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W-C-DUNLAP M-M-M0R6AN CARL KPEl/Z jWWALKER EL PATTERSON Ki/ERT 5PAPKA HAVM0RRI50N A-L-VERTNER J15NYDER
The Fourteenth Ohio
Ncitional Gu-ard,
The Kourth Ohio VoKioteer Infantry.
COMPLETE RECORD OF THIS ORGANIZATION FROM ITS FOUNDATION TO THE PRESENT DAY.
BY
Sergt. Maj. Chas. E. Creager.
WITH FULL ACCOUNT OF STRIKE, RIOT, AND COMPLI- MENTARY DUTY, AND THE CAMPAIGN IN THE
Spanish-American War.
A COMPLETE ROSTER OF MEMBERS AT THE TIME OF MUSTER OUT OF THE UNITED STATES SERVICE.
INTUODUC'TIONS 1!Y
The Pkesident of^ the XJ. S.
AND
The Governok ok Ohio.
PRESS OF
THE LANDON PRINTING & PUBLISHING CO.,
COLUMBUS, OHIO.
1899.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY BUCHER ENGRAVING CO.
t'
4^
■ 0"°
Copyright 1899 WALTER F. CLOWES.
ii APH j il mb \
EXECUTIVE MANSION,
WASHINGTON.
// is a pleasure to make this a.cknol»tedgment of my appreciation of the ser'hices rendered by the Fourth Ohio 'Volunteer Infantry, in 'Porto l^co and e[se%>here, during the recent 'ii>ar.
The officers and men of this regiment ha'he maintained the splendid reputation as set forth in the following record of the citizen-soldiery of Ohio. "Very sincerely.
^^^^^^t-Z-^i-^ie,.^...^ /Ct^^y i«— *
STATE OF OHIO, EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT.
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR.
The record of the Fourteenth O. N. G. — Fourth 0. V. I. is a. most admirable one, and these organi- zations are happily deserving the pfrpetaation the fol- lowing pages have given. From the time of its or- ganization to the day of its departure for the front, the Fourteenth Infantry most loyally and ably sup- ported the State Executive, %>ith their influence in peace or their valor v)hen their active services <zvere required. And again, •when called into the service of the Na- tional Government, the organization proved itself a most trustv)orthy representative of the State.
My best 'wish for the regiment <zuould be that its future may be as bright and honorable as its past.
Governor of Ohio.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY HISTORY.
Citizen Soldiery of Ohio— Ohio in War— Settlement at Mari- etta—Early Military Laws— Organization and R^ula- tions— Reorganization of 1821— Military Convention- Camp at Columbus— Military in Ohio in the Fifties — The Civil War — Fear of Invasion — The Ohio National Guard— The O. N. G. in the Civil War— Quick Muster and Equipment— The Fourth O. V. I.— Ohio National Guard Disbanded — Reorganization of 1876 — Labor Troubles— Unsettled Condition of the Country.
CHAPTER 11.
THE FOURTEENTH INFANTRY.
Formation of Regiments— Meeting at State House — Captain Ammel's Work — Companies Formed — Adjutant Groven- er's Order — The Regiment Organized — First Duty in Columbus— Chaplain Moore Elected— Trouble in Perry County— The Gatling Gun— Garfield Funeral at Cleve- land—Colonel Freeman Re-elected — A Busy Year— Jus- tice at Cincinnati — The Cincinnati Riots — Colonel Free- man's Report — Killed and Wounded.
CHAPTER III.
AN EPOCH OF EXCURSIONS.
Trouble in Hocking County — Companies K and B on Duty- Camp at Detroit— The Field of Gettysburg— Colonel Freeman's Proposition — Corporal Grisso Killed — The Fourteenth at Philadelphia — Inconveniences Suffered by Ohio's Soldiers — Columbus Armory Burned — Hospital
coxrnxTs.
Corps Organized— SLate Encampment at Columbus— Oliio's Centennial— The Fourteenth in New York— An- nual Encampments.
CHAPTER IV.
STRIKES AND RIOTS.
Resignation of Colonel Freeman— Election of Colonel Coit— General Sherman's Funeral at St. Louis— Duty at Chi- cago—Howe on 1894— The Vv^heeling Creek Campaign- Causes for the Strike— Troops Called Out— Services of the Fourteenth— The Result— Galvin's Army— Trouble at Washington C. H.— Colonel Charged With Murder- Annual Encampments.
CHAPTER Y.
WAR WITH SPAIN.
Period of Peace— Condition of Army and Navy— American Peace Policy— Relations Between England and Spain- Cessions of land from Spain to United States— Cuban Insurrection— The "Ten Years' War"— Second Rebel- lion—Daily Press Reports— Cuban and Spanish Lead- ers—Weyler's "Reconcentrado" Plan— General Lee's Report— The De Lome Affair— Destruction of the Maine— The Country Aroused— Cry for War— Prepara- tions for War— President's Proclamation— Declaration of War— Dewey's Victory— Ohio's Volunteers— Militia Assembled— The Fourteenth at the Auditorium— Camp Bushnell.
CHAPTER YI.
THE FOURTEENTH-FOURTH.
The March to Camp Bushnell— Camp Life— Changes in Company Organization- Drills and Parades— Growth of the Camp— Change of Name— Signal Corps Dropped— The Regimental Band— Bad Weather— Rumors— Order to Leave— Parting Scenes— Camp Bushnell Left Be- hind—The March to the Depot— Scenes Along the March- At the Depot— Columbus Left Behind— Arrival at Chattanooga.
C0NTF1XT8.
CHAPTER VII.
CAMP GEORGE H. THOMAS.
The Ride to Chickamauga Park— From Lytle to the Camp — Early Experiences — The Regiment Assigned — Hard Tack and Bacon — A Military Training School — Facts About Lytle — Regimental "Canteens" — Amusement- Facts About the Camp — Some ot Its Advantages — Vis- itors from Home and from Abroad — Evening Parades — Cakes, Pies and Sweetmeats— Religious Services — Re- connoitering Expeditions — A Sham Battle — Setting up and Breaking Camps — Sink Details— Rumors and Or- ders—Good News at Last.
CHAPTER YIIL
TO NEWPORT NEWS. VIRGINIA.
The March to Rossville — To Chattanooga — Delays — The Trip Through Kentucky — Receptions Along the Line — Ifp the Alleghenies — Peep at Piedmont Valley — "On to Richmond" — At Newport News — A "Pup Tent" Camp — Reception — Dynamite Guns — Company F Becomes a Battery — Changes of Officers — Delays and More Ru- mors— Transport "St. Paul" — Transferring Baggage- Waiting Orders— Off to Sea.
CHAPTER IX.
OFF TO PORTO RICO.
Sail on Friday— The Trip Through the Harbor— The St. Paul — "Travel Rations" — "Prime Roast Beef" — Hard Tack and Coffee — Boston Baked Beans — Tomatoes — One Dollar Pies — Sea Sickness — Religious Services at Sea — Fine Weather Voyage — Warlike Preparations — At the Harbor of Ponce — Cruise to Arroyo — Kragg Jorgensen Rifles — End of the Voyage— The Landing.
cox TENTS.
CHAPTEK X.
THE FOURTH UNDER FIRE.
Arroyo — The People and Climate — First Day in Camp — Native Cigarettes — A Practice March — Orders from General Haines — Fresh Beef Issue — Accident to Colonel Coit — Major Speaks Takes Advance— Military Terms Explained — A Frenchman's Information — A Funeral "Procession" — The House "To the left"— Sergeant Rad- cliffe's Ride — Under Fire — Spanish Bullets and Spanish Marksmanship — Effect of Spanish Fire — Effect of American Fire — Line of Battle Formed— Unjust Re- ports— Spaniards Retreat— Capture of Guayama — The Flag Raising — The Spaniards Rally — Dynamite Guns in Action — First Night in Guayama.
CHAPTER XI.
THE ROAD TO CAYEY.
'Battle" of Guayama — Comments on the Capture— Effect of This Duty Upon the Regiment — General Haines and the Fourth Ohio — Restlessness in the City— Reconnoiter of the Road — Spanish Camp Located— Orders for Second Reconnoiter — A False Alarm — A Break for Guayama — Stories of Ambush— Their Effect— Excitement at Head- quarters— Regiment Made a Rescuing Party— American versus Spaniard — Dynamite Guns in Action — A Make- Shift Caisson — Barrio De Las Palmas— Other Expe- ditions.
CHAPTER XII.
ONE WEEK OF REST.
The Fourth Appreciated by People at Guayama — A General Cleaning Up — Beautiful Scenery — Early Impression of Porto Rico — Commissaiy Condition — Fresh Meat at the Outposts— The V/ater Supply— Horses and Reinforce- ments Arrive — Hospital Established — Rumors Again — Preparations for Advance — Final Orders Issued— Death, of Sam Hill.
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIII.
BEGINNING OF THE END.
Imposing Scenes— Breakfast in the Rain— Expedition As- signed to Fourth Ohio— March Begun— Guide "Backs Out"— Plan of Operations— A Rocky Road — A Hot Day — Danger in Straggling — Lunch and a Short Rest — End of the March— Hostilities Suspended— Retraced Steps — Friday and the Thirteenth — Intense Suffering — Temporary Camp — Hospital Call— Permanent Camp.
CHAPTER XIV.
IN CAMP AT GUAYAMA.
Miserable Location — Causes of Dissatisfaction — Health of the Men — Desire to Return Home — Sickness — Condition at Hospital — Changes in Commanders — Market — Finan- cial Condition of Men — The Paymaster — Better Times — Visit of Mr. Klotts— Orders to Move — Brigade Dis- banded.
CHAPTER XV.
FROM GUAYAMA TO SAN JUAN.
Regiment Leaves Guayama Camp — "The Girl I Left Behind Me" — Marching Through Rain — Road to Cayey — A Terrible March — Arrived at Cayey — Further Detach- ments— Flag Raising — March to Caguas — Duty There — Flags Raised — March to Rio Piedros — Arrival at San Juan.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE HOSPITAL CORPS.
The Corps in the Fourteenth — Its Organization and Effi- ciency— Its Effect on Enlistment — Refused Admittance as a Body Into the U. S. Service — Members Enlist in Companies — Details at Camp Thomas — Reserve Ambu-
CONTENTS.
lance Corps — Detachments From the Regiment — Orders for Porto Rico — Reunited on Massachusetts — Again Separated in Porto Rico — Sent to San Juan — Home With the Regiment — Stragglers Arrive.
CHAPTER XVn.
ARMY OF OCCUPATION.
What General Brooke Said of the Fourth Ohio — D Company to Humacao — A Forty Miles' March — M Company by Sea to Vieques — Duty at Fajardo — Trouble at Carolina — Beautiful Country at Aibonito — An Officer Assaulted. at Cayey — B Company at Rio Piedras — Record of Events in the Companies Which Americanized the Eastern Third of Porto Rico.
CHAPTER XVIII.
HOME AGAIN.
Orders to Leave — Preparation — Arrival of Forty-seventh New York— U. S. S. S. Chester at Arroyo— At San Juan — Leaving the Island — Advantages and Disad- vantages of the Chester — The Homeward Voyage — Death of Private Vertner — Arrival at New York — Jersey City — Received by the President — To Colum- bus — Reception — Furlough — Assembly — Accident at Auditorium — Muster Out — Concluding Remarks.
The Fourteenth O. N. G.— The Fourth O. V. I.
CHAPTER I.
EARLY HISTORY.
Citizen Soldiery of Ohio — Ohio in War— Settlement at Mari- etta— Early Military Laws— Organization and Regula- tions—Reorganization of 1821— Military Convention- Camp at Columbus— Military in Ohio in the Fifties — The Civil War — Fear of Invasion — The Ohio National Guard— The O. N. G. in the Civil War— Quick Muster and Equipment— The Fourth 0. V. I.— Ohio National Guard Disbanded — Reorganization of 1876 — Labor Troubles — Unsettled Condition of the Country.
The military spirit of the citizens of the State of Ohio, the valor of the soldiery made up of the sons of the Buckeye state both at home and abroad, have excited favorable coimuent from those who have watched the achievements of Ohioans in every other state in the Union. From the fierce struggle for su- premacy with the Indians in the Ohio valley while the territory now occupied by the state was an unbroken wilderness, to the present time, the people on the right bank of the picturesque Ohio have been noted for their integrity as citizens and their braver}^ as soldiers.
When the colonial government in the early days of our history needed assistance in the battles with the French and Indians, companies of hardy settlers-
14 TEE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
shouldered their flint-locks, hastened to the scene of hostilities and upon them was always thrown the brunt of the battle. When the struggle for American in- dependence was begun, even though the safety of their own homes was in peril, the American forces were streng-thened by the brave Ohio Valley volunteers. They were trained riflemen, invincible as the rocks over which rolled the mighty river which separated them from the east, and they were born soldiers. They were accustomed to all the hardships attending the life of a soldier, and ever ready to respond to a cause which needed their support ; they have in every struggle in which the country has been involved, done their duty and done it well.
There has never been a war in the history of the nation wherein the Ohio valley did not furnish her full share of soldiers. On the great roll of honor of the nation, the names of Ohio's sons appear as the greatest leaders, the firmest supporters of the general government and the freest to make any sacrifice re- quired to hasten a desired end.
In the piping times of peace, her fertile valleys have yielded immense quantities of provisions for her own citizens as well as for those who were less fortu- nately situated, and by the good management and frugal habits of her citizens she has become one of the most prosperous states in the Union.
The first permanent white settlement made with- in the present limits of the state was made at Marietta in the year 1788, and in that year provisions were made by the territorial judges "for the best pro-
TEE FOURTEENTH, O. N. G. 15
tection of the territory." All male citizens between the ages of sixteen and fifty were compelled to perform military duty. The first general assembly under the Constitution of Oliio did not meet until March 1, 1803, £ind in the following December the first state military law was passed. This law provided that all free white male citizens^ with a few defined exceptions, between the ages of eighteen and forty-five, and all emigrants within the age limit, and within twenty days after residence, were compelled to perform mili- tary duty.
Each enrolled militiaman was required to provide himself at his own expense with a good musket or fusee, a sufficient bayonet and belt, a knapsack and two spare flints, a pouch with a box therein to con- tain not less than twenty-four cartridges, "suited to the bore of his musket or fusee," or a good rifle with ])owder; each officer to be armed with a sword or hanger and spontoon.
The militia of the state was organized into di- visions, brigades, regiments, battalions and companies, with the following officers: To each division a major general, to each brigade a brigadier general, to each regiment a lieutenant colonel commandant, to each battalion a major, to each company a captain, a lieu- tenant, an ensign, fonr sergeants, four corporals, one drummer and one fifer.
Major generals were to be held accountable that companies be organized prorata in the towns within the districts comprised in the brigade. All officers, ex- cept major generals, were elected. To each brigade
16 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
was to be attached a company of artillery and a troop of horse, when, in the opinion of the brigadier general, the companies, or either of them, could be raised and equipped witJiin his brigade.
The tactics adopted were ''Baron Steuben's In- structions" and the Articles of War numbered 26.
These laws were changed very little until 1821, when the strength of Ohio's military power was 85,000. A reorganization was then effected, but the general plan remained unchanged. It was about this time that the militar)- spirit of central Ohio began to assert itself and that section of the state has ever since led all the militarv' movements of the day.
From that time on the military laws of the state were changed to meet the exigencies of circumstances as they arose, it was supposed, but to the present idea, the changes were oftentimes decidedly for the worse. On February 2, 1854, there was a great military con- vention in Columbus, assembled for the purpose of arranging from the entanglement of laws which the early legislatures had managed to impose, a military code which could be at least understood by the com- manding officers and to plac« the military of the state on a firmer footing.
This convention was held in Neil's New Hall, afterwards the famous Neil House, of Columbus, for many years the political Mecca of the state. One of the leading figures in that convention was Captain Stedman, aftenvards colonel of the Fourteenth regi- ment in the Civil war and who since became "General" Stedman. It seem.s that this couAcntion was by no
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 17
means barren of results, for, a year later, there began a revival of the military spirit of the state, and or- ganizations of a military nature sprang up in all of the leading counties. On July 4, 1855, a few months more than a year after the great military convention, the State Fencibles, which afterwards became one of the best kno^vn military bodies of the state, was or- ganized, and in 1857 the Columbus Vedettes was organized.
The spirit seems to have taken firm root, for in the year 1858, at a camp near Columbus, where the Hawk hospital now stands, the following organiza- tions turned out for muster: State Fencibles, Co- lumbus Vedettes, Steuben Guards, Montgomery Guards and Captain Ijam's Battery of Artillery.
Miltary companies continued to organize, and then came that period in the history of the country known as the Civil war. The two sections of the na- tion were marshalled against each other and every resource of either division was tried to its utmost in the struggle for the preservation of the I'nion on the one side and for its destruction on the other. It was here that the value of the training which the various military companies had been able to impart, began to show. Volunteers flocked to the recruiting sta- tions in response to the call by the president, and thousands of Ohio boys put on the blue and went to the defense of the starry banner, led to victory by officers who had learned something of the art of war in the organizations which the scoffer had before pro- nounced fit for ornament and parade rather than for usefulness.
18 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
The Ohio National Guard, as such, was never heard of until in 1863, the legislature of that winter, in its effort to assist the national government in the mightv struggle then waging, having passed a law repealing the unintelligent mass of rules and regula- tions governing the state military and establishing an entirely new insitution. The idea, then a new one, was favorably received all over the state, and as the fear that the state would be invaded by Southern raiders became more general, the I^Tational Gruard was soon recruited to a strength which could have de- fended the state against a larger army than it was possible for Confederate leaders at that time to command.
Still the true worth of the organization was not known until the following year, 1864, when on April 25 governor Brough, mthout the ceremony of calling for volunteers, offering bounties or leaves of absence from the National Guard seiwice, or pro^dding for any other delav. ordered the entire National Guard of Ohio to assemble at their respective annories for the purj30se of being mustered into the volunteer ser- vice of the United States. There was no choice left to the officers or members, so the order was promptly obeyed, and on Monday, May 2, the entire military strength of the state was assembled, ready for muster. On the following Thursday, eleven days after the first order had been promulgated. Captain Innis was on his way to Virginia with a large body of troops from Ohio, mustered and fully equipped for immediate service.
Central Ohio had already sent out the gallant Frairth Ohio, but seven davs after the oricinal call
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 19
from Governor Brough, Franklin county alone had contributed the 133rd E«giment of Volunteer In- fantry, and a better regiment never did service.
The state troops were all ordered to Columbus in Yery disagreeable weather and all the work of ex- amination and muster had to be performed under the most trying circionstances, but in just sixteen days Governor Brough telegraphed the adjutant general of the army that he had in the field at Baltimore, Cumberland, Washington, Parkersburg, Harper's Terry and other places, forty full regiments and one battalion of seven companies of infantry. This was a mighty army in itself, and it had been formed ex- clusively from the Ohio National Guard.
Valuable as had been the National Guard dur- ing the war, the close of that struggle brought with it the close of the existence of the O. N. G. The legislature in 1865, anticipating a permanent cessa- tion of hostilities of all kinds, had ordered the militia disbanded, and as the people themselves had had enough of war and of matters pertaining to the mili- tary in general, the action of the legislature was gen- erally approved.
The cloud of Civil war was followed by a dozen years of peace and quiet, undisturbed until the year 1876, when the nation was in the midst of the cele- bration of her one hundredth birthday anniversary at Philadelphia. Serious trouble had arisen with the Indians in the West and the attention of almost the entire regular army was attracted for a time to the Indian reservations. Followine" the Centennial eele-
20 THE FOURTEENTH, O. N. G.
bration, the coimtry passed througii one of the most serious labor disturbances of its history. Of these ti-oubles Dr. John Clarke Ridpath, the historian, has the following to say :
''In the summer of 1877 occurred the great labor disturbance known as the 'Railroad Strike.' For several years the mining districts of the country had been vexed with disputes and outbreaks, having their origin in the question of wages. The manufacturing towns and cities had witnessed similar troubles and the great corporations having control of the lines of travel and commerce were frequently brought to a standstill by the determined opposition of their employes. The workingmen and the capitalists of the countrj^ had for some time maintained towards each other a kind of armed neutrality, alike hurtful to the interests of both. In the spring of this year the managers of the gTeat railways leading from the seaboard to the West, de- clared a reduction of ten per cent, in the wages of their workmen. This measure, which was to take effect at the middle of July, was violently resisted by the em- ployes of the companies and the most active steps taken to prevent its success. The workmen of the various roads entered into combinations and the officers stood ■firm. On the 16th of July the employes of the Balti- more and Ohio railroad left their posts and gathered such strength in Baltimore and at Martinsburg, W. Va., as to prevent the running of trains and set the authorities at defiance. * * * *
"In less than a week the trains had been stopped on all the important roads between the Hnrlson and
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 21
the Mississippi. Except in the cotton-growing states the insun-ection was universal. I'ravel ceased, freights perished euroute, business was paralyzed. In Pittsbiu'g the strikers, rioters and dangerous classes, gathering in a mob to the number of twenty thousand, obtained complete control of the city and for two days held a reign of terror unparalelled in the history of the country. The lawless violence and madness of the scene recalled the firey days of the French Kevolu- tion. * * * * '
''The insurrection was finally suppressed by the regular troops and the militia of Pennsylvania, but not until nearly a hundred lives had been lost and prop- erty destroyed to the value of more than three million dollars."
Similar, but perhaps less terrible riots occurred about the same time in Chicago, St. Louis and San Francisc-o, and for a time all the great cities of the country were in immient danger. Cincinnati, Co- lumbus and Cleveland did not entirely escape, but the loss to either life or property was slight as compared to that at Pittsburg. The labor troubles subsided within a month, but at the close of that difiiculty the Indians again became troublesome and the attention of the military was again attracted to the West.
The young men of Ohio fully appreciated the seriousness of the general situation, and the question began to be asked, "What if Ohio were confronted with such problems of her own?" The necessitv of a reorganization of the ISTational Guard was at once apparent to that class of young men which would
22 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. A. G.
natui'ally become the rank and file of the organization, and to the legislature. The result was that the gen- eral assembly of the state authorized the re-establish- ment of the state militia, and they also provided for the organization into regiments. The work was soon placed in the hands of competent officers and soon after the passage of the law the Ohio National Guard was again standing on a firm footing.
It was the possibility of a something not expected yet a something feared, however, that gave to the people of Columbus and surrounding towns a feeling of unrest. Labor agitators were at work all over the country doing their best to renew the troubles of '76 and '77, and as the manufacturing interests and other enterprises calling for the employment of many men were rapidly growing, it was thought the wiser plan to provide for a possible emergency.
There were companies of infantry thoroughly organized and well drilled, and one by one these com- panies were united into regiments, and with little trouble the militar}^ strength of the state was again available for dutv.
GEORGE D. FREEMAN.
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 23
CHAPTER II.
THE FOURTEENTH INFANTRY.
Formation of Regiments — Meeting at State House — Captain Ammel's Work — Companies Formed — Adjutant Groven- er's Order— The Regiment Organized — First Duty in Columbus— Chaplain Moore Elected— Trouble in Perry County— The Gatling Gun— Garfield Funeral at Cleve- land^Colonel Freeman Re-elected — A Busy Year — Jus- tice at Cincinnati— The Cincinnati Riots — Colonel Free- man's Report— Killed and Wounded.
Central Ohio was as mucli in need of a regiment of militia as any other section of the state, and in point of military companies and the enthusiasm of the people in military- matters, this part of the state excelled, but the companies having been organized more for social than public benefit, they were slow in uniting with a state institution, making more exacting, but more uncert^iin the duty they loved to perform.
The iiuestion increased in seriousness. Accord- ingly, in the winter of 1876, a number of Columbus gentlemen met at the office of the adjutant general of the state and discussed the organization of a company or com]ianies of militia in the central part of the state. It was decided that something should be done in the matter at once and the governor promptly appointed Captain Charles Ammel to organize what was to be known as the Fourteenth Regiment of Infantry, Ohio National Guards.
Captain Ammel at once set to work at this task and in the following March Company A was made the
24 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
nucleus of the new regiment, with Captain Amniel as its commander. A little later Company B, with Cap- tain Henry Seibert, was mustered in, immediately fol- lowed by D Company at West Jefferson, with Cap- tain Eugene Babb in command. Company E was next organized at Marysville, with Captain William L. Curry at its head, and then Captain John Chapin with Company F at Columbus. Company G came next, in command of Captain John P. Slemmous, at Richwood, and then Company C was organized at Westerville, Captain Isaac jS[. Custer.
The following order then completed the organ- ization :
October 20, 1877. Special Order 216:
I. The following companies of infantry will constitute the Fourteenth Regiment of Infantry. Ohio National Guard: Captain Charles S. Aramel's Com- pany, of Columbus, Cranpany A; Thurman Light Guards, Company B ; Captain Isaac jST. Custer's Com- pany, of Westerville, Company C; Darby Videttes, Company D; Captain William L. Curry's Company, of Marysville, Company E; Converse Guards, Com- pany F ; Grosvenor Rifles, Company G.
II. The several companies composing said Four- teenth Regiment are hereby directed to select dele- gates to put in nomination candidates for colonel, lieu- tenant colonel and major of said regiment. The se- lected delegates are hereby ordered to assemble at the Armory of Ohio jSTational Guard, in the city of Co- lumbus, on the twenty-seventh day of October, A. D. 1 877, at such hour as may be most convenient.
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 25
ill. The several companies composing said regi- ment and the delegates to nominate candidates are hereby directed to be governed in all their proceedings by paragraphs 35, 36 and 37 of the Code of Regula- tions for the Ohio National Guard.
BAN. A. GROSVENOR, Assistant Adjutant General.
The first election of regimental officers, held Oc- tober 27, 1877, resulted as follows: Henry Hein- miller, colonel; William L. Curry, lieutenant colonel; John W. Chapin, major. Commissions were made to date from October 3, 1877, but owing to his onerous duties as superintendent of the fire department of Columbus, Colonel Heinmiller refused to qualify. Another election for choice of colonel was conse- quently held, which resulted in the choice of George D. Freeman as colonel of the new regiment. His commission was to date from December 29, 1877.
Two elections were necessary for the selection of the first colonel of the regiment. The candidates, Colonel Freeman and Isaac IsT. Potter, had fought a hard fight and fraud was charged against Colonel Freeman and his friends. The result was very close but the second election gave Colonel Freeman a hand- some majority over his opponent, and all parties were satisfied.
The first regimental order was issued from Colonel Curry's headquarters at Marysville, and an- ticipated participation in the inaugural parade of
26 THE FOURTEENTH, O. N. G.
Governor Bishop. This occui'red on Janury 14, and was the first occasion on which the regiment made an official appearance.
The first actual duty performed by the regiment was at the time of the railroad riots of 1877, when A Company was ordered to duty at the State Capitol and B Company at Newark. Out of the enlistment of only fifty-three men, fifty-one responded promptly for duty. Certainly this response bears out all that was said of the Ohio soldieiy at the beginning of this chapter, and certainly this was a noble example to set for an Ohio military organization to follow.
Shortly after this, two more companies were added to the regiment. They were Company H, at Canal Winchester, with Captain Philip Game in command, and Company I, at Plain City, under Captain J. Q. Converse. Shortly after this General Karr, on be- half of its lady friends, presented to the regiment its first stand of colors. These colors were carried on the day of the first parade, January 14. This was a most handsome present, and it was valued at $300. T^nfortunately, this beautiful standard was bunied in 1888, when the Columbus Armory was destroyed by fire.
The first encampment of the regiment was also held in this year at Marysville. The men were al- lowed one dollar per day by the state for their time and all the expense of the encampment had to be borne by the soldiers themselves.
In the spring of 1878 there was a large number of incendiary fires in the city of Columbus. Houses
THE FOURTEENTH, O. N. G. 27
and factories were rutlilessly burned for no reason which any one was able to understand, and while the city authorities were considering what to do, Colonel Freeman generously offered the services of his regi- ment. The offer was accepted and the whole city was thoroughly patroled. The result was, that after a service of this kind lasting for ten days, the incen- diarism was permanently stopped.
In this year Company K, of Delaware, Captain F. M. Joy, came into the regiment, and a short time afterwards Rev. W. E. Moore, of Columbus, was made chaplain of the regiment. Chaplain Moore remained with the regiment in this capacity until April, 1898, when, on account of declining years, he thought best to retire from active military service. In his resigna- tion the regiment suffered a great loss and they felt it keenly.
Company I, of the Twelfth Regiment, was this year transferred to the Fourteenth and given the let- ter E. This company was stationed at Mt. Gilead. The annual encampment for this year was held at Delaware and later the Columbus and other companies turned out to receive General Grant on his return from his tour around the world.
A pleasing event in the history of the regiment occurred at the beginning of the year 1880, when the Columbus Battalion, on the day of the inauguration of Governor Foster, entertained the retiring Governor Bishop and the new governor as guests of honor and the visiting military organizations. The dinner was given at the Armory on East Town street, and will
28 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
always be remembered by those who were permitted to be present. On August 4 the annual encampment was held at Prospect Park, near Niagara Falls, N. Y. In September of 1880 the miners of Perry- county created another disturbance and Colonel Free- man, placing himself at the head of Companies A, B and F hastened to the scene of the trouble. The situation was critical, the trouble having arisen through the employment by coal companies of a num- ber of colored miners. This enraged the white miners, who had arranged a plot to get all the negroes on the inside of the mine, then set fire to the entrance and kill the fleeing negToes as fast as they came out of the burning mine.
The strikere tapped telegraph wires, thus keeping fully informed as to what was going on at the capital, and they were rapidly preparing to meet the militia. They learned that the Fourteenth would have a Gatling gim in their possession, but they were ig- norant as to what that weapon resembled in appearance or as to what it was capable of accomplishing. A citizen of Columbus who had formerly been a member of the militia, and who entertained gTeat fears lest a clash between the miners and the soldiers would re- sult in the loss of many lives, proceeded to tell the congregated strikers what the Gatling gun could do. Of course he exaggerated as much as he could safely do, but his tales of marvelous destructive powers had the desired effect.
When the Fourteenth arrived on the scene, the Gatling gun was in a box car, the murderous-looking
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 29
barrel extending from the door of the car and a reso- lute squad of men ready to operate it at a moment's notice. The very sight of this gun and the men who, by their looks, showed that they had come to perform the duty of soldiers, had the effect of sending the men peaceably to their homes, and the danger of an outbreak was averted.
In 1881 the regiment encamped near Sandusky. During that year, also, the regiment won another vic- tory over the other regiments in the National Guard as to appearance and discipline. The occasion was the ceremony at Cleveland, in honor of the murdered President Garfield. When it had been determined that the governor and his official staff would attend the Cleveland services, Colonel Freeman tendered sev- eral companies of the Fourteenth as an escort. The offer was accepted and the colonel at once set to work getting ready his ''several companies." The result was, of course, that the whole regiment assembled, prepared to go to Cleveland. As soon as the other regimental commandei^s had learned what Colonel Freeman had done, they all hastened tO' tender the services of their regiments also. The result was thac practically the whole of the National Guard was rep- resented at the funeral ceremony.
There was at that time considerable jealousy ex- isting against the Fourteenth, and a great deal of this was at Cleveland. Colonel Freeman decided to either overcome this feeling or give the enemies of the regiment a reason for feeling- as they did. The men were all ordered to wear white collars, black their
30 TEE FOURTEENTE, 0. A". G.
shoes and make every arrangement for appearing at their best. In addition to this each man was given a red blanket cover, so that when these were strapped across the backs of the men the appearance denoted that the blankets were alike.
The men looked their best, and on the entrance to the town, instead of leaving the depot and making a great display on their fii-st appearance in the city. Colonel Freeman left the train at a point where he could follow a course around the depot and pass the reviewing stand over a descending street, thus showing to a better advantage the discipline and drill of tKe men. A number of regular army officers witnessed this movement, among them General Schoffield, and as soon as the rear of the column had passed, there was a grand round of applause. When Colonel Freeman reported for duty, he was assigned by the general in charge to the post of honor at the cemetery. The jealoaisies of the other regiments were by no means remoyed at Cleyeland, but there was certainly a greater admiration for the Fourteenth inspired by its fine ap- pearance and the willing-ness with which they per- formed the duty assigned them made a warm place for them in the hearts of the army officers.
The following year Lieutenant Colonel Curry re- signed and his place was filled by the election of Cap- tain William M. Liggett, of D Company, Marysville. Major John W. Chapin also resigned during the year and he was succeeded by Captain Andrew Schwarz, of B Company. The regimental camp this year was at Belle Tsle.
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 31
The term of office of Colonel Freeman expired during the following year, 1883, and a convention was called to place candidates in nomination for elec- tion to succeed him. The convention was called to order in Columbus, but after a very brief session, it was unanimously decided to renominate Colonel Free- man by acclamation. The nomination was enthusi- astically received by the companies, and Colonel Freeman was duly elected. The annual encampment was held that year at Cuyahoga Falls.
The year of 1884 w-as the most eventful so far as the importance of the service of the regiment is concerned that had yet passed over the Fourteenth. In that year its members tasted warfare in all its frightful phases; witnessed scenes of bloody carnage even on the soil of their native state; suffered from fatigue, privation and danger, and one brave lad gave up his life for the safety of his neighbors.
For several years preceding the one of which we ■wTite, the police department at Cincinnati was man- aged in a manner very unsatisfactory to a large portion of Cincinnati's population. Several heinous crimes had been committed, but the offenders were permitted to plead to light charges, or, if found guilty, sentences imposed were lighter, according to the judgment of many of the people, than the circumstances seemed to justify. Matters grew from bad to woi"se until a prominent citizen was murdered. One of the mur- derers told the story of the crime, admitted his guilt and was sentenced to serve twenty years in the Ohio penitentiary.
32 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
It has since developed that the young man, "Billy" Bemer, had received a sentence as heavy as he really deserved, and before his penitentiary sentence had expired many prominent citizens signed petitions to the board of prison managers asking that he be re- leased. He was accordingly paroled and left the prison a quiet, peaceful citizen.
There was a strong sentiment against Berner in Cincinnati at the time of the trial, however, and re- membering the cases which had preceded his, a large niunber of citizens united to take the law in their own hands. The sheriff of Hamilton county was unable to protect public property and he appealed to Governor Hoadley for military help. The First Kegiment, most of which was stationed in Cincinnati, failed to suppress the trouble, and tlie Fourteenth was ordered to the scene. How well they performed their duty may be seen in the report of Colonel Freeman which, condensed, is as follows:
Headquarters Fourteenth Regiment, O. N. G.,
Columbus, Ohio, April 7, 1884. Hon. George Hoadley, Governor and Commander-in-Chief:
"Sir — In obedience to orders received at 12:30 noon, on March 29, 1 caused the riot alarm to be sound- ed in Columbus, and immediately telephoned to Com- pany C, Westerville; Company D, Marysville; Com- pany H, Canal Winchester, and Company K, Dela- ware, to assemble and to take the first train to Colum- bus, equipped for duty. The field and staff, with the several Columbus companies, Company A under Capt. Pugh; Company B, Captain Coit; Company F, Cap-
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 33
tain Slack; Governor's Guard, unattaclied, Lieutenant Sheppard, and Duffy Guard, Company B of the Ninth Battalion, Captain Payne, reported at 2 P. M. ready for marching orders. I directed them to await orders. At 4 P. M. the command marched to the depot, where Lieutenant Colonel Ligget reported with Company C, Captain Custer; Company D, Captain Sellers; Com- pany H, Captain Speaks, and Company K, Captain Brown.
"On receipt of written orders, accompanied by Colonel Church of your staff, we left for Cincinnati. At Xenia coffee and sandwiches were served to the command. At Corwin, Company F, Thirteenth Regi- ment, Captain Kearney, reported; at Loveland, Com- pany B, Thirteenth Regiment, Captain Brock, re- ported. Here our first orders from Cincinnati were re- ceived, bearing inforaiation that the Court House was fired in the Treasurer's office and that Captain Des- mond of the First Regiment had been killed by the mob.
"On arriving at Cincinnati depot, we were met by Colonel Ryan and a deputy sheriff, with written orders from Colonel Hawkins, sheriff of Hamilton county, to report at once at the county jail.
"Twenty rounds of ball cartridges having been issued to each man, special orders were given to be cool and especially careful not to fire unless absolutely necessary, and then only on command. Under escort of the deputy sheriff and General Ryan, we marched to the jail.
"We were not molested en route, further than by the throwing of stones and firing of revolvers in the
34 TEE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
vicinity of the rear guard, with plenty of swearing and abuse from the bystanders. Sheriff Hawkins directed me to place the battery g-un with support, at the barri- cade on Court street in front of the jail, and to clear Main street of the mob. To support the battery gun, I detailed Companies H, K and I, then directed Colonel Liggett to take Companies A, F, D and C, climb the north barricade and march to Main and drive the mob from that part of Main street between North Court street and canal bridge, and hold the position. I also directed Major Schwarz with Companies B of the Fourteenth, B and F of the Thirteenth, B of the Ninth Battalion and the Governor's Guards, to clear Main street from that point to Court street and hold the position. On reaching Main street. Colonel Lig- gett ordered Company A, supported by Company D, to move forward and press the mob north over the canal bridge ; this was done at the point of the bayonet. I also directed Companies F and C to hold the mob in front of the Court House in check. As soon as Com- panies A and D had completed the task assigned them, they with a detail from Company C, utilized a lot of salt, in barrels, to build a barricade across Main street at the bridge. Major Schwarz marched to Main street and ordered Company B, Fourteenth, to South Court street to clear the street and hold the position ; at the same time ordering Companies B and F, Thirteenth Regiment, and Company B, Ninth Battalion, to form across Main street and hold the crowd from getting in the rear of his other detachment. Company B, of the Fourteenth pushed forward, driving the crowd
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 35
from them at the point of the bayonet. When near- ing South Court street, the first manifestations of the mob were made to resist further progress of the sol- diers. The Governor's Guard were immediately or- dered to the support of Company B. The mob in front of the Court House pressed forward, throwing stones and using fireanns, and after repeated warn- ings by myself and other officers to fall back, they re- peated their demonstrations and started to press down on the soldiers, when, seeing there was no other al- ternative, the command was given to the first platoon to fii-e. This checked them, and they fell back into Court street. One person, the leader of the party, was killed and several wounded. I hastened to Colonel Liggett's command and caused Company F to be detailed to move forward and assist in clearing Court street. I then ordered Company B, Fourteenth Regi- ment, and the Governor's Guard to their support. The column then moved west on Court street to the first alley, the crowd falling back in front of them.
"Later I was advised that the mob had advanced to the point where Court street widened, and under the cover of buildings, had pelted the soldiers with stones and fired on them, wounding Colonel Liggett, Captain Slack and eight others, and that the command was given to the first platoon of Company F to fire, but with what results to the mob I was not informed. I immediately detailed Company H, and with a de- tachment of police, gathered such material as was on hand and carried it to Court street to build a barricade.
"The mob had retreated to the Market House and contented themselves with firing revolvers and
36 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
muskets from tiiat point. About 2 A. M. came word that the mob had eot into the Music Hall and had cap- tured three brass cannon belonging to the Second Bat- tery. Soon after a telephone message was received from Colonel Church saying that a mob of about 200 had three brass cannon at the corner of Fourth and Vine streets. I ordered Companies H and K, with the battery gun, to accompany Sheriff Hawkins and my- self in their pursuit. Chief Keilly of the police de- tailed one company of his command to lead the ad- vance. The police being able to move much faster than the soldiers, who had the gun to shove over the pavement, were enabled to get there first and had the honor of capturing the guns which they pulled by hand to the jail.
"Little occurred during the remainder of the night. Surgeons Guerin and Gunsaulus secured Burdsal's drug store, iOO Main street, as a temporary hospital, where they attended the wounded soldiers and did good service. Sunday morning we were rein- forced by Colonel Picard, of the Thirteenth Regiment, with Company A of his command, bringing with him 10,000 rounds of ball cartridges. During the after- noon a barricade was built at the comer of Main and Ninth streets. The crowds continued to increase at Ninth and Main, ISTinth and Sycamore, at the canal on Main street, and especially on Court street. During the afternoon threats were made and many became unruly and numerous arrests were made by the police under cover of the soldiers at the barricades. The roughs in front of the Court street barricade succeeded
THE FOURTEENTH, O. N. G. 37
ill covering themselves by pushing forward all the women and children to the front, but fortunately for all, they contented themselves with venting their wrath in swearing vengeance when night should come and occasionally hurling a stone or firing a revolver. At Main street and the canal, under cover of bridge, stones were continually thrown at the soldiers and many were hit, and it was with the greatest effort that the mob were restrained from advancing on the bridge and firing at the guards. At last one fellow advanced, brandishing a revolver and defying the guard, and fell. His friends carried him away. The shot had the de- sired effect, stopping all disturbance at this point. Be- tween 2 and 3 P. M. the Fifth Battery, Captain Sintz commanding, arrived and were assigned position; also 115 officers and men of the Fourth Regiment.
'"In consultation with Sheriff Hawkins and Col- onel Hunt, it was deemed advisable to move forward and strengthen the barricade on Sycamore and Kinth streets; also the one on Court street facing the canal. At dusk the positions of the companies were changed from what they were the night before. All was com- paratively quiet until between 10 and 11 o'clock, when the mob, which had gathered at the Market House on Court and Walnut, commenced firing from this point, protecting themselves by the stands at the Market House and by the buildings at the comer. When the aim of the mob became too accurate for endurance, it being evident by the balls striking the barricade and the Court House beyond, that larger weapons tlian re- volvers were being used, it was thought best, at least,
38 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
to give the mob tlie benefit of one case of cartridges from the battery gun by firing it into the Market House; but before this was done, due warning was given by the oflicers that it would be done if the firing did not cease. Oaths and a volley from the mob was the response; then the twenty shots were fired from the gun. A number of casualties was the result. This caused the mob to scatter for the time and with the exception of random shots from them, there was comparative quiet until about midnight. Orders were received from General Finley and the mayor, ordering a detachment to be sent to Walnut Hills to guard the powder magazine at that point. Colonel Picard, of the Thirteenth Regiment, with three companies of his regiment, were detailed for that purpose and remained there until about 5 o'clock A. M. After firing the battery gun at 11 o'clock, positive orders w^ere issued against the firing of any single shots by the soldiers and that no firing should be done unless some soldier was shot or the mob endeavored to charge the works. Near 1 o'clock it became evident that another attack would be made. I took my station at the comer of Court and Main with Sheriff Hawkins, Colonel Hunt, Major Schwarz, Captain Sintz and other officers, and in speaking distance with the officers in charge of the barricade. A fusilade was opened by the mob from their old position at the comer of Walnut and Ct>urt. No response was made by the soldiers, and after per- haps fifteen minutes over fifty shots had been counted striking the Court House, others having hit the barri- cade, the mob became bold and decided to charge, and
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. A^ G. 89
as they expressed it with oaths, 'Clean out those blue coats.' The soldiers obeying orders remained quiet and not until the mob came forwai'd firing and yelling was the order given to fire, when two volleys, in quick succession M^ere fired. Five persons were known to have been wounded. This was the last firing done and gradually all became quiet.
"At 7 o'clock Monday morning it became evi- dent that the rioting for the day was over and orders were given to unload pieces.
"During the day, orders were received for Com- pany B of the Ninth Battalion to join the other com- panies of the command at the City Building. Com- pany E and a detachment of Company K of the Four- teenth Regiment and two companies of the Thirteenth Regiment arrived and reported for duty. By orders from General Finley the Seventeenth Regiment re- ported at the jail for duty. Monday night was quiet and in marked contrast with the night previous, the men doing their duty without loads in their pieces. The men of the companies that had been on continuous duty since Saturday were relieved and allowed to se- cure such quarters as were available for rest. Tuesr day morning Company D was detailed to represent the regiment at Captain Desmond's funeral as per General Finley's order.
"At 2 P. M. orders were received relieving us from further duty and we left for home at 4:30 P. M. Two companies of the Thirteenth Regiment were left at Loveland and Corwin respectively. The remainder of the command arrived at Columbus about 10 o'clock,
40 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. Q.
where we proceeded to our armory and dismissed tlie city companies. The companies outside the city were quartered in the armory for the night and returned to their respective homes Wednesday morning. It is my painful duty to report one fatal casualty in my command, that of Private Israel Getz, of the Gov- ernor's Guard, who lost his life by the accidental dis^ charge of a gun while on duty Mondav afternoon. I here desire to express my thanks for the courtesies extended to me by my superiors while at Cincinnati and 10 every officer and man under my command for their alacrity and promptness in doing every duty assigned them and for their coolness and soldierly bearing under the most trying circumstances.
"Very respectfully, your obedient servant, "GEO. D. FREEMAN, "Colonel Fourteenth Regiment."
The regiment suffered heavily in the duty at Cincinnati. Their suffering from loss of sleep, con- tinued fatigue and the great mental strain, however, was as nothing as compared to the casualties. The effect of the fighting was as follows:
KILLED.
Private Israel Getz, Governor's Guard, accident- ally shot. Ball entered right eye, penetrating brain, death ensuing in almost twelve hours.
WOUNDED.
Lieutenant Colonel Liggett, shot through calf of leg, presumed to be a Ko. 32 pistol ball; Captain Slack, Conipany F, Fourteenth Regiment, shot in right hand
TEE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 41
with medium size shot; Sergeant C. S. Amy, Com- pany F, Foiu-teenth Regiment, shot in head, neck and shoulder, receiving a full load of medium sized shot; Corporal Morrison, Company F, Fourteenth Regi- ment, shot in face and hand with medium sized shot; Corporal U. S. Rogers, Company F, Fourteenth Regi- ment, shot in face and leg with small shot and struck in chest with boulder, and in falling injured his back; Charles W. Berry, private Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, contused wound of left knee from boulder ; Charles Yeiser, Private Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, shot in center of forehead with pistol ball; AVilliam Scobey, private Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, lacerated wound of left upper lip produced by brick or boulder; J. F. Kelly, Private company F, Fourteenth Regiment, slight wound in leg produced by small shot; George Borches, private Company F, I'ourteenth Regiment, contused wound of scalp pro- duced by small sliot; George Dowdall, private Com- pany F, Fourteenth Regiment, contused wound of face produced by a blow of the fist ; E. C. l^eiderlander, private Company F, Fourteenth Regiment contused wound of shoulder produced by club; Grant Thomas, private Company F, Fourteenth Regiment, shot in both hands with small shot, one shot penetrating joint, producing a painful wound; Oakey Armsted, private of Goveraor's Guard, wounded in leg by the accidental discharge of musket.
42 THE FOURTEEMH, 0. N. G.
CHAPTER III.
AN EPOCH OF EXCURSIONS.
Trouble in Hocking County — Companies K and B on Duty- Camp at Detroit— Tlie Field of Gettysburg— Colonel Freeman's Proposition — Corporal Grisso Killed — The Fourteenth at Philadelphia — Inconveniences Suffered by Ohio's Soldiers— Columbus Armory Burned— Hospital Corps Organized— State Encampment at Columbus- Ohio's Centennial — The Fourteenth in New York— An- nual Encampments.
Colonel Freeman in his report has told as fully as could be related in so few words of the excellent service performed by the regiment in the times which certainly "tried men's souls" in Cincinnati. It is very gratifpng indeed to note that in all the state and par- ticularly in Cincinnati there has not since been so troublesome a period. The regiment had another opportunity of showing what they were and what they could do in a call to Ashland, where Company G- was sent to protect the county Court House from mob violence. As the regiment had been successful at Cincinnati, so were the boys who went to Ashland, and the press of the whole country paid glowing tributes to the bravery of the "Gallant Fourteenth."
The echoes of the Cincinnati riots were still re- verberating through the state when the miners of Hocldng, Perry and Athens counties rose up in their might against a reduction in the wages paid for the mining of coal. They were thoroughly organized
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 43
and at a fixed day every one of them stopped work and refused to resume operations in the mines until their employers should agree to restore their former wages. This was in June and the trouble continued through- out th.e summer until the following August.
