteen soon after its arrival and it became a favorite place for our
+boys. A couple of days after our arrival we got our first mail from
+home and that day was a red letter one in our Lakeland life.
+
+Just before reaching Lakeland some K company foragers had captured a
+goat at one of the stops but the owner pursued the animal to Lakeland
+and when he put in a claim for him Capt. Warriner ordered the "billy"
+given up. Our menu in camp was far more varied than on the train for
+"post" rations were being issued and the company cooks were "getting on
+to their jobs." Private Mandeville, who afterwards acquired much fame
+by being left behind at Fort Tampa, presided over the kitchen of G. In
+B company Walter Butler got up savory dishes and Private Harry Fisher
+looked after the culinary department for K. Butter was conspicuous by
+its absence from the table and one boy in K missed it so much that he
+dreamed of it. One night his dreams were so realistic that his cry of
+"Ma, please pass the butter," awoke his tent mates and that expression
+was the rallying cry in K for several days.
+
+The death of Private Weslie Brass of Westfield, a member of I company,
+cast a gloom over the regiment and all the companies turned out to do
+escort duty when the body was shipped home. His was the first death in
+the regiment.
+
+On Sunday, May 30th, orders came to break camp the following day and
+proceed to Tampa, which we did, arriving there on Monday afternoon, the
+31st.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+WE STAY IN YBOR CITY AND THEN ENJOY (?) LIFE ON TRANSPORTS IN THE
+HARBOR.
+
+
+Our stay in Tampa lasted from May 31st to June 7th and it was not
+wholly unenjoyable. In some respects the place was better than
+Lakeland, but we felt the heat far more than was the case in that town
+and the camp location was not as good as that of our camp there. But we
+were near Tampa and there were many opportunities for us to get to the
+city, our camp being in one of the suburbs some three miles from Tampa
+and known as Ybor City. Its population was made up mainly of Cubans and
+negroes and a number of cigar factories were located there. The Cubans
+were all "patriots" of course, but our disenchantment as to Cuban
+patriots had already begun and we paid them little attention. On our
+right was camped a battalion of the Fourth regular artillery (heavy)
+and this was probably the occasion of a rumor which had persistent
+circulation for several days that we were to be transformed from
+infantry to a heavy artillery regiment and assigned to sea coast duty.
+
+We had a lovely time pitching our tents and making camp. Owing to a
+delay in laying out the camp it was not until after dark on the day
+of our arrival that we set to work to pitch our tents and as a result
+it was not only late before we got to sleep but the next morning
+considerable work had to be done in rectifying the alignment of the
+company streets. The soil was nice white sand which made fairly good
+beds.
+
+On the afternoon of the next day we found out what a Florida "shower"
+could do when it tried. The rain came on unexpectedly and within a very
+few moments everything was in a flood. But few of the boys had taken
+the precaution to dig trenches around their tents and after the rain
+began to come down in sheets they were compelled to get out in it and
+dig or else have their quarters flooded. Here was where the value of
+the rubber blankets issued to us at South Framingham was shown.
+
+It was while we were at Ybor City that our regiment was definitely
+assigned. We were put into the First Brigade of the Second Division
+of the Fifth army corps, our brigade commander being temporarily Col.
+Van Horn of the 22nd infantry while Gen. H. W. Lawton was in command
+of the division. This set at rest all the rumors about our being heavy
+artillery, cavalry and several other things. It also meant that we were
+to go to Cuba among the very first of the invading troops and there was
+no end of enthusiasm when this was understood.
+
+During our stay in Ybor City Wagoners Kingston of B, Shene of G and
+Boule of K became expert drivers of the army mule wagon although their
+trials with the mule were many and various. In B street there were some
+pathetic scenes when the members of the Kanewah club got together and
+talked over how nice it would be "to be there" even if the gasoline
+stove did not always work.
+
+Payday came June 4th and we got our first "whack" at Uncle Sam's good
+money. It was welcome, for since leaving South Framingham but little
+had been in circulation among our boys and we gave the paymaster
+the "glad hand." In return, he lined us up by companies and gave us
+greenbacks and a little silver. We had expected a full month's pay but
+were disappointed, our pay being calculated from May 3d, the day we
+had officially been mustered in, to the first of June. There were many
+applications for passes to visit Tampa that day and the majority of
+them were granted. The Seminole hotel and the stores in Ybor City and
+Tampa did a rushing business that afternoon and evening.
+
+The "Wee Haws" of K contributed not a little to the gaiety of our camp
+life at this time and one of their songs to the air of "Rally 'Round
+the Flag" and reflecting upon the subsistence department was popular.
+It went like this:
+
+    Down with the hardtack!
+      Hurrah, boys, hurrah,
+    Down with the canned beef;
+      We wonder what you are;
+    For we'll rally 'round the beans, boys,
+      We'll rally once again
+    Shouting the battle cry of "Wee Haw."
+
+    'Please pass the butter,'
+      Hurrah, boys, hurrah!
+    If the coffee was much thicker
+      We'd sell it off for tar;
+    For we'll never look like Billy Fish
+      Unless we get more grub--
+    Shouting the battle cry of "Wee Haw."
+
+    Ade Potter's growing thinner,
+      Healey's just the same
+    Brazzil, Breck and Nesbitt swear,
+      Their biscuit box is lame;
+    For George Potter ate his canteen
+      And Aiken ate the strap
+    And McCullough shouts the battle cry of "Wee Haw!"
+
+About this time some brainless individual sent alarming news home
+in a letter, which was published in the Springfield newspapers, to
+the effect that sickness was prevalent in our camp and that a large
+proportion of the men of the three companies from that city were in
+the hospital seriously ill. As a result we soon began to get letters
+of anxious inquiry from the folks at home, and it was some time before
+we could fully reassure them that the reports had been extremely
+exaggerated and that there was but little illness and none of a serious
+nature in our ranks.
+
+While in Ybor City we lost two men, Privates Luther of K and Monteverde
+of G. Both were ordered to be discharged from the service, because
+of having enlisted while under age and without the consent of their
+parents or guardians. Monteverde was reluctant to leave the regiment
+and pleaded hard to be allowed to go with us to Cuba even as a civilian
+employee, and when that was refused he offered to go without any pay.
+But this was found to be impossible and he and Luther were obliged
+to return home. The case of Private John K. DeLoach of B company was
+a hard one. He had enlisted in South Framingham and in some way his
+relatives, who resided in Atlanta, Ga., heard of it, and as he was
+under age and had not their consent, applied for his discharge. Orders
+to have him discharged were issued but they failed to arrive while we
+were in Tampa, and did not reach us until after the regiment had landed
+in Cuba and done its share in capturing Santiago. DeLoach had done his
+duty during the most arduous part of the campaign, and as a result was
+given a "bob tail" discharge and left to get back to the United States
+as best he could. Sometimes the rewards of patriotism are not great,
+and this was certainly one of the instances.
+
+June 6th orders were received to break camp and proceed to Port Tampa,
+there to go on board the transports for Cuba. We broke camp all right,
+got our tents down and all baggage packed and saw them sent away
+and then proceeded to wait. We waited all that afternoon and night
+and until late in the afternoon of the next day before our belated
+transportation was arranged for. As a result of a blunder in the
+quartermaster's department, we were compelled to bivouac that night
+without any shelter. This was our first real acquaintance with the
+fact expressed in the statement attributed to Gen. Sherman, that "War
+is h--l."
+
+Late in the afternoon of June 7th, we marched to the railroad and
+went on board a train which after a couple of hours brought us to
+Port Tampa, distance about eight miles. Here we found some practical
+illustrations of the beautiful manner in which the quartermaster's
+department was working. It had been stated to Col. Clark that on
+arriving at Port Tampa we were to immediately go on board the
+transports, but after disembarking from the train and waiting for some
+time it was found that no transports had been assigned to us. Nothing
+could be done in the matter that night, and we were to be left to shift
+for ourselves as best we could. There were no barracks in Port Tampa,
+and it was too late to go into camp even if we had our tentage with us,
+which we did not. After considerable scouting, Col. Clark discovered
+that quarters might be found in the freight sheds on a long pier, and
+we started for them only to have the entire regiment halted and held up
+for some minutes at the point of the bayonet of a sentinel of the First
+Illinois regiment, who was on guard at the entrance to the pier and had
+orders to let no one pass. This obstacle was finally surmounted and we
+marched onto the pier and made ourselves comfortable as best we could.
+
+During that night on the pier the foraging instincts of Private "Dido"
+Hunt of G company became active, and as a result he and several members
+of that company passed the long hours of the night very comfortably.
+The freight sheds were divided into sections, and in that allowed to
+G was a lot of freight. Included were two innocent looking barrels,
+but guided solely by instinct "Dido" decided to investigate their
+contents. With this end in view he spread his roll and blanket by the
+side of the barrels, and, lying on his side began to cut a hole through
+the staves of one of them. This was rather difficult because of the
+sentries, but it was finally accomplished, and much to the forager's
+intense satisfaction, the insertion of his hand through the hole
+and into the barrel, revealed to him that it was filled with bottled
+beer. Satisfying himself in the only proper manner, that there was no
+mistake, he acquainted the members of his squad and a few others with
+his find and soon an impromptu picnic was in progress. Under the very
+noses of the sentries, the contents of that barrel of beer disappeared
+before morning, and to those in the secret the night passed very
+pleasantly.
+
+[Illustration: Lieut. William Young. Capt. Henry McDonald. Lieut. Harry
+Vesper.]
+
+The next morning four companies and headquarters of the Second were
+transferred to the transport Orizaba, the companies being G, B, K and
+D. The transport already had on board the Eighth and Twenty-second
+regular infantry, and as a result our boys were crowded about on the
+decks and compelled to sleep anywhere they could. The officers were
+crowded into the staterooms and their experiences on the Orizaba were
+not much more enjoyable than those of the men. Some of the regulars,
+with a fine contempt for volunteers, did their best to make things as
+unpleasant for us as possible, but the majority were of a different
+disposition and aided us all they could, which unfortunately was not
+much.
+
+We expected to sail that day but did not. The same could be said
+about our expectations and disappointments every succeeding day
+until we did finally sail on the 14th. Before that happened we were
+again transferred, this time to the well remembered transport,
+Knickerbocker. This event happened on the 13th and when we found that
+the Knickerbocker's number was 13, that she had that number of letters
+in her name and that about everybody and everything connected with her
+was more or less mixed up with the alleged unlucky number some of us
+began to wonder what would happen. Fortunately nothing did, but that
+was because somebody, not connected with the war department, or with
+this world, was looking after us. The third battalion was added to our
+force on board the Knickerbocker, the second being on the Seneca and
+the Manteo.
+
+On the evening of the 13th the 13 hoodoo began to work. A steam pipe
+burst and some of the boys, thinking a general explosion would follow,
+jumped from the deck to the dock, but although there was considerable
+fuss and excitement no one was hurt. That night sleep on the
+Knickerbocker was out of the question, for a gang of negro roustabouts
+was engaged all night in loading provisions onto our steamer and
+their cries, together with the noise of the steam winches prevented
+any sleep. On the afternoon of the next day, the 14th, the steamer
+finally cast off and started down the harbor in the wake of the other
+transports. After being tied up in Tampa harbor for six long days we
+were at last at sea and bound for Cuba.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+WE HAVE A LOVELY SAIL ON THE PALATIAL KNICKERBOCKER AND REACH CUBA
+WITHOUT MISHAP.
+
+
+Our voyage to Cuba on Transport No. 13, unofficially known as the
+Knickerbocker, will long linger in our memories. The Knickerbocker
+was a lovely ship but her loveliness was of such a nature that it was
+seldom referred to without a free and unlimited use of adjectives in
+the ratio of more than 16 to 1. After a while it got to be a case of
+"Don't speak of her past, boys," and we seldom did. The present was bad
+enough and as for her future, all of us had grave doubts concerning it.
+There was a story from apparently authentic sources, that before the
+government, in a moment of temporary aberation, engaged the services
+of the Knickerbocker as a transport, she had been engaged in conveying
+Italian emigrants from New York to New Orleans, and her interior
+condition when we boarded her gave conformation of the stories.
+
+Many words could be written concerning the Knickerbocker and our
+opinion of her, but as a good share of them would form language not
+generally used in the best society, it will be perhaps as well to draw
+the veil of silence over a good part of it.
+
+Her captain's name was Betts and he was an aged individual who savored
+much of the sea and who evidently had been the victim of an early or
+late disappointment, either in love or something else, that resulted
+in souring him towards himself and everybody else. The name of the
+steward of the boat is unknown, but this did not bother the boys much,
+their usual designation of him being "thief" or "robber" or any term of
+opprobrium that came handy. If he was a poor man when the Knickerbocker
+sailed with us from Tampa harbor, there was no reason why he could not
+have returned with money enough to start a fair sized bank account, for
+he sold us everything there was to sell, and considerable that he had
+no right to, and he always charged us Klondike prices for everything.
+He was never under suspicion of giving away anything, not even himself.
+Before the voyage was half over there came near being a mutiny among
+the crew which had discovered, so they said, that the steward was
+taking the provisions destined for them and selling them to such of our
+boys as had money and had become weary of the luxurious and varied fare
+given us by the government. At the same time his extortions had become
+so burdensome to our boys that muttered threats against him were heard
+and but for some of the cooler heads among the soldiers he might have
+been the victim of the vengeance both of the crew and the troops.
+
+There were thirteen staterooms on the boat and into these were crowded
+32 officers. The men were "bunked" in the hold, and if there was any
+provision for ventilation other than the hatches, no trace was ever
+found of it. On the first night out the men slept on the decks and so
+were enabled to pass the night in considerable comfort, for if the deck
+planks were hard, there was at least some air and the cool sea breeze
+made sleeping possible. But on the second night out there came trouble.
+The surgeon was fearful that the night dews would have a bad effect
+on the men, and had been told so much of the evil effects of sleeping
+out in the air in tropical latitudes that he believed it best for the
+men to sleep below decks. He pressed his views upon the commanding
+officer, and the result was an order to the officer of the day to
+allow no men to sleep above decks on that or the succeeding nights of
+the voyage.
+
+Naturally, when this order was communicated to the men, there was a
+protest. There was a decided difference of opinion between the men and
+the surgeon as to the evil results from sleeping on deck, and the men
+were inclined to rebel against the order. However, Capt. McDonald of B
+company was officer of the day, and no matter what his sympathies were,
+orders were orders. So soon after "taps" had sounded he and the guard
+made a tour of the boat and the sleepers were informed that they must
+retire to the bunks below and complete their slumbers. Then there was
+a howl of remonstrance, but it was without avail. The sleepers were
+rounded up and hustled below. In protest against this came all sorts
+of noise from the sleeping quarters. Songs and yells, and there was
+much satire in many of the songs, came up from below. The surgeons were
+alluded to as "Horse doctors" and "Salts," and one chorus that came
+floating up through the hatches ran something like this:
+
+"What do they give us for stomach ache?"
+
+"Salts."
+
+"What do they give us for a broken leg?"
+
+"Salts."
+
+"What do they give us for rheumatism?"
+
+"Salts."
+
+And so on through a catalogue of all the various diseases incident to
+man or animals.
+
+Finally the noise became so great that Capt. McDonald threatened to
+have the hatches closed, thus destroying the last faint chance of
+obtaining any air. This was met by the threat that if the hatches were
+closed bullets would be fired through them, but after a while the noise
+quieted down and the men dropped off to sleep. After that night the
+order to sleep below decks was pretty well obeyed as the reason for
+it begun to be understood by the men and they realized that it was
+prompted by a desire for their welfare and not to annoy them.
+
+Not all the boys slept below, however. Emery, Morehouse and Kelly of K
+had managed to secrete themselves in one of the ships boats and made it
+their sleeping quarters all the time of the voyage. As it was covered
+by a tarpaulin they were well protected from the dews or rains, and in
+any case they managed to keep the secret so well that they were not
+molested.
+
+G company suffered a terrible loss on the day we sailed. Private
+Mandeville, the company cook, had managed to cut himself so badly in
+the arm with a carving knife, during our stay at Lakeland, that he
+had been excused from that duty. On our last day at Port Tampa he had
+obtained shore leave and utilized it so well in looking at the wine
+when it was red, or something that had the same effect, that he was
+in a trance when the orders came to leave. So when the Knickerbocker
+sailed, G was one man short, and after the requisite ten days had
+elapsed Private Mandeville was put on the rolls as a deserter.
+Fortunately for him, it was established on our return that he was
+not technically a deserter, it appearing that when he woke up he had
+reported himself to an officer in Tampa, and had been assigned to
+remain with a party of the 71st New York which had likewise been left
+behind.
+
+Of mascots there were many on board. First of all came one James
+Sargent of Washington, D. C, a young colored lad better known as
+"Snowball." He had come on from Washington with some District of
+Columbia troops and finding that they were not going immediately to
+Cuba or for some other reason he got on board the Knickerbocker and
+attached himself for better or worse to the Second Massachusetts. Any
+member of the regiment can answer the query as to whether it was for
+better or worse for the Second.
+
+Then there were James and Willie Turner, two young white boys from
+Tampa who had an uncontrollable desire to hie themselves over the
+seas to Cuba and there end the lives of more or less Spaniards. They
+remained with us until the landing on the island and then divorced
+themselves from the Second and attached themselves to two regular
+regiments. Both stood the campaign in far better shape than the
+older men and returned to this country with enlarged views and a
+determination to enlist in the regulars as soon as they were of the
+requisite age.
+
+G company had two mascots in "Rations" and "Hardtack," dogs of the cur
+variety. Rations did not last out the voyage, her career being cut
+short by some miscreant who threw her overboard one night, much to the
+indignation of the men of the company.
+
+A predominating feature of the trip across was the excellent fare
+provided for the enlisted men by a thoughtful government. Life at sea
+on a steady diet of canned beef, canned beans and canned tomatoes,
+hardtack and ship's water is not conducive to embonpoint or a cheerful
+and contented disposition. In the hurry of fitting up the Knickerbocker
+as a transport no provision had been made to do any cooking for the
+men, even if there had been anything to cook, and there was not even
+a place where coffee, of which we had plenty, could be made. Finally
+after a couple of days out some vigorous "kicking" resulted in the
+company cooks being grudgingly allowed the use of the galley for coffee
+making purposes but with the poor water the coffee was hardly equal to
+that furnished at Delmonico's or other places where most of us had been
+in the habit of eating.
+
+As to the water an entire chapter could not do justice to its
+qualities. There were two brands on board, one being Mississippi
+river fluid with an equal quantity of mud of a rich brown color in
+suspension. After obtaining a cupful of this mixture it was necessary
+to allow it to stand for some little time in order that the mud might
+settle to the bottom. With all its faults, however, this water when
+strained was sweet and drinking it did not cause remorse.
+
+The other water had been obtained in Tampa and it was called water
+principally because it was contained in the water tanks. It did not
+look much like water and tasted still less like it. But that and the
+muddy fluid was all there was to drink and we had to make the best of
+it.
+
+One day when the canned beef was even worse than usual and the canned
+beans greasier than ever there came to the vision of certain members
+of the Springfield companies, who happened to be looking through the
+skylight into the steward's pantry, a delicious looking piece of
+cold roast beef hanging peacefully from a hook and destined for the
+officers' lunch. Constant looking at that well cooked piece of fresh
+beef begot longing, then covetousness and desire. By a silent but
+unanimous vote it was decided that such a nice piece of beef would be
+better appreciated by hungry enlisted men than by the officers who
+had been getting more or less of it, at their own expense, during the
+voyage and the next thing was the informal appointment of a committee
+on ways and means to procure the aforesaid beef. An examination
+revealed that the skylight could be opened from the deck and further
+that a boathook was handy. These facts ascertained, a watch was kept
+until the occupant of the pantry had gone out for a moment, the
+skylight was quickly opened, the boathook manipulated and the piece of
+beef lifted to the deck. The cook re-entered the pantry just as the
+beef was disappearing through the skylight and the expression on his
+face haunted the participants in the "Disappearing beef mystery" for
+many hours.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Lieut Phillip C. Powers
+  K. Co.
+
+  Captain W. S. Warriner
+  K. Co.
+
+  Lieut. Harry H. Parkhurst
+  K. Co.
+]
+
+In one corner of the upper deck that afternoon were a number of men
+upon whose faces rested an expression of perfect contentment and whose
+hands could occasionally be seen to wander over their stomachs as if to
+assure themselves that cold roast beef was a suitable article of diet
+for a voyage in the tropics. As no ill effects were recorded the
+question was settled satisfactorily to them but it is also on record
+that no more tempting bits were hung within reach of open skylights or
+wandering boathooks. It is also a matter of history that the officers'
+lunch that day was rather a poor meal and there was no cold meat on the
+table. But Bates didn't care.
+
+How the Knickerbocker ever escaped being run down or colliding with
+some other of the vessels of the fleet is one of the mysteries of the
+deep. Not less than half a dozen narrow escapes are on record in the
+memory of the men who were on her and on one or two occasions the
+escapes were so narrow that a few feet either way would have done the
+job for the Knickerbocker and her crew and passengers. On one occasion
+another boat came so near to running us down that half the men were
+ready to jump into the sea but the other boat finally sheered off
+by the closest margin. The "Thirteen" hoodoo came near to finding
+believers among those on the Knickerbocker before Cuba was reached.
+
+Bathing hours were established on board after the first day out, each
+company being allowed an hour aft each day during which the men could
+"turn the hose" on each other to their heart's content. As, however,
+there was but little salt water soap on board and that little was in
+the hands of the steward to be retailed by him at robber baron prices
+these attempts at cleanliness proved rather abortive, for it was soon
+ascertained that ordinary soap does not lather in salt water and the
+effects of the bath under these circumstances was worse if anything
+than in Lakeland.
+
+So the days went on until on the 20th we saw the low outline of the
+Cuban coast late in the afternoon and at the same time saw the flashes
+and heard the dull reports of big guns which told us that the navy was
+having a brush with the foe. It lasted only for a few moments, but
+this was the first time we had heard guns fired in actual conflict and
+although we could see but little the rigging was crowded until long
+after the guns were silent. We learned afterwards that it was only
+a little brush some of the blockading fleet were having with a fort
+near Santiago but it was mighty interesting to us while it lasted.
+All the next day the fleet cruised about apparently aimlessly and
+that night the Knickerbocker "got lost." How it ever happened no one
+knows excepting the captain of the ship and he never volunteered an
+explanation so far as we knew. It was expected that we would land that
+day but just before dusk a dispatch boat raced up alongside and without
+stopping speed an officer on board shouted through a megaphone an order
+to Captain Betts to continue "cruising to the northwest, keeping in
+touch with the fleet." So off we cruised to the northwest but the rest
+of the order as to keeping in touch with the fleet was not carried out.
+The next morning when we woke up we found the Knickerbocker all alone
+with not a sail or line of smoke on the horizon and with apparently no
+one knowing where we were or what we were doing there. Inquiries of
+Captain Betts met with gruff and non-committal response and it was not
+until just before noon that we came in sight of the rest of the fleet
+off Daiquiri and learned that the landing had begun and that had we got
+there when we should the Second would have been the first regiment to
+land on Cuban soil. Then things were said concerning Capt. Betts and
+his boat that would not look nice in print.
+
+Over on our left the big guns of the warships were pounding away at the
+fortifications while the small caliber guns were sending in a storm
+of bullets into the woods and hills along the shore, clearing them
+out before the landing. From the warships to the transports danced
+an almost steady stream of launches and small boats to assist in the
+landing. The invasion of Cuba by the Fifth army corps was a fact at
+last.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+WHEREIN IS NARRATED OUR LANDING AT DAIQUIRI AND SOME THINGS WHICH
+SUBSEQUENTLY HAPPENED.
+
+
+It was not until well along in the afternoon that the Knickerbocker's
+passengers started for the shore and as it was not all of them landed
+that day, the third battalion being left on board until the 23d.
+For many long hours the steamer backed and filled together with the
+other vessels and the men, loaded down as they were with their field
+equipment and waiting for the word to disembark, found plenty of time
+to enjoy the stirring scenes about them. There were the grim painted
+war ships, all ready for business and their hustling "Jackies" working
+like beavers to aid in landing us "doughboys." Between the big ships
+danced the saucy torpedo boats and destroyers and quick puffing
+launches having in tow strings of small boats, these being our means of
+transportation from the ship to the land. In front were the frowning
+hills which guarded the coast line and from which an enemy of any
+determination could have easily prevented our landing. On a plateau
+directly in front of us was the village of Daiquiri, abandoned that
+morning by the Spaniards after a brief bombardment by our fleet, while
+a force of Cubans got along in time to worry the retreating enemy. A
+portion of the village and the works were still smoldering, having been
+fired by the Spaniards before they left the place.
+
+Daiquiri was the seat of the Spanish-American Iron company and a
+narrow gauge railroad connects it with Juguaracito or Siboney where
+the company had quite an extensive establishment. Jutting out into the
+water was a high iron pier and it was supposed we were to land there,
+but this was found to be impossible after one or two trials.
+
+Meanwhile after long waiting a dinky little steam launch from the
+battleship Massachusetts and followed by a string of small boats,
+came alongside the Knickerbocker and the youthful ensign in charge
+allowed that he was ordered to take headquarters and as many others
+of the regiment as possible on shore. This was agreeable and Col.
+Clark and his field and staff embarked in the launch without much
+trouble, although the job of climbing down a slippery rope ladder,
+then hanging on by both hands to the side ropes and waiting until the
+next high wave brought the launch up to within a couple of feet of you
+and then falling more or less, mostly less, gracefully into it, was
+not particularly pleasing. After headquarters, a platoon of G company
+embarked and this filled the boats.
+
+How to get on shore from the boats appeared to grow into a serious
+problem as we neared the landing place. This was an old wooden pier,
+which jutted out some little distance from the land. There was a heavy
+surf on and the little basin in which the pier stood was jammed with
+boats and launches, all apparently very much snarled up but which in
+reality were being ably managed. After much maneuvering our launch was
+jammed alongside the pier and the next problem was how to get upon
+it. The supporting piles rose high up from the water and their slimy
+surface offered no inducement to attempt climbing. One moment we would
+be down in the trough of a wave and then the launch would be lifted
+up almost to the top of the pier and the sailors would be hard put to
+it to keep the boats from being dashed against the huge piling of the
+pier. The method of our landing could hardly be called dignified. As
+the boat would be raised almost to a level with the floor of the pier
+by a wave our rolls and equipment would be tossed up to some soldiers
+waiting to assist us. Then down the boat would go again and when the
+next wave raised it we would stand up on the thwarts of the boat, reach
+up our hands, two of the men on the pier would grasp them and we would
+scramble up the best we could. In this way the first lot was landed and
+the boats hustled back to the ship after another load of passengers.
+The pier was connected with the land by some loose planks and across
+these we walked gingerly, finally reaching terra firma. We were on
+Cuban soil at last.
+
+On shore there was as much bustle and confusion as in the landing.
+Many of the regulars and a part of "Ours" had already landed but there
+appeared to be no system, and officers and men were scattered about
+everywhere. A short distance from the pier was a typical Cuban "shack"
+as the regulars called it, a roughly built shed with a roof of palm
+leaf thatch and around this was a lot of Cuban soldiers who were making
+themselves "good fellows" by giving away cocoanuts, of which they had
+a couple of large bags. They, the soldiers, were of varying shades of
+blackness and their "uniforms" consisted mostly of nothing. Some had
+more clothing than the others, but few had anything like a complete
+outfit. They were barefooted and bareheaded but all had the inevitable
+machete and some kind of a firearm, from the latest model Spanish
+Mauser and the navy Lee to an old shotgun. They could talk English
+about as well as we could Spanish and the sign language was used with
+more or less success.
+
+Having filled up on cocoanuts, which tasted good, we became thirsty.
+A water pipe ran along the ground and we soon found a faucet, but the
+first man to take a drink spat out the water and said some sharp and
+emphatic things concerning it at which we mildly wondered until he
+calmed down sufficiently to tell us that it was "hot enough to boil
+eggs in." Sure enough it was. The pipes ran along on the surface of the
+ground and the sun did the rest.
+
+"_Mucho caliente agua_," commented a ragged "Cubana" as he noticed our
+disgusted looks and one or two who understood enough Spanish to know
+what he meant agreed with him. Then he grinned as only a Cuban can and
+pointing to the plateau where the main part of the village was located,
+said: "_Agua fresca_," which being interpreted meant "cold water."
+So off we started for the plateau and there found several barrels of
+fresh water which was fairly cool. Among the "shacks" which composed
+the town we found a "brigade" of the "brave" Cuban soldiers. They were
+having a good time recounting their exploits and staring at "_los
+Americano soldados_," whose rough and ready manners were not always to
+their liking. A few of their field officers were almost white in color
+and decently uniformed but the majority, like the men, were black and
+distinguished from their men by small silver stars worn on a strap
+across the breast, three being the insignia of a captain, two of a
+first lieutenant and one of a second lieutenant.
+
+A point of much interest to our men were the burning shops, which the
+Spaniards had fired before retreating. On the railway track was a
+locomotive and some cars which had been disabled and burnt. Additional
+interest was caused by the pursuit, capture and summary execution of an
+unwise pig by a mob of our men and Cubans.
+
+All our battalions having landed, we began our march into the interior
+just before 5 o'clock. The brigade commander, Col. Van Horn of the 22d
+was injured on the 22d and the command was temporarily assigned to our
+commander, Col. Clark. As Lieut. Col. Shumway was left on the boat,
+Major Southmayd took command of the two battalions on shore. We marched
+some five miles toward Santiago, across country, the march being along
+a narrow and rough trail and halted for the night by the side of the
+trail. On our way we had to ford a stream and began to experience some
+of the realities of war.
+
+That night we had to face our first real experience at going hungry.
+It had been understood that we were not to go inland that day and
+that rations would be sent us from the ships so no orders to take any
+with us had been issued. A few of the men had the foresight to stuff
+whatever food they could into their haversacks but the majority had
+nothing and went supperless to bed. The regulars bivouacked near us
+were in the same fix and there was much grumbling. However, officers
+and men were in the same box and there was nothing to do but make the
+best of it.
+
+At dawn the next morning we rolled up our outfits and started off
+again. Our method of packing up was expeditious. Each man carried one
+half of a shelter tent, better known to us as a "dog" tent and later
+"pup" tents because of their small size, they being just about large
+enough for two men to crawl into. The half shelter was laid on the
+ground and upon it was spread first the rubber blanket and then the
+woolen one. Our canvas blouses and whatever personal property we had
+were then placed on top, together with the tent sticks and pegs and
+the whole neatly rolled. The ends were secured with the tent rope and
+the roll thus formed was carried over the left shoulder, the ends
+hanging down on the right side of the body. Thus equipped, with our
+full canteens and empty haversacks, we took to the road again after our
+first night on Cuban soil. Details of men from each company were sent
+back to the ships after rations and we started for Siboney. An early
+morning march on an empty stomach is not conducive to an appreciation
+of scenery be it ever so grand, but some of us enjoyed it. All about
+us were hills and mountains, their peaks clear cut against the blue
+sky, while from the tops of two or three rose thin smoke columns which
+we supposed were from signal fires. Our trail led us through valleys
+and over hills until finally about 11 o'clock we struck upon something
+that looked like a road and on which we were enabled to march for a
+short time in columns of fours. Anyone who had ever seen the Second on
+a parade in Springfield or Worcester or at camp and seen us straggling
+along the Cuban trail in single file would have laughed outright at the
+contrast, as we were forced to ourselves. Later on we looked even worse.
+
+That day the "stripping" process, familiar to all armies in a campaign,
+was begun. Two companies of the second battalion, E and M had "toted"
+their knapsacks with them from their transports and about the second
+day out they were sorry for so doing. Hardly had we been an hour on
+the march that morning before the knapsacks began to disappear and the
+troops which followed us soon knew that the Second Massachusetts had
+passed by, meeting scores of Cubans with E and M company knapsacks
+on their backs and sweltering but happy in the closely buttoned cape
+overcoats discarded with the knapsacks. Fortunately our knapsacks and
+all our heavy baggage had been left on board ship but it was not long
+before we found our rolls becoming heavy and burdensome. Pretty soon a
+man would quietly drop out of the line, off would come his roll which
+was quickly opened, and some article he fancied he could do without,
+thrown into the bush. Then the roll would be fastened together, thrown
+over the owner's shoulder and he would hasten to rejoin his company. A
+few moments afterward a ragged Cubano might be seen poking around about
+the bushes and next the discarded articles would be in his possession.
+
+And it may as well be told here that it was not only the Second
+Massachusetts that strewed more or less valuable or necessary articles
+along the trails. The regulars were with us in that, and although, as a
+rule, they had brought less baggage ashore with them than we did, they
+soon found it convenient to get rid of much of it. They even discarded
+their blankets, some cutting them in half and retaining only one part,
+while we stuck to the blankets and sacrificed other things. We never
+were sorry either that we kept our blankets, for if the days were
+intensely warm, the nights were cool and coverings came in handy.
+
+That afternoon, soon after we had struck the short piece of good road
+referred to above, we left it and following a narrow trail debouched
+into some woods and after passing through them, found ourselves in a
+cocoanut grove. There were hundreds of the trees all laden with the
+fruit, and a halt was ordered, arms stacked and we were allowed to
+rest. About this time we were decidedly hungry, our breakfast having
+consisted of nothing and our dinner menu being the same. The cocoanuts
+looked inviting but they were far away at the tops of the branchless
+trees. But hunger is a spur and it was not long before some daring ones
+were "shinning up" the trees and down came the fruit. Alas! It was a
+disappointment to hopes of a satisfactory meal. After the hard, green
+outer husks had been chopped away it was found that the cocoanuts were
+green, and a copious flow of soldier language greeted this discovery.
+But it was not long before it was discovered that the milk of the green
+cocoanut makes a very palatable drink, and in a few moments we all
+became milkmen.
+
+The march resumed we struck into another piece of woods, forded a brook
+or two, (we had by this time gotten over minding our feet being wet,)
+and found ourselves once more on a narrow and rough trail. On our way
+through the woods we saw, stretched along a rough fence, the body of
+a huge snake of the constrictor variety, not long killed and looking
+decidedly fierce. The reptile was about eight feet long and as thick as
+a man's arm. A little further along we saw something which indicated
+that we were in a rough country. This was a human skull nailed on top
+of a post and grinning at us with empty eye sockets and toothless jaws,
+as we passed.
+
+A little further along and we struck another narrow stream which, of
+course, had to be forded, and up a hill, just beyond that we came to a
+railroad station and the track. Here were some of our advance guard,
+men of the Eighth regulars who informed us that Siboney was "just
+'round the corner," as one of them put it, and sure enough after a few
+moments more of the "Weary Willie" act, we came to a collection of
+"shacks," and realized that we were in Siboney. Now that word "Siboney"
+means much to us because it reminds us that there we ate, a fact
+sufficiently momentous on that day to linger long in our memories.
+
+Now as to the methods of our eating. It was only a short time before
+our arrival that the Spaniards had evacuated Siboney after firing a
+few shots at our advance guard and the natives, who had "jumped the
+town" when the Spaniards told them there was going to be a big battle
+in which they were going to annihilate the "pigs of Yanquis," were
+just beginning to come back. We were ordered to camp on a low piece
+of ground on one side of the railroad embankment and after putting up
+our "pup" tents a few hungry ones went into the town to see what could
+be seen and incidentally to acquire what there was to acquire in the
+commissary line. They were successful in the latter. The natives were
+glad to see them and freely gave of what little they had. This wasn't
+much but there was some rice and some queer looking but good tasting
+messes of which our men were freely invited to partake. In one house in
+particular there were two aged women who busied themselves for hours
+cooking rice and other dishes for our men and who at first would not
+accept anything in payment. Finally it was forced upon them and before
+evening there was more silver money in that poor "shack" than had
+probably been the case for many a day. All through the village it was
+the same and the hospitality we received at Siboney did much to change
+for a time the unfavorable opinion we had formed of the Cubans.
+
+Not only was there food but drink. There was cool water in all the
+houses and there was also "bino," a sour Cuban wine like claret and
+some fiery "rou" or rum which brought tears to the eyes of more than
+one man who thought he was spirit proof. All that afternoon we mingled
+freely with the people, looked all through the town, examined with
+interest the Spanish block houses and some of us went in surf bathing
+on the pretty little beach in front of the town.
+
+Late that afternoon the third battalion came up and about the same time
+the details which had been sent back for rations, made their appearance
+with about enough provisions to whet our appetite, they having found
+the task of lugging supplies for a company, nearly ten miles, beyond
+their strength.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+IN WHICH IS TO BE FOUND THE TALE OF "CRAB HOLLOW" AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
+
+
+When we retired to our luxurious couches that night of June 23d, most
+of us, excepting the guards, anticipated sleep, but we little recked
+what that night had in store for us. As told before, our camp was
+pitched on a low piece of ground and among a lot of sparse bushes.
+We did not know until the next day that the camping ground was an
+old burial place, and we were also not well enough up in the natural
+history of things Cuban to understand that if there is any one place
+the dainty land crab prefers for its habitat it is a cemetery and this
+preference rests upon a purely gastronomic basis. The land crab and the
+vulture are the great scavengers of Cuba and while the latter disposes
+of anything eatable left above ground the land crab looks after bodies
+or anything else placed under ground. In the afternoon we had noticed
+the holes of the land crabs but paid little attention to them, and only
+saw a few of the crustaceans, but at night we made their acquaintance
+at close quarters. We were pretty well fagged out with the heat and
+the marching, and this, with the strange sensation of having something
+to eat in our stomachs, tended to drowsiness. But hardly had we got
+settled in our tents before there were strange rustlings and noises
+and then the sensation of something crawling. There were some quick
+arisings and the sound of matches hastily struck and then exclamations
+and profanity. In some of the companies there was hardly a tent that
+had not been pitched over one or more land crab holes and the occupants
+of these had begun an investigation. Crawling over the sleepers
+usually resulted in awakening them and then came the exclamations,
+the illumination by the matches and the pursuit and slaughter of the
+visitors. The land crab is not an aggressive animal towards man and
+the greeting tendered him usually resulted in his scuttling for his
+hole. Not always did he reach there, for many fell victims to ramrods,
+clubs and other weapons. One able bodied crab was caught in the act of
+backing into his hole with a stocking in his claws, and yielded up his
+life for his rapacity. It may have been that he intended to eat the
+stocking, and had he done so his fate would have been the same anyway.
+The crabs had a pleasant trick that night of crawling half way up the
+outside of the tents and then losing their hold and dropping to the
+ground. That was bad enough as a deterrent to sleep, but it was not
+all. In the afternoon some I company men had repaired a locomotive
+disabled by the Spaniards, and kept running it up and down the tracks,
+to an accompaniment of bell and whistle, until a late hour.
+
+Bright and early the next morning we were up and as on the day before
+looking for grub. Rations were still "shy" and once more we had
+recourse to our friends the Siboneyians who gave us what they could,
+which was not much, as their own supplies were running low.
+
+Meanwhile the remainder of the transports had come to Siboney and were
+landing the rest of the expedition. They had a little different method
+of doing it than at Daiquiri. The boats would be filled with men and
+towed in as near shore as possible when the men would have to jump out
+and wade ashore. Some of them didn't like getting their feet wet but
+they had to just the same.
+
+It was some little time before noon when we heard firing from over the
+hills and learned that the cavalry brigade had gone on a reconnoisance
+in force in that direction. It was only a short time afterwards when
+we saw the first wounded begin to come down the trail and learned
+that they had found the enemy in force at Las Guasimas and had quite
+a go with him. The First and Tenth United States cavalry, our old
+neighbors at Lakeland, and the Rough Riders were engaged and from all
+accounts were having a warm time. Col. Clark of the Second was acting
+as commander of our brigade and receiving orders from Gen. Lawton
+to reinforce the cavalry, left for the scene with the Eighth and
+Twenty-second Infantry. They arrived there just as the Spaniards were
+running and finding nothing for them to do returned to Siboney.
+
+One of the largest buildings in the town had been converted into
+a temporary hospital and it was soon filled with the wounded. Our
+regimental surgeons, Drs. Bowen, Gates and Hitchcock were pressed
+into service and rendered valuable aid. That hospital was our first
+introduction to some of the grim realities of war but the boys stood it
+well and were anxious to get to the front as quickly as possible. One
+of the warships with the transports added to the excitement by shelling
+the woods on top of a point near us and we began to conclude it would
+be our turn next.
+
+But it was not long before our thoughts were turned from the vision of
+great deeds in battle to a more prosaic but necessary matter. A lot of
+rations had been landed and soon we were revelling in such delicacies
+as hardtack, "sowbelly" bacon, coffee, canned beef (?) and canned
+tomatoes. Orders were issued for each man to take four days' rations
+but our haversack capacity was not equal to this and we packed all we
+could into our rolls. Even then we could not take all the issue and
+what was left we gave to our friends, the people of Siboney, who gladly
+accepted what we didn't want. The issue was hardly begun before Col.
+Clark gave us orders to move and off we started about 4.30 in the
+afternoon. We had not gone far in the direction of Las Guasimas before
+we came to the conclusion that the commissary department of the army
+had at least one genius who deserved a medal and some other things.
+About half the issue of tomatoes was in gallon cans and it was planned
+to have one man carry them a short distance and then let another sharer
+of the can relieve him. But our route lay up hill and we hit up a
+lively pace so that it was not long before there was a "kick" about
+the tomatoes. The ending of the kick in every case was a noise which
+indicated that the can had landed in the bushes and when tired out, we
+reached our bivouac place that night there were but few gallon cans of
+tomatoes left with the outfit.
+
+Meanwhile we kept steadily climbing up into the hills, finding rough
+footing and stumbling over rocks and everything else in the darkness
+until about 9 o'clock we reached the scene of the battle and found the
+First and Tenth cavalry burying their dead. We passed on in silence but
+we did quite a bit of thinking. A short distance further up we halted
+on a level bit of ground by the side of the Rough Riders and after
+making our simple preparations for our night's bivouac heard their tale
+of the fight. Our cooking fires were soon going and we not only heard
+Roosevelt's men tell their experiences and gave them our sympathy,
+but what they wanted more at that particular time, we gave them food,
+sharing our rations with them. One New York paper, in its story of
+the Las Guasimas fight spoke of the Second Massachusetts as having
+"supported the Rough Riders," but so far as we knew our only support to
+them was that night when we certainly did support them with our rations.
+
+When we landed in Cuba a detail of men from each company was left on
+the boats to look after property and as we learned afterwards they
+heard all sorts of stories about what happened to us that day. But
+all the stories agreed that the Second had been having a bad time of
+it and that our loss was heavy. One New York newspaper man had been
+given a circumstantial account of our regiment having been surrounded
+by the Spaniards and of our cutting our way out with a heavy loss in
+officers and men and was so impressed by it that he wrote a very pretty
+story which he was on the point of having cabled to his paper when a
+brother correspondent happened along and convinced him that as we were
+at Siboney until the action was all over we could hardly have been so
+badly cut up. So the story was not cabled but it was a narrow escape.
+
+When we left Siboney that afternoon G company was left behind to assist
+in unloading supplies for our brigade, one company from each regiment
+being detailed for that purpose. They left Siboney early the next
+morning and reached us just as we were preparing to resume the march
+again.
+
+Our next camping place was on a plateau near where had once been a
+sizeable plantation and which was only a short distance from Las
+Guasimas. Here we remained two days taking life easy before we again
+took up the march. On the 27th we reached Sevilla and there remained
+until late in the afternoon of June 30th. During our stay in
+Sevilla occurred another food shortage and also the great tobacco
+famine. Rations were hard to get and so were medicines. There was so
+much feeling over the delinquency in getting our supplies up to us that
+a meeting of the company commanders was held and a committee appointed
+to wait upon Col. Clark to see if something could not be done. The
+outcome of all the talk was the loan of some of the horses of the field
+and staff to a detail which, in charge of Lieut. Vesper of B, went back
+to the ships and obtained a small supply of provisions and tobacco.
+The cause of the failure to keep the troops supplied lay with the
+quartermaster's department which had apparently broken down utterly,
+for though there were tons upon tons of supplies already landed
+at Siboney there was not enough of pack trains or other means of
+transportation to get them up to us. We all fared alike at this time,
+officers and men, regulars and volunteers, and our brigade, the leading
+one in the army, had been hustled along so fast that it was difficult
+under any circumstances to get supplies to us owing to the distance and
+the condition of the roads.
+
+On the 28th the new commander of the brigade, Gen. Ludlow, reported and
+relieved Col. Clark who resumed command of the Second. Lieut. Harry
+Parkhurst of K who had been acting as aide-de-camp on the brigade staff
+was also relieved and rejoined his company.
+
+The tobacco famine was relieved somewhat by some of the weed brought
+from the ships by the various "relief expeditions" and also by the
+arrival of the details which had been left on the boats and the
+majority of the members of which had gained permission to rejoin us
+as soon as they heard the stories about our having been in action and
+losing heavily. The horse detail also came up and brought to Adjutant
+Hawkins the news that his horse had been drowned while being got
+ashore. As the chaplain's horse and one owned by Hospital Steward
+Fortier had been stolen while in Tampa by "Billy the Hostler" there was
+a shyness of horses around headquarters.
+
+While in Tampa Private T. C. Boone of K had been transferred to the
+signal corps with the rank of sergeant and afterwards became a member
+of the war balloon squad. On the afternoon of the 20th we saw the
+famous balloon for the first time and watched it with interest as it
+rose above the trees near our camp. We understood that Boone was one
+of the men in the car and for that reason the balloon had more than
+usual interest for us of the Springfield companies. The next afternoon
+another ascension was made and again we watched the "big gas bag" and
+speculated in a pessimistic vein upon its successful use. Our doubts
+as to its usefulness turned out to be correct.
+
+On the 28th the good news was announced that we could send mail home
+that afternoon and there was great scrambling for pens, pencils, paper
+and envelopes. It was our first opportunity since we had landed to send
+letters and that it was taken advantage of the big mail bags that left
+headquarters late that afternoon for division headquarters attested.
+
+Probably the condition in which about all our letters reached the folks
+at home was fully explained soon after our return, but it will bear
+retelling. When we landed most of us had paper, envelopes and stamps.
+But these were carried either in the haversacks or rolls and with the
+heat the envelope flaps became stuck together, likewise the stamps and
+paper became dirty. All were about in the same condition, so in order
+to get a letter into an envelope it was necessary to slit the latter
+at one end, insert the letter and then sew up the envelope. As most
+of the sewing was done with black thread and the envelopes were not
+especially clean the effect upon the good folks at home must have been
+rather startling, especially when the letters came without stamps, as
+they usually did. In place of stamps the government allowed the use of
+the words, "Soldier's Letter" in one corner of the envelope and when
+indorsed by an officer was allowed to go through.
+
+From our camp we could see a portion of the fortifications of Santiago
+and especially two large buildings which we were informed were barracks
+that had been transformed into hospitals and over which we could with
+field glasses see a number of Red Cross flags floating. We heard many
+weird tales as to what the Spaniards had done and would do and the
+stories, mainly of Cubans, as to how many troops were in the city,
+varied all the way from 10,000 to 40,000. On the 29th the much talked
+of "army" of Gen. Calixto Garcia arrived and it was a motley looking
+outfit, mostly black in color and of great variety, principally of
+lack of quantity, as to uniforms but fairly well supplied with arms
+and ammunition. The knowledge of English of the component parts of
+Garcia's forces was about equal to out knowledge of Spanish, but
+considerable interchange of ideas was effected, principally by signs.
+One or two of the warriors would stroll into camp and after standing
+around a bit with the inevitable Cuban grin would exclaim, "_Santiago,
+boum, boum?_" at the same time pointing to the city. We could do no
+less than to assure them there would be plenty of "_boum, boum_" and
+that when it happened Santiago would be "on the bum." The ice thus
+broken, the Cuban's machete was examined and the wearer induced to
+give an exhibition of its use both as a weapon and a handy tool for
+many purposes. Generally before they left camp they would "borrow"
+some "tobac" and if they could obtain some hardtack or bacon they went
+away happy. Sometimes they brought us some mangoes or "monkey plums"
+and then would follow some great bartering. The surgeons in an excess
+of zeal had warned us against the mango but we pinned our faith to the
+Cubans' declaration that if one didn't eat mangoes and drink liquor on
+the same day no evil effects would result from the free and unlimited
+use of the fruit. The mango tastes nice but it is an acquired art to
+know how to eat it without getting three-quarters of it over one's
+face and clothing. Still it came in handy when our rations were short,
+which was about always and we were not over fastidious as to how we ate
+anything in those days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+WHICH TELLS HOW WE GOT READY TO TAKE THE TOWN OF EL CANEY.
+
+
+It was shortly after noon on June 30th that the "JoJo" department began
+to circulate the news that we were to move on to Santiago that day or
+the next and for the first and only time during the campaign the "JoJo"
+happened to be right. Orders had arrived for a forward movement and
+although we had no idea of where we were to go or what we were to do
+there was a feeling of satisfaction that we were to go somewhere and do
+something.
+
+Of even more importance than the orders at this particular time was the
+arrival of a well laden pack train with rations. When the mules were
+first discerned coming "up the pike" it was supposed they were carrying
+ammunition as the last two or three pack trains had brought little
+excepting cartridges. But this time we were agreeably disappointed.
+There was a plentiful supply of "sowbelly," hardtack and coffee and
+it was not long before it was being distributed. The tobacco famine
+had temporarily been relieved and now we actually had food. So we were
+pretty well satisfied with life after all.
+
+How it rained that day! It came on in the forenoon and in less than
+ten minutes everybody and everything was saturated. It was a straight
+downpour of water and rubber blankets were of little use in keeping us
+or our belongings dry so we simply got wet and stayed in that condition
+until the sun came out and did his best to dry things up quickly.
+
+Early that afternoon we saw the war balloon again and watched it with
+much interest, everybody "rubbernecking" at the unwonted sight. In the
+car, although we did not know it at the time, was poor "Tom" Boone of
+"K" and those of us who knew him little recked what the next day would
+bring to him. For that matter there was considerable uncertainty as to
+what the future meant for any of us. We heard late in the day that we
+were sure to get into action on the next day but somehow the knowledge
+did not appear to worry but a few of the boys. The happenings of the
+campaign thus far had done much to produce a feeling of contempt for
+the fighting abilities of the Spaniards and some of us figured that all
+we would have to do was to make a demonstration in force and the enemy
+would then either retreat or surrender. How mistaken we were the next
+day was to tell us.
+
+It was late in the afternoon when the advance on El Caney by Lawton's
+division was begun and it was not until almost 6 o'clock that our
+brigade, which being one of the nearest to the city, was among the last
+to get away, made its start. Most of us will never forget that night
+march. The rain of the morning had resulted as usual in making whatever
+roads and trails there were into very fine specimens of mud puddles and
+unfortunately for us the greater part of our way led up hill. When the
+rations were issued in the afternoon the company commissaries had not
+time to complete their distribution and thinking that the march was
+to be a short and easy one those of G and B concluded that it would
+be better to have some of the provisions carried in bulk rather than
+to take time to divide and issue them. So a number of men from each
+company were detailed to carry a couple of slabs of "sowbelly" and
+others the remaining boxes of hardtack. This worked very nicely for a
+time until it became dark and the hill climbing act began. Then there
+was trouble. The trail up the hill was about as slippery as any we
+ever marched along in Cuba and it was moreover filled with rocks and
+boulders over which climbing was not the easiest matter in the world.
+Before they had gone very far the ration detail began to think that
+something was wrong and these thoughts developed into a certainty as
+we still kept climbing along up a pretty steep ascent and the boxes of
+hardtack and the sides of bacon (?) began to grow heavier and heavier
+and more difficult to handle. For convenience in packing them along
+with us both Sergeants Scully and Bearse had nailed long handles onto
+the hardtack boxes and had made a somewhat similar arrangement to carry
+the bacon but the carriers had not gone far before the handles worked
+off and after awhile it got to be a question of dropping the rations
+or killing the men trying to carry them. It was pitch dark, the trail
+was difficult and besides all the men had a pretty fair supply of
+"grub" in their haversacks, so a silent and informal vote was taken
+and the bulk of the extra rations were quietly left by the side of the
+trail. Meanwhile the rest of us were not having so much of a picnic
+even though we were not encumbered with extra baggage. The mud made
+marching difficult even along the road which led from the camp. Soon we
+left this and came to the San Juan creek, passing a company of soldiers
+who were actually bathing. Our surprise at this unwonted scene was not
+allowed to last long, for the trail lay on the other side of the creek
+and we were obliged to ford it. This was not by any means as easy as
+it looked. The banks were high and slippery with mud and the water was
+over our legging tops but in we plunged and scrambled across to the
+other side and into a thick piece of woods, shaking the water from
+ourselves dog fashion as we again took up the march. Hardly had we got
+across before low spoken orders came down the line for every man to
+keep silent and to march as quietly as possible. This made us realize
+that something was on and the orders were pretty well obeyed although
+all the orders in the world could not keep some of the men from saying
+things concerning the trail and night marches in general.
+
+In ragged fashion we stumbled along through the woods, the only
+military regulation we followed out being that of keeping well "closed
+up." We simply had to do this because it was so dark and the trail so
+narrow and rough that unless one kept very "close tabs" on his file
+leader it was a question of getting lost and going it alone and this
+none of us desired to do.
+
+We had not gone far before we came to another creek or it may have
+been another turn of the first one, we did not know or care which, but
+into it we plunged and again got our feet wet and muddy. Hardly had we
+gained the other side before we came across a forlorn looking figure
+in a bit of a clearing by the side of the trail and a voice with an
+unmistakeable western twang inquired if we were the Rough Riders. The
+owner of the voice was informed that we were the Second Massachusetts
+and he then remarked, "Well, you're a pretty good outfit and I guess
+I'll go along with you." He then announced himself as the chaplain of
+the Rough Riders and said he had left camp a little behind his regiment
+and had not only been unable to catch up with it but could obtain no
+trace of its whereabouts. We told him his regiment had probably gone
+over towards San Juan hill, it being in another division than ours and
+he then allowed that he would not bother looking further that night but
+would accompany us. We made no objection and he trudged along with us
+for the rest of the way.
+
+Soon after meeting the chaplain we forded creek number three but by
+this time we were used to getting our feet wet and did not mind it
+much. After fording this stream, a narrow but rather deep one, we
+began to get up in the world and soon discovered that we were on the up
+grade. For nearly two hours more we stumbled along, sometimes passing
+through thick woods and again along open country. The moon came out
+faintly after a bit, but her light did little towards revealing to
+us the difficulties of the route we were following. We had a couple
+of brief halts but it was not until a little after 10 o'clock that a
+whispered command to halt was given and we were informed that we were
+to go into bivouac by the road side.
+
+Following this order came a renewal of the previous ones against
+making any noise and we were also given strict orders not to make a
+fire or even strike a match. These precautions we assumed were to
+keep our presence unknown to the enemy and although most of us wanted
+the comfort of a pipe or cigarette after our fatiguing march yet we
+refrained. There was of course much speculation over the why and
+wherefore of the night march and the orders against noise or fire but
+the generally accepted assumption was that we had stolen a march upon
+the Spaniards, had penetrated their lines, and in the morning would
+march into Santiago before the astonished enemy had partaken of his
+morning coffee. This surmise was given color by the fact that from
+where we were we could look down into the city, its locality being
+indicated by the lights from the governor general's palace and other
+official buildings. We were on a plateau that overlooked the city,
+and so far as we could judge, our presence was absolutely undetected.
+Santiago appeared to be sleeping peacefully and looked for all the
+world like some small New England city which is locked up every night
+at 8.30 or 9 and whose residents then go to bed and stay there until
+morning.
+
+[Illustration: LEHIGH DETAIL FROM COMPANY H]
+
+For thinking such thoughts we were indeed what are known in the
+vernacular as "good things," for as it transpired afterwards the
+Spaniards knew all about where we were and where we were going. Had it
+not been for their traditional policy of "manana" they might have
+sallied out and done several things to us, but they preferred to wait
+until the next day, which was a lucky thing for us.
+
+Sleep comes quickly to a soldier in bivouac and soon after our halt
+every one of us, with the exception of the guards, was asleep. No
+attempt was made to put up the shelter tents, but we contented
+ourselves with unrolling them, spreading them upon the grass and
+wrapping ourselves up in our blankets. A few of us lunched upon
+hardtack and raw bacon washed down with muddy water from the canteens
+but the majority of the boys were too tired to think even of eating.
+
+That night the premonition came to some of our boys that the morrow
+would be their last day on earth and although we tried to laugh it out
+of them they stuck to it that their fate was settled. One of these boys
+was Frank Moody of K and so strongly was he impressed with the feeling
+of coming disaster to himself that he made one of his comrades take his
+watch and promise to deliver his farewell message to the loved ones at
+home.
+
+Tired soldiers sleep soundly and it seemed as if we had only slumbered
+a few moments when we were awakened, not by the usual bugle call, but
+by low whispers from the officers and non-commissioned officers. It was
+hardly dawn and a thin mist concealed from view the city below us and
+the hills that surrounded us. Little by little the mist disappeared
+before the advance of the sun and when dawn came the scene was so
+impressive in its grandeur that even the most careless amongst us
+felt it. Just below us was Santiago still wrapped in the morning mist
+and apparently still unaroused from its slumbers. All about us were
+frowning hills and mountains and in the distance we could see the
+harbor outside of which sat the grim war ships of the United States
+waiting for their prey to come out and be eaten up. Not a sign from the
+enemy and we wondered.
+
+But we wondered even more when we turned our eyes a little to the right
+and there saw Capron's light battery, still unlimbered and apparently
+in plain view of the sentries of the enemy and our wonder increased as
+we saw the smoke from the cooking fires of the batterymen and watched
+them preparing their morning meal. For, be it understood, our brigade
+commander had sent word along that the orders of the night before as to
+noise and fires were still in force and we had breakfasted on hardtack
+and water. And there were the artillerymen with their fires lighted and
+frying their bacon and making their coffee as if there were no such
+orders and not a Spaniard within fifty miles. We could not understand
+it and for that matter we do not to this day. Maybe somebody does but
+if so we never heard of it.
+
+It was bad enough to almost smell the hot coffee, for the morning air
+was cool and raw, and to see the batterymen drinking it with relish,
+but it was far worse to see them nonchalantly light their pipes and
+cigarettes and enjoy them. Since the night before we had been deprived
+of the solace of tobacco and anyone who has ever soldiered knows what
+that means. But when we saw the red striped gunners enjoying the weed
+we made up our minds to follow suit. In a very short time our pipes
+were going and the officers sympathetically not only forebore to stop
+us but soon began to puff their pipes. Even a cold breakfast can be
+enjoyed with a tobacco dessert and that early morning smoke on the
+threshold of the battlefield was a much appreciated one.
+
+Meanwhile we had been getting ready and as packing up did not take us
+long it was but a short time after we were aroused from our slumbers
+before we had fallen in and were ready for what the day might bring
+forth. While waiting for orders to march we heard the noise of hoofs
+coming up the trail and Gen. Lawton and his staff clattered by us on
+their way to the front. A couple of Cuban officers were with them and
+they were evidently pleased with the work cut out for the Americans
+that day. Only a few moments after the general had passed came the
+orders to march and we were soon "hitting the trail" again, this time
+on the down grade.
+
+It was then about 4.30 in the morning. We moved along slowly, the trail
+being so narrow it was necessary to go in column of files and it was
+fully as bad walking as the route we had gone over the previous night.
+After a little we came to a brook and took advantage of the opportunity
+to fill our canteens. Just on the other side of the brook we passed
+Capron's battery posted on a low hill, the muzzles of the three inch
+rifles pointed toward El Caney and the cannoneers at their posts
+waiting for the ball to open. By that time we all realized that this
+was the day we were to go into business.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+WHEREIN IS RELATED SOME EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED TO US ON JULY FIRST.
+
+
+Hardly had we passed the battery before we heard the boom of one of
+its guns, followed by another and another and we knew then the trouble
+had begun. We kept on the trail for a while longer, the men keeping
+well closed up now and keeping eyes and ears alert. El Caney was now
+replying to Capron and we could hear for the first time the squeal of
+the Mauser bullets as they began to go over us with a sound like that
+of a vicious cat at bay. We were under fire but hardly realized it as
+yet.
+
+It was a splendid morning. Our trail led along the side of what had
+once been well cultivated fields, the only indication of that now
+being the inevitable barbed wire fencing. The skies were cloudless and
+birds sang as we went along to battle. There were other birds too but
+they did not sing. Hardly had the first of Capron's cannon sent its
+"good morning" salute to El Caney before a speck was visible in the
+sky. Larger and larger it grew until we saw it was a buzzard scenting
+the battle and before long it was joined by hundreds of its kind, all
+circling about in the air only a short distance from the earth and
+waiting for the rich feast about to be spread for them. But we recked
+not of buzzards or what their presence presaged.
+
+A short distance further along the trail, a quick order and we changed
+direction to the right, leaving the trail and going across the field
+directly toward El Caney. Barbed wire fencing was in our way but
+the two wire cutters attached to each company soon made a gate for
+us. Our battalion swung through and into the field while the second
+battalion kept to the trail and took the field further along. The third
+battalion and I of the second, as we afterwards found, were halted by
+Capron's battery and were not given front seats to the performance.
+The field soon changed to scrub and bush through which way was made
+as best we could without much regard to alignment. Then came a bit of
+forest and then we debouched out upon the Santiago road, one of the
+few thoroughfares in Cuba that looked like a road. A halt and then we
+stripped for action. Rolls and haversacks were taken off and piled by
+the road side. The belts and the pockets of the brown canvas coats were
+filled with cartridges and we were ready for trouble.
+
+Meanwhile it was evident that there was trouble ahead of the Second.
+From El Caney's forts and trenches came a hail of bullets, while on our
+right and left there were the Krags of our regulars popping away with
+machine like regularity, their whip like sentences being punctuated at
+intervals by the 3-inch rifles of Capron's men. Over our heads went
+the Mausers in a steady stream and there wasn't a man of the Second
+marching up that road that morning who failed to bow his head, (most
+of us called it "ducking") in response to their salutation. The 8th
+and 22d of our brigade had gone on ahead of us, had deployed to the
+left and we could hear their Krags answering the Mausers. It was our
+first experience under fire and it is no wonder that nearly all of us
+wished ourselves, for just a few moments, somewhere else and remembered
+certain pressing engagements we had at Springfield that Friday morning.
+But this feeling was like going into a cold bath. The first plunge
+is the worst and within half an hour after getting into the action
+these same men that were "ducking" their heads to the bullets were up
+on the firing line and acting like veterans instead of men who up to
+that morning had never faced an armed foe. Our education had progressed
+rapidly.
+
+And here a word as to El Caney where Gen. Vara Del Ray and 620 Spanish
+troops held Lawton's division at bay from 6.30 in the morning until
+4.30 in the afternoon. In the general plan for the day's work of July
+1st Lawton's division was to sweep over to Caney, devote an hour or
+so to capturing it and then swing over to the San Juan forts and aid
+Kent's division to take them. Trustworthy (?) Cuban advices were that
+there were only a couple of hundred Spanish troops in El Caney and the
+taking of that outpost of Santiago was to be but an incident of our
+march to San Juan. But Gen. Del Ray had not been consulted as to this
+program and the result was our time schedule went to pieces. An entire
+division against 620 men looks like heavy odds in favor of the division
+but it must be remembered that the enemy were strongly entrenched with
+all the advantage of position and knew the ground thoroughly, while we
+were in the open with little or no shelter and with only a four-gun
+light battery against stone forts, strong blockhouses and well made
+intrenchments, so that our advantage in numbers was more than made up
+by the superior position of the enemy.
+
+El Caney lay almost directly in front of us, a small town backed up
+against a steep hill as if at bay and with forts, intrenchments and
+houses bristling with rifles. To our right on a small elevation was the
+famous stone fort over which floated the red and yellow flag of Spain.
+A little to the left was the village church, of stone and converted
+into a fortress while on either sides of both fort and church were the
+familiar Spanish blockhouses. And in front of all were the trenches,
+well built and covering all the front and sides of the town, a covered
+way connecting some of them with the fort and with their fronts
+guarded by fences and entanglements of barbed wire, a protection found
+of value against the Cubans, but which proved to be of less efficiency
+against the valor of American soldiers. This was what El Caney
+presented to us on that bright July morning.
+
+Our brigade's work had been mapped out and appeared to be comparatively
+easy. It was to take position on the left of the American line and cut
+off the retreat of the enemy towards Santiago when he was driven from
+Caney which, as already scheduled, was to be within an hour or so after
+the initial shot. But the program for Ludlow's brigade was changed by
+force of circumstances, for hardly had the 8th and 22d of our brigade
+got into position before they were attacked and replied in kind and
+within a few moments the hottest part of the action was taking place
+on the left instead of being confined to the right and center, as
+originally planned.
+
+And while this was happening we were down the "pike" getting ready to
+add our contribution to the din of battle. We were not long in getting
+ready and leaving one man from each company to guard the rolls left by
+the roadside the seven companies of the Second marched to the firing
+line. The first battalion, G, B, K and D companies, was by this time
+some distance ahead of the second, while the third was still held up by
+the battery. Col. Clark, Lieut. Col. Shumway and Adjutant Hawkins were
+standing beneath a huge tree at the intersection of the "sunken" road
+with the Santiago road and hardly had the companies come up before an
+order came from Gen. Ludlow to send four companies to strengthen the
+line of the 22d on our left. B and K companies of the first battalion
+and L and E of the second battalion, which had by this time come up,
+were detailed and B and K, under command of Major Southmayd started
+for the 22d. L and E followed but through some misunderstanding got
+into a "hot box" and after a time returned to the sunken road and took
+position there.
+
+B and K marched down the sunken road and then across an open space,
+across which the bullets were flying in a steady stream. It was
+necessary to "duck" here and it was done without any loss of dignity.
+This space cleared, the companies came to a bit of bush and then into
+a gully facing El Caney on the left. Here was the 22d, lying down and
+answering the fire of the Spaniards in good style.
+
+Hardly had B and K reached the gully and taken position when the hail
+of bullets began to fall among them and men began to drop. Private
+Frank E. Moody of K was one of the first hit and died almost instantly,
+the bullet having pierced his heart. On the march of the night before
+he had felt a presentiment of his fate and so strong was this feeling
+of his fate that he gave his watch to Private Fuller to take home to
+his parents. Before long Private John J. Malone of B got a fatal wound
+just below the heart and then men began to fall thick and fast. As
+soon as the two companies had taken their positions they were ordered
+to fire, but the enemy's return for the first few volleys was payment
+with compound interest. The smoke from the Springfield rifles showed
+the position of our men and lifting slowly, made just the target which
+the enemy needed. At this time the line was about 900 yards from
+the advanced Spanish trenches and it must have been just like rifle
+practice for the enemy. Within a moment after the first volley from
+the Springfields crashed out a hail of bullets was poured into the two
+companies from the trenches and men fell like sheep. Capt. Warriner,
+raising on one shoulder to give an order, sank back with a Mauser
+through his body. Corporal Ward Lathrop got one through his head,
+Corporal Hoadley got his "in the neck," the bullet going through the
+right side, Wagoner Boule had one through his left hand, Private Ashley
+of B was hit in the left forearm, Private James F. Ferrier was shot
+through the right shoulder and also had a bullet traverse the right
+side of his head, making an ugly wound, Howard Meyrick had a double
+one, one bullet striking his right leg, while another went through his
+left shoulder and the upper part of his left arm. Private C. J. Riordan
+got a bullet through his left hand while Private A. E. Rose got the
+thumb and one finger of his right hand nipped, Private W. B. Riopel was
+hard hit, the bullet entering his left shoulder and entering the lungs.
+Barkman of K got a Mauser through his left elbow and was also hit in
+the left leg below the knee.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Lieut. H. S. Crossman. J.G.
+  H. Co.
+
+  Lieut. J. K. Dexter. H. Co.
+
+  Lieut. W. O. Cohn. J.G.
+  H. Co.
+]
+
+As quickly as possible the wounded were picked up by their comrades
+and taken to the rear, a temporary dressing station being established
+beneath a huge tree on the Santiago road. The first aid bandages came
+in handily on the field and were used to advantage. Lieut. Powers took
+command of K and Capt. McDonald, as cool as if battles were everyday
+occurrences, kept a watchful eye on his men.
+
+The heavy fire which the powder smoke had drawn upon the two companies
+was also being felt by the 22d and its choleric commander, Major Van
+Horn, came rushing over with, "For God's sake, Second Massachusetts,
+stop firing! You're making us a regular target for the enemy." This was
+not all he said, either, but it was stronger language than politeness
+required. The firing did stop, that is, the volley firing did, but the
+company commanders gave their men orders to fire at will. Soon Major
+Van Horn came over with another protest and the two companies moved
+along a little further to the right but on the same line as the 22d and
+leaving quite a little gap between them. As the 22d advanced so did B
+and K, taking advantage of what cover there was and keeping up their
+fire for some time. It was perhaps that protest of Major Van Horn that
+gave the impression that the entire Second regiment was ordered off
+the firing line, an impression that is a very much mistaken one. From
+the time the two companies took position on the right of the 22d they
+fired at intervals and at will until the Spaniards were driven from the
+last trench and El Caney was taken.
+
+While these things were happening on our left G company was having
+troubles of its own on the extreme right of the line. Sending B and K
+to the 22d left Col. Clark with only G and D companies of the first
+battalion with him, the three companies of the second battalion having
+been placed in the sunken road, whose banks gave them some protection
+from the incessant fire from El Caney. G and D were sent further along
+up the Santiago road and G was halted directly in front of a cultivated
+field which was directly in front of the trenches and the town and
+was flanked by the stone fort. Halting here the second platoon of the
+company under Lieut. Edward J. Leyden deployed as skirmishers and
+advanced across the field, taking every possible advantage of cover,
+of which there was little, and halting at intervals to kneel and
+fire. The light brown uniforms advancing slowly across the field soon
+attracted the notice of the enemy, even before the first volley from
+the Springfields gave the Spaniards a target, and men began to drop.
+Still the line advanced until it was within 500 yards of the fort and
+then a halt was ordered and the men threw themselves flat on the ground
+and began firing at will. Now the bullets from both fort and trenches
+were hailing about them but they kept crawling along until within a
+range of 400 yards. Then Lieut. Leyden looked around and saw that
+his 14 men were isolated from the rest of the company and he at once
+realized that it was suicidal to go further without reinforcements.
+Arthur Packard, beloved of all his comrades, had fallen dead on the
+field with a Spanish bullet through his head and George Richmond,
+one of the "old timers" of the company, had fallen fatally wounded.
+"Goldie" Bresnan had been ordered to the rear with the blood dripping
+from a shattered hand and Ernest Marble, wounded in the head, lay on
+the field. Others had in the meantime joined the little force, men from
+other companies, but not enough to make a further advance successful.
+Among the reinforcements was Lieut. D. J. Moynihan of I company, who
+had left his position with the second battalion and walked across the
+field to join Leyden's men. He essayed his luck as a sharpshooter,
+borrowing a rifle from one of the men, and fired three shots before
+he himself sank to the ground with a bullet through his body. Before
+this happened, however, and when he first joined Lieut. Leyden, Lieut.
+Moynihan advised that the advance should continue and suggested a
+charge. But Lieut. Leyden pointed to the few men he had and asked what
+the result would be. There was no answer to this. Less than 20 men
+charging against a stone fort under a heavy fire from it and flanked
+by the trenches would have been heroic, no doubt, but it would have
+been deliberately throwing away men's lives and to no good result. So
+Lieut. Leyden refused to order a charge but sent Lieut. Moynihan back
+to Col. Clark for orders. These were for him to remain where he was
+and there the platoon stayed until the town was taken, although some
+of the men advanced even closer to the fort, taking advantage of some
+small piles of stones, which had evidently been heaped up as shelter
+for Spanish outposts. All the long afternoon the little squad lay under
+the pitiless sun, firing whenever there was a chance until they heard
+the cheers of the charging regulars and saw the red and yellow flag of
+Spain go down from the fort and the Stars and Stripes replace it. Then
+they sprang to their feet and cheered. But it was not all over then.
+The fort had been taken but from trench and blockhouse and church and
+every building in El Caney still came the hail of Mausers. The dead and
+wounded of the Second were being attended to as best could be done, but
+their comrades still fought on. Two guns of Capron's battery had been
+moved up to a position in the rear of D company and the balance of G
+and were knocking things about in the old town. Gen. Vara Del Ray was
+wounded unto death and the American troops were drawing their lines
+closer and closer around Caney, but still the Spaniards fought on with
+the courage of desperation. At the fork of the roads was Col. Clark,
+sending his staff officers, or rather officer, Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins,
+hither and thither and giving messages to his orderlies. Lieut.
+Hawkins, cool under fire, won a high place in the regard of the men who
+saw him that day and the orderlies, including Private Ross of B, showed
+coolness and courage. Two other Springfield men, Sergeant Scully and
+Corporal Ross of G were pressed into service as orderlies for a time
+and did their duty well. Two cool and collected men were Col. Clark
+and Lieut. Col. Shumway and both exposed themselves, at times against
+the wish of the brigade commander, along the line. Gen. Ludlow was for
+some time at the fork of the roads with Col. Clark, his dead horse,
+shot under him, almost at the outset of the action, lying near by, but
+once he was gone he did not return and neither he nor anyone else in
+authority gave the orders to withdraw the Second from the firing line,
+as has been stated by some. If any such orders were issued which is
+doubtful, they were never received by Col. Clark, and the companies of
+the Second stayed throughout the day where he placed them.
+
+Meanwhile the big tree a bit down the road was the scene of some
+grewsome work. Soon after the opening of the action Lieut. Hawkins had
+been ordered by Col. Clark to bring up the surgeons and the ground
+under the big tree was then transformed into a temporary hospital or
+rather a dressing station. Here Surgeon Bowen and his assistants,
+Lieuts. Gates and Hitchcock, aided by Hospital Stewards Fortier,
+Greenberg and Howes and the members of the hospital corps, labored
+until the enemy's sharpshooters, discerning the group under the tree,
+made it an object of attention and the bullet-torn leaves began to
+flutter down upon the wounded. Then the hospital was moved farther down
+the road and the dead and dying and wounded conveyed there as tenderly
+as possible under the circumstances. It was here the heroic Father
+Edwin Fitzgerald, the beloved chaplain of the 22d, labored from morning
+until far into the night, caring as tenderly as a mother for the
+wounded of all the regiments, making their places as easy as possible
+for them, bringing them water from the distant brook, giving the
+consolations of religion to all, whether of his creed or not. More than
+once he visited the firing line and aided in bringing some poor fellow
+down to the hospital. Danger he cared not for and he went on with his
+work apparently oblivious to his bullet-torn coat, two holes in which
+bore eloquent witness to narrow escapes. On that day Father Fitzgerald
+earned the lifelong affection of the officers and men of the Second.
+
+And so time wore on until between 4.30 and 5 in the afternoon, when
+ringing cheers announced that the last trench had been won and El Caney
+was ours. Then followed the reunion of the regiment. Lieut. Leyden
+marched his gallant platoon back and the men fell into their old places
+in G company. B and K came back from the left with the 22d and the
+regiment gathered once more on the Santiago road, soldiers now, stained
+with powder and battle smoke and grim with the thoughts of the day and
+its events. Further down the road in the improvised hospital lay the
+forms, cold in death, of five brave men and with them were 40 more or
+less seriously wounded, three of them mortally.
+
+The Second had received its baptism of blood.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+WE LEARN SOME MORE THINGS ABOUT THE ART OF WAR AS CONDUCTED IN THESE
+DAYS.
+
+
+It was not exactly a joyous reunion as the companies assembled in the
+Santiago road that afternoon. True, we were all glad to see one another
+again, but the heat and burden of the day had been great and there were
+many faces missing from the ranks. Nearly ten hours on the battlefield
+under the burning Cuban sun and without much to comfort us in the way
+of food or drink was not conducive to good temper and to this was added
+the spur of the ingratitude of our so-called Cuban allies. It will be
+remembered that just before the regiment went into action the rolls and
+haversacks had been discarded and placed by the roadside and it fell
+out that while the owners were up on the firing line fighting for _Cuba
+Libre_, some of the Cuban patriots came along and, the guards placed
+over the property being absent, helped themselves to the rations in
+the haversacks. These were the Cubans, by the way, who were supposed
+to be fighting over on our left that day, but it seems they had more
+important business, to them, on hand to bother much about fighting. So
+as we gathered there in the road in the stillness which followed the
+battle storm and realized that we were to go supperless there were some
+things said about our Cuban friends which indicated a not very high
+feeling of esteem for them.
+
+Once gathered together again and the roll called came the after work
+of the battle. Squads were sent over the field to bring in any dead or
+wounded that might have been overlooked and to gather up any property
+left there. The companies which had lost men prepared to march to the
+hospital to bury the dead and those fortunate ones whose haversacks
+had been untouched began to light their cooking fires. Hardly an hour
+had elapsed since Caney was taken when up came an aide with orders for
+Col. Clark and when he read them the assembly sounded and we heard with
+disgust the orders that the regiment was to move at once to San Juan to
+reinforce the first division. We had anticipated after our hard day's
+work a bite to eat and a night's rest and here we were disappointed in
+both. Faintly through that day at intervals we at Caney could hear the
+sounds of battle in our rear and we heard late in the afternoon that
+it was our troops attacking the San Juan forts but it was not until
+after we had finished our job at El Caney that we heard what the first
+division had done.
+
+But orders are orders and grumbling does not count against them. The
+details sent to dig graves were recalled, the equipments were donned
+again and in a short time we were once more "piking the pike." It was a
+gloomy march that evening, for the men were not very much inclined to
+conversation. On we went, now in columns of fours on a fairly decent
+road for Cuba, again in column of files through the bush and finally
+emerged onto another road. It was now dark, but we kept on until about
+10 o'clock we came to a stone bridge over the San Juan river and the
+order to halt was given as the head of our regiment reached the bridge.
+Whether it was to be a mere halt or a bivouac no one seemed to know
+and no one cared. Hardly had the order to halt been given before the
+men had dropped by the roadside and, worn out by the toilsome march
+of the night before and the day's work, followed by the march to the
+bridge, were asleep, many of them without even taking off their heavy
+rolls. It was not an ideal place for slumber, either. Troops were
+continually passing by and every now and then a mule team would pass
+with a clatter but the sleepers slumbered on. Until after midnight we
+lay there, waiting for further orders. About one o'clock up came mule
+wagons and a pack train and soon after the men were awakened and told
+to "hurry up" and get rations. In a few moments the scene was changed.
+Huge fires were lighted and by their light the rations were given out,
+the delights of slumber proving to be less strong than the desire to
+eat and every man awakening to the knowledge that we would soon be on
+the move again. So it was. Hardly had we drawn rations and began to
+cook them before a battery of artillery moved hurriedly by us to the
+rear, many of us just having time to draw our legs out of the way of
+the wheels. Next came the 8th and 22d of our brigade and by 2 o'clock
+we too were on the march. Following the road over which we had come for
+a short distance, we soon left it and changing direction to the right,
+swung into a trail across country. Along this we marched for hours amid
+the darkness, through woods and chaparral and fields, once cultivated.
+We climbed hills and forded streams, all in the darkness, we brushed
+the morning mist from the trees and grass as we passed, and when the
+dawn came found ourselves still on the march, wet and tired and sleepy
+and bedraggled. Daylight made no difference. On we pressed, climbing a
+long hill, crowned with plantation buildings and from which we could
+look down upon a scene of beauty, the green-clad hills and mountains,
+their tops still wreathed in the morning mist and with no sign that
+aught but peace and happiness lay in the valleys between them. No time,
+however, this to enjoy scenery, no matter how picturesque. On we went,
+now down the hill and into a thick piece of woods, where we halted
+for a little time, then on again until we once more struck a road and
+reached El Pozo, where there had been considerable trouble the day
+before. Without waiting for us the quadrille had already opened. During
+our halt in the woods we could hear the artillery and the rifles and
+soon after we reached the El Pozo road and once more swinging to the
+right started for San Juan we realized that it might be a case of
+El Caney over again, for we encountered a steady stream of wounded
+men going or being carried to the rear. Down the road screeched the
+Mausers, but still high over our heads and in the distance we could
+hear the boom of the guns of the Spanish forts as they answered our
+light artillery. Still onward, with no band or field music to give us
+the cadenced step, a minute's halt now and then until we were compelled
+to leave the road to make way for a battery banging recklessly along
+to take another position. Then across a stream and over an open
+field in full view of the enemy's trenches on the right, passing the
+battleground of the day before and, under fire by this time, we swung
+once more to the right and took position on a hill on nearly the
+extreme right of the American line.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Private R. G. Kelly.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Arthur Packard.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Geo. A. Richmond.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Andrew Little.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Francis A. Burk.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Corpl P. J. Noone.
+  G. Co.
+]
+
+Rolls had been again stripped off and it was expected we would go into
+action, but the Spaniards had been given pretty nearly all the fight
+they wanted that day and there was little for the Second to do but to
+take its position and stay there. For hours the men lay on the hill
+crest under the blazing sun, without a chance at cooking a meal and
+hard pressed for water until details were sent back to the stream with
+canteens. Sharpshooters made this mission dangerous but no one refused
+to go.
+
+It was not until early in the evening that the firing died down and it
+was safe to stand erect and walk about. The rolls and haversacks had
+been brought up and having been better guarded from prowling Cubans
+this time the contents of the haversacks were intact. By the time
+darkness came on the hillside on which we were camped for the day,
+tents had by this time been put up, was illuminated by the cooking
+fires and once more we enjoyed something that would pass for a meal.
+This over, sleep was the next necessity and we were not long in seeking
+our downy couches.
+
+But we did not slumber long. Just about 10 o'clock there was a
+disturbance of the peace by the Spaniards, who apparently wished to
+spoil the good time we were having. Three or four big guns boomed out
+and then came the, by this time familiar sound of the Mausers. It
+needed no bell boy to awake us. In a jiffy we were up and scrambling
+for rifles and cartridge belts. Then came quickly spoken orders to
+"fall in" from the company commanders and the voices of the hurrying
+non-coms as they rounded up the men. All was black darkness and men
+stumbled over the grass and roots or slipped on the steep hillside. It
+was a scene of the utmost din and confusion, orders coming fast and
+loud, the men, still sleep-blinded, hustling about in confusion, the
+night's stillness broken by the crash of the Spanish rifles and the
+noise of exploding shells over our heads while on our right we heard
+the whip-like crack of the Krags answering the Mausers. "Hell's broken
+loose," avowed a B man as he groped about for his cartridge belt and
+indeed it seemed so.
+
+Our battalion had its "shacks" on the top of the hill just below the
+crest while the other companies were scattered all along the hill but
+further below, so that the men of the Springfield companies were not
+long in falling in and making their way to the crest. But even then
+they were not quick enough to satisfy Major Van Horn, the choleric
+commander of the 22d, who appeared to have as bad a case of what was
+known to the boys as the "rattles" as any man ever had. Brandishing his
+sword, he ran about the hill, cursing the Second and ordering every man
+to the front, although it would have seemed he had enough to do to look
+after his own outfit. Col. Clark and his officers and the regiment were
+already on the top of the hill and awaiting events, but for some time
+Major Van Horn pranced and reared and vented his spleen upon the few
+men who happened to be a bit slow about getting up until finally his
+senses returned and he went where he belonged.
+
+All in all our officers and men acted with coolness, considering the
+circumstances. It is not pleasant or conducive to coolness of thought
+or action to be suddenly pulled out of bed after a day of great
+exertion and hustle around in black darkness to the accompaniment
+of rifle bullets and bombshells and especially when it is uncertain
+whether the enemy is in one's front, flank or rear and go stumbling up
+a steep hill so that it is small wonder if at the outset a few were
+"rattled." But in a very short time the lines were formed on the top of
+the hill and the Second waited.
+
+It was fortunate that none of our officers lost their heads and
+ordered their men to fire for the results could not fail to have been
+unfortunate all around. Just below us were three of our own regiments
+and had the Second fired the bullets would have hit our own men. It was
+a wonder that in the darkness and confusion nothing of the kind was
+done but officers and men kept their heads well and after the first
+confused rush up the hill all acted with commendable coolness.
+
+But if we did not use our rifles the enemy did theirs and before the
+affair was over two men of the Second had been hit, one of them,
+Private Robert G. Kelly of G, mortally. A Mauser struck him in the left
+cheek, passing through and severing the lingual artery, lodged in the
+muscles of the right jaw. The other man hit was Private Peter N. White
+of A company, whose wound was not serious.
+
+Poor Kelly was taken to his tent, where he lay in agony all night, the
+surgeons and hospital stewards doing all they could to relieve him. The
+next morning he was taken to the division hospital near Siboney where
+he lingered until July 7th, when he died. There was a story, which has
+never been denied, that his death was caused by internal hemorrhage
+caused by the imperfect manner in which his wound was cared for in the
+hospital.
+
+The affair lasted about an hour and when the attacking force of
+Spaniards had been pretty well cut to pieces the enemy retired within
+his lines once more and the Second returned to its slumbers. At 3 A. M.
+there was some more firing but this was merely an affair of outposts
+and lasted but a few moments, just long enough to break up sleep for
+the second time that night.
+
+Next day was Sunday, but it could hardly be called a peaceful one. From
+daybreak to early in the afternoon the sharpshooters of the enemy were
+active and a man had to walk humbly and keep well under cover unless
+he cared to make a target of himself. Many of these sharpshooters were
+inside our lines, not having had an opportunity to get to their own
+when their companions were driven back and hidden in thick foliaged
+trees and supplied with rations and water and plenty of ammunition they
+managed to make matters rather lively for us. Early in the day many
+squads were sent out to locate and capture these fellows but though
+many were located few were brought in as prisoners.
+
+Time wore on slowly that Sunday. About noon orders were promulgated
+that an armistice had been declared and that firing on both sides was
+to cease at 12 o'clock. This was not bad news but evidently all our
+Spanish friends did not hear of it until later, for up to 2 o'clock
+there was an occasional bullet sent toward us from the outlying
+trenches. After that hour it was possible to walk about without having
+to dodge.
+
+Early that morning we heard the distance-dulled boom of heavy guns
+from the direction of the mouth of the harbor. We knew that Sampson
+and Schley were outside waiting for Cervera and his ships but we had
+heard the guns of our fleet so often that we supposed it was simply
+another case of throwing a few shot at the Morro or the other Spanish
+batteries. Gradually the roar of the guns grew fainter and fainter
+until they died away altogether and it was supposed the attack of
+the fleet had again been fruitless. But soon after noon the "JoJo"
+department got at work again and rumors began to circulate that this
+time the fleet had been successful and had forced its way past the
+batteries and into the harbor.
+
+It was not until soon after 4 o'clock that afternoon, however, that we
+learned what had happened. Then we saw Major Webb of Shafter's staff
+riding up to our brigade headquarters, which were only a few yards away
+from Col. Clark's "shack." The major reined up, said a few words to
+Gen. Ludlow and the latter hastily summoned the regimental commanders
+and announced that the Spanish fleet had tried to cut its way out of
+the harbor and had been met by Schley's ships and destroyed. It did
+not take long for the good news to spread and then such cheering as
+went up. Hats went up into the air and there was general jubilation.
+For once the "JoJo" department had been outdone. All along our line we
+could hear the cheering and then what few regimental bands we had broke
+loose and gave a jubilee concert which was highly appreciated. We had
+no religious services that day but the bands played, "There'll be a hot
+time in Old Town to-night."
+
+Discipline was relaxed after the armistice had been declared and the
+men wandered along the lines, visiting other regiments and going over
+the battlegrounds of the two days previous. Many visited the outposts
+and took a look at the city and the forts. We could see the Spaniards
+taking life easy in their trenches and we wondered if they had heard
+what had happened to their fleet. Some of our boys, disgusted with
+their Springfields, went "grafting" Krags and picked up a good number,
+together with plenty of ammunition. Had the entire regiment been turned
+loose there is no question but what every man would have replaced
+his Springfield with a Krag-Jorgensen and as it was nearly 150 were
+obtained and a corresponding number of Springfields thrown away.
+
+Our sleep was unbroken that night and we were ready to celebrate
+July 4th the next morning. Our celebration took the form of a little
+excursion, for soon after our frugal breakfast we were on the march
+again and began our celebrated swing to the right with the object of
+encircling the city. Our brigade led the advance as it had from the
+start and after four hours of slow progress we swung to the left and
+took our position on the now famous "Misery hill," an elevation in rear
+of the city and overlooking it. From the crest we could plainly see the
+Spanish batteries and barracks, while almost directly in front of us
+were the hospital buildings with half a dozen Red Cross flags flying
+over them. We passed our Fourth of July quietly enough. Not a fire
+cracker was fired, principally because we did not have any and there
+was not even a rifle crack to mark the day. Late in the afternoon we
+heard the guns of the fleet again as they hammered away at the harbor
+batteries for awhile. We pitched our "day tents" and took notice of the
+fact that our rations were getting low again. Next day we were put at
+work for the first time digging trenches and we enjoyed the job. For
+tools there were in the entire regiment only a few shovels and picks
+but the trenches had to be dug and the boys went at it with their mess
+knives, spoons and tin plates. It was fierce work under the blazing
+sun and the soil was hard to dig, but the work was done by reliefs and
+by night of the next day the trenches of our battalion were completed
+and good ones they were, too. They were dug on the crest of the hill
+and were deep enough with the earth parapet to give us protection from
+anything the enemy might send over at us. They were wide enough to
+enable the men to move about and the earth was cut away at the rear so
+as to make a sort of seat. More trouble was anticipated at any moment
+and ammunition in plenty was placed along the trenches. In fact, there
+was more ammunition than rations about all the time during the campaign.
+
+Capron's battery, which was with us at El Caney, came up the 6th and
+took a position on the left of our line of trenches. The digging of
+intrenchments for this battery afforded us our first opportunity of
+seeing Cubans work and certainly they did work under Capt. Capron.
+Other regiments kept coming up and taking positions on our left and the
+circle about Santiago began to tighten.
+
+Meanwhile we had leisure to lie about and figure up our losses. Malone
+of B, shot at El Caney, had died in the field hospital the evening of
+July 2d and his death came as a shock to his friends in that company.
+Richmond of G died in the same hospital early the preceding evening and
+that made five good men in the three Springfield companies slain by
+Spanish bullets. There were many missing faces from the ranks, too, and
+we kept hearing rumors that this or that man wounded at Caney had died
+in the hospital. Besides we knew some exaggerated stories about the
+losses of the Second had gone home and we knew the anxiety which our
+friends and relatives in Springfield must be feeling.
+
+There were other losses aside from the bullets of the enemy. On July
+6th Major Southmayd and Capt. McDonald left camp, the former going
+home on sick leave and the latter having injured himself badly in the
+spine. He was accompanied to the hospital by First Sergeant Burke,
+who remained with him until he sailed for the United States. In Capt.
+McDonald's absence First Lieut. W. L. Young took command of B company.
+Capt. John J. Leonard of G was made acting major of Major Southmayd's
+battalion and retained the command to the close of the campaign. The
+command of K company devolved upon First Lieut. Phillip C. Powers and
+First Lieut. W. C. Hayes took command of G company.
+
+About this time many of our boys got "next" to a species of poison vine
+somewhat resembling the poison ivy of New England and with about the
+same results. The surgeons could find nothing to counteract the effects
+of the vine until a Cuban told them of another plant which being
+steeped was an effective antidote for the poison and a free use of this
+soon restored the swollen faces and hands of the sufferers to their
+normal condition.
+
+"Misery hill" was a delightful place especially when the rations began
+to get shy as they did soon after our arrival. The visits of the pack
+train were few and far between and it was just as likely as not to
+bring ammunition instead of rations. Issues of one or two hardtack
+and a thin slice of bacon for a twenty-four hours ration were common,
+and some of the boys supplemented their menu with mangoes and "monkey
+plumes." Sergeant Lovely of G enjoyed the distinction of eating
+twenty-four mangoes in one day, much to the horror of the surgeons when
+they heard of it, but with no bad results to him.
+
+It was while we were on "Misery hill" that "Dido" Hunt achieved added
+fame by his abilities as a butcher. Gen. Ludlow had a desire for
+beefsteak and had purchased a hungry looking cow from some Cubans,
+Private Hunt as regimental butcher, being detailed to kill the animal.
+It was just before dusk, one evening, when the cow was led forth to
+the slaughter and "Dido," armed with a revolver, got ready to act as
+executioner. He fired again and again at the cow, the animal after each
+shot, looking about in a surprised manner as if wondering what the
+racket was all about. Finally one of the bullets hit the cow somewhere,
+and with a bellow of pain and fright, she ran off and disappeared in
+the darkness, leaving Private Hunt and the man who had been holding
+the rope gazing at each other. Gen. Ludlow had no steak that evening
+and the fate of the cow was never learned although there were rumors
+that the animal had ended her career in the camp of one of the regular
+regiments, the men of which had a fresh meat supper that night.
+
+A "commissary" had been established near Siboney by some enterprising
+sutlers, and the company officers were enabled to purchase some tea,
+oatmeal, etc., for their men. These were especially valuable, as
+several had succumbed to the climate and the toil and exposure of the
+campaign, and the hardtack and bacon were not the best kind of food
+for them. About this time, too, we were threatened with an outbreak of
+measles, but the cases were promptly isolated and the disease did not
+spread.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+WE CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION IN THE ART OF WAR AND LEARN A FEW THINGS.
+
+
+Our stay on "Misery hill" lasted just seven days and in that time we
+learned a few things, the art of trench digging without intrenching
+tools, standing out in our memory as one most important lesson. We
+learned how to sleep on a side hill without our bodies slipping
+entirely out from the shelter tents during our slumbers, this being
+accomplished by the simple means of driving a couple of pegs into the
+ground at the opening of the tent and placing a stick against them, our
+feet resting against the stick and preventing us going any further.
+We acquired the art of making cigarettes and of using anything at all
+in the paper line to roll them in. The inner pith of the royal palm
+came in handily for this purpose when our supply of cigarette paper
+gave out. We learned how to make one match light several pipes or
+cigarettes, for matches were scarce and therefore not to be wasted.
+We learned how to make the brook water passably cool in our canteens,
+by thoroughly soaking the canvass covering of the canteen and then
+suspending it from a tree or tent pole, the evaporation of the moisture
+of the cover slowly cooling the contents. At night the canteens were
+hung from the tent poles and in the morning the water was usually quite
+cool. Later on long branches of bamboo were used as water vessels and
+one trip to the brook usually sufficed for the day. In the building of
+"shacks" by which the regulars who had served in the west designated
+about everything in the way of a shelter from the sun or rain, we
+obtained lessons from our friends of the 8th and 22d. A couple of
+crotched sticks across which was laid a center pole formed the usual
+frame work of the structure and the roof and sides were composed of
+bushes or palm leaves. These were more airy than our tents and more
+comfortable except when it rained heavily.
+
+Also, we learned to do without stockings, the fact being that the
+bulk of our hosiery was either worn out or thrown away, and we took a
+card from the regulars and discarded such things in the line thereof,
+greasing our feet with the luscious "sow belly." In laundry work we
+became expert. "Jim" Ryan's steam laundry had long since gone into
+voluntary bankruptcy, and every man was his own laundryman. Insect
+enemies began to appear, and obtained a lodgment in spite of strenuous
+efforts. Soap was scarce and there were times when water was not the
+easiest thing in the world to get. Our sleeping arrangements were
+primitive, the usual method of arranging them being to place the rubber
+blanket on the ground with the coated side down, on this place the
+woolen blanket and wrapping this about us, go to sleep. Our coats, or
+shoes, or anything else suitable, being utilized for pillows. While on
+"Misery hill" many of the boys cut grass and utilized it as mattresses,
+but we could not do this on our short bivouacs.
+
+As to cooking, we were "stars." That is when there was anything to
+cook. On these occasions our culinary preparations were delightfully
+simple and even chafing-dish outfits would have to bow to our superior
+ingenuity. Our cooking apparatus required a small fire of wood, and
+the utensils were all carried in our haversacks. They were a combined
+frying pan and plate of tin, the former having a handle, a sharp
+pointed knife, fork and spoon. The basis of our menu was especially
+noticeable for its simplicity, the staples being bacon, hardtack,
+canned tomatoes and coffee. Sometimes we had sugar and more times we
+didn't. Occasionally we had a bit of salt or pepper and on these rare
+occasions there was joy, for then we were enabled to make the stuff
+labelled "canned roast beef" palatable enough so that it could be
+forced down our throats. At other times, Ugh! If the devil hasn't a
+special corner in the hot room of his Turkish bath reserved for those
+responsible for that "canned roast beef," he isn't "onto his job."
+
+Even with such simple means we managed to vary the menus a bit at
+times. Our usual breakfast was bacon and hardtack and coffee. The bacon
+was usually without a bit of lean and after frying for a moment or two
+the pan was about half-filled with fat, leaving a shrivelled up and
+brittle piece of so-called bacon. But it was eaten just the same, our
+stomachs having been educated up to anything. Sometimes we fried our
+hardtack in the bacon grease and these with black coffee, sometimes
+without sugar, made up our breakfast. Thanks to a beneficent government
+we had coffee about all the time, if we had nothing else. It came to
+us in the berry, in paper packages, and our chief concern as to coffee
+was how to grind or pulverize it. Usually this was done by the simple
+but slow process of putting a few berries in our tin cups and pounding
+them with a stick or tent pole until they were broken enough to steep.
+Then the cup was filled with water and placed in the fire until the
+coffee boiled when the cup was taken out by means of a cleft stick
+or a bayonet and laid aside to cool sufficiently to drink. There was
+plenty of barbed wire everywhere and by means of the wire cutters rude
+grates were made on which the tin cup was placed. For dinner the bill
+of fare and the method of preparing it was about the same, likewise
+for supper. Sometimes, when we had canned tomatoes we made "sludge," a
+simple confection of tomatoes and broken hardtack, with at times a few
+"strings" of the corned beef thrown in to give it, not taste, but more
+body. This "beef" was also used to form the groundwork for an imitation
+stew, the only resemblance to stew being the name, for it was without
+onions or potatoes. Then we made "Santiago sludge cakes," composed of
+pulverized hardtack and water, the mixture being patted into cakes and
+fried in bacon grease. Sometimes a bit of sugar was sprinkled over
+them, and we deluded ourselves into the belief that we were eating
+something very fine. Another method of preparing this delicacy was to
+mix in some canned tomato. Mango stew we had at times, but not often,
+as sugar was scarce.
