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Full text of "History of companies I and E, Sixth Regt., Illinois Volunteer Infantry from Whiteside County. Containing a detailed account of their experiences while serving as volunteers in the Porto Rican campaign during the Spanish-American war of 1898. Also a record of the two companies as state troops from the date of organization to April 30th, 1901"

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HIS TOR Y 

OF 



Companies 1 and E, Sixtli Regi, 

Illinois Volunteer Infantry from Whiteside County. 



CONTAINING A DETAILED ACCOUNT OF THEIR EXPERI- 
ENCES WHILE SERVING AS VOLUNTEERS IN 
THE PORTO RICAN CAMPAIGN DURING 
THE SPANISH-AMERICAN 
WAR OF 1898. 



A RECORD OF THE TWO COMPANIES AS STATE TROOPS 

FROM THE DATE OF ORGANIZATION 

TO APRIL 30TH, 1901. 



BY R. S. BUNZEY. 



IN THREE PARTS. 



ILLUSTRATED. 



MORRISON, ILLINOIS. 
1901. 



SAUK VALLEY COLLEGE 

83574 



LR.C. c. 



Copyright, 1902. by RufusS. Bunzc 



TO THE READER: 

It may be well to acquaint the reader with a few of 
the facts which brought about the idea of compiling and 
putting into book form the records of the two companies 
of volunteer soldiers, who represented Whiteside Coun- 
t}' in the Spanish American War of 1898. I do not flat- 
ter myself with the expectation that this work will be 
considered as in the line of histories as they are written 
today, this being my initial, and without a question of 
doubt, tinal attempt in this line. In recent years man\' 
such histories of the Civil War have been written by 
ex-soldiers and the lapse of time rendered the task an 
extremely difficult one. As time rolls on and the num- 
ber of veterans grows less, the more valuable to those 
remaining, become the records which contain the detail 
of their soldier life. In view of these facts I determined 
on publishing an account of the experiences of companies 
I and E while the many details were yet clear and 
distinct. The material for the contents of the book con- 
sists chiefly in letters written in the various camps bv 
Charles Hoobler, of company E, and myself, a high 
private in the rear rank of company I. These letters 
were published daily or weekly by the home papers and 
contain the correct dates of all movements besides many 
other items of interest which would now be difficult to 
obtain in any other manner. 

In addition to this history, I deemed it nothing more 



4 History of Companies I and E. 

than just to include as briefly as possible a record of the 
organization and previous existence of the two compa- 
nies as a portion of the Illinois National Guard who 
readily responded to the call for volunteers and by re- 
quest of the President were given the preference over 
other civilian soldiers. The many difhculties met with, 
arising from the seeming inability to secure correct dates 
and facts covering the period between the organization 
of the companies and the outbreak of the Spanish 
American War, were partially overcome by the heart}- 
co-operation and invaluable aid of members and ex- 
members of both companies. For this assistance I feel 
deeply indebted to them. 

As a finale, and a fitting close to the following pag- 
es, a sketch of the present conditions of both companies 
has been utilized. 

To the volunteer, present and ex-members of com- 
panies I and E and to their friends, this book is 
dedicated. Respectfully 

R. S. BUNZEV. 



PART I. 



HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E. 



CHAPTER I. 



Organization And Muster-In Of Companies I 
And E, Sixth Infantry Illinois National 
Guards, And Subsequent Events Occur- 
ring Previous To Their Volunteer 
Ser\ice In The Spanish- Ameri- 
can War Of I898. 



Company I. 



Company I Sixth Infantry Illinois National Guards 
of to-day, was organized during the summer of 1878 
and mustered into the service of the State on the 
nth day of September of the same year, under the 
laws enacted by the Legislature and in force July ist. 
1877 which authorized the organization of such State 
troops. It was designated as Company C and assigned 
to the 14th Battalion, which was commanded at 
that period by Lieut. Col. W. P. Butler, with head- 
quarters at Rock Island, Ills. The subject of forming a 
company of State militia was agitated more or less for 
some time bv a number of veterans of the Civil War. 



8 History of Companies I and E. 

The promoters of the idea and most active and ener- 
getic in the work of organizin<j^, were: Attorney George 
H. Fay. John Grierson and A D. Hill, all of whom saw 
several years service in the war of the Rebellion; 
George Fay holding a Captain's commission in Com- 
pany B 147th Illinois Infantry ; John Grierson a 2nd 
Lieutenants commission in Company H 14th, New 
York Heavy Art.; and A. D. Hill serving in a Pennsyl- 
vania Regiment. These, with a number of other citizens, 
held several meetings in Attorney Fay's office. A paper 
was circulated about the town soliciting signatures of 
citizens capable of military duty and who were willing to 
aid in the organization of the company and serve the 
State should the required number be secured. In a 
very short time the following names were enrolled, a 
total of seventy-six, and a request made for a muster- 
ing officer to swear in the company: 

A.D.Hill, H.Nash, 

George H. Fay, C. H. Planthaber, 
Cornelius Quackenbush. F. M. Judd, 

George Buckley, William Winters, 

George W. Stafford, Milton Morse, 

Ed. A. Worrell, J. N. Jackson, 

William Wilson, Henry Brown, 

Charles F. McKee, J. A. Newbury, 

Jacob Feldman, S. Switzer, 

Henry Minder. George C. Wilcox, 

A. C. McAlhster, Frank Fitzgerald, 

J. M. Williamson, Peter Spears, 

Fred Mathews, J. N. Baird, 

E. St. John, Charles H. Trauger, 

J. W. McKee, W. B. McClary, 

E. Blodgett, C. W. Spears, 




rmVATE KxCIlA/U) YATE.S 

Co. 1,5th Inf., 111. N.U., 

18>;5. 

Governor of 111. and Commander-in Chief of 

the Military and Naval Forces, 

1901. 



Ilmnois National Guards. 



9 



A. Farrington, 
George B. Day, 
J. A. Nowlen, 
John Grierson, 
H. H. Marshall, 
C. M. Johnson, 
Harry Sterling, 
William Hogaft, 
C. H. Marshall. 
J. C. Childs, 
Henry Levitt, 
William Anderson, 
Frank E. James, 
J. F. Welhngton, 
G. B. Adams, 
J. B. Kirman, 
C. F. Montague, 
William J. Reutlinger 
Charles P. Holt, 
Benjamin J. Atwater, 
A. C. Buttery. 
F. J.Johnson, 



A. A. Mattcrn, 
F. M. Fox, 
M. R. Kelly, 
P. F. Hellerstedt, 
F. E. Strawder, 
Charles D. White, 
William Gishbel, 
William Kincade, 
P. R. Boyd, 
H. S. Ferguson, 
James Dean, 
A. Richtmyer, 
R.W. Sholes, 
Z. T. Anderson, 
Frank Mann, 
Daniel Bovvdish, 
D. Bray, 
J. M. Murphy, 
John Lucas, 
Curtis Johnson, 
Clarence Clark, 



D. J. Goodill. 

For various reasons a number of those whose sig- 
natures appear on this roll, failed to take the oath at the 
time of the muster-in of the company; some \\ere phy- 
sically unable; others had business interests which in 
justice to themselves could nor be neglected, yet all took 
a personal interest and contributed their moral and ma- 
terial support in the work until it became necessary for 
them to withdraw, when they stepped down and out, 
making way for others who were anxious to become a 
part of the company and were more conveniently situ- 
ated to give the time and attention to drill and other 



10 History of Companies I and E. 

duties which would necessarily devolve upon them to se- 
cure and maintain a standard of efficiency which would 
prove a credit, not alone to themselves, but also to the 
town and state. Thus upon the arrival of the muster- 
ing officer, Captain Hawse of Moline, Adjutant of the 
14th BattaHon, the actual number in readiness to take 
the oath was but a portion of the total who had signified 
their willingness in the days previous. The company as 
mustered in on this date, Sept. nth, 1878, is here giv- 
en: 



Captain, 


George H. Fay, 


1st. Lieutenant, 


Cornelius Quackenbush. 


2nd. Lieutenant, 


John Grierson, 


1st. Sergeant, 


Alonzo Kichtmyer, 


1st Duty Sergeant, 


George C. Wilson, 


2nd " 


Z. T. Anderson, 


3rd '^ 


Albert A. Mattern, 


4th " 


George Buckley, 


Corporal 


Frank V. Johnson, 


a 


William Wilson. 


U 


Benjamin J. Atwater, 


.( 


Peter Martin, 


a 


Milton Morse, 


a 


Clarence G. Clark. 


. u 


Oscar Rounds, 


a 


Henry Levitt, 


Musician 


Charles Trauger, 


Private 


Bogart, Cornelius 


(( 


Buttery, Arthur C, 


a 


Bray, Dennis 


li 


Bartholomew, George L. 


a 


Bowdish, Daniel G. 


a 


Casey, William 



History of CoisirAMKs I and E. 11 

Private Dean, James 

" Fox, Frank M. 

" Gilroy, Edward A. 

" Honcler, Augustus 

" Hendricks, Jesse Y. 

" Hanna, Robert H. 

" Haskiu, Ezra C. 

" Humphrey. Erastus B. 

" Johnson, John 

" Johnson, Curtis 

" Kinney, James 

'• Mouck, Solomon F. 

" Marshall, Charles H. 

" Montague. Charles F. 

" Nash. Henry G. 

" Planthaber, Charles 

" Keutlinger, Henry G. 

" Story, James 

" Strawn, Frank H. 

" Worrell, Edward A. 

" Wood, Robert 

Making a total of three commissioned officers and 
forty-one enlisted men. The men as a company, were 
highly elated by the success so far attained and the re- 
cruiting was energetically continued, which soon resulted 
in a company with a full complement of enhsted men. 
Several, who were unavoidably detained from being 
present at the time of the muster in of the company by 
sickness and absence from the city, took advantage of 
the first opportunity to enroll their names on the compa- 
ny roster. 

The choice of commissioned officers proved to be 
an extremely wise selection; their knowledge of military 



12 History of Companies I and E. 

affairs had been gained in a school where war was a 
cold fact and they had been taught the value and ne- 
cessity of strict obedience and discipline. The compa- 
ny was the beneficiar}' of the experiences of these drilled 
men, and, composed as it was, largely of veterans, its 
members quickly attained a proficiency in military tac- 
tics, of which they were justly proud. With few excep- 
tions, the rule established at this early date has been rig- 
idly adhered to and a great deal of consideration has 
been given to the selection of commissioned officers, as 
to the fitness and ability of the candidate for the posi- 
tion to which he aspired, which could be obtained only 
through the ballots of the enlisted men and, if, at an}/ 
time they have considered themselves unfortunate in 
this regard, they, and they alone were responsible, as 
the power was in their hands to place in these positions 
men of ability and of their own choice, thus leaving them 
no room for a grievance in not doing so. 

For several years this company was widely known 
as the "Morrison Rifles," just how and where it de- 
rived this title it has been impossible to learn, and to-day 
should it be referred to as such, very few would un- 
derstand the reference as anything in connection with 
company I, only in a dreamy, misty manner of some- 
thing suddenly recalled to the mind which had been 
nearly, if not quite forgotten. 

The first arms issued it by the State were muz- 
zle loading rifles of the Enfield pattern and it was sever- 
al years before it was enabled to secure breechload- 
ing guns, and then only by dint of continually petitioning 
the Adjutant General of the State to equip the men with 
an arm which was not obsolete and practically out of 
date as a service arm, 



> ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^H| 




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v^l|^>-'^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^HI^^^H 







13UIG. (lEN. J. N. REECE, 
Adj.- Gen, 



li.T.iNOis National Guards. 13 

For an armory and drill room, the basement of the 
old frame building which stood on the lot now occu- 
pied by the Hub Clothing Store was secured, remain- 
ing here but a short time, the company removed to the 
City Council room, and shortly afterward to the sec- 
ond floor of Hollar Smith's blacksmith shop on east 
Main street. At that time the members considered 
themselves extremely fortunate in being so snugly locat- 
ed. From here theytrekked "to Milne's opera house, and 
later to the old skating rink on Grove street where they 
were at home at the outbreak of the Spanish-American 
War. 

Very little attention was given to target practice for 
several years. The cause for the lack of enthusiasm in 
this respect was accounted for in the difficulty in secur- 
ing the necessary ammunition and ordnance supplies 
with which to carry on a successful shoot, saying nothing 
of the expense connected with the building of rifle butts 
etc., for which the men were compelled to secure 
funds without expense to the State. The officers higher 
in command of the troops evidently took but little inter- 
est in this matter which today, is considered a very es- 
sential feature in determining the efficiency of the Na- 
tional Guard. The fact now beinof recogfuized that 
while the men may be proficient in the manual of arms 
and precise in executing maneuvers they would be of 
little value in actual service without some experience in 
the care and handling of the rifle. Not alone in this 
matter were the men expected to defray their own ex- 
penses; each member was obliged to equip himself with 
a uniform at a cost of seven dollars. 

What would the Guardsmen of today think of the 
proposition of purchasing the uniforms they wear? 



14 History of Companies I and E. 

Would they do it? It is hardly probable. They would 
stand aghast at the suggestion of such an absurd idea; 
and to consider that the State placed so little value on our 
voluntary service would be likened to the shaking of 
a red mantle in the face of an angry bull, and the re- 
cruiting officers must needs to have made a "fine art"' of 
their work should they hope to retain a "corporals 
guard'" in the ranks. A great many surprising things 
are found in searching the files of the early correspon- 
dence of the company. There appears to have been no 
understanding between the State authorities and the 
railroads by which troops could be moved on short no- 
tice. The transportation of a company meant days of cor- 
respondence regarding the manner in which the settle- 
ment should be made, the company commander being ex- 
pected to make the necessary arrangements for the hand- 
lino: of his men. These were a few of the obstacles with 
which the men and officers were obliged to contend 
in those days, and the most surprising feature of 
it all is, that the National Guard could exist under 
the regulations in force at that time. 

Company C attended its first State encampment 
at Camp Cullom, at Springfield, September i6th to 19th, 
1879, bringing with it on its return home an excellent 
report of the condition of the company as measured 
by the standard of other troops present. For this 
encampment the 2nd Brigade received no compensation 
whatever, at least Company C did not, on account of lack 
of funds, and for this reason there was no encampment 
the following two years. That portion of the appropri- 
ation made for this purpose by the State, being distribu- 
ted among the different regimental and company com- 
manders for the benefit of their commands. The first 



Illinois National Guards. 15 

j)ul)lu' paradi^ the company [)articipated in was at Morri- 
risoii, July 4th. 1879. Company B of Moliiie. com- 
manded by Cai)tain William C. Bennett, was invited 
and was present and the two companies made a fine ap- 
pearance; it being the first military parade in the city, 
since immediately after the Civil War. 

The year following, and with few exceptions, each 
Memorial day since, an invitation has been extended 
to them from the G. A. R. Post to participate in the cer- 
emonies on that day. July 3 rd, 1880, by invitation, the 
company went to Mt. Carroll, 111., taking part in the cele- 
bration of Independence Day, (the 4th falling on Sun- 
day.) 

In September, the same year, it attended the 
Sterling Fair in a body, camping on the grounds the 
15th, i6th and 17th., returning the evening of the 17th. 
While there, it acted as escort for General Grant and 
Governor Cullom. 

In July 1880, William Clendenin was commis- 
sioned Lieut. Colonel and placed in command of the 
I4tli Battalion, establishing headquarters at Moline. 
William Clendenin w^asborn and reared in Morrison; he 
served two years in the war of the Rebellion, enlisting 
as a private and being promoted, step by step, from the 
ranks, and on March 21st, 1866 was mustered out of the 
service as ist Lieut, of Company A, io8th U. S. Colored 
Infantry. He remo\ed to Molinein 1871. Becoming in- 
terested in the National Guard in its infancy, he was 
commissioned 2nd Lieut, of Company B (afterward 
Company F) and held successively, the rank of ist 
Lieut, and Captain, and was made Major of the 14th 
Battalion, May 30th, 1879, and Lieut. Colonel in July, 
1880. In 1882 the National Guard of Illinois was re- 



10 History of Comp7\nies I and E. 

organized and he was elected Colonel of the Sixth Regi- 
ment May 17th of that year, being twice re-elected to 
the command of the Sixth. December 28th, 1892, he was 
promoted by Governor Fifer to the rank of Brigadier 
General and assigned to command the Third Brigade, 
Governor Altgeld removing him March 28th, 1893. In 
April 1898, Governor Tanner appointed him Inspector 
of 'the Illinois National Guard, with the rank of Colonel. 
During t'le following May he organized a provisional reg- 
iment and tendered its services to the U. S. Government 
in case there should be a call for more troops during the 
war with Spain. Among the Field and Staff of this 
regiment were, his son Frank J. Clendenin, Major; and 
Thaddeus L. Rounds, Assistant Surgeon, both well known 
to many citizens of Whiteside county. May i5ih, 1899 
Governor Tanner replaced him in command of the Third 
Brigade with the rank of Brigadier General, which com- 
mission he yet retains. 

General Clendenin's record in the Illinois National 
Guard, is an enviable one. He has held every commis- 
sioned office in the service from 2nd Lieutenant to that 
of Brigadier General, and is the proud possessor of ten 
commissions issued to him by the Governors of Illinois. 
Not alone this, but in his career as an officer, he has won 
the respect and esteem of all the men who have served 
under him, and in the history of the Illinois National 
Guard, his name will be given an honored place. 

The effect of having no State encampment for two 
years, was very demoralizing to the company; 2nd 
Lieut. Grierson had resigned in the summer of 1879, 
Sheriff E. A. Worrell succeeding him; Lieut. Worrell 
resigning in September 1880, this vacanc}' being filled by 
the election of E. P. Stokes who resigned in 1882; 



>fc 


\ 


1 


_^m/' 'k " J^k 




% 



BIIIG. GEN. WM. CLENDKNIN, 
Commanding Third Brigade. 



Ii.MNOis National Guards. 17 

Captain Fay also resigned in 1882; ist Lieut. Quacken- 
bush having resigned in September, 1881, his successor 
being Z. T. Anderson, who resigned in April, 1882. 
This found the company without a commissioned officer, 
the command devolving upon Sergeant E. B. Hump- 
hrey, and appears to have been a very critical period in 
Its history. It was seemingly on the point of dissolu- 
tion, and in all probability would have been disband- 
ed, had not Frank Clendenin, a brother of General 
Clendenin, and post master at that time, accepted 
a commission in the compan}-. He was unanimously 
elected ist Lieutenant in June 1882, Curtis Johnson 
being commissioned 2nd Lieutenant at the same time. 
Lieut. Clendenin was promoted to Captain and 2nd Lieut. 
Johnson to the rank of ist Lieutenant the following 
August with William Brearton succeeding as 2nd Lieu- 
tenant, which commission he retained until his removal 
from the state in 1883. 

With Captain Clendenin in command and the able 
assistance rendered by Lieutenants Johnson and Brearton 
the organization received a new impetus and was rap- 
idly re-built and strengthened until it once more at- 
tained a desirable standing. But this tranquility was not 
of long duration. During the tour of camp duty at 
Springfield in 1882, which was the first since 1879, Cap- 
tain Clendenin was appointed Aid-de-Camp. with the 
rank of Colonel, on Governor Cullom's Staff from the 
7th Congressional District. He retained this commission 
through the administrations of Governors Cullom, Hamil- 
ton, Oglesby and Fifer, until June 1889, when he re- 
moved from the 7th District. The loss of Captain Clen- 
denin was a severe one to the company. He was a vet- 
eran of the Civil War, having entered the service a§ 



18 History of Companies I and E. 

Captain, commanding Company B., 147th Illinois Infan- 
try and shortly promoted to Major, which rank he re- 
tained until the close of the war. He was an able succes- 
sor to the comn.and, following the resignation of Captain 
Fay, the men parting from him with regret. At about 
this time ist Lieut. Johnson tendered his resignation. In 
November, Cornelius Quackenbush was commissioned 
Captain, and Sergeant N. James Cole ist Lieutenant. 



Illinois National Guards. 19 



CHAPTER II. 

The Illinois National Guard was re-organized in the 
year of 1882, the 14th Battalion being merged into the 
Sixth Regiment with Lieut. Colonel Clendenin. commis- 
sioned Colonel, in command. It was at this time that 
Company C was designated as Compan}- I. 

D. J. Foster of Chicago was appointed Lieut. Colo- 
nel; H. T. DePue, Major; John H. Porter, Regimental 
Quartermaster with the rank of ist. Lieutenant, and Ed. 
Kittilsen, Sergeant Major of the regiment. 

In the formation of regiments there were no such 
divisions as Battalions, consequently there was but one 
Major and one Adjutant. During encampment there 
were regimental and company drills and occasionally the 
regiment would be made up into divisions, the command 
of each division falling to the ranking Captain and in this 
manner attaining something similar to the Battalion for- 
mation of today. 

Lieut Colonel Foster was twice re-elected, and on 
January 13th, 1893, he was commissioned Colonel of 
the Sixth Regiment, which position he has held contin- 
ousl}' up to the present time. 

Sergeant Major Ed Kittilsen tirst entered the mili- 
tary service in an independent organization in 1875, and 
in 1877, when the Illinois National Guard was organized 
he enlisted in the 14th Battalion, was promoted to Regi- 
mental Sergeant Major, and appointed Major in 1886, 



20 History of Companies I and E. 

and on January 13th, 1893, was promoted to Lieutenant 
Colonel of the Sixth Regiment, serving in this capacit}' 
up to the present time. 

The affairs of Company I (as it is now designated) 
ran quite smoothly for some time. Encampments were 
held annually. For three successive years, 1882, 1883 
and 1884, the camp grounds were located about five 
miles north-east of Springfield, and officially named Camp 
Logan. The year following, 1885, the location was 
changed to one and a half miles north and east of the city 
and named Camp Dickey. About this time the state 
purchased the grounds where Camp Lincoln is now lo- 
cated, and a permanent camp-ground established. Camp 
Lincoln lies about two miles north-west of Springfield 
and is a very desirable location. Just inside the entrance 
gate lies the wide drill and parade ground; bordering on 
this and running north, is the camp ground proper, where 
the tents are pitched. This ground is thinly studded 
with shade trees. In the rear of this is found the large 
swimming pool, built of masonry, and yet farther back 
and to the left, is located the rifle range. 

The only serious drawback to Camp Lincoln is 
found in the drinking water, which is carried to the 
grounds from the cit}- in pipes running on top of the 
ground for a long distance, making the water very warin 
and it is anything but a pleasant drink. This contributes 
a great deal to the sickness which appears in camp soon 
after the arrival of the troops. The street car line has 
been extended to the grounds and terminates just outside 
the entrance gate, making the city quickly and easily 
reached. 

Camp week is looked forward to, for months. It 
is the one incentive, urging the men to extra work, in 




Entrance gate at Camp Lincoln. 



li.T.iNOTS National Guards. 21 

preparing themselves to appear before the public as sol- 
diers. It is the only break in an otherwise monotonous, 
un-remunerative, voluntary service and is very beneficial 
to the troops, bringing the officers and men of the regi- 
ment in contact with each other, where discipline and obe- 
dience are not only expected, but demanded; teaching 
the men that a soldier's life is based upon those two princi- 
ples; also teaching them the duties of a soldier in many 
ways. The knowledge thus gained being invaluable, 
and attainable in no other manner. Why the friends at 
home continue to retain such an erroneous idea regard- 
ing the' actions of the men while at camp, has always 
been a mystery. There is nothing to warrant this injus- 
tice. Is it a cause for wonderment then that many de- 
sirable young men, who otherwise would gladly enter 
the service, for this reason are deterred from doing 
so? They have given weeks and months, without re- 
compense, in making preparations for this week of dut}-. 
After a hard day's work in the store or shop, or at their 
trade, it is necessary to devote hours to instructing them- 
selves in the duties of a soldier, which, although it may 
have its attractions, is never-the-less hard work. Without 
the support of friends at home, what inducement is there 
for a company commander to neglect his own personal 
affairs and devote the necessary time to his company to 
fit the men to appear before the people of the state, and 
the Governor, their commander-in-chief, who are ever 
ready to criticise, reflecting on the fitness of this or that 
officer for the position which he holds. If the men, as 
soldiers, fall below a certain standard, the public will ask, 
"are we being taxed for the support and maintenance of 
those untrained, poorly drilled men who dare to call 
themselves soldiers?" And the public is justified in de- 



22 History of Companies I and E. 

manding something more from the soldier, than merely 
being able to wear the uniform of the state and carry the 
rifle at a right shoulder, but in return it should respect 
these same men for this voluntary service and should con- 
tribute its moral support to the work of securing and 
maintaining a degree of efhcienc}-, which will reflect cre- 
dit on the officers, the men and the State. 

Following the resignation of Lieut. Brearton in 
March 1883, Charles F, Montague was commissioned 
2nd Lieutenant, resigning in May 1884, being succeeded 
by Sergeant E. B. Humphrey in June 1884; Captain 
Quackenbush resigned in April 1884, Lieut. Cole suc- 
ceeding him in the command of the company; W. F. 
Colebaugh was elected ist Lieutenant in Januar}' 1884 
and was promoted to the rank of Captain upon the re- 
signation of Captain Cole which occurred in March 1885, 
Henry Griffiths being elected ist Lieutenant in April. 

September 5th, 1885, the company was an attrac- 
tion at the Morrison Fair. While in attendance at the 
Sterling Fair, one week later, it first met the Chicago 
Zouaves and after witnessing their fanc}' drill, decided to 
organize a corps. This consisted of twelve finely drilled 
men and a Captain. They soon attained a degree of ef- 
ficiency and precision in the intricate, silent drill which 
they adopted, which would warrant their appearing in 
pubhc, and they rarely failed in giving general satisfac- 
tion in their performance. After an appearance in 
Clinton, la., where they. had been secured as an attraction 
at a celebration, the Clinton Daily News had this to say 
regarding them: "Following the Rifles, a company of 
Zouaves from Morrison, Illinois, gave an unique drill. 
Attired in their novel uniform, they attracted much atten- 
tion and gave an interesting drill, performing their various 




N. J. COLE, 

Capt. Co. I, III. N. G. 

Showing style ot uniform worn in 

the 80's. 



Illinois National Guakds. 23 

movements with much rapidity and precision. In re- 
tiring from the field, the company made a charge upon a 
fence, some twelve feet in height, erected in the centre 
of the park, w^hich they scaled with but little effort. The 
front rank, upon reaching the barricade, stooped their 
heads and those following mounted upon their shoulders 
and from there grasped the top of the fence and were 
over in a twinkling. This was continued until only one 
man remained below. How this man would get over 
was quickly settled by two comrades above lowering a 
gun, which was grasped, and he was drawn up over, 
amid loud applause. This closed the finest military drill 
ever seen in this city, if not in the state of Iowa." 

This will give the reader an idea as to what consti- 
tuted a part of their performance and the success they 
attained in delivering it. The expenses for maintaining 
such an organization were rather more than was anticipa- 
ted, and after a season or two, with varying success fi- 
nancially, they disbanded. Another corps was formed la- ■ 
ter but w^as of short life, meeting with the same difficul- 
ties as the former corps, in securing financial support. 

April 1st. 1886, Captain Colebaugh and 2nd Lieut. 
Humphrey resigned. Two weeks later the company 
was ordered to East St. Louis and was on duty there 
during: the Martin Iron strike. It entered this service 
with depleted ranks: not more than twenty-five enlisted 
men and one commissioned officer, ist Lieut. H. H. Grif- 
fiths. An election of officers was held shortly after its 
arrival u})on the scene which resulted in the selection 
of Lieut. Cxriffiths as Captain: T. S. Beach 1st. Lieut., 
and John M. Colebaugh, 2nd Lieutenant. Lieutenant 
Beach, who was Sheriff of Whiteside County at the 
time, hfld been gerving ns n private, The St. Louis 



24 History op^ Companies I and E. 

experiences were varied and many. One of the boys, 
through nervousness and over excitement, ran his bayo- 
net through a stray pig which was rooting about the 
guard line and then deserted his post, thinking the steel 
had entered the heart of some rioter, who had been in- 
tent on taking his life. In all probability fresh pork was 
a necessary adjunct to the bill of fare for some days 
following. The company also charged and captured a 
cannon (?) in following its line of duty. This it retained 
as a trophy of the exploit, and is with the company to- 
day, very few of the men knowing how or where it was 
secured. The service at this riot covered a period of fif- 
teen days, from April twenty-first to May fifth, and on 
it's return it first realized how lightly the services, of the 
National Guard were valued. The State generously 

meted out to each the mere pittance of forty nine cents 
per diem, corresponding with the pay allowance of the 
regular army. Serious trouble was narrowly averted 
by the State as the enlisted men of the Illinois National 
Guard strongly objected to leaving good positions, com- 
manding good salaries, to stand guard and perform other 
irksome duties during riots or other disturbances for the 
pay of the regular army man, and the troops from all 
over the stale protested so strongly that the Legislature 
took the matter uj) and it resulted in a material increase 
in their salary wdiile on such duties, fixing a rate of two 
dollars per day for all enlisted men. This timely action 
taken by the State overcame the then present dif- 
ficulties and produced a very salutary effect on the State 
troops. Their conduct and soldierly bearing, together 
with the yeoman service performed wdien called for duty, 
was considered worthy of recognition by the people, to 
whom the memories of the soldier life of the Civil War 



o 



r 



u. 

"C 



3) 




Illinois National Guards. 25 

were yet clear aiul vivid, and who realized that the ser- 
vices of the men who stood ready and willing to go 
where duty called in the cause of justice and good gov- 
ernment, should not go unrewarded. From this time 
the State troops have steadily improved in efficiency. 

1st Lieutenant Beach resigned in January 1887, 
and William Brearton, who had returned to Morrison, 
to reside, was commissioned 1st Lieutenant to fill the 
vacancy. Previous to this and shortly following his 
second enlistment, Lieut. Brearton had been appointed 
Regimental Commissary Sergeant, which position he 
held at the time of receiving his commission. Cap- 
tain Griffiths resigned in April 1888, William Colebaugh 
again succeeding to the command of the company, re- 
taining his commission until the expiration of his term 
of service, three years. 2nd Lieut. John Colebaugh re- 
mained with the company until 1889, his commission 
expired in April of this year, and Harry T. Guffin was 
elected to the rank which he vacated. 

Looking backward a few months, we find our neigh- 
boring city, of Sterling, had been deeply interested, for 
some time past, in the forming of a company of State 
Guards. Let us leave company I for a brief period and 
follow the fortunes of the boys of our sister city. 



SAUK VALLEY COLLEGE 
^^- 89374 



20 History of Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER III. 



Company E. 



Company E was organized and mustered into the 
State service at Sterling, 111., in the spring of 1888. 
Some years previous a company of militia had existed 
there, known as the "Sterling City Guards." This organi- 
zation disbanded some five years prior to the organiza- 
tion of Company E., and military matters remained very 
quiet for a time until the subject of forming a company of 
State Guards was taken up and agitated by a number of 
citizens of the town, among whom were John W. Niles, 
Dr. Frank Anthony and T. S. Beach. These men were 
chiefly instrumental in organizing and developing the 
company and devoted considerable time to the work in 
order to secure a desirable membership of young men, 
and in various ways building the foundation in such a 
manner as to interest the towns-people in the future of 
the company, permanently securing the location of this 
company of National Guards. 

John Niles saw service in an Iowa regiment through- 
out the Civil War. The knowledge thus secured proved 
to be most valuable and he was naturally looked upon 
as the leader in the work. 

Dr. Anthony, a life long resident of Sterling and 
widely known as a physician of more than ordinary 



Illinois National Guards. 



27 



ability and Thos. S. Beach, ex-sheriff of Whiteside coun- 
t}' and an ex-member of Company I of Morrison, with 
the hearty co-operation of a number of other influential 
citizens, added their combined efforts in bringing the 
venture to a successful termination. Not long after the 
idea originated, the desired membership was secured 
and Colonel T. Ewert, Assistant Adjutant General of 
the State came to Sterling by request to administer the 
oath and on March 24th, 1888. the following compan}- 
was mustered into the service. 
Captain. John W. Niles. 

1st Lieutenant, Thomas S. Beach. 

Frank Anthony. 

JohnA. Haberer. 

Lewis F, Eisele. 

Walter N. Haskell. 

Goodicil B. Dillon. 

Samuel T. Mangan, 

Charles S. Hall. 

Frank D. Ely. 

James F. Criswell. 

Orville P. Bassett. 

^ngell, William E. 

Adair. Ambrose. 

Burke, Harry T. 

Bickford, Joseph M. 

Boyers, Joseph. 

Crawford, Robert G. 

Connor, John R. 

Cook, Ward W. 

Cochrane. Albert G. 

Cushman. John W. 

Grimes. Frank A. 



2nd Lieutenant, 

ist Sergeant 

2nd Sergeant, 

3rd 

4th " 

5th 

Corporal, 



Priv 



ate 



28 History of Companies I and E. 

Private Hoover, Harry G. 

Hills. Edward O. 

" Hess, Albert H, 

" Howland, Harry T, 

" Haberly, Frank F. 

Haskell, William W. 

" Johnson, J. Stanley. 

" Kline, John L. 

" Lawrie, William F. 

" Llewellyn. David. 

" Mangan, William F. 

«' Mangan, E.J. 

'' Mangan, R. L. 

" Myer, Adam B. 

" Osmer, Sydney C. 

" Rock, Edwin S. 

" Stoddard, Fred R. 

" Shumaker, Charles N. 

" Smith, Jesse. 

" V^an Hofne, E. Burt. 

" Woods, Rollin H. 

" Woodworth, Clarence 

" Williams, Albert A, 

•' Williams, B. Frank. 

" Winters, James 0. 

The company was designated as E and attached 
to the Sixth Regiment. Each member immediately put 
a shoulder to the wheel and made every effort to estab- 
lish a degree of efficiency, second to none in the regi- 
ment, in which they were more than successful. 

It is admitted by those familiar with the affairs of 
the Sixth that this company has always retained a very 
desirable position in the ranks having been well officer- 




BKIG.-GEN. CHAS. FITZSIMONS, 
Commanding First Brigade. 



li.i.TNOis National Guards. 29 

ed and fortunate in securing desirable members. The 
Wallace Hall which was located on the present site of 
the Masonic Temple was secured as a drill room and for 
a short time was the home of the company, later remov- 
ing to the old skating rink where it remained about 
two years when the present armory was leased and 
afterward purchased, remodeled and enlarged, making a 
one story drill room forty feet in width by one hundred 
feet in length with a two story front. This building is 
located north of 4th, on Locust street. 

During the iirst few years, each member was asses- 
sed $2.00 membership fee and an additional sum annual- 
ly. The receipts from this source being, added to the 
company fund account and in this manner they were en- 
abled to secure the necessary amount with which to 
meet the running expenses, avoiding the embarrassing 
situation of an accumulation of unpaid bills, and placing 
themselves on a substantial footing financially. It is 
quite evident to a close observer that company E has 
been very fortunate in almost every manner from the 
first. As before stated, its members have devoted a 
great deal of energy in attaining a very creditable degree 
of proficiency in military tactics. They have from the 
first been very careful in the selection of both commis- 
sioned and non-commissioned officers and in addition, 
they early secured and retained the respect of their 
home people, which means more to, and has a greater 
degree of influence with the Guardsmen than the gener- 
al public may be aware of. At any time could be found 
a half dozen or more Company E boys attached to the 
regimental commissioned or non-commissioned staff, 
thus placing them in a situation whereby unwonted fa- 
vors were easily secured and taken advantage of to the 



30 History of Companies I and E. 

benefit of the individual members of the company which 
were highly appreciated and gave an added interest to 
the work, creating a feeling of good fellowship between 
the company members and the regimental officers, a 
very pleasing situation for all concerned. The general 
condition of the compan}' has remained normal during 
its entire history, giving but few opportunities for a 
great amount of noise to be made at any certain period, 
yet producing a coveted condition of affairs and reflect- 
ing credit on the officers and men alike. 

Target practice has always been considered a very 
important factor in establishing individual records in the 
company. During the first few years it was un- 
able to secure a suitable range, and was compelled to 
purchase its own ammunition. The only site avail- 
able was the old base ball park located in the northern 
part of town. This was leased for a short time, but the 
range being limited to lOO and 200 yards it was 
handicapped to such an extent as to make it necessary 
for it to procure a more desirable location which 
it did the following year. This range was fitted up 
at the expense of the company and was located about 
three miles east of town on the banks of Rock river, the 
full 1000 yard practice being available, making it one of 
the best rifle ranges in the State, and for a number of 
years was used more or less by the neighboring compan- 
ies. The shooting done on the old 200 yard range re- 
sulted very unsatisfactorily and a number of the company 
went down to Sublette, 111., where was located a 1000 
yard range, andB. F. Williams here secured the first dec- 
oration as "Sharpshooter", and Major Lawrie,then a pri- 
vate returned an "Expert." Since procuring the 1000 
yard home range a large number of the members have 



Illinois National Guards. 31 

qualified as ''Marksman, "^"Expert," and "Sharpshooter" 
in addition to these are ajhalf dozen or more "Distin- 
guished Sharpshooters" among whom are B. F. Wil- 
liams, Major Lawrie, Captain' Eick, S. T. Mangan and 
Sergt. John]^Cushman. Captain Eick deserves special 
mention in connection with marksmen of Illinois. His 
skill in the handling of a rifle has placed him in the front 
ranks among the expert marksmen of the United States 
and he possesses numerous decorations which he has 
won in competitive shoots. For several years he has been 
Regimental Inspector of Rifle Practice with rank of 
Captain, and during this time he has been the coach for 
several teams of marksmen who have entered the com- 
petitive contest for the "Washburn Trophy" which is 
still held in the office of the Adjutant General of this 
State subject to be contested for by the states of Minne- 
sota, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan and Illinois. 

The decoration of a Distinguished Sharpshooter in the 
National Guard places the holder on an equal footing with 
the Siiarpshooter in the Regular Army when considering 
qualities of a marksman. 

The rifle butt on the new range was destroyed by 
the wind in the early 90's. rebuilt by the company and 
equipped with steel frame targets by the State. In 1899, 
fire destroyed the butts and on account of a shortage of 
funds they have not since been repaired. 

Upon the company's return from Camp Lincoln in 
1888, the citizens of Sterling presented it with a 
large silk flag which has since been used as the company 
colors and at the present time is in the hands of the W. 
R. C. who are replacing the white silk stripes which had 
become badly tattered in the thirteen years of service. 

From the period of the muster in of Company E, 



32 History of Companies I and E. 

it has joined fortunes with Company I, and with the 
exception of the affairs personal to members of the indi- 
vidual companies they have been as one. Captain Niles 
resigned the command of Company E in December 1888, 
2nd Lieut. Anthony succeeding him. The resignation 
of Lieut. Beach had occurred in November, the vacancy 
thus caused being filled by the election of Sergt. Lewis 
F. Eisele. Upon the promotion of Lieut. Anthony, private 
W. F. Lawrie was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant. Lieut. 
Eisele's resignation occurred in October 1890, following 
which came the advancement in rank of Lieut. Lawrie to 
that of 1st Lieut., Sergt. Walter N. Haskell succeeding 
him as 2nd Lieutenant. 

Captain Anthony relinquished command of the 
company late in the year of 1890. At this time he re- 
ceived the appointment of Assistant Surgeon with the 
rajik of Captain and on February 27th, 1891, was pro- 
moted to Surgeon of the regiment and commissioned a 
Major. This position he retained for more than eight 
years resigning on August 2nd, 1899. No appointment 
was made to fill this vacancy until December 29th, 1900, 
when Major Anthony was prevailed upon to again accept 
the commission. 

Lieut. Lawrie was commissioned Captain; 2nd 
Lieut. Haskell promoted to the rank of ist, and Sergt. G. 
B. Dillon, 2nd Lieut. Captain Lawrie was twice re-elect- 
ed, retaining command of the company until January 5th 
1899 when he was elected Major of the regiment and 
placed in command of the third battalion. Lieut. Hask- 
ell and Dillon retained their respective rank for a period 
of nearly four years. In the month of October, 1894 ist 
Lieut. Haskell tendered his resignation and Lieut. Dillon 
succeeded him, Edwin S. Johnson being elected 2nd 




COL. (lEORGE M. MOULTOX, 
Inspector General. 



Illinois National Guards. 33 

Lieut., resigning in A[)ril 1897, when J. Frank Wahl was 
commissioned as such. 

In the spring of 1898, Lieut. Haskell organized a 
company of volunteers which was a part of Geii'l Clen- 
denin's provisional regiment, but was not called into act- 
ive service. 



iii< 



34 History of Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Returning to the affairs of Company I, it is found 
several changes have occurred in the commissioned offi- 
cers. Upon the expiration of his term of service as 2nd 
Lieut., in April 1889, John Colebaugh severed his con- 
nection with the Guard and during the following month 
Harry T. Guffin was commissioned to this rank. In May 
1890 he was promoted to ist Lieut, following the termi- 
nation of the commission of Lieut, Brearton, resigning 
in June, 1891. 

Captain Colebaugh 's commission expired in May 

1891. Sergt. Milford Johnson succeeding him,his resig- 
nation occurring in April 1892. Sergt. Merritt Stowe 
was elected ist Lieut, in July 1891 and Captain in June 

1892, resigning in October of the same year. 

Sergt. S. Wellington Baker was commissioned 2nd 
Lieut, in May 1890, his resignation being accepted in 
July 1891, the election of A. Rollin Baird to fill the va- 
cancy thus caused occurred in August. Lieut. Baird re- 
signed in April 1893, and Harry Guffin was again elect- 
ed 2nd Lieut, in May. S. W. Baker was elected 1st 
Lieut, in June 1892 and resigned in June 1893, 2nd 
Lieut. Guffin succeeding him in July 1893. 

Upon the resignatiojn of Captain Stowe in 1892, 
William Colebaugh was for the third time commissioned 
Captain, remaining in command of the company until Oc- 
tober 19th, 1895. 1st Lieut. Guffin was elected Captain, 
resigning in June, 1896. Following the promotion of 



Illinois National Guards. 35 

2nd Lieut. Guffin to the rank of ist Lieutenant, came the 
election of George H. Kentfield, who was commissioned 
2nd Lieutenant in July 1893, resigning March 20th, 1S94, 
Edward C. Lawton succeeding him in April and elected 
1st Lieutenant in May 1895. 

Following the election of Captain Guffin, Walter H. 
Clark was then commissioned 2nd Lieutenant and retained 
this rank until June 1896 when he resigned and Charles 
Puddifoot was elected in his stead. Lieut. Puddifoot al- 
so tendered his resignation in June 1897, his successor 
being Ernest J. Weaver. Lieutenant Weaver resigned 
at Camp Tanner, May 14th, 1898. 

Upon the resignation of Captain Guffin in 1896, 
William Colebaugh was once again placed in command 
of the company serving in this capacity throughout the 
Spanish-American War. 

The company accepted an invitation from Company 
C of Galesburg and was present at a reception given to 
President Harrison in that city on October 8th, 1890. 
The President was attending a reunion of his Brigade of 
Civil War veterans which was held there at the time. 

In drawing a comparison between the general con- 
dition of the two companies during the first six years of 
the existence of each company, we find following closely 
upon each other that seventeen comipissions had been is- 
sued to as many officers in Company I and during this 
same period from April 22nd, to June 8th, 1882, the 
command of the company fell to the lot of a Sergeant, an 
unproductive and undesirable condition of affairs, which 
took a large amount of hard work and considerable time 
to overcome. 

Referring to the records of Company E covering 
the same number of years, it is found a total of eleven 



36 ' ""'History of Companies I and E. 

; commissions were issued. 
^ Carefully scanning the roster of commissioned of- 

ficers of both com panics, and by drawing the contrast 
H moresharply, the reader' will find the issuing of the com - 
,!R missions to Company E officers was the result of nearly 
, ;: as many promotions, while the unequal number credited 
,.; to Company I was caused mostly by resignations. This 
"Irt^u has ai deeper meaning than appears on the surface, tak- 
h'x';. ing into consideration that a resignation usually indi- 
cates dissatisfaction' somewhere, while the changes 
^:,("i> brought about by the promotions show a more settled. 
;,j,,.- normal condition, which not alone affects the officers and 
enlisted men of the company, but also secures the con- 
fidence of the citizens with whom they come in contact. 
, iM I This .coilfide-nce once' lost is difficult to regain and is 
, very likely to result in gradually losing interest in the 
■.. afPairs of the company and procuring a release at the first 
.Ci :.. « opportunity. • 

! , Following the records on down through the entire 
.,...., life; of each organization, they show that a total of thir- 
■ ,11 (teen Captains ''commissions have' been issued to company 
.; ;;;,. I daring the twenty three years of its existence, the pres- 
ent commander holding number thirteen," but happily he 
j! , is not superstitious. •■ ' - •■• 

Fifteen commissions were issued to 1st Lieutenants 

u - and eighteen to 2nd Lieutenants covering this same peri - 

.'. >r od, a total of forty six commissions in the twenty three 

.>f>, years, or an average of one commissioned officer every 

six months. 
..K-fr. Company E has in the thirteen years, ' been com- 

manded by four different Captains, seconded by 'six ist 
Lieutenants and eight 2nd Lieutenants, in all eighteen 
officers, making an average of one officer for each nine 




i 



. • • • '^V 



r 









«^Sk 







Illinois National Guards. 37 

months. The number of resignations occurring in Com- 
pan}' I shows a total of twenty-six as compared with 
eight in Company E. 

It does not necessitate the mind of a "Sherlock 
Holmes" or the imaginative power of a Jules \'erne, for 
one to draw a few modest conclusions regarding the ef- 
fect of the varying conditions and numerous changes 
which the records show have existed in the one compa- 
ny compared with the apparently- even tenor of the life 
of the other. 

In drawing the above comparisons, the writer has 
endeavored to give the reader the facts as they appear 
in the official records of the two companies. The object 
in producing them in this manner is to explain wh}' the 
early history of Company E appears more brief and 
possibl}', uninteresting, than that of Company I. Com- 
pany I was mustered into the service ten years in ad- 
vance of Company E, and this, when the Illinois Nation- 
al Guard was comparatively in its infancy. 

Ten years brought numerous radical changes in the 
regulations causing more or less trouble and dissatisfac- 
tion in the Guard throughout the State and naturally 
made it extremely unpleasant for the members of the 
different companies individually, until matters became 
more settled. All of these difficulties were arranged 
quite satisfactorily prior to the muster in of Company E, 
and aside from this there appears to have been an un- 
usually thorough understanding between the officers 
and men of this compan}- with few unpleasantries arising 
among themselves, consequently their path has been a 
comparatively smooth one with but little up hill business 
connected with it. On the other hand. Company I has 
passed through some ver\- trying and serious periods. 



38 History of Companies I and E. 

For a time, everything would move along smoothly 
enough and the sun would shine on it, then would come 
a slump as sudden and disastrous as the ruin wrought 
by the corn king "Phillips" when he squeezed the shorts 
until they begged for mercy. 

The dissolution of Company I has been seriously 
considered more than once, and tut for the intercession 
of influential friends, who came forward at the last 
hour, would in all probability have been a thing of the 
past ere this. All of these happenings make history, 
and gives an added interest to the work of securing the 
data covering the perioJs of the companj's varying for- 
tunes. 

The annual tour of camp duty at Camp Lincoln 
has always found Company E present with a full quota 
of men where they were given an opportunity to show 
the progress made yearh' and compare their success 
with that of other troops present. 



Illinois National Guards. 30 



CHAPTER V. 

The regular routine of drill at home, and at camp 
was continued some time without a break of any sort, 
barring the lightning changes sometimes made in the 
officers of Company I. The first incident of interest oc. 
curred on the return from Camp Lincoln in 1892. The 
train bearing the troops made a brief stop near Beards- 
town. Within view of the boys was a melon field of 
some twenty or thirty acres. — The sight of a melon al- 
ways appeals to the heart (or stomach) of a soldier and 
he is never contented to see them lying about, without 
in some manner being able to secure one or more. 
With melons in sight, comes the thought of a '-lark" 
and the soldier who procures the largest number with- 
out expense to himself, is envied by all of his comrades. 
For this reason, few. if any fruit venders dare venture to 
make a trip through camp with a load of them as they 
soon become acquainted with the intoxicating effect it 
has on the soldiers. — As the train slowed down and 
came to a standstill. se\'eral hundred pairs of eyes were 
glued on the neighboring fields. Some one said "mel- 
ons" the word was passed through the train in half the 
time it takef- to tell it. But how to get them was a 
serious matter aa guards were posted at each car door 
with instructions to allow no one to pass in or out un- 
less he be a comir.issioned officer. The boys could not 
look for aid from the officers in this matter, but for some 
cause the officers had other important business about 



40 History of Companies I and E. 

this time and few were in sight. This was their op- 
portunity and out of the car windows and into the melon 
field they went. In a short time melons came flying in 
through every window. About this stage of the pro- 
ceedings, an old man appeared on the scene, closely fol- 
lowed by a mammoth bull dog, and the boys hustled 
back to the cars and pushed and pulled each other in 
through the windows. By this time the train was ready 
to proceed and in a moment rolled away, leaving the 
angry farmer shaking his clenched fist at the receding 
cars. What he said or thought could only be imagined 
as he was too far distant to be heard and the boys were 
too busily engaged plugging the melons, in their search 
for a ripe one, to have given him any attention had he 
been present, The search for an edible melon contin- 
ued for some few moments, but resulted in a flat failure. 
They were all too green to be eaten. The boys were 
not a little chagrined to find they had exerted themselves 
so willingly and were repaid in a half a carload of green 
melons, and they reluctantly tossed them out of the 
cars. 

When the officers appeared and angrily inquired of 
the men what they had been doing, asking each one if 
he had not heard and fully understood the order to re- 
main in the cars, every one to a man, swore they had 
not been out of their seats while the train was at a 
standstill and that they did not even see the melon 
patch. The pieces of melon found on the car floor, they 
said, were thrown in by the boys from the next car, who 
were all out. 

Shortly after the arrival home. Captains Lawrie 
and Stowe received a letter from Col. Clendenin, in 
which be said he had sent a comrnittee to Beardstown 




rOL. HENllY S. DIETRICH, 
General Inspector of Rirte Practice. 



Illinois National Guards. 41 

to iiivestii^ate the matter and make a settlement with 
the old gentleman. The amount paid, with the expense 
of making this settlement, made it necessary to assess 
each company $12.00. He instructed the company com- 
manders to take such measures as they deemed best to 
secure the amount from the guilty parties and in addition 
each man, who took part in the affair should at least, be 
reprimanded, trusting that '-nothing of the kind would 
again occur in the existence of the Sixth Regiment." 

It appears that the members of Company I stoutly 
maintained their innocence to the last and in some man- 
ner avoided the pa^'ment of any portion of the assess- 
ment. Company E was less fortunate or better situated 
financially, at least the boys paid the amount called for 
and this closed the incident officially, but it is recalled 
today by the older members of the Guard as rather a 
disgraceful affair. 

The writer was a member of Company I at the 
time and has made the same trip several times since, but 
has never known of the train making the stop at this 
point again; and the old familiar ground is passed with 
bowed heads and closed eyes. 

On December 28th, 1892 the Third Infantry, Sixth 
Infantry and Cavalry troop B, were relieved from 
duty with the First and Second Brigades respectively, 
and were organized into and designated as the Third 
Brigade. William Clendenin was appointed Brigadier 
General commanding. 

January I3lh, 1893. Lieut. Colonel Foster was com- 
missioned Colonel, establishing headquarters at Chicago. 
Major Ed Kittilsen Lieut. Colonel, and William T. 
Channon. Major of the Sixth Regiment. 

Major Channon has been connected with the Na- 



42 History of Companies T and E. 

tional Guard of Illinois since 1877, when he enlisted as a 
private. He was promoted rapidly and at the time 
of the East St. Louis strike was ist Lieutenant of 
Company A. He was elected Captain of the company 
September 27th, 1887, serving as such during the cam- 
paign of the Spring Valley coal miners' strike, In Jan- 
uary 1893 he was commissioned Major and in this ca- 
pacity saw service in Chicago throughout the great rail- 
road troubles. He commanded the ist Battalion of the 
Sixth regiment during the Spanish American War and 
at present is ranking Major of the regiment. 

Company I participated in a parade at Moline and 
Rock Island, 111., July 4th, 1892. 

Both Companies, I and E, attended the Dedication 
Ceremonies of the buildings of the World's Columbian 
Exposition, at Chicago, Oct 21st, 1892, and took part in 
the Military parade on that day. Troops from all over 
the State were present, and the parade was a brilliant 
one in every respect. The Sixth regiment was quarter- 
ed in the Electrical Building on the Exposition grounds. 
The rations issued were furnished by contract and were 
not fit to eat. Nearly all of the boys preferred to pur- 
chase their own meals rather than be compelled to eat 
the food given them. The main floor of the building 
in which they were quartered was set with long rows of 
tables, Thousands of loaves of bread and hundreds of 
pounds of meat and coffee were brought in. A large 
force of men and women were at work all one day mak- 
ing sandwiches and preparing to feed the thousands, who 
were expected the following day. It became necessary 
to post a guard around the tables, as the sandwiches and 
doughnuts were stolen by hundreds. The boys who 
were standing guard had little opportunity to get out 



Illinois National Guards. 43 

to secure t'otjcl and souii ht'cami' quit;- liuiiufry. The <,nrls 
behind Ihe tabh's took pity on them and when the sup- 
erintendent W.13 not looking, would piss the eager sol- 
diers a CU-) of coffee or a sandwich. This was soon 
discovered and we saw an (express wagon driven in con- 
taining a h)ad of white muslin. In a few moments a 
corps of workmen appeared and they (juickly stretched 
the cloth around tlu' tal)les apparently cutting off all 
means of Communication between the fair waiters and 
the guards. But they were not to be so easily beaten. 
The soldiers were standing guard wdth fixed bayonets 
and they would run the muzzle of the rifle over the top 
of the cloth barrier, allow it to remain a moment durino- 
which time it would suddenly become quite w^eighty with 
a queer jerking motion, like the pulling of a five pound 
catfish on the end of a line. The soldier upon returning 
the rifle to his side of the curtain would find on the 
bayonet a couple of nice doughnuts, a larg(^ fresh sand- 
wich and a tin cup, nearly full, of steaming coffee. To 
prevent the cup from slipping off, it was necessary to 
put another sandwich on the outer side of it. This com- 
bination made an excellent meal and if more was wanted, 
the trick was repeated as the girls could not see the 
boys and consequently did not know whether they were 
feeding the whole of the Illinois National Guard, or that 
one soldier was getting it all, and in all probability did 
not care. 

AT THE world's FAIR. 

The year following, 1893, four regiments of Infantry, 
including the Sixth, one Battery and one Troop of Caval- 
ry were ordered to report and encamp at 75th Street 
near Windsor Station, Chicago, on the morning of Au- 



44 History of Companies I and E. 

gust 23rd, fully armed, and equipped with blankets and 
overcoats. The next day, August 24th had been select- 
ed as "Illinois Day" at the Columbian Exposition and 
the Illinois National Guard invited to parade and par- 
ticipate in the exercises at the Illinois State Building 
on that day. They remained there four days. The ofh- 
cers and men were allowed two days pay for this tour 
of duty together with transportation and subsistence. 
This ga\e a large number of the troops an opportunity 
to visit the Exposition grounds at little expense to them- 
selves who otherwise may have been unable to have done 
so and the two days pay allowance was considered very 
liberal. 

The troops from the neighboring towns were invited 
to attend a celebration at Sterling on July 4th, 1894. 
Several of the companies accepted and were preseni. 
The military parade was among the main attractions of 
the day and added materially to the general suc- 
cess of the affair. 

On July 6th, 1894, Companies I and E were order- 
ed for duty in Chicago with their regiment. This was 
at the time of the difficulties arising from the great rail- 
road strike. With little preparation they boarded a 
special train at six o'clock that evening, less than four 
hours after the call, and w^ere at the seat of war shortly 
after nine o'clock at night. For twenty days and nights 
they were on almost constant duty , the nature of which 
was extremely unpleasant. They were confronting men 
who were as fully determined as themselves, but luckily 
the campaign drew to a close without any serious con- 
flict between the strikers and the soldiers. Had there 
been, the result would have been disastrous to both. 
The soldiers fully realized the situation and did nothing 



Illinois National Guards. 45 

to aggravate the rioters to commit any rash acts. Witli 
right and justice on their side the Guardsmen at all 
times felt equal to the situation and did their duty fear- 
lessly. This duty consisted in guarding railrofid proper- 
ty and protecting moving trains. They were at all 
times prepfired for a sutlden call to arms, sleeping with 
their rifles by their side and fully clothed in readiness 
to fall in at a moments notice. The promptness in mob- 
olizing shown at the time of the explodion of an Artil- 
lery caisson on 40th street aiid Grand Boulevard on July 
i6th serves as a fair illustration of the capabilities of the 
men in an emergency. They were lying about camp, 
dreamily thinking of home when suddenly the sound of 
a fearful explosion was heard not far distant. Their first 
thought was of the deadly bombs which the strikers were 
supposed to have been preparing for them. With the 
thunder of the explosion still ringing in their ears came 
the clear shrill notes of the bugle call sounding "as- 
sembly." A scramble for quarters followed and in 
less than five minutes after hearing the first sound of 
alarm the available troops in camp were marching in 
quick time to the scene of disaster, momentarily expect- 
ing to face a horde of half crazed men who, once started 
would stop at nothing. Instead, the mangled forms of a 
dozen or more unfortunate soldiers met their gaze, and 
the cause of the trouble was quite evident. Major 
Anthony was the first surgeon to appear and he imme- 
diately turned his attention to the poor fellows who were 
wounded, extracting some eight or ten bullets in a few 
moments. Four men were killed outright, literally torn 
in pieces. Twelve men and two women were more or 
less seriously injured and the remains of nine horses 
^ ere scattered about. After a short tour of guard duty 



46 History of Companies I and E. 

in the neighborhood of the accident the men returned to 
camp. With the evidence of returning peace, the men 
became restless and anxious to return to their homes, and 
on July 26th they boarded a homeward bound train ar- 
riving at four o'clock in the afternoon. 

A soldier camp, even in the heart of a great city like 
Chicago means many discomforts and not a few priva- 
tions, and the effects of this three weeks service had 
worked a wonderful change in the appearance of the 
men. Besides, they were badly sunburned and contrast- 
ed strangely with the natty boys who had taken such a 
hurried departure a few weeks previous. They were met 
at the depot by a dense crowd of cheering citizens and 
escorted to their armories. The command "break ranks" 
was received with a cheer from the soldier boys. The 
uniforms were soon discarded and they were again citi- 
zens. 

The officers of the two companies during the service 
were: Captain, Wm. F. Colebaugh ; ist Lieut., H. T. 
Guffin, and 2nd Lieut., Ed. C. Lawton, of I. Captain, 
Wm. F. Lawrie; ist Lieut., Walter N. Haskell, and 2nd 
Lieut., G. B. Dillon of E. 

The evening following their heme coming, both 
companies were banqueted by the citizens of their indi- 
vidual towns. This was the most serious riot that the 
State troops had ever been called upon to assist in sup- 
pressing and was the second experience of actual soldier 
life in the history of Company I, as it was the first for 
Company E, Referring to the reference marks at the 
head of the complete roster of the companies, a * denotes 
the names of those who saw service in Chicago, while 
the j- which also appears on the roster of Company I 
designates the men who were present at the East St. 



Illinois National Guards. 47 

Louis campaign ill 1886, as accurately as it is possible to 
determine at this late date. 

The entire National Guard of the State was mobo- 
lized at Chicago on July 22nd. 1897, to parade and par- 
ticipate in the ceremonies connected with the unveiling 
of General Logan's monument. Companies I and E were 
present, boarding an early morning train and arriving in 
Chicago barely in time to take their position in line. 
The line of march extended for miles and at the close 
they were immediately hurried to the railway station to 
embark for the return home, where they arrived about 
nine o'clock in the evening. 

On September 30th the same year, Captain Colebaugh 
commanding Company I received the following telegram. 

Springfield, III., September 30TH; 1897. 
Captain Colebaugh, Co. I, 6th Infantry, 
Morrison III., 
Report with company on nine o'clock train, to Gen- 
eral Reece at Fulton, armed and equipped with ball cart- 
ridge. Signed, John R. Tanner. 

Shortly after the receipt of the above order and just 
as the train was pulling into the station. Captain Cole- 
baugh received a second telegram instructing him not 
to embark for Fulton until further orders, but to hold 
his company in readiness to leave at a moment's notice. 
The men remained in the armory all that night expect- 
ing to be ordered out again, but were not and they re- 
turned to their homes in the early morning. The dis- 
turbance at Fulton was caused by the friction arising 
from the removal to Rock Island, 111., of the head offices 
of the Modern Woodmen of America, but peace and quiet 
were restored without the aid of the State troops. Com- 



48 History of Companies I and E. 

pany G of Dixon received the same order which Captain 
Colebaugh had acted upon in ordering his men to 
assemble for riot duty. The Dixon boys were on board 
the train which was to carry Company I to the scene 
and were the only troops present at the riot. 




COL. WALTER FIELDH0U3E, 
Aide de Camp. 



Illinois National Guards. 49 



CHAPTER VI. 

Roster of the Companies. 

The following [)ages contain a separate roster of 
each company from date of organization to April 30th, 
1901. The roster of commissioned officers of the 
individual companies precedes that of the enlisted 
men. Upon the receipt of a commission by an en- 
listed man his record is carried to and complet- 
ed in the roster of commissioned officers unless he again 
enters the service as a private, which seldom occurs. 

The roster of Company I contains the names of 
four hundred and five men who have at one time or an- 
other been in the State service with this company. Of 
this number two hundred and ninety seven appear on 
the company descriptive book. The remaining one 
hundred and eight, including the charter members, were 
secured by a long and careful search through hundreds 
of old letters, General and Special Orders and muster 
rolls. 

In defence of the commanding officers of the com- 
pany during the first six or eight years of it's existence, 
it is only just to state that their records consisted solely 
of the files of correspondence, orders and the retained 
copies of enlistment papers. The company descriptive 
book was at that time unknown, 3et the records ob- 
tained after careful re-arrangement tollow upon each oth- 
er so closely as to make it quite possible to secure the 
name of every man who has been a member of the com- 



50 History of Companies I and E. 

pany in the past twenty-three years. 