In the meantime, the mining companies had em- ployed men to take the places of the strikers, and this move was met with determined opposition on the part of the miners. No demonstrations were made, how- ever, until in August, when, on the 30th, mattei-s assumed a very serious phase at Longstreth and Snake Hollow in Hocking county and at Straitsville in Perry county. The old miners here had determined to compel the '"scabs," as those who had taken their places were called, to quit work. They had tried reason and pui'suasion, and these methods failing, force was resorted to.
Telephone and telegraph wires were cut, and with communication thus shut off, the strikers imag- ined that they commanded the situation. Armed with shotguns, revolvers and other weapons, an assault was made at Snake Hollow and one man killed. A house in which quite a number of people were asleep was attacked, but fortunately no casualties resulted. A four thousand dollar hopper was burned mth a large quantity of coal and some other property destroyed. Fearing that further trouble would follow. Sheriff McCarthy, of Hocking county, appealed to the gov- ernor for military aid. The appeal was joined in by the prosecuting attorney of the county and the mayor of the town where the rioters were in force.
44 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
Colonel Freeman was at once ordered to get his command ready to move at a moment's notice and the regiment was accordingly assembled ready for duty. Companies of the Sixth and Seventeenth regiments wre sent to the scene of the trouble, and at first it ap- peared as though the trouble would soon end. All of the Fourteenth except Company K was relieved, the company mentioned having received orders to report to Assistant Adjutant General Colonel Dill, who took command of all the troops in the field. Rumors ob- tained general circulation that the situation was be- coming more serious and a great deal of uneasiness was felt among the troops and at the State House. The companies above mentioned remained on duty with Colonel Dill until September 12th, when they were relieved by companies of the Second and Eighth regiments and B of the Fourteenth, Captain Coit commanding. When B company reported it was asr signed to duty at Sand Run, a detail also being made to report for duty at Murray City. The company remained on duty until September 27th, when the trouble was all over. Lieutenant H. A. Guitner, of the Fourteenth, acted as quartermaster for the troops during the time they were at the mines, and Dr. F. Gunsaulus, of the Fourteenth, acted as surgeon.
Flushed \vith victory and feeling justly proud of the record they had made, but still suffering from the severe loss which they had sustained during the past year, the boys went into camp at Columbus in August. There was no official duty to perform after the en- campment, and what had been the busiest year in the
THE FOURTEENTH, O. X. G. 45
history of the regiment was quietly ushered out with nothing to occupy the minds or the time of the boys as soldiers, but regular drill and application to the study of military matters.
In 1885 Lieutenant Colonel Liggett severed his connection with the regiment and his place was filled in June by the promotion of Major Andrew Schwarz. The regiment was treated to a pleasant excursion in the autumn of this year, having been sent to Belle Me, near Detroit, for the annual encampment. While there the regiment participated in the memorial service at the time of the death of General Grant. Their tine appearance and soldierly bearing was favor- ably commented upon by the people and the press at Detroit.
The next year the Governor's Guard, or as it was "officially" called, "The Governor's Guard Gatling Gun Company," was attached to the regiment and designated as Company L. It was not long after the regiment had been thus strengthened that another riot was threatened at Cincinnati, and it was feared that the trying experience of two years before would be repeated, but fortu- nately the trouble was settled without the service of the regiment. The boys had been ordered into camp, however, at Carthage, and had their services been need- ed they would have been ready to go "where duty called." It was this willingness and this spirit which has won for the regiment the reputation it enjovs now, even beyond the continent. The annual encampment was held in this vear at Springfield and was a brigade
46 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
camp, with Colonel Freeman in command. In July, Captain A. B. Coit of B Company was made major.
The encampment in 1887 was held in the Fair Grounds near Lancaster, O., and the tents stood in the shadow of the historic old Mt. Pleasant. On the ar- rival of the train, September 6, arches were found over the streets, houses, private and business were dec- orated, and an immense crowd cheered the boys con- tinually. At the camp grounds it was found that floors had been provided for every tent. Until Sat- urday the time was spent in the most severe drill and preparation for the most pleasant and extensive trip ever enjoyed by a regiment of O. X. G.
The dedication of the Ohio monuments at Gettys- burg, Pa., and the Constitutional Centennial celebra- tion at Philadelphia, were the two occasions in which the Fourteenth was to officially represent the state, but at their own expense.
The regiment was sadly in need of new service uniforms and equipment. Many of those in use had been worn since the organization of the regiment, and in that time many calls for active duty had put them to the most severe tests. In a conversation between Colonel Freeman and General Axline, the latter re- marked that it was unfortunate that the legislature had made no appropriation to defray the expenses of a regiment or a portion of one to represent the state. Colonel Freeman thereupon tendered the services of the Fourteenth at their own expense, providina: the state would properly equip those needinsr it.
The offer was accepted, the officers and men turned their camp pay into a common fund and Ohio
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 47
was represented at an expense to the members of the Fourteenth regiment of over $5000. At 8 o'clock Sunday evening, a special train was boarded and with a short stop in Columbus, the run was made over the picturesque Baltimore and Ohio to Gettysburg, which was reached on Tuesday morning, September 13. The boys disembarked in a drizzling rain, marched through the old town and pitched their tents on East Cemetery Hill. The location of the camp was in the rear of the position occupied by Weidrick's New York Battery, and w^as near the point where the famous Ohio Brigade imder General Carroll repelled and for the first time defeated the Louisiana Tigers.
In honor of General W. S. Hancock the camp was named after him. The tents had scarcely been pitched when the rain descended in torrents and every- thing was thoroughly soaked. On account of the condition of the ground, the rink was secured as a sleeping place, but in all other respects the camp was maintained. The day for exercises, Wednesday, opened clear and bright and was ushered in by a salute by a section of Battery E of the First Artillery, which accompanied the regiment. The boys brushed and cleaned up to receive Governor Foraker and the Ohio Memorial Commission, and to escort them to the N^a- tional Cemetery, where the formal dedicatory exer- cises were held.
Upon the conclusion a salute of nineteen gims was fired. While this was in progress a sad accident marred what would other^vise have been a trip of un- alloyed pleasure. On the fifteenth discharge. Cor-
48 THE FOUIiTEEM'H, O. X. (}.
poral Orris Grisso was fatally injured by the premature discharge of the gun. Grass and weeds were being used as wadding and while Corporal Grisso was in the act of ramming it home, the discharge took place. His right arm and shoulder were almost torn off. He lingered for eight days, when death relieved him. He was not at any time able to be taken to his home. A delegation from Columbus formally represented the regiment at his funeral services in Springfield.
At 5 o'clock that afternoon tents were struck and the train again boarded for Philadelphia, where the Fourteenth was Ohio's only military representative in one of the most magnificent military pageants since the close of the war. Thursday morning the train rolled into Philadelphia and the regiment took possession of its quarters.
The state had made no provision for the trip whatever and the regiment was tendered their quarters by the Baltimore and Ohio Eailroad Company. These consisted of the depot, platforms and an en- closed yard. On these the boys nightly rolled up in their blankets and slept soundly. In striking contrast to these quarters were those of the First Massachusetts Regiment, which was located directly across the street. Massachusetts had appropriated $40,000 for a proper and fitting representation. Housed in an elegant and well built rink, the members of the First Massachusetts slept on mattresses, those of the Fourteenth Ohio were housed in blankets and slept on the ground. Long tables were provided by Massachusetts from which her representatives ate from china dishes and were
w r'»»t";-'i-""'v^'
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 49
waited upon by colored servants. Frugal Ohio had her men eat from the tin plates and tin cups that they had brought with them. Massachusetts paid her rep- resentatives for going, while Ohio permitted hers to pay all the expenses for the trip out of their own pockets.
On Friday morning the regiment formed at the Baltimore and Ohio depot on Chestnut street bridge and proceeded to the rendesvous after formally re- ceiving Governor Foraker and staff.
At midnight of the same day the regiment board- ed the special train and left for Washing-ton City, where Saturday was spent in sight-seeing. Sunday noon, after a long ride, the Fourteenth pulled into Co- lumbus after tw^o weeks of continuous service and travel.
Several changes in the organization of the regi- ment took place at the beginning of the year 1888. Major A. B. Coit was promoted to the rank of lieuten- ant colonel. He was succeeded by Adjutant Thad. K. Fletcher.
In January of this year the Columbus Battalion met with a severe loss. Its Armory on Spring street, at the corner of Front, which had been purchased two years previous, was entirely consumed by fire with all its contents. Among the property lost by the fire was the stand of colors presented to the regiment and car- ried through the several engagements. In addition to these, a new stand was also burned which had been presented by the ladies of Colimibus that winter and had onlv been carried once, on the inauguration of
50 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
Governor Foraker for his second term. It was in the same week that they were burned.
On March 3 an order was issued from general headquarters for the formation of a hospital corps. This regiment was the only one in the service which complied promptly with the order, and it went into camp with a well drilled corps. It had also a regula- tion ambulance and equipage for field work. "Com- pany bearers" had hitherto performed the work which now came in as the duty of the hospital corps.
For the first time in the histoiy of the Guard all the troops in the state were brought together in gen- eral encampment, from August 28 to September 4 in- clusive. The camp was located two miles north of Columbus on the Bee Line Road. It contained 500 acres and was under the command of Major General Axline. Special attention was given to division work. The purpose in bringing the organizations together was for the companies and regiments to see the degi-ee of efficiency reached by the others. Special attention was given to the formation and maintainance of all forms of guard duty applicable to a division in active service. In the evening parades, by special arrange- ment, men would often become overcome with heat or get suddenly sick, so the other regiments could see the value of an efficient hospital corps.
This being the Ohio Centennial year, a large demonstration was held in Columbus, and on breaking camp the entire division made a parade in honor of the event.
On September 9. 10 and 11 the regiment was or- dered on snecial dutv in Columbus incident to the
TEE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 51
general encampinent of the Grand Army of tlie Republic.
In 1889 regimental camps were entirely dis- pensed with and the entire Guard was ordered to rep- resent the state at the centennial celebration of the inaug-uration of Washington as President of the United States, in ISTew York City. The Guard was divided into brigades, the Fourteenth being placed in the Second Brigade, of which Colonel Freeman was in command. The Fourteenth left Columbus on Sunday, April 28, via the Columbus, Hocking Valley and Toledo and the Erie Roads, and arrived in ISTew York on Monday at 3 P. M. On Tuesday, the 30th, the parade was held. All other Ohio regiments left for home on ' Tuesday night or during Wednesday, but the Fourteenth remained until Saturday evening and arrived home on Sunday night. The boys were thus given an opportunity to visit the places of in- terest in and about Xew York. A very pleasant treat was accorded by the commanding officer, who char- tered a boat and took the command out to sea. Quarters were fui*nished by the committee of arrange- ments until Wednesday morning. The regiment then moved over to Jersey City, swung cranes and went into camp. The Erie Railroad and the Pullman Car Company officials did everything in their power to make the boys comfortable. They placed extra cars at their disposal, so that each man had plenty of room to lie in at night and they arranged room for cooking purposes in the yards.
52 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
The Fourteenth had no reason to feel ashamed of its appearance in the parade here. The usual de- gree of efficiency was maintained and brought forth praise from all who were conversant with military matters. The entire command appeared in heavy marching order and prepared for field work.
THE FOURTEENTH, O. N. 0. 53
CHAPTER IV.
STRIKES AND RIOTS.
Resignation of Colonel Freeman — Election of Colonel Coit — General Sherman's Funeral at St. Louis — Duty at Chi- cago— Howe on 1S94 — The Wheeling Creek Campaign — Causes for the Strike — Troops Called Out — Services of the Fourteenth — The Result — Galvin's Army — Trouble at Washington C. H. — Colonel Charged With Murder — Annual Encampments.
For almost twelve years the destinies of the regi- ment had been in the hands of Colonel George D. Freeman. He had received every success, every re- verse, with the fond interest of a father. He had sur- mounted difficulties which would have driven many a Napoleon to despair. He had taken charge of the regiment when it was made up of scattering groups of awkward men, and with this material he had con- structed a military organization which was now known and loved all over the United States. It had been the hope of his early military experience and it has ever since been the pride of his ripened career. Other duties made it impossible for him to devote the time and energy which according to his ideas of administra- tion were essential in keeping the regiment what he had made it, so on October 9, 1889, he tendered his resignation. The regiment lost his presence and abil- ity, but never his interest or his sympathy. He has watched with a jealous eye every movement of the command, and when it became a part of the United
54 THE FOLBTEENTH, 0. N. G.
States anny, no one more tliaii he offered every possible assistance. Even while in a foreign land his influence was ever manifest, and when the regiment returned home covered with glory, no hand of welcome was offered mth a warmer heart than his.
When officers and men realized the loss they had oustained, they began to look about for material with which to repair the breach. In this effort they were exceptionately fortunate. On November 8, the next in command stepped forward and upward, and at the call of the regiment took up the work where their be- loved leader had left off. Lieutenant Colonel Coit immediately assumed command and when the war ^vith Spain came on he was found at his post of duty, where he remaineil until the close of the war. He was succeeded as Keutenant colonel by Major Fletcher who in turn was succeeded by Captain Speaks.
The following year, 1890, the miltary laws of the state were changed, making fewer but stronger regiments. The Sixth regiment was disbanded, and the companies at Mt. Sterling, Washington C. H. and Circleville were attached to the Fourteenth. The organization was patterned after that of the German army, comprising three battalions of four companies each. This organization differed from that observed in the regular army, but it was maintained throughout the war. The regiment encamped in 1891 at Presque Isle and did no duty of any consequence until Febru- ary of 1892, w-hen on the 20th, they left Columbus to attend the funeral of General William T. Sherman at St. Louis, Mo. The annual encampment was held
ALONZO B. COIT.
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 55
at Marion. Colonel Ooit at this time was assistant adjutant general of the state. The next year the regi- ment went to camp at Logan, O. In October they attended the dedication of the World's Fair Grounds at Chicago and the following year went to Chicago to camp and attend the World's Columbian Exposition.
In his report for 1894, Adjutant General Howe said: '^The year has made history for the Ohio Na- tional Guard more extensive in operations, exacting and arduous in execution than any year since its or- ganization. The unsettled conditions existing not only in Ohio, but thi"oughout the whole country, seemed to bring with the idleness imposed, lawlessness in different forms, and in different counties civil au- thority was set at naught, and the strong arm of the state government was called upon to aid and uphold law and order."
The first trouble of the year occurred at Toledo on January 4. On the 19th a great fire at Springfield made it necessary to call out the militia. Again on February 23, trouble was feared at Cincinnati, but fif- teen men were all that were needed to restore order. On April 15, the sheriff of Logan county was com- pelled to call upon the Second Infantry to aid in protecting a prisoner from mob violence.
Again Adjutant General Howe is quoted : ''Fol- lowing this trouble came the holding up of a train on the Bailtimore and Ohio Railway, at Mt. Sterling, by a body of men calling themselves "Galvin's Army." These men. 215 in number, had taken possession of a train of sixteen cars, and would not leave the same,
66 THE FOURTEENTH, O. N. G.
even after the civil authorities had called to their aid as many deputies as they could secure to serve. The railroad company also selected a picked body of men from the city of Columbus, and had them sworn in as special deputies and tried to eject the men, but failed in their efforts. The sheriff of Madison county, seeing his inability to enforce law, called upon the Governor for military assistance, and there was ordered to Mt. Sterling on the morning of April 28, the First Bat- talion, Companies A, B. C and F, and Company L, 14th Infantry, and Battery H, First Light Artillery, under command of Colonel Coit. The troops arrived at Mt. Sterling and, after warning the offenders to vacate the property they were unlawfully holding, in a good, soldierly way proceeded to displace them, which was done without serious resistance, and trains were at once started on schedule time. The conduct in this affair of both officei-s and men is to be com- mended, and the summary dealing with these offend- ers of Ohio's laws, we believe, saved the State much expense during the year from the same class of people, of whom many bands entered the State and departed without conflict with the civil authorities."
IsTo comment is needed to these words of praise. The regiment had again done i^"s duty and the glowing report quoted above is merely the official one of many favorable reports of this tour of duty.
The call for troops coming from the sheriff of Guernsey county, June 6, 1894, proved the greatest of the year. There v\'as called into service besides the 14th, the 8th Tufantrv, seven companies of the 17th
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 57
Infautry, tho 2nd Infantry, the 16th Infantry, the 5th Infantry, three companies of the 3d Infantry, the Toledo Cadets and three Batteries First Regiment Light xVrtillery, making a total of 3,371 officers and men in the field. In addition to these, six companies of the 3rd Infantry were as- sembled in their armories, making a total of officers and men under call, of 3,647.
The cause for this array of military strength was a general "strike" of the miners and the National Guard duty is known as the "Wheeling Creek Cam- paign."
The first official information Governor McKinley received was a telegram from the sheriff of Guernsey coimty, dated June 6, stating that a force of miners es- timated at from 400 to 600 men had taken possession of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at jVIineral Siding and that they were interfering with trains by placing obstructions on the track and compelling freight trains to run in on the switches and take off all coal cars be- fore being permitted to proceed. The sheriff added that the miners were armed with clubs and more dan- gerous weapons, and that threats were being made to do still greater damage. He also stated that he could not possibly organize a posse capable of coping with the miners and fearing* that they would be reinforced, asked help from the governor.
Orders were at onoe promulgated to assemble the various regiments and by the next morning, June 7, another appeal was made by the sheriff of Belmont county, giving the same reason. In this county the
58 THE FOURTEENTH, O. X. G.
B. and O. and the C, L. and W. Kailways were at- tacked, the latter by about fifteen hundred men, mostly foreigners, so the sheriff stated.
The regiment was scattered all over Central Ohio, many of the men residing in the country and at small inland towns, so that it was three o'clock in the morning before orders were issued to the entire regi- ment. Major Speaks was then a clerk in General Howe's ofiice and had it not been for his energetic ef- fort, the regiment could not possibly have been as- sembled so soon.
Everything was gotten in readiness and on the morning of the seventh, the Fourteenth left Columbus for Cambridge, where they arrived next morning. General Howe accompanied the regiment in order to be on the scene of the trouble and thus be better enabled to assume personal charge of general opera- tions. At eleven o'clock the regiment arrived at Morris Station. There they found that cars had been knocked to pieces, coal dumped on the tracks and everything in turmoil. At a quarter after one, how- ever, the trains were running for the first time in three days, but the strikers were in the hills near by, ready to sweep doT\Ti on the railroad property as soon as the soldiers had left.
The danger at St. Clairsville Junction had be- come greater, consequently the Seventeenth was left on guard at Mineral Siding and the Fourteenth and Eighth, with Batteiy H started for the new scene. TelegTams were fast coming in to the governor and the situation became serious. More troops were ordered to
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 59
prepare to move at a moment's notice, and the whole state became excited. It was reported to the governor that near a cut through which the Fourteenth would have to pass, the miners were located and that they had prepared to roll down a huge boulder on the train bearing the troops as it passed them. The train pro- ceeded, however, and was not seriously molested until it reached Wheeling Creek, six miles east of Bellaire. The train had proceeded along the banks of the stream through the hills until it reached a point where the valley widened into a basin. It was a beautiful spot, an ideal location for the little mining town, which nestled snugly here among the rugged hills. Across the valley, perhaps a mile, stood a little church, around which 600 men were assembled. The regiment was formed and immediately deployed into battle lines and excitement reigned everywhere. It looked as though there was to be a pitched battle and many ex- pected that the banks of the picturesque rivulet which flowed peacefully through the rocky hills, would soon be gorged with a stream of blood.
As the regiment advanced slowly across the little valley, however, the crowd dispersed. The regiment went into camp and threw out pickets. The soldiers and miners came into constant contact, but at no time did a clash become general. Several times crowds had to be dispersed, but no fatalities resulted from the dis- charge of any duty.
Onthemoming of the9th Sheriff Scott aunouTiced that trains would start on the C, L. & W. from Bridge- port, where coal trains had been detained by the strik-
60 THE FOURTEENTH, O. N. G.
ers. The sheriff requested that ample protection be given coal trains throughout Belmont county. A guard was ordered consisting of the Second Battalion of the Fourteenth and the Second Battalion of the Second regiments, and Colonel Coit placed in com- mand mth instructions to follow trains and permit no interference. The first train was somewhat delayed just before reaching camp, and before the soldiers had boarded it. It had been stopped for an instant just be- yond the lines, and was immediately attacked by a crowd of women, who pulled the couplings and carried them away. They were encouraged in their actions by a large crowd of men congregated near, but not on railroad property. A detachment was sent from camp who dispersed the crowd and enabled the train men to recouple the cars and proceed.
The coal trains guarded by the Fourteenth were molested, but so well did the boys perform their duty that no damage was done except at Burton, where the strikers succeeded in disconnecting one of the trains by drawing coupling pins. The train was gotten safe- ly through Belmont county, however, and the soldiers reported back to Wheeling Creek, tired and worn out but ready for duty wherever their serAdce-^ were needed.
The strike soon became more general and the sit- uation became more serious in proportion. Canal ]^over was made the base of supplies and the governor decided to push a vigorous campaign against the strikers unless they gave up the idea of destroying y.roporty. The Fourteenth Regiment was scattered
'IHE FOURTEENTH, O. N. G. 61
over almost the whole of tlie mining district, one part of the detached companies being placed under Colonel Darrow at Canal Dover, and the others under the im- mediate command of Colonel Coit, with headquarters at New Philadelphia.
There was at no time what could be called a pitched battle, but shots were actually fired on several occasions, but fortunately there were no lives lost ex- cept that of Private Gerber, of Columbus, who struck his head on a rock while diving in the Tuscarawas river. His body was embalmed and sent home under escort for military burial.
The miners pursued a sort of guerilla policy, keeping as much as they could out of sight of the sol- diers and making raids on railway and mining prop- erty. Bridges were burned and trains were stopped, but as soon as the troops approached they would re- treat to some place of safety. Colonel Coit gave or- ders to the sentries on duty to allow^ no one to approach nearer than 200 yards of the picket lines and then to advance singly and be identified by one of the mem- bers or employes of one of the mining companies. Several skirmishes were engaged in but nothing seri- ous occurred. Private Jacob Stinnell had the honor of capturing a banner from a party of miners and the act of himself and comrades was regarded as one of unusual bravery.
At Canal Dover several dnmken persons and some of the colored cooks and camp followers ensraged in a quarrel and trouble seemed imminent, but prompt action on the part nf the officers quieted all the trouble.
62 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
The drunken persons were arrested and under escort were turned over to the civil authorities. Bridges were burned in all parts of the mining district and the en- tire force of militia on duty were kept dodging from one point to another. Colonel Coit was at one time cut off from his base of supplies by the burning of a bridge, but he managed to get into communication with head- quarters by a round-about way.
Finally, on the seventeenth, the miners and oper- ators, having come to an agreement, matters became more quiet and Colonel Coit wired that part of his command could be dismissed. Companies H, G, M and L were accordingly relieved and the next day the en- tire regiment was called back to Columbus, where the boys were glad to join their families and friends. At Columbus the regiment was reviewed by Governor McKinley and the men publicly thanked for their ser- vices.
The regiment liad been on continuous duty for nearly two weeks and in a service that was far from being a pleasant one. There was danger, privation and hard labor to perform, but the men suffered all their trials as real soldiers and the people of Central Ohio Avere justly proud of them.
While the services of the regiment in the Wheel- ing Creek campaigTi were still fresh in the minds of the people, a most distressing occurrence became part of the history of Fayette county. A negTO named Dolby had committed a criminal assault near Wash- ington Court House, and as all indications seemed to point clearly to the man's guilt, public sentiment be-
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 63
came uncontrollable. The negro had been duly ar- rested and was confined in the county jail, but as the records of Fayette county were without the stain of such crimes, the people declared that no one should break the record and live. Crowds gathered to discuss the situation and as the law did not provide for the ex- ecution by capital punishment of these crimes, many of the enraged citizens concluded that the best plan would be to adopt lynch law in the case.
They were soon joined in this opinion by others and before even they themselves were aware of the fact, a dangerous crowd had collected. As life and ])roperty seemed to be in danger the sherift" called in- to service E Company of the Fourteenth Regiment,, f-tationed at Washington Court House, but they <b'u not present force enough to cope with the crowd, so the governor was called upon for more troops. Com- panies A and B, of the Fourteenth, under Colonel Coit, were at once ordered to the scene of the trouble. They left on the afternoon of the 17th of Octo- ber and arrived in Washington Court House a few hours later. The official report has the following to say of the affair :
"During the day of the seventeenth but little trouble occurred except at the time the prisoner was taken from the court house to the jail for trial. As the sheriff, with his prisoner, left the jail, the crowd assembled, made a rush and but for the cool, solid and effective work of the military, would have secured the prisoner and accomplished their purpose. Ofiicers and men in this afternoon engagement proved them'^elves
64 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
good soldiers and, without exercising severe punish- ment upon those unlawfully assembled, prevented the mob from carrying out their intentions. The prisoner, having been arraigned before a grand jury especially convened, pleaded guilty to the charge and was at once sentenced to the penitentiary for the maximum term of years provided by law.
"The crowd had constantly been increasing dur- ing the day and, in consequence of the fierce struggle that had occurred in the afternoon, the sheriff was of the opinion that it would not be safe to take the pris- oner from the court house with the number of troops on duty. He therefore asked that more troops be sent so that the prisoner might be moved with safety to the train and transported to Columbus. While awaiting re-enforcements, Colonel Coit had the court house cleared of citizens and he, together with Major Speaks and the sheriff, begged and urged the crowd to dis- perse and leave the court house grounds. These ap- peals were frequently made to the crowds outside and each time they were met by jeers and taunts. Dark- ness coming on. Colonel Coit concluded to withdraw all guards from outside the building and station them within. He barricaded the doors and then warned the besiegers to not molest or attempt to break them down, clearly advising them that if such an attempt were made, the troops would fire.
"The colonel then went into the building and, after having guards placed at each entrance, gave or- ders that if the doors were broken in by the mob, to fire. Unlawful demonstrations were still kept up, and
s
iiir'!
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 65
at about 7:15 o'clock of the evening of the seventeenth of October, with a battering ram of large dimensions, the south doors of the building were burst in and the detail stationed at this point fired a vollej into the mob, which proved quite destructive, killing outright two persons and maiming and wounding some twelve or fourteen others. Reinforcements had been ordered to report to the sheriff.
"These commands were readily assembled and reached Washington C. H. in the early morning of the eighteenth. Forming the entire force, the prisoner was taken from the court house and escorted to the depot, where the troops under command of Colonel Coit em- barked, the sheriff having in charge his prisoner, and all proceeded to Columbus, where they arrived at about seven o'clock on the morning of the eighteenth. After seeino" the prisoner safely landed in the peni- tentiary, the troops marched to the armory and were dismissed. Colonel Hunt, commanding the forces left at Washington C. II., remained until about 11 o'clock a. m. of the eighteenth, when they were dismissed by the sheriff and returned to their respective homes. The conduct of the troops throughout was commen- dable, and press and public, not only of the state, but of the entire countrs'-, sustained their action and in the strongest terms have spoken praise of Ohio's citizen soldiery."
Although the troops had done their duty, it was a sad ''ight to the citizens of Washington Court House to see their neighbors thus shot down and they felt verv much srrieved in the matter. Colonel Coit was
66 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
blamed for the deaths, having given the order to fire,, and the sympathizers with the intended lynchers were very angry. To even up matters, the colonel was charged mth murder and indicted by a gi-and jury. When the time set for his trial arrived, he secured a change of venue and the case was taken into the courts of Pickaway county. The trial lasted several weeks and cost both the county and the colonel considerable money, but it finally ended with a verdict of acquittal.
Thus ended the history of the regiment as a Na- tional Guard organization so far as active service is concerned. The annual encampment in 1895 was at Chattanooga, near where, three years later, the men received their first experience as United States volun- teers. The next year, 1896, the encampment was at Cleveland, and in 1897 the boys were given au excur- sion to ISTashville, where the last annual encampment was made before the war.
The year of 1898 brought with it experiences with which very few of the members of the Fourteenth were familiar. Some of the older members remember- ed the trying times of the great Civil War and to the younger members this year brought with ii all the trials and hardships of actual warfare as will be seen in the following pages.
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. O. 67
CHAPTER V.
WAR WITH SPAIN.
Period of Peace^ — Condition of Army and Navy — American Peace Policy— Relations Between England and Spain — Cessions of land from Spain to United States— Cuban Insurrection — The "Ten Years' War" — Second Rebel- lion—Daily Press Reports — Cuban and Spanish Lead- ers— Weyler's "Reconcentrado" Plan — General Lee's Report— The De Lome Affair — Destruction of the Maine — The Countrj' Aroused — Cry for War^Prepara- tions for War — President's Proclamation — Declaration of War — Dewey's Victory— Ohio's Volunteers — Militia Assembled — The Fourteenth at the Auditorium— Camp Bushnell.
A period covering more than tliiri;y years of absolute peace within her own borders and with all the world found the United States at the beginning of the year 1898 about as unprepared for war as she had been at any time in her history. During that period she had courted peace with all nations and it seemed that no one had so much as dreamed that anything but the same blissful happiness enjoyed so long and so well should ever be disturbed by the howling of the storm of war. The army had been allowed to dwindle down to a minimum strength, the navy had been neg- lected, at least when compared to that of European powers, the military forces of the various states had re- ceived but half the encoura element they should have received and the idea of a naval reserve had just be- gun to be considered.
68 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
In its general foreign policy, peace and good will was tlie first relation to be desired by our government under all administrations with all the nations of the earth. War had never come by solicitation, and hav- ing in all conquests been eminently successful, there seemed to be no need for any special provision for de- fense and the idea of conquest had never ben consid- ered. It seems that with Spain, however, the United States inherited war from the mother country. For centuries the navy, the soldiery and the citizens of the kingdoms of Great Britain and of Spain had tormented and insulted each other with a vie^v of hastening war, and it seems that when the American colonies threw off the yoke of government by the crown, Spain, while inwardly rejoicing at the trouble England was ha\dng on her hands, was too jealous of her own Western po^ibilities to lend a helping- hand to the struggling colonists. She hated England and everything that was English, and merely looked upon the contest be- tween oppressor and oppressed with an inward satis- faction she dared not express.
The first treaty ever entered into between the United States and Spain was ratified during the first administration of American government in 1795, at the time Thomas Jefferson was secretary of state. It will be remembered that at that time the Spanish government had important colonial possessions in the southern part of what is now the United States, and as trouble between these colonies and the United States seemed to be never ceasing, it was deemed best to secure as much of these possessions as possible. Ac-
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. -V. G. 69
cordingiy, Spain ceded the territory of Florida to this country. This had a tendency to ease the relations between the two countries and everything passed oif quietly until 1848, when an invasion of Cuba and Porto Rico was contemplated by Mexico and Colom- bia. As intervention on behalf of these islands at that time would have been a bloAv to slavery as it then existed in the United States, nothing was done by the American government. Prominent statesmen and the country in general, however, constantly cast wistful glances toward the wealthy island of Cuba, and a few years later an attempt was made to secure possession of Cuba by purchase and even the snug sum of $100,000,000 was offered the Spanish gov- ernment for her equity in Cuba, but every effort at purchase proved futile. This attempt at purchase was made in good faith by both parties and was carried on very peaceably, but there was a party in the United States which was rather unwisely anxious to see Cuba pass into the hands of the United States and an effort was made to secure the island by force.
Accordingly the filibustering expedition of 1851 was organized and started to Cuba under the com- mand of Lopez, but the result was rather disastrous and many brave American boys lost their lives. The United States of course disavowed this action on the part of some of her citizens, and then it became the Spaniards' turn to offend. This she did in 1854 when the "Black Warrior," an American vessel, was seized in the harbor of Havana, and war was again threat- ened. The slavery question again had a tendency to
70 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
repress any undue enthusiasm, and the matter was peaceably adjusted.
Another period of good feeling between the two countries then began and existed for nearly twentv years to be again broken by Spain during the much- talked of "Ten Years' War," when Cuba had made an effort to throw off the yoke of Spanish oppression and for ten long years struggled for her liberty. It was duiing the fifth year of this war that Spanish vessels captured the American "Virginius" and towed her to Santiago, where nearly a score of the men and officers of the American ship were rather irregularly executed. Trouble again seemed imminent, but it developed that the register of the "Virginius" was a "fake" and settle- ment was arranged by the Spanish government agree- ing to pay an indemnity to the relatives of those sea- men whose lives had been taken. The Cubans in this war, which lasted from 1868 to 1878, had many sym- pathizers in this country, but public opinion at no time seemed to reach alarming proportions.
This had been an expensive war, and when the island had been completely subdued, as the Spaniards thought, it was decided that the Cubans themselves should pay the whole expense of the war. Unreason- able as this was, Cuba was helpless; but the increased burden was a breath in the smoldering ruins of Cuban patriotism, and in 1895 another insurrection was be- gun. The "Ten Years' War" had not been barren of results even if the Cubans had been defeated. They had learned much of the art. of war, and during the interval preceding the insurrection of 1895 an or-
THE FOURTEENTH, O. N. Q. 71
ganizatioii almost perfect was effected. Local leaders acted quietly but etit'ectively, and the Junta took the responsibilitj of perfecting all plans.
The result of combined efforts was that at the beginning of the insurrection in 1895, General An- tonio Maoeo was ready to take the lead and a vigorous campaign was at once begun. Captain General Campos placed himself at the head of a strong Spanish force, but they were no better organized and little bet- ter handled than the insurgents, and as all military operation was that of guerilla warfare. General Campos and the king's troops did very little indeed towai'd squelching the rebellion.
The financial condition of Spain was by no means encouraging, but being naturally one of the proudest nations of the globe, she put forth every effort to put an end to the insurrection in her western colony. The Cubans were practically without funds and without a government which any government, though willing, could recog-nize. The dusky patriots made every pos- sible sacrifice for the common cause, and with what as- sistance they could receive from private individuals in the United States and other countries, they man- aged to carry on a warfare which was anxiously watched by all the civilized world. The daily press in Europe and America made dilligent records of every step made by either side, and millions of inter- ested readers watched for the accounts of the brilliant dashes and patient marches made by the Cuban leader and his scattered bands.
The Spanish leaders made every effort within their power to tone down these accounts and to send
Tl THE FOURTEENTH, O. N. G.
out conflicting reports to the press of their own coun- try. This effort was made for the two-fold purpose of arresting sympathy for the Cubans in the United States and Europe and to deceive the taxpaying public of their own country as to the exact condition of af- fairs in the incorrigible colony. Reports were sent out one day that the gallant Maceo had been killed and the next day the report was denied. This was kept up until the reading public was in great fear for the safety of the general, but to their great regret it was finally definitely learned that the brave leader had been killed in December of 1896. It has since been definitely learned also that he was shot and that he died as a soldier, but some reports at the time said that he had been stabbed by members of his own command. He was succeeded soon afterward by General Gomez and the war con- tinued. While the loss of Maceo was a severe blow to the Cubans, they were none the less discouraged and persisted in their resistance to the rale of the Cas- tilian crown.
The government at Madrid finding that Campos was making little if any headway in crushing the Cubans, sent General Weyler to relieve him. The Cubans, who had heard of General Weyler, shuddered at the thought of having to oppose him, but they soon had better reason to shudder at the mere mention of his name. So cruel and so unmilitary were the o]:)era- tions of the Spanish army that its leader became gen- erally known as "Butcher" Weyler. The method of warfare was absolutely criminal and the "execution"
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 73
of his army nothing short of murder. At least, it is hardly considered by civilized nations within the rights of an army to slay helpless women and innocent chil- dren and to commit the outrages that reflect even on the character of the men composing a nation's soldiery, yet these methods were constantly pursued by Weyler and these crimes were committed in the name of the Spanish government.
Finding that he was accomplishing nothing, but on the contrary that he was constantly loosing ground, General Weyler decided to resort to ^'ex- treme" measures. His own troops were poorly fed and while those in the Cuban ai-my could not possibly leave the camp for the field, he knew that the peasantry must be fm-nishing them with subsistence. He also learned that his own soldiers were giving in exchange for sweet potatoes and cured meats, cartridges and other military supplies which were carried directly to the insurgent army. Realizing that he could do noth- ing under these circumstances he decided that instead of feeding his own men and maintaining discipline in his own ranks that he would further punish the rebels. He therefore published in October, 1896, his famous ''bando," an order by which all the peasantry of the island was gathered into the large cities and placed under guard as "reconcentrados," to prevent them from operating the plantations. This, as a matter of course, created an indescribable suffering, but in his obstinacy and cruelty he imagined that he had struck a serious blow at the rebellion. In fact he had only aucmented the hatred of the Cubans for Spain and had
74 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
enlivened the sympathy that had already existed for the struggling patriots.
After a vigorous campaign in which absolutely nothing had been accomplished by Spanish arms, Weyler was recalled to be succeeded by General Blanco, Avho proceeded much after the fashion of his cruel and unsuccessful predecessor.
Blanco was instructed by his government, after they saw that it was impossible to defeat them by force of arms, to offer the Cubans a government of Au- tonomy. But having suffered too much already from Spanish deceit, the proposed compromise was scorn- fully rejected and the Spanish officer who conveyed the offer of General Blanco was killed.
While all these things were going on in Cuba the people of the United States were doing all they could consistently to aid the insurgents. Funds were se- cretly subscribed and sent over in many mysterious ways, and so intense and so general was the feeling in America that even the governors of states were known to subscribe large funds to be sent to Cuba in such ways that the act would not become generally known. The Junta also did good work, organizing societies all over the country and agitating a spirit of interven- tion on the part of the United States by recognizing Ouba as a republic of itself. Enthusiasm ran high, and when it was finally arranged by a sort of tacit agreement that the people of the United States could, through their consuls in Cuba, send provisions and money, the laborer and the capitalist united their offerings and liberal donations were sent not only to
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. O. 75
the ''reconcentrados," but as well to those who were known to be fighting in the Cuban army. Later on United States vessels openly carried these supplies and United States consuls aided in their distribution. These acts of sympathy as a matter of course created no little indignation in Spain and in Spanish countries. England looked on the struggle in Cuba much as did the United States, but as her interests were not at stake nearly so much as our own, very little if anything was done in that country to aid the Cubans except to show in a quiet way that her sympathies were with them. This may be accounted for in the fact mentioned before that the interests of Spain and of England have been for centuries arrayed against each other. England was in this case ''getting even" for the attitude of Spain at the time her own western colonies were in open and armed rebellion. It might be stated in this connection that in the contest between Spain and the United States, England, although she announced and maintained a neutrality in the real sense of the word, showed in many ways a remarkable friendliness for the United States. It was a strange coincidence that nearly every report, and many there were, that touched on the likelihood of a European power entering into an alliance with Spain, was sup- plemented by another to the effect that Great Britain had made overtures or was considering a plan to enter into an alliance with the United States. Indeed it is still thought by many that the attitude of Great Britain had a great deal to do with the carrying on of
76 THE FOVRTEEXTE, 0. N. G.
the war, as the other European powers were supposed to be afraid of the strong alliance this would have made.
In January, 1898, the American consul at Ha- vana, General Fitzhugh Lee, of Virginia, reported that the situation was becoming serious. There were riots in the Cuban capital and xVmerican life and prop- erty had become endangered. A delegation directly representing the American government had visited the seat of war and had reported that the pictures of cruelty and the consequent suffering reported in the daily papers had not by any means been exaggerated. Indeed they said the condition of affairs on the island was absolutely beyond description. Something had to be done in the name of humanity, and it was plain that public sentiment could not be restrained much longer. War with Spain was talked of on every hand and each dav it became more evident that wai was inevitable.
When the seriousness of affairs was assured by the report of General Lee, the government authorities acted promptly and the North Atlantic squadron was ordered together at Dry Tortugas, a distance of six hours' sail to Havana. Had the life or property of American citizens been jeopardized at any time, Uncle Sam's war dogs could have furnished protection in very short order.
On January 25 the "Maine," in command of Captain Sigsbee, entered the harbor of Havana. Her arrival had been announced and she was assigned by the Spanish port officials to position. The officers of
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. A'. 0. 77
the "^laiue" were given a reception on shore and every one seemed to be pleased that the vessel had come. It should he stated here also that the presence of the "Maine" had nothing whatever to do mth the situa- tion as to peace or war, as the visit was a friendly one and was so regarded by the Spanish officials both at Havana and at Madrid.
Senor De Lome, the representative of the Spanish government at Washington, about this time committed a grave offense by rather vigorously criticising the people of the United States in general and the presi- dent in particular for the attitude taken toward his government and her interests in a letter which was afterwards published. As soon as the contents be- came known, Minister De Lome was told in so many words that he would have to "git" and he "got." The letter was published on February 9 and in a few days afterward Spanish affairs were in the hands of a "charge d'affaires," and remained so until March 12, when Senor Polo y Baniabe arrived to succeed De Lome,
On the morning of February 15 the daily press came out with the most startling bit of information that had been published at any time since the great Civil AVar had closed. The "Maine," one of the most valuable vessels in the United States navy, had been blown to atoms the night before while lying at anchor in the position to which she had been assigned by Spanish port officials at Havana a few weeks before. Not only was the great vessel totally destroyed, but two hundred and fiftv-one American seamen lost their
78 THE FOURTEENTH, O. N. G.
lives and ninety-nine otliers were injured. The whole country was now thoroughly aroused, and it was no longer a question of ''war or no war," but "when will it come?" Considering the feeling the people of the two nations had had for each other no one doubted but that the explosion was a result of Spanish treach- ery and the Spanish were accused on every hand of having purposely piloted the "Maine" to a position over a submarine mine. On the I7th a commission of four prominent naval officers were appointed by the president to investigate the explosion and the causes, and they at once took up the work. On the following day the "Viscaya," a formidable Spanish war vessel, made her appearance, also on a friendly visit, in the harbor of New York.
It was feared by many that some over indignant American would seek revenge for the loss of the "Maine" and commit some rash act, but the "Viscaya" was not molested in any way during her stay in American waters. On the day following the arrival of the "Viscaya" the Spanish government asked that the investigation of the "Maine" affair be carried on by a commission made up of representatiA^es of both governments, but the proposition was not favorably considered.
Wbile the investigation was being carried on there was a general clamor for war among the masses. Cooler heads advised more deliberation and the presi- dent asked that public opinion be suspended until the report of the examining board should be filed. It now became an absolute certainty that if the examiners
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 79
found that the explosion of the ''Maine" had been clearly an act of Spanish treachery, war could not possibly be averted. Preparations for the inevitable were instituted and the homes of the army and navy departments changed from the usual scene of quiet and serenity they had presented for the last thirty years to scenes of busy activity.
While the country was awaiting with almost breathless suspense the action and report of the board of naval examiners, congress, on March 8, appropriated $50,000,000 to be used for purposes of defense, and of course, if necessary, for carrying on the war which was rapidly forcing itself. On the next day this ac- tion Avas concurred in by the senate and preparations were more vigorously pursued. On March 21 the naval examiners finished their labors and completed their report, w^hicli was first reviewed by the presi- dent and his cabinet, and on March 28 presented to congress. On April 1st congress passed the Naval Appropriations bill and the condition of the country soon presented a more war-like aspect. On the 20th ■of the same month an ultimatum was cabled to Spain, announcing that the patience of the United States had been too severely tested and that Spain would have to relinquish her claims on Cuba or fight. Three days were given the Spanish for a reply and it was under- stood that if at noon on the 23rd Spain continued to push her campaign in Cuba, war would be formally declared. When the ultimatum reached Spain the X^nited States minister to that country, General Woodford, was informed by Spain that diplomatic
80 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
relations with the United States had ceased and he was given his pass ports. General Woodford left his papers and business with the British minister and left for France at once.
On April 23 the president issued the following appeal for volunteers :
A PROCLAMATION.
"Whereas, By a joint resolution of congress, ap- proved on the 20th day of April, 1898, entitled, 'Joint Eesolution for the Independence of the People of Cuba,' demanding that the government of Spain re- linquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the president of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry this resolution into effect ; and
"Whereas, By an act of congress entitled ^\n Act to Provide for Temporarily Increasing the Military Establishment of the United States in Time of War and for Other Purposes,' approved April 22, 1898, the president is authorized, in order to raise a volun- teer army, to issue this proclamation calling for volun- teers to serve in the army of the United States:
"N'ow therefore I, William McKinley, president of tha United States, by virtue of power -vested in me by the Constitution and the laws and deeming suf- ficient occasion to exist, have thought fit to call forth volunteers to the aggregate number of 125,000 in order to carry into effect the purpose of the said resolu- tion; the same to be apportioned as far as practicable,
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. O. 81
among the several states and territories and the District of Columbia, according to population, and to serve for two years unless sooner discharged. The details for this object vnll be immediately communicated to the proper authorities through the War Department.
"In vTitness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
"Done at the City of Washington this twenty- third day of April, A. D. 1898, and of the inde- pendence of the United States, the one hundred and
twenty-second.
"WILLIAM M'KLNLEY.
"By the President:
"JOHN SHERMAN,
"Secretary of State."
On the same day there was presented to congress a measure for the purpose of raising funds for carry- ing on the war. On the next day, April 25, the presi- dent sent a message to congress asking that a declara- tion of war be made against the kingdom of Spain. Congress promptly took the action recommended and proclaimed "that war be and the same is hereby de- clared to exist, and that war has existed since the 21st day of April, 1898, including said day, between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain."
Now that war existed and was an established fact, the people began to prepare themselves for the worst. The armies and navies of both nations were ready and waiting for the word to begin the sti-nggle and only two days after the proclamation had been made th<^
82 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
first action of the war occurred, on April 2Y, when several American gun boats fired on and silenced the forts at Matanzas in Cuba. On the same after- noon Commodore Dewey sailed from Mirs Bay to Manila. He was not heard of from that on until May 1st, when he had entered the bay of Manila, de- stroyed eleven Spanish vessels, killed 700 men, in- cluding two commanders, and virtually "captured an empire," all without the loss of a man or ship and sustaining an injury of but six men wounded.
The news of the great victory was flashed across the globe and the whole world began to sound the praises of American seamen. They had already showed that the foe before them was less than a handful.
As soon as the proclamation calling for volun- teers was issued, the various states began to figure on the apportionment they would receive, each state anxious to furnish as many men and as much money as would be needed.
Ohio came to the front in her effort to furnish soldiers and money in the same energetic manner which had characterized her history in all of the previ- ous wars. The general assembly was in session at the time and authority was at once issued for the sale of a million dollars worth of bonds to be used for war purposes. The quota of troops apportioned to Ohio was 7752 on the first call and 3917 on the second, but this did not permit the enlistment of all the regiments, so the authorities at the national capital were induced to increase the apportionment to about 1500 more.
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. O. 83
This included one regiment of cavalry, one of artillery and eight regiments and one battalion (colored) of infantry.
Each regiment was anxious to get to the front first. They were also very anxious to preserve their National Guard organizations in the volunteer service. Their experiences in other services had learned them that their officers were able to take full control, and if they were to engage in any active services, as all firmly believed they would be, they wanted to be led to victory by the same officers who had commanded them in their previous drills and tours of duty.
The officers of the regiment met at the Columbus Auditorium and for a time it looked as though the regiment would have to go intact or stay at home, but it was finally agTeed that they ofl'er their services to be accepted in just such shape as the government saw fit to use them. The War Department agreed to take the regiments as they were then organized, and accord- ingly the companies began to get ready for the call.
The regiment was not quite full, but recruits were soon enlisted, one whole company (F) having been enlisted and organized in a few days by Captain Harry M. Taylor, who afterwards became one of thej assistant surgeons of the regiment. The companies of the regiment were stationed as follows: A, B, C and F at Columbus; D at Marysville; E at Washington Court House; G at Marion; H at Portsmouth; I at Lancaster; K at Delaware; L at Mt. Vernon; M at Circleville. These companies were ordered to assem- ble at the Armory at Columbus, which they did as soon as practicable.