+
+Gout might fairly have been expected as the result of this high
+living, (we were camped on a hill,) but, strange to say, no cases were
+reported, and even dyspepsia was unknown. Our regular hours doubtless
+aided us in keeping off these two diseases. We were aroused by reveille
+very early in the morning, usually about dawn and retired early in the
+evening. It grew dark about 8 o'clock and by that time everyone but the
+sentries was in quarters and usually asleep.
+
+The personal appearance of our officers and men was not as
+prepossessing as it might have been. Coats and collars were not _de
+rigeur_ and the only headgear was very "bum" looking campaign hats.
+Usually our blue shirts were open at the neck and a blue handkerchief
+carelessly knotted _a la_ cow boy was our only ornament. Suspenders
+were viewed with suspicion and the cartridge belts, with their thimbles
+filled with ammunition, served also the purpose of keeping our trousers
+up. These trousers were showing the wear and tear of the campaign, and
+needed pressing badly, being also used for pajamas. Our leggings were
+mostly torn and frayed, and went well with the trousers so far as looks
+were concerned, as for shoes, they too had seen better days. Barbers
+were at a discount and full beards were popular, the most noticeable
+ones in the three Springfield companies being those of Lieuts. Powers
+and Parkhurst of K, and Sergeants Scully and Murphy of G, although
+Gardella's was not far behind.
+
+In K "Bert" Nichols and "Ad" Potter had trained down so fine that
+their bodies failed to cast a shadow, and "Billy" Fish had got down to
+less than 200 pounds. The beard possessed by Morris Grenowitz of B was
+nearly all that remained of him and Jack Fulton was travelling in the
+same road. Alberts of B was having a good time with the horses and the
+Chaplain, and in K the Turner brothers were having hourly arguments
+with each other on the relative nutritious qualities of canned roast
+and corned beef. "Wap" Packard of G was busy figuring how many men
+were by his brother's side when he was shot, and had already counted
+up 35 with several more districts to hear from, and "Jim" Shene of the
+same company was planning foraging expeditions with Private Mahoney
+of Mittineague. "Batty" Hayes had secured a divorce from "Marguerite"
+Gelinas and was busy trying to keep the case out of the papers.
+
+So the days passed on "Misery hill" until noon of the 10th, when we
+were ordered to move on, once more to the right, and we left our fine
+trenches only to have them occupied by the 71st New York, the "heroes"
+of San Juan. We halted after a couple of hours, there being some
+trenches dug by Garcia's Cubans, and occupied them at 4 o'clock when
+our batteries opened upon Santiago. The affair lasted until 6, but the
+enemy's reply was not very loud and we did not get a chance to use our
+Springfields.
+
+Next morning we were on the march again, and this time it lasted about
+all day, up hill and down hill, until just before dusk we halted for
+the night with the right of our brigade resting on the Cobre road, thus
+cutting off the last avenue of escape from the city for the Spaniards,
+and the only way by which reinforcements from Holguin or the rest of
+the province could be put into the city. Rumors that a large Spanish
+force was on the way, made us vigilant and our guards were instructed
+to keep the sharpest kind of a watch, but as events proved, it was not
+necessary. Hardly had the boys got their tents up and their supper
+cooked, before the mail came up, and such a rush as there was for it.
+We had received one mail from home while on "Misery hill," and every
+man who failed to receive a letter then, was certain there was one or
+more for him now and could hardly wait to have the contents of the
+sacks distributed.
+
+That night we had to take off our hats to the Cuban rain storm. Hardly
+had the mail been distributed when it began to rain. Up to this what
+rain there was had usually fallen in the afternoon and was not of
+long duration, but the rain of July 11th and 12th will be remembered
+by every one in the Fifth Army Corps. It came down all night in solid
+sheets and our shelter tents and rubber blankets were of little use
+against it. When morning came everybody and everything was drenched,
+and a more forlorn looking outfit can hardly be imagined. About 6 A.
+M., the rain ceased for an hour or two and as soon as possible huge
+fires of bamboo were blazing and the men essayed to dry themselves and
+their clothing and to cook breakfast. Fortunately there was plenty of
+bamboo near our camp, and the wood burned as well wet as dry. But it
+was not long before down came the rain again just as bad as during the
+night, and to add to our discomfort, came orders to pack up and move on
+again.
+
+Rolling up our saturated tents and blankets, and wet to the skin, we
+took up the march and after wading through the deep mud of the Cobre
+road for a short distance, plunged into a trail which would take us to
+our new position and our last camp in Cuba. But it was not long before
+we found that the trail led through a piece of swampy ground, and
+before they had gone far the boys found themselves up to their legging
+tops in mud and the ooze of the swamp. It took a long time to flounder
+along through this, but it was finally done and the regiment emerged
+upon firm ground, and was soon on the spot selected for its occupancy.
+
+All this time the rain kept on, and it was not until nearly 4 P. M.,
+that it ceased and the sun came out. Meanwhile, the well soaked shelter
+tents had been put up and the men were either huddled under them and
+saying things about the wet season and Cuba, or were standing about
+with their rubber blankets thrown over their heads. But with the
+coming of the sun there was a great change. Its rays were so fierce
+that within half an hour there was scarcely any indication that it had
+been raining all night and all day, the ground dried up rapidly and so
+did the shelter tents. Off came the rubber blankets from the men, and
+clothing and equipments were spread out to dry in the afternoon sun.
+Wood was hustled for and with the blaze of the cooking fires and the
+smell of bacon and coffee cheerfulness returned.
+
+That evening the boys were put at work again digging trenches. Up to
+this Gen. Toral had hesitated to respond to Shafter's invitation to
+come out and surrender and the arrival of Gen. Miles having stiffened
+up the latter gentleman's backbone, some more trouble was looked for.
+Our brigade was, as usual, on the extreme right of the American line
+and the 8th regiment lay directly opposite the head of the harbor,
+the 22d next and then "ours." Right in front of our center and less
+than 500 yards away was the bull ring of Santiago, a circular wooden
+building filled with Spanish soldiers, while in front of that we could
+see the trenches with the soldiers lounging about, and with a glass
+could discern the barbed wire fencing and entanglements in front of the
+trenches. Our position was an exposed one, for from their position the
+enemy could have raked us front and flank, so at the trenches we went
+under the direction of Major Whipple.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Private Paul Vesper, B. Co.
+
+  Private John J. Malone, B. Co.
+
+  Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, B. Co.
+]
+
+By this time our regiment had been supplied with a fairly decent number
+of intrenching tools and the boys, appreciating the necessity for
+trenches, went at the work with but little grumbling. The trenches
+were dug on three sides of a square, one in front of each battalion,
+the work being done by each company in relays. Major Whipple's
+battalion now had the right, Major Fairbanks' the center and ours
+the left, so that it was in the rear of the other two. The work was
+continued to a late hour that night, and all the next day, and finished
+on the morning of the 14th. The trenches were even better than those
+dug on "Misery hill" and were complimented by Gen. Ludlow, who was a
+colonel of engineers before he became a general of volunteers. Not
+to be behind hand the non-commissioned staff of the regiment and the
+headquarters attaches dug a trench for themselves and the regiment was
+ready for the next move.
+
+Twelve o'clock at noon of the 24th was the hour set for the ending
+of the truce, and at 11.30 A. M. we were ordered into the trenches.
+Everyone felt there was going to be a hard fight this time, for it was
+considered certain that the enemy would make a determined resistance
+and our estimate of Spanish valor had gone up many degrees since El
+Caney. It was known that an assault by the Americans was to follow
+the bombardment and those who had noted the enemy's preparations for
+defense knew that we were in for a warm reception and that if we
+charged up to the barbed wire entanglements and the trenches many would
+not return. But that made little difference and we took our position
+in the trenches and waited for the opening gun from Capron's battery,
+posted on a hill in our rear. The horses and the Chaplain had gone to
+the rear and the surgeons and hospital corps were posted in readiness
+for what might happen. Hardly had we got into the trenches when the
+buzzards began to gather, and this to us was a certain indication of a
+battle.
+
+Noon came and the white flag of truce still waved from the governor's
+palace and the signal gun was not fired. Half after 12 and no change.
+We wondered what was up. Nothing much could be seen from the trenches
+and nearly all of the boys climbed to the top and sat down with eager
+eyes fastened upon the city we were going to capture. One o'clock and
+the white flag still floated. Now came the "Jo Jo" department to the
+front once again, and the news ran from trench to trench, that Shafter
+had postponed the assault and given the Spaniards a few days more
+in which to make up their mind. Following this came the information
+that Gen. Toral was merely trying to gain time in order that 10,000
+Spanish troops which were coming up, might attack us in the rear while
+Toral's men sallied out in our front. And then down came the rain in
+large and continuous sheets, soon flooding the trenches and making us
+forget the impending battle, "Jo Jo's," and everything else but the
+necessity of keeping as dry as possible. The rain lasted for an hour
+and a half, filling our lovely trenches with water and putting them in
+nice shape for a battle. But hardly had the sun reappeared before we
+saw a horseman clad in the Khaki uniform of Shafter's staff galloping
+along the lines toward us and in his wake we saw the hats of the men in
+the trenches being thrown into the air, and the wearers dancing as if
+some extra good news had come. Reining up in front of the center trench
+where Col. Clark was, the horseman gave him the welcome news that the
+city had surrendered, and as the constantly increasing knot of officers
+and men who had got within earshot, began to get ready for a vocal
+demonstration, the aide added, "Orders are not to cheer, boys, for the
+deal isn't quite fixed up, but you can throw your hats into the air all
+you wish." Well, the boys, followed instructions and the hats went up,
+while the aide dashed over to the 8th and 22d with the news.
+
+And it was good news. It meant no more trench digging, no more
+marching, no more fighting, and last but not least, as some of our long
+headed and practical ones figured it out, it meant more and varied
+rations, for now our ships could come into the harbor. The trenches
+were quickly emptied and we returned to our shacks in pretty good
+spirits.
+
+It was not until three days after, on Sunday the 17th, that the formal
+surrender took place. The troops were assembled in front of their
+trenches, and as the gun announcing the hoisting of our flag over the
+governor's palace, boomed out, we cheered, and then marched back only
+to be formed in front of Col. Clark's quarters, where certain men
+were given a "wigging" which they remembered for a long time. Since
+the 14th our men had been allowed to go freely outside our lines, and
+although not permitted to go into the city proper, yet they found
+some interesting things in the suburbs. One of these was the cemetery
+and some regulars and a number of Second men had gone there and
+thoughtlessly taken some flowers and trinkets from some graves. This
+desecration had been reported by the Spaniards to Gen. Shafter and the
+latter "wigged" Gen. Lawton about it, Lawton repeating the operation
+to Gen. Ludlow and the latter giving Col. Clark and the commanding
+officer of the 22d a bad quarter of an hour. So when it came his turn,
+Col. Clark let himself out on the men, and his remarks were of the keen
+and cutting style which makes a man feel good when he hears some other
+fellow getting them. This concluded the exercises of the day and we
+were dismissed to think it over.
+
+Next day the "Jo Jo" bureau resumed operations and we heard "on the
+best of authority," of course, that we were to be hustled on to Porto
+Rico with Gen. Miles. Next came the news that our brigade, having done
+so well was to be sent against Holguin in the interior of the province
+where there were some 8000 Spanish troops, who had been surrendered
+with those in Santiago but did not like it and proposed to fight.
+Within the next few days it was gravely announced by the "Jo Jo,"
+that we were going to be sent to the Philippines, as experienced and
+acclimated troops were wanted there; that we were to be sent to help
+capture Havana, marching from Santiago for that purpose, and best of
+all, that unless Spain sued for peace within a week, we were to embark
+for that country and invade it. As to the "Jo Jos" about double pay,
+the receipt by each man of a lump sum of money in consideration of
+waiving our claims to a pension, etc., they were numerous and varied
+enough to fill a large book. In its "Jo Jo" bureau the Second had some
+distinguished artists.
+
+But the most convincing sign of all that the city had surrendered, was
+the arrival of rations, and they were gladly received. For a day or
+two it was the familiar bacon and hardtack, but soon we were surprised
+and gladdened by the sound of mule wagons coming up the road from the
+city and laden with good looking loaves of soft bread. We then found
+that army ovens had been established in the city and that we would
+have bread in abundance. Next came some refrigerated beef, and it
+looked good and tasted better. Our first issue of the beef was quickly
+disposed of, each man's share being taken to the nearest fire and a
+"bluff" made at broiling it, the majority of the men being too "meat
+hungry" to do more than merely toast it. That first "beefsteak supper"
+of ours on the island is remembered yet. Next day came more beef, more
+bread and finally potatoes and onions, while with them were brought
+along rice and canned tomatoes and bacon and hardtack. The two latter
+we scorned. Eat hardtack and canned beef when we had fresh bread and
+meat and the materials for beef stew? Well, we guessed not. But it
+turned out we were too proud. There came days when the refrigerated
+beef became less relished, especially when our noses could learn of its
+being on the way long before it reached the camp, and we were glad to
+fall back on the despised, "sowbelly," and by this time in deference
+to our luxurious tastes, the conscience stricken commissary department
+was sending us something that resembled bacon far more than anything we
+had previously had, and that came in nice tin packages. Even the soft
+bread palled on us after a while, and we were glad to nibble a hardtack
+now and then, especially, when as sometimes happened the bread was sour.
+
+A few days after the surrender, B company was gladdened by the arrival
+of its cook, Walter Butler, who had remained on the ship and who,
+on his arrival, took charge of the culinary department and began to
+concoct some excellent stews. The Buzzicot field-cooking outfits, which
+we had brought from Massachusetts with us, were also landed, and that
+of G was at once set up with Private Carl Mueller as cook and Corporal
+"Nat" Gardella and "Dido" Hunt as steward and assistant steward, and
+"Daniel" Bellamy, the well-known temperance orator, as chief of the
+wood and water department. Private Fisher, the company cook of K, was
+ill, and K's Buzzicot was but little used.
+
+The day after our arrival in this camp, Private Bates of K severely
+injured his foot while chopping wood, the axe slipping and severing one
+of the arteries. He was laid up for some days.
+
+G and K moved their camps to the other side of the trenches about the
+20th, but B remained where it was. The wall tents which we brought
+with us from South Framingham and used at Lakeland and Tampa, also
+came up, and at once took the place of the "pup tents" we had used
+on the island. Our knapsacks and other property which we left on the
+Knickerbocker were also sent to us and we found that some of our things
+were left, although many knapsacks which had been left well filled, on
+the boat, had been "touched."
+
+Once again we began to have the same old shortage of rations, and
+this time with our ships in the harbor we couldn't understand it.
+One day we received two hardtack and a spoonful of coffee berries
+for a twenty-four hours issue. We were out of fresh meat, sugar and
+everything else, but this only lasted a couple of days and then we got
+fresh meat, vegetables and beans.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+WE HAVE TO FACE ANOTHER ENEMY MORE DEADLY THAN THE SPANIARDS.
+
+
+And now that the Spaniards had been conquered and Santiago was ours we
+found ourselves facing another enemy even more deadly than the Mauser
+bullets or the machete. Up to the surrender the health of our regiment,
+everything considered, had been fairly good. Sickness there was to be
+sure, but nothing more than was to be expected in a regiment of 900 men
+subjected to the exposures and hardships incidental to a campaign in a
+foreign land, and these exposures supplemented by a ration, which even
+when plentiful, which was not often, was entirely unfitted for soldiers
+campaigning in a warm climate. Again it must be remembered that our
+work in Cuba was performed in the rainy season and that sleeping in
+mud, marching and bivouacking in the rain and fording deep streams are
+not conducive to rugged health when persisted in day after day. But
+so long as the active campaign lasted, the excitement and novelty of
+it all kept the men up. After the surrender, when there was little or
+nothing for them to do, they were in condition to fall an easy prey to
+the "calentura" or malarial fever, and to the diseases of the stomach
+incident to camp life with a poorly adapted ration. Fat bacon and
+canned beans, containing fully as much grease as beans, are not the
+kind of food the sensible man going to spend a time in the tropics
+would select for his menu, but that is what we got and it was eat it or
+nothing.
+
+During the active campaign many men of the regiment were ill from one
+cause or another, but as a matter of fact, there was nothing like a
+general outbreak of sickness at any time until some days after the
+surrender. A number of the men contracted rheumatism from sleeping on
+the damp ground and there were scattered cases of measles and stomach
+disorders. But the average daily sick report never went much beyond a
+dozen cases, which it must be admitted is not bad for an organization
+of nearly 1000 men living under the conditions which we did.
+
+For the first few days after Santiago surrendered all went well.
+There were propositions to move the troops further inland and up into
+the mountains with a view of escaping any possibility of the dreaded
+yellow fever which was showing itself at Siboney, the houses of which
+village had been burned to the ground in order to remove the danger of
+infection, but the contemplated move was not made and we remained in
+our last station until the regiment sailed for Montauk Point.
+
+On the day after the surrender Col. Clark issued orders for daily
+company drills and inspections with a view of giving the men something
+to do, he recognizing, as an old soldier, that idleness is the worst
+possible thing in camp. He and his superiors realized, however, that
+the army had passed through a most trying, though short campaign, and
+that the men deserved a rest, but at the same time there were already
+warnings that the less active the men were, the easier they fell prey
+to the climatic diseases of the country. Even after we had been in our
+last camp for a few days, there were signs that the fever was at work
+and with our limited supply of medicines, it was feared that it might
+become epidemic. That these fears were only too well grounded was soon
+to be made manifest.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Corp'l Thos. C. Boon.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Pvt. J. L. Morehouse.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Private
+  Michael R.
+  Lyons.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Musician Frank P. Jones. K. Co.
+
+  Corp'l W. C. Piper.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Pvt. Arthur Burnham.
+  K. Co.
+]
+
+The day following the surrender, Col. Clark and Major Bowen, the
+regimental surgeon, established a hospital in an old and dilapidated
+wooden building a couple of hundred yards in front of our advanced line
+of trenches and which had been used as a railway station. It was in
+poor shape, the roof being partly gone and the flooring bad, but it was
+better than leaving the sick men in their stuffy little shelter tents
+or out in the open air. The division hospitals were already overcrowded
+with wounded and sick men and the regimental commanders were notified
+that they would have to care for their own sick as best they could.
+Even as bad as the building selected for our hospital was, it was
+looked upon with envy by the commanding officers of other regiments and
+it was even suggested to Col. Clark that he divide it up with the other
+regiments of our brigade.
+
+Whether it was the camping along the line of the recently made
+trenches, the earth of which was said to be full of malarial germs, or
+that the fever was already in the air that caused the epidemic among
+our men is not certain, but within a day or two after the Sunday on
+which the Stars and Stripes were hoisted over the city the fever began
+its career in our regiment and in a few days over fifty per cent. of
+the officers and men were affected with it. The daily drills soon had
+to be discontinued, for hardly enough men to make a decent showing
+were able to turn out for them in the majority of the companies. It
+was the same way at the daily inspections. Frequently a man standing
+in the ranks would fall down in his tracks from sheer weakness and
+would have to be carried to his tent by his comrades. Soon there was
+no pretence of conforming to the orders requiring these drills and
+inspections and the men, who were able to move at all, did so as if
+their feet were encased in lead. At surgeon's call every morning there
+were sights which were enough to appall the stoutest hearted among us.
+It was directly after reveille that this call was sounded, and then
+from all parts of the camp dreary processions of what had been strong
+and hearty looking young men, would drag themselves slowly to the
+surgeon's tent and stand or lie on the ground waiting for their turn to
+be treated. And it must be said that the treatment was not of a sort
+calculated to cheer them up. The only medicines on hand were quinine
+and salts and a preparation for stomach disorders. Of quinine there
+was a plenty, but after a time the systems of the men, in many cases,
+became so saturated with it that even doses of thirty grains or more
+produced but little effect. And what hurt the boys more than the fever
+or anything else was the feeling, right or wrong as it may have been,
+that we of the Fifth Army Corps, who had done our work uncomplainingly,
+and done it well, were being neglected by the government whose call
+we had obeyed among the first. It was known that our state had sent
+us away from South Framingham with a medicine chest second to none
+in the army, and that this chest was even now on board of one of the
+transports in the harbor, but for all practical uses, as far off as
+the North Pole. Some of us knew that requisition after requisition
+for medical supplies had been sent in by our surgeon and had not been
+honored, that in spite of all our surgeons and stewards could do it was
+next to an impossibility to obtain an ambulance, and that we were even
+denied the services of one of our assistant surgeons, Dr. Gates having
+been detailed to the Fourth infantry, which was at that time without a
+medical officer.
+
+All these things helped the fever. Depression was its best ally,
+and then came nostalgia, the homesickness which men who have never
+experienced sneer at, but which is the bane of armies, and which in the
+Cuban campaign helped kill more men than the bullets of the Spaniards.
+For nurses for the sick there were only their comrades, willing enough
+God knows, but unaccustomed to the work, and with their own nerves
+and tempers wrought up to a high pitch. With lack of surgeons, lack
+of medicines, lack of nurses, lack of proper food, lack of proper
+accommodations and lack of everything that sick men should have, it is
+a wonder that the entire regiment was not left behind to fill graves in
+Cuba.
+
+But even a more pitiful sight than the men who answered the surgeon's
+call every morning had to witness, was the spectacle of the poor
+fellows who were unable to get up from their beds on the ground, and
+who lay there day after day under the stuffy tents, their bodies
+burning up with the fever, too weak or too despairing to even accept
+the poor nourishment which their comrades tried to get for them, and in
+some cases so far gone with nostalgia that they refused everything and
+only wished for death. It is a known fact that fifty per cent. of the
+men of the Second who died in that last camp of ours in Cuba, died of
+nostalgia and nothing else.
+
+Meanwhile, everything that could be done with the limited resources at
+command, was being done. The company commanders sent into Santiago and
+bought at the commissary stores, such decent food for sick men as could
+be procured, and through the efforts of Col. Clark, some suitable food
+and delicacies were obtained from the Red Cross society. The Colonel
+also purchased, at his own expense, a number of cots and hammocks for
+the regimental hospital.
+
+It was indeed a trying time. Officer after officer and man after man
+went down with the fever. Adjutant Paul R. Hawkins was hard hit with it
+and was finally removed to the second division hospital. Major Henry
+C. Bowen, the regimental surgeon, also succumbed and was taken to the
+same hospital where he died. Quartermaster E. E. Sawtell was another
+victim but did not go to the hospital. Captain John J. Leonard of G,
+was stricken and for long days fought the disease in his quarters,
+and Lieut. Edward J. Leyden of his company was taken to the hospital.
+Lieut. W. L. Young and Lieut. Harry J. Vesper of B were attacked, the
+former not seriously, however. There were but few men in any of the
+companies fit for duty and it was difficult to get enough men for the
+necessary details. The drills were given up for not enough men to
+make a decent showing were fit to turn out and it was with difficulty
+that enough men for regimental and brigade guard were provided.
+Some necessary work had to be done and from brigade and division
+headquarters details were constantly being asked for and every man able
+to stand on his feet had to be pressed into service.
+
+The officers, during this trying time, did all in their power for their
+men, but it was not much they were able to do and the men felt at the
+time, that they should have done more. In this they were unjust, for
+the officers were suffering as much as the men, and the latter have
+since come to realize that many of the opinions expressed at this
+time and later, on this subject, were unjust. The fever and the other
+diseases spared no one, whether he wore shoulder straps or not.
+
+Dr. Hitchcock, our assistant surgeon, succumbed to the fever, and
+was taken to the division hospital and the surgeon, Dr. Bowen, soon
+followed him there. This left us without a medical officer, and for two
+or three days the outlook for the sick men of the Second was a dark
+one. But we were then provided with two contract surgeons, Dr. Persons
+and Dr. Dunwoody, and both proved themselves excellent gentlemen and
+hard workers. Soon after their arrival, Dr. Gates, our other assistant
+surgeon, who had been detailed to the Fourth infantry, was sent back
+to us, and his presence was as good as a tonic to the sick men. His
+cheery smile and sympathetic ways were even better than his medicines,
+and for a time, after his return, the health of the command appeared
+to improve. Meanwhile, the famous "round robin" had been sent, and its
+result was that the Fifth corps was ordered to return home as soon as
+transports could be procured. From then until August 12 the thoughts of
+the men were concentrated upon the time we were to go home.
+
+Meanwhile, the men who escaped the fever and other diseases, were
+doing all possible for their comrades. The company officers, finding
+that idleness at this time was the worst possible thing for the men
+who were at all able to get about, set them at work, and though this
+seemed at the time a hardship to the men, it turned out to be the best
+thing that could be done, for it not only served to keep them in better
+shape physically but helped to keep their minds occupied and prevented
+them from dwelling too much upon the gloomy situation in the camps and
+from thinking too much of home. They were encouraged and in most cases
+ordered to build raised bunks for themselves, these serving to keep
+their bodies off the ground while sleeping, and to erect shelters of
+boughs and palm leaves instead of remaining in their shelter tents.
+When the big wall tents arrived there was no further need of these
+"shacks" but they served a useful purpose even if not handsome looking.
+
+It was not long after the surrender that we began to get large packages
+of mail, including the Springfield papers and it is hardly necessary
+to say that they were welcome. In these papers we found stories of the
+campaign and of the part the Second had played in the actions at El
+Caney and San Juan. Many of the letters the boys had written from Tampa
+and Cuba had been printed and in the reading of these there was much
+fun. We learned from the papers of the big Fourth of July celebration
+that had been planned in Springfield, and how it had been given up when
+the news of El Caney and the rumors of heavy loss in "Ours" reached
+home. And we received the Fourth of July buttons which had been made
+in honor of that occasion and proudly wore them about the camp to the
+envy of some of the other companies of the regiment. It did us some
+good to know that we had not been entirely forgotten. And sometimes in
+the mails there were packages for us, sent by loving friends from home
+and welcome, whether they contained much or little. The arrival of the
+mail was an event in those days. Sometimes all that there was could be
+brought from Santiago on the back of one horse, but there were times
+when one of the two wheeled carretas was necessary to transport it.
+The array of bags would be dumped off in front of the office tent of
+the regiment and then the work of sorting out the contents would begin.
+That destined for each company having been piled up, there were usually
+enough men waiting to take it away, and for the next few hours the men
+would read their letters and papers and exchange news. The arrival of
+the mail was invariably followed by a time of letter writing and the
+return mail was sometimes nearly as heavy as that which had come in.
+
+As time went on the fever appeared to be wearing itself out and some
+of those who had it began to recover slowly until they were able to
+drag themselves around. For days there was a feeling that the worst was
+over, and this feeling was especially strong in our battalion, which,
+by the way, had not as yet been as hard hit by the fever as some of the
+other sections of the regiment. But then came the yellow fever scare
+and the deaths of one or two of our men and these resulted in a return
+of the old depression and consequently the sickness.
+
+Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse of B, was the first man of the
+Springfield companies to succumb to the fever and the nostalgia which
+accompanied it. He was taken sick soon after the surrender, but kept
+up and about for some time, as he had all through the campaign. But he
+went down at last and the end came on rapidly. He died on August 1st,
+and there was not a man in the regiment more regretted for all who ever
+knew "Dicky" Bearse, loved him.
+
+The second man to go, in the battalion, was Corporal W. C. Piper of K,
+who died in the division hospital, August 5th, of pernicious malarial
+fever. He had been taken there only the day before and his comrades
+were horror stricken when notified of his death. The day following
+a detail from his company was sent to the hospital and buried him.
+Private Paul Vesper of B, died the 10th, from the same cause as Piper,
+in the division hospital.
+
+It was a day or two afterwards that we heard of the famous "round
+robin" and its result. The thought of soon sailing for home did much
+to cheer us up and we began to make what few preparations we had to
+make, although there was as yet nothing authentic about our going. But
+on the 10th Col. Clark received orders to be ready to embark on short
+notice and the news spread like wildfire through our camp. Our working
+suits which we had worn all through the campaign, and our blankets and
+haversacks were ordered burned and in place of them we were issued the
+khaki uniforms of yellow with blue facings.
+
+A few days before Col. John F. Marsh, of Springfield, had arrived, and
+brought with him several boxes of good things sent by the people of
+Springfield. The time was so short that many of the boxes were unopened
+and were taken to the ship when we sailed. Nearly all their contents
+were looted, however, during our trip to Montauk point.
+
+August 11th we received orders to embark the following day, and on the
+12th those of the regiment able to march, fell in, and we "hiked the
+pike" for Santiago. With flags flying we marched through the Calle de
+Marina, or Marine street, and after a short wait on a pier, were put
+on a lighter and taken off to the transport Mobile, already occupied
+by the other two regiments of our brigade and a number of horses. The
+sick officers and men were sent to the pier in ambulances and those
+able to walk not only had to do that, but were also obliged to handle
+all the baggage, a job that would have been child's play at other
+times, but which in our debilitated condition was a task almost beyond
+our strength. Col. Clark had been attacked with the fever that morning
+and was unable to do anything. Lieut. Col. Shumway was so ill as to
+be unfit for duty but he stuck it out and did what he could. Lieut.
+Hawkins and Lieut. Leyden were brought down from the division hospital
+and Lieut. Vesper was brought down from his tent in our camp by Captain
+Crosier of D. Company.
+
+Meanwhile there were a number of our men sick in their quarters or
+in the hospitals who could not be moved to the ship, besides others
+who had been spotted as "suspicious" cases by the surgeons on the day
+previous, and ordered to remain behind, it being feared that they were
+in the first stages of yellow fever. It was necessary that some remain
+behind to care for these poor fellows, but who to detail to this hard
+duty was a problem which Col. Clark finally solved by detailing Lieut.
+W. H. Plummer of A Company of Worcester, and a detail of one man from
+each company in the regiment to remain. Private Dozilva Lamoreaux
+of G, Private Robert A. Draper of B and Private Albert Marsden of
+K volunteered to compose this detail from our companies, and their
+sacrifices in doing this will not be forgotten by their comrades.
+
+Privates Little, Stetson, Brownell and Dunn of G company, Corporal John
+B. Fulton, and Privates Judd, Rivers, Champagne, Smith, Wheeler and
+Frey of B company, and Privates Maynard, Solace and Hall of K were left
+behind on the island, either sick or as yellow fever suspects when the
+regiment was ordered home.
+
+[Illustration: 1ST TURRET'S CREW. MONITOR LEHIGH.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+OUR VOYAGE HOMEWARD ON THE DEATH SHIP MOBILE.
+
+
+Our voyage homeward on the Mobile was not exactly a pleasant one.
+At the very outset we again found that in army language we were "up
+against it." Our entire brigade, composing some 1500 officers and men,
+were on the boat, which although large, was not fitted up in very good
+shape for transport service and as a result there was at first much
+overcrowding. The Mobile had recently conveyed a cargo of mules to
+Porto Rico and on her return from that duty had lain for several days
+in the festering harbor of Santiago so that her sanitary condition
+could not be termed an ideal one. The officers were crowded together in
+her few staterooms and as for the men they were jammed below decks and
+above decks in any old way. The Eighth and Twenty-second regiments had
+been on board some time before our regiment arrived and of course had
+appropriated the best portions of the ship to themselves, something for
+which they could not be blamed so very much.
+
+That evening we of the Second just simply "bunked" anywhere we could
+and as a rule we went to bed supperless, for everything was in such a
+mixed up condition there was no effort made at giving out rations. And
+on our arrival we found that we were to pass another time with our old
+friends, the canned "beef" and the nourishing and palatable (!) travel
+rations. After bidding them farewell, as we thought, forever, this was
+felt to be the worst blow we had yet suffered but there was no use
+"kicking" and we made the best of it. Fortunately or unfortunately, as
+one looks at it, the majority of the men had money enough to purchase
+quantities of canned fruits and delicacies before they left Santiago
+and these helped us out to some extent.
+
+What we at first thought was a blessing but which afterward turned out
+to be the reverse was the presence of a large tank of ice water below
+decks to which we freely helped ourselves and with evil effect upon
+some of the men who developed dysentery from indulging too freely in
+the cold liquid. After a day or two the ice water was shut off from the
+men, and they were compelled to drink the regular ship's water. There
+was any amount of grumbling at this but it was the best thing to be
+done under the circumstances.
+
+We remained in the harbor the night of the 12th and early on the 13th,
+our old "hoodoo" number being with us again, the Mobile swung her nose
+around and steamed down the harbor. Every man able to be up was on deck
+as we started out and realized that we were homeward bound at last.
+There were mighty few regrets expressed at leaving Cuba and our chief
+concern now was to reach home as quickly as possible. It was known
+that our destination was Montauk Point, L. I., and beyond that our
+information was a trifle hazy.
+
+Passing down the harbor we came to the Merrimac as she lay about where
+Hobson had sunk her and we could see that she was not of much avail
+in stopping the channel. A little further we passed the wreck of the
+Reina Mercedes as she lay where the shells from our warships had put
+her out of business and just a little distance further along we passed
+out under the frowning walls and grim looking guns of Castle Morro,
+over which our flag was now floating. On the other side of the harbor
+entrance was an unimportant looking sand battery, but it was from it
+that the Spanish guns did their most effective work against our fleet.
+One turn more and we were out of the harbor and again on the bounding
+billows.
+
+This day quarters were assigned the various companies of our regiment
+below decks. The men were supplied with hammocks and as these had to be
+slung close together and the men were just a bit unfamiliar with their
+management there were many tumbles out of bed that night. We found the
+sleeping accommodations on the Mobile superb. If you say that word
+"superb" quick it sounds well and that's the way we said it. A number
+of the men were obliged to sleep on deck and under a covering of loose
+planks and as it happened to rain two or three nights in succession,
+they did not like their sleeping quarters any too well.
+
+The steward of the Mobile was an Englishman, like all her officers,
+and he was a direct descendant of thieves and inherited all their
+instincts of robbery. He thought nothing of charging $5 for a half-pint
+of vile liquor and his prices for anything else he could sell were
+in proportion. He contracted with some of the company commanders to
+furnish a number of loaves of bread each day for the men but the loaves
+turned out to be nothing more than biscuits and the prices asked were
+so exorbitant that a complaint was made to the captain of the ship and
+the steward was compelled to make restitution.
+
+One of the first incidents of our passage homeward was the stopping
+of the Mobile by a United States gunboat on our second evening out
+from Santiago harbor. It seems that the Mobile was not showing just
+the proper lights and the gunboat steamed close to her to investigate,
+firing a blank charge across her bows as a signal to stop. The Mobile
+stopped. Then after a brief colloquy between the little gunboat and
+the big Mobile the latter was allowed to proceed. It should be said,
+however, that when the officers and crew of the gunboat ascertained
+that the Second Massachusetts was on board they gave us three hearty
+cheers.
+
+Life on board the Mobile was not a bit more luxurious than it had been
+on the Knickerbocker or in Cuba. We had the same old travel rations
+and no means of cooking them. After the first day out an arrangement
+was made whereby Walter Butler, the cook for B company, was to have
+the use of the crew's galley to make coffee for the three Springfield
+companies. Walter did as well as he could under difficulties but
+ofttimes the water used in making the coffee was so poor in quality
+that the concoction was not exactly palatable. But it was better than
+ship's water.
+
+The men messed as best they could. The officers had their meals in
+the dining saloon, paying $1 a day for them and they were not over
+luxurious. Neither were their quarters, for with the entire brigade
+on board the staterooms were insufficient to accommodate them all and
+they were forced to double up and in some instances three officers were
+assigned to one room and forced to "bunk" as best they could.
+
+Many of the officers and men were just out of hospitals, and for them
+the voyage was a harder trial than those who were officially in good
+health. The ship's hospital was established on the aft deck and was
+protected from the elements only by canvas awnings and during the two
+or three times it rained during the voyage the sick men were drenched
+as they lay in their cots or hammocks. Surgeon Gates and Dr. Piersons,
+the contract surgeons who had done so much for our regiment in front
+of Santiago, were indefatigable in their attendance upon our sick and
+so were the hospital stewards, but the medical supplies were as usual
+insufficient and the accommodations entirely inadequate. Two men were
+detailed each day to assist in caring for the sick men from their
+companies and while of course they meant to do all they could for
+their comrades their performance very often fell far short of their
+intentions. Naturally the sick men were often peevish and troublesome
+and it cannot be said that the lot of the attendants was a very
+pleasant one.
+
+On our second day out occurred the first death in the regiment,
+Sergeant Harold B. Wentworth of C company, who had been ill with
+typhoid fever and malaria. His body was buried at sea a few hours after
+death and the sad event was the first of a series during the voyage.
+Private George Higgins of F company was the next victim, his death
+occuring on the 15th.
+
+August 17th was a black day for the Second. At 12.30 that morning
+Second Lieut. Harry J. Vesper of B company died after a long illness,
+with gastritis and malaria. He was a very sick man when brought on
+board but was nursed and cared for as tenderly as possible during the
+voyage. Private James Ryan of B was detailed as his attendant and was
+constantly with him, but even the best of care could not have saved
+him. The same day his body, wrapped in the folds of the American flag,
+was lowered into the deep, the Mobile being hove to for the purpose.
+The band of the 22d regiment played appropriate airs and Chaplain
+Wellwood of the Second conducted the services. The burial was nearly
+off Cape Hatteras. Lieut. Vesper, who was one of the most popular
+officers of the regiment, met his fate bravely and died in merciful
+ignorance of the fact that his brother, Private Paul Vesper of B
+company, had died a few days before the regiment left Cuba. At that
+time Lieut. Vesper was ill in the division hospital and it was deemed
+best to keep the knowledge of his brother's fate from him.
+
+On this same day another B company man, Wagoner Paul J. Kingston,
+answered his final roll call, dying in the afternoon. Privates Earle C.
+Clark of H company and Franklin W. Manning of M company, made up the
+death roll for the day and their bodies were given to the sea.
+
+On the 18th Privates Charles H. Cranston and Henry C. Collins, both of
+I company of Northampton, died and on the 20th just before we landed at
+Montauk Point Sergeant Ryder of E company passed away. On the voyage
+from Santiago to Montauk our regiment lost ten, one officer and nine
+men, and it is no wonder that the Mobile was referred to as a "death
+ship."
+
+It is no wonder either, under these circumstances, that the men became
+depressed. Cooped up in an ill-smelling hold during the night, fed on
+unsuitable food and seeing the bodies of their comrades cast overboard
+day after day it was not strange that they became blue. But happily the
+voyage did not last long for on the afternoon of the 19th we sighted
+Montauk Point and knew that in a day or two we would be on good United
+States soil once more.
+
+It was night when the Mobile cast anchor and early the next morning
+she was towed into what we supposed was quarantine. We passed several
+steamers with the yellow quarantine flag hoisted at their sterns and
+after a while the Mobile anchored and some quarantine officers came
+aboard and inspected the passengers and crew. Fortunately this ceremony
+did not last long and when it was over the Mobile was brought alongside
+a wharf as we in our innocence supposed to allow us to land.
+
+But as it happened we were not to land that day. On the wharf were
+sentries and those of "Ours" who happened to get as far as the wharf
+were at once driven back. Neither was any one allowed at first to come
+aboard. As we swung in the stream before the Mobile got to the wharf a
+small boat containing some Springfield newspaper men attempted to get
+within reach of the Mobile, but she was ordered away and at the wharf
+it was some time before anybody was allowed to come aboard the Mobile.
+The first Springfield man we saw was Dr. David Clark, the surgeon for
+years of the Second while it was in the militia service. He finally
+came on board and was at once surrounded by the men of the three
+Springfield companies so that it was some little time before he made
+his way to the quarterdeck, where Col. Clark and the officers were
+awaiting him. He brought plenty of news for us and much information
+concerning Montauk Point and the arrangement of the camps there. At
+the same time came aboard baskets of sandwiches and fruit which Dr.
+Clark had provided. Thanks to the kindness of Dr. Clark many messages
+were sent from the ship to the anxious ones at home announcing the safe
+arrival of the Mobile and that the senders were well.
+
+It was not until the next day that we were allowed to land and it was
+a sad spectacle to watch the disembarkation of the gallant Second from
+the ship. The men who were able to walk got down the steep gang plank
+in some kind of order and after an attempt at regimental formation,
+marched up to the quarantine camp, a distance of some two and a half
+miles, over the very roughest kind of a road. The sick were transported
+in mule wagons and they did not find the ride a very pleasant one. On
+arrival at the camp it was found all laid out with large wall tents
+arranged in company streets and the majority of the tents equipped with
+board floors, a luxury we had not experienced for many moons. Rough
+sinks had been made in rear of the company streets and supplies of
+soft bread, fruits and milk were waiting for us. A number of the sick
+officers and men were taken directly over to the hospitals and it began
+to look as if things might be half decent after all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+WE AND OUR FRIENDS ENJOY OURSELVES AT CAMP WIKOFF, MONTAUK POINT.
+
+
+From the beginning it was evident that our lines in Camp Wikoff were
+to be cast in more pleasant places than had been the case since we
+left Lakeland in June. To be sure the detention camp was not an abode
+of princely luxury and there were shortcomings in plenty about it, but
+there was an honest effort to care for our comfort. There were but few
+of the officers and men in our regiment in good health and even the men
+who did not go to the hospitals were in bad shape physically, but the
+knowledge of the fact that we were on United States soil at last and
+that but a short time would elapse before we would be en route for home
+was better than medicine. Then, too, there was the great improvement
+in our food, which was worth something, and there was the presence of
+our friends from Springfield, including some who had made all manner of
+sacrifices and had endured toil, discomforts and trouble to get to us
+with help and cheer.
+
+No one can doubt but what it was the full intent of those in authority
+at Washington to treat the returned soldiers from Cuba in the best
+possible manner, but it is a matter of common knowledge that as a
+paving material for a certain warm place good intentions is the
+very best material yet devised by the arch enemy of mankind. The
+performance at Montauk fell far short of the promise and this was aided
+by the over officiousness of some very young and very fresh officers
+who had no idea beyond the blind following of red tape regulations no
+matter what might happen. It was to these officers that the delay and
+vexatious troubles experienced by Dr. David Clark of Springfield in
+his mission of mercy to us of the Second can be attributed and others
+associated with him had to face the same difficulties. The story of
+how Dr. Clark, Lieut. T. A. Sweeney and others were "held up" at the
+mouth of the rapid fire guns of the converted yacht Aileen by one
+Lieut. Rhodes, whose name is still cursed by every Second regiment
+man, is still fresh in the minds of all of us and it was only when the
+presumptuous young officer was made to realize that he was not the only
+thing that ever happened that the supplies sent to us by loving hands
+in Springfield reached us. There is the memory too of the long and
+weary hours Dr. Clark spent underneath the pier at Montauk in order to
+remain inside the guard lines and be on hand to greet us when our ship
+came in. There are the memories of the good work done for us by our old
+surgeon when the Second was a militia regiment, Major Brown of North
+Adams, and of Lieut. Sweeney, E. S. Bradford, P. H. Quinn, Charles
+Lathrop as the representative of Dr. D. J. Brown, T. W. Hyde, and last
+but by no means least of Frank P. Frost of Springfield, who as the
+personal representative of Henry S. Lee, worked like a beaver day and
+night. The Springfield newspaper men, too, should not be forgotten and
+the thanks of many a poor fellow are due to H. L. Hines, G. H. Atwood
+and Frank Lee of the _Union_ and to H. K. Regal of the _Republican_
+and T. W. Burgess of the _Homestead_ for many kindnesses and unfailing
+sympathy.
+
+The sad scenes attending the disembarkation of the Second from the
+Mobile will not be forgotten for many a day by those who witnessed or
+participated in them. A number of the sick men were taken off late in
+the afternoon of the 19th, but when dusk fell Gen. Young, the commander
+of the camp, refused to allow any more to be brought ashore until the
+next day. The next morning the exodus from the ship began at an early
+hour and continued until at last we were all ashore. First came the
+sick in a ghastly procession down the steep gang planks and into the
+ambulances which were to convey them to the hospitals and the sight of
+the poor fellows was pathetic in the extreme. The sick ashore, then
+came those able to walk or totter and these men, the majority of them
+wrecks of their once vigorous selves, dragged themselves to the pier
+laden down with their baggage and fell in for the march to the camp.
+Those unable to walk were piled into mule wagons and the procession
+started.
+
+It was not a long march, but it was a fatiguing one for the men and
+they were glad when the big wall tents assigned to the Second appeared.
+This was the "detention" camp for in the eyes of the medical officers
+we were still suspects even if we had passed quarantine, and we were to
+be isolated for five days. It was not a bad camp. The tents were new
+and clean and many of them were provided with board floors, a luxury
+that reminded us of our militia days at South Framingham. It had been
+the intention of the war department to provide straw for us to sleep
+on but like many other intentions it was not fulfilled until Secretary
+Alger happened to visit the camp of the Second and found no straw.
+Then some came along in a hurry. There were cooking outfits, too, and
+the days of the canned roast beef and the other constituents of the
+palatable and nourishing (?) travel ration were numbered. In their
+place came the appetizing beef stew, the roast beef, soft bread and
+cool milk. There were also canned delicacies, and fruits, and tobacco
+in plenty. In fact, there were too many good things for some of the
+boys, as the hospital records attest.
+
+It is needless to say that the hospitals were filled. They were
+overcrowded, and that, too, in spite of the fact that additions were
+put on as fast as possible. The hospitals were of canvas but with
+raised floors and were equipped with cots. What the emotions of the
+sick boys were when they actually found themselves lying on a bed and
+between clean white sheets, and tended by kind and devoted nurses can
+be imagined. Not only that but they were given plenty of nourishing
+food and medicine was in plenty. After the lack of everything of the
+hospitals in Cuba the contrast was sharp, even though the Montauk
+hospitals lacked some things. As for the nurses and the doctors there
+was nothing they were unwilling to do to help the sick. Many of the
+nurses were Sisters of Charity or Sisters of Mercy, others were from
+the Red Cross society, others volunteers, but all were actuated by the
+same motives, and worked unremittingly to do all in their power for the
+boys. Some of the doctors were army surgeons and others were contract
+surgeons, but all worked alike. Then, too, there were any number of
+volunteer hospital assistants, all zealous to help us, some of them
+a little too much so, and it was a rare thing for the sick men in a
+hospital ward to lack for attention. Diet kitchens were established
+and a system of looking after convalescent and furloughed soldiers
+was established. In this work the noble efforts of the Massachusetts
+Volunteer Aid Association was pre-eminent and there are none of us who
+will forget what its representatives did, not only at Camp Wikoff but
+after our return to our homes. Not only did the society work among the
+soldiers from Massachusetts, but many a regular soldier was aided and
+comforted by its representatives.
+
+Under the influence of proper care and food the men in the
+hospitals and the camps began to improve and though many died, yet
+more recovered. As soon as a soldier inmate of the hospital was
+anywhere near convalescence he was given a furlough to his home and
+transportation furnished him. At first these furloughs were only for
+ten days but after a bit they were lengthened to 30 days so that when
+the Second came to leave Montauk a good percentage of the officers and
+men had preceded it home. A large number of the sick men were taken
+from the camp hospital and sent to New York, New London, New Haven and
+other places where the local hospitals had opened their doors to the
+soldiers and where the care they received was in some respects better
+than that possible under the crowded conditions at Montauk.
+
+In spite or all that could be done at Montauk there were many instances
+of individual hardship and although it seemed as if there were at least
+two or three people anxious and willing to look after every soldier
+yet there were cases of apparently unnecessary suffering. Soldiers
+discharged from the hospitals as convalescent would be sent to the
+depot at Montauk, a good two miles from the hospital, on foot and would
+be compelled to wait for hours in the hot sun before they could get
+transportation orders. At the depot there were often good men and women
+with cans of milk or lemonade and food, but even their zealous efforts
+could not prevent some suffering. All this was perhaps inseparable from
+the overcrowded condition of the camp and hospitals and the fact that
+there were not nearly enough officers to do the work properly.
+
+On the 24th the regiment was released from quarantine and moved from
+the detention to the general camp. By this time rumors that we were to
+be furloughed and sent home were rife again and the date was finally
+fixed for the 26th. Meanwhile there had been some important visitors
+in our camp, including Col. Roosevelt, Secretary of War Alger and Gen.
+Wheeler and they all had good words to say for the Second. Also there
+were many visitors from Springfield and Western Massachusetts and
+the men were fed upon all kinds of delicacies, in some cases to the
+detriment of their health.
+
+Musician Frank P. Jones of K company was the only Springfield man to
+die in Montauk, his death occuring on the 27th, after he had suffered
+for days with malarial fever of the Cuban type. He had not been ill in
+Cuba but the seeds of the disease lodged in his system there and in his
+weak condition when we landed at Montauk he was unable to resist it.
+We heard while at Montauk of the death in Cuba of Private Arthur M.
+Burnham of K and there were many regrets among his comrades. Private
+Burnham was ill when the regiment left Santiago for home and so was
+left behind.
+
+On the 25th verbal orders furloughing the Second for 60 days were
+received and the regiment was ordered to be in readiness the next day
+to proceed home. At the expiration of the furlough the regiment was to
+be mustered out at South Framingham but this was afterwards changed
+to Springfield. The officers and men were all ready on the 26th to go
+home and the night before had been spent in packing up and putting
+everything in shape. The rifles and equipments had been turned in and
+the morning was eagerly anticipated. There was much disappointment when
+the day came and there were no signs of an immediate movement from
+the camp. Hour after hour passed and when it was finally ascertained
+that the departure was deferred to the next day because of a lack
+of transportation, there was nothing but disappointment from the
+commanding officer down to the privates. But the Second had by this
+time learned resignation and so the men waited through the long day and
+the equally long night for the word that the boat which was to convey
+the regiment to New London was ready.
+
+The night of the 26th was made memorable by a wild stampede of a number
+of horses of the cavalry through the camp of the Second. The animals
+were being led to water and in some manner became frightened and
+getting away from the man in charge ran pell mell through the company
+streets of the regiment, upsetting stacks of arms and tents and leaving
+everything in much disorder. Fortunately no one was injured.
+
+There was but little sleep in the camp that night. The boys were too
+much excited over the prospect of being at home on the morrow to care
+much for slumber, and they were up long before reveille sounded.
+Breakfast was hastily cooked and eaten and the outfit, or what was left
+of it, fell in for the march to the boat, some three miles away. There
+were ambulances for the sick and these were filled again and again. The
+men able to march were not numerous, and the companies did not have
+full ranks by any means. The men were without arms and clad in all
+sorts of uniforms, the yellow and blue Khaki predominating, although
+there were some who preferred the old militia blue uniforms they had
+worn from South Framingham. The regiment finally started for the pier
+amid the cheers of the 22d and other regiments it passed, and a short
+time after embarking was once more on the water but bound for home this
+time. The sick men who were unable to stand the journey were left in
+the hospital and those allowed to go were carefully looked after.
+
+Arrived at New London the regiment fell at once into good hands. The
+people of that city had known of its coming and delegations were on
+hand when the boat came in, with food and refreshments for the boys.
+Meanwhile preparations had been made by the militia authorities of the
+state, and the people of Springfield and other places interested in the
+Second, to look after the men. Gen. Dalton had sent a detail of staff
+officers to Springfield with full power as to expenses to see that the
+returning soldiers who had shed credit upon Massachusetts were properly
+looked after, and a special train had been made up to go to New London
+to bring them on from there. Food and refreshments were taken on the
+train, and representatives of state and city were on board to render
+all possible assistance. The trip was a comparatively short one. At
+Palmer the three Worcester companies and F of Gardner were transferred
+to a train for their destination while the other companies came on to
+Springfield.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+IN WHICH IS TOLD HOW WE PREPARE TO QUIT UNCLE SAM'S SERVICE.
+
+
+The home coming of Springfield's soldiers was not as glittering or gay
+a spectacle as had been counted upon by those who watched us march away
+on the morning of May 3d. That morning was a rainy and disagreeable one
+and there were many who consoled themselves in thinking of the rather
+tame character of our farewell, that when we returned the scene would
+be a far more cheerful and inspiriting one. It wasn't. For days and
+days, ever since the story of our losses at El Caney and San Juan had
+been known and the people had become somewhat familiar with the tales
+of sickness and suffering in Cuba and Camp Wikoff, the return of the
+boys had been anxiously awaited, but when the time came, when it was
+known for a certainty that the companies were to return, there was a
+common feeling that the occasion would be an ill timed one for any
+display of ceremony or pageantry, and as it became more known that the
+majority of the officers and men were in the poorest possible condition
+to stand the strain of an official, or even a semi-official welcome it
+was settled that their return was to be as quiet as possible.
+
+The coming of the regiment from Montauk had been expected on the 26th
+and in anticipation a huge crowd had gathered at the union station
+to meet the soldiers. But the people were repaid for hours of waiting
+by the arrival only of a few men who had been furloughed from the
+hospitals. On the next day it was soon known that the regiment would
+surely arrive and long before the hour set for the special train to
+arrive from New London the station and its approaches were crowded with
+people, including the relatives and friends of the members, not only of
+the Springfield companies but of the companies from the other sections
+of Western Massachusetts. In view of the condition of the soldiers
+special efforts had been made to impress upon the people that the less
+excitement the men were made to undergo the better for them and to this
+end the station approaches were roped off and a large force of police
+was on hand to keep a passageway clear from the cars to the carriages
+which had been provided to bear the officers and men to their homes or
+wherever they felt inclined to go.
+
+The state and the city co-operated well in making plans for the comfort
+of the returning soldiers. Gov. Wolcott was on hand when the special
+train rolled in and three members of his staff had been at work for
+several days previous assisting in the preparations for the reception
+of the men. Mayor Dickinson and the city officials had done everything
+in their power to aid the soldiers and with them at all times were the
+officers and members of the Volunteer Aid association and many private
+citizens, good men and women who labored zealously in the good cause.
+Others there were, too, not connected officially with state or city
+or with any society, but whose work was ably done and is never to be
+forgotten.
+
+[Illustration: MONITOR LEHIGH IN ACTION]
+
+At 2.58 in the afternoon the train came in and the 10,000 people in
+waiting set up a cheer at the initiative of Gov. Wolcott. Then the
+people pressed hard against the ropes which marked the clear space on
+the platform through which the men were to go and the police officers
+had their hands full for a time in keeping them back. The north side
+waiting room had been cleared of occupants and outside were hundreds
+of public and private carriages waiting to carry the boys wherever they
+might wish. And in this one detail of carriages the thoughtfulness
+of the people of the city as well as their willingness to do all in
+their power for the boys of the Second were shown. Scores of them had
+volunteered the use of their carriages that day and their offers had
+been gladly accepted, for in the majority of cases the men were hardly
+able to walk any distance, and a ride on a jolting electric car would
+not have been the best thing in the world for them. But there were
+carriages in plenty and the men were quickly and carefully conveyed
+either to their homes or the hospitals.
+
+When the train stopped the people detailed to look after the
+disembarkation of the men at once got to work and the boys were
+quickly but tenderly taken through the waiting room and placed in the
+carriages. There were many who were unable to walk even this short
+distance unassisted, but in the majority of cases the men were so
+glad to be once more at home that the excitement kept them up and
+some lingered about on the platform, exchanging greetings with their
+relatives or friends in the crowd. A number of physicians were on
+hand to look after any of the men who were in immediate need of their
+attention and in many other ways provision had been made for all. The
+majority of the men were driven directly to their homes. Others went to
+the House of Mercy or the Springfield hospital.
+
+The 10,000 or more people which greeted the returned ones did so in
+sober but cordial fashion. There was no demonstrative welcome, for
+common sense told the people that it would have been the worst thing
+possible for the men whom the crowd wanted to honor. They were in no
+condition to endure such a welcome and what they wanted was to get to
+their homes or a resting place as quickly as possible. When the Second
+went away it was in the blue uniform of the militia of Massachusetts.
+The men in the ranks were all young and vigorous and looked a composite
+picture of youth and strength. When they came back it was in the faded
+yellow khaki uniforms issued to them in Cuba, although a few still wore
+the blue. The natty uniforms of the officers were worn and soiled and
+the faces of all were haggard and in many cases the beards of veterans
+had replaced the smooth cheeks and chins of the militiaman. On almost
+every face was the badge of the campaign against the pestilential
+fevers of Cuba and the sunken cheek-bones and emaciated forms bore
+eloquent witness to the hardships and sufferings that had been
+undergone. It had been no holiday excursion for the gallant Second.
+
+For days and weeks after the return the greatest interest was shown
+in the welfare of the men. Physicians placed their services at the
+disposal of the Volunteer Aid association and that body kept actively
+at work in its efforts to care for the men. Some of the boys were
+able to be out on the streets and in public places immediately after
+their arrival but in the majority of cases the men were glad enough to
+stay at home. Others were too ill to make their appearance in public,
+but those who were had no reason to complain of any lack of interest
+in them or their doings in Cuba. Columns were published daily in the
+newspapers concerning the condition of the sick men and the experiences
+of the well ones and the sight of the worn campaign uniform on the
+street was the occasion for a gathering of interested people. But as
+time went on the interest slackened, as it is in the nature of things
+so to be, the men showed a marked preference for citizens' dress
+instead of the uniform, and settled down again to the ordinary ways of
+life while waiting for their furloughs to expire and their muster out
+of the service of Uncle Sam.
+
+There had been much concern expressed over the orders instructing the
+Second to assemble at South Framingham for muster-out and there was
+much satisfaction when it was known that the orders had been changed
+and that Springfield had been selected as the place. It was felt that
+this was fitting and proper and both the local members of the regiment
+and the people of the city were well pleased at the decision of the war
+department.
+
+Meanwhile the men who had been left behind in Cuba, at Montauk and in
+hospitals at other places continued to arrive home and some time before
+the expiration of their furlough nearly all the surviving members of
+the Second were at home. From Cuba came the men who were left behind
+too sick to be moved when the regiment left for home and with them the
+men who had volunteered or been detailed to remain care for them. But
+all of them did not come. Privates Little and Stetson of G company had
+succumbed to disease and Dr. H. C. Bowen, the surgeon of the Second,
+was also a victim. He was in the division hospital when the regiment
+sailed and his death soon followed.
+
+The fate which befell Dr. Bowen was a hard one. Enthusiastic to
+volunteer at the outbreak of the war he was assigned to duty as the
+surgeon of the Second with the rank of major and he had high hopes
+of a useful career in the army as had his friends for him. But he
+was totally without experience in army medical life, his assistant
+surgeons, though young and enthusiastic in their profession, were
+also inexperienced in this line of work and at the very outset he
+and they were thwarted and discouraged by their incessant conflicts
+with army red tape and the consequent difficulty in obtaining needed
+medical supplies for the regiment. Time and time again Major Bowen
+sent in requisition after requisition but no supplies came in answer
+to them and had it not been for the finely appointed medical and
+surgical outfit furnished by the state of Massachusetts the equipment
+of the Second would have been meager indeed. With these on hand the
+lack of proper government supplies was not seriously felt until after
+the landing in Cuba and then with the brilliancy which marked so
+many other features of the campaign, the Second's medical chest was
+not brought ashore, but was left on board the Knickerbocker until
+some time after the surrender of Santiago. As a result the medical
+supplies were short and though he tried again and again Major Bowen
+could obtain no more. Soon after he landed he was attacked by the
+malarial fever and though at first it was in a mild form it combined
+with the discouragements to which he had been subjected to make him
+low-spirited and not altogether a genial minister to the sick men or a
+companion at the mess. Directly after the battle of El Caney Assistant
+Surgeon Gates was taken from the Second and attached temporarily to the
+Fourth infantry, which regiment had no surgeon and Assistant Surgeon
+Hitchcock became ill so that the entire work of caring for the Second
+was thrown upon Major Bowen. This added to his other troubles and his
+own illness resulted in making the latter extremely serious and though
+he struggled against it for many weeks he was at last forced to give
+up. Before this he had manfully stuck to his post and tried in every
+way to do his duty but results of his failing health and his heavy
+burden of work were mistaken by many of the officers and men for lack
+of sympathetic feeling and for this he was criticized. This criticism
+was a mistaken one, for at bottom Major Bowen was of a kindly and
+sympathetic nature but it was his misfortune to have his illness and
+troubles put a veneer of impatience upon his normal disposition and
+this conveyed the mistaken idea referred to above. In his service with
+the Second Major Bowen did all possible for a man to do and those who
+knew the heavy burden under which he toiled have always been willing to
+accord him the tribute he was justly entitled to. He died in the Second
+division hospital just outside of Santiago. Some months after his body
+was exhumed and sent to his family in Westfield. There was some mystery
+concerning the whereabouts of his watch and other effects but some
+time after his death they were accidentally discovered in New Orleans
+and restored to his parents.
+
+At Montauk Point K company suffered a loss in the death of Musician
+Frank P. Jones, who succumbed to fever in the camp hospital August
+27th. All through the campaign in Cuba Musician Jones not only kept
+himself well and his spirits up but his cheery speech did much to help
+his comrades. It was not until he reached Montauk that he gave in to
+the disease which laid so many of the Second low.
+
+Even after the regiment had returned home and the sick men were being
+given the best of medical attention and care in their homes or in the
+hospitals the death angel did not cease. On Sept. 13th Corporal Patrick
+J. Noone of G company died at his home after a long illness with the
+fever and two days later his remains were escorted to the grave by
+his comrades and laid to rest after the three volleys which mark the
+soldier's burial had been fired. On October 8, Private Frank Burke of G
+died and was laid to rest in the same cemetery.
+
+Meanwhile in both the Mercy and the Springfield hospitals all that was
+possible was being done for the sick "soldier boys," and physicians
+and nurses were untiring in their efforts. Both institutions had many
+soldier patients and they will long remember the devoted care and
+kindnesses they received.
+
+All this time preparations for the muster-out of the Second had been
+going steadily on. It had been settled that the outfit was to be
+formally discharged from the United States service in Springfield and
+on Sept. 28th First Lieut. Oliver Edwards, 11th Infantry U. S. A.,
+came on to assist in the work preliminary to muster-out. There was
+considerable to be done in the way of getting ready for the ceremony
+and there were many things to be explained to both officers and men
+before all was in readiness. In the effort to have everything clearly
+understood and all the "kinks" straightened out Lieut. Edwards was
+untiring and he made a most favorable impression upon all with whom his
+duties brought him in contact.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+WE BECOME PLAIN CITIZENS ONCE MORE AND SQUARE ACCOUNTS WITH UNCLE SAM.
+
+
+October 3d, 1898, is one of the "star" days in the history of the
+Second, that being the day on which we ceased to be soldiers of
+the United States and became plain and humble citizens once more.
+Incidentally it was something of a day for Springfield for one of
+the features of the muster-out was a brief parade of the regiment
+from the railway station to the state armory, where the exercises
+occurred. Before that, the armory had been for some time the scene of
+much activity. The furlough of the regiment, given it at Montauk, had
+expired October 24th, and for the rest of the time preceding muster-out
+the officers and men were required to make the armory their home
+during the day. Their meals were served there, a contract being made
+with a Springfield caterer, and it can be said that the daily menu was
+far more satisfactory than those we had in the campaign although the
+government paid for both. During this period, the officers and men were
+also required to appear in uniform and the streets took on a decidedly
+military appearance. Much interest was shown by the people of the city
+in everything that pertained to the muster-out and the armory had many
+visitors daily. But it was all play in those days for some of the
+officers and men. There is a lot of red tape and formality connected
+with putting volunteer organizations out of the United States service,
+and there was plenty of work to be done in making out rolls and all
+sorts of papers, so that those detailed for this work were kept busy
+for many days.
+
+Finally on the 3d of October, all the companies of the Second were
+assembled in Springfield, the local companies marching to the railway
+station to meet them and after passing in review before the city
+officials at the city hall, the regiment marched to the armory for
+muster-out. The parade, the first appearance of the Second since it
+left for the front, brought out thousands of people to watch the men
+who had done good service on a foreign soil, and had watered it with
+the blood of many who had marched away on the morning of May 3d. The
+regiment presented a curious sight in some respects and as a spectacle
+it must be said the affair was not an altogether happy one. The men
+were without rifles or equipments, some wore the faded khaki uniform
+issued just before leaving Cuba, others the old blue outfits of the
+Massachusetts militia and the ranks were thinner than when the regiment
+left South Framingham. There seemed to be a chill in the air, too, and
+instead of applause there was subdued comment on the appearance of the
+men as they marched past.
+
+[Illustration: THE PRAIRIE]
+
+Surely the men did not look like ballroom soldiers. The uniforms were
+in many cases ill-fitting and soiled, the marching was not done with
+the precision of some crack national guard organizations which did not
+go to the front, and the faces of the majority of the officers and men
+wore the yellow signal of service in a pestilential climate. But this
+in itself ought to have been warrant for some outburst of satisfaction
+in the gallant deeds of the regiment instead of curious stares and the
+silence of wonderment. However, there were sporadic cases of applause
+and as the men did not much care whether they received any or not, they
+found little fault with the lack of it. Only the members of the
+companies from outside the city wondered mildly what it all meant, and
+if after all it would not have been as well to have stayed at home and
+not have tried to stand by the flag when men were wanted.
+
+The ceremonies at the armory were informal enough. Each company
+was mustered out in turn by Lieut. Col. E. M. Weaver of the Fifth
+Massachusetts U. S. V., who as a lieutenant in the Second U. S.
+Artillery had mustered us in at South Framingham on May 3d. He was
+assisted by Lieut. Edwards and it did not take very long to put each
+company "out of business" as United States Volunteers. The company was
+formed, the men answered to their names and took position in the same
+manner as when mustered in, and this over the company commander was
+informed that the company was mustered out and that discharge papers
+for each man would be provided.
+
+But the discharge papers did not come that day nor for several days.
+The paymaster had failed to arrive with the funds and until these
+were distributed the men had but little use for discharge papers. It
+was explained that the reason for delay on the paymaster's part was
+due to errors in the rolls sent in from a few of the companies and as
+the men wanted their three months pay and allowances rather more than
+discharges, it is no wonder if some unkind things were said as to the
+paymaster and these companies.
+
+It was not until November 17th that the long looked for pay arrived,
+and the companies were ordered to once more assemble at the armory,
+this time for the purpose of settling accounts with Uncle Sam. This
+operation was simple enough, yet very interesting to the recipients
+of the contents of the small and dingy valise of the paymaster. The
+three months' pay with the allowances for clothing and ration money
+made quite a sizable sum for the great majority of the men, and the
+nice new greenbacks which they received were not refused. With the
+money came the discharge papers as a sure enough sign that we were
+no longer soldiers of the United States. Many of the officers and men
+failed, however, to settle up with Major Sherman on the 17th. Some of
+the officers had not squared their accounts with the war department and
+in some cases they were obliged to wait a considerable time before they
+accounted for every bit of property they were held responsible for and
+complied with all the red tape. A number of the men were not able to be
+on hand, owing to sickness and other causes, when Major Sherman finally
+arrived and they were likewise forced to wait. An interesting episode
+of "paying off" time was the breezy disagreement between Major Sherman
+and Capt. McDonald of B company, over the former's refusal to pay some
+eight men of the latter's company, who had, it seems, signed one pay
+roll and supposed that everything was all right. As it happened, when
+Major Sherman came to Springfield, he failed to bring the correct
+roll for B company, and insisted that the members should sign a new
+one. This was done, but as the eight men referred to were out of the
+city, they were unable to sign, and when they appeared for their pay,
+were told they would have to wait for some time. The majority of the
+men needed the money and needed it badly, but although Capt. McDonald
+exhausted every effort to obtain it for them, it was not till quite
+a while had elapsed that they were paid. The opportunity afforded
+Capt. McDonald for some caustic criticisms of the workings of the war
+department was not allowed to pass.
+
+In those days it was a great thing to be a returned soldier as was
+instanced in the cases of several of the boys who were members of more
+or less secret organizations. It got to be a common thing for these
+associations to show their appreciation of their soldier members by
+presenting them with money or badges, or some token of esteem, and
+a number of the men who served with the Springfield companies are
+wearing medals or badges thus presented. Probably none of them was
+prouder of his medal than Private Morris Grenowitz of B company who
+had the distinction of being the only Hebrew in the three Springfield
+companies. He was a member of the Young Men's Hebrew Association, and
+soon after his return the association held a public reception in his
+honor and presented him with a check for a small sum of money and a
+gold medal. Private Peter F. Boyer of B company was given a gold watch
+by the members of an organization to which he belonged and several of
+the other boys were similarly remembered, among them Private William
+Ferrier of G company who was given a handsome gold ring. A number of
+the members of the Springfield companies resided in West Springfield
+and the inhabitants of the village of Mittineague in that town honored
+their soldiers one evening by a big reception and entertainment with
+plenty of red fire, etc., included.
+
+A largely attended public reception and flag presentation was held in
+the city hall, on the evening of November 3d, to which the officers
+and members of the Springfield companies, and their relatives and
+friends were invited and the hall was packed to the doors. Gov. Wolcott
+and members of his staff were present and the governor spoke, as did
+a number of the prominent citizens, all eulogizing the work of the
+regiment and paying a tribute to the officers and men who had failed to
+return. The tattered colors of the regiment were in evidence and their
+appearance in the hall was the signal for an outburst of applause.
+On this occasion the stands of colors purchased for each company in
+connection with the Fourth of July celebration of 1898, which never
+came off, were formally presented, and as the representatives of each
+of the companies advanced to receive the new and handsome flags, the
+audience broke into applause and cheers. These flags were bought with
+the proceeds of the sales of the Fourth of July badges which were to
+have been a feature of the celebration and a good sum was realized.
+
+Previous to muster-out First Sergeant T. F. Burke of B company had been
+appointed on the recommendation of Col. Clark as Second Lieutenant to
+fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lieut. Harry J. Vesper.
+
+Immediately following the muster-out Dr. E. A. Gates, who had been
+promoted from Assistant Surgeon to Surgeon with the rank of Major,
+vice Bowen, deceased, was ordered to Boston and Worcester to assist
+in the work of examining the men of other regiments to be mustered
+out. Assistant Surgeon Hitchcock was also ordered on this same duty.
+Dr. Hitchcock was attacked with a serious spinal trouble and for some
+months his life was despaired of. He finally recovered but not until
+after weary months of suffering.
+
+Soon after the muster-out of the Second the provisional militia
+companies organized in the city during the war ceased practically
+to exist, although they were not formally disbanded for some time
+afterwards. The reorganization of the Second as a part of the
+Massachusetts Volunteer Militia did not start until after its muster
+out of the United States service and it was at one time freely
+predicted that the work of reorganization would be the hardest task
+ever experienced by those in charge. It looked so at times, but
+in spite of the croakers and pessimists who asserted that it was
+likely that the Second would never be the same regiment again the
+reorganization was quietly and successfully effected and it was not
+long before the outfit was once again in its old form. A surprisingly
+large number of the officers and men who had served in the war
+remained in the regiment and this was especially the case in the three
+Springfield companies, G and B having more of the veterans than K. The
+state granted the regiment a 30 days' furlough dating from Nov. 3 to
+Dec. 3 in order to allow time to get matters straightened out before
+its entrance upon a career of militia service again.
+
+Meanwhile steps had been taken toward an expedition to go to Cuba and
+bring back the bodies of the dead of the Second. The co-operation of
+the cities and towns from which the regiment was recruited was obtained
+and a number of meetings were held in this city, representatives from
+Worcester, Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield, Orange and Adams being
+present with authority from their respective cities and towns. After
+a number of meetings an expedition was organized which left for Cuba
+in January, 1899. The Springfield representatives were Lieut. T. F.
+Burke of B company, Lieut. Fred Jenks of K company, Private Dozilva
+Lamoreaux of G company and Private Alfred Rose of B, the latter going
+as interpreter. The progress of the expedition was slow at first, owing
+to many difficulties connected with obtaining permission to disinter
+the bodies and of getting transportation, but thanks to incessant work
+and powerful influence these were at last disposed of and the party
+sailed from New York on Jan. 29. It was necessary to go first to Porto
+Rico and remain there some days but after Santiago was reached there
+was comparatively little trouble. The bodies of the Springfield men
+were all located and identified with one exception, that of Private
+Robert E. Kelly of G, who was fatally shot on the night of July 2d at
+San Juan. The bodies were encased in metallic coffins and on arrival
+in Springfield were given proper burial. An elaborate service was held
+over the body of Sergeant Richard H. Bearse of B company in the State
+Street Baptist church, representatives of the city government and the
+organizations of which he was a member as well as his own company,
+being present. The church was crowded with friends and the ceremonies
+were impressive. Before this the body of Musician Frank P. Jones of
+K had been brought on from Montauk and buried in Oak Grove cemetery
+after largely attended services in the State Street Methodist church.
+The bodies of the G company men were buried with military honors also
+and those of Privates Little and Stetson, whose relatives could not
+be found, were interred in a lot which the company purchased in the
+Springfield cemetery.
+
+Twice within the year 1899 were the Springfield companies called
+together to go over again in memory the deeds of the previous year. For
+some time there had been desultory talk of public honors being paid to
+the dead of the companies and finally a memorial service was arranged
+for and was held in the city hall on Sunday afternoon, April 16. It was
+one of the most disagreeable days imaginable, a fall of mingled rain
+and snow filling the streets with slush, but despite this the building
+was jammed to suffocation. The platform was decorated with appropriate
+bunting and in front were representations of memorial tablets bearing
+the names of the officers and men of the companies who had given their
+lives in the cause. The war-worn regimental colors were brought on from
+Boston for the occasion and were draped in the rear of the platform.
+Affecting tributes were paid to the dead heroes and eulogies were
+pronounced by some of Springfield's most prominent citizens.
+
+The camp of the First Brigade M. V. M. at South Framingham in August,
+1899, brought the regiment once more onto the ground where it was
+mustered into the United States service the year before, but under much
+different circumstances than then. The ranks of the Second contained a
+very large percentage, a majority, in fact, of those who had gone out
+with it to Cuba and the red sleeve stripes indicating service in war
+were conspicuous on the blouses of the greater number of the men. At
+this time old friendships formed during the campaign were renewed and
+new ones formed.
+
+On the occasion of the annual fall drill of the state militia in Boston
+in October Admiral George Dewey was the guest of the city and the event
+was also made the occasion of the formal "turning over" of the "war
+colors" to the state. The Second came in for no little share of the
+honors of the occasion, as well it might.
+
+As time wore on after the return of the regiment from the fever
+stricken camps in Cuba the malarial poison left the bodies of the men
+and within six months afterwards the majority of them had regained
+their normal health. There were many, however, with whom the exposures
+and hardships of the campaign had raised havoc and to this day some
+show the effects of the short but eventful period when they were
+serving under the flag. The latest man in the Springfield companies
+to succumb to the ravages of disease contracted in the campaign was
+Private John L. Morehouse of K company, who died Nov. 12 of typhoid
+fever.
+
+In October, 1899, a number of the officers and men of the Springfield
+companies who had served in the Cuban war began the organization of a
+camp of the Legion of Spanish War Veterans, an order patterned after
+the model of the Grand Army of the Republic and which it is to be hoped
+will be to the veterans of the war with Spain what the Grand Army is to
+the men who fought in the Civil war. The camp was named after Henry S.
+Lee of Springfield, whose splendid and self-sacrificing work for the
+benefit of the soldiers and sailors in the Spanish war will never be
+forgotten by them or the people.
+
+Thus closes the record of Springfield's three infantry companies in the
+war with Spain. It is not a long chronicle but it is one in which the
+people of the City of Homes can always take a just pride. It is not
+confined to these companies alone either, for aside from the efficient
+duty performed by her company in the naval brigade, there were many
+individual enlistments in regular regiments and there was the splendid
+work done at the United States armory in turning out the arms with
+which the troops were equipped. As in the Civil war the works were
+run day and night and the force of employees trebled. There was good
+work done too at the recruiting station and it is not too much to say
+that Springfield was a prominent factor in the war from its beginning
+to its close. When the rebellion against the authority of the United
+States in the Philippines broke out and volunteers were again called
+for Springfield again showed its patriotism. A number enlisted from
+this city in the famous 26th and among them were many of the men who
+had seen service in Cuba. Others went into the 46th and more would have
+gone had it been necessary. As always the city and its men young and
+old showed their loyalty to the flag, whether it led the way to the
+hills around Santiago or to the rice swamps and jungles of Luzon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+WHEREIN IS NARRATED THE ADVENTURES ON THE HIGH SEAS OF SPRINGFIELD'S
+SAILORS.
+
+
+While the land soldiers which Springfield furnished the government were
+enjoying themselves in Florida and Cuba and toying with the canned
+roast beef and other incidentals of a campaign, the Springfield marine
+contingent was not having an altogether lovely time. On the monitor
+Lehigh and the auxiliary cruiser Prairie there was work and hard work
+too in plenty but on the whole the rations and the quarters were
+better than those enjoyed by the infantry contingent. But the boys of
+H company, naval brigade, pined for active service and those on the
+Lehigh were aggrieved at not getting it while their comrades on the
+Prairie were roaming the seas on a fast ship in chase of the enemy
+or doing blockade duty off the coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico. It was
+hard work for the Lehigh men to be cooped up on their old, "flat boat"
+in Boston harbor during the stirring times of the summer of 1898 but it
+is to their credit that although they grumbled at their lot as all good
+sailors do, yet they did their full duty and did it well.
+
+The bringing of the Lehigh from the League Island navy yard to Boston
+Harbor was in itself something of an achievement for the tug which
+towed her broke down and the monitor was forced to proceed under her
+own steam, much to the surprise of those on the tug Clara Clorita.
+This happened at Vineyard Haven and from that point to Boston the
+Lehigh was cast off from the tug and was sailed the remainder of the
+way under her own steam and by her own crew. When the Lehigh left
+Philadelphia the navy yard officials were apprehensive of her behavior
+at sea as she was primarily a coast defence vessel but the naval
+brigade men in the monitor found no great trouble in sailing her.
+
+The Lehigh reached Boston on May 5 and on the 9th the Springfield
+officers and men of the crew were given leaves of absence and
+furloughs to enable them to attend the presentation of "The Ensign" by
+Springfield amateurs at the Court Square theater for the benefit of the
+company fund. The crew included Lieut. J. K. Dexter, Lieut, (j. g.) W.
+O. Cohn, Ensign Walter S. Barr and Seamen W. A. Sabin, A. N. Luce, R.
+P. King, Paul H. Lathrop, L. E. Ladd, W. S. Johnson, W. F. Bright and
+R. H. B. Warburton. The presentation was a successful one in every way
+and netted quite a sum.
+
+Meanwhile the Lehigh had been permanently detailed for duty in Boston
+harbor as a coast defence vessel and a disagreeable surprise was in
+store for some of the Springfield men when they returned from their
+furloughs. They were all anxious to re-enlist for service and had been
+assured by Capt. Weeks, commanding the naval brigade, that if they
+telegraphed to him their willingness to re-enlist before a certain hour
+on the 10th, places would be kept for them. But on their arrival on
+the ship on May 12th they found that there was only one vacancy left.
+Just how the mistake was made was never thoroughly explained, but it
+was suspected by the Springfield men that there was a scheme to shut as
+many of them as possible out in favor of some Boston naval militiamen.
+They felt it keenly and Lieut. Dexter succeeded in straightening out
+matters so that Coxswain Johnson and Seamen Bright and Warburton were
+re-enlisted. Sabin, Luce and King had already done so and this left
+only Lathrop and Ladd out in the cold. In spite of their efforts they
+could not get in.
+
+The officers suffered also from the fact that there were not places
+enough for all of them in the Lehigh's complement as a coast defense
+ship. Lieut. Colin was offered the alternative of going on the waiting
+list or being reduced in rank to ensign. He chose the latter and
+remained with the ship but there was no place for Ensign Barr and he
+was placed on the waiting list and returned home to await orders. Later
+Lieut. Dexter was taken from the Lehigh and placed on the converted
+ferry boat "Governor Russell," the property of the City of Boston which
+had turned over to the government, as executive officer.
+
+All this time the "Prairie dogs," as the crew of that vessel were
+dubbed by their less fortunate comrades, were having a fairly good time
+at the Brooklyn navy yard. Much time was spent there in fitting up the
+vessel as an auxiliary cruiser and until the work was well advanced the
+crew was lodged and fed in hotels and later in the navy yard barracks.
+
+As it happened, Ralph H. Newcomb was the first of the Springfield men
+to reach the Prairie and report for duty. He was in Washington on a
+visit when orders were issued for H company to report at Brooklyn and
+when he was notified by Lieut. Crossman he lost no time in getting to
+that city and the navy yard, beating out his comrades by several hours.
+
+Hammocks were "swung" on the Prairie for the first time on Saturday,
+May 7th, and from that time until muster-out in September hotel fare
+was a dream of the past to which the boys looked back with considerable
+regret. The Prairie, completely transformed into a war ship, left
+the navy yard and steamed down the harbor to Tompkinsville. This was
+on Friday, the 13th of May, but if there was any "hoodoo" it failed
+to work. The next day the Prairie steamed out to sea and had target
+practice, badly frightening some of the residents of the coast with
+the big guns. Late in the afternoon the Prairie gave chase to a
+suspicious craft which turned out to be an English tramp steamer.
+
+The Prairie had been assigned to patrol duty on the North Atlantic
+coast with the San Francisco. The "Frisco" was sighted on the day
+following and both ships steamed into Provincetown and remained there
+for the next day, sailing out late in the afternoon. It is recorded
+that the sailors washed clothes during their stay in Provincetown and
+it is evident they were getting a taste of the life of a jolly tar. The
+regular patrol tour of the Prairie was from Provincetown north to some
+40 miles above Boston, then south to Nantucket to Provincetown, meeting
+the San Francisco off the cape and obtaining mail.
+
+These were not idle days by any means. What with battalion drills,
+inspection, target practice, painting ship and the regular routine of
+ship's work the long hours of duty passed quickly and the men were
+pretty well tired out as a rule when the time came to get into their
+hammocks. But the men of H company learned fast and soon accustomed
+themselves to life on one of Uncle Sam's war ships. The one thing they
+did not take to very kindly in the line of work was coaling ship and
+this came rather oftener than they had any relish for.
+
+In the way of food there was little to complain of, although the fare
+was not Delmonico-like by any means. One of the mess cooks kept a diary
+of what he served up for every meal during the service of the Prairie
+and it shows that the menus, while probably simple enough to the men
+on board, would have been regarded as the acme of luxurious living by
+their brethren of the Second. A few samples are given: breakfast, June
+10, Indian meal and coffee; dinner, soup, roast beef and potatoes;
+supper, hash and French toast. June 12th, breakfast, bacon and
+potatoes; dinner, sausages and potatoes; supper, beans, cold meat and
+sausages. The daily average was fully up to the samples given above.
+
+Capt. Train of the Prairie was a disciplinarian and there were
+punishments meted out for various small offences. One man was deprived
+of shore liberty for three months for throwing swill out of a port
+hole. For smoking outside of "smoking hours" the customary punishment
+was 48 hours of extra duty, while for being late with hammocks the
+sentence was for the delinquents to parade the deck for an hour or two
+hours with the hammocks on their shoulders.
+
+The Prairie sailed from Provincetown June 10th for a brief cruise
+southward, but returned on the 14th. The weather was very foggy during
+the cruise and on the 14th the ship came near running down an English
+tramp steamer passing within a boat's length of her.
+
+On the 16th the Prairie sailed again from Provincetown for Delaware
+breakwater, arriving there on the 18th. The next day she sailed for
+New York, anchoring off Tompkinsville the 20th. Coaling ship was one
+of the innocent amusements of the day and the men stowed away 83 tons
+in the afternoon. Early next morning the sport was resumed and before
+breakfast 28 tons more had been put away in the bunkers, the record for
+the day being 182 tons. The next day the coal situation again took the
+attention of the crew but they finished the job. Shore liberty resulted
+in some of the men overstaying it and being shut off from any more
+during the stay. On Sunday, June 26th, the men got into blue dress for
+inspection but before the ceremony was over orders came to sail at once
+for Key West. Off came the blue suits and the men got into their "coal"
+suits again and finished coaling ship at 1.30 in the morning. The
+Prairie sailed for Key West on the 27th, arriving there June 1st. Her
+stay was short, for the same day she left with mail for the blockading
+squadron off Cuba and sighting the Amphitrite the next day transferred
+her mail to her. Later that day the Prairie gave the mail to the
+Newport, Montgomery, Vicksburg and Marietta. That afternoon the men on
+the Prairie saw the Marietta pick up a refugee from the shore and saw
+the guns from Morro Castle fire at her but fail to strike.
+
+On July Fourth the men paraded in blue and fired the national salute.
+The Prairie for a day or two acted as flagship of the squadron during
+the absence of the Amphitrite at Key West.
+
+On Tuesday, July 5th, the Hawk came alongside the Prairie with orders
+for the latter to proceed to Mariel, 23-1/2 miles from Havana, and
+assist in the capture of a liner supposed to have been trying to run
+the blockade. The liner proved to be the Spanish transport Alphonso
+XII, with a large number of soldiers on board. She had tried to run the
+blockade but had been discovered and chased so sharply by a couple of
+the converted yachts attached to the blockading squadron that she was
+run ashore and lay head on. The troops and her crew had managed to get
+ashore by the time the Prairie came up, but it was not certain that she
+was not manned and several shots were sent at her from the starboard
+six-inch guns. After the fourth or fifth shot there was an explosion,
+evidently her magazine, and as she did not return the fire the Prairie
+ceased firing. During the firing a saucy little Spanish gunboat stuck
+her nose out of the harbor but a couple of six-inch shells settled her
+fate and she was sunk in quick time. The firing at the Alphonso XII
+was first-rate target practice and at long range, too, all the shells
+hitting her, although the range was 6600 yards.
+
+On July 7th the Tecumseh brought a lot of mail from Key West for the
+Prairie and a good share of the day was put in in reading it. On the
+9th a small shark was caught and some of the boys secured teeth as
+souvenirs.
+
+Monday, July 11th, the Prairie was relieved of blockade duty off Mariel
+and ordered to Gibara with the Topeka, Mayflower and Badger, the
+Prairie being made the flagship of the squadron. The trip to Gibara
+was without special incidents and the ships arrived there on the 13th.
+Just as the blockaders appeared a schooner and two fishing smacks which
+were just coming out made haste to get back into the port. Blockade
+duty was kept up for several days and occasionally the ship would go in
+so close to the town that the people could be seen in the streets. The
+search-lights were used about every night and this work was pleasing to
+the men detailed for it.
+
+The San Francisco arrived on the 17th and took off a lot of mail for
+the United States. Since leaving Havana the crew of the Prairie had
+not received any mail and were eagerly expecting some. On the 18th
+the supply of sugar gave out and this was keenly felt until some was
+procured. On the 20th the Maple, which had joined the squadron, caught
+a small sloop with a crew of four men and laden with tobacco, making
+the first prize of the tour.
+
+One of the marine detail on the Prairie was a Springfield man named
+John Fenton and on the 21st he was the victim of a severe accident
+caused by the slipping of a six-inch shell from his hands at gun
+practice. The shell landed on his foot, badly crushing it.
+
+This same day a delegation of the prominent citizens of Gibara came
+out in a small boat and offered to surrender the town as the Spanish
+garrison was about to leave and the inhabitants were afraid of the
+negroes in the vicinity. On receiving the offer the Prairie steamed to
+Nipe bay where the Topeka was found engaged in shelling the town. The
+Dupont took a message to the Topeka and the Prairie returned to Gibara.
+From a Cuban who came out in a dory it was learned that the inhabitants
+had raised an American flag over the town and were anxious that a force
+be landed to take possession of the place. It was also learned that
+the town was short of provisions. The Cuban's heart was gladdened by
+the gift of hardtack, canned meat, corn and coffee. On the 25th the
+Mangrove brought orders to proceed to Guantanamo bay and coal up at
+once. At Guantanamo fresh meat and also newspapers a week or two old
+were received.
+
+Wednesday, July 27th, marked the close of the third month of service
+of the Prairie's crew and as if to celebrate the event the Supply came
+in with a lot of provisions. The work of coaling ship was begun on the
+night of the 25th and did not cease until the 27th, the men standing
+their regular watches and doing their trick with the coal as if it was
+nothing unusual.
+
+The Prairie sailed from Guantanamo bay on the evening of the 27th and
+reached San Juan, Porto Rico, on the 29th. Some ammunition brought from
+Guantanamo for the cruiser New Orleans was transferred to her in boats.
+The Prairie did not stay long at San Juan but sailed for Ponce on the
+other side of the island on the 31st, arriving there the next day.
+Troops were being landed at Ponce and the roadstead was filled with
+war ships and transports. One of the transports became stuck on a bar
+outside the light-house and the Prairie had hard work getting her off
+the bar. A lot of mangoes brought aboard resulted in a number of the
+men being made ill from indulging too freely in the fruit. The soldiers
+on the transport Massachusetts, the one which was stuck, were taken on
+board the Prairie and fed, being landed the next day.
+
+News of the cessation of hostilities reached the ship August 5th and
+was received at first with incredulity. The night of Friday, August
+12th, was made memorable by Burgess tumbling out of his hammock three
+times in rapid succession. "Rags," the canine mascot, had become
+subject to fits and was assisted to commit suicide one day while in the
+harbor.
+
+The Prairie received orders to sail for the United States and on August
+18th left for Santiago, arriving there the 20th. The ship left Santiago
+the 21st, with three companies of the Seventh infantry on board. All
+went well until the 25th, when a heavy fog came on and the Prairie ran
+aground near Amagansett Point, 15 miles from Montauk Point. There was
+considerable confusion, of course, but the Prairie was handled well.
+All the boats were lowered and two kedge anchors were put out, one from
+the starboard quarter and the other from the starboard forecastle. The
+boats were out all night and it was not until at high tide the next day
+that the Prairie was hauled off by the tug Brittania and a light-house
+tender. The soldiers were landed and taken to Montauk Point. After
+being hauled off the Prairie sailed for Montauk Point, arriving there
+early in the evening. At Montauk the Prairie was put into quarantine
+until the 28th. Hardly was she out of quarantine before she steamed
+to Newport and from there to Fall River, where a warm reception was
+given the Fall River men on board the ship. That evening the Fall
+River and New Bedford men went ashore but the Springfield contingent
+was kept on board, much to their disappointment. On the 30th the
+Prairie left Fall River and steamed down to Newport, the event of the
+evening being the playing of the "Fu-Fu" band. The next day the ship
+started for New York and remained there until the 19th, when she went
+to Delaware Breakwater. Rumors of discharge began to agitate the crew
+soon after arriving in New York and Capt. Train went to Washington to
+confer with the Navy Department concerning it but returned with no
+definite knowledge of the exact time the muster-out would take place.
+From Delaware Breakwater the Prairie steamed up to the League Island
+navy yard where some of the guns were taken off and transferred to the
+New York. During the stay in New York and at League Island the "Rough
+Riders" made several successful initiations.
+
+Sunday, September 25, hammocks were lashed for the last time and after
+the dunnage had been loaded on a tug, the crew mustered and gave three
+cheers for Capt. Train and Lieuts. Stone and Stimpson. This done, the
+crew bade good bye to the Prairie and went ashore, going to Jersey
+City by train. After a brief trip on a ferry, the Fall River boat was
+boarded for the trip to that city and Boston. The latter place was
+reached about 10 o'clock Monday morning and after passing in review
+before the governor at the state house the Prairie men proceeded
+to the receiving ship Wabash, where they were furloughed until the
+following Wednesday. The boys enjoyed themselves hugely in Boston until
+Wednesday, when they were mustered out and given their discharges from
+the service of the United States.
+
+At 9.15 that evening, the Springfield part of the crew arrived home
+and were given an enthusiastic welcome in which red fire and fireworks
+played a prominent part. At the armory the men were greeted by glad
+relatives and soon dispersed to their homes plain naval militiamen once
+more after doing their full duty to Uncle Sam and serving him well.
+
+Lieut. H. S Crossman, who went out with the Prairie detail remained on
+the ship until she was ordered south, when he and some of the other
+officers were sent out on special duty. He was assigned to duty as
+recruiting officer on the Minnesota and remained there until a short
+time before the dismissal of the Prairie's crew from the service.
+
+Lieut. J. K. Dexter was detailed from duty on the Lehigh to duty as
+navigator on the converted ferry boat, Gov. Russell, and ordered to
+take her to Key West. The trip was an eventful one, for the Gov.
+Russell as a war boat was a fearfully and wonderfully constructed piece
+of marine architecture, and there were times when it was a question
+whether she would ever reach a port or not. But finally she was
+navigated as far as Newport News, and after looking her carefully over,
+the naval authorities decided that it was not wise to expose her again
+to the high seas.
+
+After muster-out of the Lehigh detail H company was once more at home
+and it was not long before the reorganization of the command as a part
+of the state militia was begun and successfully carried out, a good
+number of the officers and men who had seen service remaining. Today
+the company is once more in its old position of the best all-round
+company in the Massachusetts naval brigade.
+
+On October 27th, a number of prominent citizens tendered H company a
+banquet at Hotel Worthy, and the occasion will long be remembered as a
+very pleasant one. During the evening the handsome silk American flag,
+purchased for the company by citizens, was presented by Rev. Dr. P. S.
+Moxom.
+
+
+
+
+ROSTER.
+
+
+FIELD STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
+
+  COLONEL, EMBURY P. CLARK.
+  MAJOR, FREDERICK G. SOUTHMAYD.
+  ADJUTANT, FIRST LIEUT. PAUL R. HAWKINS.
+  QUARTERMASTER, FIRST LIEUT. EDWARD E. SAWTELL.
+  MAJOR AND SURGEON, HENRY C. BOWEN.
+  MAJOR AND SURGEON, ERNEST A. GATES.
+
+
+  SERGEANT-MAJOR, ROBERT N. INGERSOL.
+  QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT, ROSS L. LUSK.
+  HOSPITAL STEWARD, EDSON P. HOWES.
+
+
+G. COMPANY.
+
+  CAPTAIN, JOHN J. LEONARD.
+  FIRST LIEUTENANT, WILLIAM C. HAYES.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, EDWARD J. LEYDEN.
+  FIRST SERGEANT, WILLIAM BUTEMENT.
+  SERGEANTS, JEREMIAH F. SCULLY.
+             JOSEPH N. LOVELY.
+             WALTER W. WARD.
+             JOSEPH A. MURPHY.
+             JAMES A. GIBBONS.
+  CORPORALS, ROBERT A. ROSS.
+             PATRICK J. NOONE.
+             MICHAEL J. MCHALE.
+             FRANK C. KEATING, Chicopee Falls.
+             NATALINE GARDELLA.
+             ERNEST E. ROBINSON.
+  MUSICIANS, PATRICK J. O'CONNELL.
+             ROBERT D. CARGILL.
+  WAGONER, JAMES R. SHENE.
+  ARTIFICER, BENJAMIN A. SEAMANS.
+
+
+PRIVATES
+
+  Frank A. Anderson                  Dozilva P. Lamoreaux, Chicopee
+  Timothy T. Austin                  Andrew Little
+  Elmer B. Barrowcliffe              Christopher T. Lovett
+  Frank J. Barsalow                  John J. Mahoney, W. Sp'f'd
+  Daniel J. Bellamy                  Thomas F. Mahoney
+  Wilbur G. Brassard, Thompsonville  George H. Markham
+  James H. Bresnahan                 John B. Mandeville
+  Patrick J. Bresnan                 Ernest P. Marble
+  Alfred C. Brownell                 Dennis F. McCarthy
+  Francis C. Burke                   Henry E. Merchant
+  Thomas Burke                       Louis Monteverde
+  Henry T. Conrad                    Fred H. Morrill
+  George W. Campbell                 Carl A. Mueller
+  Thomas M. Conlin                   James J. O'Brien
+  William E. Coolidge                Charles A. Nelson
+  Timothy J. Crowley                 John J. O'Leary
+  William R. Dillon, W. Sp'f'd       Arthur H. Packard
+  John H. Dunn                       Walter A. Packard
+  George E. Easton                   Jacob Peterson
+  William Ferrier                    George A. Richmond
+  Charles R. Fisher                  William J. Rooney
+  Theodore Gelinas, Holyoke          William J. Root
+  Frank M. Hannon                    Jeremiah J. Shea
+  Patrick J. Hayes                   Cyrus A. Shufelt
+  Andrew F. Higgins                  Henry J. Slattery
+  Frank N. Hunt                      Fred S. Stetson
+  Robert G. Kelly                    John E. Tobin
+  Edward K. Lathrop                  Henry B. Whitmore
+  Henry H. Lawler                    Samuel Wilson
+
+
+B COMPANY.
+
+  CAPTAIN, HENRY MCDONALD.
+  FIRST LIEUTENANT, WILLIAM J. YOUNG.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, HARRY J. VESPER.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, THOMAS F. BURKE.
+  SERGEANTS, RICHARD H. BEARSE.
+             SAMUEL E. SMITH.
+             GEORGE J. MCKEOWN.
+             JOHN J. O'CONNELL.
+             EVERETT W. WILCOX.
+  CORPORALS, FRANK A. WAKEFIELD.
+             MELVIN H. RANSOM.
+             RICHARD B. BLANEY.
+             MICHAEL J. DONAHUH.
+             JOHN B. FULTON.
+             THOMAS F. HANDY.
+  MUSICIANS, HENRY F. LADBURY.
+             BERNARD E. COMEY.
+  WAGONER, PAUL J. KINGSTON.
+  ARTIFICER, ORVIN E. ALBERTS.
+
+
+PRIVATES
+
+  Charles H. Ashley          Donald A. McPhee
+  John Bryson                William J. Mack
+  Peter F. Boyer             Daniel J. Moriarty
+  William F. Barton          Frank C. Mattoon
+  William J. Barton          Axel Mahlstrom, East Longmeadow
+  John M. Carey              John J. Malone
+  William F. Childs          Howard S. Meyrick, Agawam
+  Matthew J. Clark           John J. O'Donnell
+  Theophile J. Champagne     Arthur M. Partridge
+  Clarence E. Chapman        Giles S. Potter, Pittsfield
+  William W. Chadbourne      Alwin B. Richter
+  Albert M. Chandler         Christopher J. Riordan
+  Lewis R. Dikeman           Thos. R. Rooney, Westfield
+  Frank F. Dingman           Wilmore S. Riopel
+  Robert D. Draper           Matthew M. P. Ryan
+  Daniel S. Devine           James C. Ryan
+  Albert R. Dunn             Henry P. Roberts
+  George DeGray              Frank X. Rivers
+  John K. DeLoach            Clarence B. Ross
+  Frank L. Edson             Harry H. Richards, West Springfield
+  Henry T. Ellis             Alfred E. Rose
+  James F. Ferrier           John J. Smith
+  Ellsworth Frey             Frank Twohey, Worcester
+  Eugene B. Grenier          Paul L. Vesper
+  Morris Grenowitz           Harry C. Wakefield
+  Joseph Genereaux           Ernest C. Whitcomb
+  John C. Hurley             Edwin W. Wright
+  Robert J. F. Judd
+  Michael F. Kelleher
+  Ernest J. Monseau
+
+
+K COMPANY.