Again the good fortune of Company E is appar- 
ent and barring the natural inchnation to make errors, 
which seems to be the lot of all mankind, the register 
of this Company is complete. It shows an enrollment of 
three hundred and eleven names of men who have taken 
the oath required by the State when entering the ser- 
vice of the Illinois National Guard. The failure in many 
instances in the record of both companies to show the 
date of discharge of an enlisted man, may be attribu- 
ted to the fact that when a Guardsman, whose term 
of service has expired contemplates an immediate re-en- 
listment, it is considered unnecessary to issue a discharge. 

In the roster of enlisted men, the column headed 
"remarks'* includes the different rank attained by each 
man, but does not indicate the date of appointment. It 
also covers the losses in the ranks either by promotion, 
transfer, discharge or death. Where the date simply 
appears, it is understood to indicate a discharge was giv- 
en on that date,' 

ROSTER OF COMPANY I. 

A j- indicates service at East St. Louis, a * at Chi- 
cago. 

COMMCSSIONED OFFICERS. 



Captains. 

MAME. DATE OF COMMISSION. DATE OF PROMOTION 

RESIGNATION OK DISCHARGE. 

George H. Fay, Sept. 11, 1878. Resigned Feb. 24, 1882. 

Frank Clendenin, Aug. 1, 1882. Commissioned Colonel and 

Aid de camp on the Gov- 
ernor's staff, Sept. 5, 1882. 

Cornelius Quaokenbnsb,Mov. 2, 1882. Resigned Apr. 7, 1884- 



Illinois National Guards. 



51 



N. James Cole, 
William F. Colebaugh, 
jHenry H. Griffiths, 
William F. Colebaugh, 

Milford Johnson, 

Merritt Stowe, 

* William F. Colebaugh, 

Harry T. Guflin, 
William F. Colebaugh, 



June 27, 1884. Resigned Mch. Ki, 1885. 
Apr. 8, 18S5. Resigned Apr. 1, 188(). 
Apr. 28, 188C. Resigned Apr. 21, 1888. 
May 21, 1888, Commission expirfd May 

21, 1891. 
May 28, 1891. Resigned Apr. 27, 1892. 
June 2, 1892. Resigned Oct. 4, 1892. 
Oct. 19, 1892, Commission expired Oct. 

19, 189.5. 
May 30, 1895. Resigned June — , 189r). 
July 9, 1890. Commission expired July 9, 

189'.». 



Harvey S. Green, July 14, 1899. 

LsT. LlEUTEN 

Cornelius (i'iackenbush,S3pt. 11, 1878, 



Z T. Anderson, 
Frank Clendenin, 

Curtis Johnson, 
N.James Cole, 

William F. Colebaugh, 

Henry Griffiths, 

tT. S. Beach, 
Wm. S. Brearton, 

Harry T. GuHin, 
Merritt Stowe, 

S. Wellington Baker, 
*Harry T. GuUin, 

Edward C. Lawton, 

Harry A. Weaver, 

John Grierson, 
Edward A. Worrell, 
Edward P. Stokes 
Curtis Johnson, 



\NTS. 

Commission expired Sept 
11, 1881. 

JS record. Resigned A pril 22, 1882. 
June 8, 1882, Commissioned Captain Aug 

1, 18S2. 

Aug. 1, 1882, Resigned Oct. loth 18S2. 
Nov. 3, 1882, Commissioned Capt. June 

27, 1884. 

June 27, i884, Commissioned Capt. April 
8, 1885. 

Apr. 8, 1885, Commissioned Capt. April 

28, 188(5. 

Apr. 28, 188H, Resigned Jan. 15, 1887. 
May 16, 1887, Commission expired May 

1<), 1890. 
May 23, 1890, Resigned June 19, 1891. 
July 3, 1891, Commissioned Capt. June 

2, 1892. 

June 2, 1892, Resigned June 7, 1893. 
Julv24, 1893, Commissioned Capt. May 

30, 1895. 
May 30, 1895, Commission expired May 

30, 1898. 
March 9, 1899. 



2nd. Lieutenants. 
Sept. 11, 1878, Resigned June 5, 1879. 
July It), 1879, Resigned Sept. 0, 1880. 
Sept. 2, 1880, Resigned March 25, 1882. 
June 8, 1882, Commissioned 1st. Lieut. 
Aug. 1, 1882. 



52 



History of Companies I and E. 



Wm. S. BreartoD, 
Charles F. Montague, 
Erastus 13. Humphrey 
t-John M. Colebaugh 

Harry T. Gullin 

S. Wellington Baker, 
A. Rollin Balrd, 
Harry T. Guffin, 

George H. Kent field, 
*£dward C. Lawton, 

Walter H. Clark, 
Charles Puddifoot, 
Ernest J. Weaver, 
Jacob L. Rockey, 



Aug. 1, 1882, 
July 28, 1883, 
June 27, 1884. 
Apr. 28, 188<), 

May 13, 1889, 

Miy 23, 18'J0, 
Aug. 8, 1891, 
May 8, 1893, 

July 24, 1893, 
Apr. 2, 1894, 

May 30, 1895, 
July 9, 1896, 
June 29, 1897, 
March 9, 1899, 



Resigned March — 1883, 
Resigned May 27, 1884. 
Resigned Apr. 1, 1886. 
Commission expired Apr. 

28, 1889. 
Commissioned 1st. Lieut. 

May 23, 189G. 
Resigned July 28, 1891. 
Resigned Apr. 10, 1893. 
Commissioned 1st, Lieut. 

July 24, 1893, 
Resigned March 20, 1894, 
Commissioned 1st. Lieut. 

May 30, 1895. 
designed J une — 189(5. 
Resigned June 17, 1897. 
Resigned May 14, 1898. 



ENLISTED MEN. 



DATE OF ENLISTMENT 



REMARKS 



Anderson, Z. T^ 

Atwater, Benjamin J. 
Alexander, Thornton 
Austin, Will G. 
Austin, A. E, 
tAnderson, H, ¥. 

Allen, William 
Adams, Henry W. 
Anderson, Nils 
Aldrich, Albert 
Adams, Ray 
Annan, George 
Annan, Frank W. 
Annan, Floyd J. 
Buckley, George 
Bogart, Cornelius 
Buttery, Arthur C, 

Bray, Dennis 
Bartholomew, Geo, L. 



Sept. 11, 1878, Sergeant, Commissioned 
1st. Lieut, No date, 
Feb. 24. 1880. Corporal. 
Feb. 24,1880. Sergeant, 
lunet), 1883. 



Sept, 11, 1878, 
Dec. 10, 1878, 
June 19,1882, 
June 20, 1882. 
Apr. 12, 1883, 



Apr,25, 1889, 
May 30, 1895, 
Apr, 9, 1891), 
Aug. 9,1897 
May 18, 1899, 
Aug. 31, 1899. 
May 1, 190C. 
Mch. 7, 1901. 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 

Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 



July 9, 1887 

Sergeant. 
J uly 29, 1890. 
Aug. 28, 1899. 

May 28, 1898. 
Aug. 28, 1899. 



Corporal, 



Sept. 7, 1880. 
Dec. 15, 1882. 
Nov. ('), 1883 

geant. 
Feb. 24, 1880. 
July 5, 1883. 



Sergeant. 



Corporal, Ser- 



Corporal. 



Illinois National Guards. 



53 



tlJowdish, Daniel G. 

(I II u 

Bowdish, William 15. 
Brandt, John N. 
Burns, Howard 

Bue.'l, George A. 

Burke, Michael 
Brearton, \Vm. S. 



Berry, Daniel S. 
Ball, William A. 
Bartlett, C. C. 
Beach, T. S. 

Borland, James A. 
Bartlett, C. N. 
tBartlett. O. J. 

Brett, George 
tBaker, S. Wellington, 



tBoze, William S., 
Burke, Charles E., 
Brown, Charles C, 



II II 



Bent, Paul A , 

II II II 

Baird, A. Rollin, 

II II 14 

Boyle, Edward P., 



Sept. 11, 1878, 
May 8, 1884, 
Mch. 22, 1879, 
Aug. 15, 187U, 
Aug. 2G, 1871), 

July 12, 1880, 

Aug. 30, 1880, 
June 8, 1882, 
June 4, 188»;, 



Junes, 1882, 
June 23, 1882, 
June 2t5, 1882, 
Nov. 30, 1882, 



Mch. 8, 1883, 
May 31, 1883, 
Feb. 28, 1884, 

June 28, 1884, 
Apr. 22, 1885, 



May 15, 1890, 
Feb, 4, 1892, 

Feb. 10, 1886, 
June 4, 188(j, 
July 15, 1886, 
July 11, 1895, 
May 24, 1888, 
Oct. 17, 1892, 

May 31, 1888, 

June 4, 1891, 

Aug. 2, 1888, 



May 24, 1883. 

July 7, 1880. 

May 22, 1884. 

Sept. 1, 1884. 

Oct. 17, 1883. Corporal, Ser- 
geant. 

July 10, 1885. Corporal; Ser- 
geant. 

Feb. 27, 1883. 
Commissioned 2nd. Lieut- 
Aug. 1, 1882. Appointed 
Regimental Commissary 
vSergeant July 21, 1886. 
Commissioned 1st. Lieut. 
May 16. 1887. 

May 24, 1883. 

Oct. 17, 1883. 

Nov. 25, 1885. Musician. 

Corporal, Sergeant. Com- 
missioned 1st. Lieut. Apr, 
28, 1886. 

Oct. 6, 1884. 

May 15, 1885. 

July 2, 1886. 
geant. 

Oct. 6, 1884. 

Apr. 30, 1890. 
Corporal, Sergeant, 
Sergeant. 
Commissioned 2nd Lieu- 
tenant May 23, 1890. 
Commissioned 1st Lieu- 
tenant June 2, 1892, 

May 16, 1887. Corporal. 

Nov. 13, 1888. 

Nov. 13, 1888. 

Mch. 28, 1898. 

May 24, 1891. 

Aug. 4, 1893, Corporal, Ser- 
geant. 
June 1, 1891. Corporal, 
Sergeant, 1st Sergeant. 

Commissioned 2nd Lieu- 
tenant August 8, 1891. 
July 29, 1890. 



Corporal, 
Corporal, Sex- 



ist 



54 



History of Companies I and E. 



Boyer, E. C, 
*Burritt, Walter E., 



Eorgtuan, Harry, 
Bly, Timothy, 

Bunzey, Rufus S. 



Bunzey, Fred A., 
*Bent, Fred D., 

Boyd, Herbert N , 
*Baird, Joseph S., 
*Bailey, Thomas, 
Bush, Ira E , 
Bailey, John A., 

(( (I u 

(( U (. 

*Bent, John E. 
Bnmson, Charles D. 

Berry, Charles, 

it li 

Berry, Harrison, T , 
Bailey, Wilbur E., 
Boyd, William J , 
Bailey, Cager B , 
Boyer, William C, 
Baird, John W., 
Besse, Karl, 
Bent, Harry A., 

Brearton, Fred W., 
Booth, Clarence A., 
Boyd, Paul F., 



Feb. 9, 1889, 
Jan. 13, 1890, 

Jan. ti9, 1893, 
Jan. 28. 1894, 
Jan. 25, 1895, 
Mav 6, 1896, 
July 19, 1899, 

June 19, 1890, 
July 31, 1890, 
July 20, 1897, 
Aug. 7, 1890, 
Aug. 31, 1899, 
Aug. 31, 1900, 
June 4, 1891, 
July 21, 1892, 
July 25. 1895, 
July 21, 1892, 
July 21, 1892, 
July 30, 1892, 
Oct. 7, 1892, 
May 4, 1893, 
July 21, 1896, 
Aug. 12, 189V, 
Apr. 28, 1894, 
May 23, 1895, 
Apr. 12, 1896, 
June 12, 1899, 
Jan. 15, 1897, 
July 6. 181'7, 
July 6, 1897, 
July 8, 1897, 
Mch. 31, 1898, 
Apr. 7, 1898 
May 18, 1899, 
May 18, 1899, 
Jan. 17, 1901, 
May 18, 1899, 
May 31, 1900, 
Feb. 5, 1900, 



Burch, William H,, Apr. 12, 1»00, 



May 27, 1892. 

Jan. 26, 1893. 

Corporal, Sergeanc. 
Appointed Q. M. Sergeant 
1st Battalion Aug. 14, 
1892. lie-appointed July 
29,1899. Appointed Ee?- 
imental Commissary Ser- 
geant July 23, 1900. 

June 26, 1893. 

August 4, 1893. 

x\ug. 28, 1899. 

Ft^b. 20, 1893. 



May 20, 1893. 

Aug. 8, 1896 

Sept. 17, 1894. 

July 16. 1896. Musician. 

July 16. 1896. 

May 18, 1894. Corporal. 

July 30, 1896. 

Aug. 12, 1897. 

Jan. 11, 1898. 

Aug. 8, 1896. 

Aug. 8, 1896. 

Corporal. 

Feb. 26, 1900. 

Corporal. 

Sept. 3, 1899. 

Sept. 3, 1899. 

Sept. 3, 1899. 

Aug. 24, 1899. 

Apr. 16, 1901. 

Feb. 26, 1900. 

Corporal. 

Corporal. 

Corporal. Appointed Hos- 
pital Steward July 21, 
1900. 

Corporal. 



Illinois National Guards. 



55 



Beckwith, E. Q., 
BreartoD, James M., 
Bailey, Jesse, 
Bowen, Floyd J., 
Breiter, Arthur C, 
Casey, William, 
Clark, Clarence G., 
Cole, N. James, 



July 20, 1900, 
Feb. 21, I'KJO, 
Mch. 28, 1001, 
Apr. 25, V.m, 
Apr. 80, 1901, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
May iU, 1879, 



Musician. 



Colebaugb, William F., Feb. 22, 1881, 



Clendenin, Frank, 
Colebaugb, John M. 



+Collins, D. J., 
tCummings, Levi, 
Clark, George H., 
Caiibeld, Ora, 

Collins, James, 

it (( 

*Clark, Walter H., 



Colebaugb, James, 
*Crouch, David E. 



Craft. Frank, 
Clark, Walter E., 

*Curtis, Edmund L 



Cronon, Arthur, 
Colebaugb, Ora, 



xVug. 1, 1882. 
Aug. 10, 1882, 

Jan. 9, 1890, 
Aug. 21, 189.3, 
Jan. 11,1883, 
Mch. 25, 1885, 
June 4, 188(5, 
June 161886, 
June 21, 1888, 
June 25, 1891, 
May 15, 1890, 
Sept. 27, 1894, 
Aug. 13, 1896, 
July 31, 1890, 
Feb. 25, 1892, 
May 16, 1895 
Aug. 13, 1896, 

May 12, 1892. 
June 9,1892, 

Oct. 17, 1892, 
Jan. 9, 1896, 
May 13, 1897, 
May 13, 1900. 
Apr. 12..1896, 
Apr. 16, 1896, 



Sept. 11, 1883. 
Sept. 7, 1880. Corporal, 
Sergeant. Commissioned 
1st Lieutenant Nov. 3, 

1882. 

Corporal, Sergeant. 1st 
Sergeant. Commission - 
ed 1st Lieutenant Jan. 
27, 1884. 

Commissioned 1st Lieut, 
this date. 

Sergeant. Commissioned 
2nd Lieutenant Apr. 28, 
1886. 

June 29, 1891. 

Sept. 13, 1894. 

Jan. 11, 1888. Sergeant. 

July 7, 1886. 

Nov. 13, 1888. 

May 9, 1887. 

June 29, 1891. Corporal. 

May 14, 1894. Sergeant. 

May 17, 1893. 

Jan. 16, 1896. 

Aug. 28, 1899. Corporal. 

June 29, 1891. 

May 11, 1895. Corporal. 

Sergeant 

Sept. 13, 1899. 1st Ser- 
geant. 

Dec. 8, 1892. 

Corporal, Sergeant. Com- 
missioned 2nd Lieut., 
May 30, 1805. 

Jan. 16, 1896. 

Corporal. 

Sergeant. 

May 28, 1898. 

August 29, 1899. Musician. 



56 



History of Companies I and E. 



Colehour, George, 
Carter, Frank, 
Cargy, Olin, 
Childs, Clarence C, 
Clifford, Benjamin F. 
Childs, W. L., 
Dean, James, 
tDean, J. H., 
tDodd, George H., 
Davis, James W., 
Deetz, S. L., 
Daniels, Orville, 
*Deyo, Robert J., 

Davis, Robert E. 

Davis, Frank, 
Drennen, M. L., 
Dodd, Frank, 
Davis, Floyd N., 

Davis, Walter B., 
Derby, Harry H., 
Drury, Walter C, 
Donichy, James, G. B 
Emery, Williard, 
Eaton, Ernest M,, 
Ely, Spencer, 
*Ewing, Arthur M., 
Everhart, George, 

Ege, Sylvester A., 
Fay, George H. 

Fox. Frank M , 
Freezer, A. W. Herd, 
Fellows, Edward S., 
France, P. M., 
Farwell, Fred, 
Fox, Eugene A , 

Fox, Adolphus H., 
Fergeson, F. A., 



Aug. 9, 1897, 
May 18, 18'J9, 
May 18, 1899, 
May 18, 1899, 
May 7, 1900, 
Dec. 29, 1900. 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Aug. 7, 1882, 
Jan. 12, 1886. 
July 15, 1886, 
Mch., 7, 1889, 
June 19, 1890, 
May 26, 1892, 
July 25, 1895, 
May 17, 1897 
May 17, 1900, 
Aug. 9, 1897, 
Apr. 6, 1899 
May 18, 1899, 
June 8, 1899, 
Jan. 28, 1901, 
Sept. 14, 1899, 
May 17, 1900. 
July 20, 1900, 

, April 30, 1901, 
June 23, 1882, 
July 28, 1883, 
June 4, 1886, 
Jan. 19, 1893, 

May 6, 1897, 
May 7, 1900, 
Aug. 31, 1899, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 



Aug. 28, 1899. 
January 15, 1901. 



Jan. 15, 1901. Corporal. 



Dec. 15, 1882. 
Aug. 7, 1887. 
July 7, 1886. 
July 15, 1889. 
July 29, 1890. 
Dee. 26, 1802. 
May 26, 1895. 
August 8, 1896 
Musician. 



St-rgeant, 



Corporal. 



Feb. 26, 1900. 

Jan. 15, 190i. 
Feb. 26, 1900. 



Died December 15, -82. 
April 17, 1884. 
Apr. 16, 1887. 
Aug. 8, 1896. 
Sergeant, 



Commissioned Captain this 
date. 



Sept. 11, 1878, July 10, 1879. 

Apr. 23, 1879, Aug. 17, 1881. 

May 10, 187VI, Nov. 18, 1881. 

Oct. 12, 1884, Nov. 23, 1885. 

Apr. 29, 1885, Nov. 23, 18b5. 

June 16, 1887, June 16, 1890. 

Sergeant. 

July 28, 1887, July 29, 1890. 

Mch. 7, 1889, July 23, 189Q. 



Corporal, 



Illinois National Guards. 



57 



♦Fellows, Emerson M. 



Frye, Jacob B., 
Fisher, Harry J., 
Freek, George W., 
Fitzgerald, Charles, 
Fenton, William J , 
Freek, Charles, 
Grierson, John, 

Gilroy, Edward A., 
Garrison, Lelioy C, 
Griffiths, William B., 
Gray, William H., 
tGoff, F. M., 
Griffiths, Henry H , 



Green, Lester W. 
tGray, John 
Guffin, Frank H. 

Guffiu, Harry T. 



Green, Harvey S. 



Gynn, William W. 
Gregory, Benjamin F. 
Geiger, George H. 
Green, John 
Gorzny, John 
Gorzny, Joe 
fHoncler, Augustus 

Hendricks, Jesse Y. 
Hauna, Robert H. 
ijaskin, Ezra C. 



July 27, 1893, 
Aug. 10, 1897, 
July 24, 1899, 
July 25, 1900, 
July 11, 1895, 
Mch. 12, 1898, 
July 20, 1899, 
Feb. 5, 1900, 
July 4, 1900, 
July 20, 1900, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 

Sept. 11, 1878, 
Nov. 18, 1878, 
Aug. 16, 1879, 
Feb. 22, 1883, 
Feb. 22, 1883, 
May 8, 1883, 



July 18, 1883, 
July 29. 1885, 
June 4, 1886, 

June 4, ]88t^. 
May 8, 1893, 



June 4, 1886, 
May 24, 1888, 
July 14, 1899, 

June 16, 1892, 
Jan. 26, 1893, 
Mch. 12, 1898, 
May 18, 1899, 
April 25, 1901, 
April 30, 1901. 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
June 12, 1884. 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 



Aug. 8, 189«). 
Corporal. 
Aug. 8, 1896. 
April 19, 1901. 



Apr. 19, 1901. 

Commissioned 2nd Lieu- 
tenant this date. 
July 10, 1879. 

Dec. 15, 1882. 
Jt-ne 19, 1884. 
Corporal. 

Corporal, Sergeant, 1st Ser- 
geant. Commissioned 
1st Lieut. May 8, 1885. 

June 19, 1884. 
Oct. 30, 1888. Corporal. 
June 4, 1889. Corporal. Ser- 
geant. 

Corporal, Sergeant. Com- 
missioned 2nd. Lieut. May 
13, 1889. Commissioned 
1st. Lieut. July 24, 1893. 

Corporal, Sergeant. 
May 16, 1887. 

July 29, 1890. Commission- 
ed Capt. this date. 

Dec 26, 1892. 
Aug. 10 1895. 
Jan. 15, 1901. 



Nov. 6. 1883. 

July 10, 1879. 
Dec. 15, 1882. 
July 10, 1879. 



58 



History of Companies I and E. 



Humphrey, E. B. 

Hil], A. D. 

Hughes, William J, 
Hawes, Charles T. 
tHolt, George W, 

Hannan, Thomas B. 
Hurd, James M. 
Hurd, Lewis M. 
Hayes, John F. 
Hollinshead, R. P. 
Humphrey, William 
Hindes, Horace F. 

tHarris, E. L. 

Harris, Fred L. 
Hoffman, George 1), 
tHurless, C. N. 

Humphrey, Albert 

tHolt, E. E. 

Heath, Walter, 
Harrison, George F. 
Holt, Frank F. 
Hines, John F. 
Hobert, William 

it a 

Hoover, Fred 

High, Christopher 
^Hullett, Ralph W. 
Hughes, Herbert G. 
Heath, Willis F. 
*Humprey, Byron P. 
^Humphrey, Ralph D. 



Sept. 11, 1878 
Oct. 10, 1883, 

Oct. 18, 1878, 

:Nov. 13, 1878 
May 10, 1879, 
Aug. 7, 1879, 
Sept. 10, 1884, 
Oct. 4, 1879, 
Sept. 4, 1880, 
Feb. I, 1881, 
June 14, 1882, 
June 20, 1882. 
June 24, 1882, 
Aug. 1, 1882, 
Nov. 14, 1889, 
Feb. 8, 1883, 

Mch. 29, 1883, 
Aug. 8, 1883, 
May 3, 1883, 

Aug. 28, 1883, 
June 2, 1892, 
June (!, 1895, 
Jan. 21, 1885, 
May 15, 1890, 

June 2, 188(5, 
J une 4, 188tj, 
July 14, 1887, 
Mch. 8, 1888, 
April 4, 1889, 
May 28, 1891 
May 2, 1889, 
June 1, 1893, 
Sept. 23, 1890, 
Feb. 25, 1892, 
May 5, 1892, 
Aug. 30, 1892, 
Jul> 27, 1893, 
July 5, 1894, 
July 10, 1897, 



Sergeant- 
Sept.|ll,1883. Commissioned 

2Qd. Lieut. June 27, 1884. 
June 3, 1880, Sergeant 

Color Sergeant. 
Sept. 7, 1880. 
Nov. 18, 1881. 
Sept. J, 1884. 
Nov. 13, 1888. 
Feb. 27, 1883. 
April 17, 1884. 
Aug. 17, 1884. 
Feb. 27, 1887. 

June 19, 1884. 

July 28, 1890. 

Feb. 8, 1888. Corporal, Ser- 
geant. 

July 18, 1885. Corporal. 

Oct. 6, 1884. 

May 3, 1888. Corporal, Ser- 
geant. 

Nov. 23, 1885. 

June 2, 1895. 

Aug. 8, 1896. 

0(;t. 27, 1888. 

June 1, 1891 Corporal, Ser- 
geant. 

June 10, 1889. Musician 

Nov. 21, 1887. 

July 16, 1890. 

July 29, 1890. 

July 29, 1890. 

July 28, 1892. 

August 1, 1891. 

June 27, 1894. 

Died Nov. 2, 1890. 

May 11, 1895. Corporal. 

Died July 31, 1892. 

Jan. 16, 1896. 

Aug. 8, 1896, 

July 10,1897. 

Died in Utuado, Porto Rico, 
Oct. 30, 1898. 



Illinois National Guards. 



59 



Hagen, August, 
Hagen, William L , 
Jleiss, (ieorge, 
Harrison, Ottti, 
Hunt, (Jeorge, 

llnvve, Martin O , 
Hyatt, Charles K., 
Howe, Abner R., 
Hawes, George B., 
High, Aaron, 
Hirleman, Samuel B., 
Hirleman, Wilber, E., 
JohnS'<n, Frank V., 
Johnson, John J., 
Johnson, Curtis, 



Jaeger, Frederick \V. 
tJohnson, Milford, 



t Jordan, G. W,, 

Johnson, Fxed O., 

Judd, Frank, 
Jackson, Ralph D., 
Johnson, Ray B., 
Johnson, Bert, 
Kinney, James, 
Kier, Albert, 
Kenyan, E. R., 
Kenttield, George H. 



Kool, Adolph, 

Kidd, William A., 
Kaler, Orville, 



May VJ, 18H5, 
May 23, 1895, 
May 28. 1SS»5, 
May 20, lSf)(), 
MayC), 1897. 
May 31, 190U, 
May (i, 1897, 
Apr. 7, 1898, 
Apr. 14, 1898, 
June 14, 1899. 
May 3, 1900. 
Apr. 25, 1901. 
Apr. 30, 1901. 
Sept. 11. 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878. 
Sept, 11, 1878, 



Oct. U, 1878, 
Dec. 28, 1882, 
Mch. 7, 1889, 
Oct. 19, 1892, 

Jan. 24, 1883, 

May 6, 1897, 
May 31, 1900, 
July 1, 1897, 
Apr. 7, 1898, 
Apr. 12, 1900, 
Jan. 11, 1901, 
Sept. 11, 1878. 
June2t), 1884, 
July 17, 1884, 
Feb. 3, 1887, 



May 31, 1888, 
June 1, 1893, 
July 0. 1893, 
May 20, 1896, 



Aug. 8, 1891). 
Aug. 8, 189(i. 
Aug. 28, 1898. 
Aug. 28, 1899. 
Corporal. 

Feb. 2i), 1900. 
Feb. 2(;, 1900. 
Apr. 13, 1901. 



June 8, 1880. Corporal. 

Sergeant. Ut Sergeant. 

Commissioned 2Qd Lieut. 

Junes, 1882. 

Nov. 18, 1881. 
June 21, 1888, Corporal. 

Sergeant, 1st Sergeant. 

Commissioned Captain 

Apr. 27, 1892. 
July 2, 1886. Corporal, 

Sergeant, 1st Sergeant. 
Corporal. 

Sept. 3, 1899. 
Feb. 26, 1900 
Jan. 15, 1901. 

July 10, 1879. 

Nov. 23, 1885. 

Nov. 25, 1885. 

Appointed Regimental 
Comraissarv Sergeant 
July 23, 1887. Coniniis 
sioned 2nd faeutenant 
July 24, 1893. 

May 31, 1891. 
July 27, 1891. 
August 10, 1895. 
Corporal, Sergeant. 



60 



History of Companies I and E. 



Kayler, Orville 

Kellett, Charles T., 
Kennedy, Vern V., 
Kaler, Ralph U , 
Levett, Henry, 
Lane, W. L., 
Lovell, Ellsworth, 
tLarish, J. VV., 
Leber, William H , 
Lengle, Albert, 
Lauphere, Jay C, 
I ang, Paul, 
Laogdon, Porter B 
*Leigh, George E. 

*Lane, H. B , 

Lawton, Edward C. 



LyoD, Harley B. 
*Lawton, Willie B. 

*LaDe, Joseph S. 

(I (I It 

Lewis, Arthur L. 
Lane, Mat B. 
Lamson, Claude IL 
Lewis, Walter P. 
Mattern, Albert A. 
Martin, Pett^r 
Morse, Milton 
Mouck, Solomon F. 
Marshali, Charles H. 
tMontague, Charles F. 



*Morse, William 



June 1, 1899, 
June 1, 1900,. 
May 18, 1899, 
May I, 1900, 
Feb. 14, 1901. 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
June 5, 1882, 
Aug. 3, 1882, 
July 18, 1883, 
April 24, 1884, 
May 30, 1884, 
July 17, 1884, 
June 2, 188(5, 
Feb. 7, 1888, 
Junes, 1890, 
June 15, 1893, 
June 13, 1890, 
Aug. 17, 1893, 
July 31,1890, 
Aug. 10 1893, 

July 9, 1891, 
July 27,1893, 
June 10, 1897, 
July 5, 1894, 
June 13, 1899, 
July 28, 1899, 
July 18, 1900, 
May ] , 1900. 
April 25, 1901, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Apr, 7, 188H, 



Oct. 5, 1878, 
Nov. 8, 1883, 
May 23, 1890. 



Jan. 15, 1901. 



Corporal. 

J uly 5, 1883. 

June 6,1883. 

July 7, 1886. Corporal. 

Dec. 3, 1884. 

Oct. 6, 1884. 

Dec. 3, 1884. 

July 9, 1887. 

May 23, 1892. 

June (J, 1893. Musician. 

Sept. 3, 1894. Corporal. 

June 20, 1893. 

Sept. 13, 1894. 

Aug. 4, 1893. 

Corporal, Sergeant. Com- 
missioned 2ud. Lieut. 
Apr. 2, 1894. 

Aug. 4, 1893. 

Aug. 8, 1896. 

Sept. 3, 1890. 

Aug. 8, 1896. 

June 12, 19G0. 

Jan. 15, 1900. 

Apr. 19, 1901. 



Feb. 24, 1880. Sergeant. 

Nov. 3, 1879. Corporal. 

Nov. 3, 1879. Corporal. 

July 10, 1879. 

Sept. 7, 1880. 

Corporal, Sergeant. 

May 26, 188i». Commis- 
sioned 2nd. Lieut. 
,t uly 28, 1883. 

Apr. 15, 1883. 
Jan. 4, 1889. 
June 6, 1893 



Illinois National Guards. 



01 



*Morse, William 



Murphey, Julius M. 
Moulton, Lewis B. 
Moulton, William H. 
Myers, Charles 
Murphey, J. H. 
Melville, J. II. 
tMc.Gilvary, William 
Maxwel', DouRlas L, 

Martin, J. H. 

11 <( It 

tMericle, Frank E. 



McMullin, Frank E 
Marshall, Myron 
Majors, Clarence E. 



Moulton, Frank 
McKee, Charles F. 



*Mathews, Andrew F. 



MaxUeld, William H. 
*McKee, Lafayette S. 
Mitchell, Orville 
Malouey, William T. 
MaGee, Charles 
Mericle, Earle S. 
Morse, Edwin W. 
Morse, Harry L. 
MaGee, Theodore 
McKenzie, Uichard 
Miller, Frank 



June 27, 18't:i 
June 2«, 1894. 
July 11, 1895. 
Aug. :il, 189<). 
Aug. 81, 1899. 
Aug. 31, 1900, 
Feb. 5, 1879. 
Mch. 9, 1880, 
Mch. 9, 1880, 
J une 8, 1882, 
June 8, 1882, 
J une 28, 1882, 
Dec. 28, 1882, 
April 12, 1883, 
May 30, 1885, 
July 28, 1892, 
June 17, 1885, 
July 17,1896, 
Aug. 13, 1897, 
June 4, 1886, 
July 2, 1886, 
May 24, 1888, 
May 28, 1891, 

May 2, 1889, 
May 23, 1889, 
May 26, 1892, 

May 5, 1892, 
June 13, 1895. 
June 10, 1897. 
June 12, 1899, 
J une 2, 1892, 
Oct. 17, 1892, 
May 23, 1895, 
July 11, 1895, 
May 20, 1896, 
July 15, 1896, 
July 8, 1897, 
July 15, 1897, 
Apr. 14, 1898. 
May 18, 1899, 
July 18, 1899. 



Detailed to Hospital Corps. 



Corporal. 
Corporal. 



Feb. 27, 1883. 
Nov. 23, 1885. 
Oct. 6, 1884. 
June 19, 1881. 
Apr. 17, 1884. 
Dec. 28. 1887. 
Oct. 6, 1884. 
July 7, 1886. 
August 4, 1893 
July 16, 189(\ 
Aug. 12, 1897 
Jan. 11, 1898. 
July 1, 1887. 
Oct. 12, 1887. 
May 24, 1891. 
Feb. 9, 1893. 

geant. 
May 23, 1892, 
May 26, 1892. 
June 6, 1893. 

geant, Ist Sergeant 
May 11, 1895 



Corporal. 



Corporal, Ser- 



Corporal,Ser- 



Cornoral, Sergeant. 

Aug. 12, 1893. 

Jan. 16, 1896. Musician. 

Aug. 28, 1899. 

Aug. 8, 1898. 

Aug. 28, 1899. 

Aug. 8, 1896. 

Jan. 7, 1901. 

Jan. 5, 1901. Corporal. 

Aug. 24, 1899. 

Corporal. 



G2 



History of Companies I and E. 



McBride, Harley A. 
Maloney, Monty F. 
Mahaney, Bert 
Meyers, Frank G. 
Mouck, Robert H. 
Morrill, O. A. 
Meyer, Saru 
Nash, Henrj G. 
North, A. 1). 



Naaktgeboren, Jacob 
Nelson, Melvin 11, 
Oberholtzer, Charley 
Osborne, Andrew J. 
Olmstead, Stuart 
Planthaber, Charles 



Paschal, John H. 
Phiney, Burritt E. 
Purdy, M. S. 
Petersen, Frank 
Puddifoot, Charles H 



Preston, Elliott M. 
Peterson, Peter 
Petersen, Albert A. 

Pinkley, Victor M. 

Paschal, James O. 

i'almer, Bert 

Pratt, Thurston T. 

(iuackenbush, Cornelius Sept. 11, 1878, 

Nov. 2, 1882. 

Quackenbush, Geo. A. Dec. 1, 1879, 
*Quackenbush, Frank June 11, 1891, 
June 28, 1894, 



Aug. 31, 1899. 
Feb. 5, 1900, 
May 3, 1900, 
May 10, 19C0. 
May 7, 1900, 
July 20, 1900. 
Apr. 25, 1901, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
June 4, 188»), 
June 7, 1889, 
Oct. 19, 1892, 
June 19, 1890, 
May 24, 190Q. 
Apr. 24, 1884, 
July 12, 1897, 
May 18, 1899. 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Aug. 5' 1880, 
Aug. 19, 1885, 

Mch; 22, 1879, 
June 28, 1882, 
Nov. 30, 1882, 
June 4, 1886, 
June 4, 1880, 
July 9, 1896, 

June 4, 1886, 
May 28, 1891, 
Aug. 3, 1891, 
Aug. 8, 1895, 
Jan. 24, 1895, 
June 6, 1895, 
May 13, 1897, 
July 3, 1900. 



Apr. 19, 1901. 
Jan. 15, 1901. 

Apr. 20, 1901. 



Nov. 3, 1879. 
June 4, 1889. 
July 16, 1890. 
Nov. 12, 1892. 
June 20, 1893. 

Dec. 3, 1884. 
Sept. 3, 1899. 



Corporal. 
Corporal. 



*Quick, William 



Aug. 3, 1893, 



Corporal. 



Nov. 3, 1879. 

Aug. 5, 1885. 

May 14, 1886. Corporal, Ser- 
geant. 

May 24, 1883. 

Feb. 27, 1887. 

June 19,1884, 

June 10, 1889. C)rporal. 

May 4, 1889. Corporal. 

Commissioned 2nd Lieut, 
this date. 

June 4, 1889. 

June 16, 1892. 

Jan. 26, 1893. 

July 16, 1896. 

Aug. 10, 1895. 

May 28, 1898. 

May 12, 1900. 

Commissioned 1st. Lieut, 
this date. 

Commissioned Capt this 
date. 

Died Feb. 4, 1884. Sergeant. 

June 27, 1894. 

Jan. 16, 1896. Corporal, Ser- 
geant, 1st Sergeant. 

Aug. 28, 1899. 



Ii>iJNOis National Guards. 



63 



Kiclitinyer, Alonzo 
Hounds, Oscar 
Keutlinger, Wm J. 
Rose, Alex E. 
Rose, John 

Keecher, Lewis 
Record, Albert R. 
Ryan, John E, 



*Randali, George 
Rockey, Harry H, 

It U tl 

« « ;( 

Rockey, Jacob L. 



Riordon, John A. 
Story, James 
Strawn, Frank H. 
Scotchbrook, Aaron A. 
Stokes, Edward P. 

Sixx, Scott 

Stapleton, Joseph 
Savage, L. E. 
Shatto, James H. 
Stafford, D. C. 
Small, H. D. 
Springer, Ren 
Smith, Edward A. 



Spafford, Frank S. 
Stowers, Frank E. 
Spafford, J. Earle 
Sears. Claude 
Stone, W. B. 
Springer, Myron 



Sept. II. 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Aug. 20, 187*J. 
May 2(), 188tj, 
June 5, 18'J0, 
May 18, I88tj, 
May 28, 1888, 
June 7, 1888, 
June 25, 1891, 

July 15, 188'J, 
Aug. 'A, 181)3, 
May 23, 1895. 
June 15, 18Uy. 
June 15, I'JOO, 

May 30, 18'.)5, 
March 9, 1899, 

Apr. 25, 1901, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Nov. 18, 1878. 
May IC, 1879, 

June 4. 1879, 

May 29, 1880, 
P^eb. 24, 1881, 
June 9, 1882, 
J une 26, 1882, 
Aug. 5, 1885, 
May 26, 1886, 
June 4, 1886, 
May 24, 1888, 

June 23, 1886. 
Aug. 14, 1887, 
May 24. 1888, 
June 7,1888, 
June 7, 1889, 
July 25, 1889, 



Sept. 7, )880. 1st Sergeant. 
July 10,1879. Corporal. 
Sept. 11, 1883. 

June 10, 1889. 
Aug. 13, 1892. 
Nov. 13, 1888. 
July 29, 1890. 
June 7, 1891. 

July 20, 1891. Corporal, Ser- 
geant. 
July 21, 1892. 
Sept. 13, 1894. 



Corporal, Sergeant, 1st Ser- 
geant. 

Corporal, Sergeant. 

Commissioned 2ad Lieut, 
this date. 

Frib. 24, 1880. 
July 10, 1879. 

Corporal. Commissioned 

2nd Lieut. Sept. 2, 1880. 

June K), 1884. Corporal, Ser- 
geant. 

Feb. 27, 1883. 

Oct. 6, 1884. 

May 24, 1883. 

July 15, 1886. Musician. 

May 14, 1886. 

May 9, 1887. 

May 16, 1887. 

May 24, 1891. Corporal, Ser- 
geant, 1st Sergeant. 

July 10, 1890. 
May 24, 1891. Corporal. 
July 29, 1890. 
June 1, 1891. 

June 16, 1892. Corporal, Ser- 
geant. 



64 



History of Companies I. and E. 



Stowe, Merritt 



Steiner, N. W. 
Seamen, John H, 
Spears, James S. 
Shears, W. F. 
*Seldon, Ed. 

Sanders, Frank F. 
*Seavey, Guy A. 

Sherwood, Asa K. 
Scanlan, Oliver 
Stanley, Neal 
Stowell, John 
Shaffer, Charles S. 
Smith, Vern M. 
Smith, Nick A. 
Seibert, John D. 
Shirk, Charles K. 
Smaltz, Roy G. 
Stalcup, James 
Shaw, Harry V. 
Snyder, William 
Stone, Erastus 
Trauger, Charles H. 
Turney, Hamilton K. 
tTopping, II, C. 
Taylor, William Jr. 



^Thompson, Fred A. 
Thompson, H. Clay 
Trebun, Martin F. 
Thompson, Robert C. 



Turner, Richard 
Taylor, Robert W. 
yiner, Ellis ^. 



July 25, 1889, 

Oct. 17, 1892, 
June 5, 1890, 
May 28, 1891. 
May 28, 1891, 
Feb. 25, 1892, 
June 16, 1892. 
June 27, 1895, 
July 27, 1893, 
July 27, 1893, 
Aug. 13, 1896, 
May 6, 1897, 
July 29, 1897, 
May 18, 1899, 
May 18, 1899, 
Nov, 24 1899, 
J uly 28, 1899, 
Aug. 31, 1899, 
Feb. 5, 19(J0, 
May], 1900, 
May 1, 1900, 
May 24, 1900, 
June 1, 1900, 
Mch, 7, 1901, 
Apr. 8, 1901, 
Sept, 11, 1878, 
Mch, 15, 1880, 
July 17, 1884, 
June 28, 1888, 
July 2, 1891, 
July 18, 1895, 
June 28, 1894, 
May 23, 1895, 
May 23, 1895, 
May 23, 1895, 
June 3, 1897, 
July 14, 1899, 
May 18, 1899, 
Aug, 10, 1899, 
June 5, 1890, 



Corporal, Sergeant, Com- 
missioned 1st Lieut. July 
3, 1891, 

Aug. 4, 1893, 

June 6, 1893, 

Aug, 4, 1893, 

Dec, 26, 1892, 

Aug. 4, 1893. 

Aug, 8, 1896. 
Aug, 8, 1896. 
Aug. 8, 1896. 
Mch. 28, 1898. 

May 5, 1900, Corporal. 
Jan. 5. 1901. 
Jan, 15, 1901, 

Jan. 15, 1901. 

Jan, 15, 1901, Corporal, 



Dec. 15, 1882. 
Dec. 15,1882. 
Oct. 12, 1887. 
June 29, 1891. 
Nov. 12,1892. 
Aug. 8, 1896. 
Aug. 10, 1895. 
Aug, 8, 1896. 
Aug, 8. 1896, 
Corporal, 



Corporal, 
Dec, 3, 1891. 



Musician. 



Illinois National Guards. 



65 



*VaiiDyke, Henry B. 



Wilcox, George C. 
Wilson, William 
Worrell, Edward A. 

Wood, Robert 
Williams, Clintoo 
Winebrenner, Chas. L. 

Weaver, Henry B. 
Winter, Henry 
Wheeler, J as. A. 

Williams, Harvey 
Wood, Harry 
Wood, Thomas J. 
Williams, Henry E. 
*Wolf, Henry 

West, J. A. 
*Whitemore, Firman 



Watson, Chas. E. 
Weaver, Ernest ,1. 



Wagr.er, Jerome 
*Weeks, Walter 
*Whitemore, Wm. F. 



*\Vood, Edwin B. 
*Weeks, Charles D. 



* Weaver, Harry A. 



^Vallstone, Julius 
Wallace, M^rtio 



Mcli. 30, 1HU3, 
Apr. ll>, 181)(), 
Mch. 1(), 18'J8, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 
Sept, II, 1878, 
Sept. 11, 1878, 

Sept. 11, 1878, 
Nov. 18, 1878, 
Mch. 3, 1871t, 

Oct. 4, 187it, 
June 2t>, 1882, 
Aug. 7, 1882, 

June 20, 1881, 
Mne 4, 1886, 
June 14, 1887, 
May 24, 1888, 
July 25, 1889, 
Mch. 16, 1893, 
July 30, 1889, 
June 19, 1890, 
July 20, 1893, 
Mch. 31, 1898, 
May 21, 1890, 
June 4, 1891, 
Aug. 9, 1896, 

July 2, 1891, 
May 26, 1892, 
Aug. 30, 1892, 
Mch. 12, 189?, 
June 15, 1899, 
July 4, 1893, 
July 27, 1893, 
Aug. 31, 1896, 
Aug. 24, 1899, 
Aug. 24, 1900, 
Dec. 14, 1893, 
June l5, 1897, 

Apr. 30, 1898, 
^ay 6, 1897, 



Aug. 12, 1896. 
Jan. 11, 1898. 
Sept. 3, 1899. 
July 10, 1879. 
Sept. 7, 1880. 



Sergeant. 
Corporal. 



Commissioned 2nd Lieut. 

July 16, 1879. 
Nov. 3, 1879. 

Apr. 19, 1884. Corporal. 

Sergeant. 
Dec. 1, 1884. Corporal. 
'June 6, 1883, 
Dec. 3, 1881. Corporal. 

Sergeant. 
Nov. 22, 1885. 
June 20, 1887. 
Nov. 13, 1888. 
June 9, 1891. 
June 16, 1892. 
Aug. 8. 1896. Corporal. 
Aug. 1, 1892. Musician. 
June 20, 1893. 
Sept. 13, 1894. 
Mch. 31, 1901. 
Dec. 26, 1892. 
June 27, 1894. Corporal. 

Sergeant. Commissioned 

2nd Lieut. June 29, 1897. 
Jan. 26, 1893. 
.~ept. 17,1894. 
Jan. 16, 1896. 

June 14. 1900. 

Aug. 8, 1891) Corporal, 



Corporal, Sergeant. 
Commissioned 1st Lieut, 

Mch. 9, 1899. 
Aug. 8, 1896. 
Sept, 3, 1899. 



66 



History of Companies I and E. 



Wilcox, Albert 
VVinans, Percy H. 
Warner, Jay C. 
Weaver, Car) 
Welch, Chris 
Welch, Harry 
Wilbur, Sidney 
Webber, G. D. 
Yarbrough, William 
Yopst, Birt O. 



July i58, 189'J, 
Aug. 31, 1899, 
Mch, 1, 1900, 
May 3, 1900, 
May 7, 1900, 
Feb. 21, 1901, 
Aug. 29, 1901, 
Apr. 25, 1901, 
May 6, 1897, 
Aug. 31, 1899, 



Apr. 19, 1901. 



Musician. 
May 5, 1900. 



ROSTER OF COMPANY E. 

A * indicates service at the Chicago strike. 



COMMISSIONED OFFICERS. 

Captains. 



K»AME 



John W. If iles, 
*Frank Anthony 



*Williain F. Lawrie, 
J. Frank Wahl, 

Thomas S. Beach, 
Lewis F. Eisele, 
William F. Lawrie. 

^Walter N. Haskell, 
Goddicil B. Dillon, 

Samuel H. Feigley, 
Frank Anthony, 



DATE OF COMMISSION DATE OF PROMOTION 

RESKiNATION OK DISCHARGE. 

Mch. 24, 1888, Resigned Dec. 3, 1888. 

Dec. 20, 1888, Appointed Assistant 

Surgei)n with rank of 
Captain, Feb. 1, 1811. 

Feb. 13, 1891, Commissioned Major Jan. 
5, 1899. 

Feb. 9, 1899, 

1st Lieutenants. 

Mch. 24, 1888, Resigned Nov. 3, 1888. 
Dec. 20, 188«, Resigned Oct. 17, 1890. 
Dee. 13, 18i'0, Commissioned Captain 

Feb. 13, 1891. 
Feb. 13, 1891, Resigned Nov. --, 1894. 
Nov. 12, 1894, Placed on retired list up 

on his own request July 

1, 1899. 
July 14, 1899, 



5nd Lieutenants. 

Mch. 24, 1888, Comnaissioned 
Dec. 20, 1888. 



Captaia 



Illinois National Guards. 



r>7 



William F. Lawrie, 

Walter N. Haskell, 

*Goodicil B. Dillon, 

Edwin S. Johnson, 
J. Frank Walil, 

Samuel II. Feigley, 

Charles F. Iloobler, 



Dec. 20, ISSN, Commissioned 1st Lieut. 
Dec. 13, ISiiO. 

Dec. Vi, ISUO, Commissioned 1st Lieut. 
Feb. 13, ISm. 

Feb. 13, 181)1, Commissioned 1st Lieut- 
No v. 12, lSi>4. 

Nov. 12, 1894, Resigned A pr.22. IS'.tT. 

.June 18, 1897, Commissioned Captain 
Feb. 9, 1S99. 

Feb. 9, 1S99, Commissioned 1st Lieut. 
July 14, 1899. 

July 14, 1899, 



NA.ME 

Anthony, Frank 

Angell, William II. 
Allen, William E. 

Adair, Ambrose 
Arey, Howard 
Allpress, Martin L. 
Aumeut, Harry 
Anderson, Carl 
Aument, Frank II. 
Atkins, E. Lyle 

Alderfer, Phillip 
Anning, Clarence 
Aument, Jacob II. 
Beach, Thomas S. 

Burke, Harry F. 



Bickford, Joseph M. 

Bassett, Orville P. 
Boyers, Joseph 
Bae*^, Frank L. 
Benson, William P. 
Bressler, Heaton J. 



ENLISTED MEN. 

DATE OF ENLISTMENT KKMAHKS. 

Mch, 24, 1888, Commissioned 2n<1 Lieut' 

this date. 
Mch. 24, 1888, Sept. 2, 1890. 
Mch. 24, 1888, Dropped from rolls May 1, 

1888. 

Mch. 24, 1888, S. O. No. 9(5, 1889. 

Oct. 13, 1890, May 22, 1894. 

June 27, 1S92, July 27, 1895. 

July 15, 1895, Mch. 22, 1898. 

Jan. 0, 1896, Sppt. 15, 1899. 
Apr. 13, 189(5, 

July 17, 1896, Transferred to band no 
date. 

Feb. 9, 1899, 
May 20, 1809, 
June 15, 1899. 

Mch. 24, 1888, Coai missioned Ist Lieut, 
this date. 

Mch. 24, 1888, July 5, 1888. 
May 20, 1889, Transferred to Co. B July 
£0, 1S89. 

Mch. 24. 1SS8, Dropped from rolls May 1, 

1888. 

Mch. 24, 1888, Sept. 2, 1890. Corporal. 

Mch. 24, 1888, May 23, 1890. 

Jan. 21, 1889. 

Jan. 23, 1889, S. O. No. 82, 1889. 

Jan. 28, 1889, 



History of Companies I and E. 



Burkholder, Charles I. 

a a •( 

* Barber, Frank W. 

Behrens, Charles 
*I3uck, William 

*Boyer, Ralph D. 

<( It (1 

*Bensin£er, Chas. E. 
*BrowD, W. A. 
Billings, Charles 
*Brown, Fred E. 
Baker, llomeo W. 

Blair, Frank 
Bushnell, Leo O. 
Burch, Fred 11. 
Bassett, Edward 
Book, Enos 
Bensinger, John E. 
Bassett, Bert 
Bailey, Frank C. 
Burr, James S. 
Byers, Wilson 
Berlin, Clark 
Boyer, Kaohlin 
Blair, George C. 
Betts, Verne E. 
Baker, John H. 
Criswell, James F. 
Conner, John R. 
Cook, Ward W. 
Cochrane, Albert G. 
*Cushman, John W. 



Crawford, Robert G. 
Clarkson, Matthew A. 
Campbell, Walter S. 



Nov. 18, 1889, Corporal 
Jan. 7, 1893, Sergeant 
Apr. 2, 1894, 
Sept. 1, 1890, 



May 25, 1891, 



Mch. U>, 189(5. 
Appointed 

Commissary 

date. 
May 14, 1892. 



Regimental 
Sergt. no 



Corporal. 



Apr. 25, 1892, July 27, 1895. 

June 27, 1892, 

June, 3, 1895, Apr. 22, 189(5, 

Jan. 1(5, 1893, Mch. 1(5, 189(5. 

Jan. 10, 1893, Mch. 1(5, 189(5. 

Aug. 27, 1894, 

Aug. 27, 1894, Apr. 1(5, 1898. 

Aug. 27, 1894, Corporal. 

Feb. 28, 1898, 

July 8, 1895, 

Oct, 14, 189o, 

Apr. (5, 189(5, Mch. 22, 1898. 

Apr. 20, 1896, 

June 22, 1897,' 

Mch. 7, 1898, 

Mch. 28, 1898, 

Mch. 29, 1898, 

Mch, 30, 1898, Corporal, 

Apr. 1!, 1898, May 2, 1899. 

May 15. 1898, July 2, 1900. 

May 17, 1898, 

Feb. 9, 1899, 

May 20, 18^9, 

Apr, 30, 1901, 

Moh. 24, 1888, C;orporal, Q. M. Sergeant. 

Mch. 24, 1888, S. O. No. 105, 1889. 

Mch, 24, 1888, Oct. 5, 1889. 

Mch 24, 1888, S. O. No. 3(5, 1889. 

Mch. 24, 1888, Corporil, Sergeant. Ap 

Apr. 20, 1891, pointed Regimental Ord- 

Sept. 14, 1894, nance Sergr. Aug. — , 1899. 

Mch. 1(5, 189(5, 

June 24, 1897, 

Mch. 2(5, 1888, S. O. No. 3(5, 1889. 

June 21, 1888, S. O. No. 82, 1889. 

Jan. 28, 1889, 



Illinois National Guards. 



69 



Cash, Wiley B. 
*Chalmers, John A. 



*Cragio, Elmer A 



Cunningham, Claire T 
Compton, Claire 
Cary, Elroy R. 
Creider, William 1). 
Cary, John 
Coover, W. S. 
Clark, Lyman P. 
Coryell, Frank M. 

Cleary, Arthur M. 
Connell, William 
Conner, C. Walter 
Connell, James 
Clark, Edgar L. 
Dillon, Goodicil 

*DeGroff, Bert L. 



Dickson, John A. 
Deitz, Louis F. 
*Davison, C. Morton 
*Dillon, J. Reese 
*Dow, John 
Deets, Frank G. 
Dunbar, Stowers 
Deem, Arthur E 

Deyo, D. B. 
Deem, William 

U It 

Diffenbaugh, Benj. F. 
Eisele. Lewis F. 



Feb. 4, 188U, 
May 25, ISHl, 
July 27, 1895, 

Feb. 13, 1893, 
Feb. 24, 1896, 
Mch. 8, 1897, 
Mch. 21,1898, 
Feb. 24, 189(5. 
Mch. 30, 1891), 
Apr. 13, 189(>. 
Apr. 27, 189r). 
June 27, 189(5. 
June 22, 1897. 
Sept. (5, 1897, 
Feb. 28, 1898 
Feb. 28, 1901. 
Mch. 28, 1898. 
May 11,1898. 
Mch. (5 1899. 
May 10, 1899. 
Apr. 30, 1901. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 

Sept. 1, 1890, 
Feb. 19, 1894, 
Mch. 25, 1895. 
June 8, 1891. 
June 4, 1892, 
June 20, 1892, 
Apr. 9, 1894, 
June 8, 1894, 
Sept, 23, 1895. 
Oct. 11, 1895. 
Oct. 14, 1895, 
Oct. 14, 1898, 
Mch. 2, I89fi. 
June 27, 189(5, 
Dec. 4, 1899. 
Apr. 9, 1899. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 



July 18, 1892. 
July 27, 189.",. 

Transferred to band, no 
date. 



July 2, 1900. 
Corporal, Sergeant. 



Sergeant. Commissioned 
2nd Lieut. Feb. 13, 1891. 

Feb. 10, 1894. Corporal. 
Sergeant. 



July 15, 1893. 

July 1(), 1895. Musician. 

Mcii. 1(5, 1897. 

Mch. 10, 1897. 



Corporal, Sergeant. 
1st Sergeant. 



Corporal . 



Sergeant. Commissioned 
1st Lieut. Dec. 20, 1888. 



70 



History of Companies I and E. 



Ely, Frank D. 

Kisele, J acob L. 
*Eick, Benjamin 



Eiteman, Wilford L 
*Engh, Alfred 
Eshleraan, F. Roy 
Eisele, Edward L. 
Emmons, Frank 
Eager, Wallace L. 
Feigley, Oscar A. 

*Feigley, Samuel H. 



Fitch, LeClair 
*Flock, Henry J. 



*Flock, Mathew 
Flock, William. F. 



Figeley, Joseph L. 
Ford, R. Leonard 
Fanning, Omar A. 

Feigley, J. Lovure 
Forrester, Frank M. 
Finch, Bert 
Grimes, Frank A. 
Grimes, Alfred N. 
*Green, Lourde J. 



Grate, Wallace H. 
Golder, Lloyd H. 
Grimes, Herbert 



Mch. 24, 1888, 

June 11, 1888, 
Jan. 14, 1889. 
Feb, 29, 1892, 



Junes, 1891, 
June 8, 1894, 
June 8, 1895. 
Mch. 7, 1898, 
Feb. 9, 1899. 
Feb. 9, 1899. 
June 21, 1888, 
Feb. 29, 1892, 
Jan. 26, 1890, 
Feb. 19, 1894. 
Mch. 25, 1895. 
Mch. 9, 1896. 
Mch. 22, 1897. 
June 22, 1891, 
June 20, 1892, 
Mch. 2, 1896, 
June 22, 1897. 
Sept. 25, 1893. 
June 22, 1897, 



Oct. 31, 1889. 

Sergeant. 
Dec. 6, 1889. 



Corporal. 



Appointea Regimental Or- 
dnance Sergeant, no 
date. 

Mch. 29, 1894. 

Apr. 22, 1896. 

Corporal. 



Corporal. 

Mch. 1, 1893. 

Sergeant. 1st Sergeant. 

Commissioned 2Dd Lieut. 

Feb. 9, 1899. 



July 15, 1893 
July 16, 1895. 
Sergeant. 



Corporal 



Corporal. Appointed Hat- 
talion Sergeant Major 
August 1899. 



June 22, 1897. 
March 21, 1898, 
Mch. 31, 1898. 
Apr. 28, 1901. 
May 15, 1899. 
Apr. 30, 1901. 
Apr. 30, 1901. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
Jan. 23, 1889, 
Mch. 18, 1889, 
Jan. 30, 1893. 
Feb. 19, 1894. 
Apr. 13, 1891. 
May 11, 1891. 
May 7, 1894. 
June 21, 1897. 



Dec. (5, 1889. 

S. O. No. 118, 1891. 

Musician. 



Illinois National Guards. 



71 



Gaines, Charles N. 
Goodman, Harry C. 
Grove. Clarence C. 
Goltman, Harry K. 
Grey, Arthur 
(Crimes, J. Leon 
Haberer, John A. 
Haskeli, Walter N. 

Hall, Charles £. 

Hoover, Harry G. 
Hills, Edward O. 

Hess, Albert H. 
Howland, Harry F. 
Haberly, Frank F. 
Haskell. William W. 
Hubbard, Charles L. 
Herrmau, Charles 

Hannan, George H. 
Hodges, Stewart 
Hessel, Carl J. 
*fIoobler, Charles F. 



Hartman, Join 

Harting, Frank K. 

Hankinson, Harry L. 
Higby, Leonard O. 
Hubbard, Arthur G. 

Hess, Fred 
Heathcoate, William 
Havens, George 
Haberle, Edward E. 
Heaton, Frauds 
Hoover, Ben H. 
Hoover, Harry IL 
Hoover, Arthur G 



Mch. 30, 18U(), 
June 22, 1897. 
June 22, 1897. 
May 11, 1898, 
May 81, 1899. 
Jan. 8, 1900. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
Mch. 24, 1888, 



July 2, 1900. 



Oct. 81, 1889. l8t Sergeant. 
Sergeant. Commissioned 
2nd Lieut. Dec. 18, 1890. 
Mch. 24, 1888, Corporal. S. O. No. 143, 
no date. 
Oct. 29, 1889. 



Mch. 24, 1888. 
Mch. 24, 1888. 
July 27, 1891. 
Mch. 24, 1888. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
Mch. 26, 1888, 
Jan. 21, 1889. 
Jan. 27, 1892. 
Mch. 9, 1891, 
May 25, 1891, 
Jan. 16, 1898. 
Mch. 26,1894, 
June 21, 18'J7, 

Sept. 10, 1894. 
Feb. 28, 1898. 
Mch. 2, 1896. 
Jan. 8, 1900. 
Mch. 9, 1896. 
Mrh. 16, 1896. 
July 17, 1896, 

Mch. 31, 1898, 
Feb. 7, 1899, 
Feb. 8, 1899, 
Feb. 9, 1899. 
May 20, 1899. 
Jan. 8, 1900. 
Jan. 8. 1900. 
May 21, 1900, 



S. O. No. 82, 1889. 
Sept. 2, 1890. 
S. O. No. 17, 1889. 
Corporal, Sergeant. 
S. O. No. 36, 188'J. 



Mch. 10, 1893. 
June 28, 1891. 



Corporal, Sergeant. 
Commissioned 2nd Lieut. 
July 14, 1899. 



Transferred to 

date. 
Corporal, Sergeant. 
July 2, 1900. 
Corpora), Sergeant, 
Corporal, 



band, no 



72 



History of Companies I. and E. 



flartman, Andrew 
Hosier, Fred 

*Isherwood, Earl 

(( (I 

*Isherwood, George W 
Ingersoll, Frank B. 

Johnson, J, Stanley 
*Johnson, Edwin S. 



Jenkins, Alfred K. 
Johnson, Earl A. 
Johnson, Milton 
Johnson, Charles S. 
Johnson, Charles A. 
Jackson, Arthur E. 
Jackson, William D. 
Jones, Kichard O. 
Jackson, Merton R. 
Johnson, Fred A. 
Jamison, Paul R. 
*Kline, John L. 

Kilgour, CassiusM. 
Kissel, George B, 
Kelsey, William H. 

Koberstine, Henry \V. 
*Kochersperger, John P 
*lvauffman, Fred W. 
Keeney, H. Ezra 
Kromer, George J. 
Kahl, Ernest 
Kadel, William W. 
Kent, George G. 
Lawrie, William F. 

Llewellyn, David 
Lee, John H. 
Lee, Daniel W. 



Feb. 2J, 1901. 
Apr. 30, lUOl. 
Nov. 11, 1889. 
Jan. 23, 1893. 
June 25, 1891, 
Mch. 31, 1898. 
Aug. 20, 1900. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
May 31, 1889, 
Feb. 20, 1893, 
Apr. 9, 1894. 
Apr. 15, 1898. 
May 31, 1889, 
Oct. 30, 1893, 
June 11, 1894. 
Apr. 27, 18915, 
Mch. 31, 1898. 
Feb. 6, 1899. 
Feb. G, 1899. 
Feb. 8, 189'^, 
Feb. 14, 1899. 
Feb. 27, 1899. 
Apr. 30, 1901. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 

Mch. 18, 1889, 
May 20, 1889, 
Nov. 11, 1889. 
Jan. 30, 1893, 
Sept. 1, 1890, 
. Feb. 5, 1894, 
July 2 1894, 
July 15, 1895, 
Feb. 24, 1896, 
Apr. 27, 1896. 
June 22, 1897, 
Apr. 30, 1901. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 

Mch. 24, 1888. 
Mch. 17,1890. 
Apr. 30, 1894; 
June 21, 1897, 



July 15, 1897, 



Mch. 10, 1890, 
Corporal, Sergeant, 

1st Sergeant. 
Commissioned 2nd Lieut. 