84 THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G.
The Columbus companies assembled on Monday, April 24, and the next day the other companies came under ai-ms and ready to go to any part of the world if necessary. The Auditorium at Columbus was a splendid place for the accommodation of so many sol- diers. There was plenty of floor space for the men to sleep and apartments for the storing and distribution of subsistence. Goodale park, with its grass plots and shade trees was an excellent parade ground, and as soon as the companies arrived all the routine of camp life was adopted. Dress parade was the order of each evening in the park, and throughout all the day the recruits were drilled either on the floor of the xiu- ditoriimi or in the streets and the park.
This part of the city soon became a popular re- sort for all Columbus. Crowds flocked in to see the boys and when the time for dress parade came, the park was filled with visitors.
At the same time the Fourteenth was ordered to assemble, the other regiments of the state received similar orders. It was evident, of course, that the state troops would have to be together, so the entire guard was ordered to mobilize at Columbus. Other cities came forward with claims for the honor and to offer inducements for the state authorities to acknowl- edge their claims, but this was no time to distribute honors, and the capital being the most centrally lo- cated of all the Ohio cities, was at once selected.
There was not room anywhere in the city to quarter all the troops in houses, so it became necessary to select a place for an encampment. After con- siderable looking around, Bullit park was chosen.
THE FOURTEENTH, 0. N. G. 85
This park was an ideal place for such use, cover- ing as it did several hundred acres, and situated near Alumn creek, which, it was supposed, would furnish an abunant supply of water for cooking and bathing. This proved not to be the case, however, but water was soon piped from the city water mains to the camp and there was at no time any danger of a water famine.
The signal corps of the Fourteenth Regiment was sent out to the grounds and the park was divided into regimental camps. Each regiment was allotted a cer- tain space, with arrangements for regimental and company streets, and the location of the various head- quarters was also marked. The whole was named "Camp Bushnell," in honor of Hon. Asa S. Bushnell, then governor of the state.
Although this work was carried on as rapidly as possible, it could not be finished for the accommoda- tion of the troops before the 28th. In the meantime the soldiers at the Auditorium were becoming tired. The floor was dry, but it was a hard place for a bed; the town was very convenient, but there were guards to prevent them from enjoying any of the advantages it offered ; the park was a pleasant place, but they were not permitted to lie in the shade of the stately trees or to pluck the buds from the fragrant plants. It was a constant drill from morning to night and the men could hardly wait for the time to leave the place. How glad they were to return to the Auditorium and how different were the circumstances surrounding their return will be seen later on.
86 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
CHAPTEK VI.
THE FOURTEENTH-FOURTH.
The March to Camp Bushnell— Camp Life — Changes in Company Organization— Drills and Paradesr— Growth of the Camp— Change of Name— Signal Corps Dropped— The Regimental Band— Bad Weathers-Rumors — Order to Leave— Parting Scenes— Camp Bushnell Left Be- hind—The March to the Depot— Scenes Along the March— At the Depot— Columbus Left Behind— Arrival at Chattanooga.
The 28tli of April was hailed with delight by every man in the regiment. life in the Auditorium, while it was by no means an uncomfortable place to rive, was not that of the typical soldier. The boys wanted to be out of doors. They wanted to live in tents, to sleep on the ground, and in fact to do and live as soldiers. They did not want to play soldier in any sense of the word, but it was the height of their am- bition to be soldiers, and if a veritable Valley Forge were necessary to the change they were perfectly willing to receive it. Anything bearing real sem- blance to active military existence was preferred to sleeping on the floor of the Auditorium or turning out for dress parade in the adjoining park.
Finally when all the preliminaries had been ar- ranged "assembly" was sounded and thecompauies were formed in the spacious hall. As soon as all was ready, they were each marched to Park street and the regi- ment was formed for the march to camp. There was
THE FOURTH 0. 7. /. 87
no escort and no attempt at parade had been made either by those in the regiment or by the citizens of Columbus. Even the daily papers, crowded as they were with telegraph news from Washing-ton and the seat of the war, said little of the trip to Bullit park, but the streets were lined with enthusiastic citizens who crowded out to see the boys "go to war" and to cheer them on the way.
The old regimental band started the boys off to the tune of "Marching Through Georgia," and the line of march was the nearest route to the new camp: From Park street south to Goodale, east to High street, south to Broad street and east to the camp on the north side of the street and perhaps a half mile away from it.
The position assigned to the regiment was at the extreme southwestern comer of the entire camp. When the Fourteenth reached the ground assigned to it, however, there was no camp there. None of the state troops had yet reported and no tents had yet been pitched on the park. The day was warm and under the rays of the bright spring sun, the "soldierines" aa they sometimes called themselves, began to realize that the life of the soldier is attended with some labor. They had been cheered to the echo all along the line of march, but that did not keep the sun from burning their soft white faces nor did it fan their sweated brows, but without dinner and without sympathy they car- ried tents and tent floors with all the might and main of veterans and by the middle of the afternoon, what had that morning been a vacant field gave all the ap-
88 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
pearance of a military camp. Supper was soon pre- pared and before night comfortable quarters bad lieen made up for everybody in the regiment.
The exertion of the day and the exhilarating effect of the vernal evening had a tendency to induce sleep, so all retired early. Not without first liberally patron- izing the sutler who had laid in a large supply of fresh pies and cakes and placed them on sale in a tent on the lot adjoining the camp. The first night at Camp Bushnell was more fully and more universally enjoyed perhaps than any other night in the six months in which the regiment was in the field.
The Fourteenth was not long to be the only regi- ment at the camp. Soon the regiments from different parts of the state began to come in and within a few days two brigades had been fully organized with Major General Axline in command. He established his headquarters on East Broad street at a central location as to the general camp. Two brigades had been or- ganized, the first under Colonel Hunt, of the First Eegiment, and the second under command of Colonel Coit, of the Fourteenth. Colonel Coit's regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Adams, who had already established the reputation of being one of the best disciplinarians in the state.
Colonel Adams began at once to exert his in- fluence over the regiment and the work of drilling was begim where it had been left off at Goodale park, but it was begun in far more earnest. Twice each day the companies were taken to a field at the north side of the camp and there put through the school of
TEE FOURTH 0. V. I. 89
the soldier, of the squad, the company and the bat- talion. As soon as the recruits had learned the "right shoulder" and "fours right," "extended order" drills were begun and many was the charge that was made against an imaginary foe on the banks of now historic Alum Creek. Parade at retreat soon made the camp a popular resort not only to those who had friends or relatives at the camp, but to all Columbus. On the first Sunday the camp was in existence the railroads arranged for excursions to Columbus and all day the street railway leading to the camp, all the hacks, om- nibuses and even transfer wagons were busy carrying visitors to and from the camp. The newspapers took a great interest in the boys and established branch of- fices near General Axline's headquarters. This in- terest kept up as long as there were any troops at the park.
While the drills were going on, and while the men improved in their knowledge of military tactics, other changes were being made. Sergeants and cor- porals had dropped out for various reasons, others proved incompetent in the field and were reduced so that every private in the regiment who had any am- bition to become great, aspired to the chevrons. Many a disappointment was suffered during those hours and many a good "non-com" received his chevrons.
This state of affairs existed for twelve days. During that time, however, the boys had been given an idea of every imaginable kind of weather known to a continental climate from summer to winter, to say nothing of the pouring rains which made the camp a
90 TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
veritable pond and the boys who existed in it water soaked heroes. They had wanted all that goes with the life of a soldier and with a few exceptions they received all they had bargained for. All that was lacking was hardtack and the presence of an armed enemy.
Within a week after the regiment had taken its position in Camp Bushnell Captain Rockefellar, of the United States army, had arrived to muster the militiamen into the volunteer service of the United States. It was decided that the Fourteenth Regiment should become the ''Fourth" in the federal service, the Sixteenth the "Sixth" and the Seventeenth the "Seventh." The First, Second and Third regiments were mustered and then came the Fourth on May ninth. First Colonel Coit and his staff and noncom- missioned staff took the oath which made them volun- teer soldiers. Then the twelve companies in order of the rank of their captains marched to the headquar- ters of the mustering officer, near general headquar- ters and all those who had successfully borne the phy- sical examination required by the government, were sworn in.
As has been stated elsewhere, it had been de- cided that the regiment would be received into the service as it had been organized in the National Guard, but trouble arose as to the Hospital and Signal corps. Lieutenant Miller, who had made the Signal corps al- most a perfect organization of its kind, was not mus- tered into the service and the men he had trained so Avell, although they were telegraph operators and civil
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 91
engineers, had to enlist as privates in the various com- panies or remain out of the service. Most of them chose the former and Lieutenant Miller was afterwards given a commission in the U. S. Volunteer service. The physicians, one major surgeon and two assistant surgeons, Major Seamans, of Delaware, and Captains Wright, of Circleville, and Taylor, of Columbus, were mustered in but no provision was made for the Hospital corps as it had existed in the militia service. The greater number of the members, however, enlisted as members of companies under the promise that they would be detailed to the hospital, but later in the ser- vice they were detached from the regiment and some, of them did not return to the regiment until long after the command had been returned to the United States. Several of them were fortunate in this, however, as they afterwards received the rank of hospital steward and commissary sergeant, something that would hardly hr.ve happened had they been allowed to remain with the regiment, from the fact that no vacancies occurred. 3tore will b© said of these thoroughly patriotic and ] atient young men later on.
In the struggle for recognition as an organization the band came in for its share of trouble also. Many of the men who had been members of the old regi- mental band in the ^N'ational Guard felt unable to leave their families and other interests for the compensation offered by the government to private soldiers and while Bandmaster Jesse Worthington and Principal Musician Charles Eulo had been mustered into the federal service as members of the noncommissioned
92 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
staff, no special provision was made for music except the two trumpeters allowed to each company. Man;); plans were discussed and many were the offers that were made, but the only way to get a band was for the musicians of the old band to enlist as privates and ef- fect the musical organization afterwards. It was agreed that all the other men of the regiment would pay two per cent, of their wages to the band. With the exception of the adjustment of a few complica- tions, this arrangement continued until the regiment was mustered out of the service.
This state of living in an alternate state of fear and hope lasted for several days when the peace of the boys began to be perturbed by ru- mors of orders to leave. Dewey had given the Dons the first defeat in his memorable accomplish- ment at Manila and everybody was singing the praise of the great naval commander and his brave jacktars. One minute it would be thoroughly understood that the regiment would go at once to Tampa, Florida, and there embark for Cuba and then plans had changed and the Ohio troops would be sent to Washington to protect the capital against a possible attack which the Spaniards were said to be contemplating. The next minute some one would get from a "reliable source" that something else would be done and thus between tormenting the guards on duty around the camp of the Eighth Regiment and hearing of "wars and rumors of wars" — especially the rumors — the men lived in a state of anxiety until Saturday, May 14, when Colonel Ooit received definite orders to report at Camp George
THE FOURTH 0. V. 1. 93
H. Thomas, at C'hickamauga Park, Georgia, about ten miles south of the city of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The night of the foui'teenth was an unusually bad one. The rains had fallen in toiTents, the com- pany streets were little more than ditches and the tents were little more than pools of water. The tent- age had seen too much service and as they were not in- tended to be used in anything but fair weather, the boys suffered more than a little on account of the leaky canvas- Orders for the night were merely nominal so fax as the passing of men in and out of the guai'd lines was concerned. Passes were granted, especially to the Co- lumbus men and most of them spent their last night in Ohio as they thought, and which indeed was to some of them, with their families at home. Those from the other towns were granted permission to go to their homes in cases where it was possible to return to camp before the time set for moving and those who could not get away were made as comfortable as possible.
The morning of the fifteenth dawned bright and fair. The sun broke through the thick clouds and scattered them away as though a special effort were being made to cheer the men in the hour of parting with friends and loved ones. The camp of the Fourth was the scene of hurry and bustle everywhere. Friends came out from Columbus and from the other cities to see the boys before they had made all arrangements for packing and to take a final handshake before the regiment was formed. Baskets and boxes filled to their utmost with the good things of life were carried
94 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
in, but in many cases it was disposed of before the tents were torn down.
Finally the order came to get ready and then there was a flurry. Officers and their assistants, the "non-coms," were busy giving orders and the men were kept on the run obeying them. Details were made for this and for that so that the boys had not a minute which they could safely call their o^vn. The baggage was loaded on wagons and the tents were torn down and in less time than is required to read this meager account, the camp of the Fourth Ohio was known no more to Camp Bushnell.
As soon as everything could be gotten in shape, "assembly" was sounded and the regiment was formed on the ground where it had been paraded each day when the weather would permit. It was a little muddy, of course, but the sun continued to shine brightly and little inconvenience was suffered by anyone. The Eighth Ohio, which had been part of the second bri- gade under Colonel Coit, acted as escort as far as the limits of the camp and there the regiment was taken charge of by all the military and civic societies of the city of Columbus.
A mass of people lined the route of march from the camp along Broad and High streets to the depot. Flags and bunting stretched over the streets, banners strung from every house and everything took on a gala appearance in honor of the departure for the front of the "pride of Central Ohio." Bands of music heralded the approach of the Fourth and at every point along the line of march, men women and chil-
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 95
dren cheered, shouted and wept as they saw the hbjs marching steadily down the street, no one knew to where, how many would return or what trials would be endured before any of the faces passing before them would be seen again.
It was the greatest day the city of Columbus had ever seen. Whistles all over the city screamed out the news that the regiment was leaving; bells from the churches, shops and engine houses rang out their musical peals of farewell; cannon boomed their sonor- ous but significant salutes, but all this turmoil could not suppress the sobs that persistently rose to the breast of the soldier as he recognized through the mass of humanity the wife, the mother or the sweet- heart he was leaving behind, perhaps forever. Strong men wept as they saw their sons march from their sight, living sacrifices to a noble cause; children cried out with pain as they saw their fathers disappear in the distance, going, they knew not where or why; mothers hid their eyes as they saw the pride of their lives among the masses marching proudly down the street with a musket on his shoulder. The only happy face to be seen anywhere was that of the lisping babe, too tender to realize the awfulness of the scene being enacted before its innocent eyes.
When the regiment reached the Broad Street Methodist church, the voice of the colonel rang out above the din and the command "halt" was repeated down the line. The noises seemed to cease for the time being and there in the open air, beneath the rays of the bright spring sun, Bishop Joyce, of the Metho-
96 THE FOURTH 0. Y. 1.
d5^t church, asked that the blessing of the Heavenly Father rest upon the men and officers of the regiment wherever duty called them. How nearly that prayer was answered, it is the purpose of the following pages to relate.
Governor Bushnell had taken place on the box of a coupe near the corner of Broad and High streets to review the regiment as it passed by. Tears rolled down his cheeks as he saw the boys pass down the street to go out to represent the state at the front, and it may be said here that as long as the regiment was out of the limits of its native state or when it returned, flushed with victory, it had no better friend than he who stood there to give the boys a sad farewell.
Finally working its way through the dense crowd of people, the regiment arrived at the depot and there boarded a train divided into three sections, bound for Chickamauga Park. It was then afternoon and sad as the parting had been the boys were glad to throw themselves down on the car seats to rest. They had gone without dinner and the boxes which loving hands had filled with good things to eat were soon opened only to see the contents disappear as if by magic. The train soon left, however, amid the same patriotic dem- onstration which had marked the march through the streets of the city and when the view of the capital faded away the men reluctantly stretched themselves out on the soft seats to give up their thoughts to the scenes they had just witnessed and to the future.
The trip through the picturesque hills of Ken- tucky was mostly after night, but the morning brought
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 97
with it a sight of historic old Lookout mountain and the boys breakfasted within the city limits of Chat- tanooga, Tennessee. Considerable time was spent here before the trip could be resumed, but before noon all was arranged and the regiment was soon bovmding across the hills to the national park.
98 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
CHAPTER VII.
CAMP GEORGE H. THOMAS.
The Ride to CMckamauga Park — From Lytle to the Camp — Early Experiences — The Regiment Assigned — Hard Tack and Bacon — A Military Training School — Facts About Lytle — Regimental "Canteens" — Amusement- Facts About the Camp- — Some of Its Advantages— Vis- itors from Home and from Abroad — ^Evening Parades — Cakes, Pies and Sweetmeats — Religious Services— Re- connoitering Expeditions — A Sham Battle — Setting up and Breaking Camps — Sink Details — Rumors and Or- ders— Good News at Last.
There was but one railroad leading to the camp- ing place. Trains stopped to discharge passengers for the park at a small station called Lytle. There was a small depot and two dwellings at the station when the regiment arrived there and the only business houses were a grocery where the postoffice was located and several frame structures where enterprising Chatta- nooga restauranteurs had started branches. The gov- ernment had constructed a board platform for the unloading of horses and mules and near the platform was the government coral where were penned hun- dreds of the longeared "soldiers" waiting to be dis- tributed to the volunteer regiments which soon began to mobilize at the park. The corral in itself was a great sight as well as the surrounding scenery, where, nearly half a century before, had been fought one of the greatest battles in history.
As soon afe the unloading was completed the reg- iment was formed and marched for the position to be
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 99
occupied in the great camp whicli was daily becoming greater. Several regiments of reg-ular troops had been encamped there before, but they had all been taken further south. There were several regiments of vol- unteer troops ahead of the Fourth, but it was among the very first to reach the great rendezvous.
Marching across the red clay hills of Chicka- mauga field the regiment presented a brilliant sight. The colors spread proudly before the gentle southern breeze, the band played the same stirring tunes to which two armies had marched out to meet each other on the field of battle long years before, and the boys marched away with the steady tread that becomes worthy sons of noble sires.
Although the train bearing the Ohio troops reached Lytle about ten o'clock in the morning, the spot selected for camp was not reached until late in the afternoon.
The camp was laid out in due form and by the time the boys had prepared their future homes, it was time for them to put the hastily prepared couches to service. There were no folding beds, no springs and no place to put these or other comforts if they could have been secured. The boys wrapped themselves up in their blankets and lay down on the bosom of mother earth to dream of home and loved ones. The first night was greatly enjoyed even if the lizards did in- sist on intruding upon the peace of the tire-worn sol- dier. It was not long before the boys learned that the lizards were harmless and that mosquito bites were not dansrerous.
100 THE FOURTH O. T. I.
The next morning the boys learned that they were a part of the second brigade of the first division of the first corps of the Army of the Gulf, the military division of the United States, of which General Brooke had been commander with headquarters at Atlanta. It was but a few days until the rest of the second brigade came in and took position on either side of the Fourth, the Third Illinois at the west and the Fourth Pennsylvania at the east. These three regiments were together and lived as peaceable neigh- bore until the close of the war.
There was little interest to the camp at Ohicka- mauga Park except its magnitude. There were sol- diers there from almost every part of the United States, north, south, east and west. There was no di- vision as to the existence of sympathies in former wars — all were Americans.
One of the first novelties introduced to the boys was part of the first ration. It Avas the old fashioned hardtack. They had read of that feature of military life in both prose and verse. They had heard it praised and cursed, lauded to the skies and carried down into the blackest recesses of the great beyond, but few of them had ever "broken bread when it was hardtack." Of course the hardtack did not come alone. Troubles never do come singly, and when the regular old fashioned army bacon, "sow belly," as it was called by the majority or "pig stomach," as it was known by the less vulgar class, came, the boys realized that their troubles had actually begim. These two evils were well received as long as they were nov«
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 101
eltieS; but for some reason not explained in the arm} regulations, soldiers become tired of tliis menu if it is served three times each day and for seven days in each week.
In defense of hardtack it must be said, however, that for troops in the field, it is the best possible sub- stitute for bread that could be secured. It can be eaten "raw" or just as it comes from the bakery, it can be soaked in water and broiled, it can be broken to pieces and moistened in coffee, or it can form part of a mess made of beans, hardtack and other things, which, when ready to serve, bears a name, that when applied by one person to another precipitates a fight.
This was the only kind of bread that could be procured for a while but the government soon estab- lished a mammoth bakery at Lytle and fresh bread was served to all of the regiments each day. Potatoes, fresh meat, vegetables and sugar came from the com- missary department, while the markets of Chattanooga and vicinity furnished milk, fruit and other provisions.
Camp Thomas was designed to be nothing more nor less than a military training school on a large basis. The men were drilled from morning to night. They were trained in the manual of arms, in all the evolutions knowQ to military science, and they were educated in the perfoi-mance of guard duty. In fact, they were taught all that it is necessary for the typical American soldier to know.
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" was applied in a way at the camp. There were amuse- ments of various kinds, and to a limited extent th?
102 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
men were permitted to enjoy them. Lytle, the station at the railroad, grew in a phenomenally short period of time from the little hamlet described, to a very metro- politan but temporary little city. There were all sorts of business enterprises represented, newspaper branch offices, telegraph and express companies, military sup- ply stores, photographers, hotels and restaurants, gambling dens and all the catch-penny schemes known to the fakir's art. In the midst of the camp a theatre had been constructed but it never met with marked success. The greater number of the regiments had "canteens" or restaurants, the profits of which were set apart for the benefit of the regiment at large. In the case of the Fourth Ohio, the proceeds of the sale of canned goods, refreshments, etc., were used to pay the obligation offered the band when the regiment was at Camp Bushnell.
One of the most interesting forms of amusement was the collecting of relics of the Civil war. It will be remembered that the soldiers of General Brooke were not the first to occupy positions on the field of Chickamauga, but that those hills had been stained by the blood of one of the most terrible battles re- corded in the pages of history. In every part of the park could be picked up parts of rifles, bayonets, pieces of shell, bullets, canon balls, swords, ordnance supplies of all kinds and even human bones. The trees them- selves bore evidence of the fierce struggle between the forces of the north and the south and the rocks and decayed logs gave mute testimony of the terrible trag- edy which had been played on this scene less than a half century before.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 103
Some of the members of the Fourth Ohio had been on this very field and to them the work of time and the hand of man was unable to change the ap- pearance of the hills and the surrounding country. They would often pick out the positions of their reg- iments in the great battle and relate the experiences of that fight to their younger comrades, partly for their amusement and instruction and partly to get them familiar with the scenes and duties of the bat- tlefield.
Chickamauga Park had more than one advan- tage over almost any other place in the country for such a camp. There was not only a good water supply, plenty of fresh air, parade and camp grounds, market facilities, convenience to the sea board, a climate prac- tically semi-tropical at that season of the year, but the very position of the park, the surrounding country and the history of the place had a smack of war which was absolutely wholesome for the young men who were training for the battlefield.
The concentration of so many troops and the congregation of so many persons had a marked effect on the general intellectual welfare of the soldiers, for here they were able to meet and exchange ideas on subjects which have since proved valuable to them as citizens as well as soldiers. One of the effects of this camp on the soldiers there and in fact of the war and the people of the United States generally, was the re- moval of the old prejudices of the Civil War. Stand- ing here as they did, shoulder to shoulder, preparing to fight under one flag and for one country, the union
104 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
of men from every part of the coimtry, but from the two great sections especially, removed more perman- ently than any other cause could have done the ill- feeling which had once precipitated a long and bloody civil war and which had ever since had the effect of keeping the people of these sections at more than a brotherly distance apart.
The camp was visited by the friends of the sol- diers there and by foreign soldiers who had come there to study American ideas of warfare. Even China had sent one of her brightest intellectual lights to learn something of the art of war from the young but sub- stantial America. English, German, French and Russian experts pronounced the camp perfect in every particular as to natural appointments, but after the camp was abandoned many defects were pointed out as to the general management of the camp.
The occasion of a visit from friends at home was the source of great pleasure to the boys. These visits were not restricted in any manner, but the camp was open to all at any time. Excursions were run to the park from almost every town which was represented there and the camp was usually crowded on Sundays. The people of Chattanooga and Atlanta flocked to the park in the evening to witness the evening parades and it is very pleasing indeed to note that the Fourth Ohio drew as much, if not more, attention than any other regiment on the field. The regiment had been so well drilled and so thoroughly disciplined while a IN^ational Guard organization that the parade ceremony of the regiment was as nearly perfect as it was possible for a
TEE FOURTH 0. V. I. 105
single body of men to make it. There were very few occasions, indeed, when the Fourth Ohio did not en- tertain a host of admirers at "retreat."
One of the disadvantages, not from a soldier's point of view, however, was the absence of the things which make the epicure happy. Mothers, sisters and sweethearts did all they could to gladden the hearts of their loved ones at the park, but their efforts in this line were entirely fruitless, for as fast as the express wagons would deliver the loads of boxes of pies, cakes and pastry, the regimental surgeons would dump it into a sink dug for the purpose. The practice of this apparent "cruelt}," hard as it seemed at the time to the boys, was the means of not only preserving the health and efficiency of the regiment, but undoubtedly sf ved lives. Plain bacon and beans is a very coarse diet to be sure, but the addition of desserts promiscu- ously selected is not conducive to the best results of a military camp, and this was one of the lessons which the Chickamauga training school taught its pupils.
There were many attractions at Chattanooga also, but it was the policy of the higher officials to discour- age trips to the city as much as possible. Military regulations are so fixed that when an officer of high rank desires the men in his command to do a certain thing, that thing is usually done, or some one receives an opportunity to explain why it is not done. The men of the Fourth soon learned this and at no time was there any trouble in the regiment on account of the disobedience of these orders.
Each Sunday was made the day it should have been. A branch of the Young Men's Christian As^
106 THE FOURTH O. V. I.
sociation erected a canvas tabernacle at which services were held at stated times during the week and also on each Sunday. Some of the most noted evangelists in the country came to the park to hold religious services and they were the means of accomplishing much good. Chaplain Shindel also conducted divine services each Sunday, and owing to the efforts of Captain Joseph J, Walsh, of Company A, the professors of the Catholic faith were permitted to attend services in Chatta- nooga. Thus it will be seen that the moral welfare of the soldiers was not overlooked by the officers of the regiment or by the public.
As soon as the men became efficient in the ordin- ary drills, their education in warfare was broadened by long marches. The regiment, or sometimes only bat- talions and even companies were formed and often started out on various sorts of expeditions. At one time the First Battalion was given sealed orders and a day's rations and told to pack up and go to McFarland's gap to see how many men could be forced through it in a given length of time under certain circumstances. They were instructed to ascertain the best route to the gap and also other routes, and it was made a part of their duty to make a topographical map of the country through which they passed. In a day or two after that the Second Battalion was started in a different direc- tion and then the Third Battalion was given similar orders. Companies were taken out to be drilled in "extended order," and often the drill was "extended" to the furthermost parts of the park. Many an imaginary foe was driven from its position by a terrific
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 107
charge up Snodgrass hill, one of the more elevated points of the park.
On several occasions the whole regiment and even the whole brigade was taken out on such expeditions. Two di\dsions once formed two armies to oppose each other in a sham battle. The men were given pro- visions and blank cartridges and the division to which the Fourth Ohio belonged was started out to find the other division and drive it f i-om its position. This was fun in a way, but the battle came very near to being more than a mere "sham."
The lines of battle w^ere formed much as they would have been in an enemy's country and started through the camp. All went well until Captain White and his company (B) started to pass through the camp of a Pennsylvania battery. The sentry on one of the posts thought that he should not permit the grass to be trampled upon promiscuously in his camp and he promptly ordered Company B to halt. The company had not made a reputation for halting unless so ordered by its captain and the boys of Company B were not disposed in any way to break the record on this occasion. Consequently they did not halt and the Pennsylvanian called out "the guard." The guard responded very well and so did the officer of the guard, but Captain White ordered his company forward. It seemed for a moment that something would happen, and even as it was Sergeant Hunt would have been thrust with an artillery sabre had it not been for the plate buckle on his belt. While this was going on Colonel Coit came up and put the officer of the Penn-
108 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
sylvania guard under arrest and the company went on, winning the first blood for the regiment in the Spanish war.
The battle must have been very interesting to the officers who occupied a cool position at the top of the hill, where they could see all the operations, but it was not so pleasant for the fellows who had to move from one point to the other under the rays of the boiling Georgia sun. The enemy was duly discovered and fired upon, but the officers in charge decided the battle in favor of the defense.
The funniest part of the whole expedition oc- curred after the battle had been declared off and the troops started back to camp. The general and his staff were completely lost. In some way they had wan- dered out in the bushes to "reconnoiter" and before they were aware they could not find the way back to the line of march. The line waited some time, but no officers appearing. Colonel Coit assumed command of the brigade and took them back to camp.
One of the lessons in the art of war which was thought to be among the more valuable, was the in- struction in the quickness and regularity of forming camp. Companies at first and then battalions and the regiment was taken out to the parade ground and ex- ercised in the setting up of shelter tents. By the execution of given orders it became possible, after a few days' practice, for the Fourth Ohio to stop from the march, stack arms, set up their tents and arrange a regular camp in less than five minutes. Then at the sounding of the "general," the bugle signal for
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 109
breaking camp, the regiment could be fonned and ready for marching in almost as remarkably quick time.
Had the regiment engaged in the long campaigti, which, at that time seemed more than probable, this drill would certainly have been very valuable, but as it was, shelter tent camps were only pitched at jSTewport News on the morning of arrival there and near Guayama on the evening of August 13. On neither occasion was there any particular haste required and on neither occasion did every man of the command have his shelter tent.
No cne who lived at the camp will ever forget the way in which the surface of Chickamauga park was disturbed by the fatigue details. If a man did not respond to roll call without an excuse, or if he violated the thousand and one other rules of camp, he was slated for a fatigue detail. In charge of a non-coni- missioned officer, the men were given picks and shovels and put to work digging sinks. There were sinks from four to seven feet deep for all imaginable pur- poses and many a hard day's task was required to com- plete them.
As it had been at Camp Bushnell and as it is in all military camps, there were all sorts of rumors floated at all times. Strange to say, the firrther from the probable truth the rumors were, the more believers they had. Many of these rumors, however, were well founded. Headquarters actually furnished material for a large majority of them, and what part of the re- mainder the newspapers did not supply the fertile
110 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
brain of some designing soldier did. Orders came in one day to prepare to move on the next. The prepara- tions would be made and then the order was revoked, only to be succeeded by another order within a day or two. It was at one time intended to send the regiment to Cuba, and shortly before the first expedition was started for Cuba the strength of the regiment was in- creased to 106 men to each company. Officers were sent back to Ohio to do the recruiting. Battalion Adjutant Harry W. Krumm represented the first bat- talion, Captain W. L. Yincent the second and Major John L. Sellers the third. The recruits had not been drilled into thorough soldiers when orders came to drop certain of them in order to reduce the strength of the regiment, and thus it went until the expedition to Cuba had left and Santiago had fallen.
The receipt of the news of this event was the oc- casion of gTeat demonstrations in Chickamauga park. Headed by the band and the regimental colors, the officers of the regiment called at brigade headquarters to congratulate General Haines. After paying their respects to the general they proceeded to the camp of the Fourth Pennsylvania, where they were joined by the drum corps and the officers and men of that regi- ment and a parade was formed through the Fourth Ohio camp to the Third Illinois. Here the bands played, the men cheered and each of the three colonels made addresses. After all had quieted down, the men went to their tents to drown their sorrow at not being able to help, in the solitude of their tents.
After the fall of Santiago, rumors came thick and fast. Orders were likewise numerous, but the plan
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. HI
of issuing and immediately revoking orders was con- tinued, so that things generally were in a very un- settled condition to say the least. Finally an order came which was never revoked. This order directed the Second brigade to take transportation at Rossville, a small station between Lytle and Chattanooga, and from there proceed through Lexington, Kentucky, to Nev\^ort jSTews, Virginia, where transportation would be in waiting to take the regiment to Porto Eico under an expedition in command of General Brooke. So manv orders had been received and then revoked that the men did not really believe that they would leave the park at all, hence the order did not create a con- siderable stir. Travel rations, of which more will be said later on, were issued to the regiment and all the baggage packed and made ready to be transported. :N'o one was to be left behind on this expedition and eveiybody was happy.
112 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
CHAPTER VIII.
TO NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.
The March to Rossville— To Chattanooga — Delays — The Trip Through Kentucky — Receptions Along the Line — Up the Alleghenies^ — Peep at Piedmont Valley — "On to Richmond" — At Newport News — A "Pup Tent" Camp — Reception — Dynamite Guns — Company F Becomes a Battery — Changes of OfRcei^ — Delays and More Ru- mors— Transport "St. Paul" — Transferring Baggage- Waiting Orders — Off to Sea.
On tlie morning of July 22, the camp of the Fourth Ohio at Chickamauga park ceased to exist. To the music of the most stirring tunes which the band could play, the boys bid farewell to the camp that had been their home for sixty-seven days. The road over which the march was made to Rossville was probably the worst that the most of the men had ever seen. The dust was from three to eight inches deep and when the feet of the men struck the bottom, the dust raised so thick that it was utterly impossible to distinguish persons four feet away. It can well be imagined that the men suffered terribly under these circumstances, but the number who dropped out of ranks was very small. Considering the dust, the con- dition of the weather and the rate at which the march was started, the Fourth Ohio made a record in that march of which they may well feel proud.
Thev reached the station in good time, but it was late before the train reached Chattanooga and
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 113
even then the delays were almost innumerable, so that it was long after morning of the next day when the train bearing the Fourth reached Lexington. The route thus far had been oyer the ''Queen and Crescent" line, but at this point the trains were transferred to the line of the Chesapeake and Ohio. Quite a number of Ohio people had come as far as Lexington to take a final farewell to the boys they loved so well, and when the heavy-laden trains steamed out of Camp Bradley to the cheer of the boys of the Fourth Kentucky who were camped there, many were the eyes that were moistened with an impulsive tear and many were the misgivings that prevailed within an heroic breast.
The route from Lexington covered the most pic- turesque section of beautiful Kentucky. The line of the railway stretched through the heart of the blue- grass region and then plunged into the heart of the massive Kentucky hills as though the fate of the war itself was actually in the hands that held the throttle. The panarama thus stretched before the view of the boys who were going forth to do battle, certainly did a great part in teaching them what a grand and beautiful country they were really fighting for.
At Ashland a large party of Portsmouth people came down to see the boys of Company H. They came with well-filled baskets and the soldiers disposed of them in regulation military style.
An amusing circumstance occurred here which served the people of Portsmouth as a lesson in the ap- propriating powers of the soldier. The train was di-
114 THE FOURTH 0. F. /.
Added into three sections, one battalion to eacli. Com- pany H being part of the second battalion was there- fore aboard the second section, but the Portsmouth enthusiasts had not been apprised of that fact. Going up to the first section a pretty Buckeye maid handed up a large basket to one of the boys whose head hung out of the car window and sweetly asked him to give the basket to "my brother." "Why certainly," re- plied the gallant soldier, and reaching down, he pulled into the car one of the handsomest "layouts" that ever came into the view or the stomach of a hungTy in- f antr^nnan. Another maid had a cousin for whom she had a basket and the same hard hearted rascal agreed to deliver that basket also, and then the third came from a blushing lass of nineteen who simply wished to remember "a friend." An officer happened just then to see what was going on and the game was spoiled, but there were three baskets of picnic dinner divided among a half dozen Fourth Ohio soldiers be^ fore the train had left Kentucky soil, and that officer was not one of the haK dozen either.
Just before dusk the train passed along the Ohio river and the men involuntarily flocked to the west side of the train to take a last sight of their native state. The blue Ohio hills stretched away into the lengthening shadows with a grandeur they were never known before to have possessed, and with three lusty cheers for the grand old Buckeye state, the train pulled into West Virginia.
At Huntington, where the first stop was made, a glad surprise was made a feature of the whole trip.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 115
The history of the regimeut as a National Guard or- ganization was known in Huntington and the people of that town did honor to its members by meeting them at the station with hot coffee and fresh sand- wiches for all. The train stopped some minutes for the reception, which was enlivened by a band concert and the exchange of three cheers and a "tiger" for the Fourth Ohio by the Huntingtonians and for the same compliment by the regiment for their West Virginia friends. While this was going on the boys on the train and the girls on the. platform were trading roses, fans, handkerchiefs and hair ribbons for brass buttons, hard tack and all sorts of souvenirs.
It was dark when the train bearing the first bat- talion left Huntington, hence there was little interest to the trip from that on until daylight. The train made slow progress in getting up the steep grade during the night, some of the connections being rather bad, so that it was necessary to make numerous stops for repairs. Daylight found the regiment well to the top of the hill, near Cliffton Forge.
Here the most delightful journey that could have been enjoyed anywhere at that season of the year was begun. The train bounded over the hills, across the narrow valleys, through woodland and by the side of rich- pastures. It dashed by the way stations where, as had been the case in Kentucky, the village people gathered to see the boys "going to war," and at some of the little mountain villages, the train fairly brushed the bunting, flag's and flowers which decorated the buildings and trees in honor of the regiment.
116 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
The men of the Fourth Ohio were treated on that day to the finest views that nature ever spread upon a landscape. On one side the hills towered up into the very bosom of the clouds while on the other side the deep fertile valleys spread out far below the tracks into the distance. Passing through Staunton the train darted through the heart of the mountain, then curved sharply around peaks and cliffs and finally pushed along the side of a steep bluff, where to the right lay the beautiful Piedmont valley, clothed in the most beautiful array which nature could bestow. The gracefully winding turn pike seemed to creep companion-like with the sparkling stream, off to the gentle south, their path leading through fields of ripen- ing grain and waving corn, where were nestled little groves and comfortable farm houses, snugly ensconced in the happy scene as if placed there by the Creator to show above all other places how truly "the heavens declare the glory of Grod and the firmament showeth His handy work."
Speeding down the mountain side the train soon reached Charlottesville, where it stopped long enough for the sections to get together and for the men to invest in pies and other delicacies at the near-by res- taurants. The delay was longer here than had been intended on account of a breakdown of one of the trucks. The repair was soon made, however, and the journey resumed, so that as it was growing dark, the boys found themselves where their fathers had tried hard to get thirty years before — within the city limits of Richmond. They received a very different recep-
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 117
tion, however, than their ancestors had received, for the boys in blue were welcomed on every hand, and although the stop at Richmond was very short, the town while they were there belonged to the Fourth Ohio.
It was dark when the train left Richmond, so that the scenery from that point was lost, but so much had be€n enjoyed through the busy day that the boys were glad to retire to their apartments in the tourist sleep- ers to get the third and last night's sleep as the guests of the Chesapeake and Ohio.
The train arrived at Newport News about mid- night, but there was no attempt made to unload until daylight. "Reveille" was sounded earlier than usual, however, and as soon as the boys could be summoned out of their comfortable bunks, the regiment was formed and marched to an assigned camping place in a field near the outskirts of the city and on the banks of the James river.
As soon as the camp was laid out and the work of putting up the shelter tents, or "pup tents," as the boys preferred to call them, was under way, details were made to unload such baggage as was absolutely necessary for the temporary camp. A few cooking utensils, besides the personal baggage of the men and officers was all that was taken off the train at that time. Breakfast was hastily prepared, the old story of digging sinks was completed and the men were allowed the privilege of the James river for bathing purposes. The salt water brought up by the tide was exact! V what the bovs needed, and the dirt and dust
118 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
that had been collected in the long trip from Chicka- mauga park was afterward referred to as a sand bar in the stream.
The shipping industry of Newport News is very interesting, and the big dry docks near the camp were the first places visited. There were several govern- ment vessels there and many of the boys Avent aboard to see just what they really were and to learn from personal observation if the navy about which they had heard and read so much and for which they had cheered so loudly and so often, were really all that was represented. It is needless to say that any suspicions that might have been entertained were hastily and permanently removed.
While some of the men were bathing in the river or visiting the dry docks, others took hasty trips to Old Point Comfort and other near-by places of inter- est. The novelty of this also soon wore away and the boys were compelled to resort to the quiet of the camp and simply wait for orders. The weather was the hottest any of them had ever experienced and certainly with the thermometer at one hundred in the shade in a camp on sandy, unshaded soil where rain had not fallen for weeks, it was not to be wondered at that some of the men had no more energy than "the law allowed."
It was here that the first real war-like order was received. It came to Colonel Coit, who was directed to designate one of the companies of his regiment to take charge of some dynamite guns that had been placed in the hands of the brigade. Captain Potter
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 119
having had considerable experience as an artillery officer in the First Ohio Light Artillery when it was a ]N"ational Gruard organization, was made one of the officers and his company (F) was made the "dynamite" company of the brigade.
Acting Ordance Officer First Lieutenant Harry Graham was assigned to the new company and Lieuten- ant Clyde Modie was assigned to A Company to fill the vacancy made by the assignment of Lieutenant Graham. This made the company well equipped foi the work they were expected to do and the boys oi Company F soon became expert artillerymen. The only other change in the regiment was the discharge of Captain Pritchard of Company H. This placed the command of the company upon Lieutei.ant Smith, who retained command until after the regiment re- turned home.
The parade grounds at Newport News were hot, sundy weed fields. The brigade camp was arranged just as it hL.d been in Camp Thomas, but there was not room for more than one regiment at a time on the parade ground. The regular evening; dress parade came off as usual, however, the Third Illinois taking the field first as the ranking regiment, and the Fourth Ohio next, which in turn was followed by the Fourth Pennsylvania. In this way each regiment was per- mitted to watch the parade of the other two.
A delay at Newport News had not been expected by any means, and when orders were not forthcoming to board the transports for Porto Eico, the boys began to get uneasy. No complaints were offered the first
120 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
night, but when the boys found that they must lie in their '"pup tents" on Tuesday night as well, there was considerable growling. As a matter of course the authorities at Washington lost little sleep on this ac- count, and those who did not like the idea of staying, staid just the same as those who did. Finally the order came on Tuesday to load all necessary baggage on the transport St. Paul. The Fourth Pennsylvania was ordered to the Seneca and the City of Wash- ington and the Third Illinois to the St. Louis. The St. Louis and the St. Paul were sister ships and had been used before the war as pas- senger ships on the Atlantic ocean. They had been leased by the government, however, and they were at this time classed as auxiliary cruisers. They were heavily armed and protected and the St. Paul had been placed in command of Captain Sigsbee, the naval officer who had grown in public favor from having been in command of the battleship Maine at the time she was blown up in Havana harbor. The dis- tinction of being taken away by this officer afforded the boys considerable satisfaction.
Large details were made and placed at the hands of Captain Vincent and several lieutenants and the work of loading the transports was begun. The cars were taken to the piers of the C. & O. R'y and there loaded on barges or lighters and taken out to the transport. In the meantime the camp on the out- skirts of the city was broken up and the regiment marched down to the piers to wait for lighters to take the companies out also. It was expected that the
. n, i^-^ wwti
TEE FOURTH 0. T. I. 121
Kghters would be there and that the re^ment would board the St. Paul at once, but after a long and weary wait, it was found that the men would have to sleep on shore at least one more night. The camp broken up, the baggage all packed, and everything in an un- settled condition, the regiment was in as unhappy plight as it could have been on American soil. Those who had retained their tents, put them up on the campus surrounding a beautiful summer casino. The owners of the building very kindly consented to the use of the veranda and the upper floor for the accom- modation of those who did not have shelter tents. The arrangement was as satisfactory as it could well have been, and with a few exceptions, where the boys got too near each other or where the boards of the floor were laid ''hard side up," they spent the night as happily as the existing state of expectancy would permit.
Thursday morning did not bring with it the encouragement the boys had expected, but another long day of expectant waiting. Every time a whistle blew or a boat approached, everybody strained his eyes to see if it were the lighter. Dinner was served and still the boat did not come, but as suddenly as a summer shower, at 2 o'clock the regiment was called together by the sounding of "assembly," and when the "forward march" was commanded, the regi- ment followed the colors to the wharf, where in a few minutes one lighter took on the whole command. Several Columbus people had come to ITewport I^ews, and of course they were on hand to see the regiment
122 TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
"heaA'e away." Half the city, where by their gentle- manly manner and soldierly conduct the boys had formed many acquaintances and friends, tui-ned out to give the regiment a parting cheer.
The trip from the pier to the St. Paul was of little interest. The transport could not get near the pier, of coui'se, and she was anchored out in the bay near Old Point Comfort. The baggage had been loaded when the regiment reached the boat and the work of boarding the monster transport took but little time.
When the regiment was all on the boys thought it was time to go, but there was a large supply of Kragg-Jorgensen rifles to load, so that it was not until the next morning that the crew of the St. Paul weighed, anchor and started on the voyage to the scene of the conflict. The first night (Thursday) was not given up entirely" to sleep by any means. There was too much to see and talk about. The great vessel had to be ex- plored as a matter of course and the seamen and marines had to be interviewed about the thousands of details, so that few indeed were the eyes that closed in sleep that night.
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CHAPTER IX.
OFF TO PORTO RICO.
Sail on Friday— The Trip Througli the Harbor— The St. Paul— "Travel Rations"— "Prime Roast Beef —Hard Tack and Coffee— Boston Baked Beans— Tomatoes— One Dollar Pies— Sea Sickness— Religious Services at Sea— Fine Weather Voyage— Warlike Preparations— At the Harbor of Ponce— Cruise to Arroyo— Kragg Jorgensen Rifles— End of the Voyage— The Landing.
Friday morning came one of the brightest of the year. The delightful sea breeze was cool, refreshing and invigorating and the boys were happy. The long wait at Newport News had worked their nervous systems into such condition that anything in the way of a change was welcome. When the beating of the huge engines was first felt, like the pulse of a strong animal, the boys all flocked to the rails to watch de- velopments. Certainly they did not watch in vam, for everything was new. The sight of the huge vessel pushing its big nose through the light swelling waves is a pretty sight at any time and especially to those who had never before seen the sea. The vessel passed on out the bay, passing Fortress Monroe and other places of interest, finally pushing itself out of the limits of Hampton Eoads and into the open sea. Here her course was set and gradually she passed out of view of land. The boys watched the fading out- lines of houses, steeples and hills \^ath an interest that one who is leaving his native land can only feel, and
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when the last trace of America died away, the boys slowly retired to ''secret places" to relieve themselves of the many misgivings occasioned by the "strange surroundings."
The St. Paul could not have been made more comfortable for troops had she been built expressly for the purpose. The deep, roomy hold furnished storage room for the subsistence and other supplies, the snug, well-fitted state rooms furnished excellent quarters for the men, and the white smooth decks furnished splendid room for promenading. Now this would have been exactly true if the regiment had con- sisted of six hundred men instead of thirteen hundred, and if the subsistence referred to had been of a dif- ferent kind than that about to be described. As it was the men were crowded. The decks were reserved for the officers, with the insignificant exception of the lower deck and the space "fore" and "aft," which was devoted to the storage of quartermaster's stores and to the quartering of two companies. AVhat deck room was left was devoted to the use of the companies alternately — whose sergeants took them up to air out their clothing and for exercise.
When the regiment left Ohickamauga park "travel rations" were issued. By travel rations was meant at that time, "Prime Roast Beef," "Boston Baked Beans," "Finest Quality Tomatoes," hard tack, coffee and sugar. This would have made an excellent luncheon for a hungry man, provided that it came as the menu would appear, taken from the labels as above, and onlv administered once, say each week;
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 125
hut vvlieii it (-dme three times each day, seven days in the week and for more than four weeks in succession, there was room for complaint and every available part of the "room" was used.
"The Prime Roast Beef" will remain in the memory of every member of the Fourth Ohio who was on that voyage as long- as he lives. The English language absolutely does not contain an expression more deceptive than that combination. It was the lowest grade of beef that could have been placed on the market, packed in tin cans, and after it laid in store rooms, freight depots and other repositories for unknown periods of time, it was handed to the enlisted men of the American army and they were expected to feel happy. In many cases the stuff was spoiled, if indeed it ever had been tit for the use of human beings, and that which was pronounced "sound and all right" had laid around in the sun or hot shade so long that it was absolutely sickening to look at, to say nothing of its use as a diet for men who were expected to perform the hardest kind of physical labor.
"Boston Baked Beans" — the name itself is sug- gestive as a delicate morsel, but when it comes to a hungry man in tin cans after having laid days, weeks and months where ice was not known, it did not appear as a strengthening food or as a tempting viand. The beans, too, were often spoiled and disgusting even to think of, and served, as they were, without cooking or even seasoning, it is not to be wondered at that the boys became tired of that sort of living.