+
+  CAPTAIN, WILLIAM S. WARRINER.
+  FIRST LIEUTENANT, PHILIP C. POWERS.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, HARRY H. PARKHURST.
+  FIRST SERGEANT, ARTHUR J. BERRY.
+  SERGEANTS, FRED A. JENKS, Chicopee.
+             G. BURTON HALL.
+             DAVID A. TURNER.
+             J. LEWIS KELLY.
+             HYATT W. AVERY.
+  CORPORALS, WILLIAM C. PIPER.
+             THOMAS C. BOONE.
+             BURDETT A. MADISON.
+             WILLIAM E. TURNER.
+             ALBERT MARSDEN.
+             BERT F. NICHOLS.
+  MUSICIANS, FRANK P. JONES.
+             LOUIS P. CASTALDINI.
+  WAGONER, FRANK N. BOULE.
+  ARTIFICER, WILSON C. EMERY.
+
+
+PRIVATES.
+
+  Ernest L. Alderman              Charles Hoadley
+  Edward N. Aiken                 Irving J. Johnson
+  Horace W. Allen                 Ward Lathrop
+  Wallace H. Brown                Michael R. Lyons
+  George L. Bates                 Everett W. Luther
+  Ralph A. Barkman                Myron W. Maynard
+  Arthur N. Broulette             Charles E. McLeod
+  Arthur M. Burnham               Wm. C. McCulloch, Chicopee
+  Albert J. Brunell               Frank E. Moody
+  Michael E. Breck                John L. Morehouse
+  James W. Britton                Homer G. Munson
+  James A. Brazzil                Samuel W. Nesbitt
+  Frank L. Carr                   Charles Owens
+  Arthur L. Chapman               A. L. Potter
+  William C. Colvin               George W. Potter
+  Alwin A. Cameron                Walter J. Reardon
+  George S, Creeley               Phillip H. Robinson
+  William R. Dunse                William E. Stephens
+  Edwin A. Elwell                 George E. Sollace
+  Horatio M. Field                Edgar W. Snell
+  Wm. J. Fish, W. Springfield     Harry J. Symonds
+  Harry D. Fisher                 Alfred Stone
+  Ralph Fisk                      Robert B. Terrell
+  Herman H. Fuller                Nicholas D. Vassilli
+  Julian B. Hawkes                William J. Walsh
+  Louis H. Hall                   Harry O. Wilkins
+  Frank B. Hendricks              Joseph G. Woodbury
+  George Hallier                  Henry Wright, Jr.
+  Edward R. Hubbard               William A. Webb
+
+[Illustration: HENRY S. LEE]
+
+
+H COMPANY NAVAL BRIGADE.
+
+  Name                    Rating                   Ship
+
+  Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter             U. S. S. Gov. Russell
+  Lieut. (j. g.) Henry S. Crossman          U. S. S. Prairie
+  Lieut. (j. g.) William O. Cohn             U. S. S. Lehigh
+  William A. Dearden, Boatswain's Mate, 2d class     Prairie
+  William Owens, Gunner's Mate, 2d class                "
+  James A. Turnbull, Gunner's Mate, 3d class            "
+  Curtis H. Jennings, Gunner's Mate, 3d class           "
+  Arthur H. Strong, Chief Q. M.                       Saturn
+  Winfred A. Sabin, Coxswain                          Lehigh
+  Herbert E. Burns, Bayman                           Prairie
+  Ernest F. Gilbert, Shipwright                         "
+  George H. Nobbs, Pay Yeoman                           "
+  Albert M. Pease, Cook                                 "
+
+
+SEAMEN.
+
+  William H. Brundett      Prairie  George W. Lyman          Prairie
+  Weston F. Bright            "     Irving C. Lombra            "
+  A. W. Blauvelt              "     George L. Meacham           "
+  Webster C. Clark            "     Charles B. Miller           "
+  Lewis B. Clark              "     Ralph Newcomb               "
+  Winfred W. Crosier          "     Guy A. Preble               "
+  Charles Crosier             "     Gilbert G. Patnode          "
+  Charles W. Dearden          "     Goulding S. Patnode         "
+  Lawrence W. Erricson        "     Walter Swazey               "
+  Arthur J. C. Fischer        "     Edwin S. Smith              "
+  Robert C. Goodale           "     Fred C. Steele              "
+  Robert P. King            Lehigh  McClellan E. Streeter       "
+  Albert N. Luce           Prairie  Rupert H. B. Warburton    Lehigh
+  Howard Loomis               "     Robert H. Wheeler        Prairie
+  Ward H. Long                "     Henry W. Watson             "
+  Frank Ladd                  "
+
+
+
+
+THE ROLL OF HONOR.
+
+
+  Henry C. Bowen, Major and Surgeon, died in Second Division
+    Hospital, Santiago, August 13, of malarial fever.
+
+
+G COMPANY
+
+  Corporal Patrick J. Noone, died in Springfield, September 20, 1898,
+    typhoid fever.
+
+  Private George A. Richmond, died in field hospital near El Caney,
+    July 1, 1898, of wound in head.
+
+  Private Walter A. Packard, killed on field, El Caney, July 1, 1898.
+
+  Private Robert G. Kelly, died in division hospital of wound
+    received in action July 2d, at San Juan.
+
+  Private Francis A. Burke, died at Springfield, October 24, 1898.
+
+  Private Andrew Little, died in second division hospital, Santiago,
+    August 22, 1898.
+
+  Private Fred S. Stetson, died in second division hospital,
+    Santiago, August 24, 1898.
+
+
+B COMPANY.
+
+  Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper, died on S. S. Mobile, August 17,
+    1898, of gastric enteritis.
+
+  Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, died in camp before
+    Santiago, August 1, 1898, of malarial fever.
+
+  Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, died on S. S. Mobile, August 27, 1898, of
+    malarial fever.
+
+  Private John J. Malone, died in field hospital, July 5, 1898, of
+    wound received at El Caney, July 1.
+
+  Private Paul Vesper, died in camp before Santiago, August 10, 1898,
+    of malarial fever.
+
+
+K COMPANY.
+
+  Corporal William C. Piper, died in second division hospital, August
+    5, 1898.
+
+  Corporal Thomas C. Boone, died in Springfield, March 19, 1899.
+
+  Musician Frank P. Jones, died at Montauk Point, L. I., August 27,
+    1898.
+
+  Private Frank E. Moody, killed on field, July 1, 1898, at El Caney.
+
+  Private Arthur M. Burnham, died in division hospital, Santiago,
+    August 18, 1898, of typhoid fever.
+
+  Private Michael R. Lyons, died in Springfield, April 20, 1899.
+
+  Private George S. Creley, died in Springfield, June 28, 1899.
+
+  Private John L. Morehouse, died in Springfield, November 12, 1899.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Since the muster-out three more of Springfield's contingent, all K
+company men, have answered the final roll call. Corporal Thomas C.
+Boone died in Massachusetts general hospital at Boston, March 19, 1899,
+and Private Michael R. Lyons at Springfield, April 20. Private George
+C. Creley died June 25, at his home after a long illness. Private John
+L. Morehouse died in Springfield, November 12, 1889.
+
+
+
+
+SPRINGFIELD'S DEAD HEROES.
+
+
+HENRY C. BOWEN.
+
+Henry C. Bowen, major and surgeon of the Second regiment, died in the
+Second Division hospital, near Santiago, after making a gallant fight
+against sickness and death, not only for himself but for the regiment
+under his care. It is not too much to say that but for the heavy burden
+he was under with the care of over 800 sick and dying men on his hands,
+he might have recovered from the Cuban fever and been alive to-day,
+but as it was he succumbed. It was his misfortune to go to the front
+ignorant of the red tape which forms an even more effectual barrier
+to individual action than did the Spanish barbed wire to our troops,
+and it was this same red tape which was indirectly responsible for
+his death. When the regiment was in its worst condition in front of
+Santiago, when he was alone in the work of caring for the sick and
+dying, he found it next to impossible to obtain needed medical supplies
+for his men, and yet knew he was held responsible for their welfare. It
+is not to be wondered at under these circumstances that he grew nervous
+and irritable, and repelled rather than attracted those who tried to
+help him. The wonder of it was, that sick in body and mind as he was,
+he bore up as long as he did. But he did what he could and gave his
+health, and strength, and life in his duty.
+
+Major Bowen was born in Castle Creek, N. Y., the son of Dr. Charles W.
+Bowen of Westfield, and he studied in the public schools there and at
+Wilbraham academy. He gained his medical education in the University
+of New York and served in Bellevue hospital for eighteen months and in
+the Broome street lying-in hospital. He began practice in Springfield
+in 1894 and was fast reaching a high place in his profession when the
+war broke out. At the time of his appointment he was a member of the
+surgical staff of the Mercy hospital where he was liked by patients and
+officials.
+
+
+HARRY J. VESPER.
+
+Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper of B company, came of fighting stock,
+his father, O. R. Vesper, of Springfield, being a one armed veteran of
+the civil war. Harry was born in Springfield and was 31 years of age
+when he died on the Mobile. He studied in the public schools, leaving
+the high school to enter the employ of the Springfield Homestead. There
+he rose by steady industry and ability, to be head of the mailing
+department and business manager of the electrotyping department. For
+several years he had been deeply interested in the militia and had
+enlisted in B company, rising through the grades of corporal and
+sergeant to the second lieutenantcy, to which he was elected and
+commissioned May 11, 1896. For two years he had served as adjutant of
+the first battalion of the regiment, and was popular with everyone in
+the command.
+
+
+RICHARD H. BEARSE.
+
+The news of the death of no member of the Second was received in
+Springfield with more regret than that of Sergeant "Dickie" Bearse of
+B company. A member of the company for several years, he was known and
+liked by all the officers and men of the Springfield companies, for to
+know "Dick" Bearse was to like him. With his pride in B company and the
+regiment, not to speak of his patriotism, it was only natural he should
+be anxious to go to the front with the Second, and he did so, although
+he had to twice overcome the examining surgeon's objections. In camp
+and on the march he was cheerful and helpful and at El Caney he was up
+with the best of them. But all the while the hardships and toils of
+the campaign were sapping his vitality, and when the deadly calentura
+came, he had no strength left to resist it, but simply laid down and
+died. In him B company and the Second lost one of their best. Sergeant
+Bearse was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bearse and was 24 years of
+age. His body was brought home and interred in the family lot in Oak
+Grove cemetery, after such a funeral as has seldom been witnessed in
+Springfield, an outpouring of grief from hundreds of friends.
+
+
+WILLIAM C. PIPER.
+
+Corporal William C. Piper of K, was born at Marysville, O., in 1874,
+and his father is a well known lawyer and probate judge of that state.
+Corporal Piper came to Springfield in 1895 as manager of the Stetson
+Shoe store and had charge of the establishment at the time he was
+mustered in to the United States service. He enlisted in K company in
+1897.
+
+
+FRANK P. JONES.
+
+Musician Frank P. Jones of K, and one of the best fellows in the
+Second, died in the hospital at Camp Wikoff, August 27, after passing
+through all the hardships of the campaign in Cuba without being
+seriously ill. He was a native of Ludlow, Mass., and was 21 years of
+age. He had served in K for three years and though opposed by his
+parents, could not be kept from enlisting as a volunteer when the call
+came for troops. Of a cheerful, happy disposition, he did much in the
+dark days of sickness and death in the camp before Santiago, to help
+his comrades, and his example helped many a sick man.
+
+
+PAUL J. KINGSTON.
+
+Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, B company, was an efficient soldier and well
+liked member of the command. He was 24 years of age when he died on
+the Mobile and was the son of George Kingston, an expressman. He was
+serving the third year of his enlistment in B when the war came and at
+once volunteered to go to the front.
+
+
+PAUL VESPER.
+
+Private Paul Vesper of B was younger than his brother, Lieut. Harry J.
+Vesper, but had many of the qualities which made the latter so well
+liked. He was serving his first enlistment in B company when the war
+came, and promptly expressed a desire to volunteer. He died in the camp
+before Santiago, August 10, 1898.
+
+
+ROBERT G. KELLY.
+
+Robert G. Kelly was the third G company man to fall in the fighting in
+front of Santiago. At 10 o'clock on the night of July 2d, the crashing
+of rifle volleys and the screams of shells awoke the Second from the
+sleep of fatigue, and the officers and men rushed to the crest of the
+hill behind which they had bivouacked. The attack was to the right of
+the Second's position, but while waiting for orders the regiment had to
+stand the rain of scattering shot and Kelly was the first to be hit.
+The bullet struck him in the left cheek, going through and lodging in
+the muscles of the other side. He was taken to the division hospital
+and died there July 15. He was the son of Samuel Kelly of Springfield
+and enlisted just before the Second was ordered to South Framingham.
+
+
+ARTHUR M. BURNHAM.
+
+Private Arthur M. Burnham of K was the son of George M. Burnham, a
+well known contractor and builder of Springfield. Arthur was born
+in 1876 and studied in the public schools. He was popular with his
+school fellows and with all who knew him. For three years previous to
+the breaking out of the war he had been associated with his father
+in business. He enlisted in K company soon after its transfer to
+Springfield and after serving three years, left the company, a short
+time before the war broke out. He was one of the first of the former
+members to reenlist when it was known that war was certain and bore
+himself manfully through the campaign. He was ill with typhoid when the
+regiment left Cuba and was obliged to be left behind.
+
+
+FRED A. STETSON.
+
+Fred A. Stetson enlisted in G company at the outbreak of the war and
+served faithfully until he was attacked by the disease which laid him
+low, only a day or two after his comrades had left Cuba for home. He
+was employed in Springfield when he enlisted, but had only been in the
+city a short time, and had no near relatives living so far as known. He
+was 24 years old.
+
+
+JOHN J. MALONE.
+
+John J. Malone, fatally wounded at El Caney, was a member of B company
+and had been for two years previous to the outbreak of the war. He was
+a bright, cheerful young fellow and was well liked by his acquaintances
+as well as by his comrades. His parents died during his childhood and
+John made his home with a relative. He was employed in the Homestead
+office. At El Caney, Malone was one of the first men hit, the fatal
+bullet striking him within a few moments after B company had taken its
+position with the 22d. He died in the field hospital.
+
+
+FRANK E. MOODY.
+
+Frank E. Moody of K company, killed in action at El Caney, was the son
+of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Moody of Springfield and was 20 years old when
+he enlisted in K, only a few days before the regiment left for South
+Framingham. He was shot soon after B and K companies took position on
+the right flank of the 22d.
+
+
+ARTHUR HOWARD PACKARD.
+
+Killed instantly at El Caney, July 1, 1898. He was the son of Mrs.
+Helen N. Packard, who, the wife of a soldier of the civil war, saw her
+two sons go to the front in the war with Spain, both being members of G
+company. Arthur would have been 19 years of age in November, 1898, and
+had been employed in the Homestead office. When only 17 he enlisted in
+G company and was well liked by his comrades. When the war came Arthur
+insisted on being one of the men to go with the company. Through the
+campaign he was soldierly and cheerful and his bright, if sometimes
+caustic sayings, did much to help his comrades. He was on the advanced
+firing line of the Second in the squad under Lieut. Leyden when the
+fatal bullet struck him and he died instantly.
+
+
+GEORGE A. RICHMOND.
+
+George A. Richmond was one of the oldest members of G company and was
+born in Springfield. He enlisted in 1887, and remained a member of
+the company for several years. When it was seen that war was coming,
+Richmond was one of the first to apply to Capt. Leonard for a place
+in the ranks and joined the company at South Framingham. At El Caney
+Richmond was with Lieut. Leyden's squad, and was shot through the head
+early in the engagement. Willing hands bore him to the improvised field
+hospital where he lay in agony for several hours before death came. He
+was comforted and consoled by Chaplain Fitzgerald of the 22d, who took
+his last messages. Richmond's mother died in his early youth and he had
+made his home with relatives. He had been employed in the Springfield
+post office. He took a small camera with him to Cuba and made a number
+of pictures.
+
+
+FRANCIS A. BURKE.
+
+Private Francis A. Burke of G company, who died at the House of Mercy
+hospital, October 8, 1898, was the son of Thomas Burke and resided at
+196 Spring street. He was employed as a clerk in the store of Forbes
+& Wallace and was well liked by his associates. He was 22 years of
+age. As a youth he took much interest in military matters and was for
+some time a member of the Cathedral cadets. Later he enlisted in G
+company and had served some time when the war broke out. He promptly
+volunteered and served well in the campaign.
+
+
+THOMAS C. BOONE.
+
+The circumstances surrounding the death of Sergeant Thomas C. Boone,
+who went to the front with K company, but was transferred to the U. S.
+Signal Corps, were particularly sad as at the time his many friends
+supposed he was practically recovered from the terrible experience
+he underwent while in the service. Boone died in the Mass. General
+Hospital, Boston, on March 19, 1899, after a comparatively brief
+illness. He was a native of Maryland, being born in Annapolis in 1876,
+and came to Springfield in 1894, enlisting in K company soon after
+his coming here. At South Framingham Boone was appointed a corporal
+by Capt. Warriner, but the number of these positions in the companies
+being reduced Boone was obliged to serve as a private. Soon after
+the arrival of the Second at Tampa he was transferred to the signal
+corps with the rank of sergeant. He was an expert telegrapher and
+was selected for that reason. On July 2d he with Col. Drew and Major
+Maxfield were in the war balloon at San Juan and while the balloon
+was at a height of 2700 feet and was being taken over a creek it was
+pierced by three pieces of shrapnel from the Spanish lines and fell.
+The basket caught in the top of a tree and Boone was caught in the
+anchor and hung suspended over the stream for a long time with the
+iron hook pressing into his side. Then he fell into the water. He was
+badly injured, but did not realize it at the time. A few days later
+he was sent to the hospital, but while being conveyed there in a mule
+team the vehicle was upset and he was again injured. On his return to
+the United States through an error on the part of some officer he was
+accused of desertion but after several months the stain was taken away
+and he received an honorable discharge. Boone was a popular member of
+the company and also popular among a large number of friends.
+
+
+MICHAEL R. LYONS.
+
+Michael R. Lyons of K company, died in the Mercy hospital, Springfield,
+April 20th, 1899, just a year from the time he enlisted and after
+making a gallant fight against the effects of the hardships he
+underwent in Cuba. He was a well-liked member of the company and
+made an excellent soldier, doing his duty quietly and faithfully.
+All through the campaign, although ill at times, he was cheerful and
+uncomplaining and his example was not lost on his comrades. His body
+was taken to Palmer for burial. His parents and brothers reside in
+Springfield.
+
+
+ANDREW LITTLE.
+
+Andrew Little was one of the "recruits" of G company, he having gone
+to the camp at South Framingham with the first batch of extra men
+assembled in Springfield after it was known that several vacancies had
+been caused in the company through rejections by the surgeons. He lived
+in Middlebury, Vermont, but had been employed in Springfield for some
+time. During the campaign he served as assistant company cook and stood
+the hardships and exposure fairly well until a short time before the
+regiment left Santiago for the United States.
+
+
+GEORGE C. CRELEY.
+
+George C. Creley, 21, was one of the last men of K company to die, his
+death being due to consumption contracted in service in Cuba. His death
+occurred June 28, 1899, after a long illness. Creley left a father and
+a sister, the former living in Springfield. He was a recruit, enlisting
+in K as soon as there was an opportunity and his service was faithful.
+
+
+JOHN L. MOREHOUSE.
+
+The last member of K company to pass away up to the time of issuing
+this volume, was Private John L. Morehouse who died Nov. 12, 1899,
+after an illness of several weeks. He was a cousin of Lieut. H. H.
+Parkhurst of K and was well liked by his comrades, being easily one of
+the most popular members of the company. He was 29 years of age and
+aside from cousins, had no near relatives.
+
+
+
+
+  TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
+
+  Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Superscripts have been
+  converted to normal text.
+
+  Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected
+  after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and
+  consultation of external sources.
+
+  Except for those changes noted below, inconsistent or archaic spelling
+  of a word or word-pair within the text has been retained. For example:
+  blockhouses, block houses; good-bye, good bye; reenlist, re-enlist;
+  warships, war ships.
+
+  p 10.  'andmaintained' changed to 'and maintained'.
+  p 10.  'hereseveral' changed to 'here several'.
+  p 12.  'T. A. Sweney' changed to 'T. A. Sweeney'.
+  p 16.  'a. m.' changed to 'A. M.' for consistency.
+  p 20.  'Manilla' changed to 'Manila'.
+  p 34.  'to be be beaten' changed to 'to be beaten'.
+  p 36.  'somehew' changed to 'somehow'.
+  p 47.  'employe' changed to 'employee'.
+  p 54.  'utillized' changed to 'utilized'.
+  p 60.  'guage' changed to 'gauge'.
+  p 69.  'oocupants' changed to 'occupants'.
+  p 71.  'olock' changed to 'clock'.
+  p 72.  'in the the afternoon' changed to 'in the afternoon'.
+  p 74.  'envolope' changed to 'envelope'.
+  p 79.  'anothor' changed to 'another'.
+  p 80.  'oolor' changed to 'color'.
+  p 86.  'advavtage' changed to 'advantage'.
+  p 88.  'Boulè' changed to 'Boule'.
+  p 89.  'Backman' changed to 'Barkman'.
+  p 97.  'illuminatad' changed to 'illuminated'.
+  p 102. 'Sprinfields' changed to 'Springfields'.
+  P 110. 'Greenowitz' changed to 'Grenowitz'.
+  p 114. 'Khakir' changed to Khaki'.
+  p 115. 'Santiano' changed to 'Santiago'.
+  p 119. 'machette' changed to 'machete'.
+  p 124. 'round robbin' changed to 'round robin'.
+  p 131. 'suberb' changed to 'superb'.
+  p 141. 'recieved' changed to 'received'.
+  p 145. 'eht use of' changed to 'the use of'.
+  p 148. 'mpatience' changed to 'impatience'.
+  p 157. 'Lamoreau' changed to 'Lamoreaux'.
+  p 159. 'employes' changed to 'employees'.
+  p 159. 'Phillippines' changed to 'Philippines'.
+  p 161. 'chase of of the' changed to 'chase of the'.
+  p 163. 'Tomkinsville' changed to 'Tompkinsville'.
+  p 176. 'Frnak P. Jones' changed to 'Frank P. Jones'.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Springfield in the Spanish American War, by 
+Walter W. Ward
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPRINGFIELD IN SPAN-AMER. WAR ***
+
+***** This file should be named 46361-8.txt or 46361-8.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/4/6/3/6/46361/
+
+Produced by John Campbell, and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at
+  www.gutenberg.org/license.
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at 809
+North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887.  Email
+contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the
+Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit:  www.gutenberg.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For forty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/old/46361-8.zip b/old/46361-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4bee6e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-8.zip
diff --git a/old/46361-h.zip b/old/46361-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..51151df
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h.zip
diff --git a/old/46361-h/46361-h.htm b/old/46361-h/46361-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..aa8f89e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/46361-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,7384 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Springfield in the Spanish-American War, by Walter W. Ward.
+    </title>
+    <link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" />
+    <style type="text/css">
+
+body {
+    margin-left: 10%;
+    margin-right: 10%;
+}
+
+    h1,h2 {
+    text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+    clear: both;
+}
+
+h3  {
+    text-align: center;
+    clear: both;
+    margin-top: 1.75em;
+    margin-bottom: 1em;
+    word-spacing: 0.4em;
+    font-size: 85%;
+}
+
+p {
+    margin-top: .51em;
+    text-align: justify;
+    margin-bottom: .49em;
+    text-indent: 1em;
+}
+
+.p2       {margin-top: 2em;}
+.p4       {margin-top: 4em;}
+.pad5     {padding-left: 5.5em;}
+.pad8     {padding-left: 8em;}
+
+.negidt1   {margin-left: 1em; text-indent: -1em; text-align: justify;}
+
+.pfs150   {font-size: 150%; text-align: center;}
+.pfs120   {font-size: 120%; text-align: center;}
+.pfs80    {font-size: 80%; text-align: center;}
+
+.small    {font-size: small;}
+.noindent {text-indent: 0em;}
+
+hr {
+    width: 33%;
+    margin-top: 2em;
+    margin-bottom: 2em;
+    margin-left: 33.5%;
+    margin-right: 33.5%;
+    clear: both;
+}
+
+  hr.tb   {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;}
+  hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;}
+  hr.r15  {width: 15%; margin-left: 42.5%; margin-right: 42.5%;}
+
+@media  handheld
+{
+  hr {
+    width: 0%;
+    margin-top: 2em;
+    margin-bottom: 2em;
+    margin-left: auto;
+    margin-right: auto;
+    clear: both;
+  }
+
+  hr.tb   {width: 0%;}
+  hr.chap {width: 0%}
+  hr.r15  {width: 0%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;}
+}
+
+.corr    {
+         text-decoration: none;
+         border-bottom: thin dotted blue;
+         }
+
+@media handheld  {
+  .corr  {
+         text-decoration: none;
+         border-bottom: none;
+         }
+}
+
+img.drop-capi   {
+   float: left;
+   margin: 0 0.5em 0 0;
+   position: relative;
+   z-index: 1;
+}
+
+p.drop-capi, p.drop-capi2  {
+   text-indent: 0em;
+}
+
+p.drop-capi:first-letter, p.drop-capi2:first-letter  {
+   padding-right: .2em;
+}
+
+p.drop-capi:first-letter  {
+   margin-left: -0.9em;
+}
+
+p.drop-capi2:first-letter  {
+   margin-left: -1.35em;
+}
+
+@media handheld
+{
+   img.drop-capi  {
+     display: none;
+     visibility: hidden;
+   }
+   p.drop-capi:first-letter, p.drop-capi2:first-letter  {
+     padding-right: 0em;
+     margin-left: 0em;
+   }
+}
+
+@media handheld
+{
+.p-brk
+  {
+    page-break-before: always;
+  }
+
+  h2.no-break
+  {
+    page-break-before: avoid;
+    padding-top: 0;
+  }
+}
+
+table {
+    margin-left: auto;
+    margin-right: auto;
+}
+
+.pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */
+    /*  visibility: hidden;  */
+    position: absolute;
+    color: #A9A9A9;
+    left: 90%;
+    font-size: smaller;
+    text-align: right;
+} /* page numbers */
+
+.blockquot {
+    margin-left: 5%;
+    margin-right: 10%;
+}
+
+.center   {text-align: center;}
+.right   {text-align: right;}
+.smcap    {font-variant: small-caps;}
+
+.caption  {font-weight: bold;}
+
+/* Images */
+.figcenter   {
+    margin: auto;
+    text-align: left;
+}
+
+/* Poetry */
+.poem {
+    margin-left:10%;
+    margin-right:10%;
+    text-align: left;
+}
+
+.poem br {display: none;}
+
+.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
+    .poem span.i0     {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i2     {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i4     {display: block; margin-left: 2em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i20     {display: block; margin-left: 10em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+
+/* Transcriber's notes */
+.transnote    {
+     background-color: #E6E6FA;
+     color: black;
+     font-size:smaller;
+     padding:0.5em;
+     margin-bottom:5em;
+     font-family:sans-serif, serif;
+}
+
+.customcover {visibility: hidden; display: none;}
+@media handheld {
+  .customcover {visibility: visible; display: block;}
+}
+
+    </style>
+  </head>
+
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Springfield in the Spanish American War, by 
+Walter W. Ward
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Springfield in the Spanish American War
+
+Author: Walter W. Ward
+
+Release Date: July 22, 2014 [EBook #46361]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPRINGFIELD IN SPAN-AMER. WAR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by John Campbell, and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+<div class="transnote">
+
+<strong>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE</strong><br />
+
+<p class="customcover"><br />The cover image was created by the transcriber
+and is placed in the public domain.</p>
+<br />
+Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected<br />
+after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text<br />
+and consultation of external sources.<br />
+<br />
+More detail can be found <a href="#TN">at the end of the book.</a><br />
+</div>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i002.jpg" width="400" height="565" alt="Frontispiece" />
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Colonel Embury P. Clark</span></div>
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p class="p4" />
+
+<h1>
+SPRINGFIELD<br /><br />
+<small>IN THE</small><br /><br />
+SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR</h1>
+
+<p class="p4" />
+<p class="pfs80">BY</p>
+<p class="pfs150">WALTER W. WARD</p>
+<p class="p4" />
+
+<p class="pfs120">ILLUSTRATED</p>
+<p class="p4" />
+
+<p class="pfs80">PRESS OF<br />
+ENTERPRISE PRINTING COMPANY<br />
+EASTHAMPTON, MASS.<br />
+1899.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p class="p4" />
+<p class="pfs120 p-brk"><span class="smcap">To the<br />
+Officers and Men<br />
+of G, B and K Companies<br />
+Second Regiment Massachusetts<br />
+Infantry, U. S. V., and<br />
+H Company, Naval Brigade.</span></p>
+<p class="p4" />
+<hr class="chap" />
+
+<div>
+
+<h2><a name="PREFACE" id="PREFACE">PREFACE.</a></h2>
+
+<p>In the Spanish-American war of 1898, Springfield rose to
+the occasion as she did in 1776 and 1861 and sent her youngest
+and best and bravest sons to the front. It was her sons
+who fought and fell at El Caney, the one battle of modern
+times where infantry, practically unsupported by artillery,
+captured a well fortified town and it was her sons who were
+in the lead in drawing the attacking lines so tightly about
+the city of Santiago that its surrender had to follow. It
+was her sons also who, on the high seas, on a fast auxiliary
+cruiser, did faithful service as a portion of the navy and had
+the satisfaction of doing their share in remembering the
+Maine by sinking a Spanish transport and a gun boat. Her
+sons fell on the battlefield and died in the camps and hospitals
+after enduring as soldiers, the hardships and toils of one
+of the shortest yet most important and bloodiest campaigns
+in history and of the honors of that war, Springfield claims
+a goodly share for herself.</p>
+
+<p>In the near future a monument, the funds for which have
+been contributed from near and far, will be erected in
+Springfield to the memory of the officers and men of the
+Second Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. Volunteers
+who fell or died in the Spanish war. On that monument,
+whatever form it may take, will be inscribed the names of
+Bowen, Harry and Paul Vesper, Bearse, Noone, Piper,
+Boone, Jones, Richmond, Packard, Kelly, Moody, Burnham,
+Malone, Burke, Little, Stetson, Creley, Lyons and
+Morehouse. But their names have long before this been
+permanently inscribed on the hearts of their comrades
+and in no place are they more secure. They died
+for the flag, the highest honor possible to an American
+citizen. This volume is written in the attempt to
+portray as clearly as memory serves what these men and
+their comrades did in the war with Spain. While not actually
+a history, the intention has been to show as clearly as
+possible the people of Springfield what it was their sons and
+brothers and friends in her four organizations at the front
+went through in their short campaign.</p>
+
+<p>Springfield, Nov. 1899.</p>
+<p class="right">W. W. W.</p>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p class="p4" />
+
+</div><div>
+
+<h2><a name="LIST_OF_CONTENTS" id="LIST_OF_CONTENTS">LIST OF CONTENTS.</a></h2>
+
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="Table of Contents">
+<tr><td align="right">CHAPTER.</td><td></td><td align="right">PAGE</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">I.</td><td>Which is preliminary to those which follow it,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#THE_CAMPAIGN_IN_CUBA">9</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">II.</td><td>Which tells about the calling out of H company, Naval Brigade,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">14</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">III.</td><td>How G, B and K companies went to South Framingham,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">19</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IV.</td><td>Wherein is told how we were transformed from "tin" soldiers into the real article,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">25</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">V.</td><td>We get orders to leave for the sunny South and obey them,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">32</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VI.</td><td>We go to the Southland and begin to find out where we are at,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">38</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VII.</td><td>We stay in Ybor City and then enjoy (?) life on the transports in the harbor,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">44</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">VIII.</td><td>We have a lovely sail on the palatial Knickerbocker and reach Cuba without mishap,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">51</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">IX.</td><td>Wherein is related our landing at Daiquiri and some things which subsequently happened,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">59</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">X.</td><td>In which is to be found the tale of Crab Hollow and some other things,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">68</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XI.</td><td>Which tells how we got ready to take the town of El Caney,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">76</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XII.</td><td>Wherein is related some events which happened to us on July first,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">84</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIII.</td><td>We learn some more things about the art of war as conducted in these days,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">94</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIV.</td><td>We continue our education in the art of war and learn a few things,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">106</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XV.</td><td>We have to face another enemy more deadly than the Spaniards,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">119</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVI.</td><td>Our voyage homeward on the death ship Mobile,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">129</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVII.</td><td>We and our friends enjoy ourselves at Camp Wickoff, Montauk Point,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">136</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XVIII.</td><td>In which is told how we prepare to quit Uncle Sam's service,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">143</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XIX.</td><td>We become plain citizens once more and square accounts with Uncle Sam,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">151</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align="right">XX.</td><td>Wherein is narrated the adventures on the high seas of Springfield's sailors,</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">161</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="TOC Part 2">
+<tr><td>Roster,</td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#ROSTER">172</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td>The Roll of Honor,</td><td></td><td align="right"><a href="#THE_ROLL_OF_HONOR">178</a></td></tr>
+<tr><td>Springfield's Dead Heroes,</td><td> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</td>
+    <td align="right"><a href="#SPRINGFIELDS_DEAD_HEROES">180</a></td></tr>
+</table>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p class="p4" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="pfs150 p-brk"><a name="THE_CAMPAIGN_IN_CUBA" id="THE_CAMPAIGN_IN_CUBA">THE CAMPAIGN IN CUBA.</a></p>
+<hr class="r15" />
+
+<p class="pfs120">Experiences of Co's G, B and K, M. V. M., and H<br />
+Co., Naval Brigade in the war of 1898 and<br />
+record of its service in the opera-<br />
+tions against Santiago.</p>
+<hr class="r15" />
+<p class="pfs150">BY WALTER W. WARD.</p>
+<hr class="r15" />
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER I.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHICH IS PRELIMINARY TO THOSE WHICH FOLLOW IT.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i011.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">WITHIN the few years preceding the fateful one of
+1898 a decided impetus had been given the military
+spirit in Springfield by the stationing of two additional
+companies of the state militia in this city.
+To the already organized companies, G and B of
+the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, had been added K company,
+the company of that name in Amherst having been
+disbanded and its letter transferred to Springfield. The
+organization in this city of a company of the state naval
+brigade and the building of a handsome and commodious
+state armory helped to place the militia of Springfield on a
+higher level in the public interest and regard than had previously
+been the case.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Springfield has always been rich in military tradition.
+Her earliest sons helped fight the Indians who disputed the
+right of the first settlers to the lands they roamed over in the
+fertile Connecticut valley; they had served in the Colonial
+wars and Springfield blood was shed in the Revolutionary
+war. Soon after this war Springfield was the scene of one
+of the episodes of Shay's rebellion. In the Civil war she
+sent her full quota and more of her young men to serve
+under the flag and after the war the ranks of her militia
+companies were always kept filled with her best young men.
+Undoubtedly the presence here of a United States military
+post and the famous Springfield arsenal has done much to
+aid in keeping up the military spirit.</p>
+
+<p>For long years, reaching back to a time before the rebel
+guns opened fire on Fort Sumter, Springfield's one military
+company was the City guard, which after being attached to
+several of the state militia organizations became under the
+final reorganization of the state troops B company of the Second
+regiment of infantry, M. V. M. In 1868 a number of
+the veterans of the Civil war organized the Peabody guard
+which was attached to the Second regiment as G company.
+Both these companies were always composed of good material
+<ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'andmaintained'">
+and maintained</ins> a high place in the state militia, not only for
+excellence in drill but in discipline and marksmanship. The
+location of regimental headquarters <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'hereseveral'">here several</ins> years ago
+aided in making military interest more rife than for some
+years.</p>
+
+<p>With four companies of militia instead of two, with headquarters
+and a fine new armory in place of the more or less
+unsatisfactory quarters previously occupied and with public
+feeling more united in their support than it had been for
+years the militia of Springfield felt they had entered upon a
+new period and it was one, which though they did not then
+realize it, was to soon test the courage and soldierly qualities
+of many of the officers and men of the Springfield militia.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>
+But with this then unknown the spirit of soldierly pride and
+loyalty to their organizations led officers and men to constant
+striving to be at the top or as near the top as possible, of the
+militia of the state in all things soldierly. In drill, in discipline,
+in knowledge of guard duty, in marksmanship and in
+all the other details that go to make up a good soldier there
+was assiduous practice and to the furtherance of that end
+many of the ceremonial features of military life, to which
+great importance had previously been attached, were discarded
+as far as possible. This was thoroughly in line with
+the policy of the state military authorities and its value was
+to be proven sooner than was anticipated.</p>
+
+<p>It did not take a very far seeing mind to realize in the fall
+of 1897 and the first two months of 1898 that matters with
+regard to the policy of the United States in the affairs of
+Cuba might soon produce a crisis so acute that the military
+power of the Republic would have to be called upon. Certainly
+it was realized by the militiamen and the progress of
+events from the beginning of 1898 to the night of the destruction
+of the Maine was by none more closely watched
+than by the men who gathered in the company rooms in the
+armory each night.</p>
+
+<p>When it was known definitely that the long anticipated
+call to arms could not be much longer delayed the local
+militia was never in finer fettle. The ranks of every company
+were filled and soldierly enthusiasm ran high. New
+arms, not comparable of course with those of the regular
+army but better than any previous militia armament, had
+been issued and the equipments and uniforms were in good
+and serviceable condition. Applications for enlistment were
+so numerous that had there been eight companies instead of
+four their ranks could have easily been filled up.</p>
+
+<p>It was on the 29th of April, 1898, that the call for troops
+came to Springfield. On the 23d President McKinley had
+issued the first call for troops and six days later Gov. Wolcott<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span>
+designated Col. E. P. Clark of the Second as one of the
+six commanding officers to raise a regiment of volunteers for
+the United States service. It was provided that members of
+the militia were to be given the preference in enlistments to
+the volunteer regiments, the residue being made up by enlistment
+of other citizens. The Second was ordered to report at
+the state camp ground at South Framingham on May 3 for
+muster into the United States service. April 29th fell on
+Friday and May 3 on Tuesday of the following week so that
+there was not any too much time in which to enlist men for
+the companies and get everything in readiness for service.
+But what time there was on hand was so well utilized that
+promptly at the hour ordered on the morning of May 3d the
+three Springfield companies were at the armory with full
+ranks and fully equipped, all the state property and equipage
+not needed packed up and ready for shipment to the state
+arsenal.</p>
+
+<p>Every officer of the three companies and fully 70 per cent.
+of the men who had been in their ranks in the militia service
+was on hand. Capt. John J. Leonard of G, a veteran in the
+militia, was at the head of his company and with him his
+two lieutenants, <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'T. A. Sweney'">T. A. Sweeney</ins> and E. J. Leyden. Capt.
+Henry McDonald of B company, a veteran both of the regular
+army and the militia, and his lieutenants, William L.
+Young and Harry J. Vesper were on hand promptly and so
+was Capt. W. S. Warriner and Lieutenants P. C. Powers
+and Harry H. Parkhurst of K company. All three companies
+were proud of their officers and they had every reason
+to be.</p>
+
+<p>And here a little digression. No effort of any kind was
+made to transfer as absolute unities the companies of militia
+into companies of United States Volunteers. It can truthfully
+be said that no man was asked to go to South Framingham
+by the officers. On the contrary Col. Clark and the
+company officers were all careful to impress upon the men of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span>
+the militia that their volunteering into the service of the
+United States was purely a voluntary and personal matter
+with them. There were dozens of instances in which the
+officers realized that the sacrifice was such as some of their
+men should not make. There were men with families
+dependent upon them or so otherwise circumstanced that it
+was best for them not to go and these men were talked to
+candidly and kindly and dissuaded from putting their names
+on the enlistment rolls. It was a volunteer movement purely
+and simply and the Second was in the highest sense of the
+word a volunteer regiment.</p>
+
+<p>Long before the orders for mobilization at South Framingham
+were issued preparations had been made to the end that
+Massachusetts might be ready to respond to the first call for
+troops from the national government. Early in April Gov.
+Wolcott had constituted some of the officers of the state militia
+as his advisory board in matters relating to the part
+Massachusetts would take in the war. On April 20, Col.
+Clark of the Second and some of his field and staff officers
+were called to Boston in consultation with the governor and
+on the 24th Gov. Wolcott in his capacity of commander-in-chief
+of the military and naval forces of the state issued an
+order calling upon the militia to hold themselves in readiness
+for duty within 24 hours.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER II.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHICH TELLS ABOUT THE CALLING OUT OF H COMPANY,
+NAVAL BRIGADE.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i016.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">MEANWHILE, and while the infantry were getting in
+readiness, Springfield had already sent some of her
+sons on duty. The naval arm of the service was
+in a far more advanced state of preparation than
+was the army and it was the general opinion that
+of necessity the war would be one in which the navy
+would take the most prominent part, leaving but little
+for the land forces to do except garrison duty. Springfield
+had taken great pride in her company of the Massachusetts
+naval brigade since its organization and expected great things
+of it in the event of its being called upon for duty.</p>
+
+<p>On April 2 came the first intimation that Springfield was
+to be called upon for men. Although war had not been declared
+and strenuous efforts were being made to head it off by
+the peace-at-any-price men, the navy department had set
+about getting into commission all the vessels that it could.
+At the League Island navy yard, Philadelphia, there lay a
+number of the old time monitors, some of them having been
+moored there since shortly after the close of the civil war,
+and it was decided to put them into condition for harbor defense
+purposes. Two were to be assigned to Boston harbor
+and on April 2 came orders to Lieut. J. K. Dexter, the commander
+of H company naval brigade, to proceed to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span>
+League Island yard as an officer of one of the monitors.
+Lieut. Dexter left that night and remained on duty at the
+yard until April 16, when he returned to bring down the detail
+of his company which was to form part of the crew of
+the single turreted monitor Lehigh. It was not until April
+17th that the Lehigh detail left for the Philadelphia navy
+yard although there had been many rumors as to when the
+men would go and the quarters of the company at the state
+armory were filled every night with the men and their
+friends. On the 16th Lieut. Dexter returned unexpectedly
+from Philadelphia and at once set about getting his detail
+together. It was on Sunday, but with the aid of the alarm
+list system, the telephone and special messengers the men
+were soon notified and assembled at the armory. The detail
+as finally made up was: Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter; Chief
+Boatswain's Mate, Frank H. Bowen; Boatswain's Mates,
+Robert T. Whitehouse, A. T. Wright; Gunner's Mate, F.
+W. Baum; Coxswain, W. S. Johnson; Acting Coxswain,
+S. L. Ruden; Quartermaster, W. A. Sabin; and Seamen
+Paul H. Lathrop, R. H. B. Warburton, W. F. Bright, R.
+P. King, A. Mellor, A. N. Luce, and L. E. Ladd. The detail
+marched to the union station at about 8.30 and took the
+9 o'clock train for New York, receiving an ovation as it
+passed through Main street and again at the station as the
+train pulled out.</p>
+
+<p>On the same day Lieut. (junior grade) Henry S. Crossman,
+who was in command of the company during the absence
+of Lieut. Dexter, received orders from Capt. Weeks of
+the naval brigade to hold himself in readiness to proceed to
+the Brooklyn navy yard and there report to Admiral Bunce,
+commanding the yard, as watch officer of the auxiliary cruiser
+Prairie to which the Massachusetts naval brigade was to
+be assigned. Lieut. (junior grade) W. O. Cohn was ordered
+to be in readiness to proceed to Boston and report for duty on
+the U. S. S. Minnesota, Ensign W. S. Barr was ordered to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span>
+be in readiness to go to the Brooklyn navy yard as one of the
+watch officers of the Prairie and Ensign Fred T. Ley was
+ordered to the same ship as watch officer and Captain's clerk.</p>
+
+<p>On April 22d these orders were changed, Lieut. Cohn and
+Ensign Barr being ordered to report for duty on board the
+monitor Lehigh on her arrival in Boston harbor.</p>
+
+<p>On April 23d, Lieut. Crossman received orders to proceed
+with the remaining men of H company to the Brooklyn
+navy yard there to go on board the Prairie as part of her
+crew during the war. These orders were received on the
+morning of the 23d and as soon as it became known about
+the city that the men were to go, the war time scenes of 1861
+were re-enacted. It was at first planned to have the company
+take an early evening train but as Lieut. Crossman found
+they could go just as well on the early morning train from
+Boston he decided to take that, thus giving the men more
+time in which to settle up their affairs and get everything in
+readiness for leaving.</p>
+
+<p>Information about the Prairie had already been pretty well
+disseminated about the city. It was known that she was
+formerly the fast steamer, El Sud, of the Morgan line and
+was capable of doing excellent duty as one of Uncle Sam's
+auxiliary cruisers. At the time she was in the Brooklyn
+navy yard being changed over from a passenger and freight
+vessel to a war ship and the job was requiring longer time
+than had been anticipated.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i019" id="i019" href="images/i019-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i019.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">
+Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins. Adjutant.<br />
+&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Major F. G. Southmayd.<br />
+&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lieut. E. E. Sawtell. Quartermaster.
+</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>The quarters of H company and the state armory were the
+busiest places in Springfield that afternoon and evening.
+The "jackies" were getting their dunnage rolls and equipment
+together and relatives and friends were on hand to say
+farewell and see their "boys" off. Owing to the time at
+which the company had orders to leave the armory, 1.30 <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'a. m.'">A.
+M.</ins>, it was hardly expected there would be much of a crowd
+on hand to give the command a suitable farewell but this
+was a mistake. Long before the hour at which the company<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>
+was to leave the streets leading to the union station were
+crowded and more enthusiasm was shown than had been the
+case in Springfield for many a day. It was at 1.30 o'clock in
+the morning of the 24th that the company, fully armed,
+equipped, in the regulation uniform of the jackies of the
+navy left the armory and marched through Main street to the
+union station to take the 2.20 train for New York, special
+cars for the company having been attached to the train. In
+spite of the lateness of the hour Springfield's citizens and the
+relatives, friends of the company were determined not to let
+the command leave the city without some demonstration.
+All night long up to the time for leaving the armory the building
+was filled with the relatives, friends of the members as
+well as those who while not bound to them by any intimate
+ties yet wished by their presence to show appreciation of the
+spirit which had prompted the young men to answer their
+country's call, even though it involved sacrifices hard indeed
+to make.</p>
+
+<p>From midnight until the hour for departure Main street
+was well filled with a waiting crowd and when the company
+marched from its armory, swinging into Main street, a cheer
+went up which was continuous until the train had borne the
+company out of sight of the assembled thousands. Rockets
+and colored fire lent brilliancy to the march and as the station
+was neared the denser grew the crowd until it was with
+difficulty a way was cleared for the company. Thousands,
+men and women, had gathered at the station and it was a
+scene worthy the pencil of a great artist, that farewell as the
+men marched up and boarded the cars with military precision.
+There were cheers and good wishes, personal farewells
+and tears, all commingling in one mass of sound that
+the station space had never heard before. But as the engine
+bell rang and the train began to move with slowly increasing
+swiftness out of the station all sounds merged into mighty
+cheers, which rose thunderously from the thousands of people.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span>
+In that uproar of cheers were submerged for the time
+the sobs of a few whose near and dear ones were on the
+train.</p>
+
+<p>So Springfield sent her first contingent to serve under the
+old flag in the war against Spain.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER III.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>HOW G, B AND K COMPANIES WENT TO SOUTH FRAMINGHAM.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i023.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">WHILE the naval militiamen of Springfield were being
+sent off to their places of duty amid the
+cheers of the people plans for the mobilization of
+the land forces of the state were going on apace.
+The call of President McKinley for troops was issued on
+April 23 and six days later on April 29, Col. Embury P.
+Clark of the Second Regiment of Infantry, M. V. M., was
+designated by Gov. Wolcott to raise a regiment of volunteers
+to answer the President's call as one of the four volunteer
+infantry regiments assigned to Massachusetts. On the same
+day Col. Clark was ordered to have his regiment report for
+duty at the state camp ground, South Framingham, at noon
+of May 3d, he being also ordered to assume command of the
+camp formed there by the four volunteer regiments.</p>
+
+<p>On receipt of these orders Col. Clark immediately notified
+his field and staff and company officers and from that time on
+everything at the state armory was done with a snap and a
+jump. Only a few days remained before May 3d, for that
+day fell on Tuesday, and it was Friday afternoon when the
+orders were received. Under the call the company strength
+for infantry was fixed at three officers and 74 enlisted men,
+but had it been 174 instead of 74 there would have been but
+little trouble in filling up the ranks. More men were anxious
+to enlist than there were places for and a hard problem for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>
+the company officers to face was that of discouraging and
+rejecting applicants for enlistment most of whom pleaded for
+the privilege as strongly as a ward politician does for a paying
+office. On an average about 75 per cent. of the men in the
+militia companies enlisted in the volunteers and it is only just
+to state that a good number of those who did not were
+"talked" out of it by their officers who realized, perhaps better
+than the men themselves, that going to the front meant
+more sacrifices than men with dependent families or relatives
+should be called upon to make.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime all was hurry and bustle at the state armory
+but order soon came out of all the apparent chaos and early
+on the morning of Tuesday, May 3d the local field and staff
+officers of the regiment and G, B and K companies, thus
+formed in the order of seniority of their captains, stood in
+the big drill shed, in full marching uniform with knapsacks
+packed and overcoats rolled up on them looking soldierly, and
+ready for whatever duty might call them to do.</p>
+
+<p>It was a dismal morning in more than one way. A drizzling
+rain fell at intervals and there was gloom in many
+hearts among the crowds of people lining Main street and
+the union station and its approaches. Though not a shot had
+yet been fired in actual conflict between the United States
+and Spain on land and Dewey's great victory at <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Manilla'">Manila</ins> had
+been won without the loss of a single American life, yet the
+people were beginning to understand that the grim realities
+of war might be brought home to them and this thought had
+its influence in repressing any too enthusiastic demonstration.</p>
+
+<p>But there was a demonstration, nevertheless. Outside the
+armory were hundreds of spectators, including relatives and
+friends of the boys and awaiting them were the members of
+E. K. Wilcox post, G. A. R., the veteran corps of G company
+and some veterans of B company, all headed by the
+Second Regiment band to act as escort for the companies as
+far as the union station.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Shortly after 8 o'clock the troops left the armory and
+headed by the escort marched through Main street and
+around Court square to city hall, where the column was
+reviewed by Mayor H. S. Dickinson and the city government.
+Thousands of people were massed here and there was
+some cheering. The fire department boys at headquarters
+on Pynchon street saluted the troops with a small cannon and
+on the rest of the way up Main street to the station there was
+some cheering but not any too much.</p>
+
+<p>At the corner of Main and Lyman streets the escort halted
+and formed in line. As the companies marched by the old
+soldiers of the civil war gave us three cheers, in which the
+militia veterans joined. The remainder of the march to the
+station was through a close packed crowd of men, women
+and children. There was some cheering, but as the soldier
+boys began to file into the waiting cars of the special train
+sobs and tears broke out from many of the women and as
+the train pulled out a few moments after 9 o'clock tears were
+more in evidence than cheers. As one of the boys put it,
+"They sent the naval boys off with cheers and kept the tears
+for us."</p>
+
+<p>This feeling was augmented by the enthusiasm with which
+the people of Worcester sent their three companies off.
+When our train pulled into the Worcester depot we found
+the building jammed with people, some perched upon the tops
+of standing engines and cars and the Worcester companies
+were so surrounded with people it was at first hard to tell
+where they were. When our special stopped and the
+Worcester men began to board it a volume of cheers went up
+that was almost enough to take the roof off the building.
+Everyone was cheering apparently and those who were not
+were so few in number that it was impossible to distinguish
+them.</p>
+
+<p>After leaving Springfield there were small crowds at every
+station between there and Worcester and though the train<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>
+did not stop there was much cheering and waving of hats.
+This was repeated during the run from Worcester to South
+Framingham.</p>
+
+<p>It was shortly before noon when we reached South Framingham
+and marched to the camp ground amid the cheers of
+the townspeople. Reaching there the companies were dismissed
+to quarters and dinner, which the company caterers
+had ready for us, we not going on government rations until
+some days later. A majority of the boys had been in camp
+at South Framingham before but this was different. A state
+militia encampment is one thing and a camp of United
+States volunteers is another. The old familiar wall tents
+were there but without the customary big blue chests in
+which were always stored much that was good in the way of
+refreshment for tired and thirsty militiamen. There was a
+trifle of added sharpness to the commands of officers and
+non-commissioned officers and there were various other little
+things which combined to show us that we were on the way
+to be the "real things" instead of "tin soldiers" as we had
+been dubbed in our militia days.</p>
+
+<p>"Physical examination of recruits" was the rock on which
+the desires of many of us to get at the hated Spaniards were
+to split and the rock began to show itself that very afternoon
+when A of Worcester was ordered over to brigade headquarters
+for examination. Before the shades of evening fell
+thirteen of its men had been rejected by the examining surgeons
+and as bad news always spreads through a camp with
+greater rapidity than good, many of us were wondering
+whether we would meet the same fate or not within the next
+few days.</p>
+
+<p>All the line officers and 75 per cent. of our men in the militia
+had come with us while there were more than enough
+"rookies" to fill out the quota. The recruits were, some of
+them, in uniform and a number had formerly been in the
+militia service, so that they took kindly enough to the opening<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span>
+of camp life. But as the militia companies had only
+been composed of 58 enlisted men there were not uniforms
+enough at the time to equip the extra men and some of the
+"rookies" looked odd and felt it in their civilian attire.
+More than one practical joke was played upon them before
+"taps" sounded, but the great majority of the men were
+tired enough to get to quarters and hug their luxurious mattresses
+before the bugles sounded the last call of the day.</p>
+
+<p>Of the field and staff and non-commissioned staff resident
+in Springfield and vicinity not all came to camp. Col. Clark
+and Major Southmayd were on hand as was Lt. Paul R.
+Hawkins, the regimental adjutant. Quartermaster Colson
+of Holyoke did not come and to his place was appointed
+Corporal E. E. Sawtell of K company. Major Brown of
+Adams, the regimental surgeon and Lt. J. T. Hendrick of
+Springfield, assistant surgeon did not volunteer and a new
+surgical staff was appointed, consisting of Dr. Henry T.
+Bowen of Springfield as major and surgeon, Dr. Ernest A.
+Gates of Springfield and Dr. John S. Hitchcock of Amherst
+as assistant surgeons with the rank of first lieutenants. Dr.
+Hitchcock was a member of I company when appointed.</p>
+
+<p>There were several changes in the non-commissioned staff.
+Corporal Robert N. Ingersoll was made sergeant-major vice
+Paul Norton and Ross L. Lusk quartermaster-sergeant vice
+Melville Snow of Holyoke. Three hospital stewards instead
+of one were assigned to the regiment, and the appointees were
+Ulysses G. Fortier of Holyoke, S. H. Greenberg of Boston and
+Edson P. Howes of Springfield. No color sergeants were
+provided for in the volunteer regiments and these positions
+were filled by detail.</p>
+
+<p>It was a matter of much regret that no place was provided
+for the paymaster and inspector of rifle practice. In the Second
+as a militia regiment these positions had been filled
+respectively by Lieut. A. C. Edson of Holyoke and A. E.
+Taylor of Chicopee Falls but no such positions were provided<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>
+for in the volunteer service and these officers were forced to
+remain behind.</p>
+
+<p>The first guard mount of the camp was held in the afternoon
+with First Lieut. P. C. Powers of K company as officer
+of the guard. So closed our first day at South Framingham.</p>
+
+<p class="p4" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i029.jpg" width="400" height="611" alt="" />
+<div class="caption">Surgeon Henry C. Bowen<br />
+&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Surgeon Ernest A. Gates.</div></div>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER IV.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHEREIN IS TOLD HOW WE WERE TRANSFORMED FROM
+"TIN" SOLDIERS INTO THE REAL ARTICLE.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i031.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi">IT did not require many day's of camp life at South Framingham
+to convince about all of us that we were there
+strictly for business. The weather was rather cold and
+there were a few flurries of snow although it was in May.
+The nights were so cool that huge fires of wood were
+built on the color line each night and around these the
+men gathered spending the time in singing, story telling and
+in wondering how soon we would start for the front and just
+what part we of the Second would take in subduing the pride
+of the haughty Spaniard.</p>
+
+<p>But little in the way of drilling was done at first, but after
+a day or two the work of whipping the "rookies" into shape
+was begun, the process being the simple one of having them
+fall in with the company and learning the drill as best they
+could. Squad drills were also carried on and it was during
+these that the raw material was best worked up.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had the regiment arrived in camp before regulation
+United States army blankets were issued to the men and
+issues of rubber blankets, "working suits" of brown canvas
+followed.</p>
+
+<p>Private Pomeroy of K company was the first of the Springfield
+men to be taken ill. He had not been feeling well before
+leaving home but pluckily made up his mind to go with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>
+his company just the same, and would not admit his illness.
+Soon after arriving in camp his condition became so serious
+that the surgeon was called to him and Pomeroy was found
+to be suffering with tonsilitis. He was removed from the
+camp to a hospital in South Framingham, but while there
+scarlet fever developed and he was sent home as soon as he
+had recovered sufficiently to be able to travel. Pomeroy felt
+much worse over his inability to go with his regiment than he
+did over his illness, serious as it was.</p>
+
+<p>The physical examinations soon made many sore hearts
+among the boys in camp, although the results of some of
+them were extremely satisfactory to the parents, relatives or
+friends of some of the would be soldiers. They were in
+charge of Capt. Bushnell U. S. A., who was assisted by the
+surgeons of the volunteer regiments in camp. B company
+was examined on Wednesday, the day after our arrival in
+camp and before sundown fully twenty men, including some
+of the oldest and best men of the company had been rejected
+for one cause or another. The commissioned officers of the
+regiment were also up for examination the same day, and
+among those rejected was First Lieut. Thomas A. Sweeney
+of G company and one of the most efficient and popular officers
+of the regiment. His rejection was a hard blow to him
+for he had set his heart on going with his men and to be rejected
+for what he considered to be a trivial cause was worse
+to him than being hit by a Spanish bullet. His grief was
+shared by his fellow officers and men, by whom he was exceedingly
+well liked. His place was filled by William C.
+Hayes, a former first lieutenant of the company.</p>
+
+<p>Lieut. W. L. Young of B company was officer of the guard
+on Wednesday, and among the incidents of his tour of duty
+that night was the rather unusual but efficient method by
+which a private of G company who had been placed on a
+somewhat remote post relieved himself from further duty
+after walking his post only a short time. The aforesaid private<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>
+concluded that he would be much more comfortable in
+his tent with his "bunkies" than walking his post for the
+remainder of his two hours, and so proceeded to the guard
+house, placed his rifle in a corner and announced to the officer
+of the guard "I'm relieved." Before Lieutenant Young
+could recover from his astonishment at the new method of
+getting out of guard duty, the private had gone to his own
+quarters where he slept peacefully for the remainder of the
+night.</p>
+
+<p>The results of the physical examinations were to "throw
+out" many of the best men in the three Springfield companies,
+and as this was not at all satisfactory to their captains,
+some vigorous "kicking" resulted. In many cases men
+were rejected for trivial causes, but as the result of vigorous
+objections to the policy, made by Captains Leonard, McDonald
+and Warriner, a number of the rejected men were re-examined
+and the majority of them accepted. In some instances
+more than two examinations were given the same
+man, and an instance where grit and a determination to go
+with his company got the best of the examining surgeons was
+the case of Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, better known as
+"Dickie." He was twice examined and rejected but through
+his efforts, aided by those of Capt. McDonald, he was given
+a third trial and passed.</p>
+
+<p>Could those people who had been for some years in the habit
+of sneering at the militiamen as "tin soldiers" have seen
+the way in which the rejected ones took their fate they would
+have changed their minds as to the soldierly calibre of the
+men of the Second. It was easy to tell the rejected ones as
+they came across the parade ground from the surgeon's quarters,
+many of them with tears in their eyes, all with downcast
+faces, because their bodies had not been strong enough
+to let them go with the regiment. Their hearts were strong
+enough to go to the front and fight for the flag but the government
+demanded stout bodies as well as stout hearts, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span>
+so, many were refused. It was not always in tears and
+"blue" looks that the rejected appeared from the examining
+rooms. Often a rejected one would emerge, uttering
+sarcastic and profane remarks as to the amount of surgical
+knowledge possessed by the examiners, and their qualifications
+generally, and some of the men exhibited a versatility
+of language in discussing their rejection and the surgeon who
+was responsible for it only possessed by men of genius.</p>
+
+<p>The rejections left the ranks of the Springfield companies
+much depleted and it was necessary to send officers to that
+city for recruits to fill the vacancies before the companies
+could be mustered in. Capt. Leonard of G, Lieut. Young
+of B and Lieut. Powers of K were sent on this duty and
+with them went about all of the men who had been rejected.
+As soon as the purpose of their visit was known in Springfield
+they were besieged by applicants for enlistment but having
+learned wisdom from what had happened in camp they
+took the precaution to have all the applicants pass a medical
+examination before bringing them to South Framingham and
+as a result few of the new men they brought down failed to
+pass the examining surgeons at the camp.</p>
+
+<p>On May 6, another member of K company, Private Cook,
+was taken ill with tonsilitis and was sent home, much to his
+disgust.</p>
+
+<p>On the same day the field and staff officers of the Second
+were mustered into the United States service by Lieut. E. M.
+Weaver, 2d artillery, who had been detailed as mustering
+officer for the Massachusetts volunteers. Adjutant Paul R.
+Hawkins was the first one to be mustered and he was followed
+by Quartermaster E. E. Sawtell. Surgeon Bowen and
+Assistant Surgeons Gates and Hitchcock had been mustered
+in on the day after our arrival in camp and had been assigned
+to duty in assisting in the examinations of recruits.</p>
+
+<p>First Lieut. W. C. Hayes of G joined his company on the
+afternoon of the 6th and after being examined and accepted
+was assigned to duty.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On Saturday and Sunday, the 7th and 8th, three batches
+of additional recruits arrived in camp and were at once
+handed over to the examining surgeons. By Sunday K
+company had filled its ranks to the required number of 74
+enlisted men and on that day was duly mustered into the
+military service of the United States for a period of two
+years "unless sooner discharged." The ceremony was a
+simple one. The company was marched over to brigade
+headquarters and formed in column of twos facing the mustering
+officer, Lieut. Weaver. The latter called out each
+man's name, beginning with the first sergeant and as each
+man answered he stepped to the front and facing about took
+position in front of the company in the same formation. The
+roll call over, the company was faced to the front, Lieut.
+Weaver removed his cap and the men uncovered. Then
+Lieut. Weaver read in impressive tones the oath of allegiance
+to the United States and administered it to the company,
+thus completing the ceremony which marked the transition
+of militiamen and raw recruits into soldiers of the United
+States. K company was the first company in Massachusetts
+to be mustered into the United States service and so far as
+known the first company in the country to be mustered in.
+That afternoon "government rations" were issued to K and
+the next day the men began eating them instead of the meals
+which had up to then been supplied by a caterer. Some of
+the men who failed to understand the difference between
+Uncle Sam's diet and that furnished at militia encampments
+found fault of course with the rations. Butter and milk are
+unknown in the regular soldiers' menu unless the company
+fund is drawn upon for them, and some of the men couldn't
+understand why they were not supplied and found fault
+accordingly. Later when we were all living luxuriously(?)
+in Cuba on "sowbelly" bacon, hardtack and coffee, sometimes
+without sugar, these men remembered with fond but
+unavailing regret the once despised government rations at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span>
+South Framingham. The fond parents and relatives who
+were told in letters from camp of how meager and unsatisfactory
+the first food furnished by Uncle Sam was may correct
+their idea by glancing over the rations issued for the first
+five days to K company while at South Framingham:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot small">
+
+<p>300 lbs. potatoes; 422 lbs. flour; 27-3/4 lbs. bacon; 7 lbs. rice; 43-3/4 lbs.
+beans; 30 lbs. coffee; 56-1/2 lbs. sugar; 15 lbs. salt; 3/4 lb. pepper; 15 lbs.
+soap; 75 lbs. onions; 5-5/8 lbs. candles; 3-3/4 gallons vinegar and 422 lbs.
+fresh beef.</p></div>
+
+<p>It is understood of course that the soap and candles were
+not issued as edibles but for cleansing and illuminating purposes.
+And it can also be seen that in the above rations
+there are possibilities for good eating and plenty of it. As a
+matter of fact milk and butter were soon supplied from the
+company funds.</p>
+
+<p>G and B companies were mustered in on the 10th with
+full ranks. G was to have been mustered in the day previous
+but when the time arrived one private, a raw recruit, was
+missing and as the entire company was obliged to be on hand
+for muster the ceremony was dispensed with for that day and
+the men were marched back vowing vengeance upon the
+man who had kept them for 24 hours from getting into the
+service. Before very long another recruit was found and
+when the missing private turned up full of penitence and
+other things his uniform was taken off and after receiving a
+talking to from Capt. Leonard that made his cheeks burn
+with shame he was shipped out of camp.</p>
+
+<p>The boys found plenty of amusement during their camp
+life and with nearly 1000 young fellows in one regiment time
+did not hang very heavily on their hands during the times
+between drills and other duties. Base ball and other sports
+were indulged in and letter writing and visits to the other
+regiments or an occasional pass to town prevented anything
+like ennui. In the Springfield companies there were few
+tent crews that did not have some distinctive appellation for
+their habitation. Private J. C. Ryan of B made his tent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>
+famous as a "steam laundry" and in G street there was the
+"Hotel Dingbat," so named because the men who occupied
+it could not think of anything else to call it. In K there was
+quickly organized an outfit later to be known as the "Wee
+Haws" and which made itself somewhat famous by the gift
+of song possessed by its members.</p>
+
+<p>The "board of license commissioners" so famous during
+the encampment of 1897 was on hand but its members had
+but little of an official nature to do as the camp of '98 was
+officially a "dry camp." A good share of the dryness was,
+however, confined to the weather and a careful search of the
+records fails to show that any inmate of the camp died of
+thirst, although there were some serious cases.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER V.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE GET ORDERS TO LEAVE FOR THE SUNNY SOUTH
+AND OBEY THEM.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i038.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">ALL of the time during our stay in camp speculation
+was rife as to when we were going to the front and
+how; also under what designation were we going.
+It had been circulated that we were to be known as
+the 63d United States Volunteers, and other rumors,
+all of which turned out to be just as near the truth as that one
+were put into commission. These marked the origin of the
+"Jo Jo" bureau of misinformation which later became an
+important feature of the campaign.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i039" id="i039" href="images/i039-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i039.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Commissioned and Non-Commissioned Officers of G Company</span></div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>On the night of Wednesday, May 11th at 9.30, orders were
+flashed over the wires from Washington to Lieut. Weaver to
+send the Second at once to Tampa, Fla., where the army of
+invasion of Cuba was gathering. Almost everyone except
+the guard and a few officers and attaches at regimental headquarters,
+was asleep when the orders came but within a very
+few moments after their purport had been announced, there
+was the wildest scene of excitement in the camp that had
+ever been witnessed in South Framingham. From Lieut.
+Weaver the orders were quickly transmitted to regimental
+headquarters and from there to the officers of the regiment.
+Inside of ten minutes from their receipt by Lieut. Weaver,
+every man of the Second was awake and in his company
+street and exultant shouts that went up, quickly aroused the
+other regiments. The Second was to be the first command
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>from the old Bay State to be ordered outside her boundaries
+for active service and the men were so proud of it that they
+could not refrain from reminding the men of the other three
+regiments of the fact. To the credit of the latter it must be
+said that although at first they were a bit inclined to sulk because
+their regiment was not the first to be called upon, yet
+they soon realized that the honor was in a sense as much
+Massachusetts' as it was the Second's, and their cheers joined
+in with ours.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the regimental and company officers were doing
+some lively work. Col. Clark had gone to Springfield
+that morning, and a number of officers and men were away
+on leave, no one expecting that the orders would come for a
+day or two. The regiment was ordered to move the next
+day and before the orders had been known of but a very few
+minutes, telegraph and telephone messages were sent to the
+absent ones informing them of what had happened. This
+done, the work of completing the equipment of the regiment
+was taken up and pushed in lively fashion. There were
+many little details to be attended to and there was little sleep
+for headquarters that night. How well the work was done
+is attested by the fact that at an early hour the next morning
+the regiment had its tents struck and packed, and long before
+the hour at which many of the folks at home were eating
+their breakfasts, was in readiness to move. Reveille was
+sounded at 4 o'clock that morning and by 6 there was but little
+remaining to be done.</p>
+
+<p>Although anxious for active service there was one thing
+about the orders which was not at all relished by the regiment
+and that was the route to be followed. It had been expected
+and understood that when the Second would go south
+its route would be through Worcester and Springfield, thus
+giving us a chance for a genuine <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">au revoir</i> to home and
+friends. We all of us knew that the "farewell" accorded
+us on leaving Springfield for the camp at South Framingham<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>
+would be tame indeed to the reception we might expect when
+we passed through there as United States Volunteers, with a
+large V, and bound for the front. Some of the boys, to be
+sure, dreaded the thought of having to say "good bye" to
+the accompaniment of tears and sobs again but the majority
+were anxious for one more look at what part of Springfield
+to be seen from the union station and were consequently
+much disappointed when it was announced that instead of
+going via Springfield, the route was to be by way of Newport,
+R. I.</p>
+
+<p>There was much disappointment, too, in Springfield when
+the route was announced. But not <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'to be be beaten'">to be beaten</ins>, a party
+of citizens headed by Major H. S. Dickinson, arranged for a
+special train to South Framingham, the day we were to leave
+and so we were not allowed to go without some sort of a
+farewell demonstration from the people of our own city.</p>
+
+<p>On the day previous to our receiving the "rush" orders to
+the south, a number of visitors including ex-Lieut. Gov. W.
+H. Haile, Col. A. H. Goetting and James D. Gill of Springfield
+were in camp, and it came to their attention that the
+Second was not provided with a band or even field music.
+No regimental bands were included in the organization of the
+volunteer regiments nor even field music, the sole musical
+property being the bugles of which there were two to each
+company. It was looked upon as a proper and desirable
+thing that the Second should at least have field music, or in
+civilian parlance, a drum corps, and these three gentlemen
+constituted themselves a committee on ways and means to
+that end. It was known that there were enough musicians
+in the regiment to form a drum corps if there were instruments
+provided for them and before the next day through the
+generosity of the three gentlemen named, the Second was
+provided with fifes, drums, etc., and the members of the
+corps selected.</p>
+
+<p>Thursday, May 12th, we bade good-bye to South Framingham.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>
+There was difficulty in getting transportation for
+our baggage and it was not until a late hour in the afternoon
+that everybody was in readiness. Meanwhile we hung
+around our former quarters and killed time as best we could.
+A short time after dinner, our last meal on the "old camp
+ground," the "assembly" and "adjutant's call" were
+sounded and the regiment was formed to pass in review before
+Gov. Wolcott. The march past over, hollow square
+was formed and the governor presented the officers their
+commissions and made a brief speech telling us to uphold
+the honor of the old commonwealth.</p>
+
+<p>While this was going on we heard the strains of a band
+and soon in marched a delegation from Springfield, headed
+by the Second regiment band and led by Mayor Dickinson,
+members of Wilcox post of the Grand Army and Peabody
+Guard Veterans, while relatives and friends of the boys
+made up the rest of the 500 in the party. Soon after their
+arrival we were dismissed and then followed one of the interesting
+scenes of our war experience. Hardly had we
+broken ranks before we were surrounded by the visitors and
+there was falling upon each other's necks, handshaking,
+good wishes, smiles and tears all commingled in one scene
+of such excitement as we had never been through before.
+Every male visitor brought cigars or refreshments for the
+boys and for an hour or so nothing was too good for us.</p>
+
+<p>But all things have an end and finally the bugles blew
+and after a last hurried kiss or handshake we fell in again
+and marched out to the parade ground for the last time.
+The colors dipped once more to the governor and then
+through a double line of cheering soldiers from the other
+regiments and our own friends we marched out of the camp
+and down the dusty road to the railroad station, escorted by
+two troops of cavalry and amid the cheers and good wishes
+of the thousands who thronged the walks. We passed
+under the handsome arch erected by the people of South<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span>
+Framingham in honor of the soldiers and after one last
+opportunity to say farewell went on board the special trains
+waiting for us. So we left good old Massachusetts.</p>
+
+<p>On our way to Newport we were shown how the people
+of other places regarded us. At every station our train
+passed through there were cheering crowds and enthusiasm
+seemed to be in evidence everywhere. We reached Newport
+about 9.30 and were transferred to the palatial steamer
+"Pilgrim" of the Fall River line.</p>
+
+<p>"This isn't so bad for army travelling," was the common
+remark as soon as the boys found what accommodations
+had been made for them. There were nearly enough staterooms
+to provide every man with a bunk and those who
+failed to get a room found nice, thick mattresses spread for
+them on the saloon floors. It brought the "Trip to New
+York" and Valiquet back to the memories of many of us
+because the accommodations were so different.</p>
+
+<p>But it was a tired lot of boys that boarded the Pilgrim
+that night and it was not long before all of them were testing
+the mattresses and bunks, after indulging by the way
+for the first time in the "travel ration." This was our first
+encounter with the canned beef department but <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'somehew'">somehow</ins> it
+tasted better then than it ever did afterwards. Also we
+allowed our teeth to play with the ligneous hardtack and
+finally fatigued with our exertions we slept soundly.</p>
+
+<p>The next morning when we woke up we were in the East
+river and at the sight of her blue coated cargo every steam
+craft that met the Pilgrim saluted with steam whistles while
+their crews or passengers as well as those of the sailing
+craft cheered and waved handkerchiefs or anything else
+waveable. From every factory along the shore came the
+shrieks of the steam whistles and the shouts of their occupants
+and our progress down the river to the Fall River
+line pier was a triumphal progress.</p>
+
+<p>When we reached the pier it was not long before we were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span>
+transferred to the transports Saratoga and Vigilancia, the
+Springfield companies being on board the latter. Then it
+was that we began to realize what war was. Down in the
+dirty, dark and ill smelling hold we could see men at work
+building rough wooden bunks for us and the language used
+concerning these bunks and their location was copious and
+picturesque to a high degree. No "Pilgrim" accommodations
+were these. No mattresses 12 inches thick to rest our
+weary bones upon but the soft and splintered pine boards were
+to form our couch. Also the travel ration with its components
+of canned roast beef(?), canned corn beef, canned beans and
+hardtack was beginning to pall upon our palates. We were
+not used to such Epicurean fare and began to fear gout and
+other incidentals of too luxurious living. So we gathered
+together and said things but all the time the carpenters went
+on constructing the bunks and no dinners were brought on
+for us from the Waldorf-Astoria.</p>
+
+<p>Our first cruise on the Vigilancia was further up the North
+river where we waited until late in the afternoon and while
+waiting many of the boys managed to get ashore. Some of
+them were nearly left behind as we pulled out of the dock
+and a few did get left on shore, but they chartered a tug and
+soon caught us. That night our transports sailed down the
+harbor as far as Bedloe's Island where we anchored opposite
+the Bartholdi statue and where we stayed anchored until the
+next afternoon. That night the much discussed wooden
+troughs officially named bunks were used and were the cause
+of much profane language for which the recording angel
+ought to be able to find a good excuse if he has any love for
+volunteer soldiers in his composition. Late that afternoon
+we were taken over to Jersey City and transferred to a special
+train of three sections of 14 cars each on which we were
+to make the trip to Tampa. And thus ended our first sea
+voyage.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER VI.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE GO TO THE SOUTHLAND AND BEGIN TO FIND OUT WHERE
+WE ARE AT.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i046.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">ON Saturday evening, May 14, we started once more
+for the South, this time by train and had the distinguished
+honor of beating out the much-advertised
+71st New York, which had been ordered to start at
+the same time, but forgot its tentage on board the
+steamers and was obliged to wait for several hours in consequence.
+Our train accommodations could have been much
+worse, the train being run in three sections of 14 cars each
+and as four companies travelled on each section this arrangement
+gave each company three cars, while a sleeping car was
+reserved for the officers and with a baggage car made up the
+section. With three cars to a company there was plenty of
+room for the men and we managed to sleep quite comfortably.
+At every station along the route we received plenty of greetings
+and this happened so frequently after we got below
+Mason &amp; Dixon's line that the boys wondered a little, inasmuch
+as we were from "Black Massachusetts." But it was
+evident that all but a very few of the people of the South
+realized that the civil war was over and we got no heartier
+reception anywhere along the route than in Virginia and
+North and South Carolina.</p>
+
+<p>We reached Washington early Sunday morning and made
+a brief stop just long enough to allow some of the boys to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>
+make a raid on a couple of milk wagons. To our disappointment
+the train did not run through the city but skirted
+it and we failed to get a glimpse of any of the show places.
+We kept on going and late Monday evening, the 16th, landed
+at Lakeland, Fla., where we went into camp, our destination
+having been changed by telegraphic orders received soon
+after crossing the Florida line.</p>
+
+<p>Life on the train was not very exciting. We made but
+few stops and those mainly to change engines. In South
+Carolina we made our first acquaintance with wood burning
+engines. After these were hitched on it was a case of stopping
+every few miles to "wood up." When the train did
+not stop for wood it did for water and between them both
+progress was slow to us but we found that according to
+southern ideas we were going at express speed.</p>
+
+<p>Our troop train was a great attraction for the children at
+the stations where we stopped and it was a common thing for
+the boys and girls of these places to hand us bunches of jessamine
+and magnolia flowers while the older folk looked on
+approvingly. The colored people were somewhat demonstrative
+but both they and the white folks never neglected an
+opportunity to sell us cakes and pies at every stop. The pies
+reminded us of those we had been getting at home, they were
+so different, but as a relief from canned meat and beans they
+were welcome. Occasionally when we stopped we found it
+possible to purchase bottled beer of an inferior grade, but
+better than most of the water we had to drink.</p>
+
+<p>On the trip south Lieuts. Young and Vesper of B company
+established records as sleepers that put them far ahead in
+their class. Captains Leonard and McDonald had the same
+section in the sleeping car and about every night there could
+be heard a more or less vigorous protest from the former
+against Capt. McDonald's use of a 700 horse power pipe.
+Lieut. Harry Parkhurst of K was the victim of much "jollying"
+over a story printed in a New York newspaper to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span>
+effect that he was a nephew of the Rev. Dr. Parkhurst of
+New York, but he took it good naturedly.</p>
+
+<p>At Dupont, Ga., Private William Ferrier of G foraged a
+little during a brief stop and captured a diminutive specimen
+of the "razor back" hog prevalent in that locality and bore
+him in triumph to the train. Any visions of pork chops
+which might have been indulged in were dispelled by a look
+at the pig's anatomy which was plainly visible through his
+skin but he was taken along just the same and met his fate
+at Lakeland when he was killed and roasted by Private
+"Dido" Hunt of G and served up to a small but select circle.</p>
+
+<p>At one of the many stops in Florida a portly colored lady
+hung about the train and made violent love to the good looking
+officers, her comments on the personal appearance of
+some of them being rather more pungent than flattering.
+So far as known she did not steal any of them.</p>
+
+<p>During the stay at South Framingham Privates E. N.
+Aiken and B. R. Madison of K company had blossomed out
+as composers and one of their effusions which was sung by
+the more or less able musicians of the company in camp and
+on the train to the tune of: "There'll be a Hot Time in the
+Old Town To-night" was as follows:</p>
+
+<div class="poem small"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"When you hear those guns go bang, bang, bang,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">We'll all join in and lick that Dago gang,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For we want war or we'll have no name at all,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">There'll be a hot time when the bugle shall call."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>The above was Private Aiken's. Here is Private Madison's:</p>
+
+<div class="poem small"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">"In the battle front we stand with our rifles in our hand<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And for Cuba's freedom we will ever fight;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And with showers of shot and shell,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">We'll send the Spaniards straight to h&mdash;&mdash;l,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">When we march into Havana bye and bye.<br /></span>
+
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i20 small">CHORUS.</span>
+
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i2">Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys are marching,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Cheer up, Cuba, we will come,<br /></span>
+<span class="i4">And beneath the starry flag<br /></span>
+<span class="i4">We'll tear down the Spanish rag<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And float the Cuban flag forevermore."<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span></p>
+<p>Our arrival at Lakeland was marked by an incident which
+went to show that we were not in the north. Just as our
+train pulled in a shooting affray, in which a couple of troopers
+from the Tenth U. S. cavalry, a colored regiment and some
+white people participated, occurred and a white citizen of the
+town was killed. As nearly as we could understand it the
+troopers were not to blame but shot in self defense but there
+was much excitement in the town and strong patrols of the
+First U. S. cavalry, a white regiment, were sent out. We
+were kept in the train that night and the next morning after
+a bath in one of the many lakes from which the town takes
+its name, marched to our camp at the fair grounds and on
+the shores of Lake Morton. The camp was pitched on an
+elevation and under the southern pine and cypress trees from
+which hung long festoons of Spanish moss. Much of this
+was gathered for bedding but it was soon abandoned for this
+purpose when it was found that it harbored numbers of lizards
+and sometimes small snakes.</p>
+
+<p>Our neighbors at the camp were the First and Tenth regular
+cavalry and the 71st New York which arrived a day after
+we did. The 71st men being from Manhattan were inclined
+to be a bit fresh at first but they soon came to understand
+that the Second was not exactly a "farmer" regiment and
+let us alone. One disagreeable incident went to show that
+among the New York officers were some snobs. Sergeant
+James Gibbons of G while "down town" one day went into
+the dining room of the hotel and ordered his dinner. The
+commanding officer of the 71st and some of his officers were
+in the room at the time and as soon as he realized that an enlisted
+man was actually daring to eat in the same room with
+him his indignation became so great that he walked over to
+the table where Sergeant Gibbons was seated and ordered
+him to leave the place, saying that only officers were allowed
+in the dining room. Sergeant Gibbons did not feel like moving
+and the hotel proprietor assured him that he would be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span>
+served as well as any officer. So he refused to budge and
+enjoyed his dinner, much to the disgust of the New York
+officer.</p>
+
+<p>Life at Lakeland was fairly enjoyable. The temperature
+was high, ranging from 84 on one day it rained to 124 on a
+day it did not. We had our big wall tents we had brought
+with us from South Framingham and soon had them filled
+with more or less crude devices in the way of furniture.
+Mattresses there were none and our beds were Mother Earth
+which was of a brunette hue down there. Bathing in the
+lake was a favorite pastime between drills but after the
+muddy bottom had been stirred up a little it was a question
+whether we were dirtier before the bath or after it. There
+were all kinds of "Jo Jos" about a huge alligator who made
+his home in the lake but he had evidently heard of our appetites
+and kept out of sight.</p>
+
+<p>The First cavalry, camped some distance on our right, had
+established a canteen soon after its arrival and it became a
+favorite place for our boys. A couple of days after our
+arrival we got our first mail from home and that day was a
+red letter one in our Lakeland life.</p>
+
+<p>Just before reaching Lakeland some K company foragers
+had captured a goat at one of the stops but the owner pursued
+the animal to Lakeland and when he put in a claim for
+him Capt. Warriner ordered the "billy" given up. Our
+menu in camp was far more varied than on the train for
+"post" rations were being issued and the company cooks
+were "getting on to their jobs." Private Mandeville, who
+afterwards acquired much fame by being left behind at Fort
+Tampa, presided over the kitchen of G. In B company
+Walter Butler got up savory dishes and Private Harry Fisher
+looked after the culinary department for K. Butter was conspicuous
+by its absence from the table and one boy in K
+missed it so much that he dreamed of it. One night his
+dreams were so realistic that his cry of "Ma, please pass<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span>
+the butter," awoke his tent mates and that expression was
+the rallying cry in K for several days.</p>
+
+<p>The death of Private Weslie Brass of Westfield, a member
+of I company, cast a gloom over the regiment and all
+the companies turned out to do escort duty when the body
+was shipped home. His was the first death in the regiment.</p>
+
+<p>On Sunday, May 30th, orders came to break camp the following
+day and proceed to Tampa, which we did, arriving
+there on Monday afternoon, the 31st.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER VII.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE STAY IN YBOR CITY AND THEN ENJOY (?) LIFE ON
+TRANSPORTS IN THE HARBOR.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i052.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">OUR stay in Tampa lasted from May 31st to June 7th
+and it was not wholly unenjoyable. In some respects
+the place was better than Lakeland, but we
+felt the heat far more than was the case in that town
+and the camp location was not as good as that of our
+camp there. But we were near Tampa and there were
+many opportunities for us to get to the city, our camp
+being in one of the suburbs some three miles from Tampa
+and known as Ybor City. Its population was made up
+mainly of Cubans and negroes and a number of cigar factories
+were located there. The Cubans were all "patriots"
+of course, but our disenchantment as to Cuban patriots had
+already begun and we paid them little attention. On our
+right was camped a battalion of the Fourth regular artillery
+(heavy) and this was probably the occasion of a rumor which
+had persistent circulation for several days that we were to be
+transformed from infantry to a heavy artillery regiment and
+assigned to sea coast duty.</p>
+
+<p>We had a lovely time pitching our tents and making camp.
+Owing to a delay in laying out the camp it was not until
+after dark on the day of our arrival that we set to work to
+pitch our tents and as a result it was not only late before we
+got to sleep but the next morning considerable work had to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span>
+be done in rectifying the alignment of the company streets.
+The soil was nice white sand which made fairly good beds.</p>
+
+<p>On the afternoon of the next day we found out what a
+Florida "shower" could do when it tried. The rain came on
+unexpectedly and within a very few moments everything was
+in a flood. But few of the boys had taken the precaution to
+dig trenches around their tents and after the rain began to
+come down in sheets they were compelled to get out in it and
+dig or else have their quarters flooded. Here was where the
+value of the rubber blankets issued to us at South Framingham
+was shown.</p>
+
+<p>It was while we were at Ybor City that our regiment was
+definitely assigned. We were put into the First Brigade of
+the Second Division of the Fifth army corps, our brigade
+commander being temporarily Col. Van Horn of the 22nd
+infantry while Gen. H. W. Lawton was in command of the
+division. This set at rest all the rumors about our being
+heavy artillery, cavalry and several other things. It also
+meant that we were to go to Cuba among the very first of
+the invading troops and there was no end of enthusiasm
+when this was understood.</p>
+
+<p>During our stay in Ybor City Wagoners Kingston of B,
+Shene of G and Boule of K became expert drivers of the
+army mule wagon although their trials with the mule
+were many and various. In B street there were some
+pathetic scenes when the members of the Kanewah club got
+together and talked over how nice it would be "to be there"
+even if the gasoline stove did not always work.</p>
+
+<p>Payday came June 4th and we got our first "whack"
+at Uncle Sam's good money. It was welcome, for since leaving
+South Framingham but little had been in circulation
+among our boys and we gave the paymaster the "glad hand."
+In return, he lined us up by companies and gave us greenbacks
+and a little silver. We had expected a full month's
+pay but were disappointed, our pay being calculated from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>
+May 3d, the day we had officially been mustered in, to the
+first of June. There were many applications for passes to
+visit Tampa that day and the majority of them were granted.
+The Seminole hotel and the stores in Ybor City and Tampa
+did a rushing business that afternoon and evening.</p>
+
+<p>The "Wee Haws" of K contributed not a little to the
+gaiety of our camp life at this time and one of their songs to
+the air of "Rally 'Round the Flag" and reflecting upon the
+subsistence department was popular. It went like this:</p>
+
+<div class="poem small"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Down with the hardtack!<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Hurrah, boys, hurrah,<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Down with the canned beef;<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">We wonder what you are;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For we'll rally 'round the beans, boys,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">We'll rally once again<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Shouting the battle cry of "Wee Haw."<br /></span>
+
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">'Please pass the butter,'<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Hurrah, boys, hurrah!<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">If the coffee was much thicker<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">We'd sell it off for tar;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For we'll never look like Billy Fish<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Unless we get more grub&mdash;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Shouting the battle cry of "Wee Haw."<br /></span>
+
+</div><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">Ade Potter's growing thinner,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Healey's just the same<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">Brazzil, Breck and Nesbitt swear,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Their biscuit box is lame;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">For George Potter ate his canteen<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">And Aiken ate the strap<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And McCullough shouts the battle cry of "Wee Haw!"<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>About this time some brainless individual sent alarming
+news home in a letter, which was published in the Springfield
+newspapers, to the effect that sickness was prevalent in
+our camp and that a large proportion of the men of the three
+companies from that city were in the hospital seriously ill.
+As a result we soon began to get letters of anxious inquiry
+from the folks at home, and it was some time before we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span>
+could fully reassure them that the reports had been extremely
+exaggerated and that there was but little illness and none of a
+serious nature in our ranks.</p>
+
+<p>While in Ybor City we lost two men, Privates Luther of
+K and Monteverde of G. Both were ordered to be discharged
+from the service, because of having enlisted while
+under age and without the consent of their parents or guardians.
+Monteverde was reluctant to leave the regiment and
+pleaded hard to be allowed to go with us to Cuba even as a
+civilian <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'employe'">employee</ins>, and when that was refused he offered to go
+without any pay. But this was found to be impossible and
+he and Luther were obliged to return home. The case of
+Private John K. DeLoach of B company was a hard one.
+He had enlisted in South Framingham and in some way his
+relatives, who resided in Atlanta, Ga., heard of it, and as he
+was under age and had not their consent, applied for his discharge.
+Orders to have him discharged were issued but they
+failed to arrive while we were in Tampa, and did not reach
+us until after the regiment had landed in Cuba and done its
+share in capturing Santiago. DeLoach had done his duty
+during the most arduous part of the campaign, and as a result
+was given a "bob tail" discharge and left to get back to
+the United States as best he could. Sometimes the rewards
+of patriotism are not great, and this was certainly one of
+the instances.</p>
+
+<p>June 6th orders were received to break camp and proceed
+to Port Tampa, there to go on board the transports for Cuba.
+We broke camp all right, got our tents down and all baggage
+packed and saw them sent away and then proceeded to wait.
+We waited all that afternoon and night and until late in the
+afternoon of the next day before our belated transportation
+was arranged for. As a result of a blunder in the quartermaster's
+department, we were compelled to bivouac that
+night without any shelter. This was our first real acquaintance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>
+with the fact expressed in the statement attributed to
+Gen. Sherman, that "War is h&mdash;l."</p>
+
+<p>Late in the afternoon of June 7th, we marched to the railroad
+and went on board a train which after a couple of hours
+brought us to Port Tampa, distance about eight miles. Here
+we found some practical illustrations of the beautiful manner
+in which the quartermaster's department was working. It
+had been stated to Col. Clark that on arriving at Port Tampa
+we were to immediately go on board the transports, but after
+disembarking from the train and waiting for some time it was
+found that no transports had been assigned to us. Nothing
+could be done in the matter that night, and we were to be
+left to shift for ourselves as best we could. There were no
+barracks in Port Tampa, and it was too late to go into camp
+even if we had our tentage with us, which we did not. After
+considerable scouting, Col. Clark discovered that quarters
+might be found in the freight sheds on a long pier, and we
+started for them only to have the entire regiment halted and
+held up for some minutes at the point of the bayonet of a sentinel
+of the First Illinois regiment, who was on guard at the
+entrance to the pier and had orders to let no one pass. This
+obstacle was finally surmounted and we marched onto the
+pier and made ourselves comfortable as best we could.</p>
+
+<p>During that night on the pier the foraging instincts of
+Private "Dido" Hunt of G company became active, and as
+a result he and several members of that company passed the
+long hours of the night very comfortably. The freight sheds
+were divided into sections, and in that allowed to G was a lot
+of freight. Included were two innocent looking barrels, but
+guided solely by instinct "Dido" decided to investigate their
+contents. With this end in view he spread his roll and blanket
+by the side of the barrels, and, lying on his side began to
+cut a hole through the staves of one of them. This was rather
+difficult because of the sentries, but it was finally accomplished,
+and much to the forager's intense satisfaction, the
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span>insertion of his hand through the hole and into the barrel,
+revealed to him that it was filled with bottled beer. Satisfying
+himself in the only proper manner, that there was no mistake,
+he acquainted the members of his squad and a few others
+with his find and soon an impromptu picnic was in progress.
+Under the very noses of the sentries, the contents of
+that barrel of beer disappeared before morning, and to those
+in the secret the night passed very pleasantly.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i057" id="i057" href="images/i057-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i057.jpg" width="600" height="390" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">
+Lieut. William Young.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Capt. Henry McDonald.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Lieut. Harry Vesper.</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>The next morning four companies and headquarters of the
+Second were transferred to the transport Orizaba, the companies
+being G, B, K and D. The transport already had on
+board the Eighth and Twenty-second regular infantry, and
+as a result our boys were crowded about on the decks and
+compelled to sleep anywhere they could. The officers were
+crowded into the staterooms and their experiences on the
+Orizaba were not much more enjoyable than those of the
+men. Some of the regulars, with a fine contempt for volunteers,
+did their best to make things as unpleasant for us as
+possible, but the majority were of a different disposition and
+aided us all they could, which unfortunately was not much.</p>
+
+<p>We expected to sail that day but did not. The same could
+be said about our expectations and disappointments every
+succeeding day until we did finally sail on the 14th. Before
+that happened we were again transferred, this time to the
+well remembered transport, Knickerbocker. This event happened
+on the 13th and when we found that the Knickerbocker's
+number was 13, that she had that number of letters
+in her name and that about everybody and everything connected
+with her was more or less mixed up with the alleged
+unlucky number some of us began to wonder what would
+happen. Fortunately nothing did, but that was because
+somebody, not connected with the war department, or with
+this world, was looking after us. The third battalion was
+added to our force on board the Knickerbocker, the second
+being on the Seneca and the Manteo.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On the evening of the 13th the 13 hoodoo began to work.
+A steam pipe burst and some of the boys, thinking a general
+explosion would follow, jumped from the deck to the dock,
+but although there was considerable fuss and excitement no
+one was hurt. That night sleep on the Knickerbocker was
+out of the question, for a gang of negro roustabouts was
+engaged all night in loading provisions onto our steamer and
+their cries, together with the noise of the steam winches prevented
+any sleep. On the afternoon of the next day, the
+14th, the steamer finally cast off and started down the harbor
+in the wake of the other transports. After being tied up
+in Tampa harbor for six long days we were at last at sea and
+bound for Cuba.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER VIII.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE HAVE A LOVELY SAIL ON THE PALATIAL KNICKERBOCKER
+AND REACH CUBA WITHOUT MISHAP.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i061.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">OUR voyage to Cuba on Transport No. 13, unofficially
+known as the Knickerbocker, will long linger in our
+memories. The Knickerbocker was a lovely ship
+but her loveliness was of such a nature that it was
+seldom referred to without a free and unlimited use
+of adjectives in the ratio of more than 16 to 1. After a while
+it got to be a case of "Don't speak of her past, boys," and
+we seldom did. The present was bad enough and as for her
+future, all of us had grave doubts concerning it. There was
+a story from apparently authentic sources, that before the
+government, in a moment of temporary aberation, engaged
+the services of the Knickerbocker as a transport, she had
+been engaged in conveying Italian emigrants from New
+York to New Orleans, and her interior condition when we
+boarded her gave conformation of the stories.</p>
+
+<p>Many words could be written concerning the Knickerbocker
+and our opinion of her, but as a good share of them would
+form language not generally used in the best society, it will
+be perhaps as well to draw the veil of silence over a good part
+of it.</p>
+
+<p>Her captain's name was Betts and he was an aged individual
+who savored much of the sea and who evidently had
+been the victim of an early or late disappointment, either in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span>
+love or something else, that resulted in souring him towards
+himself and everybody else. The name of the steward of the
+boat is unknown, but this did not bother the boys much,
+their usual designation of him being "thief" or "robber" or
+any term of opprobrium that came handy. If he was a poor
+man when the Knickerbocker sailed with us from Tampa
+harbor, there was no reason why he could not have returned
+with money enough to start a fair sized bank account, for he
+sold us everything there was to sell, and considerable that he
+had no right to, and he always charged us Klondike prices
+for everything. He was never under suspicion of giving
+away anything, not even himself. Before the voyage was
+half over there came near being a mutiny among the crew
+which had discovered, so they said, that the steward was
+taking the provisions destined for them and selling them to
+such of our boys as had money and had become weary of the
+luxurious and varied fare given us by the government. At
+the same time his extortions had become so burdensome to
+our boys that muttered threats against him were heard and
+but for some of the cooler heads among the soldiers he might
+have been the victim of the vengeance both of the crew and
+the troops.</p>
+
+<p>There were thirteen staterooms on the boat and into these
+were crowded 32 officers. The men were "bunked" in the
+hold, and if there was any provision for ventilation other
+than the hatches, no trace was ever found of it. On the first
+night out the men slept on the decks and so were enabled to
+pass the night in considerable comfort, for if the deck planks
+were hard, there was at least some air and the cool sea breeze
+made sleeping possible. But on the second night out there
+came trouble. The surgeon was fearful that the night dews
+would have a bad effect on the men, and had been told so
+much of the evil effects of sleeping out in the air in tropical
+latitudes that he believed it best for the men to sleep below
+decks. He pressed his views upon the commanding officer,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span>
+and the result was an order to the officer of the day to allow
+no men to sleep above decks on that or the succeeding nights
+of the voyage.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally, when this order was communicated to the men,
+there was a protest. There was a decided difference of opinion
+between the men and the surgeon as to the evil results
+from sleeping on deck, and the men were inclined to rebel
+against the order. However, Capt. McDonald of B company
+was officer of the day, and no matter what his sympathies
+were, orders were orders. So soon after "taps" had sounded
+he and the guard made a tour of the boat and the sleepers
+were informed that they must retire to the bunks below and
+complete their slumbers. Then there was a howl of remonstrance,
+but it was without avail. The sleepers were rounded
+up and hustled below. In protest against this came all sorts
+of noise from the sleeping quarters. Songs and yells, and
+there was much satire in many of the songs, came up from
+below. The surgeons were alluded to as "Horse doctors"
+and "Salts," and one chorus that came floating up through
+the hatches ran something like this:</p>
+
+<p>"What do they give us for stomach ache?"</p>
+
+<p>"Salts."</p>
+
+<p>"What do they give us for a broken leg?"</p>
+
+<p>"Salts."</p>
+
+<p>"What do they give us for rheumatism?"</p>
+
+<p>"Salts."</p>
+
+<p>And so on through a catalogue of all the various diseases incident
+to man or animals.</p>
+
+<p>Finally the noise became so great that Capt. McDonald
+threatened to have the hatches closed, thus destroying the
+last faint chance of obtaining any air. This was met by the
+threat that if the hatches were closed bullets would be fired
+through them, but after a while the noise quieted down and
+the men dropped off to sleep. After that night the order to
+sleep below decks was pretty well obeyed as the reason for it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>
+begun to be understood by the men and they realized that it
+was prompted by a desire for their welfare and not to annoy
+them.</p>
+
+<p>Not all the boys slept below, however. Emery, Morehouse
+and Kelly of K had managed to secrete themselves in
+one of the ships boats and made it their sleeping quarters all
+the time of the voyage. As it was covered by a tarpaulin
+they were well protected from the dews or rains, and in any
+case they managed to keep the secret so well that they were
+not molested.</p>
+
+<p>G company suffered a terrible loss on the day we sailed.