Nov. 12, 1894. 
Oct. 18, 1890, 
May 18, 1894, 

June, 1893. 



July 2, 1900. 



Appointed Hospital Stew- 
ard, no date. 
July 18, 1894. Musician. 
S, O. No. 109, 1889. 

Feb. 10, 1894. 
May 22, 1894. 
Apr. 22, 1896. 
Mch. 16, 1898. Corporal. 
Mch. 22. 1898. 
Aug, 3, 1896. 



Commissioned 2nd Lieut. 
Dec. 20,1888. 



Illinois National Guards. 



73 



LeFevre, Harry F. 
LeFevre, Edwin W. 

Lingel, William J. 
Lingel, Bert 
Lyle, Guy H. 



June 11, 181)4. 

June 21, IH'JT, Mch. 22, 1898. 

I^Ich. 23, 18'J(5, Transferred to Co. D. 

June 15, 18'.>7. 
Mch. 30. 181(0. 
Apr. 27, 189(5. 
July 7, 18915, 



Limerick, John G, July 17, 189(3, 



Laland, Charles E. 
Little, Harry R. 
Lund, William C. 
Latherow, Walter 
Lindsley, Calvin A. 
J^andier, Herman 

Mangan, Samuel T. 

(( (( (t 

Mangan, William F. 

Mangan, E. J. 
Mangan, R. L. 

Myer, Adam B. 

Murphy, William IL 
Miller, Herman T. 



Myers, Kahler 
Manahan, Samuel A. 
Miller, Henry 
Mueller, Ernest 
Meyers, Lee D. 
Morrison, Alfred G. 
Moore, Louis E. 
Mc Neil, R. B. 
Mangers, Charles J. 
Mangan, Clarence L. 
Mead, Clyde W. 
Niles.John W. 

Newton, William A. 
Newton, James H. 



Aug. 1, 1899. 
Bugler. 



Sergeant. 
May 22, 1894. 



Transferred to band, 

date. 
Transferred to band, 

no date. 
Mch. 12, 1898. 
Mch. 28, 1898 
May 11, 1898, 
Feb. 8, 1899. 
May 20, 1899. 
Feb. 21, 1901. 
Mch. 24, 1888. 
Apr. 20, 1891, 
Mch. 24, 1888, Corporal. 
Apr. 27, 1891. 

Mch. 24, 1888, May 23, 1890. 
Mch. 24, 1888. 

Apr. 20, 1891, May 22, 1894. . 
Mch. 24, 1888. 

June 22, 1891, May 14, 1892. 
May 28, 1888. 
June 27, 1887, Co. B. Transferred to Co. E 

S. O. No. 171, 1888. Dis- 

charged S. O. No.82, 1889 

May 28, 1889, Aug. 5, 1892. 

Mch. 30, 1891. May 14, 1892. 

May 9, 1892, Mch. 10, 1893. 

Aug. 27, 1894. 

Mch. J 6, 18i;(5. 

Mch. 30, 189(). 

June 22, 1897, June 22, 1900. 

June 22, 1897, Nov. 10, 1899. Corporal. 

May 20, 1899. 

July 1, 1900. 

Feb. 15, 1901. 

Mch. 24, 1888, Commissioned Captain this 

date. 
May 11, 1891, May 22, 1894. 
Apr. 18, 1892, Julo 15, 1893. 



74 



History of Companies I and E. 



*JJelIen, Edward W. 
Nelms, William W. 
Osmer, Sydney C. 
*Overholser, S. Guy 



Osborn, Harper 
Over, Charles B. 
O'Hair, John 
Onken, Anthony 
Onken, George 
Pierce, Clarence 
Pratt, George F. 
Perry, Gentz 
Palmer, W. Carl 
Parks, Lucius VV. 
*Patton, Louis U. 
*Perry, William H. 
*Pheips, W. Walter 
Pippert, Henry C. 
Pigg, James W. 
Palmer, Wilbert M. 

Payson, William E. 

Partridge, Harry G. 
Rock, Edwin S. 
Ramsey, Hugh II. 

Rood, Warren A. 
Rich, John H. 
Reed, John A. 
*Ridenour, Frank J. 
Round, George 
lioland, Robert R. 
Reap, William 
Rarasdall, Charles D. 
Stoddard, Fred R. 

Shumaker, Charles N. 
Smith, Jesse 



July 2, 1894. 
July 1, 1900. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
May 20, 1889, 
July 18,1892, 
Dec. 18. 1893. 
Mch. 25, 1895. 
Mch. 22, 1897. 
May 4, 1891, 
July 15, 1895. 
May 1, 1899. 
May 15, 1899. 
Feb. 3, 1901. 
Mch. 26, 1888, 
May 28, 1888, 
May 15, 1890, 
Oct. 20, 1890, 
June 8, 1891, 
June 18, 1892, 
Apr. 30, 1894, 
Apr. 30, 1894, 
June 23, 18f'5. 
Apr. 13, 1896. 
July 7, 1896, 

Feb. 7, 1899, 

Feb. 3, 1901. 
Mch. 24, 1^88, 
May 25, 1888, 

May 28, 1888, 
May 5, 1893, 
May 25, 1891. 
June 11, 1894. 
Mch. 2, 1896. 
Apr. 20, 1896. 
Mch. 30, 1898, 
May 15, 1899. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
Apr. 27, 1891, 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
Mch. 24, 1888. 
4une 1, 1891, 



Mch. 10, 1890. 

Corporal, Sergeant. 
Battalion Sergeant 
Major. No date. 



Mch. 10, 1893. 



June 2. 1888. 
Oct. 15, 1890. 
Sept. 2, 1890. 
July 15, 1893. 

July 27, 1895. 
June 25, 1897. 
June 25, 1897. 



Transferred to band, no 

date. 
Enlisted in U. S. Army 

May 2, 1899. 



July 18, 1892. Corporal, Ser- 
geant. 
S. O. No. 87, 1889. 
July 15, 1893. 



Corporal, Sergeant. 
May 22, 1894. 
July 5, 1888. 

Mob. 1, 1893. 



Ii>i.iNois Nationat. Guards. 



75 



Smith, Robert E. 
Snavely, John M. 
Sturtz, C. E. 
Stroup, George O. 
Strock, W. Chester 
*St. John, Burtoi), 
St. John, Thomas E. 
*Shultz, O. B. 
*Strock, Linni.s L. 
Sayers, William II. 
*Shel{lon, Leslie C. 

It K 11 

Strock, John F. 

Struckman, VVm. C. 

Shafer, Harry' 

Sheldon, Charles F. 

Smith, Frank \V. 
<( It .1 

Shumaker, Iliram W. 

Soules, H. Arthur 
Street, Alljert L. 
Stoner, Claude II. 
Smith, Edward A. 
achaub, William H. 
Slade, George 
Scott, Harry A. 
Sneed, 13urt J. 
Sneed, Fred W. 
Sampson, John 
Shank, Andrew 
Shumaker, Harry E. 
Tumbleson, Charles F. 



Thomas, William H. 
"Taylor, Frank H. 
Triggs, Alpheus 

K It 

Trefz, Julius 
Thorne, George 
Thompson, Lloyd E. 
Troste, Samuel D. 



Mch. 2«), 1888. 
June 4, 1888, 
July 30, 1888. 
Oct. 14, 1889, 
May 11, 1891. 
Apr. 18, 1892, 
May 9, 1892, 
June 4, 1892, 
Nov. 10, 1892, 
Feb. 5. 1894, 
Mch. 5, 1894. 
June 21, 1897. 
Oct. 14. 1895, 
Oct. 14, 1895. 
Feb. 24, 189;;. 
Mch. 2, 1896, 
Mch. 16, 1896. 
May 21, 1899. 
July 17, 1896, 

June 22, 1897. 
Mch. 7, 1898, 
Mch. 31, 1898. 
Mch. 31, 1898. 
Mch. 31, 1898. 
May 15. 1898, 
June 14, 1898. 
Feb. 6, 1899, 
Feb. 8, 1899, 
Aug. 20, 1900. 
Sept. 20, 1900. 
Apr. 30, 1901. 
June 23, 1888, 
Feb. 23. 1891, 
July 30, 1894, 

Feb. 23, 1891, 
Dec. 11, 1893, 
July 8, 1895. 
Feb. 27, 1899. 
Jan. 0, 1896. 
May 15, 1899. 
May 20, 1899, 
Apr. 30, 1901. 



Oct. 18, 1890. 

Mch. 3, 1893. 

,>uly 16, 1895. 
Mch. 10, 1893. 
July 16, 1895. 
Mch. 1*5, 1896. 
Apr. 22, 189(). 

Mch. 6, 1899. 

Mch.22, 18ti8. 



Transferred to band no 
date. 



Corporal, Sergeant. 



Nov. 6, 1899. 

Corporal. 
Corporal. 



S. O. No. 36, 1889. 
Mch. 8, 1894. 

Mch. 8, 1894. 

Apr. 22, 1896. Corporal 



Corporal. 



76 



History of Companies I and E. 



Van Home, E. Burt 



Van Drew, Clarence 
Verbeck, Clarence 
Woods, KoUin H. 

VVoodworth, Clarence 
Williams, Albert W. 
Williams, B. Frank 

Winters, James C. 
Williamn, Grant U. 
Williams, Jacob 

*Wa8ley, Frank E. 



*\Vildasin, Joshua 



*Wahl, J. Frank 



Wetzel, John G. 
Weaver, A. L. 
Wright, Frank S. 
*VVoodyatr, Arthur H. 

*Ward, Frank J. 
Wagley, Vred E. 
W rot en, Frank 
Woodard, John 
Watson, A. II. 

Wahl, Albert A. 

II i> 11 

Wilkinson, Lee P. 
Winters, Carl 
Wright, Fred F, 
Walch, Jeremiah 
Wise, Albert 



Mch. 20, 1888 
Apr. 20, 1891, 
July 8, 1895, 
Apr. 1, 1899. 
Aug. 20, 1900. 
Mch. 24, 1888, 

Mch. 24, 1888, 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
Apr. 13, 1891 
Mch. 24, 1888, 
June 4, 1888, 
May K), 1889. 
June 27, 1892. 
May 22, 1889, 
July 11, 1892. 
Dec. 18, 1893. 
Dec. 18, 1893. 
Mch. 2, 1891, 
July 8, 1895. 
Sept. 28, 1896. 
May 25, 1891, 
Mch. 25, 1895, 

June 29, 1891. 
June 27, 1892, 
Feb. 13, 1893. 
Feb. 13, 1893, 
Mch. 9, 1896, 
June 18, 1894, 
Aug. 27, 1894. 
Oct. 1, 1894, 
July 8, 1895, 
Jan. 27, 1896. 
Apr. 13, 1896. 
May 20, 1899. 
Mch. 12, 1897. 
Mch. 21, 1898, 
Mch. 28, 1898, 
Feb. 9, 1899. 
Aug. 20, 1900. 



Corporal, Sergeant. 
May 9, 1894. 
July 15, 1896. 



S. O. No. 118, 1891. Corpor- 
al, Sergeant. 
Apr. 14, 1890. Corporal. 
Apr. 14, 189G. 
Corporal. 

May 1, 1889. 
Oct. 7, 1888. 



Corporal, Sergeant. 



Corporal, Sergeant. 



Corporal, Sergeant, 
Commissioned 2nd Lieut. 
June 18, 1897. 

Oct. 23, 1893. 

Corporal. 
Mch. 16, 1897. 
June 25, 1897. 

Mch. 16, 1898. 
Apr. 22, 1896. 



Corporal. 
May 2, 1899. 




COL. C. E. 15LEYEK, 
xVide-de Camp. 



Ili.inois National Guards. 77 



CHAPTER VII. 



The Sixth Eegiment Band. Its Or(;axizati()X axd 
History Briefly Told. 

It is to be much regretted that a more complete and 
detailed history of this organization was not obtained as, 
in the position it has held for the past five years and 
connected as it is with the Sixth Regiment Illinois Na- 
tional Guards, its members are highly esteemed by the 
enlisted men of the regiment and comrades they are in 
every sense of the word. More especially is this true of 
its members and the men of companies I and E. Com- 
bined they represent Whiteside County in the ranks of 
the State troops of Illinois. The tie of comradeship 
which binds them together is stronger and more lasting 
than that which connects them with the men of the re- 
mainder of the reoriment which is lacking in the feeling 
of friendship arising from personal acquaintances exist- 
ing among the band boys and the boys of I and E. For 
this reason every available fact was eagerly grasped and 
recorded, aiming to make this history and the history of 
those who may have served the State from Whiteside 
County as complete and entire as possible. 

Very little can be related, with which the reader is 
not familiar, concerning the Sixth Regiment Ban<l. pos- 



78 History of Companies I and E. 

sibly better known as the Keystone of Sterling. It was 
organized in Rock Falls, 111., during the year of 1872 
under the leadership of Freeman D. Rosebrook. Not long 
after the organization was perfected John Kadel became 
its leader and under this efficient manacrement the band 
became famous as a musical organization even beyond 
the borders of our own State. 

It has long been recognized as one of the most accom- 
plished organizations of its kind in the State and its 
members have every reason to be proud of its thirty 
years of honorable record. 

Director Kadel retired in the summer of 1896 and the 
guiding reins were placed in the hands of Professor F. 
C. Nixon. The headquarters were removed across the 
river and it became a Sterling orsfanization where it has 
since remained. 

During the same year it entered the service of the 
State as official band of the Sixth Regiment, Illinois Na- 
tional Guards, which position it retains today. At every 
annual encampment of State troops the band is found 
marching at the head of the regiment, a position of hon- 
or. In the commodious band stand erected on the 
grounds, nightly concerts are given, which are very 
pleasing to the tired soldiers and hundreds of visitors, 
who throng the spacious camp grounds. But to be seen 
at its best and to be fully appreciated, one should view 
and hear the band during dress parade, in which it takes 
a very prominent part. 

The regiment is usually formed in double rank, ex* 
tending in one continuous line nearly the full length of 
the parade grounds. The Colonel and his staff take theii* 
position on the opposite side of the grounds in front 
of and facing the regiment. In the rear and to the right 



Im-inois National Guards. 70 

and left of the Colonel, the open field is black with the 
mass of visiting citizens, who congregate regularly to 
witness the most pleasing and attractive feature in the 
drill of the infantry troops. After a short drill in the 
manual of arms and the officers are instructed for the fol- 
lowing day, the band, from its position on the right of 
the column, enforced by the bugle corps, moves forward 
about fifty p'lces. m^kes a half turn to the left and in 
fall view of every one present marches the entire length 
of the line of motionless men in blue and, countermarch- 
ing returns to its original position, keeping step, with a 
long swinging stride to the music, of a lively march, of 
its own production. The bugle corps sounds "'retreat" 
and as the last echoes of the clear and resonant notes die 
away in the surrounding hills, the evening gun booms 
forth the soldiers good night, the band strikes up the 
animating notes of the national air, "The Star Spangled 
Banner,'" the reclining figures (quickly arise, come to 
an "attention" and bare their heads to a man. old orlorv 
which has floated proudly from the tall flagstatf through- 
out the day is slowly lowered to the ground and put a- 
way until another sunrise. 

For a brief moment, quiet, verging on painfulness. 
reigns over the scene and everyone is motionless as a 
statue. 

The shades of night are falling. The shadows in the 
neighboring woods lengthen and become deeper and 
more indistinct. Not a sound is heard to mar the effect 
of the last sweet strains of melody as it floats softly o'er 
the green sward, touching a responsive chord in every 
heart, filling the breast of every one present with a fire 
and zeal experienced onlv on such occasions and ditl'icuU 
to portray 



80 History of Companies I. and E. 

Surely it is an inspiring moment. As those men stand 
with heads uncovered, doing homage to a great nation, 
an indescribable sense of pride and pleasure steals over 
them. They are proud with the thought that the em- 
blem of liberty and freedom, which was that moment 
lowered from view, and which was purchased and has 
been protected by the hearts blood of so many of our 
countrymen, was their flag; proud of the fact that they 
are children of this great union of states and citizens of 
this grand old state of Illinois, which gave to us such 
patriots as Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant and 
John A. Logan, and pleased that they are privileged to 
serve that State even in the humble capacity of an ob- 
scure member of the National Guard, and in that mo- 
ment they feel they have received full recompense for 
the many hours of tiresome work given at home that 
they might be present at this time. The little child 
standing by the mothers side is strangely affected and 
looks wonderingly up into her face all unconscious that 
he is receiving the first lessons in the teachings of patri- 
otism and love of country, but the seed is sown and an 
impression is made on that young mind, never to be for- 
gotten. 

The tension is relaxed and with one accord hats, are 
replaced and all is bustle and confusion. Hoarse com- 
mands are given and repeated, the regiment is formed 
into a column of companies, the band takes its position 
in the front and they pass in review before the command- 
ing officer of the regiment and the public, each company 
vieing with the others in an attempt to preserve a solid 
front and an unwavering line. They then return to their 
quarters, the days duties are over. 

To the onlooker it is a beautiful scene and one long to 




MAJOR A. T. TOUIITILLOTT 

Sixth Infantry. 



Illinois N/vtional Guards. 81 

he remembered. With each generation arising among 
such scenes and receiving the teachings of such lessons 
on every hand from earlv childhood to manhood, who 
can ever doubt the integrity of our country; who can 
e\en imagine the time to come when the stars and 
stripes will lie trampled in the dust and our people 
humbled bv defeat? Not you or I, nor our children or 
our children's children. Centuries must elapse before 
such a wonderful change could take place. 

iVn Englishman, making a tour of the United States, 
while riding across the country one day made the ac- 
quaintance of an elderly gentleman, who was sitting in 
the seat beside him. The conversation drifted to inter- 
national affairs and to the matter of the mere 1 andful of 
soldiers which represented our standing arm}-. The 
Englishman put the tjuestion to the old gentleman "If 
difficulties should arise with a foreign countr}' and troops 
called for, where would you get your soldiers?" Point- 
ing out through the car window to where a half a dozen 
men were working in the fields, the old gentleman re- 
plied "If war caime upon us and a call for troops was 
made, at least five of that half dozen men would throw 
down their tools and hurry to the nearest recruiting sta- 
tion and so it would be all over our land." "But can 
thev fight" queried the Englishman. "It was such men 
as those that made it possible for us to whip you twice," 
replied the old man "and if we ever get into trouble 
with you again, we will go over to your country, put a 
rope on that little island of yours and tow it back home 
with us." At that the Englishman excused himself and 
moved up to the next car. 

A regiment of soldiers without a band may be com- 
pared to a horse whose driver has lost his whip. He 



82 History of Companies I and E. 

may plod along in a manner but the moment the lash is 
regained aiid begins to tickle his back he takes a new 
lease on life, pricks up his ears, arches his neck and 
stepping high completes the journey at race horse speed. 
So it is with the soldier. He may be ever so weary, 
and his thoughts wandering far from his immediate 
surroundings, but the instant the band strikes the first 
note the spirit which lies dormant, awakens, and he is 
again the animated, watchful soldier with the welfare of 
his country uppermost in his mind and he moves about 
with a free step and light heart. 

In time of service, or should the regiment get into 
action, the duties of the members of the band are to as- 
sist the hospital corps in aiding and caring for the 
wounded. 

When the call for troops came and the Sixth regiment 
was ordered to Camp Tanner for service in war. the 
band boarded the train and reported for duty but unfort- 
unately there were no provisions made for a band organ- 
ization in the volunteer regiments. In Governor Tan- 
ner's instructions from Secretary of War, R. A. Alger, 
he was advised that "bands will be organized from the 
strength of the regiments as in the regular army." 
Thus it will be seen that it could not be mustered into 
the government service as a whole, and on May ist 
nearly all of the band returned to their homes. John 
Prestine and Fred Forbes remained at Springfield and 
organized a volunteer band from the enlisted men of 
the regiment who were detailed from the different com- 
panies for this duty. John Prestine was appointed Chief 
Musician and Fred Forbes was made principal musician. 

Upon the muster-out of the volunteer service and the 
return home of the Sixth Regiment, the Sterling bund 



Illinois National Guards. 83 

naturally assumed its former position with comrade 
Prestine as leader. 

The three years following have been years of con- 
tinued success and while in attendance at Camp Lincoln 
during the last tour of duty it gave ample proof of its 
abilities, each man is an artist and a credit to the regi- 
ment. 

In the years to come, bringing with them the many 
inevitable changes, may the good wishes of the men of 
the regiment follow the members of the band as stead- 
fastly as has the kindly feeling which has existed in the 
eventful years past. 



PART II. 



UNITED STATES VOLIJNTEER SERVICE, 

SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR OF 1898. 



CHAPTER I. 



ANXIOUS DAYS 



By far the most interesting epoch in the history of the 
Illinois National Guard occurred during the period cov- 
ering their services as U. S. Volunteers in the Spanish 
American War of 1898. 

The causes which led up to this war are familiar to 
all. The lonjT and determined struggle for freedom, of 
the people of the Island of Cuba has gone down in 
history. Under Spanish rule they had been bled by 
taxation for hundreds of years. They had been tyran- 
ized and made to suffer indignations be3'ond all human 
endurance. The Governor Generals of the island were 
selected by the government of the mother country, Spain, 
apparently for their cruelty. For this quality they were 
world renowned and they practiced it upon these help- 
less people un-relentlessly, year after vear. crushing and 
grinding them into veritable slavery, in the hopes of thus 
keeping their spirit broken and allowing no opportunity 



88 History of Companies I and E. 

to arise giving the people a foothold whereby they could 
make a stand for themselves. But Spain's efforts were 
fruitless and with a mere handful of loyal soldiers, under 
able leadership the Cubans made such headway as to 
attract the attention of the civilized nations of the world. 

The loss of the island meant much to the Spanish 
government. The revenues derived from the system of 
robbery, hidden, under the name of taxation, inaugu- 
rated years ago and rigidly adhered to, could not well be 
spared at this time and every effort was made to frus- 
trate the object of the people of the sunny isle. 

As the war dragged on and on with no prospect of its 
immediate close, and the funds of the Spanish govern- 
ment grew more depleted and her national credit more 
weak, her worst fears were aroused and a policy of 
butchery and criminal warfare was determined upon and 
put into practice, never before credited to a civilized na- 
tion. 

The indignation of the American people knew no 
bounds. Within a few hours ride of the shores of our 
own fair land, at our very door, were a people imbibed 
with the same spirit shown by our fore-fathers in "76," 
fighting against great odds, for an object no less noble 
than did those of the immortal Washington's time, de- 
termined to suffer death to the last man or secure their 
independence. 

Helplessly, they saw their homes pillaged and de- 
stroyed, their wives and families taken from them and 
driven like cattle, corralled and guarded by the thou- 
sands, to have insults heaped upon them without stint 
and to die from starvation in such numbers as to make 
the beautiful island reek with the stench of the decay- 
ing, unburied bodies of unfortunate men women and 




WM. F. LAW HIE, 

Capt. Co E, Sixth Inf., Vol. 

Present Hank, Major Gth Inf., 111. N. G. 



Till-; War Cloud. S9 

children. 

With these heartrending scenes transpiring before 
their very eyes, with the loss of all that makes life beau- 
tiful and worth the living, these men became more deep- 
ly imbued with the spirit of freedom and a firm deter- 
mination to give their all to the cau5e, to die fighting for 
a principle which must be recognized the world over as 
just and right, and they fought with the desperation of 
a wounded beast driven in a corner. Spain was as fully 
determined that success should never crown the efforts 
of the revolutionists and Spanish soldiers were poured 
into the island by thousands. The cruelties were in- 
creased, if such could be, and nothing left undone, no 
stone remained unturned which could aid in suppressing 
the insurrection. 

Reports of this system of crime and butchery came to 
us daily. Sitting by the fireside in our peaceful homes, 
thinking of the sufferings of the Cuban people in their 
unequal fight, the history of our own country was 
brought vividly to the fore. The privations and suffer- 
ings those brave men endured that we might be a free 
and independent people, expanding and developing into 
the grandest, and most liberal countr}^ on earth, and how 
in the darkest hour the noble Frenchmen came to our 
aid and standing shoulder to shoulder with the Ameri- 
cans, they fought the war to a successful termination. 

The spirit of independence which glowed in the breast 
of the redoubtable ''minute man" of 1776 was inherited 
and fostered by the generations following and they could 
not stand idly by and see this wanton destruction con- 
tinued without making a vigorous protest. But Spain 
would not listen to us. She reckoned without her host. 
Our people were getting restless and uncontrollable, 



90 History of Companies I and E. 

Excitement ran high and all over this broad land could 
be' heard the ominous sound of war. The distant rum- 
bling became louder and more distinct, a cloud had risen 
on the horizon, very small at first but increasing with 
such rapidity as may well have been a warning to the 
Spanish people, but they were blind to everything, 
smarting from the defeats met with at the hands of the 
Cuban soldiers and they went doggedly forward to their 
own destruction. 

War, war, war. go where you would one heard 
nothing but the talk of war. On every street corner 
groups of excited men congregated. In every village 
store and in every farm house the sole topic was war. 
The older ones relating incidents of the Civil War, de- 
scribing scenes of death and carnage, telling of hair 
breadth escapes and of deeds of valor performed by 
men wearing the blue or the grey. The younger men 
became more enthusiastic with each hour and anxiously 
awaited for the President to declare war and issue a call 
for troops. 

In the quiet of the homes the father and mother would 
sit pou-ring over the daily papers, closely following 
every action of the officials at Washington, hoping 
against hope that the war clouds might clear away with- 
out the necessity of throwing our peaceful land into the 
turmoil of an armed c6nflict with the dark and treacher- 
ous people beyond the sea. 

Not that they would withhold the aid which they 
knew our people would tender the intrepid Cuban sold- 
ier. Not that they feared the final result of such action. 
Rut they had passed through the ordeal years before 
and they knew the horrors of war and tiie distressing 
scenes brought about by it and their thoughts flew back- 



Old Memories Revived. V)1 

ward to the dark days of 1861 and 65. A<»-ain they saw 
the father, husband or son marching away to face un- 
known dangers perhaps never to return, they heard the 
roar of the cannon as it belched forth its fiery flame and 
hurled its leaden messenger of death into the midst of 
the lo\aI men who rallied about the stars and stripes 
when danger threatened the honor of our glorious re- 
public. Closing their eyes they could again see it all. 
The mangled forms of tlie dead and dying lying all 
about. The wounded calHng for succor and aiding each 
other. The scene is changed and they see long rows 
of trenches tilled- wMth the bodies of unknown heroes 
who had given their all for the love of their country. 

Then came the search for missing loved ones. The 
mother looking for the son, the wife for the husband and 
father and the gentle timid maiden searching for her 
sweetheart. Perhaps he is found among the wounded, 
and again thev mav search in vain, at last to turn reluct- 
antly away, with a heavv heart, realizing their dear one 
lies in an unknown grave, sleeping side by side with 
hundreds of his bra\'e but unfortunate comrades. "'Mus- 
tered out," for him the last long roll has sounded. An- 
other scene presents itself. The return of the soldier. 
He comes slowly down the old familiar path, the wait- 
ing wife or mother hurries, with extended arms to greet 
him, she stops and her arms fall listlesslv to her side, 
her heart stands still, overflowing with pride and love 
and sorrow. 

There he stands, in faded blue, with white and 
haggard face. The empty sleeve or the crutch upon 
which he rests, speaks volumes or the hungrv eager 
look and the wasted emaciated form may tell the story 
of weeks and months of prison life which was worse 



92 History of Companies I and E. 

than death. Can this be the man who, not long before, 
marched proudly away, so full of life and vigor and 
now stands before her as helpless as a child? He 
totters and is about to fall, she springs forward closing 
him in a long fond embrace and they find relief in their 
mingling tears. 

This man to whom home and family were precious, 
this man who perhaps must go through life maimed and 
crippled, an object of pity to all his fellow men, broke home 
ties, turning from his loved ones with an aching heart, to 
sacrifice his all if need be on the altar of his country. And 
why? Because that independent, liberty-hwing spirit 
born in every true American, places the love and honor 
of his flag and his country before all else. There are 
no sacrifices he will not make, no dangers be dare not 
face when the hour of peril comes. 

As the parents sat dreamily thinking of these trou- 
blesome days the full meaning of war and its many pain- 
ful scenes came forcibly to their minds. They realize 
that should the call to arms come, their sons will be 
among the first to volunteer, and their hearts are heavy 
with dread and anxious waiting. They will not put 
forth a staying hand. They will not detain them, but 
they will part from them with a full realization of what 
they may expect. The kind father, the gentle mother 
and the loving wife all had their doubts and fears and 
the suspense was very trying. 




CAPT. W. F. COLEBAUGH, 
Commanding Co. I, Vol. 



The Maine Disaster. 93 



CHAPTER II. 



With a single voice our people were urging the 
Washington government to make a decided stand to rec- 
ognize the Cuban revolutionists as belligerents and de- 
clare war if necessary. Cooler heads saw the folly of 
rushing madly into this conflict. If war must come, 
it was of the utmost importance that extensive preparations 
should be made and carried forward energetically. 
There must come a test of strength on the sea. The 
fleet of naval vessels was increased and put into condi- 
tion with all possible speed. These floating fortresses 
were of the newest designs and equipp'^d with all the 
modern munitions of war, yet they were practically un- 
tried, and many were fearful of the outcome should there 
come a clash between these monster flghting-machines 
and those of the Spanish navy. 

With every indication pointi.ig to an early outbreak, 
an incident occurred which fc^rced matters to a climax 
and brought our people to their feet with a bound. The 
first class battleship Maine, while lying in a friendly har- 
bor, bent upon a peaceful mission, was blown up from an 
external explosion, and more than two hundred and fifty 
souls were hurled into eternity, without a moment's warn- 
ing. These American seamen, lyingasleep in their ham- 
mocks, all unconscious of the pendinof danorer. were mur- 



94 History of Companies I and E. 

dered by a villainous hand and cries of vengeance were 
heard on every side, coupled with the sobs of anguish 
and distress from the lips of bereaved parents, wives and 
sweethearts. Our hearts went out to the dead and dying 
heroes and from the Atlantic to the Pacific, from the 
Great Lakes to the Gulf of Mexico, our people rose as 
one man and demanded satisfaction. An eye for an eye, 
a tooth for a tooth, yes and tenfold. 

The Maine was blown up while lying in the harbor 
of Havana, Cuba, February 15th. 1898. 

"A board of inquiry was appointed to investigate 
the cause of the explosion and proceeded to Havana and 
began its investigation February 21st. After an ex- 
haustive examination of the wreck, and after taking the 
testimony of witnesses and of experts, the board reported 
on the 2 1st of March that the Maine had been destroyed 
by the explosion of a submarine mine, but that it was 
unable to tix the responsibility upon any person or per- 
sons. It was evident that the cause of the disaster must 
have been from the outside." 

Although this board of inquiry failed to point out the 
guilty ones, the American people were quick to decide 
the question in their own minds and no amount of argu- 
ment could induce them to think differently. They 
eagerly awaited the declaration of war and the beginning 
of hostilities that the men might shoulder their muskets 
and be off to wreak vengeance on the heads of this treach- 
er<:)us foe who worked under the cover of darkness and 
"stabbed innocent men in the back." Our dislike for 
the Spanish was equal to that of the Cubans, and no 
power on earth could stem the tide or turn back the wave 
of righteous indignation which swept over this broad 
land. 



War Dfx'larki). Hr) 

Oil April 2ist, 1898, Congress declared war. Tiider 
an act of Congress, approved April 22nd, 1898, and is- 
sued April 23rd. the President made a call for 125,000 
volunteers. 

The foUowinc^ is an extract from a telegram receiv- 
ed by the Governor of Illinois from the War Department 
at Washington: 

Washington, D. C, April 25TH, 1898. 

The Governor of Illinois- 

The number of troops from your State under the 
call of the President, dated April 23. 189S, will be seven 
regiments of infantry and one regiment of cavalry. It 
is the wish of the President that the regiments of the 
National Guard or State Militia shall be used as far as 
their numbers will permit, for the reason that they are 
armed, equipped and drilled. * * * * 

R. A. Alger, 

Secretary of War. 

Previously, on February 17th, while the General As- 
sembly of Illinois was in extra session, it adopted reso- 
lutions, authorizing the Governor '"to tender to the 
President of the United States all moral and material sup- 
port that may be necessary in this emergency to main- 
tain the ]jroper dignity of our republic and the honor of 
the American Hag.'* 

••It will thus be seen that Illinois, through her pat- 
riotic Governor, was the tirst of all the Union to assure 
the President of the United States that the moral and 
material support of a great State was his. that Illinois, 
with all her treasures of men and money, with all her 
wealth of [)atriotic blood, was ready to support him. the 
honor of our country and the flag of our Union," 



96 History of Companies I and E. 

— From thy valleys and thy prairies, Illinois, 

Illinois. 

Illinois was the first state in the Union to mobolize its 
volunteer quota under the first call, the first to be mus- 
tered into the United States service; the first to report for 
duty at the volunteer camps and during each stage of the 
war, Illinois was represented in the van both on land and 
sea. History not only repeats itself but adds luster to a 
glorious name. Thus it was with Illinois in the Spanish - 
American War. Its citizen soldiery cast aside peaceful 
pursuits and adapted itself to the needs of war with an 
ease and brilliancy eclipsed by no other State in the 
Union. Its infantry organizations were within the arena 
of combat, both in Cuba and Porto Rico, while its sailors 
enjoyed a peculiar distinction on board the victorious 
vessels of war at Santiago, in which no other State 
shares. 

This is not fulsome praise, but simply what history 
will chronicle when the events of the war and the hero- 
ism of each component body of the American army, are 
viewed in the light of a well balanced judgment. 

Illinois' ready response to the call for volunteers 
was an inspiration in itself. The massing of an army of 
over 8,000 citizen-soldiers at the State rendezvous with- 
in twenty-four hours after the call was flashed to every 
community and village of the State, was a feat unsur- 
passed. 

Each regiment responded "Ready" without asking 
any conditions, what the rations would be, without 
thought of the trials, discomforts and inevitable hard- 
ships of soldiers in the field. It was the buoyant, strong 
and healthy manhood of the State which spoke in ac- 
cents of patriotism that could not be doubted. Behind 




GOODICIL B. DILLOX, 
1st Lieut. Co. E, Vol. 



Illinois' Ready Rksponse. 07 

this great army of citi/.en-soldiers which Illinois offered 
as its tirst contribution of fighting material to the gov- 
ernment, stood an army, nondescript, undisciplined, but 
fired by patriotic zeal, all evi ncing with one accord, 
eagerness to bear the standard of Illinois into ever}' field 
of battle. This was the provisional army which rallied 
as if by magic in every village, town and large commun- 
ity in the State. 

The States of the union which had as many troops 
right in the centers of contiict. upon which the eyes of 
the world were focused, may be counted on the fingers 
of one hand. By far the larger portion of the first army 
sent out in response to President McKinley's call for 
125.000 volunteers, took the oath to join federal service 
vith many years of State militia service to its credit. 
These men knew how to handle their guns, understood 
the manual of arms and maintained a standard of dis- 
cipline which was a rarity in most volunteer troops. 
The professions, trades and occupations which the vol- 
unteers of Illinois abandoned to defend the honor of the 
nation and help liberate the victims of Spanish misrule, 
embraced every imaginary calling from the highest to 
the humblest. 

Little wonder then that the State of Illinois is proud 
of the men who represented her in the war with Spain. 

In the trenjches before Santiago, or on the warships 
with Sampson and Schley, making forced marches 
across the Island of Porto Rico, skirmishing with the 
Spaniards or guarding the yellow fever hospitals, in 
camp as well as in the field the men from Illinois — in- 
fantry, artillery, cavalry, engineers and marines — acquit- 
ed themselves with credit to their state. 

And if those in one regiment or detachment or 



98 History of' Companies I and E. 

branch of the service apparently acquired more honor 
and fame than those in another, it was merely because 
their opportunities were greater. So far as it was per- 
mitted them, every man displayed the courage and forti- 
tude that combine to make the hero, and every one did 
his full duty to his country. In honoring them Illinois 
honors herself. 

In considering these matters, it should be borne in 
mind that the most soldierly qualities may be found in 
camp as well as on the field of battle: that while $15.60 
a month may pay a man for acquiring fame for himself 
under fire, it requires a large measure of devotion to 
country to accept it without protest as full recompense 
for the irksome and thankless duties of garrison or 
camp life. The men who passed the summer in camps, 
drilling and preparing themselves for the duties it was 
expected would devolve upon them later, have to add 
dissapointment to whatever else they may have endured. 
Their opportunity did not come, and the tendency of the 
world is to overlook the devotion and courage that do 
not border on the sensational. 

TO THE VOLUNTEERS OF ILLINOIS. 

Troops the nation called one day, 
Men of valor, strong and steady; 

Ere the echo died away 

Illinois had answered "Ready.; 

While the call was yet resounding, 

Came the boys from bench and stool; 
From the town and farms surrounding, 

Eager students in war's school; 
Hoys from every walk and station, 

Sons of parents rich and poor, 
Stirred to righteous indignation 

By the suffering at our door. 



Volunteers of Illinois. 99 

Death ami danger all unheeded, 

Fearing neither sword nor ball, 
Three and four fold more than needed 

Answered to the nation's call; 
Every youth cur thanks deserving 

For a duty nobly done, 
Faith and purpose most unswerving, 

Though no lield his daring won. 

In the camps and on the ocean. 

Braving Cuba's tropic heat, 
Proving ever their devotion, 

Knowing nothing of defeat; 
All they had thus bravely tendered, 

Here and ther^^ death claimed a boy 
Freely but with tears surrendered 

By the State of Illinois. 



Troops the nation called one day. 

Men of valor, strong,' and steady; 
Ere the echo died away 

Illinois had answered "Ready." 

Elliott Flower. 



100 History of Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER III. 



From the hour that the news was received that war 
had been declared, excitement increased. The men of 
the National Guard were speculating on the probabili- 
ties of their being called to the front. There appeared 
to be but little room for doubt in this matter, yet it was 
very uncertain until the company commanders received 
orders to increase the ranks of the 'enlisted men to the 
maximum, eighty-tive, and to prepare for a hurried de- 
parture on receipt of orders to move. Shortly after 
twelve o'clock on the morning of April twenty-sixth, 
Captains Colebaugh and Lawrie received telegraphic 
instructions from Colonel D. J. Foster to report with 
their companies at the State Fair Grounds, near Spring- 
field, not later than noon of April twent3'-seventh. 
The Illinois National Gaurd was to mobolize at this 
point for war service. 

This brought matters to a crisis and a long list of 
emergency men was added to the register of the regu- 
lar enlisted men of the companies. They came from all 
directions, on foot, on horseback and by train. They 
came from the farms, and country towns surrounding, 
from the schools, the stores and the professions until 
there was room for no more, all eager and anxious to 
don the blue that their fathers wore a generation back. 




E. C. LAWTON, 
1st Lieut. Co. 1, Sixth 111. Vol. 



Farewell to Home. 101 

On sober thought it was a serious matter and to many 
it meant a battle within themselves, but whatever mis- 
givings were brought to the fore they were thrust to 
one side and the single idea of taking a place in the 
ranks, side by side with loyal friends, was kept con- 
stantly before them. 

With their names once entered on the roll, none but 
a coward would flinch from the duties which were be- 
fore them, regardless of their nature. This thought 
gave them courage to look the situation squarly in the 
face and to part with their loved-ones with a sense of 
fulfilling a duty which they felt was theirs although it 
might mean a long and possibly last separation. The 
instinct for fair treatment was aroused within them and 
they were spoiling for a fight, not a disgraceful slug- 
ging match but an honorable meeting with the foe they 
had learned to dislike so heartily, where the whole 
world stood by as judges and right and justice would 
triumph. 

Naturally, the home towns of the two companies of 
National Guards became the central points for the con- 
gregating of the many citizens of the county. As the 
day wore on the crowds increased to unparalelled 
proportion* with amazing rapidity. The moments and 
hours passed quickly, and the hour for departure was 
close at hand before it was fully realized. The good- 
byes were yet to be said, and many a friend almost for- 
gotten in the hurry and excitement came forward with 
outstretched hands and although no outward sign was 
visible, true friendship could be read in the hearty clasp 
of the hand and gazing straight into each others eyes, 
they saw something there which strangely impressed 
them and they knew that the good-byes and'good-wishes 



102 History of Companies I and E. 

which were being said, were not thoughtlessly given, 
but came from the heart. 

Not for years had there been such a gathering of the 
citizens as occurred in these towns on that memorable 
day. Young and old, rich and poor alike, jostled each 
other in an attempt to secure a point of vantage. Men 
there were in those lines who were among strangers. 
yet they were quickly made to see that every one was 
their friend. The events occuring in those fleeting mo- 
ments were indelibly stamped upon the minds of all who 
were present, and to the volunteer, it marked the be- 
ginning of an epoch in his life, the picture of v\hich, 
Father Time, wielding his ever ready sickle, can not 
dim, and in after years, in reflecting on the past, he 
may, in imagination, wander back to those days and feel 
truly thankful that it was his lot to be i\mong the fortun- 
ate ones who could in no other manner give proof of 
their true Americanism. Hundreds more there were 
ready and willing to serve their country but at that time 
there was no room for them and they could do nothing 
but remain at home. 

Not the least conspicuous among the throng were 
the veterans of the war of the rebellion. Old men with 
bent forms and locks of silvery grey, the hand of time 
resting heavily upon them were made young agam; they 
stood erect and iheir eyes shore brightlv, while their 
thoughts wandered back to the days of their youth and 
they imagined they were again in the ranks wearing the 
blue. They seemed to hear the stirring notes of the 
martial music as it pealed forth from fife and drum and 
they were once more among the "fields of cotton and of 
cane," fighting over the battles of nearl}- two score 
years ago where oft times brother met brother and 



TiikOld Vetkran 1<>3 

father mei son in a desperate strug<,de for supremacy. 

As these lonij to be remembered scenes flitted rapid- 
ly before them their hearts grew warm and the patriotic 
fire which burned so fiercly in their breasts long years 
ago but which had slumbered for a generation, was re- 
kindled and flamed up with renewed strength and vigor; 
they, for the moment, forgot their surroundings and 
looking beyond the swaying crowds saw many familiar 
faces the memory of which the lapse of time had 
dimmed. Tender recollections flooded their minds and 
they were lost to the bustle and activity about them un- 
til awakened from their dreams with a start as the com- 
mand -attention'' rang out sharp and clear and the eager 
boys, soldiers of another generation, fell 'quickly into 
line to receive their final orders before boarding the 
awaiting train. 

The old soldier cast a critical eye down the line of 
youthful faces and mentally repeated, it is wefl for them 
that they know not what may be before them and he 
thanked God that Mason and Dixons Line has been 
swept away and if go they must and should their lot 
bring them to an honorable death on the field of battle 
they were taking no chance of being laid low by the 
hand of one of their own flesh and blood. There was 
but one sentiment among the people; not two but 
seventy millions of souls with but a single thought. No 
more substantial evidence of this fact could have been 
established than did Congress, when, without a dissent- 
ing voice, it voted fifty millions of dollars into the hands 
of President McKinley as an emergency fund in prepar- 
ing the troops for the field. Not alone was this proof 
of the sentiment of the people as to the action they 
considered necessary but it also bore witness of the 



104 History of Companies I and E. 

implicit faith and confidence which they placed in the 
man at the helm. 

After the final preparations were made and all in 
readiness, those boys, in whose keeping was placed the 
honor of Whiteside county, in this test of strength with 
a foreign foe, marched out into the night and down 
the street through the living lanes to the depot; the 
crowds cheering themselves hoarse in an effort to show 
their appreciation of the offering made by the boys in 
line in thus voluntarily placing their slight aid at the 
disposal of the government. As they drew near the 
station the crowds became more dense and it was a 
diflScult matter to make ones way through the throng. 
For numbers and enthusiasm no such gatherings had 
been witnessed since the days of the Civil war. 

With but a few moments at their disposal the boys 
bade their friends and relatives a last farwell; the 
mothers, sisters and wives, smiling through their tears, 
admonished the departing soldiers to remember the 
homes they were about to leave and those about them; 
the sweethearts, forgetting their natural timidity, turned 
blanched faces upward to the quiet, thoughtful visages 
of the youthful soldiers to receive the parting caresses 
and breathing words of encouragement into each others 
ears, they separated; the kind fathers and brothers ill at 
ease yet cheerfull, grasped the outstretched hands and 
in the glare of the nearby arc lights, in a low but 
earnest tone, cautioned the volunteers to do their duty 
as soldiers fearlessly; that unlooked for trials might 
come and in the dark hours for them to remember that 
the eyes of the folks at home were upon them and their 
hearts with them always; that in the history of our 
country many high examples of the faithful, patroitic 




J. FRANK WAHL, 

2nd Lieut. Co. E Vol. 
Later, Capt. Co. E, 111. X. G. 



BOARDINC; TllK CaR8. 105 

soldier shone forth and should the occasion demand it, 
much would be expected from the volunteer soldiers of 
1898; they placed every confidence in their courafje and 
abilities and would eagerly await their triumphal home 
comincT, certain that they would bring with them such 
records as would establish new marks in history of the 
qualities of the American Volunteer soldier. 

The clanging of the engine bell was the singal for 
the waiting soldiers to board the cars and amid the wild 
cheering of the throngs they were off. 

Company I with three commissioned officers and 
eighty-five men left Morrison at ten o'clock on the 
night of April 26th, Walter Burritt, Quartermaster Ser- 
geant of the first Battalion accompanying them; arriving 
at Sterling twenty minutes later they were joined by 
company E with three commissioned officers and eighty 
men, also the Sixth Regiment Band, with John 
Prestine, Chief musician and Fred Forbes, principal 
musician. Regimental Surgeon, Frank Antl ony, Cap- 
tain Ben Kick, Regimental Sergeant iVIajor, Ned John- 
son and Hospital Stewards John Kline, Fred Brown and 
Howard Ge3'er. of the Sixth Regiment, all of Sterling 
also boarded the special train here. 

Leaving Sterling at ten fort3--five p.m. we were 
again enroute. Little time for serious consideration and 
thought had been given us. Now that we were alone 
and away from the excitement which had prevailed for 
some time previous to our departure, the countenances 
of manv of those in the half lighted cars grew serious as 
the full realization of what might be before us dawned 
upon them. There was not the slighest indication of 
fear, but scanning the faces of our comrades, a resolute 
look was readily discernable which bespoke of deter- 



106 History of Companies T and E. 

mined minds and a settled purpose, and, inexperienced 
as we were in the trials and possible dangers of war, 
we were alive to the situation and with our hearts in the 
work which was before us and a just God to watch o'er 
and protect us, we felt that all w^ould end well. 

With the last tender good-byes and good wishes 
of our friends and relatives still ringing in our ears, it 
naturally left us somewhat low spirited, but the dull- 
ness was soon dispelled and as we rolled into Dixon at 
eleven o'clock we were as joll}' as a pleasure party. 

We were backed, over the Y to the Illinois Central 
tracks avoiding the march between depots and giving 
us through car service to Springfield, which was much 
appreciated by us. 

We were ordered to lay here, awaiting the arrival 
of company M of Galena, General Grants old home. 

Companies I and E. headed by the Sixth Regiment 
Band, marched down town to company G's armory and 
were lunched by the patriotic people of Dixon. The 
lateness of the hour having no apparent effect on the 
number or enthusiasm of the throng which had orath- 
ered to witness the departure ot their own soldier boys 
and we were treated royally. 

At four o'clock the following morning. April 27th, 
companies I and E enforced by G of Dixon and M of 
Galena, boarded the cars for the final ride to Spring- 
field. We were given a very creditable run from 
Dixon, making but few stops. We picked up company 
K of Lamoille at Mendota, this making a heavy train of 
eleven coaches, all crowded, and three large box cars of 
baggage. 

Company L of Freeport, which had been following 
us with a very light train passed us here, 



Enroutk to Sprin(;field. 107 

As we reached the coal mining district the boys be- 
gan to arouse themselves, and as we neared LaSalle 
miners began to pop up all around us on botii sides of 
the swiftly moving train: from every direction we could 
see theai with the small lamps attached to their caps 
and dinner buckets in hand, soon the}' would be lowered 
into the bowels of mother earth, there in the darkness to 
toil through the long weary hours, digging out the fuel 
which might ere long furnish the power to drive our 
mighty warships across the trackless ocean in search of 
our wily enemies, the Spaniards. 

At every town along the route crowds had gath- 
ered to cheer us as we sped by. "Old Glory" could be 
seen on every hand. It caused hearts to beat a trifle 
quicker and heads to be thrown back and a very war- 
like spirit would steal o'er us as we heard the cry of 
"Cuba and freedom." The country between LaSaUe 
and Clinton is quite flat and considerable of this section 
was under water. 

Arriving at Clinton we were backed over onto the 
Springiield branch and ran down to the lunch counter. 
We were given fifteen minutes to lunch, and soon the 
station grounds were covered with boys with both hands 
full of food. We foa!id another large gathering here to 
greet us. 

Chanjjinor ensjines we were as^ain on the road with 
but a few miles intervening before reaching our destina- 
tion. Our train was com])elled to run quite slow at sev- 
eral points through this section on account of heavy 
rains having caused several washouts, and at one point 
in particular the roadbed had been carried away entirely 
for a stretch of about fifteen rods, but had been tempor- 
arily repaired. 



108 History of Companies I and E. 

At eleven fifteen we entered Springfield. The State 
Fair Grounds being some distance from where we enter- 
ed the city, we were picked up by a switch engine and 
run down to Camp Tanner, as the rendezvous at the 
Fair Grounds had been officially designated by Briga- 
dier General Barkley, Post Commander. A draw bar 
was pulled out of one of the coaches which caused a de- 
lay of nearly two hours. We marched into the camp 
grounds at one thirty p. m. Nearly all of the State 
troops had arrived in advance of our delayed train. The 
Third and Sixth regiments were assigned quarters in the 
Exhibition Building : the First, Second, Fourth and Fifth 
were located in the various buildings scattered about the 
grounds. The Seventh was under tents in the center of 
the race course. Governor Tanner, Commander-in-Chief 
of the State troops, established headquarters in the 
Dome Building. The Commissary Department was 
located in the Poultry Building, separated from our 
quarters by a long high bridge that spanned a wide, dry 
ravine which coursed through the grounds. 



n 



h5 






3> 




Arrivat, at Camt Tannkr. 100 



CHAPTER IV 



Disorder prevailed, and it was impossible to learn 
anvtbing regarding our future movements. The com- 
missarv sergeants went immt'diately on a foraging exj)e- 
dition: food was srarce. hut success tiiially crown(Ml 
their eil'orts and by night we had coffee boiling and meat 
cooking. As we were weary and somewhat hungry our 
first meal iu c-amp was relished by all, and our drooping 
spirits were soon revived. Accommodations for lodging 
were poor, and we were initiated in our soldier life by 
turning in on plank and cement floors with newspapers 
for coverings. Considering the gigantic task of mobol- 
izing eight or ten thousand troops from all over the 
State within twenty-four hours after the call, we felt that 
we were fortunate in securing the attention that was ours 
and we did not complain. 

With the dawn of the following day, order and com- 
parative quietness succeeded where chaos and confusion 
had reigned. "We awoke to find sentinels patrolling the 
quarters, and everything had taken on the aspect of a 
soldier camp. Eubbing our eyes and looking about we 
wondered if we were dreaming: the last notes of •'reveille"* 
were vibrating through the large building, and after 
thoroufhlv shaking ourselves we realized the stern reali- 
ty of our position. As a rule the boys met the situation 



110 History of Companies 1 and E. 

in a matteT of fact way and readily adapted themselves 
to their surroundings, moving about, attending their 
duties quietly and in such a manner as might well have 
led the casual observer to believe that soldiering was an 
every day experience in the lives of many of these men. 

The first act of General James H. Barkley. in com- 
mand of the entire Illinois National Guard, until such 
time as the entire organization was turned over to the 
government, was to issue his first general order as follows: 

"By direction of the commander-in-chief. Governor 
John R. Tanner I hereby assume command of this post. 
The staff of the Second brigade will act in their rc^spect- 
ive departments at this post.'' 

•'The camp will be known in the official correspond- 
ence as Camp Tanner. The necessary orders for ruuiiiug 
the camp followed. Under the order Lieutenant J. Mack 
Tanner was appointed post adjutant. Lieutenant Colonel 
George N. Krieder. post surgeon. Major Lincoln Da- 
Bois, post commissary. Other members of the staff were: 
General William Clendenin, inspector general. Lieu- 
tenant Colonel Henry Davis, assistant inspector general. 
Lieutenant R, D. Loose. Lieutenant George Pashfield. 
Jr., Lieutenant Ricard. aides,"' 

We were governed by the following service calls: 

Reveille, - • - 5:3oa, m. 

Fatigue call, * - 6;oo a. m. 

Mess call, - - . . 6:30 a. m. 

Sick call, •• ' <■ 7:ooa. m. 

Drill call, - ^ - 8:00 a. m. 

Recall. - ' - 9:30 a. m. 

School call, (officers) - 10:30 a. m. 

First sergeant's call, - ii:00 a. m. 

Mess call, - - I2:00 m. 




BEXJ. EICK, 

2nd Lieut.'.Co. I, Vol. 

Present Kank, Capt. 1. 11. P. 

Sixth iQf., 111. N. U. 



K\1'i:uii:ncic as Ri-:i.ki:its. Ill 

Drill call. - - - i:30 |>. ni. 

Rt'call. - - - 3:30 |). 111. 

Guard mount. - - - 4:3^ |>- ni. 

Mess call. - - - 5:oo p. in. 

Assembly parade. - - 6:OOp. ui. 

Tattoo, - - - 9:30 p. m. 

Taps, - . - - io:oo p. ni. 

Major Anthony and bis eorps of assistants were 
busilv engaged in establishing a hospital and equipping it 
with the necessarv cots and blanke'.s. securing a supply 
of medicines and otherwise preparing to receive the sick 
which experience had taught ihem would surely come. 
These arrangements were completed none to soon, as the 
volunteers, many of them unused to the severe training 
thev were <:iven, succumed to the heat and onlv the 
prompt and effective treatment received at the hospital 
prevented a number from serious illne.>JS. 

The first few days of drilling, to the unitiated. was 
found to be hard work and had a tendancy to dampen the 
ardor (if a fen- of the less patrioiic. A number of them 
found that it would be inipossible to remain with the reg- 
iment as circumstances were such as necessitated their 
presence at home and although they regretted very much 
to leave us vet ihey were compelled to do so. 

Men in squads and full companies, marching and 
countermarching covered the camp grounds. Troopers 
and mounted officers galloping here and there gave a 
very war-like appearance to the camp. 

April twenty ninth, companies I and E were given a 
preliminar\- examination. Company E came through the 
test without the loss of a man while company 1 had seven 
rejected. This e.saii^ination was given us by Major An- 



112 History of Companies I and E. 

thony and his assistants. 

On Saturday, April thirtieth, the Third and Sixth 
regiments were ordered out for their first long march. 
It had rained considerable since our arrival and the 
roads were in bad condition; this added to the other diffi- 
culties of not being fully prepared for the call made it 
quite severe for the boys. They made a grand showing, 
coming in from the five mile tramp with as regular a 
step and unbroken line as when leaving camp. Orders 
were issued to continue the practice marches each day 
and gradually increase the distance to from ten to twenty 
miles. This was necessary to work the men into con- 
dition for actual service. 

The following day, Sunday, great crowds of visitors 
swarmed into camp. It was estimated that nearly fifty 
thousand people, exclusive of the soldiers, were on the 
grounds that day. They gazed at us as though we were 
curiosities. We looked hard in return, searching for a 
familiar face in the throng. Sometimes we were re- 
warded with a smile and a nod only to chase the donner 
up to find it was a case of mistaken identity. The com- 
pany mess tents were pitched on a hillside, facing the 
high bridge. During mess the bridge was lined with 
people watching us devour hard tack and sowbell}'. 
Durin"' the Sundav dinner, one of the boys remarked, 
"They look at us as though they thought we were a lot 
of Indians." and another member retorted "What are we 
but a lot of Indians?" A running fire of friendly rep- 
artee was kept up continually between the soldiers and 
their smiling, good natured visitors. 

Fully one half of the men had not the first mark of 
a soldier in their dress, and excepting the officers, hardly 
a man w^as visible who possessed a complete uniform. 






^ ^ 



a -^ 

T 1^ 







l)i:\ i:r.oi'.Mi;.\T oi- iiii-. Men. 113 

It was a very noticable fact that while the volunteer who 
was fortunate in securini^ a uniform, was the recipient of 
many bright smiles and siiv glances from the ever pres- 
ent fair visitors, and much sounfht after bv the ladies' 
affable, inquisitive, gentleman companions; the comrade 
at his side who had recently staked him with his last 
quarter, but who was decked in the garments of an or- 
dinary citizen, with, perhaps the exception of possessing 
a pair of government socks, met with a cold stare and a 
'•sir!" that caused him to have cold feet, if he \entured 
to reply to any of the hundreds of t[uestions which were 
plied to the --real soldier." Feeling himself growing 
smaller each moment the un-uniforrned volunteer retired 
to some c[uiet corner to reflect on the ways of mankind, 
the while consoling himself with the thought that al- 
though he was minus ihe outward mark of Uncle Sarr.s' 
servants he was full to overilowini^ with fight that mo- 
ment, and he nursed his injured pride tenderly until sought 
out by his more fortunate comrade who greeted him with 
a merry twinkle in his eye and the encouraging remark, 
"cheer up comrade, it may not be true." His spirit, 
dampened for the time but naturally buoyant, soon re- 
vived and the rebuff thoughtlessly given was forgotten. 
The first few days passed quickh-. The company 
commanders were kept hard at work preparing their 
men for the ph\sical examination, securing and issuing 
clothing and ordnance supplies, making up preparatory 
muster rolls and finding apj^arently endless work before 
them. The men settled dowti to the task of making 
soldiers of themselves. They w ere earnest students in 
the school of war and worked steadily, becoming more 
proficient in the drill and nuiiieuxcrs with each day. 
The officers were all old members of the National Guard 



114: History of Companies T and E. 

and as a rule were well versed in the teachings they be- 
stowed on the less tutored but willing man in the ranks 
It was with much pride and pleasure that the officers 
witnessed the gradual development of the men as they 
were slowly but surelv transformed from an awkward 
throng into an army of trained troops. True, a few 
days schooling could not bring about the desired result 
in attaining such a thorough training as is expected of 
the regular army man, yet the regular was the ideal for 
the time being, of the volunteers and setting their mark 
high and grasping every opportunity to make their ad- 
vance as rapid as possible, they more readily mastered 
the difficulties which presented themselves and they 
forged ahead at a pace as unexpected as it was desired 
by the officers in command. 

The practice marches were continued each day but 
the stormv weather which prevailed prevented them 
from making the distance as originally planned. To the 
men who had several years of service in the National 
Guard to their credit, the work came with less fatiLiue 
than to those who were receiving their primary teach- 
ings in the school of war and it was pure grit alone that 
pulled many of them through when at times it appeared 
that they were unable to endure the severe training giv- 
en them. 

The First regiment of cavalry was among the troops 
early upon the scene. This with the seven regiments of 
infantry which were there, completed the mobolization of 
the Illinois troops. In view of the fact that this State 
was not represented in the artillery branch of the ser- 
vice, and the eager desire of the batteries to go to the 
front, Governor Tanner took energetic action to include 
the artillery in the first call, and was lewarded with sue- 



EQUirPlNC TIIK VOMINTRERS. 115 

cess by receivin<ij instruclions from the Secretary ot War, 
April twenty ninth, authorizin*^ him to furnish one six 
l^un hatlerv of lii^ht artillery, in addition to the seven rtL,^- 
iments of infanlr\- and one of cavalry as previously in- 
structed. 

In conformitv with this authority bntery A of Dan- 
ville. C;iptain Philip Yeairei-. commandini,'-. and equipped 
with modern breech-loadiu'^ 3-2 inch guns, w^as ordered 
to report at Camp Tanner. April thirtieth, for the pur- 
pose of being mustered into the United States volunteer 
service. The battery arrived in camp that night. 

On May tirst. Governor Tanner made an effort to 
have batterv B. of Galesburg. included in the tirst call 
from this State, but the War Department declined to in- 
crease the quota from Illinois. 

Equipping the volunteers wiih the necessai-y ch^th- 
ino- and ordnance supplies was found to be a serious 
problem. Secretary of War, R. A. Alger requested the 
State to turn over to the general government, all of the 
uniforms in possession of the Illinois organizations, also 
the arms and equipment for the time being. General 
Reese, anxious to assist the govermnent in every manner 
possible, at once entered the market for campaign hats, 
leggins. shoes and ponchos, and as rapidly as these ar- 
ticles could be obtained they were issued to the troops. 

The United States, and every State in the Union, 
were bu\ ing clothing and equipments for their troops. 
Nearlv the entire amount of these articles that were on 
hand had been purchased at the first intimation of war. 
and it was conceded to be almost an accomodation on 
the part of the manufacturer to listen to proposals of any 
kind. Bv sending agents to Chicago and St. Louis, the 
State secured enough hats, shoes, leggins. blankets and 



116 History of Companies I and E. 

ponchos, to not only relieve the most pressing needs of 
tl e troops, but to fit them out fairly well for practical 
field service. May ninth, Governor Tanner received a 
telegram from Secretary Alger in which he said, "we 
wish everything you can furnish, as the government is 
going to have hard work to equip its troops in time for 
service.'" This demonstrated that even the government 
could not purchase or manufacture equipments as rapidly 
as the necessity demanded. 

Upon receipt of this advice, the State officials re- 
doubled their efforts to secure such additional clothing 
and equipage as was not habitually issued to the Na- 
tional Guard, and were required for the volunteers, and 
all concerned labored night and day to bring the Illinois 
volunteers under National control at the earliest possible 
moment. 