The hard tack was the same variety that had been used at Camp Thomas and as long as the bread had to
126 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
be hard, there was no just cause for complaint, but the coffee was simplj horrifying. This was all that was given the boys warm. "Hot" would be a better sounding word to use in the connection, but it would be misleading. A detail from each mess was sent to one of the ship's galleys, where buckets of water little more than tepid were issued. These buckets were carried back to the messes, where crushed coffee grains were thrown in, and after being allowed to remain undis- turbed for a few minutes, the concoction received a small addition of sugar and the slightly colored fluid was called "coffee." It was all that there was to be had and of course all the "kicking" that could have been done availed nothing.
All attempts to describe the "Finest Quality To- matoes" could but be futile. Less narrow-minded gastronomic critics than vegetarians have pronounced tomatoes an excellent food, but had any one advanced such an argument before the enlisted men of the Fourth Ohio at that time, he would have been thrown overboard in less time than he could have apologized, even could one have been accepted. These tomatoes were stale, sometimes spoiled, sickening at best, and their effect on the moral and physical soldier was de- teriorating in the extreme.
Who was responsible for this unnecessary suffer- ing it is not the object of this work to determine, but suffice it to say that the officers of the Fourth Ohio did all in their power to prevent it. Colonel Coit even placed his own standing in jeopardy by objecting to such rations, but his efforts were in vain. The regi-
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mental officers were compelled to take what was given them, hence the men were forced to accept that or none.
While the regiment was enroute from Chicka- mauga park it was often possible for the men to visit restaurants or provision stores and spend part of their $15.60 per month for something to eat, but out in the "midst of the sea" there were no stores to be visited and he who could not eat what he was given was com- pelled to go without eating anything.
Some of the ship's bakers proved to be generous individuals, and taking pity on the men offered to bake ordinary-sized peach pies at from twenty-five cents to a dollar. It is needless to say that few pies were sold. It might be added, however, that some were stolen.
The officers of the regiment appreciated the cir- cumstances under which the men were placed, but they were unable to relieve the suffering.
There was a time in the experience of many of the boys when the subject of food did not interest them in the slightest degree. The inevitable sea sickness came over them in spite of all their manly efforts to avoid it, and it was no uncommon sight to see an ex- pectant hero delivering all his stomach or his future contained into the deep blue sea.
When the last dim outlines of Fair Columbia faded away beneath the horizon, the boys began to acquire an experience entirely novel. Aside from the view of the vessel and her spars and masts, her decks, huge stacks and intricate machinery, there was abso- lutely nothing on which the boys could feast their gaze
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except the sky above and the water below. Some of them watched the waves, but those who did were soon forced to go below to their bunks and wrestle with the agonies of sea sickness. It was soon learned that there are two stages of the disease: At the first the patient fears that he will die and at the second he is afraid that he will not die. There were a few of the men of the Fourth Ohio who did not suffer in either stage and these fortunate individuals found it the source of an exquisite but certainly a wicked pleasure in tormenting the poor fellows who struggled so nobly but so use- lessly to keep their heads up and their feet on the decks.
An interesting as well as profitable incident of the voyage on the St. Paul was the religious service conducted by Chaplain Schindel on Sunday, July 31. The service was not as largely attended as those at Camp Thomas, perhaps, one reason being that there was not room to accommodate all the regiment and the other being that it was at that time a physical im- possibility for the men to stand or even sit in one place long enough to listen to all of an ordinary re- ligious discourse. Chaplain Schindel himself suffered some of the agonies of coming sea sickness, and had he not reached his "lastly" at the time he did, the sermon would probably have been continued at another date.
As had been done at Camp Thomas, the music for the service was furnished by the regimental band. Captain Sigsbee had suggested the text: Revelation xxi, 1, "There shall be no more sea." A touching reference was made to the life of Captain Sigsbee and
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the other seamen on board the St. Paul, and when the chaplain drew out the thought in his discourse that the sea represented shattered hopes, unfulfilled plans, etc., the desctruction of the battleship Maine was made an illustration that moistened every eye within the soimd of the chaplain's voice. One of the thoughts brought out in the sermon was sup-gested by the regimental clerk, Will Markeson. The sight of the waves as they rolled listlessly about, ever and anon striking each other and wasting their forces in an endless but fruitless struggle, thus illustrating the loss of many of the forces which are allowed to waste in the life of the average man, had suggested to the clerk a valuable lesson, and the chaplain decided that his hearers should profit by it. The sermon was an in- teresting and a valuable one, and will remain a lasting impression on the minds of those who heard it.
This service is also interesting from the fact that it was the only one conducted by troops transported on the St. Paul while she was in the government service and the last one conducted on her decks be- fore she went back into service as a commercial liner.
The weather was fine during the entire trip. There was a slight shower Monday evening, but the only effect was to cool and purify the atmosphere, and this was a most welcome change. Time drug heavily on the officers and men, and the few forms of amuse- ment that were possible to adopt soon became mon- otonous.
Finally the boys who were on the lower decks heard a shout from the upper part of the vessel.
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Those who were above flocked to the rails; the band struck lip a merry tune and the word was soon passed to those who were in that part of the vessel where a view of the horizon could not be obtained, that land was in sight. It was indeed a grand sight, although the land that could be seen was merely the outlines of a small island off San Domingo, but the early morning sun lit up the tops of the broken hills so that the boys who had not seen anything but sky and water for three days, considered even that a most welcome sight. This was on the morning of Monday, August 1st, and at about 6 o'clock.
Land was almost constantly in sight from that on, but when the port of Guanico was reached a strange experience passed into the history of each man. The entrance to the harbor of the village could he seen very plainly and back in the harbor could be outlined the mastheads and bulk of a large vessel. The village of Guanico is only a small one, but the harbor is a good one and as heavy storms are of frequent occur- rence in Porto Rico and the surrounding waters, the possession of this harbor was at that time considered quite important. At the side of the large vessel could be seen a smaller one, presumably a gam boat, but even with the aid of glasses these vessels could not be distinctly made out. All the ship's guns were loaded and Captain Sigsbee took his place at the bridge. The St. Paul crept cautiously up to the harbor, signals being made to the strange craft, but without answer. Finally the gunboat started out to sea toward tbe St. Paul and the Ohio boys began to think that the time had at last come for them to see real action.
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As the gimboat approached nearer, however, it proved to be the United States monitor "Terror," and the larger vessel in the port of Guanico was the "City of Washington," loaded with supplies for our army. The sensations experienced by every one on board, however, while the identity of the vessel was in doubt, were the first of what was afterwards a series long to be remembered.
Guanico is but an hour's sail from Ponce, the port, at which General Brooke intended to land his troops in Porto Rico. After a brief code conversation with the Terror, the St. Paul steamed down the coast. It was but a short time until the Massachusetts came alongside and delivered mail to the officers and sailors on board the St. Paul. A few miles further sail landed the St. Paul in sight of Ponce, and in the har- bor could plainly be seen the St. Louis lying in the protecting shadows of a strong American fleet.
The first thing learned by the Ohio boys was a bit of news somewhat disappointing when considered in the light of their ambition to fight, that Ponce had sun-endered without a struggle; that the people had actually cheered the approach of the stars and stripes. Nevertheless, the band played "The Star Spangled Banner" as it never played it before and the St. Paul anchored for the night.
It was rather disappointing to the men to listen to "taps" on lx>ard the ship. So near the presence of the enemy, they had hoped to sleep under arms, with a double strength of guards around an actual carap 0:1 Spanish soil. Thev accepted their fate with a fair
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degree of submission, merely vowing that when they got a chance they would make up for all these hours of monotonous waiting.
The regiment heard the first words of welcome early the next morning when a dusky native was rowed to the St. Paul. The skiff which bore him across the waves was protected by a sort of box canopy, the only evidence that he was more than an ordinary Porto Rican. He might have been the mayor of the city, and he might have been the governor of the province for all anybody knew or cared, but clamoring up the sides of the great vessel, he crawled over the rail onto the upper deck, and swelling up at the chest, he pointed to his home across the bay and grunted: "Ponce! Porto Rico! 'Mericano!" Then punching himself in the ribs, he pointed toward the scene of the victory in southern Cuba a month before and ora- torically remarked, "Santiag' surren', surren'." He had evidently prepared an eloquent address of wel- come, but that was as far as he could go and accepting the cheers the boys gave him as gracefully as a back county politician, he bowed another welcome and climbed back into his skiff as mysteriously as he had boarded the St. Paul.
Thus finding that there was nothing for soldiers to do at that time at Ponce, General Haines was in- structed to take his brigade forty miles further down the coast and effect a landing at the small port at Arroyo. It was night when the regiment arrived there, so of course it was useless to attempt to land troops before morning. This was still worse to
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 133
the boys and the growling was proportionately fiercer, but the effect was the same. The Seneca with the Fourth Pennsylvania lay nearest the shore, except the United States battleship Cincinnati, which occupied a commanding position of the port and the country immediately adjoining. Then came the St. Louis \vith the Third Illinois and the St. Paul with the Fourth Ohio, at least five miles further from shore than the other vessels. Lying peacefully at anchor near by, were the tugboats Stillwater, of Philadelphia, and the Gussie, of New Orleans. Swinging with the swell behind the larger vessels were a number of low, heavy lighters used by the natives of the island for drifting sugar from the shore to the large freighting vessels which took the principal product of the country to foreign consumers. The lighters were called "sugar bowls" by the sailors, because of their use. Those secured by the navy, however, had been used at Ponce for unloading horses and mules, forage and all sorts of supplies and stores. These were brought along for the purpose of transporting the men from the larger ves- sels to the shore.
While the vessel was cruising along the coast to Arroyo, the ordnance officer. Lieutenant Graham, was busily engaged in collecting the old Springfield rifles, belts and bayonets which had been taken from Ohio and issuing in their stead the new KJragg-Jorgensen arms. The men were also given fine web belts with capacity for holding one hundred cartridges each, and new bayonets. The officers were at once set to work instructing their men in the use of the new guns and everything was bustle on the ship.
134 THE FOURTH 0. F. /.
On Wednesday morning, August 3, arrange- ments were begun for unloading the men. The Still- water and the Gussie came along side the St. Paul, the lighters were towed into position and after the Stillwater had pushed too near the big transport and had torn away the passageway on her port side, the Third Battalion and the non-commissioned staff and band, in command of the colonel and Major Sellers, climbed down the sides of the St. Paul and then into the lighters. The Gussie towed them to the shore and they were at once assigned to quarters on the outskirts of the village.
The Third Battalion and headquarters had hardly reached shore when it was reported to the officers of the Cincinnati that the Spanish forces just beyond the town were throwing up earthworks. The Cincinnati at once began to investigate and seeing through glasses what aj)peared to be a number of men at work, she began to pump shells into the hills. Those back on the St. Paul could see the great volumes of smoke belch forth from the mouths of the guns of the Cin- cinnati and they could hear the sonorous report dis- tinctly enough, but they could not make out what oc- casioned the shooting. The St. Paul was too far from shore for rifle reports to have been heard and con- siderable fear was entertained lest the Third Battalion might have gotten into trouble. The fact that the lighters had all gone and that there was no possible way of assisting their comrades only made matters worse for the boys, and then when the St. Paul began to push still further out to sea, the disgust of those v,ho were left aboard could not be concealed.
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"See here," said a stalwart soldier of C Company when some one suggested that the Third Battalion might need help, "them there fellers belongs to the Fourth Ohio. That's the fightin' reg'ment of this here bregade, and Maje Sellers is right there with 'em. Any time they ain't able to take care of their selves, somebod'll let us know." This patriotic remark had a good effect and the idea was carried from one to the other until the point discussed was what kind of noise these shells were making after they left the cannon.
In the meantime the Third Battalion was also wondering what the mark of the Cincinnati really was, but they knew as well as they cared to know how the shells sounded as they sailed through the air. They went directly over the heads of the boys in camp and they made a noise that none of them care to hear again. It developed later on that the fears of the of- ficers were wholly unfounded, as no earthworks were found in the hills at that point after hostilities had ceased.
As soon as the Third Battalion had been taken safely ashore, the Gussie came back for the First. Major Speaks was in command of this trip, assisted by members of General Haines' staff, the general having gone ashore before. This time the Gussie started for the open sea instead of toward the land and she made a circle of at least two miles before she started toward shore. The waves were high and the lighters were tossed about as though they were but chips. Each one contained about a hundred men, the most of whom were so sea sick that they did not
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care wlietlier they ever reached shore or not. Every- body was sick, from the major down to the ugliest pri- vate in the ranks, and if there were an occasional well man, he was too busy keeping out of the way of the fellows who were less fortunate, to appreciate the humor of the case, if indeed there could be anything humorous in such matters.
Just why the St. Paul could not get as near the shore as the St. Louis, which was exactly like her and which lay at least five miles nearer shore, is a matter which the Fourth Ohio boys could not understand then and which has not been fully explained yet.
It was dark when the First Battalion reached shore, but they were taken at once to the camp assigned in the morning.
From no fault of their own by any means, the companies of the Second Battalion remained on the St. Paul one more night than the others. They em- barked under Major Baker as early Thursday morning as it was possible to leave, and indeed they were glad to return to the regiment. By direction of Colonel Coit, Companies H and M remained on board the St. Paul and under the direction of Lieutenant Colonel Adams and Captain Vincent unloaded all the officers' personal and the headquarters baggage. This was by no means an easy task, as the members of these companies voluntarily testified when they rejoined the command after it had reached Guayama.
The first camp of the Fourth Ohio on Spanish soil was about three-quarters of a mile from the coast, on the site of an abandoned sugar mill and on the
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 137
plantation of a Captain in the Spanish volunteer army. He had occupied the house up to within the time the American ships came in sight, when he took his family and his household effects and fled. The residence which he thus deserted became the headquarters of the Fourth Ohio on the morning of August 3.
The house was built after the fashion common in tropical countries, set up on posts or supporters. "A house on stilts" was the description given by one man.
The residence part of the house was reached by a flight of stairs from the outside with a landing on an overhanging veranda which commanded a view of the sea and the beautiful landscape toward the vil- lage. Near the house was a long shed used for shelter for the oxen and other animals belonging to the plan- tation. As many as could be crowded into this shed spent the first night there, while the others pitched their shelter tents or wrapped themselves up in their blankets and crawled into a cart or the old mill. There was another small building, but this was used as guard headquarters. The band and non-commis- sioned staff established their mess in the lower part of the house.
As soon as the men reached shbre, a strong guard was placed around the new camp. The exercise of the march from the shore to the site of the camp wore off the sea sickness and the first thing the men did when they had secured quarters for the night was to look for something to eat. Fires were kindled and coffee was ground. Vessels of every description were put to use and before any one was hardly aware,
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the whole plantation was filled with the invigorating odor of coffee. Cans of beans, tomatoes and beef were opened and actually cooked, and while this was not the diet the appetites of the lx>ys really craved, it was nevertheless most tempting food when it was heated and thoroughly cooked to be served to men who had lived on cold rations for almost a week. Be- fore morning a pig and a calf and' several other ani- mals died in a very mysterious way and fresh meat formed a part of the breakfast of some. Strict orders were at once issued against foraging, and indeed dur- ing all the time the regiment was on the island there was very little if any thieving done, at least by the members of the Fourth Ohio.
As soon as the routine of camp work was com- pleted, the men were permitted to go to AiToyo. There the little provision stores suddenly experienced a flood of prosperity they had never seen before. The British consul at An-oyo exchanged the American money for the soldiers for the native Porto Rican coin at the rate of two pesos for one dollar. At the stores could be bought eggs, fresh bread, cheese made of goats' milk, Spanish sausage, wines of every age and variety, cigars, tobacco that no American could use and dried vegetables. At the market places were offered for sale at what to Americans seemed phenom- enally small prices, cocoa nuts, oranges, bananas, limes, mangoes and other tropical fruits, although it was the advice of the surgeons that none of this be used. The advice was not heeded altogether, but it must be said that the men were very temperate in the use of the native fruits and vegetables and as a consequence, there were no evil results.
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CHAPTEE X.
THE FOURTH UNDER FIRE.
^^rroyo— The People and Climate— Fir&t Day in Camp- Native Cigarettes— A Practice March— Orders from General Haines— Fresh Beef Issue— Accident to Colonel Coit— Major Speaks Takes Advance -Military Terms Explained— A Frenchman's Information— A Funeral "Procession"— The House "To the left"— Sergeant Rad- cliffe's Ride— Under Fire— Spanish Bullets and Spanish Marksmanship— Effect of Spanish Fire— Effect of American Fire— Line of Battle Formed— Unjust Re- ports—Spaniards Retreat— Capture of Guayama— The Flag Raising— The Spaniards Rally— Dynamite Guns in Action— First Night in Guayama.
Arroyo was found to be a village of about tbree hundred people wbo depended for their living, such as it was, upon the work afforded by the near-by plantations and by loading freighting vessels by means of the lighters which were used in transporting the regiment from the St. Paul to the shore. The village and the natives made a combination that only one man in the regiment had ever seen before. He was corporal Ed. O. Thompson, whose home was in South America, but who had graduated from Ohio Wesleyan university at Delaware just before the war. He could read, write and speak the Spanish language very fluently and he was at once made regimental in- terpreter. Another member of the regiment whose lingual accomplishments stood him and the whole regiment in good stead was Private, afterwards "Corporal" Will Markeson. The service rendered
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bj these two men were especially valuable, not only to themselves and the regiment, but to the cause of the United States in Porto Rico as well.
The houses at Arroyo, and in fact all over the island, are the typical low, flat-roofed cottages of Spanish countries. Houses were occasionally built high, but in most cases of this kind there were but two stories, the lower floor being a sort of surface base- ment. This part of the family residence was de- voted to the use of the goats, chickens, ponies and other family animals. The people were of all imag- inable shades of complexion, from the mythical black to the fairest. All spoke Spanish or French, with the exception of a few natives of the island of St. Thomas, formerly an English possession. These were all negroes, but they served with some degree of satisfac- tion as interpreters.
Although the latitude is considerably nearer the equator than any point at which most of the men had ever reached, the climate was not nearly so hot as had often been experienced within the borders of the United States, and with a constant sea breeze stirring, the weather was fairly comfortable, provided one re- mained in the shade. Surrounding many of the houses were beautiful flower gardens, and the frag- rance from the plants gave the air a pleasant odor which added much to the pleasure of the day in camp.
The first day in camp was passed for the most part in sight seeing. Notwithstanding the fact that the enemy was known to be in almost firing distance, the brigade officers were very lenient as to restrictions,
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 141
and with the exception of strong picket lines and out- posts, there were few strict camp orders given. It was the wish of the officers that the men be given an opportunity to completely rest up from their long ocean voyage and to prepare for the hazardous work before them.
The camp on Thursday night was more com- fortable than it had been the previous night, the sol- diers having had a better opportunity to arrange mat- ters. With fires and the additional rations that could be purchased from the native market, existence was much sweeter than it had been aboard the St. Paul.
One of the most popular novelties of the new surroundings was the native cigarette. They were found to be stronger and of an entirely different flavor than the American article, but strange to say, many of the users of this form of narcotic learned to prefer them to the ''coffin nails" of their native land.
Early the next morning the boys were told to pack up all their personal baggage and each one was given two days' travel rations. All that was said in explanation to this was that there was to be a practice march much the same as those at Camp Thomas, but embracing more time and territory.
At regimental headquarters, however, the fol- lowing communication had been received:
Arroyo, Porto Rico, Aug. 5. 1898. Colonel Ck)it, Fourth Ohio:
You will move out your command toward Guayama as soon as you are ready. Have your ad-
142 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
vance guard well ahead and keep point well in ad- vance of support. Two of the Sims-Dudley guns will follow your regiment well closed up. They should not take more than sixty rounds to the gun. Be careful to keep a good lookout on each flank. Your flank should be double the ordinary number. ]reep me posted as to progTCss. I will be on the road. The Third Illinois will support your movement.
P. C. HAINES, Brigadier General.
About the time the regiment left camp, a load of fresh beef arrived from one of the supply ships which lay in the harbor at Arroyo. Company F, which did not leave at the same time as did the main column of the regiment, was given charge of this issue, with the understanding that teams be secured and the supply forwarded to the regiment at its first camp.
The start for the "practice" march was not made as early in the day as had been expected on account of several unavoidable but unimportant delays. The regiment was formed, however, in due time, so that before 8 o'clock the rear of the column left the Arroyo camp. Instead of going east to take the main road, General Haines directed that the regiment follow a plantation trail which lead in a northwesterly direc- tion to a point in the road leading to Guayama, the capital of the province of Guayama. This province embraced that portion of central Porto Eico which extended along the southern coast.
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 143
The appearance of tlie regiment as it started across the field was not unlike that presented at Camp Thomas except the mounts of the field and staff of- ficers. The horses belonging to the regiment and to all the officers had been sent on another transport and had not vet reached the regiment. They had landed, however, but they were at Ponce at the time now re- ferred to. There are no large horses in the island, but there is a small Spanish pony, and on these boney creatures the officers mounted, their feet extending almost to the ground.
During the night of August 4th a battery of Pennsylvania artillery had arrived and gone into camp a short distance from the Fourth Ohio, and as the latter regiment was moving along toward the main road mentioned above, the artillerymen were leading their horses across the field to a nearby stream for water. Colonel Coit started to ride his pony around one of these horses, but while he was doing so the ar- tillery horse kicked at the pony and the hoof struck the colonel on the leg. The blow was a severe one and the colonel had to be lifted down from his little steed. He ordered the regiment to proceed, however, and Major Speaks of the First Battalion assumed temporary command of the regiment. A surgeon was hastily summoned from the artillery camp to attend Colonel Coit, but Major Semeans, the regimentaj surgeon, also appeared on the scene. It was seen that the injury sustained to the colonel's leg might prove serious and he was advised to return to Arroyo, but he refused to do so, and followed the regiment, assum- ing personal command a few hours later.
144 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
REFERENCE MARKS.
Pn Cemetery,
<V First camp in Porto Rico.
. Point at which extreme "poiiu" of nd- "T vance guard was first fired upon.
t Position of "C" Company when fir^ ™ opened.
-|- Position main column when fire opened
r^ " A" Company deployed lines.
Q "C" Company deployed lines.
j~l " B " Company deployed lines.
A "I" Company deployed lines.
CT "E" Company deployed lines-
• » Dynamite Gun's position,
^ Out Posts (Fourth Ohio.)
f^ Out Posts rrhlrd Illinois.)
X Positions of Companies"!)." "G," "K" and " L."
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 145
As soon as the regiment reached the main road, it was halted and Major Speaks reported to General Haines, who had been waiting. The general directed that one company act as advance guard and that Major Speaks assume personal charge of this duty. Company A was at once designated to take the ad- vance and it proceeded several hundred yards in ad- vance of the main column.
A Company had not proceeded far until Major Speaks directed that with loaded pieces "flankers" and a "point" be thrown out. For the benefit of those readers who know nothing of military matters it is explained that "flankers" are detachments of troops deployed to the right and to the left of advancing columns to discover anything that might impede the progress of the advancing column, whether it be a large stream, a fortification or an enemy. The "point" is the extreme advance or "head" of the ad- vancing column. When a line of battle is formed, however, the presence and in most cases the exact lo- cation of the enemy is known and of course there is. no need of an advance or skirmish line to locate him or to determine in any way his strength.
As the line of march was followed, all natives were closely questioned either by means of signs or through interpreters as to the location of the Spanish forces. It is a fact, surprising perhaps to most read- ers, that it was really not expected that there was at that time an enemy of any consequence within any significant distance.
After an advance of perhaps a mile had been made, the flankers were strengthened in numbers and
146 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
C Company was brought forward to serve as support of tlie advance. C Company advanced within about 500 yards of A Company and at about tbe same dis- tance in advance of the main column, at that time consisting of B Company of the First Battalion and E and I of the Second and the whole of the Third Battalion.
When this disposition of the advance had been made, the march was pushed with considerably more caution than had been hitherto observed. Finally a house was reached, over which the colors of the French nation were flying. The occupant of the house spoke English, but with a strong French ac- cent, and in his characteristic way explained to Major Speaks and Captain Wilson that the Spaniards would be found in trenches about two thousand yards fur- ther up the road. Their position, he said, could be distinguished by the presence of a cluster of trees bearing red blossoms.
There were only a few soldiers besides the officers mentioned who had any knowledge of the information gained here, but those who were not had very strong suspicions that something was going to happen when they saw the preparation for trouble going on about them. The flankers were warned to proceed cau- tiously and they were advised as to the carrying of their pieces, barrels and magazines loaded. The ex- treme advance was again strengthened and the line lengthened so that the whole of Company A was now in the skirmish line, the extreme right extending as far as the hills to the right of the road, a distance of , about three-quarters of a mile.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 147
A short distance bejond the house where the Frenchman gave the important information as to the position of the enemy, a strange experience was gained by those in the road. It was the first time for them to mtness a Porto Rican funeral procession. The corpse in this instance was a small child; the casket which contained the remains was a ru*de wood- en box and the bier was the shoulder of the father. Several half-dressed natives followed on behind jab- bering away in their native tongue at a rate too lively to characterize any sorrow by any means. The party had passed the regiment, and not having the slightest idea that it was a funeral procession, the attention of the officers was not attracted to it. They were going in the direction of Guayama, the town which lay at the end of the proposed march, and not thinking it advis- able for any one to go aJiead to inform the enemy, if indeed one existed, as to the approach of the regiment, the party was halted. They made a series of inco- herent exclamations and doubled themselves up so hysterically in making signs that the officers in charge of the advnnce asked them in the wordless language to open the box. They did so and there was exposed to \-iew a sight which none who witnessed it will ever for- get. If any had entertained doubts as to the fact that ihc men composed a funeral party, those doubts were removed more forcibly than eloquently when they saw the half decomposed body of the child.
Some of those officers had little ones in their own homes and they easily con.--idered the sorrow of the broken-hearted mother who had spared this little one,
148 TEE FOURTE 0. V. I.
and the funeral was permitted to proceed, with strict orders to tell no one what they had seen on the road. It was evident from the expression of their faces and the signs made by the men that they promised not to say anything, but they evidently did not redeem their promises, for when the "point" reached the Spanish outposts, it was given a reception that showed that the enemy knew just about where and when the advance would reach the most desirable point for firing pur- poses.
Passing on toward Guayama a few rods. Captain Wilson called the attention of Major Speaks to a part}- of people near a house to the left of the road. It was but about two hundred yards from the main road and opposite a point about one hundred rods in advance of where the "point" had then reached. The party seemed to be composed of people dressed in white and they appeared at that distance to be women. Field glasses were trained on the spot, but nothing definite could be made out. Finally convincing himself that the party was not one of Spanish soldiers, the major directed Kegimental Sergeant Major Radcliffe to ride across to the house and see what was there and to get any information he might be able to gather. It was the sergeant's birthday anniversary, and he did not consider the presentation of this order as very com- plimentary to the occasion, but he went over, think- ing as he did so of the many good times he had had back in Ohio and wondering if history in Ohio would ever repeat itself.
He rode towards the house, but the first informa- tion he received was from observation, for he rode
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 149
through the party of "women," who in that case were goats. There were some people at the house, however, and from these he learned that there were Spanish sol- diers at Guayama. While Sergeant liadclift'e was making this reconnoiter, the point of the advance was ascending a gentle slope just west of a small stream. There was a culvert across the stream at the road and the major and those with him had just reached this point. The culvert was undergoing repairs at the time and was temporarily out of use, but a by-road led into the field at the right and out again to the road a few rods across the stream.
Just about the time Sergeant Radcliffe returned from his little trip, and about the time the point had readied the top of, the slope and the officers and party had reached the point where the road parted into the field, a sharp crack was heard from the top of the hill. An instant later a shrill whirring noise was heard in the air, directly overhead; this was succeeded by another and then in rapid succession a score of ether sharp reports, followed by the whirring, singing noise.
Several members of the point had advanced so far beyond the crest of the hill that they could plainly see about fifty Spanish soldiers, in position to defend the approach to the city. It did not require a long- drawn out discussion by any means to determine what the noises were and it did not require an eloquent appeal for the men to dodge behind trees, rocks and cactus bushes. It was the report of the deadly Mauser that the bovs had heard and the disturbances
150 THE FOURTH 0. T. I.
in the air were made by the leaden messengers that had called home the sons of Columbia at Santiago a few brief weeks before.
Just who was the object of the first fire, will probably never be known, but whoever he was may congratulate himself upon the fact that the Spaniard who fired it was not an expert at the use of the rifle, for not a member of the advance guard was struck at any time. The honor of firing the first shot at the enemy, however, is laid claim to by Private Charles Hughey, a member of the point who had reached the hilltop.
The members of this squad returned the fire of iho Spaniards and then slowly retreated to the culvert referred to before. Every one present as a matter of course sought shelter and then a steady fire was poured into the place where the enemy was supposed to be. This was a matter which had to be guessed at, for there was not a Spanish soldier in sight, and as they used smokeless powder, there was nothing to mark their position. It was reasoned that inasmuch as the bullets were whizzing either directly over the heads of the men or striking the gravel in their immediate vicinity, and that while they were at the foot of the hill, those who were firing were surely somewhere at the top, certainly not behind the ridge. The order was, therefore, to shoot at the top of the hill, or at any object that might be used as shelter for a lurking Spaniard.
As evidence of the fact that the Spaniards were overshooting their mark, if indeed they were shooting
THE FOURTH 0. V. /. 151
at the Americans nearest to them, is evidenced by the fact mentioned before that not a single member of the extreme advance was wounded. Private John O. Cordner, however, a member of Company C, the command which was now acting as support to the advance ^ard, was wounded in the right knee. The ball passed directly through the limb, without strik- ing any bone, but at the time the regiment was mus- tered out of the service of the United States the wound had not entirely healed. About the same time Clarence W. Riffie, a private in A Company was struck by a Mauser, the bullet passing through the fleshy part of both legs. His wound, like that of Private Cordner, was not healed at the time he was discharged.
After the firing had been kept up for about a half hour or from a few minutes after 10 to 10:30, Major Speaks directed that the men begin to advance toward the hill, keeping under cover all the time as much as possible. The boys had occupied snug posi- tions along the side of the hill, in the culvert and at other convenient places, but now they began one at a time to get bolder and to creep along the edge of the ditch at the roadside, toward the top of the hill. Major Speaks, Captain Wilson and Lieutenant Krumm had but one order to issue and that was to "keep quiet." "They are just afraid of us, boys, as we are of them," encouraged the major, "so just be careful and pump it in to them." The boys certainly "pumped it in" and at a rate entirely too lively for the personal comfort of the Spaniards at the top of the
152 THE FOURTH 0. T. I
hill, for they retreated toward the town as rapidly as the men of the Fourth Ohio approached them. When the top of the hill was finally reached, there were no Spaniards in view, and they had ceased firing entirely.
Here Lieutenants Modie and Grandstaff of A Company, who had remained in command of their platoons, were called in and word was taken back to Colonel Coit and General Haines, informing them of what had been done thus far. A Company had acted as advance, C as support and B as reserve. F Com- pany had followed mth the dynamite guns and the entire First Battalion had thus been engaged. There were but two companies left of the Second Battalion, I and E, the remaining two, H and M, having been left aboard the St. Paul to take charge of the unload- ing. What was left of the Second Battalion was sent to the advance under Major Baker, with instructions from General Haines for Major Speaks to depend en- tirely upon his own judgment for the disposition of these five companies. The Third Battalion, under command of Major Sellers was thus left to act as the support of the firing line, the Third Hlinois Regiment, in command of Colonel Bennit, acting as reserve to the whole. This was the only part played by the Illinois regiment in the capture of the city of Guayama, yet in nearly all the accounts sent at the time to the Eastern press, the Third Illinois received as much credit as did the Fourth Ohio. One correspondent stated that Guayama had been captured by "the Third Illinois, assisted by the Fourth. Ohio."
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 153
Major Speaks at once decided to make a strong move toward the city. He realized that with that number of troops it would be impossible to sun*ound the city, especially when the strength of the enemy was not known and when there were no means of gaining that information. The fii'st move was to form a firing line and B Company, under Captain Wliite was ordered into the field to the right. As soon as this company had taken the position to be oc- cupied in the line, C Company was sent out, to extend its line from the right of the road to the left of B Company. I Company was sent over to act as sup- port of B Company and to extend its right as far as the portion of A Company, which had gone as a flank- ing detachment into the hills at the right of the road. What was left of A Company and E Company was then ordered to the left of the road and the advance was begun.
While this preparation was going on, the Spanish outposts were reinforced. From the top of the ca- thedral in Guayama, the Spaniards could see every movement made by the regiment, but as they were concealed in the bushes of cactus, palms and other thick tropical foliage, it was utterly impossible for the American soldiers to learn the position of the Span- iards except from the sound of the bullets or the re- port of their pieces.
The advance was made under extreme difficulties. There were sharp cacti, thick underbrush, swamps, barbed wire fences and defenses to surmount, and in fa(>t everything possible to impede the advance of the
154 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
regimeut, yet the line pushed slowly un, pouring as it proceeded, a most deadly fire into the town and into the brakes where the enemy was supposed to be con- cealed. On not more than two or three occasions was the enemy seen at all, and when they were seen, their backs were toward the Fourth Ohio. In the ad- vance on the town, there was but one man wounded. He was Stewart Mercer of E Company, but the wound was but a slight one. One B Company man had the sight shot from his gun, others had holes shot through their hats and other strange things to happen them, but miraculous as it seems, there was not a man lost and only three wounded.
It was not a difficult task to dispose of the enemy, but the work of pushing through the fields was a seri- ous task and the progress was slow. The Spaniards kept up a serious fire, but they seemed to be retreating all the time. After they were driven into the town, instead of taking a firm stand, when the circumstances were even more in their favor than they had been be- fore in the field, they retreated on through to the hills beyond, leaving the town to the mercy of the invaders.
It was some time before the regiment really knew that the town was theirs. When the advance through the fields to the outskirts had been made, and when some of the suburban streets had been reached, the ad- vance was more rapid. When it was seen that the Spanish fire had again subsided. Major Speaks ordered a halt. This was at the very edge of the town and he did not feel justified in leading the men into the streets to be shot down from the housetops and win-
TEE FOURTH 0. F. /. 155
dows without reconnoitering the situation, but at this juncture Colonel Coit arrived on the scene and re- sumed command of the regiment. The colonel was suffering intense pain at that time, the result of the kick by the horse, and indeed had he heeded the ad- vice of the surgeons and his friends he would not have accompanied the command at all.
The colonel determined to allow the men to take a brief rest and then to go into the town, and moving quickly through the streets, he hoped to escape serious loss and to reach the other edge of the city, thus catching the Spaniards in their own trap. But in this case, plans of conquest were useless, for the enemy had gone. Before the start was made, a window was seen to raise and a head to peep out from behind a wooden shutter. A dozen rifles were leveled at the window, but a gesture from the colonel lowered them. In another moment another window opened and another head was exposed to view. Then another shutter was pushed slowly open and finally not only heads but shoulders were seen. Finally hands began to waive and signs to be made, but no one knew whether these signs were friendly signals to approach or whether they were evil designs of the enemy to lure the regiment into the streets to be massacred. Finally a man walked out upon the roof of a house waving a white handkerchief, and other natives ap- peared on the streets. This was considered unmis- takable evidence that there was no more danger and the march into the city was begun.
Colonel Coit placed himself at the head of the Third battalion and marched rapidly into the streets.
15G THE FOURTH O. V. I.
The companies that had been out in the firing line resumed their advance, through houses, across lots and over fences, all in a mad race to reach the center of the city first. The honor of reaching the plaza first is claimed by several. There is no official report decid- ing the matter, and it is not the intention to take up the question here, but the man who first set his foot on the property of the crown of Spain in the public square of the city of Guayama, must certainly have experienced the proudest moment of his life.
Whoever he was, he did not stand there alone many seconds, for the Third Battalion on the one side and the other two from the other sides were madly rushing toward the colors, and in less time than is re- quired to record it, the whole regiment was assembled in front of the Capitol of the province of Guayama. Everybody cheered as he went and everybody con- tinued to cheer when he had reached the square. The regiment had done excellent work, every man in it had helped to do the work, and every one of them had a right to cheer.
But all the cheering of that day was not done by the men of the Fourth Ohio. There were others there who had still better reason than they to raise the voice which God had given them, to cheer the final freedom which He had sent them. It was a happy day in the history of that quaint little city. Men cheered and women cried; children ran like wild creatures, shout- ing as loud as their little throats would permit, "Vivan los Americanos." Their happiness knew no bounds and no one attempted to restrain their demonstrations.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 157
They kissed the hands of their deliverers and fell at their feet to worship them. They opened wide the doors of their homes and the best of the land was of- fered in honor of the great event. As soon as it was possible to reach the top of the Capitol the regimental colors were planted there, and Guayama was no longer a Spanish province, but an American colony.
The ceremony of raising the American flag over the captured city was probably not attended with the eclat that would have been given it under different circumstances. The band had been drilled in the duties of the hospital corps and the band men had done excellent service in carrying litters and perform- ing other work usually devolving upon the hospital corps all day. Their instruments had been left at Arroyo, hence all the music there was to add joy to the already joyous occasion was the music of the little birds that seemed to take up the glad song of victory and of freedom, and of the men, women and children who joined in one glad refrain.
The flag was carried to the top of the building by the regular color guard. Those who were present and who helped to fasten the starry banner to the staff were Captain M. L. Wilson, regimental adjutant; Sergeant Major Frank C. Eadcliffe, Color Sergeant McDonald, Color Guards Alger of Company H, C<>r- poral Thrall of Company A and T Darte Walker, cor- respondent to "Harper's Weekly."
While the regiment was assembled the "alcalde" or mayor of the town, through an interpreter, made an address of welcome to the American soldiers.
158 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
The iDterpreter on this occasion was Emanuel Lucin- arius, a gentleman who had been educated in the United States, who understood the English language and spoke it fluently, and who afterwards proved to be a very useful friend to the regiment and to its officers.
Colonel Coit also took advantage of this, the first opportunity, to thank the members of the regiment for their excellent work, and to congratulate them upon the victory of the day, but he had hardly gotten the words from his lips when the whirring of the bul- lets was again heard, and it was soon learned that the flag was the object of renewed firing. This was kept up for a few moments when a still greater danger developed. Investigation showed that all the Span- iards had not left the town and that those who had remained were doing what had been expected they would do, i. e., fire upon the men from the houses.
Colonel Coit closed that address more abruptly than any he had ever closed before in his Hfe. He at once ordered the Third Battalion to the northwest part of the town to repel any attack that might be made. It was well that this was done and that it was done as soon as it was, for there is no doubt that had this part of the city been left unprotected, the hard work of the day would have been for naught. As it was, the Spaniards had returned to within range of the city and they were firing at the town at a lively rate when the Third Battalion arrived on the scene.
Unfortunately little provision had been made for the dynamite guns. There were no horses and the
THE FOURTH 0. 7. /. 159
guns had to be dragged along the road by the men themselves. They did not reach the scene of action in time to be turned upon the town, but they came in for an important part in the defense of the city after it was captured. The guns were taken out to the city limits and planted in a commanding position. Then the hills where the Spaniards were known to be con- cealed were treated to a bombardment they had not experienced since the day they were created. Huge charges of dynamite were thrown across the fields, which, when they struck the earth, tore everything in their path. Great holes in the ground were torn up and rocks, dust and pieces of timber and roots were thrown high in the air. It is needless to say that this, added to the effective rifle fire of the Third Battalion, had the desired effect, and the enemy did not again attempt to disturb the Fourth Ohio at Guayama.
As soon as the Third Battalion returned to the city, strong guards were posted all over the town. Private William Walcut, of D Company, was placed on guard at the principal comer, within a few yards of the Capitol building. At a house near him, several shots had been seen to be fired and several times a man with a long black beard was seen to appear on a veranda. The shots came very mysteriously, and as there was no smoke, it was not known to an absolute certainty that they came from the house mentioned except as could be judged from the report of the rifle. One of the shots was well aimed and Sentinel "Walcut was wounded in the foot.
160 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
This created considerable excitement and the house was entered. The man with the black beard was Chief of Police Blanco, an avowed Spanish sym- pathizer, and there is no doubt but that he was the man who fired the shoi which wounded Walcut The house was entered by Colonel Coit in person, ac- companied by several men, and when they came out they had some arms, a Spanish flag and several pris- oners of war. Among them was Blanco. They were all taken to the provincial jail and locked up, a strong guard being placed over the jail.
When everything had quieted down, it was al- most dark and arrangements were begun for the night. Company B was detailed as guard in the to\vn and the other companies were stationed as outposts on the north and west sides of the city. The Third Illinois took charge of the other approaches. The men that were left were permitted to camp for the night where- ever they chose and some pitched their tents in the street, others in the public buildings and others in the plaza. Most of the shelter tents and other baggage was discarded in the advance on the city so that many of the men were compelled to seek shelter under roofs or sleep in the open air.
THE FOURTH 0. 7. /. 161
OHAPTEE XI.
THE ROAD TO CAYEY.
"Battle" of Guayama — Comments on the Capture — Effect ol This Duty Upon the Regiment — General Haines and the Fourth Ohio — Restlessness in the City — Reconnoiter of the Road — Spanish Camp Located — Orders for Second Reconnoiter — A False Alarm — A Break for Guayama — Stories of Ambush — Their Effect — Excitement at Head- quarters— Regiment Made a Rescuing Party — American versus Spaniard — Dynamite Guns in Action — ^A Make- Shift Caisson — Barrio De Las Palmas — Other Expe- ditions.
When the officers of the United States army were instructing the officers of the Fourth Ohio as to the preparation of blanks in the final muster out of the regiment at Columbus in January, 1899, one of them said: "In preparing the discharges of the men, you will in recording the military record of each, give thos^ credit who were in action on August 5th at Guayama, Porto Rico, as the government has dignified that en- gagement with the name of "battle."
The simple facts that only two regiments were en- gaged on the one side and less than a thousand men on the other and that only a few American soldiers were wounded and none killed, does not show any insignifi- cance to the engagement. The Fourth Ohio was there in obedience to orders from the commanding officers and the spirit with which they performed their duty as it appeared to them, would have been the same had there been a milHon Spaniards to oppose them. Be- sides that, the work which they accomplished was cer-
162 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
tainly one worthy the record which, the regiment had made while it was a part of the Ohio National Guard. The capture of the city of Guayama at that time meant more than the mere defeat of a detachment of Spanish troops. Guayama was a city of five thousand in- habitants, and the province of which it was the po- litical, social and commercial center, contained twelve thousand people, who represented many million dol- lars of wealth. This was all lost to the Spanish gov- ernment and some of the hardest fought battles of the Civil war resulted in smaller gains to the federal government.
ISTor should the value of that day's work be measured by the remarkably short list of wounded. It certainly was no fault of the Fourth Ohio that not more of their number were injured. They placed themselves in the path of the Spanish bullets and for four long hours they were subjected to a hot fire from an enemy which knew every foot of the contested gi-ound, while the Ohio boys were in a strange land and among a strange people. The loss to the regiment was not confined by any means to the damage done by Spanish bullets, for the severe physical strain of the day had a telling effect indeed, and the sweltering rays of the tropical sun did far more damage than the poorly aimed Spanish rifles were able to accomplish. Captain White of B Company, who had been in the thickest of the fray from the time the assault was begun until the regiment reached the city, was com- pletely overcome by tlie heat and spent the night at the hospital in terrible agony.
THE FOURTH 0. F. /. 163
Many of the boys were overcome by the heat, and it was not an uncommon sight durino- the advance upon the city to see men throw up their hands and with a shriek, sink to the earth. These sights would probably have had a serious effect on men less de- termined than the Fourth Ohio, for from every ap- pearance the men thus fallen, were mortally wounded, and this was what their comrades naturally supposed had happened.
There are many reasonable objections to the ser- vice of volunteer troops, and there are many strong arguments for their efficiency, but it is very seldom that any confidence is reposed in volunteer regiments by general officers until they have once been under fire and proved themselves. General Haines had watehed the Fourth Ohio all through its course of training at Chickamauga park. He had personally superintended their marches, rifle practice and otber drills and had learned to know that they were made of the stuff that goes where duty calls. The Fourth Ohio had never as such been under fire, but they conducted themselves on the occasion of the capture of Guayama with so much judgment, precision and determination that General Haines freely announced that he could trust any officer or man in the regiment with any duty which falls to the lot of the soldier.
He formed a warm personal acquaintance with the officers and with many of the men. Anything which was in his power to bestow was freely given to the Fourth Ohio, and that regiment received every
164 THE FOURTH 0. T. 1.
post of honor whicli General Haines liad the privilege of giving.
On the night after the capture the town was in a very restless condition. A night attack was feared by the citizens, and property holders were fearful lest Spanish sympathizers would set fire to their buildings and escape to the Spanish camp in the hills beyond the city. Many arrests were made during the night, of men who it was claimed were avowed Spaniards, and before morning the little provincial jail was crowded with prisoners of war. These were all re- leased, however, on their promise not to take up arms against the United States or to assist in any way the Spanish cause.
Those citizens who remained quietly at their homes, whatever their sympathies might have been, were not disturbed, and with but few exceptions these liberal offers were not abused. The officers of the regiment had taken quarters for the night in a hotel adjoining the City Hall, and during the night a man wearing citizen's clothes was caught lurking near these quarters with a large "machete" concealed on his person. What his intentions were, could only be judged by appearances, and he was hurried away to the jail to join his friends and neighbors.
The soldiers and citizens continued to be the best of friends, the people ever ready to share their last comfort with the soldiers who had brought to them a new government. There were few households which did not contain an abundant supply of wine of various grades and quality, and this was liberally bestowed
THE FOURTH 0. V. I- 165
upon the Ohio soldiers. Some of the boys became too ''sociable," however, and the regimental guard house was pretty well filled up at reveille on the morn- ing of the 6th.
The night having passed without serious trouble, General Haines directed that the day be spent so far as possible in rest. Guards were made as light as the circumstances would permit and the outposts were made as comfortable as possible. Some of these were some distance from the city, and had an attack been made upon them, they would have had to have f ough' like demons to have held their positions or to have gained the city in safety. D Company was on the top of a mountain next the city, but it was a hard and dangerous climb to reach their post, and they would have had a hard time retreating to the city had such an emergency presented itself. The other com- panies were stationed at a bridge across the stream "Kio Guayama," along the road from the city to the bridge and at other points along the little stream as it flowed along the outskirts of the city to the sea a few
miles away.
In the afternoon, Colonel Coit directed companies A and C to make a short reconnoitre beyond tlie bridge before mentioned, to discover if possible the position and strength of the Spanish forces and to report on the condition of the road.
Corporal William Markeson, who had now been relieved of the duties of regimental clerk and returned to his company (F), accompanied this expedition in the capacity of interpreter. Every native that was
166 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
met was questioned as to what he knew and the answers as to the number of Spaniards in the hills varied from one dozen to several thousand. It was definitely learned, however, that the main force was near the top of the mountain range, five or six miles further up the road and that they were busily en- gaged in throwing up intrenchments and preparing to receive an attack. No reliable information could be secured as to their strength.
The road leading from Guayama, extended from that city through Cayey, Caguas and Kio Piedras to San Juan, the capital of the island. It had been constructed by the Spanish government, and was found to be one of the finest Maceadam roadways in the world. It wound itself in gTaceful curves around the hills, keeping in the valley as much as possible, and cutting itself along the bluffs and by the side of precipices like a quiet mountain stream. At many places its foundation was the very rocks and at other places it was filled with closely packed stone which had been ground almost into powder. The heavy rains and the absence of freezing had rendered the road as hard as cement and its surface was almost as smooth.
The engineers had made ample provision for the little mountain gorges which would otherwise have destroyed the road in the course of time, and beautiful masonry marked the places where these little streams threaded their way through the rock under the road- way.
THE FOURTH 0. F. /• 167
At one of the turns in this road there was found evidence that the Spaniards fully expected that the American troops would push on toward Cayey. A clump of bushes was so arranged that a dozen men could conceal themselves and command a view of the road for a distance of a hundred yards. Had an enemy approached, they could have fired several vol- leys into its ranks and then dropped down the em- bankment and retreated to the next turn, where these tactics could have been repeated. In this way it would have been possible for fitfy Spaniards to have repelled the advance of an entire regiment of Ameri- can soldiers.