+Private Mandeville, the company cook, had managed to cut
+himself so badly in the arm with a carving knife, during our
+stay at Lakeland, that he had been excused from that duty.
+On our last day at Port Tampa he had obtained shore leave
+and <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'utillized'">utilized</ins> it so well in looking at the wine when it was red,
+or something that had the same effect, that he was in a
+trance when the orders came to leave. So when the Knickerbocker
+sailed, G was one man short, and after the requisite
+ten days had elapsed Private Mandeville was put on the rolls
+as a deserter. Fortunately for him, it was established on
+our return that he was not technically a deserter, it appearing
+that when he woke up he had reported himself to an officer
+in Tampa, and had been assigned to remain with a party
+of the 71st New York which had likewise been left behind.</p>
+
+<p>Of mascots there were many on board. First of all came
+one James Sargent of Washington, D. C, a young colored
+lad better known as "Snowball." He had come on from
+Washington with some District of Columbia troops and finding
+that they were not going immediately to Cuba or for
+some other reason he got on board the Knickerbocker and attached
+himself for better or worse to the Second Massachusetts.
+Any member of the regiment can answer the query
+as to whether it was for better or worse for the Second.</p>
+
+<p>Then there were James and Willie Turner, two young<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>
+white boys from Tampa who had an uncontrollable desire to
+hie themselves over the seas to Cuba and there end the lives
+of more or less Spaniards. They remained with us until the
+landing on the island and then divorced themselves from the
+Second and attached themselves to two regular regiments.
+Both stood the campaign in far better shape than the older
+men and returned to this country with enlarged views and a
+determination to enlist in the regulars as soon as they were of
+the requisite age.</p>
+
+<p>G company had two mascots in "Rations" and "Hardtack,"
+dogs of the cur variety. Rations did not last out
+the voyage, her career being cut short by some miscreant
+who threw her overboard one night, much to the indignation
+of the men of the company.</p>
+
+<p>A predominating feature of the trip across was the excellent
+fare provided for the enlisted men by a thoughtful government.
+Life at sea on a steady diet of canned beef,
+canned beans and canned tomatoes, hardtack and ship's
+water is not conducive to embonpoint or a cheerful and
+contented disposition. In the hurry of fitting up the Knickerbocker
+as a transport no provision had been made to do any
+cooking for the men, even if there had been anything to
+cook, and there was not even a place where coffee, of which
+we had plenty, could be made. Finally after a couple of
+days out some vigorous "kicking" resulted in the company
+cooks being grudgingly allowed the use of the galley for
+coffee making purposes but with the poor water the coffee
+was hardly equal to that furnished at Delmonico's or other
+places where most of us had been in the habit of eating.</p>
+
+<p>As to the water an entire chapter could not do justice to its
+qualities. There were two brands on board, one being
+Mississippi river fluid with an equal quantity of mud of a
+rich brown color in suspension. After obtaining a cupful of
+this mixture it was necessary to allow it to stand for some
+little time in order that the mud might settle to the bottom.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>
+With all its faults, however, this water when strained was
+sweet and drinking it did not cause remorse.</p>
+
+<p>The other water had been obtained in Tampa and it was
+called water principally because it was contained in the water
+tanks. It did not look much like water and tasted still less
+like it. But that and the muddy fluid was all there was to
+drink and we had to make the best of it.</p>
+
+<p>One day when the canned beef was even worse than usual
+and the canned beans greasier than ever there came to the
+vision of certain members of the Springfield companies, who
+happened to be looking through the skylight into the steward's
+pantry, a delicious looking piece of cold roast beef hanging
+peacefully from a hook and destined for the officers' lunch.
+Constant looking at that well cooked piece of fresh beef begot
+longing, then covetousness and desire. By a silent but unanimous
+vote it was decided that such a nice piece of beef
+would be better appreciated by hungry enlisted men than by
+the officers who had been getting more or less of it, at their
+own expense, during the voyage and the next thing was the
+informal appointment of a committee on ways and means to
+procure the aforesaid beef. An examination revealed that
+the skylight could be opened from the deck and further that a
+boathook was handy. These facts ascertained, a watch was
+kept until the occupant of the pantry had gone out for a moment,
+the skylight was quickly opened, the boathook manipulated
+and the piece of beef lifted to the deck. The cook
+re-entered the pantry just as the beef was disappearing
+through the skylight and the expression on his face haunted
+the participants in the "Disappearing beef mystery" for
+many hours.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i067" id="i067" href="images/i067-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i067.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">
+Lieut Phillip C. Powers K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Captain W. S. Warriner K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Lieut. Harry H. Parkhurst K. Co.
+</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>In one corner of the upper deck that afternoon were a
+number of men upon whose faces rested an expression of perfect
+contentment and whose hands could occasionally be seen
+to wander over their stomachs as if to assure themselves that
+cold roast beef was a suitable article of diet for a voyage in
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span>the tropics. As no ill effects were recorded the question was
+settled satisfactorily to them but it is also on record that no
+more tempting bits were hung within reach of open skylights
+or wandering boathooks. It is also a matter of history that
+the officers' lunch that day was rather a poor meal and there
+was no cold meat on the table. But Bates didn't care.</p>
+
+<p>How the Knickerbocker ever escaped being run down or
+colliding with some other of the vessels of the fleet is one of
+the mysteries of the deep. Not less than half a dozen narrow
+escapes are on record in the memory of the men who were on
+her and on one or two occasions the escapes were so narrow
+that a few feet either way would have done the job for the
+Knickerbocker and her crew and passengers. On one occasion
+another boat came so near to running us down that half
+the men were ready to jump into the sea but the other boat
+finally sheered off by the closest margin. The "Thirteen"
+hoodoo came near to finding believers among those on the
+Knickerbocker before Cuba was reached.</p>
+
+<p>Bathing hours were established on board after the first day
+out, each company being allowed an hour aft each day during
+which the men could "turn the hose" on each other to
+their heart's content. As, however, there was but little salt
+water soap on board and that little was in the hands of the
+steward to be retailed by him at robber baron prices these
+attempts at cleanliness proved rather abortive, for it was
+soon ascertained that ordinary soap does not lather in salt
+water and the effects of the bath under these circumstances
+was worse if anything than in Lakeland.</p>
+
+<p>So the days went on until on the 20th we saw the low outline
+of the Cuban coast late in the afternoon and at the same
+time saw the flashes and heard the dull reports of big guns
+which told us that the navy was having a brush with the foe.
+It lasted only for a few moments, but this was the first time
+we had heard guns fired in actual conflict and although we
+could see but little the rigging was crowded until long after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>
+the guns were silent. We learned afterwards that it was
+only a little brush some of the blockading fleet were having
+with a fort near Santiago but it was mighty interesting to us
+while it lasted. All the next day the fleet cruised about
+apparently aimlessly and that night the Knickerbocker "got
+lost." How it ever happened no one knows excepting the
+captain of the ship and he never volunteered an explanation
+so far as we knew. It was expected that we would land that
+day but just before dusk a dispatch boat raced up alongside
+and without stopping speed an officer on board shouted
+through a megaphone an order to Captain Betts to continue
+"cruising to the northwest, keeping in touch with the fleet."
+So off we cruised to the northwest but the rest of the order
+as to keeping in touch with the fleet was not carried out.
+The next morning when we woke up we found the Knickerbocker
+all alone with not a sail or line of smoke on the
+horizon and with apparently no one knowing where we were
+or what we were doing there. Inquiries of Captain Betts
+met with gruff and non-committal response and it was not
+until just before noon that we came in sight of the rest of the
+fleet off Daiquiri and learned that the landing had begun and
+that had we got there when we should the Second would have
+been the first regiment to land on Cuban soil. Then things
+were said concerning Capt. Betts and his boat that would not
+look nice in print.</p>
+
+<p>Over on our left the big guns of the warships were pounding
+away at the fortifications while the small caliber guns
+were sending in a storm of bullets into the woods and hills
+along the shore, clearing them out before the landing. From
+the warships to the transports danced an almost steady
+stream of launches and small boats to assist in the landing.
+The invasion of Cuba by the Fifth army corps was a fact at
+last.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER IX.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHEREIN IS NARRATED OUR LANDING AT DAIQUIRI AND
+SOME THINGS WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY HAPPENED.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i071.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi">IT was not until well along in the afternoon that the
+Knickerbocker's passengers started for the shore and
+as it was not all of them landed that day, the
+third battalion being left on board until the 23d.
+For many long hours the steamer backed and
+filled together with the other vessels and the men, loaded
+down as they were with their field equipment and waiting for
+the word to disembark, found plenty of time to enjoy the
+stirring scenes about them. There were the grim painted war
+ships, all ready for business and their hustling "Jackies"
+working like beavers to aid in landing us "doughboys."
+Between the big ships danced the saucy torpedo boats and
+destroyers and quick puffing launches having in tow strings
+of small boats, these being our means of transportation from
+the ship to the land. In front were the frowning hills which
+guarded the coast line and from which an enemy of any determination
+could have easily prevented our landing. On a
+plateau directly in front of us was the village of Daiquiri,
+abandoned that morning by the Spaniards after a brief bombardment
+by our fleet, while a force of Cubans got along in
+time to worry the retreating enemy. A portion of the village
+and the works were still smoldering, having been fired
+by the Spaniards before they left the place.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Daiquiri was the seat of the Spanish-American Iron company
+and a narrow <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'guage'">gauge</ins> railroad connects it with Juguaracito
+or Siboney where the company had quite an extensive
+establishment. Jutting out into the water was a high iron
+pier and it was supposed we were to land there, but this was
+found to be impossible after one or two trials.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile after long waiting a dinky little steam launch
+from the battleship Massachusetts and followed by a string of
+small boats, came alongside the Knickerbocker and the youthful
+ensign in charge allowed that he was ordered to take
+headquarters and as many others of the regiment as possible
+on shore. This was agreeable and Col. Clark and his field
+and staff embarked in the launch without much trouble,
+although the job of climbing down a slippery rope ladder,
+then hanging on by both hands to the side ropes and waiting
+until the next high wave brought the launch up to within a
+couple of feet of you and then falling more or less, mostly
+less, gracefully into it, was not particularly pleasing. After
+headquarters, a platoon of G company embarked and this
+filled the boats.</p>
+
+<p>How to get on shore from the boats appeared to grow into
+a serious problem as we neared the landing place. This was
+an old wooden pier, which jutted out some little distance
+from the land. There was a heavy surf on and the little
+basin in which the pier stood was jammed with boats and
+launches, all apparently very much snarled up but which in
+reality were being ably managed. After much maneuvering
+our launch was jammed alongside the pier and the next problem
+was how to get upon it. The supporting piles rose high
+up from the water and their slimy surface offered no inducement
+to attempt climbing. One moment we would be down
+in the trough of a wave and then the launch would be lifted
+up almost to the top of the pier and the sailors would be hard
+put to it to keep the boats from being dashed against the
+huge piling of the pier. The method of our landing could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span>
+hardly be called dignified. As the boat would be raised
+almost to a level with the floor of the pier by a wave our
+rolls and equipment would be tossed up to some soldiers waiting
+to assist us. Then down the boat would go again and
+when the next wave raised it we would stand up on the
+thwarts of the boat, reach up our hands, two of the men on
+the pier would grasp them and we would scramble up the
+best we could. In this way the first lot was landed and the
+boats hustled back to the ship after another load of passengers.
+The pier was connected with the land by some loose
+planks and across these we walked gingerly, finally reaching
+terra firma. We were on Cuban soil at last.</p>
+
+<p>On shore there was as much bustle and confusion as in the
+landing. Many of the regulars and a part of "Ours" had
+already landed but there appeared to be no system, and officers
+and men were scattered about everywhere. A short distance
+from the pier was a typical Cuban "shack" as the
+regulars called it, a roughly built shed with a roof of palm
+leaf thatch and around this was a lot of Cuban soldiers who
+were making themselves "good fellows" by giving away
+cocoanuts, of which they had a couple of large bags. They,
+the soldiers, were of varying shades of blackness and their
+"uniforms" consisted mostly of nothing. Some had more
+clothing than the others, but few had anything like a complete
+outfit. They were barefooted and bareheaded but all
+had the inevitable machete and some kind of a firearm, from
+the latest model Spanish Mauser and the navy Lee to an old
+shotgun. They could talk English about as well as we could
+Spanish and the sign language was used with more or less
+success.</p>
+
+<p>Having filled up on cocoanuts, which tasted good, we became
+thirsty. A water pipe ran along the ground and we
+soon found a faucet, but the first man to take a drink spat
+out the water and said some sharp and emphatic things concerning
+it at which we mildly wondered until he calmed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span>
+down sufficiently to tell us that it was "hot enough to boil
+eggs in." Sure enough it was. The pipes ran along on
+the surface of the ground and the sun did the rest.</p>
+
+<p>"<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Mucho caliente agua</i>," commented a ragged "Cubana"
+as he noticed our disgusted looks and one or two who understood
+enough Spanish to know what he meant agreed with
+him. Then he grinned as only a Cuban can and pointing to
+the plateau where the main part of the village was located,
+said: "<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Agua fresca</i>," which being interpreted meant "cold
+water." So off we started for the plateau and there found
+several barrels of fresh water which was fairly cool. Among
+the "shacks" which composed the town we found a "brigade"
+of the "brave" Cuban soldiers. They were having a good
+time recounting their exploits and staring at "<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">los Americano
+soldados</i>," whose rough and ready manners were not always
+to their liking. A few of their field officers were almost
+white in color and decently uniformed but the majority, like
+the men, were black and distinguished from their men by
+small silver stars worn on a strap across the breast, three
+being the insignia of a captain, two of a first lieutenant and
+one of a second lieutenant.</p>
+
+<p>A point of much interest to our men were the burning
+shops, which the Spaniards had fired before retreating. On
+the railway track was a locomotive and some cars which had
+been disabled and burnt. Additional interest was caused by
+the pursuit, capture and summary execution of an unwise
+pig by a mob of our men and Cubans.</p>
+
+<p>All our battalions having landed, we began our march
+into the interior just before 5 o'clock. The brigade commander,
+Col. Van Horn of the 22d was injured on the 22d
+and the command was temporarily assigned to our commander,
+Col. Clark. As Lieut. Col. Shumway was left on
+the boat, Major Southmayd took command of the two battalions
+on shore. We marched some five miles toward Santiago,
+across country, the march being along a narrow and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>
+rough trail and halted for the night by the side of the trail.
+On our way we had to ford a stream and began to experience
+some of the realities of war.</p>
+
+<p>That night we had to face our first real experience at going
+hungry. It had been understood that we were not to go
+inland that day and that rations would be sent us from the
+ships so no orders to take any with us had been issued. A
+few of the men had the foresight to stuff whatever food
+they could into their haversacks but the majority had nothing
+and went supperless to bed. The regulars bivouacked
+near us were in the same fix and there was much grumbling.
+However, officers and men were in the same box and there
+was nothing to do but make the best of it.</p>
+
+<p>At dawn the next morning we rolled up our outfits and
+started off again. Our method of packing up was expeditious.
+Each man carried one half of a shelter tent, better
+known to us as a "dog" tent and later "pup" tents because
+of their small size, they being just about large enough for
+two men to crawl into. The half shelter was laid on the
+ground and upon it was spread first the rubber blanket and
+then the woolen one. Our canvas blouses and whatever
+personal property we had were then placed on top, together
+with the tent sticks and pegs and the whole neatly rolled.
+The ends were secured with the tent rope and the roll thus
+formed was carried over the left shoulder, the ends hanging
+down on the right side of the body. Thus equipped, with
+our full canteens and empty haversacks, we took to the road
+again after our first night on Cuban soil. Details of men
+from each company were sent back to the ships after rations
+and we started for Siboney. An early morning march on
+an empty stomach is not conducive to an appreciation of
+scenery be it ever so grand, but some of us enjoyed it. All
+about us were hills and mountains, their peaks clear cut
+against the blue sky, while from the tops of two or three
+rose thin smoke columns which we supposed were from signal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span>
+fires. Our trail led us through valleys and over hills
+until finally about 11 o'clock we struck upon something that
+looked like a road and on which we were enabled to march
+for a short time in columns of fours. Anyone who had
+ever seen the Second on a parade in Springfield or Worcester
+or at camp and seen us straggling along the Cuban trail
+in single file would have laughed outright at the contrast, as
+we were forced to ourselves. Later on we looked even
+worse.</p>
+
+<p>That day the "stripping" process, familiar to all armies
+in a campaign, was begun. Two companies of the second
+battalion, E and M had "toted" their knapsacks with them
+from their transports and about the second day out they
+were sorry for so doing. Hardly had we been an hour on
+the march that morning before the knapsacks began to disappear
+and the troops which followed us soon knew that the
+Second Massachusetts had passed by, meeting scores of
+Cubans with E and M company knapsacks on their backs
+and sweltering but happy in the closely buttoned cape overcoats
+discarded with the knapsacks. Fortunately our knapsacks
+and all our heavy baggage had been left on board ship
+but it was not long before we found our rolls becoming
+heavy and burdensome. Pretty soon a man would quietly
+drop out of the line, off would come his roll which was
+quickly opened, and some article he fancied he could do
+without, thrown into the bush. Then the roll would be fastened
+together, thrown over the owner's shoulder and he
+would hasten to rejoin his company. A few moments afterward
+a ragged Cubano might be seen poking around about
+the bushes and next the discarded articles would be in his
+possession.</p>
+
+<p>And it may as well be told here that it was not only the
+Second Massachusetts that strewed more or less valuable or
+necessary articles along the trails. The regulars were with
+us in that, and although, as a rule, they had brought less<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span>
+baggage ashore with them than we did, they soon found it
+convenient to get rid of much of it. They even discarded
+their blankets, some cutting them in half and retaining only
+one part, while we stuck to the blankets and sacrificed other
+things. We never were sorry either that we kept our blankets,
+for if the days were intensely warm, the nights were
+cool and coverings came in handy.</p>
+
+<p>That afternoon, soon after we had struck the short piece of
+good road referred to above, we left it and following a narrow
+trail debouched into some woods and after passing
+through them, found ourselves in a cocoanut grove. There
+were hundreds of the trees all laden with the fruit, and a
+halt was ordered, arms stacked and we were allowed to rest.
+About this time we were decidedly hungry, our breakfast
+having consisted of nothing and our dinner menu being the
+same. The cocoanuts looked inviting but they were far
+away at the tops of the branchless trees. But hunger is a
+spur and it was not long before some daring ones were "shinning
+up" the trees and down came the fruit. Alas! It was
+a disappointment to hopes of a satisfactory meal. After the
+hard, green outer husks had been chopped away it was found
+that the cocoanuts were green, and a copious flow of soldier
+language greeted this discovery. But it was not long before
+it was discovered that the milk of the green cocoanut makes a
+very palatable drink, and in a few moments we all became
+milkmen.</p>
+
+<p>The march resumed we struck into another piece of woods,
+forded a brook or two, (we had by this time gotten over
+minding our feet being wet,) and found ourselves once more
+on a narrow and rough trail. On our way through the
+woods we saw, stretched along a rough fence, the body of a
+huge snake of the constrictor variety, not long killed and
+looking decidedly fierce. The reptile was about eight feet
+long and as thick as a man's arm. A little further along we
+saw something which indicated that we were in a rough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span>
+country. This was a human skull nailed on top of a post
+and grinning at us with empty eye sockets and toothless
+jaws, as we passed.</p>
+
+<p>A little further along and we struck another narrow stream
+which, of course, had to be forded, and up a hill, just beyond
+that we came to a railroad station and the track. Here were
+some of our advance guard, men of the Eighth regulars who
+informed us that Siboney was "just 'round the corner," as
+one of them put it, and sure enough after a few moments
+more of the "Weary Willie" act, we came to a collection of
+"shacks," and realized that we were in Siboney. Now that
+word "Siboney" means much to us because it reminds us
+that there we ate, a fact sufficiently momentous on that day
+to linger long in our memories.</p>
+
+<p>Now as to the methods of our eating. It was only a short
+time before our arrival that the Spaniards had evacuated
+Siboney after firing a few shots at our advance guard and
+the natives, who had "jumped the town" when the Spaniards
+told them there was going to be a big battle in which
+they were going to annihilate the "pigs of Yanquis," were
+just beginning to come back. We were ordered to camp on a
+low piece of ground on one side of the railroad embankment
+and after putting up our "pup" tents a few hungry ones
+went into the town to see what could be seen and incidentally
+to acquire what there was to acquire in the commissary line.
+They were successful in the latter. The natives were glad to
+see them and freely gave of what little they had. This
+wasn't much but there was some rice and some queer looking
+but good tasting messes of which our men were freely invited
+to partake. In one house in particular there were two aged
+women who busied themselves for hours cooking rice and
+other dishes for our men and who at first would not accept
+anything in payment. Finally it was forced upon them and
+before evening there was more silver money in that poor
+"shack" than had probably been the case for many a day.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span>
+All through the village it was the same and the hospitality
+we received at Siboney did much to change for a time the
+unfavorable opinion we had formed of the Cubans.</p>
+
+<p>Not only was there food but drink. There was cool water
+in all the houses and there was also "bino," a sour Cuban
+wine like claret and some fiery "rou" or rum which brought
+tears to the eyes of more than one man who thought he was
+spirit proof. All that afternoon we mingled freely with the
+people, looked all through the town, examined with interest
+the Spanish block houses and some of us went in surf bathing
+on the pretty little beach in front of the town.</p>
+
+<p>Late that afternoon the third battalion came up and about
+the same time the details which had been sent back for rations,
+made their appearance with about enough provisions to
+whet our appetite, they having found the task of lugging
+supplies for a company, nearly ten miles, beyond their
+strength.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER X.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>IN WHICH IS TO BE FOUND THE TALE OF "CRAB HOLLOW"
+AND SOME OTHER THINGS.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i080.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">WHEN we retired to our luxurious couches that night
+of June 23d, most of us, excepting the guards, anticipated
+sleep, but we little recked what that night
+had in store for us. As told before, our camp was
+pitched on a low piece of ground and among a lot
+of sparse bushes. We did not know until the next day that
+the camping ground was an old burial place, and we were also
+not well enough up in the natural history of things Cuban
+to understand that if there is any one place the dainty land
+crab prefers for its habitat it is a cemetery and this preference
+rests upon a purely gastronomic basis. The land crab
+and the vulture are the great scavengers of Cuba and while
+the latter disposes of anything eatable left above ground the
+land crab looks after bodies or anything else placed under
+ground. In the afternoon we had noticed the holes of the
+land crabs but paid little attention to them, and only saw
+a few of the crustaceans, but at night we made their acquaintance
+at close quarters. We were pretty well fagged out
+with the heat and the marching, and this, with the strange
+sensation of having something to eat in our stomachs, tended
+to drowsiness. But hardly had we got settled in our tents
+before there were strange rustlings and noises and then the
+sensation of something crawling. There were some quick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span>
+arisings and the sound of matches hastily struck and then
+exclamations and profanity. In some of the companies there
+was hardly a tent that had not been pitched over one or more
+land crab holes and the <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'oocupants'">occupants</ins> of these had begun an investigation.
+Crawling over the sleepers usually resulted in
+awakening them and then came the exclamations, the illumination
+by the matches and the pursuit and slaughter of the
+visitors. The land crab is not an aggressive animal towards
+man and the greeting tendered him usually resulted in his
+scuttling for his hole. Not always did he reach there, for
+many fell victims to ramrods, clubs and other weapons.
+One able bodied crab was caught in the act of backing into
+his hole with a stocking in his claws, and yielded up his life
+for his rapacity. It may have been that he intended to eat
+the stocking, and had he done so his fate would have been
+the same anyway. The crabs had a pleasant trick that night
+of crawling half way up the outside of the tents and then
+losing their hold and dropping to the ground. That was bad
+enough as a deterrent to sleep, but it was not all. In the
+afternoon some I company men had repaired a locomotive
+disabled by the Spaniards, and kept running it up and down
+the tracks, to an accompaniment of bell and whistle, until a
+late hour.</p>
+
+<p>Bright and early the next morning we were up and as on
+the day before looking for grub. Rations were still "shy"
+and once more we had recourse to our friends the Siboneyians
+who gave us what they could, which was not much, as
+their own supplies were running low.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the remainder of the transports had come to
+Siboney and were landing the rest of the expedition. They
+had a little different method of doing it than at Daiquiri.
+The boats would be filled with men and towed in as near
+shore as possible when the men would have to jump out and
+wade ashore. Some of them didn't like getting their feet
+wet but they had to just the same.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>It was some little time before noon when we heard firing
+from over the hills and learned that the cavalry brigade had
+gone on a reconnoisance in force in that direction. It was
+only a short time afterwards when we saw the first wounded
+begin to come down the trail and learned that they had found
+the enemy in force at Las Guasimas and had quite a go with
+him. The First and Tenth United States cavalry, our old
+neighbors at Lakeland, and the Rough Riders were engaged
+and from all accounts were having a warm time. Col. Clark
+of the Second was acting as commander of our brigade and
+receiving orders from Gen. Lawton to reinforce the cavalry,
+left for the scene with the Eighth and Twenty-second Infantry.
+They arrived there just as the Spaniards were running
+and finding nothing for them to do returned to Siboney.</p>
+
+<p>One of the largest buildings in the town had been converted
+into a temporary hospital and it was soon filled with
+the wounded. Our regimental surgeons, Drs. Bowen, Gates
+and Hitchcock were pressed into service and rendered valuable
+aid. That hospital was our first introduction to some of
+the grim realities of war but the boys stood it well and were
+anxious to get to the front as quickly as possible. One of the
+warships with the transports added to the excitement by
+shelling the woods on top of a point near us and we began to
+conclude it would be our turn next.</p>
+
+<p>But it was not long before our thoughts were turned from
+the vision of great deeds in battle to a more prosaic but necessary
+matter. A lot of rations had been landed and soon we
+were revelling in such delicacies as hardtack, "sowbelly"
+bacon, coffee, canned beef (?) and canned tomatoes. Orders
+were issued for each man to take four days' rations but our
+haversack capacity was not equal to this and we packed all
+we could into our rolls. Even then we could not take all the
+issue and what was left we gave to our friends, the people of
+Siboney, who gladly accepted what we didn't want. The
+issue was hardly begun before Col. Clark gave us orders to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>
+move and off we started about 4.30 in the afternoon. We
+had not gone far in the direction of Las Guasimas before we
+came to the conclusion that the commissary department of
+the army had at least one genius who deserved a medal and
+some other things. About half the issue of tomatoes was in
+gallon cans and it was planned to have one man carry them
+a short distance and then let another sharer of the can relieve
+him. But our route lay up hill and we hit up a lively pace
+so that it was not long before there was a "kick" about the
+tomatoes. The ending of the kick in every case was a noise
+which indicated that the can had landed in the bushes and
+when tired out, we reached our bivouac place that night
+there were but few gallon cans of tomatoes left with the
+outfit.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile we kept steadily climbing up into the hills,
+finding rough footing and stumbling over rocks and everything
+else in the darkness until about 9 o'<ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'olock'">clock</ins> we reached
+the scene of the battle and found the First and Tenth cavalry
+burying their dead. We passed on in silence but we did
+quite a bit of thinking. A short distance further up we
+halted on a level bit of ground by the side of the Rough
+Riders and after making our simple preparations for our
+night's bivouac heard their tale of the fight. Our cooking
+fires were soon going and we not only heard Roosevelt's men
+tell their experiences and gave them our sympathy, but what
+they wanted more at that particular time, we gave them food,
+sharing our rations with them. One New York paper, in its
+story of the Las Guasimas fight spoke of the Second Massachusetts
+as having "supported the Rough Riders," but so far
+as we knew our only support to them was that night when
+we certainly did support them with our rations.</p>
+
+<p>When we landed in Cuba a detail of men from each company
+was left on the boats to look after property and as we
+learned afterwards they heard all sorts of stories about what
+happened to us that day. But all the stories agreed that the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span>
+Second had been having a bad time of it and that our loss
+was heavy. One New York newspaper man had been given
+a circumstantial account of our regiment having been surrounded
+by the Spaniards and of our cutting our way out
+with a heavy loss in officers and men and was so impressed
+by it that he wrote a very pretty story which he was on the
+point of having cabled to his paper when a brother correspondent
+happened along and convinced him that as we were
+at Siboney until the action was all over we could hardly have
+been so badly cut up. So the story was not cabled but it
+was a narrow escape.</p>
+
+<p>When we left Siboney that afternoon G company was left
+behind to assist in unloading supplies for our brigade, one
+company from each regiment being detailed for that purpose.
+They left Siboney early the next morning and reached us just
+as we were preparing to resume the march again.</p>
+
+<p>Our next camping place was on a plateau near where had
+once been a sizeable plantation and which was only a short
+distance from Las Guasimas. Here we remained two days
+taking life easy before we again took up the march. On the
+27th we reached Sevilla and there remained until late <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'in the the afternoon'">in the
+afternoon</ins> of June 30th. During our stay in Sevilla
+occurred another food shortage and also the great tobacco
+famine. Rations were hard to get and so were medicines.
+There was so much feeling over the delinquency in getting
+our supplies up to us that a meeting of the company commanders
+was held and a committee appointed to wait upon
+Col. Clark to see if something could not be done. The outcome
+of all the talk was the loan of some of the horses of
+the field and staff to a detail which, in charge of Lieut.
+Vesper of B, went back to the ships and obtained a small
+supply of provisions and tobacco. The cause of the failure
+to keep the troops supplied lay with the quartermaster's department
+which had apparently broken down utterly, for
+though there were tons upon tons of supplies already landed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>
+at Siboney there was not enough of pack trains or other
+means of transportation to get them up to us. We all fared
+alike at this time, officers and men, regulars and volunteers,
+and our brigade, the leading one in the army, had been hustled
+along so fast that it was difficult under any circumstances
+to get supplies to us owing to the distance and the
+condition of the roads.</p>
+
+<p>On the 28th the new commander of the brigade, Gen.
+Ludlow, reported and relieved Col. Clark who resumed command
+of the Second. Lieut. Harry Parkhurst of K who
+had been acting as aide-de-camp on the brigade staff was
+also relieved and rejoined his company.</p>
+
+<p>The tobacco famine was relieved somewhat by some of the
+weed brought from the ships by the various "relief expeditions"
+and also by the arrival of the details which had been
+left on the boats and the majority of the members of which
+had gained permission to rejoin us as soon as they heard the
+stories about our having been in action and losing heavily.
+The horse detail also came up and brought to Adjutant Hawkins
+the news that his horse had been drowned while being
+got ashore. As the chaplain's horse and one owned by Hospital
+Steward Fortier had been stolen while in Tampa by
+"Billy the Hostler" there was a shyness of horses around
+headquarters.</p>
+
+<p>While in Tampa Private T. C. Boone of K had been transferred
+to the signal corps with the rank of sergeant and
+afterwards became a member of the war balloon squad. On
+the afternoon of the 20th we saw the famous balloon for the
+first time and watched it with interest as it rose above the
+trees near our camp. We understood that Boone was one of
+the men in the car and for that reason the balloon had more
+than usual interest for us of the Springfield companies. The
+next afternoon another ascension was made and again we
+watched the "big gas bag" and speculated in a pessimistic<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span>
+vein upon its successful use. Our doubts as to its usefulness
+turned out to be correct.</p>
+
+<p>On the 28th the good news was announced that we could
+send mail home that afternoon and there was great scrambling
+for pens, pencils, paper and envelopes. It was our first
+opportunity since we had landed to send letters and that it
+was taken advantage of the big mail bags that left headquarters
+late that afternoon for division headquarters attested.</p>
+
+<p>Probably the condition in which about all our letters
+reached the folks at home was fully explained soon after
+our return, but it will bear retelling. When we landed
+most of us had paper, envelopes and stamps. But these
+were carried either in the haversacks or rolls and with the
+heat the envelope flaps became stuck together, likewise the
+stamps and paper became dirty. All were about in the same
+condition, so in order to get a letter into an <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'envolope'">envelope</ins> it was
+necessary to slit the latter at one end, insert the letter and
+then sew up the envelope. As most of the sewing was done
+with black thread and the envelopes were not especially clean
+the effect upon the good folks at home must have been rather
+startling, especially when the letters came without stamps, as
+they usually did. In place of stamps the government allowed
+the use of the words, "Soldier's Letter" in one corner of the
+envelope and when indorsed by an officer was allowed to go
+through.</p>
+
+<p>From our camp we could see a portion of the fortifications
+of Santiago and especially two large buildings which we
+were informed were barracks that had been transformed into
+hospitals and over which we could with field glasses see a
+number of Red Cross flags floating. We heard many weird
+tales as to what the Spaniards had done and would do and
+the stories, mainly of Cubans, as to how many troops were
+in the city, varied all the way from 10,000 to 40,000. On the
+29th the much talked of "army" of Gen. Calixto Garcia
+arrived and it was a motley looking outfit, mostly black in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span>
+color and of great variety, principally of lack of quantity, as
+to uniforms but fairly well supplied with arms and ammunition.
+The knowledge of English of the component parts of
+Garcia's forces was about equal to out knowledge of Spanish,
+but considerable interchange of ideas was effected, principally
+by signs. One or two of the warriors would stroll into
+camp and after standing around a bit with the inevitable
+Cuban grin would exclaim, "<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Santiago, boum, boum?</i>" at
+the same time pointing to the city. We could do no less
+than to assure them there would be plenty of "<i lang="es" xml:lang="es">boum, boum</i>"
+and that when it happened Santiago would be "on the bum."
+The ice thus broken, the Cuban's machete was examined and
+the wearer induced to give an exhibition of its use both as a
+weapon and a handy tool for many purposes. Generally before
+they left camp they would "borrow" some "tobac" and
+if they could obtain some hardtack or bacon they went away
+happy. Sometimes they brought us some mangoes or "monkey
+plums" and then would follow some great bartering.
+The surgeons in an excess of zeal had warned us against the
+mango but we pinned our faith to the Cubans' declaration
+that if one didn't eat mangoes and drink liquor on the same
+day no evil effects would result from the free and unlimited
+use of the fruit. The mango tastes nice but it is an acquired
+art to know how to eat it without getting three-quarters of it
+over one's face and clothing. Still it came in handy when
+our rations were short, which was about always and we were
+not over fastidious as to how we ate anything in those days.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XI.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHICH TELLS HOW WE GOT READY TO TAKE THE TOWN
+OF EL CANEY.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i088.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi">IT was shortly after noon on June 30th that the
+"JoJo" department began to circulate the news that
+we were to move on to Santiago that day or the next
+and for the first and only time during the campaign
+the "JoJo" happened to be right. Orders had
+arrived for a forward movement and although we had no idea
+of where we were to go or what we were to do there was a
+feeling of satisfaction that we were to go somewhere and do
+something.</p>
+
+<p>Of even more importance than the orders at this particular
+time was the arrival of a well laden pack train with rations.
+When the mules were first discerned coming "up the pike"
+it was supposed they were carrying ammunition as the last
+two or three pack trains had brought little excepting cartridges.
+But this time we were agreeably disappointed.
+There was a plentiful supply of "sowbelly," hardtack and
+coffee and it was not long before it was being distributed.
+The tobacco famine had temporarily been relieved and now
+we actually had food. So we were pretty well satisfied with
+life after all.</p>
+
+<p>How it rained that day! It came on in the forenoon and
+in less than ten minutes everybody and everything was saturated.
+It was a straight downpour of water and rubber<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span>
+blankets were of little use in keeping us or our belongings
+dry so we simply got wet and stayed in that condition until
+the sun came out and did his best to dry things up quickly.</p>
+
+<p>Early that afternoon we saw the war balloon again and
+watched it with much interest, everybody "rubbernecking"
+at the unwonted sight. In the car, although we did not
+know it at the time, was poor "Tom" Boone of "K" and
+those of us who knew him little recked what the next day
+would bring to him. For that matter there was considerable
+uncertainty as to what the future meant for any of us. We
+heard late in the day that we were sure to get into action
+on the next day but somehow the knowledge did not appear
+to worry but a few of the boys. The happenings of the campaign
+thus far had done much to produce a feeling of contempt
+for the fighting abilities of the Spaniards and some of
+us figured that all we would have to do was to make a
+demonstration in force and the enemy would then either
+retreat or surrender. How mistaken we were the next day
+was to tell us.</p>
+
+<p>It was late in the afternoon when the advance on El
+Caney by Lawton's division was begun and it was not until
+almost 6 o'clock that our brigade, which being one of the
+nearest to the city, was among the last to get away, made
+its start. Most of us will never forget that night march.
+The rain of the morning had resulted as usual in making
+whatever roads and trails there were into very fine specimens
+of mud puddles and unfortunately for us the greater
+part of our way led up hill. When the rations were issued
+in the afternoon the company commissaries had not time to
+complete their distribution and thinking that the march was
+to be a short and easy one those of G and B concluded that
+it would be better to have some of the provisions carried in
+bulk rather than to take time to divide and issue them. So a
+number of men from each company were detailed to carry a
+couple of slabs of "sowbelly" and others the remaining<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>
+boxes of hardtack. This worked very nicely for a time
+until it became dark and the hill climbing act began. Then
+there was trouble. The trail up the hill was about as slippery
+as any we ever marched along in Cuba and it was
+moreover filled with rocks and boulders over which climbing
+was not the easiest matter in the world. Before they
+had gone very far the ration detail began to think that
+something was wrong and these thoughts developed into a
+certainty as we still kept climbing along up a pretty steep
+ascent and the boxes of hardtack and the sides of bacon (?)
+began to grow heavier and heavier and more difficult to
+handle. For convenience in packing them along with us
+both Sergeants Scully and Bearse had nailed long handles
+onto the hardtack boxes and had made a somewhat similar
+arrangement to carry the bacon but the carriers had not
+gone far before the handles worked off and after awhile it
+got to be a question of dropping the rations or killing the
+men trying to carry them. It was pitch dark, the trail was
+difficult and besides all the men had a pretty fair supply of
+"grub" in their haversacks, so a silent and informal vote
+was taken and the bulk of the extra rations were quietly
+left by the side of the trail. Meanwhile the rest of us
+were not having so much of a picnic even though we were
+not encumbered with extra baggage. The mud made
+marching difficult even along the road which led from the
+camp. Soon we left this and came to the San Juan
+creek, passing a company of soldiers who were actually
+bathing. Our surprise at this unwonted scene was not
+allowed to last long, for the trail lay on the other side of the
+creek and we were obliged to ford it. This was not by any
+means as easy as it looked. The banks were high and slippery
+with mud and the water was over our legging tops but
+in we plunged and scrambled across to the other side and
+into a thick piece of woods, shaking the water from ourselves
+dog fashion as we again took up the march. Hardly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>
+had we got across before low spoken orders came down the
+line for every man to keep silent and to march as quietly as
+possible. This made us realize that something was on and
+the orders were pretty well obeyed although all the orders
+in the world could not keep some of the men from saying
+things concerning the trail and night marches in general.</p>
+
+<p>In ragged fashion we stumbled along through the woods,
+the only military regulation we followed out being that of
+keeping well "closed up." We simply had to do this because
+it was so dark and the trail so narrow and rough that
+unless one kept very "close tabs" on his file leader it was a
+question of getting lost and going it alone and this none of
+us desired to do.</p>
+
+<p>We had not gone far before we came to another creek or
+it may have been another turn of the first one, we did not
+know or care which, but into it we plunged and again got
+our feet wet and muddy. Hardly had we gained the other
+side before we came across a forlorn looking figure in a bit
+of a clearing by the side of the trail and a voice with an
+unmistakeable western twang inquired if we were the
+Rough Riders. The owner of the voice was informed that
+we were the Second Massachusetts and he then remarked,
+"Well, you're a pretty good outfit and I guess I'll go along
+with you." He then announced himself as the chaplain of
+the Rough Riders and said he had left camp a little behind
+his regiment and had not only been unable to catch up with it
+but could obtain no trace of its whereabouts. We told him his
+regiment had probably gone over towards San Juan hill, it
+being in <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'anothor'">another</ins> division than ours and he then allowed that
+he would not bother looking further that night but would
+accompany us. We made no objection and he trudged along
+with us for the rest of the way.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after meeting the chaplain we forded creek number
+three but by this time we were used to getting our feet wet
+and did not mind it much. After fording this stream, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span>
+narrow but rather deep one, we began to get up in the world
+and soon discovered that we were on the up grade. For
+nearly two hours more we stumbled along, sometimes passing
+through thick woods and again along open country. The
+moon came out faintly after a bit, but her light did little
+towards revealing to us the difficulties of the route we were
+following. We had a couple of brief halts but it was not
+until a little after 10 o'clock that a whispered command to
+halt was given and we were informed that we were to go into
+bivouac by the road side.</p>
+
+<p>Following this order came a renewal of the previous ones
+against making any noise and we were also given strict
+orders not to make a fire or even strike a match. These precautions
+we assumed were to keep our presence unknown to
+the enemy and although most of us wanted the comfort of a
+pipe or cigarette after our fatiguing march yet we refrained.
+There was of course much speculation over the why and
+wherefore of the night march and the orders against noise or
+fire but the generally accepted assumption was that we had
+stolen a march upon the Spaniards, had penetrated their lines,
+and in the morning would march into Santiago before the
+astonished enemy had partaken of his morning coffee. This
+surmise was given <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'oolor'">color</ins> by the fact that from where we were
+we could look down into the city, its locality being indicated
+by the lights from the governor general's palace and other
+official buildings. We were on a plateau that overlooked the
+city, and so far as we could judge, our presence was absolutely
+undetected. Santiago appeared to be sleeping peacefully
+and looked for all the world like some small New England
+city which is locked up every night at 8.30 or 9 and
+whose residents then go to bed and stay there until morning.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i093" id="i093" href="images/i093-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i093.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Lehigh Detail from Company H</span></div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>For thinking such thoughts we were indeed what are known
+in the vernacular as "good things," for as it transpired afterwards
+the Spaniards knew all about where we were and
+where we were going. Had it not been for their traditional
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span>policy of "manana" they might have sallied out and done
+several things to us, but they preferred to wait until the next
+day, which was a lucky thing for us.</p>
+
+<p>Sleep comes quickly to a soldier in bivouac and soon after
+our halt every one of us, with the exception of the guards,
+was asleep. No attempt was made to put up the shelter
+tents, but we contented ourselves with unrolling them,
+spreading them upon the grass and wrapping ourselves up in
+our blankets. A few of us lunched upon hardtack and raw
+bacon washed down with muddy water from the canteens
+but the majority of the boys were too tired to think even of
+eating.</p>
+
+<p>That night the premonition came to some of our boys that
+the morrow would be their last day on earth and although we
+tried to laugh it out of them they stuck to it that their fate
+was settled. One of these boys was Frank Moody of K and
+so strongly was he impressed with the feeling of coming disaster
+to himself that he made one of his comrades take his
+watch and promise to deliver his farewell message to the loved
+ones at home.</p>
+
+<p>Tired soldiers sleep soundly and it seemed as if we had
+only slumbered a few moments when we were awakened,
+not by the usual bugle call, but by low whispers from the
+officers and non-commissioned officers. It was hardly dawn
+and a thin mist concealed from view the city below us and
+the hills that surrounded us. Little by little the mist disappeared
+before the advance of the sun and when dawn came
+the scene was so impressive in its grandeur that even the
+most careless amongst us felt it. Just below us was Santiago
+still wrapped in the morning mist and apparently still unaroused
+from its slumbers. All about us were frowning hills
+and mountains and in the distance we could see the harbor
+outside of which sat the grim war ships of the United States
+waiting for their prey to come out and be eaten up. Not a
+sign from the enemy and we wondered.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>But we wondered even more when we turned our eyes a
+little to the right and there saw Capron's light battery, still
+unlimbered and apparently in plain view of the sentries of
+the enemy and our wonder increased as we saw the smoke
+from the cooking fires of the batterymen and watched them
+preparing their morning meal. For, be it understood, our
+brigade commander had sent word along that the orders of
+the night before as to noise and fires were still in force and
+we had breakfasted on hardtack and water. And there were
+the artillerymen with their fires lighted and frying their
+bacon and making their coffee as if there were no such orders
+and not a Spaniard within fifty miles. We could not understand
+it and for that matter we do not to this day. Maybe
+somebody does but if so we never heard of it.</p>
+
+<p>It was bad enough to almost smell the hot coffee, for the
+morning air was cool and raw, and to see the batterymen
+drinking it with relish, but it was far worse to see them nonchalantly
+light their pipes and cigarettes and enjoy them.
+Since the night before we had been deprived of the solace of
+tobacco and anyone who has ever soldiered knows what that
+means. But when we saw the red striped gunners enjoying
+the weed we made up our minds to follow suit. In a very
+short time our pipes were going and the officers sympathetically
+not only forebore to stop us but soon began to puff their
+pipes. Even a cold breakfast can be enjoyed with a tobacco
+dessert and that early morning smoke on the threshold of the
+battlefield was a much appreciated one.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile we had been getting ready and as packing up
+did not take us long it was but a short time after we were
+aroused from our slumbers before we had fallen in and were
+ready for what the day might bring forth. While waiting
+for orders to march we heard the noise of hoofs coming up
+the trail and Gen. Lawton and his staff clattered by us on
+their way to the front. A couple of Cuban officers were
+with them and they were evidently pleased with the work<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>
+cut out for the Americans that day. Only a few moments
+after the general had passed came the orders to march and
+we were soon "hitting the trail" again, this time on the
+down grade.</p>
+
+<p>It was then about 4.30 in the morning. We moved along
+slowly, the trail being so narrow it was necessary to go in
+column of files and it was fully as bad walking as the route
+we had gone over the previous night. After a little we came
+to a brook and took advantage of the opportunity to fill our
+canteens. Just on the other side of the brook we passed
+Capron's battery posted on a low hill, the muzzles of the
+three inch rifles pointed toward El Caney and the cannoneers
+at their posts waiting for the ball to open. By that time we
+all realized that this was the day we were to go into business.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XII.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHEREIN IS RELATED SOME EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED TO
+US ON JULY FIRST.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i098.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">HARDLY had we passed the battery before we heard
+the boom of one of its guns, followed by another
+and another and we knew then the trouble had
+begun. We kept on the trail for a while longer, the
+men keeping well closed up now and keeping eyes
+and ears alert. El Caney was now replying to Capron and
+we could hear for the first time the squeal of the Mauser
+bullets as they began to go over us with a sound like that of
+a vicious cat at bay. We were under fire but hardly realized
+it as yet.</p>
+
+<p>It was a splendid morning. Our trail led along the side of
+what had once been well cultivated fields, the only indication
+of that now being the inevitable barbed wire fencing. The
+skies were cloudless and birds sang as we went along to
+battle. There were other birds too but they did not sing.
+Hardly had the first of Capron's cannon sent its "good
+morning" salute to El Caney before a speck was visible in
+the sky. Larger and larger it grew until we saw it was a
+buzzard scenting the battle and before long it was joined by
+hundreds of its kind, all circling about in the air only a short
+distance from the earth and waiting for the rich feast about
+to be spread for them. But we recked not of buzzards or
+what their presence presaged.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>A short distance further along the trail, a quick order and
+we changed direction to the right, leaving the trail and going
+across the field directly toward El Caney. Barbed wire
+fencing was in our way but the two wire cutters attached to
+each company soon made a gate for us. Our battalion
+swung through and into the field while the second battalion
+kept to the trail and took the field further along. The third
+battalion and I of the second, as we afterwards found, were
+halted by Capron's battery and were not given front seats to
+the performance. The field soon changed to scrub and bush
+through which way was made as best we could without
+much regard to alignment. Then came a bit of forest and
+then we debouched out upon the Santiago road, one of the
+few thoroughfares in Cuba that looked like a road. A halt
+and then we stripped for action. Rolls and haversacks were
+taken off and piled by the road side. The belts and the
+pockets of the brown canvas coats were filled with cartridges
+and we were ready for trouble.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile it was evident that there was trouble ahead of
+the Second. From El Caney's forts and trenches came a
+hail of bullets, while on our right and left there were the
+Krags of our regulars popping away with machine like regularity,
+their whip like sentences being punctuated at intervals
+by the 3-inch rifles of Capron's men. Over our heads went
+the Mausers in a steady stream and there wasn't a man of
+the Second marching up that road that morning who failed
+to bow his head, (most of us called it "ducking") in response
+to their salutation. The 8th and 22d of our brigade had
+gone on ahead of us, had deployed to the left and we could
+hear their Krags answering the Mausers. It was our first
+experience under fire and it is no wonder that nearly all of us
+wished ourselves, for just a few moments, somewhere else
+and remembered certain pressing engagements we had at
+Springfield that Friday morning. But this feeling was like
+going into a cold bath. The first plunge is the worst and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>
+within half an hour after getting into the action these same
+men that were "ducking" their heads to the bullets were up
+on the firing line and acting like veterans instead of men who
+up to that morning had never faced an armed foe. Our education
+had progressed rapidly.</p>
+
+<p>And here a word as to El Caney where Gen. Vara Del Ray
+and 620 Spanish troops held Lawton's division at bay from
+6.30 in the morning until 4.30 in the afternoon. In the general
+plan for the day's work of July 1st Lawton's division
+was to sweep over to Caney, devote an hour or so to capturing
+it and then swing over to the San Juan forts and aid
+Kent's division to take them. Trustworthy (?) Cuban advices
+were that there were only a couple of hundred Spanish
+troops in El Caney and the taking of that outpost of Santiago
+was to be but an incident of our march to San Juan. But
+Gen. Del Ray had not been consulted as to this program and
+the result was our time schedule went to pieces. An entire
+division against 620 men looks like heavy odds in favor of
+the division but it must be remembered that the enemy were
+strongly entrenched with all the advantage of position and
+knew the ground thoroughly, while we were in the open with
+little or no shelter and with only a four-gun light battery
+against stone forts, strong blockhouses and well made intrenchments,
+so that our <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'advavtage'">advantage</ins> in numbers was more
+than made up by the superior position of the enemy.</p>
+
+<p>El Caney lay almost directly in front of us, a small town
+backed up against a steep hill as if at bay and with forts, intrenchments
+and houses bristling with rifles. To our right
+on a small elevation was the famous stone fort over which
+floated the red and yellow flag of Spain. A little to the left
+was the village church, of stone and converted into a fortress
+while on either sides of both fort and church were the familiar
+Spanish blockhouses. And in front of all were the
+trenches, well built and covering all the front and sides of the
+town, a covered way connecting some of them with the fort<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span>
+and with their fronts guarded by fences and entanglements
+of barbed wire, a protection found of value against the
+Cubans, but which proved to be of less efficiency against the
+valor of American soldiers. This was what El Caney presented
+to us on that bright July morning.</p>
+
+<p>Our brigade's work had been mapped out and appeared to
+be comparatively easy. It was to take position on the left of
+the American line and cut off the retreat of the enemy towards
+Santiago when he was driven from Caney which, as
+already scheduled, was to be within an hour or so after the
+initial shot. But the program for Ludlow's brigade was
+changed by force of circumstances, for hardly had the 8th
+and 22d of our brigade got into position before they were attacked
+and replied in kind and within a few moments the
+hottest part of the action was taking place on the left instead
+of being confined to the right and center, as originally
+planned.</p>
+
+<p>And while this was happening we were down the "pike"
+getting ready to add our contribution to the din of battle.
+We were not long in getting ready and leaving one man from
+each company to guard the rolls left by the roadside the
+seven companies of the Second marched to the firing line.
+The first battalion, G, B, K and D companies, was by this
+time some distance ahead of the second, while the third was
+still held up by the battery. Col. Clark, Lieut. Col. Shumway
+and Adjutant Hawkins were standing beneath a huge
+tree at the intersection of the "sunken" road with the Santiago
+road and hardly had the companies come up before an
+order came from Gen. Ludlow to send four companies to
+strengthen the line of the 22d on our left. B and K companies
+of the first battalion and L and E of the second battalion,
+which had by this time come up, were detailed and B
+and K, under command of Major Southmayd started for the
+22d. L and E followed but through some misunderstanding
+got into a "hot box" and after a time returned to the sunken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span>
+road and took position there.</p>
+
+<p>B and K marched down the sunken road and then across
+an open space, across which the bullets were flying in a
+steady stream. It was necessary to "duck" here and it was
+done without any loss of dignity. This space cleared, the
+companies came to a bit of bush and then into a gully facing
+El Caney on the left. Here was the 22d, lying down and
+answering the fire of the Spaniards in good style.</p>
+
+<p>Hardly had B and K reached the gully and taken position
+when the hail of bullets began to fall among them and men
+began to drop. Private Frank E. Moody of K was one of
+the first hit and died almost instantly, the bullet having
+pierced his heart. On the march of the night before he had
+felt a presentiment of his fate and so strong was this feeling
+of his fate that he gave his watch to Private Fuller to take
+home to his parents. Before long Private John J. Malone
+of B got a fatal wound just below the heart and then men
+began to fall thick and fast. As soon as the two companies
+had taken their positions they were ordered to fire, but the
+enemy's return for the first few volleys was payment with
+compound interest. The smoke from the Springfield rifles
+showed the position of our men and lifting slowly, made just
+the target which the enemy needed. At this time the line
+was about 900 yards from the advanced Spanish trenches and
+it must have been just like rifle practice for the enemy.
+Within a moment after the first volley from the Springfields
+crashed out a hail of bullets was poured into the two companies
+from the trenches and men fell like sheep. Capt.
+Warriner, raising on one shoulder to give an order, sank
+back with a Mauser through his body. Corporal Ward
+Lathrop got one through his head, Corporal Hoadley got his
+"in the neck," the bullet going through the right side,
+Wagoner <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Boulè'">Boule</ins> had one through his left hand, Private Ashley
+of B was hit in the left forearm, Private James F.
+Ferrier was shot through the right shoulder and also had a
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>bullet traverse the right side of his head, making an ugly
+wound, Howard Meyrick had a double one, one bullet striking
+his right leg, while another went through his left shoulder
+and the upper part of his left arm. Private C. J. Riordan
+got a bullet through his left hand while Private A. E.
+Rose got the thumb and one finger of his right hand nipped,
+Private W. B. Riopel was hard hit, the bullet entering his
+left shoulder and entering the lungs. <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Backman'">Barkman</ins> of K got a
+Mauser through his left elbow and was also hit in the left leg
+below the knee.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i103" id="i103" href="images/i103-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i103.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">
+Lieut. H. S. Crossman. (J.G.) H. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Lieut. J. K. Dexter. H. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Lieut. W. O. Cohn. (J.G.) H. Co.</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>As quickly as possible the wounded were picked up by
+their comrades and taken to the rear, a temporary dressing
+station being established beneath a huge tree on the Santiago
+road. The first aid bandages came in handily on the field
+and were used to advantage. Lieut. Powers took command
+of K and Capt. McDonald, as cool as if battles were everyday
+occurrences, kept a watchful eye on his men.</p>
+
+<p>The heavy fire which the powder smoke had drawn upon
+the two companies was also being felt by the 22d and its
+choleric commander, Major Van Horn, came rushing over
+with, "For God's sake, Second Massachusetts, stop firing!
+You're making us a regular target for the enemy." This
+was not all he said, either, but it was stronger language
+than politeness required. The firing did stop, that is, the
+volley firing did, but the company commanders gave their
+men orders to fire at will. Soon Major Van Horn came over
+with another protest and the two companies moved along
+a little further to the right but on the same line as the 22d
+and leaving quite a little gap between them. As the 22d advanced
+so did B and K, taking advantage of what cover
+there was and keeping up their fire for some time. It was
+perhaps that protest of Major Van Horn that gave the impression
+that the entire Second regiment was ordered off the
+firing line, an impression that is a very much mistaken one.
+From the time the two companies took position on the right of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span>
+the 22d they fired at intervals and at will until the Spaniards
+were driven from the last trench and El Caney was taken.</p>
+
+<p>While these things were happening on our left G company
+was having troubles of its own on the extreme right of the
+line. Sending B and K to the 22d left Col. Clark with only
+G and D companies of the first battalion with him, the three
+companies of the second battalion having been placed in the
+sunken road, whose banks gave them some protection from
+the incessant fire from El Caney. G and D were sent further
+along up the Santiago road and G was halted directly in
+front of a cultivated field which was directly in front of the
+trenches and the town and was flanked by the stone fort.
+Halting here the second platoon of the company under Lieut.
+Edward J. Leyden deployed as skirmishers and advanced
+across the field, taking every possible advantage of cover, of
+which there was little, and halting at intervals to kneel and
+fire. The light brown uniforms advancing slowly across the
+field soon attracted the notice of the enemy, even before the
+first volley from the Springfields gave the Spaniards a target,
+and men began to drop. Still the line advanced until it was
+within 500 yards of the fort and then a halt was ordered and
+the men threw themselves flat on the ground and began firing
+at will. Now the bullets from both fort and trenches
+were hailing about them but they kept crawling along until
+within a range of 400 yards. Then Lieut. Leyden looked
+around and saw that his 14 men were isolated from the rest
+of the company and he at once realized that it was suicidal to
+go further without reinforcements. Arthur Packard, beloved
+of all his comrades, had fallen dead on the field with a Spanish
+bullet through his head and George Richmond, one of the
+"old timers" of the company, had fallen fatally wounded.
+"Goldie" Bresnan had been ordered to the rear with the
+blood dripping from a shattered hand and Ernest Marble,
+wounded in the head, lay on the field. Others had in the
+meantime joined the little force, men from other companies,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>
+but not enough to make a further advance successful.
+Among the reinforcements was Lieut. D. J. Moynihan of I
+company, who had left his position with the second battalion
+and walked across the field to join Leyden's men. He
+essayed his luck as a sharpshooter, borrowing a rifle from
+one of the men, and fired three shots before he himself sank
+to the ground with a bullet through his body. Before this
+happened, however, and when he first joined Lieut. Leyden,
+Lieut. Moynihan advised that the advance should continue
+and suggested a charge. But Lieut. Leyden pointed to the
+few men he had and asked what the result would be. There
+was no answer to this. Less than 20 men charging against
+a stone fort under a heavy fire from it and flanked by the
+trenches would have been heroic, no doubt, but it would have
+been deliberately throwing away men's lives and to no good
+result. So Lieut. Leyden refused to order a charge but sent
+Lieut. Moynihan back to Col. Clark for orders. These were
+for him to remain where he was and there the platoon stayed
+until the town was taken, although some of the men advanced
+even closer to the fort, taking advantage of some
+small piles of stones, which had evidently been heaped up as
+shelter for Spanish outposts. All the long afternoon the little
+squad lay under the pitiless sun, firing whenever there was a
+chance until they heard the cheers of the charging regulars
+and saw the red and yellow flag of Spain go down from the
+fort and the Stars and Stripes replace it. Then they sprang
+to their feet and cheered. But it was not all over then.
+The fort had been taken but from trench and blockhouse and
+church and every building in El Caney still came the hail of
+Mausers. The dead and wounded of the Second were being
+attended to as best could be done, but their comrades still
+fought on. Two guns of Capron's battery had been moved
+up to a position in the rear of D company and the balance of
+G and were knocking things about in the old town. Gen.
+Vara Del Ray was wounded unto death and the American<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span>
+troops were drawing their lines closer and closer around
+Caney, but still the Spaniards fought on with the courage of
+desperation. At the fork of the roads was Col. Clark, sending
+his staff officers, or rather officer, Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins,
+hither and thither and giving messages to his orderlies.
+Lieut. Hawkins, cool under fire, won a high place in the
+regard of the men who saw him that day and the orderlies,
+including Private Ross of B, showed coolness and courage.
+Two other Springfield men, Sergeant Scully and Corporal
+Ross of G were pressed into service as orderlies for a time and
+did their duty well. Two cool and collected men were Col.
+Clark and Lieut. Col. Shumway and both exposed themselves,
+at times against the wish of the brigade commander, along the
+line. Gen. Ludlow was for some time at the fork of the roads
+with Col. Clark, his dead horse, shot under him, almost at the
+outset of the action, lying near by, but once he was gone he
+did not return and neither he nor anyone else in authority gave
+the orders to withdraw the Second from the firing line, as
+has been stated by some. If any such orders were issued
+which is doubtful, they were never received by Col. Clark,
+and the companies of the Second stayed throughout the day
+where he placed them.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the big tree a bit down the road was the scene
+of some grewsome work. Soon after the opening of the
+action Lieut. Hawkins had been ordered by Col. Clark to
+bring up the surgeons and the ground under the big tree was
+then transformed into a temporary hospital or rather a dressing
+station. Here Surgeon Bowen and his assistants, Lieuts.
+Gates and Hitchcock, aided by Hospital Stewards Fortier,
+Greenberg and Howes and the members of the hospital corps,
+labored until the enemy's sharpshooters, discerning the group
+under the tree, made it an object of attention and the bullet-torn
+leaves began to flutter down upon the wounded. Then
+the hospital was moved farther down the road and the dead
+and dying and wounded conveyed there as tenderly as possible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span>
+under the circumstances. It was here the heroic Father
+Edwin Fitzgerald, the beloved chaplain of the 22d, labored
+from morning until far into the night, caring as tenderly as a
+mother for the wounded of all the regiments, making their
+places as easy as possible for them, bringing them water from
+the distant brook, giving the consolations of religion to all,
+whether of his creed or not. More than once he visited the
+firing line and aided in bringing some poor fellow down to
+the hospital. Danger he cared not for and he went on with
+his work apparently oblivious to his bullet-torn coat, two
+holes in which bore eloquent witness to narrow escapes. On
+that day Father Fitzgerald earned the lifelong affection of
+the officers and men of the Second.</p>
+
+<p>And so time wore on until between 4.30 and 5 in the afternoon,
+when ringing cheers announced that the last trench
+had been won and El Caney was ours. Then followed the
+reunion of the regiment. Lieut. Leyden marched his gallant
+platoon back and the men fell into their old places in G company.
+B and K came back from the left with the 22d and
+the regiment gathered once more on the Santiago road,
+soldiers now, stained with powder and battle smoke and grim
+with the thoughts of the day and its events. Further down
+the road in the improvised hospital lay the forms, cold in
+death, of five brave men and with them were 40 more or less
+seriously wounded, three of them mortally.</p>
+
+<p>The Second had received its baptism of blood.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XIII.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE LEARN SOME MORE THINGS ABOUT THE ART OF WAR
+AS CONDUCTED IN THESE DAYS.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i110.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi">IT was not exactly a joyous reunion as the companies
+assembled in the Santiago road that afternoon.
+True, we were all glad to see one another again, but
+the heat and burden of the day had been great and
+there were many faces missing from the ranks.
+Nearly ten hours on the battlefield under the burning Cuban
+sun and without much to comfort us in the way of food or
+drink was not conducive to good temper and to this was
+added the spur of the ingratitude of our so-called Cuban
+allies. It will be remembered that just before the regiment
+went into action the rolls and haversacks had been discarded
+and placed by the roadside and it fell out that while the owners
+were up on the firing line fighting for <i lang="es" xml:lang="es">Cuba Libre</i>, some
+of the Cuban patriots came along and, the guards placed
+over the property being absent, helped themselves to the
+rations in the haversacks. These were the Cubans, by the
+way, who were supposed to be fighting over on our left that
+day, but it seems they had more important business, to them,
+on hand to bother much about fighting. So as we gathered
+there in the road in the stillness which followed the battle
+storm and realized that we were to go supperless there were
+some things said about our Cuban friends which indicated a
+not very high feeling of esteem for them.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Once gathered together again and the roll called came the
+after work of the battle. Squads were sent over the field to
+bring in any dead or wounded that might have been overlooked
+and to gather up any property left there. The companies
+which had lost men prepared to march to the hospital
+to bury the dead and those fortunate ones whose haversacks
+had been untouched began to light their cooking fires.
+Hardly an hour had elapsed since Caney was taken when up
+came an aide with orders for Col. Clark and when he read
+them the assembly sounded and we heard with disgust the
+orders that the regiment was to move at once to San Juan to
+reinforce the first division. We had anticipated after our
+hard day's work a bite to eat and a night's rest and here we
+were disappointed in both. Faintly through that day at intervals
+we at Caney could hear the sounds of battle in our rear
+and we heard late in the afternoon that it was our troops
+attacking the San Juan forts but it was not until after we
+had finished our job at El Caney that we heard what the first
+division had done.</p>
+
+<p>But orders are orders and grumbling does not count
+against them. The details sent to dig graves were recalled,
+the equipments were donned again and in a short time we
+were once more "piking the pike." It was a gloomy march
+that evening, for the men were not very much inclined to
+conversation. On we went, now in columns of fours on a
+fairly decent road for Cuba, again in column of files through
+the bush and finally emerged onto another road. It was
+now dark, but we kept on until about 10 o'clock we came to
+a stone bridge over the San Juan river and the order to halt
+was given as the head of our regiment reached the bridge.
+Whether it was to be a mere halt or a bivouac no one seemed
+to know and no one cared. Hardly had the order to halt
+been given before the men had dropped by the roadside and,
+worn out by the toilsome march of the night before and the
+day's work, followed by the march to the bridge, were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span>
+asleep, many of them without even taking off their heavy
+rolls. It was not an ideal place for slumber, either. Troops
+were continually passing by and every now and then a mule
+team would pass with a clatter but the sleepers slumbered
+on. Until after midnight we lay there, waiting for further
+orders. About one o'clock up came mule wagons and a pack
+train and soon after the men were awakened and told to
+"hurry up" and get rations. In a few moments the scene
+was changed. Huge fires were lighted and by their light
+the rations were given out, the delights of slumber proving
+to be less strong than the desire to eat and every man awakening
+to the knowledge that we would soon be on the move
+again. So it was. Hardly had we drawn rations and began
+to cook them before a battery of artillery moved hurriedly
+by us to the rear, many of us just having time to
+draw our legs out of the way of the wheels. Next came the
+8th and 22d of our brigade and by 2 o'clock we too were on
+the march. Following the road over which we had come for
+a short distance, we soon left it and changing direction to
+the right, swung into a trail across country. Along this we
+marched for hours amid the darkness, through woods and
+chaparral and fields, once cultivated. We climbed hills and
+forded streams, all in the darkness, we brushed the morning
+mist from the trees and grass as we passed, and when the
+dawn came found ourselves still on the march, wet and tired
+and sleepy and bedraggled. Daylight made no difference.
+On we pressed, climbing a long hill, crowned with plantation
+buildings and from which we could look down upon a scene
+of beauty, the green-clad hills and mountains, their tops still
+wreathed in the morning mist and with no sign that aught
+but peace and happiness lay in the valleys between them.
+No time, however, this to enjoy scenery, no matter how picturesque.
+On we went, now down the hill and into a thick
+piece of woods, where we halted for a little time, then on
+again until we once more struck a road and reached El Pozo,
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span>where there had been considerable trouble the day before.
+Without waiting for us the quadrille had already opened.
+During our halt in the woods we could hear the artillery and
+the rifles and soon after we reached the El Pozo road and
+once more swinging to the right started for San Juan we
+realized that it might be a case of El Caney over again, for
+we encountered a steady stream of wounded men going or
+being carried to the rear. Down the road screeched the
+Mausers, but still high over our heads and in the distance
+we could hear the boom of the guns of the Spanish forts as
+they answered our light artillery. Still onward, with no
+band or field music to give us the cadenced step, a minute's
+halt now and then until we were compelled to leave the road
+to make way for a battery banging recklessly along to take
+another position. Then across a stream and over an open
+field in full view of the enemy's trenches on the right, passing
+the battleground of the day before and, under fire by
+this time, we swung once more to the right and took position
+on a hill on nearly the extreme right of the American line.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i113.jpg" width="400" height="598" alt="Soldiers of G Co." />
+
+<div class="caption">
+Private R. G. Kelly. G. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp;Private Arthur Packard. G. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Private Geo. A. Richmond. G. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Private Andrew Little. G. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Private Francis A. Burk. G. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Corpl P. J. Noone. G. Co.
+</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>Rolls had been again stripped off and it was expected we
+would go into action, but the Spaniards had been given
+pretty nearly all the fight they wanted that day and there
+was little for the Second to do but to take its position and
+stay there. For hours the men lay on the hill crest under
+the blazing sun, without a chance at cooking a meal and
+hard pressed for water until details were sent back to the
+stream with canteens. Sharpshooters made this mission
+dangerous but no one refused to go.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until early in the evening that the firing died
+down and it was safe to stand erect and walk about. The
+rolls and haversacks had been brought up and having been
+better guarded from prowling Cubans this time the contents
+of the haversacks were intact. By the time darkness came
+on the hillside on which we were camped for the day, tents
+had by this time been put up, was <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'illuminatad'">illuminated</ins> by the cooking
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span>
+fires and once more we enjoyed something that would
+pass for a meal. This over, sleep was the next necessity and
+we were not long in seeking our downy couches.</p>
+
+<p>But we did not slumber long. Just about 10 o'clock there
+was a disturbance of the peace by the Spaniards, who apparently
+wished to spoil the good time we were having. Three
+or four big guns boomed out and then came the, by this
+time familiar sound of the Mausers. It needed no bell boy
+to awake us. In a jiffy we were up and scrambling for
+rifles and cartridge belts. Then came quickly spoken orders
+to "fall in" from the company commanders and the voices
+of the hurrying non-coms as they rounded up the men. All
+was black darkness and men stumbled over the grass and
+roots or slipped on the steep hillside. It was a scene of the
+utmost din and confusion, orders coming fast and loud, the
+men, still sleep-blinded, hustling about in confusion, the
+night's stillness broken by the crash of the Spanish rifles and
+the noise of exploding shells over our heads while on our
+right we heard the whip-like crack of the Krags answering
+the Mausers. "Hell's broken loose," avowed a B man as he
+groped about for his cartridge belt and indeed it seemed so.</p>
+
+<p>Our battalion had its "shacks" on the top of the
+hill just below the crest while the other companies were
+scattered all along the hill but further below, so that the
+men of the Springfield companies were not long in falling in
+and making their way to the crest. But even then they
+were not quick enough to satisfy Major Van Horn, the choleric
+commander of the 22d, who appeared to have as bad a
+case of what was known to the boys as the "rattles" as any
+man ever had. Brandishing his sword, he ran about the
+hill, cursing the Second and ordering every man to the front,
+although it would have seemed he had enough to do to look
+after his own outfit. Col. Clark and his officers and the
+regiment were already on the top of the hill and awaiting
+events, but for some time Major Van Horn pranced and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span>
+reared and vented his spleen upon the few men who happened
+to be a bit slow about getting up until finally his
+senses returned and he went where he belonged.</p>
+
+<p>All in all our officers and men acted with coolness, considering
+the circumstances. It is not pleasant or conducive to
+coolness of thought or action to be suddenly pulled out of
+bed after a day of great exertion and hustle around in black
+darkness to the accompaniment of rifle bullets and bombshells
+and especially when it is uncertain whether the enemy
+is in one's front, flank or rear and go stumbling up a steep
+hill so that it is small wonder if at the outset a few were
+"rattled." But in a very short time the lines were formed
+on the top of the hill and the Second waited.</p>
+
+<p>It was fortunate that none of our officers lost their heads
+and ordered their men to fire for the results could not fail to
+have been unfortunate all around. Just below us were three
+of our own regiments and had the Second fired the bullets
+would have hit our own men. It was a wonder that in the
+darkness and confusion nothing of the kind was done but
+officers and men kept their heads well and after the first confused
+rush up the hill all acted with commendable coolness.</p>
+
+<p>But if we did not use our rifles the enemy did theirs and
+before the affair was over two men of the Second had been
+hit, one of them, Private Robert G. Kelly of G, mortally.
+A Mauser struck him in the left cheek, passing through and
+severing the lingual artery, lodged in the muscles of the
+right jaw. The other man hit was Private Peter N. White
+of A company, whose wound was not serious.</p>
+
+<p>Poor Kelly was taken to his tent, where he lay in agony
+all night, the surgeons and hospital stewards doing all they
+could to relieve him. The next morning he was taken to
+the division hospital near Siboney where he lingered until
+July 7th, when he died. There was a story, which has
+never been denied, that his death was caused by internal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span>
+hemorrhage caused by the imperfect manner in which his
+wound was cared for in the hospital.</p>
+
+<p>The affair lasted about an hour and when the attacking
+force of Spaniards had been pretty well cut to pieces the
+enemy retired within his lines once more and the Second
+returned to its slumbers. At 3 A. M. there was some more
+firing but this was merely an affair of outposts and lasted
+but a few moments, just long enough to break up sleep for
+the second time that night.</p>
+
+<p>Next day was Sunday, but it could hardly be called a
+peaceful one. From daybreak to early in the afternoon the
+sharpshooters of the enemy were active and a man had to
+walk humbly and keep well under cover unless he cared to
+make a target of himself. Many of these sharpshooters
+were inside our lines, not having had an opportunity to get
+to their own when their companions were driven back and
+hidden in thick foliaged trees and supplied with rations and
+water and plenty of ammunition they managed to make
+matters rather lively for us. Early in the day many squads
+were sent out to locate and capture these fellows but though
+many were located few were brought in as prisoners.</p>
+
+<p>Time wore on slowly that Sunday. About noon orders
+were promulgated that an armistice had been declared and
+that firing on both sides was to cease at 12 o'clock. This
+was not bad news but evidently all our Spanish friends did
+not hear of it until later, for up to 2 o'clock there was an
+occasional bullet sent toward us from the outlying trenches.
+After that hour it was possible to walk about without having
+to dodge.</p>
+
+<p>Early that morning we heard the distance-dulled boom of
+heavy guns from the direction of the mouth of the harbor.
+We knew that Sampson and Schley were outside waiting for
+Cervera and his ships but we had heard the guns of our fleet
+so often that we supposed it was simply another case of
+throwing a few shot at the Morro or the other Spanish batteries.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span>
+Gradually the roar of the guns grew fainter and
+fainter until they died away altogether and it was supposed
+the attack of the fleet had again been fruitless. But soon
+after noon the "JoJo" department got at work again and
+rumors began to circulate that this time the fleet had been
+successful and had forced its way past the batteries and into
+the harbor.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until soon after 4 o'clock that afternoon, however,
+that we learned what had happened. Then we saw
+Major Webb of Shafter's staff riding up to our brigade headquarters,
+which were only a few yards away from Col.
+Clark's "shack." The major reined up, said a few words to
+Gen. Ludlow and the latter hastily summoned the regimental
+commanders and announced that the Spanish fleet had tried
+to cut its way out of the harbor and had been met by Schley's
+ships and destroyed. It did not take long for the good news
+to spread and then such cheering as went up. Hats went up
+into the air and there was general jubilation. For once the
+"JoJo" department had been outdone. All along our line
+we could hear the cheering and then what few regimental
+bands we had broke loose and gave a jubilee concert which
+was highly appreciated. We had no religious services that
+day but the bands played, "There'll be a hot time in Old
+Town to-night."</p>
+
+<p>Discipline was relaxed after the armistice had been declared
+and the men wandered along the lines, visiting other regiments
+and going over the battlegrounds of the two days
+previous. Many visited the outposts and took a look at the
+city and the forts. We could see the Spaniards taking life
+easy in their trenches and we wondered if they had heard
+what had happened to their fleet. Some of our boys, disgusted
+with their Springfields, went "grafting" Krags and
+picked up a good number, together with plenty of ammunition.
+Had the entire regiment been turned loose there is no
+question but what every man would have replaced his Springfield<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span>
+with a Krag-Jorgensen and as it was nearly 150 were
+obtained and a corresponding number of <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Sprinfields'">Springfields</ins> thrown
+away.</p>
+
+<p>Our sleep was unbroken that night and we were ready to
+celebrate July 4th the next morning. Our celebration took
+the form of a little excursion, for soon after our frugal breakfast
+we were on the march again and began our celebrated
+swing to the right with the object of encircling the city.
+Our brigade led the advance as it had from the start and
+after four hours of slow progress we swung to the left and
+took our position on the now famous "Misery hill," an elevation
+in rear of the city and overlooking it. From the crest
+we could plainly see the Spanish batteries and barracks, while
+almost directly in front of us were the hospital buildings with
+half a dozen Red Cross flags flying over them. We passed
+our Fourth of July quietly enough. Not a fire cracker was
+fired, principally because we did not have any and there was
+not even a rifle crack to mark the day. Late in the afternoon
+we heard the guns of the fleet again as they hammered
+away at the harbor batteries for awhile. We pitched our
+"day tents" and took notice of the fact that our rations were
+getting low again. Next day we were put at work for the
+first time digging trenches and we enjoyed the job. For
+tools there were in the entire regiment only a few shovels and
+picks but the trenches had to be dug and the boys went at it
+with their mess knives, spoons and tin plates. It was fierce
+work under the blazing sun and the soil was hard to dig, but
+the work was done by reliefs and by night of the next day
+the trenches of our battalion were completed and good ones
+they were, too. They were dug on the crest of the hill and
+were deep enough with the earth parapet to give us protection
+from anything the enemy might send over at us. They
+were wide enough to enable the men to move about and the
+earth was cut away at the rear so as to make a sort of seat.
+More trouble was anticipated at any moment and ammunition<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span>
+in plenty was placed along the trenches. In fact, there
+was more ammunition than rations about all the time during
+the campaign.</p>
+
+<p>Capron's battery, which was with us at El Caney, came
+up the 6th and took a position on the left of our line of
+trenches. The digging of intrenchments for this battery
+afforded us our first opportunity of seeing Cubans work and
+certainly they did work under Capt. Capron. Other regiments
+kept coming up and taking positions on our left and
+the circle about Santiago began to tighten.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile we had leisure to lie about and figure up our
+losses. Malone of B, shot at El Caney, had died in the field
+hospital the evening of July 2d and his death came as a
+shock to his friends in that company. Richmond of G died
+in the same hospital early the preceding evening and that
+made five good men in the three Springfield companies slain
+by Spanish bullets. There were many missing faces from
+the ranks, too, and we kept hearing rumors that this or that
+man wounded at Caney had died in the hospital. Besides we
+knew some exaggerated stories about the losses of the Second
+had gone home and we knew the anxiety which our friends
+and relatives in Springfield must be feeling.</p>
+
+<p>There were other losses aside from the bullets of the
+enemy. On July 6th Major Southmayd and Capt. McDonald
+left camp, the former going home on sick leave and the
+latter having injured himself badly in the spine. He was
+accompanied to the hospital by First Sergeant Burke, who
+remained with him until he sailed for the United States. In
+Capt. McDonald's absence First Lieut. W. L. Young took
+command of B company. Capt. John J. Leonard of G was
+made acting major of Major Southmayd's battalion and
+retained the command to the close of the campaign. The
+command of K company devolved upon First Lieut. Phillip
+C. Powers and First Lieut. W. C. Hayes took command of
+G company.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>About this time many of our boys got "next" to a species
+of poison vine somewhat resembling the poison ivy of New
+England and with about the same results. The surgeons
+could find nothing to counteract the effects of the vine until a
+Cuban told them of another plant which being steeped was
+an effective antidote for the poison and a free use of this soon
+restored the swollen faces and hands of the sufferers to their
+normal condition.</p>
+
+<p>"Misery hill" was a delightful place especially when the
+rations began to get shy as they did soon after our arrival.
+The visits of the pack train were few and far between and it
+was just as likely as not to bring ammunition instead of rations.
+Issues of one or two hardtack and a thin slice of bacon
+for a twenty-four hours ration were common, and some
+of the boys supplemented their menu with mangoes and
+"monkey plumes." Sergeant Lovely of G enjoyed the distinction
+of eating twenty-four mangoes in one day, much to
+the horror of the surgeons when they heard of it, but with
+no bad results to him.</p>
+
+<p>It was while we were on "Misery hill" that "Dido" Hunt
+achieved added fame by his abilities as a butcher. Gen.
+Ludlow had a desire for beefsteak and had purchased a hungry
+looking cow from some Cubans, Private Hunt as regimental
+butcher, being detailed to kill the animal. It was
+just before dusk, one evening, when the cow was led forth to
+the slaughter and "Dido," armed with a revolver, got ready
+to act as executioner. He fired again and again at the cow,
+the animal after each shot, looking about in a surprised manner
+as if wondering what the racket was all about. Finally
+one of the bullets hit the cow somewhere, and with a bellow
+of pain and fright, she ran off and disappeared in the darkness,
+leaving Private Hunt and the man who had been holding
+the rope gazing at each other. Gen. Ludlow had no
+steak that evening and the fate of the cow was never learned
+although there were rumors that the animal had ended her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span>
+career in the camp of one of the regular regiments, the men
+of which had a fresh meat supper that night.</p>
+
+<p>A "commissary" had been established near Siboney by
+some enterprising sutlers, and the company officers were enabled
+to purchase some tea, oatmeal, etc., for their men.
+These were especially valuable, as several had succumbed to
+the climate and the toil and exposure of the campaign, and
+the hardtack and bacon were not the best kind of food for
+them. About this time, too, we were threatened with an
+outbreak of measles, but the cases were promptly isolated
+and the disease did not spread.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XIV.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION IN THE ART OF WAR AND
+LEARN A FEW THINGS.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i124.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">OUR stay on "Misery hill" lasted just seven days and
+in that time we learned a few things, the art of
+trench digging without intrenching tools, standing
+out in our memory as one most important lesson.
+We learned how to sleep on a side hill without our
+bodies slipping entirely out from the shelter tents during our
+slumbers, this being accomplished by the simple means of
+driving a couple of pegs into the ground at the opening of the
+tent and placing a stick against them, our feet resting against
+the stick and preventing us going any further. We acquired
+the art of making cigarettes and of using anything at all in
+the paper line to roll them in. The inner pith of the royal
+palm came in handily for this purpose when our supply of
+cigarette paper gave out. We learned how to make one
+match light several pipes or cigarettes, for matches were
+scarce and therefore not to be wasted. We learned how to
+make the brook water passably cool in our canteens, by thoroughly
+soaking the canvass covering of the canteen and then
+suspending it from a tree or tent pole, the evaporation of the
+moisture of the cover slowly cooling the contents. At night
+the canteens were hung from the tent poles and in the morning
+the water was usually quite cool. Later on long branches
+of bamboo were used as water vessels and one trip to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span>
+the brook usually sufficed for the day. In the building of
+"shacks" by which the regulars who had served in the west
+designated about everything in the way of a shelter from the
+sun or rain, we obtained lessons from our friends of the 8th
+and 22d. A couple of crotched sticks across which was laid
+a center pole formed the usual frame work of the structure
+and the roof and sides were composed of bushes or palm
+leaves. These were more airy than our tents and more comfortable
+except when it rained heavily.</p>
+
+<p>Also, we learned to do without stockings, the fact being
+that the bulk of our hosiery was either worn out or thrown
+away, and we took a card from the regulars and discarded
+such things in the line thereof, greasing our feet with the
+luscious "sow belly." In laundry work we became expert.
+"Jim" Ryan's steam laundry had long since gone into voluntary
+bankruptcy, and every man was his own laundryman.
+Insect enemies began to appear, and obtained a lodgment in
+spite of strenuous efforts. Soap was scarce and there were
+times when water was not the easiest thing in the world to
+get. Our sleeping arrangements were primitive, the usual
+method of arranging them being to place the rubber blanket
+on the ground with the coated side down, on this place the
+woolen blanket and wrapping this about us, go to sleep.
+Our coats, or shoes, or anything else suitable, being utilized
+for pillows. While on "Misery hill" many of the boys cut
+grass and utilized it as mattresses, but we could not do this
+on our short bivouacs.</p>
+
+<p>As to cooking, we were "stars." That is when there was
+anything to cook. On these occasions our culinary preparations
+were delightfully simple and even chafing-dish outfits
+would have to bow to our superior ingenuity. Our cooking
+apparatus required a small fire of wood, and the utensils
+were all carried in our haversacks. They were a combined
+frying pan and plate of tin, the former having a handle, a
+sharp pointed knife, fork and spoon. The basis of our menu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>
+was especially noticeable for its simplicity, the staples
+being bacon, hardtack, canned tomatoes and coffee. Sometimes
+we had sugar and more times we didn't. Occasionally
+we had a bit of salt or pepper and on these rare occasions
+there was joy, for then we were enabled to make the stuff
+labelled "canned roast beef" palatable enough so that it could
+be forced down our throats. At other times, Ugh! If the
+devil hasn't a special corner in the hot room of his Turkish
+bath reserved for those responsible for that "canned roast
+beef," he isn't "onto his job."</p>
+
+<p>Even with such simple means we managed to vary the
+menus a bit at times. Our usual breakfast was bacon
+and hardtack and coffee. The bacon was usually without a
+bit of lean and after frying for a moment or two the pan was
+about half-filled with fat, leaving a shrivelled up and brittle
+piece of so-called bacon. But it was eaten just the same, our
+stomachs having been educated up to anything. Sometimes
+we fried our hardtack in the bacon grease and these with
+black coffee, sometimes without sugar, made up our breakfast.
+Thanks to a beneficent government we had coffee about
+all the time, if we had nothing else. It came to us in the
+berry, in paper packages, and our chief concern as to coffee
+was how to grind or pulverize it. Usually this was done by
+the simple but slow process of putting a few berries in our
+tin cups and pounding them with a stick or tent pole until
+they were broken enough to steep. Then the cup was filled
+with water and placed in the fire until the coffee boiled when
+the cup was taken out by means of a cleft stick or a bayonet
+and laid aside to cool sufficiently to drink. There was plenty
+of barbed wire everywhere and by means of the wire cutters
+rude grates were made on which the tin cup was placed.
+For dinner the bill of fare and the method of preparing it was
+about the same, likewise for supper. Sometimes, when we
+had canned tomatoes we made "sludge," a simple confection
+of tomatoes and broken hardtack, with at times a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>
+"strings" of the corned beef thrown in to give it, not taste,
+but more body. This "beef" was also used to form the
+groundwork for an imitation stew, the only resemblance to
+stew being the name, for it was without onions or potatoes.
+Then we made "Santiago sludge cakes," composed of pulverized
+hardtack and water, the mixture being patted into
+cakes and fried in bacon grease. Sometimes a bit of sugar
+was sprinkled over them, and we deluded ourselves into the
+belief that we were eating something very fine. Another
+method of preparing this delicacy was to mix in some canned
+tomato. Mango stew we had at times, but not often, as
+sugar was scarce.</p>
+
+<p>Gout might fairly have been expected as the result of this
+high living, (we were camped on a hill,) but, strange to say,
+no cases were reported, and even dyspepsia was unknown.
+Our regular hours doubtless aided us in keeping off these two
+diseases. We were aroused by reveille very early in the
+morning, usually about dawn and retired early in the evening.
+It grew dark about 8 o'clock and by that time
+everyone but the sentries was in quarters and usually asleep.</p>
+
+<p>The personal appearance of our officers and men was not
+as prepossessing as it might have been. Coats and collars
+were not <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">de rigeur</i> and the only headgear was very "bum"
+looking campaign hats. Usually our blue shirts were open
+at the neck and a blue handkerchief carelessly knotted <em>a la</em>
+cow boy was our only ornament. Suspenders were viewed
+with suspicion and the cartridge belts, with their thimbles
+filled with ammunition, served also the purpose of keeping
+our trousers up. These trousers were showing the wear
+and tear of the campaign, and needed pressing badly, being
+also used for pajamas. Our leggings were mostly torn and
+frayed, and went well with the trousers so far as looks were
+concerned, as for shoes, they too had seen better days.
+Barbers were at a discount and full beards were popular, the
+most noticeable ones in the three Springfield companies being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span>
+those of Lieuts. Powers and Parkhurst of K, and Sergeants
+Scully and Murphy of G, although Gardella's was not far
+behind.</p>
+
+<p>In K "Bert" Nichols and "Ad" Potter had trained down so
+fine that their bodies failed to cast a shadow, and "Billy"
+Fish had got down to less than 200 pounds. The beard possessed
+by Morris <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Greenowitz'">Grenowitz</ins> of B was nearly all that remained
+of him and Jack Fulton was travelling in the same
+road. Alberts of B was having a good time with the horses
+and the Chaplain, and in K the Turner brothers were having
+hourly arguments with each other on the relative nutritious
+qualities of canned roast and corned beef. "Wap" Packard
+of G was busy figuring how many men were by his
+brother's side when he was shot, and had already counted
+up 35 with several more districts to hear from, and "Jim"
+Shene of the same company was planning foraging expeditions
+with Private Mahoney of Mittineague. "Batty" Hayes
+had secured a divorce from "Marguerite" Gelinas and was
+busy trying to keep the case out of the papers.</p>
+
+<p>So the days passed on "Misery hill" until noon of the
+10th, when we were ordered to move on, once more to the
+right, and we left our fine trenches only to have them occupied
+by the 71st New York, the "heroes" of San Juan. We
+halted after a couple of hours, there being some trenches
+dug by Garcia's Cubans, and occupied them at 4 o'clock
+when our batteries opened upon Santiago. The affair lasted
+until 6, but the enemy's reply was not very loud and we did
+not get a chance to use our Springfields.</p>
+
+<p>Next morning we were on the march again, and this time
+it lasted about all day, up hill and down hill, until just before
+dusk we halted for the night with the right of our brigade
+resting on the Cobre road, thus cutting off the last avenue
+of escape from the city for the Spaniards, and the only
+way by which reinforcements from Holguin or the rest of
+the province could be put into the city. Rumors that a large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span>
+Spanish force was on the way, made us vigilant and our
+guards were instructed to keep the sharpest kind of a watch,
+but as events proved, it was not necessary. Hardly had the
+boys got their tents up and their supper cooked, before the
+mail came up, and such a rush as there was for it. We
+had received one mail from home while on "Misery hill,"
+and every man who failed to receive a letter then, was certain
+there was one or more for him now and could hardly
+wait to have the contents of the sacks distributed.</p>
+
+<p>That night we had to take off our hats to the Cuban rain
+storm. Hardly had the mail been distributed when it began
+to rain. Up to this what rain there was had usually fallen
+in the afternoon and was not of long duration, but the rain
+of July 11th and 12th will be remembered by every one in
+the Fifth Army Corps. It came down all night in solid
+sheets and our shelter tents and rubber blankets were of little
+use against it. When morning came everybody and
+everything was drenched, and a more forlorn looking outfit
+can hardly be imagined. About 6 A. M., the rain ceased
+for an hour or two and as soon as possible huge fires of bamboo
+were blazing and the men essayed to dry themselves
+and their clothing and to cook breakfast. Fortunately there
+was plenty of bamboo near our camp, and the wood burned
+as well wet as dry. But it was not long before down came
+the rain again just as bad as during the night, and to add to
+our discomfort, came orders to pack up and move on again.</p>
+
+<p>Rolling up our saturated tents and blankets, and wet to
+the skin, we took up the march and after wading through
+the deep mud of the Cobre road for a short distance,
+plunged into a trail which would take us to our new position
+and our last camp in Cuba. But it was not long before
+we found that the trail led through a piece of swampy
+ground, and before they had gone far the boys found themselves
+up to their legging tops in mud and the ooze of the
+swamp. It took a long time to flounder along through this,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span>
+but it was finally done and the regiment emerged upon firm
+ground, and was soon on the spot selected for its occupancy.</p>
+
+<p>All this time the rain kept on, and it was not until nearly
+4 P. M., that it ceased and the sun came out. Meanwhile,
+the well soaked shelter tents had been put up and the men
+were either huddled under them and saying things about the
+wet season and Cuba, or were standing about with their rubber
+blankets thrown over their heads. But with the coming
+of the sun there was a great change. Its rays were so fierce
+that within half an hour there was scarcely any indication
+that it had been raining all night and all day, the ground
+dried up rapidly and so did the shelter tents. Off came the
+rubber blankets from the men, and clothing and equipments
+were spread out to dry in the afternoon sun. Wood was
+hustled for and with the blaze of the cooking fires and the
+smell of bacon and coffee cheerfulness returned.</p>
+
+<p>That evening the boys were put at work again digging
+trenches. Up to this Gen. Toral had hesitated to respond to
+Shafter's invitation to come out and surrender and the arrival
+of Gen. Miles having stiffened up the latter gentleman's
+backbone, some more trouble was looked for. Our brigade
+was, as usual, on the extreme right of the American line and
+the 8th regiment lay directly opposite the head of the harbor,
+the 22d next and then "ours." Right in front of our center
+and less than 500 yards away was the bull ring of Santiago,
+a circular wooden building filled with Spanish soldiers, while
+in front of that we could see the trenches with the soldiers
+lounging about, and with a glass could discern the barbed
+wire fencing and entanglements in front of the trenches.
+Our position was an exposed one, for from their position the
+enemy could have raked us front and flank, so at the trenches
+we went under the direction of Major Whipple.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i131" id="i131" href="images/i131-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i131.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="Soldiers of B Co." /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">
+Private Paul Vesper, B. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp;Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, B. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Private John J. Malone, B. Co.
+</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>By this time our regiment had been supplied with a fairly
+decent number of intrenching tools and the boys, appreciating
+the necessity for trenches, went at the work with but little<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span>
+grumbling. The trenches were dug on three sides of a
+square, one in front of each battalion, the work being done
+by each company in relays. Major Whipple's battalion now
+had the right, Major Fairbanks' the center and ours the left,
+so that it was in the rear of the other two. The work was
+continued to a late hour that night, and all the next day,
+and finished on the morning of the 14th. The trenches
+were even better than those dug on "Misery hill" and
+were complimented by Gen. Ludlow, who was a colonel of
+engineers before he became a general of volunteers. Not to
+be behind hand the non-commissioned staff of the regiment
+and the headquarters attaches dug a trench for themselves
+and the regiment was ready for the next move.</p>
+
+<p>Twelve o'clock at noon of the 24th was the hour set for
+the ending of the truce, and at 11.30 A. M. we were ordered
+into the trenches. Everyone felt there was going to be a
+hard fight this time, for it was considered certain that the
+enemy would make a determined resistance and our estimate
+of Spanish valor had gone up many degrees since El Caney.
+It was known that an assault by the Americans was to follow
+the bombardment and those who had noted the enemy's
+preparations for defense knew that we were in for a warm
+reception and that if we charged up to the barbed wire entanglements
+and the trenches many would not return.
+But that made little difference and we took our position in
+the trenches and waited for the opening gun from Capron's
+battery, posted on a hill in our rear. The horses and the
+Chaplain had gone to the rear and the surgeons and hospital
+corps were posted in readiness for what might happen.
+Hardly had we got into the trenches when the buzzards began
+to gather, and this to us was a certain indication of a
+battle.</p>
+
+<p>Noon came and the white flag of truce still waved from
+the governor's palace and the signal gun was not fired.
+Half after 12 and no change. We wondered what was up.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span>
+Nothing much could be seen from the trenches and nearly
+all of the boys climbed to the top and sat down with eager
+eyes fastened upon the city we were going to capture. One
+o'clock and the white flag still floated. Now came the "Jo
+Jo" department to the front once again, and the news ran
+from trench to trench, that Shafter had postponed the assault
+and given the Spaniards a few days more in which to
+make up their mind. Following this came the information
+that Gen. Toral was merely trying to gain time in order
+that 10,000 Spanish troops which were coming up, might
+attack us in the rear while Toral's men sallied out in our
+front. And then down came the rain in large and continuous
+sheets, soon flooding the trenches and making us forget
+the impending battle, "Jo Jo's," and everything else but
+the necessity of keeping as dry as possible. The rain lasted
+for an hour and a half, filling our lovely trenches with water
+and putting them in nice shape for a battle. But hardly
+had the sun reappeared before we saw a horseman clad in
+the <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Khakir'">Khaki</ins> uniform of Shafter's staff galloping along the
+lines toward us and in his wake we saw the hats of the men
+in the trenches being thrown into the air, and the wearers
+dancing as if some extra good news had come. Reining up
+in front of the center trench where Col. Clark was, the
+horseman gave him the welcome news that the city had surrendered,
+and as the constantly increasing knot of officers
+and men who had got within earshot, began to get ready for
+a vocal demonstration, the aide added, "Orders are not to
+cheer, boys, for the deal isn't quite fixed up, but you can
+throw your hats into the air all you wish." Well, the boys,
+followed instructions and the hats went up, while the aide
+dashed over to the 8th and 22d with the news.</p>
+
+<p>And it was good news. It meant no more trench digging,
+no more marching, no more fighting, and last but not
+least, as some of our long headed and practical ones figured
+it out, it meant more and varied rations, for now our ships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span>
+could come into the harbor. The trenches were quickly
+emptied and we returned to our shacks in pretty good
+spirits.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until three days after, on Sunday the 17th,
+that the formal surrender took place. The troops were assembled
+in front of their trenches, and as the gun announcing
+the hoisting of our flag over the governor's palace,
+boomed out, we cheered, and then marched back only to be
+formed in front of Col. Clark's quarters, where certain men
+were given a "wigging" which they remembered for a long
+time. Since the 14th our men had been allowed to go freely
+outside our lines, and although not permitted to go into the
+city proper, yet they found some interesting things in the
+suburbs. One of these was the cemetery and some regulars
+and a number of Second men had gone there and thoughtlessly
+taken some flowers and trinkets from some graves.