Thus it may be seen that while the rank and file of 
the volunteers were perspiring in the broiling sun, step- 
ping on one anothers heels in a vain effort to be graceful 
in the evolutions of a soldier; preparing and eating their 
meals in the rain and mud and sometimes more than half 
inclined to rebel at the restrictions placed over them; 
the Commander-in-chief, and his staff, together with the 
large corps of assistants were receiving the brunt of the 
work. They felt that they were responsible to a great 
deirree for the health and condition of the thousands of 
volunteers who had streamed in upon them even before 
the arrangements were completed as to what disposition 
should be made of them until such a time as they could 
be turned over to the government. They were in duty 
bound to care for those men and the numerous obstacles 
which they met and overcome represented no small vol- 
ume of labor. They were hampered by the shortage in 



Equii'I'inc the V()iaintki:ks. 



117 



supplies of all kinds and only l)y dint of enerj^etic work 
with littlf or no rest were the men fed and clothed. "1 hat 
Illinois was ihe first Stale in the union lo report its quota 
of volunteers as ready for field ser\ice was due to the 
tireless and continued efforts of the State otiicials to this 
end. 



118 History of Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER V 



Tiie regular routine of work was continued day after 
day and as the men grew more accustomed to their duties 
they fo'ind a certain amount of pleasure in performing 
them. It required but a short time to form many new 
acquaintances among the men of the various regiments; 
and the hours oflf duty were spent in the large buildings 
where the practical joker was much in evidence, and the 
rafters fairly shook with the continued laughter and mer- 
riment of the hilarious, fun loving boys. There whs no lack 
of sport and from early morn until taps, Indian war dances 
accompanied by the regulation whoop, glove contests and 
amateur theatricals followed u})on each other closely. 

The entertainment which received the most attention 
and was put into more general practice, until every man 
was initiated was termed '-hot-foot," or "cheese-malee." It 
consisted of running the gantlet between two long lines 
of young fellows with well developed muscles. Each 
man in the lines armed himself with a strong stick or can- 
teen strap and as the victim gathered his energies and 
shot down the narrow lane lie received a warming that 
was remembered for some time, and if he succeeded in 
escaping punishment from the upper end of the line he 
was given the full degree by the remaining ones, and as 
the instruments of torture were plied one after another 



Incii)I-:nts OK Cami" Li i-i>:. 11^' 

in rapid succ-essiini thecaudidatc iiK-ivascd his niuiiu'iituui 
and shot })y the last man with the speed of a race horse. 
His first inii)nlse was to sit down and tliink the matter 
over hut he no sooner found a restin*,^ place than he con- 
cluded it would l)e more convenient to remain on his feet 
and for the tirst time since his arrival at camp he longed 
for the luxury of the old arm chair with its downy cush- 
ions and padded hack. Very few escaped this treat as 
the men were considerate to a fault and partiality would 
not he tolerated. The good things were not for the few 
but were equally distributed to all. To struggle or pro- 
test was to eventually bring an extra })ortion to the 
friendless victim, and as misery loves company he added 
his mite to the working team and took his revenge on the 
hapless and helpless ones who soon came darting down 
the course. 

At night the scene was an animating one. In the 
building with us was the Third regiment, in all nearly 
two thousand high spirited young fellows and it was im- 
possible to keep them quiet. Promptly at ten o'clock the 
bugler of the Third would step out on the stair landing 
at the upper end of the huilding and hlow taps, and as the 
men of his regiment snuffed the burning candles they 
cheered his efforts to the echo. Immediately afterward, 
the bugler of the Sixth would appear at the opposite land- 
ing and repeat the call for the benefit of the men of his 
reo-iment. and among the hurrahs of our hovs the flicker- 
ing flames of the candles in our (piarters disappeared. 
This friendly rivalry between the buglers of the Third 
and Sixth and their supporters continued throughout our 
stay at Camp Tanner. For a few moments after taps, 
dee[> silenct- reigned throughout the l)uilding. then u 
voice from some far awav corner would cry out "have a 



120 History of Companies I and E. 

good time and e-n-j-o-y-y-y yourself," then a perfect bed- 
lam would break loose. A multitude of voices with one 
accord, joined in a chorus, most hideous and unearthly. 
Cat calls from the back yard fence, watch dogs, growling 
and barking on the front porch, hoot owls in the neigh- 
boring trees, the mooing of cows and bellowing of bulls 
in the barn yard lot, added to the caw caw, of the crow, 
the cry of the chicken hawk, the quack of the duck and 
the gentle cooing of the turtle dove, formed a combina- 
tion that baffles description and nearly drove the officers 
frantic. In vain they would command silence, and taking 
a still hunt down the rows of reclining figures in an effort 
to locate the source of the pandomin they found every one 
quiet and to all appearances fast asleep. Returning to 
their sleeping quarters the officers would fall into a doze 
to be rudely awakened by a repetition of the noise. 
This was repeated until the boys grew weary of the sport 
and one after another they dropped asleep to dream of 
home and the treasures which they knew were stored 
away in the cellars. 

The Young Mens Christian Association of Spring- 
field, put up a large tent shortly after the arrival of the 
troops and regular services were held throughout the life 
of Camp Tanner. Writing material was furnished gratis, 
to those desiring it and the large tables were well occu- 
pied during the long evenings and leisure hours of the 
day. Good literature was never lacking and the kind- 
ness in general, shown us by the young men in charge 
demonstrated the fact that they were deeply in earnest in 
the work. 

The second Sunday in camp was a repetition of the 
preceding Sabbath. The regiment attended church ser- 
vice in the race track amphitheatre at eleven o'clock in 



Sur(;eons Sound Stkrmn(; Boys. 121 

till' uiDrniiii^. Till- service was led by Cha[)lin Morgan. 
of the Sixth. The customary afternoon practice marcli 
was taken in the morning. After church the men were 
given their liberty until six o'clock in the evening when 
they assembled for dress parade. Great boxes and bar- 
rels of delicacies had been received from homes of the 
soldiers the day previous and a day of feasting was theirs. 
From all directions the relatives and friends of the boys 
came in. 

The boys of company E received a liberal share of 
the edil)les and their visitors were numerous. They ate, 
drank, smoked and made merry, and for hours the rela- 
tives and friends froin home were busily engaged an- 
swering questions. The visitors with well tilled pockets, 
graciously feted the boys until the hour of departure 
arrived when they bid them good-bye and left them feel- 
ing lonely but happy. 

Company I boys searched the crowds in vain for a 
familiar face, and ate hard tack and sowbelly with poor 
grace, washing it down with army cotfee: a good substan- 
tial, one course dinner without trimmings of any kind. 
To them the hardtack was tougher and the meat fatter 
than ever before and they eyed their more fortunate com- 
rades with ill concealed envy. It was a sorrowful day 
for them but their time was yet to come: they had no 
means of knowing it and they felt that they had been 
forgotten. They were not in want of anything in par- 
ticular, the inner man was well supplied and clothing 
plenty, but among this cheerfulness, the evidence of 
which could be seen on every hand, a feeling of depres- 
sion came over them which would not be shaken otf. 

Monday May ninth, the final physical examination 
was given Company E. The boys marched down town 



122 History of Companies T and E. 

to the State Capitol building in the morning, and after 
a long wait on the outside they were taken to the Senate 
Chamber and there, twenty men at a time were stripped 
of all clothing and taken 'before the examining: board. 
This board consisted' of Colonel Senn. Ass"t Surgeon 
General of the U. S. A., Captain Birmingham also 
of the regular army. Major Anthony. Surgeon, and 
Captain Cole, Assistant Surgeon of the Sixth regi- 
ment. The Sterling boys 'came through the or- 
deal with tiying colors, losing only two men. Cor- 
poral William Deem and private Lovier Feigley. Both 
were sorely dissapointed, but the regulations could not 
be ignored and the only course open to them was to re- 
turn home. Captain Lawrie recruited two volunteers 
from Chicago to fill the vacancy. 

The following day, May tenth Company I was ex- 
amined. Its members were taken to the quarters of the 
Fifth, and the examination was given them by the board 
of that regiment. It was composed of Major Milton R. 
Keeley. Surgeon of the Fifth, and one of the Ass't Snr- 
geons of the same regiment. It was quite evident from 
the beginning that they were to receive a searching ex- 
amination and when the last man had donned his cloth- 
ing the list of rejected ones contained the names of 
twenty-four of the Morrison boys: among them were 
some of the oldest members of the company of State 
troops and this ripping up the back so weakened the 
company in point of numbers as to bring the matter of 
disbanding and reorganizing it, to serious consideration. 

Captain Colebaugh, feeling that an injustice had 
been done the men who were rejected, brought the matter 
to the attention of Colonel Foster, conimandiag the Sixth 
peginjeut. After considering the problem the Colonel 



Co. I. LosKs Heavii.v 123 

authorized Major Anthony to give the rejected men a re- 
examination. Six of the twenty-four accepted the op- 
portunity and every man went through. This appeared 
to be substantial evidence that tliey were given an ex- 
tremely thorough going over at the hands of Major 
Keeley, either intentional or otherwise. With seven 
men rejected at the preliminary, and twenty-four at Die 
tlnal examination, left the com[)any with but tifty-f<nir 
of the original eighty-tive. Another of the company. 
Brice McCune. thinking he would sooner get to the 
front, went over to the Third regiment and entered their 
raidvs. Fifty-three men were all that could be mustered. 
The return of the six men who were accepted at the re- 
examination brought the number u}) to fifty-nine. There 
were plenty of extra men about camp awaiting just 
such an opportunity as this to enter the ranks and in a 
short time twenty-one recruits were selected and com- 
pany I had a full complement of men. 

Those of company I who were rejected at the pre- 
liminary examination were: Corporal Charles Weeks. 
privates William Morse. Firman McWhitemore. Timothy 
Bly, Frank Davis, Frank Judd and Orville Mitchell. 
Those rejected at the final were: Sergeant Ed Curtis. 
Corporal Orville Kaler. privates Henry Clark. Harrv 
Morse. William Almaurode, George Hubbard. William 
Hnbbard. Charles Magee. Thecj Magee. Emerson Fel- 
lows. Otto Harrison. Alvin Burch. Walter Weeks. Wil- 
liam Yarbrough. Henry \'antlykt'. Oeorge Colehour. 
Arthur Stinton and Harry Fisher. These men. with the 
rejected ones of company E. were furnished transporta- 
lion and regretfully, they turned iheir faces homeward. 
Fortunately, the men who were recruited to till the va- 
cancies caused b\- the loss of these men were all tine 



124 History of Companies I and E. 

fellows and had the opportunity and time been given to 
investigate each individual, it is doubtful if a more de- 
sireable selection could have been made. 

The weather continued wet and nasty. The camp 
grounds had become a sea of mud and the buildings 
were kept clean with difficulty. A day of sunshine was 
exceptional and the men were beginning to tire of their 
quarters. Many rumors floated about camp and we 
were constantly expecting something to occur which 
would result in our being mustered in and hurried to 
the front. We were rapidly being equipped with cloth- 
ing but were short of arms, having only the few rifles 
which the companies had taken to camp from home, 
and a goodly portion of them had been condemned aind 
taken up, as unfit for service. 

There was very little sickness in camp. It was sur- 
prising too; the unfavorable condition of the weather and 
the inexperience of many of the men in taking proper 
care of themselves in such surroundings may well have 
been cause for much sickness. The examining sur- 
geons evidently did their work thoroughly and the ac- 
cepted men possessed excellent constitutions; otherwise 
the conditions would have been vastly different from 
those existing at the time. 

The Fifth and Third regiments of infantry were mus- 
tered into United States service in the order named 
on the seventh day of May, and we anxiously awaited 
orders, hoping to follow them closely. The officers and 
men of the Fifth and Third were highly elated at their 
success in being the first of the Illinois troops to be mus- 
tered in, and delighted in calling the attention of the 
men of the remaining regiments to the fact, and they in^ 
formed us that they would be at the front in a few days 




E. J. WEAVER, 
2nd Lieut. Co. I, Vol. 



Sixth Ini'anpry Mustki<i:i) In. 125 

while in all prohabilitv we would not leave the State. 
In all events the n.()st we could hope for would be l(ar- 
rison duty in some out of the way army post. The e\ents 
which followed in the succeeding months proved the un- 
reliability of these statements and the uncertaint\- sur- 
roundino' a soldiers life. 

The Sixth regiment. Illinois Volunteer Infantry, 
was mustered into the United States service. Wednes- 
day, Mav eleventh. bN' Captain C\rus S. Roberts. 17th 
U. S, Infantry, mustering ofiicer. The regimental 
officers and non-commissioned staff were the first to 
take the oath and sign the muster roll. Company E of 
Sterling was the hrst and Companv I of Morrison, the 
last to be sworn in. of the twelve companies which com- 
posed the Sixth regiment. Captain Roberts, accom- 
panied by Colonel Foster and the commanding ofiicer of 
the companv took his position in front of the awaiting 
soldiers. As the name of each man was read from the 
muster in roll, he stepped forward a few paces, forming 
a new line. After this had been repeated until every 
man in the company had answered '"here", Captain 
Roberts requested the men to take their caps in the left 
hand and raise the right while he administered the fol- 
lowing oath; 

I do solemnly swear (or affirm | that I will bear 
true faith and allegiance to the United States of Ameri- 
ca; that I w'ill serve them honestly and faithfully against 
all their enemies whomsoever; and that 1 wall obey the 
orders of the President of the United States, and the 
orders of the officers appointed o\»er me, according to 
the rules and articles of war. 

We were soldiers in fact as well as practice. This 
was the hour of the disbanding of the Illinois National 



126 History of Companies I and E. 

Guard, as company after company took the oath of 
allegiance to serve the government for two years unless 
sooner discharged. Colonel Foster spoke words of en- 
couragement to the men and informed us that we were 
the first regiment of volunteers ever mustered into the 
government service from Illinois with twelve full com- 
panies. 

The die was cast and come what would we were 
bound to the flag of our Union for two years or until 
the Spaniards were driven from the Island of Cuba and 
peace declared. 



R0STi:U t)l" COMTANV Ji 



127 



CHAPTER VI. 



The follow iiiijf is a complete roster of companies E 

and I as the}' were mustered into the volunteer service: 

((iving the residence of each man at the time of enlist- 
ment: 

Company E. 

Captain, William F. Lawrie, Sterling. 

1st Lieutenant, Goodicil B. Dillon, " 

2nd Lieutenant, Frank Wahl, " 

1st Sergeant, Samuel H. Feigley, " 

Q. M. Sergeant, Edward A. Nellen, " 

Sergeant, John W. Cushman, " 

" Joshua H. Wiidasin, " 

" F^red P) Wagley, Hock Falls. 

Corporal, Charles F. Hoobler, Sterling. 

" Ronieo^W. Baker, " 

" Herbert R. Grimes, " 

" Leslie C. Sheldon, " 

" Martin L. Allpress, llock Falls. 

" Harry L. Hankerson, Sterling. 

Musician, F. Itoy Eshelman, " 

" Lee D. Meyers, " 

Private, Anderson, Charles " 

" Alderfer, Philip " 

" Aument, Frank H " 

" By«srs, Wilson " 

" Bailey, Frank C. Hock Falls. 

» Bassett, Bert Sterling. 



128 



History of Companies I and E. 



Private Bassett, Marcus P. " 

Bassett, Ed. 

Bassett, Milton B. Rock Falls. 

" Bushnell, Leo H. Sterling. 

" Book, Enos Emerson. 

" Bensinger, John E. Sterling. 

" Burr, James S. " 

" Berlin, Clark " 

" Buckley, Bernhard J. " 

" Blair, Frank 

" Burkhart, Will L. Chicago. 

" Cary, John G. Sterling. 

" Cary, Elroy II. 

" Coryell, Frank H. Rock Falls. 

" Cunningham, Claire Sterling. 

" Clark, Lyman P. 

" Compton, Clare " 

" Deem, Arthur E. " 

" Deyoe, Devillo B. Rock Falls. 

" Dillon, Reese J. Sterling. 

" Eager, Wallace L. Rock Fa" Is. 

'• Eisele, William " 

Flock, William F. Sterling. 

" Goodman, Harry C. " 

" Hess, Fred R. 

" Higby, Leonard C. " 

" Heathcoate, William " 

" Hansen, Gus Rock Falls. 

Hall, Guy G. 

" Havens, George F. Sterling. 

'■ Johnson, Charles S. " 

•' Johnson, Charles A. '' 

" Johnson, Bert " 

" Kahl, Ernest Rock Falls. 

" Lingel, William J. Sterling. 

Lund, William C. 

'• Lineberry, John '• 

" Lindsley, Calvin Rock Falls. 

" Little, Harry Sterli.'ig. 

" Moore, Louis E. I'ock Falls. 

" Morrison, Alfred G. " 

McNeil, Robert B. « 

" Mackey, Fred W. Sterling, 



Roster ok Company I. 



Till 



Private Merricks, Edward 

rigg, Frank 
Round, (Jeorge 
lleifsnyder, William 
Ranger, Charles E. 
Rhodemyer, Herman 
Rodger^, Guy Alden 
Smith, Frank W. 
Sheldon, John 
Struckman, William C, 
Street, Albert L. 
Sneed, Fred W. 
Slade, George 
Strock, John Franklin 
Triggs, AlpheuR W. 
Wright, Fred W. 
Winters, Carl 
Wahl, Albert A. 
Wilkinson, L^e D. 



Rock Falls. 
Sterling. 



Rock Falls. 

('hioago. 

Sterling. 



Rock Falls, 
sterling. 



Date of enrollment. April twenty sixth, for those 
who joined the company for duty previous to its de- 
parture from Sterling. Privates Burkhart and Rodgers 
were recruited at Springfield and enrolled May four- 
teenth. Hospital Steward Kline secured an excellent 
photograph of coaipanv E as the boys lined up awaiting 
to be mustered in. 

Company I. 

Captain, Wm. F. Colebaugb, Morrison. 

1st Lieutenant, Edward C. Lawton, " 

2nd Lieutenant, Ernest J. Weaver, " 

1st Sergeant, David E. Crouch, Prairieville. 

Q. M. Sergeant, Andrew F. Mathews, Morrison. 



Sergeant. 
Corporal, 
Musician, 



Harry A. Weaver, " 

Jacob L. Rockey, " 

Harry H. Rockey, " 

Andrew J. Osborne, J )•., Erie. 



Ora M. Colebaugh, 
Robert E. Davis, 



Morrisoq, 



130 



History of Companies I and E. 



Private, Adams, Henry W. 

'* Andrews, James 

" Berry, Charles 

" Berry, Harrison S 

" Boyer, William C. 

" Baird, John W. 

" Brubaker, John S. 

Brearton, Fred W. 

" Birley, Charles H. 

" Burr, Amos A. 

" Bunzey, Kufus S 

'* Black, Evan 

" Baker, John 

" Clip, George W. 

" Carlton, Frank E. 

" Corbin, John 

" CuUum, Paul 

" Dahlstrom, William 

" Donavan, David A. 

" Everhart, George 

" F'enton, William 

" Humphr<-y, Balph D. 

" Hyatt, Charles E. 

" Hawse, George B. 

" Heath, Lafayette S. 

" H artless, Ernest T. 

" Johnson, Fred O. 

" Judd, Charles 

" Jenks, Edwin 

" Kin grey, Frank 

Kellett, Charles T. 

" Koepke, Bernhard 

" Kirk, Alonzo L 

" Leatherwood, Scott 

r-ittell, John C. 

" Lay, Roy 

" Lee, Edward Saxon 

Lueck, William H. 

" Lepper, Edward 

" Morrison, John 

" Middletnn, Leonard C. 

" Miller, FranK 

5' ^yicKen^iie, Richmond 



Prophetstown. 

Erie. 

Morrison. 



Lyndon. 

Thompson. 

Morrison. 

Springfield. 
Prophetstown. 

Morrison. 

Neoga. 

Prophetstown. 

Decatur. 

Morrison. 

Erie. 

Morrison. 



Prophetstown. 

Aurora. 

Morrison. 

Fenton. 

Mendota. 

Prophetstown. 

Amboy. 

J>ecatur. 

Spring Hill. 

Prophetstown. 

Clyde. . 

(iuincy. 



Morrison. 
Prophetstown. 
Erie. 
Prophetsto^p. 



Roster of Company I. 



131 



7ate May, Chester N. 


Decatur, 


" Marold Charles M. 


Quincy. 


" Philleo, x\rthur 


Erie. 


" Peters, (ieorge 


" 


" I'ense, Clayton A. 


Prophetstown. 


" Poison, August 


(ieneseo. 


" Patterson, Henry 


Fowler. 


" Phillips, Thomas 


(iuincy. 


'* Ueynolds, John 


Lyndon. 


•• Koderich, John 


Aurora. 


" Sherwood, Asa 


Morrison. 


" Scanlan, Oliver 


Fenton. 


" Stanley, Neal 


Prophetstown. 


" Seaton,T. Lvle 


Rounl Grove 


•* Savage, Orin J. 


Lyndon. 


" Smith, Verne M. 


Alb^iny. 


" . Shear, Thomas R. 


Morrison. 


" Stakelbeck, Otto 


(Quincy. 


" Schanz, William 


(Quincy. 


" Schachtsi«'k, Fred 


>' 


" Thompson, Kobert C. 


i Morrison. 


" Turner, Lewis C. 


Neoga. 


" Thomas, Harry 


Geneseo. 


" VVbitemore, William 


Fenton. 


" Wilcox, Albert 


Erie. 


Willcox, Hilton 


" 


Wilkins, Ross C. 


Lyndon. 


Wood, Mark 


Moline. 


Yopst, RirtO. 


Albany. 



Date of enrollment. April twenty-si.xth. for tho.«ie 
who joined the company previous to its departure from 
Morrison. Privates Baker. Cullum, Donavan. Ilartless. 
Koepke. Kirk. Lee. Lueck, Lepper, May. Marold. 
Patterson. Poison. Phillips, Roderich. Stakelbeck. Schanz. 
Schachtsiek, Turner, Thomas and Wood were recruited 
at Springtield. and enrolled May eleventh. 

Very soon after company I w^is mustered in, Er- 
nest Weaver, for private reasons, tendered his resigna- 
tion as 2nd Lieutenant. Had this occurred before the 



132 



History of Companies I and E. 



muster in, and while the troops were yet in the service 
of the State, the vacancy would have been tilled by the 
election of a member of this company; but as they were 
sworn in and s^overned b.v the refjulations of he U. S. 
Armv, his successor came through appointment. Cap- 
tain Ben Eick, of Sterling. Inspector of Rifle Practice. 
of the Sixth 111. N. G. for several years, received the ap- 
pointment. In the organization of the volunteer regi- 
ments there were no Inspectors of Rifle Practice on the 
staff, and as Captain Eick was anxious to remain with 
the regiment he accepted the commission. Colonel 
Foster immediately appointed him Regimental Ordnance 
Officer and he was on detached duty throughout our 
volunteer service. Company I was practically without 
a 2nd Lieutenant durin^j its entire service, as the duties 
connected with the otiice of Ordnance Officer kept 
Lieutenant Eick away from the company. 

As the. position of Battalion Quartermaster Ser- 
geant also became void in the volunteer organizations, 
Walter Burritt of Morrison, who held this rank in the 
first battalion, accompanied Lieutenant Weaver home. 

Whiteside county was well represented in the Field, 
Staff and Non-commissioned Staff of the Sixth regi- 
ment, as will be observed m the roster which follows: 

Colonel, D. Jack Foster, Chicago. 

Lieut. Colonel, Edward Kittilsen, Moline. 

Major, Will T. Channon, Rock Island. 

" David E. Clark, Monmouth. 

William E. Baldwin, Dixon. 

Reg. Adjutant, John J. Cairns, Chicago. 

Surjreon Major, Frank Anthony, Sterling. 

/Vss't Surgeon, Lorenzo S. Cole, Monmouth, 

" " Charles A. Robbins, Dixon. 

Chapjin, Alanson R. Morgan Cuba, III. 



Fn:i.i) AND Stai-t oi>" tiik Sixth. 



\nn 



Reg. Q. Master, Frank Barber, Chicago. 
1st. Lt. Bat. Adjt., 

L. H. (Jay lord, Molina. 

" " .lames \V. Clendenin, Monmouth. 

" " .loseph H. Siiowalter, i.aMoille, 

Sergeant Major, I'Mwin S. Johnson, Sterling. 

(.1- M. Sergeant, liudolphus Hicks, Galena. 

(Ihief Musician, ,Tohn C. Prestine, Sterling. 
Prin. " Fred W. Forbes, " 

" Thomas H. FJynn, Rock Island. 

Hosp Steward, John L. Kline, Milledgeville. 

" " Howard N. Qeyer, Hock Falls. 

" " Fred N.Brown, Sterling. 



134 History of Companies 1 and E. 



CHAPTER VIL 



The members of com'pany I were pleasantly sur- 
prised on the Friday succeeding our muster in, to see 
Judge Ramsav, SI: eriff Fuller, L. T. Stocking and J. N. 
Baird put in an appearance. They were kept ver}- 
busy until mess call at noon answering questions relat- 
ing to friends at home. Getting news of home from 
such a source had a pleasing effect on us all. and as we 
formed for mess we were all feeling very light-hearted. 
Our visitors took dinner with us in regular army style, 
eating hard-tack and beef from tin plates and apparently 
enjoyed their first meal in camp, Judge Ramsay took 
a snap shot at us as we were eating and another after 
dinner when we had a better opportunity to form. 
After dinner the practice march had to be gone over 
again, this left our visitors to their own amusement un- 
til the time when the company returned. 

It was soon discovered there was something out of 
the ordinary going on about us, and Capt. Colebaugh 
informed us we would be expected to be in our quarters 
ready to fall in line at 6:30 p. m. 

All were relieved from duty of any sort, by ar- 
rano-ements made with Colonel Foster. At last the 
secret leaked out, and we began to realize the mission 
of those from home. At 6:30 all were in line and we 



Company I Hanqiktkd. 135 

were marched to the entrance .^ate and tliere found 
three street cars in readiness and wailini,^ for us, which 
had been chartered for the occasion. We were taken 
up town and ordered out of the cars in front of the 
••Leland."' the leadin<j: hotel in the city, and were given 
twenty minutes in which to stroll around and prepare 
for the feast awaiting us. 

At 7:30 we were again formed in line and marched 
direct to the simcious dining hall and seated. Here we 
also found Major Clmnnon. Major Anthony. Chaplain 
Morgan. Capt. Lawrie of Co. E. and Lieut. Eick. all of 
the 6th. Col. Foster being unable to attend on account of 
very pressing business. 

' After l)lessings had b-en asked by Chaplain Morgan 
the feast began, course aft-r course being served. We 
ate and ate. and yet it came; we had colored waiters 
standing about us ready to '-jump" at the first signal. 
Wor (Iwas sent down the line to -take your finic" "cat all 
you like'' and ''evjox yourselves." And maybe we did 
not. It was the first time in the experience of many of 
us where everv time a knife, fork or s^won was taken 
from our months it was taken away to be replaced by 
another: but bear in mind we were dining at one of the 
finest hotels in this part of the State: remember, we were 
guests of a people who knew how to entertain, and every ^ 
thing served us was the best. Cigars were passed around 
by a big black fellow: they were lighted, windows and 
transoms were opened, and we settled down to ''ujoy a 
good smoke. 

L. T. Stot-king. speaking in behalf of the committee, 
then explained to us the circumstances. He told us 
how the c-itiz«-ns had been planning to send something 
to the bovs. but they finally hit upon tfiis plan of selecting 



186 History of Companies I and E. 

a committee to represent them, send them down and give 
us a banquet. He stated the people at home had not for- 
gotten us, that they were with us from tirst to last, that 
every man was remembered, and they had taken this 
method to express their appreciation. After a fe w appro- 
priate remarks he called on Major Channon, Major An- 
thony, Chaplain Morgan and Captains Colebaugh, Lawrie 
and Lieut. Elck. each one of whom responded and ex- 
pressed his satisfaction and pleasure at being with us 
on this occasion. Chaplain Morgan gave us a very im- 
pressive talk. He told us that in our hands (referring 
to Illinois volunteers) rested the honor of a State which 
had given us such men as Grant, and Logan, whose pres- 
ence on the battlefield was worth more than ten thousand 
troops; Oglesby. and last but not least that soldier-states- 
man who gave up his life for his flag and his country, 
that martyred patriot, Abraham Lincoln. He cautioned 
us to bear in mind the fact that we represented the grand- 
est State in the union; he cautioned us to remember we 
had friends and loved ones at home who followed our 
every movement, therefore we should watch ourselves 
and return to our friends and homes as pure as when we 
left them. He continued at some length and made a 
very warm place for himself in the hearts of us all. 
Judge Ramsay then responded in behalf of the people 
whom the committee represented, and as is his custom he 
more than pleased us. Every one who reads these lines 
know only too well how able a speaker the Judge 
is, and it is sufficient to say that he spoke with his 
usual eloquence. This was followed by breaking up of 
the party, and when we were in line on the outside three 
rousing cheers were given with a will for the representa- 
tives and the represented. Our visitors bade us all good- 




Col. "Jack"" Foster and his field headquarters in Porto Rico. 



TiiK Bovs Madi; II.M'i'N . llH 

\)\ . and we ^nw vnch a j)artiiiij^ haiid-shakc. 

\\v foiiiul. as lu'forc, cars await iii>^ to take us back 
to cain[). and we were soon resting- in our (|uarters. Did 
we think we had been for^i^otteny Hardly so. The l)oys 
received new encoura<^ement from this generous and 
thoughtful act of our friends at home, and we then and 
there decided that should it occur that we should serve 
our full enlistment term of two years, and the opj)ortu- 
nity came and we were called u[)on to face the enemy in 
battle, we would strain every nerve, make every effort 
possible, to prove to the friends at home that they had 
not misplaced their confidence: that in placing in our 
hands the integrity of a })ortion of Old Whiteside and 
Old Glory, which has been so nobly protected in trials of 
this same nature before by our fathers and forefathers, 
they had made no mistake; that ••/// camp, on the march, 
or 'ni conflict.''' we would do with all our might that which 
should be recjuired or asked of us. 

Looking backward and recalling the numy incidents 
in ou]' short service, this occasion will be remembered as 
one of the most pleasant in the soldier life of company I. 

Company E whs often remembered by the people of 
Sterling and Rock Falls. Hardly a day passed that did 
not bring something from h(>me. and it was always of 
the l)est and plenty of it. The effect of this treatment 
was to inspire the boys with a determination to so govern 
themselves as to be a credit to their peoi)le and to Illinois. 

The following non-commissioned officers for company 
I were appointed by Captain Colebaugh: Corporals 
Rockey and Osborne to be Sergeants: Privates Harrison 
Berrv. Seaton. Pens(\ Black. Atlauis and T.catherwood to 
be Corporals. 

The whole of the Sixth regiment was vaccinated tht? 



138 History of CoiMpanies I and E. 

day following its muster in. The boys nursed sore arms 
for a few days and protected the tender spots by pinning 
placards on their sleeves bearing inscriptions such as 
'•touch not," "'keep otf the grass," '"beware'" and "vacci- 
nated.'" 

The Erie [)eople remembered their boys with several 
large boxes of good things. Sunday as we formed fcr 
mess at the noon hour, down the line came one after an- 
other of the Erie boys with chicken, cake, jelly and fruit. 
They fed us until we could eat no more. Every one was 
remembered, all ate until satisfied, and then a box of 
cigars was tished out of the box and sent around. 

This dinner made a warm spot in our hearts for the 
good people of Erie. The shortest and surest route to a 
soldiers heart is by way of his stomach. Allow him to 
exist on army rations for a week aiid then place a good, 
old fashioned dinner before him and you have sealed an 
everlasting friendship with him. 

One eveninof, iust liefore dusk, the storv \a as circu- 
lated through cam}) to the effect that a sergeant of one of 
our neighl)oring companies, who had been accepted by 
the surgeons, absolutely refused to enlist. A crowd com- 
posed of the men of the regiment congregated and proposed 
to drum the man who had showed the "yellow"" out of camp. 
The threat was carried out and he was roughly handled 
by his infuriated comrades. The timely arrival of a 
guard from post headquarters scattered the men, but for 
this the fellow would have suffered severely. For a 
time the unsoldierh- actions of the men created consider, 
able excitement in camp. 

Comrades Prestine and Forbes were untiring in 
their efforts to organize a band. It was a ditlicult mat- 
ter to secure men who were good musicians to enter the 



Sixth Kk(;imknt Voi.untker Band. 130 

service and accept the pay of a private. There were a 
number of excellent band men in the re^jiment but more 
were needed and they had no instruments. Chief Musi- 
cian I'restine su^^gested that e.ich of the twelve towns 
represented by a company in the rei^iment, start the work 
of raising a fund for the purpose of maintaining a first 
class band. This suggestion wa.s acted on bv the people 
at home and a considerable sum realized. This was the 
foundation of the Sixth Regiment \'olunteer Band and it 
was built up and improved as rapidlv as circumstances 
, would permit, and eventually proved to be one of the 
best and strongest bands in the volunteer service. The 
men detailed to the band from companv I were: John 
Corbin. John Morrison and John Baird. commonly re- 
ferred to as ••The Three Johns." 

On May twelfth, the Sixth regiment marched out to 
Lincolns monument and also paid a ^■isit to the familiar 
grounds of Camp Lincoln. They held dress parade and 
passed in review before returning to quarters. Major 
Channon was in conmiand of the regiment. Captain Law- 
rie acting Major of the first battalion, Lieut. VVahl acting 
as battalion adjutant. Company E was placed under 
command of Lieut. Dillon, and Sergeant Cushman was 
acting regimental sergeant-major. 

Upon the first inspection of arms, companv E was 
found to be in the possession of ten rifles in excess of the 
number with which they arrived in camp. Xo one ap- 
peared to know where the extra guns came from, but 
for years it had been customary for the individual mem- 
bers of this company to see to it that supplies of everv 
description were plenty and so far they were successful; 
but there was a lime coming when they, with all of their 
ingenuity in foraging would be sadly in need of the necessi- 



140 History of Compamies I and E. 

ties of life and they would be powerless to aid themselves. 

Under the first call of the President of the United 
States for volunteer troops from the various states, the 
regiments from Illinois were mustered into the United 
States service in the following order: 

( I ) Fifth Infantry. 111. N. G.. May 7th, I898. 

(2) Third Infantry. 111. N. G.. May 7th. 1898. 
( 10:30 p. m. ) 

(3) Sixth Infantry. 111. N. G.. May iilh. 1898. 

(4) Battery A, 111. N. G.. May 12th. 1898. 

( 5 ) First Infantry. 111. N. G., May 13th. 1898. 

(6) Second Infantry. 111. N. G., May i6th. 1898. 

(7) Seventh Infantry. 111. N. G., May i8th. 1898. 

(8) Fourth Infantry. 111. N. G.. May 20th. 1898. 

(9) First Cavalry. 111. N. G.. May 21st. 1898. 

The commissions of the officers were made to cor- 
respond with these dates, except in the case of the Third 
Infantry, where the commissions of the field and staff 
were dated May 8th, for the reason that these officers 
were mustered in after the business hours of the 7th and 
near the first hours of the 8th. and to prevent any future 
dispute as to the seniority of the commanding officer, or 
the priority of muster in. 

The first order to move an Illinois regiment was re- 
ceived on May 13th, Colonel Culver, commanding the 
Fifth Infantry received orders direct from the War De- 
partment, to proceed at once, with his regiment to Camp 
George H. Thomas, Chickamauga National Park, Geor- 
gia. An hour later, Colonel Fred Bennitt. commanding 
the Third Infantry, received telegraphic instructions 
from Washington to proceed to Camp Thomas. 

Both regiments immediately broke camp and made 
hurried preparations to leave Camp Tanner. Joy was 




J.IEUT. COL. EDWARD KITTILSEX, 

{Sijcth Jnfantfy, 



Ordered to Wasiiin(;ton. 141 

depicted on the countenances of the men of these two 
regiments as they hustled about. The Fifth boarded the 
cars the morning of the fourteenth. TheThird following 
it a few hv)urs later. 

Monday Mav i6th. Colonel Foster received orders 
to prepare his regiment for its immediate departure for 
Camp Russell A. Alger, near Falls Church, Va. Cheer 
after cheer rent tJie air as the joyful news passed from 
mouth to mouth. We had heard so many conflicting 
rumors about our destination that it was quite a relief to 
at last receive definite and final instructions. 

Arrangements for transportation over the Wabash 
railway were made as soon as possible, but it was the 
afternoon of the day following that we broke camp. 

The closing hours at Camp Tanner were busy ones for 
the ofiicers and men alike; writing letters home occupied 
the fleeting moments of many of them for a time. Then 
there was the packing up and discarding of numerous 
articles that had accumulated in our brief but interesting 
stay at Camp Tanner. Clothing was hurried to us and 
by noon Tuesday the men were fairly well equipped ex- 
cepting arms. These were issued to us after breaking 
camp and just previous to boarding the cars. 



142 History of Companies I and E, 



CHAPTER VIII. 

We boarded the cars at 4:30 p. m.. Tuesda}-, Ma}' 
17th. We were very pleasantly surprised to note that 
the cars arranged for were all Wagner sleepers. By 
accident one of the cars assigned to Co. I was the 
"Maine." The boys in this car as a rule were very 
proud of it. and it attracted a great deal of attention along 
the route and a great many comments were made in re- 
gard to it. a few of the superstitious ones telling us we 
would never reach our destination in this car. but we ar- 
rived safely nevertheless. 

A porter had been sent out with each car. Toilet 
articles were furnished, and at about 8:30 in the evening 
the porter arranged the berths. — two men in the lower 
and one in the upper. This was giving us advantages of 
which we had never dreamed, and you may be sure the 
boys were not long in turning in. The sight of snow- 
white bedding, feather pillows and spring mattresses 
caused us to think of home, and its comforts. 

A train had been made up for each battalion, making 
three sections of thirteen or fourteen coaches ea/ch. the 
ist battalion. Companies E. I, A and F, including regi- 
mental officers car, being on the ist section. It was 
11:45 p. m. before we steamed away from our old camp 
and nearly every one was asleep. 



Scenes Ai.onc; the Route. 143 

The bovs were astir unite early the following morn- 
inj^. as all had settled their minds on missin<r nothing of 
interest while enroule. We found we had crossed the 
border line and entered Indiana about four o'clock, a. m. 
We were taking a north-easterly course, passing through 
LaFayette. Logansport. Peru and Ft. Wayne. 

Over three weeks of camp life had placed us behind. 
When we entered Springtield very little had been accom- 
plished in the way of getting in crops. On getting out 
on our trip we found all had changed: small grain of all 
kinds had a good start in several places, everything was 
green, all around was beautiful and very pleasant. 

We were surprised to see so many log cabins and 
worm fences. A great many of the buildings were new. 
Thje primitive stvle of building vet clings to these people. 
x\s a rule the section of Indiana through which we passed 
was verv poo'" and ston\". The cities were excellent, but 
the country surrounding them looked very desolate. At 
Peru we found oil wells in operation and the towers could 
be seen as far as the eye could reach. Entering Ohio at 
12:15 |). 111. we found the same condition prevailing here 
as in Indiana. Arrived at Defiance Junction at two 
o'clock: this is a town with a population of about 10,000. 
They had turnetl out in large numbers to greet us. We 
were told it was the largest crowd congregated in the 
town for some time. Veterans of the civil W'ar were nU' 
merous. a number of them having been members of Illi^ 
nois regiments. We were treated very kindly. 

Taking the Baltimore and Ohio railway here we 
passed in a south-eastern direction through Fostoria, Newr 
ark and Cambridge. At Bellaire. just before crossing the 
Ohio river, our train was divided into two sections to pre^ 
paye for crossing the mountains. 



144 History of Companies I and E. 

The commissioned officers of each company had been 
requested to remain with the Colonel and his staff in the 
rear coach. Not having been notified of the dividing of 
our train, this left the first section, comprised of Go's E 
and I without an officer. This occurred about one o'clock 
in the morning. Col. Foster placed Capt. Colebaugh in 
charge of the first section. This was very easy to do but 
not so easy for the captain to reach his post of duty as we 
were some miles ahead of them and going right along. 
Our train was telegraphed to wait, and after a fifty mile 
run was caught near Bellton, West Virginia, Capt. Cole- 
baugh taking a half mile sprint between trains. 

He had been instructed to keep the boys in their 
cars and no one was allowed off the train when stops were 
made. This had been the order from the starting point, 
and the boys began to feel the effects of being cooped up 
in such close quarters. But it proved Col. Foster 
thoroughly understood what to do under the circum- 
stances, as the section following us, bearing the 3rd bat- 
talion, allowed their men to get out at Alexandria, Va., 
and the consecjuence was one hundred and fifty of them 
could not be found when the train pulled out and they 
were left behind. They were fortunate in the fact of an- 
other section following them, which they boarded; only 
for this they would have been placed in an unenviable 
position as no one seemed to know whether they missed 
the train by accident or design. 

We were soon among the mountains of West Vir- 
ginia, and to those of us who had seen nothing but a few 
hills in our native State it was grand. The road-bed be- 
ing about half way up the mountain side and in most pla- 
ces having been blasted from solid rock, below us we 
could see tiny villages and small streams. Railroads 



Scenes Alon(; tiik Route. 145 

were also in these valleys: they with their engines and 
trains appeared to ns as toys. 

Looking up on the opposite side in some places the 
mountain side was nearly perpendicular with great over- 
hanging rocks which looked as though they were ready 
to topple upon us at any moment. Small streams came 
dashing down, the water being as clear as crystal. We 
crossed innumerable streams, all rushing along at a ter- 
ritic pace. We passed through a number of tunnels, the 
longest one being about one and one-half miles in length. 
It was so dark it was thick, and the smoke crept in around 
doors and windows until it b?cam e stifling. 

Once in a great while we would see small farms on 
the mountain side with men at work on them. We won- 
dered a great deal how they could do anything on those 
side hills until w'e learned they were all built right or left- 
sided according to the side of the mountain on which 
they were born and raised. A man living on the left 
side could not work on the other side, and vice versa; 
one leg being considerably shorter than the other and 
built accordingly. They have wh^t is called side hill 
pants with one short leg. We had often heard of them 
but never knew to what usage they were put until ex- 
plained to us by a friendly train man. 

Apparently these people knew nothing of our com- 
ing, as we went spinning along we would see a man or 
woman at work near the house who would look up and 
catch a glimpse of a iiag and the brass buttons, then 
they would run into the house and out would come a 
whole village, who would stare at us until we were out 
of sight. 

Negroes were becoming more numerous, some vil- 
lages being composed entirelv of them, A great many 



146 History of Companies I and E. 

of the old time farm houses still stand. They are low 
and rambling, with verandas nearly surrounding them. 
They are very picturesque. 

We were held some time at Grafton to allow the 
second section to come up. We had the car of provisions 
but the Quartermaster was on the rear train and we 
could get nothing to eat until he arrived. We were de- 
layed some time here. The second section passed us in 
order to have Col. Foster ahead to make necessary ar- 
rangements when we arrived at our destination. 

Soon after leaving Grafton we crossed into Mary- 
land, going almost directly east to Cumberland. About 
twenty miles above Cumberland we struck the Potomac 
river, following along its banks to Harper's Ferry. Be- 
tween Cumberland and Harper's Ferry we skirted an- 
other range of mountains. 

On this division we took a twent\' mile ride down a 
very steep grade; brakes were all set and yet we went 
down with a rush and roar around curves and over 
bridges. At one moment the coaches appeared to be al- 
most over, the next they would go back with a lurch and 
on over to the other side. We arrived at Harper's Ferry 
at 1 0:00 a. m.. Thursday, May 19th. 

We were given only ten minutes here, and ihen 
must stay on our cars, so it was impossible to learn much 
in regard to this old historic place- One of the most 
beautiful scenes on the whole trip was here. To the 
east, and just in front of our engine as we stopped, was 
a great bare cliff, the largest one seen; about its center 
was a black hole, the mouth of the tunnel through which 
the B. & O. railway runs direct to Washington. On 
either side of us as we stood on the bridge which crosses 
the Potomac, could be seen prominent cliffs on which 



Arkivai. at Camp Ai.(;er. 147 

were perched summer hotels and resorts of all sorts. 

We were switched on to a branch of the B. & O. at 
Harper's Ferrv and taken southwest alonf^^ ihe foot of 
the Blue Ridge mountains to Strasburg. V^a.. a distance 
of tifty-three miles. In this section of Virginia the lay of 
the land made us think of home. The soil is of a thick 
red c!a\- and we were informed produced excellent crops. 

Lea\-ing Strasburg about four o'clock in 'he after- 
noon on the Southern railway we crossed the Blue Ridge 
mountains, going nearly east to Manassas. As we were 
entering this place we saw a large monument near the 
railway which the trainmen said marked the spot where 
soldiers who were slain in the battle of Bull Run were 
buried. The location of the battle-field proper lies 
about three miles to the north of Manassas. We took a 
north-easterly course from here to Alexandria, on the 
Potomac, about ten miles southwest of Washington. 
Here our train which had been divided at the Ohio 
river, was once more coupled together and we were 
pulled out to Dunn Loring. which lies almost directly 
west of the Capitol about twelve miles, thus taking a 
two hundred mile ride to cover a distance of fifty miles. 
We afterward learned that this side trip was caused by 
the size of the Wagner sleepers, they were too large to 
pass through the great tunnel at Harpers Ferry. 

We arrived at Dunn Loring about nine thirtv. p. 
m.. May nineteenth, and lay in the cars all night, disem- 
barked in the morning and remained there until two 
o'clock in the afternoon awaiting the arrival of the re- 
mainder of the regiment. Captain Lawrie visited Camp 
Alger in the morning, for the purpose of selecting a 
location for our regiment to establish a permanent 
camping ground. 



148 History of Companies I and E. 

The delayed sections of our train bearing the 
second and third battalions arrived shortly after noon and 
we formed and marched out to camp, a distance of 
about three miles; it was very hot and the roads were 
dustv. A number of the boys fell out along the line of 
march, and some of them were taken to the hospital 
where they remained several days. 

We immediately set to work getting our camp out- 
fits together and putting up tents and had bareley com- 
pleted the task when it began to rain. 




MAJOR WM. T CHANNON, 

Sixth Infantry. 



Cam I' Ai.<;kk. I4y 



CHAPTER IX. 

Canij) Russell A. Algov was located cii^Hit miles 
south and west of Washington. D. C. The eauip grounds 
contained al)out six hundred acres, and bordered on a 
larg? tract of tiinl)cr laud. A small stream coursed 
through the edge of the woods and was- pr.u-ticalh the 
boundary line of the caui[) grounds. Many stirring in- 
cidejits occurred in and about this neighborhood during 
the civil war. and the old residents entertained us by re- 
lating tales of those eventful days. 

When we arrived in camp we found little or no 
preparations had been made to receive us. although sev- 
eral days had elapsed since the War Department had or- 
dered the regiment to this camp. Very little if any 
complaints were made by the men. yet it did appear to 
us that the National government was less energetic in 
the matter of taking [)roper care of its troops than was 
the state of Illinijis. 

We were not louir in determininir that the evil lav 
not so much with any one person in partic-ular. but was 
caused by the red ta[)e process which we met with. 
This obstacle, or at least it appeared as such to the vol- 
unteers, confronted us at every turn throughout our ser- 
vice. It was undoubtedly a necessity and will always 
remain so in the handling of large bodies of troops, but 



150 History of Companies I and E. 

it caused no end of inconveniences for us and we were 
slow to become accustomed to its tedious methods. 

Our rations were short and the water was bad and 
of poor quality. These conditions existed but a short 
time and when the work of supplying the troops had 
followed its channel and terminated with us we imme- 
diately felt its effecrs and were well fed from that time 
on. 

General E. B. Williston was in command of the 
camp for a short time but was succeeded on May 24th 
by Major General William M. Graham. The troops at 
Camp Alger were designated as the Second Army Corps. 

The Sixth Massachusetts, Eighth Ohio and Sixth 
Illinois infantry regiments formed the Second Brigade. 
The First District of Columbia Infantry broke camp and 
marched out the day of our arrival; they had been or- 
dered to Camp Thomas. Troops were arriving almost 
hourly and soon numbered ten thousand. Among them 
were the Sixth, Eighth, Twelfth and Thirteenth Penn- 
sylvania; the Seventh, Eighth and Seventeenth regi- 
ments and on? battalion of colored troops from Ohio: 
the First New Jersey; Sixty-Fifth New York; Sixth 
Massachusetts and Sixth Illinois Infantry. Later an in- 
fantry regiment from Missouri, and one from Kansas 
came in, with a squadron of Cavalry from New York 
and then the Seventh Illinois. By the time these 
troops had all pitched their tents Camp Alger presented 
a lively scene: a city of tents had risen as if from the 
earth, stretching away To the left until lost in the distant 
Woods which at intervals Ijroke into the camp grounds. 

A great many of the troops were without uniforms 
and few had received arms. The New Jersey regiment 
was ecpdjjped throughout by the State: the Sixty-Fifth 



First Dkatii in tiiI'; Six tii. ir>l 

New \t)rk made a decidedly sti'riii<,M' appearance as everA' 
man wore ser<reaiit"s stripes on liis tionsers. and ihv\ 
were jokin^-ly referred to as the re^J^inient of ser^^eants. 
One company in this regiment was composed of and of- 
ticered entirely l)y negroes, and it was admitted by the 
other men of the regiment that this companv was by far 
the best drilled iu the regiment. 

Private Louis Bloodsoe of conii)any A from Rock Is. 
land died of an acute attack of typhoid fever during the 
night of our first day in camp. The next afternoon the 
last tril)ute was paid to the dead soldier. Chaplain I. N. 
Keefer. of the Eighth Ohio, in the absence of Chaplain 
Morgan, conducted the simple funeral service of the ar- 
my ritual. 

Standing out in the company street, he led the bovs 
as they sang '-Nearer My God to Thee." then followed 
the reading of the XCI psalm: the bugle corps sounded 
••taps" and then the usual escort and the pall-bearers, 
chosen from among his comrades of companv A. fol- 
lowed by the entire company, carried the bodv to Falls 
Church, from which place the remains were sent to his 
home for interment. 

Such was the death and funeral rites of the first 
volunteer soldier of the Sixth Illinois who forfeited 
his life while serving the Hag. In the few short weeks 
of his soldier life he had won no laurels for deeds of 
gallantry: no glorious achievements were his, vet he 
died an American soldier, serving his flag and his 
country. No higher tribute than this can be paid a 
citizen of this Republic living or dead. He had given 
his all. following the Stars and Stripes, in a cause of 
justice and humanity: giving his aid to bring to an un- 
happy people that of which they had had visions for 



152 History of Companies I and E. 

years but as yet had never realized, but he as an Amer- 
ican citizen knew its full value and loved better than life 
itself; that for which Old Glory has ever proudly waved 
in defence and stands as an unquestionable emblem, 
szueet liberty. One more name had been added to the 
already long roll of honor of dead American soldiers and 
sailors whose lives had been sacrificed on the alter of 
their country. 

The day following we received the sad tidings of 
the death of Lieutenant Cole of Monmouth, Ass't Sur- 
geon of our regiment. He died of pneumonia at Hope 
Hospital, Ft. Wayne. Indiana. May twenty-second. 
His illness was contracted at Camp Tanner. He started 
for Camp Alger with the regiment, but his condition 
grew steadily worse and when Ft. Wayne was reached 
Colonel Foster ordered him removed to the hospital. 
He lingered along, hovering between life and death 
but a few days, then he too forfeited his life. He 
breathed his lost serving the iiag he loved. The sweet 
notes of the bugle call coming soft and low from an un- 
known world had ^sounded "taps," and his life-light 
which had been burning so brightly was snuffed, and he 
was mustered out. 

There was but little sickness as yet in the regiment 
Some few of the men were slightly indisposed having 
contracted hard colds while at Camp Tanner and aggra- 
vated by the long journey to Camp Alger. Rushing 
the men into an unprepared camp had not bettered their 
condition and three privates, one from compony M. one 
from company K and one from company L were sent to 
Fort Myer Hospital the second day in camp. This act- 
ion was considered necessary as their condition became 
alarming and Major Anthonv felt unwilling to assume 




MRS. ELECTA E. SMITH. 



An An(;ki. of Mkrcv. 153 

the responsibility of nursing these men back to healtii 
witli the hmited resources at hand at the time. 

Among the rirst visitors at camp after the arrival of 
the Ilhnois troops was Mrs. Electa E. Smith of Wash- 
ington, formerly post-mistress of Sterling. From the 
first hour of her presence in camp she took a deep in- 
terest in our bovs and more especially the boys of com- 
. pany E. It was she who found the soldiers lying in the 
hospital without cots or bedding of any description. She 
lost no time in calling the attention of the Illinois Sena- 
tors to the condition of affairs and urged them to bring 
their influence to bear on the War Department to pro- 
vide better accomodations for the Illinois bo\s. 

Senator Cullom paid a visit to our quarters and in- 
spected the regimental hospital and hurried to Washing- 
ton, where he had an interview with the Secretary of 
War. who promised that evervthing possible would he 
done for the comfort of the men. Senators Cullom and 
Mason, and Representatives Hilt and Marsh were on 
the ground several times and labored to provide the 
Illinois troops with everything possible. The wives of 
these gentlemen were also frequent callers, and alwavs 
came laden with articles and dilicuies for th:^ hos- 
pital patients. 

Cots and mattresses were soon forthcoming and 
Major Anth(5nv and his assistants secured a supply of 
drugs and medicines. The regimental hospital became 
thoroughly equipped for the time being, and the unfor- 
tunate soldiers who fell victims to disease were given 
the best of treatment. 

Mrs. Smith gave the bo\s of companv E a royal 
spread the tirst Sundav in camp. Tables and table 
linens were conspicuous by their absence, but the eat- 



154 History ok Companies I and E. 

ables were abundant and made up of everything. The 
dinner was served in an informal style but she tried 
hard to console the bovs for the sicknee-s and death of 
their comrades by ministering to the inner man. Her 
influence was continually brought to bear on the Wash- 
ington oflicials to provide well for the men, and Colonel 
Foster and Major Anthonv expressed the sentiments of 
the men of the regiment in a few well chosen words. ^ 
She was looked upon as the mother of the regiment. 
Certain it wag. she was our good angel, ministering to 
the wants of the sick and speaking words of encourage^ 
ment and cheer to everyone, 

It was very amusing to walk about among the east' 
ern regiments quarters and hear the remarks of their 
members regarding the boys from Illinois. We were 
looked upon as cow-boys, rough riders and reckless 
shooters. We were asked a great many times about 
cow-boy life. and bear hunting, and if the Indians were 
all peaceful at home. As we strolled about we over- 
heard such remarks as: "Those fellows are ficm Illi- 
nois, awav out west, nice fellows but h — 1 when they 
get started; they would just as soon shoot as not. and 
we had better look out for them. 

We were a little non-plussed at first to know 
whether they really thought as they spoke, but we 
soon saw they were in earnest and we did every- 
thing possible to mislead them and keep them of the 
opinion that we were really bad men. Company G 
of Dixon gave an exhibition of an Indian war dance 
at intervals. Wrapped in red blankets, ihev would 
hop around, whoop and veil, beat the drums and hold 
a pow-wow. This farce never failed to draw a large 
crowd of mterested spectators. At night the parade 



ll.IJNOlS COWHOYS. 155 

grounds were alive with would be Indians, howling, 
groaning and carrying the sport to the last stretch of 
their imagination in a supreme elfort to leave a lastitig 
inip'ession with our comrades from the east that we 
were terrors. 

Many of the hoys liad had their hair clipped close 
to their head on accouiit of the cc^ntinued hot weather. 
()iie of tlu'ni. a member of the Sixth Illinois band, was 
sitting in the shade of a trt'e on the outskirts of the 
camp ground one afternoon. He had thrown his hat on 
the ground and vv'as puffing hard on a corn-cob pi[)e. 
AYhile in this position thinking of incidents which had 
occurred in the past few weeks, he was arousetl bv the 
curious actions of a soldier who had approached him 
quietly and was slowh' walking around the tree against 
which the wondering Illinois s:)ldier rested. The sold- 
ier was evidentally a privatt' from one of the eastern re*'"- 
iuients. 

After gazing at the reclining figure a moment, his 
eyes became glued on the uncovered head of the musi- 
cian, and after a short })ause he said. "Say comrade, how 
did you get those big scars on your head?"' The man 
from Illinois grasped the situation like a flash and re- 
plied, ••Well you see it was this way, a couple of years 
ago the Indians out our way got riled about something, 
I don't remember the cause now: at anv rate thev n-ot 
trouV)lesome and a dcjzen of us young fellows started (>ut 
on their trail to corral them. We soon ran across them 
and in the mix-up two (jf our boys were killed and I was 
knocked senseless." 

'•The Indians supposed I was dead and one of them 
stole up and attempteil to finish the jol) bv scalping me. 
I revived just as he was preparing ■ to make the tijial 



150 History of Companies I and E. 

swing with his knife und lift my hair. 1 managed to get 
my hand on my six-shooter which he had not taken time 
to secure, and as he was gloating over me, I half opened 
my eyes, took (juick aim and fired. That poor red devil 
never knew what happened to him. for that piece of lead, 
half the size of your list had bored a hole clear through 
his head, and with a yell he sprang into the air and fell 
on his face dead as a door nail." 

■•The oth^r boys who hadgiven chase to the red- 
skins, returned in a couple of hours. They had met a 
troop of U. 8. regulars and put theiii on the trail of 
the Indians. We picked up our dead comrades and re- 
turned to our homes. It was some time before I en- 
tirely recovered from the slashing I had received at the 
hands of the vicious Indian, and the hair has ne\er 
grown on those spots since."" 

The man from the east drank in the whole story 
eagerly and as the man from Illinois finished the narra- 
tive he gathered himself up and pulled a big six-shooter 
from his hip pocket and caressed it tenderly. The 
stranger looked about him for a moment and seeing the 
way clear, backed away a few paces and turning, made a 
bee line for camp. The musician lay on the grass and 
laughed until he was sore. The fact of the matter was 
he fell from the top rail of a fence and cut his scalp 
quite severely when a mere boy. and it had left him with 
the scars which had caught the eye of the wandering 
soldier from the east. This deception regarding the 
presence of the cow-boy ami Indian in Illinois was kept 
up until a regiment of infantry arrived at camp from 
Kansas and another from Missouri, then we kept cpiiet 
.on these matters. 

On May twenty-fourth, General Graham appointed 



c 
c 
< 




Troops Revikwed hy McKinley. 157 

(^oloiu'l Foster totlu> commaiid of the Second brigade .mak- 
iiiij^ him aetili<^ Bri;L,Mdier General of volnnteeis. This un- 
expected honor to llie Colonel oi' our leijinieiit \v;is haih^l 
with (leli<j^ht hv our l)<)\s and our eauij) life was l)ri<rht- 
eiied for a time. The a[)[)ointment was not [)ermanent 
however, and not louij^ afterward General Garretson from 
Ohio was placed in command of the brii^ade. 

May twenty seventh. General Graham reviewed the 
troops of his command, and complimented them highly 
on their military appearance. The day following, the 
troops passed in review before President McKinley, 
Vice President Hobart, Secy Alq-er. Gen'l Miles antl a 
number of other Government otficials. 

The President antl his party arrived on the grounds 
at three thirty p. m., escorted by two troops of New- 
York Cavalry. The parade formed immediately after- 
wards. It was exactly one hour from the time the 
first company passed the reviewing stand until the last 
went by. There were eleven regiments in line: First 
New Jersey; Seventh and Eighth Ohio; Sixty-Fifth New 
York; Sixth Illinois; Sixth Massachusetts; Eighth, 
Twelfth and Thirteenth Pennsylvania; Fifteenth Indiana 
and Twelfth Missouri. Two or three of the reofiments 
that were in camp did not participate in the review for 
some cause. 

Colonel Foster was in command of the Second bri- 
gade, First division of the Second army corps, which 
was composed of the Sixth Illinois, Sixth Massachusetts 
and Eighth Ohio. Lieut. Colonel Kittilsen was in com- 
mand of our regiment. This brigade was the recipient 
of many compliments on the showing it made, as com- 
])any after company swung by the reviewing stand with 
regular step and perfect line. It was without doubt the 



15<S History of Companies 1 and E. 

best equipped and most thoroughly drilled brigade at 
Camp Alger. 

After the review the Presidents party drove through 
each regiment's quarters and was greeted with rounds of 
cheers on every side. 

We were never in want for music. Nearly every 
regiment present had either a band or fife and drum 
corps. The fife and drum corps of the Sixth Massachu- 
setts was extremely persistent in its rehearsels and it 
could be heard the first thini( in the morning, all tlirough 
the day and late at night. The Washington papers 
gave the Eighth Ohio band first place, with the Sixth 
Illinois band as a close second: but thanks to the con- 
tinued efforts of Chief Musician Prestine. our band kept 
steadily improving until we readily saw it was first 
in the favor of the many camp visitors whose interest in 
the boys in blue never lagged. 



Colonel Girard l\ Evidence. 159 



CHAPTER X. 

Tlu' hours of duty were lengthened shortly after 
our arrival at Camp Alger. First call tor reveille sound- 
ed at five fifteen a. m. and ta})s at nine thirty p. m: we 
were given an hour's hard drilling, from six thirty nntil 
seven thirty in the morning; an hour and thirty minutes 
before mess at noon: and from three o'clock until four 
in the afternoon, with dress parade at six thirty in the 
evening. 

Our regiment held its first dress parade and review 
on the evening of May twenty-fifth. The band marched 
down the line to the stirring strains of the good old 
"First "Brigade March." The review was fine and elicit- 
ed great applause from the visitors. The regiment 
marched in column of companies before Colonel Foster. 
and the alignment and step was perfect. 

Orders M-ere read to the men practically establishing 
a dead line one mile from camp;, or in other words, a sol- 
dier who W.13 fouai b^yon 1 the mile limit from camp 
without permission was subject to court martial. A por- 
tion of the Articles of War was read to the men each 
night to familiarize them with the regulations which 
controlled their actions at all limes, whether on or off 

duty. 

Privates Goodman and Little, of c()mi)any E. were 



160 History of Companies I and E. 

detailed to duty in the hospital, and private John Strock 
of the same company, regimental color guard. May 
twenty-eighth. Captain Lawrie made the following ap- 
pointments in company E: Corporal Sheldon to be Ser- 
geant; private McNeil. Corporal: private Book. Wagon- 
er. Private Will Flock was detailed to special duty in 
the quartermaster's department. 

Major Anthony established a theoretical school of in- 
struction to soldiers, or '-The first aid to the wounded.'"' 
He explained to us how the various injuries and wounds 
should be treated when unable to secure medical assist- 
ance. We were given thirty minutes of this instruction 
daily. 