After the party had reached a distance of six kilometers from the city, the lengthening shades of night warned the officers that it was time to return to the city. The advance guard and flankers were called in and the march was made back to Guayama. Both A and C companies returned to outpost duty and the other companies remained at the posts to which they had previously been assigned.
The discoveries of the reconnoitering party con- vinced the officers that the Spaniards were preparing to carry on a stout defense against any advance of the Americans rather than an offensive campaign, and the fear of an attack was lessened. Saturday night was, therefore, spent in greater ease than the previous night, and Sunday was spent in much needed rest.
The baggage from off the St. Paul had now reached the regiment at Guayama and most of that which had been discarded on Friday between Arroyo
]68 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
and Guayama had been collected. H and M com- panies liad reported for duty, tlie men liad rested and the entire command was in better condition to hold the city or to make an advance than they had yet been since the landing at Arroyo on the 3rd.
General Haines established brigade headquart- ers in a large brick building at the southwest corner of the principal square, overlooking the plaza, and Colonel Goit established regimental headquarters in an abandoned residence at the rear of the cathedral. Arrangements were made to remain in the city until more forces should arrive before another advance would be attempted.
It was of course necessary to keep informed as much as possible as to what was going on in the Spanish camp and on Monday the following order was delivered to Colonel Coit:
Headquarters Second Brigade, First Division, First Corps, Guayama, Porto Rico, August 8, 1898. Colonel Coit, Commanding Fourth 0. V. I.:
Sir — The brigade commander directs that you send a reconnoitering party on the road to Cayey toward the place where the road has been blown up. This party need not be a large one, not more than one company, strong enough to take care of itself and fall back in case of attack. The object is to secure information and not to bring on a fight. Lieutenant Darrow will accompany the party to sketch the ■country. Very respectfully,
0. W. FEISTTEIT, A. A. G.
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 169
A few moments after the receipt of that order, the following was issued:
Headquarters Fourth O. V. I., Guayama, Porto Rico, August 8, 1898. Regimental Order No. 77:
Captain Walsh will, when relieved by Captain Bostwick, make a reeonnoiter with parts of Compan- ies A and C, leaving Company C at a point about two miles beyond Guayama bridge. This expedition is for information only and will be made with care. Lieutenant Darrow and interpreter will accompany the party. You will avoid an engagement and re^ treat in order if you meet with aforesaid opposition. A written report with all information will be made as soon as possible. By order
COLOKEL COIT.
M. L. WILSON, Capt. Fourth O. V. I., Adjt.
In obedience to these orders companies A and C left camp at about 8 o'clock Monday morning, August 8th. Advance guards and flankers were thrown out and the command proceeded cautiously up the moun- tain. The main column remained in the roadway, but the line of flankers extended on either side, in the valley at the right and on the mountain side at the left. It was very hard work to climb over the rocks and across the precipices and progress was therefore rather slow. It was not possible for the main column to proceed faster than the flanks which were to pro- tect the movement, so that by noon the command had not gone more than four miles from the bridge.
170 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
Colonel Coit had accompanied the expedition, to be on the ground in person in case anything should happen, as well as to familiarize himself with the condition and outline of the country. Lieutenant Darrow, of General Haines' staff, was also a member of the party. It was his duty to make a topo- graphical map of the road and the adjacent country. The entire reconnoiter was in anticipation of a gen- eral advance from Guayama to San Juan, and for this reason a great deal of importance was attached to the movement.
As had been learned through the expedition on Saturday before, the main force of the Spaniards occupied a position at the top of the hill, where they commanded a complete view of the road from the bridge to their own camp. The Spanish officers could have seen the expedition leave camp and prob- ably did see their every movement while on the march.
After the command had reached an abrupt turn in the road, glasses were trained at the hillside to the right and there the Spaniards were in plain view. Men could be seen with the naked eye workinsf in the trenches, which had already been made a most formid- able defense. There were rifle pits at the side of the road, artillery trenches in the hill sides and embank- ments thrown up in the middle of the passage. Bridges and culverts had been destroyed with dyna- mite, and an American cavalry or artillery detach- ment would have found it Dractically impossible to
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 171
have climbed the mountain even if there had been no defense of the road by Spanish arms.
The expedition made careful notes of all they saw and of' what they could learn from the natives, but they had not quite reached the bridge referred to in the communication from brigade headquarters. They had just passed one of the sharper turns in the road when a hundred Mauser rifles rang out in the fresh mountain air, directly above and in front of them. An instant later the shrill whistle of the bul- lets was heard directly over their heads and in another moment a second volley was fired. Fortunately the aim of the Spaniards, as it had been at Guayama, was very bad, and the bullets passed harmlessly over the heads of the Americans or struck the side of the cut in the roadway. Some of them, however, struck the surface of the road and had the effect of giving the Americans to understand that they were standing on very uncomfortable ground, to say nothing of the unhealthfulness of the surroundings. >
The position of the command at this time was very peculiar. The road did not extend more than a few feet in any one direction at one place, but the curves were sharp, bounded on the one side by the rock at the side of the mountain and on the other side by a deep precipice which afforded even as much danger as the bullets from the Spanish soldiers. The head of the column had reached a point behind a steep bluff where it was impossible for the bullets to reach them, but the rear of the column was in direct range of the
172 THE FOURTH 0. 7. I.
fire which was becoming thicker and more deadly every minute.
The firing had come like a thunderbolt from a clear sky and for a moment the officers and men of the command were dumfounded. The order from General Haines had been to "fall back in case of at- tack," but here was a situation that no one could have anticipated. To advance was in disobedience of orders and would have been murder on the part of the oflicers commanding it, and to retreat was plain suicide; still, at the rate the bullets were coming from the Spanish trenches, it was plainly seen that the command could not remain in that position many minutes.
The expedition had been placed in charge of Captain Walsh, but the colonel was there and of course the responsibility of getting out of the dilemma at once devolved upon him. Colonel Coit's first com- mand was to stand firm, but it was soon seen that that would not be safe, for the Spanish soldiers were aiming lower at every volley.
Finally it was decided that the men should re- treat around the bend in squads so as not to attract the attention of the enemy. The first squad waited until they heard the shower of bullets pass over them, then they made a mad rush around the curve before the Spaniards could fire another volley. The first squad made the trip successfully and then the next tried it. Those who were waiting in the meantime, hugged mother earth as closely as it was possible for them to squeeze their bodies into the shallow ditch
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 173
at the side of the road where they patiently waited their turn to slip behind the friendly embankment.
After a few squads had gained the protection of the turn in the road, some one repeated a command to "retreat two by two." Another person gave the alarm: "The cavalry is coming! Run for your lives!" In the absence of a second order, these cries confused the men so that no one knew just what was really expected of him. Some of the men be- came frightened and ran down the road as fast as their legs could carry them. Sergeant McConnel and his squad, which had at first formed one of the flanks, but which, owing to the rough condition of the coun- try had dropped back and acted as the rear guard, at once placed himself in the middle of the road and declared that he would kill the first man who at- tempted to pass him.
At the same time Lieutenants Reynolds and Alex- ander regained control of the men in their own com- pany and order was soon restored, but not until the following had been wounded: Noble W. Horlocker, Company C, right ankle; Harry L. Haynes, Com- pany C, left shoulder and right arm; Samuel Jones, Company C, knee; William Edgington, Company A, thigh; Edward Thompson, Company K, wrist.
Some of the men, however, had managed to get down the road before Sergeant McConnel could stop the mad retreat, and they rushed pell mell down the hill to the bridge where M Company was then sta- tioned. They related a marvelous tale of how the expedition had been ambushed and how almost the
174 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
entire command was either killed or captured, and in a few minutes all sorts of wild rumors had reached regimental and brigade headquarters.
Everything at Guayama was in a state of wild excitement. Stragglers kept coming into the city, telling still wilder stories so that every one was at a loss to know just what had really happened. Major Baker was in command of the regiment when the first rumor reached the city, but at that time he happened to be away from headquarters and could not be found. Colonel Adams soon appeared, however, and he at once ordered those companies nearest the city to go up the road and assist the reconnoitering party if that party still existed. Major Baker hastened to his bat- talion and Major Speaks, hearing the rumor at a dif- ferent part of the city, returned in all haste to regi- mental headquarters only to find the building de- serted.
Company B was still on guard in the city and they had theu' hands full maintaining order, for be- tween the soldieirs and the citizens all was chaos. Major Sellers and Colonel Adams soon had the out- posts well in hand and as many men as could be spared from these companies were hastened up the road. M Company, which was already at the bridge, had started for the scene of trouble before the regular command reached it, but it was soon overtaken and the regiment marched up the road in regular order.
As the reinforcement advanced, they were met by stragglers from A and C Companies who were totally unable to give any intelligent information as
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 175
to what was really going on or what had actually taken place. Careful questioning of these men failed absolutely of result and the relief had to push its way up the steep mountain road, expecting every minute to receive a terrific fire from an enemy in ambush. Caution and speed were combined as far as possible, however, and the regiment hurried to the rescue.
Strangely enough, the command reached the re^ionnoitering party ^vithout being fired upon. As soon as the party was reached, explanations were hastily made and a course of action de- termined upon. The Spaniards had as a mat- ter of course observed the approach of the fresh troops, but they supposed that the reinforcement had come for more than to merely cover the retreat of their comrades. They had, therefore, themselves re- treated to a stronger position further up the hill and had there awaited an assault. As soon as they dis- covered the real purpose of the movement of the ad- ditional troops, they grew somewhat bolder and re- opened the fire.
The column had not yet exposed itself on the side of the curves next the enemy and the fire from the trenches was therefore of no serious conse- quence. It was not deemed advisable to return to the city without giving the Dons a dose of their own medicine, and with that end in view. Colonel Adams ordered several companies up to the top of the ridge at the left of the road. In single file, the men climbed up the steep rocky bank and pushed on to the
176 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
top of tli€ ridge, where they could secure the range of the Spanish trenches. As soon as they were in po- sition the men were given the command to fire and three hundred Krag-Jorgensen rifles sent messengers of lead into the Spaniards with as much vim as the Spaniards had fired upon the helpless A and C Companies.
In the meantime the dynamite guns were hurried forward. No horses had yet arrived, so it was neces- sary for the men themselves to drag the heavy guns up the hill. An attempt was made to press the little Spanish ponies into this service, but they were too small and the effort had to be abandoned. The ammunition for the dynamite guns was taken to the scene of action in heavy ox carts, and this trip forcibly demonstrated the uselessness of this primitive beast in warfare. That the guns ever arrived in position at all was a wonder to all who saw the trip made.
The rifle fire was kept up at a lively rate until the guns were 2"otten into position, when the small- arm fire was stopped. It had been returned bv the Spaniards, but the bullets fiew so far over the heads of the men on the ridge that they could hardly hear t*hem whistle. The Spaniards did not seem to pay much attention to the rifle fire, but as soon as the ar- tillery was "let loose" there was commotion every- where in their camp. The first shot was aimed too low, but it was near enough to suit those at whom it was aimed and when the shell exploded with a terrific roar, Spaniards could be seen running to the top of the hill and to places of supposed safety in every direc-
REPRODUCED FROM A WATER COLOH
THE ROAD TO GAYEY.
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 177
tion. One of the shots was afterwards said by a Spanish soldier to have fallen in the midst of the trenches and to have killed outright twenty-seven Spanish soldiers besides maiming many others.
After a number of shots had been fired into the hills from the dynamite guns, the rifles were permitted to give them a pai'ting volley, and the regiment re- turned to the city.
Considerable newspaper discussion followed this engagement, but in this case the Fourth Ohio re- ceived all the credit and there was nothing but credit to be given. N^o criticism was oifered whatever to the action of the regiment, but those who had broken to the rear and who beat a disorderly retreat were held in considerable contempt by their comrades, at first, but when all the facts in the case were learned, and when the men fully declared that they heard an order to retreat, the suspicions against them were re- moved. The rear of the column had certainly been in a dangerous position and the men were certainly justified in doing all they could in self-preservation, but it was a difficult task for them to convince their comrades that they had actually heard an order to run. The commanding officer of C Company was relieved from command shortly after the party re- turned to the city, but he was afterwards restored and remained in command at Guayama until after his resignation was accepted, when he returned to his home in Columbus. ISTo charges were ever preferred against the members of the two companies who had started the wild rumors, although it was thought at
178 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
the time that this would be done. The place where the firing occurred was named "Barrio de Las Palmas," and the engagement is known by the same name.
Several other parties were sent up into the hills after that, but not more than a half dozen were sent at a time and these always avoided the main road. By creeping along the edge of the hill it was possible for small parties to get good views of the Spanish camp, and by the time all was in readiness for the general attack, General Brooke had been supplied by his scouts with maps and even photographs of the Spanish defenses.
THE FOURTH 0. T. I. 179
CHAPTER XII.
ONE WEEK OF REST.
The Fourth Appreciated by People at Guayama — A General Cleaning Up — Beautiful Scenery — Early Impression of Porto Rico — Commissary Condition — Fresh Meat at the Outposts — The Water Supply — Horses and Reinforce- ments Arrive — Hospital Established — Rumors Again — Preparations for Advance — Final Orders Issued — Death of Sam Hill,
The regiment now settled down for a week of quiet rest. There was at that time nothing to do un- til more troops arrived, for it was apparent to all that a movement toward Cajej would be useless except bv an overwhelming force. The Spaniards were known to be in a strong position and that they were m force, and besides this, they were acquainted with the entire surrounding country. IS^ature had given them an almost impregnable fortress, and they were in excellent position to hold it; this they were evi- dently determined to do.
While the troops rested, however, the general of- ficers and their staff officers were as busy as bees. Some were collecting information as to the strength, position and plans of the Spaniards, others were ar- ranging for the coming of additional troops, others were making reports, while still others were doing all in their power to make those comfortable which were already at hand.
180 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
The regimental headquarters in the rear of the cathedral was the center of attraction for the citizens of Guayama. The other regiments of the brigade were in camp outside of the city and their members were very seldom seen on the streets, but the people of Guayama had learned that it was the Fourth Ohio which had made them free from Spanish rule, and anything they had or could secure was gladly turned over to the soldiers. This kind feeling was warmly reciprocated, and soldiers and citizens were the best of friends for a long time, but a change came, which will be treated later.
While the regiment was in the city, word came that the St. Paul was under orders to return to the states and that she would take mail from the soldiers if delivered within a certain time. There was a mad rush for stationery, but there was very little to be found except the ofRcial paper at the City Hall. This was Spanish, and not only afforded excellent writing paper, but it made an appropriate souvenir of the victory to send home. Thousands of letters were written to dear ones at home on this paper. Postage stamps were nowhere to be found, but they were not essential to the sending of the letters. By a ruling of the postofRce department, soldiers in the field were permitted to send mail matter without postage pro- vided they wrote their names across the envelope, marked it "Soldiers' Mail," and had the same ap- proved by a commisioned oificer. The letter was sent just as though it bore the usual stamp and the postage was collected at the office where it was delivered.
THE FOURTH O. T. I. 181
This arraBgoment was a great accommodation to the boys, as it was almost an impossibility for them to carry postage stamps with them, and now that they had reached a foreign country, United States stamps could not be secui-ed.
Before the regiment left Guayama, however, the United States government had established a very ac- ceptable postal service, and it was not only possible to purchase postage stamps, but postal money orders could also be secured and it was possible to register
mail.
While the reg-imental headquarters were in Guayama during that week, the soldiers themselves were not always there. Company B had been re- lieved as provost guard by a company of the Third Illinois, but matters did not go as they were supposed to move and the Fourth Ohio company was returned to duty in the city. The other companies of the regiment remained at outpost duty at different sta- tions near the city.
The troops in town were quartered in buildings, while those out of town were obliged to sleep on the ground under the little shelter tents, which afforded very little resistance indeed to the heavy rains which fell for hours at a time. By pitching their tents, however, beneath the trees and in the shelter of banks or crevices, the boys managed to get along fairly well. Those men near the Guayama bridge availed them- selves of near-by sheds for sleeping quarters.
The commissary department of the Fourth Ohio during all this time was indeed in a sorry condition.
182 TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
There was canned beef and tomatoes and some beans, but aside from this very little could be procured. There w£.s hard tack^ but it was a poor quality; there were fresh beef issues, but they came so seldom that the boys did not get time to appreciate it; there was coffee and sugar, but not in the abundance it should have been, and it was an uncommon thing for a man to drink a gill of coffee, eat a small piece of hard tack and stand guard all night in the presence of the enemy.
When the fresh beef was issued, the company cook details improved the opportunity to work off some of the beans and tomatoes in very liberal propor- tions. By purchasing a few native vegetables with the pennies which could be collected in the compan- ies, it was possible to prepare a suspicious looking mess which the cooks called "soup," but which in most cases was a base deception. The "fresh" beef, it should be understood, was beef that had been con- tracted for in the United States, and it had been ship- ped from the west to the seaboard, then transferred to transports and shipped to the soldiers in Cuba and Porto Rico. It was packed in ice, then taken out in lighters and brought to shore, where it was once more loaded on ox carts and dragged from the coast towns to the soldiers inland. Handled either in the hot tropical sun or in the heavy rains natural to these climates, the reader can easily imagine how "fresh" the beef was when it reached company cook quarters. The dealings of government contractors
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 183
for subsistence was, after the war, the subject of in- vestigation by a board appointed for the purpose.
The market at Guayama afforded a limited sup- ply of food, consisting of oranges, bananas, mangoes and other tropical fruits, most of which was forbidden to the men by the surgeons. Fresh and salt water fish could be purchased in abundance, and milk, com, yams, cheese and eggs could also be secured. The one difficulty, however, was the scarcity of funds with which to purchase these things, as the men had seen the paymaster but once since they had been in the federal service.
The outposts of the Spaniards and the Americans were almost in range of each other and oftentimes at night when a cow or a horse would be seen wan- dering through the hills, the animal was mistaken for an enemy and shot by a picket man. The mis- take could not be discovered, of course, until daylight, and when the "enemy" proved to be a cow, sheep or goat, the company near whose post the killing had been done, invariably enjoyed a feast of their own. The neighboring plantations were well supplied vnth. chickens also, and if the owners could be made out in any way to represent sympathy for the Spanish cause, foraging expeditions were organized against the place and the trophies secured helped to make merry the hearts that watched night and day over the approaches to the captured city and the camp of their comrades.
The march from Camp Thomas to Rossville, the long car ride to the coast, the voyage on the St. Paul,
184 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
the severe weather and the hard work since the boys had landed on the island, were causes which combined to render every thread of wearing apparel and blankets in a condition for the laundry. The men had several chances to get small articles of wearing apparel washed "on the jump" from time to time, but even then they alv/ays ran the risk of never seeing the clothing again, because of the uncertainty of the movements of the regiment. When it was seen that nothing would be done until reinforcements an-ived, the boys with one accord started on the hunt for laundries. Some of them had lost all the clothing they possessed except what they had on their backs, and these had to go to Rio Guayama and play wash- erwoman until their clothing was clean and then sit on the bank for a sun bath to w^ait for their clothes to dry. They then dressed and returned to camp, postponing the work of ironing to "some sweet day." The washer^vomen of the city reaped a harvest of which they had never so much as dreamed. They had all they could do and more, but they kept at it night and day, determined to do all in their power for the comfort and convenience of the soldiers, and at the same time to earn a livelihood for themselves. These women would undertake to wash for a whole compan}' almost at a time and w^ould promise to have every garment washed, ironed and returned in less time than it w^ould have been possible for them to have collected it. Their work, however, was entirely satisfactory, but their manner of selecting clothing and their persistency in getting it mixed up as to
TEE FOURTH 0. V. 1. 185
owners was the source of no little annoyance to their patrons.
There was no regular laundry in the city. All this work was done by women who took the clothing to the creek and there removed dirt and filth with the aid of soap, cold water and hard work. The garments were each given a good coat of cocoa soap and then they were squeezed and beaten on rocks. There were no wash boards used, such as American women use for that pui'pose, but these women squatted down in the middle of the stream and rubbed the clothing on the rocks wdth their hands or with corn cobs and smooth board paddles.
After they had been thoroughly cleansed in this way they were carefully rinsed and spread out upon the clean pebbles to dry. During the process of dry- ing, the women would take cocoanut shells of water and sprinkle them. This, with the aid of the bright sun, rendered every piece as immaculately spotless as when it left the store. Rio Guayama was literally lined with washerwomen during the entire stay of the soldiers at Guayama.
The process of ironing was much the same as that used in the states except that the irons were rude instruments to say the least, and that they were heated on charcoal burners. After the clothing had all been ironed and carefully folded, it was piled in a heap and delivered according to the memory of the one who had collected it. The result of this method was that the clothing of the regiment became pretty thoroughly mixed up, Init as it was exactly alike ex-
186 THE FOURTH O. V. I.
cept linen, no one suffered a great deal. The com- promising feature of it all, was, that ten cents paid for the largest washing that could be delivered. Prices advanced later on, however, and it was an every-day occurrence for a soldier to pay fifty cents to get a shirt washed or go to the creek and do it himself.
The bathing facilities at Guayama were better even than they had been at Chickamauga park. Nearly all the better residences in the city were equipped with cement bath basins, fitted out for shower and tub baths. The privilege of these was extended to the soldiers, and they availed themselves generally. Many deep pools could be found in the Kio Guayama and into these the boys plunged their sweltering, dirty bodies to be cleansed and refreshed.
Another advantage which the duty at Guayama possessed over duty at Camp Thomas, was the beauti- ful scenery which stretched out in every direction. The plain extending from the coast to the city of Guayama was skirted on the east by a high and beau- tiful mountain ridge, extending almost the entire length of the island. This ridge was clothed with a most luxuriant tropical vegetation except in the more even spots, where the natives had cleared it of its natural dress and had appropriated spots for cultiva- tion. The rich southern sky for a back ground made a view of the eastern mountain ridge one of the most beautiful landscapes that could be imagined. Guay- ama was inland a distance of about three miles from the deepest part of a gentle bay. The mountain range followed the curves of the beach, so that the
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 187
ridge encircled the valley, along the western bank of Rio Guayama, and then changing its course again to a westerly trend, stretched away to the other ex- tremity of the island, apparently burying itself in the sea below and in the clouds above.
Like a veritable bed of roses the coast plain reached from the foot of the hills off to the water's edge, dotted with fields of waving cane and orna- mented with palms and ferns whose beauty could not be excelled outside of Eden itself. Asa back ground for this view, the waves of the Carribean sea danced against the mossy banks of the plain and then lost themselves in the deep blue bosom of the mighty sea. The sight of a single sunset as it lingered at the top of the beautiful mountain range for a moment, then dropped behind the hill to be reflected by the sea below in the fleecy clouds above, giving to the whole a coloring Avhich no brush could imitate, was well worth a journey to the spot to witness.
The weather was certainly hot. It was almost impossible for a sentry to pace a beat in the sun for more than a few minutes mthout being completely overcome. The water supply in the city was secured from large springs in the mountain and conveyed to the residences and other buildings through thin iron pipes, but it was very warm, and such a luxury as ice could not be secured under any circumstances. There was an ice plant at Ponce, however, and the supply for the hospital had to be carted across the country over a rough, rocky road forty miles long. The hills were warm to their center from the heat of
188 THE FOURTH 0. T. I.
the sun above and the heat of the interior beneath, &o that the water never was and probably never will be cool. The water for drinking and cooking at the outposts was secured from the streams and springs. It was all very warm and unrefreshing, so that the men suffered considerably from thirst.
A short time after the city had been captured, the telegraph line which had been abandoned by the Spaniards was placed in repair and in this way the signal corps opened communication with Ponce. Until that time messages had to be carried by dis- patch boats along the coast.
Newspapers and news associations were obliged to file their reports at St. Thomas, a Danish island, about seventy miles from Guayama. The reports from Guayama were taken to Arroyo and there de- livered to special news boats, which carried the mes- sages to St. Thomas or Jamaica. No mail had, of course, been received from home as yet, and the men ^vere practically in ignorance of what was going on at Washington or Madrid. A meager report would occasionally reach the camp through the newspaper boats and these would instantly magnify into the wildest rumors that could possibly have been in- vented.
The health of the men during the first week was far better than any one had anticipated. Several men had been overcome by the heat and there was one or two cases of typhoid fever, but these were supposed to have been developed at Chickamauga park. With everything apparently in their favor,
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 189
with a prospect before them of just such an experi- ence as they had longed for and worked for in the Camp Thomas training school, the spirits of the boys remained as bright as they had been since the regi- ment left Columbus in May.
It was under such conditions as those just de- scribed that the first impressions of Porto Rico were formed. The men thought that they had surely reached a paradise and they were happy. Some be- gan to lay plans for remaining there after the war. Others wrote home to their friends, telling them what a resort had been found, and urging them to follow as soon as possible. The more enthusiastic attempted to purchase real estate and to make arrangements for settling down for the remainder of their lives.
On August 10th the hospital corps and the regi- mental detachments amved at Arroyo. A field hos- pital was established there, but it was removed in a day later to near Guayama. Other troops began to appear, cavalry and artillery, besides the escort which had covered the march of the hospital outfit from Ponce. The horses and mules belonging to the brigade arrived also, and final preparations began making for the advance toward Cayey and San Juan. News reached Guayama that Spain had sued for peace and that hostilities would soon cease, and it was de- termined that if anything should be done it must be done at once in order to hold as much territory as possible when the end should come. Orderlies and staff officers could be seen hurrying from one head- quarters to the other all day on the 12th, and that
19U THE FOURTH 0. V. 1.
night the commanding officers were called to brigade headquarters, where the plan for the movement was explained to them and each was assigned the duty which he was to perform.
About 11 o'clock Thursday night, the battalion commanders were instructed to have their companies ready to move at 5 on the morning of the 13th. All the companies had now been sent to outpost duty, Company B having been again relieved. They were not disturbed that night, however, but the order waa communicated to them early the next morning.
Shortly after the battalion commanders had re- ceived their instructions, Captain Sellers, of D Com- pany, called at headquarters and asked for Major Sellers, of the Third Battalion. When he found the major, the captain reported one of the saddest acci- dents that could have happened throughout the whole campaign.
One of the outposts guarded by Company D waa at a lonely spot on the north side of the mountain, east of the Guayama bridge. This post was in com- mand of Lieutenant Turner, and one of the members of the Guard was Private Sam Hill. Private Hill had been relieved and had gone to his tent until big turn would again come to take post. It is supposed that he arose in his sleep and wandered from his tent. Those on guard at the time could not have noticed him leave his tent, hence his comrades were in ig- norance of his absence.
The hills and the valley below were known to be full of Spanish guerillas and picket duty on these
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 191
posts was very dangerous. One of the guards who had relieved Private Hill and the relief of which he was a member, noticed an object moving in the dark- ness near his post and he at once commanded "halt." The challenge was unheeded, but it was repeated only to be again unheeded. The moving object had every appearance of a human being, but in the darkness it was impossible to distinguish between friend and foe. Before offering the third challenge the sentry called out, "For God's sake speak or I'll fire!" and at this somewhat irregular but conscientious challenge, it seemed to raise up as if to spring, and the sentry fired. Investigation showed that the object had in- deed been a human being and that it was Private Hill. The sentry who had fired the fatal shot was crazed with grief when he saw the lifeless body of his comrade, but he had done his duty and was blameless. The news of the accident fell like a pall upon the entire company, but every member realized that no person was in any way at fault, and the body of the unfortunate man was laid tenderly away in the gov- ernment burial lot at Guayama.
192 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
CHAPTER XIII.
BEGINNING OF THE END.
Imposing Scenes— Breakfast in the Rain— Expedition As- signed to Fourth Ohio— March Begun— Guide "Backs Out" — Plan of Operations— A Rocky Road — A Hot Day — Danger in Straggling— Lunch and a Short Rest- End of the March^ — Hostilities Suspended — Retraced Steps — Friday and the Thirteenth — Intense Suffering- Temporary Camp— Hospital Call— Permanent Camp.
On the morning of August IStli the members of the Fourth witnessed a sight thej could never forget. A light rain had fallen during the night in the city, but out where the companies were located, the rain was quite heavy and continued until some time after daylight. The men were obliged to pre- pare breakfast and get ready for the day's work in this kind of weather, but there was very little gTumbling except that they had not been given a warning sooner of what was to come. The regiment assembled early and before 7 o'clock it was reported to General Haines ready for duty.
It is not necessary to give the general plan of the movement in this connection, even if the details were at hand. The object was of course the conquest of the island and the immediate capture and possession of the city of Cayey, the capital of the province of the same name. General Brooke was on the scene of action and personally conducted the initial move- ments. The Fourth Ohio had been recommended to
THE FOURTH 0. T. I. 193
him as a command which could be thoroughly relied upon, and from this recommendation and from what he had seen at Camp Thomas, the regiment was as- signed the most difficult part of the movement.
The regiment assembled on the road leading from Guayama to Cayey, between the city and the bridge. Before they could proceed on the march, however, and while they were in line. General Brooke and his entire staff passed up the road. Following the general and his staff came a large detachment of cavalry, the most of them regular, one troop, the First City Troop of Philadelphia. The firm, reso- lute faces of these men as they galloped along the line of the Fourth, gave the boys a feeling of confi- dence and they were more anxious than ever to measure strength with the Spanish forces.
The rear of the cavalry column had hardly pasrjed when the sonorous rumbling of artillery was heard as it rattled over the road into position beyond the bridge. Then came Colonel Bennit at the head of the Third Illinois and then the Fourth Pennsyl- vania, commanded by Colonel Case. Knowing the situation as they did, the Fourth Ohio at first regarded with considerable suspicion the result of this expedi- tion, for they knew full well that from their position in the hills the Spaniards could see exactly what was going on and that they were as a matter of course pre- paring to receive any attack that might be made. The resolute appearance of the men who had passed -^dth the cavalry, however, and the heavy guns that spoke destruction inevitable, manned by men who were as
194 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
anxious to fight as the members of the Fourth Ohio could have ever been, and these, backed up by the other regiments of the brigade, of which the Fourth Ohio was a part, inspired such a feeling in the minds of the boys that they expected to see the very hills before them torn to pieces and the war brought to a summaiy close before night fall.
As soon as this force had cleared the way, the Fourth Ohio started on the march, in an opposite di- rection, or back towards the town. They passed on through Guayama and on to the road leading to Ponce. This road was followed for a distance of nearly a mile when a turn was made to the right and the line of march was continued along a rough, rocky road that had the appearance of being a private lane. The Second Battalion marched at the head of the col- umn and the First Battalion was assigned to the rear. The march was well protected by a strong advance guard, E Company under Captain Vincent having been assigned to this duty.
The column advanced through fields and across meadows, over deep ditches and along rugged streams, pushing its way at times through thickets and planta- tions and again coming out into rocky barren places where the horses could hardly be pushed along at all. A guide had been secured to point out the way, but when it came to the test, he refused to go along. General Haines accompanied this expedition and he at once sent back to Guayama for Emanuel Lucinarius who bravely offered to show the way through the mountains.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 195
Briefly stated, the plan was for the Fourth Ohio to take a very circuitous route through the mountains, arriving at the rear of the town, while the remainder of the force was to have advanced over the main road. The main column would probably have attracted the attention of the entire Spanish force, so that the Fourth Ohio could have moved practically unnoticed into a strong position and the work would have been done. At the same time General Miles, with his army at Ponce, would advance from Comoa, the town which had already been captured with a small loss, so that the Spaniards would have been compelled to exhaust their every resource to cope with such a movement.
The men had been ordered to take two days' ra- tions with them, and this, added to the weight of the regular equipment began to weigh pretty heavily on the men before they had gone very far. The tac- tics that had been followed on the march from Arroyo w^ere again adopted and shelter tents, blan- kets and ponchos were thrown by the wayside. The rains had entirely ceased and the sun beat down upon the men most unmercifully. The band had again left their instniments behind and were acting as mem- bers of the hospital corps. The sun beat down upon these men, however, with as much force as it did upon the companies, and they were almost as help- less as the other men. They accomplished much good, however, by caring as best they could under the circumstances, for the men who were compelled to drop from the ranks on account of the heat.
1% THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
Considering the terrible heat and the rate at which the march was kept up in order to reach the town at the appointed time, there were not as many stragglers as might be supposed. There was a fight in view and this kept the spirits of the men in such condition that they could have borne even worse hard- ships than they had yet suffered. Before noon, how- ever, the unrelenting heat had claimed quite a num- ber of ^dctims and the poor fellows who could go no further were cared for as \vell as could be done many miles from a hospital.
Straggling was very dangerous, for the moun- tains were known to be full of guerillas and scouts from the Spanish army, and it was learned after hos- tilities had been suspended that small reconnoitering parties had actually concealed themselves and watched the regiment thread its way through the bushes and among the rocks. They were in such small force, however, that they regarded it folly to make their presence Imown in any way, but had the line of march been marked with men who had fallen from the ranks, they could easily have been captured and carried away to Spanish prisons.
A peculiar fact connected mth the history of the Fourth Ohio is that every movement was either made on Friday or on the 13th day of the month. This movement was made both on Friday and on the Thir- teenth, and while the regiment at least as a whole was not superstitious in any way, many of the mem- bers fully expected that something serious would happen. Dozens of places were passed, where, if the
THE FOURTH 0. 7. /. 197
Spaniards had seen or had been ready to act, the regiment could have been wiped out of existence so completely that not one would have survived to tell the tale. As these places were passed the men in- voluntarily heaved a sigh of relief and figuratively ^'held their breath" until the next pass came into view. Every rifle was loaded, chamber and magazine, and during most of the march, every trigger had a finger ready to touch it in the name of "Fair Co- lumbia and the Stars and Stripes."
The regiment reached a beautiful, well-shaded spot along the bank of one of the mountain streams about noon, and here a short stop was made for din- ner. 1^0 fires were kindled except a few of sticks where the men prepared cups of coffee. "Prime Roast Beef," "Boston Baked Beans/' and "Finest Quality Tomatoes," mth a liberal supply of hard tack and river water, made up the menu of the lunch, but it was heartily enjoyed by all, as was also the short rest which was permitted after lunch.
When all was again ready, the march was re- sumed, but perhaps at a little higher rate of speed until the last mountain pass was reached. This was little short of a cliff, but it had to be surmounted just the same, as the other bad places had to be gone over. It was about 2 o'clock when the foot of this hill was reached and a brief rest had been ordered before the ascent was commenced. It would have required about an hour for the regiment to have climbed this place, but at the top all the fighting that had ever been asked for was waiting. The command. "For-
198 THE FOURTH O. T, I.
ward!" had just been given when an officer of the signal corps, Major Dean, overtook the regiment, his horse covered with lather and foam and almost ex- hausted. When he reached the rear of the column, he called for them to make way. He pushed tlirough as rapidly as the men could make way for him, shout- ing as he did so, ''Tell the colonel to halt." When the major had reached the colonel and General Haines, he delivered a message from General Brooke, announcing that dispatches had been received from Washington with the intelligence that hostilities be- tween the United States and the kingdom of Spain had been suspended, and that there would be no more fighting, at least for the time being. The Fourth Ohio was then ordered back to Guayama, to report as soon as possible.
"This is Friday and the 13th," observed a sol- dier, who had been an observer. ''I told you some- thing would happen, and now sure enough we are up against the worst snap we have struck since we left home. All this killing march for nothing. It does
beat ," and here the pessimistic observation
was drowned in the cheer that went up from the ranks for Uncle Sam. The march had been a severe one, and it seemed hard for the boys to turn their backs to the enemy they had yearned so much to meet, but knowing that a fight on that ground would have resulted seriously if not disastrously, the boys accepted their fate as best they could and after a short rest started back to town.
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 199
If tlie advance had been a severe trial, the re- turn trip to the city was a severer one. The first march had been attended with novelty, and with interest and a promise of excitement, but now that the boys had to pick their way back over the rough road without having accomplished anything or without re- ceiving an opportunity of showing what Ohio citizen soldiers could do, the regiment as a whole was sadly discouraged, and very uncomplimentary remarks were made concerning the "backbone" of the Spanish gov- ernment and the fighting quality of her soldiers. However, a soldier's value is estimated by his willing- ness and promptness in obeying orders, and here the Fourth Ohio did its duty just as it had done on every occasion since the day it was accepted as a volunteer regiment.
The Third Battalion took the lead on the return and they set a merry pace. Half running, the col- umn retraced its steps back to town as though it had a record to beat and had there been one it certainly would have been beaten, for before the sun had sunk behind the hills the regiment had just climbed and then descended, a camp had been estabKshed and preparations were going on for the night camp along the Ponce road, at the point where the regiment had left it earlier in the day.
On the return there was a large number of strag- glers, for the heat of the sun and the severe physical strain of the march had so nearly worn out a great number of the men that they were wholly unable to keep up. They were compelled, for lack of strength,
20O THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
to drop out and rest, returning to the regiment as best they could. The hospital corps at first attempted to assist these men, but the number increased so rap- idly that no possible means could be devised to help them and they were obliged to get along as best they could. Lack of water and of nourishing or refreshing food had rendered them almost helpless, and words fail to describe the suffering of that afternoon. Men threw away what clothing they could spare in order to lighten their load and to make better progress. Some threw their weary bodies into the streams in the hope that in that way they could quench their parching thirst. Men lay at the roadside begging for water, while their comrades were forced to pass by them, wholly unable to give them more than a quaff of the tepid water from the little rivulets which had almost boiled under the terrible heat of the trop- ical sun. Some of these men did not rejoin the regi- ment until the next day, preferring remaining out in the open country to dragging their exhausted bodies over the rocks before they had enjoyed a night's rest.
As soon as the temporary camp was established, the men were permitted to report at the hospital, and quite a number improved this opportunity to prepare for the fight against disease. Quite a few were ad- mitted to the hospital as patients, and it is very grati- fying to note that no permanent evil resulted from the terrible march.
Supper was prepared and the men, after taking liberal quantities of hot coffee into their stomachs, wrapped themselves in the few blankets which re-
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 201
mained, and creeping into the little shelter tents buried themselves in sleep until morning. The camp was not in existence long, for early the next day the regiment removed to a hill side at the north side of the city, the new camp bordering on one of the Guayama streets at the south and another, the main street or the road to Cayey on the west. The new camp was made with the wall tents which had been brought from Chickamauga park, a decided improve- ment over the low thin "pup-tents."
Tf a careful survey of the whole island of Porto Rico had been made, a worse location for a military camp could hardly have been selected. There was one advantage and that was the convenience to a water supply, the city water station being located within the limits of the camp. This proved inade- quate, however, and water for cooking and some for drinking purposes had to be carried from the city. The camp was on a hillside at the base of the moun- tain range already described. At the foot of the hill was Eio Guayama, and this made it convenient for washing clothes and for bathing, but the Third Il- linois later occupied a field further up the stream and thewaterwasthoroughlypolluted bythe "Suckers" before it reached the limits of the Fourth Ohio camp. The surface of the ground was such that it was abso- lutely impossible to take a step in any direction with- out going either up or down hill. As popular :.s dress parades were with the regiment, a parade ground could not be found capable of permitting a review in more than a column of platoons and even these were often
202 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
obliged to break to pieces in passing tbe re\dewing officer. Permission could not be secured, however, to remove tbe camp to a more favorable location and tbe regiment made this place its bome until October 6tb, wben tbe start was made across tbe island for San Juan and the states.
THE FOURTH 0. 7. I. 203
CHAPTEK XIV.
IN CAMP AT GUAYAMA.
Miserable Location — Causes of Dissatisfaction — Health of the Men — Desire to Return Home — Sickness — Condition at Hospital — Changes in Commanders — Market — Finan- cial Condition of Men— The Paymaster— Better Times- Visit of Mr. Klotts — Orders to Move — Brigade Dis- banded.
The camp at Guayama was in existence from August 14 to October 6, when, under orders to re- turn to the United States, the regiment marched across the mountains to Cajey, thence to Caguas and from there to Rio Piedras and proceeded to San Juan. The camp has already been described as to its posi- tion and surface. The members of the regiment had but one consolation when the camp was established: The assurance that hostilities having ceased, or at least suspended, the war would soon be declared off and the regiment returned to its home in Ohio. Had it been generally known at the time this camp was formed that the regiment would remain there two long months, the howl that would have gone up from the company streets would have been heard in Wash- ington.
One of the first duties after the camp was formed, was the digging of sinks and other preparations look- ing to the health and comfort of the men durincr the occupation of the camp, whatever length of time that misrht be. It should be remembered in this connection
204 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
that the only commissary stores received at Guayama were those which had constituted the diet of the reg- iment since the day the regimental camp at Camp Thomas had been abandoned. The regiment was not traveling, much as it wanted to, but "travel rations" continued to come in from the United States. The first few days the boys managed to get along fairly well by buying and bartering of the natives such ar- ticles of food as the island produced and a few arti- cles that had been imported. They were unable to do this very long, however, from the fact that no pay- master had yet appeared at the camp and the funds of most of the men had become practically exhausted.
About the time the boys began to think seriously of rising up and demanding as one man that more and better rations be issued, they began to under- stand that it was not the fault of the regimental or company officers that they were not better fed, but that it was the fault of those in the states who had the matter of feeding the army in hand. All com- missary stores were purchased by contract and if the contractors could furnish the stores that would fill their coffers more rapidly than to furnish the kind of food which the men in the field wanted and which they needed, the former was invariably sent to Cuba and to Porto Rico. It made little difference how much the men who had to eat these things, objected, the issues continued the same.
The first diversion from the fare described was rice and potatoes. The issue was very small, but with its aid, the spirits of the boys were wonderfully
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 205
strengthened. Company officers did much also to lessen the suffering of their men by saving the issues of canned beef, tomatoes, hard tack and beans and trading it to native merchants for yams, eggs, milk and other provisions better suited to the climate and to the condition of the men.
The health of the regiment first began to break down while this camp was occupied. At Chicka- mauga park, both the other regiments of the brigade had suffered comparatively heavy losses by death for soldiers not in an active campaign. Their hospitals were full and their men were dui'ing much of the time unfit for duty on account of sickness, but during all this time the Fourth Ohio had suffered very little sickness and but one death had occurred in the regi- ment. This was the only death that occurred before the regiment left the United States. It was but a few days after Porto Rico was reached, however, that sickness began to appear and there was a death before the camp at Guayama had been established. This was Daniel H. Dodge, of H company, who was buried at the cemetery at Arroyo by Captain Donavin and sev- eral other members of the regiment.
There were several causes which combined to break down the health of the men. Without going into technicality or detail, these w'ere, the absence of proper food, the change in climate, homesickness and the indulgence in the use of the native fruits and pastry. The latter may not have caused any deaths, but the eating of mangoes and some of the candies and other products of the native kitchen, in spite of
206 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
the warning of the surgeons and the orders of the colonel and company commanders, rendered many soldiers unfit for duty. Once sick, many of them would give up their thoughts to home and those they had left behind, and before the patient or his com- rades were aware, these were at the hospital in a criti- cal condition. There was very little of this class of disease when compared with that found in the other commands on the island. Either the discipline of the Fourth Ohio was better, the men wiser, or they were less fortunately situated as to finances.
The change in climate and the lack of proper food claimed several victims, but neither the men nor the ofiicers over them were at fault in this matter. The seat of this trouble has already been located. It is a fact also that the mere fact that the men were members of the army and that they were in an active campaign and suffering all the inconveniences inci- dent to that kind of duty, had very little if anything to do with the suffering superinduced by the change in climate. Persons going to tropical from temper- ate climates on pleasure tours suffer the same diffi- culty. But these causes combined had an evil effect and can not be overlooked.
These were times that were trying to the medi- cal department. Major Semans and Dr. Wright worked night and day to relieve the suffering of the men and with the aid of the stewards and the other members of the regiment who had been detailed to duty at the hospital, many lives were saved and much suffering was relieved or entirely avoided. The work
THE FOURTH 0. T. I. 207
of the hospital men in this camp as well as during all the time in which the regiment was in the service was certainly well done and too much praise can not be accorded them. At any howr during the day or night that men went to the hospital, some one was awake and ready and -willing to take care of the pa- tient. The work of the hospital corps ie treated else- where, but it is only proper to mention in this con- nection the untiring effort and the noble work of Doc- tors McMurray, Wilson, Caraon, Nurses Lane, Eeed and others who, on account of their knowledge of medicine and the care of the sick were assigned to duty with the regimental surgeons. These men worked without commissions and without extra pay except the satisfaction of knowing that they were do- ing much good for their comrades in distress. Major Semans worked himself sick and had Dr. Wright been obliged to have remained on duty at the regi- mental hospital, he would have undoubtedly broken completely down.
Patients could not be retained in the regimental hospital for more than several days, when they were removed to the general hospital. Matters here were in a most deplorable condition as may be seen from the followiner extract from a written statement by an officer of the Fourth Ohio :
"On the eighth day of August my brother was taken sick \^dth the fever, and reported to the sur- geons of the Fourth, whose quarters were then in the old Spanish barracks, and at my request he was later moved to the Red Cross hospital, where he received
208 TEE FOURTH O. V. I.
very good treatment from our surgeons. Upon the arrival of Colonel Hidecooper they were ordered to move the sick men to an unprepai-ed hospital on the hill, close to the city, regardless of the fact that the men were in no condition to be moved at that time. Colonel Coit ordered the men to be left where they were, and insisted on his orders being obeyed, but Colonel Hidecooper then got an order from General Brooke and Colonel Coit was powerless to retain the men.
"While this dispute was going on the sick men were loaded and unloaded several times from the am- bulance. The men were finally moved, while it was raining, and that evening there came to me an inti- mation that they were not being properly taken care of. I immediately went to the hospital, where my eyes were greeted with such a sight as I hope never to witness again. Men in all stages of fever and other kinds of sickness were lying on the ground with noth- ing to lie upon save their own blankets, and a large portion of the men were not under even a tent, but were lying beneath a fly, where the rain was dripping in upon them, and for over a week the men tad noth- ing to eat except regular army rations, unless some kind hearted comrade would spend some of his meagre salary for food for his friend."
In a quiet spot in one corner of the cemetery at Guayama is a little lot belonging temporarily to the United States. Here under the sweltering rays of the southern sun lie buried the remains of those noble sons of Ohio who were unable to withstand the
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 209
liardsliips of military service. They had fought bravely the enemy of their native land, they had braved the dangers and the hardships of the mai'ch and the watch, but they had been stricken from the ranks in the still watches of the night by the hand that no military power could stay. Each of these was tenderly laid to rest on beds of beautiful flowers and the last sad rites were performed with the same reverence and tenderness which marks the part- ing of loved ones in the Christian home. Each time the muffled notes of the drum announced the muster out of a comrade, heads were bared and to the slow, mournful step of the funeral march, the remaining members of the company of which the dead soldier had been a member, followed the rude bier to the little cemetery where a beautiful funeral ceremony was performed and with the last sound- ing of "taps," the departed one was left to know no more of the cares of military life or the sorrows of a world where men meet men at the point of the sword.
The graves of all the deceased members of the Fourth Ohio were plainly marked with wooden slabs and as this account goes to press, arrangements are being made for their transfer back to the soil which gave them birth and which thev left to fight for the honor of their homes and native land.
The seasons of the year in Porto Rico are sup- posed to be the "wet" and the "dry" seasons, but the experience of the Fourth Ohio at Guayama failed to teach any of its members "which was which." On one day the rain would fall in torrents and the next
210 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
daj it would seem as though no rain had fallen for months. Some times the men would answer the first morning roll call in a driving rain, but before noon the sun would beat down upon the canvas tents with such unrelenting force that the occupants were com- pelled to spread their blankets on the canvas to pro- tect themselves from the terrible heat. Again it would rain for four or five days at a time, in which case, all the food and clothing in camp would be thoroughly soaked. After this the sun would break through the clouds, and beating down upon the well soaked ground, evaporate all the moisture so rapidly that it was too cold on the inside of the tents for the men to remain, and so hot where the sun shone, that one would be unable to stand but a moment without suffering sun stroke. The heavy rains would fill up the streams and springs so that they were unfit to wash clothing or for bathing or drinking.