+This desecration had been reported by the Spaniards to Gen.
+Shafter and the latter "wigged" Gen. Lawton about it,
+Lawton repeating the operation to Gen. Ludlow and the latter
+giving Col. Clark and the commanding officer of the 22d
+a bad quarter of an hour. So when it came his turn, Col.
+Clark let himself out on the men, and his remarks were of
+the keen and cutting style which makes a man feel good
+when he hears some other fellow getting them. This concluded
+the exercises of the day and we were dismissed to
+think it over.</p>
+
+<p>Next day the "Jo Jo" bureau resumed operations and we
+heard "on the best of authority," of course, that we were to
+be hustled on to Porto Rico with Gen. Miles. Next came
+the news that our brigade, having done so well was to be
+sent against Holguin in the interior of the province where
+there were some 8000 Spanish troops, who had been surrendered
+with those in <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Santiano'">Santiago</ins> but did not like it and proposed
+to fight. Within the next few days it was gravely
+announced by the "Jo Jo," that we were going to be sent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>
+to the Philippines, as experienced and acclimated troops
+were wanted there; that we were to be sent to help capture
+Havana, marching from Santiago for that purpose, and best
+of all, that unless Spain sued for peace within a week, we
+were to embark for that country and invade it. As to the
+"Jo Jos" about double pay, the receipt by each man of a
+lump sum of money in consideration of waiving our claims
+to a pension, etc., they were numerous and varied enough
+to fill a large book. In its "Jo Jo" bureau the Second had
+some distinguished artists.</p>
+
+<p>But the most convincing sign of all that the city had surrendered,
+was the arrival of rations, and they were gladly
+received. For a day or two it was the familiar bacon and
+hardtack, but soon we were surprised and gladdened by the
+sound of mule wagons coming up the road from the city and
+laden with good looking loaves of soft bread. We then
+found that army ovens had been established in the city and
+that we would have bread in abundance. Next came some
+refrigerated beef, and it looked good and tasted better.
+Our first issue of the beef was quickly disposed of, each
+man's share being taken to the nearest fire and a "bluff"
+made at broiling it, the majority of the men being too "meat
+hungry" to do more than merely toast it. That first "beefsteak
+supper" of ours on the island is remembered yet.
+Next day came more beef, more bread and finally potatoes
+and onions, while with them were brought along rice and
+canned tomatoes and bacon and hardtack. The two latter we
+scorned. Eat hardtack and canned beef when we had fresh
+bread and meat and the materials for beef stew? Well, we
+guessed not. But it turned out we were too proud. There
+came days when the refrigerated beef became less relished,
+especially when our noses could learn of its being on the way
+long before it reached the camp, and we were glad to fall
+back on the despised, "sowbelly," and by this time in deference<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span>
+to our luxurious tastes, the conscience stricken commissary
+department was sending us something that resembled
+bacon far more than anything we had previously had, and
+that came in nice tin packages. Even the soft bread palled
+on us after a while, and we were glad to nibble a hardtack
+now and then, especially, when as sometimes happened
+the bread was sour.</p>
+
+<p>A few days after the surrender, B company was gladdened
+by the arrival of its cook, Walter Butler, who had remained
+on the ship and who, on his arrival, took charge of the culinary
+department and began to concoct some excellent stews.
+The Buzzicot field-cooking outfits, which we had brought
+from Massachusetts with us, were also landed, and that of G
+was at once set up with Private Carl Mueller as cook and
+Corporal "Nat" Gardella and "Dido" Hunt as steward and
+assistant steward, and "Daniel" Bellamy, the well-known
+temperance orator, as chief of the wood and water department.
+Private Fisher, the company cook of K, was ill, and
+K's Buzzicot was but little used.</p>
+
+<p>The day after our arrival in this camp, Private Bates of K
+severely injured his foot while chopping wood, the axe slipping
+and severing one of the arteries. He was laid up for
+some days.</p>
+
+<p>G and K moved their camps to the other side of the
+trenches about the 20th, but B remained where it was. The
+wall tents which we brought with us from South Framingham
+and used at Lakeland and Tampa, also came up, and at
+once took the place of the "pup tents" we had used on the
+island. Our knapsacks and other property which we left on
+the Knickerbocker were also sent to us and we found that
+some of our things were left, although many knapsacks
+which had been left well filled, on the boat, had been
+"touched."</p>
+
+<p>Once again we began to have the same old shortage of rations,
+and this time with our ships in the harbor we couldn't<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span>
+understand it. One day we received two hardtack and a
+spoonful of coffee berries for a twenty-four hours issue.
+We were out of fresh meat, sugar and everything else, but
+this only lasted a couple of days and then we got fresh meat,
+vegetables and beans.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XV.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE HAVE TO FACE ANOTHER ENEMY MORE DEADLY THAN
+THE SPANIARDS.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i139.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">AND now that the Spaniards had been conquered and
+Santiago was ours we found ourselves facing
+another enemy even more deadly than the Mauser
+bullets or the <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'machette'">machete</ins>. Up to the surrender the
+health of our regiment, everything considered, had
+been fairly good. Sickness there was to be sure, but nothing
+more than was to be expected in a regiment of 900 men
+subjected to the exposures and hardships incidental to a campaign
+in a foreign land, and these exposures supplemented
+by a ration, which even when plentiful, which was not often,
+was entirely unfitted for soldiers campaigning in a warm
+climate. Again it must be remembered that our work in
+Cuba was performed in the rainy season and that sleeping in
+mud, marching and bivouacking in the rain and fording deep
+streams are not conducive to rugged health when persisted in
+day after day. But so long as the active campaign lasted,
+the excitement and novelty of it all kept the men up. After
+the surrender, when there was little or nothing for them to
+do, they were in condition to fall an easy prey to the "calentura"
+or malarial fever, and to the diseases of the stomach
+incident to camp life with a poorly adapted ration. Fat bacon
+and canned beans, containing fully as much grease as
+beans, are not the kind of food the sensible man going to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span>
+spend a time in the tropics would select for his menu, but
+that is what we got and it was eat it or nothing.</p>
+
+<p>During the active campaign many men of the regiment
+were ill from one cause or another, but as a matter of fact,
+there was nothing like a general outbreak of sickness at any
+time until some days after the surrender. A number of the
+men contracted rheumatism from sleeping on the damp
+ground and there were scattered cases of measles and stomach
+disorders. But the average daily sick report never went
+much beyond a dozen cases, which it must be admitted is not
+bad for an organization of nearly 1000 men living under the
+conditions which we did.</p>
+
+<p>For the first few days after Santiago surrendered all went
+well. There were propositions to move the troops further inland
+and up into the mountains with a view of escaping any
+possibility of the dreaded yellow fever which was showing
+itself at Siboney, the houses of which village had been burned
+to the ground in order to remove the danger of infection, but
+the contemplated move was not made and we remained in
+our last station until the regiment sailed for Montauk Point.</p>
+
+<p>On the day after the surrender Col. Clark issued orders for
+daily company drills and inspections with a view of giving
+the men something to do, he recognizing, as an old soldier,
+that idleness is the worst possible thing in camp. He and
+his superiors realized, however, that the army had passed
+through a most trying, though short campaign, and that the
+men deserved a rest, but at the same time there were already
+warnings that the less active the men were, the easier they
+fell prey to the climatic diseases of the country. Even after
+we had been in our last camp for a few days, there were
+signs that the fever was at work and with our limited supply
+of medicines, it was feared that it might become epidemic.
+That these fears were only too well grounded was soon to be
+made manifest.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+<img src="images/i141.jpg" width="400" height="597" alt="Soldiers of K Co." />
+
+<div class="caption">
+Corp'l Thos. C. Boon. K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp;Pvt. J. L. Morehouse. K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Private Michael R. Lyons. K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Musician Frank P. Jones. K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Corp'l W. C. Piper. K. Co.<br />
+ &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;Pvt. Arthur Burnham. K. Co.
+</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span></p>
+<p>The day following the surrender, Col. Clark and Major
+Bowen, the regimental surgeon, established a hospital in an
+old and dilapidated wooden building a couple of hundred
+yards in front of our advanced line of trenches and which
+had been used as a railway station. It was in poor shape,
+the roof being partly gone and the flooring bad, but it was
+better than leaving the sick men in their stuffy little shelter
+tents or out in the open air. The division hospitals were already
+overcrowded with wounded and sick men and the regimental
+commanders were notified that they would have to
+care for their own sick as best they could. Even as bad as
+the building selected for our hospital was, it was looked upon
+with envy by the commanding officers of other regiments
+and it was even suggested to Col. Clark that he divide it up
+with the other regiments of our brigade.</p>
+
+<p>Whether it was the camping along the line of the recently
+made trenches, the earth of which was said to be full of malarial
+germs, or that the fever was already in the air that
+caused the epidemic among our men is not certain, but within
+a day or two after the Sunday on which the Stars and
+Stripes were hoisted over the city the fever began its career
+in our regiment and in a few days over fifty per cent. of the
+officers and men were affected with it. The daily drills soon
+had to be discontinued, for hardly enough men to make a
+decent showing were able to turn out for them in the majority
+of the companies. It was the same way at the daily inspections.
+Frequently a man standing in the ranks would
+fall down in his tracks from sheer weakness and would have
+to be carried to his tent by his comrades. Soon there was no
+pretence of conforming to the orders requiring these drills
+and inspections and the men, who were able to move at all,
+did so as if their feet were encased in lead. At surgeon's
+call every morning there were sights which were enough to
+appall the stoutest hearted among us. It was directly after
+reveille that this call was sounded, and then from all parts
+of the camp dreary processions of what had been strong and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span>
+hearty looking young men, would drag themselves slowly to
+the surgeon's tent and stand or lie on the ground waiting for
+their turn to be treated. And it must be said that the treatment
+was not of a sort calculated to cheer them up. The
+only medicines on hand were quinine and salts and a preparation
+for stomach disorders. Of quinine there was a plenty,
+but after a time the systems of the men, in many cases, became
+so saturated with it that even doses of thirty grains or
+more produced but little effect. And what hurt the boys
+more than the fever or anything else was the feeling, right or
+wrong as it may have been, that we of the Fifth Army
+Corps, who had done our work uncomplainingly, and done it
+well, were being neglected by the government whose call we
+had obeyed among the first. It was known that our state
+had sent us away from South Framingham with a medicine
+chest second to none in the army, and that this chest was
+even now on board of one of the transports in the harbor,
+but for all practical uses, as far off as the North Pole. Some
+of us knew that requisition after requisition for medical supplies
+had been sent in by our surgeon and had not been honored,
+that in spite of all our surgeons and stewards could do
+it was next to an impossibility to obtain an ambulance, and
+that we were even denied the services of one of our assistant
+surgeons, Dr. Gates having been detailed to the Fourth infantry,
+which was at that time without a medical officer.</p>
+
+<p>All these things helped the fever. Depression was its best
+ally, and then came nostalgia, the homesickness which men
+who have never experienced sneer at, but which is the bane
+of armies, and which in the Cuban campaign helped kill
+more men than the bullets of the Spaniards. For nurses for
+the sick there were only their comrades, willing enough God
+knows, but unaccustomed to the work, and with their own
+nerves and tempers wrought up to a high pitch. With lack
+of surgeons, lack of medicines, lack of nurses, lack of proper
+food, lack of proper accommodations and lack of everything<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span>
+that sick men should have, it is a wonder that the entire regiment
+was not left behind to fill graves in Cuba.</p>
+
+<p>But even a more pitiful sight than the men who answered
+the surgeon's call every morning had to witness, was the
+spectacle of the poor fellows who were unable to get up from
+their beds on the ground, and who lay there day after day
+under the stuffy tents, their bodies burning up with the fever,
+too weak or too despairing to even accept the poor nourishment
+which their comrades tried to get for them, and in some
+cases so far gone with nostalgia that they refused everything
+and only wished for death. It is a known fact that fifty per
+cent. of the men of the Second who died in that last camp of
+ours in Cuba, died of nostalgia and nothing else.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, everything that could be done with the limited
+resources at command, was being done. The company commanders
+sent into Santiago and bought at the commissary
+stores, such decent food for sick men as could be procured,
+and through the efforts of Col. Clark, some suitable food and
+delicacies were obtained from the Red Cross society. The
+Colonel also purchased, at his own expense, a number of cots
+and hammocks for the regimental hospital.</p>
+
+<p>It was indeed a trying time. Officer after officer and man
+after man went down with the fever. Adjutant Paul R.
+Hawkins was hard hit with it and was finally removed to
+the second division hospital. Major Henry C. Bowen, the
+regimental surgeon, also succumbed and was taken to the
+same hospital where he died. Quartermaster E. E. Sawtell
+was another victim but did not go to the hospital. Captain
+John J. Leonard of G, was stricken and for long days fought
+the disease in his quarters, and Lieut. Edward J. Leyden of
+his company was taken to the hospital. Lieut. W. L. Young
+and Lieut. Harry J. Vesper of B were attacked, the former
+not seriously, however. There were but few men in any of
+the companies fit for duty and it was difficult to get enough
+men for the necessary details. The drills were given up for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span>
+not enough men to make a decent showing were fit to turn
+out and it was with difficulty that enough men for regimental
+and brigade guard were provided. Some necessary work
+had to be done and from brigade and division headquarters
+details were constantly being asked for and every man able
+to stand on his feet had to be pressed into service.</p>
+
+<p>The officers, during this trying time, did all in their power
+for their men, but it was not much they were able to do and
+the men felt at the time, that they should have done more.
+In this they were unjust, for the officers were suffering as
+much as the men, and the latter have since come to realize
+that many of the opinions expressed at this time and later, on
+this subject, were unjust. The fever and the other diseases
+spared no one, whether he wore shoulder straps or not.</p>
+
+<p>Dr. Hitchcock, our assistant surgeon, succumbed to the
+fever, and was taken to the division hospital and the surgeon,
+Dr. Bowen, soon followed him there. This left us without a
+medical officer, and for two or three days the outlook for the
+sick men of the Second was a dark one. But we were then
+provided with two contract surgeons, Dr. Persons and Dr.
+Dunwoody, and both proved themselves excellent gentlemen
+and hard workers. Soon after their arrival, Dr. Gates, our
+other assistant surgeon, who had been detailed to the Fourth
+infantry, was sent back to us, and his presence was as good
+as a tonic to the sick men. His cheery smile and sympathetic
+ways were even better than his medicines, and for a
+time, after his return, the health of the command appeared
+to improve. Meanwhile, the famous "<ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'round robbin'">round robin</ins>" had
+been sent, and its result was that the Fifth corps was ordered
+to return home as soon as transports could be procured.
+From then until August 12 the thoughts of the men were
+concentrated upon the time we were to go home.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, the men who escaped the fever and other diseases,
+were doing all possible for their comrades. The company
+officers, finding that idleness at this time was the worst<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span>
+possible thing for the men who were at all able to get about,
+set them at work, and though this seemed at the time a
+hardship to the men, it turned out to be the best thing that
+could be done, for it not only served to keep them in better
+shape physically but helped to keep their minds occupied and
+prevented them from dwelling too much upon the gloomy
+situation in the camps and from thinking too much of home.
+They were encouraged and in most cases ordered to build
+raised bunks for themselves, these serving to keep their bodies
+off the ground while sleeping, and to erect shelters of
+boughs and palm leaves instead of remaining in their shelter
+tents. When the big wall tents arrived there was no further
+need of these "shacks" but they served a useful purpose
+even if not handsome looking.</p>
+
+<p>It was not long after the surrender that we began to get
+large packages of mail, including the Springfield papers and
+it is hardly necessary to say that they were welcome. In
+these papers we found stories of the campaign and of the
+part the Second had played in the actions at El Caney and
+San Juan. Many of the letters the boys had written
+from Tampa and Cuba had been printed and in the reading
+of these there was much fun. We learned from the papers
+of the big Fourth of July celebration that had been planned
+in Springfield, and how it had been given up when the news
+of El Caney and the rumors of heavy loss in "Ours" reached
+home. And we received the Fourth of July buttons which
+had been made in honor of that occasion and proudly wore
+them about the camp to the envy of some of the other companies
+of the regiment. It did us some good to know that
+we had not been entirely forgotten. And sometimes in the
+mails there were packages for us, sent by loving friends from
+home and welcome, whether they contained much or little.
+The arrival of the mail was an event in those days. Sometimes
+all that there was could be brought from Santiago on
+the back of one horse, but there were times when one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span>
+two wheeled carretas was necessary to transport it. The array
+of bags would be dumped off in front of the office tent of
+the regiment and then the work of sorting out the contents
+would begin. That destined for each company having been
+piled up, there were usually enough men waiting to take it
+away, and for the next few hours the men would read their
+letters and papers and exchange news. The arrival of the
+mail was invariably followed by a time of letter writing and
+the return mail was sometimes nearly as heavy as that which
+had come in.</p>
+
+<p>As time went on the fever appeared to be wearing itself
+out and some of those who had it began to recover slowly until
+they were able to drag themselves around. For days
+there was a feeling that the worst was over, and this feeling
+was especially strong in our battalion, which, by the way,
+had not as yet been as hard hit by the fever as some of the
+other sections of the regiment. But then came the yellow
+fever scare and the deaths of one or two of our men and these
+resulted in a return of the old depression and consequently
+the sickness.</p>
+
+<p>Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse of B, was
+the first man of the Springfield companies to succumb to the
+fever and the nostalgia which accompanied it. He was taken
+sick soon after the surrender, but kept up and about for
+some time, as he had all through the campaign. But he
+went down at last and the end came on rapidly. He died on
+August 1st, and there was not a man in the regiment more
+regretted for all who ever knew "Dicky" Bearse, loved him.</p>
+
+<p>The second man to go, in the battalion, was Corporal W.
+C. Piper of K, who died in the division hospital, August 5th,
+of pernicious malarial fever. He had been taken there only
+the day before and his comrades were horror stricken when
+notified of his death. The day following a detail from his
+company was sent to the hospital and buried him. Private<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span>
+Paul Vesper of B, died the 10th, from the same cause as Piper,
+in the division hospital.</p>
+
+<p>It was a day or two afterwards that we heard of the famous
+"round robin" and its result. The thought of soon
+sailing for home did much to cheer us up and we began to
+make what few preparations we had to make, although there
+was as yet nothing authentic about our going. But on the
+10th Col. Clark received orders to be ready to embark on short
+notice and the news spread like wildfire through our camp.
+Our working suits which we had worn all through the campaign,
+and our blankets and haversacks were ordered burned
+and in place of them we were issued the khaki uniforms of
+yellow with blue facings.</p>
+
+<p>A few days before Col. John F. Marsh, of Springfield, had
+arrived, and brought with him several boxes of good things
+sent by the people of Springfield. The time was so short
+that many of the boxes were unopened and were taken to the
+ship when we sailed. Nearly all their contents were looted,
+however, during our trip to Montauk point.</p>
+
+<p>August 11th we received orders to embark the following
+day, and on the 12th those of the regiment able to march,
+fell in, and we "hiked the pike" for Santiago. With flags
+flying we marched through the Calle de Marina, or Marine
+street, and after a short wait on a pier, were put on a lighter
+and taken off to the transport Mobile, already occupied by
+the other two regiments of our brigade and a number of
+horses. The sick officers and men were sent to the pier in
+ambulances and those able to walk not only had to do that,
+but were also obliged to handle all the baggage, a job that
+would have been child's play at other times, but which in our
+debilitated condition was a task almost beyond our strength.
+Col. Clark had been attacked with the fever that morning
+and was unable to do anything. Lieut. Col. Shumway was
+so ill as to be unfit for duty but he stuck it out and did what
+he could. Lieut. Hawkins and Lieut. Leyden were brought<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span>
+down from the division hospital and Lieut. Vesper was
+brought down from his tent in our camp by Captain Crosier
+of D. Company.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile there were a number of our men sick in their
+quarters or in the hospitals who could not be moved to the
+ship, besides others who had been spotted as "suspicious"
+cases by the surgeons on the day previous, and ordered to
+remain behind, it being feared that they were in the first stages
+of yellow fever. It was necessary that some remain behind
+to care for these poor fellows, but who to detail to this
+hard duty was a problem which Col. Clark finally solved by
+detailing Lieut. W. H. Plummer of A Company of Worcester,
+and a detail of one man from each company in the regiment
+to remain. Private Dozilva Lamoreaux of G, Private
+Robert A. Draper of B and Private Albert Marsden of K volunteered
+to compose this detail from our companies, and their
+sacrifices in doing this will not be forgotten by their comrades.</p>
+
+<p>Privates Little, Stetson, Brownell and Dunn of G company,
+Corporal John B. Fulton, and Privates Judd, Rivers,
+Champagne, Smith, Wheeler and Frey of B company, and
+Privates Maynard, Solace and Hall of K were left behind on
+the island, either sick or as yellow fever suspects when the
+regiment was ordered home.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i151" id="i151" href="images/i151-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i151.jpg" width="600" height="400" alt="" /></a>
+<div class="caption">1st TURRET'S CREW. MONITOR LEHIGH.</div></div>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XVI.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>OUR VOYAGE HOMEWARD ON THE DEATH SHIP MOBILE.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i153.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">OUR voyage homeward on the Mobile was not
+exactly a pleasant one. At the very outset we
+again found that in army language we were "up
+against it." Our entire brigade, composing some
+1500 officers and men, were on the boat, which
+although large, was not fitted up in very good shape for
+transport service and as a result there was at first much
+overcrowding. The Mobile had recently conveyed a cargo
+of mules to Porto Rico and on her return from that duty
+had lain for several days in the festering harbor of Santiago
+so that her sanitary condition could not be termed an ideal
+one. The officers were crowded together in her few staterooms
+and as for the men they were jammed below decks
+and above decks in any old way. The Eighth and Twenty-second
+regiments had been on board some time before our
+regiment arrived and of course had appropriated the best
+portions of the ship to themselves, something for which they
+could not be blamed so very much.</p>
+
+<p>That evening we of the Second just simply "bunked"
+anywhere we could and as a rule we went to bed supperless,
+for everything was in such a mixed up condition there was
+no effort made at giving out rations. And on our arrival
+we found that we were to pass another time with our old
+friends, the canned "beef" and the nourishing and palatable<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span>
+(!) travel rations. After bidding them farewell, as we
+thought, forever, this was felt to be the worst blow we had
+yet suffered but there was no use "kicking" and we made
+the best of it. Fortunately or unfortunately, as one looks
+at it, the majority of the men had money enough to purchase
+quantities of canned fruits and delicacies before they
+left Santiago and these helped us out to some extent.</p>
+
+<p>What we at first thought was a blessing but which afterward
+turned out to be the reverse was the presence of a large
+tank of ice water below decks to which we freely helped
+ourselves and with evil effect upon some of the men who
+developed dysentery from indulging too freely in the cold
+liquid. After a day or two the ice water was shut off from
+the men, and they were compelled to drink the regular
+ship's water. There was any amount of grumbling at this
+but it was the best thing to be done under the circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>We remained in the harbor the night of the 12th and
+early on the 13th, our old "hoodoo" number being with us
+again, the Mobile swung her nose around and steamed down
+the harbor. Every man able to be up was on deck as we
+started out and realized that we were homeward bound at
+last. There were mighty few regrets expressed at leaving
+Cuba and our chief concern now was to reach home as
+quickly as possible. It was known that our destination was
+Montauk Point, L. I., and beyond that our information was
+a trifle hazy.</p>
+
+<p>Passing down the harbor we came to the Merrimac as she
+lay about where Hobson had sunk her and we could see that
+she was not of much avail in stopping the channel. A little
+further we passed the wreck of the Reina Mercedes as she
+lay where the shells from our warships had put her out of
+business and just a little distance further along we passed
+out under the frowning walls and grim looking guns of Castle
+Morro, over which our flag was now floating. On the
+other side of the harbor entrance was an unimportant looking<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span>
+sand battery, but it was from it that the Spanish guns
+did their most effective work against our fleet. One turn
+more and we were out of the harbor and again on the
+bounding billows.</p>
+
+<p>This day quarters were assigned the various companies of
+our regiment below decks. The men were supplied with
+hammocks and as these had to be slung close together and
+the men were just a bit unfamiliar with their management
+there were many tumbles out of bed that night. We found
+the sleeping accommodations on the Mobile <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'suberb'">superb</ins>. If you
+say that word "superb" quick it sounds well and that's the
+way we said it. A number of the men were obliged to sleep
+on deck and under a covering of loose planks and as it happened
+to rain two or three nights in succession, they did not
+like their sleeping quarters any too well.</p>
+
+<p>The steward of the Mobile was an Englishman, like all
+her officers, and he was a direct descendant of thieves and
+inherited all their instincts of robbery. He thought nothing
+of charging $5 for a half-pint of vile liquor and his prices
+for anything else he could sell were in proportion. He contracted
+with some of the company commanders to furnish a
+number of loaves of bread each day for the men but the
+loaves turned out to be nothing more than biscuits and the
+prices asked were so exorbitant that a complaint was made
+to the captain of the ship and the steward was compelled to
+make restitution.</p>
+
+<p>One of the first incidents of our passage homeward was
+the stopping of the Mobile by a United States gunboat on
+our second evening out from Santiago harbor. It seems
+that the Mobile was not showing just the proper lights and
+the gunboat steamed close to her to investigate, firing a
+blank charge across her bows as a signal to stop. The
+Mobile stopped. Then after a brief colloquy between the
+little gunboat and the big Mobile the latter was allowed to
+proceed. It should be said, however, that when the officers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span>
+and crew of the gunboat ascertained that the Second Massachusetts
+was on board they gave us three hearty cheers.</p>
+
+<p>Life on board the Mobile was not a bit more luxurious
+than it had been on the Knickerbocker or in Cuba. We had
+the same old travel rations and no means of cooking them.
+After the first day out an arrangement was made whereby
+Walter Butler, the cook for B company, was to have the use
+of the crew's galley to make coffee for the three Springfield
+companies. Walter did as well as he could under difficulties
+but ofttimes the water used in making the coffee was so
+poor in quality that the concoction was not exactly palatable.
+But it was better than ship's water.</p>
+
+<p>The men messed as best they could. The officers had
+their meals in the dining saloon, paying $1 a day for them
+and they were not over luxurious. Neither were their quarters,
+for with the entire brigade on board the staterooms
+were insufficient to accommodate them all and they were
+forced to double up and in some instances three officers were
+assigned to one room and forced to "bunk" as best they
+could.</p>
+
+<p>Many of the officers and men were just out of hospitals,
+and for them the voyage was a harder trial than those who
+were officially in good health. The ship's hospital was
+established on the aft deck and was protected from the elements
+only by canvas awnings and during the two or three
+times it rained during the voyage the sick men were
+drenched as they lay in their cots or hammocks. Surgeon
+Gates and Dr. Piersons, the contract surgeons who had done
+so much for our regiment in front of Santiago, were indefatigable
+in their attendance upon our sick and so were the
+hospital stewards, but the medical supplies were as usual
+insufficient and the accommodations entirely inadequate.
+Two men were detailed each day to assist in caring for the
+sick men from their companies and while of course they
+meant to do all they could for their comrades their performance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span>
+very often fell far short of their intentions. Naturally
+the sick men were often peevish and troublesome and it cannot
+be said that the lot of the attendants was a very pleasant
+one.</p>
+
+<p>On our second day out occurred the first death in the regiment,
+Sergeant Harold B. Wentworth of C company, who
+had been ill with typhoid fever and malaria. His body was
+buried at sea a few hours after death and the sad event was
+the first of a series during the voyage. Private George
+Higgins of F company was the next victim, his death occuring
+on the 15th.</p>
+
+<p>August 17th was a black day for the Second. At 12.30
+that morning Second Lieut. Harry J. Vesper of B company
+died after a long illness, with gastritis and malaria. He
+was a very sick man when brought on board but was nursed
+and cared for as tenderly as possible during the voyage.
+Private James Ryan of B was detailed as his attendant and
+was constantly with him, but even the best of care could not
+have saved him. The same day his body, wrapped in the
+folds of the American flag, was lowered into the deep, the
+Mobile being hove to for the purpose. The band of the 22d
+regiment played appropriate airs and Chaplain Wellwood of
+the Second conducted the services. The burial was nearly
+off Cape Hatteras. Lieut. Vesper, who was one of the
+most popular officers of the regiment, met his fate bravely
+and died in merciful ignorance of the fact that his brother,
+Private Paul Vesper of B company, had died a few days
+before the regiment left Cuba. At that time Lieut. Vesper
+was ill in the division hospital and it was deemed best to
+keep the knowledge of his brother's fate from him.</p>
+
+<p>On this same day another B company man, Wagoner
+Paul J. Kingston, answered his final roll call, dying in the
+afternoon. Privates Earle C. Clark of H company and
+Franklin W. Manning of M company, made up the death roll
+for the day and their bodies were given to the sea.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>On the 18th Privates Charles H. Cranston and Henry C.
+Collins, both of I company of Northampton, died and on the
+20th just before we landed at Montauk Point Sergeant
+Ryder of E company passed away. On the voyage from
+Santiago to Montauk our regiment lost ten, one officer and
+nine men, and it is no wonder that the Mobile was referred
+to as a "death ship."</p>
+
+<p>It is no wonder either, under these circumstances, that the
+men became depressed. Cooped up in an ill-smelling hold
+during the night, fed on unsuitable food and seeing the bodies
+of their comrades cast overboard day after day it was
+not strange that they became blue. But happily the voyage
+did not last long for on the afternoon of the 19th we sighted
+Montauk Point and knew that in a day or two we would be
+on good United States soil once more.</p>
+
+<p>It was night when the Mobile cast anchor and early the
+next morning she was towed into what we supposed was
+quarantine. We passed several steamers with the yellow
+quarantine flag hoisted at their sterns and after a while the
+Mobile anchored and some quarantine officers came aboard
+and inspected the passengers and crew. Fortunately this
+ceremony did not last long and when it was over the Mobile
+was brought alongside a wharf as we in our innocence supposed
+to allow us to land.</p>
+
+<p>But as it happened we were not to land that day. On the
+wharf were sentries and those of "Ours" who happened to
+get as far as the wharf were at once driven back. Neither
+was any one allowed at first to come aboard. As we swung
+in the stream before the Mobile got to the wharf a small boat
+containing some Springfield newspaper men attempted to get
+within reach of the Mobile, but she was ordered away and
+at the wharf it was some time before anybody was allowed
+to come aboard the Mobile. The first Springfield man we
+saw was Dr. David Clark, the surgeon for years of the Second
+while it was in the militia service. He finally came on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span>
+board and was at once surrounded by the men of the three
+Springfield companies so that it was some little time before
+he made his way to the quarterdeck, where Col. Clark and
+the officers were awaiting him. He brought plenty of news
+for us and much information concerning Montauk Point and
+the arrangement of the camps there. At the same time
+came aboard baskets of sandwiches and fruit which Dr.
+Clark had provided. Thanks to the kindness of Dr. Clark
+many messages were sent from the ship to the anxious ones
+at home announcing the safe arrival of the Mobile and that
+the senders were well.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until the next day that we were allowed to land
+and it was a sad spectacle to watch the disembarkation of the
+gallant Second from the ship. The men who were able to
+walk got down the steep gang plank in some kind of order
+and after an attempt at regimental formation, marched up
+to the quarantine camp, a distance of some two and a half
+miles, over the very roughest kind of a road. The sick were
+transported in mule wagons and they did not find the ride a
+very pleasant one. On arrival at the camp it was found all
+laid out with large wall tents arranged in company streets and
+the majority of the tents equipped with board floors, a luxury
+we had not experienced for many moons. Rough sinks had
+been made in rear of the company streets and supplies of soft
+bread, fruits and milk were waiting for us. A number of the
+sick officers and men were taken directly over to the hospitals
+and it began to look as if things might be half decent
+after all.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XVII</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE AND OUR FRIENDS ENJOY OURSELVES AT CAMP
+WIKOFF, MONTAUK POINT.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i160.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">FROM the beginning it was evident that our lines in
+Camp Wikoff were to be cast in more pleasant
+places than had been the case since we left Lakeland
+in June. To be sure the detention camp was not an
+abode of princely luxury and there were shortcomings
+in plenty about it, but there was an honest effort to care
+for our comfort. There were but few of the officers and
+men in our regiment in good health and even the men who
+did not go to the hospitals were in bad shape physically, but
+the knowledge of the fact that we were on United States soil
+at last and that but a short time would elapse before we
+would be en route for home was better than medicine. Then,
+too, there was the great improvement in our food, which was
+worth something, and there was the presence of our friends
+from Springfield, including some who had made all manner
+of sacrifices and had endured toil, discomforts and trouble to
+get to us with help and cheer.</p>
+
+<p>No one can doubt but what it was the full intent of
+those in authority at Washington to treat the returned soldiers
+from Cuba in the best possible manner, but it is a matter
+of common knowledge that as a paving material for a certain
+warm place good intentions is the very best material yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span>
+devised by the arch enemy of mankind. The performance at
+Montauk fell far short of the promise and this was aided by
+the over officiousness of some very young and very fresh officers
+who had no idea beyond the blind following of red tape
+regulations no matter what might happen. It was to these
+officers that the delay and vexatious troubles experienced by
+Dr. David Clark of Springfield in his mission of mercy
+to us of the Second can be attributed and others associated
+with him had to face the same difficulties. The story of how
+Dr. Clark, Lieut. T. A. Sweeney and others were "held up"
+at the mouth of the rapid fire guns of the converted yacht
+Aileen by one Lieut. Rhodes, whose name is still cursed by
+every Second regiment man, is still fresh in the minds of all
+of us and it was only when the presumptuous young officer
+was made to realize that he was not the only thing that ever
+happened that the supplies sent to us by loving hands in
+Springfield reached us. There is the memory too of the long
+and weary hours Dr. Clark spent underneath the pier at
+Montauk in order to remain inside the guard lines and be on
+hand to greet us when our ship came in. There are the
+memories of the good work done for us by our old surgeon
+when the Second was a militia regiment, Major Brown of
+North Adams, and of Lieut. Sweeney, E. S. Bradford, P. H.
+Quinn, Charles Lathrop as the representative of Dr. D. J.
+Brown, T. W. Hyde, and last but by no means least of
+Frank P. Frost of Springfield, who as the personal representative
+of Henry S. Lee, worked like a beaver day and
+night. The Springfield newspaper men, too, should not be
+forgotten and the thanks of many a poor fellow are due to H.
+L. Hines, G. H. Atwood and Frank Lee of the <cite>Union</cite> and
+to H. K. Regal of the <cite>Republican</cite> and T. W. Burgess of the
+<cite>Homestead</cite> for many kindnesses and unfailing sympathy.</p>
+
+<p>The sad scenes attending the disembarkation of the Second
+from the Mobile will not be forgotten for many a day by
+those who witnessed or participated in them. A number of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span>
+the sick men were taken off late in the afternoon of the 19th,
+but when dusk fell Gen. Young, the commander of the camp,
+refused to allow any more to be brought ashore until the next
+day. The next morning the exodus from the ship began at
+an early hour and continued until at last we were all ashore.
+First came the sick in a ghastly procession down the steep
+gang planks and into the ambulances which were to convey
+them to the hospitals and the sight of the poor fellows was
+pathetic in the extreme. The sick ashore, then came those
+able to walk or totter and these men, the majority of them
+wrecks of their once vigorous selves, dragged themselves to
+the pier laden down with their baggage and fell in for the
+march to the camp. Those unable to walk were piled into
+mule wagons and the procession started.</p>
+
+<p>It was not a long march, but it was a fatiguing one for
+the men and they were glad when the big wall tents assigned
+to the Second appeared. This was the "detention" camp
+for in the eyes of the medical officers we were still suspects
+even if we had passed quarantine, and we were to be isolated
+for five days. It was not a bad camp. The tents were new
+and clean and many of them were provided with board floors,
+a luxury that reminded us of our militia days at South Framingham.
+It had been the intention of the war department to
+provide straw for us to sleep on but like many other intentions
+it was not fulfilled until Secretary Alger happened to visit the
+camp of the Second and found no straw. Then some came
+along in a hurry. There were cooking outfits, too, and the
+days of the canned roast beef and the other constituents of
+the palatable and nourishing (?) travel ration were numbered.
+In their place came the appetizing beef stew, the roast beef,
+soft bread and cool milk. There were also canned delicacies,
+and fruits, and tobacco in plenty. In fact, there were too
+many good things for some of the boys, as the hospital records
+attest.</p>
+
+<p>It is needless to say that the hospitals were filled.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span>
+They were overcrowded, and that, too, in spite of the fact
+that additions were put on as fast as possible. The hospitals
+were of canvas but with raised floors and were equipped with
+cots. What the emotions of the sick boys were when they
+actually found themselves lying on a bed and between clean
+white sheets, and tended by kind and devoted nurses can be
+imagined. Not only that but they were given plenty of nourishing
+food and medicine was in plenty. After the lack of
+everything of the hospitals in Cuba the contrast was sharp,
+even though the Montauk hospitals lacked some things. As
+for the nurses and the doctors there was nothing they were
+unwilling to do to help the sick. Many of the nurses were
+Sisters of Charity or Sisters of Mercy, others were from the
+Red Cross society, others volunteers, but all were actuated by
+the same motives, and worked unremittingly to do all in their
+power for the boys. Some of the doctors were army surgeons
+and others were contract surgeons, but all worked
+alike. Then, too, there were any number of volunteer hospital
+assistants, all zealous to help us, some of them a little
+too much so, and it was a rare thing for the sick men in a
+hospital ward to lack for attention. Diet kitchens were
+established and a system of looking after convalescent and
+furloughed soldiers was established. In this work the noble
+efforts of the Massachusetts Volunteer Aid Association was
+pre-eminent and there are none of us who will forget what
+its representatives did, not only at Camp Wikoff but after
+our return to our homes. Not only did the society work
+among the soldiers from Massachusetts, but many a regular
+soldier was aided and comforted by its representatives.</p>
+
+<p>Under the influence of proper care and food the men in the
+hospitals and the camps began to improve and though many
+died, yet more recovered. As soon as a soldier inmate of
+the hospital was anywhere near convalescence he was given
+a furlough to his home and transportation furnished him.
+At first these furloughs were only for ten days but after a bit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span>
+they were lengthened to 30 days so that when the Second
+came to leave Montauk a good percentage of the officers and
+men had preceded it home. A large number of the sick men
+were taken from the camp hospital and sent to New York,
+New London, New Haven and other places where the local
+hospitals had opened their doors to the soldiers and where the
+care they received was in some respects better than that possible
+under the crowded conditions at Montauk.</p>
+
+<p>In spite or all that could be done at Montauk there were
+many instances of individual hardship and although it
+seemed as if there were at least two or three people anxious
+and willing to look after every soldier yet there were cases of
+apparently unnecessary suffering. Soldiers discharged from
+the hospitals as convalescent would be sent to the depot at
+Montauk, a good two miles from the hospital, on foot and
+would be compelled to wait for hours in the hot sun before
+they could get transportation orders. At the depot there
+were often good men and women with cans of milk or lemonade
+and food, but even their zealous efforts could not prevent
+some suffering. All this was perhaps inseparable from the
+overcrowded condition of the camp and hospitals and the fact
+that there were not nearly enough officers to do the work
+properly.</p>
+
+<p>On the 24th the regiment was released from quarantine and
+moved from the detention to the general camp. By this time
+rumors that we were to be furloughed and sent home were
+rife again and the date was finally fixed for the 26th. Meanwhile
+there had been some important visitors in our camp,
+including Col. Roosevelt, Secretary of War Alger and Gen.
+Wheeler and they all had good words to say for the Second.
+Also there were many visitors from Springfield and Western
+Massachusetts and the men were fed upon all kinds of delicacies,
+in some cases to the detriment of their health.</p>
+
+<p>Musician Frank P. Jones of K company was the only
+Springfield man to die in Montauk, his death occuring on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span>
+27th, after he had suffered for days with malarial fever of
+the Cuban type. He had not been ill in Cuba but the seeds
+of the disease lodged in his system there and in his weak
+condition when we landed at Montauk he was unable to
+resist it. We heard while at Montauk of the death in Cuba
+of Private Arthur M. Burnham of K and there were many
+regrets among his comrades. Private Burnham was ill when
+the regiment left Santiago for home and so was left behind.</p>
+
+<p>On the 25th verbal orders furloughing the Second for 60
+days were <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'recieved'">received</ins> and the regiment was ordered to be in
+readiness the next day to proceed home. At the expiration
+of the furlough the regiment was to be mustered out at
+South Framingham but this was afterwards changed to
+Springfield. The officers and men were all ready on the 26th
+to go home and the night before had been spent in packing
+up and putting everything in shape. The rifles and equipments
+had been turned in and the morning was eagerly anticipated.
+There was much disappointment when the day
+came and there were no signs of an immediate movement
+from the camp. Hour after hour passed and when it was
+finally ascertained that the departure was deferred to the next
+day because of a lack of transportation, there was nothing
+but disappointment from the commanding officer down to the
+privates. But the Second had by this time learned resignation
+and so the men waited through the long day and the
+equally long night for the word that the boat which was to
+convey the regiment to New London was ready.</p>
+
+<p>The night of the 26th was made memorable by a wild
+stampede of a number of horses of the cavalry through the
+camp of the Second. The animals were being led to water
+and in some manner became frightened and getting away
+from the man in charge ran pell mell through the company
+streets of the regiment, upsetting stacks of arms and tents
+and leaving everything in much disorder. Fortunately no
+one was injured.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>There was but little sleep in the camp that night. The
+boys were too much excited over the prospect of being at
+home on the morrow to care much for slumber, and they
+were up long before reveille sounded. Breakfast was hastily
+cooked and eaten and the outfit, or what was left of it, fell in
+for the march to the boat, some three miles away. There
+were ambulances for the sick and these were filled again and
+again. The men able to march were not numerous, and the
+companies did not have full ranks by any means. The men
+were without arms and clad in all sorts of uniforms, the yellow
+and blue Khaki predominating, although there were some
+who preferred the old militia blue uniforms they had worn
+from South Framingham. The regiment finally started for
+the pier amid the cheers of the 22d and other regiments it
+passed, and a short time after embarking was once more on
+the water but bound for home this time. The sick men who
+were unable to stand the journey were left in the hospital and
+those allowed to go were carefully looked after.</p>
+
+<p>Arrived at New London the regiment fell at once into good
+hands. The people of that city had known of its coming and
+delegations were on hand when the boat came in, with food
+and refreshments for the boys. Meanwhile preparations had
+been made by the militia authorities of the state, and the people
+of Springfield and other places interested in the Second,
+to look after the men. Gen. Dalton had sent a detail of staff
+officers to Springfield with full power as to expenses to see
+that the returning soldiers who had shed credit upon Massachusetts
+were properly looked after, and a special train had
+been made up to go to New London to bring them on from
+there. Food and refreshments were taken on the train, and
+representatives of state and city were on board to render all
+possible assistance. The trip was a comparatively short one.
+At Palmer the three Worcester companies and F of Gardner
+were transferred to a train for their destination while the
+other companies came on to Springfield.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XVIII.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>IN WHICH IS TOLD HOW WE PREPARE TO QUIT UNCLE
+SAM'S SERVICE.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i167.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">THE home coming of Springfield's soldiers was not as
+glittering or gay a spectacle as had been counted
+upon by those who watched us march away on the
+morning of May 3d. That morning was a rainy
+and disagreeable one and there were many who consoled
+themselves in thinking of the rather tame character of
+our farewell, that when we returned the scene would be a far
+more cheerful and inspiriting one. It wasn't. For days and
+days, ever since the story of our losses at El Caney and San
+Juan had been known and the people had become somewhat
+familiar with the tales of sickness and suffering in Cuba and
+Camp Wikoff, the return of the boys had been anxiously
+awaited, but when the time came, when it was known for a
+certainty that the companies were to return, there was a common
+feeling that the occasion would be an ill timed one for
+any display of ceremony or pageantry, and as it became more
+known that the majority of the officers and men were in the
+poorest possible condition to stand the strain of an official, or
+even a semi-official welcome it was settled that their return
+was to be as quiet as possible.</p>
+
+<p>The coming of the regiment from Montauk had been expected
+on the 26th and in anticipation a huge crowd had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span>
+gathered at the union station to meet the soldiers. But the
+people were repaid for hours of waiting by the arrival only
+of a few men who had been furloughed from the hospitals.
+On the next day it was soon known that the regiment would
+surely arrive and long before the hour set for the special
+train to arrive from New London the station and its approaches
+were crowded with people, including the relatives
+and friends of the members, not only of the Springfield companies
+but of the companies from the other sections of Western
+Massachusetts. In view of the condition of the soldiers
+special efforts had been made to impress upon the people that
+the less excitement the men were made to undergo the better
+for them and to this end the station approaches were roped
+off and a large force of police was on hand to keep a passageway
+clear from the cars to the carriages which had been provided
+to bear the officers and men to their homes or wherever
+they felt inclined to go.</p>
+
+<p>The state and the city co-operated well in making plans for
+the comfort of the returning soldiers. Gov. Wolcott was on
+hand when the special train rolled in and three members of
+his staff had been at work for several days previous assisting
+in the preparations for the reception of the men. Mayor
+Dickinson and the city officials had done everything in their
+power to aid the soldiers and with them at all times were the
+officers and members of the Volunteer Aid association and
+many private citizens, good men and women who labored
+zealously in the good cause. Others there were, too, not
+connected officially with state or city or with any society, but
+whose work was ably done and is never to be forgotten.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i169" id="i169" href="images/i169-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i169.jpg" width="600" height="450" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption">MONITOR LEHIGH IN ACTION</div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>At 2.58 in the afternoon the train came in and the 10,000
+people in waiting set up a cheer at the initiative of Gov.
+Wolcott. Then the people pressed hard against the ropes
+which marked the clear space on the platform through which
+the men were to go and the police officers had their hands full
+for a time in keeping them back. The north side waiting<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span>
+room had been cleared of occupants and outside were hundreds
+of public and private carriages waiting to carry the
+boys wherever they might wish. And in this one detail of
+carriages the thoughtfulness of the people of the city as well
+as their willingness to do all in their power for the boys of
+the Second were shown. Scores of them had volunteered <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'eht use of'">the
+use of</ins> their carriages that day and their offers had been
+gladly accepted, for in the majority of cases the men were
+hardly able to walk any distance, and a ride on a jolting
+electric car would not have been the best thing in the world
+for them. But there were carriages in plenty and the men
+were quickly and carefully conveyed either to their homes or
+the hospitals.</p>
+
+<p>When the train stopped the people detailed to look after
+the disembarkation of the men at once got to work and the
+boys were quickly but tenderly taken through the waiting
+room and placed in the carriages. There were many who
+were unable to walk even this short distance unassisted, but
+in the majority of cases the men were so glad to be once
+more at home that the excitement kept them up and some
+lingered about on the platform, exchanging greetings with
+their relatives or friends in the crowd. A number of physicians
+were on hand to look after any of the men who were in
+immediate need of their attention and in many other ways
+provision had been made for all. The majority of the men
+were driven directly to their homes. Others went to the
+House of Mercy or the Springfield hospital.</p>
+
+<p>The 10,000 or more people which greeted the returned ones
+did so in sober but cordial fashion. There was no demonstrative
+welcome, for common sense told the people that it
+would have been the worst thing possible for the men whom
+the crowd wanted to honor. They were in no condition to
+endure such a welcome and what they wanted was to get to
+their homes or a resting place as quickly as possible. When
+the Second went away it was in the blue uniform of the militia<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span>
+of Massachusetts. The men in the ranks were all young
+and vigorous and looked a composite picture of youth and
+strength. When they came back it was in the faded yellow
+khaki uniforms issued to them in Cuba, although a few still
+wore the blue. The natty uniforms of the officers were worn
+and soiled and the faces of all were haggard and in many
+cases the beards of veterans had replaced the smooth cheeks
+and chins of the militiaman. On almost every face was the
+badge of the campaign against the pestilential fevers of Cuba
+and the sunken cheek-bones and emaciated forms bore eloquent
+witness to the hardships and sufferings that had been
+undergone. It had been no holiday excursion for the gallant
+Second.</p>
+
+<p>For days and weeks after the return the greatest interest
+was shown in the welfare of the men. Physicians placed
+their services at the disposal of the Volunteer Aid association
+and that body kept actively at work in its efforts to care for
+the men. Some of the boys were able to be out on the streets
+and in public places immediately after their arrival but in
+the majority of cases the men were glad enough to stay at
+home. Others were too ill to make their appearance in public,
+but those who were had no reason to complain of any
+lack of interest in them or their doings in Cuba. Columns
+were published daily in the newspapers concerning the condition
+of the sick men and the experiences of the well ones and
+the sight of the worn campaign uniform on the street was the
+occasion for a gathering of interested people. But as time
+went on the interest slackened, as it is in the nature of things
+so to be, the men showed a marked preference for citizens'
+dress instead of the uniform, and settled down again to the
+ordinary ways of life while waiting for their furloughs to
+expire and their muster out of the service of Uncle Sam.</p>
+
+<p>There had been much concern expressed over the orders
+instructing the Second to assemble at South Framingham for
+muster-out and there was much satisfaction when it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span>
+known that the orders had been changed and that Springfield
+had been selected as the place. It was felt that this was fitting
+and proper and both the local members of the regiment
+and the people of the city were well pleased at the decision of
+the war department.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the men who had been left behind in Cuba, at
+Montauk and in hospitals at other places continued to arrive
+home and some time before the expiration of their furlough
+nearly all the surviving members of the Second were at
+home. From Cuba came the men who were left behind too
+sick to be moved when the regiment left for home and with
+them the men who had volunteered or been detailed to remain
+care for them. But all of them did not come. Privates
+Little and Stetson of G company had succumbed to disease
+and Dr. H. C. Bowen, the surgeon of the Second, was also a
+victim. He was in the division hospital when the regiment
+sailed and his death soon followed.</p>
+
+<p>The fate which befell Dr. Bowen was a hard one. Enthusiastic
+to volunteer at the outbreak of the war he was
+assigned to duty as the surgeon of the Second with the rank
+of major and he had high hopes of a useful career in the
+army as had his friends for him. But he was totally without
+experience in army medical life, his assistant surgeons,
+though young and enthusiastic in their profession, were also
+inexperienced in this line of work and at the very outset he
+and they were thwarted and discouraged by their incessant
+conflicts with army red tape and the consequent difficulty in
+obtaining needed medical supplies for the regiment. Time
+and time again Major Bowen sent in requisition after requisition
+but no supplies came in answer to them and had it not
+been for the finely appointed medical and surgical outfit furnished
+by the state of Massachusetts the equipment of the
+Second would have been meager indeed. With these on
+hand the lack of proper government supplies was not seriously
+felt until after the landing in Cuba and then with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span>
+brilliancy which marked so many other features of the campaign,
+the Second's medical chest was not brought ashore,
+but was left on board the Knickerbocker until some time
+after the surrender of Santiago. As a result the medical
+supplies were short and though he tried again and again
+Major Bowen could obtain no more. Soon after he landed
+he was attacked by the malarial fever and though at first it
+was in a mild form it combined with the discouragements to
+which he had been subjected to make him low-spirited and
+not altogether a genial minister to the sick men or a companion
+at the mess. Directly after the battle of El Caney
+Assistant Surgeon Gates was taken from the Second and
+attached temporarily to the Fourth infantry, which regiment
+had no surgeon and Assistant Surgeon Hitchcock became
+ill so that the entire work of caring for the Second was
+thrown upon Major Bowen. This added to his other
+troubles and his own illness resulted in making the latter
+extremely serious and though he struggled against it for
+many weeks he was at last forced to give up. Before this he
+had manfully stuck to his post and tried in every way to do
+his duty but results of his failing health and his heavy burden
+of work were mistaken by many of the officers and men
+for lack of sympathetic feeling and for this he was criticized.
+This criticism was a mistaken one, for at bottom Major
+Bowen was of a kindly and sympathetic nature but it was
+his misfortune to have his illness and troubles put a veneer
+of <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'mpatience'">impatience</ins> upon his normal disposition and this conveyed
+the mistaken idea referred to above. In his service with the
+Second Major Bowen did all possible for a man to do and
+those who knew the heavy burden under which he toiled
+have always been willing to accord him the tribute he was
+justly entitled to. He died in the Second division hospital
+just outside of Santiago. Some months after his body was
+exhumed and sent to his family in Westfield. There was
+some mystery concerning the whereabouts of his watch and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span>
+other effects but some time after his death they were accidentally
+discovered in New Orleans and restored to his
+parents.</p>
+
+<p>At Montauk Point K company suffered a loss in the death
+of Musician Frank P. Jones, who succumbed to fever in the
+camp hospital August 27th. All through the campaign in
+Cuba Musician Jones not only kept himself well and his
+spirits up but his cheery speech did much to help his comrades.
+It was not until he reached Montauk that he gave in
+to the disease which laid so many of the Second low.</p>
+
+<p>Even after the regiment had returned home and the sick
+men were being given the best of medical attention and care
+in their homes or in the hospitals the death angel did not
+cease. On Sept. 13th Corporal Patrick J. Noone of G company
+died at his home after a long illness with the fever and
+two days later his remains were escorted to the grave by his
+comrades and laid to rest after the three volleys which mark
+the soldier's burial had been fired. On October 8, Private
+Frank Burke of G died and was laid to rest in the same
+cemetery.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile in both the Mercy and the Springfield hospitals
+all that was possible was being done for the sick "soldier
+boys," and physicians and nurses were untiring in their
+efforts. Both institutions had many soldier patients and
+they will long remember the devoted care and kindnesses
+they received.</p>
+
+<p>All this time preparations for the muster-out of the Second
+had been going steadily on. It had been settled that the
+outfit was to be formally discharged from the United States
+service in Springfield and on Sept. 28th First Lieut. Oliver
+Edwards, 11th Infantry U. S. A., came on to assist in the
+work preliminary to muster-out. There was considerable to
+be done in the way of getting ready for the ceremony and
+there were many things to be explained to both officers and
+men before all was in readiness. In the effort to have everything<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span>
+clearly understood and all the "kinks" straightened
+out Lieut. Edwards was untiring and he made a most favorable
+impression upon all with whom his duties brought him
+in contact.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XIX.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WE BECOME PLAIN CITIZENS ONCE MORE AND SQUARE
+ACCOUNTS WITH UNCLE SAM.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i177.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">OCTOBER 3d, 1898, is one of the "star" days in the
+history of the Second, that being the day on which
+we ceased to be soldiers of the United States and
+became plain and humble citizens once more. Incidentally
+it was something of a day for Springfield for
+one of the features of the muster-out was a brief parade of the
+regiment from the railway station to the state armory, where
+the exercises occurred. Before that, the armory had been for
+some time the scene of much activity. The furlough of the
+regiment, given it at Montauk, had expired October 24th,
+and for the rest of the time preceding muster-out the officers
+and men were required to make the armory their home during
+the day. Their meals were served there, a contract being
+made with a Springfield caterer, and it can be said that the
+daily menu was far more satisfactory than those we had in
+the campaign although the government paid for both. During
+this period, the officers and men were also required to appear
+in uniform and the streets took on a decidedly military
+appearance. Much interest was shown by the people of the
+city in everything that pertained to the muster-out and the
+armory had many visitors daily. But it was all play in those
+days for some of the officers and men. There is a lot of red<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span>
+tape and formality connected with putting volunteer organizations
+out of the United States service, and there was plenty
+of work to be done in making out rolls and all sorts of
+papers, so that those detailed for this work were kept busy
+for many days.</p>
+
+<p>Finally on the 3d of October, all the companies of the Second
+were assembled in Springfield, the local companies
+marching to the railway station to meet them and after passing
+in review before the city officials at the city hall, the regiment
+marched to the armory for muster-out. The parade,
+the first appearance of the Second since it left for the front,
+brought out thousands of people to watch the men who had
+done good service on a foreign soil, and had watered it with
+the blood of many who had marched away on the morning of
+May 3d. The regiment presented a curious sight in some
+respects and as a spectacle it must be said the affair was not
+an altogether happy one. The men were without rifles or
+equipments, some wore the faded khaki uniform issued just
+before leaving Cuba, others the old blue outfits of the Massachusetts
+militia and the ranks were thinner than when the
+regiment left South Framingham. There seemed to be a
+chill in the air, too, and instead of applause there was subdued
+comment on the appearance of the men as they marched
+past.</p>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<a name="i179" id="i179" href="images/i179-large.jpg" >
+<img src="images/i179.jpg" width="600" height="405" alt="" /></a>
+
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">The Prairie</span></div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+
+<p>Surely the men did not look like ballroom soldiers. The
+uniforms were in many cases ill-fitting and soiled, the marching
+was not done with the precision of some crack national
+guard organizations which did not go to the front, and the
+faces of the majority of the officers and men wore the yellow
+signal of service in a pestilential climate. But this in itself
+ought to have been warrant for some outburst of satisfaction
+in the gallant deeds of the regiment instead of curious stares
+and the silence of wonderment. However, there were sporadic
+cases of applause and as the men did not much care
+whether they received any or not, they found little fault with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>
+the lack of it. Only the members of the companies from outside
+the city wondered mildly what it all meant, and if after
+all it would not have been as well to have stayed at home and
+not have tried to stand by the flag when men were wanted.</p>
+
+<p>The ceremonies at the armory were informal enough. Each
+company was mustered out in turn by Lieut. Col. E. M.
+Weaver of the Fifth Massachusetts U. S. V., who as a lieutenant
+in the Second U. S. Artillery had mustered us in at
+South Framingham on May 3d. He was assisted by Lieut.
+Edwards and it did not take very long to put each company
+"out of business" as United States Volunteers. The company
+was formed, the men answered to their names and took
+position in the same manner as when mustered in, and this
+over the company commander was informed that the company
+was mustered out and that discharge papers for each man
+would be provided.</p>
+
+<p>But the discharge papers did not come that day nor for several
+days. The paymaster had failed to arrive with the
+funds and until these were distributed the men had but little
+use for discharge papers. It was explained that the reason
+for delay on the paymaster's part was due to errors in the
+rolls sent in from a few of the companies and as the men
+wanted their three months pay and allowances rather more
+than discharges, it is no wonder if some unkind things were
+said as to the paymaster and these companies.</p>
+
+<p>It was not until November 17th that the long looked for
+pay arrived, and the companies were ordered to once more
+assemble at the armory, this time for the purpose of settling
+accounts with Uncle Sam. This operation was simple enough,
+yet very interesting to the recipients of the contents of the small
+and dingy valise of the paymaster. The three months' pay
+with the allowances for clothing and ration money made quite
+a sizable sum for the great majority of the men, and the nice
+new greenbacks which they received were not refused.
+With the money came the discharge papers as a sure enough<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span>
+sign that we were no longer soldiers of the United States.
+Many of the officers and men failed, however, to settle up with
+Major Sherman on the 17th. Some of the officers had not
+squared their accounts with the war department and in some
+cases they were obliged to wait a considerable time before
+they accounted for every bit of property they were held responsible
+for and complied with all the red tape. A number
+of the men were not able to be on hand, owing to sickness
+and other causes, when Major Sherman finally arrived and
+they were likewise forced to wait. An interesting episode of
+"paying off" time was the breezy disagreement between
+Major Sherman and Capt. McDonald of B company, over the
+former's refusal to pay some eight men of the latter's company,
+who had, it seems, signed one pay roll and supposed
+that everything was all right. As it happened, when Major
+Sherman came to Springfield, he failed to bring the correct
+roll for B company, and insisted that the members should
+sign a new one. This was done, but as the eight men referred
+to were out of the city, they were unable to sign, and
+when they appeared for their pay, were told they would have
+to wait for some time. The majority of the men needed the
+money and needed it badly, but although Capt. McDonald
+exhausted every effort to obtain it for them, it was not till
+quite a while had elapsed that they were paid. The opportunity
+afforded Capt. McDonald for some caustic criticisms of
+the workings of the war department was not allowed to pass.</p>
+
+<p>In those days it was a great thing to be a returned soldier
+as was instanced in the cases of several of the boys who were
+members of more or less secret organizations. It got to be a
+common thing for these associations to show their appreciation
+of their soldier members by presenting them with money
+or badges, or some token of esteem, and a number of the men
+who served with the Springfield companies are wearing medals
+or badges thus presented. Probably none of them was
+prouder of his medal than Private Morris Grenowitz of B<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span>
+company who had the distinction of being the only Hebrew
+in the three Springfield companies. He was a member of
+the Young Men's Hebrew Association, and soon after his return
+the association held a public reception in his honor and
+presented him with a check for a small sum of money and a
+gold medal. Private Peter F. Boyer of B company was given
+a gold watch by the members of an organization to which
+he belonged and several of the other boys were similarly
+remembered, among them Private William Ferrier of G company
+who was given a handsome gold ring. A number of
+the members of the Springfield companies resided in West
+Springfield and the inhabitants of the village of Mittineague
+in that town honored their soldiers one evening by a big reception
+and entertainment with plenty of red fire, etc., included.</p>
+
+<p>A largely attended public reception and flag presentation
+was held in the city hall, on the evening of November 3d, to
+which the officers and members of the Springfield companies,
+and their relatives and friends were invited and the hall was
+packed to the doors. Gov. Wolcott and members of his staff
+were present and the governor spoke, as did a number of the
+prominent citizens, all eulogizing the work of the regiment
+and paying a tribute to the officers and men who had failed
+to return. The tattered colors of the regiment were in evidence
+and their appearance in the hall was the signal for an
+outburst of applause. On this occasion the stands of colors
+purchased for each company in connection with the Fourth
+of July celebration of 1898, which never came off, were formally
+presented, and as the representatives of each of the companies
+advanced to receive the new and handsome flags, the
+audience broke into applause and cheers. These flags were
+bought with the proceeds of the sales of the Fourth of July
+badges which were to have been a feature of the celebration
+and a good sum was realized.</p>
+
+<p>Previous to muster-out First Sergeant T. F. Burke of B
+company had been appointed on the recommendation of Col.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span>
+Clark as Second Lieutenant to fill the vacancy caused by the
+death of Lieut. Harry J. Vesper.</p>
+
+<p>Immediately following the muster-out Dr. E. A. Gates,
+who had been promoted from Assistant Surgeon to Surgeon
+with the rank of Major, vice Bowen, deceased, was ordered
+to Boston and Worcester to assist in the work of examining
+the men of other regiments to be mustered out. Assistant
+Surgeon Hitchcock was also ordered on this same duty. Dr.
+Hitchcock was attacked with a serious spinal trouble and
+for some months his life was despaired of. He finally recovered
+but not until after weary months of suffering.</p>
+
+<p>Soon after the muster-out of the Second the provisional
+militia companies organized in the city during the war
+ceased practically to exist, although they were not formally
+disbanded for some time afterwards. The reorganization of
+the Second as a part of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia
+did not start until after its muster out of the United States
+service and it was at one time freely predicted that the work
+of reorganization would be the hardest task ever experienced
+by those in charge. It looked so at times, but in spite of the
+croakers and pessimists who asserted that it was likely that
+the Second would never be the same regiment again the reorganization
+was quietly and successfully effected and it was
+not long before the outfit was once again in its old form.
+A surprisingly large number of the officers and men who
+had served in the war remained in the regiment and this was
+especially the case in the three Springfield companies, G and
+B having more of the veterans than K. The state granted
+the regiment a 30 days' furlough dating from Nov. 3 to Dec.
+3 in order to allow time to get matters straightened out before
+its entrance upon a career of militia service again.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile steps had been taken toward an expedition to
+go to Cuba and bring back the bodies of the dead of the
+Second. The co-operation of the cities and towns from
+which the regiment was recruited was obtained and a number<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span>
+of meetings were held in this city, representatives from
+Worcester, Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield, Orange
+and Adams being present with authority from their respective
+cities and towns. After a number of meetings an expedition
+was organized which left for Cuba in January, 1899.
+The Springfield representatives were Lieut. T. F. Burke of
+B company, Lieut. Fred Jenks of K company, Private
+Dozilva <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Lamoreau'">Lamoreaux</ins> of G company and Private Alfred Rose
+of B, the latter going as interpreter. The progress of the
+expedition was slow at first, owing to many difficulties connected
+with obtaining permission to disinter the bodies and
+of getting transportation, but thanks to incessant work and
+powerful influence these were at last disposed of and the
+party sailed from New York on Jan. 29. It was necessary
+to go first to Porto Rico and remain there some days but
+after Santiago was reached there was comparatively little
+trouble. The bodies of the Springfield men were all located
+and identified with one exception, that of Private Robert E.
+Kelly of G, who was fatally shot on the night of July 2d at
+San Juan. The bodies were encased in metallic coffins and
+on arrival in Springfield were given proper burial. An elaborate
+service was held over the body of Sergeant Richard H.
+Bearse of B company in the State Street Baptist church,
+representatives of the city government and the organizations
+of which he was a member as well as his own company,
+being present. The church was crowded with friends and
+the ceremonies were impressive. Before this the body of
+Musician Frank P. Jones of K had been brought on from
+Montauk and buried in Oak Grove cemetery after largely
+attended services in the State Street Methodist church. The
+bodies of the G company men were buried with military
+honors also and those of Privates Little and Stetson, whose
+relatives could not be found, were interred in a lot which the
+company purchased in the Springfield cemetery.</p>
+
+<p>Twice within the year 1899 were the Springfield companies<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span>
+called together to go over again in memory the deeds of
+the previous year. For some time there had been desultory
+talk of public honors being paid to the dead of the companies
+and finally a memorial service was arranged for and
+was held in the city hall on Sunday afternoon, April 16.
+It was one of the most disagreeable days imaginable, a fall
+of mingled rain and snow filling the streets with slush, but
+despite this the building was jammed to suffocation. The
+platform was decorated with appropriate bunting and in
+front were representations of memorial tablets bearing the
+names of the officers and men of the companies who had
+given their lives in the cause. The war-worn regimental
+colors were brought on from Boston for the occasion and
+were draped in the rear of the platform. Affecting tributes
+were paid to the dead heroes and eulogies were pronounced
+by some of Springfield's most prominent citizens.</p>
+
+<p>The camp of the First Brigade M. V. M. at South Framingham
+in August, 1899, brought the regiment once more
+onto the ground where it was mustered into the United
+States service the year before, but under much different circumstances
+than then. The ranks of the Second contained
+a very large percentage, a majority, in fact, of those who
+had gone out with it to Cuba and the red sleeve stripes
+indicating service in war were conspicuous on the blouses of
+the greater number of the men. At this time old friendships
+formed during the campaign were renewed and new
+ones formed.</p>
+
+<p>On the occasion of the annual fall drill of the state militia
+in Boston in October Admiral George Dewey was the guest
+of the city and the event was also made the occasion of the
+formal "turning over" of the "war colors" to the state.
+The Second came in for no little share of the honors of the
+occasion, as well it might.</p>
+
+<p>As time wore on after the return of the regiment from the
+fever stricken camps in Cuba the malarial poison left the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span>
+bodies of the men and within six months afterwards the
+majority of them had regained their normal health. There
+were many, however, with whom the exposures and hardships
+of the campaign had raised havoc and to this day some
+show the effects of the short but eventful period when they
+were serving under the flag. The latest man in the Springfield
+companies to succumb to the ravages of disease
+contracted in the campaign was Private John L. Morehouse
+of K company, who died Nov. 12 of typhoid fever.</p>
+
+<p>In October, 1899, a number of the officers and men of the
+Springfield companies who had served in the Cuban war
+began the organization of a camp of the Legion of Spanish
+War Veterans, an order patterned after the model of the
+Grand Army of the Republic and which it is to be hoped
+will be to the veterans of the war with Spain what the
+Grand Army is to the men who fought in the Civil war.
+The camp was named after Henry S. Lee of Springfield,
+whose splendid and self-sacrificing work for the benefit of
+the soldiers and sailors in the Spanish war will never be forgotten
+by them or the people.</p>
+
+<p>Thus closes the record of Springfield's three infantry companies
+in the war with Spain. It is not a long chronicle but
+it is one in which the people of the City of Homes can
+always take a just pride. It is not confined to these companies
+alone either, for aside from the efficient duty performed
+by her company in the naval brigade, there were many individual
+enlistments in regular regiments and there was the
+splendid work done at the United States armory in turning
+out the arms with which the troops were equipped. As in
+the Civil war the works were run day and night and the
+force of <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'employes'">employees</ins> trebled. There was good work done too at
+the recruiting station and it is not too much to say that
+Springfield was a prominent factor in the war from its beginning
+to its close. When the rebellion against the authority
+of the United States in the Philippines broke out and volunteers<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span>
+were again called for Springfield again showed its
+patriotism. A number enlisted from this city in the famous
+26th and among them were many of the men who had seen
+service in Cuba. Others went into the 46th and more would
+have gone had it been necessary. As always the city and its
+men young and old showed their loyalty to the flag, whether
+it led the way to the hills around Santiago or to the rice
+swamps and jungles of Luzon.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">CHAPTER XX.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>WHEREIN IS NARRATED THE ADVENTURES ON THE HIGH
+SEAS OF SPRINGFIELD'S SAILORS.</h3>
+
+<div> <img class="drop-capi" src="images/i189.jpg" width="60" height="100" alt="" /></div>
+<p class="drop-capi2">WHILE the land soldiers which Springfield furnished
+the government were enjoying themselves in Florida
+and Cuba and toying with the canned roast beef
+and other incidentals of a campaign, the Springfield
+marine contingent was not having an altogether lovely
+time. On the monitor Lehigh and the auxiliary cruiser
+Prairie there was work and hard work too in plenty but on
+the whole the rations and the quarters were better than those
+enjoyed by the infantry contingent. But the boys of H company,
+naval brigade, pined for active service and those on the
+Lehigh were aggrieved at not getting it while their comrades
+on the Prairie were roaming the seas on a fast ship in <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'chase of of the'">chase
+of the</ins> enemy or doing blockade duty off the coasts of Cuba and
+Porto Rico. It was hard work for the Lehigh men to be
+cooped up on their old, "flat boat" in Boston harbor during
+the stirring times of the summer of 1898 but it is to their
+credit that although they grumbled at their lot as all good
+sailors do, yet they did their full duty and did it well.</p>
+
+<p>The bringing of the Lehigh from the League Island navy
+yard to Boston Harbor was in itself something of an achievement
+for the tug which towed her broke down and the monitor
+was forced to proceed under her own steam, much to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span>
+surprise of those on the tug Clara Clorita. This happened at
+Vineyard Haven and from that point to Boston the Lehigh
+was cast off from the tug and was sailed the remainder of the
+way under her own steam and by her own crew. When the
+Lehigh left Philadelphia the navy yard officials were apprehensive
+of her behavior at sea as she was primarily a coast
+defence vessel but the naval brigade men in the monitor
+found no great trouble in sailing her.</p>
+
+<p>The Lehigh reached Boston on May 5 and on the 9th the
+Springfield officers and men of the crew were given leaves of
+absence and furloughs to enable them to attend the presentation
+of "The Ensign" by Springfield amateurs at the Court
+Square theater for the benefit of the company fund. The
+crew included Lieut. J. K. Dexter, Lieut, (j. g.) W. O.
+Cohn, Ensign Walter S. Barr and Seamen W. A. Sabin, A.
+N. Luce, R. P. King, Paul H. Lathrop, L. E. Ladd, W. S.
+Johnson, W. F. Bright and R. H. B. Warburton. The presentation
+was a successful one in every way and netted quite
+a sum.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile the Lehigh had been permanently detailed for
+duty in Boston harbor as a coast defence vessel and a disagreeable
+surprise was in store for some of the Springfield men
+when they returned from their furloughs. They were all
+anxious to re-enlist for service and had been assured by Capt.
+Weeks, commanding the naval brigade, that if they telegraphed
+to him their willingness to re-enlist before a certain
+hour on the 10th, places would be kept for them. But on
+their arrival on the ship on May 12th they found that there
+was only one vacancy left. Just how the mistake was made
+was never thoroughly explained, but it was suspected by the
+Springfield men that there was a scheme to shut as many of
+them as possible out in favor of some Boston naval militiamen.
+They felt it keenly and Lieut. Dexter succeeded in
+straightening out matters so that Coxswain Johnson and
+Seamen Bright and Warburton were re-enlisted. Sabin,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span>
+Luce and King had already done so and this left only Lathrop
+and Ladd out in the cold. In spite of their efforts they
+could not get in.</p>
+
+<p>The officers suffered also from the fact that there were not
+places enough for all of them in the Lehigh's complement as
+a coast defense ship. Lieut. Colin was offered the alternative
+of going on the waiting list or being reduced in rank to
+ensign. He chose the latter and remained with
+the ship but there was no place for Ensign Barr and he was
+placed on the waiting list and returned home to await orders.
+Later Lieut. Dexter was taken from the Lehigh and placed
+on the converted ferry boat "Governor Russell," the property
+of the City of Boston which had turned over to the government,
+as executive officer.</p>
+
+<p>All this time the "Prairie dogs," as the crew of that vessel
+were dubbed by their less fortunate comrades, were having a
+fairly good time at the Brooklyn navy yard. Much time was
+spent there in fitting up the vessel as an auxiliary cruiser and
+until the work was well advanced the crew was lodged and
+fed in hotels and later in the navy yard barracks.</p>
+
+<p>As it happened, Ralph H. Newcomb was the first of the
+Springfield men to reach the Prairie and report for duty. He
+was in Washington on a visit when orders were issued for H
+company to report at Brooklyn and when he was notified by
+Lieut. Crossman he lost no time in getting to that city and
+the navy yard, beating out his comrades by several hours.</p>
+
+<p>Hammocks were "swung" on the Prairie for the first time
+on Saturday, May 7th, and from that time until muster-out
+in September hotel fare was a dream of the past to which the
+boys looked back with considerable regret. The Prairie, completely
+transformed into a war ship, left the navy yard and
+steamed down the harbor to <ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'Tomkinsville'">Tompkinsville</ins>. This was on Friday,
+the 13th of May, but if there was any "hoodoo" it
+failed to work. The next day the Prairie steamed out to sea
+and had target practice, badly frightening some of the residents<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span>
+of the coast with the big guns. Late in the afternoon
+the Prairie gave chase to a suspicious craft which turned out
+to be an English tramp steamer.</p>
+
+<p>The Prairie had been assigned to patrol duty on the North
+Atlantic coast with the San Francisco. The "Frisco" was
+sighted on the day following and both ships steamed into
+Provincetown and remained there for the next day, sailing
+out late in the afternoon. It is recorded that the sailors
+washed clothes during their stay in Provincetown and it is
+evident they were getting a taste of the life of a jolly tar.
+The regular patrol tour of the Prairie was from Provincetown
+north to some 40 miles above Boston, then south to
+Nantucket to Provincetown, meeting the San Francisco off
+the cape and obtaining mail.</p>
+
+<p>These were not idle days by any means. What with battalion
+drills, inspection, target practice, painting ship and the
+regular routine of ship's work the long hours of duty passed
+quickly and the men were pretty well tired out as a rule when
+the time came to get into their hammocks. But the men of
+H company learned fast and soon accustomed themselves to
+life on one of Uncle Sam's war ships. The one thing they
+did not take to very kindly in the line of work was coaling
+ship and this came rather oftener than they had any relish
+for.</p>
+
+<p>In the way of food there was little to complain of, although
+the fare was not Delmonico-like by any means. One of the
+mess cooks kept a diary of what he served up for every meal
+during the service of the Prairie and it shows that the menus,
+while probably simple enough to the men on board, would
+have been regarded as the acme of luxurious living by their
+brethren of the Second. A few samples are given: breakfast,
+June 10, Indian meal and coffee; dinner, soup, roast
+beef and potatoes; supper, hash and French toast. June
+12th, breakfast, bacon and potatoes; dinner, sausages and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span>
+potatoes; supper, beans, cold meat and sausages. The daily
+average was fully up to the samples given above.</p>
+
+<p>Capt. Train of the Prairie was a disciplinarian and there
+were punishments meted out for various small offences. One
+man was deprived of shore liberty for three months for
+throwing swill out of a port hole. For smoking outside of
+"smoking hours" the customary punishment was 48 hours of
+extra duty, while for being late with hammocks the sentence
+was for the delinquents to parade the deck for an hour or two
+hours with the hammocks on their shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>The Prairie sailed from Provincetown June 10th for a brief
+cruise southward, but returned on the 14th. The weather
+was very foggy during the cruise and on the 14th the ship
+came near running down an English tramp steamer passing
+within a boat's length of her.</p>
+
+<p>On the 16th the Prairie sailed again from Provincetown for
+Delaware breakwater, arriving there on the 18th. The next
+day she sailed for New York, anchoring off Tompkinsville the
+20th. Coaling ship was one of the innocent amusements of
+the day and the men stowed away 83 tons in the afternoon.
+Early next morning the sport was resumed and before breakfast
+28 tons more had been put away in the bunkers, the record
+for the day being 182 tons. The next day the coal situation
+again took the attention of the crew but they finished
+the job. Shore liberty resulted in some of the men overstaying
+it and being shut off from any more during the stay.
+On Sunday, June 26th, the men got into blue dress for inspection
+but before the ceremony was over orders came to sail at
+once for Key West. Off came the blue suits and the men
+got into their "coal" suits again and finished coaling ship
+at 1.30 in the morning. The Prairie sailed for Key West on
+the 27th, arriving there June 1st. Her stay was short, for
+the same day she left with mail for the blockading squadron
+off Cuba and sighting the Amphitrite the next day transferred
+her mail to her. Later that day the Prairie gave the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span>
+mail to the Newport, Montgomery, Vicksburg and Marietta.
+That afternoon the men on the Prairie saw the Marietta pick
+up a refugee from the shore and saw the guns from Morro
+Castle fire at her but fail to strike.</p>
+
+<p>On July Fourth the men paraded in blue and fired the
+national salute. The Prairie for a day or two acted as flagship
+of the squadron during the absence of the Amphitrite at
+Key West.</p>
+
+<p>On Tuesday, July 5th, the Hawk came alongside the
+Prairie with orders for the latter to proceed to Mariel, 23-1/2
+miles from Havana, and assist in the capture of a liner supposed
+to have been trying to run the blockade. The liner
+proved to be the Spanish transport Alphonso XII, with a
+large number of soldiers on board. She had tried to run the
+blockade but had been discovered and chased so sharply by a
+couple of the converted yachts attached to the blockading
+squadron that she was run ashore and lay head on. The
+troops and her crew had managed to get ashore by the time
+the Prairie came up, but it was not certain that she was not
+manned and several shots were sent at her from the starboard
+six-inch guns. After the fourth or fifth shot there was an
+explosion, evidently her magazine, and as she did not return
+the fire the Prairie ceased firing. During the firing a saucy
+little Spanish gunboat stuck her nose out of the harbor but a
+couple of six-inch shells settled her fate and she was sunk in
+quick time. The firing at the Alphonso XII was first-rate
+target practice and at long range, too, all the shells hitting
+her, although the range was 6600 yards.</p>
+
+<p>On July 7th the Tecumseh brought a lot of mail from Key
+West for the Prairie and a good share of the day was put in
+in reading it. On the 9th a small shark was caught and
+some of the boys secured teeth as souvenirs.</p>
+
+<p>Monday, July 11th, the Prairie was relieved of blockade
+duty off Mariel and ordered to Gibara with the Topeka, Mayflower
+and Badger, the Prairie being made the flagship of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span>
+squadron. The trip to Gibara was without special incidents
+and the ships arrived there on the 13th. Just as the blockaders
+appeared a schooner and two fishing smacks which
+were just coming out made haste to get back into the port.
+Blockade duty was kept up for several days and occasionally
+the ship would go in so close to the town that the people
+could be seen in the streets. The search-lights were used
+about every night and this work was pleasing to the men
+detailed for it.</p>
+
+<p>The San Francisco arrived on the 17th and took off a lot of
+mail for the United States. Since leaving Havana the crew
+of the Prairie had not received any mail and were eagerly
+expecting some. On the 18th the supply of sugar gave out
+and this was keenly felt until some was procured. On the
+20th the Maple, which had joined the squadron, caught a
+small sloop with a crew of four men and laden with tobacco,
+making the first prize of the tour.</p>
+
+<p>One of the marine detail on the Prairie was a Springfield
+man named John Fenton and on the 21st he was the victim
+of a severe accident caused by the slipping of a six-inch shell
+from his hands at gun practice. The shell landed on his foot,
+badly crushing it.</p>
+
+<p>This same day a delegation of the prominent citizens of
+Gibara came out in a small boat and offered to surrender the
+town as the Spanish garrison was about to leave and the inhabitants
+were afraid of the negroes in the vicinity. On
+receiving the offer the Prairie steamed to Nipe bay where the
+Topeka was found engaged in shelling the town. The
+Dupont took a message to the Topeka and the Prairie returned
+to Gibara. From a Cuban who came out in a dory it was
+learned that the inhabitants had raised an American flag over
+the town and were anxious that a force be landed to take possession
+of the place. It was also learned that the town was
+short of provisions. The Cuban's heart was gladdened by
+the gift of hardtack, canned meat, corn and coffee. On the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span>
+25th the Mangrove brought orders to proceed to Guantanamo
+bay and coal up at once. At Guantanamo fresh meat and
+also newspapers a week or two old were received.</p>
+
+<p>Wednesday, July 27th, marked the close of the third
+month of service of the Prairie's crew and as if to celebrate
+the event the Supply came in with a lot of provisions. The
+work of coaling ship was begun on the night of the 25th and
+did not cease until the 27th, the men standing their regular
+watches and doing their trick with the coal as if it was nothing
+unusual.</p>
+
+<p>The Prairie sailed from Guantanamo bay on the evening of
+the 27th and reached San Juan, Porto Rico, on the 29th.
+Some ammunition brought from Guantanamo for the cruiser
+New Orleans was transferred to her in boats. The Prairie
+did not stay long at San Juan but sailed for Ponce on the
+other side of the island on the 31st, arriving there the next
+day. Troops were being landed at Ponce and the roadstead
+was filled with war ships and transports. One of the transports
+became stuck on a bar outside the light-house and the
+Prairie had hard work getting her off the bar. A lot of
+mangoes brought aboard resulted in a number of the men
+being made ill from indulging too freely in the fruit. The
+soldiers on the transport Massachusetts, the one which was
+stuck, were taken on board the Prairie and fed, being landed
+the next day.</p>
+
+<p>News of the cessation of hostilities reached the ship August
+5th and was received at first with incredulity. The night of
+Friday, August 12th, was made memorable by Burgess
+tumbling out of his hammock three times in rapid succession.
+"Rags," the canine mascot, had become subject to fits and
+was assisted to commit suicide one day while in the harbor.</p>
+
+<p>The Prairie received orders to sail for the United States and
+on August 18th left for Santiago, arriving there the 20th.
+The ship left Santiago the 21st, with three companies of the
+Seventh infantry on board. All went well until the 25th,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span>
+when a heavy fog came on and the Prairie ran aground near
+Amagansett Point, 15 miles from Montauk Point. There
+was considerable confusion, of course, but the Prairie was
+handled well. All the boats were lowered and two kedge
+anchors were put out, one from the starboard quarter and
+the other from the starboard forecastle. The boats were out
+all night and it was not until at high tide the next day that
+the Prairie was hauled off by the tug Brittania and a light-house
+tender. The soldiers were landed and taken to Montauk
+Point. After being hauled off the Prairie sailed for
+Montauk Point, arriving there early in the evening. At
+Montauk the Prairie was put into quarantine until the 28th.
+Hardly was she out of quarantine before she steamed to
+Newport and from there to Fall River, where a warm reception
+was given the Fall River men on board the ship. That
+evening the Fall River and New Bedford men went ashore
+but the Springfield contingent was kept on board, much to
+their disappointment. On the 30th the Prairie left Fall River
+and steamed down to Newport, the event of the evening
+being the playing of the "Fu-Fu" band. The next day the
+ship started for New York and remained there until the 19th,
+when she went to Delaware Breakwater. Rumors of discharge
+began to agitate the crew soon after arriving in New
+York and Capt. Train went to Washington to confer with
+the Navy Department concerning it but returned with no
+definite knowledge of the exact time the muster-out would
+take place. From Delaware Breakwater the Prairie steamed
+up to the League Island navy yard where some of the guns
+were taken off and transferred to the New York. During
+the stay in New York and at League Island the "Rough
+Riders" made several successful initiations.</p>
+
+<p>Sunday, September 25, hammocks were lashed for the last
+time and after the dunnage had been loaded on a tug, the
+crew mustered and gave three cheers for Capt. Train and
+Lieuts. Stone and Stimpson. This done, the crew bade good<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span>
+bye to the Prairie and went ashore, going to Jersey City by
+train. After a brief trip on a ferry, the Fall River boat was
+boarded for the trip to that city and Boston. The latter
+place was reached about 10 o'clock Monday morning and
+after passing in review before the governor at the state house
+the Prairie men proceeded to the receiving ship Wabash,
+where they were furloughed until the following Wednesday.
+The boys enjoyed themselves hugely in Boston until Wednesday,
+when they were mustered out and given their discharges
+from the service of the United States.</p>
+
+<p>At 9.15 that evening, the Springfield part of the crew arrived
+home and were given an enthusiastic welcome in which
+red fire and fireworks played a prominent part. At the armory
+the men were greeted by glad relatives and soon dispersed
+to their homes plain naval militiamen once more after
+doing their full duty to Uncle Sam and serving him well.</p>
+
+<p>Lieut. H. S Crossman, who went out with the Prairie detail
+remained on the ship until she was ordered south, when
+he and some of the other officers were sent out on special
+duty. He was assigned to duty as recruiting officer on the
+Minnesota and remained there until a short time before the
+dismissal of the Prairie's crew from the service.</p>
+
+<p>Lieut. J. K. Dexter was detailed from duty on the Lehigh
+to duty as navigator on the converted ferry boat, Gov. Russell,
+and ordered to take her to Key West. The trip was an
+eventful one, for the Gov. Russell as a war boat was a fearfully
+and wonderfully constructed piece of marine architecture,
+and there were times when it was a question whether
+she would ever reach a port or not. But finally she was navigated
+as far as Newport News, and after looking her carefully
+over, the naval authorities decided that it was not wise
+to expose her again to the high seas.</p>
+
+<p>After muster-out of the Lehigh detail H company was
+once more at home and it was not long before the reorganization
+of the command as a part of the state militia was begun<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span>
+and successfully carried out, a good number of the officers
+and men who had seen service remaining. Today the company
+is once more in its old position of the best all-round
+company in the Massachusetts naval brigade.</p>
+
+<p>On October 27th, a number of prominent citizens tendered
+H company a banquet at Hotel Worthy, and the occasion
+will long be remembered as a very pleasant one. During the
+evening the handsome silk American flag, purchased for the
+company by citizens, was presented by Rev. Dr. P. S.
+Moxom.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="ROSTER" id="ROSTER"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">ROSTER.</a></h2>
+
+<h3>FIELD STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.</h3>
+
+<p class="noindent">
+<span class="smcap">Colonel, Embury P. Clark</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Major, Frederick G. Southmayd</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Adjutant, First Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Quartermaster, First Lieut. Edward E. Sawtell</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Major and Surgeon, Henry C. Bowen</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Major and Surgeon, Ernest A. Gates</span>.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="noindent">
+<span class="smcap">Sergeant-Major, Robert N. Ingersol</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Quartermaster-Sergeant, Ross L. Lusk</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Hospital Steward, Edson P. Howes</span>.<br />
+</p>
+
+<h3>G. COMPANY.</h3>
+
+<p class="noindent">
+<span class="smcap">Captain, John J. Leonard.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">First Lieutenant, William C. Hayes.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Second Lieutenant, Edward J. Leyden.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">First Sergeant, William Butement.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Sergeants, Jeremiah F. Scully.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Joseph N. Lovely.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Walter W. Ward.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Joseph A. Murphy.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">James A. Gibbons.</span></span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Corporals, Robert A. Ross.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Patrick J. Noone.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Michael J. McHale.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Frank C. Keating</span>, Chicopee Falls.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Nataline Gardella.</span></span><br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span><span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Ernest E. Robinson.</span></span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Musicians, Patrick J. O'Connell.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Robert D. Cargill.</span></span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Wagoner, James R. Shene.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Artificer, Benjamin A. Seamans.</span><br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">PRIVATES</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Privates G Co.">
+<tr><td align="left">Frank A. Anderson</td><td align="left">Dozilva P. Lamoreaux, Chicopee</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Timothy T. Austin</td><td align="left">Andrew Little</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Elmer B. Barrowcliffe</td><td align="left">Christopher T. Lovett</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank J. Barsalow</td><td align="left">John J. Mahoney, W. Sp'f'd</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Daniel J. Bellamy</td><td align="left">Thomas F. Mahoney</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Wilbur G. Brassard, Thompsonville &nbsp; &nbsp;</td><td align="left">George H. Markham</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">James H. Bresnahan</td><td align="left">John B. Mandeville</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Patrick J. Bresnan</td><td align="left">Ernest P. Marble</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Alfred C. Brownell</td><td align="left">Dennis F. McCarthy</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Francis C. Burke</td><td align="left">Henry E. Merchant</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Thomas Burke</td><td align="left">Louis Monteverde</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Henry T. Conrad</td><td align="left">Fred H. Morrill</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George W. Campbell</td><td align="left">Carl A. Mueller</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Thomas M. Conlin</td><td align="left">James J. O'Brien</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William E. Coolidge</td><td align="left">Charles A. Nelson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Timothy J. Crowley</td><td align="left">John J. O'Leary</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William R. Dillon, W. Sp'f'd &nbsp; &nbsp;</td><td align="left">Arthur H. Packard</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">John H. Dunn</td><td align="left">Walter A. Packard</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George E. Easton</td><td align="left">Jacob Peterson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William Ferrier</td><td align="left">George A. Richmond</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Charles R. Fisher</td><td align="left">William J. Rooney</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Theodore Gelinas, Holyoke</td><td align="left">William J. Root</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank M. Hannon</td><td align="left">Jeremiah J. Shea</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Patrick J. Hayes</td><td align="left">Cyrus A. Shufelt</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Andrew F. Higgins</td><td align="left">Henry J. Slattery</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank N. Hunt</td><td align="left">Fred S. Stetson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Robert G. Kelly</td><td align="left">John E. Tobin</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Edward K. Lathrop</td><td align="left">Henry B. Whitmore</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Henry H. Lawler</td><td align="left">Samuel Wilson</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p>
+
+<h3>B COMPANY.</h3>
+
+<p class="noindent">
+<span class="smcap">Captain</span>, <span class="smcap">Henry McDonald</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">First Lieutenant</span>, <span class="smcap">William J. Young</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Second Lieutenant</span>, <span class="smcap">Harry J. Vesper</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Second Lieutenant</span>, <span class="smcap">Thomas F. Burke</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Sergeants</span>, <span class="smcap">Richard H. Bearse</span>.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Samuel E. Smith</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">George J. McKeown</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">John J. O'Connell</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Everett W. Wilcox</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Corporals</span>, <span class="smcap">Frank A. Wakefield</span>.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Melvin H. Ransom</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Richard B. Blaney</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Michael J. Donahuh</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">John B. Fulton</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Thomas F. Handy</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Musicians</span>, <span class="smcap">Henry F. Ladbury</span>.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Bernard E. Comey</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Wagoner</span>, <span class="smcap">Paul J. Kingston</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Artificer</span>, <span class="smcap">Orvin E. Alberts</span>.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">PRIVATES &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;</p>
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Privates B Co.">
+<tr><td align="left">Charles H. Ashley</td><td align="left">Donald A. McPhee</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">John Bryson</td><td align="left">William J. Mack</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Peter F. Boyer</td><td align="left">Daniel J. Moriarty</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William F. Barton</td><td align="left">Frank C. Mattoon</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William J. Barton</td><td align="left">Axel Mahlstrom, East Longmeadow</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">John M. Carey</td><td align="left">John J. Malone</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William F. Childs</td><td align="left">Howard S. Meyrick, Agawam</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Matthew J. Clark</td><td align="left">John J. O'Donnell</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Theophile J. Champagne &nbsp; &nbsp;</td><td align="left">Arthur M. Partridge</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Clarence E. Chapman</td><td align="left">Giles S. Potter, Pittsfield</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William W. Chadbourne</td><td align="left">Alwin B. Richter</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Albert M. Chandler</td><td align="left">Christopher J. Riordan</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Lewis R. Dikeman</td><td align="left">Thos. R. Rooney, Westfield</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank F. Dingman</td><td align="left">Wilmore S. Riopel</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Robert D. Draper</td><td align="left">Matthew M. P. Ryan</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Daniel S. Devine</td><td align="left">James C. Ryan</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Albert R. Dunn</td><td align="left">Henry P. Roberts</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George DeGray</td><td align="left">Frank X. Rivers</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">John K. DeLoach</td><td align="left">Clarence B. Ross</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank L. Edson</td><td align="left">Harry H. Richards, West Springfield</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Henry T. Ellis</td><td align="left">Alfred E. Rose</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">James F. Ferrier</td><td align="left">John J. Smith</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ellsworth Frey</td><td align="left">Frank Twohey, Worcester</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Eugene B. Grenier</td><td align="left">Paul L. Vesper</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Morris Grenowitz</td><td align="left">Harry C. Wakefield</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Joseph Genereaux</td><td align="left">Ernest C. Whitcomb</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">John C. Hurley</td><td align="left">Edwin W. Wright</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Robert J. F. Judd</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Michael F. Kelleher</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ernest J. Monseau</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<h3>K COMPANY.</h3>
+
+<p class="noindent">
+<span class="smcap">Captain</span>, <span class="smcap">William S. Warriner</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">First Lieutenant</span>, <span class="smcap">Philip C. Powers</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Second Lieutenant</span>, <span class="smcap">Harry H. Parkhurst</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">First Sergeant</span>, <span class="smcap">Arthur J. Berry</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Sergeants</span>, <span class="smcap">Fred A. Jenks</span>, Chicopee.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">G. Burton Hall</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">David A. Turner</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">J. Lewis Kelly</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Hyatt W. Avery</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Corporals</span>, <span class="smcap">William C. Piper</span>.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Thomas C. Boone</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span><span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Burdett A. Madison</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">William E. Turner</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Albert Marsden</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Bert F. Nichols</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Musicians</span>, <span class="smcap"><ins class="corr" title="Transcriber's Note&mdash;original text 'FRNAK P. JONES'">Frank P. Jones</ins></span>.<br />
+<span class="pad5"><span class="smcap">Louis P. Castaldini</span>.</span><br />
+<span class="smcap">Wagoner</span>, <span class="smcap">Frank N. Boule</span>.<br />
+<span class="smcap">Artificer</span>, <span class="smcap">Wilson C. Emery</span>.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p class="center">PRIVATES.</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Privates K Co.">
+<tr><td align="left">Ernest L. Alderman</td><td align="left">Charles Hoadley</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Edward N. Aiken</td><td align="left">Irving J. Johnson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Horace W. Allen</td><td align="left">Ward Lathrop</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Wallace H. Brown</td><td align="left">Michael R. Lyons</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George L. Bates</td><td align="left">Everett W. Luther</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ralph A. Barkman</td><td align="left">Myron W. Maynard</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Arthur N. Broulette</td><td align="left">Charles E. McLeod</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Arthur M. Burnham</td><td align="left">Wm. C. McCulloch, Chicopee</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Albert J. Brunell</td><td align="left">Frank E. Moody</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Michael E. Breck</td><td align="left">John L. Morehouse</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">James W. Britton</td><td align="left">Homer G. Munson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">James A. Brazzil</td><td align="left">Samuel W. Nesbitt</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank L. Carr</td><td align="left">Charles Owens</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Arthur L. Chapman</td><td align="left">A. L. Potter</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William C. Colvin</td><td align="left">George W. Potter</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Alwin A. Cameron</td><td align="left">Walter J. Reardon</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George S, Creeley</td><td align="left">Phillip H. Robinson</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William R. Dunse</td><td align="left">William E. Stephens</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Edwin A. Elwell</td><td align="left">George E. Sollace</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Horatio M. Field</td><td align="left">Edgar W. Snell</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Wm. J. Fish, W. Springfield&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Harry J. Symonds</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Harry D. Fisher</td><td align="left">Alfred Stone</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ralph Fisk</td><td align="left">Robert B. Terrell</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Herman H. Fuller</td><td align="left">Nicholas D. Vassilli</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Julian B. Hawkes</td><td align="left">William J. Walsh</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Louis H. Hall</td><td align="left">Harry O. Wilkins</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank B. Hendricks</td><td align="left">Joseph G. Woodbury</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George Hallier</td><td align="left">Henry Wright, Jr.</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Edward R. Hubbard</td><td align="left">William A. Webb</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<img src="images/i205.jpg" width="400" height="451" alt="" />
+<div class="caption"><span class="smcap">Henry S. Lee</span></div>
+</div>
+<p class="p2" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p><div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;">
+
+<h3 class="p-brk">H COMPANY NAVAL BRIGADE.</h3>
+
+<p>Name<span class="pad8">Rating</span><span class="pad8">Ship</span></p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Naval Brigade Part 1">
+<tr><td align="left">Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter</td><td align="right">U. S. S. Gov. Russell</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Lieut. (j. g.) Henry S. Crossman</td><td align="right">U. S. S. Prairie</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Lieut. (j. g.) William O. Cohn</td><td align="right">U. S. S. Lehigh</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William A. Dearden, Boatswain's Mate, 2d class</td><td align="right">Prairie</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">William Owens, Gunner's Mate, 2d class</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">James A. Turnbull, Gunner's Mate, 3d class</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Curtis H. Jennings, Gunner's Mate, 3d class</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Arthur H. Strong, Chief Q. M.</td><td align="right">Saturn</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Winfred A. Sabin, Coxswain</td><td align="right">Lehigh</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Herbert E. Burns, Bayman</td><td align="right">Prairie</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ernest F. Gilbert, Shipwright</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">George H. Nobbs, Pay Yeoman</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Albert M. Pease, Cook</td><td align="right">" &nbsp; &nbsp;</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+<p class="center">SEAMEN.</p>
+
+<div class="center">
+<table border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" summary="Naval Brigade Part 2">
+<tr><td align="left">William H. Brundett</td><td align="left">Prairie&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td align="left">George W. Lyman</td><td align="left">Prairie</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Weston F. Bright</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Irving C. Lombra</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">A. W. Blauvelt</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">George L. Meacham</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Webster C. Clark</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Charles B. Miller</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Lewis B. Clark</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Ralph Newcomb</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Winfred W. Crosier</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Guy A. Preble</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Charles Crosier</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Gilbert G. Patnode</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Charles W. Dearden</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Goulding S. Patnode</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Lawrence W. Erricson</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Walter Swazey</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Arthur J. C. Fischer</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Edwin S. Smith</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Robert C. Goodale</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Fred C. Steele</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Robert P. King</td><td align="left">Lehigh</td><td align="left">McClellan E. Streeter</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Albert N. Luce</td><td align="left">Prairie</td><td align="left">Rupert H. B. Warburton&nbsp;</td><td align="left">Lehigh</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Howard Loomis</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Robert H. Wheeler</td><td align="left">Prairie</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Ward H. Long</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td><td align="left">Henry W. Watson</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+<tr><td align="left">Frank Ladd</td><td align="left"> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"</td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="THE_ROLL_OF_HONOR" id="THE_ROLL_OF_HONOR"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">THE ROLL OF HONOR.</a></h2>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Henry C. Bowen, Major and Surgeon, died in Second Division
+Hospital, Santiago, August 13, of malarial fever.</p>
+
+<h3>G COMPANY</h3>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Corporal Patrick J. Noone, died in Springfield, September 20,
+1898, typhoid fever.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private George A. Richmond, died in field hospital near El
+Caney, July 1, 1898, of wound in head.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Walter A. Packard, killed on field, El Caney, July
+1, 1898.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Robert G. Kelly, died in division hospital of wound
+received in action July 2d, at San Juan.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Francis A. Burke, died at Springfield, October 24,
+1898.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Andrew Little, died in second division hospital, Santiago,
+August 22, 1898.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Fred S. Stetson, died in second division hospital, Santiago,
+August 24, 1898.</p>
+
+<h3>B COMPANY.</h3>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper, died on S. S. Mobile,
+August 17, 1898, of gastric enteritis.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, died in camp
+before Santiago, August 1, 1898, of malarial fever.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, died on S. S. Mobile, August
+27, 1898, of malarial fever.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private John J. Malone, died in field hospital, July 5, 1898,
+of wound received at El Caney, July 1.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Paul Vesper, died in camp before Santiago, August
+10, 1898, of malarial fever.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span></p>
+
+<h3>K COMPANY.</h3>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Corporal William C. Piper, died in second division hospital,
+August 5, 1898.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Corporal Thomas C. Boone, died in Springfield, March 19,
+1899.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Musician Frank P. Jones, died at Montauk Point, L. I.,
+August 27, 1898.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Frank E. Moody, killed on field, July 1, 1898, at El
+Caney.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Arthur M. Burnham, died in division hospital, Santiago,
+August 18, 1898, of typhoid fever.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private Michael R. Lyons, died in Springfield, April 20,
+1899.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private George S. Creley, died in Springfield, June 28, 1899.</p>
+
+<p class="negidt1">Private John L. Morehouse, died in Springfield, November
+12, 1899.</p>
+
+<hr class="tb" />
+
+<p>Since the muster-out three more of Springfield's contingent,
+all K company men, have answered the final roll call. Corporal
+Thomas C. Boone died in Massachusetts general hospital
+at Boston, March 19, 1899, and Private Michael R. Lyons
+at Springfield, April 20. Private George C. Creley died
+June 25, at his home after a long illness. Private John L.