Quite a sensation w as caused in camp when we were 
informed that Colonel Girard, Chief Surgeon in com-^ 
mand of the First division hospital, had ordered the 
regimental surgeons to turn over to the division hospital 
all of their supplies such as cots, bedding, tents etc. 
The information given out carried with it the idea that 
this was done in order to centralize the work of caring 
for the invalid soldiers. A vigorous protest was made 
by our surgeons. The cots and bedding in our hospital 
were furnished the regiment by Senator Mason and Mrs. 
Electa Smith from their private funds and Major Antho- 
ny decided that the supplies received from this source 
did not come under the jurisdiction of Colonel Girard. 
The transfer of this equipment meant the relinquishing 
of all hopes of securing respectable treatment for our 
boys as the division hospital was a farce. 

It was lacking in equipment, nurses, supplies, med- 
icines and surgical instruments, with which the regimen- 
tal hospitals were kept supplied. A rigid examination 
of the existing conditions at the division hospital brought 




CAPT. JOHN J .CAIRNS, 
Re^Vl Adj. Sixth Inf. 



• New Qi'AKTKRs. 101 

to light th ..' fact that the patients were poorly cared for, 
while the men in the regimental hospitals were receiving 
the best of treatment and supplies were constantly being 
brought in in large quantities by private parties. 

Major Anthony decided to risk a court martial 
rather than see the result of so much time and labor 
thrown into the hands of the surgeons at the division 
hospiial. and refused point blank to deliver his sup- 
plies to Colonel Girard. The controversy was carried 
on for some time and eventually resulted in the re- 
tention of the regimental hospital. 

The next move of Colonel Girard was to order the 
transfer into the regular service of all members of the 
volunteer hospital corps. This caused , another stir 
among the men who would be effected by the order, 
but there was no way of avoiding it and the tinal re- 
sult was that several of the Sixth reglmant were trans- 
ferred to the regular service, with the verbal under, 
standing that thev were to be allowed to remain with 
their regiment and be mustered out with it. 

Ralph Humphrey of company I. and Guy Rod^^ers 
of company E were among the number. 

We had just fairly settled ourselves in our 
quarters when we were ordered to strike tents and 
move across the road. The boys had been putting in 
the hours off duty in building bunks in their tents. 
We drove crolched sticks in the ground, on these we 
placed strong poles, then a layer of bark from trees, 
then an armful of pine twigs and over all a blanket 
was thrown, making a very comfortable bed. and 
raised about six inches from the ground. Tnis work 
was just completed when the order came to move and 
on June third we reluctantly packed our belongings and 



102 History of Companies I and E. 

camp equipage and began life anew in our new quar- 
ters. 

Our new site was on a side hill, the lower end 
of the company street terminating at the very edge of 
the timber land. On our right wound the corduroy 
road leading to Falls Church. This had become 
a ver}' busy thoroughfare, and a continual string of 
teams was passing our tents from early morning un- 
til late in the evening. The soil was sandy, and the 
weather hot and drv and every gust of wind would 
till our eyes and cover everything about us with 
dust. 

Along this road opposite our quarters, it had been 
built up solid for nearly a half a mile with temporar}' 
structures of wood and canvas. There was a barber- 
shop, billiard hall, shooting galler}-. and several dining 
halls, with numerous refreshment stands inrermingling. 
Once in a while a blockade of teams would occur and 
then the mule-whacker could be heard for half a mile 
as he urcjed his four-in-hand throujrhthe labyrinth of 
vehicles. 

A few days previous to our moving to the new 
camp site we were given another degree in soldiering 
by the appearance of '-greybacks." We had been 
dravv'ing clothing and one of the boys, among other 
articles had been issued a new flannel shirt. He had 
taken the clothing to his tent and was looking it over 
when he saw something crawling on the collar of the 
shirt. He picked the shirt up and called the attention of 
several of his comrades to the moving object and they 
decided it was the old original army greyback and they 
scattered instantly. 

The owner of the shirt carried it down to the 



RK(;iMF.N'r Rkckuitki) to Maximum. 1(53 

end of the company street and placed it on the "ground 
where it was inspected b\- the whole company as there 
were but few of the boys who had e\'er seen one of 
the ''critters."'' They all made sure to remain a re- 
spectful distance from the contaminatintr piece of cloth, 
while its owner stood b\" thinkin'^f of the Si. 85 which 
had heen char<j^ed to his account in pa\inent for the 
article, 'rurnino- the matter over in his mind he walked 
over, picked the shirt np and carried it back to his tent. 
He knew it would be a maiter of on]\- a few days until 
the new-comer would find him anywav and he may as 
well keep the shirt. 

Mrs. Smith continued hei' \'isiis to camp always 
bringing something for the boys to eat. Her smiling 
face and gentle voice had become almost a necessity to 
many of the volunteers.' Her strong character and the 
enthusiasm with which she kept at her self-imposed task 
was an inspiration to all those who witnessed it, and 
the effec was noticeable long after her departure. 

It was through her efforts that bugler Eshelman of 
company E, received his discharge and was sent home. 
He had been m poor health for some time and camp 
life . was rapidly wearing him out. As soon as Mrs. 
Smith came to know the cu'cumstances she took im- 
mediate steps to hurry his release. An application for 
his discharge had been forwarded to the War Depart- 
ment on the grounds of physical disability. As soon 
as the discharge was granted Mrs. Smith took him to 
her home in Washington and cared for him for sev- 
eral days until she felt he was in tit condition to make 
the journe}- home safel}-. He left Washington for 
Sterling the second week in June. 

Early in June, the government having decided to 



164 History of Companies I and E. 

fill every organization to it's maximum, officers were de- 
tailed from all Illinois regiments to visit their home 
stations and there recruit each company to its desired 
nanbsr of o:i2 haadred aad six e.ilisted mei fron the 
neighborhood where the company was original'y organ- 
ized. First Lieutenant Dillon of company E was ap- 
pointed recruiting officer of the First battalion of the 
Sixth regiment. A man from each company was de- 
tailed to accompany him and aid in the recruiting; Ser- 
geant Osborne of company I and private Bensinger of 
company E were detailed from those two companies. 
They left Camp Alger for Illinois, June seventh. Lieut. 
Dillon opened a recruiting office in Sterling and he 
soon had the desired number of volunteers. He, with 
the enlisted men detailed to assist him returned and 
reported for duty at Camp Alger June twenty-sixth. 

The recruits for companies E and I arrived at 
Camp Alger at intervals between the nineteenth and 
twenty-sixth of June and were as follows: Company E; 
Clare Brumley. Ford Brittenham. Moses N. Dillon. 
Isaac Davis, Charles Eberle, Harry Eberle, Ed. Haberle, 
Louis E. Hayes, Fred A.Johnson, Mert Jackson, G. A. 
McKelvey and j. D. VValck, who were sworn into 
the service at Sterling. June sixteenth, by Lieut. Dillon 
and departed the next morning for Camp Alger. They 
reported to Capt. Lawrie for duty on the morning of 
June nineteenth. 

Twelve more men for Company E were mustered 
at Sterling, June eighteenth and embarked for Camp 
Alger, June twentieth, reporting for duty June twenty 
third. They were: Frank Apple. Howard Armstrong, 
William Connell. Ernest Esterbrooks. Frank Heath. 
Wilber Jackson, R. E. Jackson, Richard O. Jones, 




C APT. FRANK W. BARBER. 
Q.-M. Sixth Inf. 



Sixrii Reciment on Dress Parade.. U'u) 

Walter Latherovv, Harold Matlack, Arthur (Jverholser 
and Bert Sneed. John Drew sif^ned the muster roll 
June twentv-third and started for Washin<jjton immed- 
iatelv. This completed the roster of companv E. 

June nineteenth, twenty recruits reported to Capt. 
Colebaugh for dutv in company I. they were: Olin Car- 
^a\-. Marcus L. Drennen. Walter C. Drury. George 
Freek. Charles Fieek. George Hunt. Byron Humphrey, 
Rollin Humphrey. Arthur Lewis. Charles Lewis, 
William Leslie, Edmund S. Langdon. Bert Palmer, 
Charles Reafsnyder. Ernest Snyder, John Stowell. 
Arthur Sears. Schuyler Sweeney, Olin Wells and Frank 
Weayer. June twenty-third. Albert Anstett. Guy 
Humphrey. Iryin Stumbaugh, Frank Wells and Fred 
White joined company I: and on June twenty-sixth: 
Harrv Bent came into comp. This gave company I a 
full complement of men. 

A misunderstanding occurred in the enlistment of 
private Langdon. His father applied for his discharge, 
and it was granted, ''by way of favor." It took some 
time to secure his release but it was accomplished and he 
returned to his home. The vacancy thus caused was 
filled by the enlistment of William Boilshaus. Private 
Brubaker of Company I was transferred to the Signal 
Corps and detached from the company and regiment. 

The practice drills contmued regularly, and soon the 
recruits were placed in the ranks by the side of the older 
men. The effect of the course of instruction which the 
volunteers constantly received was quite evident. At 
regimental dress parade, the troops from the unoccupied 
regiments would congregate to witness the maneuvers of 
the men of the regiment that was on parade. Hundreds 
of visitors from Washington and the surrounding country 



166 History of Companies I and E. 

were usually on hand each evening for the same purpose. 
When the Sixth Illinois formed and executed the manual 
of arms drill there was nothing in camp thpt could touch it. 
With the command, "order arms," every rifle came down 
at the same time with a thud; the left hand of each man 
dropped to his side with a precision like clock work, and 
the men never failed to receive hearty applause. 

In passmg in review before the commanding officer 
and his staff, each company, with few exceptions, held a 
perfect line and kept regular step. Colonel Foster was 
extremely proud of his command and was the recipient 
of many words of praise from the brigade and division 
officers for the splendid showing made by the men of his 
regiment. 

A limited number of passes were issued to the men 
each day and they eagerly took advantage of ilic oppor- 
tunity to visit the city of Washington. A three mile ride 
in the dirt and dust to Falls Church, and about ten miles 
on an electric car, up hill and down dale, whizzing around 
sharp curves and over bridges in Old Virginia, bringing 
up suddenly on the bank of the Potomac opposite George- 
town; taking foot passage over the bridge into this 
suburb of the Capitol City, then a short ride on a islreet 
car and the party landed in the heart of the National 
Capitol. 

There was much to be seen and usually the time 
was limited to a few hours in the city. The Capitol 
building and White House must not be over looked; then 
there was the Navy yard, the Marine barracks, the U. 
S. Museum, Treasury and Navy building, the Congres- 
sional Library, which is the finest building in the world, 
with its long corridors, library rooms and large open 
stairs, all built of the best irranite and marble the world 



A Visit to Wasiiin(;ton. 1()7 

produces and very highly polished. Both flie upper and 
lower domes on this building are over laid with gold leaf 
on the out side. The walls of the interior are adorned 
with beautiful paintings and works of art wrought by 
master hands. The wide shelves and mammoth tables 
are laden with books, papers and magazines published 
centuries ago. 

Washingtons monument must also be visited be- 
fore returning. This testimonial erected in memory of 
the father of our countrv. is thirty five feet square at the 
base a/nd towers five hundred and fifty five feet above 
the earth. The interior is open and contains a winding 
stairway from bottom to top. An elevator makes the 
ascent and descent every thirty minutes. The stones 
used in the construction of this memorial were contribu- 
ted by 'the many states, and societies of the union, each one 
bearing an appropriate inscription. 

Arriving at the upper landing a birds-eye view of 
the city and the country for miles surrounding is had, 
men and women, on the lawn far below look like pig^ 
mies. The waters of the Potomac shimmering in the 
sunlight can be traced for miles and as its course grows 
fainter and fainter in the distance it appears like a band 
of silver girdling this part of the world. The city itself, 
lies spread out before you like a page of an open book. 
Its labryinth of streets and avenues, bordered by beau-, 
tiful shade trees aud handsome residences are bev»ilder- 
ing while the pure white of the federal buildings nest- 
ling among the green foliage of the many gardens rests 
the eve and reflects peace and security over all. Dcr 
scending in the elevator the pirtv turns its steps toward 
the Lincoln home. It is getting late and the boys com- 
lete th^ir day o,f sightseeing by taking a drjye through 



168 History of Companies I and E. 

the residence portion of the city and return to camp very 
tired but more than pleased with the result of the days 
excursion. 




L. R. GAYLORD, 
l8t Lieut., Adj. 1st Bat Sixth 111. Vol. 



PAviNci THE Troops. 169 



CHAPTER XI. T-"^^? 

June fourth, General George R. Garrettson, of Col- 
umbus, O., assumed comrr.and of the Second brigade, re- 
lieving Colonel Foster who had been in command since 
May twenty fourth. Capt. Cairns who had been acting 
Ass't Adj't Genl at brigade headquarters was also re- 
lieved and returned to regimental headquarters. 

The men were growing weary of camp life. They 
were not tired of soldiering but'were restless and anxious 
to begin active service. We were fitted out with uni- 
forms and clothing very slowly. The one bright spot in 
these long days of monotonous drilling and camp duty 
was the day the paymaster made his first visit at camp. 
We signed the pay roll June eighth and the following 
morning we lined up and one at a time received our pay. 

This was the first money the boys had received 
since their leaving home and they were sadly in need of 
it. Many^of them had entered^the service with but little 
money in their pockets. Some were yet wearing citi- 
zens clothing and had been compelled to purchase vari- 
ous articles of wearing apparel, besides the dining halls 
and refreshment stands hard by had lured the loose change 
from the pockets of the majority of the soldiers and long 
before the arrival of the paymaster their last cent was 
gone. They soon began to realize that they must plan 
differently, that fifteen dollars and sixty cents per month 



170 History of Companies I and E. 

would not meet their expenses at the pace which had 
been set and immediately after receiving their first pay 
from Uncle Sam a goodly portion of it was sent directly 
home. 

Intoxicating liquors had been kept away from our 
quarters as much as possible. The Pennsylvania regi- 
ments had a wide open canteen running but nothing of 
the kind was allowed in the neighborhood of the Illinois 
or Ohio regiments. The crafty fellows in our vicinity 
were not slow to take advantage of the situation and they 
sold whiskey on the sly until they w,ere caught and put 
under arrest. We called them "moonshiners" and the 
stuff they sold was known as "moonshine whiskey." It 
was about the worst mixture that ever tickled a palate. 
It was prepared in such a way that a man could drink a 
quantit}' of it but would not feel the effects of the over 
indulgence for several hours. Take several drinks in the 
middle of the day and towards evening he would begin 
to feel queer, couldn't find the ten' he lived in, wander 
around awhile, begin to feel a little sick, wabble and 
stagger a few moments and then he would give up in de- 
spair, "Don't care if I never get home," and generall}- 
landed in the guard house, waking up in the morning he 
would reach out a foot or so feeling for his head and 
wonder what it all meant. Not until then did he know 
the full meaning of "moonshine whiskey." 

Talk about "cullud" folks. They were so plent}* 
in that country that it would get dark about three o'clock 
in the afternoon; no matter how bright the sun was shin- 
ing it always appeared like twilight. Ask one of them 
how far it was to a certain point and the general reply 
was — "Well, I doan know exactly, sah, but ii''s ah right 
smaht ways." The white people were but little in ad- 



Pa^sin(; Incii>rnts. 171 

vance of the "cullud" folks. They were unmerciful)}' 
slow. They would not hurry under any circumstances. 
a good man from our country would work all around 
them. They.'speak with the twang peculiar to the \'ir- 
ginia people ,'and it was ditlicult to keep from laughing 
when talking with one of them. Tliey were little better 
at judging distance than the negro; a^k one of them the 
same question that was put to the negro and he would re- 
ply "about a mile," walk nearly two miles and ^ our des- 
tination not in sight; ask another one how much farther 
it was and it was then a mile and a half. A Virginia 
mile was never understood by the western boys. 

Shortly after Chaplain Morgan joined our regiment 
at Camp Alger he tendered his resignation to Colonel 
Foster. His age and health would not permit him to fol- 
low the fortunes and hardships of a campaign in a foreign 
climate. Colonel Foster considered the circumstances 
and regretfully accepted his resignation. He delivered 
his farewell" sermon on the nineteenth day of June, (Sun- 
day) and with difficulty kept from breaking down before 
completing his talk. He had been connected with the 
regiment for a long time and the thought of severing all 
connection with it at the time when we were on the eve 
of entering the strife, where his services would be so in- 
valuable, nearly overcame him. 

Private Jack W. Ferris of company D was appointed 
to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of Chaplain 
Morgan. He was a Methodist clergyman and pastor of a 
flourishing x;hurch at Abingdon, 111., when the war broke 
out and the President called for volunteers. He immedi- 
ately tendered his resignation to the trustees of his church 
and took a place in the ranks as a private. He had 
shared camp life with his comrades, had enjoyed it. and 



172 History of Companies I and E. 

was as eager as any of them to get to the front. 

At about this time a severe blow was administered 
to the many refreshment stands that were established in 
the neighborhood of the camp. The commander of the 
post issued a sweeping order, prohibiting the sale of pies, 
cakes, cookies, sandwiches, ice-cream or lemonade, within 
one mile of camp. The managers of these places had 
been doing a flourishing business, but the, officers in com- 
mand decided that the quality of the goods put out was 
of the poorest and detrimental to the health of the troops- 
The situation could be met in one way only and that was 
to stop the sale of the articles, which they did. 

Shortly after this a vaudeville show erected a tent 
near our quarters. It received liberal patronage from the 
soldiers and in return the manager tendered the use of the 
tent to the Sixth III., in which to hold church services. 

The camp was favored by a call from Dr. Mary Wal- 
ker. She was selling pamphlets and, poems of her own 
composition. She was dressed in man"s costume, wearing 
a suit of black, prince Albert coat, black straw hat, white 
shirt and standing collar, and carried an umbrella. She 
was the source of a great deal of amusement among the 
boys and a great many of them doubted its being a woman 
at all. 

Chaplain I. N. Keefer of the Eighth Ohio, died of 
heart trouble June twenty second. Military funeral ser- 
vices were held the following day and the corpse was es- 
corted from camp by the regimental band and one com- 
pany of infantry, his riderless horse following the funeral 
car. This was the man who, a few weeks previous, offici- 
ated at the funeral of the volunteer from Rock Island. 

The weather continued hot and dry ; there had been 
but little rain, and the waffon road which was in constant 




NEU JOHNSON, 
Reg. Sergt.-Major Sixth Inf. Vol. 



AprOlNTMKNTS IN COMI'ANIKS E AND I. 173 

use was j^rouiul into a bed of very tine sand. With every 
gust of wind came a tiiirry of dust and dirt: the (dothing 
and (quarters of our men were with difficulty kept present- 
able We had sweltered in the sun and battled with the 
dirt until every man in camp was anxiously awaiting a 
thundt^'shower to break the drought and cool the atmos- 
phere. 

One sultry evning late in June it came; the rain 
came down in torrents, and the wind Vjlew a hurricane. 
Everyone whose duties would allow it S(jught shelter ia 
his tent. When the rain had ceased the boys crawled out 
of their tents and cheered themselves hoarse. And such 
a sight as the sky presented -every one in cam[) was out 
drinking in its beauty. In the east, a beautiful rainbow 
shone forth. It was perfect; stretching from north to 
south until lost in the horizon, clouds of a mellow gold 
drifted rapidly by into a background of a most delicate 
blue. The foliage of the neighboring trees glistened like 
wreaths of silver, while the rain drops trembling on the 
leaves sparkled like diamond settings as the slanting rays 
of the disappearing sun reflected o'er the scene. It was 
grand, and it was remarked on every hand that it was the 
most sublime spectacle ever witnessed. 

With the com])anies increased to one hundred and 
six enlisted men. came new appointments of non-commis- 
sioned officers. June twenty-third Capt. Lawrie made 
the following promotions: Privates Deyoe, Reese Dillon, 
Triggs, Burkhart. Bert Johnson and Lineberry to be 
Corporals; private Clark was appointed musician, to fill 
the vacancy caused by the loss of bugler Eshelman, dis- 
charged. Private Hess was appointed company Artificer 
and private Smith detailed to duty at the regimental hos- 
pital. Sergeant Cushman was detailed to assist Ord- 



174 History of Companies I and E. 

nance OffiicerEick as Ordnance Sergeant. Corporal Dil- 
lon was detailed to duty in the quartermaster's depart- 
ment. 

The appointments in company I were: privates 
Burr, Hyatt, Charles Berry, Everhart, Sherwood and Sny- 
der to be Corporals, and Hilton Willcox. Lance Corporal, 
Private Jenks was detailed to special duty at post head- 
quarters, and private Kingery was appointed acting Vet- 
erinary Surgeon of the Sixth regiment and placed in 
charge of the officers horses. 

The post commander had, for some time, contein[)la- 
ted giving the troops a long practice march to the Poto- 
mac river, and an opportunity to bathe in its waters. On 
June twenty-sixth, the Second brigade was instructed to 
prepare for a two days absence from camp. The follow- 
ing morning, each man was issued two days rations and 
fifty rounds of blank cartridges. We formed in heavy 
marching order and at six o'clock we marched outof camp 
with ten Virginia miles before us. 

It was quite cool on the start and the rain a couple 
of days previous had put the roads in good condition, but 
as the sun rose higher in the heavens, it grew warm and 
we found plenty of dust before reaching our temporary 
camp, christened Camp Starvation. We arrived at ten 
o'clock a. m. and had our tents up in a very few moments. 
We were then given our liberty for a time and found we 
were not far from the Potomac river. We were cautioned 
about getting into the water until a suitable bathing place 
could be selected. 

The Potomac is very picturesque at this place, wind- 
ing its way through great cliffs; the stream itself is full 
of rocks and extremely treacherous. The current is swift 
and the rocks rising out of the water shelve off into tha 



Makcii to TiiK Potomac. 175 

stream where uiaiiy of them sheer off ahru[)tly. formiii<^ 
numerous holes many feet in (h^pth. The banks were 
soon lined with men for nearly a mile and in a few mom- 
ents the water was alive with shouting, laughing boys. 
They r(>m[)ed in the stream for some time and thoroughly 
enjoyed the sport. Private Dearth, of company ]3, from 
Geneseo. was drowned in aitempting to swim the river. 
He was within a few feet of the bank when he suddenly 
sank out of sight. Every effort was made by expert 
divers to rescue him bat without success. Grappling 
hooks were lowered and the river dragged Imt no trace 
of the body could be found for some time. The water 
was found to be nearly eighty feet in depth at the point 
where he went down. 

This had no eli'rct on the ^enturesome bathers and 
they continued to take the same risk which had proven 
so disasterous to one of their number until ordered out 
of the water by Major Anthony. In the afternoon, a 
party of the boys took a stroll about three miles from 
camp in search of a country store, as our rati(jns consisted 
of coffee, hardtack and sowlielly. and our ten mile march 
had given us ravenous ap[)etites. 

After trudging along for some time we were about 
to retrace oar steps, when, making a turn in the road we 
espied a cluster of buildings a short distance in advance; 
among them we saw the object of our search, a country 
store. We a[)proached the miniature village, and on enr 
tering the store we found a large room vvith shelves near- 
ly bare. The proprietor was busily engaged weighing 
up ten cents worth of "cohn-mear" for a colored cusIot 
mer. and looking about the vacant room wv found this 
mans stock in trade to consist of a limited amount of the 
Ijare necessities of life; a few canned goods on the shelves, 
a box or two of crackers, a little sugar, a fjuantity of corn- 



17(3 History of Companies I and E. 

meal and a small supply of cigars, tobacco and pipes, in 
all about ten dollars worth of goods was in sight. We 
counted out our few nickles and dimes, and after an ar- 
gument over the value of the articles we wished to pur- 
chase, we left him happy in the possession of nearly 
thirty cents. 

Opposite the store, and back from the road a number 
of rods, nestled a low, rambling, southern farm house. 
On the veranda sat a young woman and romping on the 
lawn, a little boy and girl, aged about six and seven 
years, respectively. Filling our canteens at the town? 
pump near by, we crossed the street? and resting on the 
sloping lawn, opened the can of peaches, unwrapped the 
pound of cookies, which reminded us of the hardtack we 
had left at camp, and prepared to appease our gnawing 
hunger. 

The housewife stopped her sewing and the children 
ceased their play; together they watched us at "mess" 
for a few moments, then the little ones timidly approached. 
We tendered them a portion of our supper which was raj)- 
idly disappearing, but they shook their heads and hung 
back. They soon overcame their timidity and sitting 
down plied us with questions, asking if we were still hun- 
gry? We replied in the affirmative, whereupon the little 
boy ran to the house, disappearing for a few moments he 
returned with a handful of vegetables fresh from the gar- 
den. Then both the little tots scampered back up the 
lawn and held a brief conversation with the lady, evident- 
ly their mother, the trio entered the house, reappearing 
directly, the children came towards us bearing between 
them a large pitcher of cold milk and a big cake. They 
sat the food before us and with eyes sparkling with de^ 
light, watched us as we stored it away. 

"We were just completing the rather sumptuous meal 




REESE DILLON, 
Q.-M. Serg. Sixth Inf., Vol. 



Till': Sham Battli;. 177 

when ihe father drove up. lie had been to Washington 
and on the return had learned of tlie presence of the 
troops in that vicinity. lie took the situation in at a 
glance and sitting by our side, related stories of the civil 
war. He was a native \'irginian. The house was his. 
also the broad acres surrounding it. It was the property 
of his father in the sixties. General McCall's and Han- 
cock's troops were encamped here during the fall of six- 
ty one and spring of sixty two and had used his fathers 
farm for a drill and parade ground. General McCall 
had used the dwelling as his headquarters. 

We were so occupied by the entertainment of our 
new found friends that night was upon us before we re- 
alized it. Hastily bidding the hospitable father and little 
ones goodbye we hurried toward camp. As we walked 
swiftly along whistling and singing, feeling contented and 
at peace with the world in general, congratulating our- 
selves on the success of our venture, and while vet nearly 
a mile from camp, we w^ere brought to a standstill as we 
heard the warning notes of the bugle as it sounded ••tat- 
too." We increased our pace to a run. x\s we tore 
over the brow of the hill which lay between us and our 
goal, we heard the final notes as they rose and fell on the 
night air. Before us lay the city of tents, the flickering 
flames of the tallow candles shining dimly through the 
canvas shelters: we heard the voice of the ••Top Ser- 
geant'" as he ordered tiie men to ••fall in for roll call"" and 
we knew we could never cover the distance and would 
"miss check.'" We hurried along and ran plump into a 
sentinel, and were again brought to a slop by the com- 
mand ■•Halt! Who comes there?" NVe had forgotten 
that our regiment was expecting an attack from the Mass- 
achusetts boys and had a double guard out with instruc- 
tions to be wide awake and not caught napping. We 



178 History of Companies I and E. 

formulated a flimsy yarn about being guards just relieved 
from duty and came in to get something to eat, and after 
a little parley, we were allowed to pass. We crawled 
under our shelter tent and the next morning at roll call 
were informed that they thought we had been drowned 
as we were last seen at the river the day before. 

Extra precautions had been taken throughout the 
night to prevent our being surprised by the ''enemy," 
the men sleeping with cartridge belts and rifles by 
their side. Nothing occurred and we slept soundli^ 
until daylight^ After a light breakfast we broke camp 
and began the return march. Advance, rear and flank 
guards were put out and the line of march was guarded 
in every way in the same manner as it would have been 
had we been in the heart of the S})anish country. 

It was very hot, the boys began to drop out of the 
line and the ambulances were soon filled. When about 
half way to Camp Alger we were attacked by the Sixth 
Massachusetts and a troop of New York Cavalry. The 
conflict was warm for a couple of hours; during the bat- 
tle we captured a number of prisoners, held our wagon 
train and repulsed the enemy. A short distance from 
camp the Massachusetts boys intrenched themselves be- 
hind the railroad embankment and made a final stand, 
but a spirited charge on the part of our boys drove them 
from their position and the battle was over. We arrived 
in camp at eleven o'clock a. m.. tired and dirty yet all 
appeared to have enjoyed the march. This was the first 
of a series of sham battles that occurred in the timber 
near camp, in which the troops showed a surp^'ising a^ 
mount of tayt on the skirmish line, 



CLO^iN(i Days at Camp Ai.cjer. 17".^ 



CHAPTER XII. 

As the weeks })risseil, the volunteers at Ctinip Alger 
became more proficient as a result of the severe training 
which they had undergone since their muster in. and 
they felt they were capable of duty at the front. The 
closing days of June found them only partially equipped 
for field service. Ordnance Officer Eick and Quarter- 
master Barber of our regiment, were doing their utmost 
to secure the necessary supplies to put the men on a war 
footing. 

The many rumors that floated about camp, kept the 
men continually on the qui vive. hourly expecting the 
order to come calling them into active service. 

Major W. T. Channon. commanding the first bat- 
talion of our regiment, was attached to the general staff' 
of Gen'l Graham, from June seventeenth until June 
twenty-fifth, acting fis provnst-marshal-general. Second 
Lieut. George W. Flood of company A, First battalion, 
was also attached to the general staff, acting as assistant- 
provost-marshal from June seventh to June twenty- 
fourth. Capt. Lawrie of Campany E commanded the 
First battalion during the absence of Major Channon. 

Corporal Dillon of company E received the intelli- 
gence of a death in his family and was granted a seven 
days furlough. He immediately boarded the cars en- 
route for Sterling. Corporal Leatherwood of company 



180 History of Companies I and E. 

I also received a furlough of several days and was ab- 
sent for a time. 

During the two months we had been in the service, 
the home people had never lost sight of us for an in- 
stant. We were constantly receiving boxes and pack- 
ages put up by loving h:inds, containing good things to 
eat and supplies for the hospital. Now and then a 
package would be received, the miscellaneous contents 
of which told the story of the thoughtfulness of the 
mothers, wives, sisteis and sweethearts of the absent 
soldier boys. The Womans Relief Corps, of the differ- 
ent towns were prominent factors in the distribution of 
these generous gifts to the soldiers. 

From Sterling, Rock Falls. Morrison. Erie, Proph- 
etstown. Lyndon and Albany the precious parcels came 
and their arrival was always hailed with delight. 

The pleasure evinced by the soldiers on receiving 
these articles was caused not more by the possession of 
them, than by the silent messages which they betok- 
ened. Although twelve hundred and tifty miles of 
mountain and prairie land separated us from home, we 
felt secure in the knowledge that the moral andniaterial 
.support of our friends would e^er be forthcoming. 

With many indications of our regiments early de- 
parture for the front, the letters from relatives and 
friends grew more grave and tender, breathing words 
of praise and encouragement, causing the first feeling of 
homesickness to enter the hearts of many of the boys as 
they eagerly devoured the contents, word by word, and 
pictured to themselves the family group as it gathered 
in tl^e far away home, anxiously watching the progress 
of the war and calculating' on the prospects of their own 
boy being safely returned to the family fold. Distance 




Chief Musician John Prestin. 



Cheering Messages From Friends. ISl 

lends enchaiUiiiciit. and ihc h(jnies, always precious, hut 
doublv so under the circumstances, filled the thou;,dits 
of the soldiers and a fcelinf^ of depression would steal 
o'er them as thev allowed their minds to wander back to 
Illinois, 'i'hey were ^iven but little time for such le- 
Heciions and the activity all about them c[uicl<ly turned 
their thoughts to other channel-. 

Amoni;' other letters received from home was one 
from Emeiine Lod^e. No. 8, Degree of Rebekah. I. (). 
O. F.. of iMo.rrison. This letter expressed the feeling of 
interest taken in the volunteers from Illinois by the 
patriotic citizens of the State, and in view of this fact, 
permission to publish the letter in full, was sought and 
granted. The communication was addressed to Capt. 
Colebaugh of company I but referred to the volunteers 
in general, a complete copy of whiih follows. 

Morrison, III.. June 24. 1898. 

Capt. W. F. Colebaugh. 

Co. I. 6th Regiment. 

Camp Alger Va. 
To Our Soldier Boys: 

The Emeiine Lodge No. 8, D. of R. has requested 
me to write. Although not surprised by the command. 
I know that I can not do justice as my heart is too full 
of the great and glorious cause that has brought you 
to^rether but 1 cannot disobey the order of those who 
have commanded me to write. You. soldiers, have 
about ended vour career as mere holiday troops, I be- 
lieve, and are now about to buckle on the armor and to 
unsheathe the swords of gallant knights enrolled to 
maintain, uphold and defend that Constitution and that 
Union which were hammered out amidst the tires of the 
Revolution, and cemented by the blood of the fathers 
and heroes of the war of our independence. That tem- 
ple in which the exiles of despotism from all parts of the 



1S2 History of Companies 1 and E. 

world have always sought an asylum; while the even- 
ing tattoo will bid you to sleep on your burnished arms, 
ready, at any moment, to rally at the bugle call to the 
rescue of that flag which has already floated in triumph 
over every sea and in every clime. The hour that 3^ou 
left us was in some respects painful, for you leave your 
wives, your kinsfolk, and your cheerful happy homes. 
And yet. our greatest regret is, that we, too, cannot 
join your ranks, enroll our names upon your muster and 
rally with }ou under those dear old Stripes and Stars. 
You are, indeed, to be envied that you can go, and lhe 
buttons vou wear, the swords that gird your ihigh?. lhe 
"epaulettes that mark and clt-signate ^ our rank, are all 
badges of honor, of shivalry, of dut^ in the held, \\ hich 
we can only covet, not enjoy. You, and such as ^ ou. 
are the honored children of thizs glorious republic, of 
whom, m after times, when peace has been restored, the 
children shall say. as they point at you wiih j^rirle. and 
their eyes sparkle with delight, as you sha'l jiass along 
the pathway of life: "There goes one of our soldier 
boys.'* Honors shall cluster thick around you. and 
garlands of myrtle shall be woven by fairy tingers lo 
entwine around your brow'S and when Anally }ou shall 
be gathered to another and brighter world on the slab 
that marks your resting place shall be engraven these 
words: --Sacred to the Memory of a Soldier of lhe U. 
S." Go. then, soldiers of the U. S.. to a proud and 
glorious victory, or to a soldier's honored grave. Our 
prayer at morning and evening shall be— God bless. 
protect and save our countr}- and its noble sons. 

As I have said before, we regre^ we must sta}' at 
home, 3et if we must stay we shall try to help you in 
every way we can. If at anv time or nnv place we can 
send you articles of anv kind to makf you more com- 
fortable we will do so if you will only let us know what 
is needed. 

The young girls of our Lodge are a little shy, yet 
they send their love but wanted to send angel food cake. 

Hoping you may allow us to aid you. in behalf of 



Ciii:i:i<i.N(; Mi-:ssa<;ks i'uom Fi<n-:M)s. ls;{ 

the Lod<^e I will wish \ou hv-allh and success in all vou 
undertake. 

Your Prairie State Friends. 

Daisy D. Pond, 

Secretary. 

Many letters of like character were received but 
during the packing and unpacking of our effects which 
occurred many times in the following months, they 
were lost. A pathetic little incident occurred in camp 
on the tirst day of June when Lieut. Colonel Kittilsen 
read a letter from a little girl, s'x yaars of age. of 
Moline. She was the daughter of an old comrade who 
was taken ill and died a few years ago at one of the 
National Guard encampments. The letter read as fol- 
lows : 

Dear Mr. Kiitilsen: I heard m\- niamiiia reading 
in the paper that some of the boys that went in conr.- 
pany F were sick and needed some things, and I send 
vou some mone\' that I have saved, and I want you to 
buv some things for some of the sick bovs. 
Moline, 111., May 28th, 1898. 

From vour little friend. 

Alt.\ Wai.kek. 

Inclosed with the letter was a check for tifty-three 
cents and a letter from the little girls grandfather, in- 
closing a larger contribution; and one from a lady in 
Molme apprising the lieut. colonel that a quantity of 
supplies made by some of her friends and herself were 
on their vvay to camp. 

The bo\s of company F. wishing to show their 
gratitude and appreciation of the man}- kind acts of 
Mrs. Smith, raised a fund in the company and pur- 
chased a neat silver card receiver, had it suitably en- 
graved and presented it to her. In acknowledging the 



184 History of Companies I and E. 

gift Mrs. Smith addressed the following letter to the 
boys: 

Treasury Department, 
Office of Auditor of Postothce Department, 
Washington, D. C. 

To Members of Company E. Sixth Regiment of 
Illinois Volunteer Infantry; M}' Dear Friends: It is 
with sincere grati ude that I acknowledge the lovely 
gift you so generously granted, and it shall be treasured 
beyond the expression of words, and m}- future life 
will be happier for, the memories it will alwa^'s awak- 
en. M}- prayers will follow the brave hearts of Com- 
pany E, Illinois Volunteers, as they eagerlv hasten to 
defend the cause of a greater humanity and for higher 
civilization. I know vou will proudly maintain "Old 
Glory" and may God bless ancl protect 3-ou and bring 
you home safely is the earnest wish of 3'our sincere 
friend. Electa E. Smith. 

These and many other cheering messages were 
received and read to the men. The source from which 
they came gave the men renewed courage and they 
determined on giving their friends no cause to think 
they were undeserving. 

The members of company I, desiring to promote 
a feeling of close comradeship between themselves and 
their companj- officers, presented Captain Colebaugh 
and Lieutenant Lawton each a handsome, gold mounted 
sword. The recipients of the gifts prized them highly 
and expressed their gratitude to the donors. Thr}- 
were b}^ far the neatest blades carried by line officers 
which came under our notice throughout the campaign. 
This incident occurred on the fourth day of July, 1898. 

On the second of July one of Uucle Sams repre- 
sentatives again visited our camp and left a slight re- 
fninder that we had served him faithfully for another 




CAl'T. F. J. CLENDENIX, 
Co. F, Sixth Inf., Vol. 
Tresent rank, IJeut.-Col. Asst. Adj. 
Gen. M Brigade, 111. N. G. 



Oki)i:r1':i) to Cuba. iSo 

monlh. About ihirty-one hundred dollars was distribut- 
ed among the men of the regiment, a goodly portion of 
this soon disappeared, some sending theirs home and 
not a few spending their portion freely until it was near- 
ly gone. Fortunately for the boys in general a number 
of them foresaw that an emergency might arise, where 
a little ready money would prove in\'aluable to t!ie men, 
and they preserved a sum which, although not large, 
was the means of relieving the pangs of hunger and 
furnished clothing for many during the dark days w hich 
followed and which none could foresee. In truth more 
than one man who is enjoying good health toda\' owes 
his pre:ier\ation to the kind and readv friends who had 
fortified themselves with a few dollars which they gen- 
erously divided among their needy comrades who in 
their enfeebled condition could not have existed on the 
rations issued them. 

Thursda}', June twenty-third we were instructed to 
pack our accoutrements and be prepared to leave camp 
the next dav. The Eicjhth Ohio and seventv-tive men 
from each company of the First battalion of our regi- 
ment were to be sent to Cuba to re-enforce the Fifth 
Arm\- Corps, under command of General Shafter. The 
order came late at niirht and briirht and earlv next 
morning the boys were hard at work getting their few 
belongings into portable shape, but at noon the order 
was countermanded and we suffered our lirst real dis- 
appointment. 

The bovs took their medicine like men and sor- 
rowfully began to unroll their blankets and begin another 
siege of waiting. We were instructed to unpack such 
articles as absolutely necessary as we might hii ordered 
out at any moment. General DufReld, in command of 
the Separate brigade, consisting of the Thirty-third and 



180 History of Companies I and E. 

Thirty-fourth Michigan and Ninth Massachusetts regi- 
ments of Infantry received the preference and taking 
the Thirty-third and one battaHon of the Thirty- 
fourth Mich, he moved out of camp enroute for Cuba; 
the remainder of the brigade followed a few days 
later. This brigade arrived in Cuba in time to reach 
the scene of battle and partcipate in the glorious victory 
of General Shafter's troops, General Dufheld himself 
nearly succumbing to an attack of ''yellow jack" and a 
number of officers and enlisted men were killed and 
wounded in the several engagements in which they par- 
ticipated. This was the fate of the troops who fore- 
stalled us in getting to the front. From the time of re- 
ceiving the first order to be in readiness to march out of 
camp, until we did get out. we were Held in readiness 
constantly to move on short notice. 

The volunteers at Camp Alger represented four- 
teen states with from one to three regiments from 
each state. In July the total strength of the troops 
at this camp, comprising the Second Army Corps, 
was twenty two thousand one hundred seventy-flve 
officers and enlisted men. The general health of the 
men continued good up to the time of the removal of 
our brigade, although a few cases of typhoid and ma- 
larial fever developed in June. 

About six weeks after the departure of our regi- 
ment, or to be exact, on the fifteenth of August the 
War Department ordered the transfer of the Second 
Army Corps to Middletown, Pa. The removal of 
the troops began immediately and before the last of the 
month '••Camp Alger" was a camp in memory only. 
The camp at Middletown was named Camp George 
Gordon Meade, in honor of the hero of Gettysburg, an 
illustrious son of the state of Pe-nnsvlvania, 



Pro<;rrsv ok thr War. 1s7 



CHAPTER XIII. 

During th<^ days of our cauij) life, our time and 
thoughts were engrossed by the many experiences we 
met rt'ith in pert'orniing the duties of a soldier. The 
newness of our surroundings had worn off to a great 
extent by the close of June and we began to look back 
to the i-cenes and incidents which had occurred else- 
where. Evidence of great activity was on every hand 
and the recruiting had been continued long after we 
had gone from our homes. 

In the month of May the President had made a 
second call for an additional seventy tive thousand 
volunteers. Congress had authorized an increase of the 
Regular Army to sixty one thousand men, and in addi- 
tion had provided for sixteen regiments of volunteer 
troops. ( immunes. ) During the month of July the 
total aggregate strength of the Regular and \'olunteer 
Army was two hundred sixty eight thousand, three 
hundred tifty-two, officers and enlisted men. This num- 
ber was increased in August to two hundred seventy 
four thousand, seven hundred seventeen, which repre- 
sented the largest number of soldiers, regular and vol- 
unteer, in the service, during any one month through- 
out the Spanish American war. 

April first, just previous to the outbreak of the 
war, the aggregate strength of the Regular Army was 



188 History of Companies I and E. 

twenty eight thousand, one hundred eighty-three, officers 
and men. Thus it may be seen that in ninety days 
from the declaration of war, over a quarter of a million 
men had been recruited, mobolized at the state rendez- 
vous, mustered into the United States p(ivice hurried 
to the many permanent camps designated by the War 
Department, and organized into brigades, divisions and 
army corps, and under the guidance of Regular Army 
officers, who had grown gray in the service, formed an 
arm)- which, for intelligence and patriotism had never 
been excelled in the history of the world. During the 
next thirty days this force was augmented by over six 
thousand men., with thousands upon thousands more 
formed into provisional reo-iments eager! v awaitinii 
another call for troops. 

In the Na\y the number of enlisted men allowed by 
law prior to the outbreak of hostilities was twelve 
thousand five hundred. On August fifteenth, when the 
enlisted force reached its maximum, there were twenty 
four thousand, one hundred twenty-four men in the ser- 
vice. This great increase was made necessary by the 
addition of one hundred twenty-eight ships to the Nav}'. 
This increase in the number of vessels In'ought the max- 
imum fighting force from sixty-eight to one hundred 
ninety-six. 

The war was progressing with great strides, both on the 
land and on the sea. Our soLliers and our sailors were 
transported to the scenes of conflict in both the Old World 
and the New. The area of Spanish rule was slowly but 
surely contracting and it was but a question of a few weeks 
at the most when they would be driven from many of their 
possessions. History was being made rapidly and every 
man who was aiding in bringing success to the Ameri- 




COL. THEO. ROOSEVEr.T 



Manila Bay ano San Juan Ilii.i.. ISO 

C!»n forces took a great pride in his work. The officials 
at Washington were ever on tli(> alert, more tlian half 
expecting the Spanish government wouhl succeed in se- 
curing tlie assistance of some foreign power in their l;e- 
half. l)ut fortunately for us. and [)ossil)ly for themselves 
all of the ])o\vers took a neutral stand and left the op- 
posing governments to settle the question between them- 
selves. 

The first test of tlu' tighting (pialities of the opposing 
forces occurretl on the first day of May. Commodore 
Dewey, on that day. destroyed the Spanish fl-et in Ma- 
nila bay without the loss of a man on the part of our 
forces, while the S[)anish loss was three hundred eighty 
one men killed and wounded. The downfall of the city 
of Manila did not occur for some time, not until after the 
arrival of General Merritt.: on the fifteenth day of August 
the city capitulated and the American flag was floated to 
the breeze over Spanish soil. 

On May twelfth the fleet under command of Ad- 
miral Sampson bombarded the Spanish fortification at 
San Juan, Porto Rico. On the moriiing of May thirty 
first the fleet under command of Commodore Schley, ex- 
changed shots with the Spanish vessels in the harbor of 
Santiago de Cuba with no apparent effect on either side. 
On June seventh the Marhkhead and Tankce took poss- 
ession of the lower bay of Guantanamo and on June tenth 
the first battalion of marines landed there and went into 
camp where for three days and nights these men fought 
almost constantly. On June fifteenth the fort in this bay 
was destroyed. 

On June fourteenth, General Shaffer with a force of 
eight hundred fifteen officers and sixteen thousand sev- 
enty two enlisted men sailed from Port Tampa, Fla. 



190 History of Companies 1 and E. 

The expedition arrived in the vicinity of Santiago on the 
twentieth, began disembarking on the twenty second and 
continued until the evening of the twenty fourth. On 
the morning of the twenty fourth General Young's bri- 
gade had a spirited engagement with a force of Spanish 
and drove the enemy from the field. 

For a week following the landing of the troops in 
Cuba, General Shafter was busily engaged in concentra- 
ting his men at the desired points of attack and on July 
first with the co-operation of the Cuban troops the ad- 
vance on Santiago was begun and resulted in the now 
famous battle of El Caney, where the Spanish works were 
carried by assault, and the brilliant charge of the Ameri- 
can troops up San Juan Hill. 

The Stars and Stripes were floating over El Caney 
and San Juan Hill before nightfall of the first of July, 
and the outer works of the enemy had been carried. For 
two days following this victory the Spanish kept up a 
series of attacks without avail and at noon of the third of 
July General Shafter sent a letter into the Spanish lines 
under a flag of truce apprising the commander of the 
Spanish forces that the city of Santiago would be shelled 
unless he surrendered, and requested General Toral to 
inform the citizens of foreign countries, and all women 
and children, that they should leave the city before ten 
o'clock the following morning. 

General Toral refused to surrender and informed the 
non-combatants of the contents of General Shafters letter. 
A party of foreign consuls came into the American lines 
and requested that the time limit for leaving the city be 
extended until ten o'clock July fifth, this was granted 
and the cessation of firing at noon of the third of July 
practically terminated the battle of Santiago. 



Navak V'ictokv at Santia<;(). lUl 

The tli'ft of Auiericaii vessels (jtf Sautiago Mssistetl in 
tliis battle by keeping up a heavy bombardment of the 
enemy's works at Santiago and tiie towns situated along 
the coast in that vicinity. The American losses in these 
battles were twenty two officers and two hundred eight 
men killed, and eij^hty one officers and one thousand two 
hundred three men wounded; missing seventy nine. The 
missing with few exceptions reported later. 

The news of this victory of our forces in and al)out 
Cuba was received with much satisfaction by the people 
in the States. The great loss of life was deprecated and 
with the tears of joy brought forth by the success of the 
boys in blue came the breathing of earnest prayers in 
behalf of the dead and dying heroes who had made the 
victory possible. The enemy had confronted our troops 
with numbers about equal to our own: they fought ob- 
stinately in strong and intrenched positions, and the re- 
sults obtained clearly indicated the intrepid gallantry of 
the company officers and men of our forces, and the wise 
guidance of the field officers in command. 

On the morning of July third occurred the naval 
tight off Santiago, where the American fleet under the 
direct command of Commodore Schley, in the absence 
of Admiral Sampson. destroyed Admiral Cervera's 
S(juadron. The casualities on our side were one man 
killed and ten wounded, our ships suffering no injury 
of any account. Admiral Cervera. about seventy officers 
and sixteen hundred men were made prisoners, while 
about three hundred fifty Spaniards were killed or 
drowned and one hundred and sixty wounded. Just a 
month to a day previous to this naval engagement oc- 
curred the sinking of the collier Mcrrimac across the 
entrance of the harbor of Santiago in an attempt to com- 
pletely l)Qttle up Admiral Cervera's squadron which had 



192 History of Companies I and E. 

been lying in the harbor since the nineteenth of May. 
The attempt though unsuccessful in its objefct, was dar- 
ingly executed. It is now one of the well-known histor- 
ic marvels of naval adventure and enterprise, in which 
Naval Constructor Hobson and his men won undying 
fame. 

Thus far the hand of providence had seemingly 
been raised in behalf of the American forces in every 
engagement in which they had participated, both on 
land and sea. Our people felt that the Army and Navy 
were equal to any emergency that might arise and were 
certain of success, while on the other hand the Span- 
iards must have been depressed and were fast losing 
heart in the struggle which had resulted so disasterously 
to their arms. 

Letters passed between General Shatter and Gen- 
eral Toral caused the cessation of hostilities to continue; 
Each army, however, continued to strengthen its in- 
trenchments. The strength of the enemy's position was 
such Genera] Shatter did not wish to assault if it could 
be avoided. An examination of the enemy's works, 
made after the surrender, fully justified the wisdom of 
the course adopted. The intrenchments could only 
have been carried with very great loss of life. 

At four o'clock p. m., on July tenth, the truce was 
broken off. The city was bombarded by the Navy and 
General Shatter's field o-uns and was continued until two 
p. m., July eleventh, when the firing ceased and was not 
again renewed. The surrender of the city was again 
demanded. General Toral communicated General 
Shatter's proposition to his general-in-chief. General 
Blanco, the troops of both armies rested on their arms 
awaiting the consideration of the proposition by the 
Spanish, 



Ckssation of IIostii-itiks. 193 

Such was the situation as we found it on the arrival 
of our regiment off Santiago at three o'clock p. m.. 
Monday, July eleventh. The failure of the city of 
Santiago to surrender was cause for the anticipation on 
the part of the commander of the American forces that 
an assault might yet be necessary and reeinforcements 
were hurried to him from the States. 

The data for this brief review of the progress of 
the war was secured from the annual report of the Sec- 
retary of the War and Secretary of the Navy. 



lU-l- History of Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER XIV. 

Tuesday, July fifth, the Second brigade received or- 
ders to prepare for immediate departure for Santiago.- 
the Eighth Ohio to go via New York City and the St. 
Paul, the Sixth Mass. and Sixth 111. via Charleston, S. C. 
and the Yale and Columbia. This order was received 
with loud cheers and some hustling Vv'as done, which soon 
put us in condition for traveling. At two o'clock in the 
afternoon the tents fell. The Ohio boys got away first, 
followed by the Mass. regiment, then our regiment 
marched to the parade grounds where the boys gave 
three rousing cheers for Camp Alger and Colonel Foster. 
The band played '-The Star Spangled Banner,"' the bu- 
gle corps sounded "Taps," in token of our far well to 
camp. Then the band struck up '-The girl I Left Be- 
hind Me," and the Sixth Illinois was off to the war, yell- 
ing and cheering like mad. 

Leaving Camp Alger at six forty p. m., we marched 
to Dunn Loring, where we bivouaced under the trees 
until three o'clock the next morning when we boarded 
the cars for Charleston, S. C. We were not given sleep- 
ing cars this time, day coaches and box cars were loaded 
instead. At x\lexandria we took the Atlantic Coast Line 
Ry. and continued on this line into Charleston. 

We skirted the city of Richmond, Va., at nine fifteen 
a. m., passing through Battleboro. N. C, at two thirty 
p. m., and Fayeteville at four p. m., crossing the border 



Enroute to Charleston. 195 

line between North and South Carolina at five thirty, ar- 
rivin*^ at Charleston at ten thirty p. m.. making a very 
creditable run. 

The country along the route was yery ihinl\' i^ettled. 
Occasionally we would see a small straggling village and 
a few acres of cultivated land. Eyervthing in the line of 
buildings looked very old. Two wheeled ox carts were 
numerous with negro drivers. Along the whole route 
we failed to notice one while man doing manual labor. 
Hogs, which looked as if they had been htted for the 
race course instead of the pork barrel were running 
everywhere. We found a number of old <rray-headed 
natives, ( white ) who did not appear to be overjoyed at 
sight of us. yet we met with kind treatment at every 
stopping place. The stars aud stripes were floating in 
every town and settlement, the Cuban flafj in many cases 
by its side. 

Previous to our leaving Camp Alger the men de- 
tailed to duty at the division hospital returned to their re- 
spective regiments. Private Frank Kingery. of company 
I, followed the regiment to Charleston with the officers 
horses. While there he contracted t\phoid fever and 
was seriously ill for some time. He was unable to join 
the company and it was some time after we had left the 
States that he recovered sufficiently to be removed to his 
home in Mendota. He was granted a furlough and re- 
ported to the company at Springffeld immediately after 
the arrival of the regiment from its campaign in Porto 
Rico. 

We lay in the cars at Charleston Wednesday night 
and until afternoon of the following day when we were 
given quarters under one of the numerous wharf-sheds 
which line the bay. The boys were soon in the water 



196 History of Companies I and E. 

bathing. Colonel Foster gave us unusual liberties and 
we were allowed to visit the cit}'. We all felt that it 
might possiby be the last day on American soil for some 
time and we took advantage of the opporturuty to the 
fullest. We found the citizens ver\- friendly and thev 
gave us the best of treatment. 

While a party of volunteers was touring the city, 
they became acquainted with a resident of Charleston 
named I. W. Bicot. He was at that time senior member 
of the State Legislature. lie said the people were very 
sorry that we were brought into the city so suddenly, as 
had they been aware of our coming they would have ar- 
ranged to have made it more pleasant for us; as it was 
the city was ours while we remained. 

He told us that they were not \-ery well satisfied 
with the manner in which the War Department had 
treated the volunteers of the Southern States. He said 
their own troops were not yet equipped, and had no 
hopes of being ordered to the front for some time. Not 
one regiment from the South had been sent out. They 
claimed there was. too much sectionalism shown and the 
northern troops received the preference. 

The local papers had taken the matter up and the 
editorials were very bitter, one editor published a letter 
written by an old confederate soldier to a comrade who 
had served the so-called Confederacy in the sixties, ask- 
ing if he intended to enlist as a volunteer in the war with 
Spain. In reply his comrade said he hardly thought he 
should; he could fix it up with the boys living, but if he 
should be killed in battle wearing the blue uniform and 
be called to another world, the old comrade who had giv- 
en up his life while wearing the gray, would look at him 
and say,-"deseried, by G — d.'" This the editor said was 



Li<:aving "God's Country.*' 107 

showing the true spirit: every man should be \villiii(r to 
flight for his countr\-. but he sliouid als() lu' true to his 
old comrade who died HL;htini; by his side. We saw a 
confederate flai^ waving in a doorway and afterward on 
the street. The bo\'s considered that the man who 
flaunted the emblem of a lost cause was undoubtedly a 
crank and let the circumstance pass unnoticed, although 
it caused a strong feeling of resentment to arise. 

The streets are very narrow as are also the pave- 
ments. A great man}- of the residences are built of 
stone and very substantial, by far the most pretentious 
building in the cilv is the U. S. Custom House. Direct- 
Iv in front of this building la}' the Spanish prize ship 
Rita. Out in the bay stands old Fort Sumter, and far- 
ther out to the left lies Fort Moultrie. 

Down in the city, standing alone in the center of the 
church yard is the famous church of the St. Michaels: 
one of the oldest places of worship in this country. The 
pipe organ is one hundred forty years old, -the first one 
ever brought to America. The baptismal front is one 
hundred thirty two years old. The pulpit is a high cov- 
ered pedestal sort of an affair reached by a stairway. 
On the side of the stair down near the floor can still be 
seen the mark where a Federal shell struck. The Mem- 
orial Tablet is in the front part of the church. It informs 
the tourist that the church was begun in 1752, opened 
for worship February first, 1761, exposed to the Are of 
the British artillery in 1780, struck four times by the 
Federal artillery 1862-65. nearly wrecked by a cyclone 
in 1885. almost destroyed by an earthquake in i887, re- 
stored and reopened for worship June nineteenth. i889. 
An interesting record for a house of worship. 

The Yale and Columbia were out about twelve 



198 Mist orv op Companies 1 ano E. 

miles, drawing too much water to enter the harbor. 
They were delayed in getting out by the roughness of 
the sea, they were coaling ship and the colliers could not 
work with the waves running so high. The soldiers 
passed the time by amusing themselves with the little pick- 
aninnies, who swarmed about the wharf in droves. 

Friday, July eighth, the First battalion of our regi- 
ment, composed of companies E, I. A and F, and the 
battalion othcers, boarded the ferrv-boat. Commodore 
Perry at six thirty in the evening, which took us out to 
the awaiting vessels. Company A was put on board ihe 
Yale with the Sixth Mass., E, I and F going on the Co- 
lumbia. Three hundred men, besides her crew, was all 
this boat could accomodate. General Miles and General 
Garrettson were on the Yale. Colonel Foster and staff, 
the second and third battalions and the band remained at 
Charleston, intending to follow us on the Rita within a 
day or so. 

As we steamed out of the bay and down past Fort 
Sumter the boys cast wistful glances toward the reced- 
ing shore. Darkness was soon upon us and waving a 
last farewell we bade good-bye to ''God's Country." As 
we drew nearer the open sea the waves rolled higher and 
the little boat rocked and pitched undl many of us land- 
lubbers began to fear we would go to the bottom. The 
captain of the boat drove us flrst to one side and then the 
other, making human ballast of us in an effort to keep 
his craft right side up. 

Long before we reached the boats out at sea, many 
of us were "feeding the fishes." To those who were 
unaffected by the tossing of the boat it was an amusing 
spectacle to walk into tne passengers cabin and find the 
long rows of seats occupied by soldiers with their knees 



Hoard iNc; tiik Coiaimbia. 10^^ 

resting on llie cushicjn. their heads run througii the open 
windows while thev ga/.ed intenily into the briny deep. 
Now and then an apparently lifeless form would drop 
back onto the seat and a white and haggard face appear 
at the window; the countenance lighted by a sad. sweet 
smile, and after a moments silence, the sufferer appeared 
about to speak, when his mouth would close with a snap, 
his eyes begin to roll, the veins stand out like whip cords 
on his brow, and the head would duck out of the window, 
while the body was convulsed with a violent shudder, 
his leiTS would straifjhten out us thoufjli a vain eflPort was 
being made to force his feet through the plank floor or 
crowd his body out of the narrow window, and a weak 
voice wouhl he heard repeating. ""I want to get out and 
walk." 

It was nearly ten o'clock that night when we reached 
the Yale. The transfer of company A to this boat was a 
com[)aratively easy matter as the ferry-boat pulled along 
side of it and planks were run over and the boys scram- 
l)led across. On account of the peculiar build of the Col- 
umbia the work of getting the three remaining companies 
aboard of her was more exciting and to the land troops it 
appeared rather a dangerous undertaking. The Colum- 
Ijia riding at anchor some distance from the ferry. boat 
sent out her whale l)oats and cutters manned by the ves- 
sels crew. These small crafts were pulled to the side of 
the ferry-boat and as the sea rose carrying the smalj 
boats up to within leaping distance the men jumped down 
into them. Then the wave would recede and the boat 
drop down a number of feet. With the approach of the 
ne>;t billow the trick would be repeated. Some times the 
escit.^d soldier would make the leap at the moment the 
boat was taking a drop, or meet it coming up vvhen the 
lar^ding Nyas TAtbeV S^Yere ppd he would go sprawiiug 



200 History of Companies I and E. 

among the sailors much to their amusement. When a boat 
was loaded it was pulled away in the darkness and to the side 
of the Columbia and the men would scramble up the rope 
ladder to her deck to be hustled into the sailors quarters 
and out of the way of those that were to follow. 

It was dark as pitch and the work was carried on by 
the aid of the brilliant glare of the Columbia's powerful 
search-light. As the cutter left the ferry-boat and was 
pulled toward the Columbia the rolling of the waves kept 
it hidden from view most of the time, and to those who 
were watching the work and awaiting their turn it looked 
like anything but a pleasant journey, but when once in 
the craft the feeling of dread disappeared as we saw the 
ease with which the old salts guided the frail craft on its 
course and kept it riding the waves like a duck. It was 
slow work and quite late when the last man crawled up 
the side of the Columbia and sought a place of rest. 

The next morning we awoke to find ourselves out at 
sea, having weighed anchor at midnight, the Yale keep- 
ing within sight about ten miles out on our port side. 
The day passed away very quickly, the wonderful ma- 
chinery, the large guns, torpedo tubes, and all keeping 
us very busy exploring. We were not slow to realize our 
good fortune in being ])laced on this magnificent vessel 
instead of an old dirty transport which had been carrying 
nothing but live stock for years. 

The Columbia is a triple-screw, first class protected 
cruiser; the plates are five eighths of an inch in thickness 
and double; length two hundred twelve feet; breadth 
fifty eight feet; displacement seven thousand three hun- 
dred seventy five terns. On her trial trip she made twen- 
tv two knots per hour but since has made a record of 
twenty seven, making her one of the swiftest boats in the 
navv. Battery, one eight inch breech loading rifle, two 



On Board a War Ship. 201 

six inch and eight four inch, twclvi^ six [)()iiu(h'r and four 
one pounder rapid tire guns, f^ur gatling guns and one 
three inch field piece. She also had four torpedo tubes 
with three torpedoes for each. There are eight mammoth 
double end boilers, making sixty four tires which can be 
built in an emergency, and three powerful engines of sev- 
en thousand horse-power each. She carried a crew of 
forty officers and four hundred twenty-nine men of which 
forty-five were marines, is lighted by electricity from 
stem to stern and has an ice machine which at that time 
was kept running night and da}-. She cost Uncle Sam 
two million seven hundred twenty five thousand dollars. 

Captain Sands was in command of the vessel and the 
crew thought a great deal of him. As for the crew itself, 
it did everything possible to make us comfortable. 
Placing three hundred men on board a boat that had ac- 
comodations for the crew only, made it rather unpleasant 
but they gave up quarters and divided rations with us 
and did us many other favors, if they had not we would 
have fared rather poorly. 

The sea was smooth and the vessel seemed as solid 
as a rock, the continual swish swash of the waves as they 
broke against her sides was about the only indication we 
had that We were on the wide sea as we rested in our 
(quarters on the main dack. During the daytime the men 
spent their time on the upper or superstructure deck, se- 
curing protection from the broiling heat of the sun as 
best they may in the shadow of the mammoth smoke 
stacks, the orun shields and in and around the half dozen 
whale-boats and cutters which swung from the davits at 
the vessels side. 