The peo^-jle at Guayama, it has been stated, were very friendly to the soldiers when they first lauded in the city. Anything that was in possession of the people could be secured by the soldiers for the mere asking. For every American dollar a soldier pos- sessed, he could secure two Porto Eican dollars or "pesos" as they were called. Current prices on all the commodities which the market afforded were far below those at home and the men felt that they had certainly reached a home for poor men, but as the acquaintance with the soldiers increased, the people began to feel sorry that they had been so liberal and it seemed that they were determined to "make up"
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 211
for the mistakes they had made in the past and prices began to rise. An American dollar began to depre- ciate in the native markets so that when the regi- ment left, all a soldier could get for the "good old American stuff" was one "peso" and sixty "centavos." Milk advanced in price and eggs could not be bought for less than eight cents each. Merchants doubled the price on everything they offered for sale and wo- men who did laundry work advanced their rates to many times the original figTires.
This led to more or less ill feeling against the natives, and determined to "break even" with them, all sorts of Yankee tricks were played by the soldiers. There was very little serious trouble between the sol- diers and the natives, but there were several small fights and the privilege of the camp was denied a cer- tain class of merchants.
The better class of citizens, however, those who owned property or those who were intelligent enough to appreciate the advantages of the change in gov- ernment, remained loyal in their friendship for the Americans. Banquets, receptions and other social functions in honor of the officers and men remained the order of the "society" side of life at Guayama as long as the camp was maintained. Even after the regiment had returned to Ohio letters were received from people at Guayama expresang the friendship of the people there for the Fourth Ohio.
There was one class of citizens which was not benefited by the change of government and which did not benefit the United States bv its acauisit:on.
212 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
This was the lowest type of Porto Riean. He was black, dirty, lazy, ignorant, immoral, naked and dis- eased. He would steal the clothing from a corpse and while the regiment was in the field before Guayama, some of these fellows robbed the knapsacks of the soldiers who were fighting for their liberty. He profited only by the increase in the population, thus receiving a broader field in which to operate his ne- farious method of securing a livelihood. The mili- tary authority paid little attention to this class, ex- cept to give them scraps from the camp mess and to aid the civil authorities in arresting and imprisoning them. They did not live in houses, but existed more as the lower animals. There was little hope for their improvement and as it was dangerous to get near them on account of disease, the soldiers remained away from them as much as possible.
Aside from the digging of sinks and other fa- tigue duty in keeping the camp clean, there was lit- tle duty to perform at Guayama. There was a camp guard maintained, but at first it was dangerous for the men to get beyond the limit of the outposts and after hostilities had ceased there was little temptation for the men to leave camp except to go into the city. Passes were issued to a few each day and those who went mthout passes were liable to arrest by the pro- vost guard on duty in and about the city. This made camp guard duty very light and it was often taken ofl at night in bad weather except at one or two posts for the purpose of keeping watch over things in general.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 213
Guard was mounted in the morning, one company going on at a time.
The first several weeks,- provost duty was per- formed by the companies of the Fourth Ohio, the different commands taking turns as in camp guard. This duty was at one time assigned to the Fourth Pennsylvania, but after a few days was returned to the Fourth Ohio. Companies A and E were then de- tailed to perform this duty and Lieutenant Colonel Adams was made provost marshal of the town. These companies remained at this duty until they boarded the Chester to leave the island for home.
Porto Rico was sometimes referred to by the boys as the "land of vile cigars." Tobacco was grown on the island quite extensively and the tobacco was a very fine grade, but it was rolled up into cigars in such manner that they were unfit either to smoke or to smell. The fault lay altogether in the making of the cigar and not in the quality of the tobacco. The redeeming feature of Porto Rican cigars, however, was their price; for any one who cared to smoke could get a fine cigar, at first for part of a hard tack, then for a whole one and finally the price was raised to two hard tacks, the quality of the goods decreasing as rapidly as the price increased. The cigars were brought to camp in baskets of bark or in muslin bags and peddled after the fashion used by the appleman in the cities at home. There were other peddlers ad- mitted to the camp at first, but they were stopped later on because of their method of doing business.
214 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
By an order issued from General Brooke's head- quarters, a mail route was established between Ponce and Guayama. Mail was received from Ponce on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday of each week and mail could be sent to Ponce on the remaining three days. The mail wagx)n made the trips regularly, but mail from home was only delivered about every two weeks. The quickest time that was made from Ohio towns to Guayama was ten days. This was satisfac- tory, but there were many instances in which letters were delivered that had been mailed weeks and even months before, and many letters were not delivered until after the regiment reached home. These had been mailed long before the regiment had received orders to leave Guayama. It was not unusual for the mail clerks to find mail in the regimental budget ad- dressed to soldiers in Cuba or the Philippines and it was only natural to suppose that mail for the Fourth Ohio was often sent to those places. There was no regular mail line from the United States to Porto Rico and mail was only taken to the island by hospi- tal or quartermasters' boats.
At Guayama the mail was distributed among the regiments and then turned over to regimental postmasters. At Camp Thomas, Private Irvin, of M company, took care of Fourth Ohio mail, but he was succeeded early in the Porto Eican campaign by Cor- poral Harmount, of K company. It was quite a while after the regiment had been at Guayama that mail reached camp at all. As soon as it was delivered at the regimental postoffice, it was distributed to the
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 215
companies wliere the first sergeants took it for distrs bution among the men. Letters and newspapers wei<' gladly received as can easily be imagined, but wher. thev came they were from ten days to many weeks old and even after the regiment had reached Colum- bus and had been mustered out of the service, mail that had been addressed to soldiers in Porto Rico, long before the regiment was ordered from Guayama, was delivered to those for whom they were intended, some of them having made a tour around the world.
During the stay at Guayama, when news from the states was always old, rumors circulated in camp with more rapidity and with less foundation in fact, but with more believers than they had at any time since the regiment left the auditorium. A group of soldiers would often arrange a story, as far from any- thing plausible as they could make it, then separating to different directions, would promulgate the "news" to all whom they met. Given a start thus, the rumor would circulate to every part of the camp in a phe- nomenally short time and cheer after cheer would go up from the company streets, at the thought of going home or doing duty of another nature. Some times the rumor makers would make the news of a discour- aging nature, but the result would be the same as to its general belief and rapid circulation.
Sickness, bad weather, disgusting natives, bad rations, lack of funds, slow news from home, the fact that the war was over and no duty to perform that seemed "necessary" in the minds of the members of the regiment, an inconvenient camp, discouraging: ef-
216 TEE FOURTE 0. V. I.
feet of the constantly circulating rumors, slow action on the part of the war department to make any head- way in the occupation of the island, a desire on the part of those men who had employment awaiting them at home and who were obliged to maintain fami- lies on the meager income of fifteen dollars and sixty cents per month and a desire of the college men to re- turn to their regular duties were causes which com- bined to create a general feeling of dissatisfaction in the regiment. There was nothing to do practically but exist; and existence under such circumstances as those which attended life in the camp at Guayama was not a sweet one by any means. Everybody wanted to go home and everybody was free to express this desire. There was a few exceptions to this rule however, but they were men who had no considerable employment at home and who were '^aming far more wages as soldiers than they had ever earned before in their lives so they were desirous of holding to their places as long as possible. These members soon found themselves held in severe contempt by the other members, for the regiment was made up of pro- fessional men and mechanics who were actuated by patriotism only in leaving their homes, their employ- ment or the college to represent their state on the field of battle.
Time drug heavily and the men began to look about for amusement of some sort. Fre- quent excursions were made to the seashore or into the mountains and every opportunity that was af- forded to while away the time was grasped eagerly by
THE FOURTH 0. V. 1. 217
all. Applications were made for furloughs and discharges, but only a few were granted. The lucky fellows were permitted to go home on the hospital sMps that left quite frequently, loaded down with the sick and dying. Men who were in the hospitals with little hope of recovery in Porto Rico were given sick leave and they too were permitted to go home. None of these ever returned, for as soon as their leaves ex- pired the time was extended, so that they did not re- join the regiment until it had reached Columbus.
About the first of September there was a change in cormnanders of the brigade. General Haines, who was a colonel in the regular army, was needed else- where in the service and he was relieved by General Fred Grant, son of the "Silent President." General Grant took great interest in the welfare of the men and his personal talks and quiet inquiries with them soon made him a popular officer with the men of the command. The dissatisfaction continued, however, and the desire to go home was as apparent as ever.
While the boys in Company M were exchanging rumors and waiting for orders, the poetically inclined "got their heads together" and composed a song which BOon grew into popularity with the entire regiment. It certainly voiced the sentiment of all the men. One Averse and the chorus is given :
Lying in the guard house, awaiting my discharge —
To H — 1 with all the officers, the provost and the guard —
When we get back to Circleville, as happy as a clam, To tell about the sow-belly we ate for Uncle Sam.
218 THE FOURTH 0. V. 1.
Chorus —
Home boys, home, its home you ought to be!
Home, boys, home, in your own. country! Where the ash and the oak and the bonnie willow tree —
Where the grass grows green — in God's country.
Many verses were added to the song, nearly all of which contained "roasts" concerning some of the officers or some feature of the life at Guayama, the rhythm somewhat irregular in some cases of course, hut the sentiment invariably true.
One of the most interestinsr diversions from the dull monotony of the camp was an entertainment or- ganized and completed by members of the regiment. Chaplain Schindel took an active part in the pre- paration and rendition of the program and the enter- tainment made a decided "hit" with the entire regi- ment and the people of Guayama who availed them- selves of the opportunity of seeing vaudeville as ex- hibited by Ohio soldiers. The entertainment was given on three evenings, each performance being given for the benefit of the different battalions. No admission was charged, hence the entertainment from a financial point of view was a failure. The program is given below, just as it came from the Spanish press, as to spelling and punctuation:
4TH Ohio Infantry vaudeville Company,
Gauyama Theatre, Puerto Rico,
September 13-15 1898
EXECUTIVE STAFF.
George B. Donavan, Mounted (Prt. Ro. Stud with baskets) Capt.: and pro. of mule corrall in Puerto Rico. T. C. Radcliff, the only man who can make Dtails.
THE FOURTH 0. T. I. 219
J. L. Sellers, Major and manf. of cigars warranted no sellers. M. Lee Wilson, Reg. Ajt. a farmer lad and not the proprietor
of a Chinese laundry as his name would indicate. J. B. Adams, Lt. Col. of regiment, Guayamo Provost marshall
and Gran Jefe de Pollcia. Col. A. B. Coit, Commanding Staff. &c. &c. &c, &c.
Opening Selection 4th Regiment Band.
PART I
THE COLONEL'S RECEPTION.
Colonel-Serg. C. K. Crum.
Walters S. Williams, B. Reynolds, W. Connell, Joe Johnson. Ed. Jones. E. Shoemaker.
Song, "Two Roses from Mother,, — M. E. Murray.
Oomique, "Warmest Baby in the Bunch"— S. Williams.
Song, "Break the News to Mother" — Steve Henry.
Comique, "Guess that v/ill hold you for awhile" — R. Rey- nolds.
Incidental Music, M. Co. Quarterte— Henry, Murray, Bales and Crum.
Selection — Poet and Peasant, Regimental Band.
PART 11.
MR. SAM WILLIAMS, The Curbstone Comedian who wants a moment with you.
MESSRS. MARK TWAY AN TOM HILL, Ohio's Greatest Buck and Wing Specialists.
MESSRS. DAVIS AND LAMBERT,
In Feats of Juggling, Light and Heavy Balancing, Wire Act.
MR. JOHN GIBBONS, Terpsechorean Fantastic Toeist.
MR. MARSHALL MURRAY, Favorite Tenor.
MR. CELESTINO DOMINGUBZ, Puerto Rican Hymn.
220 TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
PART III.
H. BALES, Original Sketch Artist.
MR. CHARLES WOODMaNCY, In Novel Singing Specialty.
PROF. JESSE Vv'ORTHINGTON, Comet Virtuoso in Aqparelle (which means real water.)
M. Company quintette, Messrs. Henry, Murray, Bales, Mowery and Crum.
fi:n"ale
1. Uncle Sam and the Goddess of Libery review the army.
2. Uncle Sam and Puerto — Rico under the Stars and Stripes. R. Herod, Dominguez, Mercedes Bruno.
NOTES.
Eggs tendered as compliments must be scrambled and not over six weeks old.
The Mint Julep counter to the right as you enter under personal supervision of Lieut. W. B. McCloud, who is feel- ing better.
Palm leaf fans furnished by John Trent 20 centavoa
The Colonel offers $5 reward for the petrified prayer th* Chaplain lost in the attack on Guayama.
N. B. Major Baker will please occupy an amen pew in the synagogue so that he will be able to comprehend the Program.
"And the next day it rained "Genl Order No. 10.
A week after the change in brigade command- ers, there was a change in commanding officers of the First battalion. Major Speaks, who had been with the regiment longer than any other member, was granted a leave of absence and on September 8, he left the Guayama camp to go to his home in Colum- bus. Captain Vincent of E company, the ranking captain of the regiment, was assigned to the battalion and he retained command until the regiment arrived
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 221
in Columbus. The association of Captain Vincent with the men and officers of the First battalion was mutually pleasant and while there was no important duty to perform except at Caguas, Captain Vincent proved to be a very competent battalion commander.
At the same time Major Speaks left Guayama, a number of other members started for their homes in Ohio. Among these were Corporal Williamson, of Company F, Principal Musician Rulo and several others, some discharged from the service, others on sick leave and some on furlough. These men took with them messages from nearly every man and offi- cer in the regiment.
One of the first things General Grant did when he assumed command was to clean up the camp and from all appearances arrange for a long stay at Guay- ama. He encouraged dress parades and as there was no fit place for parade at either of the regimental camps, the Third Illinois and the Fourth Ohio alter- nated in appropriating the Guayama plaza for a pa- rade ground. In the meantime, orders had been re- ceived for the occupation of the entire island accord- ing to the agreement made in the protocol which had been signed by Spain. One evening about September 15, General Grant directed that the companies turn out as full as possible as he wanted to view the actual strength of the regiment. He personally reviewed the parade which followed and expressed himself very well pleased with the appearance of the regiment.
The real object of the big parade, however, was to determine which were the strongest companies.
222 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
D and M companies turned out with the greatest number of men able for duty and these two companies were at once selected to take charge of provinces. A few days later D company received orders to go to Humocoa in the eastern end of the island and then came orders for M company under Lieutenant Duffy to go to the island of Vieques. This was the begin- ning of the separation of the companies and before the end of the month all that remained at the original camp at Guayama were companies B, C, F, G and K. F and K companies were soon after detached and sent to other stations and later on B company was sent away and a part of H company was given a station. The inconvenience of being without money, es- pecially when payment of hard earned wages from such employers as the government is past due, is an experiment hardly calculated to be enjoyed by many; at least it was an experience not enjoyed by the Fourth Ohio. One of the favorite subjects for rumors was the paymaster and he was reported every day. One rumor would have him in Guayama with the informa- tion that he had forgotten the money or that he had come as far as Arroyo and then changed his mind and had gone back to the United States. Another rumor impressed upon the minds of many that the regiment would not be paid at all in Porto Eico, but that pay- ment would be deferred until the regiment reached New York, but on the evening of September 22, Major Jones, one of the volunteer paymasters, arrived in camp with money with which to pay the regiment. The news spread like wildfire, but there had been so
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 223
many similar stories exploded that the rumor at first was regarded with more or less suspicion, but the safes had been left at guard headquarters for the night and nearly every man in the regiment walked through a pouring rain to confirm the story for himself. The good news had a remarkable effect on the men and the benefit of good spirits among the soldiers could be seen before "taps" was sounded for the night. For the time being, the question of going home was aban- doned and the men spent the night in their tents, dreamins" of the good things to eat which they had been denied on account of the lack of means with which to secure them, but which they could now en- joy to their hearts' content.
A brigade store had been established in Guay- ama for the benefit of the officers for they were not provided for as were the enlisted men, by the gov- ernment. They had to purchase all their subsistence with private funds and had not this store been estab- lished, the officers would have been compelled to de- pend entirely upon the native markets for their liv- ing. At this store there was offered for sale, tobacco and canned goods, dried fruits and vegetables and in fact everything that would not perish in transit from the United States to Porto Kico. While the store was intended for the convenience of the officers, enlisted men could purchase any article offered for sale so that when the paymaster made his appearance, every man in the regiment could see before him an oppor- tunity for at least one "square" meal.
224 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I,
The weather was exceptionally bad at the time Major Jones began paying the men on September 23, but the spirits of the regiment presented quite a con- trast to the condition of the weather. The boys marched through a heavy rain to the regimental headquarters and then as soon as they received their money, they hastened to the brigade store to pur- chase anything they could get that was fit to eat. The result was that by the time the Fourth Ohio was paid, the stock of the brigade store was almost exhausted and the members of the other regiments at Guayama were compelled to save their money until a new supply could be received. After the men had pro- vided themselves with all the provisions they could secure, they visited the Guayama stores and purchased everything in sight that could be carried home as souvenirs of the place. In this way the sums that were distributed by the paymaster soon disappeared and the men were again "financially embaiTassed," but they were happy. At the same time the business of Guayama had exprienced such a revival that it had never seen before or probably will ever know.
Major Jones had hardly finished paying the troops when he received orders to pay for the month of September so that the men received pay for three months at one time. The effect of this was not only that the men had plenty of money, but also that the health of the regiment was greatly improved and from that time on the sickness began to disappear until when the regiment left Guayama, there were very few men in the hospital. The boys could purchase
THE FOURTH 0. F. /. 225
eggs, milk and fresh meat, and this added to what they could secure at the brigade store had "filled a long felt want" with the result that was only natural. As soon as the troops at Guayama were paid, the de- tachments were followed up and the money due them duly delivered.
If the visit of Major Jones produced a good ef- fect on the enlisted strength of the regiment, it had a better effect upon the commissioned officers, for they were suffering really more than their men. Many of them "messed" with their companies, but even this advantage could not be enjoyed by the field officers for they had no men with whom they could board. The brigade store did a credit business to a very limited extent, but the officers could secure the same bread that was issued to the men by paying for it. A bakery had been established at brigade head- quarters, but the quality of the product was such tliat the operation of the bakery at home would not have had a serious effect on the market. Sergeant George Zwemer, of D company, the oldest enlisted man in the regiment in point of service, acted as steward for the headquarters officers' mess and it kept him busy gath- ering up food for his wards on the few pennies that could be raked together among the members. When the payment was made, however, Zwemer was a happy man as was also those who depended upon his judgment and activity for their daily bread.
After the health of the men began to improve there was less cause of complaint against the Guay- f.ma camp, but the main cause for the desire to go
226 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
home still existed and rumors were soon a.2:ain on their way about the camp. It was but a few days after the visit of Major Jones that a happy epoch in the history of the camp was made. It was the visit to the boys of Mr. Frank P. Klotts, a Columbus gen- tleman, whose son was a member of Company A. Mr. Klotts had come to visit his son, who had been a patient in the hospital, but when the father arrived at the camp, he learned that the son had been sent home on a hospital ship and that the two had uncon- sciously met in mid-ocean. Mr. Klotts was loaded down with letters from parents to their boys in the field and the receipt of these and the sight of "a real live Buckeye" as one of the men expressed it, was the source of much pleasure to the boys. The visitor was received with open arms and every comfort the place, afforded was bestowed upon Mr. Klotts during his stay in the camp. He remained but a few days and returned, taking with him thousands of messages to the folks at home.
After the visits of the paymaster, very little oc- curred to break the monotony of camp life until early in October, when orders finally came for the dis- bandment of the Second brigade. The Fourth Penn- sylvania regiment had been sent home, nearly every man in the Third Illinois was either in the hospital or sick in quarters, so that the regiment was practic- ally unfit for duty, and all the work in sight had de- volved upon the Fourth Ohio. For this reason it was decided to disband the brigade and relieve the Fourth Ohio with fresh troops. Porto Rico was divided into
THE FOURTH 0. K i. 227
two military districts, the divisions of the West with headquarters at Ponce, General Henry commanding, and the division of the East under General Grant, with headquarters at San Juan. Accordingly what remained of the Fourth Ohio in the camp at Guayama was ordered to San Juan, with a view to the embarka- tion there for home.
228 THU FOURTH 0. Y. I.
OHAPTEE XV.
FROM GUAYAMA TO SAN JUAN.
Regiment Leaves Guayama Camp — "The Girl I Left Behind Me" — Marching Through Rain — Road to Cayey — A Terrible March — Arrived at Cayey — Further Detach- ments— Flag Raising — March to Caguas — Duty There — Flags Raised — March to Rio Piedros — Arrival at San Juan.
The morning of the sixth day of October, 1898, is one that the boys of the Fourth Ohio will never for- get. It was then that it was definitely decided that the camp at Guayama would forever be abandoned and such information, although for many weeks longed for, prayed for and hoped for, was a glad sur- prise to every man in the command. A and E com- panies, which were left behind, did not fully under- stand why they, too, were not included in the order, but life with them in the city had not been attended with many of the inconveniences of the hillside camp, and they could easily see hoAv, if they were the only troops at Guayama, much of the unpleasantness of the place would be avoided.
It was arranged that the regiment would leave Guayama early Thursday morning, but General Grant showed his confidence in the officers of the regiment and the ability of their men by saying to Ck)lonel Coit: "Colonel, you will proceed as far as Cayey Thursday, raise the flag there, and leaving
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 229
Captain Potter's company in possession of the town, you will make headquarters at Caguas until further orders. I leave all to your judgment."
Thursday morning was dark and dreary — just the kind of weather to drive the men into their quar- ters, there to exchange condolence and cigars and sing the songs of home. The distance from Guayama to Cayey is seventeen miles and the colonel realized that the start must be made as early as possible to make the trip. Dinner was ordered at 10:30, and all day long the men packed their belongings. As soon as dinner was over, wagons were driven through the camp for all subsistence, personal baggage and com- pany chests and desks. Unfortunately some of the men neglected that most important of a soldier's duty, the filling of haversacks. This was the source of much annoyance later on.
At 2 o'clock all was ready and the start was made. It so happened that the boys got off "between showers," but they had not proceeded far when the first shower came up. The "first" might be said to be the only one, because it rained almost constantly during the entire march of seventeen miles. After the regiment was formed the column moved in fours to the music of "The Girl I Left Behind Me." Then the band struck up "Dixie" and "Marching Through Georgia." Everybody was happy. Even if it had been raining, snowing or anything, it would have been good enough for "The Day "We Leave Guayama."
The rain began soon after the start was made. All the men had to carry was their canteens, haver-
230 THE FOURTH 0. V. 1.
sacks and rifles, so they could easily use their pon- chos. These are good things in light showers, but when they were put into service in water spouts and cloud bursts, they proved about as serviceable as pieces of mosquito bar the same size. Long before dark every officer and man in the regiment was as wet as he could be.
The road from Guayama to Cayey has been de- scribed in another chapter. It is a dangerous one to travel in daytime and much more so at night. At one side, the bluffs towered high above the heads of the traveler and on the other the descent was as steep as a stone wall. A misstep at any time might have meant a severe collision with the sharp stones in the grade at one side or a fall into the darkness and gloom thousands of feet below at the other. To these con- ditions add darkness so dense that one could abso- lutely see nothing twelve inches in front of him, and one may form an idea of the march to Cayey.
One of the interesting features of the march was passing along the point where A and C companies met with the disaster on August 8, and the sight of the intrenohments and fortifications which would have had to have been carried, had a forced movement toward San Juan been ordered before August 13. At one point the Spanish garrison could have marched out to the roadway, killed off a regiment in one vol- ley, and returned to their quarters before the next regiment would have had time to come up. When the boys saw what they might have had to encounter,
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 231
most of them heaved a sigh of relief to realize that the war was actually over.
With the darkness came an experience which in every particular beggars description. Wet to the skin, supperless, tired and weary, the men plodded along, all the way up hill, through narrow passes, where the men actually had to feel their way; where had a step to the side been made, the unfortunate would have been dashed to the rocks a thousand feet below; where, had a horse become frightened or jumped to one side, it would have meant certain death to himself and rider; where, had a Spanish sym- pathizer chosen to have done so, he could have blown out a culvert, and dozens of lives would have gone out in an instant; where if one man fell, a whole company would have stumbled over his prostrate form.
Men who had been over the road in the daytime were sent ahead as guides. The regimental staff followed, most of the officers leading their horses. The guides were of little use, however, as all they could do was to shout back that the road was clear. They could announce a new turn to the right or left every few yards, but no one could see it, and the warning simply made them more careful in feeling for the road.
Had it not been for the presence of an All Wise Providence, the regiment could not possibly have covered the distance. Even as it was the wagon train had to halt and wait for daylight. Every few min- utes the lightning would flash across the road, thus
232 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
showing the way for a few feet. Often the regiment had to halt and wait for a flash of lightning to show culverts where the water could be heard roaring down over the precipices. A peculiar circumstance which seemed to be a manifestation of the presence of Providence was the settling of a large "lightning bug" on the hip of the chaplain's horse. Company B followed immediately after the chaplain and those in front could see which way to go, guided by this animal "pillar of fii-e."
It was shortly after nine o'clock when the regi- ment reached Cayey. The wagon train with all sub- sistence was back in the hills and no food in the haver- sacks. Company commanders hustled around, how- ever, and secured some bread and the men were put to "bed" on a cold cement floor with bread and water for support and their clothing thoroughly soaked. Friday morning quinine was issued freely and as soon as the wagons arrived the men were given a good breakfast and some of them were able to secure dry clothes. By noon everybody was comfortably fixed, but no duty was assigned except to Company F and the First provisional battalion.
Although Cayey had been occupied several days by American troops, the Stars and Stripes had not been ofiicially raised in the town. As Company F had been ordered to take possession of Cayey, that company was accorded the honor of raising the flag. The entire First Provisional battalion, organized at Guayama by direction of Colonel Coit, and consisting •of companies B, C, G and H, turned out under Cap-
THE FOURTH O. V. I. 233
tain Vincent. Preceded by the regimental band the battalion escorted F company to the city hall.
Lieutenant McCoy and Sergeant Freeman raised the flag, F company fired the salute and the band played "The Star Spangled Banner." When the citi- zens saw the beautiful tri-colored banner floating over them, and realized what it meant, they went wild with excitement. After a short serenade by the band, the battalion marched around the plaza and public square, thence back to the quarters near the town. The Spanish flag, which had waved from the public hall of Oayey, became the property of Captain Vin- cent. The exercises of the afternoon were thoroughly enjoyed, and the men felt that they were amply re- warded already for their long weary march across the hills.
At Cayey K company left the regiment to go to Aibonito to take possession of that and the towns in the district so that all that remained of the "regiment" was the First Provisional battalion. The start to Caguas was not made until Saturday morning and the time spent at Cayey as the guests of F company was for the purpose of rest. An amusing experience during this brief stay was a serenade by the native band. The members were not in uniform, either as to dress, time, harmony, pitch or chord. The in- struments were somewhat similar to those used in American bands except the drum or "guichara" which was a long ghord shaped species of calabash, which had been plucked while green and in the sur- face of which had been cut a number of small circu-
234 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
lar grooves whicli liad become almost as hard as flint when the instrument had ripened in the sun. It was "played" by rubbing a hard stick across the grooves, thus making a most unearthly noise, but which served as a very good chronometer for the other per- formers. After the band had "rendered" several se^ lections. Colonel Coit addressed the crowd, which had assembled, expressing for himseK and staff, an ap- preciation of the serenade and the royal welcome which the citizens of Cayey had given the American troops. The crowd answered with cheer after cheer for the "soldados Americanos."
An early start was made Saturday morning and before noon the regiment was well on its way to Caguas. The rains had ceased and the sun shone brightly, but not nearly so hot as on the day of the last long march on August 13th. The distance was about the same and the road led first to the top of the northern mountain chain and then down again into the fertile valley below, where the town of Caguas was situated. It was two o'clock when the regiment halted outside the city limits and preparations were made for the entrance into the city. At the time of the march from Guayama to Cayey, many of the boys would drop from the ranks and then wait for the baggage train to ride. This was avoided on the march to Caguas by sending the baggage train ahead of the regiment. Even this arrangement did not pre- vent all the boys from saving their legs, for they walked ahead of the regiment on some pretext or other and caught up with the train when they would
THE FOURTH 0. F. /. 235
cKmb on the wagons in spite of the protests of the drivers and ride over the remaining portion of the march. The wagon train had not been at Caguas more than an hour when the main column appeared.
The regiment halted long enough for the few stragglers to come up and for those who had gone ahead to be brought back and then with colors flying, a triumphant entry to the city was made. A hearty welcome was extended to the regiment by the citi- zens and the town was dressed in holiday attire. From nearly every building the American flag proudly waved and the people nearly shouted them- selves hoarse at the sight of the troops. Captain Trench had occupied the town for several days with L company and the American flag had not only been raised over the public building, but it had been placed on every business house and private residence in the town. These flags were supplied by the citizens themselves.
The occupation of Caguas was not attended with the discomforts of Guayama. The citizens were found to be far more intelligent and the business men far more reliable than those at Gnayama and these conditions, together with comfortable quarters in bar- racks for the men, made the stay at Caguas very pleasant. Then again there were not so many sol- diers to enjoy the hospitality and generosity of the people and this state of affairs increased the comfort of the men.
Soon after the regimental headquarters had been established at Caguas, four nurses arrived in Porto
236 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
Rico to take care of the sick of the Fourth Ohio. The members had written home from the camp at Guajama while everything was at its worst and the people of central Ohio had become thoroughly alarmed for the safety of their sons and friends in the island. The noble women who offered their services for the men of the Fourth were Sisters Mary Bren- dam and Mary Edberga, Miss Dr. Emma O. Jones and Mrs. Taylor. These ladies were eminently qual- ified to take care of the sick soldiers, but they did not arrive until September 28, and this was after the men had been paid and many of the sick had been sent home. There was still a number in the hospital, however, and the work of these good women was greatly appreciated by the physicians and by every officer and man in the regiment. They remained with the regiment until it reached Columbus, when they were extended the same welcome that was made for the men. They were made honorary members of the regiment and they were appointed lieutenants with spcial commissions by Colonel Coit.
On October 12 Company C was sent out to the town of Aguas Buenos to assume charge of the town for the day and to convert it into an American sta- tion by raising the flag of the United States. Cap- tain Reynolds took a detachment of his company and accompanied by Major Baker several headquarters attaches and the band, the detachment rode across the country in wagons. The road was not a rough one, but it extended through one of the most pictur- esque sections of the island. Aguas Buenos was in
THE FOURTH 0. V. J. 237
the center of a rich coffee growing section and the people were found to be well to do and very intelK- gent The soldiers were welcomed to the village and the flag was raised over their homes with great re- joicing. As a part of the flag raising ceremony Major Baker made a brief address to the assembled populace, telling them to be good and that things would come out "all right."
The Spanish flag, which had been on the al- calda's ofiice, became the property of Captain Rey- nolds. Major Baker was presented with a memorial thanking the American troops for the benefit they had been to the people of Porto Rico and pledging their allegiance to the United States. After the cere- mony of raising the flag, the alcalda received the American officers at his home with all the prominent citizens of the province as guests. An elaborate breakfast was served and after making several calls upon other of the officials, the detachment returned to Caguas. On the following day B company was sent to the town of Gurabo and the American flag: was raised there also. Here the soldiers were given a most hearty welcome and they were entertained with the best the town afforded during their brief stay. A detachment from H company was afterwards sent to Aguas Buenos, but no troops were assigned to Gurabo.
Two days after B company returned from Gurabo. Captain White received orders to proceed to Rio Piedras and take possession of the entire district. Rio Piedras was on a short railway seven miles from the capital and the third largest town on the island.
238 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
The service of the company at this station is de- scribed in another chapter.
Guard duty at Caguas was performed by the different companies which remained, C, G and H. Guard was mounted each morning and the regular camp routine, even to evening parade, was main- tained as though the entire regiment was stationed in the city.
One of the most pleasant features of the stay at Caguas was the supply of ice which was received daily from San Juan. This was a luxury which the boys had not enjoyed since they left l^ewport ^ews and the rapidity with which ice cream and lemonade disappeared would have made the keeper of a circus refreshment stand grow sick at heart. A concert was given by the band in the plaza each evening and the people enjoyed the music very much. There was a number of fine musicians at Caguas and these with some of the members of the band aiTanged an enter- tainment which proved quite a success. At first the soldiers were not restricted as to their mingling with the natives, but this privilege was abused by a few careless men so that by special order, at the sound- ing of "taps" every man in the command except those on guard was expected to be in quarters.
Frequent excursions were made to San Juan the capital, and on the occasion of the formal possession of the city by the Americans on October 18, Colonel Coit and his staff and a large number of the men and officers of the regiment went to the city to witness the flag raising ceremonies.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 239
Finally, on the 28tli, the command having been relieved by a detachment of the First Kentucky, the regiment marched from Caguas to Rio Piedras. F and K companies had also been relieved and had joined the regiment. The march from Caguas, seventeen miles, was made in five hours, remarkably good time for that climate and the kind of day, for the sun shone almost as hot as it had on August 13, dur- ing the forenoon, and then in the afternoon a terrific rainstorm came up. F company had not started with the main column and these men were nearly drowned when they reached Rio Piedras.
The command took dinner and a good rest at Rio Piedras and at four o'clock all the companies ex- cept B boarded a train and proceeded to San Juan. B company marching across the valley to the capital, earned the record of being the only company which had marched across the island from the Carribean sea to the Atlantic ocean. Two other companies, however, K and L, had marched a greater number of miles.
240 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
CHAPTEK XYI.
THE HOSPITAL CORPS.
The Corps in the Fourteenth— Its Organization and Effi- ciency— Its Effect on Enlistment — Refused Admittance as a Body Into the U. S. Service— Members Enlist in Companies — Details at Camp Thomas — Reserve Ambu- lance Corps— Detachments From the Regiment— Orders for Porto Rico — Reunited on Massachusetts — Again Separated in Porto Rico — Sent to San Juan— Home With the Regiment — Stragglers Arrive.
When the Fourteenth Eegiment of Infantry of the Ohio l\ati<nal Guards assembled for the T)urpo&e of entering the volunteer service of the United States, that organization contained one of the best auxiliaries for hospital service within the United States. It consisted under the state regulations of one major surgeon, three assistant surgeons, one hospital steward, two acting hospital stewards and twenty four privates.
The surgeons were men who had been chosen for their fitness in duties which were liable at any time to occur in street riots and other emergency cases where the state militia was apt to be engaged. The stewards and acting stewards were men who had been trained by education and experience to perform just such duties as would be likely to devolve upon them in times where judgment, alacrity and precision were elements absolutely essential in their qualifica- tions as such ofiicers. The privates were all young men who had taken and nourished an interest in the
FROM PONCE TO ARROYO.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 241
care of the sick and tliey had by study, application and drill acquired such an ability in the matters pertain- ing to active field hospital work that they were ad- mitedly among the best men Ohio or any other state could have furnished a military organization.
It is a fact that the rapid enlistment to the maximum strength allowed by the government in so short a time was due to the fact that it was well known that the Fourteenth was better able to take care of her sick than any other regiment in the state service. The hospital corps was the pride of the regiment and of that section of the state which boasted the Four- teenth Infantry. Everybody fully expected that the hospital corps as it was organized would be a part of the new regiment of volunteers that was being or- ganized, and great was the surprise and the disap- pointment of not only the men and officers of the regiment, but the corps itself when it was learned that the order for the new organization would not permit the muster of the corps. A great effort was mad© by the hospital boys, the members of the regiment and the citizens of the state to prevail upon the gov- ernment authorities to arrange for the preservation of the corps, but the effort was in vain.
When the time came for muster into the United States service, the hospital corps, as was the case with the signal corps, ceased to exist, at least so far as the Fourteenth Kegiment could be concerned. The sur- geon and two assistant surgeons retained the rank which they had held in the old regiment. The two acting stewards were made stewards, but that was all
242 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
of the former corps as ?iich, that was accepted by the United States mustering officer.
The enthusiasm in military matters, the loyalty to the regiment and the patriotism that the men of the hospital corps possessed is shown by the fact that as soon as it was learned that they could not enter the volunteer service with the regiment as an auxil- iary organization they were at once divided among the companies and enlisted as privates of infantry. They served as such until the regiment reached Camp Thomas, when they were detailed by a regimental order to their regimental hospital. They continued, however, to draw rations, clothing and pay from the companies in which they were enlisted, until by di- rection of the war department at Washington they were made regular members of the hospital corps, and assigned to duty wherever, in the judgment of authority higher than the head of the regiment, they were most needed.
The first several Aveeks at Camp Thomas was attended with more or less sickness in the regiment on account of the change of water, diet and climatic conditions and the advantages of a regimental hos- pital corps were apparent to all, but this fact only made the boys of the regiment feel the more keenly the loss of the old militia hospital service. Under the circumstances, the work performed by the medical department, officers and men^ was as able as could have been expected and the fact that the regiments on either side of the camp of the Fourth Ohio suf- fered heavily from death, while the Fourth Ohio did
THE FOURTH 0. V. 1. 243
uot lose a single man, speaks volumes in praise of the discipline of the regiment and the ability and energy of those officers upon whose shoulders rested the responsibility of taking' care of the health of the boys from central Ohio.
Major Surgeon Semeans remained with the regi- ment more than either of the other two physicians. He was detached for a time at Camp Thomas, in com- mand of the Division hospital and he was also absent a few weeks from the Guayama camp on account of his health. He worked night and day, was as untir- ing in his effort to serve the members of the regiment as a human being could be, and while he and his department were handicapped in peculiar ways at times, there was never a time when a member of the Fourth Ohio could not obtain any medical or surgical aid that he required, without going outside the lines of his owTi regiment. Even when it did become nec- essary to send a sick soldier from the regimental hos- pital to places where more elaborate arrangements had been made for his treatment, Captain Harry M. Taylor, one of the assistant surgeons of the regiment, was oftenest the man to look after his welfare. Dr. "Wright, the other assistant surgeon, was also de- tached, having served from early in June until in July at the Division hospital at Camp Thomas. From the time he rejoined the regiment he was on duty with the Fourth Ohio until Company M was assigned by Colonel Coit to assume charge of affairs at Vieques when the doctor was designated to accompany this company as its medical officer. He did not return to
244 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
the regiment until the entire command was reunited at San Juan.
The only members of the medical department who were not at any time detached from the regiment were Steward John Richards and Private Haiice. There was not a man in the Fourth Ohio at the time of muster out who did not consider himself a personal friend "of long standing" with either Stewards Rich- ards or Ritter. The latter was detached from the regi- mental hospital for a short time only at Camp Thomas and for a few weeks with F Company while that command occupied Cayey.
The first medical officer to be permanently de- tached from the regiment was Captain Taylor. On June 8th the doctor was ordered to report to Major James Johnson, of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania regi- ment, to assist in forming an ambulance service for the First Army corps. The doctor left at once and the result of the consultation of these two and other surgeons was the formation of the "reserve ambu- lance corps." This was made up of men detached from all the various regiments stationed at the park. Application was first made for these detachments by the officers of the Reserve corps and as soon as the men reported to the chief surgeon they were as- signed first to ambulance companies and then to am- bulance corps as the exigencies of the service required. Most of the Fourth Ohio boys remained under the direct command of Dr. Taylor. They were together throughout all the Porto Rican campaign until in Oc- tober, when the corps was disbanded at Guayama. Two of these men, Curry James and Stephen Darby,
THE FOURTH 0. F. /. 245
were promoted to the rank of acting hospital steward while in this service.
Those of the Fourth Ohio who were not as- signed to this work were Privates Judkins, Pringle, Wright, Moon and Davis. These were assigned to the First Division hospital while the regiment was at Camp Thomas. The latter was discharged from the service before the close of the war, but the remaining four did not return to their command until in Janu- ary, 1899, after the regiment had returned to Colum- bus in November, 1898. Privates Judkins and Pringle had been assigned to the Third Brigade hos- pital, and Moon and Wright to the Reserve Hospital company.
Up to July 20, Captain Taylor filled at the Re- serve Ambulance corps at Camp Thomas, the offices of Quartermaster, Commissary, Ordnance Officer and Medical Purveyor. At the date mentioned he was re- lieved of all these duties, but was continued in the service of the corps, and on August 20 he was made acting brigade surgeon of the Second brigade, First division, First corps. On September 1st, 1898, at the time of the retirement of Major Frank Boyd, of the Third Kentucky, Dr. Taylor became the commanding officer of the Reserve Ambulance company near Guayama, which command he retained until this hospital was ordered disbanded and the Fourth Ohio started for San Juan on October 6.
On July 20 the ambulance corps was ordered to move from Camp Thomas to 'New Port News, Yir- ginia, preparatory to embarking to Porto Rico. The
246 TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
transport Massachusetts was provided and besides the regular hospital outfit, there was loaded on the Massa- chusetts, eleven hundred horses and mules, and two million rations for General Brooke's army.
The Massachusetts sailed on July 26th and ar- rived outside the harbor at Ponce on Tuesday, Aug- ust 2. Here the Massachusetts struck a coral reef and she was unable to move. The horses were all un- loaded and taken to shore in lighters and this without the loss of an animal.
The Massachusetts was relieved of all its cargo and passengers by the evening of August 7th. As soon as the landing was made, the hospital outfit and the escort went into camp on the outskirts of Ponce. The next morning, Monday, August 8, the start was made for Arroyo where the entire Second brigade was supposed to b^, but which in reality was at Guay- ama, ready for an attack at any moment. The march from Ponce was in command of Captain Williamson, a regular army officer and a member of General Brooke's staff. Lieutenant Fred Whiley, of I com- pany. Fourth Ohio, was with the party, his duties be- ing to look after the stock in general and to take care of Fourth Ohio property in particular. There was an escort of two troops of cavalry, one a Philadelphia troop and the other Troop H, of the Sixth regulars. There were two signal corps companies in the com- mand, but they were only partly armed. What arms they did possess consisted of a variety of revolvers and rifles so badly mixed as to pattern and calibre that no such thinq- as uniformitv existed.
THE FOURTH O. V. I. 247
i
Besides the quartermaster's stores tliat had to be conveyed in wagons, there was the entire mule coral and the horses to be taken. The order of march was in column of fours and a jolly time was seen before the column was ready to move.
The general plan for handling the mules was for one man to ride a mule and lead three. It would probably have been easier for the rider if the rule had been reversed and there had been three men for each mule. They twisted together, kicked, ran, broke their halters and in fact performed all the antics known only to the typical government mule and be- fore the column was ready to start, Dr. Taylor had sent three men to the hospital with a brilliant pros- pect of sending the rest of the command to bed before the column had moved a mile,
Finally, when all was supposed to be ready, the command ^'Forward March" was given and the col- umn proceeded to "march," some of it forward, an- other part backward, to either side, and indeed some of it straight up into the air. That "start" was an ex- perience entirely new to the members of the Fourth Ohio medical department, but it was one they never forgot.
As soon as the mules and the riders became ac- quainted and learned how to "take" each other, better progress was made, but before the command reached Arroyo, seventeen army mules had gone to their re- ward and had to be accounted for by responsible offi- cers after the march was ended and the war was over. It has been said by those who have had experience
248 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
with army mules that these animals are a source of vexation from the time they make their appearance on earth until long after they are dead.
The second night out in the march, the boys met with another experience which they never forgot. The line of march extended along the road known as the "coast road." This road was in many places a mere trail and the mud in the lower districts was al- most bottomless. Progress was naturally slow, but in addition to this mud there were streams to ford, causr ing increased delay and greater danger to life and property, and the entire country was infested with Spanish g-uerrillas. This was the first expedition to go in this direction along this route and a great pre- caution was as a matter of course maintained at all times. As soon as a camp was established strong picket lines were formed and outposts were estab- lished. On the night referred to, a number of shots were heard near one of the outposts and the result was considerable confusion in camp. One of the sur- geons, not a member of the Fourth Ohio, pulled down his shelter tent from over his mate, packed all his be- longings, climbed in his saddle and remained there until daylight, unheedful of the reproaches and jests of his comrades.
It was learned that the shots came from an at- tack on the outposts by a band of guerrillas, but the cavalrymen were too much for the Dons and their attack was easily repelled after the exchange of a few moments' hot firing. The loss sustained to the hospital command was nothing but two Porto Rican
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 249
camp followers were killed. Tlie loss to the attack- ing party was never leai-ned. The march was re- sumed on the following morning and no trouble of this kind was met from that on to the end of the jour- ney.
Arroyo was reached on August 10th and a gen- eral hospital was at once established. It was in exist- ence a very short time, however, for during Thurs- day night and early Friday morning the hospital was moved in a blinding rain to Guayama. Their removal under these circumstances caused considerable un- favorable comment at the time and for some time aft- erwards, but the removal was made in anticipation of a concerted movement of the American forces toward the north and was an absolute necessity. As a mat- ter of fact hostilities were suspended during the next twentyfour hours, but the authorities were certainly justified in making this preparation for taking care of the thousands who would have been wounded had that movement been made.
Hostilities having ceased, preparations w^ere at once made to continue the hospital at Guayama. A location was selected at the top of a broad hill just east of the city. There was plenty of room, a good breeze always stirring and the drainage was perfect. Aside from the fact that there was no shade except what was afforded by the tents, this spot was a delight- ful place for the location of a field hospital. Many a poor fellow was nursed back to health from a burning tropical fever at this hospital and many a poor fellow was mustered out of the service forever
250 THE FOURTH 0. T. I.
within its tented wards during the following months. It continued in use until the forenoon of October 7th, when it was ordered broken up by General Grant.
It was here that Dr. Taylor rejoined the regi- ment. Dr. Semans was at that time himself a patient in the hospital and the health of the regiment was at once placed in the hands of Dr. Taylor, Dr. Wright still being at Isabel Segunda with M company. The enlisted force of the medical department, however, was ordered to San Juan to duty in the general hos- pital there and that duty continued until the regiment was ready to leave the island.
These men had applied for release from that duty but their appeals were not heeded. Colonel Coit ordered them to return to the regiment, but technically they were out of his control and the boys were unable to obey the order. Privates Judkins, Piingle and Moon were still at Ponce ig-norant of the fact that their comrades were returning home. The officers of the regiment did all in their power to secure the release of the boys at San Juan, but all seemed to be in vain until it was decided to stand on the fact that the regulations of the army provide that a traveling command is entitled to what is equal to one-twelfth of its strength in hospital help. This was applied for and granted. Then a member of General Brooke's staff was given the names of the Fourth Ohio men and these were the men assigned to accom- pany the regiment on the Chester. When Columbus was reached it was an easv matter to obtain the dis- charge of the hospital force.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 251
After the entire regiment was reunited at San Juan, the trip back to the starting point was void of interesting incident to the medical department, as they were kept busy from the time the Chester steamed out of the harbor at San Juan until the regi- ment landed at the auditorium at Columbus. Even then while the remainder of the regiment was enjoy- ing a furlough of sixty days, members of the medical department were on duty at the auditorium, read^' to look after the physical welfare of the boys.
This chapter has told in a feeble manner, the work of the hospital force of the Fourth Ohio. "The half has not been told." In fact, if the medical de- partment of the Fourth Ohio were to be given all the credit they deserve, it would be necessary to devote to the story of their labors, a volume much larger than this. To use the language of a western statesman, these men "knowed their dutv and done it well." No one could do more.
252 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
CHAPTER XVII.
ARMY OF OCCUPATION.
What (General Brooke Said of the Fourth Ohio — D Company to Humacao — A Forty Miles' March — M Company by Sea to Vieques — Duty at Fajardo — Trouble at Carolina — Beautiful Country at Aibonito — An Officer Assaulted at Cayey — B Company at Rio Piedras — Record of Events in the Companies Which Americanized the Eastern Third of Porto Rico.
COMPANY D AT HUMACAO.