+Morehouse died in Springfield, November 12, 1889.</p>
+
+</div><div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span></p>
+
+<h2><a name="SPRINGFIELDS_DEAD_HEROES" id="SPRINGFIELDS_DEAD_HEROES"></a><a href="#LIST_OF_CONTENTS">SPRINGFIELD'S DEAD HEROES.</a></h2>
+
+<p class="p2" />
+<p class="pfs120">HENRY C. BOWEN.</p>
+
+<p>Henry C. Bowen, major and surgeon of the Second regiment,
+died in the Second Division hospital, near Santiago,
+after making a gallant fight against sickness and death, not
+only for himself but for the regiment under his care. It is
+not too much to say that but for the heavy burden he was
+under with the care of over 800 sick and dying men on his
+hands, he might have recovered from the Cuban fever and
+been alive to-day, but as it was he succumbed. It was his
+misfortune to go to the front ignorant of the red tape which
+forms an even more effectual barrier to individual action
+than did the Spanish barbed wire to our troops, and it was
+this same red tape which was indirectly responsible for his
+death. When the regiment was in its worst condition in
+front of Santiago, when he was alone in the work of caring
+for the sick and dying, he found it next to impossible to obtain
+needed medical supplies for his men, and yet knew he
+was held responsible for their welfare. It is not to be wondered
+at under these circumstances that he grew nervous
+and irritable, and repelled rather than attracted those who
+tried to help him. The wonder of it was, that sick in body
+and mind as he was, he bore up as long as he did. But he
+did what he could and gave his health, and strength, and
+life in his duty.</p>
+
+<p>Major Bowen was born in Castle Creek, N. Y., the son of
+Dr. Charles W. Bowen of Westfield, and he studied in the
+public schools there and at Wilbraham academy. He
+gained his medical education in the University of New York
+and served in Bellevue hospital for eighteen months and in
+the Broome street lying-in hospital. He began practice in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span>
+Springfield in 1894 and was fast reaching a high place in his
+profession when the war broke out. At the time of his appointment
+he was a member of the surgical staff of the
+Mercy hospital where he was liked by patients and officials.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">HARRY J. VESPER.</p>
+
+<p>Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper of B company, came
+of fighting stock, his father, O. R. Vesper, of Springfield,
+being a one armed veteran of the civil war. Harry was
+born in Springfield and was 31 years of age when he died on
+the Mobile. He studied in the public schools, leaving the
+high school to enter the employ of the Springfield Homestead.
+There he rose by steady industry and ability, to be
+head of the mailing department and business manager of the
+electrotyping department. For several years he had been
+deeply interested in the militia and had enlisted in B company,
+rising through the grades of corporal and sergeant to
+the second lieutenantcy, to which he was elected and commissioned
+May 11, 1896. For two years he had served as
+adjutant of the first battalion of the regiment, and was popular
+with everyone in the command.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">RICHARD H. BEARSE.</p>
+
+<p>The news of the death of no member of the Second was
+received in Springfield with more regret than that of Sergeant
+"Dickie" Bearse of B company. A member of the
+company for several years, he was known and liked by all
+the officers and men of the Springfield companies, for to
+know "Dick" Bearse was to like him. With his pride in B
+company and the regiment, not to speak of his patriotism, it
+was only natural he should be anxious to go to the front with
+the Second, and he did so, although he had to twice overcome
+the examining surgeon's objections. In camp and on
+the march he was cheerful and helpful and at El Caney he
+was up with the best of them. But all the while the hardships<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span>
+and toils of the campaign were sapping his vitality,
+and when the deadly calentura came, he had no strength
+left to resist it, but simply laid down and died. In him B
+company and the Second lost one of their best. Sergeant
+Bearse was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bearse and was
+24 years of age. His body was brought home and interred
+in the family lot in Oak Grove cemetery, after such a funeral
+as has seldom been witnessed in Springfield, an outpouring
+of grief from hundreds of friends.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">WILLIAM C. PIPER.</p>
+
+<p>Corporal William C. Piper of K, was born at Marysville,
+O., in 1874, and his father is a well known lawyer and probate
+judge of that state. Corporal Piper came to Springfield
+in 1895 as manager of the Stetson Shoe store and had
+charge of the establishment at the time he was mustered in
+to the United States service. He enlisted in K company in
+1897.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">FRANK P. JONES.</p>
+
+<p>Musician Frank P. Jones of K, and one of the best fellows
+in the Second, died in the hospital at Camp Wikoff, August
+27, after passing through all the hardships of the campaign
+in Cuba without being seriously ill. He was a native of
+Ludlow, Mass., and was 21 years of age. He had served in
+K for three years and though opposed by his parents, could
+not be kept from enlisting as a volunteer when the call
+came for troops. Of a cheerful, happy disposition, he did
+much in the dark days of sickness and death in the camp
+before Santiago, to help his comrades, and his example
+helped many a sick man.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">PAUL J. KINGSTON.</p>
+
+<p>Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, B company, was an efficient
+soldier and well liked member of the command. He was
+24 years of age when he died on the Mobile and was the son<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span>
+of George Kingston, an expressman. He was serving the
+third year of his enlistment in B when the war came and at
+once volunteered to go to the front.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">PAUL VESPER.</p>
+
+<p>Private Paul Vesper of B was younger than his brother,
+Lieut. Harry J. Vesper, but had many of the qualities which
+made the latter so well liked. He was serving his first enlistment
+in B company when the war came, and promptly
+expressed a desire to volunteer. He died in the camp before
+Santiago, August 10, 1898.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">ROBERT G. KELLY.</p>
+
+<p>Robert G. Kelly was the third G company man to fall in
+the fighting in front of Santiago. At 10 o'clock on the night
+of July 2d, the crashing of rifle volleys and the screams of
+shells awoke the Second from the sleep of fatigue, and the
+officers and men rushed to the crest of the hill behind which
+they had bivouacked. The attack was to the right of the
+Second's position, but while waiting for orders the regiment
+had to stand the rain of scattering shot and Kelly was the
+first to be hit. The bullet struck him in the left cheek, going
+through and lodging in the muscles of the other side.
+He was taken to the division hospital and died there July 15.
+He was the son of Samuel Kelly of Springfield and enlisted
+just before the Second was ordered to South Framingham.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">ARTHUR M. BURNHAM.</p>
+
+<p>Private Arthur M. Burnham of K was the son of George
+M. Burnham, a well known contractor and builder of
+Springfield. Arthur was born in 1876 and studied in the
+public schools. He was popular with his school fellows and
+with all who knew him. For three years previous to the
+breaking out of the war he had been associated with his father
+in business. He enlisted in K company soon after its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span>
+transfer to Springfield and after serving three years, left the
+company, a short time before the war broke out. He was
+one of the first of the former members to reenlist when it
+was known that war was certain and bore himself manfully
+through the campaign. He was ill with typhoid when the
+regiment left Cuba and was obliged to be left behind.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">FRED A. STETSON.</p>
+
+<p>Fred A. Stetson enlisted in G company at the outbreak of
+the war and served faithfully until he was attacked by the
+disease which laid him low, only a day or two after his comrades
+had left Cuba for home. He was employed in Springfield
+when he enlisted, but had only been in the city a short
+time, and had no near relatives living so far as known. He
+was 24 years old.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">JOHN J. MALONE.</p>
+
+<p>John J. Malone, fatally wounded at El Caney, was a
+member of B company and had been for two years previous
+to the outbreak of the war. He was a bright, cheerful
+young fellow and was well liked by his acquaintances as
+well as by his comrades. His parents died during his childhood
+and John made his home with a relative. He was employed
+in the Homestead office. At El Caney, Malone was
+one of the first men hit, the fatal bullet striking him within
+a few moments after B company had taken its position with
+the 22d. He died in the field hospital.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">FRANK E. MOODY.</p>
+
+<p>Frank E. Moody of K company, killed in action at El
+Caney, was the son of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Moody of
+Springfield and was 20 years old when he enlisted in K, only
+a few days before the regiment left for South Framingham.
+He was shot soon after B and K companies took position on
+the right flank of the 22d.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">ARTHUR HOWARD PACKARD.</p>
+
+<p>Killed instantly at El Caney, July 1, 1898. He was the
+son of Mrs. Helen N. Packard, who, the wife of a soldier
+of the civil war, saw her two sons go to the front in the war
+with Spain, both being members of G company. Arthur
+would have been 19 years of age in November, 1898, and
+had been employed in the Homestead office. When only 17
+he enlisted in G company and was well liked by his comrades.
+When the war came Arthur insisted on being one of the men
+to go with the company. Through the campaign he was
+soldierly and cheerful and his bright, if sometimes caustic
+sayings, did much to help his comrades. He was on the advanced
+firing line of the Second in the squad under Lieut.
+Leyden when the fatal bullet struck him and he died
+instantly.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">GEORGE A. RICHMOND.</p>
+
+<p>George A. Richmond was one of the oldest members of G
+company and was born in Springfield. He enlisted in 1887,
+and remained a member of the company for several years.
+When it was seen that war was coming, Richmond was one
+of the first to apply to Capt. Leonard for a place in the ranks
+and joined the company at South Framingham. At El
+Caney Richmond was with Lieut. Leyden's squad, and was
+shot through the head early in the engagement. Willing
+hands bore him to the improvised field hospital where he lay
+in agony for several hours before death came. He was comforted
+and consoled by Chaplain Fitzgerald of the 22d, who
+took his last messages. Richmond's mother died in his early
+youth and he had made his home with relatives. He had
+been employed in the Springfield post office. He took a
+small camera with him to Cuba and made a number of
+pictures.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">FRANCIS A. BURKE.</p>
+
+<p>Private Francis A. Burke of G company, who died at the
+House of Mercy hospital, October 8, 1898, was the son of
+Thomas Burke and resided at 196 Spring street. He was
+employed as a clerk in the store of Forbes &amp; Wallace and
+was well liked by his associates. He was 22 years of age.
+As a youth he took much interest in military matters and
+was for some time a member of the Cathedral cadets. Later
+he enlisted in G company and had served some time when
+the war broke out. He promptly volunteered and served
+well in the campaign.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">THOMAS C. BOONE.</p>
+
+<p>The circumstances surrounding the death of Sergeant
+Thomas C. Boone, who went to the front with K company,
+but was transferred to the U. S. Signal Corps, were particularly
+sad as at the time his many friends supposed he was
+practically recovered from the terrible experience he underwent
+while in the service. Boone died in the Mass. General
+Hospital, Boston, on March 19, 1899, after a comparatively
+brief illness. He was a native of Maryland, being born in
+Annapolis in 1876, and came to Springfield in 1894, enlisting
+in K company soon after his coming here. At South Framingham
+Boone was appointed a corporal by Capt. Warriner,
+but the number of these positions in the companies being
+reduced Boone was obliged to serve as a private. Soon after
+the arrival of the Second at Tampa he was transferred to the
+signal corps with the rank of sergeant. He was an expert
+telegrapher and was selected for that reason. On July 2d he
+with Col. Drew and Major Maxfield were in the war balloon
+at San Juan and while the balloon was at a height of 2700
+feet and was being taken over a creek it was pierced by three
+pieces of shrapnel from the Spanish lines and fell. The basket
+caught in the top of a tree and Boone was caught in the
+anchor and hung suspended over the stream for a long time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span>
+with the iron hook pressing into his side. Then he fell into
+the water. He was badly injured, but did not realize it at
+the time. A few days later he was sent to the hospital, but
+while being conveyed there in a mule team the vehicle was
+upset and he was again injured. On his return to the United
+States through an error on the part of some officer he was
+accused of desertion but after several months the stain was
+taken away and he received an honorable discharge. Boone
+was a popular member of the company and also popular
+among a large number of friends.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">MICHAEL R. LYONS.</p>
+
+<p>Michael R. Lyons of K company, died in the Mercy hospital,
+Springfield, April 20th, 1899, just a year from the time
+he enlisted and after making a gallant fight against the effects
+of the hardships he underwent in Cuba. He was a well-liked
+member of the company and made an excellent soldier,
+doing his duty quietly and faithfully. All through the campaign,
+although ill at times, he was cheerful and uncomplaining
+and his example was not lost on his comrades. His body
+was taken to Palmer for burial. His parents and brothers
+reside in Springfield.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">ANDREW LITTLE.</p>
+
+<p>Andrew Little was one of the "recruits" of G company,
+he having gone to the camp at South Framingham with the
+first batch of extra men assembled in Springfield after it was
+known that several vacancies had been caused in the company
+through rejections by the surgeons. He lived in Middlebury,
+Vermont, but had been employed in Springfield for
+some time. During the campaign he served as assistant
+company cook and stood the hardships and exposure fairly
+well until a short time before the regiment left Santiago for
+the United States.</p>
+
+<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span></p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">GEORGE C. CRELEY.</p>
+
+<p>George C. Creley, 21, was one of the last men of K company
+to die, his death being due to consumption contracted in
+service in Cuba. His death occurred June 28, 1899, after a
+long illness. Creley left a father and a sister, the former
+living in Springfield. He was a recruit, enlisting in K as
+soon as there was an opportunity and his service was faithful.</p>
+
+<p class="pfs120">JOHN L. MOREHOUSE.</p>
+
+<p>The last member of K company to pass away up to the
+time of issuing this volume, was Private John L. Morehouse
+who died Nov. 12, 1899, after an illness of several weeks.
+He was a cousin of Lieut. H. H. Parkhurst of K and was
+well liked by his comrades, being easily one of the most popular
+members of the company. He was 29 years of age and
+aside from cousins, had no near relatives.</p>
+
+</div>
+
+<hr class="chap" />
+<div class="transnote">
+<a name="TN" id="TN"><strong>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE</strong></a><br />
+<br />
+
+Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected<br />
+after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text<br />
+and consultation of external sources.<br />
+<br />
+Except for those changes noted below, inconsistent or archaic<br />
+spelling of a word or word-pair within the text has been retained.<br />
+For example: blockhouses, block houses; good-bye, good bye;<br />
+reenlist, re-enlist; warships, war ships.<br />
+<br />
+<a href="#Page_10">p 10.</a>  'andmaintained' changed to 'and maintained'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_10">p 10.</a>  'hereseveral' changed to 'here several'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_12">p 12.</a>  'T. A. Sweney' changed to 'T. A. Sweeney'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_16">p 16.</a>  'a. m.' changed to 'A. M.' for consistency.<br />
+<a href="#Page_20">p 20.</a>  'Manilla' changed to 'Manila'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_34">p 34.</a>  'to be be beaten' changed to 'to be beaten'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_36">p 36.</a>  'somehew' changed to 'somehow'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_47">p 47.</a>  'employe' changed to 'employee'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_54">p 54.</a>  'utillized' changed to 'utilized'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_60">p 60.</a>  'guage' changed to 'gauge'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_69">p 69.</a>  'oocupants' changed to 'occupants'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_71">p 71.</a>  'olock' changed to 'clock'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_72">p 72.</a>  'in the the afternoon' changed to 'in the afternoon'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_74">p 74.</a>  'envolope' changed to 'envelope'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_79">p 79.</a>  'anothor' changed to 'another'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_80">p 80.</a>  'oolor' changed to 'color'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_86">p 86.</a>  'advavtage' changed to 'advantage'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_88">p 88.</a>  'Boulè' changed to 'Boule'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_89">p 89.</a>  'Backman' changed to 'Barkman'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_97">p 97.</a>  'illuminatad' changed to 'illuminated'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_102">p 102.</a> 'Sprinfields' changed to 'Springfields'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_110">P 110.</a> 'Greenowitz' changed to 'Grenowitz'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_114">p 114.</a> 'Khakir' changed to Khaki'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_115">p 115.</a> 'Santiano' changed to 'Santiago'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_119">p 119.</a> 'machette' changed to 'machete'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_124">p 124.</a> 'round robbin' changed to 'round robin'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_131">p 131.</a> 'suberb' changed to 'superb'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_141">p 141.</a> 'recieved' changed to 'received'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_145">p 145.</a> 'eht use of' changed to 'the use of'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_148">p 148.</a> 'mpatience' changed to 'impatience'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_157">p 157.</a> 'Lamoreau' changed to 'Lamoreaux'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_159">p 159.</a> 'employes' changed to 'employees'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_159">p 159.</a> 'Phillippines' changed to 'Philippines'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_161">p 161.</a> 'chase of of the' changed to 'chase of the'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_163">p 163.</a> 'Tomkinsville' changed to 'Tompkinsville'.<br />
+<a href="#Page_176">p 176.</a> 'Frnak P. Jones' changed to 'Frank P. Jones'.<br />
+
+</div>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Springfield in the Spanish American War, by 
+Walter W. Ward
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPRINGFIELD IN SPAN-AMER. WAR ***
+
+***** This file should be named 46361-h.htm or 46361-h.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/4/6/3/6/46361/
+
+Produced by John Campbell, and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at
+  www.gutenberg.org/license.
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at 809
+North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887.  Email
+contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the
+Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit:  www.gutenberg.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For forty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/cover.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/cover.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ccc090
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/cover.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i002.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i002.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a80d4d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i002.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i011.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i011.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..acccf91
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i011.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i016.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i016.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2dd8b86
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i016.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i019-large.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i019-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..954078f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i019-large.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i019.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i019.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9e34e89
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i019.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i023.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i023.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7c76073
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i023.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i029.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i029.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a2d86d0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i029.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i031.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i031.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3295cb2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i031.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i038.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i038.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0a24239
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i038.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i039-large.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i039-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ab65ca3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i039-large.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i039.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i039.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6432203
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i039.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i046.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i046.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7247411
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i046.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i052.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i052.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..184ef98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i052.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i057-large.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i057-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1906d0c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i057-large.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i057.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i057.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1f7c535
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i057.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i061.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i061.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f3eae37
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i061.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i067-large.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i067-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9a17431
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i067-large.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i067.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i067.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..478bd68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i067.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i071.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i071.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0ed66fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i071.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i080.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i080.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8b97bf9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i080.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i088.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i088.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5510427
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i088.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i093-large.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i093-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..11cf115
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i093-large.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i093.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i093.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..467de57
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i093.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i098.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i098.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..43c9c5f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i098.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i103-large.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i103-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5d676e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i103-large.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i103.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i103.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5e097af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i103.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i110.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i110.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d8a9d2e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i110.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i113.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i113.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..affb68d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i113.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i124.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i124.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..806b59f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i124.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i131-large.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i131-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd2bc12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i131-large.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i131.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i131.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2042591
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i131.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i139.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i139.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..66cb2a0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i139.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i141.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i141.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4729446
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i141.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i151-large.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i151-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9323b5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i151-large.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i151.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i151.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4424f94
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i151.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i153.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i153.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..fea37b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i153.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i160.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i160.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d82f934
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i160.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i167.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i167.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..46f4750
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i167.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i169-large.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i169-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2c32d39
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i169-large.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i169.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i169.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7d25a0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i169.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i177.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i177.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..10cbc9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i177.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i179-large.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i179-large.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..55e8813
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i179-large.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i179.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i179.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e220123
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i179.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i189.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i189.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..844156f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i189.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361-h/images/i205.jpg b/old/46361-h/images/i205.jpg
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..64c8338
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361-h/images/i205.jpg
diff --git a/old/46361.txt b/old/46361.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3d77e6f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,6182 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Springfield in the Spanish American War, by
+Walter W. Ward
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Springfield in the Spanish American War
+
+Author: Walter W. Ward
+
+Release Date: July 22, 2014 [EBook #46361]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPRINGFIELD IN SPAN-AMER. WAR ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by John Campbell, and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+  TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
+
+  Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Superscripts have been
+  converted to normal text.
+
+  Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected
+  after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and
+  consultation of external sources.
+
+  More detail can be found at the end of the book.
+
+
+
+
+[Illustration: COLONEL EMBURY P. CLARK]
+
+
+
+
+  SPRINGFIELD
+  IN THE
+  SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
+
+  BY
+  WALTER W. WARD
+
+  ILLUSTRATED
+
+  PRESS OF
+  ENTERPRISE PRINTING COMPANY
+  EASTHAMPTON, MASS.
+  1899.
+
+  TO THE
+  OFFICERS AND MEN
+  OF G, B AND K COMPANIES
+  SECOND REGIMENT MASSACHUSETTS
+  INFANTRY, U. S. V., AND
+  H COMPANY, NAVAL BRIGADE.
+
+
+
+
+PREFACE.
+
+
+In the Spanish-American war of 1898, Springfield rose to the occasion
+as she did in 1776 and 1861 and sent her youngest and best and bravest
+sons to the front. It was her sons who fought and fell at El Caney, the
+one battle of modern times where infantry, practically unsupported by
+artillery, captured a well fortified town and it was her sons who were
+in the lead in drawing the attacking lines so tightly about the city of
+Santiago that its surrender had to follow. It was her sons also who,
+on the high seas, on a fast auxiliary cruiser, did faithful service as
+a portion of the navy and had the satisfaction of doing their share in
+remembering the Maine by sinking a Spanish transport and a gun boat.
+Her sons fell on the battlefield and died in the camps and hospitals
+after enduring as soldiers, the hardships and toils of one of the
+shortest yet most important and bloodiest campaigns in history and of
+the honors of that war, Springfield claims a goodly share for herself.
+
+In the near future a monument, the funds for which have been
+contributed from near and far, will be erected in Springfield to the
+memory of the officers and men of the Second Regiment, Massachusetts
+Infantry, U. S. Volunteers who fell or died in the Spanish war. On
+that monument, whatever form it may take, will be inscribed the names
+of Bowen, Harry and Paul Vesper, Bearse, Noone, Piper, Boone, Jones,
+Richmond, Packard, Kelly, Moody, Burnham, Malone, Burke, Little,
+Stetson, Creley, Lyons and Morehouse. But their names have long before
+this been permanently inscribed on the hearts of their comrades and
+in no place are they more secure. They died for the flag, the highest
+honor possible to an American citizen. This volume is written in the
+attempt to portray as clearly as memory serves what these men and their
+comrades did in the war with Spain. While not actually a history,
+the intention has been to show as clearly as possible the people of
+Springfield what it was their sons and brothers and friends in her four
+organizations at the front went through in their short campaign.
+
+Springfield, Nov. 1899.
+
+  W. W. W.
+
+
+
+
+LIST OF CONTENTS.
+
+
+  CHAPTER.                                    PAGE
+
+  I. Which is preliminary to those which
+  follow it,                                     9
+
+  II. Which tells about the calling out of
+  H company, Naval Brigade,                     14
+
+  III. How G, B and K companies went to
+  South Framingham,                             19
+
+  IV. Wherein is told how we were transformed
+  from "tin" soldiers into the
+  real article,                                 25
+
+  V. We get orders to leave for the sunny
+  South and obey them,                          32
+
+  VI. We go to the Southland and begin to
+  find out where we are at,                     38
+
+  VII. We stay in Ybor City and then
+  enjoy (?) life on the transports in the
+  harbor,                                       44
+
+  VIII. We have a lovely sail on the palatial
+  Knickerbocker and reach Cuba without
+  mishap,                                       51
+
+  IX. Wherein is related our landing at
+  Daiquiri and some things which subsequently
+  happened,                                     59
+
+  X. In which is to be found the tale of
+  Crab Hollow and some other things,            68
+
+  XI. Which tells how we got ready to
+  take the town of El Caney,                    76
+
+  XII. Wherein is related some events which
+  happened to us on July first,                 84
+
+  XIII. We learn some more things about the
+  art of war as conducted in these days,        94
+
+  XIV. We continue our education in the art
+  of war and learn a few things,               106
+
+  XV. We have to face another enemy more
+  deadly than the Spaniards,                   119
+
+  XVI. Our voyage homeward on the death
+  ship Mobile,                                 129
+
+  XVII. We and our friends enjoy ourselves
+  at Camp Wickoff, Montauk Point,              136
+
+  XVIII. In which is told how we prepare to
+  quit Uncle Sam's service,                    143
+
+  XIX. We become plain citizens once more
+  and square accounts with Uncle Sam,          151
+
+  XX. Wherein is narrated the adventures
+  on the high seas of Springfield's
+  sailors,                                     161
+
+  Roster,                                      172
+
+  The Roll of Honor,                           178
+
+  Springfield's Dead Heroes,                   180
+
+
+
+
+THE CAMPAIGN IN CUBA.
+
+Experiences of Co's G, B and K, M. V. M., and H Co., Naval Brigade in
+the war of 1898 and record of its service in the operations against
+Santiago.
+
+BY WALTER W. WARD.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I.
+
+WHICH IS PRELIMINARY TO THOSE WHICH FOLLOW IT.
+
+
+Within the few years preceding the fateful one of 1898 a decided
+impetus had been given the military spirit in Springfield by the
+stationing of two additional companies of the state militia in this
+city. To the already organized companies, G and B of the Massachusetts
+Volunteer Militia, had been added K company, the company of that
+name in Amherst having been disbanded and its letter transferred to
+Springfield. The organization in this city of a company of the state
+naval brigade and the building of a handsome and commodious state
+armory helped to place the militia of Springfield on a higher level in
+the public interest and regard than had previously been the case.
+
+Springfield has always been rich in military tradition. Her earliest
+sons helped fight the Indians who disputed the right of the first
+settlers to the lands they roamed over in the fertile Connecticut
+valley; they had served in the Colonial wars and Springfield blood was
+shed in the Revolutionary war. Soon after this war Springfield was the
+scene of one of the episodes of Shay's rebellion. In the Civil war she
+sent her full quota and more of her young men to serve under the flag
+and after the war the ranks of her militia companies were always kept
+filled with her best young men. Undoubtedly the presence here of a
+United States military post and the famous Springfield arsenal has done
+much to aid in keeping up the military spirit.
+
+For long years, reaching back to a time before the rebel guns opened
+fire on Fort Sumter, Springfield's one military company was the City
+guard, which after being attached to several of the state militia
+organizations became under the final reorganization of the state troops
+B company of the Second regiment of infantry, M. V. M. In 1868 a number
+of the veterans of the Civil war organized the Peabody guard which was
+attached to the Second regiment as G company. Both these companies
+were always composed of good material and maintained a high place in
+the state militia, not only for excellence in drill but in discipline
+and marksmanship. The location of regimental headquarters here several
+years ago aided in making military interest more rife than for some
+years.
+
+With four companies of militia instead of two, with headquarters and a
+fine new armory in place of the more or less unsatisfactory quarters
+previously occupied and with public feeling more united in their
+support than it had been for years the militia of Springfield felt they
+had entered upon a new period and it was one, which though they did not
+then realize it, was to soon test the courage and soldierly qualities
+of many of the officers and men of the Springfield militia. But with
+this then unknown the spirit of soldierly pride and loyalty to their
+organizations led officers and men to constant striving to be at the
+top or as near the top as possible, of the militia of the state in
+all things soldierly. In drill, in discipline, in knowledge of guard
+duty, in marksmanship and in all the other details that go to make up
+a good soldier there was assiduous practice and to the furtherance of
+that end many of the ceremonial features of military life, to which
+great importance had previously been attached, were discarded as far
+as possible. This was thoroughly in line with the policy of the state
+military authorities and its value was to be proven sooner than was
+anticipated.
+
+It did not take a very far seeing mind to realize in the fall of 1897
+and the first two months of 1898 that matters with regard to the
+policy of the United States in the affairs of Cuba might soon produce
+a crisis so acute that the military power of the Republic would have
+to be called upon. Certainly it was realized by the militiamen and
+the progress of events from the beginning of 1898 to the night of the
+destruction of the Maine was by none more closely watched than by the
+men who gathered in the company rooms in the armory each night.
+
+When it was known definitely that the long anticipated call to arms
+could not be much longer delayed the local militia was never in finer
+fettle. The ranks of every company were filled and soldierly enthusiasm
+ran high. New arms, not comparable of course with those of the regular
+army but better than any previous militia armament, had been issued and
+the equipments and uniforms were in good and serviceable condition.
+Applications for enlistment were so numerous that had there been eight
+companies instead of four their ranks could have easily been filled up.
+
+It was on the 29th of April, 1898, that the call for troops came
+to Springfield. On the 23d President McKinley had issued the first
+call for troops and six days later Gov. Wolcott designated Col.
+E. P. Clark of the Second as one of the six commanding officers to
+raise a regiment of volunteers for the United States service. It was
+provided that members of the militia were to be given the preference
+in enlistments to the volunteer regiments, the residue being made up
+by enlistment of other citizens. The Second was ordered to report at
+the state camp ground at South Framingham on May 3 for muster into the
+United States service. April 29th fell on Friday and May 3 on Tuesday
+of the following week so that there was not any too much time in
+which to enlist men for the companies and get everything in readiness
+for service. But what time there was on hand was so well utilized
+that promptly at the hour ordered on the morning of May 3d the three
+Springfield companies were at the armory with full ranks and fully
+equipped, all the state property and equipage not needed packed up and
+ready for shipment to the state arsenal.
+
+Every officer of the three companies and fully 70 per cent. of the
+men who had been in their ranks in the militia service was on hand.
+Capt. John J. Leonard of G, a veteran in the militia, was at the head
+of his company and with him his two lieutenants, T. A. Sweeney and E.
+J. Leyden. Capt. Henry McDonald of B company, a veteran both of the
+regular army and the militia, and his lieutenants, William L. Young and
+Harry J. Vesper were on hand promptly and so was Capt. W. S. Warriner
+and Lieutenants P. C. Powers and Harry H. Parkhurst of K company. All
+three companies were proud of their officers and they had every reason
+to be.
+
+And here a little digression. No effort of any kind was made to
+transfer as absolute unities the companies of militia into companies
+of United States Volunteers. It can truthfully be said that no man was
+asked to go to South Framingham by the officers. On the contrary Col.
+Clark and the company officers were all careful to impress upon the
+men of the militia that their volunteering into the service of the
+United States was purely a voluntary and personal matter with them.
+There were dozens of instances in which the officers realized that the
+sacrifice was such as some of their men should not make. There were men
+with families dependent upon them or so otherwise circumstanced that it
+was best for them not to go and these men were talked to candidly and
+kindly and dissuaded from putting their names on the enlistment rolls.
+It was a volunteer movement purely and simply and the Second was in the
+highest sense of the word a volunteer regiment.
+
+Long before the orders for mobilization at South Framingham were issued
+preparations had been made to the end that Massachusetts might be ready
+to respond to the first call for troops from the national government.
+Early in April Gov. Wolcott had constituted some of the officers of the
+state militia as his advisory board in matters relating to the part
+Massachusetts would take in the war. On April 20, Col. Clark of the
+Second and some of his field and staff officers were called to Boston
+in consultation with the governor and on the 24th Gov. Wolcott in his
+capacity of commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the
+state issued an order calling upon the militia to hold themselves in
+readiness for duty within 24 hours.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II.
+
+WHICH TELLS ABOUT THE CALLING OUT OF H COMPANY, NAVAL BRIGADE.
+
+
+Meanwhile, and while the infantry were getting in readiness,
+Springfield had already sent some of her sons on duty. The naval arm of
+the service was in a far more advanced state of preparation than was
+the army and it was the general opinion that of necessity the war would
+be one in which the navy would take the most prominent part, leaving
+but little for the land forces to do except garrison duty. Springfield
+had taken great pride in her company of the Massachusetts naval brigade
+since its organization and expected great things of it in the event of
+its being called upon for duty.
+
+On April 2 came the first intimation that Springfield was to be called
+upon for men. Although war had not been declared and strenuous efforts
+were being made to head it off by the peace-at-any-price men, the navy
+department had set about getting into commission all the vessels that
+it could. At the League Island navy yard, Philadelphia, there lay a
+number of the old time monitors, some of them having been moored there
+since shortly after the close of the civil war, and it was decided
+to put them into condition for harbor defense purposes. Two were to
+be assigned to Boston harbor and on April 2 came orders to Lieut. J.
+K. Dexter, the commander of H company naval brigade, to proceed to
+the League Island yard as an officer of one of the monitors. Lieut.
+Dexter left that night and remained on duty at the yard until April
+16, when he returned to bring down the detail of his company which was
+to form part of the crew of the single turreted monitor Lehigh. It was
+not until April 17th that the Lehigh detail left for the Philadelphia
+navy yard although there had been many rumors as to when the men would
+go and the quarters of the company at the state armory were filled
+every night with the men and their friends. On the 16th Lieut. Dexter
+returned unexpectedly from Philadelphia and at once set about getting
+his detail together. It was on Sunday, but with the aid of the alarm
+list system, the telephone and special messengers the men were soon
+notified and assembled at the armory. The detail as finally made up
+was: Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter; Chief Boatswain's Mate, Frank H. Bowen;
+Boatswain's Mates, Robert T. Whitehouse, A. T. Wright; Gunner's Mate,
+F. W. Baum; Coxswain, W. S. Johnson; Acting Coxswain, S. L. Ruden;
+Quartermaster, W. A. Sabin; and Seamen Paul H. Lathrop, R. H. B.
+Warburton, W. F. Bright, R. P. King, A. Mellor, A. N. Luce, and L. E.
+Ladd. The detail marched to the union station at about 8.30 and took
+the 9 o'clock train for New York, receiving an ovation as it passed
+through Main street and again at the station as the train pulled out.
+
+On the same day Lieut. (junior grade) Henry S. Crossman, who was in
+command of the company during the absence of Lieut. Dexter, received
+orders from Capt. Weeks of the naval brigade to hold himself in
+readiness to proceed to the Brooklyn navy yard and there report to
+Admiral Bunce, commanding the yard, as watch officer of the auxiliary
+cruiser Prairie to which the Massachusetts naval brigade was to be
+assigned. Lieut. (junior grade) W. O. Cohn was ordered to be in
+readiness to proceed to Boston and report for duty on the U. S. S.
+Minnesota, Ensign W. S. Barr was ordered to be in readiness to go to
+the Brooklyn navy yard as one of the watch officers of the Prairie and
+Ensign Fred T. Ley was ordered to the same ship as watch officer and
+Captain's clerk.
+
+On April 22d these orders were changed, Lieut. Cohn and Ensign Barr
+being ordered to report for duty on board the monitor Lehigh on her
+arrival in Boston harbor.
+
+On April 23d, Lieut. Crossman received orders to proceed with the
+remaining men of H company to the Brooklyn navy yard there to go on
+board the Prairie as part of her crew during the war. These orders were
+received on the morning of the 23d and as soon as it became known about
+the city that the men were to go, the war time scenes of 1861 were
+re-enacted. It was at first planned to have the company take an early
+evening train but as Lieut. Crossman found they could go just as well
+on the early morning train from Boston he decided to take that, thus
+giving the men more time in which to settle up their affairs and get
+everything in readiness for leaving.
+
+Information about the Prairie had already been pretty well disseminated
+about the city. It was known that she was formerly the fast steamer,
+El Sud, of the Morgan line and was capable of doing excellent duty
+as one of Uncle Sam's auxiliary cruisers. At the time she was in the
+Brooklyn navy yard being changed over from a passenger and freight
+vessel to a war ship and the job was requiring longer time than had
+been anticipated.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins.
+  Adjutant.
+
+  Major F. G. Southmayd.
+
+  Lieut. E. E. Sawtell.
+  Quartermaster.
+]
+
+The quarters of H company and the state armory were the busiest places
+in Springfield that afternoon and evening. The "jackies" were getting
+their dunnage rolls and equipment together and relatives and friends
+were on hand to say farewell and see their "boys" off. Owing to the
+time at which the company had orders to leave the armory, 1.30 A. M.,
+it was hardly expected there would be much of a crowd on hand to give
+the command a suitable farewell but this was a mistake. Long before
+the hour at which the company was to leave the streets leading to
+the union station were crowded and more enthusiasm was shown than had
+been the case in Springfield for many a day. It was at 1.30 o'clock in
+the morning of the 24th that the company, fully armed, equipped, in
+the regulation uniform of the jackies of the navy left the armory and
+marched through Main street to the union station to take the 2.20 train
+for New York, special cars for the company having been attached to the
+train. In spite of the lateness of the hour Springfield's citizens and
+the relatives, friends of the company were determined not to let the
+command leave the city without some demonstration. All night long up
+to the time for leaving the armory the building was filled with the
+relatives, friends of the members as well as those who while not bound
+to them by any intimate ties yet wished by their presence to show
+appreciation of the spirit which had prompted the young men to answer
+their country's call, even though it involved sacrifices hard indeed to
+make.
+
+From midnight until the hour for departure Main street was well filled
+with a waiting crowd and when the company marched from its armory,
+swinging into Main street, a cheer went up which was continuous
+until the train had borne the company out of sight of the assembled
+thousands. Rockets and colored fire lent brilliancy to the march and
+as the station was neared the denser grew the crowd until it was with
+difficulty a way was cleared for the company. Thousands, men and women,
+had gathered at the station and it was a scene worthy the pencil of a
+great artist, that farewell as the men marched up and boarded the cars
+with military precision. There were cheers and good wishes, personal
+farewells and tears, all commingling in one mass of sound that the
+station space had never heard before. But as the engine bell rang and
+the train began to move with slowly increasing swiftness out of the
+station all sounds merged into mighty cheers, which rose thunderously
+from the thousands of people. In that uproar of cheers were submerged
+for the time the sobs of a few whose near and dear ones were on the
+train.
+
+So Springfield sent her first contingent to serve under the old flag in
+the war against Spain.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III.
+
+HOW G, B AND K COMPANIES WENT TO SOUTH FRAMINGHAM.
+
+
+While the naval militiamen of Springfield were being sent off to their
+places of duty amid the cheers of the people plans for the mobilization
+of the land forces of the state were going on apace. The call of
+President McKinley for troops was issued on April 23 and six days later
+on April 29, Col. Embury P. Clark of the Second Regiment of Infantry,
+M. V. M., was designated by Gov. Wolcott to raise a regiment of
+volunteers to answer the President's call as one of the four volunteer
+infantry regiments assigned to Massachusetts. On the same day Col.
+Clark was ordered to have his regiment report for duty at the state
+camp ground, South Framingham, at noon of May 3d, he being also ordered
+to assume command of the camp formed there by the four volunteer
+regiments.
+
+On receipt of these orders Col. Clark immediately notified his field
+and staff and company officers and from that time on everything at
+the state armory was done with a snap and a jump. Only a few days
+remained before May 3d, for that day fell on Tuesday, and it was Friday
+afternoon when the orders were received. Under the call the company
+strength for infantry was fixed at three officers and 74 enlisted men,
+but had it been 174 instead of 74 there would have been but little
+trouble in filling up the ranks. More men were anxious to enlist than
+there were places for and a hard problem for the company officers to
+face was that of discouraging and rejecting applicants for enlistment
+most of whom pleaded for the privilege as strongly as a ward politician
+does for a paying office. On an average about 75 per cent. of the men
+in the militia companies enlisted in the volunteers and it is only
+just to state that a good number of those who did not were "talked"
+out of it by their officers who realized, perhaps better than the men
+themselves, that going to the front meant more sacrifices than men with
+dependent families or relatives should be called upon to make.
+
+Meantime all was hurry and bustle at the state armory but order soon
+came out of all the apparent chaos and early on the morning of Tuesday,
+May 3d the local field and staff officers of the regiment and G, B and
+K companies, thus formed in the order of seniority of their captains,
+stood in the big drill shed, in full marching uniform with knapsacks
+packed and overcoats rolled up on them looking soldierly, and ready for
+whatever duty might call them to do.
+
+It was a dismal morning in more than one way. A drizzling rain fell at
+intervals and there was gloom in many hearts among the crowds of people
+lining Main street and the union station and its approaches. Though
+not a shot had yet been fired in actual conflict between the United
+States and Spain on land and Dewey's great victory at Manila had been
+won without the loss of a single American life, yet the people were
+beginning to understand that the grim realities of war might be brought
+home to them and this thought had its influence in repressing any too
+enthusiastic demonstration.
+
+But there was a demonstration, nevertheless. Outside the armory were
+hundreds of spectators, including relatives and friends of the boys
+and awaiting them were the members of E. K. Wilcox post, G. A. R., the
+veteran corps of G company and some veterans of B company, all headed
+by the Second Regiment band to act as escort for the companies as far
+as the union station.
+
+Shortly after 8 o'clock the troops left the armory and headed by the
+escort marched through Main street and around Court square to city
+hall, where the column was reviewed by Mayor H. S. Dickinson and the
+city government. Thousands of people were massed here and there was
+some cheering. The fire department boys at headquarters on Pynchon
+street saluted the troops with a small cannon and on the rest of the
+way up Main street to the station there was some cheering but not any
+too much.
+
+At the corner of Main and Lyman streets the escort halted and formed
+in line. As the companies marched by the old soldiers of the civil
+war gave us three cheers, in which the militia veterans joined. The
+remainder of the march to the station was through a close packed crowd
+of men, women and children. There was some cheering, but as the soldier
+boys began to file into the waiting cars of the special train sobs and
+tears broke out from many of the women and as the train pulled out a
+few moments after 9 o'clock tears were more in evidence than cheers. As
+one of the boys put it, "They sent the naval boys off with cheers and
+kept the tears for us."
+
+This feeling was augmented by the enthusiasm with which the people of
+Worcester sent their three companies off. When our train pulled into
+the Worcester depot we found the building jammed with people, some
+perched upon the tops of standing engines and cars and the Worcester
+companies were so surrounded with people it was at first hard to tell
+where they were. When our special stopped and the Worcester men began
+to board it a volume of cheers went up that was almost enough to
+take the roof off the building. Everyone was cheering apparently and
+those who were not were so few in number that it was impossible to
+distinguish them.
+
+After leaving Springfield there were small crowds at every station
+between there and Worcester and though the train did not stop there
+was much cheering and waving of hats. This was repeated during the run
+from Worcester to South Framingham.
+
+It was shortly before noon when we reached South Framingham and marched
+to the camp ground amid the cheers of the townspeople. Reaching there
+the companies were dismissed to quarters and dinner, which the company
+caterers had ready for us, we not going on government rations until
+some days later. A majority of the boys had been in camp at South
+Framingham before but this was different. A state militia encampment
+is one thing and a camp of United States volunteers is another. The
+old familiar wall tents were there but without the customary big blue
+chests in which were always stored much that was good in the way of
+refreshment for tired and thirsty militiamen. There was a trifle of
+added sharpness to the commands of officers and non-commissioned
+officers and there were various other little things which combined to
+show us that we were on the way to be the "real things" instead of "tin
+soldiers" as we had been dubbed in our militia days.
+
+"Physical examination of recruits" was the rock on which the desires
+of many of us to get at the hated Spaniards were to split and the
+rock began to show itself that very afternoon when A of Worcester was
+ordered over to brigade headquarters for examination. Before the shades
+of evening fell thirteen of its men had been rejected by the examining
+surgeons and as bad news always spreads through a camp with greater
+rapidity than good, many of us were wondering whether we would meet the
+same fate or not within the next few days.
+
+All the line officers and 75 per cent. of our men in the militia had
+come with us while there were more than enough "rookies" to fill out
+the quota. The recruits were, some of them, in uniform and a number
+had formerly been in the militia service, so that they took kindly
+enough to the opening of camp life. But as the militia companies had
+only been composed of 58 enlisted men there were not uniforms enough
+at the time to equip the extra men and some of the "rookies" looked
+odd and felt it in their civilian attire. More than one practical joke
+was played upon them before "taps" sounded, but the great majority of
+the men were tired enough to get to quarters and hug their luxurious
+mattresses before the bugles sounded the last call of the day.
+
+Of the field and staff and non-commissioned staff resident in
+Springfield and vicinity not all came to camp. Col. Clark and Major
+Southmayd were on hand as was Lt. Paul R. Hawkins, the regimental
+adjutant. Quartermaster Colson of Holyoke did not come and to his place
+was appointed Corporal E. E. Sawtell of K company. Major Brown of
+Adams, the regimental surgeon and Lt. J. T. Hendrick of Springfield,
+assistant surgeon did not volunteer and a new surgical staff was
+appointed, consisting of Dr. Henry T. Bowen of Springfield as major and
+surgeon, Dr. Ernest A. Gates of Springfield and Dr. John S. Hitchcock
+of Amherst as assistant surgeons with the rank of first lieutenants.
+Dr. Hitchcock was a member of I company when appointed.
+
+There were several changes in the non-commissioned staff. Corporal
+Robert N. Ingersoll was made sergeant-major vice Paul Norton and Ross
+L. Lusk quartermaster-sergeant vice Melville Snow of Holyoke. Three
+hospital stewards instead of one were assigned to the regiment, and
+the appointees were Ulysses G. Fortier of Holyoke, S. H. Greenberg
+of Boston and Edson P. Howes of Springfield. No color sergeants were
+provided for in the volunteer regiments and these positions were filled
+by detail.
+
+It was a matter of much regret that no place was provided for the
+paymaster and inspector of rifle practice. In the Second as a militia
+regiment these positions had been filled respectively by Lieut. A.
+C. Edson of Holyoke and A. E. Taylor of Chicopee Falls but no such
+positions were provided for in the volunteer service and these
+officers were forced to remain behind.
+
+The first guard mount of the camp was held in the afternoon with First
+Lieut. P. C. Powers of K company as officer of the guard. So closed our
+first day at South Framingham.
+
+[Illustration: Surgeon Henry C. Bowen
+
+Surgeon Ernest A. Gates.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV.
+
+WHEREIN IS TOLD HOW WE WERE TRANSFORMED FROM "TIN" SOLDIERS INTO THE
+REAL ARTICLE.
+
+
+It did not require many day's of camp life at South Framingham to
+convince about all of us that we were there strictly for business. The
+weather was rather cold and there were a few flurries of snow although
+it was in May. The nights were so cool that huge fires of wood were
+built on the color line each night and around these the men gathered
+spending the time in singing, story telling and in wondering how soon
+we would start for the front and just what part we of the Second would
+take in subduing the pride of the haughty Spaniard.
+
+But little in the way of drilling was done at first, but after a day
+or two the work of whipping the "rookies" into shape was begun, the
+process being the simple one of having them fall in with the company
+and learning the drill as best they could. Squad drills were also
+carried on and it was during these that the raw material was best
+worked up.
+
+Hardly had the regiment arrived in camp before regulation United States
+army blankets were issued to the men and issues of rubber blankets,
+"working suits" of brown canvas followed.
+
+Private Pomeroy of K company was the first of the Springfield men to
+be taken ill. He had not been feeling well before leaving home but
+pluckily made up his mind to go with his company just the same, and
+would not admit his illness. Soon after arriving in camp his condition
+became so serious that the surgeon was called to him and Pomeroy was
+found to be suffering with tonsilitis. He was removed from the camp to
+a hospital in South Framingham, but while there scarlet fever developed
+and he was sent home as soon as he had recovered sufficiently to be
+able to travel. Pomeroy felt much worse over his inability to go with
+his regiment than he did over his illness, serious as it was.
+
+The physical examinations soon made many sore hearts among the boys in
+camp, although the results of some of them were extremely satisfactory
+to the parents, relatives or friends of some of the would be soldiers.
+They were in charge of Capt. Bushnell U. S. A., who was assisted by the
+surgeons of the volunteer regiments in camp. B company was examined on
+Wednesday, the day after our arrival in camp and before sundown fully
+twenty men, including some of the oldest and best men of the company
+had been rejected for one cause or another. The commissioned officers
+of the regiment were also up for examination the same day, and among
+those rejected was First Lieut. Thomas A. Sweeney of G company and
+one of the most efficient and popular officers of the regiment. His
+rejection was a hard blow to him for he had set his heart on going
+with his men and to be rejected for what he considered to be a trivial
+cause was worse to him than being hit by a Spanish bullet. His grief
+was shared by his fellow officers and men, by whom he was exceedingly
+well liked. His place was filled by William C. Hayes, a former first
+lieutenant of the company.
+
+Lieut. W. L. Young of B company was officer of the guard on Wednesday,
+and among the incidents of his tour of duty that night was the rather
+unusual but efficient method by which a private of G company who had
+been placed on a somewhat remote post relieved himself from further
+duty after walking his post only a short time. The aforesaid private
+concluded that he would be much more comfortable in his tent with his
+"bunkies" than walking his post for the remainder of his two hours,
+and so proceeded to the guard house, placed his rifle in a corner and
+announced to the officer of the guard "I'm relieved." Before Lieutenant
+Young could recover from his astonishment at the new method of getting
+out of guard duty, the private had gone to his own quarters where he
+slept peacefully for the remainder of the night.
+
+The results of the physical examinations were to "throw out" many of
+the best men in the three Springfield companies, and as this was not at
+all satisfactory to their captains, some vigorous "kicking" resulted.
+In many cases men were rejected for trivial causes, but as the result
+of vigorous objections to the policy, made by Captains Leonard,
+McDonald and Warriner, a number of the rejected men were re-examined
+and the majority of them accepted. In some instances more than two
+examinations were given the same man, and an instance where grit and
+a determination to go with his company got the best of the examining
+surgeons was the case of Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, better known as
+"Dickie." He was twice examined and rejected but through his efforts,
+aided by those of Capt. McDonald, he was given a third trial and passed.
+
+Could those people who had been for some years in the habit of sneering
+at the militiamen as "tin soldiers" have seen the way in which the
+rejected ones took their fate they would have changed their minds as
+to the soldierly calibre of the men of the Second. It was easy to
+tell the rejected ones as they came across the parade ground from the
+surgeon's quarters, many of them with tears in their eyes, all with
+downcast faces, because their bodies had not been strong enough to
+let them go with the regiment. Their hearts were strong enough to go
+to the front and fight for the flag but the government demanded stout
+bodies as well as stout hearts, and so, many were refused. It was not
+always in tears and "blue" looks that the rejected appeared from the
+examining rooms. Often a rejected one would emerge, uttering sarcastic
+and profane remarks as to the amount of surgical knowledge possessed by
+the examiners, and their qualifications generally, and some of the men
+exhibited a versatility of language in discussing their rejection and
+the surgeon who was responsible for it only possessed by men of genius.
+
+The rejections left the ranks of the Springfield companies much
+depleted and it was necessary to send officers to that city for
+recruits to fill the vacancies before the companies could be mustered
+in. Capt. Leonard of G, Lieut. Young of B and Lieut. Powers of K were
+sent on this duty and with them went about all of the men who had
+been rejected. As soon as the purpose of their visit was known in
+Springfield they were besieged by applicants for enlistment but having
+learned wisdom from what had happened in camp they took the precaution
+to have all the applicants pass a medical examination before bringing
+them to South Framingham and as a result few of the new men they
+brought down failed to pass the examining surgeons at the camp.
+
+On May 6, another member of K company, Private Cook, was taken ill with
+tonsilitis and was sent home, much to his disgust.
+
+On the same day the field and staff officers of the Second were
+mustered into the United States service by Lieut. E. M. Weaver,
+2d artillery, who had been detailed as mustering officer for the
+Massachusetts volunteers. Adjutant Paul R. Hawkins was the first one to
+be mustered and he was followed by Quartermaster E. E. Sawtell. Surgeon
+Bowen and Assistant Surgeons Gates and Hitchcock had been mustered in
+on the day after our arrival in camp and had been assigned to duty in
+assisting in the examinations of recruits.
+
+First Lieut. W. C. Hayes of G joined his company on the afternoon of
+the 6th and after being examined and accepted was assigned to duty.
+
+On Saturday and Sunday, the 7th and 8th, three batches of additional
+recruits arrived in camp and were at once handed over to the examining
+surgeons. By Sunday K company had filled its ranks to the required
+number of 74 enlisted men and on that day was duly mustered into the
+military service of the United States for a period of two years "unless
+sooner discharged." The ceremony was a simple one. The company was
+marched over to brigade headquarters and formed in column of twos
+facing the mustering officer, Lieut. Weaver. The latter called out
+each man's name, beginning with the first sergeant and as each man
+answered he stepped to the front and facing about took position in
+front of the company in the same formation. The roll call over, the
+company was faced to the front, Lieut. Weaver removed his cap and the
+men uncovered. Then Lieut. Weaver read in impressive tones the oath of
+allegiance to the United States and administered it to the company,
+thus completing the ceremony which marked the transition of militiamen
+and raw recruits into soldiers of the United States. K company was the
+first company in Massachusetts to be mustered into the United States
+service and so far as known the first company in the country to be
+mustered in. That afternoon "government rations" were issued to K and
+the next day the men began eating them instead of the meals which had
+up to then been supplied by a caterer. Some of the men who failed to
+understand the difference between Uncle Sam's diet and that furnished
+at militia encampments found fault of course with the rations. Butter
+and milk are unknown in the regular soldiers' menu unless the company
+fund is drawn upon for them, and some of the men couldn't understand
+why they were not supplied and found fault accordingly. Later when we
+were all living luxuriously(?) in Cuba on "sowbelly" bacon, hardtack
+and coffee, sometimes without sugar, these men remembered with fond
+but unavailing regret the once despised government rations at South
+Framingham. The fond parents and relatives who were told in letters
+from camp of how meager and unsatisfactory the first food furnished
+by Uncle Sam was may correct their idea by glancing over the rations
+issued for the first five days to K company while at South Framingham:
+
+  300 lbs. potatoes; 422 lbs. flour; 27-3/4 lbs. bacon; 7 lbs. rice;
+  43-3/4 lbs. beans; 30 lbs. coffee; 56-1/2 lbs. sugar; 15 lbs. salt;
+  3/4 lb. pepper; 15 lbs. soap; 75 lbs. onions; 5-5/8 lbs. candles;
+  3-3/4 gallons vinegar and 422 lbs. fresh beef.
+
+It is understood of course that the soap and candles were not issued as
+edibles but for cleansing and illuminating purposes. And it can also
+be seen that in the above rations there are possibilities for good
+eating and plenty of it. As a matter of fact milk and butter were soon
+supplied from the company funds.
+
+G and B companies were mustered in on the 10th with full ranks. G was
+to have been mustered in the day previous but when the time arrived
+one private, a raw recruit, was missing and as the entire company was
+obliged to be on hand for muster the ceremony was dispensed with for
+that day and the men were marched back vowing vengeance upon the man
+who had kept them for 24 hours from getting into the service. Before
+very long another recruit was found and when the missing private turned
+up full of penitence and other things his uniform was taken off and
+after receiving a talking to from Capt. Leonard that made his cheeks
+burn with shame he was shipped out of camp.
+
+The boys found plenty of amusement during their camp life and with
+nearly 1000 young fellows in one regiment time did not hang very
+heavily on their hands during the times between drills and other
+duties. Base ball and other sports were indulged in and letter writing
+and visits to the other regiments or an occasional pass to town
+prevented anything like ennui. In the Springfield companies there were
+few tent crews that did not have some distinctive appellation for
+their habitation. Private J. C. Ryan of B made his tent famous as a
+"steam laundry" and in G street there was the "Hotel Dingbat," so named
+because the men who occupied it could not think of anything else to
+call it. In K there was quickly organized an outfit later to be known
+as the "Wee Haws" and which made itself somewhat famous by the gift of
+song possessed by its members.
+
+The "board of license commissioners" so famous during the encampment of
+1897 was on hand but its members had but little of an official nature
+to do as the camp of '98 was officially a "dry camp." A good share
+of the dryness was, however, confined to the weather and a careful
+search of the records fails to show that any inmate of the camp died of
+thirst, although there were some serious cases.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V.
+
+WE GET ORDERS TO LEAVE FOR THE SUNNY SOUTH AND OBEY THEM.
+
+
+All of the time during our stay in camp speculation was rife as to when
+we were going to the front and how; also under what designation were
+we going. It had been circulated that we were to be known as the 63d
+United States Volunteers, and other rumors, all of which turned out to
+be just as near the truth as that one were put into commission. These
+marked the origin of the "Jo Jo" bureau of misinformation which later
+became an important feature of the campaign.
+
+[Illustration: COMMISSIONED AND NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICERS OF G
+COMPANY]
+
+On the night of Wednesday, May 11th at 9.30, orders were flashed over
+the wires from Washington to Lieut. Weaver to send the Second at once
+to Tampa, Fla., where the army of invasion of Cuba was gathering.
+Almost everyone except the guard and a few officers and attaches at
+regimental headquarters, was asleep when the orders came but within a
+very few moments after their purport had been announced, there was the
+wildest scene of excitement in the camp that had ever been witnessed
+in South Framingham. From Lieut. Weaver the orders were quickly
+transmitted to regimental headquarters and from there to the officers
+of the regiment. Inside of ten minutes from their receipt by Lieut.
+Weaver, every man of the Second was awake and in his company street
+and exultant shouts that went up, quickly aroused the other regiments.
+The Second was to be the first command from the old Bay State to be
+ordered outside her boundaries for active service and the men were so
+proud of it that they could not refrain from reminding the men of the
+other three regiments of the fact. To the credit of the latter it must
+be said that although at first they were a bit inclined to sulk because
+their regiment was not the first to be called upon, yet they soon
+realized that the honor was in a sense as much Massachusetts' as it was
+the Second's, and their cheers joined in with ours.
+
+Meanwhile, the regimental and company officers were doing some lively
+work. Col. Clark had gone to Springfield that morning, and a number
+of officers and men were away on leave, no one expecting that the
+orders would come for a day or two. The regiment was ordered to move
+the next day and before the orders had been known of but a very few
+minutes, telegraph and telephone messages were sent to the absent ones
+informing them of what had happened. This done, the work of completing
+the equipment of the regiment was taken up and pushed in lively
+fashion. There were many little details to be attended to and there
+was little sleep for headquarters that night. How well the work was
+done is attested by the fact that at an early hour the next morning the
+regiment had its tents struck and packed, and long before the hour at
+which many of the folks at home were eating their breakfasts, was in
+readiness to move. Reveille was sounded at 4 o'clock that morning and
+by 6 there was but little remaining to be done.
+
+Although anxious for active service there was one thing about the
+orders which was not at all relished by the regiment and that was the
+route to be followed. It had been expected and understood that when
+the Second would go south its route would be through Worcester and
+Springfield, thus giving us a chance for a genuine _au revoir_ to home
+and friends. We all of us knew that the "farewell" accorded us on
+leaving Springfield for the camp at South Framingham would be tame
+indeed to the reception we might expect when we passed through there as
+United States Volunteers, with a large V, and bound for the front. Some
+of the boys, to be sure, dreaded the thought of having to say "good
+bye" to the accompaniment of tears and sobs again but the majority were
+anxious for one more look at what part of Springfield to be seen from
+the union station and were consequently much disappointed when it was
+announced that instead of going via Springfield, the route was to be by
+way of Newport, R. I.
+
+There was much disappointment, too, in Springfield when the route was
+announced. But not to be beaten, a party of citizens headed by Major H.
+S. Dickinson, arranged for a special train to South Framingham, the day
+we were to leave and so we were not allowed to go without some sort of
+a farewell demonstration from the people of our own city.
+
+On the day previous to our receiving the "rush" orders to the south,
+a number of visitors including ex-Lieut. Gov. W. H. Haile, Col. A. H.
+Goetting and James D. Gill of Springfield were in camp, and it came to
+their attention that the Second was not provided with a band or even
+field music. No regimental bands were included in the organization of
+the volunteer regiments nor even field music, the sole musical property
+being the bugles of which there were two to each company. It was looked
+upon as a proper and desirable thing that the Second should at least
+have field music, or in civilian parlance, a drum corps, and these
+three gentlemen constituted themselves a committee on ways and means to
+that end. It was known that there were enough musicians in the regiment
+to form a drum corps if there were instruments provided for them and
+before the next day through the generosity of the three gentlemen
+named, the Second was provided with fifes, drums, etc., and the members
+of the corps selected.
+
+Thursday, May 12th, we bade good-bye to South Framingham. There was
+difficulty in getting transportation for our baggage and it was not
+until a late hour in the afternoon that everybody was in readiness.
+Meanwhile we hung around our former quarters and killed time as best
+we could. A short time after dinner, our last meal on the "old camp
+ground," the "assembly" and "adjutant's call" were sounded and the
+regiment was formed to pass in review before Gov. Wolcott. The march
+past over, hollow square was formed and the governor presented the
+officers their commissions and made a brief speech telling us to uphold
+the honor of the old commonwealth.
+
+While this was going on we heard the strains of a band and soon in
+marched a delegation from Springfield, headed by the Second regiment
+band and led by Mayor Dickinson, members of Wilcox post of the Grand
+Army and Peabody Guard Veterans, while relatives and friends of the
+boys made up the rest of the 500 in the party. Soon after their arrival
+we were dismissed and then followed one of the interesting scenes
+of our war experience. Hardly had we broken ranks before we were
+surrounded by the visitors and there was falling upon each other's
+necks, handshaking, good wishes, smiles and tears all commingled in one
+scene of such excitement as we had never been through before. Every
+male visitor brought cigars or refreshments for the boys and for an
+hour or so nothing was too good for us.
+
+But all things have an end and finally the bugles blew and after a
+last hurried kiss or handshake we fell in again and marched out to the
+parade ground for the last time. The colors dipped once more to the
+governor and then through a double line of cheering soldiers from the
+other regiments and our own friends we marched out of the camp and
+down the dusty road to the railroad station, escorted by two troops
+of cavalry and amid the cheers and good wishes of the thousands who
+thronged the walks. We passed under the handsome arch erected by the
+people of South Framingham in honor of the soldiers and after one last
+opportunity to say farewell went on board the special trains waiting
+for us. So we left good old Massachusetts.
+
+On our way to Newport we were shown how the people of other places
+regarded us. At every station our train passed through there were
+cheering crowds and enthusiasm seemed to be in evidence everywhere. We
+reached Newport about 9.30 and were transferred to the palatial steamer
+"Pilgrim" of the Fall River line.
+
+"This isn't so bad for army travelling," was the common remark as soon
+as the boys found what accommodations had been made for them. There
+were nearly enough staterooms to provide every man with a bunk and
+those who failed to get a room found nice, thick mattresses spread
+for them on the saloon floors. It brought the "Trip to New York" and
+Valiquet back to the memories of many of us because the accommodations
+were so different.
+
+But it was a tired lot of boys that boarded the Pilgrim that night and
+it was not long before all of them were testing the mattresses and
+bunks, after indulging by the way for the first time in the "travel
+ration." This was our first encounter with the canned beef department
+but somehow it tasted better then than it ever did afterwards. Also
+we allowed our teeth to play with the ligneous hardtack and finally
+fatigued with our exertions we slept soundly.
+
+The next morning when we woke up we were in the East river and at the
+sight of her blue coated cargo every steam craft that met the Pilgrim
+saluted with steam whistles while their crews or passengers as well as
+those of the sailing craft cheered and waved handkerchiefs or anything
+else waveable. From every factory along the shore came the shrieks of
+the steam whistles and the shouts of their occupants and our progress
+down the river to the Fall River line pier was a triumphal progress.
+
+When we reached the pier it was not long before we were transferred to
+the transports Saratoga and Vigilancia, the Springfield companies being
+on board the latter. Then it was that we began to realize what war was.
+Down in the dirty, dark and ill smelling hold we could see men at work
+building rough wooden bunks for us and the language used concerning
+these bunks and their location was copious and picturesque to a high
+degree. No "Pilgrim" accommodations were these. No mattresses 12
+inches thick to rest our weary bones upon but the soft and splintered
+pine boards were to form our couch. Also the travel ration with its
+components of canned roast beef(?), canned corn beef, canned beans and
+hardtack was beginning to pall upon our palates. We were not used to
+such Epicurean fare and began to fear gout and other incidentals of too
+luxurious living. So we gathered together and said things but all the
+time the carpenters went on constructing the bunks and no dinners were
+brought on for us from the Waldorf-Astoria.
+
+Our first cruise on the Vigilancia was further up the North river where
+we waited until late in the afternoon and while waiting many of the
+boys managed to get ashore. Some of them were nearly left behind as
+we pulled out of the dock and a few did get left on shore, but they
+chartered a tug and soon caught us. That night our transports sailed
+down the harbor as far as Bedloe's Island where we anchored opposite
+the Bartholdi statue and where we stayed anchored until the next
+afternoon. That night the much discussed wooden troughs officially
+named bunks were used and were the cause of much profane language
+for which the recording angel ought to be able to find a good excuse
+if he has any love for volunteer soldiers in his composition. Late
+that afternoon we were taken over to Jersey City and transferred to a
+special train of three sections of 14 cars each on which we were to
+make the trip to Tampa. And thus ended our first sea voyage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI.
+
+WE GO TO THE SOUTHLAND AND BEGIN TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE AT.
+
+
+On Saturday evening, May 14, we started once more for the South, this
+time by train and had the distinguished honor of beating out the
+much-advertised 71st New York, which had been ordered to start at the
+same time, but forgot its tentage on board the steamers and was obliged
+to wait for several hours in consequence. Our train accommodations
+could have been much worse, the train being run in three sections of
+14 cars each and as four companies travelled on each section this
+arrangement gave each company three cars, while a sleeping car was
+reserved for the officers and with a baggage car made up the section.
+With three cars to a company there was plenty of room for the men and
+we managed to sleep quite comfortably. At every station along the route
+we received plenty of greetings and this happened so frequently after
+we got below Mason & Dixon's line that the boys wondered a little,
+inasmuch as we were from "Black Massachusetts." But it was evident that
+all but a very few of the people of the South realized that the civil
+war was over and we got no heartier reception anywhere along the route
+than in Virginia and North and South Carolina.
+
+We reached Washington early Sunday morning and made a brief stop just
+long enough to allow some of the boys to make a raid on a couple of
+milk wagons. To our disappointment the train did not run through the
+city but skirted it and we failed to get a glimpse of any of the show
+places. We kept on going and late Monday evening, the 16th, landed at
+Lakeland, Fla., where we went into camp, our destination having been
+changed by telegraphic orders received soon after crossing the Florida
+line.
+
+Life on the train was not very exciting. We made but few stops and
+those mainly to change engines. In South Carolina we made our first
+acquaintance with wood burning engines. After these were hitched on it
+was a case of stopping every few miles to "wood up." When the train did
+not stop for wood it did for water and between them both progress was
+slow to us but we found that according to southern ideas we were going
+at express speed.
+
+Our troop train was a great attraction for the children at the stations
+where we stopped and it was a common thing for the boys and girls of
+these places to hand us bunches of jessamine and magnolia flowers while
+the older folk looked on approvingly. The colored people were somewhat
+demonstrative but both they and the white folks never neglected an
+opportunity to sell us cakes and pies at every stop. The pies reminded
+us of those we had been getting at home, they were so different, but
+as a relief from canned meat and beans they were welcome. Occasionally
+when we stopped we found it possible to purchase bottled beer of an
+inferior grade, but better than most of the water we had to drink.
+
+On the trip south Lieuts. Young and Vesper of B company established
+records as sleepers that put them far ahead in their class. Captains
+Leonard and McDonald had the same section in the sleeping car and about
+every night there could be heard a more or less vigorous protest from
+the former against Capt. McDonald's use of a 700 horse power pipe.
+Lieut. Harry Parkhurst of K was the victim of much "jollying" over
+a story printed in a New York newspaper to the effect that he was
+a nephew of the Rev. Dr. Parkhurst of New York, but he took it good
+naturedly.
+
+At Dupont, Ga., Private William Ferrier of G foraged a little during a
+brief stop and captured a diminutive specimen of the "razor back" hog
+prevalent in that locality and bore him in triumph to the train. Any
+visions of pork chops which might have been indulged in were dispelled
+by a look at the pig's anatomy which was plainly visible through his
+skin but he was taken along just the same and met his fate at Lakeland
+when he was killed and roasted by Private "Dido" Hunt of G and served
+up to a small but select circle.
+
+At one of the many stops in Florida a portly colored lady hung about
+the train and made violent love to the good looking officers, her
+comments on the personal appearance of some of them being rather more
+pungent than flattering. So far as known she did not steal any of them.
+
+During the stay at South Framingham Privates E. N. Aiken and B. R.
+Madison of K company had blossomed out as composers and one of their
+effusions which was sung by the more or less able musicians of the
+company in camp and on the train to the tune of: "There'll be a Hot
+Time in the Old Town To-night" was as follows:
+
+    "When you hear those guns go bang, bang, bang,
+    We'll all join in and lick that Dago gang,
+    For we want war or we'll have no name at all,
+    There'll be a hot time when the bugle shall call."
+
+The above was Private Aiken's. Here is Private Madison's:
+
+    "In the battle front we stand with our rifles in our hand
+    And for Cuba's freedom we will ever fight;
+      And with showers of shot and shell,
+      We'll send the Spaniards straight to h----l,
+    When we march into Havana bye and bye.
+
+    CHORUS.
+
+      Tramp, tramp, tramp the boys are marching,
+      Cheer up, Cuba, we will come,
+        And beneath the starry flag
+        We'll tear down the Spanish rag
+      And float the Cuban flag forevermore."
+
+Our arrival at Lakeland was marked by an incident which went to show
+that we were not in the north. Just as our train pulled in a shooting
+affray, in which a couple of troopers from the Tenth U. S. cavalry, a
+colored regiment and some white people participated, occurred and a
+white citizen of the town was killed. As nearly as we could understand
+it the troopers were not to blame but shot in self defense but there
+was much excitement in the town and strong patrols of the First U. S.
+cavalry, a white regiment, were sent out. We were kept in the train
+that night and the next morning after a bath in one of the many lakes
+from which the town takes its name, marched to our camp at the fair
+grounds and on the shores of Lake Morton. The camp was pitched on an
+elevation and under the southern pine and cypress trees from which hung
+long festoons of Spanish moss. Much of this was gathered for bedding
+but it was soon abandoned for this purpose when it was found that it
+harbored numbers of lizards and sometimes small snakes.
+
+Our neighbors at the camp were the First and Tenth regular cavalry and
+the 71st New York which arrived a day after we did. The 71st men being
+from Manhattan were inclined to be a bit fresh at first but they soon
+came to understand that the Second was not exactly a "farmer" regiment
+and let us alone. One disagreeable incident went to show that among
+the New York officers were some snobs. Sergeant James Gibbons of G
+while "down town" one day went into the dining room of the hotel and
+ordered his dinner. The commanding officer of the 71st and some of his
+officers were in the room at the time and as soon as he realized that
+an enlisted man was actually daring to eat in the same room with him
+his indignation became so great that he walked over to the table where
+Sergeant Gibbons was seated and ordered him to leave the place, saying
+that only officers were allowed in the dining room. Sergeant Gibbons
+did not feel like moving and the hotel proprietor assured him that he
+would be served as well as any officer. So he refused to budge and
+enjoyed his dinner, much to the disgust of the New York officer.
+
+Life at Lakeland was fairly enjoyable. The temperature was high,
+ranging from 84 on one day it rained to 124 on a day it did not. We
+had our big wall tents we had brought with us from South Framingham
+and soon had them filled with more or less crude devices in the way
+of furniture. Mattresses there were none and our beds were Mother
+Earth which was of a brunette hue down there. Bathing in the lake was
+a favorite pastime between drills but after the muddy bottom had been
+stirred up a little it was a question whether we were dirtier before
+the bath or after it. There were all kinds of "Jo Jos" about a huge
+alligator who made his home in the lake but he had evidently heard of
+our appetites and kept out of sight.
+
+The First cavalry, camped some distance on our right, had established a
+canteen soon after its arrival and it became a favorite place for our
+boys. A couple of days after our arrival we got our first mail from
+home and that day was a red letter one in our Lakeland life.
+
+Just before reaching Lakeland some K company foragers had captured a
+goat at one of the stops but the owner pursued the animal to Lakeland
+and when he put in a claim for him Capt. Warriner ordered the "billy"
+given up. Our menu in camp was far more varied than on the train for
+"post" rations were being issued and the company cooks were "getting on
+to their jobs." Private Mandeville, who afterwards acquired much fame
+by being left behind at Fort Tampa, presided over the kitchen of G. In
+B company Walter Butler got up savory dishes and Private Harry Fisher
+looked after the culinary department for K. Butter was conspicuous by
+its absence from the table and one boy in K missed it so much that he
+dreamed of it. One night his dreams were so realistic that his cry of
+"Ma, please pass the butter," awoke his tent mates and that expression
+was the rallying cry in K for several days.
+
+The death of Private Weslie Brass of Westfield, a member of I company,
+cast a gloom over the regiment and all the companies turned out to do
+escort duty when the body was shipped home. His was the first death in
+the regiment.
+
+On Sunday, May 30th, orders came to break camp the following day and
+proceed to Tampa, which we did, arriving there on Monday afternoon, the
+31st.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII.
+
+WE STAY IN YBOR CITY AND THEN ENJOY (?) LIFE ON TRANSPORTS IN THE
+HARBOR.
+
+
+Our stay in Tampa lasted from May 31st to June 7th and it was not
+wholly unenjoyable. In some respects the place was better than
+Lakeland, but we felt the heat far more than was the case in that town
+and the camp location was not as good as that of our camp there. But we
+were near Tampa and there were many opportunities for us to get to the
+city, our camp being in one of the suburbs some three miles from Tampa
+and known as Ybor City. Its population was made up mainly of Cubans and
+negroes and a number of cigar factories were located there. The Cubans
+were all "patriots" of course, but our disenchantment as to Cuban
+patriots had already begun and we paid them little attention. On our
+right was camped a battalion of the Fourth regular artillery (heavy)
+and this was probably the occasion of a rumor which had persistent
+circulation for several days that we were to be transformed from
+infantry to a heavy artillery regiment and assigned to sea coast duty.
+
+We had a lovely time pitching our tents and making camp. Owing to a
+delay in laying out the camp it was not until after dark on the day
+of our arrival that we set to work to pitch our tents and as a result
+it was not only late before we got to sleep but the next morning
+considerable work had to be done in rectifying the alignment of the
+company streets. The soil was nice white sand which made fairly good
+beds.
+
+On the afternoon of the next day we found out what a Florida "shower"
+could do when it tried. The rain came on unexpectedly and within a very
+few moments everything was in a flood. But few of the boys had taken
+the precaution to dig trenches around their tents and after the rain
+began to come down in sheets they were compelled to get out in it and
+dig or else have their quarters flooded. Here was where the value of
+the rubber blankets issued to us at South Framingham was shown.
+
+It was while we were at Ybor City that our regiment was definitely
+assigned. We were put into the First Brigade of the Second Division
+of the Fifth army corps, our brigade commander being temporarily Col.
+Van Horn of the 22nd infantry while Gen. H. W. Lawton was in command
+of the division. This set at rest all the rumors about our being heavy
+artillery, cavalry and several other things. It also meant that we were
+to go to Cuba among the very first of the invading troops and there was
+no end of enthusiasm when this was understood.
+
+During our stay in Ybor City Wagoners Kingston of B, Shene of G and
+Boule of K became expert drivers of the army mule wagon although their
+trials with the mule were many and various. In B street there were some
+pathetic scenes when the members of the Kanewah club got together and
+talked over how nice it would be "to be there" even if the gasoline
+stove did not always work.
+
+Payday came June 4th and we got our first "whack" at Uncle Sam's good
+money. It was welcome, for since leaving South Framingham but little
+had been in circulation among our boys and we gave the paymaster
+the "glad hand." In return, he lined us up by companies and gave us
+greenbacks and a little silver. We had expected a full month's pay but
+were disappointed, our pay being calculated from May 3d, the day we
+had officially been mustered in, to the first of June. There were many
+applications for passes to visit Tampa that day and the majority of
+them were granted. The Seminole hotel and the stores in Ybor City and
+Tampa did a rushing business that afternoon and evening.
+
+The "Wee Haws" of K contributed not a little to the gaiety of our camp
+life at this time and one of their songs to the air of "Rally 'Round
+the Flag" and reflecting upon the subsistence department was popular.
+It went like this:
+
+    Down with the hardtack!
+      Hurrah, boys, hurrah,
+    Down with the canned beef;
+      We wonder what you are;
+    For we'll rally 'round the beans, boys,
+      We'll rally once again
+    Shouting the battle cry of "Wee Haw."
+
+    'Please pass the butter,'
+      Hurrah, boys, hurrah!
+    If the coffee was much thicker
+      We'd sell it off for tar;
+    For we'll never look like Billy Fish
+      Unless we get more grub--
+    Shouting the battle cry of "Wee Haw."
+
+    Ade Potter's growing thinner,
+      Healey's just the same
+    Brazzil, Breck and Nesbitt swear,
+      Their biscuit box is lame;
+    For George Potter ate his canteen
+      And Aiken ate the strap
+    And McCullough shouts the battle cry of "Wee Haw!"
+
+About this time some brainless individual sent alarming news home
+in a letter, which was published in the Springfield newspapers, to
+the effect that sickness was prevalent in our camp and that a large
+proportion of the men of the three companies from that city were in
+the hospital seriously ill. As a result we soon began to get letters
+of anxious inquiry from the folks at home, and it was some time before
+we could fully reassure them that the reports had been extremely
+exaggerated and that there was but little illness and none of a serious
+nature in our ranks.
+
+While in Ybor City we lost two men, Privates Luther of K and Monteverde
+of G. Both were ordered to be discharged from the service, because
+of having enlisted while under age and without the consent of their
+parents or guardians. Monteverde was reluctant to leave the regiment
+and pleaded hard to be allowed to go with us to Cuba even as a civilian
+employee, and when that was refused he offered to go without any pay.
+But this was found to be impossible and he and Luther were obliged
+to return home. The case of Private John K. DeLoach of B company was
+a hard one. He had enlisted in South Framingham and in some way his
+relatives, who resided in Atlanta, Ga., heard of it, and as he was
+under age and had not their consent, applied for his discharge. Orders
+to have him discharged were issued but they failed to arrive while we
+were in Tampa, and did not reach us until after the regiment had landed
+in Cuba and done its share in capturing Santiago. DeLoach had done his
+duty during the most arduous part of the campaign, and as a result was
+given a "bob tail" discharge and left to get back to the United States
+as best he could. Sometimes the rewards of patriotism are not great,
+and this was certainly one of the instances.
+
+June 6th orders were received to break camp and proceed to Port Tampa,
+there to go on board the transports for Cuba. We broke camp all right,
+got our tents down and all baggage packed and saw them sent away
+and then proceeded to wait. We waited all that afternoon and night
+and until late in the afternoon of the next day before our belated
+transportation was arranged for. As a result of a blunder in the
+quartermaster's department, we were compelled to bivouac that night
+without any shelter. This was our first real acquaintance with the
+fact expressed in the statement attributed to Gen. Sherman, that "War
+is h--l."
+
+Late in the afternoon of June 7th, we marched to the railroad and
+went on board a train which after a couple of hours brought us to
+Port Tampa, distance about eight miles. Here we found some practical
+illustrations of the beautiful manner in which the quartermaster's
+department was working. It had been stated to Col. Clark that on
+arriving at Port Tampa we were to immediately go on board the
+transports, but after disembarking from the train and waiting for some
+time it was found that no transports had been assigned to us. Nothing
+could be done in the matter that night, and we were to be left to shift
+for ourselves as best we could. There were no barracks in Port Tampa,
+and it was too late to go into camp even if we had our tentage with us,
+which we did not. After considerable scouting, Col. Clark discovered
+that quarters might be found in the freight sheds on a long pier, and
+we started for them only to have the entire regiment halted and held up
+for some minutes at the point of the bayonet of a sentinel of the First
+Illinois regiment, who was on guard at the entrance to the pier and had
+orders to let no one pass. This obstacle was finally surmounted and we
+marched onto the pier and made ourselves comfortable as best we could.
+
+During that night on the pier the foraging instincts of Private "Dido"
+Hunt of G company became active, and as a result he and several members
+of that company passed the long hours of the night very comfortably.
+The freight sheds were divided into sections, and in that allowed to
+G was a lot of freight. Included were two innocent looking barrels,
+but guided solely by instinct "Dido" decided to investigate their
+contents. With this end in view he spread his roll and blanket by the
+side of the barrels, and, lying on his side began to cut a hole through
+the staves of one of them. This was rather difficult because of the
+sentries, but it was finally accomplished, and much to the forager's
+intense satisfaction, the insertion of his hand through the hole
+and into the barrel, revealed to him that it was filled with bottled
+beer. Satisfying himself in the only proper manner, that there was no
+mistake, he acquainted the members of his squad and a few others with
+his find and soon an impromptu picnic was in progress. Under the very
+noses of the sentries, the contents of that barrel of beer disappeared
+before morning, and to those in the secret the night passed very
+pleasantly.
+
+[Illustration: Lieut. William Young. Capt. Henry McDonald. Lieut. Harry
+Vesper.]
+
+The next morning four companies and headquarters of the Second were
+transferred to the transport Orizaba, the companies being G, B, K and
+D. The transport already had on board the Eighth and Twenty-second
+regular infantry, and as a result our boys were crowded about on the
+decks and compelled to sleep anywhere they could. The officers were
+crowded into the staterooms and their experiences on the Orizaba were
+not much more enjoyable than those of the men. Some of the regulars,
+with a fine contempt for volunteers, did their best to make things as
+unpleasant for us as possible, but the majority were of a different
+disposition and aided us all they could, which unfortunately was not
+much.
+
+We expected to sail that day but did not. The same could be said
+about our expectations and disappointments every succeeding day
+until we did finally sail on the 14th. Before that happened we were
+again transferred, this time to the well remembered transport,
+Knickerbocker. This event happened on the 13th and when we found that
+the Knickerbocker's number was 13, that she had that number of letters
+in her name and that about everybody and everything connected with her
+was more or less mixed up with the alleged unlucky number some of us
+began to wonder what would happen. Fortunately nothing did, but that
+was because somebody, not connected with the war department, or with
+this world, was looking after us. The third battalion was added to our
+force on board the Knickerbocker, the second being on the Seneca and
+the Manteo.
+
+On the evening of the 13th the 13 hoodoo began to work. A steam pipe
+burst and some of the boys, thinking a general explosion would follow,
+jumped from the deck to the dock, but although there was considerable
+fuss and excitement no one was hurt. That night sleep on the
+Knickerbocker was out of the question, for a gang of negro roustabouts
+was engaged all night in loading provisions onto our steamer and
+their cries, together with the noise of the steam winches prevented
+any sleep. On the afternoon of the next day, the 14th, the steamer
+finally cast off and started down the harbor in the wake of the other
+transports. After being tied up in Tampa harbor for six long days we
+were at last at sea and bound for Cuba.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII.
+
+WE HAVE A LOVELY SAIL ON THE PALATIAL KNICKERBOCKER AND REACH CUBA
+WITHOUT MISHAP.
+
+
+Our voyage to Cuba on Transport No. 13, unofficially known as the
+Knickerbocker, will long linger in our memories. The Knickerbocker
+was a lovely ship but her loveliness was of such a nature that it was
+seldom referred to without a free and unlimited use of adjectives in
+the ratio of more than 16 to 1. After a while it got to be a case of
+"Don't speak of her past, boys," and we seldom did. The present was bad
+enough and as for her future, all of us had grave doubts concerning it.
+There was a story from apparently authentic sources, that before the
+government, in a moment of temporary aberation, engaged the services
+of the Knickerbocker as a transport, she had been engaged in conveying
+Italian emigrants from New York to New Orleans, and her interior
+condition when we boarded her gave conformation of the stories.
+
+Many words could be written concerning the Knickerbocker and our
+opinion of her, but as a good share of them would form language not
+generally used in the best society, it will be perhaps as well to draw
+the veil of silence over a good part of it.
+
+Her captain's name was Betts and he was an aged individual who savored
+much of the sea and who evidently had been the victim of an early or
+late disappointment, either in love or something else, that resulted
+in souring him towards himself and everybody else. The name of the
+steward of the boat is unknown, but this did not bother the boys much,
+their usual designation of him being "thief" or "robber" or any term of
+opprobrium that came handy. If he was a poor man when the Knickerbocker
+sailed with us from Tampa harbor, there was no reason why he could not
+have returned with money enough to start a fair sized bank account, for
+he sold us everything there was to sell, and considerable that he had
+no right to, and he always charged us Klondike prices for everything.
+He was never under suspicion of giving away anything, not even himself.
+Before the voyage was half over there came near being a mutiny among
+the crew which had discovered, so they said, that the steward was
+taking the provisions destined for them and selling them to such of our
+boys as had money and had become weary of the luxurious and varied fare
+given us by the government. At the same time his extortions had become
+so burdensome to our boys that muttered threats against him were heard
+and but for some of the cooler heads among the soldiers he might have
+been the victim of the vengeance both of the crew and the troops.
+
+There were thirteen staterooms on the boat and into these were crowded
+32 officers. The men were "bunked" in the hold, and if there was any
+provision for ventilation other than the hatches, no trace was ever
+found of it. On the first night out the men slept on the decks and so
+were enabled to pass the night in considerable comfort, for if the deck
+planks were hard, there was at least some air and the cool sea breeze
+made sleeping possible. But on the second night out there came trouble.
+The surgeon was fearful that the night dews would have a bad effect
+on the men, and had been told so much of the evil effects of sleeping
+out in the air in tropical latitudes that he believed it best for the
+men to sleep below decks. He pressed his views upon the commanding
+officer, and the result was an order to the officer of the day to
+allow no men to sleep above decks on that or the succeeding nights of
+the voyage.
+
+Naturally, when this order was communicated to the men, there was a
+protest. There was a decided difference of opinion between the men and
+the surgeon as to the evil results from sleeping on deck, and the men
+were inclined to rebel against the order. However, Capt. McDonald of B
+company was officer of the day, and no matter what his sympathies were,
+orders were orders. So soon after "taps" had sounded he and the guard
+made a tour of the boat and the sleepers were informed that they must
+retire to the bunks below and complete their slumbers. Then there was
+a howl of remonstrance, but it was without avail. The sleepers were
+rounded up and hustled below. In protest against this came all sorts
+of noise from the sleeping quarters. Songs and yells, and there was
+much satire in many of the songs, came up from below. The surgeons were
+alluded to as "Horse doctors" and "Salts," and one chorus that came
+floating up through the hatches ran something like this:
+
+"What do they give us for stomach ache?"
+
+"Salts."
+
+"What do they give us for a broken leg?"
+
+"Salts."
+
+"What do they give us for rheumatism?"
+
+"Salts."
+
+And so on through a catalogue of all the various diseases incident to
+man or animals.
+
+Finally the noise became so great that Capt. McDonald threatened to
+have the hatches closed, thus destroying the last faint chance of
+obtaining any air. This was met by the threat that if the hatches were
+closed bullets would be fired through them, but after a while the noise
+quieted down and the men dropped off to sleep. After that night the
+order to sleep below decks was pretty well obeyed as the reason for
+it begun to be understood by the men and they realized that it was
+prompted by a desire for their welfare and not to annoy them.
+
+Not all the boys slept below, however. Emery, Morehouse and Kelly of K
+had managed to secrete themselves in one of the ships boats and made it
+their sleeping quarters all the time of the voyage. As it was covered
+by a tarpaulin they were well protected from the dews or rains, and in
+any case they managed to keep the secret so well that they were not
+molested.
+
+G company suffered a terrible loss on the day we sailed. Private
+Mandeville, the company cook, had managed to cut himself so badly in
+the arm with a carving knife, during our stay at Lakeland, that he
+had been excused from that duty. On our last day at Port Tampa he had
+obtained shore leave and utilized it so well in looking at the wine
+when it was red, or something that had the same effect, that he was
+in a trance when the orders came to leave. So when the Knickerbocker
+sailed, G was one man short, and after the requisite ten days had
+elapsed Private Mandeville was put on the rolls as a deserter.
+Fortunately for him, it was established on our return that he was
+not technically a deserter, it appearing that when he woke up he had
+reported himself to an officer in Tampa, and had been assigned to
+remain with a party of the 71st New York which had likewise been left
+behind.
+
+Of mascots there were many on board. First of all came one James
+Sargent of Washington, D. C, a young colored lad better known as
+"Snowball." He had come on from Washington with some District of
+Columbia troops and finding that they were not going immediately to
+Cuba or for some other reason he got on board the Knickerbocker and
+attached himself for better or worse to the Second Massachusetts. Any
+member of the regiment can answer the query as to whether it was for
+better or worse for the Second.
+
+Then there were James and Willie Turner, two young white boys from
+Tampa who had an uncontrollable desire to hie themselves over the
+seas to Cuba and there end the lives of more or less Spaniards. They
+remained with us until the landing on the island and then divorced
+themselves from the Second and attached themselves to two regular
+regiments. Both stood the campaign in far better shape than the
+older men and returned to this country with enlarged views and a
+determination to enlist in the regulars as soon as they were of the
+requisite age.
+
+G company had two mascots in "Rations" and "Hardtack," dogs of the cur
+variety. Rations did not last out the voyage, her career being cut
+short by some miscreant who threw her overboard one night, much to the
+indignation of the men of the company.
+
+A predominating feature of the trip across was the excellent fare
+provided for the enlisted men by a thoughtful government. Life at sea
+on a steady diet of canned beef, canned beans and canned tomatoes,
+hardtack and ship's water is not conducive to embonpoint or a cheerful
+and contented disposition. In the hurry of fitting up the Knickerbocker
+as a transport no provision had been made to do any cooking for the
+men, even if there had been anything to cook, and there was not even
+a place where coffee, of which we had plenty, could be made. Finally
+after a couple of days out some vigorous "kicking" resulted in the
+company cooks being grudgingly allowed the use of the galley for coffee
+making purposes but with the poor water the coffee was hardly equal to
+that furnished at Delmonico's or other places where most of us had been
+in the habit of eating.
+
+As to the water an entire chapter could not do justice to its
+qualities. There were two brands on board, one being Mississippi
+river fluid with an equal quantity of mud of a rich brown color in
+suspension. After obtaining a cupful of this mixture it was necessary
+to allow it to stand for some little time in order that the mud might
+settle to the bottom. With all its faults, however, this water when
+strained was sweet and drinking it did not cause remorse.
+
+The other water had been obtained in Tampa and it was called water
+principally because it was contained in the water tanks. It did not
+look much like water and tasted still less like it. But that and the
+muddy fluid was all there was to drink and we had to make the best of
+it.
+
+One day when the canned beef was even worse than usual and the canned
+beans greasier than ever there came to the vision of certain members
+of the Springfield companies, who happened to be looking through the
+skylight into the steward's pantry, a delicious looking piece of
+cold roast beef hanging peacefully from a hook and destined for the
+officers' lunch. Constant looking at that well cooked piece of fresh
+beef begot longing, then covetousness and desire. By a silent but
+unanimous vote it was decided that such a nice piece of beef would be
+better appreciated by hungry enlisted men than by the officers who
+had been getting more or less of it, at their own expense, during the
+voyage and the next thing was the informal appointment of a committee
+on ways and means to procure the aforesaid beef. An examination
+revealed that the skylight could be opened from the deck and further
+that a boathook was handy. These facts ascertained, a watch was kept
+until the occupant of the pantry had gone out for a moment, the
+skylight was quickly opened, the boathook manipulated and the piece of
+beef lifted to the deck. The cook re-entered the pantry just as the
+beef was disappearing through the skylight and the expression on his
+face haunted the participants in the "Disappearing beef mystery" for
+many hours.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Lieut Phillip C. Powers
+  K. Co.
+
+  Captain W. S. Warriner
+  K. Co.
+
+  Lieut. Harry H. Parkhurst
+  K. Co.
+]
+
+In one corner of the upper deck that afternoon were a number of men
+upon whose faces rested an expression of perfect contentment and whose
+hands could occasionally be seen to wander over their stomachs as if to
+assure themselves that cold roast beef was a suitable article of diet
+for a voyage in the tropics. As no ill effects were recorded the
+question was settled satisfactorily to them but it is also on record
+that no more tempting bits were hung within reach of open skylights or
+wandering boathooks. It is also a matter of history that the officers'
+lunch that day was rather a poor meal and there was no cold meat on the
+table. But Bates didn't care.
+
+How the Knickerbocker ever escaped being run down or colliding with
+some other of the vessels of the fleet is one of the mysteries of the
+deep. Not less than half a dozen narrow escapes are on record in the
+memory of the men who were on her and on one or two occasions the
+escapes were so narrow that a few feet either way would have done the
+job for the Knickerbocker and her crew and passengers. On one occasion
+another boat came so near to running us down that half the men were
+ready to jump into the sea but the other boat finally sheered off
+by the closest margin. The "Thirteen" hoodoo came near to finding
+believers among those on the Knickerbocker before Cuba was reached.
+
+Bathing hours were established on board after the first day out, each
+company being allowed an hour aft each day during which the men could
+"turn the hose" on each other to their heart's content. As, however,
+there was but little salt water soap on board and that little was in
+the hands of the steward to be retailed by him at robber baron prices
+these attempts at cleanliness proved rather abortive, for it was soon
+ascertained that ordinary soap does not lather in salt water and the
+effects of the bath under these circumstances was worse if anything
+than in Lakeland.
+
+So the days went on until on the 20th we saw the low outline of the
+Cuban coast late in the afternoon and at the same time saw the flashes
+and heard the dull reports of big guns which told us that the navy was
+having a brush with the foe. It lasted only for a few moments, but
+this was the first time we had heard guns fired in actual conflict and
+although we could see but little the rigging was crowded until long
+after the guns were silent. We learned afterwards that it was only
+a little brush some of the blockading fleet were having with a fort
+near Santiago but it was mighty interesting to us while it lasted.
+All the next day the fleet cruised about apparently aimlessly and
+that night the Knickerbocker "got lost." How it ever happened no one
+knows excepting the captain of the ship and he never volunteered an
+explanation so far as we knew. It was expected that we would land that
+day but just before dusk a dispatch boat raced up alongside and without
+stopping speed an officer on board shouted through a megaphone an order
+to Captain Betts to continue "cruising to the northwest, keeping in
+touch with the fleet." So off we cruised to the northwest but the rest
+of the order as to keeping in touch with the fleet was not carried out.
+The next morning when we woke up we found the Knickerbocker all alone
+with not a sail or line of smoke on the horizon and with apparently no
+one knowing where we were or what we were doing there. Inquiries of
+Captain Betts met with gruff and non-committal response and it was not
+until just before noon that we came in sight of the rest of the fleet
+off Daiquiri and learned that the landing had begun and that had we got
+there when we should the Second would have been the first regiment to
+land on Cuban soil. Then things were said concerning Capt. Betts and
+his boat that would not look nice in print.
+
+Over on our left the big guns of the warships were pounding away at the
+fortifications while the small caliber guns were sending in a storm
+of bullets into the woods and hills along the shore, clearing them
+out before the landing. From the warships to the transports danced
+an almost steady stream of launches and small boats to assist in the
+landing. The invasion of Cuba by the Fifth army corps was a fact at
+last.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX.
+
+WHEREIN IS NARRATED OUR LANDING AT DAIQUIRI AND SOME THINGS WHICH
+SUBSEQUENTLY HAPPENED.
+
+
+It was not until well along in the afternoon that the Knickerbocker's
+passengers started for the shore and as it was not all of them landed
+that day, the third battalion being left on board until the 23d.