As the work of the sailors brought them towards 
our resting places we were driven before them, from one 
end of the vessel to the other and all around it. We 



202 History of Companies I and E. 

would be resting quietly on the upper deck when a bare- 
foot seamen would bellow out "'get down below." after 
scrambling through the hatchways to the main deck and 
get comfortably located, another voice would command 
us to "go up above," a few moments after reaching the 
upper deck we were told to ''get in the whale boats,"' and 
shortly we would be instructed to '"get out of the boats." 
Thus the hours dragged on until darkness came when we 
would settle ourselves for the night and for a couple of 
hours listen to the tales of the jolly tars as they related 
their experiences in their many sea voyages. 

Several ships were sighted on the voyage and both 
the Yale and Columbia would give chase, hoping to over- 
haul some Spanish vessel and secure it as a prize, but 
they were all flying the stars and stripes or the emblem 
of a neutral government. On the morning of July 
eleventh, we sighted land and found it was the eastern 
coast of Cuba. We steamed along the* coast and about 
noon passed Guantanamo bay where the handful of ma- 
rines had landed some days before and fought so bravely 
against irreat odds. 

We soon sighted the hulls of several vessels ahead 
and all precantions were taken to prevent our running in- 
to a trap; the gunners were at their posts and everything 
made ready for a fight if they should prove to be un- 
friendly, but they were Uncle Sam's ships and we were 
soon amonff them. We arrived about three o'clock in 
the afternoon of July eleventh, just an hour after the 
last bombardment of Santiago had ceased, A slight 
indentation in the coast line indicated the entrance to 
Santiago harbor but we were too far distant to see 
more of this then famous place. On the eastern side of 
the entrance and situated on a prominent point old 
Morro Castle frowned down upon us, 



ArRIVAT, at SAN-riAGO. tZOS 

For miles around us we could see man-of-war 
ships, cruisers, torpedo boats and transports. The 
Spanish lookout stationed at Morro Castle reported to 
his commander on that da\ he counted lifty-seven war 
ships and transports all ilyinn- the American Hag within 
a radius of a few miles m the vicinity of Santiago har- 
bor. Among ihem were New York, Brooklyn, Texas, 
Indiana. Oregon. Massachusetts, Iowa, Newark. Hel- 
ena. W' ilmington and the dvnamite boat \ esuvius, also 
the hospital ship Solace, intermingling with the numer- 
ous transports and all cruising about and up and down 
the coast. 

This was a pleasing sight for us land troops, cruis- 
ing about not far from the shore, passing first one and 
then another of those wonderful righting machines 
which had won such a glorious victory a week previous, 
the mountains looming up in the background dotted 
with white tents and buildings and within sight of Santi- 
ago harbor, the outer fortirications plainly discernable. 
We could hardlv realize our position, so much that was 
new and deeply interesting having been crowded upon 
us in a short time. 

Ten of the remaining companies of our regiment, 
the band and the colonel and his staff boarded the Rita 
at Charleston, Sundaw |ul\ tenth and arrived at Santiaijo 
the following Friday. Their voyage was not a pleas- 
ant one. as the vessel rolled and pitched throughout the 
trip and nearly every man aboard of her was seasick. 
Companies D and M followed on the transport, Duchesse. 



204 History of Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER XV. 

Immediately on our arrival at Santiago, General 
Miles sent a note to Admiral Sampson to the effect that 
it was his desire to land troops from the Yale. Colum- 
bia, and Duchesse to the west of the bay of Saniiago 
harbor, and follow it up with additional troops, moving 
east against the Spanish troops defending Santiago on 
the west. He requested Admiral Sampson to designate 
the most available point for disembarking the troops, 
and render all of the assistance practicable as they 
moved east. Admiral Sampson then went on board the 
Yale and consulted General Miles, who told him he 
desired the co-operation of the Navy in the plan above 
stated. The admiral cordially acquiesced in the plan 
and offered every assistance of his fleet ^to cover the 
debarkation of the troops and also infilade the Spanish 
position with the guns of the ships. 

General Miles then went ashore aind the following 
morning opened communication with General Shafter, 
after which he gave diiections to General Garrettson to 
disembark all the troops on the Yale, Columbia, and 
other transports that Vv'ere expected to arrive, viz, the 
Duchesse and 1-^ita. whenever he should receive orders 
to do so. A note was directed to General Toral, com- 
manding the Spanish forces, apprising him of the pres- 
ence of the General commanding the American Army 



Surrender of Santiago. 205 

and a meetinjr between the lines was arranged for at 
twelve o'clock noon the following day. 

At the appointed time. General Miles and a portion 
of his staff, met General Toral and two of his staff 
officers and an interpreter. Negotiations for the sur- 
render of General Toral's forces were carried on, the 
United States government to return his army to Spain. 
General Toral plead for time to communicate with his 
superiors. This was granted and he w^as given until 
twelve o'clock noon the following day to arrive at a 
decision. 

General Henry, who had been placed in command 
of all the infantry and artillery then on transports, was 
instructed to be in readiness to disembark at noon, the 
following dav.. July fourteenth, at Cabanas. This in- 
cluded the Sixth Illinois regiment. On the morning of 
July fourteenth, Admiral Sampson's fleet was in posi- 
tion to cover the landing of the troops from the trans- 
ports, about two and one half miles w^est of Santiago 
harbor, in case the Spanish should fail to surrender. 

On meeting General Toral by appointment at 
twelve o'clock noon that day. he formally surrendered 
the troops of his army corps and division of Santiago 
to General iVEiles. General Henry was notified and as 
a portion of the army was infected with yellow fever it 
was determined not to land the troops on board the 
transports at that point but to run them back to Guan- 
tanamo bay and there take on coal and otherwise pre- 
pare the fleet for an early departure for Porto Rico. 

The men on board continued in good health and 
few if any on the Columbia had been affected by sea- 
sickness. After the novelty of the situation had worn 
off we began to get anxious to get ashore. We had 



206 History of Companies I and E. 

prepared to land several times but each order was 
countermanded. It had rained every day since our 
arrival at Santiago, the sun coming out very bright and 
hot immediately afterward. The mountains wearing 
anything but an inviting aspect at these times, as a 
heavy fog enveloped everything on land. Many of the 
soldiers and sailors found sleeping quarters on the upper 
deck and in the dead of the night they would be awak- 
ened by a heavy downpour of rain and they would 
scramble down through the hatchways completely 
drenched. 

The disappointment at not going ashore at Santiago 
left the men very low spirited. We had been drilling 
for months, all the while looking forward to the day 
when we should be among the victorious troops march- 
ing into the Spanish city. Now it looked as though we 
were to have the trouble for the pains as we had no idea 
whether we were to be sent to Porto Rico or returned 
home. 

The inactivity was wearing on the men more than 
did the tedious work in the states. On the sixteenth of 
July our vessel steamed west to Guantanamo bay arriv- 
ing in the early evening. We found a number of the 
boats that had been lying off Santiago had preceded us 
and some were already taking on a supply of coal from 
the coaling ships. As our boat stood bow on to shore, 
to the left and some distance inland we saw the wreck of 
a fortress the walls of which had been partially demol- 
ished by the guns of our vessels some time before. 

The white tents of Camp McCalla stood on the 
crest of a hill not far from the shore. This was the 
quarters of the marines who landed from the Marblehead 
on the tenth of June. At the foot of the hill and extend- 



GUANTANAMO BaY. 207 

ing out on the beach lay the Cuban camp which con- 
tained about two hundred soldiers, mostly black and from 
all indications thev represented the worst class of nativ'es 
on the island. They were indolent and appeared to wish 
for nothing more than to possess a comfortable hammock* 
a supply of tobacco and draw rations from Uncle Sams 
larder as often as possible. 

The marines found but little use for them except as 
sentinels as they had been doing scout duty for years 
and were very alert besides they were acquainted with 
every nook and cranny on the island. Many of the ma- 
rines came on board our vessel and some of them gave 
us a ver}' graphic description of the three days battle 
which occurred following the landing of their men. 
Nearly every tent which they had put up was so riddled 
with Spanish bullets that they were but poor shelter dur- 
ing the heavy rains which occurred daily. 

In the face of a continual fire the men had thrown 
up a rampart ofgravel completelv surrounding the camp 
which gave them a protection from the Mauser bullets 
and an opportunity to rest after the seige had been raised. 
Three graves in the center of the camp marked the last 
resting place of Surgeon Gribbs. a sergeant major and a 
private who fell early in the battle. Part w^ay down the 
hill on the other side were the graves of three men who 
were instantly killed, while doing outpost duty, by a 
squad of seventeen Spaniards all of whom were after- 
wards killed with the lieutenant in command. 

In the center of the camp was Colonel Huntington's 
headquarters, over which the stars and stripes were flying 
the first to float over Cuban soil. To the left was a 
small rapid firing gun, which discharged bullets at the 
rate of five hundred a minute. The Spaniards had a 
wholesome respect for this gun. and an officer, taken 



208 History of Companies I and E. 

prisoner by our men, when asked if there was anything 
he would Hke done for him, said, nothing except he 
would like to see this gun. Several officers from the 
Columbia, including our company and battalion officers 
visited this camp also the Caban camp and what they 
saw proved that the marines had been subjected to a 
severe fire, in an extremeh^ exposed position and the 
indomitable courage of the marines in retaining the foot- 
hold established was quite evident. 

Our rations while on the boat were not conducive 
to the health or comfort of the men. Fresh meat, or at 
least the boys said it was fresh because it was "alive", 
was sent to us almost daily. It came lashed to the 
w.haleboat which brought it to us. We wondered at this 
as the surface of the bay was as calm as the waters of a 
mill-pond. It was hoisted on board and four expert 
sprinters from each company sent for, then the chase be- 
gan. 

That confounded meat just would not be caught; it 
flip-flapped about at a lively rate until finall}' cornered. 
After being captured and "killed" the meat was cut up 
into great hunks about a foot square and brought out 
along with a bushel of hard-tack, into which an empty 
tomato can was thrown, a little water poured over the 
mixture and the whole run down to the ships galley and 
placed over the fire a few moments, this they called hash, 
and it was doled out to the men with all the precaution 
that would have been taken had it been angel-food cake 
with a prize in every cutting. 

About an hour after we had gotten on the outside of 
our portion of this first course, a pail would be run down 
to the galley, some coffee dumped in, filled with hot 
water and brought out to us. Then the fighting began 
and after crawling out of the mix-up we generally found 



73 



3* 



51 

•5' 




Awaiting Orders. 209 

ourselves with a pint of coffee grounds and a tablespoon- 
ful of coffee. 

At intervals during the day we would take up our 
belts a few notches; this we continued until nearly time 
to turn in for the night, then we would eat a few hard- 
tack drink a little water, lie quite still until the hard-tack 
began to swell, then slip the belt off quickly and fill up 
on water. This was necessary to keep the front side of 
the back from coming in contact with the back-bone 
while lying down. 

"Music sounds the sweetest when on the moon-lit 
sea." The reality of this came to us with full force as 
we heard the rich, sweet notes of "The First Brigade 
March" come pealing across the water from the deck of 
the Rita which carried our band. As the music reached 
us, faintly at tirst but clear and distinct as the two vessels 
drifted nearer, a hush fell over the throng of idle soldiers 
and they eagerly drank in every sound until the position 
of the boats changed and the music died away in the dis- 
tance. Then cheer after cheer went up from our boat. 
Drooping spirits were revived and it almost seemed that 
we were back again in the states. This was the first 
time we had heard our band since leaving Charleston 
and it had a wonderful effect on us all. 

At night the scene in the bay was beautiful. The 
number of vessels had increased daily and during the lat- 
ter part of our stay there the bay was nearly filled with 
boats. When all were lighted for the night it had the 
appearance of a miniature city, while the ever changing 
position of the boats gave us a panoramic view of the 
whole scene. As the bugle calls from the war vessels 
were sounded, first on one hand then the other, we imag- 
ined we were back in our quarters at Camp Alger, and 
we felt we were again soldiers. 



210 History of Companies I and E. 

For nearly three months previous to our boarding 
the Cohinibia for Cuba we had been accustomed to almost 
continual duty of some sort and bands and bugle corps 
were ever present. Since taking to the sea we had done 
nothing but scramble for something to eat and lay around, 
killing time as best we could. The monotony was telling 
on the men and they were anxious to be up and doing. 
They fully recognized the many perils which beset a sol- 
dier in the field, facing a wily enemy but this had been 
considered long before and they would gladly have taken 
the risk only to be on shore and do even a little actual 
service. They were fairly disgusted with the "coffee 
cooler" soldiering. 

On the morning of the eighteenth, the crew made 
preparations for coaling ship. Volunteers were called 
for from among the soldiers on board but less than a half 
dozen men responded as none relished the idea of shovel- 
ing coal on an empty stomach. The following three days 
were occupied in coaling shi}) and they were horrible 
days,-dirt and coaldust over everything. It was but a 
short time until we were as dirty a lot of men as one 
cared to see, but we were rapidly becoming accustomed 
to accept anything that came along and say nothing. 

Captain Sands wanted eighteen hundred tons of coal 
to fill the boat's bunkers but the supply was nearly ex- 
hausted and he was fortunate to secure six hundred tons; 
the vessel had something like three hundred tons when 
we arrived in the bay making a total of about nine hun- 
dred tons in her bunkers. 

At noon, Thursday, July twenty-first, orders were 
received for the vessel to have steam up and everything 
in readiness to put out .to sea at three o'clock that after- 
noon, and at four we steamed out of the harbor enroute 
for Porto JRico. the Massachusetts acting as flag ship, 



Off for Porto Rico. 211 

leading the fleet which was composed of the Massachu- 
setts, Columbia, Yale with General Miles, Henry and 
Garrettson on board, the Gloucester, a dispatch boat and 
nine transports heavily laden with troops, cavalry and ar- 
tillery horses and light artillery. 

With three thousand four hundred fifteen infantry- 
men and artillerymen, together with two com[)anies of 
engineers and one company of the Signal Corps, with one 
hundred of this aggregate number of men sick, which re- 
duced our eflPective force to about three thousand three 
hundred men, we moved on the Island of Porto Rico, at 
that time occupied by eight thousand two hundred thirty 
three Spanish regulars, and nine thousand one hundred 
seven volunteers. The objective point being San Juan, 
on the north-eastern coast of the island. 

The Columbia acted as refir guard for the fleet and 
our course was necessarily much slower than when we 
made the run from Charleston to Cuba on account of 
having the slow moving transports in the fleet, eight, or 
at the best, nine knots per hour was the maximum speed 
during the journey. On the second night out we were 
joined by the cruiser Dixie. 

Just the slightest ripple of excitement was caused on 
board our boat before a signal was sent out bv the Dix- 
ie making herself known. The Columbia was some dis- 
tance in the rear of the fleet when a light was seen ap- 
proaching the stern of our vessel. The Dixie was ex- 
pected to join us in this vicinity but nothing could be 
seen to determine the nature of the approaching vessel 
other than the light which gradually drew nearer us. 
High up on the mast the Columbia's signal lights flash- 
ed the Dixie's call ••D" but could get no res[)onse, a 
sailor picked up a hand electric lantern and stepping to 



212 History of Companies I and E. 

the stern of our boat made an attempt to get a reply to 
his signals but all to no purpose. 

The peculiar actions of the crew of the vessel follow- 
ing us gave Captain Sands cause for suspicion that all 
was not riofht and he chan£:ed the course of the Colum- 
bia, making a loop and coming down close to the sus- 
picious craft and again flashed the signal ''D", this time 
receiving a reply that apparently satisfied him and we 
came around onto the direct course once more. As day- 
light came we saw the Dixie was among the vessels of the 
fleet and then understood the actions of the boats the 
night before. 

We steamed through the Windward Passage in a 
northeasterly course, not losing sight of land until near- 
ly to our destination. The Islands of Cuba and Hayti 
appearing not more than ten miles apart yet they are 
nearly fifty. On the morning of the twenty-second the 
Columbia was signaled to report to General Miles as he 
wished to send a cablegram to Washington, and she be- 
ing the swiftest vessel in the fleet was selected for that 
purpose. An officer was sent on board the Yale and re- 
ceived the dispatch; then our vessel was headed for Mole 
St. Nicholas, on the eastern coast of Hayti, arriving there 
about eleven thirty a. m. A cutter was sent ashore to the 
cable station, returning immediately. The soldiers were 
ordered to remain below and keep out of sight but a half 
dozen of us managed to find a secluded place and re- 
mained 9n deck and with the aid of a small field glass an 
excellent view of the bay and island was had. The town 
appeared as almost nothing; a few houses and an old 
fortress was all we could see. The French flag was fly- 
ing over nearly every house, also over the cable station. 
Returning we left the bay about twelve o'clock noon, and 



Arrival at Port Guanica. 21c^ 

caught the fleet in the middle of the afternoon. The 
coasts of Cuba. Ilaytiand Porto Rico are lined with 
mountains and looked anything but inviting to the Illi- 
nois boys who were accustomed to the broad prairies of 
their native state. 

We held the original course of east by north until 
the morning of the twenty-fourth, when General Miles 
changed his plans and directed the fleet to change its 
course and make Port Guanica, on the southwestern 
coast of the island its destination. General Miles, after 
consulting with Cap't Higginson of the Massachusetts, 
decided that the Spanish government must certainly 
be aware of his intentions to land troops at San Juan and 
it would accordingh' mobolize its forces at that point. 
He learned that a very desirable landing place could be 
secured at Port Guanica and later at Port Ponce and in 
all probability would meet with but little opposition. 

The Dixie was sent on to San Juan to notify all ves- 
sels expected to arrive there of the chainge in the origin- 
al plans. That night we sailed through the Mona Pass- 
age without lights and silently we neared the goal. The 
following morning we were on the Caribbean Sea close 
to land and about nine thirty the Gloucester entered the 
harbor of Port Guanica, throwing shells from a six pound 
gun into the hills and scattering the few Spanish soldiers 
stationed there. The Columbia could not get close in as 
she drew too much water and we were once more load- 
ed into the ships whale boats and cutters and towed a 
mile and a half to the landing. 



214 History of Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER XVI. 

About ten o'clock on the morning of July twenty- 
fifth company E landed at Guanica, closely followed by 
fifteen men of company I. A company of marines from 
the Gloucester was the first American troops to land on 
Porto Rican soil. These men had a brush with the few 
Spanish soldiers that remained in the vicinity driving 
them back into the hills where the six pounders fired 
from the Gloucester had forced the larger portion of the 
enemy early in the day. The marines hoisted the stars 
and stripes and shortly returned to their vessel. Follow- 
ing them came a division of the First Illinois Engineer 
Corps, then company E and the fifteen men of company 
I, with Major Channon in command on shore. 

When we arrived in the village there was not a na- 
tive or Spaniard in sight. They had completely desert- 
ed the town. We were not allowed to approach any of 
the buildings but were formed in the center of the nar- 
row Street and held there for a short time awaiting Maj- 
or Channons orders. The town in main consisted of one 
street running north to the foot of the hills which sur- 
rounded the bay. A few comfortable dvN^ellings and 
summer homes of the more weakhy of the residents of 
the vicinity bordered the narrow street with here and 
there a general store building, the village itself termi- 
nating in cluster of thatched huts about three quarters 



OuTi'OST Duty in the Hillv. 215 

of a mile from the beach. 

Surrounding the village was a level plain which ran 
back from the beach about a mile. On the north and 
east the hills or mountains rose to a considerable height 
while on the west the bay ran back several hundred rods 
and close up to the foot of the hills. Directly north of 
the landing the hills were separated by a beautiful valley 
about a mile in width which wound back into the island 
for several miles. The one street of the town led di- 
rectly to the southern entrance of this valley and it was 
here that the Spaniards and natives retreated on the 
approach of the American troops. 

Company E was divided into tw^o platoons and 
sent to the hills to the east to establish an outpost guard 
line under command of Capt. Lawrie and Lieut. Wahl 
respectively. The fifteen men of company I. under 
command of Serg't Weaver were ordered to take a 
position on the summit of a high hill about a mile to the 
south and west of the town, there to be joined by the 
remainder of the company as soon as they came on 
shore. Major Channon instructed the men to keep 
their rifles loaded and in readiness for instant action and 
to take no chances whatever. 

Arriving at the foot of the hills we found we had a 
difficult climb before us as the cactus plant, which grows 
there as large as our fruit trees, were very thick from 
the base of the hill to the summit. Many other small 
trees and shrubbery grew so dense it was impossible 
to see more than a dozen feet in advance, while the 
hills had every indication of being the result of some 
gigantic upheavel caused by volcanic eruptions in years 
past. Great irregular pieces of stone, honey-combed 
to the depth of half aninch, the outer surface covered 
with fine, projecting points of stone as sharp as a knife 



216 History of Companies I and E. 

blade and as hard as steel, were thrown up in apparent- 
ly insurmountable masses. 

Company E took its position and remained there 
until five o'clock in the evening, when they were re- 
lieved by company A. During their stay on out-post 
the boys of company E explored the locality thoroughly 
but found no indication of the enemy. After return- 
ing to the landing they pitched their shelter tents en 
the grassy plain a few rods back from the ba}^ and were 
placed on duty unloading baggage and supplies from 
the Rita. 

Five of the handful of men of compan}^ I made the 
ascent of the hill where they were to take a position 
and establish a point of observation, arriving on the 
summit nothing could be seen in either direction. The 
cactus plants, shrubbery and large stone were so thick 
that It w^as impossible to find a place large enough to 
pitch a shelter tent in that neighborhood. After a long 
search a large rock was found projecting far out over 
the hill side and clear of the brush. Crawling out on 
this an excellent view of the plain below and the valley 
stretching away to the north could be had. 

The scene was a beautiful one. It was the noon 
hour and the sun was shining brightly. Everything was 
green and refreshing. Down the narrow valley small 
farms were laid out and the crops appeared to be in ex- 
cellent condition, the hills jutting out here and there 
formed dark recesses where the sunlight faded into a 
gloom and the shaded green of the foliage appeared to 
extend a welcoming hand to the invading soldiers, 
beckoning them in, there to find protection from the 
burning heat of the sun. But as far as the eye could 
reach not a living being was in sight. Peace and quiet- 
ness reigned over the whole valley and on first thought 



First Meetinc; With Natives. 217 

it seemed criminal to throw this beautiful land into the 
turmoil of war. 

Turning about and lookinu^ toward the sea an en- 
tirely different scene presented itself. Out on the open 
water the lead colored hulls of the war vessels stood 
out in bold relief, the uncovered guns directed shore- 
ward prepared to throw a storm of shells into the ranks 
of the enem}', should they develop in formidable num- 
bers. Close into shore the many transports were busily 
engaged unloading their cargoes. Much of the work 
had alreadv been accomplished and white tents dotted 
the plain while the battery of artillery was getting its 
guns in readiness to limber up at a moments notice. 

The position taken by the men on the summit 
seeming untenantable, a report of the situation was made 
to Major Channon and he ordered them to the plain below, 
where they were soon joined by the remainder of the 
company. The men were immediately placed on out- 
post duty, the second platoon, under command of Lieut. 
Lawton was placed on the extreme left and along the 
main road which led to San German, with the wooded 
hill on the one side and the waters of the bay run- 
ning up close on the other. The last out-post to the 
left was stationed fully two miles from the camp on the 
beach. Capt. Colebaugh, with the first platoon ex- 
tended his line in toward the camp and was joined on 
the right by company F. Farther to the right company 
G of Dixon, was on out-post duty between the left of 
company A and the right of company F. 

As the day wore on several natives were captured 
and brought into camp. They were v*ery much excited 
and more than half expected the Americans would put 
them to death as thev had been made to believe this 
by the Spanish soldiers who had so recently fled. The 



218 History of Companies I and E. 

natives were made to understand that no harm would 
befall them if they would return to their homes and re- 
main quiet. The glad tidings soon spread to the 
mountains and they began to come in from all directions. 
They were quite timid at tirst but soon overcarne their 
fears and in a short time they were mingling with the 
soldiers apparently perfectly satisfied with the turn 
affairs had taken. Of course we could not understand 
a word of their language, nor they ours, but by 'signs and 
motions we made fair headway and usually made them 
understand what was wanted. One of the first things 
they learned was that we were completely out of to- 
bacco, and for several days after our arrival when a na- 
tive met a soldier he would come to a halt several 
paces from him and if he had any tobacco, cigars or 
cigarettes he would produce them as a peace offering, 
but should he be so unfortunate as to not have any of 
these articles he would strike each pocket in turn to 
show it was empty, throw both hands out before him 
and repeat "No I, No I," meaning he had nqne and 
look appealingly at us fearing we would do him harm 
because he could not pay us tribute. Some one of the 
boys would step toward him and in a threatening man- 
ner tell him he must be a Spaniard, the native would 
turn pale and tremblingly exclaim, "SpanoHa, No! No! 
America, Porto Rico." 

We knew there had been but few Spanish soldiers 
in the village but we were told by the natives that 
there were several hundred lurking in the hills near rs 
and we did not know what moment they might steal 
upon us and open fire. The underbrush and shrubbery 
was so thick they could have approached us wiihout 
much fear of detection. We had no dinner and the 
provisions did not get out to us until after dark; thep 



On the Picket Line. 219 

we were not allowed to build tires to make coffee, but 
we enjoyed it nevertheless as we were in actual service 
then and felt that we were soldiers in every respect. 

We sat around the box of hardtack and ate keep- 
ing as qiiiet as possible, our guards were posted along 
the public highway and partly up the mountain side. 
It was not long until the boys began to take snap shots 
alon<i- the line. There were a number of cattle running 
through the timber and we had been cautioned to bfe- 
ware of the mooing of cows, barking of dogs and hoot- 
ing of owls, as these were Spanish signals. This made 
us suspicious of every sound and the consequences were 
the boys fired at imaginary Spaniards quite frequently. 

The enemy was not far distant as we found be- 
fore daylight. The bullets kept zipping around arid 
over us and in the morning we ])icked up some of the 
spent bullets which had dropped in our camp. When- 
ever a shot was fired every man was wide awake with his 
ritie ready for instant action: the moon shone brightly 
and the relief guards were more or less exposed through- 
out the night. The natives continued to straggle in 
Ion or after dark and it was a miracle that some of them 
were not shot as they did not appear to recognize the 
challenge of a sentinel as a command to halt but more as 
a greeting and they would walk straight ahend. The 
sentinels hardly knew what action to take. They knew 
there were Spunish soldiers in the vicinity but they 
doubted their having the courage to ccme forward so 
boldly; they also knew there were any number of harm- 
less natives yet in the mountains and they did not wish 
to have the blood of an innocent man on their hands, 
"there was but one alternative and that was to be pre- 
pared for instant action upon the first sign of treachery 



220 History of Companies I and E. 

and allow them to pass the lines. The actions of the 
Americans in this matter went a long way toward quiet- 
ing the fears of the natives and gave them a feeling of 
safety which made them our friends. 

During the early hours of the morning, company G 
was attacked by the Spanish. As this was the only in- 
stance where our regiment clashed with the enemy, the 
report of this skirmish, given in the words of General 
Garrettson, follows. 

"At about six p. m. a report was sent in from this 
outpost that the enemy in considerable numbers had 
been discovered. I sent out two companies of the Sixth 
Massachusetts as a reserve. 

During the night the enemy opened fire on the out- 
posts, and their commander sent in a report, which ar- 
rived in camp at two a. m., July twenty-sixth, that an at- 
tack was expected. At three a. m., 1, with my staff and 
Major W. O. Hayes, First Ohio Cavalry, and five com- 
pnnies of the Sixth Massachusetts, left camp for the out- 
post on the Yauco road. The command arrived there 
shortly before daylight, at about four thirty o'clock. 
From the reports of the outposts the enemy was supposed 
to be in a field to the right of the road to Yauco. Packs 
were thrown off and the command formed for an attack. 
The company of Sixth Illinois (G) remained on the hill 
and protected our right flank. The remaining companies 
were collected, two as support and three as reserve. Af- 
ter advancing to within two hundred yards of the plain 
of the hacienda Santa Decideria, the advance guard of 
our attacking force was discovered by the enemy, who 
opened fire from a position on the hill to the west. The 
north and east slopes of this hill intersect each other, 
forming a solid angle. It was along this angle that the 
enemy was posted. Their reserve, posted in a road 
leading from the hacienda to the east, also opened a 
strong fire on the road. A body of the enemy moved 
against the company on our right (G, Sixth Illinois), 



73 




Skirmish With tiik Spanish. 221 

stationed on the liill of \'enliira (j)uinones. This com- 
pany had intrenched themselves during the night, and 
after repulsing the attacking force, directed their fire 
against the enemy on the hill to the west. 

The conformation of the ground was such that the 
fire of the enemy's reserves and party on the left was 
eifective in the seemingly secure hollow in which our re- 
serves were posted. The heavy volume of fire, the noise 
of shots striking the trees and on the ground, and the 
wounding of two men among the reserves caused a 
momentary confusion among the troops. They were 
quickly rallied and placed under cover. The fire of the 
advance party and supports was directed against the 
party of the enemy on the hill, and temporarily silenced 
their fire from that direction. 

Our advance guard of two companies, ignoring the 
enemy on the hill, then deployed mainly to the right of 
the road, and were led with quick and accurate military 
judgement and great personal gallantry, by Lieutenant 
Langhorne, First Cavalry, aid, against the reserves of 
the enemy. The supports and one company of reserves, 
under the direction of Captain L. G. Berry, charged 
against the party on the west of the hill, through the 
barbed- wire fence and chaparral. The reserves were 
deployed along the barbed-wire fence running at right 
angles to the road, conducted through the fence, and 
brought up in the rear and to the left of the attack- 
ing party conducted by Lieutenant B. Ames, adjutant. 
Sixth Massachusetts. The enemy were driven from 
the hill and retired to the valley, disappearing behind 
the hacienda. The reserves of the enemy ceased firing 
and retired. It was supposed that they had retired to 
the hacienda, as this house was surrounded on the 
sides presented to our view, with loopholed walls. The 
troops on the hill were collected along the road. 
A reserve of three companies was established at the 
intersection of the road and the main road to Yauco. 
The two companies in advance, which were deployed, 
wheeled to the left and advanced through the cornfield 



222 History of Companies I and E. 

to our right. The remainder of the command deployed 
and advanced to the hacienda, enveloping it on the left. 
It was then discovered that the enemy had retired from 
the hacienda in the direction of Yauco, along cleverly 
concealed lines of retreat. 

As the object of the expedition was considered ac- 
complished, and in obedience to instructions received 
from Major-General Miles, no further pursuit was un- 
dertaken. 

The battalion of recruits of the Regular Army, un- 
der Captain Hubert, reported for orders, having heard 
the firing, but were not needed and returned to camp. 

The force of the enemy engaged in the battle con- 
sisted of Battalion twenty-five, Patria, of the Spanish 
Army, and some volunteers, in all about six or seven 
hundred men. 

The casualties on our side were four slightly wound- 
ed, all of the Sixth Massachusetts. After the occupa- 
tion of Yauco the casualities of the enemy were found 
to have been, one lieutenant and one cornet killed, eight- 
een seriously and thirty-two slightly wounded. 

After the confusion resulting from the first unexpected 
fire, the conduct of the troops was excellent. They were 
speedily rallied, and afterward obeyed orders given 
through my staff officers without hesitation. 

The following officers of the command are especially 
commended for gallantry and coolness under fire: Maj- 
or C. K. Darling, Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers; Cap- 
tain F. J. Gihon, Sixth Massachusetts Volunteers, who 
was painfully wounded early in the action, and remained 
in command of his company nntil it reached camp; Cap- 
tain L. G. Berry, assistant adjutant-general volunteers; 
Lieutenant G. T. Langhorne, aid; Lieutenant G. M. 
Wright, aid; Major W. C. Hayes, acting aid; Major Geo. 
W. Crile, brigade surgeon, and Major Frank Anthony 
surgeon Sixth Illinois Volunteers, were present under fire 
with hospital attendants and rendered necessary aid to 
the wounded." 

During the early part of the engagement, Major 



Major Antiionv at the Front. 223 

Anthon}-, who vvilh the hospital corps was quick to re- 
spond to a call to the front probably saved the Massa- 
chusetts boys from having a large number of their men 
cut down by the withering fire of the Spanish which was 
poured in on them after the Dons had located General 
Garrettson's troops. The major was not far distant 
when the first vollev of the enemy wounded two of the 
Massachusetts boys. They were formed in a solid col- 
umn and remained huddled together, apparently having 
lost their heads for the moment, when Major Anthony 
rushed among them and w^ith voice and gesture urged 
the men to scatter out which they did. Had they re- 
mained in close ranks a well aimed volley from the 
enemv would have wrought havoc in their ranks. 

/^ fter the skirmish was over the major and his 
corps of assistants rendered the wounded Spanish all the 
medical pssistance possible, the fact that they were our 
enemies being entirely forgotten by the big hearted ma- 
jor. 

This skirmish caused considerable excitement in 
camp as well as among the men who were scattered 
among the hills and brush doing outpost duty. The 
fact that we were possible targets for Spanish marks- 
men gave us a creeping chilly feeling, as we were in the 
open where the enemy could steal upon us. fire a volley 
or more and get back in the underbrush into compara- 
tive safety before we could form for defence or an at- 
tack. During the night the powerful searchlights of 
the boats lying in the harbor swept the hills and moun- 
tain sides quite frequently. This no doubt restrained 
the Spanish soldiers from venturing too near our 
picket lines. 

During the first twenty-four hours of outpost duty 
company I's guard headquarters were e.stablished at the 



224 History of Companies I and E. 

very entrance of the village graveyard. It was rather 
a grewsome place as nearly all of the boys had explored 
the small enclosure during the day and visions of the 
white wooden crosses and the larger shafts, built of brick 
or stone and covered with a coating of white lime, float- 
ed before their e3'es ever and anon during the lonely 
watch throughout the night. 

The next morning we were privileged to build 
small fires and searching everyw'here we could find 
nothing that w^ould burn excepting a couple of deca3'ed 
burial cases which lay in one corner of the graveyard. 
They had either been in the ground for some time or 
were very old as they all but dropped in pieces when we 
attempted to carry them out. We concluded it must be 
the latter as during our stay on the island we witnessed 
several burials and in not one instance was the casket 
interred. The body was taken out and placed in the 
ground without the box. We did not wait to decide the 
question but hurriedly broke them up and soon had a 
bright fire burning merrily. 

The afternoon of the second day following the land- 
ing at Guanica occurred the first burial of an American 
soldier in Porto Rico. One of the Massachusetts boys 
had breathed his last on board one of the boats which 
lay in the harbor. His body was wrapped in the folds 
of the starry banner which had lured him to his untimely 
death, placed on an artillery caisson, which was drawn 
by six horses; by the side of the heavy carriage marched 
an escort of infantrymen, his comrades. Then the silent 
march to the little graveyard was taken up where the 
body, from which the soul had winged its flight, was in- 
terred, a volley was fired over the newly made grave, 
the company bugler sounded '-taps", and the little pro- 
pession turned sadly away vy'epding its way glowly back 



o (" 




Second Camu at Guamca. . . 225 

to camp. Before the troops left this camp, private 
Aberg of company F was buried by the side of the Mass- 
achusetts soldier. 

The second day company I was ordered farther 
out and we marched a couple of miles to the west 
where a new picket line was established. This position 
was considered too much exposed and in the afternoon 
we were returned about a half mile to vards camp where 
we remained on duty all night and ujitil afternoon of 
the following day when we were relieved and returned to 
the general camp at the landing. During our fifty-two 
hours of picket duty there had been but little opportuni- 
ty to sleep and but few of the boys would have taken ad- 
vantasre of it had there been. When we arrived in 
camp and had our shelter tents up we sought the much 
needed rest and retired early. 

The boys of company E were detailed lo general 
duty, building bridges and unloading ammunition, etc., 
on the twenty-sixth and twenty-seventh. On the morn- 
ing of the skirmish previously mentioned, the company 
went out to the scene but did not participate in the en- 
gagement. On the afternoon of the twenty-eighth the 
company went out on outpost duty U)T twenty-four 
hours. The men were posted along the main road at in- 
tervals, covering more than h mile of the outer picket 
line, and were about a mile and a half from camp. The 
duty performed was a repetition of that of the guards of 
the previous day. The feeling of apprehension which 
naturally affected the men during the iirst hours of their 
presence in the enemy's country had gradually worn off 
and the long hours of guard duty were made more pleas- 
ant by the rising spirits of the boys and they whiled the 
time awav with joke and repartee yet ever on the alert. 
Some scattered shots were heard during the night but 



226 History of Companies I and E. 

nothing occurred to cause alarm. They fought the mos- 
quites until relieved the next day. 

Down at the camp we found the remainder of our 
regiment. The boys who came in on the Rita related 
their experiences and pronounced that vessel an old tub 
not fit for a river boat. Serg't Cushman had met with 
an accident while at sea which resulted in the amputa- 
tion of a portion of one of his fingers. The band boys 
were all there and living high, the result of their for- 
aging. They appeared to enjoy the situation and spent 
the most of their time in scouting. 

Privates Sneed, Bert Johnson and Frank Aument of 
company E were on board the Lampassas, which was ly- 
ing in the harbor of Guanica. Aument was sick and 
Sneed and Johnson were detailed to assist the nurses on 
the boat on its trip to Fort Monroe where the invalid 
soldiers were to be nursed back to health. The boat 
sailed first to Port Ponce leaving there July thirty-first. 
On the eighth of August the patients were taken to the 
fort and Sneed and Johnson received a thirty day fur- 
lough going directly to their homes. Aument remained 
at the hospital in the fort. 

On the twenty-eighth we broke camp and pitched our 
tents on a low level piece of ground about half a mile 
to the north and east of the original camp. 

July twenty-seventh, Major General Wilson arrived 
in the harbor of Guanica with General Ernst's brigade. 
The same day Commander Davis of the Dixie entered 
the j)ort of Ponce and found that it was neither fortified 
nor mined. The next morning the fieet and transports, 
with General Wilson's command, moved into the harbor 
of Port Ponce. The troops disembarked and marched 
into the city of Ponce, a distance of two miles, taking 
possession of the city and adjacent country, the Spanish 



Advance on Yauco. 227 

troops withdrawing on the military road to San Juan, 
and our troops were pushed well forward in that direct- 
ion. In the meantime General Henry's command, of 
which we formed a part had been directed to proceed to 
Ponce. 



228 History of Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

Major Clarke with two companies of his biittalion 
was selected as an advance guard of General Henry's 
troops in their march to Ponce. He left camp in the 
afternoon of July twenty-eighth. Ten men from each 
company of the tirst battalion, with a few others from 
our regiment, under command of Lieut. E. L. Phillipps, 
of the Sixth Cavalry, aind Lieut. Geo. M. Gould, of 
company F, Sixth Illinois, the whole command under 
the direction of Major W. C. Hayes, First Ohio Cav- 
alry, with three days rations and one hundred rounds 
of ammunition, were ordered to proceed to Talaboa. 
about half way between Guanica and Ponce, where it 
was reported the Spanish had concealed, or on cars, a 
considerable number of Mauser rifles with a supply of 
ammunition. This force was to capture these supplies 
and return them to Guanica, or destroy them. 

This detachment was to receive mounts and pro- 
ceed with all speed possible. After a long wait, the 
horses, which were to have been sent into camp by 
alcalde of Yauco, but which never came, the start was 
made about five o'clock in the evening. Every one 
was anxious to be among the number selected for this 
expedition and those who were fortunate in this respect 
felt highly elated as they expected they would have a 
brush with the Spanish, and as they were given to un- 



^v 







J 




Porto Rican belles. 



Reception at Yauco. 229 

derstand the men were to be mounted they anticipated 
a rather lively experience. When they were informed 
they would make the march on foot they were sadly dis- 
appointed but left the camp and regiment in a happy 
mood. They were dubbed "Gould's Rough Riders." 

The expedition overtook Major Clarke's command 
on the outskirts of Yauco and together they entered 
the city. Their entry into the town was hailed with 
delight by the citizens. In fact a more enthusiastic 
welcome was never given to any body of troops. The 
streets of the village were lined with the inhabitants, 
who indulged in vivas to the American Republic, the 
President of the United States, and the American sol- 
diers. This reception was repeated at every town and 
village where the troops entered. Major Hayes and 
staff, proceeded to Tallaboa, in company with General 
Stone, who had come from Ponce to Tallaboa that after- 
noon in command of a small detachment and a telegraph 
corps. On their arrival they found the sidetracks empty 
and after a thorough inquiry concluded there were no 
supplies in that vicinity and the major returned to 
Yauco, where he found the fifty men of his command 
encamped. 

Arrangements were made for the formal raising of 
the American flag over the residence of the alcalde the 
following day. The citizens were somewhat awed by 
the military at first, and there was absolute silence 
while the military presented arms and the colors were 
raised; and not until the close of the proclamation by 
the alcalde was there any demonstration on their part, 
when, without a note of warning, a volunteer band 
struck up an inspiring strain and all of the citizens 
joined in vivas to the United States, to the President, 



230 History of Companies I and E. 

to the American soldiers, and to the city of Yauco, in 
the United States of America. 

On the morning of July thirtieth, General Henry's 
division broke camp at eight-thirty and began the march 
to Ponce. It had rained heavily the day previous and 
in many places the roads w^ere in bad condition. The 
boys made the start with long swinging strides but 
were brought down to a more moderate pace after 
covering a few miles. The heat was not so intense, that 
is, the mercury did not register an3^thing astonishing 
but there was a thin vapor rising from the damp earth 
which made the men feel as though they were broil- 
ing. We soon began to feel the effects of being cooped 
up on board the boats for nearly three weeks without 
exercise. Had we been thrown into this country with- 
out loss of time after our training at Camp Alger, we 
would not have been so easily overcome with the heat 

We arrived at Yauco shortly after noon and 
camped on the bank of a swift brook. In passing 
through the town we had met with a very cordial wel- 
come by the citziens. We found the "Rough Riders," 
and Major Clarke's command encamped on a hill to the 
left of the spot designated as our camping ground. 

Previous to leaving Guanica each company had 
been given a number of bullock carts in charge of native 
drivers to transport rations and a supply of ammunition. 
These carts were huge two wheeled affairs and were 
drawn by from one to three pairs of bullocks. The ani- 
mals were fine looking specimens of bovines, being 
large, with wide spreading horns and usually very gen- 
tle. The yoke was an uncouth affair hewn from some 
species of hard wood. It was strapped to the horns on 
top of the animals head, the draft of the loaded cart 



The Spanish Prisoner. 231 

coming directly on the horns. There were something 
like one hundred of these '"Army wagons" attached to 
our command. They w^ere behind the troops and did 
not arrive in camp until late and we got nothing to eat 
before dark. We had not been allowed to stop for 
mess at noon consequently we were feeling rather lank 
when we finally drew our rations. 

From this time on we were illy fed. We were is- 
sued fresh beef nearly every day for a time, but it was in 
such condition it was unfit to eat. They would run the 
animals for half an hour before being able to catch 
them, shoot them down the moment they got them back 
to quarters, and cut them up before they were fairly 
dead, and the meat would be on the fire in less than an 
hour from the time they were shot. We were compelled 
to eat this or go without and to this cause we could 
trace the beginning of many a case of sickness. 

In the camp we found the ground alive with centi- 
pedes, and in some cases the bovs would not lie down 
for fear of getting stung. An English speaking native 
informed us that the female sting alone was fatal, and 
then during a certain period only. The natives were 
deathly afraid of them, and as a rule they were bare- 
footed and would jump at the sight of one. getting as 
far away as possible. We found the wicked little things 
in every camp along the coast, but on getting farther in- 
land they disappeared. While encamped at Yauco the 
guards captured a Spanish soldier. When brought into 
camp he carried a Springfield rifle such as our troops 
were then equipped with, wore the regulation U. S. blue 
shirt and about his waist was strapped a web cartridge 
belt of the U. S. manufacture. The prisoner acted rath- 
er queer and his being in possession of a portion of an 
Aroerip&p pplfli^r's p^itfit had a suspicious look. Genera^ 



232 History of Companies I and E, 

Garrettson was sent for and he asked the fellow if he was 
not a Spanish soldier. He fell on his knees and replied 
"No, no; Americano, Americano." It was pitiful to see 
him grovel in the dirt at the general's feet. He kissed 
his hands, his shoes and the ground he trod on; he stood 
up and hugged the boys about him, kissing their hands 
and all the time repeating, "Americano, Americano." 
This was the reply we inevitable received from everyone 
if we asked if they were not Spanish. The prisoner ap- 
peared to be nearly famished and indicated by signs that 
he had been living on roots and fruits. He was taken to 
the hospital and we after ward learned he no sooner found 
himself among friends, as there were some fifty wounded 
and sick Spanish soldiers in the hospital, than he revived 
immediately and in all probability laughed in his sleeve 
over the smooth trick he had played on the Americano 
soldiers. 

The battery of artillery came into camp behind us 
and crossed the creek to the flat beyond where they re- 
mained that night. In coming in, their field pieces had 
almost slid down the steep embankment before crossing 
the stream. The next morning, (Sunday), before break- 
ing camp the men of the battery worked with pick and 
shovel for some time reducing the abruptness of the 
climb so as to make it possible to drag their pieces , out 
to the main road. After all was in readiness for the 
start, the men took their places, and the stream was 
crossed at a gallop; up the hill they tore, the men riding 
the pieces hanging on for dear life. If they appeared to 
make the start to slow a mounted officer, stationed on the 
opposite side of the stream and half way up the hiU 
would roar some unintelligable command to the drivers 
and they would goad their horses on with whip and spur. 
After all were over we fell in behind them and continued 



At Tallaboa. 233 

the march toward Ponce. The day before, the Sixth Ill- 
inois was in the advance followed by the artillery, the 
Massachusetts boys bringing up the rear. The second 
and third days the position of the r-giments were re- 
versed and we brought up the rear. 

We passed through several small straggling villages 
and in the middle of the afternoon went into camp. To 
get to the camp we were marched nearly a mile to the 
left of the direct route and crossed two streams before 
halting. Here the boys began to be troubled with blis- 
tered feet. There were no bridges over these streams 
and although they were nearly all quite shallow and easi- 
ly forded, wading through the water left the man with 
shoes and leggins thoroughly soaked; the mountain roads 
were covered with a sort of lime stone made hot by the 
sun and in a short time a large number of stragglers 
were scattered along the route. 

That night we dined on fruit, the wagon train com- 
ing in late again. Half ripe bananas fried in grease was 
considered a treat although they were lacking in nourish- 
ment. Before leaving Guanica each man had been is- 
sued one hundred rounds of ammunition ; the cartridge 
beltscarried about half this number the remainder being 
put in the haver-sacks. This additional weight pulling 
over the shoulder wearied the men considerable. At the 
beginning of the march every man carried one half of a 
shelter tent with pole and stakes, a rubber poncho, gun, 
belt and bayonet, besides an extra shirt or two, a change 
of socks, and under svear, a blouse, a meat plate, knife, fork 
and spoon and whatever personal articles he had collected 
and. desired to retain. A canteen of water completed the 
outfit. 

When we had been two days on the march a rather 
decided change was manifest as to what was necessary 



234 History of Companies I and E. 

for a soldier to "tote." Ammunition was thrown away 
by the box; clothing was scattered along the whole route, 
while here and there some weary soldier's-half-of-a-shelter 
or "pup" tent would be found. Some even went so far as to 
cast their bayonets in the brush by the roadside, any- 
thing to lighten the weight which grew heavier and 
more troublesome with each mile. 

The second night out found the majority of the 
boys with wardrobes very much depleted, those who 
had retained their tents sharing with the comrades who 
had "lost" their own during the day. At nine o'clock 
in the evening we were unexpectedly ordered to fall 
in for inspection of ammunition, and there were few men 
in the regiment who could produce the one hundred 
rounds or one half of it. We were informed that the 
shortage would be charged to the men but our infor- 
mant was evidently a joker as we escaped the ex- 
pected penalty. 

Breaking camp the next morning we recrossed the 
two streams which we had forded the night before, and 
started on the final march to Ponce. Fording the 
streams at the commencement of the days march aggra- 
vated the already tender feet of the men and in a short 
time they were in a deplorable condition. We had not 
seen an ambulance, and no one was allowed to ride on 
the overloaded ox carts. The straggling became gen- 
eral and when the regiment marched through the city 
of Ponce and out to the camp grounds a mile beyond 
there were but few men in line. 

We were kept moving for hours without a mo- 
ments rest and this in a climate entirely strange to prob- 
ably every man in the division. On passing through 
some of the mountain trails, Old Sol would shoot his 
darting rays down upon us ^nd not a breath of air stir- 



Entering Ponce. 235 

ring; the burning heat at these places almost suffocated 
the rnen and it seemed we were at the very maw of a 
mammoth furnace which we might enter at the next 
step. We had been extremely anxious to get into act- 
ive service and here we were but we failed to notice 
any expressions of great joy on the countenances of the 
weary soldiers. 

Straggling into Ponce we found every eating house 
in the city crowded with hungrv soldiers. Upon enter- 
ing and taking a seat at one of the numerous tables we 
looked in vain for the waiters. They had dished up every- 
thing in the house to the early comers and taken 
refuge in some remote part of the building, badly scared 
by the presence of so many "Americanos." In one of 
the houses w^e did manage to get a loaf of bread and a 
couple of eggs. 

The diminutive proprietor was nearly wild, half a 
hundred men all yelling for something to eat and curs- 
ing the waiters for a stupid lot. The little fellow would 
start for the kitchen when he would be stopped by a 
six foot soldier who demanded something to eat. 
Throwing up his hands and attempting to back away he 
repeated over and over "D - -n you, cant you wait," 
This vvas in all probability the extent of his knowledge 
of the English language and more than likely he had 
heard some of the boys repeat it but did not know^ its 
meaning. 

After waiting some time we came to the conclusion 
there was nothing more to be had and tossing an Amer- 
ican dollar into the outstretched hand of the proprietor, 
we picked up our belongings and prepared to get out 
as soon as we received our change. The little man had 
disappeared and after a long wait he was hunted up and 



236 History of Companies I and E. 

requested to return at least a portion of the dollar which 
was worth two of their own coins of like denomination. 
To all of our entreaties we received the same reply, 
"No compr-r-r-ehendo." He did not understand English. 
With but little hesitation we began an argumejit with 
him, which he, as dumb as he was, could not fail to 
understand. 

About this time a provost guard, one of the Massa- 
chusetts boys, rushed into the place and ordered us to 
move on. We were alone with the trembling but de- 
fiant native and the scarcity of money gave us sufficient 
reason why we should not allow him to rob us in such 
a manner. After explaining matters to the guard he 
volunteered to assist us and remarked "We'll get the 
change or have satisfaction," Just then a negro stepped 
in. He was as black as ebony and a shock of wooly 
hair stuck out from beneath a high crowned, wide 
brimmed straw hat. Good nature beamed from his 
smiiing face and coming directly toward us, he spoke 
in perfect English, inquiring the cause of the distur- 
bance. Upon hearing our story he turned to the na- 
tive and said a few words in Spanish, whereupon the 
dwarf took an American half dollar from his pocket 
and gave it to us. We were satisfied to let matters go 
at that and thanking the provo and the darkey, we left 
the place. 

We were but fairly on the outside of the building 
when along came a patrol of drunken soldiers who were 
ordering the stragglers into a column of fours, all the 
while swearing, and cursing the men like a pirate cap- 
tain. A squad of perha})s twenty men had been collect- 
ed and were marching along the best they could. Some 
were quite ill and nearly on the point of dropping, others 



w 



13 




E.\ri':Rii':Nci-: Wrni tiiI'; Patkol. .137 

\vor»- shutHiii*^ along with blistered feet when every 
ste[) brought, its torture. They were in no mood to ac- 
cept the open itisnlt of the intoxicated sergeant and lieu- 
tenant in command but were reluctant to cause a disturb- 
ance with their comrades. 

After trudging along nearly a block, the abuse be- 
came unbearable and the men openly protested against 
its continuance. The lieutenant spurred his horse for- 
ward and loosening his revolver in its holster, ordered 
them to "shut up," and with a drunken leer informed the 
men he would kill the first one who dared to disobey him 
and fall out of the ranks. Instantly there was the sound 
of a dozen click-clicks and as many Springfield rifles were 
full cocked and brought to a "ready." The little hand- 
ful of men had grown desperate and while they knew 
they were courting death in thus defying an officer, they 
also knew there were men in the line, who from sheer 
exhaustion, might drop at any moment and should the 
lieutenant attempt to carry his threat into effect they cer- 
tainly would have done so regardless of the consequences 
to themselves. The first movement on the part of the lieu- 
tenant towards drawing a weapon would have been^the 
signal for at least a dozen rifles to be trained on him and 
every man w'as in the mood to shoot to kill. The officer 
was not so drunk but what he saw and understood the 
actions of the men and reining in his horse he dropped in 
behind the column. Taking advantage of the opportuni- 
ty the men broke from the line and in two's and three's 
took to the narrow pavement all the while keeping a 
close watch on the actions of the lieutenant. He ap- 
peared to be stunned or the dangerous position in which 
he found himself had sobered him to the extent that he 
began to realize he had carried his authority to extremes 



238 History of Companies I and E. 

under the circumstances. At any rate he made no efPort 
to stop the men and in a moment they were out of his 
sight, mingling with other belated soldiers and he could 
not have identified them if he had cared to do so. 

The crooked narrow streets of Ponce were now all 
but blocked by the train of bullock carts which followed 
in the ^vake of the troops. It was with difficulty that we 
made way through them at times and it seemed we never 
would get within sight of the camp. Just before reach- 
ing the outskirts of the city we heard the sound of march- 
ing troops and halting, we waited for them to put in an 
appearance as we were in doubt as to what direction we 
had best take to find our regiment and thought it possible 
the approaching soldiers might lead us to camp. As 
they hove in sight a military band struck up a lively 
march and the street suddenly swarmed with natives, 
drawn thither by the sound of the music. Imagine our 
astonishment when, as the tall color sergeant strode by 
bearing the American flag, the little Porto Ricans doffed 
their hats to a man. We were accustomed to witnessing 
this salute from our own men but were very much sur- 
prised to witness the mark of respect which was paid the 
colors by the natives, considering the few days they had 
known the "Americanos." 

Upon making inquiries from the passing soldiers we 
were directed to our camp which was something over a 
mile out of town in an open field. We hurried along 
and fording a shallow stream soon found the regiment. 
We were in the nick of time too, for as we threw off our 
packs and stretched out on the ground for a good rest, 
the bugler sounded orderlies' call and when the first ser- 
geants arrived at headquarters they were instructed to 
return to their companies at once and all stragglers who 



The Sick Stand Guard. 239 

arrived thereafter should be placed under arrest and the 
regimental guard selected from among them. 

It may have been good generalship but to the sick 
and worn-out soldiers it seemed but little short of an 
outrage to be compelled to stand guard in the condition 
they were then in. Nine out of every ten of the men 
had fallen out because they could not stand the strain. 
Any number of them were actually ill and were in need 
of medical attendance, yet they were forced to shoulder 
their guns and keep a lonely vigil throughout the long 
hours of the night. 

The number of stragglers was considerably in excess 
of the force required for guard duty and the remaining 
ones were placed in a temporary guardhouse for the 
night. This guard house was an open place selected 
near headquarters. The ground was rough and covered 
with stone. Into this place the men were huddled and 
a heavy guard placed over them. Seeking rest as best 
they may they spent the miserable night, and morning 
found them in an angry frame of mind. A little kind- 
ness at the hands of those who were chief in command 
would have been fully appreciated at this time but the 
experiences of the past few days had taught the men 
that they need not look for it and they said but little, 
realizing they must obey. 



240 History of Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 

One company of the Sixth Massachusetts had been 
retained at Yauco to guard the field hospital which had 
been established there upon the arrival of the division. 
Shortly after the departure of the force as it advanced 
toward Ponce, reports were brought in to the officer in 
command at Yauco to the effect that the Spanish at San 
German were planning an attack on the small garrison. 
Assistance was called for and company F of Moline com- 
manded by Capt. Frank Clendenin and two companies 
of the Nineteenth regulars were returned to Yauco to re- 
enforce the company of Massachusetts boys. Either the 
plan of attacking the garrison was abandoned by the 
enemy or the re-enforcements scared them away as noth- 
ing was heard from them. On the third of August the 
company of Massachusetts troops joined the regiment at 
Ponce. On the seventh the three remaining comj)anies 
were relieved from further duty at that point and re- 
turned to the general camp, the hospital having been re- 
moved to Ponce in the meantime. 

General Henry evinced much displeasure at what he 
termed the lack of discipline shown by the men in drop- 
ping out of the ranks during the march and straggling 
into camp. After our arrival at Ponce he summoned the 
officers to his quarters and scored them heavily for "not 
having better control over the men." The matter caused 
considerable ill feeling to arise throughout the division 



Gen. Henrv Displeased. 241 

nntl was the cause of the colonel and several of the stalf 
of the Massachusetts regiment tendering their resigna- 
tions which were immediately accepted and the ex-officers 
returned to the States. 

General Henry appeared to overlook the fact that 
these men had been alternately baked and broiled for 
seventeen days while on shi[)board and were weakened 
considerably as the consequence. In this condition they 
had been thrown into a foreign country where the cli- 
mate differed materially from that to which they had 
been accustomed. In addition to this they had been 
given a test that would have severely tried the endur- 
ance of troops hardened by a campaign. The actions of 
the general plainly showed his dissatisfaction and the 
men, although anxious to do all within their power were 
disheartened by the treatment they received, when a few 
words of encouraorement would have done wonders toward 
reviving their drooping spirits. 

A half hours work, or less, by a score of men at 
each of the streams forded, would have made it possible 
for the whole force to have crossed dr}' shod, and thus 
avoided the cause for fully one half of the straggling. 
If the column was halted by the side of a glaring cliff 
where the sun darted its tierce rays down upon the men 
they were compelled to remain in that position rather 
than allow them to seek a shaded spot. At such times 
weary as the men were, it was a relief to continue the 
march. All of these things, slight as some of them 
were, were noted by the men and although they did not 
have a desire to rebel, it had a tendency to cause them 
to exert themselves less than they would have done, had 
they been privileged to take advantage of the few op- 
portunities that arose looking toward their own comfort, 
yet in no manner detracting from the strength or dis- 



242 History OF Companies I and E. 

cipline of the force, at least until they had become some- 
what more accustomed to the conditions surrounding 
them. 

The march from Guanica gave us a fair idea of the 
chorography of the country as it differs but shghtly ' 
throughout the island. After leaving Guanica the line 
of march followed a cart road for a distance of about 
three miles m a northerly course, thence turning sharply 
to the east. About half way between the turn and 
Yauco, the cart road terminated and the remainder of 
the march to Ponce was made over a horse trail. Just 
before reaching Yauco we crossed a spur of the mount- 
ain range which extended toward the south in the di- 
rection of the coast. We were then several miles in- 
land. We passed several banana and cane fields while 
the trail was bordered with cocoanut palms laden with 
fruit, and a great variety of tropical plants which under 
different circumstances would have delighted the hearts 
of the boys from the north but then were passed al- 
most unnoticed. 

The streams which were crossed are very pictur- 
esque, wending their way around the base of the mount- 
ains, singing and hurrying on toward the sea and finally 
burstmg forth to view from a tangled mass of shrubbery, 
gurgling over and around the stepping stones which 
had been placed in the shallow beds by the natives, the 
water as clear as crystal. These streams, or mountain 
brooks, expand into raging torrents immediately after 
a rain storm farther up in the mountains. The low 
embankments overflow and the swirling current is filled 
with debris which is carried down from the mountain 
sides. Occasionly portions of the hastily constructed, 
primitive abode of a hapless peon was seen on the crest 
of the mud colored stream ^s it swept by. 



Porto Rican Rain Storm. 243 

What would be considered a heavy rain storm in 
Illinois is as a sprini^ shower when compared with the 
deluge that occurs almost daily in the mountains of 
Porto Rico, during the months of August and Septem- 
ber. Great low hanging clouds, race swiftly along un- 
til they come in contact with the jagged peaks of the 
highest mountains which apparently make great rents 
m the black masses, out from which pours enormous 
quantities of water, flooding the whole country in the 
vicinity of the storm. As the violence of the storm in- 
creases, the mountain sides and trails become danger- 
ous as great rocks are dislodged and go rolling and 
tumbling far down into the valleys below, carrying with 
them large trees and setting hundreds of cubic feet of 
earth in motion, causing landslides of no mean propor- 
tions completely blockading the trail for rods. 

The dry beds of the valleys are buried in the seeth- 
ing torrents, the tiny rivulets become • rivers and the 
topography of the scene is altered as if by magic. As 
the storm abates, the sun shines forth brightly and a 
heavy fog of steam arises from the earth which all but 
suffocates the unacclimated. The rugged country " is 
rapidly drained of the flood only to meet with a re- 
petition of the occurrence on the following day. If a 
native remained out in storm he protected his head and 
shoulders with a wide banana leaf which he carried 
poised above him. 

Yauco was at that time the western terminus of 
a narrow guage railway which followed the coast as 
far east as Ponce. Upon leaving Yauco we crossed 
another mountain range, our route following the general 
direction of the railroad and bearing slightly to the 
south. At times we were within sight of the sea. We 



24ii History. OF Companies I and E. 

skirted several prominent mountains but did but little 
climbingf as' the horse trail wound in and about the foot 
of the hills but seldom crossed the summit while alonjj 
the coast. Several miles oat from Ponce the tr til and 
the railroad ran side by side for some distance. As we 
were marching along, a diminutive, box like locomotive, 
to which was attached a queer open car, came rumbling 
along. The engine was apparently doing her best as 
she was workinfj hard and was coverincj about twelve 
miles per hour. At Tallaboa, the train picked up a few 
sick soldiers and took them back to Yauco to the hos- 
pital. 

The trail led us through a sparsely settled portion 
of the island. We passed through several small vil- 
lages but in the open country a house was rarely seen. 
The manner of building is peculiar to the inhabitants 
of that country. The better class of residences are 
built of corrajjated iron, both walls and roofing, some 
are clap boarded similar to the less pretentious homes 
of the working class of people in the United States, 
others are built of brick and overlaid with a coating of 
whitewash, while the home of the peons are built of 
poles and rough boards with thatched roofs, or with 
walls and roof covered with grass and huge leaves. 
Without exception every house in the country and in 
the villages is raised from two to five and six feet 
from the ground. The houses of the more wealthy of 
the residents are enclosed in high fences or walls inside 
of which are beautiful gardens of flowers and all about 
everything is neat and tidy. 