If a straight line be drawn across the map of Porto Rico from Ponce on the south to San Juan at the north, about one-third of the area and population of the entire island will be seen to lie at the east. This territory and also that of Vieques was not won bj the Fourth Ohio from the hands of the Spanish any more than by the other regiments which perform- ed duty in the war, but it was occupied by the Fourth Ohio during the most critical period in the change from Spanish to American government of the island. Just why this duty was assigned to the Fourth Ohio when there were two other regiments in the same bri- gade and several other brigades in the island is not explained in the orders designating Fourth Ohio com- panies to the different stations, but the language of General Brooke at the time of the departure of the regiment to the states seems to throw considerable light on the subject.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 253
Said General Brooke : ''This regiment is one of the best on the island, volunteer or regular. At one time I had but two volunteer regiments in my com- mand. They were the Fourth Ohio and First Ken- tucky. All the others were either too homesick for duty or they were transformed into regimental hos- pitals."
It was certainly a pleasure for the members of the regiment to realize that this was their standing ^^ith the commanding general, but it seemed strange sometimes to see the other regiments lying about camp doing nothing while they were busy patrolling the eastern third of the island. It required four dif- ferent regiments to take care of the other two-thirds, and even then there were depredations committed in all the eastern part of the island, while the duty of the Fourth Ohio was characterized by a happy, quiet condition of the whole territory in which the regiment was stationed. The provost duty of the Fourth Ohio began on the evening of the capture of Guayama, when Company B was given charge of the town. This was only broken twice, when the other regiments took up the work at Guayama temporarily. Then came the tour of duty of A and E Companies, lasting from the middle of August until they boarded the Chester to return to the states, and of the other companies after September 20 to the same time. After the detachment just mentioned, D company was ordered to Humacao. The order, dated September 17th, reads as follows:
254 THE FOURTH 0. T. I.
"The brigade general commanding directs that you will immediately prepare a company of your regiment to take station at Hiunacao, P. R. They must be fully equipped and take their tentage and thirty days' rations, which the brigade commissary will issue to them. The company must start this afternoon and reach Humacao about 8 a. m., Mon- day, September 19th. They will take a U. S. flag to be raised in the town. If you have no flag, the brigade quartermaster will furnish one. "Very respectfully,
"0. W. FENTEN, A. A. G."
On the receipt of this order Company D was at once designated by Colonel Coit to take this station. This company had on the evening of the parade at the Guayama plaza, the strongest line in the regiment. Arrangements were at once made for the start and before evening of the day on which the order was re- ceived, the company was on its way, completing the march of forty miles over mountain roads and reach- ing their destination at 8 o'clock Monday Morning, September 19th. The following is extracted from the several reports made by Captain Sellers to Gen- eral Grant:
"The company marched to a point about eight miles distant from the regimental camp, when we went into camp for the night. Resumed the march at 5 a. m., September 18th, and marched until noon, when command halted for mess. March resumed at 3 p. m. an^i 4 j). m. Maunabo was reached. From Pnglish-speaking natives and others I learned that
TEE FOURTH 0. V. I. 255
the mountain road was impassable to our wagons. Deeming my orders to reach Humacao at a certain time to be imperative, I took Lieutenant Turner and thirty-five men and started for Humacao, lea\dng rest of company and wagon train in charge of Lieu- tenant ISTewlove at Manaubo, with orders to follow Monday morning.
"We left Maunabo at 4:30 p. m. and arrived at the top of the mountain at 6 p. m., where I ordered a halt. Personally inspecting the road as we came over it, I found that it would be utterly impossible to bring our wagons. I sent word to Lieutenant Newlove to remain in Maunabo until further orders. Marched down the mountain and arrived at Yabocoa at 9 p. m., September 18th. Finding the distance to Humacao could be covered in four hours, I de- cided to stay in Yabacoa for the night. We left the town at 4 a. m. and at Y :45 a. m. arrived at Humacao. I immediately proceeded to the residence of the lieu- tenant colonel in command of the Spanish forces here and found that their orders were not to vacate the town until September 22nd. In order to pre- vent trouble I granted an extension of one hour in order that he might confer with his commanding general, which he did at once. In about a half hour I received the following telegram :
" 'There has been some mistake in the time of your arrival in Humacao. You will now await out- side the town the time when Spanish troops will vacate, which will be on Thursday, September 22nd.'
256 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
"Having no tentage or rations I secured tlie use of a large house about one-half mile south from the town, where we went in quarters to await evacuation of Spanish troops. No sickness of any kind among the men who accompanied me over the mountain to Humacao. The morning of the 22nd Lieutenant ISTewlove with his detail marched from the coast to Humacao and with the entire company I proceeded to the City Hall, and raising the American flag, took possession of the city at 8 a. m., September 22nd. The raising of the flag was done with the usual honors. I then proceeded with a detail to the cus- toms house six miles distant and raised the flag. Will make due examination of the books and papers and report as soon as possible.
"After raising the flag on the 22nd the mayor, clerk of register and notary public refused to serve. I called a meeting of the more prominent citizens and explained that I was not sent here to make changes unless positively necessary, but everything was to nm as before. I asked them to name good native citizens competent to fill the offices and I appointed Jaquine Nasereer Berries mayor and Jose Toro Rias clerk of registers to serve during the pleasure of the U. S. government. The notary public had orders to deliver the records over to the presiding judge and I decided that the judge was competent to name a man to fill the office, and he decided that the proper man was the first deputy, who is now in charge of the office. One-half the council refuses to serve, but I did nothing toward filling their places.
THE FOURTH 0. T. I. 257
"After raising the flag at the customs house, which is on the beach six miles distant, the captain of the port, upon orders of his superior, took mv re- ceipt for the books and papers of his office, and after consultation with the collector of customs I ap- pointed Eugene Lopez to take charge of the office, taking his receipt for the same.
"After cleaning and purifying the barracks, under the supervision of my hospital steward, I moved the company into them. The barracks arc large and in fair condition and situated within one square of the court house. The water supply is very poor, all water having to be hauled from the river some distance away. Have made temporary arrange- ments with the same man who furnished water for the Spanish forces. Our health is good, no one in the hospital.
"The city prison is located in the rear of the court house and has about ninety prisoners. It re- quires fifteen men to guard it, which is the same as the Spanish had. I have a detail of one corporal and six men at the beach. The customs house of Humacao receives all the reports and money taken in by the customs houses at Naugabo and Fajardo. The books and papers seem to be well taken care of. Office and house clean. This office received for the year ending July 1st, '98, from all sources, $85,- 038.36, of which $7448 were received from Naugabo and $16,182 from Fajardo. The man at the cus- toms house seems to be competent to fill the place and I have appointed him deputy collector.
258 TEE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
"On the 28th inst. I ordered Lieutenant Turner to take a squad of twelve men and proceed to Naugabo and raise the flag and infonn the mayor that that town was under the supervision of the United States, and in case of trouble to notify me. Lieutenant Turner returned to Humacao at 6 p. m. on the 28th and reported that he had executed my order and that he had found the situation in that neighborhood quiet."
On the 30th of September, in obedience to or- ders from the brigade commander. Lieutenant Turner and a detail was sent to the towns of Juncas and Piedras for the purpose of raising the American flag at those places. On his return everything was re- ported quiet at Piedras, but at Juncas the mayor re- fused to continue in office under American rule and promptly sent his resignation, turning the office over to the first deputy. This arrangement seems to have suited the deputy first rate, as he wrote the next day that he had everything in his care and in good shape. He was continued in office.
On October 1st Captain Sellers and a squad raised the flag and appointed a new mayor at the town of Yabucao, and on the 4th Lieutenant Turner and a squad visited the town of San Lorenzo. This town was also made American and everything seemed to be very satisfactory with the greater number of people.
When the company reached Humacao, the police officers carried short swords or "machetes." These were taken up and maces given them and they were
THE FOURTH O. V. I. 259
uniformed according to the American idea. The town was thoroughly cleaned from one end to the other and forty prisoners were taken from the jail and put to work on the roads. No rum was permitted to be sold to the soldiers. Eight mounted patrolmen traversed the country immediately surroimding Humacao, and during his stay there Captain Sellers made visits to the other towns, keeping in touch with the civil authorities and rendering them all the aid in his power.
At no time was there any sickness in the com- pany worthy of mention. Steward Burr, of the hos- pital department, and Dr. Wilson, one of the enlisted men who had 2:iven their services as surgeons, were at this station, and in his reports Captain Sellers praises both. The company remained at Humacao until October 25th, when it was relieved by the Forty-seventh New York from the Chester. Humacao was a much better town than Guayama and the soldiers and citizens were much warmer friends. As evidence of the esteem in which the company and its commander were held in the hearts of the people at Humacao, the following copy of a message sent to General Brooke at the time the com- pany was about to leave for the United States is given:
"Since the 22nd of last September, on which floats in this city the American flag, hoisted in the name of your government by the worthy Captain Chas. F. Sellers, this people, sir, have nothing but congratulations for you and for General Grant, for
260 TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
the proper appointment of Mr. Sellers, who has ruled the destinies of this military district with as much justice as courtesy.
"Therefore, today, on having notice that perhaps they would relieve the forces that said captain com- mands, ably assisted by Lieutenant Turner and sub- altern officers, the town en masse, sir, assist me, in order that with the Board of Magistrates, we may formulate a respectful petition before you, to the end that if it is not a hindrance to your plans, you may be pleased to leave Captain Sellers in this city, thus satisfying a strong desire of this town where he has gained so many s^nnpathies by his honesty, good judgment and gentility.
"At the same time the populations of Yabucoa, San Lorenzo, Junces Piedros and Naguabo, by means of their representatives, join in making this, their manifestation.
"Be it known for all time, that our gratitude to you will be profoimd, if we ol^tain, that this chief may continue among us, even though it may be for a little longer time."
ON THE ISLAND OF VIEQUES.
Company D having been assigned to special duty, selected on account of its fine appearance at the big parade in Guayama plaza. Company M was chosen for special service. Notwithstanding the fact that the company presented a fine appearance in itself, it was in bad condition as to commissioned officers. Captain Bostwick had been compelled to go to the
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 261
hospital and finally tu return to the states on accoimt of sickness, and Second Lieutenant George M. Florence had been left at Newport News, Va., on ac- count of typhoid fever. This left Lieutenant Dufiy in command of the company and the only officer present for duty. The lieutenant was capable enough to take charge of the company ''lone-handed" under ordinary conditions, but it was not deemed advisable to detach the company for any length of time with- out giving him some assistance. To this end First Lieutenant Fred S. Whiley, of I Company, was as- signed to M Company, and he accompanied the expe- dition about to be described. Having had consider- able experience with quartermasters' stores. Lieuten- ant Whiley proved himself a valuable addition to the company.
Company M was ordered on September I7th to go to the island of Vieques, a small island some dis- tance off the main land of Porto Rico. In the order the company was directed to leave Guayama on the 19th and to assume control of the government of the entire island. About 2 o'clock Sunday afternoon, however, the order was changed so that the company was directed to leave Guayama on the 18th. The start was made, therefore, about 5 o'clock on the even- ing of the day designated.
Besides M Company there were in the party Colonel Coit, Captain Fenten (General Grant's adju- tant), Captain Wright, who was to look after the health of the company during its stay on the island; Captain Danavin, Civilian Aide Weiner, also of Gen-
262 TEE FOURTH 0. F. /.
eral Grant's staff; the Fourth Ohio band and a num- ber of regimental headquarters attaches. The com- pany left the camp and passed in review at brigade headquarters, then proceeded to Arroyo, which sta- tion was reached about 8 o'clock the same evening. Eighteen wagons were required to remove the com- pany and its baggage, but as soon as everything could be unloaded and stored temporarily in the customs house at Arroyo, the wagon train was permitted to return to Guayama. This work completed, the com- pany put up for the night.
About 3 o'clock the next morning word was re- ceived from Lieutenant Newlove of Company D, an- nouncing the trouble met by their baggage train at Maunabo. Arrangements were accordingly made to help him out of his difficulty. On the morning of the 19th the Stillwater appeared in the harbor and ar- rangements were at once made for the start to Vie- ques. It was 3 o'clock of the same afternoon, how- ever, before the start was made, and sailing under favorable conditions the Stillwater arrived off Mauna- bo at about 5 o'clock on the same evening. Here the stranded baggage of D Company was taken on, but the task of loading was not completed until nearly midnight, and the Stillwater being in strange waters, the trip was not resumed until the morning of the 20th. Sailing down the coast the port of Humacoa, or Point Santiago, was reached, and the D Company detachment disembarked. Colonel Coit, Captain Fenten, Captain Wright, Captain Donavin and Major Hogan, of the Stillwater, also disembarked and went
TEE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 263
over to the city of Humacoa, about five miles inland, to participate in tlie flag raising ceremonies with Captain k'ellers. The party did not return to the Stillwater until late that night, and then they had a bad time of it, the storms of the autumnal equinox being at that time at their worst. Before Point Santiago was left, however, the Stillwater had the experience of making a capture, a Spanish schoon- er having sailed into the harbor. The captain of the vessel readily hauled down the red and yellow banner and his vessel sailed from that day on under the Stars and Stripes. This arrangement was perfectly agree- able to the captain of the vessel, however, as he had requested an American flag to be used for that pur- pose. Word was also received that the company was not exrected to take possession of the island of Vieques until 12 o'clock noon of the 21st.
It was 11 o'clock when the Stillwater arrived in the harbor at Isabel Segunda. Arrangements were at once made for disembarking, and about sixty of the ninety men in the company boarded lighters. The band and all the officers also boarded lighters and small boats and the command was towed into the shore. As the soldiers approached the landing, the rocks to the right were fairly black with people who had rushed to the water's edge to welcome their visitors, shouting at the top of their voices a royal welcome. To the left of the landing, however, there was an entirely different scene. There in front of the beautiful light house were the Spanish soldiers drawn up in line, waiting for their conquerers to take
264 THE FOURTH O. Y. /.
the final step toward the acquisition of more of their territory.
Besides the crowd of citizens, the soldiers were met at the landing by the mayor of the town and by the colonel and captain who had occupied the fort at this station. All the officers except Lieutenant Whiley, who remained with the troops, went ashore and up to the fort, which stood on a promontory back of the town, where the formal arrangements were made for the turning over of the island to lieu- tenant Duffy. All arrangements having been com- pleted for the transfer, word was sent back to the men who in the meantime had effected a landing^ and were waiting imder Lieutenant Whiley at the customs house. By direction of Colonel Coit the company marched to the Episcopal church, which, by the way, was one of the only two Protestant churches in that part of the Spanish possessions. Here the rector, Kev. Been, conducted a praise service. A blessing was formally invoked upon a beautiful American flag, and at exactly 12 o'clock noon, thia flag was officially hoisted above the highest parapet of the fort by First Sergeant C. K. Crum.
This was the first American flag ever raised in that part of the world and by that act another valu- able possession came into the hands of the United States.
Immediately after the flag raising ceremonies, the officers were breakfasted by the customs officer. At 3 o'clock in the afternoon the officers repaired to the apothecary shop of Senor Victor Dutiel, who
SCENE NEAR FAJARDO.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 266
acted as interpreter, and the transfer papers wei*e formally completed and signed by Captain Francisco Rasineras, of the Spanish army, and First Lieutenant Charles G. Duffy, of the Fourth Ohio Volunteer In- fantry, special commissioners for the United States and the Kingdom of Spain. Shortly after this all the officers except those who were to remain on the island, and the band returned to the Stillwater and sailed for Arroyo, leaving Lieutenant Duffy and Company M "monarchs of all they surveyed."
One of the first duties for the company to per- form was to find ''where they were at." Vieques was found to be an island containing 5528 peopla There were two towns, Isabel Segunda, the capital, and Mosquito. The wealth of the island consisted principally of cattle, horses and sugar, while in the extreme eastern end of the island were the "Lai Salinas" lagoons. With the investment of a little capital it was learned that the salt producing in- dustry here would soon develop into importance.
The people were found to excel in every way the inhabitants of Porto Eico. Their homes were more conveniently and more comfortably furnished and the island which they occupied was seen to be a very healthful one. One of the proofs of this con- dition is that during all the time the company was on the island there was not a time when more than three men reported to the hospital in one day and there was usually but one. Soldiers who accompanied the company there weak and frail, left the island sound and healthy men. Dr. Wright, who had made the
266 THE FOURTH 0. 7. /.
sanitary conditions a careful study, reported that of all the Spanish countries he had yet seen, Vieques was the ideal location for a health resort.
The people were willing and anxious to aid the military in reorganizing the government of the island, Not a single outrage was committed in the island while the company occupied it. One of the first reforms worked by Lieutenant Duff}' was the re- organization of the schools and the employment of English-speaking teachers. Other accomplishments M^ere the amicable settlement of the questions of church and state, appointment of a new mayor, municipal government rearranged and two new coun- cilmen appointed, the thorough patrol of the entire island by mounted patrolmen, appointment of new civil and criminal judges, the discharge of six customs officers and the rearrangement of salaries, a thorough cleansing of streets and public buildings and a gen- eral "house cleaning" from one end of the island to the other.
In all this work the citizens entered with a spirit that showed a determination to become good Ameri- can citizens. Isabel Segunda was visited by a United States treasury officer, who made a careful inspection of the customs office and pronounced everything in excellent condition. The work done by M Company was certainly an excellent one and the people of the island thoroughly appreciated all that was done for them. They treated the soldiers with all the hospi- tality known to civilization and feasts and banquets were the order of the day from the first to the last of
THE FOURTH 0. T. I. 267
every week. As the population was largely made up of French the science of good eating was generally pretty well understood by the people, and this knowl- edge was thoroughly appreciated by the soldiers, who were invited to test it. Fine ponies were brought to the fort and placed at the disposal of the troops and cows were brought in so that they might have fresh milk all the time. The very finest cattle were killed for their benefit and the "finest of the land" was at all times at the disposal of the company, whose mem- bers lived like so many kings during their entire stay in the island.
On September 26th Major Jones arrived at the island with money with which to pay the men, but money to them was "as filthy lucre," for although they were "strapped" for the most part, they could get almost anything they wanted without paying for it, as the people were glad to give it to them. With the pavmaster, however, came Lieutenants Hamil and Ward, of Companies B and G, who relieved Lieuten- ant Whiley, his own company having been assigned to similar duty at Fajardo.
A communication by means of the heliograph was established between Isabel Segimda and Fajardo, and this added much to the convenience and pleasure of the company. The same was tried with Humacoa, but the experiment failed. A yacht was placed at the disposal of the company, however, and when the weather would permit, trips were made acro^ the channel and visits made to the other companies in the eastern part of Porto Rico.
268 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
During tlie entire stay of the companj on the island the boys enjoyed the same hospitality and the same friendship with the citizens until on the 26th of October, when the steamer Chester arrived at the harbor with a company of the Forty-seventh New York to relieve them. Although the boys were glad to return to their homes they could not, however, leave the island and their numerous friends without a feeling of reluctance. Just before taldng his de- parture Lieutenant Duffy, Dr. Wright and Lieuten- ants Hamil and Ward were banqueted, and at the close of the festivities, a petition was presented to be conveyed to the president of the United States, asking that Lieutenant Duffy be sent to the island as its governor. This petition was signed by every land owner in the island.
DETACHMENT TO FAJARDO.
The next company to receive orders for detached service was Company I, of Lancaster, Captain Palmer commanding. The company left Guayama a few days after the paymaster had visited the Fourth and the boys of the company were feeling in excellent condition for almost any kind of service. "Anything to get away from Guayama," was the general motto, and I Company was not an exception in this matter. The service of Company I is well described in the report which Captain Palmer made to General Grant, given in full as follows:
THE FOURTH 0. V. J. 269
Fajardo. P. R., Oct., 5th, 1898. Brigadier General Grant, Commanding Second Brigade First Division, First Corps: Sir — In accordance with orders received from brigade headquarters September 26th, 1898, I left Guayama, P. R., with my company en route to Fa- jardo on September 28th, 1898. At 2 p. m. that date we embarked on the "Gypsum King," then lay- ing off Arroyo. The following day at 2:30 p. m. we landed at Fajai'do beach and immediately took pos- session of the customs house and raised the United States flag thereon. In this building I am using a large room as a store for Q. M. and commissary sup- plies, the place being guarded by two non-commis- aioned officers and six privates.
Here I met a Mr. Bird, a prominent citizen of the town. Assisted by him I examined the books of the customs authorities and, as far as I could discern, and according to Mi\ Bird's decision, the books and accounts were in good order.
At 4 p. m. the same day the United States flag was raised over the alcalde's office in this town amidst great rejoicing of the people. On the 30th of Sep- tember I reinstated C. Andrew as alcalde.
This gentleman was legally elected and is their choice. He had to leave here some time ago because the Spaniards would not permit him to remain in the town. On this day the town council met and re- organized. With the exception of two, all the old members were retained. The two mentioned — one a Spaniard, the other a Cuban — resigned because they
270 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
could not bear allegiance to America. At ttis meet- ing the following officials were appointed for the time being: Collector of Customs, Edwardo Alonzo; Paymaster of Customs, Manuel Guzman; Captain of Port, Jovito Perovia; Judge, Jose Garcia. The po- lice force was reduced from nine to five. The cus- toms house staff from ten to seven. The captain of port had two assistants. Both of these men were dis- charged. It is my opinion, these appointments and reductions will prove beneficial.
As there is no land here suitable for a camp without renting it, my men are now quartered in an old theater which was formerly used by Spanish troops. The only water I can obtain has to be hauled from the river near by. It is not of the best quality, owing to the constant rains and the fact that most of the people bathe and wash clothes therein.
At 3 p. m. on the 2nd of October the United States flag was raised in the town of Ceibe. The natives were jubilant and orderly. As the place is quiet there is no need for a guard to be stationed there.
Yesterday morning at 10:15 a. m. the United States flag was raised above the alcalde's office at Loquillo. Here, as in Ceibo, a guard is not necesr sary. I have instructed the alcaldes of both towns that if they ever need assistance to let me know. I will visit these places every few days.
In the towns of Fajardo, Cfeibo and Loquillo there is no disorder, all the people being seemingly well pleased with American occupation.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 271
Before closing tliis report I wish to mention Mr. H. Bird. He has been of inestimable value to me. He has neglected his business to assist me here and in the other towns. Too much credit cannot be given him for his faithfulness.
I have the honor to be, sir, respectfully, L. H. PALMER, Captain Company I, Fourth O. Y. L
One of the advantages enjoyed by I Company, and which also was the source of a great deal of satis- faction to the other companies occupying the eastern portion of the island, was that many of the citizens spoke the English language very well. This made the employment of interpreters less necessary and less difficult. For this reason also, the members of the companies were better enabled to buy provisions from the native markets, and when they were entertained away from the barracks, their pleasure was not marred by being unable to converse with their hosts as had been the case at Guayama and some of the other towns.
It was the good fortune of the company to havek Dr. Samuel K. Carson, a member of A Company, asr signed to them as medical officer. Dr. Carson had no commission, was merely a private, but he was a gradu- ate in medicine, was enthusiastic in his profession, and not only stood well at the college he had just left, but also with every one with whom he came in contact. Fortunately there was little sickness in the company while at Fajardo, but Dr. Carson performed this duty as well and as freely as though he had held
272 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
a commission as a medical officer. His work with the company was highly appreciated by the officers and men of the regiment.
At no time during the stay of the company at Fajardo was there any clash between the citizens and the soldiers and the stay was mutually a pleasant one until the Chester appeared in the harbor and the boys embarked for home.
COMPANY L AT CAROLINA.
The service of nearly all the detached companies in Porto Rico was characterized by the kindly feeling extended to the soldiers by the natives in whose midst they had been sent. One of the exceptions to this rule, however, was the service of Company L, Cap- tain F. M. French commanding. Company L had made for itseK a record at Camp Thomas as one of the best disciplined and most orderly divisions of the regiment, and it was very fortunate indeed that this particular company was assigned to the post it occu- pied in Porto Rico. The company was organized at Mt. Vernon and was made up of the kind of men who are willing to go anywhere or do anything that comes along the line of duty, and the greatest reward they could have received for their work was the con- sciousness that the duty had been performed to the best of their ability.
After the regimental camp had been formed at Guayama, L Company remained in its regular camp position until 2 o'clock on the morning of October 5th.
TUE FOURTH 0. V. I. 273
Orders had been received on the evening of the 4th for the company to take possession of Caguas, a town 32 miles north of Guayama on the road to San Juan. The order stated that this was to be done on the 5th, and it was this fact that prompted the early start and which is evidence of the truth of the state-- ment made in the iii'ct paragrajdi of this account. The order had been issued several days before, but owing to the condition of tlic wires, the message hai not been delivered.
The company was busy until tlie hour mentioncij in getting things in readiness for the march. It was raining hard all night and as wet as they could have been had they fallen into the river, the men started on the thirty-two mile march with as much enthusi- asm as that with which they had left their native town six months before. The march was not only a long one, but it was attended wdth considerable danger, for, as has been said of the road across the mountain to Cayey, a false step in the darkness meant at least a serious accident. The rain continued until daylight, but the men stniggled men-ily along, up the steep mountain road and down on the other side until Cayey was reached. Remarkably good time had been made and fearing that a rest would interfere with the march, to say nothing of the failure to comply with the order to take possession of Caguas on the 5th, Captain French decided to push on and rest at the end of the jom-ney. The speed was kept up and shortly after 10 o'clock on the night of the 5th Com- pany L was in the city they were to occupy, having
274 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
covered the distance of 32 miles of rough, road in twenty hours. But the company had thus obeyed orders to the letter and every member was happy even if he was nearly tired out.
Caguas had been quite a military center for the Spaniards and there was plenty of barracks room \^'ith ample facilities for cooking. As little work as possible was done that night, but the next morning the American flag was raised over the city and Cap- tain French assumed general control. The company remained here until after the regiment proper had ar- rived, when, on the 10th, it was relieved and sent on to Carolina, a town near the northern coast.
The district of which Carolina was the capital embraced the towns of Rio Grande, Cannovinos and Loiza. The American flag was raised at each of these places and the Spanish flags which had previously marked their allegiance, became the property of Com- pany L. This section of the island was one of the richest agricultural districts in Porto Rico, but at the time the company took charge of the district, a gen- eral feeling of unrest prevailed. Two hundred and fifty workmen at the Buena Vista plantation were on a strike and agitators were attempting to induce the employes of the other plantations to follow the ex- ample of the Buena Vista workmen. The strikers at several times had become very violent in their <lemonstrations and attempts had been made to burn the buildings. Two days after the arrival of the company, however, these men were induced to return
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 275
to work and in another two days quiet was restored at the other plantations.
There was other trouble to occupy the minds of the company, a feeling of bitterness having been de- veloped against the Catholic priests of the district. No particular reason was assigned for this, the trouble being apparently a desire upon the part of the natives to do all they could to harass the Spanish citizens, and they expected the American soldiers to aid them in this. On the evening of the 13th a mob collected at Carolina and an attack on the priest was made there. The prompt action of the provost guard pre- vented any injury to the object of their wrath and they were also prevented from following out their plan to bum the cathedral. The crowd was dispersed without serious trouble and quiet was restored for the time being.
At a later hour of the same evening, a man fired a shot at Captain French. The shot was fired through a hedge and the captain was stnick on the hand and forehead with the burnt powder from the explosion. Fortunately the ball missed its mark, and aside from the bums Captain French escaped unin- jured. The would-be assassin made good his escape and in spite of a determined effort to locate him, no clue was discovered to lead to his detection and arrest. He was thought to have been the hireling of a dis- appointed candidate for the office of ma^'^or of Carolina.
There was no further trouble in the district, the natives havin<T been given to underetand that the sol-
276 TEE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
diers were there for a purpose and that that piupoee ■was not to aid in any lawlessness, even though it were an attempt to disturb Spanish citizens.
The health of the company remained very good while at Carolina and the other stations, and the boys thoroughlv enjoyed their duty there. The company remained in the district until Friday, October 28th, when a company of the Forty-seventh jSTew York re- lieved them. They immediately went to San Juan, where they rejoined the regiment and sailed for home on the following day.
DEnJGHTFUL TRIP OF COMPANY K.
When the regiment left Cayey on the morning of October 8th, Companies F and K were left behind. K Company had been assigned to Aibonito and cer- tainly that command received the "best end" in this detachment, for it was assigned to the most pictur- esque and beautiful part of the island. The story of the service at Aibonito and surrounding country is told by Corporal Patrick, a member of the company at that time, but now a promising attorney of Dela- ware, as follows:
"On the morning of October 8th we started from Cayey toward the east, while the other companies kept on north toward Caguas. The boys were still stiff and sore from their little constitutional from Guayama on the night of October 6th, but they had heard wonderful stories of the cool and healthy situation of Aibonito. It was even hinted that eggs could be bought there for three centavos a piece, and
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 277
milk for six centavos per quart, but the man who started this rumor was popularly supposed to be juggling with the tnith, although he protested vali- antly that *he had got it straight from a Wisconsin man who had been there.' All these things helped to cheer up the bovs and as we swung out of town on that beautiful morning all previous cares and hard- ships were forgotten in the enjoyment of the present.
"The first three or four miles were level, and the time was passed with songs and stories. Then we struck the hills and settled down to hard work. Our first halt was made where a little stream tumbles down the side of the hill, and into the brick gutter, which ran along this magnificent military road.
"From this point there was considerable strag- gling, as the men would give up to weariness or yield to the seductive charms of a chicken, or the prospect of a few eggs or a hat full of oranges.
"We soon began to realize the beauty of the country as we looked down into the valleys beneath with their herds of cattle and ponies, and the green bills in the distance covered with tropical vegetation. There was nothing rough or harsh in the scenery ; all was peaceful and quiet in its Arcadian simplicity.
"For miles one could see over the tops of hills and in the hazy distance could catch a faint glimpse of the Atlantic ocean. Some devout native had planted on the opposite hillside some sort of domestic plant in the form of a huge cross.
"From here it was but a short distance to the top of the ridge, and from there the road was compara-
278 TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
tively level. Here we saw many fine specimens of ferns and of coffee and banana trees. At last the head of the column reached the outskirts of the town, where they halted and waited for the stragglers, each new arrival being greeted wdth howls, jeers and all kinds of chaff reflecting on his walking abilities.
'The barracks at Aibonito was a long stone building, built on a slight elevation north of the the town and on the military road. It was designed to accommodate a full battalion. Just west of it was the hospital, also of stone, and a model of its kind. The first night was spent in getting acquainted with the Third "Wisconsin boys stationed there, whom we were to relieve. They were a jolly lot, recruited from Madison and the surrounding towns. They did their best to entertain us with various little social games, and they succeeded splendidly, as several of the boys have reason to remember.
"The fii-st duty to perform was the raising of the flag. The two companies marched down to the plaza the next morning, and lined up in front of the jail. The buglers played 'to the colors,' the companies pre- sented arms and the flag did not go up. It started gracefully enough, but the ring at the top of the flag pole pulled out, and the flag fell to the ground. This frightened the natives, who were enthusiastic over the flag raising, and thought dire punishment would be meted out to them for this hitch in the cere- monies. The alcalde, who weighed 250 pounds, im- mediately started to climb the flag pole, and was only prevented from swinging out from the balcony
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 279
bj two other natives hanging onto his legs. In the meantime one little bare-footed fellow had skipped out on the roof of the jail, but about all he seemed to do was swing his arms and yell. A half dozen others reverently gathered up the flag and it was finally tied to the flag pole at half-mast. In the meantime the buglers had sounded 'to the colors' until they were black in the face, and the men stood at present arms in the boiling sun until the muzzles of their pieces wobbled in an alarming manner. But this ended the ceremony. The officers went to a ban- quet given by the alcalde and other solid citizens of the town, and the men went back to quarters in charge of the first sergeants.
''Life at Aibonito was one of unalloyed bliss as compared with our previous experiences on the island. The town was beautifully situated high up in the hills, and the climate was delightful. Our only duty was guard every four or five days, the rest of the time was spent in Avandering over the hills, hunting out the Spanish fortifications and looking for relics of the Ooamo skirmish. Just south of the town was the famous Aibonito pass, where the Spanish had made preparations for a desperate stand, which would un- doubtedly have been successful against any force that could have been brought up in front, for their ar- tillery commanded the road for miles down the mountain.
"A few days after our arrival a detail consisting of Lieutenant O. O. Koeppel, Sergeant H. A. Costler, Corj^oral O. W. Patrick and Privates S. W. Brown-
280 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
ing, 0. H. Brunn, H. M. Butt, C. L. Jonee, M. C. Mahanay, Robert Reed, W. R. Rider and Edward Rodenfels, were detached and ordered to Barros, a town still liiglier up in the mountains and off the military road. We left Aibonito accompanied by a wagon in which was stored our provisions and most of our equipment. With this outfit we were ordered to go over a trail which we afterward discovered could hardly be followed by a mountain pony. When we found the trail it was plainly impossible to take our wagon over it. A native storekeeper went 60 far as to say that the trail was impassable on foot, owing to recent rains. To add to our troubles it began to rain, nor was it a gentle spring shower, but a genuine tropical down-pour. A council of war was held in the little store and it was decided that we must have ponies and burros with which to transport our baggage. Accordingly we started out in the rain to find them. The party became split up and came trailing in several hours later with a total of three little shaggy ponies, hired, begged and stolen, -with which to convey 1000 pounds of baggage.
"A plantation owner just across the road from the store had placed at our disposal a large coffee house then empty. This was a large, airy building, with a hard dirt floor swept scrupulously clean. Here we bivouacked for the night. Each man put on dry clothing and the hardships of the day were soon forgotten in the enjoyment of a hearty meal prepared at the plantation kitchen and washed down with .•several bottles of rare old wine. The air was de-
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 281
lightfully cool and refreshing from the recent rain, and many a jolly song was sung and stoiy told, till the last candle flickered and went out, leaving us sur- rounded by the gloom of the great building.
"The next morning we started on mules and ponies to Barronchitis. We had gone scarcely two miles when we came to a mountain stream which swallowed up the trail completely, and a little native boy showed us that all that was necessary to ford it was to ride up the bed of the stream about half a mile. Here the trail was discovered. A few miles further on we were royally entertained at a way-side plantation by a lady and her two daughters. We were furnished, without the asking, with a cup of delicious coffee and several kinds of tropical fruits. We were the first Americans they had ever seen.
"The trail at best was bad, but was rendered doubly so by reeent rains, which rendered the red clay slippery and dangerous even for the sure-footed mountain ponies. At one time we would be looking down from a dizzy height at a narrow ribbon of water in the valley below, then would come an al- most perpendicular jdunge down the mountain, over slippery rocks and more slippery mud, but we soon learned to put implicit confidence in our ponies, and it was never once betrayed. Their sure-footedness and sagacity was simply marvelous. At the bottom of the mountain there would be a rocky mountain stream swollen to twice its normal volume by the recent rains. Beyond the trail would perhaps lead through a half mile of boggy valley, then up the side
282 THE FOURTH 0. V. J.
of the next moimtain. This method of travel, to one accustomed to no more exciting mode of locomo- tion than a trolly or perhaps a cable car, was a novelty to say the least. But the hardships were easily for- gotten in admiration of the beautiful scenery which was almost constantly spread out before us in all its luxuriance of tropical coloring. The trip would have been a feast to the eye of an artist, and even to tired soldiers it was ample compensation for pre- vious toils and hardships.
''At Barronchitis we were lodged with an ex- Spanish soldier, who helped us pass the evening by relating his experiences in the Spanish army. He also introduced to us the principal of the village school, who tried his best to prove to us, from a map which he had, that Spain was a larger country than the United States. Spain was made on a large scale and the United States on a small one, so Spain ap- peared to be the larger, therefore Spain was the larger. 'Quod erat demonstrandum.' We were ready bright and early the next morning to continue the journey, all having been provided with ponies or burros by the obliging alcalde. Nothing startling oc- curred on the trip to Barros, where we arrived in the evening and were given an enthusiastic welcome by the men of the Third Wisconsin, whom we were to relieve.
"We found Barros to be a pretty little place, nestling in a valley and surrounded on all sides by mountains. A clear, cool stream flowed almost through the to^vn, affording excellent facilities for an
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 288
early morning bath. Our short stay here was our best experience on the island. The inhabitants, from the alcalde down, did their best to entertain the Americans, and many were the warm friendships formed in that short stay, and I fear the eyes of sev- eral fair 'senoritas' were dim when we marched away. We had special reason to remember Don Pedro Arroyo and his charming wife, at whose house we spent many a pleasant evening.
"Truly our lot was cast in pleasant places, but it was decreed that it should be but for a short time. One day, after we had been there about one week, a detachment of the First Kentucky Mounted In- fantry rode into town to relieve us. The Kentuck- ians were whole-souled fellows from Louisville, and we spent several very enjoyable days with them.
"We left Barros by way of the Coamo trail, which, if anvthing, is worse than the other, but the day was fine, our ponies good and the scenery fully as fine as any we had seen. At one place we could see both the Carribean sea and the Atlantic ocean on the south and north, and on the east Aibonito fully twenty miles away. At another place, as we wound down the mountain the end man was fully one hun- dred feet above the lieutenant, who was in front, and almost perpendicularly below.
"At Coamo our wagons awaited us and carried us to Aibonito, w^here we arrived late at night of the same day. At Aibonito the rumor was rife that we were going home, but it was several days before final orders arrived. We were ready when they did
284 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
arrive and started almost immediately, with mixed feelings of joj and sorrow at leaving that beautiful town. We arrived at Cajey on our return trip, and marched through the town with the precision of dress parade, without a straggler. This w^as all the result of a little wholesome food. The march from Cayey to Caguas was made with equal facility. There we joined headquarters and were once more a part of the Fourth Ohio.
"Company K lost six men by death while it was in the service of the United States. Read, Randolph and Vertner were buried at sea. Lawson's grave is at Fort McPherson, Ahem is buried in the national cemetery at Chattanooga and Ferris lies in the ceme- tery at Guayama, Porto Rico. We were only present at the burial of Ferris and Vertner, but the image of each one of the six is engraven deep in the heart of every member of Company K, and years hence, as we gather around our social camp fires, their simple virtues and acts of comradeship will be sweet mem- ories."
COMPANY F AT CAYEY.
The service of F Company at Cayey was at- tended with considerable interest on the part of both the citizens of the town and of the members of the company. The stay at this station was from October 7th, when the company relieved a detachment of the Third Wisconsin and raised the American flag aa described in another chapter. There were included in the district of Cayey the towns of Barranquitaa and Ceidras.
TEE FOURTH 0. V. I. 28^
On October 8th, 1898, Sergeant K. E. Hull and nine men went over the mountain to Ceidras, the road being so bad and the rivers so swollen by rain, that while the town was only four miles distant from Cayey, they had to go twelve miles and ride native ponies, having a guide to show them the way. While in Ceidras Sergeant Hull found the city ad- ministration in a very bad way, and acting under instructions elected a new city council of twelve men, two new judges and a vice mayor, and readjusted the revenues so that they would be more properly dis- tributed. Formerly they were being devoted en- tirely to the salaries of those in power. This detach.- ment remained at Ceidras until October 19th, when a detachment of the First Kentucky, mounted, re- lieved them, and they returned to Cayey.
On October 9th Lieutenant Harry Grraham and ten men were sent to occupy Barranquitas. They also had to resort to pack ponies, as the roads were impassable for wagons. Everything was quiet at this point. The detachment remained until October 19th, Avhen they were relieved by the First Kentucky Mounted Infantry, commanded by Lieutenant Freid- enhimer. They then returned to Cayey.
The mayor of Cayey and Captain Potter ex- changed visits and worked in unison, the mayor doing willingly everything that was required. The town itself was prosperous enough, being the center of the best tobacco district on the island, but the main plaza,, streets and jail were in bad shape.
286 THE FOURTH O. V. I.
Captain Potter told the mayor that this must .all be changed at once, and before the company left everything was in good condition.
On October 18th Captain Lindsay and his com- pany (F, First Kentucky Infantry), relieved the de- tachment.
One event which for a time cast a glocm over what would otherwise have been a most delightful tour of duty, was the attempt upon the life of Second Lieutenant I^athan A. McCoy. While the assail- ants failed of their evident purpose of killing the lieutenant, they succeeded in inflicting several pain- ful wounds and in creating far more excitement than they had anticipated. The story of this affair as related by Captain Potter is as follows:
"On October 23, at 9 p. m.. Lieutenant IsT. A. McCoy, who was acting as post quartermaster and commissary, was returning from the bakery, where he had been arranging for fresh bread for the follow- ing day. He stopped to look in a store on the comer of the main plaza, when three men quietly stopped behind him. One suddenly struck him a hard blow on the head with a heavy club. As the lieutenant fell, another struck him on the shoulder and arm. He fell, half dazed, to the ground. It happened that two of the company were in the store, and ran to hia assistance as he fell. The men who assaulted him at once made good their escape.
"Lieutenant McCoy was brought to the barracks, covered with blood, but Steward Ritter at once at-
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 287
tended his injuries and in a few moments he told us all he knew about the assault.
"I took twenty-four men, put twelve under Cor- poral Lindsay and took twelve myself, and started for the town. We arrested every suspicious looking |)erson we saw and by 4 a. m., by the aid of an in- terpreter, had secured one of the men who committed the assault. Early the next morning we arrested the other two and placed them all in jail. For the next two days there was considerable excitement in the town and we had to double the guards and have a heavy guard at the jail, but the excitement subsided when they saw that we meant business, and we had no further trouble of any kind.
''We had just secui*ed evidence enough to con- vict the suspected parties when we were ordered away, so the men were sent to Guayama and turned over to the provost guard there for trial. I preferred charges of assault with intent to kill, but have never heard how the trial came out.
''It was intimated to Lieutenant McCoy and myself that the men were liired by Spanish sympa- thizers to kill any American officer whom they could find alone or unprotected."
On October 27th final orders were received to turn over the town and all the military stores at that place belonging to the government, and the detached squad and battalion having returned to Cayey, the company proceeded to Caguas to join what was left of the regiment. Caguas was reached about •dark on the afternoon of the same day, and the next
288 TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
morning the company started to Rio Piedras, cover- ing the distance in good time, but in one of the hard- est rains that were experienced in the island.
COMPANY B DETACHED.
Company B was composed of the kind of men who insisted on doing a part of any work in sight. It was one of the first companies ordered to the firing line before Giiayama on August 5 and the first com- pany to be ordered to provost dutj'. It was B Com- pany that defended the captured town from the north- east to hold the bridge across Guayama creek, a short distance out the military road from Guayama.
Although the company was not detached in the strict sense of the word at Guayama, its tour of pro- vost duty was performed under the immediate super- vision of General Haines and Captain White. Their next detachment was an execution of an order to raise the American flag over the town of Gurabo, about six miles from Caguas. This was a hard march, over a difificult mountain road, mud to wade, hills to climb and streams to cross, but the trip was a suc- cessful one and the Spanish emblem which once marked the allegiance of the towm was brought back to Columbus by Captain White.
The American flag was hoisted above Gurabo October 13, and on October 15, at 7:40 a. m., the company started for Rio Piedras to take charge of the town. The headquarters of the United States forces in Porto Rico had been here and Captain White had the distinguished experience of relieving a major
flag: raising at curabo.
THE FOURTH O. T. I. 289
gcnaral when General Brooke turned over the town.
Rio Piedras, considering its size, was the wealth- iest town in the island. It was six miles from the capital, with which it was connected by the military road and by the Eio Piedras and San Juan railway. Many wealthy people resided there and there were several beautiful residences, the finest of which, per- haps, was the governor general's palace. There were several comfortable cafes where ices and beverages were served and where beef steak or potatoes were prepared without either the use of olive oil or garlic.
The town was eminently Spanish in all its sym- pathies and practically imder Spanish control, nearly all the municipal officials having received their ap- pointments in return for favors shown the Castilian crown or its supporters. These were promptly re- moved and the vacancies filled with the better class of Portoriquenos, much to the satisfaction of the islanders.
The boys of Company B and the natives of Rio Piedras were at all times on very good terms, and there was no occasion during the stay of the com- pany for a clash between soldiers and citizens.
The company remained there until the regiment had been ordered to the United States and a company of the Forty-seventh 'New York had taken charge of the town. Instead of boarding the train ~:ith the first provisional battalion for San Juan, the company marched over the military road and reported for re- assignment next day. This made B company the only one which really marched across the island, from tl) (V.ribcrm soa to the Atlantic ocean.
990 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
CHAPTER XVIII.
HOME AGAIN.
•Orders to Leave — Preparatiou — Arrival of Forty-seveuth New York— U. S. S. S. Chester at Arroyo— At Saa Juan — Leaving the Island— Advantages and Disad- vantages of the Chester — The Honaeward Voyage — Death of Private Vertner — Arrival at New York — Jersey City — Received by the President — To Colum- bus — Reception — Furlough — Assembly — Accident at Auditorium — Muster Out — Concluding Remarks.
While the boys at their respective stations were watching and waiting for orders to go home, Colonel Coit, at Caguas, received official information that his regiment would be relieved by the Forty-seventh New York. He was instructed as to the turning over of government property and other details were given in such an exacting manner that the boys of the regi- ment were satisfied that the time for them to return to their homes was not far distant. Their hopes were confirmed when one fine morning in the latter part of October the U. S. S. S. Chester appeared in the har- bor at Arroyo with the gTeater part of the Forty- seventh l^ew York on board.
The news spread as rapidly as telegraph and horses could spread it, and long befcTe noon every man in the regiment knew that his stay in Porto Rico would be short from that time on. Everybody was happy accordingly. In fact the joy of the members . of the regiment knew no bounds. Everything was
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 291
from that day a hasty preparation and the regiment was ready as to packing up and bidding good-by to the natives long before the Chester was ready to leave Arroyo. It was announced that the boat which had transported the iSTew York regiment to the island would also be used to take the Fourth Ohio home.
A and E companies boarded the vessel as soon as everything was in readiness, but they found the ship to be in a horrible condition with dirt and filth. This condition of affairs was at once reported to Colonel Coit, who at once objected to the use of the ship for the transportation of the regiment on the long voyage to the states. His objection did no further use except to secure the promise that the ship would be thoroughly cleansed before starting for New York, the place designated for landing. The ship was thoroughly cleaned, but the work was per- formed by details from the companies of the Fourth Ohio.
As soon as the companies at Guayama were re- lieved by the ISTew Yorkers the Ohio boys boarded the vessel and she steamed on down the coast to Hamacoa, where D Company was relieved and taken on. Then M Company was picked up at Isabel Segunda and the Chester proceeded to Fajardo, where I Company was relieved and taken on board, after which the Chester continued the trip around the island to San Juan, where she arrived on October 2Yth.
In the meantime F Company at Cayey, K at Aibonito and the detachment of H Company at Aguas Bpenos had assembled at Caguas and
292 THE FOURTH 0. T. I.
joined by B Oompany at Rio Piedras, had reached San Jiian on the evening of October 28th. These companies, except B, had been temporarily relieved by the First Kentucky. L Company at Carolina had gone to San Juan also and the regiment was again intact. The night at San Juan was spent in an old shed just outside the city, but no regular camp was established and the men were permitted to spend the night where and how they pleased. There were numerous restaurants in the city, and as the men still had a supply of cash, there was no suffering on ac- count of lack of provisions.
The crew of the Chester completed the renova- tion of the ship during the night and the next morn- ing, when the loading of baggage was begun. San Juan was interesting to the boys, especially the de- fenses of the city and the effect of the bombardment by the American fleet in July. All the places of interest were visited, so that at first the quartermast- er's department could not get men to load the bag^ gage. Captain Vincent and Captain Potter came to the rescue, however, and details were soon secured and the horses and baggage were loaded in quick time. The regiment itself did not board the vessel until about 4 p. m., although the Chester had been under orders to sail at noon.
It was nearly dark when the Chester weighed anchor and steamed out of the harbor. The TJ. S. S. S. !N"ewark, one of the strongest vessels in the navy, was stationed in the harbor, and when the CHiester began to move toward the bay, the band oa the
THE FOURTH 0. V. I. 293
Newark played "Home Sweet Home." This compli- ment was answered by a cheer from the men and a selection from the Fourth Ohio band, when the Newark played another tune, answered by "Yankee Doodle" by the Ohio band. Cheer after cheer was exchanged by the representatives of the army and navy, and with the firing of salutes, the tooting of whistles and the ringing of bells, the Chester steamed slowly out the harbor to the bay and turned her course toward New York.