+For many long hours the steamer backed and filled together with the
+other vessels and the men, loaded down as they were with their field
+equipment and waiting for the word to disembark, found plenty of time
+to enjoy the stirring scenes about them. There were the grim painted
+war ships, all ready for business and their hustling "Jackies" working
+like beavers to aid in landing us "doughboys." Between the big ships
+danced the saucy torpedo boats and destroyers and quick puffing
+launches having in tow strings of small boats, these being our means of
+transportation from the ship to the land. In front were the frowning
+hills which guarded the coast line and from which an enemy of any
+determination could have easily prevented our landing. On a plateau
+directly in front of us was the village of Daiquiri, abandoned that
+morning by the Spaniards after a brief bombardment by our fleet, while
+a force of Cubans got along in time to worry the retreating enemy. A
+portion of the village and the works were still smoldering, having been
+fired by the Spaniards before they left the place.
+
+Daiquiri was the seat of the Spanish-American Iron company and a
+narrow gauge railroad connects it with Juguaracito or Siboney where
+the company had quite an extensive establishment. Jutting out into the
+water was a high iron pier and it was supposed we were to land there,
+but this was found to be impossible after one or two trials.
+
+Meanwhile after long waiting a dinky little steam launch from the
+battleship Massachusetts and followed by a string of small boats,
+came alongside the Knickerbocker and the youthful ensign in charge
+allowed that he was ordered to take headquarters and as many others
+of the regiment as possible on shore. This was agreeable and Col.
+Clark and his field and staff embarked in the launch without much
+trouble, although the job of climbing down a slippery rope ladder,
+then hanging on by both hands to the side ropes and waiting until the
+next high wave brought the launch up to within a couple of feet of you
+and then falling more or less, mostly less, gracefully into it, was
+not particularly pleasing. After headquarters, a platoon of G company
+embarked and this filled the boats.
+
+How to get on shore from the boats appeared to grow into a serious
+problem as we neared the landing place. This was an old wooden pier,
+which jutted out some little distance from the land. There was a heavy
+surf on and the little basin in which the pier stood was jammed with
+boats and launches, all apparently very much snarled up but which in
+reality were being ably managed. After much maneuvering our launch was
+jammed alongside the pier and the next problem was how to get upon
+it. The supporting piles rose high up from the water and their slimy
+surface offered no inducement to attempt climbing. One moment we would
+be down in the trough of a wave and then the launch would be lifted
+up almost to the top of the pier and the sailors would be hard put to
+it to keep the boats from being dashed against the huge piling of the
+pier. The method of our landing could hardly be called dignified. As
+the boat would be raised almost to a level with the floor of the pier
+by a wave our rolls and equipment would be tossed up to some soldiers
+waiting to assist us. Then down the boat would go again and when the
+next wave raised it we would stand up on the thwarts of the boat, reach
+up our hands, two of the men on the pier would grasp them and we would
+scramble up the best we could. In this way the first lot was landed and
+the boats hustled back to the ship after another load of passengers.
+The pier was connected with the land by some loose planks and across
+these we walked gingerly, finally reaching terra firma. We were on
+Cuban soil at last.
+
+On shore there was as much bustle and confusion as in the landing.
+Many of the regulars and a part of "Ours" had already landed but there
+appeared to be no system, and officers and men were scattered about
+everywhere. A short distance from the pier was a typical Cuban "shack"
+as the regulars called it, a roughly built shed with a roof of palm
+leaf thatch and around this was a lot of Cuban soldiers who were making
+themselves "good fellows" by giving away cocoanuts, of which they had
+a couple of large bags. They, the soldiers, were of varying shades of
+blackness and their "uniforms" consisted mostly of nothing. Some had
+more clothing than the others, but few had anything like a complete
+outfit. They were barefooted and bareheaded but all had the inevitable
+machete and some kind of a firearm, from the latest model Spanish
+Mauser and the navy Lee to an old shotgun. They could talk English
+about as well as we could Spanish and the sign language was used with
+more or less success.
+
+Having filled up on cocoanuts, which tasted good, we became thirsty.
+A water pipe ran along the ground and we soon found a faucet, but the
+first man to take a drink spat out the water and said some sharp and
+emphatic things concerning it at which we mildly wondered until he
+calmed down sufficiently to tell us that it was "hot enough to boil
+eggs in." Sure enough it was. The pipes ran along on the surface of the
+ground and the sun did the rest.
+
+"_Mucho caliente agua_," commented a ragged "Cubana" as he noticed our
+disgusted looks and one or two who understood enough Spanish to know
+what he meant agreed with him. Then he grinned as only a Cuban can and
+pointing to the plateau where the main part of the village was located,
+said: "_Agua fresca_," which being interpreted meant "cold water."
+So off we started for the plateau and there found several barrels of
+fresh water which was fairly cool. Among the "shacks" which composed
+the town we found a "brigade" of the "brave" Cuban soldiers. They were
+having a good time recounting their exploits and staring at "_los
+Americano soldados_," whose rough and ready manners were not always to
+their liking. A few of their field officers were almost white in color
+and decently uniformed but the majority, like the men, were black and
+distinguished from their men by small silver stars worn on a strap
+across the breast, three being the insignia of a captain, two of a
+first lieutenant and one of a second lieutenant.
+
+A point of much interest to our men were the burning shops, which the
+Spaniards had fired before retreating. On the railway track was a
+locomotive and some cars which had been disabled and burnt. Additional
+interest was caused by the pursuit, capture and summary execution of an
+unwise pig by a mob of our men and Cubans.
+
+All our battalions having landed, we began our march into the interior
+just before 5 o'clock. The brigade commander, Col. Van Horn of the 22d
+was injured on the 22d and the command was temporarily assigned to our
+commander, Col. Clark. As Lieut. Col. Shumway was left on the boat,
+Major Southmayd took command of the two battalions on shore. We marched
+some five miles toward Santiago, across country, the march being along
+a narrow and rough trail and halted for the night by the side of the
+trail. On our way we had to ford a stream and began to experience some
+of the realities of war.
+
+That night we had to face our first real experience at going hungry.
+It had been understood that we were not to go inland that day and
+that rations would be sent us from the ships so no orders to take any
+with us had been issued. A few of the men had the foresight to stuff
+whatever food they could into their haversacks but the majority had
+nothing and went supperless to bed. The regulars bivouacked near us
+were in the same fix and there was much grumbling. However, officers
+and men were in the same box and there was nothing to do but make the
+best of it.
+
+At dawn the next morning we rolled up our outfits and started off
+again. Our method of packing up was expeditious. Each man carried one
+half of a shelter tent, better known to us as a "dog" tent and later
+"pup" tents because of their small size, they being just about large
+enough for two men to crawl into. The half shelter was laid on the
+ground and upon it was spread first the rubber blanket and then the
+woolen one. Our canvas blouses and whatever personal property we had
+were then placed on top, together with the tent sticks and pegs and
+the whole neatly rolled. The ends were secured with the tent rope and
+the roll thus formed was carried over the left shoulder, the ends
+hanging down on the right side of the body. Thus equipped, with our
+full canteens and empty haversacks, we took to the road again after our
+first night on Cuban soil. Details of men from each company were sent
+back to the ships after rations and we started for Siboney. An early
+morning march on an empty stomach is not conducive to an appreciation
+of scenery be it ever so grand, but some of us enjoyed it. All about
+us were hills and mountains, their peaks clear cut against the blue
+sky, while from the tops of two or three rose thin smoke columns which
+we supposed were from signal fires. Our trail led us through valleys
+and over hills until finally about 11 o'clock we struck upon something
+that looked like a road and on which we were enabled to march for a
+short time in columns of fours. Anyone who had ever seen the Second on
+a parade in Springfield or Worcester or at camp and seen us straggling
+along the Cuban trail in single file would have laughed outright at the
+contrast, as we were forced to ourselves. Later on we looked even worse.
+
+That day the "stripping" process, familiar to all armies in a campaign,
+was begun. Two companies of the second battalion, E and M had "toted"
+their knapsacks with them from their transports and about the second
+day out they were sorry for so doing. Hardly had we been an hour on
+the march that morning before the knapsacks began to disappear and the
+troops which followed us soon knew that the Second Massachusetts had
+passed by, meeting scores of Cubans with E and M company knapsacks
+on their backs and sweltering but happy in the closely buttoned cape
+overcoats discarded with the knapsacks. Fortunately our knapsacks and
+all our heavy baggage had been left on board ship but it was not long
+before we found our rolls becoming heavy and burdensome. Pretty soon a
+man would quietly drop out of the line, off would come his roll which
+was quickly opened, and some article he fancied he could do without,
+thrown into the bush. Then the roll would be fastened together, thrown
+over the owner's shoulder and he would hasten to rejoin his company. A
+few moments afterward a ragged Cubano might be seen poking around about
+the bushes and next the discarded articles would be in his possession.
+
+And it may as well be told here that it was not only the Second
+Massachusetts that strewed more or less valuable or necessary articles
+along the trails. The regulars were with us in that, and although, as a
+rule, they had brought less baggage ashore with them than we did, they
+soon found it convenient to get rid of much of it. They even discarded
+their blankets, some cutting them in half and retaining only one part,
+while we stuck to the blankets and sacrificed other things. We never
+were sorry either that we kept our blankets, for if the days were
+intensely warm, the nights were cool and coverings came in handy.
+
+That afternoon, soon after we had struck the short piece of good road
+referred to above, we left it and following a narrow trail debouched
+into some woods and after passing through them, found ourselves in a
+cocoanut grove. There were hundreds of the trees all laden with the
+fruit, and a halt was ordered, arms stacked and we were allowed to
+rest. About this time we were decidedly hungry, our breakfast having
+consisted of nothing and our dinner menu being the same. The cocoanuts
+looked inviting but they were far away at the tops of the branchless
+trees. But hunger is a spur and it was not long before some daring ones
+were "shinning up" the trees and down came the fruit. Alas! It was a
+disappointment to hopes of a satisfactory meal. After the hard, green
+outer husks had been chopped away it was found that the cocoanuts were
+green, and a copious flow of soldier language greeted this discovery.
+But it was not long before it was discovered that the milk of the green
+cocoanut makes a very palatable drink, and in a few moments we all
+became milkmen.
+
+The march resumed we struck into another piece of woods, forded a brook
+or two, (we had by this time gotten over minding our feet being wet,)
+and found ourselves once more on a narrow and rough trail. On our way
+through the woods we saw, stretched along a rough fence, the body of
+a huge snake of the constrictor variety, not long killed and looking
+decidedly fierce. The reptile was about eight feet long and as thick as
+a man's arm. A little further along we saw something which indicated
+that we were in a rough country. This was a human skull nailed on top
+of a post and grinning at us with empty eye sockets and toothless jaws,
+as we passed.
+
+A little further along and we struck another narrow stream which, of
+course, had to be forded, and up a hill, just beyond that we came to a
+railroad station and the track. Here were some of our advance guard,
+men of the Eighth regulars who informed us that Siboney was "just
+'round the corner," as one of them put it, and sure enough after a few
+moments more of the "Weary Willie" act, we came to a collection of
+"shacks," and realized that we were in Siboney. Now that word "Siboney"
+means much to us because it reminds us that there we ate, a fact
+sufficiently momentous on that day to linger long in our memories.
+
+Now as to the methods of our eating. It was only a short time before
+our arrival that the Spaniards had evacuated Siboney after firing a
+few shots at our advance guard and the natives, who had "jumped the
+town" when the Spaniards told them there was going to be a big battle
+in which they were going to annihilate the "pigs of Yanquis," were
+just beginning to come back. We were ordered to camp on a low piece
+of ground on one side of the railroad embankment and after putting up
+our "pup" tents a few hungry ones went into the town to see what could
+be seen and incidentally to acquire what there was to acquire in the
+commissary line. They were successful in the latter. The natives were
+glad to see them and freely gave of what little they had. This wasn't
+much but there was some rice and some queer looking but good tasting
+messes of which our men were freely invited to partake. In one house in
+particular there were two aged women who busied themselves for hours
+cooking rice and other dishes for our men and who at first would not
+accept anything in payment. Finally it was forced upon them and before
+evening there was more silver money in that poor "shack" than had
+probably been the case for many a day. All through the village it was
+the same and the hospitality we received at Siboney did much to change
+for a time the unfavorable opinion we had formed of the Cubans.
+
+Not only was there food but drink. There was cool water in all the
+houses and there was also "bino," a sour Cuban wine like claret and
+some fiery "rou" or rum which brought tears to the eyes of more than
+one man who thought he was spirit proof. All that afternoon we mingled
+freely with the people, looked all through the town, examined with
+interest the Spanish block houses and some of us went in surf bathing
+on the pretty little beach in front of the town.
+
+Late that afternoon the third battalion came up and about the same time
+the details which had been sent back for rations, made their appearance
+with about enough provisions to whet our appetite, they having found
+the task of lugging supplies for a company, nearly ten miles, beyond
+their strength.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X.
+
+IN WHICH IS TO BE FOUND THE TALE OF "CRAB HOLLOW" AND SOME OTHER THINGS.
+
+
+When we retired to our luxurious couches that night of June 23d, most
+of us, excepting the guards, anticipated sleep, but we little recked
+what that night had in store for us. As told before, our camp was
+pitched on a low piece of ground and among a lot of sparse bushes.
+We did not know until the next day that the camping ground was an
+old burial place, and we were also not well enough up in the natural
+history of things Cuban to understand that if there is any one place
+the dainty land crab prefers for its habitat it is a cemetery and this
+preference rests upon a purely gastronomic basis. The land crab and the
+vulture are the great scavengers of Cuba and while the latter disposes
+of anything eatable left above ground the land crab looks after bodies
+or anything else placed under ground. In the afternoon we had noticed
+the holes of the land crabs but paid little attention to them, and only
+saw a few of the crustaceans, but at night we made their acquaintance
+at close quarters. We were pretty well fagged out with the heat and
+the marching, and this, with the strange sensation of having something
+to eat in our stomachs, tended to drowsiness. But hardly had we got
+settled in our tents before there were strange rustlings and noises
+and then the sensation of something crawling. There were some quick
+arisings and the sound of matches hastily struck and then exclamations
+and profanity. In some of the companies there was hardly a tent that
+had not been pitched over one or more land crab holes and the occupants
+of these had begun an investigation. Crawling over the sleepers
+usually resulted in awakening them and then came the exclamations,
+the illumination by the matches and the pursuit and slaughter of the
+visitors. The land crab is not an aggressive animal towards man and
+the greeting tendered him usually resulted in his scuttling for his
+hole. Not always did he reach there, for many fell victims to ramrods,
+clubs and other weapons. One able bodied crab was caught in the act of
+backing into his hole with a stocking in his claws, and yielded up his
+life for his rapacity. It may have been that he intended to eat the
+stocking, and had he done so his fate would have been the same anyway.
+The crabs had a pleasant trick that night of crawling half way up the
+outside of the tents and then losing their hold and dropping to the
+ground. That was bad enough as a deterrent to sleep, but it was not
+all. In the afternoon some I company men had repaired a locomotive
+disabled by the Spaniards, and kept running it up and down the tracks,
+to an accompaniment of bell and whistle, until a late hour.
+
+Bright and early the next morning we were up and as on the day before
+looking for grub. Rations were still "shy" and once more we had
+recourse to our friends the Siboneyians who gave us what they could,
+which was not much, as their own supplies were running low.
+
+Meanwhile the remainder of the transports had come to Siboney and were
+landing the rest of the expedition. They had a little different method
+of doing it than at Daiquiri. The boats would be filled with men and
+towed in as near shore as possible when the men would have to jump out
+and wade ashore. Some of them didn't like getting their feet wet but
+they had to just the same.
+
+It was some little time before noon when we heard firing from over the
+hills and learned that the cavalry brigade had gone on a reconnoisance
+in force in that direction. It was only a short time afterwards when
+we saw the first wounded begin to come down the trail and learned
+that they had found the enemy in force at Las Guasimas and had quite
+a go with him. The First and Tenth United States cavalry, our old
+neighbors at Lakeland, and the Rough Riders were engaged and from all
+accounts were having a warm time. Col. Clark of the Second was acting
+as commander of our brigade and receiving orders from Gen. Lawton
+to reinforce the cavalry, left for the scene with the Eighth and
+Twenty-second Infantry. They arrived there just as the Spaniards were
+running and finding nothing for them to do returned to Siboney.
+
+One of the largest buildings in the town had been converted into
+a temporary hospital and it was soon filled with the wounded. Our
+regimental surgeons, Drs. Bowen, Gates and Hitchcock were pressed
+into service and rendered valuable aid. That hospital was our first
+introduction to some of the grim realities of war but the boys stood it
+well and were anxious to get to the front as quickly as possible. One
+of the warships with the transports added to the excitement by shelling
+the woods on top of a point near us and we began to conclude it would
+be our turn next.
+
+But it was not long before our thoughts were turned from the vision of
+great deeds in battle to a more prosaic but necessary matter. A lot of
+rations had been landed and soon we were revelling in such delicacies
+as hardtack, "sowbelly" bacon, coffee, canned beef (?) and canned
+tomatoes. Orders were issued for each man to take four days' rations
+but our haversack capacity was not equal to this and we packed all we
+could into our rolls. Even then we could not take all the issue and
+what was left we gave to our friends, the people of Siboney, who gladly
+accepted what we didn't want. The issue was hardly begun before Col.
+Clark gave us orders to move and off we started about 4.30 in the
+afternoon. We had not gone far in the direction of Las Guasimas before
+we came to the conclusion that the commissary department of the army
+had at least one genius who deserved a medal and some other things.
+About half the issue of tomatoes was in gallon cans and it was planned
+to have one man carry them a short distance and then let another sharer
+of the can relieve him. But our route lay up hill and we hit up a
+lively pace so that it was not long before there was a "kick" about
+the tomatoes. The ending of the kick in every case was a noise which
+indicated that the can had landed in the bushes and when tired out, we
+reached our bivouac place that night there were but few gallon cans of
+tomatoes left with the outfit.
+
+Meanwhile we kept steadily climbing up into the hills, finding rough
+footing and stumbling over rocks and everything else in the darkness
+until about 9 o'clock we reached the scene of the battle and found the
+First and Tenth cavalry burying their dead. We passed on in silence but
+we did quite a bit of thinking. A short distance further up we halted
+on a level bit of ground by the side of the Rough Riders and after
+making our simple preparations for our night's bivouac heard their tale
+of the fight. Our cooking fires were soon going and we not only heard
+Roosevelt's men tell their experiences and gave them our sympathy,
+but what they wanted more at that particular time, we gave them food,
+sharing our rations with them. One New York paper, in its story of
+the Las Guasimas fight spoke of the Second Massachusetts as having
+"supported the Rough Riders," but so far as we knew our only support to
+them was that night when we certainly did support them with our rations.
+
+When we landed in Cuba a detail of men from each company was left on
+the boats to look after property and as we learned afterwards they
+heard all sorts of stories about what happened to us that day. But
+all the stories agreed that the Second had been having a bad time of
+it and that our loss was heavy. One New York newspaper man had been
+given a circumstantial account of our regiment having been surrounded
+by the Spaniards and of our cutting our way out with a heavy loss in
+officers and men and was so impressed by it that he wrote a very pretty
+story which he was on the point of having cabled to his paper when a
+brother correspondent happened along and convinced him that as we were
+at Siboney until the action was all over we could hardly have been so
+badly cut up. So the story was not cabled but it was a narrow escape.
+
+When we left Siboney that afternoon G company was left behind to assist
+in unloading supplies for our brigade, one company from each regiment
+being detailed for that purpose. They left Siboney early the next
+morning and reached us just as we were preparing to resume the march
+again.
+
+Our next camping place was on a plateau near where had once been a
+sizeable plantation and which was only a short distance from Las
+Guasimas. Here we remained two days taking life easy before we again
+took up the march. On the 27th we reached Sevilla and there remained
+until late in the afternoon of June 30th. During our stay in
+Sevilla occurred another food shortage and also the great tobacco
+famine. Rations were hard to get and so were medicines. There was so
+much feeling over the delinquency in getting our supplies up to us that
+a meeting of the company commanders was held and a committee appointed
+to wait upon Col. Clark to see if something could not be done. The
+outcome of all the talk was the loan of some of the horses of the field
+and staff to a detail which, in charge of Lieut. Vesper of B, went back
+to the ships and obtained a small supply of provisions and tobacco.
+The cause of the failure to keep the troops supplied lay with the
+quartermaster's department which had apparently broken down utterly,
+for though there were tons upon tons of supplies already landed
+at Siboney there was not enough of pack trains or other means of
+transportation to get them up to us. We all fared alike at this time,
+officers and men, regulars and volunteers, and our brigade, the leading
+one in the army, had been hustled along so fast that it was difficult
+under any circumstances to get supplies to us owing to the distance and
+the condition of the roads.
+
+On the 28th the new commander of the brigade, Gen. Ludlow, reported and
+relieved Col. Clark who resumed command of the Second. Lieut. Harry
+Parkhurst of K who had been acting as aide-de-camp on the brigade staff
+was also relieved and rejoined his company.
+
+The tobacco famine was relieved somewhat by some of the weed brought
+from the ships by the various "relief expeditions" and also by the
+arrival of the details which had been left on the boats and the
+majority of the members of which had gained permission to rejoin us
+as soon as they heard the stories about our having been in action and
+losing heavily. The horse detail also came up and brought to Adjutant
+Hawkins the news that his horse had been drowned while being got
+ashore. As the chaplain's horse and one owned by Hospital Steward
+Fortier had been stolen while in Tampa by "Billy the Hostler" there was
+a shyness of horses around headquarters.
+
+While in Tampa Private T. C. Boone of K had been transferred to the
+signal corps with the rank of sergeant and afterwards became a member
+of the war balloon squad. On the afternoon of the 20th we saw the
+famous balloon for the first time and watched it with interest as it
+rose above the trees near our camp. We understood that Boone was one
+of the men in the car and for that reason the balloon had more than
+usual interest for us of the Springfield companies. The next afternoon
+another ascension was made and again we watched the "big gas bag" and
+speculated in a pessimistic vein upon its successful use. Our doubts
+as to its usefulness turned out to be correct.
+
+On the 28th the good news was announced that we could send mail home
+that afternoon and there was great scrambling for pens, pencils, paper
+and envelopes. It was our first opportunity since we had landed to send
+letters and that it was taken advantage of the big mail bags that left
+headquarters late that afternoon for division headquarters attested.
+
+Probably the condition in which about all our letters reached the folks
+at home was fully explained soon after our return, but it will bear
+retelling. When we landed most of us had paper, envelopes and stamps.
+But these were carried either in the haversacks or rolls and with the
+heat the envelope flaps became stuck together, likewise the stamps and
+paper became dirty. All were about in the same condition, so in order
+to get a letter into an envelope it was necessary to slit the latter
+at one end, insert the letter and then sew up the envelope. As most
+of the sewing was done with black thread and the envelopes were not
+especially clean the effect upon the good folks at home must have been
+rather startling, especially when the letters came without stamps, as
+they usually did. In place of stamps the government allowed the use of
+the words, "Soldier's Letter" in one corner of the envelope and when
+indorsed by an officer was allowed to go through.
+
+From our camp we could see a portion of the fortifications of Santiago
+and especially two large buildings which we were informed were barracks
+that had been transformed into hospitals and over which we could with
+field glasses see a number of Red Cross flags floating. We heard many
+weird tales as to what the Spaniards had done and would do and the
+stories, mainly of Cubans, as to how many troops were in the city,
+varied all the way from 10,000 to 40,000. On the 29th the much talked
+of "army" of Gen. Calixto Garcia arrived and it was a motley looking
+outfit, mostly black in color and of great variety, principally of
+lack of quantity, as to uniforms but fairly well supplied with arms
+and ammunition. The knowledge of English of the component parts of
+Garcia's forces was about equal to out knowledge of Spanish, but
+considerable interchange of ideas was effected, principally by signs.
+One or two of the warriors would stroll into camp and after standing
+around a bit with the inevitable Cuban grin would exclaim, "_Santiago,
+boum, boum?_" at the same time pointing to the city. We could do no
+less than to assure them there would be plenty of "_boum, boum_" and
+that when it happened Santiago would be "on the bum." The ice thus
+broken, the Cuban's machete was examined and the wearer induced to
+give an exhibition of its use both as a weapon and a handy tool for
+many purposes. Generally before they left camp they would "borrow"
+some "tobac" and if they could obtain some hardtack or bacon they went
+away happy. Sometimes they brought us some mangoes or "monkey plums"
+and then would follow some great bartering. The surgeons in an excess
+of zeal had warned us against the mango but we pinned our faith to the
+Cubans' declaration that if one didn't eat mangoes and drink liquor on
+the same day no evil effects would result from the free and unlimited
+use of the fruit. The mango tastes nice but it is an acquired art to
+know how to eat it without getting three-quarters of it over one's
+face and clothing. Still it came in handy when our rations were short,
+which was about always and we were not over fastidious as to how we ate
+anything in those days.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI.
+
+WHICH TELLS HOW WE GOT READY TO TAKE THE TOWN OF EL CANEY.
+
+
+It was shortly after noon on June 30th that the "JoJo" department began
+to circulate the news that we were to move on to Santiago that day or
+the next and for the first and only time during the campaign the "JoJo"
+happened to be right. Orders had arrived for a forward movement and
+although we had no idea of where we were to go or what we were to do
+there was a feeling of satisfaction that we were to go somewhere and do
+something.
+
+Of even more importance than the orders at this particular time was the
+arrival of a well laden pack train with rations. When the mules were
+first discerned coming "up the pike" it was supposed they were carrying
+ammunition as the last two or three pack trains had brought little
+excepting cartridges. But this time we were agreeably disappointed.
+There was a plentiful supply of "sowbelly," hardtack and coffee and
+it was not long before it was being distributed. The tobacco famine
+had temporarily been relieved and now we actually had food. So we were
+pretty well satisfied with life after all.
+
+How it rained that day! It came on in the forenoon and in less than
+ten minutes everybody and everything was saturated. It was a straight
+downpour of water and rubber blankets were of little use in keeping us
+or our belongings dry so we simply got wet and stayed in that condition
+until the sun came out and did his best to dry things up quickly.
+
+Early that afternoon we saw the war balloon again and watched it with
+much interest, everybody "rubbernecking" at the unwonted sight. In the
+car, although we did not know it at the time, was poor "Tom" Boone of
+"K" and those of us who knew him little recked what the next day would
+bring to him. For that matter there was considerable uncertainty as to
+what the future meant for any of us. We heard late in the day that we
+were sure to get into action on the next day but somehow the knowledge
+did not appear to worry but a few of the boys. The happenings of the
+campaign thus far had done much to produce a feeling of contempt for
+the fighting abilities of the Spaniards and some of us figured that all
+we would have to do was to make a demonstration in force and the enemy
+would then either retreat or surrender. How mistaken we were the next
+day was to tell us.
+
+It was late in the afternoon when the advance on El Caney by Lawton's
+division was begun and it was not until almost 6 o'clock that our
+brigade, which being one of the nearest to the city, was among the last
+to get away, made its start. Most of us will never forget that night
+march. The rain of the morning had resulted as usual in making whatever
+roads and trails there were into very fine specimens of mud puddles and
+unfortunately for us the greater part of our way led up hill. When the
+rations were issued in the afternoon the company commissaries had not
+time to complete their distribution and thinking that the march was
+to be a short and easy one those of G and B concluded that it would
+be better to have some of the provisions carried in bulk rather than
+to take time to divide and issue them. So a number of men from each
+company were detailed to carry a couple of slabs of "sowbelly" and
+others the remaining boxes of hardtack. This worked very nicely for a
+time until it became dark and the hill climbing act began. Then there
+was trouble. The trail up the hill was about as slippery as any we
+ever marched along in Cuba and it was moreover filled with rocks and
+boulders over which climbing was not the easiest matter in the world.
+Before they had gone very far the ration detail began to think that
+something was wrong and these thoughts developed into a certainty as
+we still kept climbing along up a pretty steep ascent and the boxes of
+hardtack and the sides of bacon (?) began to grow heavier and heavier
+and more difficult to handle. For convenience in packing them along
+with us both Sergeants Scully and Bearse had nailed long handles onto
+the hardtack boxes and had made a somewhat similar arrangement to carry
+the bacon but the carriers had not gone far before the handles worked
+off and after awhile it got to be a question of dropping the rations
+or killing the men trying to carry them. It was pitch dark, the trail
+was difficult and besides all the men had a pretty fair supply of
+"grub" in their haversacks, so a silent and informal vote was taken
+and the bulk of the extra rations were quietly left by the side of the
+trail. Meanwhile the rest of us were not having so much of a picnic
+even though we were not encumbered with extra baggage. The mud made
+marching difficult even along the road which led from the camp. Soon we
+left this and came to the San Juan creek, passing a company of soldiers
+who were actually bathing. Our surprise at this unwonted scene was not
+allowed to last long, for the trail lay on the other side of the creek
+and we were obliged to ford it. This was not by any means as easy as
+it looked. The banks were high and slippery with mud and the water was
+over our legging tops but in we plunged and scrambled across to the
+other side and into a thick piece of woods, shaking the water from
+ourselves dog fashion as we again took up the march. Hardly had we got
+across before low spoken orders came down the line for every man to
+keep silent and to march as quietly as possible. This made us realize
+that something was on and the orders were pretty well obeyed although
+all the orders in the world could not keep some of the men from saying
+things concerning the trail and night marches in general.
+
+In ragged fashion we stumbled along through the woods, the only
+military regulation we followed out being that of keeping well "closed
+up." We simply had to do this because it was so dark and the trail so
+narrow and rough that unless one kept very "close tabs" on his file
+leader it was a question of getting lost and going it alone and this
+none of us desired to do.
+
+We had not gone far before we came to another creek or it may have
+been another turn of the first one, we did not know or care which, but
+into it we plunged and again got our feet wet and muddy. Hardly had we
+gained the other side before we came across a forlorn looking figure
+in a bit of a clearing by the side of the trail and a voice with an
+unmistakeable western twang inquired if we were the Rough Riders. The
+owner of the voice was informed that we were the Second Massachusetts
+and he then remarked, "Well, you're a pretty good outfit and I guess
+I'll go along with you." He then announced himself as the chaplain of
+the Rough Riders and said he had left camp a little behind his regiment
+and had not only been unable to catch up with it but could obtain no
+trace of its whereabouts. We told him his regiment had probably gone
+over towards San Juan hill, it being in another division than ours and
+he then allowed that he would not bother looking further that night but
+would accompany us. We made no objection and he trudged along with us
+for the rest of the way.
+
+Soon after meeting the chaplain we forded creek number three but by
+this time we were used to getting our feet wet and did not mind it
+much. After fording this stream, a narrow but rather deep one, we
+began to get up in the world and soon discovered that we were on the up
+grade. For nearly two hours more we stumbled along, sometimes passing
+through thick woods and again along open country. The moon came out
+faintly after a bit, but her light did little towards revealing to
+us the difficulties of the route we were following. We had a couple
+of brief halts but it was not until a little after 10 o'clock that a
+whispered command to halt was given and we were informed that we were
+to go into bivouac by the road side.
+
+Following this order came a renewal of the previous ones against
+making any noise and we were also given strict orders not to make a
+fire or even strike a match. These precautions we assumed were to
+keep our presence unknown to the enemy and although most of us wanted
+the comfort of a pipe or cigarette after our fatiguing march yet we
+refrained. There was of course much speculation over the why and
+wherefore of the night march and the orders against noise or fire but
+the generally accepted assumption was that we had stolen a march upon
+the Spaniards, had penetrated their lines, and in the morning would
+march into Santiago before the astonished enemy had partaken of his
+morning coffee. This surmise was given color by the fact that from
+where we were we could look down into the city, its locality being
+indicated by the lights from the governor general's palace and other
+official buildings. We were on a plateau that overlooked the city,
+and so far as we could judge, our presence was absolutely undetected.
+Santiago appeared to be sleeping peacefully and looked for all the
+world like some small New England city which is locked up every night
+at 8.30 or 9 and whose residents then go to bed and stay there until
+morning.
+
+[Illustration: LEHIGH DETAIL FROM COMPANY H]
+
+For thinking such thoughts we were indeed what are known in the
+vernacular as "good things," for as it transpired afterwards the
+Spaniards knew all about where we were and where we were going. Had it
+not been for their traditional policy of "manana" they might have
+sallied out and done several things to us, but they preferred to wait
+until the next day, which was a lucky thing for us.
+
+Sleep comes quickly to a soldier in bivouac and soon after our halt
+every one of us, with the exception of the guards, was asleep. No
+attempt was made to put up the shelter tents, but we contented
+ourselves with unrolling them, spreading them upon the grass and
+wrapping ourselves up in our blankets. A few of us lunched upon
+hardtack and raw bacon washed down with muddy water from the canteens
+but the majority of the boys were too tired to think even of eating.
+
+That night the premonition came to some of our boys that the morrow
+would be their last day on earth and although we tried to laugh it out
+of them they stuck to it that their fate was settled. One of these boys
+was Frank Moody of K and so strongly was he impressed with the feeling
+of coming disaster to himself that he made one of his comrades take his
+watch and promise to deliver his farewell message to the loved ones at
+home.
+
+Tired soldiers sleep soundly and it seemed as if we had only slumbered
+a few moments when we were awakened, not by the usual bugle call, but
+by low whispers from the officers and non-commissioned officers. It was
+hardly dawn and a thin mist concealed from view the city below us and
+the hills that surrounded us. Little by little the mist disappeared
+before the advance of the sun and when dawn came the scene was so
+impressive in its grandeur that even the most careless amongst us
+felt it. Just below us was Santiago still wrapped in the morning mist
+and apparently still unaroused from its slumbers. All about us were
+frowning hills and mountains and in the distance we could see the
+harbor outside of which sat the grim war ships of the United States
+waiting for their prey to come out and be eaten up. Not a sign from the
+enemy and we wondered.
+
+But we wondered even more when we turned our eyes a little to the right
+and there saw Capron's light battery, still unlimbered and apparently
+in plain view of the sentries of the enemy and our wonder increased as
+we saw the smoke from the cooking fires of the batterymen and watched
+them preparing their morning meal. For, be it understood, our brigade
+commander had sent word along that the orders of the night before as to
+noise and fires were still in force and we had breakfasted on hardtack
+and water. And there were the artillerymen with their fires lighted and
+frying their bacon and making their coffee as if there were no such
+orders and not a Spaniard within fifty miles. We could not understand
+it and for that matter we do not to this day. Maybe somebody does but
+if so we never heard of it.
+
+It was bad enough to almost smell the hot coffee, for the morning air
+was cool and raw, and to see the batterymen drinking it with relish,
+but it was far worse to see them nonchalantly light their pipes and
+cigarettes and enjoy them. Since the night before we had been deprived
+of the solace of tobacco and anyone who has ever soldiered knows what
+that means. But when we saw the red striped gunners enjoying the weed
+we made up our minds to follow suit. In a very short time our pipes
+were going and the officers sympathetically not only forebore to stop
+us but soon began to puff their pipes. Even a cold breakfast can be
+enjoyed with a tobacco dessert and that early morning smoke on the
+threshold of the battlefield was a much appreciated one.
+
+Meanwhile we had been getting ready and as packing up did not take us
+long it was but a short time after we were aroused from our slumbers
+before we had fallen in and were ready for what the day might bring
+forth. While waiting for orders to march we heard the noise of hoofs
+coming up the trail and Gen. Lawton and his staff clattered by us on
+their way to the front. A couple of Cuban officers were with them and
+they were evidently pleased with the work cut out for the Americans
+that day. Only a few moments after the general had passed came the
+orders to march and we were soon "hitting the trail" again, this time
+on the down grade.
+
+It was then about 4.30 in the morning. We moved along slowly, the trail
+being so narrow it was necessary to go in column of files and it was
+fully as bad walking as the route we had gone over the previous night.
+After a little we came to a brook and took advantage of the opportunity
+to fill our canteens. Just on the other side of the brook we passed
+Capron's battery posted on a low hill, the muzzles of the three inch
+rifles pointed toward El Caney and the cannoneers at their posts
+waiting for the ball to open. By that time we all realized that this
+was the day we were to go into business.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII.
+
+WHEREIN IS RELATED SOME EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED TO US ON JULY FIRST.
+
+
+Hardly had we passed the battery before we heard the boom of one of
+its guns, followed by another and another and we knew then the trouble
+had begun. We kept on the trail for a while longer, the men keeping
+well closed up now and keeping eyes and ears alert. El Caney was now
+replying to Capron and we could hear for the first time the squeal of
+the Mauser bullets as they began to go over us with a sound like that
+of a vicious cat at bay. We were under fire but hardly realized it as
+yet.
+
+It was a splendid morning. Our trail led along the side of what had
+once been well cultivated fields, the only indication of that now
+being the inevitable barbed wire fencing. The skies were cloudless and
+birds sang as we went along to battle. There were other birds too but
+they did not sing. Hardly had the first of Capron's cannon sent its
+"good morning" salute to El Caney before a speck was visible in the
+sky. Larger and larger it grew until we saw it was a buzzard scenting
+the battle and before long it was joined by hundreds of its kind, all
+circling about in the air only a short distance from the earth and
+waiting for the rich feast about to be spread for them. But we recked
+not of buzzards or what their presence presaged.
+
+A short distance further along the trail, a quick order and we changed
+direction to the right, leaving the trail and going across the field
+directly toward El Caney. Barbed wire fencing was in our way but
+the two wire cutters attached to each company soon made a gate for
+us. Our battalion swung through and into the field while the second
+battalion kept to the trail and took the field further along. The third
+battalion and I of the second, as we afterwards found, were halted by
+Capron's battery and were not given front seats to the performance.
+The field soon changed to scrub and bush through which way was made
+as best we could without much regard to alignment. Then came a bit of
+forest and then we debouched out upon the Santiago road, one of the
+few thoroughfares in Cuba that looked like a road. A halt and then we
+stripped for action. Rolls and haversacks were taken off and piled by
+the road side. The belts and the pockets of the brown canvas coats were
+filled with cartridges and we were ready for trouble.
+
+Meanwhile it was evident that there was trouble ahead of the Second.
+From El Caney's forts and trenches came a hail of bullets, while on our
+right and left there were the Krags of our regulars popping away with
+machine like regularity, their whip like sentences being punctuated at
+intervals by the 3-inch rifles of Capron's men. Over our heads went
+the Mausers in a steady stream and there wasn't a man of the Second
+marching up that road that morning who failed to bow his head, (most
+of us called it "ducking") in response to their salutation. The 8th
+and 22d of our brigade had gone on ahead of us, had deployed to the
+left and we could hear their Krags answering the Mausers. It was our
+first experience under fire and it is no wonder that nearly all of us
+wished ourselves, for just a few moments, somewhere else and remembered
+certain pressing engagements we had at Springfield that Friday morning.
+But this feeling was like going into a cold bath. The first plunge
+is the worst and within half an hour after getting into the action
+these same men that were "ducking" their heads to the bullets were up
+on the firing line and acting like veterans instead of men who up to
+that morning had never faced an armed foe. Our education had progressed
+rapidly.
+
+And here a word as to El Caney where Gen. Vara Del Ray and 620 Spanish
+troops held Lawton's division at bay from 6.30 in the morning until
+4.30 in the afternoon. In the general plan for the day's work of July
+1st Lawton's division was to sweep over to Caney, devote an hour or
+so to capturing it and then swing over to the San Juan forts and aid
+Kent's division to take them. Trustworthy (?) Cuban advices were that
+there were only a couple of hundred Spanish troops in El Caney and the
+taking of that outpost of Santiago was to be but an incident of our
+march to San Juan. But Gen. Del Ray had not been consulted as to this
+program and the result was our time schedule went to pieces. An entire
+division against 620 men looks like heavy odds in favor of the division
+but it must be remembered that the enemy were strongly entrenched with
+all the advantage of position and knew the ground thoroughly, while we
+were in the open with little or no shelter and with only a four-gun
+light battery against stone forts, strong blockhouses and well made
+intrenchments, so that our advantage in numbers was more than made up
+by the superior position of the enemy.
+
+El Caney lay almost directly in front of us, a small town backed up
+against a steep hill as if at bay and with forts, intrenchments and
+houses bristling with rifles. To our right on a small elevation was the
+famous stone fort over which floated the red and yellow flag of Spain.
+A little to the left was the village church, of stone and converted
+into a fortress while on either sides of both fort and church were the
+familiar Spanish blockhouses. And in front of all were the trenches,
+well built and covering all the front and sides of the town, a covered
+way connecting some of them with the fort and with their fronts
+guarded by fences and entanglements of barbed wire, a protection found
+of value against the Cubans, but which proved to be of less efficiency
+against the valor of American soldiers. This was what El Caney
+presented to us on that bright July morning.
+
+Our brigade's work had been mapped out and appeared to be comparatively
+easy. It was to take position on the left of the American line and cut
+off the retreat of the enemy towards Santiago when he was driven from
+Caney which, as already scheduled, was to be within an hour or so after
+the initial shot. But the program for Ludlow's brigade was changed by
+force of circumstances, for hardly had the 8th and 22d of our brigade
+got into position before they were attacked and replied in kind and
+within a few moments the hottest part of the action was taking place
+on the left instead of being confined to the right and center, as
+originally planned.
+
+And while this was happening we were down the "pike" getting ready to
+add our contribution to the din of battle. We were not long in getting
+ready and leaving one man from each company to guard the rolls left by
+the roadside the seven companies of the Second marched to the firing
+line. The first battalion, G, B, K and D companies, was by this time
+some distance ahead of the second, while the third was still held up by
+the battery. Col. Clark, Lieut. Col. Shumway and Adjutant Hawkins were
+standing beneath a huge tree at the intersection of the "sunken" road
+with the Santiago road and hardly had the companies come up before an
+order came from Gen. Ludlow to send four companies to strengthen the
+line of the 22d on our left. B and K companies of the first battalion
+and L and E of the second battalion, which had by this time come up,
+were detailed and B and K, under command of Major Southmayd started
+for the 22d. L and E followed but through some misunderstanding got
+into a "hot box" and after a time returned to the sunken road and took
+position there.
+
+B and K marched down the sunken road and then across an open space,
+across which the bullets were flying in a steady stream. It was
+necessary to "duck" here and it was done without any loss of dignity.
+This space cleared, the companies came to a bit of bush and then into
+a gully facing El Caney on the left. Here was the 22d, lying down and
+answering the fire of the Spaniards in good style.
+
+Hardly had B and K reached the gully and taken position when the hail
+of bullets began to fall among them and men began to drop. Private
+Frank E. Moody of K was one of the first hit and died almost instantly,
+the bullet having pierced his heart. On the march of the night before
+he had felt a presentiment of his fate and so strong was this feeling
+of his fate that he gave his watch to Private Fuller to take home to
+his parents. Before long Private John J. Malone of B got a fatal wound
+just below the heart and then men began to fall thick and fast. As
+soon as the two companies had taken their positions they were ordered
+to fire, but the enemy's return for the first few volleys was payment
+with compound interest. The smoke from the Springfield rifles showed
+the position of our men and lifting slowly, made just the target which
+the enemy needed. At this time the line was about 900 yards from
+the advanced Spanish trenches and it must have been just like rifle
+practice for the enemy. Within a moment after the first volley from
+the Springfields crashed out a hail of bullets was poured into the two
+companies from the trenches and men fell like sheep. Capt. Warriner,
+raising on one shoulder to give an order, sank back with a Mauser
+through his body. Corporal Ward Lathrop got one through his head,
+Corporal Hoadley got his "in the neck," the bullet going through the
+right side, Wagoner Boule had one through his left hand, Private Ashley
+of B was hit in the left forearm, Private James F. Ferrier was shot
+through the right shoulder and also had a bullet traverse the right
+side of his head, making an ugly wound, Howard Meyrick had a double
+one, one bullet striking his right leg, while another went through his
+left shoulder and the upper part of his left arm. Private C. J. Riordan
+got a bullet through his left hand while Private A. E. Rose got the
+thumb and one finger of his right hand nipped, Private W. B. Riopel was
+hard hit, the bullet entering his left shoulder and entering the lungs.
+Barkman of K got a Mauser through his left elbow and was also hit in
+the left leg below the knee.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Lieut. H. S. Crossman. J.G.
+  H. Co.
+
+  Lieut. J. K. Dexter. H. Co.
+
+  Lieut. W. O. Cohn. J.G.
+  H. Co.
+]
+
+As quickly as possible the wounded were picked up by their comrades
+and taken to the rear, a temporary dressing station being established
+beneath a huge tree on the Santiago road. The first aid bandages came
+in handily on the field and were used to advantage. Lieut. Powers took
+command of K and Capt. McDonald, as cool as if battles were everyday
+occurrences, kept a watchful eye on his men.
+
+The heavy fire which the powder smoke had drawn upon the two companies
+was also being felt by the 22d and its choleric commander, Major Van
+Horn, came rushing over with, "For God's sake, Second Massachusetts,
+stop firing! You're making us a regular target for the enemy." This was
+not all he said, either, but it was stronger language than politeness
+required. The firing did stop, that is, the volley firing did, but the
+company commanders gave their men orders to fire at will. Soon Major
+Van Horn came over with another protest and the two companies moved
+along a little further to the right but on the same line as the 22d and
+leaving quite a little gap between them. As the 22d advanced so did B
+and K, taking advantage of what cover there was and keeping up their
+fire for some time. It was perhaps that protest of Major Van Horn that
+gave the impression that the entire Second regiment was ordered off
+the firing line, an impression that is a very much mistaken one. From
+the time the two companies took position on the right of the 22d they
+fired at intervals and at will until the Spaniards were driven from the
+last trench and El Caney was taken.
+
+While these things were happening on our left G company was having
+troubles of its own on the extreme right of the line. Sending B and K
+to the 22d left Col. Clark with only G and D companies of the first
+battalion with him, the three companies of the second battalion having
+been placed in the sunken road, whose banks gave them some protection
+from the incessant fire from El Caney. G and D were sent further along
+up the Santiago road and G was halted directly in front of a cultivated
+field which was directly in front of the trenches and the town and
+was flanked by the stone fort. Halting here the second platoon of the
+company under Lieut. Edward J. Leyden deployed as skirmishers and
+advanced across the field, taking every possible advantage of cover,
+of which there was little, and halting at intervals to kneel and
+fire. The light brown uniforms advancing slowly across the field soon
+attracted the notice of the enemy, even before the first volley from
+the Springfields gave the Spaniards a target, and men began to drop.
+Still the line advanced until it was within 500 yards of the fort and
+then a halt was ordered and the men threw themselves flat on the ground
+and began firing at will. Now the bullets from both fort and trenches
+were hailing about them but they kept crawling along until within a
+range of 400 yards. Then Lieut. Leyden looked around and saw that
+his 14 men were isolated from the rest of the company and he at once
+realized that it was suicidal to go further without reinforcements.
+Arthur Packard, beloved of all his comrades, had fallen dead on the
+field with a Spanish bullet through his head and George Richmond,
+one of the "old timers" of the company, had fallen fatally wounded.
+"Goldie" Bresnan had been ordered to the rear with the blood dripping
+from a shattered hand and Ernest Marble, wounded in the head, lay on
+the field. Others had in the meantime joined the little force, men from
+other companies, but not enough to make a further advance successful.
+Among the reinforcements was Lieut. D. J. Moynihan of I company, who
+had left his position with the second battalion and walked across the
+field to join Leyden's men. He essayed his luck as a sharpshooter,
+borrowing a rifle from one of the men, and fired three shots before
+he himself sank to the ground with a bullet through his body. Before
+this happened, however, and when he first joined Lieut. Leyden, Lieut.
+Moynihan advised that the advance should continue and suggested a
+charge. But Lieut. Leyden pointed to the few men he had and asked what
+the result would be. There was no answer to this. Less than 20 men
+charging against a stone fort under a heavy fire from it and flanked
+by the trenches would have been heroic, no doubt, but it would have
+been deliberately throwing away men's lives and to no good result. So
+Lieut. Leyden refused to order a charge but sent Lieut. Moynihan back
+to Col. Clark for orders. These were for him to remain where he was
+and there the platoon stayed until the town was taken, although some
+of the men advanced even closer to the fort, taking advantage of some
+small piles of stones, which had evidently been heaped up as shelter
+for Spanish outposts. All the long afternoon the little squad lay under
+the pitiless sun, firing whenever there was a chance until they heard
+the cheers of the charging regulars and saw the red and yellow flag of
+Spain go down from the fort and the Stars and Stripes replace it. Then
+they sprang to their feet and cheered. But it was not all over then.
+The fort had been taken but from trench and blockhouse and church and
+every building in El Caney still came the hail of Mausers. The dead and
+wounded of the Second were being attended to as best could be done, but
+their comrades still fought on. Two guns of Capron's battery had been
+moved up to a position in the rear of D company and the balance of G
+and were knocking things about in the old town. Gen. Vara Del Ray was
+wounded unto death and the American troops were drawing their lines
+closer and closer around Caney, but still the Spaniards fought on with
+the courage of desperation. At the fork of the roads was Col. Clark,
+sending his staff officers, or rather officer, Lieut. Paul R. Hawkins,
+hither and thither and giving messages to his orderlies. Lieut.
+Hawkins, cool under fire, won a high place in the regard of the men who
+saw him that day and the orderlies, including Private Ross of B, showed
+coolness and courage. Two other Springfield men, Sergeant Scully and
+Corporal Ross of G were pressed into service as orderlies for a time
+and did their duty well. Two cool and collected men were Col. Clark
+and Lieut. Col. Shumway and both exposed themselves, at times against
+the wish of the brigade commander, along the line. Gen. Ludlow was for
+some time at the fork of the roads with Col. Clark, his dead horse,
+shot under him, almost at the outset of the action, lying near by, but
+once he was gone he did not return and neither he nor anyone else in
+authority gave the orders to withdraw the Second from the firing line,
+as has been stated by some. If any such orders were issued which is
+doubtful, they were never received by Col. Clark, and the companies of
+the Second stayed throughout the day where he placed them.
+
+Meanwhile the big tree a bit down the road was the scene of some
+grewsome work. Soon after the opening of the action Lieut. Hawkins had
+been ordered by Col. Clark to bring up the surgeons and the ground
+under the big tree was then transformed into a temporary hospital or
+rather a dressing station. Here Surgeon Bowen and his assistants,
+Lieuts. Gates and Hitchcock, aided by Hospital Stewards Fortier,
+Greenberg and Howes and the members of the hospital corps, labored
+until the enemy's sharpshooters, discerning the group under the tree,
+made it an object of attention and the bullet-torn leaves began to
+flutter down upon the wounded. Then the hospital was moved farther down
+the road and the dead and dying and wounded conveyed there as tenderly
+as possible under the circumstances. It was here the heroic Father
+Edwin Fitzgerald, the beloved chaplain of the 22d, labored from morning
+until far into the night, caring as tenderly as a mother for the
+wounded of all the regiments, making their places as easy as possible
+for them, bringing them water from the distant brook, giving the
+consolations of religion to all, whether of his creed or not. More than
+once he visited the firing line and aided in bringing some poor fellow
+down to the hospital. Danger he cared not for and he went on with his
+work apparently oblivious to his bullet-torn coat, two holes in which
+bore eloquent witness to narrow escapes. On that day Father Fitzgerald
+earned the lifelong affection of the officers and men of the Second.
+
+And so time wore on until between 4.30 and 5 in the afternoon, when
+ringing cheers announced that the last trench had been won and El Caney
+was ours. Then followed the reunion of the regiment. Lieut. Leyden
+marched his gallant platoon back and the men fell into their old places
+in G company. B and K came back from the left with the 22d and the
+regiment gathered once more on the Santiago road, soldiers now, stained
+with powder and battle smoke and grim with the thoughts of the day and
+its events. Further down the road in the improvised hospital lay the
+forms, cold in death, of five brave men and with them were 40 more or
+less seriously wounded, three of them mortally.
+
+The Second had received its baptism of blood.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII.
+
+WE LEARN SOME MORE THINGS ABOUT THE ART OF WAR AS CONDUCTED IN THESE
+DAYS.
+
+
+It was not exactly a joyous reunion as the companies assembled in the
+Santiago road that afternoon. True, we were all glad to see one another
+again, but the heat and burden of the day had been great and there were
+many faces missing from the ranks. Nearly ten hours on the battlefield
+under the burning Cuban sun and without much to comfort us in the way
+of food or drink was not conducive to good temper and to this was added
+the spur of the ingratitude of our so-called Cuban allies. It will be
+remembered that just before the regiment went into action the rolls and
+haversacks had been discarded and placed by the roadside and it fell
+out that while the owners were up on the firing line fighting for _Cuba
+Libre_, some of the Cuban patriots came along and, the guards placed
+over the property being absent, helped themselves to the rations in
+the haversacks. These were the Cubans, by the way, who were supposed
+to be fighting over on our left that day, but it seems they had more
+important business, to them, on hand to bother much about fighting. So
+as we gathered there in the road in the stillness which followed the
+battle storm and realized that we were to go supperless there were some
+things said about our Cuban friends which indicated a not very high
+feeling of esteem for them.
+
+Once gathered together again and the roll called came the after work
+of the battle. Squads were sent over the field to bring in any dead or
+wounded that might have been overlooked and to gather up any property
+left there. The companies which had lost men prepared to march to the
+hospital to bury the dead and those fortunate ones whose haversacks
+had been untouched began to light their cooking fires. Hardly an hour
+had elapsed since Caney was taken when up came an aide with orders for
+Col. Clark and when he read them the assembly sounded and we heard with
+disgust the orders that the regiment was to move at once to San Juan to
+reinforce the first division. We had anticipated after our hard day's
+work a bite to eat and a night's rest and here we were disappointed in
+both. Faintly through that day at intervals we at Caney could hear the
+sounds of battle in our rear and we heard late in the afternoon that
+it was our troops attacking the San Juan forts but it was not until
+after we had finished our job at El Caney that we heard what the first
+division had done.
+
+But orders are orders and grumbling does not count against them. The
+details sent to dig graves were recalled, the equipments were donned
+again and in a short time we were once more "piking the pike." It was a
+gloomy march that evening, for the men were not very much inclined to
+conversation. On we went, now in columns of fours on a fairly decent
+road for Cuba, again in column of files through the bush and finally
+emerged onto another road. It was now dark, but we kept on until about
+10 o'clock we came to a stone bridge over the San Juan river and the
+order to halt was given as the head of our regiment reached the bridge.
+Whether it was to be a mere halt or a bivouac no one seemed to know
+and no one cared. Hardly had the order to halt been given before the
+men had dropped by the roadside and, worn out by the toilsome march
+of the night before and the day's work, followed by the march to the
+bridge, were asleep, many of them without even taking off their heavy
+rolls. It was not an ideal place for slumber, either. Troops were
+continually passing by and every now and then a mule team would pass
+with a clatter but the sleepers slumbered on. Until after midnight we
+lay there, waiting for further orders. About one o'clock up came mule
+wagons and a pack train and soon after the men were awakened and told
+to "hurry up" and get rations. In a few moments the scene was changed.
+Huge fires were lighted and by their light the rations were given out,
+the delights of slumber proving to be less strong than the desire to
+eat and every man awakening to the knowledge that we would soon be on
+the move again. So it was. Hardly had we drawn rations and began to
+cook them before a battery of artillery moved hurriedly by us to the
+rear, many of us just having time to draw our legs out of the way of
+the wheels. Next came the 8th and 22d of our brigade and by 2 o'clock
+we too were on the march. Following the road over which we had come for
+a short distance, we soon left it and changing direction to the right,
+swung into a trail across country. Along this we marched for hours amid
+the darkness, through woods and chaparral and fields, once cultivated.
+We climbed hills and forded streams, all in the darkness, we brushed
+the morning mist from the trees and grass as we passed, and when the
+dawn came found ourselves still on the march, wet and tired and sleepy
+and bedraggled. Daylight made no difference. On we pressed, climbing a
+long hill, crowned with plantation buildings and from which we could
+look down upon a scene of beauty, the green-clad hills and mountains,
+their tops still wreathed in the morning mist and with no sign that
+aught but peace and happiness lay in the valleys between them. No time,
+however, this to enjoy scenery, no matter how picturesque. On we went,
+now down the hill and into a thick piece of woods, where we halted
+for a little time, then on again until we once more struck a road and
+reached El Pozo, where there had been considerable trouble the day
+before. Without waiting for us the quadrille had already opened. During
+our halt in the woods we could hear the artillery and the rifles and
+soon after we reached the El Pozo road and once more swinging to the
+right started for San Juan we realized that it might be a case of
+El Caney over again, for we encountered a steady stream of wounded
+men going or being carried to the rear. Down the road screeched the
+Mausers, but still high over our heads and in the distance we could
+hear the boom of the guns of the Spanish forts as they answered our
+light artillery. Still onward, with no band or field music to give us
+the cadenced step, a minute's halt now and then until we were compelled
+to leave the road to make way for a battery banging recklessly along
+to take another position. Then across a stream and over an open
+field in full view of the enemy's trenches on the right, passing the
+battleground of the day before and, under fire by this time, we swung
+once more to the right and took position on a hill on nearly the
+extreme right of the American line.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Private R. G. Kelly.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Arthur Packard.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Geo. A. Richmond.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Andrew Little.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Private Francis A. Burk.
+  G. Co.
+
+  Corpl P. J. Noone.
+  G. Co.
+]
+
+Rolls had been again stripped off and it was expected we would go into
+action, but the Spaniards had been given pretty nearly all the fight
+they wanted that day and there was little for the Second to do but to
+take its position and stay there. For hours the men lay on the hill
+crest under the blazing sun, without a chance at cooking a meal and
+hard pressed for water until details were sent back to the stream with
+canteens. Sharpshooters made this mission dangerous but no one refused
+to go.
+
+It was not until early in the evening that the firing died down and it
+was safe to stand erect and walk about. The rolls and haversacks had
+been brought up and having been better guarded from prowling Cubans
+this time the contents of the haversacks were intact. By the time
+darkness came on the hillside on which we were camped for the day,
+tents had by this time been put up, was illuminated by the cooking
+fires and once more we enjoyed something that would pass for a meal.
+This over, sleep was the next necessity and we were not long in seeking
+our downy couches.
+
+But we did not slumber long. Just about 10 o'clock there was a
+disturbance of the peace by the Spaniards, who apparently wished to
+spoil the good time we were having. Three or four big guns boomed out
+and then came the, by this time familiar sound of the Mausers. It
+needed no bell boy to awake us. In a jiffy we were up and scrambling
+for rifles and cartridge belts. Then came quickly spoken orders to
+"fall in" from the company commanders and the voices of the hurrying
+non-coms as they rounded up the men. All was black darkness and men
+stumbled over the grass and roots or slipped on the steep hillside. It
+was a scene of the utmost din and confusion, orders coming fast and
+loud, the men, still sleep-blinded, hustling about in confusion, the
+night's stillness broken by the crash of the Spanish rifles and the
+noise of exploding shells over our heads while on our right we heard
+the whip-like crack of the Krags answering the Mausers. "Hell's broken
+loose," avowed a B man as he groped about for his cartridge belt and
+indeed it seemed so.
+
+Our battalion had its "shacks" on the top of the hill just below the
+crest while the other companies were scattered all along the hill but
+further below, so that the men of the Springfield companies were not
+long in falling in and making their way to the crest. But even then
+they were not quick enough to satisfy Major Van Horn, the choleric
+commander of the 22d, who appeared to have as bad a case of what was
+known to the boys as the "rattles" as any man ever had. Brandishing his
+sword, he ran about the hill, cursing the Second and ordering every man
+to the front, although it would have seemed he had enough to do to look
+after his own outfit. Col. Clark and his officers and the regiment were
+already on the top of the hill and awaiting events, but for some time
+Major Van Horn pranced and reared and vented his spleen upon the few
+men who happened to be a bit slow about getting up until finally his
+senses returned and he went where he belonged.
+
+All in all our officers and men acted with coolness, considering the
+circumstances. It is not pleasant or conducive to coolness of thought
+or action to be suddenly pulled out of bed after a day of great
+exertion and hustle around in black darkness to the accompaniment
+of rifle bullets and bombshells and especially when it is uncertain
+whether the enemy is in one's front, flank or rear and go stumbling up
+a steep hill so that it is small wonder if at the outset a few were
+"rattled." But in a very short time the lines were formed on the top of
+the hill and the Second waited.
+
+It was fortunate that none of our officers lost their heads and
+ordered their men to fire for the results could not fail to have been
+unfortunate all around. Just below us were three of our own regiments
+and had the Second fired the bullets would have hit our own men. It was
+a wonder that in the darkness and confusion nothing of the kind was
+done but officers and men kept their heads well and after the first
+confused rush up the hill all acted with commendable coolness.
+
+But if we did not use our rifles the enemy did theirs and before the
+affair was over two men of the Second had been hit, one of them,
+Private Robert G. Kelly of G, mortally. A Mauser struck him in the left
+cheek, passing through and severing the lingual artery, lodged in the
+muscles of the right jaw. The other man hit was Private Peter N. White
+of A company, whose wound was not serious.
+
+Poor Kelly was taken to his tent, where he lay in agony all night, the
+surgeons and hospital stewards doing all they could to relieve him. The
+next morning he was taken to the division hospital near Siboney where
+he lingered until July 7th, when he died. There was a story, which has
+never been denied, that his death was caused by internal hemorrhage
+caused by the imperfect manner in which his wound was cared for in the
+hospital.
+
+The affair lasted about an hour and when the attacking force of
+Spaniards had been pretty well cut to pieces the enemy retired within
+his lines once more and the Second returned to its slumbers. At 3 A. M.
+there was some more firing but this was merely an affair of outposts
+and lasted but a few moments, just long enough to break up sleep for
+the second time that night.
+
+Next day was Sunday, but it could hardly be called a peaceful one. From
+daybreak to early in the afternoon the sharpshooters of the enemy were
+active and a man had to walk humbly and keep well under cover unless
+he cared to make a target of himself. Many of these sharpshooters were
+inside our lines, not having had an opportunity to get to their own
+when their companions were driven back and hidden in thick foliaged
+trees and supplied with rations and water and plenty of ammunition they
+managed to make matters rather lively for us. Early in the day many
+squads were sent out to locate and capture these fellows but though
+many were located few were brought in as prisoners.
+
+Time wore on slowly that Sunday. About noon orders were promulgated
+that an armistice had been declared and that firing on both sides was
+to cease at 12 o'clock. This was not bad news but evidently all our
+Spanish friends did not hear of it until later, for up to 2 o'clock
+there was an occasional bullet sent toward us from the outlying
+trenches. After that hour it was possible to walk about without having
+to dodge.
+
+Early that morning we heard the distance-dulled boom of heavy guns
+from the direction of the mouth of the harbor. We knew that Sampson
+and Schley were outside waiting for Cervera and his ships but we had
+heard the guns of our fleet so often that we supposed it was simply
+another case of throwing a few shot at the Morro or the other Spanish
+batteries. Gradually the roar of the guns grew fainter and fainter
+until they died away altogether and it was supposed the attack of
+the fleet had again been fruitless. But soon after noon the "JoJo"
+department got at work again and rumors began to circulate that this
+time the fleet had been successful and had forced its way past the
+batteries and into the harbor.
+
+It was not until soon after 4 o'clock that afternoon, however, that we
+learned what had happened. Then we saw Major Webb of Shafter's staff
+riding up to our brigade headquarters, which were only a few yards away
+from Col. Clark's "shack." The major reined up, said a few words to
+Gen. Ludlow and the latter hastily summoned the regimental commanders
+and announced that the Spanish fleet had tried to cut its way out of
+the harbor and had been met by Schley's ships and destroyed. It did
+not take long for the good news to spread and then such cheering as
+went up. Hats went up into the air and there was general jubilation.
+For once the "JoJo" department had been outdone. All along our line we
+could hear the cheering and then what few regimental bands we had broke
+loose and gave a jubilee concert which was highly appreciated. We had
+no religious services that day but the bands played, "There'll be a hot
+time in Old Town to-night."
+
+Discipline was relaxed after the armistice had been declared and the
+men wandered along the lines, visiting other regiments and going over
+the battlegrounds of the two days previous. Many visited the outposts
+and took a look at the city and the forts. We could see the Spaniards
+taking life easy in their trenches and we wondered if they had heard
+what had happened to their fleet. Some of our boys, disgusted with
+their Springfields, went "grafting" Krags and picked up a good number,
+together with plenty of ammunition. Had the entire regiment been turned
+loose there is no question but what every man would have replaced
+his Springfield with a Krag-Jorgensen and as it was nearly 150 were
+obtained and a corresponding number of Springfields thrown away.
+
+Our sleep was unbroken that night and we were ready to celebrate
+July 4th the next morning. Our celebration took the form of a little
+excursion, for soon after our frugal breakfast we were on the march
+again and began our celebrated swing to the right with the object of
+encircling the city. Our brigade led the advance as it had from the
+start and after four hours of slow progress we swung to the left and
+took our position on the now famous "Misery hill," an elevation in rear
+of the city and overlooking it. From the crest we could plainly see the
+Spanish batteries and barracks, while almost directly in front of us
+were the hospital buildings with half a dozen Red Cross flags flying
+over them. We passed our Fourth of July quietly enough. Not a fire
+cracker was fired, principally because we did not have any and there
+was not even a rifle crack to mark the day. Late in the afternoon we
+heard the guns of the fleet again as they hammered away at the harbor
+batteries for awhile. We pitched our "day tents" and took notice of the
+fact that our rations were getting low again. Next day we were put at
+work for the first time digging trenches and we enjoyed the job. For
+tools there were in the entire regiment only a few shovels and picks
+but the trenches had to be dug and the boys went at it with their mess
+knives, spoons and tin plates. It was fierce work under the blazing
+sun and the soil was hard to dig, but the work was done by reliefs and
+by night of the next day the trenches of our battalion were completed
+and good ones they were, too. They were dug on the crest of the hill
+and were deep enough with the earth parapet to give us protection from
+anything the enemy might send over at us. They were wide enough to
+enable the men to move about and the earth was cut away at the rear so
+as to make a sort of seat. More trouble was anticipated at any moment
+and ammunition in plenty was placed along the trenches. In fact, there
+was more ammunition than rations about all the time during the campaign.
+
+Capron's battery, which was with us at El Caney, came up the 6th and
+took a position on the left of our line of trenches. The digging of
+intrenchments for this battery afforded us our first opportunity of
+seeing Cubans work and certainly they did work under Capt. Capron.
+Other regiments kept coming up and taking positions on our left and the
+circle about Santiago began to tighten.
+
+Meanwhile we had leisure to lie about and figure up our losses. Malone
+of B, shot at El Caney, had died in the field hospital the evening of
+July 2d and his death came as a shock to his friends in that company.
+Richmond of G died in the same hospital early the preceding evening and
+that made five good men in the three Springfield companies slain by
+Spanish bullets. There were many missing faces from the ranks, too, and
+we kept hearing rumors that this or that man wounded at Caney had died
+in the hospital. Besides we knew some exaggerated stories about the
+losses of the Second had gone home and we knew the anxiety which our
+friends and relatives in Springfield must be feeling.
+
+There were other losses aside from the bullets of the enemy. On July
+6th Major Southmayd and Capt. McDonald left camp, the former going
+home on sick leave and the latter having injured himself badly in the
+spine. He was accompanied to the hospital by First Sergeant Burke,
+who remained with him until he sailed for the United States. In Capt.
+McDonald's absence First Lieut. W. L. Young took command of B company.
+Capt. John J. Leonard of G was made acting major of Major Southmayd's
+battalion and retained the command to the close of the campaign. The
+command of K company devolved upon First Lieut. Phillip C. Powers and
+First Lieut. W. C. Hayes took command of G company.
+
+About this time many of our boys got "next" to a species of poison vine
+somewhat resembling the poison ivy of New England and with about the
+same results. The surgeons could find nothing to counteract the effects
+of the vine until a Cuban told them of another plant which being
+steeped was an effective antidote for the poison and a free use of this
+soon restored the swollen faces and hands of the sufferers to their
+normal condition.
+
+"Misery hill" was a delightful place especially when the rations began
+to get shy as they did soon after our arrival. The visits of the pack
+train were few and far between and it was just as likely as not to
+bring ammunition instead of rations. Issues of one or two hardtack
+and a thin slice of bacon for a twenty-four hours ration were common,
+and some of the boys supplemented their menu with mangoes and "monkey
+plumes." Sergeant Lovely of G enjoyed the distinction of eating
+twenty-four mangoes in one day, much to the horror of the surgeons when
+they heard of it, but with no bad results to him.
+
+It was while we were on "Misery hill" that "Dido" Hunt achieved added
+fame by his abilities as a butcher. Gen. Ludlow had a desire for
+beefsteak and had purchased a hungry looking cow from some Cubans,
+Private Hunt as regimental butcher, being detailed to kill the animal.
+It was just before dusk, one evening, when the cow was led forth to
+the slaughter and "Dido," armed with a revolver, got ready to act as
+executioner. He fired again and again at the cow, the animal after each
+shot, looking about in a surprised manner as if wondering what the
+racket was all about. Finally one of the bullets hit the cow somewhere,
+and with a bellow of pain and fright, she ran off and disappeared in
+the darkness, leaving Private Hunt and the man who had been holding
+the rope gazing at each other. Gen. Ludlow had no steak that evening
+and the fate of the cow was never learned although there were rumors
+that the animal had ended her career in the camp of one of the regular
+regiments, the men of which had a fresh meat supper that night.
+
+A "commissary" had been established near Siboney by some enterprising
+sutlers, and the company officers were enabled to purchase some tea,
+oatmeal, etc., for their men. These were especially valuable, as
+several had succumbed to the climate and the toil and exposure of the
+campaign, and the hardtack and bacon were not the best kind of food
+for them. About this time, too, we were threatened with an outbreak of
+measles, but the cases were promptly isolated and the disease did not
+spread.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV.
+
+WE CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION IN THE ART OF WAR AND LEARN A FEW THINGS.
+
+
+Our stay on "Misery hill" lasted just seven days and in that time we
+learned a few things, the art of trench digging without intrenching
+tools, standing out in our memory as one most important lesson. We
+learned how to sleep on a side hill without our bodies slipping
+entirely out from the shelter tents during our slumbers, this being
+accomplished by the simple means of driving a couple of pegs into the
+ground at the opening of the tent and placing a stick against them, our
+feet resting against the stick and preventing us going any further.
+We acquired the art of making cigarettes and of using anything at all
+in the paper line to roll them in. The inner pith of the royal palm
+came in handily for this purpose when our supply of cigarette paper
+gave out. We learned how to make one match light several pipes or
+cigarettes, for matches were scarce and therefore not to be wasted.
+We learned how to make the brook water passably cool in our canteens,
+by thoroughly soaking the canvass covering of the canteen and then
+suspending it from a tree or tent pole, the evaporation of the moisture
+of the cover slowly cooling the contents. At night the canteens were
+hung from the tent poles and in the morning the water was usually quite
+cool. Later on long branches of bamboo were used as water vessels and
+one trip to the brook usually sufficed for the day. In the building of
+"shacks" by which the regulars who had served in the west designated
+about everything in the way of a shelter from the sun or rain, we
+obtained lessons from our friends of the 8th and 22d. A couple of
+crotched sticks across which was laid a center pole formed the usual
+frame work of the structure and the roof and sides were composed of
+bushes or palm leaves. These were more airy than our tents and more
+comfortable except when it rained heavily.
+
+Also, we learned to do without stockings, the fact being that the
+bulk of our hosiery was either worn out or thrown away, and we took a
+card from the regulars and discarded such things in the line thereof,
+greasing our feet with the luscious "sow belly." In laundry work we
+became expert. "Jim" Ryan's steam laundry had long since gone into
+voluntary bankruptcy, and every man was his own laundryman. Insect
+enemies began to appear, and obtained a lodgment in spite of strenuous
+efforts. Soap was scarce and there were times when water was not the
+easiest thing in the world to get. Our sleeping arrangements were
+primitive, the usual method of arranging them being to place the rubber
+blanket on the ground with the coated side down, on this place the
+woolen blanket and wrapping this about us, go to sleep. Our coats, or
+shoes, or anything else suitable, being utilized for pillows. While on
+"Misery hill" many of the boys cut grass and utilized it as mattresses,
+but we could not do this on our short bivouacs.
+
+As to cooking, we were "stars." That is when there was anything to
+cook. On these occasions our culinary preparations were delightfully
+simple and even chafing-dish outfits would have to bow to our superior
+ingenuity. Our cooking apparatus required a small fire of wood, and
+the utensils were all carried in our haversacks. They were a combined
+frying pan and plate of tin, the former having a handle, a sharp
+pointed knife, fork and spoon. The basis of our menu was especially
+noticeable for its simplicity, the staples being bacon, hardtack,
+canned tomatoes and coffee. Sometimes we had sugar and more times we
+didn't. Occasionally we had a bit of salt or pepper and on these rare
+occasions there was joy, for then we were enabled to make the stuff
+labelled "canned roast beef" palatable enough so that it could be
+forced down our throats. At other times, Ugh! If the devil hasn't a
+special corner in the hot room of his Turkish bath reserved for those
+responsible for that "canned roast beef," he isn't "onto his job."
+
+Even with such simple means we managed to vary the menus a bit at
+times. Our usual breakfast was bacon and hardtack and coffee. The bacon
+was usually without a bit of lean and after frying for a moment or two
+the pan was about half-filled with fat, leaving a shrivelled up and
+brittle piece of so-called bacon. But it was eaten just the same, our
+stomachs having been educated up to anything. Sometimes we fried our
+hardtack in the bacon grease and these with black coffee, sometimes
+without sugar, made up our breakfast. Thanks to a beneficent government
+we had coffee about all the time, if we had nothing else. It came to
+us in the berry, in paper packages, and our chief concern as to coffee
+was how to grind or pulverize it. Usually this was done by the simple
+but slow process of putting a few berries in our tin cups and pounding
+them with a stick or tent pole until they were broken enough to steep.
+Then the cup was filled with water and placed in the fire until the
+coffee boiled when the cup was taken out by means of a cleft stick
+or a bayonet and laid aside to cool sufficiently to drink. There was
+plenty of barbed wire everywhere and by means of the wire cutters rude
+grates were made on which the tin cup was placed. For dinner the bill
+of fare and the method of preparing it was about the same, likewise
+for supper. Sometimes, when we had canned tomatoes we made "sludge," a
+simple confection of tomatoes and broken hardtack, with at times a few
+"strings" of the corned beef thrown in to give it, not taste, but more
+body. This "beef" was also used to form the groundwork for an imitation
+stew, the only resemblance to stew being the name, for it was without
+onions or potatoes. Then we made "Santiago sludge cakes," composed of
+pulverized hardtack and water, the mixture being patted into cakes and
+fried in bacon grease. Sometimes a bit of sugar was sprinkled over
+them, and we deluded ourselves into the belief that we were eating
+something very fine. Another method of preparing this delicacy was to
+mix in some canned tomato. Mango stew we had at times, but not often,
+as sugar was scarce.
+
+Gout might fairly have been expected as the result of this high
+living, (we were camped on a hill,) but, strange to say, no cases were
+reported, and even dyspepsia was unknown. Our regular hours doubtless
+aided us in keeping off these two diseases. We were aroused by reveille
+very early in the morning, usually about dawn and retired early in the
+evening. It grew dark about 8 o'clock and by that time everyone but the
+sentries was in quarters and usually asleep.
+
+The personal appearance of our officers and men was not as
+prepossessing as it might have been. Coats and collars were not _de
+rigeur_ and the only headgear was very "bum" looking campaign hats.
+Usually our blue shirts were open at the neck and a blue handkerchief
+carelessly knotted _a la_ cow boy was our only ornament. Suspenders
+were viewed with suspicion and the cartridge belts, with their thimbles
+filled with ammunition, served also the purpose of keeping our trousers
+up. These trousers were showing the wear and tear of the campaign, and
+needed pressing badly, being also used for pajamas. Our leggings were
+mostly torn and frayed, and went well with the trousers so far as looks
+were concerned, as for shoes, they too had seen better days. Barbers
+were at a discount and full beards were popular, the most noticeable
+ones in the three Springfield companies being those of Lieuts. Powers
+and Parkhurst of K, and Sergeants Scully and Murphy of G, although
+Gardella's was not far behind.
+
+In K "Bert" Nichols and "Ad" Potter had trained down so fine that
+their bodies failed to cast a shadow, and "Billy" Fish had got down to
+less than 200 pounds. The beard possessed by Morris Grenowitz of B was
+nearly all that remained of him and Jack Fulton was travelling in the
+same road. Alberts of B was having a good time with the horses and the
+Chaplain, and in K the Turner brothers were having hourly arguments
+with each other on the relative nutritious qualities of canned roast
+and corned beef. "Wap" Packard of G was busy figuring how many men
+were by his brother's side when he was shot, and had already counted
+up 35 with several more districts to hear from, and "Jim" Shene of the
+same company was planning foraging expeditions with Private Mahoney
+of Mittineague. "Batty" Hayes had secured a divorce from "Marguerite"
+Gelinas and was busy trying to keep the case out of the papers.
+
+So the days passed on "Misery hill" until noon of the 10th, when we
+were ordered to move on, once more to the right, and we left our fine
+trenches only to have them occupied by the 71st New York, the "heroes"
+of San Juan. We halted after a couple of hours, there being some
+trenches dug by Garcia's Cubans, and occupied them at 4 o'clock when
+our batteries opened upon Santiago. The affair lasted until 6, but the
+enemy's reply was not very loud and we did not get a chance to use our
+Springfields.
+
+Next morning we were on the march again, and this time it lasted about
+all day, up hill and down hill, until just before dusk we halted for
+the night with the right of our brigade resting on the Cobre road, thus
+cutting off the last avenue of escape from the city for the Spaniards,
+and the only way by which reinforcements from Holguin or the rest of
+the province could be put into the city. Rumors that a large Spanish
+force was on the way, made us vigilant and our guards were instructed
+to keep the sharpest kind of a watch, but as events proved, it was not
+necessary. Hardly had the boys got their tents up and their supper
+cooked, before the mail came up, and such a rush as there was for it.
+We had received one mail from home while on "Misery hill," and every
+man who failed to receive a letter then, was certain there was one or
+more for him now and could hardly wait to have the contents of the
+sacks distributed.
+
+That night we had to take off our hats to the Cuban rain storm. Hardly
+had the mail been distributed when it began to rain. Up to this what
+rain there was had usually fallen in the afternoon and was not of
+long duration, but the rain of July 11th and 12th will be remembered
+by every one in the Fifth Army Corps. It came down all night in solid
+sheets and our shelter tents and rubber blankets were of little use
+against it. When morning came everybody and everything was drenched,
+and a more forlorn looking outfit can hardly be imagined. About 6 A.
+M., the rain ceased for an hour or two and as soon as possible huge
+fires of bamboo were blazing and the men essayed to dry themselves and
+their clothing and to cook breakfast. Fortunately there was plenty of
+bamboo near our camp, and the wood burned as well wet as dry. But it
+was not long before down came the rain again just as bad as during the
+night, and to add to our discomfort, came orders to pack up and move on
+again.
+
+Rolling up our saturated tents and blankets, and wet to the skin, we
+took up the march and after wading through the deep mud of the Cobre
+road for a short distance, plunged into a trail which would take us to
+our new position and our last camp in Cuba. But it was not long before
+we found that the trail led through a piece of swampy ground, and
+before they had gone far the boys found themselves up to their legging
+tops in mud and the ooze of the swamp. It took a long time to flounder
+along through this, but it was finally done and the regiment emerged
+upon firm ground, and was soon on the spot selected for its occupancy.
+
+All this time the rain kept on, and it was not until nearly 4 P. M.,
+that it ceased and the sun came out. Meanwhile, the well soaked shelter
+tents had been put up and the men were either huddled under them and
+saying things about the wet season and Cuba, or were standing about
+with their rubber blankets thrown over their heads. But with the
+coming of the sun there was a great change. Its rays were so fierce
+that within half an hour there was scarcely any indication that it had
+been raining all night and all day, the ground dried up rapidly and so
+did the shelter tents. Off came the rubber blankets from the men, and
+clothing and equipments were spread out to dry in the afternoon sun.
+Wood was hustled for and with the blaze of the cooking fires and the
+smell of bacon and coffee cheerfulness returned.
+
+That evening the boys were put at work again digging trenches. Up to
+this Gen. Toral had hesitated to respond to Shafter's invitation to
+come out and surrender and the arrival of Gen. Miles having stiffened
+up the latter gentleman's backbone, some more trouble was looked for.
+Our brigade was, as usual, on the extreme right of the American line
+and the 8th regiment lay directly opposite the head of the harbor,
+the 22d next and then "ours." Right in front of our center and less
+than 500 yards away was the bull ring of Santiago, a circular wooden
+building filled with Spanish soldiers, while in front of that we could
+see the trenches with the soldiers lounging about, and with a glass
+could discern the barbed wire fencing and entanglements in front of the
+trenches. Our position was an exposed one, for from their position the
+enemy could have raked us front and flank, so at the trenches we went
+under the direction of Major Whipple.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Private Paul Vesper, B. Co.
+
+  Private John J. Malone, B. Co.
+
+  Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, B. Co.
+]
+
+By this time our regiment had been supplied with a fairly decent number
+of intrenching tools and the boys, appreciating the necessity for
+trenches, went at the work with but little grumbling. The trenches
+were dug on three sides of a square, one in front of each battalion,
+the work being done by each company in relays. Major Whipple's
+battalion now had the right, Major Fairbanks' the center and ours
+the left, so that it was in the rear of the other two. The work was
+continued to a late hour that night, and all the next day, and finished
+on the morning of the 14th. The trenches were even better than those
+dug on "Misery hill" and were complimented by Gen. Ludlow, who was a
+colonel of engineers before he became a general of volunteers. Not
+to be behind hand the non-commissioned staff of the regiment and the
+headquarters attaches dug a trench for themselves and the regiment was
+ready for the next move.
+
+Twelve o'clock at noon of the 24th was the hour set for the ending
+of the truce, and at 11.30 A. M. we were ordered into the trenches.
+Everyone felt there was going to be a hard fight this time, for it was
+considered certain that the enemy would make a determined resistance
+and our estimate of Spanish valor had gone up many degrees since El
+Caney. It was known that an assault by the Americans was to follow
+the bombardment and those who had noted the enemy's preparations for
+defense knew that we were in for a warm reception and that if we
+charged up to the barbed wire entanglements and the trenches many would
+not return. But that made little difference and we took our position
+in the trenches and waited for the opening gun from Capron's battery,
+posted on a hill in our rear. The horses and the Chaplain had gone to
+the rear and the surgeons and hospital corps were posted in readiness
+for what might happen. Hardly had we got into the trenches when the
+buzzards began to gather, and this to us was a certain indication of a
+battle.
+
+Noon came and the white flag of truce still waved from the governor's
+palace and the signal gun was not fired. Half after 12 and no change.
+We wondered what was up. Nothing much could be seen from the trenches
+and nearly all of the boys climbed to the top and sat down with eager
+eyes fastened upon the city we were going to capture. One o'clock and
+the white flag still floated. Now came the "Jo Jo" department to the
+front once again, and the news ran from trench to trench, that Shafter
+had postponed the assault and given the Spaniards a few days more
+in which to make up their mind. Following this came the information
+that Gen. Toral was merely trying to gain time in order that 10,000
+Spanish troops which were coming up, might attack us in the rear while
+Toral's men sallied out in our front. And then down came the rain in
+large and continuous sheets, soon flooding the trenches and making us
+forget the impending battle, "Jo Jo's," and everything else but the
+necessity of keeping as dry as possible. The rain lasted for an hour
+and a half, filling our lovely trenches with water and putting them in
+nice shape for a battle. But hardly had the sun reappeared before we
+saw a horseman clad in the Khaki uniform of Shafter's staff galloping
+along the lines toward us and in his wake we saw the hats of the men in
+the trenches being thrown into the air, and the wearers dancing as if
+some extra good news had come. Reining up in front of the center trench
+where Col. Clark was, the horseman gave him the welcome news that the
+city had surrendered, and as the constantly increasing knot of officers
+and men who had got within earshot, began to get ready for a vocal
+demonstration, the aide added, "Orders are not to cheer, boys, for the
+deal isn't quite fixed up, but you can throw your hats into the air all
+you wish." Well, the boys, followed instructions and the hats went up,
+while the aide dashed over to the 8th and 22d with the news.
+
+And it was good news. It meant no more trench digging, no more
+marching, no more fighting, and last but not least, as some of our long
+headed and practical ones figured it out, it meant more and varied
+rations, for now our ships could come into the harbor. The trenches
+were quickly emptied and we returned to our shacks in pretty good
+spirits.
+
+It was not until three days after, on Sunday the 17th, that the formal
+surrender took place. The troops were assembled in front of their
+trenches, and as the gun announcing the hoisting of our flag over the
+governor's palace, boomed out, we cheered, and then marched back only
+to be formed in front of Col. Clark's quarters, where certain men
+were given a "wigging" which they remembered for a long time. Since
+the 14th our men had been allowed to go freely outside our lines, and
+although not permitted to go into the city proper, yet they found
+some interesting things in the suburbs. One of these was the cemetery
+and some regulars and a number of Second men had gone there and
+thoughtlessly taken some flowers and trinkets from some graves. This
+desecration had been reported by the Spaniards to Gen. Shafter and the
+latter "wigged" Gen. Lawton about it, Lawton repeating the operation
+to Gen. Ludlow and the latter giving Col. Clark and the commanding
+officer of the 22d a bad quarter of an hour. So when it came his turn,
+Col. Clark let himself out on the men, and his remarks were of the keen
+and cutting style which makes a man feel good when he hears some other
+fellow getting them. This concluded the exercises of the day and we
+were dismissed to think it over.
+
+Next day the "Jo Jo" bureau resumed operations and we heard "on the
+best of authority," of course, that we were to be hustled on to Porto
+Rico with Gen. Miles. Next came the news that our brigade, having done
+so well was to be sent against Holguin in the interior of the province
+where there were some 8000 Spanish troops, who had been surrendered
+with those in Santiago but did not like it and proposed to fight.
+Within the next few days it was gravely announced by the "Jo Jo,"
+that we were going to be sent to the Philippines, as experienced and
+acclimated troops were wanted there; that we were to be sent to help
+capture Havana, marching from Santiago for that purpose, and best of
+all, that unless Spain sued for peace within a week, we were to embark
+for that country and invade it. As to the "Jo Jos" about double pay,
+the receipt by each man of a lump sum of money in consideration of
+waiving our claims to a pension, etc., they were numerous and varied
+enough to fill a large book. In its "Jo Jo" bureau the Second had some
+distinguished artists.
+
+But the most convincing sign of all that the city had surrendered, was
+the arrival of rations, and they were gladly received. For a day or
+two it was the familiar bacon and hardtack, but soon we were surprised
+and gladdened by the sound of mule wagons coming up the road from the
+city and laden with good looking loaves of soft bread. We then found
+that army ovens had been established in the city and that we would
+have bread in abundance. Next came some refrigerated beef, and it
+looked good and tasted better. Our first issue of the beef was quickly
+disposed of, each man's share being taken to the nearest fire and a
+"bluff" made at broiling it, the majority of the men being too "meat
+hungry" to do more than merely toast it. That first "beefsteak supper"
+of ours on the island is remembered yet. Next day came more beef, more
+bread and finally potatoes and onions, while with them were brought
+along rice and canned tomatoes and bacon and hardtack. The two latter
+we scorned. Eat hardtack and canned beef when we had fresh bread and
+meat and the materials for beef stew? Well, we guessed not. But it
+turned out we were too proud. There came days when the refrigerated
+beef became less relished, especially when our noses could learn of its
+being on the way long before it reached the camp, and we were glad to
+fall back on the despised, "sowbelly," and by this time in deference
+to our luxurious tastes, the conscience stricken commissary department
+was sending us something that resembled bacon far more than anything we
+had previously had, and that came in nice tin packages. Even the soft
+bread palled on us after a while, and we were glad to nibble a hardtack
+now and then, especially, when as sometimes happened the bread was sour.
+
+A few days after the surrender, B company was gladdened by the arrival
+of its cook, Walter Butler, who had remained on the ship and who,
+on his arrival, took charge of the culinary department and began to
+concoct some excellent stews. The Buzzicot field-cooking outfits, which
+we had brought from Massachusetts with us, were also landed, and that
+of G was at once set up with Private Carl Mueller as cook and Corporal
+"Nat" Gardella and "Dido" Hunt as steward and assistant steward, and
+"Daniel" Bellamy, the well-known temperance orator, as chief of the
+wood and water department. Private Fisher, the company cook of K, was
+ill, and K's Buzzicot was but little used.
+
+The day after our arrival in this camp, Private Bates of K severely
+injured his foot while chopping wood, the axe slipping and severing one
+of the arteries. He was laid up for some days.
+
+G and K moved their camps to the other side of the trenches about the
+20th, but B remained where it was. The wall tents which we brought
+with us from South Framingham and used at Lakeland and Tampa, also
+came up, and at once took the place of the "pup tents" we had used
+on the island. Our knapsacks and other property which we left on the
+Knickerbocker were also sent to us and we found that some of our things
+were left, although many knapsacks which had been left well filled, on
+the boat, had been "touched."
+
+Once again we began to have the same old shortage of rations, and
+this time with our ships in the harbor we couldn't understand it.
+One day we received two hardtack and a spoonful of coffee berries
+for a twenty-four hours issue. We were out of fresh meat, sugar and
+everything else, but this only lasted a couple of days and then we got
+fresh meat, vegetables and beans.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV.
+
+WE HAVE TO FACE ANOTHER ENEMY MORE DEADLY THAN THE SPANIARDS.
+
+
+And now that the Spaniards had been conquered and Santiago was ours we
+found ourselves facing another enemy even more deadly than the Mauser
+bullets or the machete. Up to the surrender the health of our regiment,
+everything considered, had been fairly good. Sickness there was to be
+sure, but nothing more than was to be expected in a regiment of 900 men
+subjected to the exposures and hardships incidental to a campaign in a
+foreign land, and these exposures supplemented by a ration, which even
+when plentiful, which was not often, was entirely unfitted for soldiers
+campaigning in a warm climate. Again it must be remembered that our
+work in Cuba was performed in the rainy season and that sleeping in
+mud, marching and bivouacking in the rain and fording deep streams are
+not conducive to rugged health when persisted in day after day. But
+so long as the active campaign lasted, the excitement and novelty of
+it all kept the men up. After the surrender, when there was little or
+nothing for them to do, they were in condition to fall an easy prey to
+the "calentura" or malarial fever, and to the diseases of the stomach
+incident to camp life with a poorly adapted ration. Fat bacon and
+canned beans, containing fully as much grease as beans, are not the
+kind of food the sensible man going to spend a time in the tropics
+would select for his menu, but that is what we got and it was eat it or
+nothing.
+
+During the active campaign many men of the regiment were ill from one
+cause or another, but as a matter of fact, there was nothing like a
+general outbreak of sickness at any time until some days after the
+surrender. A number of the men contracted rheumatism from sleeping on
+the damp ground and there were scattered cases of measles and stomach
+disorders. But the average daily sick report never went much beyond a
+dozen cases, which it must be admitted is not bad for an organization
+of nearly 1000 men living under the conditions which we did.
+
+For the first few days after Santiago surrendered all went well.
+There were propositions to move the troops further inland and up into
+the mountains with a view of escaping any possibility of the dreaded
+yellow fever which was showing itself at Siboney, the houses of which
+village had been burned to the ground in order to remove the danger of
+infection, but the contemplated move was not made and we remained in
+our last station until the regiment sailed for Montauk Point.
+
+On the day after the surrender Col. Clark issued orders for daily
+company drills and inspections with a view of giving the men something
+to do, he recognizing, as an old soldier, that idleness is the worst
+possible thing in camp. He and his superiors realized, however, that
+the army had passed through a most trying, though short campaign, and
+that the men deserved a rest, but at the same time there were already
+warnings that the less active the men were, the easier they fell prey
+to the climatic diseases of the country. Even after we had been in our
+last camp for a few days, there were signs that the fever was at work
+and with our limited supply of medicines, it was feared that it might
+become epidemic. That these fears were only too well grounded was soon
+to be made manifest.
+
+[Illustration:
+
+  Corp'l Thos. C. Boon.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Pvt. J. L. Morehouse.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Private
+  Michael R.
+  Lyons.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Musician Frank P. Jones. K. Co.
+
+  Corp'l W. C. Piper.
+  K. Co.
+
+  Pvt. Arthur Burnham.
+  K. Co.
+]
+
+The day following the surrender, Col. Clark and Major Bowen, the
+regimental surgeon, established a hospital in an old and dilapidated
+wooden building a couple of hundred yards in front of our advanced line
+of trenches and which had been used as a railway station. It was in
+poor shape, the roof being partly gone and the flooring bad, but it was
+better than leaving the sick men in their stuffy little shelter tents
+or out in the open air. The division hospitals were already overcrowded
+with wounded and sick men and the regimental commanders were notified
+that they would have to care for their own sick as best they could.
+Even as bad as the building selected for our hospital was, it was
+looked upon with envy by the commanding officers of other regiments and
+it was even suggested to Col. Clark that he divide it up with the other
+regiments of our brigade.
+
+Whether it was the camping along the line of the recently made
+trenches, the earth of which was said to be full of malarial germs, or
+that the fever was already in the air that caused the epidemic among
+our men is not certain, but within a day or two after the Sunday on
+which the Stars and Stripes were hoisted over the city the fever began
+its career in our regiment and in a few days over fifty per cent. of
+the officers and men were affected with it. The daily drills soon had
+to be discontinued, for hardly enough men to make a decent showing
+were able to turn out for them in the majority of the companies. It
+was the same way at the daily inspections. Frequently a man standing
+in the ranks would fall down in his tracks from sheer weakness and
+would have to be carried to his tent by his comrades. Soon there was
+no pretence of conforming to the orders requiring these drills and
+inspections and the men, who were able to move at all, did so as if
+their feet were encased in lead. At surgeon's call every morning there
+were sights which were enough to appall the stoutest hearted among us.
+It was directly after reveille that this call was sounded, and then
+from all parts of the camp dreary processions of what had been strong
+and hearty looking young men, would drag themselves slowly to the
+surgeon's tent and stand or lie on the ground waiting for their turn to
+be treated. And it must be said that the treatment was not of a sort
+calculated to cheer them up. The only medicines on hand were quinine
+and salts and a preparation for stomach disorders. Of quinine there
+was a plenty, but after a time the systems of the men, in many cases,
+became so saturated with it that even doses of thirty grains or more
+produced but little effect. And what hurt the boys more than the fever
+or anything else was the feeling, right or wrong as it may have been,
+that we of the Fifth Army Corps, who had done our work uncomplainingly,
+and done it well, were being neglected by the government whose call
+we had obeyed among the first. It was known that our state had sent
+us away from South Framingham with a medicine chest second to none
+in the army, and that this chest was even now on board of one of the
+transports in the harbor, but for all practical uses, as far off as
+the North Pole. Some of us knew that requisition after requisition
+for medical supplies had been sent in by our surgeon and had not been
+honored, that in spite of all our surgeons and stewards could do it was
+next to an impossibility to obtain an ambulance, and that we were even
+denied the services of one of our assistant surgeons, Dr. Gates having
+been detailed to the Fourth infantry, which was at that time without a
+medical officer.
+
+All these things helped the fever. Depression was its best ally,
+and then came nostalgia, the homesickness which men who have never
+experienced sneer at, but which is the bane of armies, and which in the
+Cuban campaign helped kill more men than the bullets of the Spaniards.
+For nurses for the sick there were only their comrades, willing enough
+God knows, but unaccustomed to the work, and with their own nerves
+and tempers wrought up to a high pitch. With lack of surgeons, lack
+of medicines, lack of nurses, lack of proper food, lack of proper
+accommodations and lack of everything that sick men should have, it is
+a wonder that the entire regiment was not left behind to fill graves in
+Cuba.
+
+But even a more pitiful sight than the men who answered the surgeon's
+call every morning had to witness, was the spectacle of the poor
+fellows who were unable to get up from their beds on the ground, and
+who lay there day after day under the stuffy tents, their bodies
+burning up with the fever, too weak or too despairing to even accept
+the poor nourishment which their comrades tried to get for them, and in
+some cases so far gone with nostalgia that they refused everything and
+only wished for death. It is a known fact that fifty per cent. of the
+men of the Second who died in that last camp of ours in Cuba, died of
+nostalgia and nothing else.
+
+Meanwhile, everything that could be done with the limited resources at
+command, was being done. The company commanders sent into Santiago and
+bought at the commissary stores, such decent food for sick men as could
+be procured, and through the efforts of Col. Clark, some suitable food
+and delicacies were obtained from the Red Cross society. The Colonel
+also purchased, at his own expense, a number of cots and hammocks for
+the regimental hospital.
+
+It was indeed a trying time. Officer after officer and man after man
+went down with the fever. Adjutant Paul R. Hawkins was hard hit with it
+and was finally removed to the second division hospital. Major Henry
+C. Bowen, the regimental surgeon, also succumbed and was taken to the
+same hospital where he died. Quartermaster E. E. Sawtell was another
+victim but did not go to the hospital. Captain John J. Leonard of G,
+was stricken and for long days fought the disease in his quarters,
+and Lieut. Edward J. Leyden of his company was taken to the hospital.
+Lieut. W. L. Young and Lieut. Harry J. Vesper of B were attacked, the
+former not seriously, however. There were but few men in any of the
+companies fit for duty and it was difficult to get enough men for the
+necessary details. The drills were given up for not enough men to
+make a decent showing were fit to turn out and it was with difficulty
+that enough men for regimental and brigade guard were provided.
+Some necessary work had to be done and from brigade and division
+headquarters details were constantly being asked for and every man able
+to stand on his feet had to be pressed into service.
+
+The officers, during this trying time, did all in their power for their
+men, but it was not much they were able to do and the men felt at the
+time, that they should have done more. In this they were unjust, for
+the officers were suffering as much as the men, and the latter have
+since come to realize that many of the opinions expressed at this
+time and later, on this subject, were unjust. The fever and the other
+diseases spared no one, whether he wore shoulder straps or not.