One peculiarity of all buildings which gave them 
an odd appearance was the absence of window glass. 
With one or two exceptions we did not see a house of 




Snap shot (it Korto Rican child in usual costume, wearing 
a briLrht smile and a strin"- of beads. 



Pkoi'lk ok tifI': Inland. 245 

any description on the island which had a piece of 
window i^lass in its construction. The doors are made 
in two parts, the upper half reniainin<^ open the belter 
part of the time while the lower half is kept closed. 
The window openings are protected by paneled shut- 
ters. The temperature varies but little at any period 
during the year and glazed windows are considered an 
expensive luxury and not at all a necessity. The sys- 
tem of taxation in vogue previous to the invasion of the 
American troops practically prohibited the purcha-'ecf 
numerous articles which we, in our homes, could not 
well get along without. Among them was the window 
glass. A glimpse of the interior of several of the bet- 
ter class of residences showed bare walls and uncarpet- 
ed floors and a scarcity of furniture that was surprising. 

After entering Ponce we found practically the 
same conditions existing there as in the countrv with 
possibly a slight change for the better in certain portions 
of the city. If cleanliness is next to godliness, then 
thev were certainly an ungodly lot, as the condition of 
the streets and interior of nearly all of the store build- 
ings was indisputable evidence against them. Ordinari- 
ly they were neat and tidy about their clothing and 
person, but beyond that the common people appeared 
to care nothing. Occasionally one found a store or 
other public building where the exception proved the 
rule but such places were not numerous enough to im- 
press the visitor with the habits of cleanliness of the 
general people. 

The people are small in stature, the average height 
being less than five feet. The men are narrow chested 
and have a consumptive look about them. The women 
are slightly taller and more portly than the men and 



246 History of Companies I and E. 

appear healthy and robust as a rule. The children 
are small and usually run about wearing nothing but 
a string of yellow beads and a bright smile until they 
are from ten to twelve years of age. They are pot- 
bellied almost to a deformity and delight to roll about 
in the dirt, the hot rays of the midday sun having no 
apparent effect on their glistening, naked bodies. 
Either throug-h fear or wishing to cover their naked- 
ness,they would hide behind their mothers skirts at the 
approach of an "Americano," 

Generally speaking, the men were moie tidy as to 
dress than the women. The men wore white linen 
suits throughout. The glossy bosoms of their white 
shirts were artistically embroidered and surmounted 
with white standing collars. The coat was loose and 
cool, but the trousers, usually dirty and greasy, with 
frayed edges at the lower extremities, spoiled the effect 
of the otherwise natty dress. The head was covered 
with a high peaked, wide brimmed, straw hat, the 
outer edge of the brim being turned up in a half roll. 
The feet are wide and flat, with wide spreading toes 
and usually without covering of any sort. 

The dress of the opposite sex is more difficult to 
describe. The design of the garments were invaribly 
the same, being made from a white flimsy sort of goods 
and loose fitting. The fashion of lacing did not prevail 
among the native women at that time. They apparent- 
ly made but little effort to keep their clothing clean and 
like the men went about barefooted. They seldom 
wore any covering for the head and when the}-' did it 
was either a large kerchief, wound about the head in the 
form of a turban, or a shawl, woven from some white fab- 
ric, which was thrown loosely over the head and should- 



People of the Island. 247 

ers. 

Among the common people, men, women and child- 
ren alike were adicted to the habit of smoking and they 
went about puffing at a big black cigar or inhaling the 
fumes of a cigarette. But few of the smokers used a 
pipe and not many of the natives chewed tobacco. 
While passing through the "tough" part of Ponce we 
were disgusted at the sight of numerous women, dressed 
in bedraggled, greasy clothing, swaggering along the 
street with a bold air and a brazen look, pushing and el- 
bowincr their way throug-h the crowds, all the while chew- 
ing at the stub of a half consumed, foul smelling cigar. 
They represented the lowest class of people on the island 
and were truly a disgusting lot. 

On account of the many inter-marriages of the na- 
tives and foreigners, their complexion and features vary 
to the extremes. Some are quite swarthy yet nearly as 
white as the Europeans. Others are of a brovv^nish yel- 
low w^hile the mulatto and the ebon}- black negro are 
found in about equal numbers. The features of those 
of the lightest complexion are long and thin. The eyes 
are dark and deep set and extremely bright. The hair 
is dark or black and inclined to be curl}-. With the 
darker complexion, the features appear coarser, while 
the profile of the blacks is almost identical with that of 
the African negro, the exception being in the absence 
of the thick protruding lips. 

They are a mild mannered class of people and their 
actions proclaimed they had never known the sweetness 
of independence and untrammeled liberty. They bowed 
■ to ever}' command and accepted their lot as inevitable, 
yet before we left the island a noticable change came 
over them and they appeared to have come to realize 



248 History of Companies I and E. 

that the tyrannical yoke of Spanish misrule had been 
lifted from their necks and that the freedom and pro- 
tection offered by Uncle Sam had opened up a new 
world to them and they were slaves no more but men 
among men. 

Who can wonder at the expressions of joy and 
"vivas" to the '-Americanos" which we met with in 
every town and village as we marched through the 
crooked, dirty streets, bearing the starry banner which 
even they, uneducated as they then were, knew brought 
hope and life where before all must have been black 
w^ith despair. That combination of red. white and blue, 
in the stars and stripes is an inspiration in itself and is a 
welcome sight to everyone who loves their liberty. It 
•implies more to the downtrodden and oppressed than 
any combination of colors and figures which adorns the 
emblem of any other nation on the globe, and today it 
carries more weight in an international argument than 
any other one emblem afloat. 

This brief description of the inhabitants covers 
what may be termed the middle class, which predomin- 
ates in point of numbers. The lower class was scantily 
clothed and appeared half starved, while the more 
wealthy people were more elegant in appearance, man- 
ners and dress. This latter class of people was com- 
posed of French, German, Spanish and a few natives, 
and represented the greater portion of the wealth of the 
island. The women were richly dressed and painted 
and powdered lavi.shl}' in a vain effort to cover the 
swarthiness of their complexion. They were seldom 
seen on the street unless accompanied by a gentleman 
escort. 

The usual mode of conveyance was on horseback. 



Fruits, Wild and Cultivated. 249 

Nearly every man and bov had his pony. They are yet 
smaller than our western bronchos, but ijentle and they 
move alon<j^ with an easy, rockin<j motion which at once 
proclaims them as excellent saddle horses. For trans- 
porting supplies etc., the two wheeled bullock carts and 
pack horses were both in use along the coast, but in the 
interior the roads are impassible to wheeled vehicles 
and the pack horses alone are used. A native pack 
train consists of half a dozen of the small horses or don- 
keys. On each side of the animal a large basket is 
hung in which is placed the articles of transport. The 
contents of these baskets was either fruit enroute to a 
seacoast town or a supply of codfish going inland. The 
driver sits astride the horse between the two baskets. 
No matter how heav\- the load, the man seldom thinks of 
walking any distance and then only to stretch his legs 
after sitting in the cramped position for some time. 

The fruits, of which there were numerous varie- 
ties, grew wild to a great extent. The bananas were cul- 
tivated and found only in groves, but the oranges, limes, 
mangoes, pineapples, bread fruits and many other kinds, 
the names of which we never learned, grew in profusion 
alonor the leno^th of our route while on the march. At 
every camp established on the island we found them 
among thejwoods and shrubbery. Cocoanut palms were al- 
ways within sight. The oranges were not ri^ie. or if they 
were they had none of the deliciousness of the kinds we 
were accustomed to. They contained a great amount of 
acid and were quite bitter. By making an incision in the 
peel and giving the orange a slight squeeze between the 
palms of the hands, the escaping hcid. when applied to 
the flame of a lighted candle or burning match would in- 
stantly become ignited and give forth a lurid blue 



250 History of Companies I and E. 

flame, flashing up like smokeless powder. 

The limes arc not unknown in our own land as the 
juice from this fruit is used quite extensively as an in- 
gredient in some of our most delicious drinks and liquors. 
They are a species of lemon and grow on a tree similar 
to the lemon tree. The fruit is much smaller, and like 
the oranges, we found them to contain much acid and 
very bitter to the taste. In the hotels and eating houses 
lime water was a common drink. The mangoes are also 
found in the fruit markets of some of the larger cities 
of this country. They grow on trees which have many 
branches like the most common apple trees. The fruit, 
when ripe, is quite yellow, and oblong in shape having a 
length of about three inches with a width of two or two 
and one half inches. The skin is thin but tough and 
covers a yellowish, stringy meat in the center of which 
is a large core or pit. Many of the boys relished a man- 
goe as they would an apple, yet there were others who 
could not become accustomed to the peculiar flavor which 
is sweet and yet tart. • We were told that eating this 
fruit and drinking the native rum was the cause of much 
sickness and many deaths on the island and we were ad- 
vised to let them both alone. 

Everyone knows what the pineapple is. The bread- 
fruits are of several varieties. The fruit is shaped like 
an apple but is several times larger, being from six to 
eight inches in diameter. The species which appeared 
most in evidence has a hard shell covering from an eighth 
to a quarter of an inch in thickness. The contents is 
white and mealy and is eaten as food. Of the fruits the 
names of which w^e were unable to learn, there svere two 
varieties which were much sought by the soldiers. 
One grew on a large tree and was usually found among 



Fruits, Wild and Cultivated. 251 

the very thickest growth of timber. The fruit hangs on 
branches high up from the ground and is similar to the 
breadfruit in size. When ripened it is soft and in strik- 
ing the earth when falling from the tree, breaks open and 
soon decays if left lying on the ground. The outer sur- 
face is of a dark green color and covered with numerous 
small growths which in some respects reminds one of the 
hedge apple. The purplish fruit is nearly entirely edible, 
containing but a very small core, and is extremely rich, 
juicy and delicious. 

Another very desirable variety grows in clusters and 
size and shape much like the ordinary plum and on 
trees somewhat similar to a cherry tree. It is green in 
color when ripe and has a thin, hard shell for a covering. 
Upon breaking the shell open a flabbly, pinkish pulp is 
exposed which clings to a large pit in its center. The 
peel is easily removed but the pulp is with ditficulty sep- 
arated from the pit. The pulp is pleasing to the taste, 
having a tartness about it which reminds one very much 
of plum jelly. From its growth, formation and flavor we 
judged it to be a variety of plum. 

We were plentifully supplied with cocoanuts at all 
times. During the first few days after our arrival on 
the island the natives gave them to us for a mere noth- 
ing. One day, a soldier, in a generous moment . gave 
one of the little brown fellows a blue flannel shirt in ex- 
change for a cocoanut. He had more clothing than he 
could conveniently carry when on the march and rather 
than throw it away, as many of the boys did, he made the 
trade with the fruit seller. From that moment the price 
of a cocoanut was a blue shirt and n^ amount of argu- 
ment or persuasion would induce them to reduce the 
price until the commanding officer of the camp notified 



252 History of Companies I and E. 

the venders that he would strictly prohibit the sale of 
the cocoanut unless a reasonable price was put upo.n 
them and maintained. This had the desired effect and a 
great many of them were brought into camp and sold. 
The natives would break the half-ripe nut open, drink 
the milky fluid which it contained and throw the remain- 
der away, while the soldier cared not so much for the 
drink as the white, solid meat if the nut was ripe. 

The banana groves were a welcome sight to us as 
we soon came to rely on this fruit for food when our ra- 
tions would not suffice us, which was not an uncommon 
occurrence. In the midst of this land of fruits, which 
were the staff of life of m.ore than one half of its million 
of souls, we expected to literally roll in the deliciousness 
of the many varieties which grew on nearly every shrub, 
bush and tree within sight and which we had been ac- 
customed to consider as luxuries in our northern homes. 
In this we were sadly disappointed as we were not long 
in recognizing the fact that while these people were pro- 
ficient in the cultivation of many of them, they knew 
practically nothing of the art of curing or ripening the 
product. The cheapness of the fruit was its one re-" 
deeming feature as the quality was of the poorest when 
compared with that which is put upon the market of this 
country. 

Mahogany wood which we value so highly was found 
in profusion in certain parts of the island. We found 
mahogany telegraph poles of large sizes strung for miles 
along the line of march. Rail fences were built of this 
wood. In fact it appeared to be about the only kind of 
hard wood which could be utilized for such purposes as 
it bore no fruit and its commercial value was under es- 
timated or unknown. 




Searching the foot hills for signs of the enemy. 



TiiK Criv OF PoNci-:. 253 



CHAPTER XIX. 

During the eight days we were in camp at Ponce we 
had many opportunities to visit the city. This is the 
largest city on the island, the population of the town and 
port was variously estimated at from twenty to thirty 
thousand. To one unaccustomed to their mode of living 
it seemed utterly impossible to crowd such a number of 
souls into a city covering no more area than does Ponce. 
The tenement houses were seldom more than two stories in 
height and never more than three. In the center of a 
brick b'lock would be a large court with several wide en- 
trances opening onto the streets. These entrances are 
protected by heavy iron doors made of bars or corrugated 
iron. Peerinor into the court one would see swarms of 
children and women. All of these places were foul 
smelling and the occupants unkempt and dirty. As in 
the tenement districts of our own larger cities, whole 
families were crowded together in one small room. 

Venders of all sorts of goods were seen on the streets 
daily and our camp was alive with them from early morn 
till night. The men, women and children invariably tote 
everything on their heads. Little tots, selling candies, 
made of sugar or molasses, ran about with a large tray 
nicely balanced on the head and it was a common sight 
to witness a woman carrying a babe in her arms with a 
huge can or kettle of water poised on her head. 



254 History of Companies I and E. 

The business portion of the city was surprisingly 
quiet and although the stores and shops are numerous, 
there appeared to be but few buyers for the wares. The 
market square usually presented a lively scene but the 
articles on sale were of little value and commanded 
prices so low that a large volume of trade represented 
very light cash receipts. In the poorer districts grocer- 
ies and meats were bought and sold by the ounce. The 
balance scale was everywhere in use and it was 
amusing to witness a transaction between a storekeeper 
and purchaser. We had been on the island but a few 
days over a week, yet the shelves of many of the stores 
were well filled with army hardtack and sowbelly. Just 
how the merchants secured these goods was a mystery 
to us, more especially so as the rations issued to the sol- 
diers were always short. It was irritating to stop into one 
of those dirty, halfway places and find our supplies star- 
ing us in the face from the shelves. These things may 
have been purchased from the government but we doubt- 
ed it very much. 

The natives were eager to secure the meat and pur- 
chased it in very small quantities. A seemingly half 
starved native woman dressed in tatters would enter a 
store. In one thin, brown hand, a few coppers were 
clutched and after looking around nervously for a mo- 
ment, she would give an order for a piece of meat. The 
clerk, with all of the dignity of one accepting an order 
for several hundred dollars worth of goods, would slice 
off a piece of side meat no wider than your two fingers, 
and weighing less than a half a pound, droj) it into the 
balance and if it was the slightest fraction over weight, 
he would trim it off until satisfied and if the purchaser 
was not alive to the trickery of the wily shopkeeper, he 



Life in the City. 255 

would slip a small weight under the piece of coarse 
wrapping paper and into the pan of the balance which 
contained the meat. Picking up his knife the clerk 
would continue the trimming process and as the small 
square of sowbelly grew smaller and smaller, the anx- 
ious customer would put up a fearful howl which was 
usually the opening gun of a war of words. Shaking 
their fists in each others faces and gesticulating wildly the 
argument would continue fast and furious for some time, 
the customer apparently alternately protesting and plead- 
iner, but to all entreaties the clerk would turn a deaf ear 
and giving a turn or so of the paper around its precious 
contents he would retain his grasp on the package un- 
til he had secured the few coppers which the customer 
would angrily deal out to him. 

Not alone in the sale of meat were these difficulties 
evident. A hot exchange of words accompanied nearly 
every sale and to us it appeared the shopkeeper was 
usually victorious. With the exception of possibly half 
a dozen stores located in the center of town, each one 
sold liquors in connection with the other business. The 
rum and wine, common to all parts of the island, was 
sold in large quantities. The natives drank it with a 
relish and without effect, but to the uninitiated soldiers it 
was the vilest of fire water, a very little of it would start 
a soldier to wabbling and leave him halt sick for a week. 
The most popular place in town was a wine room con- 
ducted by a young fellow who appeared as a king among 
the sporting element of the city. He was always flashi- 
ly dressed and reminded us of one who followed the 
prize ring and race coarse for a living. He spoke Eng- 
lish quite fluently and was indeed a genial fellow. The 
place was not a resort, there was no "Ladies Entrance," 



256 History of Companies I and E. 

and women did not frequent the house. The proprietor 
received the patronage of all classes of people, as in that 
country the drink habit is as general as that of smok- 
ing. 

A general store carried a small stock of groceries, 
hardware, drygoods, tobacco, liquors and fruit. The 
business represented here, as in all of the towns of any 
size, which was most distinct in itself, was that of the 
druggist. There we found a very intelligent class of 
clerks and employees, one or more of which could speak 
English fairly well. They were extremely polite, well 
dressed and had a business way about them that placed 
them far in advance of the ordinary merchant in the es- 
timation of the soldiers. 

The milkman leads his docile cows to the door of his 
patron and fills the bottle while you wait. They evi- 
dently are not acquainted with the productive qualities 
of the town pump as are their brother tradesmen of this 
country. The city police wear a uniform of white and 
are armed with the Eemington rifle. The police officers 
■ carry a side arm in the shape of a large machete, made 
much like a heavy cavalry saber, incased in a leather 
scabbard. In patroling the city they usually walk in 
the middle of the street. 

The port of Ponce presented a lively scene through- 
outeach day and sometimes far into the night. The bay 
was well filled with transports, relief ships and supply 
boats, with here and there a war vessel swinging at her 
anchor. The government had secured the services of a 
large number of natives to unload the supplies which 
were being brought t^ the island. Huge barges were 
continually on the move and thousands of dollars worth 
pf supplies and ammunition was rapidly placed on shore. 




The coinpauy toiisorial artist. " Next." 



A Visit to the Almshouse. 257 

Large storage buildings were in the course of construc- 
tion and everyone about tlie place was busy as a bee. 
The natives worked like beavers under the eyes of an 
armed guard. Bullock carts, and army wagons drnvNn 
by sleek looking mules, were moving great loads of sup- 
plies out to the various camps. General Miles' head- 
• quarters was in a brick building not far from the wharf 
and he was supervising the work. 

On coming into the city from camp and while re- 
turning we passed and repassed a small, dingy, stone 
building. A small, grated window opened out on the 
street. The head and shoulders of a heavy bearded, 
dark featured man could always be seen at this window. 
One long, hairy arm dangled through the iron bars and 
hung limply over the stone window sill. His presence 
there every day and always in the same position excited 
the curiosity of the soldiers. One day Captain Lawrie 
and a party stepped over to the building, which set back 
from the street several rods, and were admitted by an at- 
tendant. And what a sight met their gaze. They in- 
stantly saw they were in an alms or mad house. They 
were conducted through a number of tilthy rooms. The 
walls were bare and the only furniture visible was a cot 
or two on which rested some of the most pitiable objects 
imaginable. The face which appeared at the window 
was that of an insane man. He was larger by consider- 
able than the ordinary native and one close look was suf- 
ficient to decide that he was a maniac. In the center of 
one room stood a young girl. Her legs and arms were 
crossed, her eyes were closed aiul her head hung to one 
side. Not the first spark of intelligence shone from 
the white face and she weaved backward and forward 
as though about to fall. Her clothing was in tatters 



258 History of Companies I and E. 

and hung loosely upon the spare form of the unfortun- 
ate girl. She was an idiot, unable to think or do for 
herself, uncared for and probably unthought of, grinding 
out a miserable existence among surroundings which 
could not be worse and yet she was human. Who 
could imagine a worse lot and for one so young? 
Fortunately there were but few inmates in the place and* 
the little party, made sick in both mind and body by 
the sight and repugnant odor of the interior of the build- 
ing, hurried out into the open air and away from it. If 
one met a native in the neighborhood of the building 
and pointed inquiringly toward it, he would raise a hand 
to the side of his head and turn it around and around, 
signifying that the occupants had "wheels in their 
heads." 

Out at camp it was a question as to which was the 
most troublesome, the natives or centipedes. During 
the day it was the former and as the gloom of night 
settled over us the latter made their appearance and 
broke the rest of many of the volunteers. The natives 
carried their wares about offering them in exchange for 
money, hardtack, meat or clothing. They did a thriv- 
ing business in the hardtack line as we were getting 
extremely tired of them and either traded or gave them 
away. These they sold in the town for one cent, 
(Porto Rican coin) each. A number of enterprising 
native women did a thriving laundry business among 
the officers and men. Their manner of washing cloth- 
ing is primitive but the result is very satisfactory. The 
washboard and tub are unthought of and there is no 
lugging water. The clothes are carried to the bank of 
some convenient stream, a large fiat stone partially out 
of the water is selected and on this the clothes are 



A Trip to Port Ponce. 259 

pounded and rubbed until every particle of dirt has been 
taken out, then the clothing is spread out upon the 
grass to dry. 

The duties while at Ponce were light as they con- 
sisted mostly of guard duty. Full companies relieved 
each other on outpost duty and shortly after we ar- 
rived in camp we were advised that we were to be 
equipped with the U. S. Magazine rifles. We were 
given target practice with the Springfield rifies and 
shot away thousands of rounds of the ammunition which 
we had packed from Guanica. The men detailed to 
guard the ammunition on the wharf at Guanica, made 
the trip to Ponce by boat and joined us later on. 
On the sixth of August we were issued the new rifles 
and belts with a supply of ammunition. The guns were 
some lighter than the old Springtields and the difference 
in weight of the same number of rounds of ammunition 
was considerable. 

We had been using the shelter tents, consequently 
our quarters were rather cramped. After four or five 
days in camp we were informed that the heav}' tentage 
was being unloaded at the port and each company was 
given a couple of bullock carts, and with a detail of men 
were sent after them. Arriving at the wharf they 
found such a congestion of carts and wagons that it 
was impossible to get near the sheds. They lined their 
teams up by the curb and awaited their turn. The 
noon hour came and they were still waiting, the scanty 
rations were divided with the native drivers. Another 
long wait and darkness was upon them with the long 
line of teams ahead of them graduall}'^ growing smaller. 

The native drivers began to get restless. The an- 
imals had not been fed or watered since early morning. 



260 History of Companies I and E. 

The soldiers rations had all disappeared as they had 
fully expected that they would be back at camp in the 
early evening at the latest. The drivers became uglier 
with each passing moment and after consulting together 
a few moments they took the bullocks from the carts 
and started down a by street with them, leaving the 
soldiers guarding the lone carts, They attempted to in- 
duce the natives to remain but failing in this, they used 
force and after a time the teams were once more at- 
tached to the carts. About nine o'clock a portion of the 
carts were sent for and pulling up at the wharf they 
were partly loaded with tent poles and they returned to 
camp. The tents were not all unloaded from the boat 
and the next morning we received orders to continue 
the march. The tent poles, which had caused so much 
trouble were not taken from the carts at all. 

The volunteers who were sick were ordered to report 
to the surgeons for an examination, and those who were 
physically unable to continue the march were to be re- 
turned to the United States. A number from each 
company took this examination and several of them 
were found to be in such condition as to make it im- 
practicable for them to remain with the regiment for a 
time at least, during the hard march which was expect- 
ed would be a severe one even for those who were in 
good condition. 

In the meantime Brigadier General Schwan had 
arrived at Guanica and was ordered to disembark his 
troops, and march to Yauco and thence west with an 
additional force of two batteries of artillery and one 
troop of cavalry. This force was to occupy the western 
portion of the island and drive out or capture all of the 
Spanish troops in that territory. From August seventh 



Maneuvers ok Various C^ommands. 261 

to fifteenth General Schvvan's troops had several engage- 
ments with the Spanij^h. made prisoners of war one 
hundred and sixt\-i\\() regulars, capiured ar.d paroled 
two hundred volunteers, captured much valuable mater- 
ial, and cleared the western part of the island of the 
enemy. 

Major General Brooke arrived on July thirtv-tirst 
and disembarked at Arro3'o. on the southeastern coast 
of the island. On August fifth his troops had a sharp 
engagement with the enemy at Guayama, which was 
finally occupied by our forces. On the eighth, another 
action took place near this pomt and the Spanish troops 
were driven to the north 'in the direction of San Juan. 
The order for cessation of hostilities arrived at about 
this period and stopped farther action. General Wil- 
son's troops, which had landed at Ponce previous to the 
arrival of General Henry's division, had been advanced 
in a northeasterly direction, and at Coamo a sharp en- 
gagement took place between his command and the 
Spanish. Our troops were successful in the action and 
a number of the enemv were killed and nearly two hun- 
dred taken prisoners. The Spanish troops had taken a 
position at Asomante, in the mountains some fifteen 
miles in advance of General Wilson's command, in the 
direction of San Juan. On the twelfth of i\ugust. Gen- 
eral Wilson's artillery began shelling the enemy's pos- 
ition, preparatory to an advance, and were under arms 
and ready to move when orders were received suspend- 
ing hostilities. 

The western and southern portions of the island was 
well invested by our troops and the enemy had been 
driven in the direction of San Juan. Our division, 
under command of General Henry, was to march direct- 



262 History of Companies I and E. ' 

ly north from Ponce in the direction of Arecibo, which 
is located on the northern coast of the island. There 
we were to join General Schwan's brigade. The ob- 
ject of this movement was to intercept the enemy re- 
treating before the advance of General Schwan's troops. 
This operation would have formed a strong division on 
the line of retreat of the Spanish troops occupying the 
western portion of the island. 

On August ninth our brigade began the march in 
the direction of Arecibo. For a few miles north of 
Ponce the military road was in excellent condition, but 
beyond that the trail had at first been considered almost 
impassable for an army. General Stone had been en- 
gaged for several days, with a force of natives, in open- 
ing the trail for the passage of our troops. The new- 
ly made trails were in horrible condition and the men 
could make but little headw^ay at times. In the march 
to Utuado and their subsequent return, the troops of 
General Henry'^s command covered more miles than 
those of any other division of the invading army of 
Porto Rico, and this over mountain trails, which were 
poor enough at their best, and made much worse by the 
daily downpour of rain which we encountered. 



Marching Out of Ponce. 263 



CHAPTER XX. 

On the morning of the ninth of August, our division 
broke camp and marching through the town, took a 
northerly course with Arecibo as its final destination, 
as far as we then knew. Arecibo is located on the 
northern coast of the island, about half way between the 
eastern and western coasts and almost directly north of 
Ponce as the crow flies. The island is about forty 
miles in width at this point but the trail wound in, 
out, and around the mountains in such a crazy fashion 
as to make the actual distance between the two cities 
several times forty miles. 

The campaign, as mapped out by General Miles, 
was intended to drive out or capture all of the Spanish 
troops in the southern and eastern portions of the island, 
thus forcing them toward a common center, and event- 
ually drawing the lines of the advancing troops closer 
until the enem3''s forces were practically hemmed in, 
in the vicinity of San Juan, the capital cit}' of Porto 
Rico, and located on the northeastern coast of the island. 
With the Spaniards driven together and our land troops 
menacing them in the rear and on both flanks, while the 
guns of our war-ships were trained on the city and 
neighboring country, the position of the enemy would 
soon have beco:ne untenable and the rc;sult must have 
been the surrender of their forces. 



264 History of Companies I and E. 

The natural consequence of the movements of the 
commands of Generals Wilson and Brooks, on our right 
and General Schwan's troops on our left, would be to 
gradually force the troops of the enemy back into the 
center of the island and toward our line of march, and 
we fully expected to have a brush with^them "most any 
time after we had gotten well away from the coast. 

The military road running north from Ponce sev- 
eral miles, was far superior to any country road we had 
ever seen in the states. In man}^ places it was blasted 
and built from solid rock with a generous growth of fine 
shade trees on either side. As we drew away from the 
coast the roadway gradually inclined upward and made 
abrupt turns around the foothills of the mountains which 
we were approaching. The stead}' climb soon began 
to tell on the men and they began to drop by the 'road- 
side. The Massachusetts boys were in advance of us 
and as we plodded along we passed numbers of their 
regiment who had been beaten down by the fierce heat. 
These men were readily recognized by the brown uni- 
forms which they wore. 

We found the nights to be very cool, and before 
dawn a heavy dew fell. As the sun rose over the hill 
tops the dew was condensed and a heavy vapor envel- 
oped everything. By this the men were given a thor- 
ough broiling early each morning and left them soft and 
weak for the remainder of the day. The heat was 
more intense and did more execution between the hours 
of eight and ten o'clock in the morning than at any 
other time during the day, At the commencement of 
this march the officers had been instructed to watch 
their men carefully and no man would be allowed to 
fall out of the column without a written permit from a 



Climbing the Mountains. 265 

commissioned ofllcer of his company. We were given 
ten minutes rest each hour, march twenty. five minutes 
and rest five, repeating this each half hour while on the 
march. 

At about the noon hour, as the column was taking 
its five minutes rest, the men were ordered to an atten- 
tion and General Henry, accompanied by two staff 
officers, came riding towards us. By this time the men 
were in hard shape and General Henry must have 
passed a large number of them who were lying by the 
roadside overcome by the heat. The call for a doctor 
or a hospital attendant was being continually passed up 
and down the line as some of the weaker ones fell faint- 
ing in a comrades arms or at his feet. As the General 
rode by our battalion he was heard to remark, '-This 
is terrible, if the heat continues we must put these men 
on night marches." Nothing more was heard from it 
however. 

We were then well into the mountains and were 
passing through a very productive part of the island. 
Coffee plantations, covering several thousand acres each, 
were located along the route. They extended partly 
up the mountain side, midst what appeared to us to be 
a heavy growth of timber. Upon getting into the wood- 
land we saw that the trees were kept thinned out and 
just enough remained standing to make a good shade 
for the coffee plant. These plants attain a height of 
from six to ten feet, branching out at the top, the berry 
growing in a pod at the extreme end of the branches. 
The pods were just turning to a reddish color and in a 
short time would be in condition to harvest. 

The residences, and buildings which surrounded 
them, were much handsomer and rnore substantially 



266 History of Companies I and E. 

built than those found along the coast. Coffee houses 
were usually of large dimensions and well built. In 
the front of the store houses, dry beds were made of 
cement and slightl}^ raised from the ground. Small 
cars, built on trucks, were run out to the dry beds on 
platforms built of plank. Sugar mills became more fre- 
quent and here and there a naitive would have his corn 
crop harvested and strung on poles very close to his 
abode. We had been informed that corn was one of 
the principle products of the island but never saw more 
than five or six bushels of ear corn in one mans gath- 
ering for the season. 

The first night out from Ponce we bivouaced in and 
about a coffee house. A small store building and a cou- 
ple of native homes were in the neighborhood and the 
village bore the name of Gragos. On the opposite side of 
the road from the coffee house an excellent grazing 
ground for the bullocks and mules was found. This was 
on the mountain side and quite steep. An embankment 
ten feet high bordered the inner side of the roadway. 
Just over the outer edge of this bank the men had 
rolled themselves in their blankets and were sleeping 
soundly. Back of them and farther up the slope the 
mules and bullocks were feeding. During the middle of 
the night the cattle stampeded and rushed about in the 
wildest confusion. The startled sleepers awoke, and tak- 
ing in the situation made a break to get out of the path 
of the oncoming, half crazed bullocks. In the hurry and 
excitement they forgot the abrupt drop into the roadway 
directly in front of them and the darkness of the night 
prevented them from seeing it. Rushing straight ahead 
many of them suddenly found themselves treading the 
ftir and the next instant dropped in a heap in the road- 



Camp ''Bull Run" at Ga(;os. 267 

way below, or went sprawling half way across it. Several 
of the men were bruised considerable and one of our reg- 
iment had a leg broken. Major Anthony set the frac- 
tured limb the next morning and the injured man was 
sent back to Ponce. From this occurance the camp de- 
rived its name of "Bull Run." 

The rations did not get to us until after nine 
o'clock that night; there was nothing to forage and the 
scarcity of wood for making tires made it difficult to se- 
cure a cup of coffee. I say there was nothiiig to forage 
and, generally speaking, there was nothing, but upon 
skirmishing around, the proprietor of the store was 
found to have three half grown chickens and a duck hid- 
den under his house. 

After some dickering, two of the boys purchased a 
couple of chickens, paying an outrageous price for them, 
while the remaining chicken and duck was secured by a 
pair of comrades. With much difficulty the boys gath- 
ered a limited supply of wood and securing a couple of 
tin buckets, the fowls were placed in them and swung 
over the fires. They sat about the impromptu fire-places 
eagerly watching for the first sign of broiling, alternate- 
ly stirring the fire and removing the cover of the pot to 
take a peep at the contents. As the odor of the broiling 
fowls filled the nostrils of the hungry men, they sat back 
in the shadows and patiently awaited for the end, and 
for one of the groups it soon came. 

As they sat with closed eyes, their hunger increas- 
ing with each moment, and anticipating the feast which 
was soon to be theirs, their attention was attracted to the 
fire by the smell of something like that of burning leath- 
er arising from the pot while the delicious odor which 
had so recently pervaded the air, had disappeared. Hur- 



268 History of Companies I and E. 

rying to the fire they were just in time to see the bottom 
fall out of the pot and the badly burned chicken and duck 
drop into the fire. Dragging them from the blaze they 
found them burned to a crisp and cursing their ill luck 
and stupidity, they tossed the remainder of the fowls in- 
to the darkness, and kicking the glowing embers of the 
fire in a dozen directions they returned to the c^tfee 
house to await the comin^ of the wacron train which 
would bring them sowbelly and hardtack. 

In their inexperience they had overlooked the fact 
that during the broiling process the water was rapidly 
passing away, and the pleasure derived from the pros- 
pects for a good feed, lulled them into semi-conscious- 
ness, from which they were aroused too late, and they 
saw their feast disappear in a moment. The boys about 
the other fire took warning from the experience of their 
unfortunate comrades and were soon devouring their 
chickens. Salt and pepper were both lacking bat such 
trifles were overlooked and in a short time a small stack 
of bones, picked clean, lay on the ground, the only visi- 
ble evidence of the repast remaining. 

At one o'clock, the following afternoon, the division 
broke camp and in a downpour of rain, continued the 
march. Company E, acting as rear guard, remained 
motionless the remainder of the day. The march before 
had been difficult but was now doubly so as the hard 
military road terminated at the coffee house and the re- 
mainder of the march was made over freshly made trails. 
The trail was kept soft by the heavy rains and after the 
first few companies had passed over it, became a perfect 
sea of sticky mud, the men going in above their ankles 
at every stej), nearly pulling off their shoes in extricating 
their feet. It was just a trifle the strongest case of "leg- 



(jq t-H 



^13 j; 

O fL. 

c ^■ 




'•Si-KEi'iN(; Pass." . 200 

p illiiil^"' which we had as yc^t exjM'riciM.-cd. 

We had covered I»nt n short distance when we were 
halted on the bank of a stream an I held in a column of 
fours. We had been steadily climl)in<»' upwards since 
leavinsf Ponce and by this time were well u[) in the 
mountains. The rain [)oured down and we were soon 
wet to the skin and shiverintr from the cokl. Although 
the men were wet and cold they kept their s[)irits up by 
singing, laughing, and treating the whole situation as a 
huge joke. After the storm ceased we again moved 
forward. In crossing the stream several of the boys 
slipped on the w-et stepping stones and into the water they 
went. With each spilling, a shout went up from the 
watching soldiers, and the victim of the accident would be 
informed that no orders had been given to ''fall in." 

We paddled through the mud and water a few miles 
when we were halted for the night. And such a site 
for a camp. The trail at this point was not more 
than ten feet in width and the mud was fearful. On 
our left the solid face of the mountain rose abruptly 
far above us. On the right the trail sheered off nearly 
perpendicular to the valley several hundred feet be- 
low. For several moments we remained motionless, 
wondering how, in the name of mud, we were to convert 
this plac3 into a camp. To lie or sit down miant a seat 
or bed in the sloppy clay. The tall grass and wide 
leaves of the plants growing on the very brink of the 
drop to the valley, were as wet as water coukl make 
them. The sun. which for once miojht have brou<;ht 
joy and comfort with its warm rays, failed to break 
from bsneath the heavy clouds, and before preparations 
could be made, night was upon us. 

Someone espied a wire fence close to the trail 



270 History of Gompajsies I and E. 

and the boys immediately began a systematic search 
for fence posts. Before long it was necessary to walk 
two miles in advance of the camp to secure a single 
post. Away out there we found a banana grove and 
the returning soldiers brought back a double load of 
wood and bananas. One of the boys gave a treacher- 
ous looking native an American dollar for a scrawny 
duck and with a fence post on his shoulder and the 
duck under his arm he hurri?d back to camp. The 
rations had not com 3 up and the contents of the 
haversacks went but a little way in appeasing the hun- 
ger of the men. A limited number of small fires were 
built and the men huddled about them in a vain ef- 
fort to partially dry their clothing and drive the chill 
from their bodies. 

The mountainside was cut away in places to make 
fire-places and a dry spot in wliich to rest. The duck 
which the soldier had brought into camp was dressed 
in the dark, cut up and placed in a meat pan. The 
fires were so small and occupied so fully that it was 
a scramble to get near one. After edging the pan lo 
within close proximity of the scattered coals, the 
duck was left to roast. About ten o'clock the fowl was 
supposed to be well done, and the better part of it was 
disposed of in a few moments, the wings and drum 
sticks were retained for a breakfast. The meat was ex- 
ceedingly rare and had a peculiar flavor but it went at 
any rate and sufficed to appease the hunger for the time 
being. 

We had no blankets and the shelter tents were back 
with the wagon train. As the fires burned lower the 
weary men turned their attention to the task of arrang- 
ing as comfortable sleeping quarters as possible. Some 



The Midnkhit Scare. 271 

crawled into the holes where the fires had b3en built 
others sat on their rifles and rented aojainst the mountain 
side and a few stood upright and nodded. A few of the 
boys secured two fence posts eftch, and layinf^ them par- 
allel with each other, filled the intervening space with 
wet leaves and grass. Nearly every man had fallen into 
a fitful, restless sleep, when, close to our ears came the 
muffled report of a shot. All were awake in an instant. 
We had seen or heard nothing of the enemy since leav- 
ing Ponce but the conclusion formed by each of us was 
that the Spaniards had come upon us unawares and fired 
at the sentinels. Following the first report came another 
and another, the sound appearing to come from our very 
midst. 

Everyone was mystified for a moment and^'rifles 
were brought to a '"ready" and the men prepared for ac- 
tion. Thn darkness was so intense and the men were 
brought to their feet so suddenly that confusion reigned 
about us. We knew not in which direction to I'^ok for 
the impending danger and could not even guess in what 
shape it might present itself. One of our boys who 
was leaning against the mountain, opened his eyes 
and hearing the reports of the shots, shook his comrade 
roughly and cried out "come on comrade, the Spaniards 
are after us," and up the trail they flew, expecting every 
second to be shot down. 

The mystery was soo7i solved and it was soon learned 
that one of the boys nicknamed ''Alice," had placed his 
haversack on top of a bed of coals which contained a lit- 
tle fire and the canvas had burned throuirh. brinjjing the 
cnrtridges which he carried, in contact with the fire, 
which resulted in the explosions and brought the whole 
camp to its fe3t. Major Channon was on the scene and 



272 History of Companies I and E. 

by his orders the haversack and contents were hurled 
down into the valley. "Alice" protested against this 
action and told the major there were but three boxes of 
loaded cartridges in the haversack. And he did not 
care so much for the haversack and ammunition but they 
had thrown away his tin plate. 

Returning to our resting places we again stretched 
ourselves on the downy beds and for the most part re- 
mained awake till morning. Shortly after daylight a 
detail of men went back to the wagon train and brought 
us rations. We crawled to the eastern slope of the 
mountain and basking in the warm sun, dried our cloth- 
ing. Looking back in the direction from which we had 
come the day before, we could plainly see the buildings 
in the village and the flat roofs of every one of them 
was covered with soldiers, lying prone on their backs and 
faces upturned to the sun. They too were drying their 
washing. 

The man who had retained a portion of the duck for 
his breakfast brought it to light and found the feathers 
were not more than half plucked from it and the job of 
cleaning which had been done in the dark was anything 
but an appetizer for breakfast. He concluded sowbelly 
was good enough and threw the foul fowl over the em- 
bankment. This camp was appropriately called "Sleep- 
ing Pass," and is remembered as one of the "original" 
camps which circumstances forced upon us during our 
service in the Porto Rican campaign. 




Hospital Stewards Brown and Geyer crossing- the 
juoimtains in Porto Ricu. 



Mountain Scenery. 273 



CHAPTER XXI. 

At ten o'clock, on the morning of August eleventh, 
the division aijain moved forward throujjh the mud, 
fording numerous streams. The rain storms increased 
in number and violence as we climbed higher each day. 
Fording the streams became a more difficult task as they 
increased in depth and the currents grew swifter. The 
waters seemingly leaped Prom rock to rock, barely touch- 
ing the gravely beds as they continued on their mad 
race down the mountain, through gullies and gorges, 
dashing against great boulders which stood directly in 
their paths, swinging out and around them, always forg- 
ing down and ahead, never resting. Here and there the 
course would narrow and the force of the entire stream 
would press the waters through a small opening in the 
rocks and with a graceful curve the glittering body 
would spring out and awny from mother earth, pick- 
ing up its course again a dozen feet below, forming 
a beautiful water-fall. 

The scenery became more wild and grand. At 
times as we crawled around the mountain the trail would 
make a sudden turn and as we stood on the point, 
the valley below and country for miles about us lay 
exposed to our vision. These narrow valleys or gorges 
were entirely uncultivated and the tropical plants, bear- 
ing beautiful foliage, grew in the wildest confusion. 



274 History of Companies I and E. 

Looking over and beyond the beautiful handiwork of 
nature, opening out before us in all its splendor, the 
grandeur of the scene almost entirely lost to the weary 
soldiers, the home of some planter could be seen nestling 
on the mountain side, and surrounded by some half 
dozen less pretentious homes of his servants. In the 
distance they bore the appearance of buildings, freshly 
painted white, but upon closer inspection, as we neared 
them later, they were found to be thatched, unpainted, 
tumble-down shacks, bleached to a dazzling white by 
the rain and sun. 

The trail coursed in and out, following the irreg- 
ular contour of the mountains. In many places it 
doubled on itsself, and gazing behind us we conld see 
the rear of the column apparently moving back in the 
direction of Ponce. Numerous deep gorges barred the 
way. To reach the opposite side we were compelled 
to traverse a decline for a mile or more, parallel with 
the gorge, crossing it some distance from where we 
first encountered it and climb up again on the other 
side. Reaching a point opposite to where the gorge 
made the break in the trail, less than a stone's throw 
separated us from the portion of the column in our rear. 
We had doubled more than two miles to cover an actual 
advance of much less than an eighth of a mile. Such 
was the condition of the country which we met with 
day after day as we advanced farther into the heart of 
the enemy's supposed stronghold. "Eternal vigilance" 
was ever the watchword and we momentarily expected 
to hear the pop of the "greaser's" rifles fired from 
ambush, the opportunity for such a move on their part 
frequently appearing to us to be rather tempting. 

Looking back over the scenes after a lapse of three 



A-RRivAi^ AT Adjuntas. 275 

years, one can hardly realize that we were allowed to 
move forward, unmolested, throu^di that ru<,^<(ed coun- 
trv. One 'troop of well mounted cavalry, equipped with 
a half dozen portable, rapid fire guns, could have an- 
noved us greatlv, and made it a running fight for days 
if thev had cared to have done so. The country must 
have been thoroughly known to the Spanish, while to 
us it was a strange land. The expeditions of the scouts 
and advance guards being our only source of receiving 
information. On either fiank the enemy might have 
laid in ambush for us, poured in a withering fire on the 
marchino- column, and scattered among the rocks and 
trees before our troops could locate them. The topog- 
raphy of the country was such that fiank guards could 
not be put out as the only trail over which it was pos- 
sible to move and remain in touch with the column was 
the one we were traversing. 

As we advanced we saw signs of the late departure 
of the enemy, in many places. The strong walls which 
surrounded the burial grounds, had been loop-holed and 
made into temporary forts. In several places, a point 
commanding the approaching trail for some distance, 
had been cleared and leveled, with the evident intention 
of mounting a field piece with which to bar the advance 
of our troops. But vvhatever their intentions or oppor- 
tunities, the Spaniards did not molest us and we con- 
tinued the weary climbing. Some little distance from 
Adjuntas. the trail descended rapidly and taking a brace 
on ourselves, we slid^ rolled and half ran the last mile 
before entering the outskirts of the town. 

It was late in the afternoon when we marched 
down the narrow street, and a half mile beyond the 
town. The site selected for the campground of our 



276 History of Companies I and E. 

regiment was pn a side hill and had about --a foot of 
raise to every foot of run.'' Our blankets and sheller 
tents were on the bullock carts, about a days march be- 
hind us. It began to rain and we "staked our claim," 
because we had no tents to pitch, in a steady down pour. 
A very little wood was secured at the expense of the 
government and a small fire built at the foot of the hill, 
the lower end of the company street. Hungry and 
weary we s*ood about until long after dark. When 
completely exhausted we stretched our worn bodies on 
the wet ground and courted rest and slumber but they 
were not for us. 

In the inky blackness of the night, a herd of pack- 
mules, wandering about, struck the center of our camp 
and tramped up the hill right into our midst. After 
much profanity on the part of the mule-whackers, ably 
seconded by the drenched soldiers, the long eared 
quadrupeds were driven away. With little or no rtr st 
the night before, and clothing soaking wet for the past 
forty-eight hours, the men put in a miserable night. 
The rain continued the next day and when the wagon 
train, bringing our provisions, came in during the after- 
noon, the drivers guided the carts off the road at the 
foot of the hill on which we were "stopping," the cart 
wheels buried in water and mud- to their hubs. Here 
the mess tents were pitched. We quickly secured our 
tents and blankets and made ourselves as comfortable as 
possible. 

Trailing in behind the wagon train came company 
E. The evening of the afternoon upon which we left 
Gagos, or Camp '-Bull Run," company E was marched 
in the direction of Ponce some distance to the rear of 
the division and remained as rear guard of the column 



> o 

CL O 




Home, Sweet Home. 277 

until their arrival at Adjuntas. The nighl that we 
camped on '-Sleepincr Pass," the bo}"S of company E 
hivouaced among the bullock carts. About three 
o'clock ill the morning they were awakened by the rain 
and they whilcd away the remaining hours ot darkness 
and drizzle by singing songs and dancing cake-walks. 
During the day they advanced to Gagos. sleeping that 
night in the coflFee house or barn which had been con- 
verted into a hospital. . The following day they 
marched from Gagos to Adjuntas, covering the distance 
which had occupied us parts of the two preceeding days. 

Following in the rear of the column they saw much 
the worst of the experiences as the trail was fearfully 
chopped up and each days delay added many discom- 
forts to the already troublesome expedition. Carts and 
their contents had fallen over the brink of the narrow 
trail. drag"ging the struggling bullocks with them. 
Horses and men were with difficulty kept right side up. 
A gatling gun became overbalanced and went rolling 
down the mountain, injuring several men and horses. 
Broken down carts nearly blocked the narrow trail at 
points. These were some of the scenes as witnessed by 
the Sterling boys while following in the wake of an 
army. When they arrived in Adjuntas they were given 
quarters in a brick shed for a night but were brought 
out to the camp site the following day. The boys of 
Company I were given one night of comfort also, and 
they found an empty building in which they were se- 
cure from the rain, but it was for a night only. 

On the thirteenth, we received the first authentic 
information regarding the cessation of hostilities. The 
news was received with cheers and huzzas. The band 
gave a concert and for the first time since we were mus- 



278 History of Companies I and Ei. 

tered in, they rendered "Home, Sweet Home." Recol- 
lections of "Home" flooded our thoughts in an instant. 
No one had forgotten home and its comforts, but they 
had put it behind them, because they had come to real- 
ize that homesickness was worse than malarial fever and 
we knew "where we were at," so avoided the subject as 
much as possible. But when our own band boys were 
given the privilege of stirring the hearts of the men 
with this hitherto forbidden piece of music, we knew 
that the end of the war was in sight. To us that meant 
home, and home meant everything, rest, dry clothing, 
an abundance of rations, a soft bed with snow white cov- 
erings, and a happy gathering of loved ones whose faces 
were growing dearer to our hearts each day and hour. 
Imagine, if you can, the joy which prevailed in our 
camp as we gathered in small groups and talked of go- 
ing "Home." If you have never been there, you can 
only imagine, you can never know. Our mail had been 
very light since landing on the island. We were practi- 
cally cut off from the world and the people way up here 
in the States knew better what was transpiring in our 
immediate vicinity than did we ourselves. Our lives 
were limited to our individual companies and we longed 
to be released from this oblivion.. If the war was over 
then our usefulness had ceased. If a warning note had 
been sounded and the men told there was yet danger 
ahead for the flag, then we would have put "Home" be- 
hind us again and never faltered in performing our du- 
ties until the hour of peril was past. 

A band, composed of natives, marched out to our 
camp and serenaded us. Among other selections, was 
one, composed and written by their leader. The words 
sang the praises of General Miles and the "Americanos." 



'•Cami' Mud." 279 

The musicians twanged and tooted at this piece of music 
very earnestly and appeared to be carried away with the 
realization that they were, or in a short time would be, 
our countrymen. We were as well pleased as they were 
but just at that period our thoughts were not with the 
happy natives, but wandering back to "Old Illinois." 

— '-Thy prairies and tliy valleys, Illinois, 

Illinois." 

The rains continued to come on schedule time and the 
side hill became a toboggan slide. The company streets 
extended from the bottom to the very top of the hill. 
Just back of them, on a tlat. was the regimental officers 
quarters. At the foot of the hill, and to the right. General 
Garrettson and his staff had their tents pitched, while 
the troops of the Massachusetts regiment were quar- 
tered in buildings along the road, near our camp. One 
battalion of regulars, which formed a part of the division, 
was also given quarters in the buildings. 

In the course of our stay at this camp the officers and 
men made many trips up and down this hill. Slipping 
and sticking in turn, the dignified officers performed 
many acrobatic feats which surprised even themselves, 
in making the decent. The men looked on and grinned 
but said nothinfr. After once makinor the start it was a 
certainty that the soldier would reach the bottom of the 
hill before stopping, but it was a question as to which 
end he would land on. In forming in company front for 
roll call or inspection of nrms, each man in turn acted as 
a pillar for the man above him and if some one had giv- 
en the first man a shove the whole line would have top- 
pled over like a row of ten pins. This camp was given 
the name of -Camp Mud." 



280 History of Companies I and E. 

The town of Adjuntas had a population of about 
one thousand souls, possibly fifteen hundred. The peo- 
ple were kind to us but we found more Spanish sympa- 
thizers here than were met along the coast. They were 
awed by the soldiers and gave us no trouble, but their 
actions and looks were readily understood by our men. 
The demand for the American flas: was crrowing: and the 

o o o 

natives were trading fruits and tobaccos for envelopes 
and writing paper which were decorated with the stars 
and stripes. They wore the bits of paper pinned to their 
sleeves and breasts an stuck them in their hats, proudly 
proclaiming themselves "Americanos." 

Although peace was not declared as yet, w^e imag- 
ined that we would not advance farther but soon return 
to Ponce, there to embark for home. In this we were 
disappointed and on the sixteenth of August we broke 
camp and marched north to Utuado. The battalion of 
regulars and one battalion of the Sixth Massachusetts 
boys, had preceded us. The march was a long, hard one 
and we covered nearly eighteen miles over a trail that 
was in many places, being cut out by the force of the na- 
tives. 

As we hove within sight of the camp grounds the 
Sixth Mass. T3and came out to meet us and we swung 
along the road at a lively pace. We stood in the raia for 
some time until the site for our camp was pointed out to 
us. Our shelter tents were pitched nearly a mile from 
town on a flat near the bank of the Arecibo river. This 
stream was in every respect more of a river than any oth- 
er encountered on the island. 

The bullock carts were abandoned at Adjuntas. the 
trail was impassible for them and the supplies were car- 
ried forward by pack mules. It was surprising the 




Typical Porto Rico Peons and habitations. 



Arrival at Arecibo. 281 

amount of weight the drivers strapped to the backs of 
these animals. They trotted along, the contents of the 
boxes strapped to their pack-saddles, shaking and rat- 
tling, the chuck-a-chuck beating regular time to the 
movements of the mules. The drivers of the pack mules 
were not enlisted men but were hired by the govern- 
ment at a salary of from thirty to fifty dollars per 
month, according to the rank which they held in the out- 
fit. They were typical westerners and appeared to be 
thoroughly acquainted with the business. It requires no 
little skill and training to securely fasten the boxes to 
the pack-saddles. If the fastenings became loosened, 
the animal would stop and wait for the driver to come up 
and rearrange the trappings. 

A number of ambulances were worked over the trail 
and a few miles from Adjuntas one of them rolled over 
the edge of the narrow way and went tumbling and 
twisting down the mountain, smashing the wagon and 
killing a horse. One of the pack mules, sure-footed as 
they appeared to be, lost his balance and found a lodg- 
ing place among the tree tops below us. 

Up to the time of leaving Adjuntas each company 
had carried its cooking outfit with it. When leaving 
""Camp Mud,*' orders were given to the forces working 
about the mess tents to pack the outfits in such a manner 
as to make them portable by pack mules. The order 
was misconstrued in some instances and the camp stove 
and cooking uiensils were stored in the large chests as 
usual, and instead of being forwarded with the troops, 
they were taken to a store house and put away with 
other heavy camp equippage, which could not be moved 
forward when the bullock carts were abandoned. 

When we arrived at Utuado, and order was estab* 



282 History of Companies I and E. 

lished in the camp, the cooking outfit of some few of 
the companies failed to put in an appearance and the 
cooking was thrown upon the men. If the supply of 
fuel had been adequate, the task of preparing our rations 
would have been a trifling matter. As it was, we 
searched far and near and in a very short time every 
stick of firewood was picked up and burned. Not far 
from our camp was an open shed and stored in this we 
found several tons of sugar-cane which had been run 
through the mill. It was wet, mould}-, and full of small 
insects, and when coaxed for an hour burned like a wet 
rag. It was the only available fuel at that time and 
we were compelled to use it or nothing. Little groups 
of men gathered in the company streets and kneeling 
about the smouldering fires, attempted to make their 
coffee. 

The coffee was issued to us in the kernel, along 
with a meager quantity of hardtack. Arising earl}^ in 
the morning and by dint of much fortitude, the coffee 
was pounded between a couple of stones, a slow fire 
started with the cane stalks, and with a strong pair of 
lungs for a blower, with no accidents occurring, a pint 
of muddy coffee, which had never come to the boiling 
point, would materialize by the noon hour. If anything 
was expected at the supper hour, preparations for the 
mess must be commenced immediately after dinner. 
To those who do not imderstand the meaning of the 
term "mess," it is only fair to state that to fully compre- 
hend its reference, one must exist for a month or so on 
the rations issued to an active army in the field. If, at 
the end of that period, you do not come to the conclu-. 
sion that the application of the term "mess," is not only 
appropriate, but stands alone as an expression which de- 



"Foraging." 283 

fines the breakfast, dinner, or supper of the average sol- 
dier, than any attempted explanation on our part would 
prove futile. For a number of days the soldiers existed 
on '-recollections" and '-anticipations." with fiat coffee 
and buggy hardtack for desert. The bill of fare for the 
morning "mess" consisted of coffee and hardtack, with 
a change at the noon mess to hardtack and coffee, while 
at night hardtack alone was served. 

With hunger gnawing at their stomachs, some of 
the men seized every opportunity to secure something 
eatable. One of them, a sixfooter wiih broad shoulders, 
a giant as compared with the average native Porto Ri- 
can. made a trip to the town with the avowed intention 
of not returning until he had secured both food and 
drink. He was penniless, but nerved to desperation, he 
in some manner, juggled a rum seller out of several 
drinks of firewater, and started in search of an eating 
house. Selecting the one which he judged would set an 
elaborate table, he entered the place, stalked over to a 
small table and seated himself. He wore no coat, and 
picking at the breast of his blue shirt, he attracted the 
attention of the proprietor and repeated -'Americano, 
Porto Rico." 

With a few such exclamations and some sign lan- 
guage, he gave the little yellow man to understand that 
an "A mericano^'and a Porto Rican was one and the same 
and that they were brothers. Then he ordered dinner. 
Everything that he thought the house might contain and 
was eatable he ordered brought to him. Throughout 
the meal he kept pulling at the blue shirt and repeating 
'•Americano, Porto Rico." When everything in sight 
was eaten, he arose, and started for the door. The little 
native ran over and placed himself in front of the big 



284 History of Companies I and E. 

soldier, hurled a jargon of meaningless words al him 
and attempted to stop his progress toward the door. 
The burly man in blue forged straight ahead and ex- 
pressed his brotherly love for the wralhy native ly gent- 
ly pulling at the blue shirt and repeating "Americano, 
Porto Rico." 

The tender feeling of brotherly love was pleasant to 
the natives under some circumstances, but it would not 
compensate the proprietor of the house for the dinner 
eaten by the soldier, which, based upon the rates usually 
charged the invaders, footed up to something like three 
or four dollars, Porto Rican coin. Clenching both 
hands the native shook his lists in the face of "Major," 
as the soldier w^as known by his comrades, and made 
a more determined effort to hold him until he had se- 
cured pay for the meal. "Major" was slow to anger 
but he wanted to get out and Lonlinue the search for 
food. Reaching out one brawny arm he grasped the 
hand of the native, twisting him to his knees on the 
floor before him and with an oath, he again repeated 
"Americano, Porto Rico." and with the disengaged 
hand plucked once more at the bosom of his blue 
shirt. The native fairly screamed with pain as the 
twisting process continued and the instant he was re- 
leased he jumped to his feet and backing away from 
the soldier, motioned for him to get out and out he 
went. 

A little farther down the street he came to the en- 
trance of a general store and stepping in he saw a box of 
dried fish near the door. The fish looked something like 
herring but were much larger, and tied up in bundles. 
The "major" picked up a bundle and holding it up to 
the gaze of a clerk, inquired the price of it. The clerk 



The "Major." 285 

made some reply, and the "major" looked hard at him 
and said, '-Well! I may return before the sun goes down 
and if I do I'll drop in and pay you," and walked out. 
During the night some time, he was picked up by an 
officer and he rested in the city lockup until the next 
morning, when he returned to camp. 



286 History of CdMPANiEs I and E. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

By the time we arrived at Utuado the men were a 
sorry looking lot. A number of them were barefooted, 
and their clothing was hanging to them in shreds. 
Some few had no trousers at all and went about in their 
underclothing. With their dilapitated clothing and 
scraggly beards, they looked more like a gang of bush- 
whackers than a regiment of Uncle Sam's soldiers. 
Those that had money to buy with could not purchase 
clothing as the natives were so much smaller than the 
Americans that they were unable to find garments large 
enough for them. 

When we were in the States we could get a shave 
often enough to at least avoid having the appearance 
of wild men, but on the island it was different and a 
tonsorial artists outfit, even the most simple, was rarely 
seen. Some few of the boys had razors that had not 
seen a strop or hone for months. They had went the 
rounds of the companies many times since leaving home 
and were in condition fit to trim corns but not to re- 
move a tough beard of several weeks growth. Once 
in a while one of the boys would pluck up courage 
enough to face the ordeal. The preparations were 
made by placing a blanket on the ground. Stretching 
out full length on the blanket, with his face upturned 
to the sk}^ the "customer" would close his eyes and 



Sterling Boys on Outpost. 287 

await the onslought of the "barber," who, sitting astride 
the victim, would commence and continue the work in 
much the same manner as one who was scraping a hog. 
The man underneath took his medicine with good grace 
and arose minus his whiskers, but oft times the face ap- 
peared as though the beard had been taken off with 
a butchers cleaver. 

On the twentieth of August, a detail of men from 
company E, under command of Lieut. Dillon, marched 
north in the direction of Arecibo and were placed on 
outpost duty about seven miles in advance of the troops 
camped at Utuado. This outpost was stationed at the 
most northern point reached by any troops in the 
Porto Rican campaign and but a few miles from the 
northern coast of the island. The boys were quartered 
in comfortable barracks which had been vacated b}' the 
Spanish but a short time previous. The guards were 
posted along the main road leading to Arecibo. There 
was considerable traveling over this route at the time 
and as the duties of the guards made it necessary for 
them to halt and search each passer by, they met man}' 
of the better class of inhabitants, and among them 
some few who could speak English. They were told 
that the Spanish soldiers had retreated from Arecibo 
in the direction of San Jaun, and that the terms of 
peace were settled and the war was practically over. 
The postmaster of Arecibo was made a prisoner by the 
guards and taken, under a guard, to the general camp 
at Utuado where he was detained for a time but later 
released and allowed to continue unmolested. 

The boys appeared to enjoy the situation, and 
were in better spirits than they had been for some time. 
They were snugly located in comfortable quarters and 



288 History of Companies I and E. 

the weather was exceptionally fine. Upon referring 
to Corporal Hoobler's diary, which is authentic as it 
was posted daily, the weather reports show three con- 
secutive days in which there was no rain, certainly it 
was phenomenal, and with dry clothing and an unusual 
supply of rations, the results of successful foraging 
expeditions, the men regained their naturaly buoyant 
spirits and the days slipped by rapidly. At that time 
it was the supposition of the men that the whole of 
our division would continue north to Arecibo and 
there embark for home. The boys of company E, 
who were on outpost, expected to remain in that 
locality until the division advanced, but were ordered 
back to divison headquarters where they arrived on 
the evening of August twenty-fifth. 

While on outpost duty, two of the Sterling boys, 
George Slade and John Lineberry, composed the fol- 
lowing poem, dedicated to "Bill Heathcote's Rough 
Riders." 

Bill Heathcote's Rough Riders. 

Every man who lives remembers 

How he read when but a child, 
Of the soldier up at Bingen 

Who in death his chum beguiled. 
How he died without a falter, 

As he btood in the front line; 
And he also does remember 

That fair Bingen on the Rhine. 

There are other soldiers dying, 

Just across the raging brine; 
In a place called Porto Rico, 

And they number twenty-nine; 
They are veterans, are the warriors, 

And they all have been the rounds, 
They are captained by "Bill Heathcote, 

And they came from Sterling town. 



Bill Heathcote's Rough Riders. 289 

If the world but knew their courage, 

And what they dared to do; 
How seventeen Ions: days they tioated 

Out upon the briny blue, 
How across Porto llico they are marching 

With their tents and ponchos, too. 
What a tough dght they are making 

For hardtack enough to chew. 