It was quite dark when the Oliester reached the open sea and the dim lights from the city gave the general view of the island where the boys had seen 80 much hard service, a sort of spectral appearance, exactly in keeping with the final impression of Porto Rico and Porto Ricans in the minds of most of tb® men.
The voyage to New York was less comfortable in some respects and more comfortable in others than the voyage on the St. Paul had been. There waa less room on the Chester and quarters were not so comfortable, but better provision had been made for rations and cooking, and the men were supplied with warm meals. The weather was fine during the greater part of the voyage, but a storm came up during the third night out and those members of the band and non-commissioned staff and some of the members of the companies who had slept on th« decks were compelled to seek shelter inside. All the available room had already been taken up, but the men who had not been assigned to any particular
294 THE FOURTH 0. T. I.
part of the ship, appropriated the halls and compan- ion ways for their quarters. This was objected to by the quartermaster of the A^essel, but Colonel Coit in- sisted that those men would remain there and they did. Some slept in the dining room, and others in the halls and passage ways, wherever they could find space enough to lie down. The officers were crowded into small state rooms and they were not much more comfortably situated than the men.
The only occurrence to mar the pleasure of the voyage from San Juan was the sudden death of Al- bert L. Vertner of K Company. The young man had not been feeling well, and the hospital force had prescribed what seemed to be the proper treatment, but their efforts were in vain and the young man died almost in sight of his native land.
The remains were buried at sea and the occasion was given all the honor that could be bestowed under the circumstances. Vertner was a popular member of the company and the death was a shock to all its officers and men.
The first time land was sighted after the Chester had left San Juan was on the afternoon of jSTovember 2nd, when the hills and steeples of the United States again came into view. There was very little to see and nothing to make out, but when the boys realized that they were once more in sight of their native laud they nearly went wild with glee.
The band played "America," "Hail Columbia" and other national airs, and the regiment answered with cheers. Everybody on the vessel strained
TEE FOURTH 0. V. I. 295
€very nerve to get a glimpse of the laud they loved so well and all was excitement on board the Chester for the remainder of the day.
Passing Sandy Hook, the Chester steamed on up the harbor until dark, when she cast anchor until a pilot boarded her, to direct the way to the quarantine station. The boys were a little disappointed at hav- ing to remain on the ship another night, but the as- surance that it was the last one quieted their unrest. An effort was made to secure pel-mission for some of the officers to go ashore before morning, but this could not be done on account of the rules of the c^uarantine.
^Yhen the boys woke up on the morning of the 3rd they could not see from one side of the vessel to the other. A dense fog had collected in the harbor and fears began to be entertained that another day would have to be spent on the ship, and the dissatis- faction that was created by this idea can easily be imagined. Finally, about 8 o'clock, a quarantine officer boarded the Chester and made a thorough in- spection of the ship. He found the vessel in an elegant condition considering the large number of passengers, horses and baggage she contained, so per- mission was quickly granted to land. The fog pre- vented a landing, however, and all that could be done was for the Cbester to proceed further up the harbor, where she waited near the base of the Statue of Liberty for the fog to disappear. Captain Dona- vin and several other members of the regiment went ashore with the quarantine ofiicer, loaded down with
296 THE FOURTH 0. V. I,
messages from the soldiei*s to their families and friends at home, announcing the arrival of the regi- ment in New York.
The fog did not disappear until afternoon and the work of unloading was not completed until al- most evening. It was almost night when the regiment touched land at Jersey City, all the baggage and all the men having been taken off the Chester by a large ferry boat. A train of three sections was in waiting at the depot at Jersey City, but the train did not leave there until about midnight the night of October 3rd. During the wait in Jersey City the boys were given the liberty of the town, and nearly all of them made a visit across the river to New York, where they did just what would be expected- — bought the largest meal they could find. Beef steak, oysters, butter, fresh bread that was made to be eaten, pie, red apples and the thousand and one things that had been wanted, but which could not be obtained in Porto Rico, were gathered together in baskets, bags and stomachs in quantities that under ordinary cii^ cumstances would have fed an entire army for a week. A committee of Columbus gentlemen, repre- senting the citizens of central Ohio, had come to New York to meet the regiment at the moment it reached American soil and to extend to them a hearty welcome. This compliment was more than the of- ficers or men had anticipated, and it was accordingly appreciated. Lieutenant Colonel Adams, who had left the island from Guayama on leave of absence, came to New York from his home in Delaware to
THH FOURTH 0. V. I. 297
greet his comrades and to again share with them the joys or sorrows of the few remaining days of absence from home. The gentlemen who had met the regi- ment as a committee of greeting were Messrs. Buck- master, Miller, Donavin, Helwagen, Thrall and Huling. Mr. Buckmaster was a railroad man, and being one of the warmest friends of the regiment in Ohio, he did all in his power to assure the safety and comfort of the men on the homeward trip. Captain Thrall had a special interest in the regiment, having come to greet his son, who acted in the capacity of regimental clerk until the regiment was mustered out of the service. The other gentlemen had been active also in securing orders for the return of the regiment to the United States, and they naturally felt an interest in seeing that the boys had a good time after they were once in the limits of the United States.
This was but the beginning of the hearty recog- nition of the service performed by the regiment. At every station on the way from New York to Colum- bus crowds gathered at the railway stations to extend greetings.
The stay at Jersey City, although but eight hours, made many more friends for the Fourth Ohio. Several other regiments had landed at that place after foreign service and the first thing they had done when they reached the place was to indulge in all the intoxicants the place afforded. They were noisy and ungentlemanly and their action in the city and in the vicinity was anything but becoming the conduct
298 TEE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
of an American soldiejr. In marked contrast to thir conduct the members of the Ohio regiment con- ducted themselves after the fashion of the gentlemen they were, and this conduct at once earned the ad- miration of the officers and citizens of the entire city. The contrast was the subject of favorable comment in the I^ew York papers the following day.
Leaving Jersey City about midnight, the regi- ment went over the Baltimore and Ohio railway to Washington, where they arrived shortly after day- light, and where the command was accorded an honor which had not been extended to any other regiment in the service. As soon as breakfast had been served, the regiment was formed and following an escort of mounted policemen, marched to the White House, where it passed in review before President McKinley and a number of other prominent gov- ernment officials. After passing the reviewing stand, the veranda at the White House, the regiment marched to the street, where aims were stacked and left under guard while the res^iment returned to the executive mansion to be received by the president. Here the head of the American government paid a high tribute to the service of the regiment, and feeling thus greatly honored, the boys returned to the rail- way station to resume the journey home.
Leaving Washington about 5 o'clock, the trains bearing the regiment passed through the District of Columbia and Maryland, and bounding across the Allegheny mountains, reached the Ohio line about daylight. When the boys found themselves on
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 299^
Buckeye soil once more they hardly knew how to act. Some cheered, some sang songs and some wept for joy. "I knew the moment we crossed the river," said one fellow, "by the air I was breathing." It was indeed a proud moment for every member of the command, but nothing as compared to the arrival in Columbus. The w^eather was chilly, and having just come from a land where frost is unknown, and being dressed accordingly, the cold had a rather bad effect on the health of the men, but in marked contrast to the position of the mercury, the reception extended to the regiment by the people of Columbus was cer- tainly "warm." Great crowds of people had come to the railroad to get glimpses of their friends or rela- tives as soon as they set foot in the capital of their native state.
The train from Kew York had been run in three sections and as soon as the entire train had reached Columbus the regiment was formed and with an escort of all the civic and military organizations of Columbus, made a tour of the city, passing in review before Governor Bushnell. A more extensive demonstration was never seen in the capital city than that in honor of the return of the Tourth Ohio. The parade was dismissed at the Columbus Auditorium and the regiment was then marched inside, where there was in waiting for them a grand feast, prepared by the citizens of Columbus. After enjoying lunch the entire command was dismissed, the members of the Columbus battalion going immediately to their homes and the companies of the other b. ttalions tak-
300 THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
ing first trains out of the city for their respective home towns. At Washington Court House, Marion, Portsmouth, Lancaster, Delaware, Mt. Vernon and Circleville, demonstrations similar to those at Co- lumbus, but on smaller scales, were made, and every man in the regiment was given a most sincere wel- come. A furlough of sixty days was granted to aU the members of the regiment except the surgeons, adjutant, quartermr ,ter, commissary and ordnance officers, who were on duty at the Auditorium in Co- lumbus during the entire time of the furlough.
On January 5 th, after the regiment had reached home on JSTovember 6th, the command was again asr sembled and remained at the capital until the 19th of January, when the final payment and muster out was made. During their stay in Columbus the men were comfortably quartered at the Columbus Audit- orium. Rows of bunks were constructed for sleep- ing apartments, but the men were permitted to go elsewhere if they chose. On the first night of the stay in Columbus three tiers of bunks occupied by H, M and E Companies collapsed anJ twenty men were caught in the falling timbers. E^o lives were lost and no permanent injury was sustained, but the accident was of such a nature that it was regarded almost a miracle that none were killed. While in Columbus the men were fed at restaurants and each man received three hot meals each day, an experi- ence thy had not known during all the time they were in the service.
THE FOURTH 0. T. I. 301
While the accounts were being made up between the accountable officers and the government and be- tween the officers anrl men, an order was received from Washington direc^ ing that the sum received by each enlisted man as pay frnm the State of Ohio for the service f:om April 25th to May 9th be deducted from the i ay due him at the time of final settlement with the government. This pay had been received while the regiment was at Chickamauga park and the state had filed an account with the government authorities, asking that the state treasury be reim- bursed for the money expended in preparing for the war. The claim would have been allowed, but the government would have reimbursed itself from the men themselves, thus denying them the sum allowed by the state for active service. This was objected to very vehemently on the part of the members of the regiment and their friends, and the matter was only settled by the withdrawal of the claim by the state authorities, thus securing for the men all the pay due them.
As soon as the men received their pay from the two government paymasters at the State House, they were handed their discharges and dismissed. Some of the officers who, having lost some triplicate re- ceipt or some insignificant account or technical docu- ment did not receive any pay at the time the men were paid, but they were discharged from the service. As soon as they were relieved from their accounta- bility to the government, however, the money due them was promptly paid.
302 THE FOURTH 0. 7. I.
With honorable discharges from an honorable sei-idce in their hands, the men were free to go where and when they chose. Some of them remained in Columbus several days, but all soon returned to their respective homes to resume the citizenship which they had temporarily abandoned. These men had shown by the manner in which they had performed every exacting duty, that they were made of the stuff which makes good citizens and that they were of the class of men who help dignify the laws of the country which they had defended.
The men returned to the farm, to the office ^nd to the factory, there to follow the puiv riuits which they had chosen in the earlier part of their careers. Many were at once tendered the posi- tions which they had occupied before they had left for the front, and most of the remainder soon obtained profitable employment, but unfortunately a few were compelled to seek many weeks before they could secure means to support themselves and their families.
In the transformation from soldier to citizen the Columbus Board of Trade was a valuable aid. Its secretary, Mr. J. Y. Bassell, had experienced the trials attending the closing of a mihtary career and he was able and willing to help the boys all he could., The Board of Trade had manifested a keen interest in the regiment while it was being prepared for service and after it had taken up its place in the field. By the energies of this organization, all the field officers of the regiment had been presented with horses, and while the regiment was in Camp Thomas, a beautiful
THE FOURTH 0. T. I. 303
Stand of colors was presented by the Board of Trade. This flag was carried all through the Porto Rico campaign and returned to Columbus, but not without the marks of battle. There are several bullet holes in the starry emblem which mutely tell how the ,?ommand performed its duty, but there is not a stain on its silken folds which tell of a deed of which any man in the regiment or one of its friends need be ashamed. In return for this flag, the Spanish flag which had marked the allegiance of the city of Guayama was given to the Board of Trade, a present from the Fourth Ohio. There were other friends who watched the every movement of the regiment besides the Board of Trade, and the personal friends or families of the members of the regiment. Public spirited men, who regarded every man in the rank and file of the regiment as a son or brother, were ever watchful to supply every possible comfort which the government did not afford. Colonel James Kil- bourne, Colonel George D. Freeman, Colonel Knauss, the W. 0. T. U. and many other societies and private citizens, did all in their power to make the bovs in the field comfortable, their famihes at home happy and to look after the welfare of all when they re- turned to their homes. At Columbus the wives, sisters and mothers of the boys formed themselves into a society for the purpose of rendering all the aid they could, and many were the comforts that these good women were able to provide where homes would otherwise have remained cheerless.
304 THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
The Fourth Ohio, as it was known in the Span- ish-American war has ceased its existence except in the hearts of those who gave it and in the pages of history. Central Ohio was well represented in this effort and the brilliant record of the Fourth Ohio in the Civil war was as successfully emulated as the circumstances of the service permitted. A soldier's only duty is to obey orders and the Fourth Ohio has set an example in this which it will be well for suc- ceeding regiments to follow. The Fourteenth In- fantry is still a state organization, and if its future may be judged by the past, it will ever remain a monument to the valor of Ohio's citizen soldiery.
TEE FOURTH 0. Y. I. 305
ROSTER
OF THB
KOURTH O. V. I
FIELD, STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Colonel Alonzo B. Coit
Lieutenant-Colonel C. Barton Adams
Major John C. Speaks
Major John F. Sellers
Major Charles V. Baker
Surgeon |]dward M. Semeans
Assistant Surgeon Thompson B. Wright
Assistant Surgeon Henry M. Taylor
Adjutant Mac Lee Wilson
Chaplain James C. Shindel
Quartermaster George B. Donavin
Battalion Adjutant T. Perry Williams
Battalion Adjutant Edward M. Fullington
Battalion Adjutant Harry W. Krumm
Regimental Sergeant Major Frank C. Radcliffe
Q. M. Sergeant Charles L. Taylor
Chief Musician Jesse Worthington
Principal Musician Lewis F. Lytle
Principal Musician Charles J. Rulo
Principal Musician George F. McDonald
Hospital Steward John W. Richards
Hospital Steward Louis F. Ritter
Hospital Steward F¥ank H. Burr
Battalion Sergeant Major Charles W. Finley
Battalion Sergeant Major Lewis F. Philo
Battalion Sergeant Major Charles E. Creager
306
THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
BAND. Harry A. Davis Acting Q. M. Sergeant
Beitler, Claude M. Brooke, Philo R. Davie, J. B. Davies, David E. Davis, Shell P. Davis, Horace W. Dougherty, Jerome. Ebner, Jacob C. Feeney, Joseph L. Getz, Oscar D. Hane, Vv'illiam A.
TRIV'ATES.
Hosfield, Edwin J. Lilley, Frank P. McFarland, William R. McNaughten, Thomas R. McRae. William C. Meihlheim, Leo C. Rorick, Jonas M. Thomas, Harry H. Williard, Ezra H. Zeisler, Valentine.
HOSPITAL CORPS.
Edward Steve Darby Acting Steward
Curry W. James Acting Steward
Davis, V/illiam R. Dixon, Charles A. Getz, John F. Hance, William T. Judkins, William J. Kelley, John M. Moon, Oliver C.
PRIVATES.
Oglesby, Nicholas B. Powell, John W. Pringle, Leroy. Rawley, Paul J. Sherwood, Milton W. Stimmell, John S. Wright Ed. M.
TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
307
COMPANY A.
Captain Joseph J. Walsh
First Lieutenant Harry Graham
First Lieutenant Clyde R. Modie
Second Lieutenant Cyrus W. Grandstaff
First Sergeant William C. McConnell
Q. M. Sergeant L- B. Andrua
Q. M. Sergeant G. B. Kilboume
SERGEANTS.
A. C. McGuire. Ed. Stalter.
J. A. Auld. J. D. Acker.
CORPORALS.
F. H. Stevenson. Harry Syfert.
O. H. Bonn. F. R. Thrall.
C. K. McClelland. Emil Meyer.
J. F. O'Shaughnessy. G. E. Walsh.
Frank Graham. A. G. Smith.
F. C. Lockhart. Jos. F. Tate.
Musicians Preston Coit, T. R. Wirick
Artificer M. P. GrandstafE
Wagoner Ollie E. Brixner
PRIVATES.
Barnes, P. M. Barnes, F. B. Beecher, J. P. Bennett, F. U. Bergwitz, W. E. Bright, W. S. Brown, W. S. Buskirk, T. M.
Leuze, C. M. McLaine, S. H. McClure, C. R. McMeekin, Joseph. Mihan, M. M. Musselman, Ferry. Marguardt, F. E. Noble, Otho.
308
THE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
Carder, T. A. Carroll, Frank. Carson, S. K. Cavlnee, E. M. Chamberlain, B. W. Chatterton, T. H. Clawson, Burnes. Cockins, R. H. Cott, E. P. Cramer, H. H. Cunningham, E. T. Duffy, Thomas. Edgington, W. J. Evans, T. J. Ewing, J. H. Fleck, J. S. Fleck, H. N. Ford, C. L. French, S. N. Gorley, Clarence. Graham, J. A. Guitard, C. B. Hanway, A. L. Hughey, C. F. Hummell, C. E. Jeffrey, P. W. Johnson, E. J. Klotts, E. P. Knouff, 0. M. Lazenby, C. B. Olds, J., Jr.
Fangle, D. C. Patterson, W. S. Pierce, C. O. Pirt, Joseph. Price, Frank C. Reichard, G. W. Riddle, Carlton. Riffee, C. W. Romanis, Edwin. Roy, C. F. Sackett, L. A. Schertle, D. B. Schuman, John. Scringer, A. L. Shearer, O. F. Sigrist, C. F. Simms, Irwin E. Smith, A. L. Strait, J. D. Teter, C. K. Thompson, W. H. Walker, John W. Wallace, H. D. Weadon, J. S. Webster, D. E. Wells, Ellsworth. Whitman, H. Whitney, C. A. Williams, D. M. Williams, J. W.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
30iJ
COMPANY B.
Captain Will S. White
P^rst Lieutenant Frank L. Oyler
Second Lieutenant William B. Hamill
First Sergeant ^Villiam P. Stevenson
Q. M. Sergeant Robert Swigert
SERGEANTS.
Frank G. Jacokes. Charles A. Hunt.
Frank T. Ethell. Tilden T. Jones.
CORPORALS.
Charles E. Bolin. Joseph Davis.
John M. Conti. Charles R. Wagner.
S. Perry Capell. Edward H. Smith.
Roy B. Shook. Frank E. V/illiams.
Lewis M. Stevenson. Henry Kaiser.
Joseph B. Clemens. Walter C. Stout.
Artificer John W. Warman
AVagoner Fred Buckingham
Musician Herbert A. Miller
PRIVATES.
Arthur, Joseph. Loudenslager, Charles S.
Angell, Edgar F. Long, Jacob F.
Anderson, William M. Milligan, Elmer J.
Butler, Wm. J. Morris, John C.
Brown, James W. McDonald, James E.
Brown, Olliver T. McDaniels, Charles H.
Brown, Charles F. Morris, Edward F.
Bold, Eber L. Nunamaker, Norman C.
Bennett, Charles C. Noel, William J.
Barr, Emory E. Osborn, David G.
Cumminns, Henry R. O'Harra, Cornelius C.
Coons, Jasper N. Robinson, Morton W.
310
TEE FOURTH 0. Y. I.
Coss, Frank S. Cohn, William. Dally, Vincent L. Deuel, Joseph R. Dauterman, Frank C. Dakin, Perry E. Elder, Arlie. Farahay, William I. Gregory, Charles F. Green, Elmer E. Graham, Earl W. Grove, Frank E. Geis, Henry. Grube, Arthur F. Hedges, Robert L. Heiman, Simon. Hankee, Fred. Harper, Martin A. Harrison, Foster S. Handley, Moses E. Hopkins, Harry H. Hayward, Herbert. Ingraham, Robert B. Keyes, Edward, Jr. Kessie, John. Kessie, Fred C. Kuhn, George A. Lytle, Andrew G. Lane, Cory L.
Steinel, Jacob. Shuflin, Harry W. Sines, James G. Stewart, Elmer E. Stoker, Jacob, jr. Shipley, Clarence J. Shirrey, Burrell M. Swiger, William S. Smith, Charles A. Sponsler, Charles E. Sperry, Henry C. Snyder, Frank. Smith, George B. Thompson, Robert C. Taylor, Ralph W. Thrush, Jesse. Trone, Wood. C. Van Gilder, Lewis H. Van Eaton, Albert H. Wolfel, Arthur. Watsek, Adam E. Woolard, Asa. White, Carey B. Walker, Arthur H. Wiley, William H. Willhide, Melvin B. Woodmansee, Charles M, Werner, Edward J. Williams, Joshua L.
THE FOVRTE 0. Y.
311
COMPANY C.
Captain Thomas R. Biddle
Captain Arthur W. Reynolds
First Lieutenant Arthur W. Reynolds
First Lieutenant Frank A. Alexander
Second Lieutenant Frank A. Alexander
Second Lieutenant Edward M. Biddle
First Sergeant Edward M. Biddle
First Sergeant V.'illiam E. Stimmel
Q. M. Sergeant Harry L. Barker
SERGEANTS.
Paul Armstrong. Marvel W. Bliss.
S. Riley Harrod. Charles D. Rowland.
Harry H. Nichols.
CORPORALS.
Benjamin F. Morris. Frank C. Biddle.
Harry E. Eichorn. Richard A. Twaddel.
Clinton C. Martin. Otto F. Cook.
Charles F. Eastner. Henry T. Helwagen.
Adam T. Renck. Edwin Steubenrauch.
Charles O. Schoonoover. Edward M. Slemmons.
Musicians Charles F. Bauer, Claude Putnam
Artificer Lewis M. Carter
Wagoner Samuel Ford
PRIVATES.
Athern, Clarence. Minnick, Robert T.
Buehler, John W. Mann, Allen D.
Baehr, George. Mayfield, Victor H.
Baehr, Charles. Munk, Andrew J.
Balsley, Lloyd W. Mugrage, Ed.
Bierhalter, Joseph. McCoy, Lorin. '
Butler Arza A. McLeoid, Albert E.
311
TEE FOURTH O. V. I.
Blackburn, Thomas F. Charles, William S. Cordner, John O. Crawford, John J. Cowley, Arthur. Corwin, John. Croninger, John. Dearth, Earnest. Dent, Joseph W. Dixson, Lovett T. Dubois, Edmond L. EJaston, Fred L. Fix, Charles W. Groves, William P. Hickey, Aaron. Haines, Harry L. Hesley, Frederick. Hook, John. Horlocker, Noble W. Haniwalt, John C. Hoover, Asa. Hampton, Wade. Ingersol, Charles G. Jones, William. Jones, Samuel T. Kreuz, Karl. Losch, Joseph. Lloyd, Charles O. Lioveland, Fred. Lewis, Frank B. Molloy, Theopholis. McFarland, Charles.
McCalley, Hiram. McClurg, Charles B. Parsons, Arthur. Renck, Charles F. Rhodes, Simeon A. Roberts, Matthew S. Rodgers, James L. Ross, William. Rowe, William I. Spaith, Edwin Arthur. Shoemaker, Edward B. T. Stephens, Lorin. Smith, Benjamin. Smith, Jesse F. Smith, Carl F. Southcomb, Robert P. Steck, Henry J. Snead, James. Sullivan, John. Taylor, Charles K. Thomas, George. Thompson, Harry R. Vetter, John. Whip, Harry C. Wells, Ira E. Withers, Austin A. Wallets, Frank B. Watzek, Frank. \*ineman, Glenn G. Yearding, William T. Yost, William J.
THE FOVRTU 0. V. 1.
313
COMPANY D.
Captain Charles F. Sellers
First Lieutenant J. Richard Turner
Second Lieutenant Frank H. Otte
Second Lieutenant Abe Newlove
First Sergeant Abe Newlove
First Sergeant Allen C. Edson
Q. M. Sergeant Thomas J. Alexander
Q. M. Sergeant George P. Zwerner
SERGEANTS.
Charles J. Greene. William R. Kennedy.
Prank Mills.
CORPORALS.
Charles Orahood. Conrad Kirchner.
William Johnson. Will Saygrover.
Charles Ford. Joseph Mullen.
Elijah A. Horr. Joseph Mills.
Walter P. Gregg. Arthur H. Armine.
Lewis Orahood. Elmer Hedges.
Musicians F. Pearl Taylor, Bertram G. Marls
Artificer John Lansdown
Wagoner Anderson Williams
PRIVATES.
Armine, Harry G. Lyons, Charles.
Anderson, Willis. Lee, Ell M.
Alden, Eujean. Lower, Clifton.
Andrews, Edward. Lee, James.
Beaver, James N. Mitchell, Pearl.
Beaver, Wassen. Mathers, Charles.
Bartlett, William. Martin, Robert B.
Blake, Layton. Maris, Harry.
Bell, Joseph S. Mills, Charles.
314
THE FOURTH 0. T. I.
Bradley, Frank C.
Brake, Holly O.
Bishop, Otto.
Beck, James.
Brown, Elmer.
Connell, Edward.
Conner, Thomas.
Clapham, Frank.
Converse, Harrj'.
Clastic, George.
Church, Edward.
Dines, William L.
Donohoe, Fred.
Daugherty, Benjamin.
Fisher, Victor.
Gosnell, Otto.
Greene, Huitt.
Goff, Walter. Hush, George B. Hudson, Edward. Hensley, Delbert. Hinton, Mack. Holycross, Frank L. Hill, Samuel. Johnson, Alia. Johnson, Joe. Jones, Allen. Jones, John. Kees, Isaac. Lawrence, Joe. Laird, Charles M. Mullen, George.
Moon, Spencer.
Martin, William S.
New^love, Lute.
Nelson, Edward.
Nelson Fred W.
Otte, Lewis.
Orr, Lee.
Plotner, Bert.
Perry, Charles A.
Phelps, Earl.
Rausch, Will.
Randall, Edward.
Sparks, Harry.
Schlegel, George, Jr.
Shetterly, Carson B.
Shetterly, Joseph E.
Smith, Albert.
Shuler, John. Sloop, Artemus. Sheridan, Chester. Tway, Carl. Taylor, Harry W. Turner, Charles M. Tossey, Defro. Vaii, Reuben. Williams, William. Weber, Walter. Webb, Luther. Wise, William F. Walcut, William. Williams, Charles F.
THE FOURTH 0. T. I.
315-
COMPANY E.
Captain William L. Vincent
First Lieutenant Charles O. Updyke
Second Lieutenant James M. Fugaie
First Sergeant Charles E. Stogdon
Q. M. Sergeant Charles E. Jarnagin.
SERGEANTS.
Orestus Hardway. Charles L. Sexton.
Lohn Gillum. Michael Daily.
CORPORALS.
Robert Bonham. John S. Reeder.
Henry D. Faudree. John W. Cook.
Lon Stevenson. Harvey W. Smith.
L. S. Updyke. Frank Sammons.
Herbert C. Marquett. Will S. Gray. Frank W. Potter.
Musicians Odd F. Ott, William N. Eyre
Artificer Eugene Conway
Wagoner Charles Bitzer
PRIVATES.
Allebaugh, Alvin. Krebs, Adam.
Armstrong, William C. Kunz, Charles.
Baker, Morris O. Kidd, Chedister C.
Bayse, W. H. Kneisley, Carey W.
Bales John A. Marine, A. E.
Bales, Howard. McCormick, Harvey.
Bateman, Frank M. Mitchner, J. H.
Beeler, John C. Mercer, Stew^art.
Baker, Richard A. Murphy, Arthur L.
Bellar, Milt. McCord, Elmer G.
Brown, Americus. McDonald, James E.
Butler, John H. McDonald, Norman*
316
THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
Cook, James F., Jr. Coffman, Nathan J. Coffman, Elwert. Cook, Scott. Creamer, Michael S. Clemens, Ramie. Cubbage, Johnson. Dawson, Jacob H. Douglass, Ed. Doddridge, John A. Daniels, Tyra C. Davis, Isaac C. Dearth, Charles C. Doyle, Charles V7. Ely, Clyde B. Ervin, Floyd D. Ford, Franklin P. Figgins, Charles E. Flint, William E. Grass, John. Hardy, Andrew J. Kolcomb, Hartley C. Haffler, Harry P. Hall, Emory P. Harris, Harry A. Haynes, William N. Jacobs, Claude S. Johnson, John C. Johnson, Morgan B. Keaton, James W.
Nixon, John T. Pratt, Robert. Palmer, Harry B. Pine, Ward. Pricer, Herbert L. Robb, John. Simms, French. Slonaker, Galard. Shingles, Arthur M. Smithers, Lynn F. Shimp, Burt 0. Snapp, Joseph E. Sams, William W. Sever, Frank. Smith Charles A. Smith Charles. Smith, Ed. Sollars, Emerald M. Taylor, Jerome. Vincent, Elmer. Vincent, Burten. Voss, Charles T. Walters, Elie W. "V\Tiited, Benjamin F. Wilt, Arthur W. Woods, George F. Wyatt, James H. West, Frank R. Wilson, William H., Jr. Welch, Homer G.
THE FOURTH 0. T. I.
317
COMPANY F.
Captain Joseph D. Potter
First Lieutenant Clyde R. Modie
First Lieutenant Harry Graham
Second Lieutenant Nathan A. McCoy
First Sergeant A. A. Grimm
First Sergeant R. E. Hull
First Sergeant George D. Freemaai
Q. M. Sergeant Frank L. Thornton
SERGEANTS.
Arthur A. Grimm. William S. Haley.
Richard E. Hull. Rowland Duulap.
CORPORALS.
Arthur H. Simons. Chester M. Spurgeon.
Fred Wahl. Frank D. Potter.
Moses H. Barlow. Charles F. Bowen.
Earl C. Greenley, Walter J. Modie.
Lewis F. Sage. John T. Seiders.
David R. Sams. Jackson Westenhaver.
William P. Markeson. Alfred Chapin.
Musicians John Keith, Wm Crawford, Lewis Anderson
Artificer Horatio C. Prittner
Wagoner George Stonebemer
PRIVATES.
Barnes, Robert. Lydy, Sam J.
Bear, Edmond. Meeker, William D.
Blakely, Worley S. Meninngen, William P.
Butler, Ray. Merrick, Medford.
Creviston, Lark. Morris, John C.
Corson, William. Michel, Robert.
Carroll, John. Miller, Webb.
Chapin, Albert. McCormick, P. C.
318
THE FOURTH 0. T. I.
Cromwell, W. E. Cross, Fred J. Dennis, Leroy G. Dixon, Herbert D. Doke, Arthur H. Fitzgerald, Edwin. Gibbons, John. Oilliam, E. F. Grate, Frank. Grove, Charles O. Gynter, Albert. Giles, Frank M. Gray, Meldrum. Hess, Edward. Hess, R. C. Handley, Scott. Hemming, R. N. Hilf, Charles F. Hill, Clyde W. Holmes, Martin. Holmes, Thomas. Ismon, Ralph E. Jones, William R. Jones, Thomas J. Kellar, John A. Kerr, Edward C. Kight, Thomas H. Kirkpatrich, Warden. Kneeland, Arthur R. Kriel, George. Lang, Edward J. McElvane, J. R.
McKenzie, W. A. Osborn, Clyde W. Palm, James. Paraday, Charles. Petry, August. Putman, Charley. Preston, William B. Ranney, Jess F. Reynolds, C. B. Robbins, Ralph. Rodgers, J. E. Riddlesberger, William. Roberts, Charles. Rhoades, Lawrence. Schrock, Fred C. Shipley, Fred F. Sharp, Howard. Smith, Ralph. Snyder, John M. Snyder, Edward F. Staley, Edward. Simms, Edwin M. Shaw, Leroy. Sharp, J. R. Sharp, Birdsell. Taylor, Frank L. Taylor, Thomas E., Jr. Tucker, Albert E. Ulry, Fred. Williamson, H. W. Yourk, Mike.
THE FOURTH 0. F. /.
319
COMPANY G.
Captain Fred W. Petera
First Lieutenant Fred S. Titus
.Second Lieutenant Thomas E. Andrews
First Sergeant James E. Messenger
Q. M. Sergeant Frank E. Lattimore
SERGEANTS.
Zed. E. Gunder. Charles R. Lattimore.
James W. McMurray. George E. Irvin.
CORPORALS.
Will H. Hunt. Wesley C. Winters.
E:arnest Boger. William F. Amrine.
Nathaniel J. Clapper. Frank L. Jordan.
F. Charles Stump. John E. Button.
Newberry W. Wheeler. Omie J. P. Ward.
Frank C. Stevenson. Charles F. Copeland. William E. Cleveland.
Musicians Hary T. Love, John F. Snid«r
Artificer Robert L. Rathell
Wagoner Harry T. Messenger
PRIVATES.
Alexander, Arthur G. Maag, William A.
Anderson, Neal. MacFadden, Edward S.
Akron, Pearl C. Madden, John W.
Berry, Frank C. Marlow, George.
Beichler, Albert. Mayes, Edson C.
Bryan, Harry E. McConnell, Charles.
Burk, James H. Minard, Daniel.
Carey, Howard E. Monnette, Arthur A.
Carroll, Harry G. Midlam, Carl O.
Chapman, Ross. Mong, Yv^illiam C.
Couts, James H. Niles, William T.
320
THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
Clark, Robert B. Close, James W. Coleman, Rant R. Comwell, William P. Cnssick, James M. Day, Lewis E. Doke, Henry C. Edwards, Charles F. Elliott, Ulysses G. Evans, Edward C. Evans, w illiam. Ferrell, Hershel C. Ferrin, Guy T. Fields, Harry H. French, Arthur J. Glaze, Charles W. Hessong, Charles H. Hill, Josh. W. Hinklin, Howard A. Houseworth, Charles P. Howison, Lee. Hubley, Marion E. Hull, Hollis. Hull, Zane. Irey, Harley O. Johnson, William. Luethold, Alfred S. Little, Frank M.
O'Brian, Thomas J. Parker, John. Padgett, Frank 0. Pierce, Daniel B. Porter, Henry N. Purkey, George A. Prlndle, James W. Rease, Joseph. Rhoades, Harry. Riddle, William W. Sharrock, James. ShaJBfer, Frank E. Scott, John W. Shuster, George. Smith, Marion. Smith, Albert S. Smith, William G. Snider, Charles M. Simpson, Walter W. Spring, Harry L. Stone, William. Swallen, Harvey. Taugher, Michael. Thomas, Lloyd W. Thompson, Robert L. Wickess, John L. Wolfe, Finlay. Wilson, John R.
THE FOURTH 0. V. 1.
321
COMPANY H.
Captain Robert S. Pritcliard
Captain James W. Smith
First Lieutenant Frank B. Pratt
First Lieutenant James W. Smith
First Lieutenant Kinney P. Funk
Second Lieutenant James W. Smith
Second Lieutenant Kinney P. Funk
First Sergeant Forrest C. Briggs
First Sergeant Russell C. Newman
Q. M. Sergeant Charles C. Wilhelm
SERGEANTS.
Andrew B. Foster. Walter H. Trimmer.
Samuel Williams. George G. Oldfield.
CORPORALS.
Charles H. Maguire. Joseph C. Bratt.
Harvey M. Will. Charles N. Reed.
Denver Crull. George A. Batterson.
Asberry W. Davidson. John L. McMonigle.
Byron D. Shriver. William P. Reed.
Charles S. Noel. Floyd E. Thurman.
Artificer Roy N. Matthews
Musician Fred N. Armstrong
Wagoner William D. McMonigle
PRIVATES.
Alger, Barry J. Kinney, Clifford M.
Alger, Frank H. Kelley, William H.
Anderson, Preston H. Krick, Isaac.
Adams, Harry E. Nohl, Harry N.
Andre, Benjamin. Masters, William A.
Bybee, Monte G. Mann, George F.
Barber, Albert M. Moore, George B.
322
THE FOURTH 0. V. 1.
Bumgardner, Elton M. Bush, Francis M. Bush, Thomas J. Bush, Matthew. Boren, Elmer S. Barr, Charles. Bennet, David P. Birmingham, John. Calvert, Ralph W. Cooper, Milton J. Cole, William L. Chapman, Tasw^ell. Cunningham, Vinton A. Davidson, Reed M. Distel, Louis E. Donaldson, Harry W. Douglass, Duncan M. Davis, David C. Dodge, Daniel H. Evans, Mitchell H. George, Robert M. Gilbert, Ora B. Hicks, Edward B. Herms, Albert G. Hubert, John A. Hood, Charles E. Harris, Evan G. Johnson, David J. Johnson, Samuel E. Johnson, William E. Jones, Wells H. Kinney, John Wesley.
Messer, Alfred M. Mathiott, Harry W. Monk, John E. Molester, Charles G. Mead, Alexander R. McKeown, Emmet K. McGuire, Edward M. McDaniels, James. Morrison, Henry M. Patterson, Elbert L. Peebles, William M. Redmon, Joseph A. Reinert, Adolph G. Reinhardt, Euward J. Sturgill, William C. Stewart, James F. Stowe, Walter H. Skelton, James. Shela, John W. Schmidt, John F. Sparka, Kurt. Thompson, Matthew W. Taylor, Charles C. Thomas, William E. Turner, Joseph. Wells, Edward S. Whitman, Charles R. Welch, Arthur. Wheeler, x^dgar R. Winters, Henry H. Youngman, John. Zeek, Edward.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
323
COMPANY I.
Captain Louis H. Palmer
First Lieutenant Fred S. Whiley
Second Lieutenant William H. Hause
First Sergeant William S. Kindler
Q. M. Sergeant Roy T. McNaughten
SERGEANTS.
Thomas W. Nickum. Frank M. Murpuy.
John E. rhomas. Gaylord C. Peters.
CORPORALS.
Seymore E. Hansley. Ernest I. Curtiss.
John W. Littrell. Charles Fishbaugh.
Arthur J. Phillips. Henry C. Clark.
Hugh S. Love. Warren A. Lowry.
Herman L. Wagner. Nelson E. Terry.
Frank E. Beery. George L. Justice.
Musicians Oscar D. Getz, Irving A. Cook
Wagoner William E. Neal
Artificer Samuel L. Bush
PRIVATES.
Arnold, Jesse W. Amann, Augustus M. Buckley, William J. Bope, Charles B. Brainard, Will J. Bentrol, Charles F. Bulger, John. Black, Harry B. Bobbitt, David. Botts, James E. Ballard, James M. Balthaser, Chauncey E.
Mertz, Jacob J. McSweeney, James I McLain, Clifford C. Moore, Charles R. Mauk, Arthur R. Morton, Robert R. Miller, John M. McCray, Andrew L. Nisley, Harry J. Nisley, Joseph W. Nye, Charles E. Proctor, Harry E.
324
THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
Basore, William H.
Clifton, George.
Cook, Walter.
Dyarman, Charles T.
Dupler, Murray C.
Derr, Charles E.
Dew, Stanley J.
Dille, Willis.
England, Benjamin T.
Flood, William H.
Foster, John H.
Green, Lester O.
Greentree, James.
Gebhardt, William H.
Gantz, John G. Gyr, Harry. Griner, James R. Goodyear, Charles. Herman, Henry. Hite, Joseph A. Jeffries, George T. Keller, James O. Keller, William U. Keller, Harry 0. Kernes, David. Knotts, Charles. Lape, Theodore I. Leeper, Charles L. Light, James G. Potter, Jesse N.
rrentice, George H.
Paskins, James H.
Patterson, Tecumseh B.
Robinson, Amosa W.
Robinson, Robert B.
Reynolds, George E.
Roskovemckey, Lewis S.
Reed, Charles G.
Rossley, Charles E.
Reese, Edward A.
Spitler, David L.
Spitler, Pearl D.
Spitler, Earl <g.
beifert, Abe.
Shaw, Robert.
Straley, James.
Stewart, Frank L.
Shue, Frank E. Sprague, James W. Terry, George T. Todhunter, Reese B. Todhunter, George B. Tipple. David E. White, John E. Williams, Howard A. Walters, Perry. Wolfe, Royal. Yingling, Sherman. Zimmerman, John D.
TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
325
COMPANY K.
Captain Bert H. Greiner
First Lieutenant William B. McCloud
Second Lieutenajit Oscar O. Koeppel
First Sergeant W. L. Norton
Q. M. Sergeant George A. Griebel
SERGEANTS.
Charles Riddle. H. A. Cosier.
Frank M. Said. Carl T. Cratty.
CORPORALS.
Lq. O. Thomson. Elbert Nelson.
Earl Sheldon. A. Kent Harmount.
Merton S. Starr. Sturges Dunham.
Charles Thrall. Orrain W. Patrick.
Ray H. Longwell. Robert H. Lybrand.
Llysses G. Sanger. Lester C. Riddle. Thomas Glaze.
Musicians J Shultz, John Longwell
Artificer Charles L. Inscho
Wagoner L. R. Spain
PRIVATES.
Auman, John. Lynch, J.
Ahern, Patrick. Lawson, C. E.
Bennett, J. F. Marritt, J. M.
Brownmiller, C. R. Miller, C. C.
Brunn, C. H. Miller, H. A.
Browning, S. W. Montane, C. B.
Billig, C. E. Maloney, J.
Butt, A. M. Maloney, C. H.
Campbell, H. R. Maine, C. A.
Cruikshank, A. Mahonay, M. C.
Corbin, Richard. McFarland, F. A.
326
THE FOURTH 0. V.
Doyle, J. P. Driscoll, T. J. Dall, C. K. Davis, H. W. Dove, T. C. Enright, F. H. Ford, W. R. France, C. O. Frantz, Walter. Ferris, W. M. Foley, W. J. Gerber, Max. Greiner, J. R. Grove, T. S. Harmount, H. W. Hills, L. C. Howald, W. A. Hodges, S. M. Hansley, E. D. Hollison, W. Hunt, H. E. Ingle, W. W. Inscho, A. D. Jones, C. L. Jamison, F. B. Jacobus, H. C. Kelley, J. L. Lenhart, L. Lyons, J. O'Connor, J.
O'Bryan, P. Osborne, B. Powell, H. B. Platz, G. Rose, H. E. Riddle, R. R. Reed, W. Read, R. W. Rider, W. R. Randolph, D. F. Rodenfels, Edward. Ross, T. Siegfried, John. Smith, William L. Strohm, G. Said, T. H. Schneider, B. J. Shank, J. W. Thrall, G. W. Vertner, A. L. Watkins, F. S. Wells, Rex. W. Windham, R. H. Vvohlheater, W. Z. Wells, Charles. Wohlheater, E. F. Webster, Olliver Perry. Whitlinger, Henry. Zeigler, Frank.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
327
COMPANY L.
Captain Fred M. French
First Lieutenant Charles E. Bigler
Second Lieutenant Sherman E. Ward
First Sergeant Earl F. Thuma
Q. M. Sergeant Edwin J. Scott
SERGEANTS.
George D. Lewis. Burr A. Wyant.
James H. Graff. Robert H. Westlake.
CORPORALS.
Carrol R. Jackson. William M. Edwards.
John J. Jacobs. Elbert L. Mendenhall.
J. Louis Ewalt. John K. Davis.
Scott U. Kirby. D. Horton White.
Oscar Adams. Harry L. Thuma. Edwin J. Myers.
Musicians Charles W. Wood, Lewis Herrod
Artificer William Gregory
Wagoner Harry M. Jacobus
PRIVATES.
Armentrout. L. Vance. Lambert, Philip J.
Ashton, Walter G. Loback, Frank B.
Adams, Oscar. Lockwood, Charles D.
Barber, Fred. Lane, George M.
Braddock, John S. Lee, John T.
Bishop, Anson. Loose, Jacob L.
Baughman, Edward L. Long, Wilson G.
Brentlinger, Clyde L. McMahon, Ralph.
Banbury, Charles K. McConnell, William.
Bigler, Arthur L. McKeown, Andrew J.
Bigler, Eugene F. Mitchell, Leon H.
Barnhart, Cyrus. Morey, Roy C.
328
TEE FOURTH 0. V. I.
Bucher, George K. Critchfield, Jesse B. Clark, William H. Clark, Michael P. Chrisman, Arthur. Copper, Charles 0. Cochran, Ward B. Coile, one E. Channell, Charles H. Cochran, John M. Cochran, Walter. Daniels, William L. Dunlap, William C. Dickson, James F., Jr. Davis, Jacie J. Davis, Charles E. Edwards, William I. Gingham, Harry L. Graff, George. Hersh, Sherbin J. Harris, Walter M. Houle, Louis F. Harker, William. Hutchinsin, Charles. Hayes, James M. Heddington, John L. Hissong, John R. Kinney, John D. Long, Daniel V. Magill, John S.
Osborn, Timothy G. Perrin, Charles. Porter, Orrin C. Rowley, Byron D. Rowley, William. Robinson, Williard. Simco, Edward. Smalle, James A. Stoyle, Edward. Shetler, Walter S. Smith, Oliver H. Sapp, Frank W. Simpson, Ottis A. Sherman, Rupert L. Tighe, William F. Vernon, Walter C. White, Edgar J. Williams, Harry. Wagner, Fred F. Waite, Ralph. Waldruff, Ellis F. Wright, Frank D. Welshymer, Charles B. Weider, William F. Wolfe, Fred W. Wood, Herbert C. Whitney, William M. Wade, Bruce M. Wright, Clinton.
THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
329
COMPANY M.
fetain Burr J. Bostwlck
First Lieutenant Charles G. Duffy
Second Lieutenant George Florence
First Sergeant Charles K. Crumm
Q. M. Sergeant S. J. Henry
SERGEANTS.
Charles F. Lowe. B. Frank Warner.
Charles A. Bostwick. Bradley Fletcher.
CORPORALS.
Harry L. Hughes. John Kashner.
J. Mouser Crayne. Ed. M. Brown.
Leroy M. Thompson. Charles M. Titus.
William B. Reeder. George Redman.
Arlow T. Mowery. \villiam A. Warner.
Fred Donelly. Marshall E. Murray.
Musicians Frank Miller, John DoyU
Artificer George Brady
Wagoner James Baughman
PRIVATES.
Ambrose. William. Lape, William.
Anderson, J. Hartley. Lewis, Leotus.
Baer, Henry C. Lower, William.
Bagby, Arthur P. Mackey, Will L.
Bailey, John. McCready, John W.
Baker, John L. McHale, Thomas.
Bales, Blenn R. McKenzie, David.
Barker, William J, McQuaide, John.
Baughman, Joseph. Miller, Jacob W.
Bennett, Ed. F. Montgomery, Ed. W.
Bowsher, William B. Mowery, Clifford E.
Brannon. Charles. Moyer, Harley E.
330
THE FOURTH 0. V. I.
Brown, Nathan J. Bessert, Wayne. Byers, Joseph. Caldwell, Job. D. Collopy, James J. Cook, George B. Chrlssinger, Frank. Crites, Clifford W. Dimkle, Floyd L. Edgington, George C Egan, Hugh, Jr. Evans, David J. Fisher, William. Flemming, Robert. Forsythe, Bert. Friley, Charles. Haines, George L. Hernstine, Philip G. Hitson, John R. Highes, Clarence H. Hurst, William F. Irwin, George G. Jack, Thomas B. Jack, William F. Jackson, Albert. Johnson, Miner N. Kerns, James W. Kinney, Daniel. Klneey, Samuel.
Murphy, Clark. Meeker, John. Neff, Morton A. Newland, George F Palm, Joseph. Rayborn, David. Reigle, Pearl E. Roof, Charles E. Russel, Charles E. Sells, George W. Shaffer, Samuel. Shaffer, Walter. Smith, Charles E. Smith, George W. Spangler, Samuel. Spiers, James E. Steepleton, James I Strawser, Harry. Tatman, Edward. Taylor, Edward. Thorn, Fred H. Walker, Ed. I. Withrow, Gordon E. Wolfe, Homer E. Wright, George F. Wright, Homer A. Wright, Porter E. Wilson, Jacob F. Yowell, Harrj'-
H 50 89
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