+
+Dr. Hitchcock, our assistant surgeon, succumbed to the fever, and
+was taken to the division hospital and the surgeon, Dr. Bowen, soon
+followed him there. This left us without a medical officer, and for two
+or three days the outlook for the sick men of the Second was a dark
+one. But we were then provided with two contract surgeons, Dr. Persons
+and Dr. Dunwoody, and both proved themselves excellent gentlemen and
+hard workers. Soon after their arrival, Dr. Gates, our other assistant
+surgeon, who had been detailed to the Fourth infantry, was sent back
+to us, and his presence was as good as a tonic to the sick men. His
+cheery smile and sympathetic ways were even better than his medicines,
+and for a time, after his return, the health of the command appeared
+to improve. Meanwhile, the famous "round robin" had been sent, and its
+result was that the Fifth corps was ordered to return home as soon as
+transports could be procured. From then until August 12 the thoughts of
+the men were concentrated upon the time we were to go home.
+
+Meanwhile, the men who escaped the fever and other diseases, were
+doing all possible for their comrades. The company officers, finding
+that idleness at this time was the worst possible thing for the men
+who were at all able to get about, set them at work, and though this
+seemed at the time a hardship to the men, it turned out to be the best
+thing that could be done, for it not only served to keep them in better
+shape physically but helped to keep their minds occupied and prevented
+them from dwelling too much upon the gloomy situation in the camps and
+from thinking too much of home. They were encouraged and in most cases
+ordered to build raised bunks for themselves, these serving to keep
+their bodies off the ground while sleeping, and to erect shelters of
+boughs and palm leaves instead of remaining in their shelter tents.
+When the big wall tents arrived there was no further need of these
+"shacks" but they served a useful purpose even if not handsome looking.
+
+It was not long after the surrender that we began to get large packages
+of mail, including the Springfield papers and it is hardly necessary
+to say that they were welcome. In these papers we found stories of the
+campaign and of the part the Second had played in the actions at El
+Caney and San Juan. Many of the letters the boys had written from Tampa
+and Cuba had been printed and in the reading of these there was much
+fun. We learned from the papers of the big Fourth of July celebration
+that had been planned in Springfield, and how it had been given up when
+the news of El Caney and the rumors of heavy loss in "Ours" reached
+home. And we received the Fourth of July buttons which had been made
+in honor of that occasion and proudly wore them about the camp to the
+envy of some of the other companies of the regiment. It did us some
+good to know that we had not been entirely forgotten. And sometimes in
+the mails there were packages for us, sent by loving friends from home
+and welcome, whether they contained much or little. The arrival of the
+mail was an event in those days. Sometimes all that there was could be
+brought from Santiago on the back of one horse, but there were times
+when one of the two wheeled carretas was necessary to transport it.
+The array of bags would be dumped off in front of the office tent of
+the regiment and then the work of sorting out the contents would begin.
+That destined for each company having been piled up, there were usually
+enough men waiting to take it away, and for the next few hours the men
+would read their letters and papers and exchange news. The arrival of
+the mail was invariably followed by a time of letter writing and the
+return mail was sometimes nearly as heavy as that which had come in.
+
+As time went on the fever appeared to be wearing itself out and some
+of those who had it began to recover slowly until they were able to
+drag themselves around. For days there was a feeling that the worst was
+over, and this feeling was especially strong in our battalion, which,
+by the way, had not as yet been as hard hit by the fever as some of the
+other sections of the regiment. But then came the yellow fever scare
+and the deaths of one or two of our men and these resulted in a return
+of the old depression and consequently the sickness.
+
+Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse of B, was the first man of the
+Springfield companies to succumb to the fever and the nostalgia which
+accompanied it. He was taken sick soon after the surrender, but kept
+up and about for some time, as he had all through the campaign. But he
+went down at last and the end came on rapidly. He died on August 1st,
+and there was not a man in the regiment more regretted for all who ever
+knew "Dicky" Bearse, loved him.
+
+The second man to go, in the battalion, was Corporal W. C. Piper of K,
+who died in the division hospital, August 5th, of pernicious malarial
+fever. He had been taken there only the day before and his comrades
+were horror stricken when notified of his death. The day following
+a detail from his company was sent to the hospital and buried him.
+Private Paul Vesper of B, died the 10th, from the same cause as Piper,
+in the division hospital.
+
+It was a day or two afterwards that we heard of the famous "round
+robin" and its result. The thought of soon sailing for home did much
+to cheer us up and we began to make what few preparations we had to
+make, although there was as yet nothing authentic about our going. But
+on the 10th Col. Clark received orders to be ready to embark on short
+notice and the news spread like wildfire through our camp. Our working
+suits which we had worn all through the campaign, and our blankets and
+haversacks were ordered burned and in place of them we were issued the
+khaki uniforms of yellow with blue facings.
+
+A few days before Col. John F. Marsh, of Springfield, had arrived, and
+brought with him several boxes of good things sent by the people of
+Springfield. The time was so short that many of the boxes were unopened
+and were taken to the ship when we sailed. Nearly all their contents
+were looted, however, during our trip to Montauk point.
+
+August 11th we received orders to embark the following day, and on the
+12th those of the regiment able to march, fell in, and we "hiked the
+pike" for Santiago. With flags flying we marched through the Calle de
+Marina, or Marine street, and after a short wait on a pier, were put
+on a lighter and taken off to the transport Mobile, already occupied
+by the other two regiments of our brigade and a number of horses. The
+sick officers and men were sent to the pier in ambulances and those
+able to walk not only had to do that, but were also obliged to handle
+all the baggage, a job that would have been child's play at other
+times, but which in our debilitated condition was a task almost beyond
+our strength. Col. Clark had been attacked with the fever that morning
+and was unable to do anything. Lieut. Col. Shumway was so ill as to
+be unfit for duty but he stuck it out and did what he could. Lieut.
+Hawkins and Lieut. Leyden were brought down from the division hospital
+and Lieut. Vesper was brought down from his tent in our camp by Captain
+Crosier of D. Company.
+
+Meanwhile there were a number of our men sick in their quarters or
+in the hospitals who could not be moved to the ship, besides others
+who had been spotted as "suspicious" cases by the surgeons on the day
+previous, and ordered to remain behind, it being feared that they were
+in the first stages of yellow fever. It was necessary that some remain
+behind to care for these poor fellows, but who to detail to this hard
+duty was a problem which Col. Clark finally solved by detailing Lieut.
+W. H. Plummer of A Company of Worcester, and a detail of one man from
+each company in the regiment to remain. Private Dozilva Lamoreaux
+of G, Private Robert A. Draper of B and Private Albert Marsden of
+K volunteered to compose this detail from our companies, and their
+sacrifices in doing this will not be forgotten by their comrades.
+
+Privates Little, Stetson, Brownell and Dunn of G company, Corporal John
+B. Fulton, and Privates Judd, Rivers, Champagne, Smith, Wheeler and
+Frey of B company, and Privates Maynard, Solace and Hall of K were left
+behind on the island, either sick or as yellow fever suspects when the
+regiment was ordered home.
+
+[Illustration: 1ST TURRET'S CREW. MONITOR LEHIGH.]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI.
+
+OUR VOYAGE HOMEWARD ON THE DEATH SHIP MOBILE.
+
+
+Our voyage homeward on the Mobile was not exactly a pleasant one.
+At the very outset we again found that in army language we were "up
+against it." Our entire brigade, composing some 1500 officers and men,
+were on the boat, which although large, was not fitted up in very good
+shape for transport service and as a result there was at first much
+overcrowding. The Mobile had recently conveyed a cargo of mules to
+Porto Rico and on her return from that duty had lain for several days
+in the festering harbor of Santiago so that her sanitary condition
+could not be termed an ideal one. The officers were crowded together in
+her few staterooms and as for the men they were jammed below decks and
+above decks in any old way. The Eighth and Twenty-second regiments had
+been on board some time before our regiment arrived and of course had
+appropriated the best portions of the ship to themselves, something for
+which they could not be blamed so very much.
+
+That evening we of the Second just simply "bunked" anywhere we could
+and as a rule we went to bed supperless, for everything was in such a
+mixed up condition there was no effort made at giving out rations. And
+on our arrival we found that we were to pass another time with our old
+friends, the canned "beef" and the nourishing and palatable (!) travel
+rations. After bidding them farewell, as we thought, forever, this was
+felt to be the worst blow we had yet suffered but there was no use
+"kicking" and we made the best of it. Fortunately or unfortunately, as
+one looks at it, the majority of the men had money enough to purchase
+quantities of canned fruits and delicacies before they left Santiago
+and these helped us out to some extent.
+
+What we at first thought was a blessing but which afterward turned out
+to be the reverse was the presence of a large tank of ice water below
+decks to which we freely helped ourselves and with evil effect upon
+some of the men who developed dysentery from indulging too freely in
+the cold liquid. After a day or two the ice water was shut off from the
+men, and they were compelled to drink the regular ship's water. There
+was any amount of grumbling at this but it was the best thing to be
+done under the circumstances.
+
+We remained in the harbor the night of the 12th and early on the 13th,
+our old "hoodoo" number being with us again, the Mobile swung her nose
+around and steamed down the harbor. Every man able to be up was on deck
+as we started out and realized that we were homeward bound at last.
+There were mighty few regrets expressed at leaving Cuba and our chief
+concern now was to reach home as quickly as possible. It was known
+that our destination was Montauk Point, L. I., and beyond that our
+information was a trifle hazy.
+
+Passing down the harbor we came to the Merrimac as she lay about where
+Hobson had sunk her and we could see that she was not of much avail
+in stopping the channel. A little further we passed the wreck of the
+Reina Mercedes as she lay where the shells from our warships had put
+her out of business and just a little distance further along we passed
+out under the frowning walls and grim looking guns of Castle Morro,
+over which our flag was now floating. On the other side of the harbor
+entrance was an unimportant looking sand battery, but it was from it
+that the Spanish guns did their most effective work against our fleet.
+One turn more and we were out of the harbor and again on the bounding
+billows.
+
+This day quarters were assigned the various companies of our regiment
+below decks. The men were supplied with hammocks and as these had to be
+slung close together and the men were just a bit unfamiliar with their
+management there were many tumbles out of bed that night. We found the
+sleeping accommodations on the Mobile superb. If you say that word
+"superb" quick it sounds well and that's the way we said it. A number
+of the men were obliged to sleep on deck and under a covering of loose
+planks and as it happened to rain two or three nights in succession,
+they did not like their sleeping quarters any too well.
+
+The steward of the Mobile was an Englishman, like all her officers,
+and he was a direct descendant of thieves and inherited all their
+instincts of robbery. He thought nothing of charging $5 for a half-pint
+of vile liquor and his prices for anything else he could sell were
+in proportion. He contracted with some of the company commanders to
+furnish a number of loaves of bread each day for the men but the loaves
+turned out to be nothing more than biscuits and the prices asked were
+so exorbitant that a complaint was made to the captain of the ship and
+the steward was compelled to make restitution.
+
+One of the first incidents of our passage homeward was the stopping
+of the Mobile by a United States gunboat on our second evening out
+from Santiago harbor. It seems that the Mobile was not showing just
+the proper lights and the gunboat steamed close to her to investigate,
+firing a blank charge across her bows as a signal to stop. The Mobile
+stopped. Then after a brief colloquy between the little gunboat and
+the big Mobile the latter was allowed to proceed. It should be said,
+however, that when the officers and crew of the gunboat ascertained
+that the Second Massachusetts was on board they gave us three hearty
+cheers.
+
+Life on board the Mobile was not a bit more luxurious than it had been
+on the Knickerbocker or in Cuba. We had the same old travel rations
+and no means of cooking them. After the first day out an arrangement
+was made whereby Walter Butler, the cook for B company, was to have
+the use of the crew's galley to make coffee for the three Springfield
+companies. Walter did as well as he could under difficulties but
+ofttimes the water used in making the coffee was so poor in quality
+that the concoction was not exactly palatable. But it was better than
+ship's water.
+
+The men messed as best they could. The officers had their meals in
+the dining saloon, paying $1 a day for them and they were not over
+luxurious. Neither were their quarters, for with the entire brigade
+on board the staterooms were insufficient to accommodate them all and
+they were forced to double up and in some instances three officers were
+assigned to one room and forced to "bunk" as best they could.
+
+Many of the officers and men were just out of hospitals, and for them
+the voyage was a harder trial than those who were officially in good
+health. The ship's hospital was established on the aft deck and was
+protected from the elements only by canvas awnings and during the two
+or three times it rained during the voyage the sick men were drenched
+as they lay in their cots or hammocks. Surgeon Gates and Dr. Piersons,
+the contract surgeons who had done so much for our regiment in front
+of Santiago, were indefatigable in their attendance upon our sick and
+so were the hospital stewards, but the medical supplies were as usual
+insufficient and the accommodations entirely inadequate. Two men were
+detailed each day to assist in caring for the sick men from their
+companies and while of course they meant to do all they could for
+their comrades their performance very often fell far short of their
+intentions. Naturally the sick men were often peevish and troublesome
+and it cannot be said that the lot of the attendants was a very
+pleasant one.
+
+On our second day out occurred the first death in the regiment,
+Sergeant Harold B. Wentworth of C company, who had been ill with
+typhoid fever and malaria. His body was buried at sea a few hours after
+death and the sad event was the first of a series during the voyage.
+Private George Higgins of F company was the next victim, his death
+occuring on the 15th.
+
+August 17th was a black day for the Second. At 12.30 that morning
+Second Lieut. Harry J. Vesper of B company died after a long illness,
+with gastritis and malaria. He was a very sick man when brought on
+board but was nursed and cared for as tenderly as possible during the
+voyage. Private James Ryan of B was detailed as his attendant and was
+constantly with him, but even the best of care could not have saved
+him. The same day his body, wrapped in the folds of the American flag,
+was lowered into the deep, the Mobile being hove to for the purpose.
+The band of the 22d regiment played appropriate airs and Chaplain
+Wellwood of the Second conducted the services. The burial was nearly
+off Cape Hatteras. Lieut. Vesper, who was one of the most popular
+officers of the regiment, met his fate bravely and died in merciful
+ignorance of the fact that his brother, Private Paul Vesper of B
+company, had died a few days before the regiment left Cuba. At that
+time Lieut. Vesper was ill in the division hospital and it was deemed
+best to keep the knowledge of his brother's fate from him.
+
+On this same day another B company man, Wagoner Paul J. Kingston,
+answered his final roll call, dying in the afternoon. Privates Earle C.
+Clark of H company and Franklin W. Manning of M company, made up the
+death roll for the day and their bodies were given to the sea.
+
+On the 18th Privates Charles H. Cranston and Henry C. Collins, both of
+I company of Northampton, died and on the 20th just before we landed at
+Montauk Point Sergeant Ryder of E company passed away. On the voyage
+from Santiago to Montauk our regiment lost ten, one officer and nine
+men, and it is no wonder that the Mobile was referred to as a "death
+ship."
+
+It is no wonder either, under these circumstances, that the men became
+depressed. Cooped up in an ill-smelling hold during the night, fed on
+unsuitable food and seeing the bodies of their comrades cast overboard
+day after day it was not strange that they became blue. But happily the
+voyage did not last long for on the afternoon of the 19th we sighted
+Montauk Point and knew that in a day or two we would be on good United
+States soil once more.
+
+It was night when the Mobile cast anchor and early the next morning
+she was towed into what we supposed was quarantine. We passed several
+steamers with the yellow quarantine flag hoisted at their sterns and
+after a while the Mobile anchored and some quarantine officers came
+aboard and inspected the passengers and crew. Fortunately this ceremony
+did not last long and when it was over the Mobile was brought alongside
+a wharf as we in our innocence supposed to allow us to land.
+
+But as it happened we were not to land that day. On the wharf were
+sentries and those of "Ours" who happened to get as far as the wharf
+were at once driven back. Neither was any one allowed at first to come
+aboard. As we swung in the stream before the Mobile got to the wharf a
+small boat containing some Springfield newspaper men attempted to get
+within reach of the Mobile, but she was ordered away and at the wharf
+it was some time before anybody was allowed to come aboard the Mobile.
+The first Springfield man we saw was Dr. David Clark, the surgeon for
+years of the Second while it was in the militia service. He finally
+came on board and was at once surrounded by the men of the three
+Springfield companies so that it was some little time before he made
+his way to the quarterdeck, where Col. Clark and the officers were
+awaiting him. He brought plenty of news for us and much information
+concerning Montauk Point and the arrangement of the camps there. At
+the same time came aboard baskets of sandwiches and fruit which Dr.
+Clark had provided. Thanks to the kindness of Dr. Clark many messages
+were sent from the ship to the anxious ones at home announcing the safe
+arrival of the Mobile and that the senders were well.
+
+It was not until the next day that we were allowed to land and it was
+a sad spectacle to watch the disembarkation of the gallant Second from
+the ship. The men who were able to walk got down the steep gang plank
+in some kind of order and after an attempt at regimental formation,
+marched up to the quarantine camp, a distance of some two and a half
+miles, over the very roughest kind of a road. The sick were transported
+in mule wagons and they did not find the ride a very pleasant one. On
+arrival at the camp it was found all laid out with large wall tents
+arranged in company streets and the majority of the tents equipped with
+board floors, a luxury we had not experienced for many moons. Rough
+sinks had been made in rear of the company streets and supplies of
+soft bread, fruits and milk were waiting for us. A number of the sick
+officers and men were taken directly over to the hospitals and it began
+to look as if things might be half decent after all.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+WE AND OUR FRIENDS ENJOY OURSELVES AT CAMP WIKOFF, MONTAUK POINT.
+
+
+From the beginning it was evident that our lines in Camp Wikoff were
+to be cast in more pleasant places than had been the case since we
+left Lakeland in June. To be sure the detention camp was not an abode
+of princely luxury and there were shortcomings in plenty about it, but
+there was an honest effort to care for our comfort. There were but few
+of the officers and men in our regiment in good health and even the men
+who did not go to the hospitals were in bad shape physically, but the
+knowledge of the fact that we were on United States soil at last and
+that but a short time would elapse before we would be en route for home
+was better than medicine. Then, too, there was the great improvement
+in our food, which was worth something, and there was the presence of
+our friends from Springfield, including some who had made all manner of
+sacrifices and had endured toil, discomforts and trouble to get to us
+with help and cheer.
+
+No one can doubt but what it was the full intent of those in authority
+at Washington to treat the returned soldiers from Cuba in the best
+possible manner, but it is a matter of common knowledge that as a
+paving material for a certain warm place good intentions is the
+very best material yet devised by the arch enemy of mankind. The
+performance at Montauk fell far short of the promise and this was aided
+by the over officiousness of some very young and very fresh officers
+who had no idea beyond the blind following of red tape regulations no
+matter what might happen. It was to these officers that the delay and
+vexatious troubles experienced by Dr. David Clark of Springfield in
+his mission of mercy to us of the Second can be attributed and others
+associated with him had to face the same difficulties. The story of
+how Dr. Clark, Lieut. T. A. Sweeney and others were "held up" at the
+mouth of the rapid fire guns of the converted yacht Aileen by one
+Lieut. Rhodes, whose name is still cursed by every Second regiment
+man, is still fresh in the minds of all of us and it was only when the
+presumptuous young officer was made to realize that he was not the only
+thing that ever happened that the supplies sent to us by loving hands
+in Springfield reached us. There is the memory too of the long and
+weary hours Dr. Clark spent underneath the pier at Montauk in order to
+remain inside the guard lines and be on hand to greet us when our ship
+came in. There are the memories of the good work done for us by our old
+surgeon when the Second was a militia regiment, Major Brown of North
+Adams, and of Lieut. Sweeney, E. S. Bradford, P. H. Quinn, Charles
+Lathrop as the representative of Dr. D. J. Brown, T. W. Hyde, and last
+but by no means least of Frank P. Frost of Springfield, who as the
+personal representative of Henry S. Lee, worked like a beaver day and
+night. The Springfield newspaper men, too, should not be forgotten and
+the thanks of many a poor fellow are due to H. L. Hines, G. H. Atwood
+and Frank Lee of the _Union_ and to H. K. Regal of the _Republican_
+and T. W. Burgess of the _Homestead_ for many kindnesses and unfailing
+sympathy.
+
+The sad scenes attending the disembarkation of the Second from the
+Mobile will not be forgotten for many a day by those who witnessed or
+participated in them. A number of the sick men were taken off late in
+the afternoon of the 19th, but when dusk fell Gen. Young, the commander
+of the camp, refused to allow any more to be brought ashore until the
+next day. The next morning the exodus from the ship began at an early
+hour and continued until at last we were all ashore. First came the
+sick in a ghastly procession down the steep gang planks and into the
+ambulances which were to convey them to the hospitals and the sight of
+the poor fellows was pathetic in the extreme. The sick ashore, then
+came those able to walk or totter and these men, the majority of them
+wrecks of their once vigorous selves, dragged themselves to the pier
+laden down with their baggage and fell in for the march to the camp.
+Those unable to walk were piled into mule wagons and the procession
+started.
+
+It was not a long march, but it was a fatiguing one for the men and
+they were glad when the big wall tents assigned to the Second appeared.
+This was the "detention" camp for in the eyes of the medical officers
+we were still suspects even if we had passed quarantine, and we were to
+be isolated for five days. It was not a bad camp. The tents were new
+and clean and many of them were provided with board floors, a luxury
+that reminded us of our militia days at South Framingham. It had been
+the intention of the war department to provide straw for us to sleep
+on but like many other intentions it was not fulfilled until Secretary
+Alger happened to visit the camp of the Second and found no straw.
+Then some came along in a hurry. There were cooking outfits, too, and
+the days of the canned roast beef and the other constituents of the
+palatable and nourishing (?) travel ration were numbered. In their
+place came the appetizing beef stew, the roast beef, soft bread and
+cool milk. There were also canned delicacies, and fruits, and tobacco
+in plenty. In fact, there were too many good things for some of the
+boys, as the hospital records attest.
+
+It is needless to say that the hospitals were filled. They were
+overcrowded, and that, too, in spite of the fact that additions were
+put on as fast as possible. The hospitals were of canvas but with
+raised floors and were equipped with cots. What the emotions of the
+sick boys were when they actually found themselves lying on a bed and
+between clean white sheets, and tended by kind and devoted nurses can
+be imagined. Not only that but they were given plenty of nourishing
+food and medicine was in plenty. After the lack of everything of the
+hospitals in Cuba the contrast was sharp, even though the Montauk
+hospitals lacked some things. As for the nurses and the doctors there
+was nothing they were unwilling to do to help the sick. Many of the
+nurses were Sisters of Charity or Sisters of Mercy, others were from
+the Red Cross society, others volunteers, but all were actuated by the
+same motives, and worked unremittingly to do all in their power for the
+boys. Some of the doctors were army surgeons and others were contract
+surgeons, but all worked alike. Then, too, there were any number of
+volunteer hospital assistants, all zealous to help us, some of them
+a little too much so, and it was a rare thing for the sick men in a
+hospital ward to lack for attention. Diet kitchens were established
+and a system of looking after convalescent and furloughed soldiers
+was established. In this work the noble efforts of the Massachusetts
+Volunteer Aid Association was pre-eminent and there are none of us who
+will forget what its representatives did, not only at Camp Wikoff but
+after our return to our homes. Not only did the society work among the
+soldiers from Massachusetts, but many a regular soldier was aided and
+comforted by its representatives.
+
+Under the influence of proper care and food the men in the
+hospitals and the camps began to improve and though many died, yet
+more recovered. As soon as a soldier inmate of the hospital was
+anywhere near convalescence he was given a furlough to his home and
+transportation furnished him. At first these furloughs were only for
+ten days but after a bit they were lengthened to 30 days so that when
+the Second came to leave Montauk a good percentage of the officers and
+men had preceded it home. A large number of the sick men were taken
+from the camp hospital and sent to New York, New London, New Haven and
+other places where the local hospitals had opened their doors to the
+soldiers and where the care they received was in some respects better
+than that possible under the crowded conditions at Montauk.
+
+In spite or all that could be done at Montauk there were many instances
+of individual hardship and although it seemed as if there were at least
+two or three people anxious and willing to look after every soldier
+yet there were cases of apparently unnecessary suffering. Soldiers
+discharged from the hospitals as convalescent would be sent to the
+depot at Montauk, a good two miles from the hospital, on foot and would
+be compelled to wait for hours in the hot sun before they could get
+transportation orders. At the depot there were often good men and women
+with cans of milk or lemonade and food, but even their zealous efforts
+could not prevent some suffering. All this was perhaps inseparable from
+the overcrowded condition of the camp and hospitals and the fact that
+there were not nearly enough officers to do the work properly.
+
+On the 24th the regiment was released from quarantine and moved from
+the detention to the general camp. By this time rumors that we were to
+be furloughed and sent home were rife again and the date was finally
+fixed for the 26th. Meanwhile there had been some important visitors
+in our camp, including Col. Roosevelt, Secretary of War Alger and Gen.
+Wheeler and they all had good words to say for the Second. Also there
+were many visitors from Springfield and Western Massachusetts and
+the men were fed upon all kinds of delicacies, in some cases to the
+detriment of their health.
+
+Musician Frank P. Jones of K company was the only Springfield man to
+die in Montauk, his death occuring on the 27th, after he had suffered
+for days with malarial fever of the Cuban type. He had not been ill in
+Cuba but the seeds of the disease lodged in his system there and in his
+weak condition when we landed at Montauk he was unable to resist it.
+We heard while at Montauk of the death in Cuba of Private Arthur M.
+Burnham of K and there were many regrets among his comrades. Private
+Burnham was ill when the regiment left Santiago for home and so was
+left behind.
+
+On the 25th verbal orders furloughing the Second for 60 days were
+received and the regiment was ordered to be in readiness the next day
+to proceed home. At the expiration of the furlough the regiment was to
+be mustered out at South Framingham but this was afterwards changed
+to Springfield. The officers and men were all ready on the 26th to go
+home and the night before had been spent in packing up and putting
+everything in shape. The rifles and equipments had been turned in and
+the morning was eagerly anticipated. There was much disappointment when
+the day came and there were no signs of an immediate movement from
+the camp. Hour after hour passed and when it was finally ascertained
+that the departure was deferred to the next day because of a lack
+of transportation, there was nothing but disappointment from the
+commanding officer down to the privates. But the Second had by this
+time learned resignation and so the men waited through the long day and
+the equally long night for the word that the boat which was to convey
+the regiment to New London was ready.
+
+The night of the 26th was made memorable by a wild stampede of a number
+of horses of the cavalry through the camp of the Second. The animals
+were being led to water and in some manner became frightened and
+getting away from the man in charge ran pell mell through the company
+streets of the regiment, upsetting stacks of arms and tents and leaving
+everything in much disorder. Fortunately no one was injured.
+
+There was but little sleep in the camp that night. The boys were too
+much excited over the prospect of being at home on the morrow to care
+much for slumber, and they were up long before reveille sounded.
+Breakfast was hastily cooked and eaten and the outfit, or what was left
+of it, fell in for the march to the boat, some three miles away. There
+were ambulances for the sick and these were filled again and again. The
+men able to march were not numerous, and the companies did not have
+full ranks by any means. The men were without arms and clad in all
+sorts of uniforms, the yellow and blue Khaki predominating, although
+there were some who preferred the old militia blue uniforms they had
+worn from South Framingham. The regiment finally started for the pier
+amid the cheers of the 22d and other regiments it passed, and a short
+time after embarking was once more on the water but bound for home this
+time. The sick men who were unable to stand the journey were left in
+the hospital and those allowed to go were carefully looked after.
+
+Arrived at New London the regiment fell at once into good hands. The
+people of that city had known of its coming and delegations were on
+hand when the boat came in, with food and refreshments for the boys.
+Meanwhile preparations had been made by the militia authorities of the
+state, and the people of Springfield and other places interested in the
+Second, to look after the men. Gen. Dalton had sent a detail of staff
+officers to Springfield with full power as to expenses to see that the
+returning soldiers who had shed credit upon Massachusetts were properly
+looked after, and a special train had been made up to go to New London
+to bring them on from there. Food and refreshments were taken on the
+train, and representatives of state and city were on board to render
+all possible assistance. The trip was a comparatively short one. At
+Palmer the three Worcester companies and F of Gardner were transferred
+to a train for their destination while the other companies came on to
+Springfield.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVIII.
+
+IN WHICH IS TOLD HOW WE PREPARE TO QUIT UNCLE SAM'S SERVICE.
+
+
+The home coming of Springfield's soldiers was not as glittering or gay
+a spectacle as had been counted upon by those who watched us march away
+on the morning of May 3d. That morning was a rainy and disagreeable one
+and there were many who consoled themselves in thinking of the rather
+tame character of our farewell, that when we returned the scene would
+be a far more cheerful and inspiriting one. It wasn't. For days and
+days, ever since the story of our losses at El Caney and San Juan had
+been known and the people had become somewhat familiar with the tales
+of sickness and suffering in Cuba and Camp Wikoff, the return of the
+boys had been anxiously awaited, but when the time came, when it was
+known for a certainty that the companies were to return, there was a
+common feeling that the occasion would be an ill timed one for any
+display of ceremony or pageantry, and as it became more known that the
+majority of the officers and men were in the poorest possible condition
+to stand the strain of an official, or even a semi-official welcome it
+was settled that their return was to be as quiet as possible.
+
+The coming of the regiment from Montauk had been expected on the 26th
+and in anticipation a huge crowd had gathered at the union station
+to meet the soldiers. But the people were repaid for hours of waiting
+by the arrival only of a few men who had been furloughed from the
+hospitals. On the next day it was soon known that the regiment would
+surely arrive and long before the hour set for the special train to
+arrive from New London the station and its approaches were crowded with
+people, including the relatives and friends of the members, not only of
+the Springfield companies but of the companies from the other sections
+of Western Massachusetts. In view of the condition of the soldiers
+special efforts had been made to impress upon the people that the less
+excitement the men were made to undergo the better for them and to this
+end the station approaches were roped off and a large force of police
+was on hand to keep a passageway clear from the cars to the carriages
+which had been provided to bear the officers and men to their homes or
+wherever they felt inclined to go.
+
+The state and the city co-operated well in making plans for the comfort
+of the returning soldiers. Gov. Wolcott was on hand when the special
+train rolled in and three members of his staff had been at work for
+several days previous assisting in the preparations for the reception
+of the men. Mayor Dickinson and the city officials had done everything
+in their power to aid the soldiers and with them at all times were the
+officers and members of the Volunteer Aid association and many private
+citizens, good men and women who labored zealously in the good cause.
+Others there were, too, not connected officially with state or city
+or with any society, but whose work was ably done and is never to be
+forgotten.
+
+[Illustration: MONITOR LEHIGH IN ACTION]
+
+At 2.58 in the afternoon the train came in and the 10,000 people in
+waiting set up a cheer at the initiative of Gov. Wolcott. Then the
+people pressed hard against the ropes which marked the clear space on
+the platform through which the men were to go and the police officers
+had their hands full for a time in keeping them back. The north side
+waiting room had been cleared of occupants and outside were hundreds
+of public and private carriages waiting to carry the boys wherever they
+might wish. And in this one detail of carriages the thoughtfulness
+of the people of the city as well as their willingness to do all in
+their power for the boys of the Second were shown. Scores of them had
+volunteered the use of their carriages that day and their offers had
+been gladly accepted, for in the majority of cases the men were hardly
+able to walk any distance, and a ride on a jolting electric car would
+not have been the best thing in the world for them. But there were
+carriages in plenty and the men were quickly and carefully conveyed
+either to their homes or the hospitals.
+
+When the train stopped the people detailed to look after the
+disembarkation of the men at once got to work and the boys were
+quickly but tenderly taken through the waiting room and placed in the
+carriages. There were many who were unable to walk even this short
+distance unassisted, but in the majority of cases the men were so
+glad to be once more at home that the excitement kept them up and
+some lingered about on the platform, exchanging greetings with their
+relatives or friends in the crowd. A number of physicians were on
+hand to look after any of the men who were in immediate need of their
+attention and in many other ways provision had been made for all. The
+majority of the men were driven directly to their homes. Others went to
+the House of Mercy or the Springfield hospital.
+
+The 10,000 or more people which greeted the returned ones did so in
+sober but cordial fashion. There was no demonstrative welcome, for
+common sense told the people that it would have been the worst thing
+possible for the men whom the crowd wanted to honor. They were in no
+condition to endure such a welcome and what they wanted was to get to
+their homes or a resting place as quickly as possible. When the Second
+went away it was in the blue uniform of the militia of Massachusetts.
+The men in the ranks were all young and vigorous and looked a composite
+picture of youth and strength. When they came back it was in the faded
+yellow khaki uniforms issued to them in Cuba, although a few still wore
+the blue. The natty uniforms of the officers were worn and soiled and
+the faces of all were haggard and in many cases the beards of veterans
+had replaced the smooth cheeks and chins of the militiaman. On almost
+every face was the badge of the campaign against the pestilential
+fevers of Cuba and the sunken cheek-bones and emaciated forms bore
+eloquent witness to the hardships and sufferings that had been
+undergone. It had been no holiday excursion for the gallant Second.
+
+For days and weeks after the return the greatest interest was shown
+in the welfare of the men. Physicians placed their services at the
+disposal of the Volunteer Aid association and that body kept actively
+at work in its efforts to care for the men. Some of the boys were
+able to be out on the streets and in public places immediately after
+their arrival but in the majority of cases the men were glad enough to
+stay at home. Others were too ill to make their appearance in public,
+but those who were had no reason to complain of any lack of interest
+in them or their doings in Cuba. Columns were published daily in the
+newspapers concerning the condition of the sick men and the experiences
+of the well ones and the sight of the worn campaign uniform on the
+street was the occasion for a gathering of interested people. But as
+time went on the interest slackened, as it is in the nature of things
+so to be, the men showed a marked preference for citizens' dress
+instead of the uniform, and settled down again to the ordinary ways of
+life while waiting for their furloughs to expire and their muster out
+of the service of Uncle Sam.
+
+There had been much concern expressed over the orders instructing the
+Second to assemble at South Framingham for muster-out and there was
+much satisfaction when it was known that the orders had been changed
+and that Springfield had been selected as the place. It was felt that
+this was fitting and proper and both the local members of the regiment
+and the people of the city were well pleased at the decision of the war
+department.
+
+Meanwhile the men who had been left behind in Cuba, at Montauk and in
+hospitals at other places continued to arrive home and some time before
+the expiration of their furlough nearly all the surviving members of
+the Second were at home. From Cuba came the men who were left behind
+too sick to be moved when the regiment left for home and with them the
+men who had volunteered or been detailed to remain care for them. But
+all of them did not come. Privates Little and Stetson of G company had
+succumbed to disease and Dr. H. C. Bowen, the surgeon of the Second,
+was also a victim. He was in the division hospital when the regiment
+sailed and his death soon followed.
+
+The fate which befell Dr. Bowen was a hard one. Enthusiastic to
+volunteer at the outbreak of the war he was assigned to duty as the
+surgeon of the Second with the rank of major and he had high hopes
+of a useful career in the army as had his friends for him. But he
+was totally without experience in army medical life, his assistant
+surgeons, though young and enthusiastic in their profession, were
+also inexperienced in this line of work and at the very outset he
+and they were thwarted and discouraged by their incessant conflicts
+with army red tape and the consequent difficulty in obtaining needed
+medical supplies for the regiment. Time and time again Major Bowen
+sent in requisition after requisition but no supplies came in answer
+to them and had it not been for the finely appointed medical and
+surgical outfit furnished by the state of Massachusetts the equipment
+of the Second would have been meager indeed. With these on hand the
+lack of proper government supplies was not seriously felt until after
+the landing in Cuba and then with the brilliancy which marked so
+many other features of the campaign, the Second's medical chest was
+not brought ashore, but was left on board the Knickerbocker until
+some time after the surrender of Santiago. As a result the medical
+supplies were short and though he tried again and again Major Bowen
+could obtain no more. Soon after he landed he was attacked by the
+malarial fever and though at first it was in a mild form it combined
+with the discouragements to which he had been subjected to make him
+low-spirited and not altogether a genial minister to the sick men or a
+companion at the mess. Directly after the battle of El Caney Assistant
+Surgeon Gates was taken from the Second and attached temporarily to the
+Fourth infantry, which regiment had no surgeon and Assistant Surgeon
+Hitchcock became ill so that the entire work of caring for the Second
+was thrown upon Major Bowen. This added to his other troubles and his
+own illness resulted in making the latter extremely serious and though
+he struggled against it for many weeks he was at last forced to give
+up. Before this he had manfully stuck to his post and tried in every
+way to do his duty but results of his failing health and his heavy
+burden of work were mistaken by many of the officers and men for lack
+of sympathetic feeling and for this he was criticized. This criticism
+was a mistaken one, for at bottom Major Bowen was of a kindly and
+sympathetic nature but it was his misfortune to have his illness and
+troubles put a veneer of impatience upon his normal disposition and
+this conveyed the mistaken idea referred to above. In his service with
+the Second Major Bowen did all possible for a man to do and those who
+knew the heavy burden under which he toiled have always been willing to
+accord him the tribute he was justly entitled to. He died in the Second
+division hospital just outside of Santiago. Some months after his body
+was exhumed and sent to his family in Westfield. There was some mystery
+concerning the whereabouts of his watch and other effects but some
+time after his death they were accidentally discovered in New Orleans
+and restored to his parents.
+
+At Montauk Point K company suffered a loss in the death of Musician
+Frank P. Jones, who succumbed to fever in the camp hospital August
+27th. All through the campaign in Cuba Musician Jones not only kept
+himself well and his spirits up but his cheery speech did much to help
+his comrades. It was not until he reached Montauk that he gave in to
+the disease which laid so many of the Second low.
+
+Even after the regiment had returned home and the sick men were being
+given the best of medical attention and care in their homes or in the
+hospitals the death angel did not cease. On Sept. 13th Corporal Patrick
+J. Noone of G company died at his home after a long illness with the
+fever and two days later his remains were escorted to the grave by
+his comrades and laid to rest after the three volleys which mark the
+soldier's burial had been fired. On October 8, Private Frank Burke of G
+died and was laid to rest in the same cemetery.
+
+Meanwhile in both the Mercy and the Springfield hospitals all that was
+possible was being done for the sick "soldier boys," and physicians
+and nurses were untiring in their efforts. Both institutions had many
+soldier patients and they will long remember the devoted care and
+kindnesses they received.
+
+All this time preparations for the muster-out of the Second had been
+going steadily on. It had been settled that the outfit was to be
+formally discharged from the United States service in Springfield and
+on Sept. 28th First Lieut. Oliver Edwards, 11th Infantry U. S. A.,
+came on to assist in the work preliminary to muster-out. There was
+considerable to be done in the way of getting ready for the ceremony
+and there were many things to be explained to both officers and men
+before all was in readiness. In the effort to have everything clearly
+understood and all the "kinks" straightened out Lieut. Edwards was
+untiring and he made a most favorable impression upon all with whom his
+duties brought him in contact.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIX.
+
+WE BECOME PLAIN CITIZENS ONCE MORE AND SQUARE ACCOUNTS WITH UNCLE SAM.
+
+
+October 3d, 1898, is one of the "star" days in the history of the
+Second, that being the day on which we ceased to be soldiers of
+the United States and became plain and humble citizens once more.
+Incidentally it was something of a day for Springfield for one of
+the features of the muster-out was a brief parade of the regiment
+from the railway station to the state armory, where the exercises
+occurred. Before that, the armory had been for some time the scene of
+much activity. The furlough of the regiment, given it at Montauk, had
+expired October 24th, and for the rest of the time preceding muster-out
+the officers and men were required to make the armory their home
+during the day. Their meals were served there, a contract being made
+with a Springfield caterer, and it can be said that the daily menu was
+far more satisfactory than those we had in the campaign although the
+government paid for both. During this period, the officers and men were
+also required to appear in uniform and the streets took on a decidedly
+military appearance. Much interest was shown by the people of the city
+in everything that pertained to the muster-out and the armory had many
+visitors daily. But it was all play in those days for some of the
+officers and men. There is a lot of red tape and formality connected
+with putting volunteer organizations out of the United States service,
+and there was plenty of work to be done in making out rolls and all
+sorts of papers, so that those detailed for this work were kept busy
+for many days.
+
+Finally on the 3d of October, all the companies of the Second were
+assembled in Springfield, the local companies marching to the railway
+station to meet them and after passing in review before the city
+officials at the city hall, the regiment marched to the armory for
+muster-out. The parade, the first appearance of the Second since it
+left for the front, brought out thousands of people to watch the men
+who had done good service on a foreign soil, and had watered it with
+the blood of many who had marched away on the morning of May 3d. The
+regiment presented a curious sight in some respects and as a spectacle
+it must be said the affair was not an altogether happy one. The men
+were without rifles or equipments, some wore the faded khaki uniform
+issued just before leaving Cuba, others the old blue outfits of the
+Massachusetts militia and the ranks were thinner than when the regiment
+left South Framingham. There seemed to be a chill in the air, too, and
+instead of applause there was subdued comment on the appearance of the
+men as they marched past.
+
+[Illustration: THE PRAIRIE]
+
+Surely the men did not look like ballroom soldiers. The uniforms were
+in many cases ill-fitting and soiled, the marching was not done with
+the precision of some crack national guard organizations which did not
+go to the front, and the faces of the majority of the officers and men
+wore the yellow signal of service in a pestilential climate. But this
+in itself ought to have been warrant for some outburst of satisfaction
+in the gallant deeds of the regiment instead of curious stares and the
+silence of wonderment. However, there were sporadic cases of applause
+and as the men did not much care whether they received any or not, they
+found little fault with the lack of it. Only the members of the
+companies from outside the city wondered mildly what it all meant, and
+if after all it would not have been as well to have stayed at home and
+not have tried to stand by the flag when men were wanted.
+
+The ceremonies at the armory were informal enough. Each company
+was mustered out in turn by Lieut. Col. E. M. Weaver of the Fifth
+Massachusetts U. S. V., who as a lieutenant in the Second U. S.
+Artillery had mustered us in at South Framingham on May 3d. He was
+assisted by Lieut. Edwards and it did not take very long to put each
+company "out of business" as United States Volunteers. The company was
+formed, the men answered to their names and took position in the same
+manner as when mustered in, and this over the company commander was
+informed that the company was mustered out and that discharge papers
+for each man would be provided.
+
+But the discharge papers did not come that day nor for several days.
+The paymaster had failed to arrive with the funds and until these
+were distributed the men had but little use for discharge papers. It
+was explained that the reason for delay on the paymaster's part was
+due to errors in the rolls sent in from a few of the companies and as
+the men wanted their three months pay and allowances rather more than
+discharges, it is no wonder if some unkind things were said as to the
+paymaster and these companies.
+
+It was not until November 17th that the long looked for pay arrived,
+and the companies were ordered to once more assemble at the armory,
+this time for the purpose of settling accounts with Uncle Sam. This
+operation was simple enough, yet very interesting to the recipients
+of the contents of the small and dingy valise of the paymaster. The
+three months' pay with the allowances for clothing and ration money
+made quite a sizable sum for the great majority of the men, and the
+nice new greenbacks which they received were not refused. With the
+money came the discharge papers as a sure enough sign that we were
+no longer soldiers of the United States. Many of the officers and men
+failed, however, to settle up with Major Sherman on the 17th. Some of
+the officers had not squared their accounts with the war department and
+in some cases they were obliged to wait a considerable time before they
+accounted for every bit of property they were held responsible for and
+complied with all the red tape. A number of the men were not able to be
+on hand, owing to sickness and other causes, when Major Sherman finally
+arrived and they were likewise forced to wait. An interesting episode
+of "paying off" time was the breezy disagreement between Major Sherman
+and Capt. McDonald of B company, over the former's refusal to pay some
+eight men of the latter's company, who had, it seems, signed one pay
+roll and supposed that everything was all right. As it happened, when
+Major Sherman came to Springfield, he failed to bring the correct
+roll for B company, and insisted that the members should sign a new
+one. This was done, but as the eight men referred to were out of the
+city, they were unable to sign, and when they appeared for their pay,
+were told they would have to wait for some time. The majority of the
+men needed the money and needed it badly, but although Capt. McDonald
+exhausted every effort to obtain it for them, it was not till quite
+a while had elapsed that they were paid. The opportunity afforded
+Capt. McDonald for some caustic criticisms of the workings of the war
+department was not allowed to pass.
+
+In those days it was a great thing to be a returned soldier as was
+instanced in the cases of several of the boys who were members of more
+or less secret organizations. It got to be a common thing for these
+associations to show their appreciation of their soldier members by
+presenting them with money or badges, or some token of esteem, and
+a number of the men who served with the Springfield companies are
+wearing medals or badges thus presented. Probably none of them was
+prouder of his medal than Private Morris Grenowitz of B company who
+had the distinction of being the only Hebrew in the three Springfield
+companies. He was a member of the Young Men's Hebrew Association, and
+soon after his return the association held a public reception in his
+honor and presented him with a check for a small sum of money and a
+gold medal. Private Peter F. Boyer of B company was given a gold watch
+by the members of an organization to which he belonged and several of
+the other boys were similarly remembered, among them Private William
+Ferrier of G company who was given a handsome gold ring. A number of
+the members of the Springfield companies resided in West Springfield
+and the inhabitants of the village of Mittineague in that town honored
+their soldiers one evening by a big reception and entertainment with
+plenty of red fire, etc., included.
+
+A largely attended public reception and flag presentation was held in
+the city hall, on the evening of November 3d, to which the officers
+and members of the Springfield companies, and their relatives and
+friends were invited and the hall was packed to the doors. Gov. Wolcott
+and members of his staff were present and the governor spoke, as did
+a number of the prominent citizens, all eulogizing the work of the
+regiment and paying a tribute to the officers and men who had failed to
+return. The tattered colors of the regiment were in evidence and their
+appearance in the hall was the signal for an outburst of applause.
+On this occasion the stands of colors purchased for each company in
+connection with the Fourth of July celebration of 1898, which never
+came off, were formally presented, and as the representatives of each
+of the companies advanced to receive the new and handsome flags, the
+audience broke into applause and cheers. These flags were bought with
+the proceeds of the sales of the Fourth of July badges which were to
+have been a feature of the celebration and a good sum was realized.
+
+Previous to muster-out First Sergeant T. F. Burke of B company had been
+appointed on the recommendation of Col. Clark as Second Lieutenant to
+fill the vacancy caused by the death of Lieut. Harry J. Vesper.
+
+Immediately following the muster-out Dr. E. A. Gates, who had been
+promoted from Assistant Surgeon to Surgeon with the rank of Major,
+vice Bowen, deceased, was ordered to Boston and Worcester to assist
+in the work of examining the men of other regiments to be mustered
+out. Assistant Surgeon Hitchcock was also ordered on this same duty.
+Dr. Hitchcock was attacked with a serious spinal trouble and for some
+months his life was despaired of. He finally recovered but not until
+after weary months of suffering.
+
+Soon after the muster-out of the Second the provisional militia
+companies organized in the city during the war ceased practically
+to exist, although they were not formally disbanded for some time
+afterwards. The reorganization of the Second as a part of the
+Massachusetts Volunteer Militia did not start until after its muster
+out of the United States service and it was at one time freely
+predicted that the work of reorganization would be the hardest task
+ever experienced by those in charge. It looked so at times, but
+in spite of the croakers and pessimists who asserted that it was
+likely that the Second would never be the same regiment again the
+reorganization was quietly and successfully effected and it was not
+long before the outfit was once again in its old form. A surprisingly
+large number of the officers and men who had served in the war
+remained in the regiment and this was especially the case in the three
+Springfield companies, G and B having more of the veterans than K. The
+state granted the regiment a 30 days' furlough dating from Nov. 3 to
+Dec. 3 in order to allow time to get matters straightened out before
+its entrance upon a career of militia service again.
+
+Meanwhile steps had been taken toward an expedition to go to Cuba and
+bring back the bodies of the dead of the Second. The co-operation of
+the cities and towns from which the regiment was recruited was obtained
+and a number of meetings were held in this city, representatives from
+Worcester, Holyoke, Northampton, Greenfield, Orange and Adams being
+present with authority from their respective cities and towns. After
+a number of meetings an expedition was organized which left for Cuba
+in January, 1899. The Springfield representatives were Lieut. T. F.
+Burke of B company, Lieut. Fred Jenks of K company, Private Dozilva
+Lamoreaux of G company and Private Alfred Rose of B, the latter going
+as interpreter. The progress of the expedition was slow at first, owing
+to many difficulties connected with obtaining permission to disinter
+the bodies and of getting transportation, but thanks to incessant work
+and powerful influence these were at last disposed of and the party
+sailed from New York on Jan. 29. It was necessary to go first to Porto
+Rico and remain there some days but after Santiago was reached there
+was comparatively little trouble. The bodies of the Springfield men
+were all located and identified with one exception, that of Private
+Robert E. Kelly of G, who was fatally shot on the night of July 2d at
+San Juan. The bodies were encased in metallic coffins and on arrival
+in Springfield were given proper burial. An elaborate service was held
+over the body of Sergeant Richard H. Bearse of B company in the State
+Street Baptist church, representatives of the city government and the
+organizations of which he was a member as well as his own company,
+being present. The church was crowded with friends and the ceremonies
+were impressive. Before this the body of Musician Frank P. Jones of
+K had been brought on from Montauk and buried in Oak Grove cemetery
+after largely attended services in the State Street Methodist church.
+The bodies of the G company men were buried with military honors also
+and those of Privates Little and Stetson, whose relatives could not
+be found, were interred in a lot which the company purchased in the
+Springfield cemetery.
+
+Twice within the year 1899 were the Springfield companies called
+together to go over again in memory the deeds of the previous year. For
+some time there had been desultory talk of public honors being paid to
+the dead of the companies and finally a memorial service was arranged
+for and was held in the city hall on Sunday afternoon, April 16. It was
+one of the most disagreeable days imaginable, a fall of mingled rain
+and snow filling the streets with slush, but despite this the building
+was jammed to suffocation. The platform was decorated with appropriate
+bunting and in front were representations of memorial tablets bearing
+the names of the officers and men of the companies who had given their
+lives in the cause. The war-worn regimental colors were brought on from
+Boston for the occasion and were draped in the rear of the platform.
+Affecting tributes were paid to the dead heroes and eulogies were
+pronounced by some of Springfield's most prominent citizens.
+
+The camp of the First Brigade M. V. M. at South Framingham in August,
+1899, brought the regiment once more onto the ground where it was
+mustered into the United States service the year before, but under much
+different circumstances than then. The ranks of the Second contained a
+very large percentage, a majority, in fact, of those who had gone out
+with it to Cuba and the red sleeve stripes indicating service in war
+were conspicuous on the blouses of the greater number of the men. At
+this time old friendships formed during the campaign were renewed and
+new ones formed.
+
+On the occasion of the annual fall drill of the state militia in Boston
+in October Admiral George Dewey was the guest of the city and the event
+was also made the occasion of the formal "turning over" of the "war
+colors" to the state. The Second came in for no little share of the
+honors of the occasion, as well it might.
+
+As time wore on after the return of the regiment from the fever
+stricken camps in Cuba the malarial poison left the bodies of the men
+and within six months afterwards the majority of them had regained
+their normal health. There were many, however, with whom the exposures
+and hardships of the campaign had raised havoc and to this day some
+show the effects of the short but eventful period when they were
+serving under the flag. The latest man in the Springfield companies
+to succumb to the ravages of disease contracted in the campaign was
+Private John L. Morehouse of K company, who died Nov. 12 of typhoid
+fever.
+
+In October, 1899, a number of the officers and men of the Springfield
+companies who had served in the Cuban war began the organization of a
+camp of the Legion of Spanish War Veterans, an order patterned after
+the model of the Grand Army of the Republic and which it is to be hoped
+will be to the veterans of the war with Spain what the Grand Army is to
+the men who fought in the Civil war. The camp was named after Henry S.
+Lee of Springfield, whose splendid and self-sacrificing work for the
+benefit of the soldiers and sailors in the Spanish war will never be
+forgotten by them or the people.
+
+Thus closes the record of Springfield's three infantry companies in the
+war with Spain. It is not a long chronicle but it is one in which the
+people of the City of Homes can always take a just pride. It is not
+confined to these companies alone either, for aside from the efficient
+duty performed by her company in the naval brigade, there were many
+individual enlistments in regular regiments and there was the splendid
+work done at the United States armory in turning out the arms with
+which the troops were equipped. As in the Civil war the works were
+run day and night and the force of employees trebled. There was good
+work done too at the recruiting station and it is not too much to say
+that Springfield was a prominent factor in the war from its beginning
+to its close. When the rebellion against the authority of the United
+States in the Philippines broke out and volunteers were again called
+for Springfield again showed its patriotism. A number enlisted from
+this city in the famous 26th and among them were many of the men who
+had seen service in Cuba. Others went into the 46th and more would have
+gone had it been necessary. As always the city and its men young and
+old showed their loyalty to the flag, whether it led the way to the
+hills around Santiago or to the rice swamps and jungles of Luzon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XX.
+
+WHEREIN IS NARRATED THE ADVENTURES ON THE HIGH SEAS OF SPRINGFIELD'S
+SAILORS.
+
+
+While the land soldiers which Springfield furnished the government were
+enjoying themselves in Florida and Cuba and toying with the canned
+roast beef and other incidentals of a campaign, the Springfield marine
+contingent was not having an altogether lovely time. On the monitor
+Lehigh and the auxiliary cruiser Prairie there was work and hard work
+too in plenty but on the whole the rations and the quarters were
+better than those enjoyed by the infantry contingent. But the boys of
+H company, naval brigade, pined for active service and those on the
+Lehigh were aggrieved at not getting it while their comrades on the
+Prairie were roaming the seas on a fast ship in chase of the enemy
+or doing blockade duty off the coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico. It was
+hard work for the Lehigh men to be cooped up on their old, "flat boat"
+in Boston harbor during the stirring times of the summer of 1898 but it
+is to their credit that although they grumbled at their lot as all good
+sailors do, yet they did their full duty and did it well.
+
+The bringing of the Lehigh from the League Island navy yard to Boston
+Harbor was in itself something of an achievement for the tug which
+towed her broke down and the monitor was forced to proceed under her
+own steam, much to the surprise of those on the tug Clara Clorita.
+This happened at Vineyard Haven and from that point to Boston the
+Lehigh was cast off from the tug and was sailed the remainder of the
+way under her own steam and by her own crew. When the Lehigh left
+Philadelphia the navy yard officials were apprehensive of her behavior
+at sea as she was primarily a coast defence vessel but the naval
+brigade men in the monitor found no great trouble in sailing her.
+
+The Lehigh reached Boston on May 5 and on the 9th the Springfield
+officers and men of the crew were given leaves of absence and
+furloughs to enable them to attend the presentation of "The Ensign" by
+Springfield amateurs at the Court Square theater for the benefit of the
+company fund. The crew included Lieut. J. K. Dexter, Lieut, (j. g.) W.
+O. Cohn, Ensign Walter S. Barr and Seamen W. A. Sabin, A. N. Luce, R.
+P. King, Paul H. Lathrop, L. E. Ladd, W. S. Johnson, W. F. Bright and
+R. H. B. Warburton. The presentation was a successful one in every way
+and netted quite a sum.
+
+Meanwhile the Lehigh had been permanently detailed for duty in Boston
+harbor as a coast defence vessel and a disagreeable surprise was in
+store for some of the Springfield men when they returned from their
+furloughs. They were all anxious to re-enlist for service and had been
+assured by Capt. Weeks, commanding the naval brigade, that if they
+telegraphed to him their willingness to re-enlist before a certain hour
+on the 10th, places would be kept for them. But on their arrival on
+the ship on May 12th they found that there was only one vacancy left.
+Just how the mistake was made was never thoroughly explained, but it
+was suspected by the Springfield men that there was a scheme to shut as
+many of them as possible out in favor of some Boston naval militiamen.
+They felt it keenly and Lieut. Dexter succeeded in straightening out
+matters so that Coxswain Johnson and Seamen Bright and Warburton were
+re-enlisted. Sabin, Luce and King had already done so and this left
+only Lathrop and Ladd out in the cold. In spite of their efforts they
+could not get in.
+
+The officers suffered also from the fact that there were not places
+enough for all of them in the Lehigh's complement as a coast defense
+ship. Lieut. Colin was offered the alternative of going on the waiting
+list or being reduced in rank to ensign. He chose the latter and
+remained with the ship but there was no place for Ensign Barr and he
+was placed on the waiting list and returned home to await orders. Later
+Lieut. Dexter was taken from the Lehigh and placed on the converted
+ferry boat "Governor Russell," the property of the City of Boston which
+had turned over to the government, as executive officer.
+
+All this time the "Prairie dogs," as the crew of that vessel were
+dubbed by their less fortunate comrades, were having a fairly good time
+at the Brooklyn navy yard. Much time was spent there in fitting up the
+vessel as an auxiliary cruiser and until the work was well advanced the
+crew was lodged and fed in hotels and later in the navy yard barracks.
+
+As it happened, Ralph H. Newcomb was the first of the Springfield men
+to reach the Prairie and report for duty. He was in Washington on a
+visit when orders were issued for H company to report at Brooklyn and
+when he was notified by Lieut. Crossman he lost no time in getting to
+that city and the navy yard, beating out his comrades by several hours.
+
+Hammocks were "swung" on the Prairie for the first time on Saturday,
+May 7th, and from that time until muster-out in September hotel fare
+was a dream of the past to which the boys looked back with considerable
+regret. The Prairie, completely transformed into a war ship, left
+the navy yard and steamed down the harbor to Tompkinsville. This was
+on Friday, the 13th of May, but if there was any "hoodoo" it failed
+to work. The next day the Prairie steamed out to sea and had target
+practice, badly frightening some of the residents of the coast with
+the big guns. Late in the afternoon the Prairie gave chase to a
+suspicious craft which turned out to be an English tramp steamer.
+
+The Prairie had been assigned to patrol duty on the North Atlantic
+coast with the San Francisco. The "Frisco" was sighted on the day
+following and both ships steamed into Provincetown and remained there
+for the next day, sailing out late in the afternoon. It is recorded
+that the sailors washed clothes during their stay in Provincetown and
+it is evident they were getting a taste of the life of a jolly tar. The
+regular patrol tour of the Prairie was from Provincetown north to some
+40 miles above Boston, then south to Nantucket to Provincetown, meeting
+the San Francisco off the cape and obtaining mail.
+
+These were not idle days by any means. What with battalion drills,
+inspection, target practice, painting ship and the regular routine of
+ship's work the long hours of duty passed quickly and the men were
+pretty well tired out as a rule when the time came to get into their
+hammocks. But the men of H company learned fast and soon accustomed
+themselves to life on one of Uncle Sam's war ships. The one thing they
+did not take to very kindly in the line of work was coaling ship and
+this came rather oftener than they had any relish for.
+
+In the way of food there was little to complain of, although the fare
+was not Delmonico-like by any means. One of the mess cooks kept a diary
+of what he served up for every meal during the service of the Prairie
+and it shows that the menus, while probably simple enough to the men
+on board, would have been regarded as the acme of luxurious living by
+their brethren of the Second. A few samples are given: breakfast, June
+10, Indian meal and coffee; dinner, soup, roast beef and potatoes;
+supper, hash and French toast. June 12th, breakfast, bacon and
+potatoes; dinner, sausages and potatoes; supper, beans, cold meat and
+sausages. The daily average was fully up to the samples given above.
+
+Capt. Train of the Prairie was a disciplinarian and there were
+punishments meted out for various small offences. One man was deprived
+of shore liberty for three months for throwing swill out of a port
+hole. For smoking outside of "smoking hours" the customary punishment
+was 48 hours of extra duty, while for being late with hammocks the
+sentence was for the delinquents to parade the deck for an hour or two
+hours with the hammocks on their shoulders.
+
+The Prairie sailed from Provincetown June 10th for a brief cruise
+southward, but returned on the 14th. The weather was very foggy during
+the cruise and on the 14th the ship came near running down an English
+tramp steamer passing within a boat's length of her.
+
+On the 16th the Prairie sailed again from Provincetown for Delaware
+breakwater, arriving there on the 18th. The next day she sailed for
+New York, anchoring off Tompkinsville the 20th. Coaling ship was one
+of the innocent amusements of the day and the men stowed away 83 tons
+in the afternoon. Early next morning the sport was resumed and before
+breakfast 28 tons more had been put away in the bunkers, the record for
+the day being 182 tons. The next day the coal situation again took the
+attention of the crew but they finished the job. Shore liberty resulted
+in some of the men overstaying it and being shut off from any more
+during the stay. On Sunday, June 26th, the men got into blue dress for
+inspection but before the ceremony was over orders came to sail at once
+for Key West. Off came the blue suits and the men got into their "coal"
+suits again and finished coaling ship at 1.30 in the morning. The
+Prairie sailed for Key West on the 27th, arriving there June 1st. Her
+stay was short, for the same day she left with mail for the blockading
+squadron off Cuba and sighting the Amphitrite the next day transferred
+her mail to her. Later that day the Prairie gave the mail to the
+Newport, Montgomery, Vicksburg and Marietta. That afternoon the men on
+the Prairie saw the Marietta pick up a refugee from the shore and saw
+the guns from Morro Castle fire at her but fail to strike.
+
+On July Fourth the men paraded in blue and fired the national salute.
+The Prairie for a day or two acted as flagship of the squadron during
+the absence of the Amphitrite at Key West.
+
+On Tuesday, July 5th, the Hawk came alongside the Prairie with orders
+for the latter to proceed to Mariel, 23-1/2 miles from Havana, and
+assist in the capture of a liner supposed to have been trying to run
+the blockade. The liner proved to be the Spanish transport Alphonso
+XII, with a large number of soldiers on board. She had tried to run the
+blockade but had been discovered and chased so sharply by a couple of
+the converted yachts attached to the blockading squadron that she was
+run ashore and lay head on. The troops and her crew had managed to get
+ashore by the time the Prairie came up, but it was not certain that she
+was not manned and several shots were sent at her from the starboard
+six-inch guns. After the fourth or fifth shot there was an explosion,
+evidently her magazine, and as she did not return the fire the Prairie
+ceased firing. During the firing a saucy little Spanish gunboat stuck
+her nose out of the harbor but a couple of six-inch shells settled her
+fate and she was sunk in quick time. The firing at the Alphonso XII
+was first-rate target practice and at long range, too, all the shells
+hitting her, although the range was 6600 yards.
+
+On July 7th the Tecumseh brought a lot of mail from Key West for the
+Prairie and a good share of the day was put in in reading it. On the
+9th a small shark was caught and some of the boys secured teeth as
+souvenirs.
+
+Monday, July 11th, the Prairie was relieved of blockade duty off Mariel
+and ordered to Gibara with the Topeka, Mayflower and Badger, the
+Prairie being made the flagship of the squadron. The trip to Gibara
+was without special incidents and the ships arrived there on the 13th.
+Just as the blockaders appeared a schooner and two fishing smacks which
+were just coming out made haste to get back into the port. Blockade
+duty was kept up for several days and occasionally the ship would go in
+so close to the town that the people could be seen in the streets. The
+search-lights were used about every night and this work was pleasing to
+the men detailed for it.
+
+The San Francisco arrived on the 17th and took off a lot of mail for
+the United States. Since leaving Havana the crew of the Prairie had
+not received any mail and were eagerly expecting some. On the 18th
+the supply of sugar gave out and this was keenly felt until some was
+procured. On the 20th the Maple, which had joined the squadron, caught
+a small sloop with a crew of four men and laden with tobacco, making
+the first prize of the tour.
+
+One of the marine detail on the Prairie was a Springfield man named
+John Fenton and on the 21st he was the victim of a severe accident
+caused by the slipping of a six-inch shell from his hands at gun
+practice. The shell landed on his foot, badly crushing it.
+
+This same day a delegation of the prominent citizens of Gibara came
+out in a small boat and offered to surrender the town as the Spanish
+garrison was about to leave and the inhabitants were afraid of the
+negroes in the vicinity. On receiving the offer the Prairie steamed to
+Nipe bay where the Topeka was found engaged in shelling the town. The
+Dupont took a message to the Topeka and the Prairie returned to Gibara.
+From a Cuban who came out in a dory it was learned that the inhabitants
+had raised an American flag over the town and were anxious that a force
+be landed to take possession of the place. It was also learned that
+the town was short of provisions. The Cuban's heart was gladdened by
+the gift of hardtack, canned meat, corn and coffee. On the 25th the
+Mangrove brought orders to proceed to Guantanamo bay and coal up at
+once. At Guantanamo fresh meat and also newspapers a week or two old
+were received.
+
+Wednesday, July 27th, marked the close of the third month of service
+of the Prairie's crew and as if to celebrate the event the Supply came
+in with a lot of provisions. The work of coaling ship was begun on the
+night of the 25th and did not cease until the 27th, the men standing
+their regular watches and doing their trick with the coal as if it was
+nothing unusual.
+
+The Prairie sailed from Guantanamo bay on the evening of the 27th and
+reached San Juan, Porto Rico, on the 29th. Some ammunition brought from
+Guantanamo for the cruiser New Orleans was transferred to her in boats.
+The Prairie did not stay long at San Juan but sailed for Ponce on the
+other side of the island on the 31st, arriving there the next day.
+Troops were being landed at Ponce and the roadstead was filled with
+war ships and transports. One of the transports became stuck on a bar
+outside the light-house and the Prairie had hard work getting her off
+the bar. A lot of mangoes brought aboard resulted in a number of the
+men being made ill from indulging too freely in the fruit. The soldiers
+on the transport Massachusetts, the one which was stuck, were taken on
+board the Prairie and fed, being landed the next day.
+
+News of the cessation of hostilities reached the ship August 5th and
+was received at first with incredulity. The night of Friday, August
+12th, was made memorable by Burgess tumbling out of his hammock three
+times in rapid succession. "Rags," the canine mascot, had become
+subject to fits and was assisted to commit suicide one day while in the
+harbor.
+
+The Prairie received orders to sail for the United States and on August
+18th left for Santiago, arriving there the 20th. The ship left Santiago
+the 21st, with three companies of the Seventh infantry on board. All
+went well until the 25th, when a heavy fog came on and the Prairie ran
+aground near Amagansett Point, 15 miles from Montauk Point. There was
+considerable confusion, of course, but the Prairie was handled well.
+All the boats were lowered and two kedge anchors were put out, one from
+the starboard quarter and the other from the starboard forecastle. The
+boats were out all night and it was not until at high tide the next day
+that the Prairie was hauled off by the tug Brittania and a light-house
+tender. The soldiers were landed and taken to Montauk Point. After
+being hauled off the Prairie sailed for Montauk Point, arriving there
+early in the evening. At Montauk the Prairie was put into quarantine
+until the 28th. Hardly was she out of quarantine before she steamed
+to Newport and from there to Fall River, where a warm reception was
+given the Fall River men on board the ship. That evening the Fall
+River and New Bedford men went ashore but the Springfield contingent
+was kept on board, much to their disappointment. On the 30th the
+Prairie left Fall River and steamed down to Newport, the event of the
+evening being the playing of the "Fu-Fu" band. The next day the ship
+started for New York and remained there until the 19th, when she went
+to Delaware Breakwater. Rumors of discharge began to agitate the crew
+soon after arriving in New York and Capt. Train went to Washington to
+confer with the Navy Department concerning it but returned with no
+definite knowledge of the exact time the muster-out would take place.
+From Delaware Breakwater the Prairie steamed up to the League Island
+navy yard where some of the guns were taken off and transferred to the
+New York. During the stay in New York and at League Island the "Rough
+Riders" made several successful initiations.
+
+Sunday, September 25, hammocks were lashed for the last time and after
+the dunnage had been loaded on a tug, the crew mustered and gave three
+cheers for Capt. Train and Lieuts. Stone and Stimpson. This done, the
+crew bade good bye to the Prairie and went ashore, going to Jersey
+City by train. After a brief trip on a ferry, the Fall River boat was
+boarded for the trip to that city and Boston. The latter place was
+reached about 10 o'clock Monday morning and after passing in review
+before the governor at the state house the Prairie men proceeded
+to the receiving ship Wabash, where they were furloughed until the
+following Wednesday. The boys enjoyed themselves hugely in Boston until
+Wednesday, when they were mustered out and given their discharges from
+the service of the United States.
+
+At 9.15 that evening, the Springfield part of the crew arrived home
+and were given an enthusiastic welcome in which red fire and fireworks
+played a prominent part. At the armory the men were greeted by glad
+relatives and soon dispersed to their homes plain naval militiamen once
+more after doing their full duty to Uncle Sam and serving him well.
+
+Lieut. H. S Crossman, who went out with the Prairie detail remained on
+the ship until she was ordered south, when he and some of the other
+officers were sent out on special duty. He was assigned to duty as
+recruiting officer on the Minnesota and remained there until a short
+time before the dismissal of the Prairie's crew from the service.
+
+Lieut. J. K. Dexter was detailed from duty on the Lehigh to duty as
+navigator on the converted ferry boat, Gov. Russell, and ordered to
+take her to Key West. The trip was an eventful one, for the Gov.
+Russell as a war boat was a fearfully and wonderfully constructed piece
+of marine architecture, and there were times when it was a question
+whether she would ever reach a port or not. But finally she was
+navigated as far as Newport News, and after looking her carefully over,
+the naval authorities decided that it was not wise to expose her again
+to the high seas.
+
+After muster-out of the Lehigh detail H company was once more at home
+and it was not long before the reorganization of the command as a part
+of the state militia was begun and successfully carried out, a good
+number of the officers and men who had seen service remaining. Today
+the company is once more in its old position of the best all-round
+company in the Massachusetts naval brigade.
+
+On October 27th, a number of prominent citizens tendered H company a
+banquet at Hotel Worthy, and the occasion will long be remembered as a
+very pleasant one. During the evening the handsome silk American flag,
+purchased for the company by citizens, was presented by Rev. Dr. P. S.
+Moxom.
+
+
+
+
+ROSTER.
+
+
+FIELD STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
+
+  COLONEL, EMBURY P. CLARK.
+  MAJOR, FREDERICK G. SOUTHMAYD.
+  ADJUTANT, FIRST LIEUT. PAUL R. HAWKINS.
+  QUARTERMASTER, FIRST LIEUT. EDWARD E. SAWTELL.
+  MAJOR AND SURGEON, HENRY C. BOWEN.
+  MAJOR AND SURGEON, ERNEST A. GATES.
+
+
+  SERGEANT-MAJOR, ROBERT N. INGERSOL.
+  QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT, ROSS L. LUSK.
+  HOSPITAL STEWARD, EDSON P. HOWES.
+
+
+G. COMPANY.
+
+  CAPTAIN, JOHN J. LEONARD.
+  FIRST LIEUTENANT, WILLIAM C. HAYES.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, EDWARD J. LEYDEN.
+  FIRST SERGEANT, WILLIAM BUTEMENT.
+  SERGEANTS, JEREMIAH F. SCULLY.
+             JOSEPH N. LOVELY.
+             WALTER W. WARD.
+             JOSEPH A. MURPHY.
+             JAMES A. GIBBONS.
+  CORPORALS, ROBERT A. ROSS.
+             PATRICK J. NOONE.
+             MICHAEL J. MCHALE.
+             FRANK C. KEATING, Chicopee Falls.
+             NATALINE GARDELLA.
+             ERNEST E. ROBINSON.
+  MUSICIANS, PATRICK J. O'CONNELL.
+             ROBERT D. CARGILL.
+  WAGONER, JAMES R. SHENE.
+  ARTIFICER, BENJAMIN A. SEAMANS.
+
+
+PRIVATES
+
+  Frank A. Anderson                  Dozilva P. Lamoreaux, Chicopee
+  Timothy T. Austin                  Andrew Little
+  Elmer B. Barrowcliffe              Christopher T. Lovett
+  Frank J. Barsalow                  John J. Mahoney, W. Sp'f'd
+  Daniel J. Bellamy                  Thomas F. Mahoney
+  Wilbur G. Brassard, Thompsonville  George H. Markham
+  James H. Bresnahan                 John B. Mandeville
+  Patrick J. Bresnan                 Ernest P. Marble
+  Alfred C. Brownell                 Dennis F. McCarthy
+  Francis C. Burke                   Henry E. Merchant
+  Thomas Burke                       Louis Monteverde
+  Henry T. Conrad                    Fred H. Morrill
+  George W. Campbell                 Carl A. Mueller
+  Thomas M. Conlin                   James J. O'Brien
+  William E. Coolidge                Charles A. Nelson
+  Timothy J. Crowley                 John J. O'Leary
+  William R. Dillon, W. Sp'f'd       Arthur H. Packard
+  John H. Dunn                       Walter A. Packard
+  George E. Easton                   Jacob Peterson
+  William Ferrier                    George A. Richmond
+  Charles R. Fisher                  William J. Rooney
+  Theodore Gelinas, Holyoke          William J. Root
+  Frank M. Hannon                    Jeremiah J. Shea
+  Patrick J. Hayes                   Cyrus A. Shufelt
+  Andrew F. Higgins                  Henry J. Slattery
+  Frank N. Hunt                      Fred S. Stetson
+  Robert G. Kelly                    John E. Tobin
+  Edward K. Lathrop                  Henry B. Whitmore
+  Henry H. Lawler                    Samuel Wilson
+
+
+B COMPANY.
+
+  CAPTAIN, HENRY MCDONALD.
+  FIRST LIEUTENANT, WILLIAM J. YOUNG.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, HARRY J. VESPER.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, THOMAS F. BURKE.
+  SERGEANTS, RICHARD H. BEARSE.
+             SAMUEL E. SMITH.
+             GEORGE J. MCKEOWN.
+             JOHN J. O'CONNELL.
+             EVERETT W. WILCOX.
+  CORPORALS, FRANK A. WAKEFIELD.
+             MELVIN H. RANSOM.
+             RICHARD B. BLANEY.
+             MICHAEL J. DONAHUH.
+             JOHN B. FULTON.
+             THOMAS F. HANDY.
+  MUSICIANS, HENRY F. LADBURY.
+             BERNARD E. COMEY.
+  WAGONER, PAUL J. KINGSTON.
+  ARTIFICER, ORVIN E. ALBERTS.
+
+
+PRIVATES
+
+  Charles H. Ashley          Donald A. McPhee
+  John Bryson                William J. Mack
+  Peter F. Boyer             Daniel J. Moriarty
+  William F. Barton          Frank C. Mattoon
+  William J. Barton          Axel Mahlstrom, East Longmeadow
+  John M. Carey              John J. Malone
+  William F. Childs          Howard S. Meyrick, Agawam
+  Matthew J. Clark           John J. O'Donnell
+  Theophile J. Champagne     Arthur M. Partridge
+  Clarence E. Chapman        Giles S. Potter, Pittsfield
+  William W. Chadbourne      Alwin B. Richter
+  Albert M. Chandler         Christopher J. Riordan
+  Lewis R. Dikeman           Thos. R. Rooney, Westfield
+  Frank F. Dingman           Wilmore S. Riopel
+  Robert D. Draper           Matthew M. P. Ryan
+  Daniel S. Devine           James C. Ryan
+  Albert R. Dunn             Henry P. Roberts
+  George DeGray              Frank X. Rivers
+  John K. DeLoach            Clarence B. Ross
+  Frank L. Edson             Harry H. Richards, West Springfield
+  Henry T. Ellis             Alfred E. Rose
+  James F. Ferrier           John J. Smith
+  Ellsworth Frey             Frank Twohey, Worcester
+  Eugene B. Grenier          Paul L. Vesper
+  Morris Grenowitz           Harry C. Wakefield
+  Joseph Genereaux           Ernest C. Whitcomb
+  John C. Hurley             Edwin W. Wright
+  Robert J. F. Judd
+  Michael F. Kelleher
+  Ernest J. Monseau
+
+
+K COMPANY.
+
+  CAPTAIN, WILLIAM S. WARRINER.
+  FIRST LIEUTENANT, PHILIP C. POWERS.
+  SECOND LIEUTENANT, HARRY H. PARKHURST.
+  FIRST SERGEANT, ARTHUR J. BERRY.
+  SERGEANTS, FRED A. JENKS, Chicopee.
+             G. BURTON HALL.
+             DAVID A. TURNER.
+             J. LEWIS KELLY.
+             HYATT W. AVERY.
+  CORPORALS, WILLIAM C. PIPER.
+             THOMAS C. BOONE.
+             BURDETT A. MADISON.
+             WILLIAM E. TURNER.
+             ALBERT MARSDEN.
+             BERT F. NICHOLS.
+  MUSICIANS, FRANK P. JONES.
+             LOUIS P. CASTALDINI.
+  WAGONER, FRANK N. BOULE.
+  ARTIFICER, WILSON C. EMERY.
+
+
+PRIVATES.
+
+  Ernest L. Alderman              Charles Hoadley
+  Edward N. Aiken                 Irving J. Johnson
+  Horace W. Allen                 Ward Lathrop
+  Wallace H. Brown                Michael R. Lyons
+  George L. Bates                 Everett W. Luther
+  Ralph A. Barkman                Myron W. Maynard
+  Arthur N. Broulette             Charles E. McLeod
+  Arthur M. Burnham               Wm. C. McCulloch, Chicopee
+  Albert J. Brunell               Frank E. Moody
+  Michael E. Breck                John L. Morehouse
+  James W. Britton                Homer G. Munson
+  James A. Brazzil                Samuel W. Nesbitt
+  Frank L. Carr                   Charles Owens
+  Arthur L. Chapman               A. L. Potter
+  William C. Colvin               George W. Potter
+  Alwin A. Cameron                Walter J. Reardon
+  George S, Creeley               Phillip H. Robinson
+  William R. Dunse                William E. Stephens
+  Edwin A. Elwell                 George E. Sollace
+  Horatio M. Field                Edgar W. Snell
+  Wm. J. Fish, W. Springfield     Harry J. Symonds
+  Harry D. Fisher                 Alfred Stone
+  Ralph Fisk                      Robert B. Terrell
+  Herman H. Fuller                Nicholas D. Vassilli
+  Julian B. Hawkes                William J. Walsh
+  Louis H. Hall                   Harry O. Wilkins
+  Frank B. Hendricks              Joseph G. Woodbury
+  George Hallier                  Henry Wright, Jr.
+  Edward R. Hubbard               William A. Webb
+
+[Illustration: HENRY S. LEE]
+
+
+H COMPANY NAVAL BRIGADE.
+
+  Name                    Rating                   Ship
+
+  Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter             U. S. S. Gov. Russell
+  Lieut. (j. g.) Henry S. Crossman          U. S. S. Prairie
+  Lieut. (j. g.) William O. Cohn             U. S. S. Lehigh
+  William A. Dearden, Boatswain's Mate, 2d class     Prairie
+  William Owens, Gunner's Mate, 2d class                "
+  James A. Turnbull, Gunner's Mate, 3d class            "
+  Curtis H. Jennings, Gunner's Mate, 3d class           "
+  Arthur H. Strong, Chief Q. M.                       Saturn
+  Winfred A. Sabin, Coxswain                          Lehigh
+  Herbert E. Burns, Bayman                           Prairie
+  Ernest F. Gilbert, Shipwright                         "
+  George H. Nobbs, Pay Yeoman                           "
+  Albert M. Pease, Cook                                 "
+
+
+SEAMEN.
+
+  William H. Brundett      Prairie  George W. Lyman          Prairie
+  Weston F. Bright            "     Irving C. Lombra            "
+  A. W. Blauvelt              "     George L. Meacham           "
+  Webster C. Clark            "     Charles B. Miller           "
+  Lewis B. Clark              "     Ralph Newcomb               "
+  Winfred W. Crosier          "     Guy A. Preble               "
+  Charles Crosier             "     Gilbert G. Patnode          "
+  Charles W. Dearden          "     Goulding S. Patnode         "
+  Lawrence W. Erricson        "     Walter Swazey               "
+  Arthur J. C. Fischer        "     Edwin S. Smith              "
+  Robert C. Goodale           "     Fred C. Steele              "
+  Robert P. King            Lehigh  McClellan E. Streeter       "
+  Albert N. Luce           Prairie  Rupert H. B. Warburton    Lehigh
+  Howard Loomis               "     Robert H. Wheeler        Prairie
+  Ward H. Long                "     Henry W. Watson             "
+  Frank Ladd                  "
+
+
+
+
+THE ROLL OF HONOR.
+
+
+  Henry C. Bowen, Major and Surgeon, died in Second Division
+    Hospital, Santiago, August 13, of malarial fever.
+
+
+G COMPANY
+
+  Corporal Patrick J. Noone, died in Springfield, September 20, 1898,
+    typhoid fever.
+
+  Private George A. Richmond, died in field hospital near El Caney,
+    July 1, 1898, of wound in head.
+
+  Private Walter A. Packard, killed on field, El Caney, July 1, 1898.
+
+  Private Robert G. Kelly, died in division hospital of wound
+    received in action July 2d, at San Juan.
+
+  Private Francis A. Burke, died at Springfield, October 24, 1898.
+
+  Private Andrew Little, died in second division hospital, Santiago,
+    August 22, 1898.
+
+  Private Fred S. Stetson, died in second division hospital,
+    Santiago, August 24, 1898.
+
+
+B COMPANY.
+
+  Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper, died on S. S. Mobile, August 17,
+    1898, of gastric enteritis.
+
+  Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, died in camp before
+    Santiago, August 1, 1898, of malarial fever.
+
+  Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, died on S. S. Mobile, August 27, 1898, of
+    malarial fever.
+
+  Private John J. Malone, died in field hospital, July 5, 1898, of
+    wound received at El Caney, July 1.
+
+  Private Paul Vesper, died in camp before Santiago, August 10, 1898,
+    of malarial fever.
+
+
+K COMPANY.
+
+  Corporal William C. Piper, died in second division hospital, August
+    5, 1898.
+
+  Corporal Thomas C. Boone, died in Springfield, March 19, 1899.
+
+  Musician Frank P. Jones, died at Montauk Point, L. I., August 27,
+    1898.
+
+  Private Frank E. Moody, killed on field, July 1, 1898, at El Caney.
+
+  Private Arthur M. Burnham, died in division hospital, Santiago,
+    August 18, 1898, of typhoid fever.
+
+  Private Michael R. Lyons, died in Springfield, April 20, 1899.
+
+  Private George S. Creley, died in Springfield, June 28, 1899.
+
+  Private John L. Morehouse, died in Springfield, November 12, 1899.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Since the muster-out three more of Springfield's contingent, all K
+company men, have answered the final roll call. Corporal Thomas C.
+Boone died in Massachusetts general hospital at Boston, March 19, 1899,
+and Private Michael R. Lyons at Springfield, April 20. Private George
+C. Creley died June 25, at his home after a long illness. Private John
+L. Morehouse died in Springfield, November 12, 1889.
+
+
+
+
+SPRINGFIELD'S DEAD HEROES.
+
+
+HENRY C. BOWEN.
+
+Henry C. Bowen, major and surgeon of the Second regiment, died in the
+Second Division hospital, near Santiago, after making a gallant fight
+against sickness and death, not only for himself but for the regiment
+under his care. It is not too much to say that but for the heavy burden
+he was under with the care of over 800 sick and dying men on his hands,
+he might have recovered from the Cuban fever and been alive to-day,
+but as it was he succumbed. It was his misfortune to go to the front
+ignorant of the red tape which forms an even more effectual barrier
+to individual action than did the Spanish barbed wire to our troops,
+and it was this same red tape which was indirectly responsible for
+his death. When the regiment was in its worst condition in front of
+Santiago, when he was alone in the work of caring for the sick and
+dying, he found it next to impossible to obtain needed medical supplies
+for his men, and yet knew he was held responsible for their welfare. It
+is not to be wondered at under these circumstances that he grew nervous
+and irritable, and repelled rather than attracted those who tried to
+help him. The wonder of it was, that sick in body and mind as he was,
+he bore up as long as he did. But he did what he could and gave his
+health, and strength, and life in his duty.
+
+Major Bowen was born in Castle Creek, N. Y., the son of Dr. Charles W.
+Bowen of Westfield, and he studied in the public schools there and at
+Wilbraham academy. He gained his medical education in the University
+of New York and served in Bellevue hospital for eighteen months and in
+the Broome street lying-in hospital. He began practice in Springfield
+in 1894 and was fast reaching a high place in his profession when the
+war broke out. At the time of his appointment he was a member of the
+surgical staff of the Mercy hospital where he was liked by patients and
+officials.
+
+
+HARRY J. VESPER.
+
+Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper of B company, came of fighting stock,
+his father, O. R. Vesper, of Springfield, being a one armed veteran of
+the civil war. Harry was born in Springfield and was 31 years of age
+when he died on the Mobile. He studied in the public schools, leaving
+the high school to enter the employ of the Springfield Homestead. There
+he rose by steady industry and ability, to be head of the mailing
+department and business manager of the electrotyping department. For
+several years he had been deeply interested in the militia and had
+enlisted in B company, rising through the grades of corporal and
+sergeant to the second lieutenantcy, to which he was elected and
+commissioned May 11, 1896. For two years he had served as adjutant of
+the first battalion of the regiment, and was popular with everyone in
+the command.
+
+
+RICHARD H. BEARSE.
+
+The news of the death of no member of the Second was received in
+Springfield with more regret than that of Sergeant "Dickie" Bearse of
+B company. A member of the company for several years, he was known and
+liked by all the officers and men of the Springfield companies, for to
+know "Dick" Bearse was to like him. With his pride in B company and the
+regiment, not to speak of his patriotism, it was only natural he should
+be anxious to go to the front with the Second, and he did so, although
+he had to twice overcome the examining surgeon's objections. In camp
+and on the march he was cheerful and helpful and at El Caney he was up
+with the best of them. But all the while the hardships and toils of
+the campaign were sapping his vitality, and when the deadly calentura
+came, he had no strength left to resist it, but simply laid down and
+died. In him B company and the Second lost one of their best. Sergeant
+Bearse was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bearse and was 24 years of
+age. His body was brought home and interred in the family lot in Oak
+Grove cemetery, after such a funeral as has seldom been witnessed in
+Springfield, an outpouring of grief from hundreds of friends.
+
+
+WILLIAM C. PIPER.
+
+Corporal William C. Piper of K, was born at Marysville, O., in 1874,
+and his father is a well known lawyer and probate judge of that state.
+Corporal Piper came to Springfield in 1895 as manager of the Stetson
+Shoe store and had charge of the establishment at the time he was
+mustered in to the United States service. He enlisted in K company in
+1897.
+
+
+FRANK P. JONES.
+
+Musician Frank P. Jones of K, and one of the best fellows in the
+Second, died in the hospital at Camp Wikoff, August 27, after passing
+through all the hardships of the campaign in Cuba without being
+seriously ill. He was a native of Ludlow, Mass., and was 21 years of
+age. He had served in K for three years and though opposed by his
+parents, could not be kept from enlisting as a volunteer when the call
+came for troops. Of a cheerful, happy disposition, he did much in the
+dark days of sickness and death in the camp before Santiago, to help
+his comrades, and his example helped many a sick man.
+
+
+PAUL J. KINGSTON.
+
+Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, B company, was an efficient soldier and well
+liked member of the command. He was 24 years of age when he died on
+the Mobile and was the son of George Kingston, an expressman. He was
+serving the third year of his enlistment in B when the war came and at
+once volunteered to go to the front.
+
+
+PAUL VESPER.
+
+Private Paul Vesper of B was younger than his brother, Lieut. Harry J.
+Vesper, but had many of the qualities which made the latter so well
+liked. He was serving his first enlistment in B company when the war
+came, and promptly expressed a desire to volunteer. He died in the camp
+before Santiago, August 10, 1898.
+
+
+ROBERT G. KELLY.
+
+Robert G. Kelly was the third G company man to fall in the fighting in
+front of Santiago. At 10 o'clock on the night of July 2d, the crashing
+of rifle volleys and the screams of shells awoke the Second from the
+sleep of fatigue, and the officers and men rushed to the crest of the
+hill behind which they had bivouacked. The attack was to the right of
+the Second's position, but while waiting for orders the regiment had to
+stand the rain of scattering shot and Kelly was the first to be hit.
+The bullet struck him in the left cheek, going through and lodging in
+the muscles of the other side. He was taken to the division hospital
+and died there July 15. He was the son of Samuel Kelly of Springfield
+and enlisted just before the Second was ordered to South Framingham.
+
+
+ARTHUR M. BURNHAM.
+
+Private Arthur M. Burnham of K was the son of George M. Burnham, a
+well known contractor and builder of Springfield. Arthur was born
+in 1876 and studied in the public schools. He was popular with his
+school fellows and with all who knew him. For three years previous to
+the breaking out of the war he had been associated with his father
+in business. He enlisted in K company soon after its transfer to
+Springfield and after serving three years, left the company, a short
+time before the war broke out. He was one of the first of the former
+members to reenlist when it was known that war was certain and bore
+himself manfully through the campaign. He was ill with typhoid when the
+regiment left Cuba and was obliged to be left behind.
+
+
+FRED A. STETSON.
+
+Fred A. Stetson enlisted in G company at the outbreak of the war and
+served faithfully until he was attacked by the disease which laid him
+low, only a day or two after his comrades had left Cuba for home. He
+was employed in Springfield when he enlisted, but had only been in the
+city a short time, and had no near relatives living so far as known. He
+was 24 years old.
+
+
+JOHN J. MALONE.
+
+John J. Malone, fatally wounded at El Caney, was a member of B company
+and had been for two years previous to the outbreak of the war. He was
+a bright, cheerful young fellow and was well liked by his acquaintances
+as well as by his comrades. His parents died during his childhood and
+John made his home with a relative. He was employed in the Homestead
+office. At El Caney, Malone was one of the first men hit, the fatal
+bullet striking him within a few moments after B company had taken its
+position with the 22d. He died in the field hospital.
+
+
+FRANK E. MOODY.
+
+Frank E. Moody of K company, killed in action at El Caney, was the son
+of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Moody of Springfield and was 20 years old when
+he enlisted in K, only a few days before the regiment left for South
+Framingham. He was shot soon after B and K companies took position on
+the right flank of the 22d.
+
+
+ARTHUR HOWARD PACKARD.
+
+Killed instantly at El Caney, July 1, 1898. He was the son of Mrs.
+Helen N. Packard, who, the wife of a soldier of the civil war, saw her
+two sons go to the front in the war with Spain, both being members of G
+company. Arthur would have been 19 years of age in November, 1898, and
+had been employed in the Homestead office. When only 17 he enlisted in
+G company and was well liked by his comrades. When the war came Arthur
+insisted on being one of the men to go with the company. Through the
+campaign he was soldierly and cheerful and his bright, if sometimes
+caustic sayings, did much to help his comrades. He was on the advanced
+firing line of the Second in the squad under Lieut. Leyden when the
+fatal bullet struck him and he died instantly.
+
+
+GEORGE A. RICHMOND.
+
+George A. Richmond was one of the oldest members of G company and was
+born in Springfield. He enlisted in 1887, and remained a member of
+the company for several years. When it was seen that war was coming,
+Richmond was one of the first to apply to Capt. Leonard for a place
+in the ranks and joined the company at South Framingham. At El Caney
+Richmond was with Lieut. Leyden's squad, and was shot through the head
+early in the engagement. Willing hands bore him to the improvised field
+hospital where he lay in agony for several hours before death came. He
+was comforted and consoled by Chaplain Fitzgerald of the 22d, who took
+his last messages. Richmond's mother died in his early youth and he had
+made his home with relatives. He had been employed in the Springfield
+post office. He took a small camera with him to Cuba and made a number
+of pictures.
+
+
+FRANCIS A. BURKE.
+
+Private Francis A. Burke of G company, who died at the House of Mercy
+hospital, October 8, 1898, was the son of Thomas Burke and resided at
+196 Spring street. He was employed as a clerk in the store of Forbes
+& Wallace and was well liked by his associates. He was 22 years of
+age. As a youth he took much interest in military matters and was for
+some time a member of the Cathedral cadets. Later he enlisted in G
+company and had served some time when the war broke out. He promptly
+volunteered and served well in the campaign.
+
+
+THOMAS C. BOONE.
+
+The circumstances surrounding the death of Sergeant Thomas C. Boone,
+who went to the front with K company, but was transferred to the U. S.
+Signal Corps, were particularly sad as at the time his many friends
+supposed he was practically recovered from the terrible experience
+he underwent while in the service. Boone died in the Mass. General
+Hospital, Boston, on March 19, 1899, after a comparatively brief
+illness. He was a native of Maryland, being born in Annapolis in 1876,
+and came to Springfield in 1894, enlisting in K company soon after
+his coming here. At South Framingham Boone was appointed a corporal
+by Capt. Warriner, but the number of these positions in the companies
+being reduced Boone was obliged to serve as a private. Soon after
+the arrival of the Second at Tampa he was transferred to the signal
+corps with the rank of sergeant. He was an expert telegrapher and
+was selected for that reason. On July 2d he with Col. Drew and Major
+Maxfield were in the war balloon at San Juan and while the balloon
+was at a height of 2700 feet and was being taken over a creek it was
+pierced by three pieces of shrapnel from the Spanish lines and fell.
+The basket caught in the top of a tree and Boone was caught in the
+anchor and hung suspended over the stream for a long time with the
+iron hook pressing into his side. Then he fell into the water. He was
+badly injured, but did not realize it at the time. A few days later
+he was sent to the hospital, but while being conveyed there in a mule
+team the vehicle was upset and he was again injured. On his return to
+the United States through an error on the part of some officer he was
+accused of desertion but after several months the stain was taken away
+and he received an honorable discharge. Boone was a popular member of
+the company and also popular among a large number of friends.
+
+
+MICHAEL R. LYONS.
+
+Michael R. Lyons of K company, died in the Mercy hospital, Springfield,
+April 20th, 1899, just a year from the time he enlisted and after
+making a gallant fight against the effects of the hardships he
+underwent in Cuba. He was a well-liked member of the company and
+made an excellent soldier, doing his duty quietly and faithfully.
+All through the campaign, although ill at times, he was cheerful and
+uncomplaining and his example was not lost on his comrades. His body
+was taken to Palmer for burial. His parents and brothers reside in
+Springfield.
+
+
+ANDREW LITTLE.
+
+Andrew Little was one of the "recruits" of G company, he having gone
+to the camp at South Framingham with the first batch of extra men
+assembled in Springfield after it was known that several vacancies had
+been caused in the company through rejections by the surgeons. He lived
+in Middlebury, Vermont, but had been employed in Springfield for some
+time. During the campaign he served as assistant company cook and stood
+the hardships and exposure fairly well until a short time before the
+regiment left Santiago for the United States.
+
+
+GEORGE C. CRELEY.
+
+George C. Creley, 21, was one of the last men of K company to die, his
+death being due to consumption contracted in service in Cuba. His death
+occurred June 28, 1899, after a long illness. Creley left a father and
+a sister, the former living in Springfield. He was a recruit, enlisting
+in K as soon as there was an opportunity and his service was faithful.
+
+
+JOHN L. MOREHOUSE.
+
+The last member of K company to pass away up to the time of issuing
+this volume, was Private John L. Morehouse who died Nov. 12, 1899,
+after an illness of several weeks. He was a cousin of Lieut. H. H.
+Parkhurst of K and was well liked by his comrades, being easily one of
+the most popular members of the company. He was 29 years of age and
+aside from cousins, had no near relatives.
+
+
+
+
+  TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
+
+  Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Superscripts have been
+  converted to normal text.
+
+  Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected
+  after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and
+  consultation of external sources.
+
+  Except for those changes noted below, inconsistent or archaic spelling
+  of a word or word-pair within the text has been retained. For example:
+  blockhouses, block houses; good-bye, good bye; reenlist, re-enlist;
+  warships, war ships.
+
+  p 10.  'andmaintained' changed to 'and maintained'.
+  p 10.  'hereseveral' changed to 'here several'.
+  p 12.  'T. A. Sweney' changed to 'T. A. Sweeney'.
+  p 16.  'a. m.' changed to 'A. M.' for consistency.
+  p 20.  'Manilla' changed to 'Manila'.
+  p 34.  'to be be beaten' changed to 'to be beaten'.
+  p 36.  'somehew' changed to 'somehow'.
+  p 47.  'employe' changed to 'employee'.
+  p 54.  'utillized' changed to 'utilized'.
+  p 60.  'guage' changed to 'gauge'.
+  p 69.  'oocupants' changed to 'occupants'.
+  p 71.  'olock' changed to 'clock'.
+  p 72.  'in the the afternoon' changed to 'in the afternoon'.
+  p 74.  'envolope' changed to 'envelope'.
+  p 79.  'anothor' changed to 'another'.
+  p 80.  'oolor' changed to 'color'.
+  p 86.  'advavtage' changed to 'advantage'.
+  p 88.  'Boule' changed to 'Boule'.
+  p 89.  'Backman' changed to 'Barkman'.
+  p 97.  'illuminatad' changed to 'illuminated'.
+  p 102. 'Sprinfields' changed to 'Springfields'.
+  P 110. 'Greenowitz' changed to 'Grenowitz'.
+  p 114. 'Khakir' changed to Khaki'.
+  p 115. 'Santiano' changed to 'Santiago'.
+  p 119. 'machette' changed to 'machete'.
+  p 124. 'round robbin' changed to 'round robin'.
+  p 131. 'suberb' changed to 'superb'.
+  p 141. 'recieved' changed to 'received'.
+  p 145. 'eht use of' changed to 'the use of'.
+  p 148. 'mpatience' changed to 'impatience'.
+  p 157. 'Lamoreau' changed to 'Lamoreaux'.
+  p 159. 'employes' changed to 'employees'.
+  p 159. 'Phillippines' changed to 'Philippines'.
+  p 161. 'chase of of the' changed to 'chase of the'.
+  p 163. 'Tomkinsville' changed to 'Tompkinsville'.
+  p 176. 'Frnak P. Jones' changed to 'Frank P. Jones'.
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Springfield in the Spanish American War, by
+Walter W. Ward
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SPRINGFIELD IN SPAN-AMER. WAR ***
+
+***** This file should be named 46361.txt or 46361.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        http://www.gutenberg.org/4/6/3/6/46361/
+
+Produced by John Campbell, and the Online Distributed
+Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was
+produced from images generously made available by The
+Internet Archive)
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License available with this file or online at
+  www.gutenberg.org/license.
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH 1.F.3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS', WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation information page at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at 809
+North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887.  Email
+contact links and up to date contact information can be found at the
+Foundation's web site and official page at www.gutenberg.org/contact
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit www.gutenberg.org/donate
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations.
+To donate, please visit:  www.gutenberg.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For forty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/old/46361.zip b/old/46361.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d5520cf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/old/46361.zip