How the Spaniards tiew before them, 

When they heard Ileifsnyder chew. 
How Berlin slowly limped along 

VVilh but a single shoe, 
When Slade could march do longer. 

Because his leg gave out; 
They hauled him in a two wheeled cart 

Behind two oxen stout. 

And Lineberry had trouble 

To make the natives understand; 
But there were many others 

In brave Capt. Heathcote's band. 
And there was Leonard Higby 

Weak and wildered, tired and lame. 
And yet he never seemed to falter, 

Kept eating hardtack just the same. 

And there were our brave color guards, 

Cal Jiindslay, Street and Strock, 
Who marched across the island, 

And never wore a sock. 
How Barney Buckley chattered. 

When Anderson lost his hat. 
And Hankerson, our slimes^. 

Is slowly getting fat. 

How Hoobler and Moore became footsore, 

On one of our long quarters 
And they languished in the guard house 

All one £ad night down in Ponce. 
And how, without apparent cause. 

Sergeant Wildasins tobacco flew, 
And he is looking for it yet 

Just to get a single chew. 



290 History of Companies I and E. 

How we marched into Ad juntas 

While the cold rain on us beat, 
And we pitched our little shelter tents 

Upon the hillside steep. 
' And when the mess call sounded 

Each soldier grabbed his plate, 
And to get his canned tomatoes 

Down the hillside he would skate. 

And when Sam Feigley looks in the glass, 

It makes his heart feel glad, 
When he sees his noble whiskers 

And he says, "I look just like dad." 
Sergeant Wagley sits around, 

And rubs his sunburned neck. 
And vows he is working harder now 

Than he ever did for Feck. 

There's Latherow and Wilkinson, 

Whom Uncle Sam hired, 
Tis thought he made a big mistake. 

Because they're always tired. 
And Jim Burr walks with the grace of a knight. 

As he climbs the mountain high. 
And says he is aiways spoiling for a tigiit. 

With some of Sol Seely's pie. 

How Macke on the outpost 

Met a Porto Kican fair. 
And tried to work a "standin," 

But Eberle beat him there. 
And that hard march from Ponce 

Merricks had good luck of course. 
And while we toiled up the mountain 

Ed. Merricks rode a horse. 

So now you have heard my story, 

A tale so sad and true. 
How they marched through Porto Rico 

In their little suits of blue. 
And they're coming back to Sterling 

Midst their old familiar scenes, 
To tell about the hard times 

When they lived on pork ^ncl beans. 



Cemetery at Utuado. 291 

In the few lines above, these boys briefly tell the 
story of their trip and some of the many incidents oc- 
curring during their soldier life on the island. The 
Sterling boys were not dispondent, although the con- 
struction of the poem might lead some to think so. 
They were in fact about the most contented lot of men 
in the regiment, as contentment goes in the army. 

During the wanderings of the men, while in the 
various camps, they witnessed many strange sights. 
The customs of the inhabitants of the island were pecu- 
liar in many respects. While encamped at Utuado, a 
part}' of boys took a stroll about town and among other 
things of interest they explored the cemetery. As near 
as we could learn, there was at that time but one cem- 
etery in each province of the island. As a consequence 
the people living in the country carried their dead for 
miles on their shoulders to bury them and the death 
rate among the poorer class being extremely heavy at 
that time, the sexton was kept very busy attending to 
the wants of his customers. 

The term customers may appear strange as applied 
to a funeral party, yet when you consider that the sex- 
ton was also the undertaker it puts an entirely different 
face on the matter. As an undertaker, the duties of 
the sexton were to keep on hand a limited supply of 
rough boxes, which he hired to the person who had a 
corpse to bring in for burial. He must see to it that he 
secures the rental on the rude coffins and as it is a 
custom to bury in the morning, he is charged with the 
care of the bodies brought in too late and held over un- 
til the following morning. 

The coffins which the natives hire to bring in their 
dead are simply two rough boards for the sides, with 



292 History of Companies I and E. 

pieces across the ends at the head and foot. Strips 
of the same material are nailed across the under side 
of the box. These strips are placed about two inches 
apart and those on each end extend two feet beyond 
the side of the box. The corpse is placed in the rough 
box, four men, one at each corner of the box, place it 
upon their shoulders and the cortege begins its long 
tramp to the cemetery, which in many instances is sev- 
eral miles distant. 

The little party was always preceded by a man 
bearing a small wooden cross. The face of the dead 
was unprotected from the fierce rays of the sun and 
the procession hurried along with little or no cere- 
mony. Arriving at the cemetery, the body was soon 
in the ground unless the hour Por the burial day had 
passed. In that case the cofiin and contents were 
placed in charge of the sexton and the burial post- 
poned till the morrow. 

The party of exploring soldiers had passed the 
cemetery several times as it was located on the street 
which led to the town from our camp. This morning 
the boys turned up the path which led to the entrance 
of the burial grounds and as they neared the gate 
the frowning walls which surrounded the little city of 
the dead, looked anything but inviting. At the gate 
they were met by the sexton who ap})eared courteous 
as one could wish and they were led inside. On the 
inner side of the walls and on each side of the en- 
trance was H large room built of stone. In these 
rooms were stored a number of rough coffins some of 
which contained bodies soon to be consigned to the 
grave. 

Awed by the presence of the dead, the men 



Burial of a Porto Rican Child. '203 

looked about them silently and as they mcjved about 
the dark room they came across a small coffin containing 
the remains of a child, a little girl. Drawing nearer, 
.they saw that the pallid face and hands were nearly 
white. Clad in a garment of white, with her little hands 
so thin and wasled as to be almost transparent, folded 
across her bosom and clasping a small bunch of flowers; 
with closed eyes and just the faintest semblance of a 
smile linsrerine: about the corners of her mouth, the little 
child appeared to be sleeping. There was a look of peace 
and contentment on the white face which proclaimed that 
death had come without suffering to the little one. 

As the men stood gazing upon the pure face of the 
dead child, they were visibly affected by the sight and 
not a word was spoken. Who knows what was in their 
thoughts at that moment? They may have mourned 
the loss of one whose innocence, purity, and sweetness 
was forever pictured on their minds, and the silent form 
before them, with its childish face may have taken them 
back to days of yore, or caused their hearts to ache as the 
memory of a scene in the little church yard back in the 
states came forcibly to them — the rattle of the earth as 
it fell on the casket below, the voice of the minister, 
slowly but distinctly repeating, ''dust to dust, ashes to 
ashes." and the sweet face was hidden from view for- 
ever. 

Or they may have been thinking of those whom they 
had left behind them, alive and well when last heard 
from, but may have been sleeping in the grave for aught 
they then knew, as news came slowly, and death may 
have entered the home across the sea weeks before, and 
they not be aware of it. They were aroused by the en- 
trance of a man and two little boys who came toward 



294 History of Companies I and E. 

them, and without casting a look at the body, picked up 
the box and carried it out to the burial grounds. 

The men followed and watched the native as he 
placed the coffin on the ground, and without regard as to 
location, began to dig a narrow grave. In his down- 
ward course he came upon the bones of a body which 
must have been in the ground for some time. Kicking 
them out of his way he continued to throw out the earth 
until he reached a depth of not more ihan three or four 
feet, when he placed a cord underneath the corpse, at the 
knees, and another at the neck,. and lifting the body from 
the rude box, placed it in the shallow grave, picked up a 
handful of earth, pressed it to his lips, threw it upon the 
upturned face in the grave and hurriedly covered the si- 
lent form. After partially filling the grave he jumped 
into it and tramped the loose earth down, then completed 
his task. Without the slightest sign of emotion, the 
man and two boys, apparently the father and brothers 
of the dead girl, turned from the grave and returned the 
rented coffin to the stone room at the entrance, and hur- 
ried out upon the street. 

If that man was the girl's father then he had either 
a heart of stone or a will of iron, as he was narrowly 
watched from the beginning of burial and the expres- 
sion of carelessness never left his face. Not in the 
slightest did he appear to care whether he was perform- 
ing the last sad rites for one who should have been the 
light of his life, or digging a post hole. He did not lin- 
ger an instant after he had completed his task and he 
did not glance backward as he hurried away. But be- 
neath that untidy blouse there might have been a bleed- 
ing heart, torn with anguish, as he realized that the dear, 
sweet face, was gone forever. And perhaps far up in the 



Expi ORiNc, THE Cemetery. 205 

mountains a fond mother sat alone in her grief, thinking 
of the little one, on whom in their poverty, she had 
lavished her all, a mother's love. The prattling voice 
was stilled and the patter of her footsteps on the 
rough board tloor would cheer the mothers heart no 
more. 

Shortly after the departure of the man and boys, 
the soldiers roused themselves and looking around saw 
that the little cemetery was not more than five rods 
square and surrounded by a high wall of solid masonry. 
Loop-holes had been cut through the wall and it appear- 
ed as though the Spaniards had made preparations to 
make a stand in this temporary fortress. Within the 
walls was numerous vaults or tombs. This was where 
the wealthy people disposed of their dead. Everything 
was in a dilapitated condition and the front of some of 
the tombs were broken open. Peering within, human 
bones, from which the flesh had long ago decayed, lay in 
perfect order, the complete skeleton exposed to view. 

The area contained in the grounds, and the large 
number of burials' which occurred within the walls, had 
resulted in many skeletons being unearthed in the sink- 
ing of fresh graves. A wall had been built diagonally 
across one corner, and into this space the disinterred 
bones had been thrown. They had been accumulating 
for years and as the heavy door well up the wall was 
thrown open it was found to be full of grinning skulls 
and human bones of every description. With a feeling- 
of abhorrence the party of soldiers left the place, and it 
was with a sense of relief that they heard the massive 
gates close behind them and the sickening sights were 
gliut out from their view by the high stone wall. 

Shortly ^fter our arrival at Gu^njca, Colonel Foster 



296 History of Companies I and E. 

had been taken sick, and although he remained with 
the regiment, the duties of the commanding officer fell 
upon Lieut. Colonel Kittilsen. He was a most popular 
officer and held in high esteem by the men. His man- 
ner was quiet but determined and he fell gracefully into 
the position as acting colonel. Colonel Foster slowly 
regained his health and resumed command of the regi- 
ment in a short time. The opportunities for drill were 
scarce as the ruggedness of the country would not per- 
mit of more than a practice march. The men were 
taken out for a march several times while at Utuado, 
and an attempt was made to give them a company or 
battalion drill but with poor results. 

A half dozen native boys had followed the troops 
for some time and were about the camp so much that 
the boys began to experiment on them and endeavored 
to teach them a little of the English language. They 
were eager to learn and would repeat a word over and 
over until they became very proficient in its pronunci- 
ation. The soldiers first taught them to swear. With 
this accomplishment they soon became popular through- 
out the regiment. Of course the natives thought the 
boys were sincere and were very proud of their abilities 
and aired them on every possible occasion. If a soldier 
spoke to one of them with the air of one expecting a 
reply, the native would pay strict attention to every 
word and appear to be weighing it in his mind and look- 
ing up innocently, would reply by repeating a string of 
oaths that would put a drunken sailor to shame. 

When we were in camp at Utuado, one of the boys 
took a machete and going to a stone bridge about a 
half mile from camp, cut a large bundle of bamboo 
twigs to put in his tent to sleep oq, Rolling the twigs 



The English Speaking Native. 297 

into a couple of canteen-straps he started for camp. 
The load was an akward one and after several in- 
effectual attempts to keep it under his arms, he rolled 
it onto his head, native fashion. The loose twigs 
dragged the ground and nothing could be seen of the 
soldier excepting his shoes. As he moved toward 
camp the bundle became heavier and it slipped from 
side to side scratching his neck and bending his head 
forward until he became exasperated and was nearly 
at the point of throwing the whole thing, canteen-straps 
and all, in the ditch by the roadside. Taken all in all, 
he was in an unpleasant state of mind and in no humor 
to take a joke. 

As he plodded along, he heard footsteps approach- 
ing, and thinking it might be a comrade whom he 
knew and would assist him, he was about to call to him 
when the sound of the footsteps ceased and in a moment 
a hand parted the hanging twigs and a face peered up 
at him. It was one of the natives who had been hang- 
ing about the camp. He had evidently expected to 
find one of his countrymen under the enormous bundle 
of twigs as it was seldom a soldier made an attempt to 
tote anything on the head, and in fact it was an un- 
visual sight to witness a soldier carr} ing an3thing 
heavier than a load of Porto Rican rum. At any rate 
the native opened his eyes wide with surprise when he 
saw^ the blue uniform of a soldier through the mass of 
brush, and no doubt, wishing in some way to apologize 
to the "Americano, "looked up at him and speaking in 
English, jerked out a combination of epithets, inter- 
mingled with a profusion of oaths, which caused the 
soldiers blood to boil. 

Out of patience with himself in his struggle to keep 



298 History of Companies I and E. 

the bundle of twigs from getting away from him. Dis- 
appointed in not finding the newcomer a comrade who 
would give him a lift with his troublesome burden, and 
maddened by the idiotic expression on the face of the 
native as he repeated his insults, the soldier threw the 
bundle to the ground and made a dash for the little man 
dressed in white. The native, innocent of any wrong 
intent, but proud of his vocabulary, was first surprised 
and then frightened and he jumped out of reach of the 
soldier and flew down the road, barely touching the 
ground, with the soldier a close second. After a short 
chase, the soldier saw he was being outstripped and 
coming to a halt, he recovered his senses and sitting 
down, laughed heartily as he thought of the hours he 
had spent in teaching this same native how to swear and 
he saw that the joke had been turned upon himself. 
With just the slightest feeling of shame he returned to 
where he had thrown the bundle, and again taking up 
the burden he continued on to camp. 

By this lime the condition of a majority of the men 
was extremely bad. The malarial fever had been 
working on their systems for sometime. Nearly every 
man had stomache or bowel trouble and the surgeons 
were handicapped by an inadequate supply of medicine. 
They were working hard with what the}' had, but it 
was of little avail in many cases and the men grew 
gaunt aud thin. The hospital was filled and the men 
in camp were not fit for duty. Some kept up by ex- 
ercising their mdomitable will power, with a full de- 
termination not to give up until nature gave way en- 
tirely. 

The weakened condition of the men was undoubted- 
ly due, ill a great measure, to the lack of provisions and 



Volunteers Disgusted. 299 

the quality of the little that was issaed. There was cer- 
tainly something wrong in connection with the commis- 
sary department. Uncle Sam never intended that his 
soldiers should be half fed. The men were discouragred 
and sorely disappointed by the treatment they had re- 
ceivetl since departing from the shores of their country. 
They had never expected much, yet, when enlisting as 
soldiers, they had not considered the salary, cared little 
what duties might be imposed upon them, but felt they 
were entitled to plain substantial food enough to keep 
them in bodily health and strength. 

To this day, the men Who were either robbed of 
their rations, or through neglect allowed to suffer for 
want of them, cannot say positively where the trouble 
was, or who the guilty ones were that lined their pockets 
with ill gained wealth at the expense of the men in the 
ranks. The regiment had been on the island just one 
month, yet had some of their friends chanced to appear 
in their midst it is doubtful if some of the soldiers would 
have been readily recognized as the robust, light hearted 
troops, who, a few weeks previous had eagerly awaited 
the summons to go to the front. 

It does not appear possible that any man who 
was a citizen of the United States could be guilty of 
scheming against the American soldier, and it is possible 
that such was not the case and the fault lay with the in- 
experience of the officers who were charged with the 
care of the men. At any rate the fact could not be dis- 
guised that there was a terrible wrong being done the 
men, and if intentional, the law has yet to be framed 
which would deal out the punishment which such a crime 
deserved. 



300 History of Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 

On the twenty-fifth of August, orders were received 
to return to Ponce at once and as soon as transports 
could be provided we were to embark for home. The 
following mornino^ the return march was begun. With 
our band leading we marched down the roadway, our 
faces turned homeward. We had but fairly made the 
start when it began to rain and it continued to come down 
all day. The force of natives had been kept continually 
at the work of opening the trail and had succeeded in a 
measure. Here and there huge rocks rose up in the very 
center of the trail. These were yet to be blaste.l and 
broken up. The daily downpour of rain made the task 
of building roads an everlasting one as the trail that was 
opened one day might be blocked with earth and rocks 
the next. 

The regiment arrived at Adjuntas late in the after- 
noon. On the outskirts of the town, as we came in, we 
forded a stream which was a raging torrent for a time, 
caused by the heavy rain during the day. We had 
crossed the stream when advancing to Utuado but at 
that time the current was sluggish and the water shallow. 
Some of the men would not make the attempt and re- 
mained on the opposite banks until the water had sub- 
sided. A little party of soldiers crept into an abandoned 



Return to Adjuntas. 301 

hut close to the stream and partly up the mountain, 
awaiting for the storm to abate. As they lay in the 
sinsfle room, enshrouded in darkness, the little build- 
ing gave a lurch and went crashing down into the water. 
Luckily for the men, the walls separated and they es- ^ 
caped injury. 

The shelter tents were first pitched in the square 
in the center of the town but the rain loosened the 
tent-pins and the tents could not be kept standing. 
After several futile attempts were made, the men were 
moved to another part of the town and given quarters 
in a mill. They were packed in the enclosure like 
sardines but they v» ere in the dry and as they were 
very weary soon rolled up in the wet blankets and 
slept. 

A short distance out from Utuado we came upon 
a native traveling in the direction of Adjuntas. A 
couple of the boys enlisted him in their service and 
transferred their heavy rolls to his shoulders. He 
trotted along by their side for some time evincing no 
sign of fatigue but evidently not satisfied with the ar- 
rangement. He could not speak a word of English, 
couldn't swear even, but by his actions he made them 
understand that he wished to possess the rifle of one 
of the boys. To please him the soldier removed the 
roll from his shoulders and gave him his gun, can- 
teen and haversack, retaining his cartridge belt and 
bayonet. Before giving him possession of the gun, 
the cartridges were removed from the magazine as a 
precautionary measure should the native be inclined to 
treachery. A prouder man no one ever saw than was 
this happy Porto Rican. His eyes shone with delight 
and he pranced through the mud like a two year old 



302 History of Companies I and E. 

colt. And he wouldn't return the outfit but clung to 
it until we reached camp. Even then he remained 
with the boys for some time and every action spoke 
his pleasure in being permitted to carry the soldier's 
outfit. 

When the regiment marched awa}' fro m Utusco 
it left a number of sick men in the hospital there. 
They were to be brought t o Ponce in an ambulance. 
The start was delayed and with a clear trail, it was a 
question with the driver whether they would complete 
the journey before nightfall or not. The teams could 
move but slowly at the best and they struggled through 
the mud at a snails pace. The driver was a thirsty 
fellow and pulled up his team at the sight of every 
habitation and leaving the ambulance made a bee line 
for the house to secure a drink of rum. They had not 
covered many miles when their further progress was 
checked and they were brought to a standstill by a 
barrier of rocks and earth which had been dislodged b}^ 
the heavy rain and slid down the mountain completely 
blocking the trail for a thousand feet. 

Night would soon be upon them but it was im- 
possible to proceed and they would not turn back. 
The sick boys in the ambulance groaned when they 
were informed they would be compelled to pass the 
night where they were. With nothing to eat and it 
utterly out of the qtiestion to attempt to build a tire, 
the outlook was far from pleasing. Weakened by sick- 
ness until they were unable to sit upright, they huddled 
together within the covered ambulance and the long 
hours dragged wearily on. The rain did not cease and 
they became chilled to the marrow. To make the 
situation more aggravating the driver, who by the way 



An Uupi easant Experience. 303 

was the only attendant accompanying them, turned his 
mules loose and struck out in search of a native home, 
there to indulge in his favorite pastime, drinking rum. 
He evidently was sucessful in the search as he did not 
return until the following morning. 

The sick men were soon without water and 
suffered severely. How they passed the night, they 
themselves hardly knew. The next morning Dr. Rumt 
mell gained possession of an old white mule and wen- 
back to their assistance. It was an unpleasant situation 
and the approach of daylight did not improve matters 
materially. One course alone was open to them and 
this was to carry the sick men over the blockade, take 
the ambulance apart, drag it over in sections and set it 
up on the other side. This was no small chore, but 
willing hands soon had matters set aright and the hearts 
of the sick men w'ere gladdened as the ambulance rolled 
away from the spot where they had spent such a miser- 
able nicrht. It was one of the most severe trials ex- 
perienced by any of the men throughout the campaign, 
and the victims, who were in a serious condition at the 
outset, were made much worse by it. 

Dr. Rummell was indefatigable in his work at all 
times. He did not wear the marks designating him as 
a commissioned otiicer. He was simply a man in the 
ranks detailed to the hospital corps. But for all this he 
did the work of an assistant surgeon faithfully. He 
was an excellent physician and turned from a good prac- 
tice to enlist. He did not appear to give the matter a 
thought that he was performing duties which should 
have paid him a salary equal to that received by those 
who were working by his side. If he did not receive 
fitting remuneration from the government in the way 



304 History of Companies I and E. 

of dollars he won the eternal gratitude and lasting 
friendship of the men and he was given a w^arm place in 
their hearts. The medical corps was composed of 
earnest workers and each one of its members will al- 
ways be remembered as faithful performers of their 
duties and firm friends of the soldiers. Major Anthony 
of Sterling, Ass't Surgeon Robbins of Dixon, Dr. Rum- 
mell of company B, (Geneseo) and Hospital Stewards 
Kline, Geyer'and Brown, of Sterling, all combined their 
efforts to the end of giving the men the best possible 
attention and medical assistance, although at times 
greatly handicapped by a lack of supplies. The men 
understood the circumstances and will never forget the 
many acts of kindness received at the hands of the 
medical staff of the Sixth. 

The Sixth Massachusetts boys were retained at 
Utuado for garrison duty and did not make the start 
home for a month or more. Some one of the hospital 
corps of our reginr.ent must remain there and assist the 
Massachusetts corps. The lot fell upon Ralph Humph- 
rey, previously of company I, but who had been trans- 
ferred to the hospital service of the regular army while 
at Camp Alger. It will be remembered that the men 
who were transferred from the volunteer to the regular 
service received verbal promises that they would be 
allowed to follow their regiments where ever they went. 
Up until this period the promise had been lived up to 
but when our regiment turned back, Ralph was com- 
pelled to remain in the mountains. 

One can easily imagine his feelings as he saw us 
us marching away. Watching the disappearing column, 
he looked for the last time on the faces of his comrades. 
He no doubt was buoyed up with the hope that he 



Arrival at Ponce. 305 

might be relieved before the regiment embarked on the 
transport. But if such was the case he was disappoint- 
ed for we never saw him alive again. We left him 
there among new found friends and comrades, and from 
information contained in letters received from the 
stewards in charge of the hospital, it was afterward 
learned that he never once uttered a word of protest 
against remaining, but realizing that it was not for him 
to say what his duties should be, he continued the work 
of caring for his sick comrades without faltering and 
won the love and esteem of all those with whom he 
came in contact. 

The morning following our arrival at Adjuntas, on 
the return march, was wet and stormy. As we were 
in comfortable quarters, permission was granted uS to 
remain there for the day. The weather improved in 
the afternoon and the footsore and those who were sick, 
yet able to remain with the regiment, were placed in 
charge of orderl}' sergeants and started for Ponce. It 
was the intention of Colonel Foster to make the re- 
mainder of the journey in a single days march. The 
next morning we made the start. The weather was 
fair and the trail descended rapidly as we were then 
over the crest of the mountain range and were making 
the downward journey. 

Arriving at Gagos, we rested for a short lime and 
ate our scanty dinner. We did not tarr\' long at this 
place as we were anxious to reach Ponce. We halted 
in the afternoon at a point about three miles from the 
city and there pitched our tents on an elevated plain. 
This was on Sunday, August twenty-eighth. We had 
been on the island one month and three days, yet to us 
it seemed we had seen nothino- but mud and mountains 



306 History of Companies I and E. 

for nearly a year. Shortly after our arrival we were 
issued the wall tents and what a relief it was to be able 
to stasnd upright under a canvas cover. 

On the return trip from Adjuntas a couple of band 
boys were trudging along, keeping a sharp lookout 
for stray chickens or ducks. At last they found some 
but they were guarded by a watchful native. The boys 
could not get an opportunity to "lift" one so they formed 
a plan whereby they could get possession of it. They had 
a little money between them, but the price of one dollar, 
which the shrewd native placed upon the duck they 
selected, was more than they cared to invest at that 
time. One of the boys tucked the duck under his arm 
and walked away while the other remained and put up 
a long argument with the native, with the object of 
detaining him until his comrade had put a considerable 
distance between them. 

With the soldier talking in English, and the native 
replying in Spanish, neither one comprehending the 
conversation of the other, the argument progressed 
slowly, jingling the few pieces of coin which he 
possessed, the soldier ostensibly made an effort to induce 
the native to reduce his price. The Porto Rican was 
arbitrary and would make no concessions. He had 
grasped the outvsard intentions of the soldier and 
evidently thought if he held his ground he would event- 
ually get his price. As the form of the soldier who had 
possession of the duck grew fainter in the distance and 
finnally disappeared around the mountain, the owner of 
the fowl became suspicious then angry. The soldier 
who had remained, concluding his comrade had been 
given a good start, again jingled the loose coins in his 
pocket, politely informed the native to journey on to 



Waitinc; for a Transport. 307 

hides, and laughing at the discomfitted man. turned out 
on ilie trail and hurriedly followed in the footsteps of 
his comrade. Not until then did it dawn upon the 
na i\e ihit the bovs had no intentions of <rivin<r him an\- 
thin.'4' i;i i cturn for the fowl and his rage knew no 
bounds. Shaking his clenched fists at the receedinef 
man in blue and howling like an Indian, he made a 
movemeni forward as though he would follow him, but 
had not proceded far when the soldier halted and made 
as though intending to return. Then the native stopped 
suddenly and hurling a parting shot at the soldier dis- 
appeared in the brush. The man with the duck sat 
down and awaited the coming of his comrade, when 
together, they proceeded until feeling safe from pursuit, 
then dressed the fowl, built a tire and ate their dinner, 
all the w^hile congratulating themselves on the success of 
their plan. 

Although camped within a few miles of the wharf 
at Ponce, where tons upon tons of supplies were stored, 
our rations did not materially improve. We did get a 
quantity of canned hamburger-steak but it soon dis- 
appeared and we fell back on hardtack and sowbelly. 
About a half mile below us a batter\- of the Seventh 
Light Artillery was camped. A number of our boys 
made regular trips to this camp about mess time and 
for a while received a warm welcome. The men of the 
artillery were being well fed and had rations to spare. 
They geneousi}' shared with our boys until their officers 
put a stop to it. They told us they had never seen the 
time since entering the service that they had not been 
well supplied with rations and could hardly credit our 
stories when we informed them how we had been ex- 
isting. 



308 History of Companies I and E. 

With nothing to do but keep our spirits up while 
awaiting the order to embark, many of the boys made 
regular trips to the city. To remain in camp and lie 
about on the damp ground was only to aggravate the 
sorry condition of their fever infected systems and al- 
though barely able to stand, many of them forced them- 
selves to keep on their feet and felt better, if much 
wearied, from the six mile tramp to town and return. 
There were many other regiments represented in and 
about the city, but one could distinguish a member of our 
regiment from that of any other as far as he could be seen. 
With clothing ragged and dirty, rough beards and dilap- 
itated footgear, or perhaps barefooted, tanned brown 
from continued exposure to the weather, worn thin and 
gaunt by lack of provisions and the ravages of disease, 
but with a devil-may-care bearing, they contrasted 
strangely with the neat, rugged appearance of the other 
troops met with. 

If other proof was lacking, this in itself was suffi- 
cient to convince us that our experiences had been much 
more severe than those of any other troops we had so far 
encountered. True we had not been in an engagement 
with the enemy, with the exception of the skirmish par- 
ticipated in by company G, the first morning after our 
arrival at Gruanica. But it is a well known fact that in 
all active armies of the world, bullets work less destruc- 
tion than disease, and the hardest worked lot of men in 
the army, and those having much responsibility resting 
on their shoulders are the surgeons and corps of assis- 
tants. The men may be half clothed and illy fed, but it 
seldom occurs that they enter an active campaign short 
of ammunition. This vital point is never overlooked. 

If it does occur that the supply of ammunition is not 



As It MuniT Have Beex. 300 

('(jiial to the ot'casion, then the advance or attack is ch'- 
\i\\vd until the stock is replenished. Tliere are excep- 
tions to this l)iit they are rare indeed. Why then is it 
such a ditticidt ])rohleni to forward rations and hosj)i1al 
sn[)pties to the fr(jnt V In onr short cauipaiii^n we had 
concluded that the difhiculty lay between two evils, red 
rape or negligence. In the case of a heavy engagement 
where thousands were slain or wounded and the needs of 
the men increased a liuutjj-ed i'old it is an entirelv ditl'er- 
ezit matter and there is some excuse for a shortage of sup- 
])lies. 

Wlien the conditions are normal, or in other words, 
when an army of ten thousand or one hundred thousand 
men are put in the field, the officials can, without difficul- 
ty, determine the amount of supplies necessary to pro- 
vide each man. and it is their duty to see that he receives 
them. It would be an easy matterforone who has the au- 
thority, and the health and comfort of the men in mind, 
to make a tour of the camps at the proper hour and see 
for themselves how they are being taken care of. If un- 
tlesirable conditions are found, then let them take the 
matter up through the proper channel and .push it vigor- 
ously until the wrong is set aright. If the course of pro- 
cedure is slow and difficult, then why allow officials to 
remain in charge of the work who have proven themselves 
ne^lisrt^iit or incapable.' 
,-. . The men have but little opportunity to look to 
their own comfort in the way of supplies. When taking 
the oath and donning the blue uniform, they trust to God 
and the government. They are a party to an agreement, 
whereby they willingly place their lives at the disposal 
of their country. 

In return, they are to receive a remuneration of a 



310 History of Companies I and E. 

few dollars per mouth and a certain amount of clothing 
and rations. Their compensation is based upon this al- 
lowance and when the supplies are not deliverd to them, 
the contract is broken and the men are defrauded with 
no chance of having the matter adjusted. 

The regulations provide for a moneyed reimburse- 
ment where the rations or clothing are not drawn by the 
men. But to avail themstr'lves of this proviso a strict ac- 
count must be ker)t as to what portiou of the allowance 
has not been drawn and is yet forlhcoming. It also pro- 
vides that asupply of requisition blanks will be furnished 
and must be used in drawing on the different departments 
for supplies. At stated periods a report mast be for- 
warded giving in detail each item for which a shortage 
is claimed. If this report is delayed or overlooked, then 
it is taken for granted that there is nothing due tlu- men 
and their accounts are balanced accordingly. In every 
way, the regulations cover the question completely and 
the course of action is made clear, but where it errs is in 
not providing each volunteer company with a stenographer 
and bookeeper, wh^ could keepan acctmnt of the many d(^- 
tails, and an attorney who could prosecute h claim and 
keep it moving through its tortiiTons channels. 

In the Sf)anish-American war the hand ol: Providence 
appeared to be with us at every turn and had the govern- 
ment, or the men w horn the government placed in res- 
ponsible positions, charged with the welfare of the 
soldiers, done their duty, their simple duty, then 
there would have been but Ijttle cause for the men to 
tnake complaint. The men expected, and were willing to 
endure hardships. Not for an instant did they carry the 
idea they w^ere on a holiday excursion or making a tout 
of foreign lands on pleasure bent. Expecting but little 



Result ok a Six Wkkks Cami'ai(;n. 311 

they were terribly disap[)uiiited in ewii tluit. Tlie volun- 
teer appointments seemed to be tuade not on the merits 
of the applicant, but his political pull alone was consid- 
erefl. The man of ability was forced into the background 
and the preference given to the politician. This in ref- 
erence to the men who were issued commissions bearing 
an attractive rank, whose duties. Ins they saw them) 
were to wear a spotless uniform and draw a handsome 
salarv. not the officers in the held who were brought facf- 
to face with all the privations of an enlisted man. Such 
positions as th(jse were little sought after by the hungry 
man with a pull. 

The regular army officer had been given a five years* 
training in the art of war at West Point and had been 
taught the mode of procedure in taking action in almost 
any emergency that might arise. Besides this, the ma- 
jority of those in llie service during tie late war had 
years of experience which taught iheiumuch that could 
not be learni'd in any other manner. These men. when 
connected with the volunteer troops, were placed in posi- 
tions of such higii rank that a prott^st frem the men was 
usually shelved before reaching them. 

Tile troops in Porto Rico were in an unenviable po- 
sition. Separated from home and friends by hundreds 
of miles of land and sea. in aclive service in a foreign 
couniry and a tropical climate, among a strange people, 
illy fed and poorly clad, their stories of privations which 
did reach home discredited and h.ughed to scorn, with 
no one in authority who ap[)eared to care whether the 
the men suifered unnecessarily or not. and those who did 
ami made an < tTort to r.djust matters found their work 
blocked at evciy turn. dis(.'ase dwindling the ranks of 
men tit for dutv down to a mere uothinij:. and this all 



312 History of Companies 1 and E. 

within less than six weeks. Such was the situation on 
the first of September. Is it surprising that they early 
became disgusted with the life they were leading? 

In dwelling upon this matter it would be well to 
consider that to one sitting in the home, with all its pleas- 
ant surroundings; provided with all the necessities of life, 
with dry clothing, wealthy in the possession of health 
and with an unconscious sense of contentment pervading 
the soul, for such an one it is difficult to fully comprehend 
the true situation. They may -picture, in their imagina- 
tion, themsehes placed in just such a situation but they 
cannot realize the effect of it all. Experience alone can 
bring this about. No picture can portray it. The veter- 
ans of the GO's understand. Many of them experienced 
years of soldier life. They were brought face to face 
with dangers which we never met. Many of them more 
than once were in the midst of scenes of carnage, where 
the blood ran red and the dead were strewn all about 
them. 

These were experiences of which we knew nothing. 
But on the oilier hand they were in their own country, a 
few ho^irs ride would land them at the door of their own 
homes. The climate differed little from that to which 
they had been accustomed all their lives. A successful 
foraging expedition replenished the ration supply, fmd 
in various ways their position differed from that of the 
men who were serving in a foreign land. This compari- 
son is not draw with the intention of in any manner at- 
empting ^to place our services or experiences on an 
equal with those of the civil war veteran. But to 
point out how, in some respects, the conditions varied 
and brought about entirely different results. 

No class of citizens in the republic, not actually par- 




" Falling-'of the tents." Last camp near Ponce. 



Veterans of the 6o"s. 313 

tic'ipntiii<^ in the civil war, realize more fully the many 
})rivations endured by the soldiers of the war of the 
rebellion, than does the men who saw actual service in 
the war with Spain. Standing as they did the keystone 
of our Union, preservers of a republic, the greatness of 
which has placed it at the front amc^ng the first nations 
of the world, those soldiers of Abraham Lincoln, are ad- 
mired, respected and loved by our whole people, and es- 
pecially so by the soldiers of a younger generation, the 
volunteers of 1S98. We shall ever touch our hats in res- 
pectful salutation to them and in after years, when the 
last one has answered the final summons, then shall 
we consider it our sacred duty to strew tiowers o'er their 
graves and plant the banner which they loved in life on 
the mounds which mark their resting places. The mem- 
orv of those men will be fondlv cherished for all time. 



31-1: History op' Companies I and E. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 

During the few weeks which elapsed between the 
date of the entrance of our regiment into Ponce on its way 
to the front, and. its subsequent return enroute to the 
States, there had been visible changes wrought in the ap- 
pearance of the main portion of the town. A number of 
the business houses had been newly painted in attractive 
colors. .Before, the sameness of the shades of every 
building wearied the eye and g^ave the town an unattract- 
ive aspect. The interior of many of the store buildings 
had been cleaned and on the shelves we found a surpris- 
ing quantity of American goods, and above the doors of 
several of the stores, signs had been placed which in- 
formed the soldiers that English was spoken by one or 
more of the courteous clerks. 

Some few of the boys managed in some way to se- 
cure a little money and purchased various articles which 
they carefully packed to be taken home to their friends. 
Down near the wharf, an American conducted a sutlers 
store. His main stock in trade consisted of tobaccos and 
goods of such nature which the soldiers would be willing 
to part with their scanty horde of money to secure. One 
of' the boys from Whiteside county went down to pur- 
chase a supply of tobacco for his comrades who were less 
fortunate than he and had no money to make a [)arc-hase 
with. His bill of woods amounted to about seven dollars 



Army Sutler in PoNcit. 315 

aii;l he giVv' til'.' sutler m tea dollar bill ['i-<)ni whic-h to 
take the ainount of tli" parchast'. The sutler was a ner- 
vous, excitable man. and during tlie transactioji high 
words were exchanged in ret'erenc-e to the price of tln^ 
goods. He had ncjt regained his composure, and pick- 
ing np the currency, turned to the cfish drawer and 
counting out the chfiuge. stej)pe(l over to the board coun- 
ter, and |)lace(i tln^ leii dolhir bill, which the Fctldier 
hid but .1 m )in_Mit b:='i:"vjre given him. together with tiie 
I'hnnge. on top of the parcel of tobacco. 

The soldier took the situntion in at a glauc(^ and 
making an excuse grabl)ed the package antl the thir- 
teen dollars and hurriedly left the place. The monxMit 
he step[)^'d on the street he selected a route which 
woniid ill and cmt among the buildings and soon 
l)rought him to the center o'' the town. Ev^eii then he 
did not feel comforta})le and kept a sharj) lookout 
for a possible pursuer but none appeared, it is safe to 
say that man never entered the sutlers store again. He 
was an even ten dollars to the good on the deal and our 
at camp it took him abovu tifteen minutes to dispose of 
ihe tobacco for more than double the price he was sup- 
posed lo have ()aid the sutler, taking an I, O. U. in each 
case for settlement. 

While we were in this, (;ur last camp on the island. 
Regimental Quartermasiei* Sergeant, Rudolph l^icks. 
of Galena, succumbed to typhoid fever. He was ill but 
a short time but he suffered much. He was quite a 
large man and up until within a I'ew days of taking to 
the hospital, had the appearance of one in perfect 
health. During the last hours before life left him it 
required the combined strength c^f several men to keep 
him on his cot. The news of his death was a shock to 



316 History of^Companies I and E. 

every man in the regiment. He was popular with 
everyone and held in high esteem by the men. He was 
buried on the island with military honors. Corporal 
Rees Dillon of company E who had assisted in this 
department at different times was appointed to till the 
vacancy. 

The transport Manitoba, lay out in the harbor and 
we were waiting for her to discharge her cargo and Ire 
put in readiness for us. It was slow work and the 
carpenters sent out to her had much lo do before we 
could board her. It was then but a question of a few 
days when we would leave the island for home. It 
would never do to put us on shore at New York in the 
condition we were then in, consequently a supply of 
clothing was issued lo the regiment and the men in- 
formed they would be expected to equip themselves 
with sufficient wearing apparel to make a good appear- 
ance when disembarking in the States. We were not 
anxious to return looking so rough, yet we felt that if 
we did, our appearance would be silent but overwhelm- 
ing testimon}^ to substantiate the stories which had gone 
to our homes in advance of us. But it was determined 
that such a thing would not be allowed and of course 
we had no choice but to do as we were bid. 

The work of issuinij the clothing had but fairly be- 
gun when orders were received to break camp and 
march to the wharf, a distance of about five miles. The 
orders came to us at noon on the sixth of Septeinber, 
and contained the information that we were to strike 
tents at two thirty that afternoon, and have everything 
in readiness to march out of camp at three. At the 
appointed time every tent fell at the beat of a drum, the 
little city of tents disappearing as if by magic. The 







.' 


^ISv ^A 




^ 


aSSStr IpP^^^^H^ 




sKi^^^^^^^ 




■'•K^JmK^^K ^ 


riaKi 



Retuniiiii;- to the United States. 



EMBARKIN(i ON THE MANITOBA. 317 

tents were soon rolled up and with the other heavy 
baggage was taken to the street and placed in readiness 
for the wajjons. 

At three o'clock we marched out headed l)\- the 
band and we bade good bye to ••Camp Starvalion."' As 
we arri\'ed opposite the camp of the arliller\men. Col- 
onel Foster halted us and we gave them three rousing 
cheers and a goodbAe. In reply, the\- lired a salute of 
several guns. Wt^ heard manv of them express the 
wish that they might accompany us home now that the 
war was over. As we neared the center of the citv 
the band struck up, playing marches and patriotic airs. 
About a mile from the wharf we passed the camp of 
the Nineteenth regulars, and below them a short distance 
two or three companies of the Second Wisconsin. The 
remainder of their regiment had embarked for the 
States several days before and they were anxiously 
waiting for a transport in which to follow them. 

We were soon at the wharf and found the Manito- 
ba lying a short distance out in the bay. The horses 
were loaded before we arrived, a portion of our bag- 
gage had arrived and details of men were soon at work 
loading the barges. Darkness was upon us before 
much had been accomplished, but by the aid of lanterns 
the work continued as it was hoped that by making a 
special effort everything would be in readiness for an 
early start the following morning. We lay around on 
the ground and on boxes without supper, our provision 
wagons not getting in until after midnight. 

We remained on the wharf all night and at nine 
o'clock the following morning assemblv was sounded 
and we were soon on barges on our way to the boat. 
After boarding her we lay there until six o'clock in the 



318 History of Companies I and E. 

evening taking on baggage; then taking a parting look 
at the city we put out to sea. 

On board we found 800 canvas hammocks. These 
we soon had arranged and we were not long in turning 
into them. The boat was of good size, 460 feet in 
length with 48 feet beam, there being four decks be- 
sides the saloon deck. She was an English boat and 
manned by an English crew. The government had 
either purchased or leased her, and she was used as a 
Quartermaster's supply boat. Her decks were very 
wet and dirty throughout the whole voyage, contrasting 
strangely with the neatness and cleanliness on board the 
U. S. S. Columbia. 

Accommodations for cooking were very poor, not 
being able to make anj- thing but coffee. Shortly after 
midnight our boat dropped anchor off the westerm coast 
of the island, lying there until daylight then entering the 
harbor of Mayaguez, where we took on ice. It looked 
very inviting for us as we had nothing to drink but con- 
densed sea water which was very warm, but we were 
disappointed when we learned, we would not be allowed 
any ice to use in the water. It was for the boat's crew 
and our officers. 

We left the harbor at 10:30 a. m. and continued on 
our course direct to New York. Nothing of impor- 
tance occurred on board, everything going well until 
Sunday evening when we encountered a storm, and the 
boat was taken out of its course to avoid colliding with 
a water spout which could be plainly seen a shoit dis- 
tance ahead. From this time until we entered the har- 
bor at New York the wind blew a gale, retarding the 
speed of the boat considerably and making the sea quite 
rouo;h. 



Arrival at New York. 319 

Sunday, Chaplain Ferris held church services on 
board and in the course of his talk he referred to the 
iT.anner in which we had been fed while on the island. 
He said. "It was the work of a few mean, contemptible, 
damnable men, and they alone were the cause of all the 
suffering from lack of food. They were unfit to be 
called men."" He scored them hard but not more than 
they deserved. This caused the boys to applaud loud 
and long. But whv was it nothing had been said of 
this before. The devilish work had been going on for 
six or eight weeks and now we were on our way home 
it seemed rather late in the day, and if the matter had 
been taken up before we might have received some 
benefit from it. 

Tuesday morning we sighted land and all was 
excitement from that time until we landed. Oh! how 
inviting it looked. — possibly because it was home. This 
was -'God's country" as Col. Foster was pleased to term 
it The sick and down-hearted brightened up and 
everyone was cheerful. xA.s we came slowly into the 
harbor small tugs and steam yachts came sailing out to 
greet us, whistles were blown continually, and all was 
confusion. 

The \^ ater was full of ferry boats, excursion steam- 
ers, tugs, sailing boats and yachts. They sailed around 
us, some following us up the bay. all whistling and 
snorting, every one cheeiing us and waving hats, hand- 
kerchiefs and umbrellas. Wt; stopped at the quarantine 
station and an officer came on board. He had been 
with us but a few moments when we noticed a small tug 
boat which had been following us some time steam 
along side. Gener il Garretison and several of his staff 
were taken on board the tuuf-boat where the General's 



320 History of Companies I and E. 

wife and a number of friends were waiting to receive 
him. This we knew meant no quarantine for us and 
soon we were on the move once more. 

As we neared the statute of Libert}^ we again 
slowed down and came to a standstill. Our botrt sig- 
nalled several times, by whistling, and shortly the har- 
bor master's tug came along side and after another 
short delay, we continued up North river to the docks 
of the West Shore Railroad in Weehawken where our 
vessel was made fast and our sea voyage terminated. 
This was about three o'clock in the afternoon of Tues- 
day, September thirteenth. 

We were not allowed to go ashore until the follow- 
ing day when everyone was given the privilege of visiting 
New York across the river. Crowds of the boys 
crossed on the ferry-boats which transported them free. 
The people of New York and Weehawken treated us 
royally and nearly every man who came in on the boat 
was given a good meal. This was appreciated as it 
had been sometime since they had sat at a table and ate 
food like white men. Cigars and fruits in abundance 
were given freel3^ Congressman George Prince was 
an early caller to welcome the boys back to their homes 
and he gave each Captain ten dollars to expend for food 
for the men. Through him we were also issued soft 
bread. 

The cargo of baggage and horses was unloaded 
Wednesda}' and at ten o'clock that night we boarded 
the cars for Springfield, arriving there about ten thirty 
Friday night. We left the cars at the uptown station 
and marched to Camp Lincoln, occuping the tents which 
had been vacated a short time previous by the men of 
the Fifth recriment. 



w 




On to Springfield. 321 

The boys of the Fifth were a very disappointed lot. 
It will be remembered that the Third and Fifth regi- 
ments were mustered into the volunteer service in ad- 
vance of the Sixth, and they carried the idea that they 
would get to the front long before the boys of our regi- 
ment. In this they were mistaken as we landed in 
Porto Rica some little time ahead of the Third, and the 
boys of the Fifth, poor fellows, never got far from the 
shores of their own country. They were twice ordered 
to embark for Porto Rica, but each time were called 
back. At one time they had so far proceded as to 
board a vessel and had put out to sea when the com- 
mand was given calling them back, and they realized 
that their hopes were blasted and they must be content 
w^ith the lot which befell them. 

Our trip from New York to Springfield was thorough- 
ly enjoyed by the boys. They were met by cheering hos- 
pitality at every stopping place along the route, and sym- 
pathetic mothers made great inroads on their stores of 
canned goods. It seemed to us that they must have been 
preparing for our coming for weeks as the number of 
pies, cakes and cans of jelly given us was little short of 
astonishing. Great cans of pure, sweet milk were 
brought into the cars and carried from one end to the 
other and an open invitation was extended to each man to 
to fill his cup as often as he liked. Large bas- 
kets of various kinds of fruits were brought to the train 
and bushels of sandwiches were found at almost every 
stopping place. 

In exchange for these gifts of food the people asked 
nothing in return except some little thing as a button, or 
a bullet. The craze appeared to settle on the cartridges 
and at everv window there would be found a man, woman 



322 History of Companies I and E. 

or child petitioning us to ''gimme a bullet." This con- 
tinued until our cartridge belts were empty and we had 
nothing more to give. The name of one man was in the 
mouth of nearly every person we met in passing through 
the state of New York, Theodore Roosevelt. "Roosevelt 
is all right, isn't he?'" "What do you think of Roose- 
velt?" and "Roosevelt will be our next Governor.'" Such 
remarks were heard on every side at each stopping place 
and it was readily seen that the citizens of the state of 
New York were extremely proud of the gallant officer 
and intended to honor him by placing him in the high- 
est office within their gift. 

Leaving Weehawken in the night, we covered many 
miles before the dawn of the following day and we were 
given an opportunity to witness the beauties of the Key- 
stone State. Our train arrived at Kingston atone thirty 
a. m. and althou^fh it was in the dead of the nicrfit the 
whole town seemed to be astir and waiting for us. The 
people could not do enough for us and everything was as 
free as air. Cana Joharie was reached at six a. m. It is 
a nice looking town with an old ivy covered stone church 
which was very picturesque. For several miles after 
leaving this town the road ran beside the Erie canal. 

Ilion was reached at six- fifty. A little farther up 
the road a half dozen hobos had a fire built and were 
getting their breakfast. Some of the boys began to sing 
"Comrades." We pulled into Syracuse at nine a. m. 
and found the citizens much excited over a suicide. The 
train came to a standstill in Buffalo at three p. m. Here 
we saw the Ninth New York boys who had just come 
from Chickamauga. The Thirteenth Infantry, regulars, 
whose barracks are here, had also arrived but a few hours 
in advance of us. We were switched to the Nickle Plate 



Camp Lincoln. 323 

road and at four- thirty we were olf once more. 

At five twenty-live we sighted Lake Erie and a short 
time hiter ran through Silver Creek, one oi; the prettiest 
little towns on our route. Vineyards were seen on every 
hand and the fruit gave the air a peculiarly fragrant 
odor. We entered Pennsylvania at seven p. m. and rolled 
into Erie a half hour later. A larjje crowd was waitiiiii: 
to welcome us. The railroad passes directly down a busy 
street and at every crossing a crowd cheered and waved 
handkerchiefs. Here as at every other stopping place, 
ihe cry was. "Mister, please give me a bullet." 

We struck Cleveland about midnight where coffee, 
milk, and sandwiches were served. We remained in the 
town about thirty minutes. New Haven was reached at 
eight o'clock in the morning, where we overtook the 
second section of our train. Several boxes of canned 
peaches were sent to us by the merchants of the city. 
After a short delay our train was switched to the Wabash 
and we were soon in the Hoosler State where "The frost 
was on the pumpkin and the fodder in the shock." 

Peru was reached about noon. At Lafayette we 
were treated to more sandwiches, bread, jelly, pickles, 
grapes and peaches. It is not surprising that numbers of 
the boys were ill for weeks, after eating everything in 
sight from New York to Illinois. In the middle of the 
al'ternooa W3 stoppad a few moments at a little station 
which bore the name of State Line, and we were once 
more in Illinois. We made a short stop at Danville and 
the train remained for some time at Decatur. It was af- 
ter ten o'clock on the night of September sixteenth when 
we arrived at Springfield. Marching out to camp we 
found sandwiches and coffee prepared for us by the citi- 
zens and the following morning they served breakfast 



324 History of Companies I and E. 

for us. 

When our train left New York, there were a num- 
ber from the regiment who were too much taken up 
with the sights of the metropolitan city to return to 
the wharf in time to board the train. We left them 
to return as best they could, not expecting to see them 
for some time. Imagine our surprise when we de- 
barked at the passenger depot at Springfield to find 
them there in advance of us. They had secured trans- 
portation through one of the many officers in New York 
and had gone around the northern route, through Can- 
ada, and fortunately for them, made quick time to 
Springfield. 

Immediately on our arrival at camp Lincoln we 
began the work of preparing muster and pay-rolls, and 
we were informed we would be granted a sixty day 
furlough on full pay. after the expiration of which we 
would probably be returned to Springfield and mustered 
out of the service. Ordnance supplies were turned in 
and checked up and everything made ready as rapid- 
ly as possible for our departure for home. 



Stkri.inc; Boys at the Leland. 32o 



CHAPTER XXV. 

Many friends and relatives of the returning vol- 
unteers came to Springfield to welcome them home. 
Between the work of making ready for an early depart- 
ure for home and visiting with friends the days passed 
quickly but none too much so for the boys who were all 
anxious to get away. A committee from Morrison and 
another from Sterling, assisted by many others from in 
and about our home towns, took the soldiers under their 
especial charge and saw to it that nothing was wanting 
which money could purchase. Every setting of the table 
was a banquet and the boys were not slow to take advan- 
tage of the opportunity and they stowed the good things 
away with a relish and scant ceremony. 

The Sunday following our arrival at Camp Lincoln, 
the members of Company E were pleasantly surprised by 
the citizens committee from Sterling and Rock Falls, who 
extended them an invitation to attend a banquet to be 
given at the Leland hotel in their honor. At seven fif- 
teen in the evening they asembled, and marching to the 
entrance of the grounds, found street cars awaiting to 
convey them to the city. Arriving at the hotel at eight, 
the supper was ser\ed soon afterwards. The steaks were 
done to a turn, the omelets were perfection, the cold 
meats were better than usual and the cofPee was the best 



326 History of Companies I and E. 

money could purchase. The cakes and jellies were all 
that mortal man could desire and the boys were unani- 
mous in proclaiming it the most enjoyable meal they had 
partaken of for months. 

The colored waiters stood ready to replenish the 
su})ply at a moment's notice and appeared eager to assist 
in every way possible to make the occasion a pleasant one. 
One of the amusing incidents of the evening was the 
unanimous refusal of the pork and beans. The dish was 
passed to everyone present and in nearly every instance 
it was untouched. The boys absolutely refused to have 
anything to do with them. The colored waiters saw the 
joke and enjoyed it fully as much as did the guests at 
the banquet. 

The boys ate long and heartily, and did but little 
talkinor, and no time was wasted. At the conclusion of 
the repast, cigars were passed around and while the sold- 
iers sat at their places, quietly and peacefully puffing 
away at the rich Havanas, a number of good speeches 
were made. C. L. Sheldon, the chairman of the commit- 
tee, was the toastmaster. In as few words as possible he 
congratulated the boys on their safe return home. ''You 
have succeeded," said he '-in writing another pflge of 
American history which will take place along with the 
civil war, You have assisted in emancipating a race and 
giving it liberty.' We are here to congratulate you this 
evening in the name of the people of Sterling, because, 
while you have suffered great privations and hardships, 
you have done a great good to humanity in the name of 
humanity." Continuing in this strain for a few moments 
Mr. Sheldon closed his remarks by calling upon Colonel 
Foster, who was present as a guest, to respond to the 
toast, ''The Sixth Regiment," which was drank by all 



Furlough EI). 327 

standing. 

The colonel replied briefly, and in the course of his 
remarks said that company E had done everything to the 
best of its ability. It had done everything it had been 
asked to do, and did it without complaining. Chaplain 
Ferris, and Captain Colebaugh of Company I, each spoke 
briefly, expressing their pleasure at being present. 
When Major Anthony was called upon he was compelled 
to wait some minutes before the applause died down suf- 
ficiently to make himself heard. His remarks were brief 
but he expressed his satisfaction in the boys getting back 
to Springfield in as good condition as they were. 

Mayor Miller then addressed the boys, telling them 
he was proud to be present and proud to b^ there in the 
name of the city of Sterling to welcome company E. He 
told the boys that the people at home were all proud of 
them, that they regretted to see them leave home, par- 
ticularly because of the serious errand, and that they were 
doubly glad at their return, and when they arrived home 
the town would be theirs. His sincere words were greet- 
ed with prolonged applause. Ex-Mayor Street gave a 
short talk and vvas followed by Robert McNeil, represent- 
ing the people of Rock Falls. Lieutenants Dillon and 
Wahl each spoke briefly and the affair was over. 

The boys of company E appreciated the welcome ex- 
tended them and knew that this was only a forerunner of 
what they might expect when they finally reached their 
homes. The members of company I were royally treat- 
ed by the citizens committee, headed by Sheriff Fuller, 
which was sent to Springfield to represent the people of 
Morrison and surrounding towns. 

Monday wt- recci\-ed two months pay and the re- 
mainder of the stay at Camp Lincoln was spent by 



328 History of Companies I and E. 

the boys in getting rid of their hard earned money. 
Orders were issued granting the men of the Sixth 
Regiment, sixty days furlough to take effect the twen- 
ty-first. A number of boys from both companies were 
taken to the military hrspital in Springfield. Malari- 
al fever was the general complaint. In their weak- 
ened condition the disease was severe on them and a 
number were unable to return home with the com- 
panies. These men were left lo the care of the medi- 
cal corps at the hospital where they received the best 
of care and although some of them were seriously ill 
for a time, they all came home later. 

At one o'clock on the morning of the twenty-first 
of September the train bearing the returning soldiers 
pulled away from Camp Lincoln. Our route was over 
the Burlington as far as Sterling, where we arrived 
about ten o'clock a. m. After company E had debarked, 
the remaining coaches occupied by company I were 
hurried to Morrison. At every town along the route 
we were greeted by large and enthusiastic crowds, 
and when we left the cars in our home towns, the re- 
ception extended us baffles description. Company E 
was marched to its armory which had been placed 
at the disposal of the many relatives of the boys and 
those dear to them. There the first tender greetings 
were exchanged. Company I was taken direct to the 
court house hill where they were welcomed home by 
what appeared to them, the inhabitants of the whole 
of the western half of Whiteside county. 

Home again, home again, 

From a foreign shore, 
And oh! it fills our hearts with joy 

To meet our friends once more. 



Reception Home. 329 

Here we dropped the parting tear, 

To cross the ocean's foam, 
Hut now we're once again with thi'se, 
Who kindly greet us home. 

Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and sweethearts 
were there to extend a first welcome. From the train the 
boys were escorted by G. A. R. Posts, bands, organiza- 
tions and school children. The line of march was black 
with people and all cheered and aided in making the wel- 
come a royal one. Arrangements had been made where- 
by the citizens were to receive news of our coming by the 
rino^ino^ of bells and blowinjj of whistles. Business was 
suspended for the time and the returning soldiers were 
given the first place in the thoughts of nearly every man, 
woman and child. The crowds were more dense and 
enthusiastic, if such could be. than those present when 
the good-byes were said tive months before. 

Such a welcome home! The boys, surrounded by 
relatives and friends, each vying with the other in an 
attempt to make the welcome home complete, thought 
of the discomforts, trials, and the mmy trying days 
which they had experienced since leaving home: their 
minds worked with the rapidity of lightning and they 
went over the whole campaign like a flash and they felt 
after all that in this welcome home, this reuniting with 
loved ones and kind friends, the hospitality extended 
them on every hand and the sincerity with which each 
was greeted; they were being paid in full for evcrv hour 
of the privations they had endured. Thev felt that such 
a greeting was of more value than all thev had done 
to receive it. and in those first hours of ecstasv thev 
wondered if they deserved such homage. 

In more than one respect they were gratified be- 
vond expression. If the welcome home was anv indica- 



330 History of Companies I and E. 

tion of the feelings of the people, and no stronger proof 
was necessary, the boys felt that they had performed 
their duties in a manner satisfactory to their friends. 
This meant much to them. To be sure they might 
have done more if the opportunity had arisen, but it did 
not and for every duty they were called upon to per- 
form there was one man or more ready to respond to 
the call. In every manner possible they had bent their 
efforts toward fulfilling their duties to the best of their 
abilities, and to know that their efforts in this direction 
had given satisfaction to their relatives and friends at 
home was very pleasing to them. 

The Sixth Regiment band escorted company E to 
its armory and boarded the train to be on hand at the 
welcome of company I. The band arranged to make a 
tour of each of the twelve towns which was the home 
of a company of the Sixth, giving a concert in each 
town. This the}^ did later on and met with pleasant re- 
ceptions and gratifying success at each place. 

After the public reception was over, the volunteers 
sought their homes and there enjoyed to the fullest that 
peace and rest that comes to the weary wanderer on his 
return to the family fold. The h(5ur that had been 
looked forward to for so long was at last at hand and 
they gave themselves up to the full enjoyment of it. 
Invitations to dinners were showered upon them and 
had they accepted of all of them and ate one half of the 
good things which was prepared for them, they must 
have foundered themselves and suffered with the gout 
the remainder of their days. As it was, many of them 
were taken ill shortly after their arrival home and 
hovered between life and death for weeks and months. 
Their fever infested systems were over taxed and they 



Sick Remain in Ponce. 331 

were compelled to give in to it. No doubt many of 
those who were taken ill so soon after reaching home 
would have given up before had not the thought of re- 
turning buoyed them up and gave them courage to 
tight down the disease. The reaction of the pleasure 
of the home coming left them weak and resulted in their 
taking to their beds, there to remain for weeks battling 
with that ^rim monster, death, which appeared deter- 
mined to claim them for its own. 

When the regiment left Ponce for New York, we 
left a number of the sick soldiers who were too weak 
to withstand the sea voyage home at that time and they 
remained to return later on hospital ships. At the time 
of our departure it was expected that these boats would 
arrive in the harbor at any moment and might possibly 
land the sick boys in New York in advance of us. This 
did not prove to be the case and a number of days 
elapsed before the boys got away from the island and 
then they were placed on board of several different ves- 
sels and in this way became widely scattered. 

They were placed in the hospital, of the Nine- 
teenth regulars to await the arrival of the hospital ships. 
Later the Nineteenth removed from that location and 
the sick were taken to the general hospital. Of those 
remaining on the island there were four from company 
E: privates Fred Sneed, Ernest Kahl, Leo Bushnell and 
George Rounds. Corporal Luther AUpress also of 
company E, was taken ill before the regiment left 
Ponce for the States and was placed on board a hos- 
pital ship and taken to Philadelphia where he remained 
for a short lime, returning to Sterling as soon as he had 
recovered sufhciently to make the journey. 

Of the sick members of company 1 who v.'ere left 



332 History of Companies I and E. 

on the island there were fourteen. Q. M. Serg't 
Andrew Mathews; Serg'ts Andrew Osborne Jr.. and 
Harry Rockey; (..^orp'l Harry Berry: privates Fred 
Brearton, Schuyler Sweeney, Clarence Sears, James 
Andrews. Charles Freek, Verne Smith. Edward Lepper, 
.William Lueck, Ross Wilkins and Henry Patterson. 
Ralph Humphrey of the hospital corps was detained 
in the mountains and did not rejoin the regiment. 

The condition of the sick boys varied somewhat 
as a few of them had been ill for weeks and were in a 
daniferous condition, while others were more ■ fortunate 
and able to move about. The boys who were strong 
enough to be up and around rather enjojed the situa- 
tion, but those that vvere bed ridden were very much 
depressed when the regiment left the island, and were 
slow to recover sufficiently to brighten their drooping 
spirits. It certainlv was not a pleasant state of affairs 
for them. 

On the twenty-seventh of September, nearly all of 
the forty-tliree members of the Sixth Ills., who were in 
the hospital at Ponce marched or were carried to the 
wharf at Port Ponce and boarded the hospital ship 
Obdam. which sailed at noon the following day for 
Santiago by the way of the Windward Passage. The 
first night out occurred the death of private Schuyler 
Sweene}', the first volunteer from company I to answer 
the final summons. He was found dead near an open 
hatchway and it aa as supposed he fell to the deck below 
breaking- his neck. With but a few davs between him- 
self and home, he had suddenly passed, over the great 
divide to the world beyond where the general and the 
private are adjudged alike and and the epaulettes and 
gilded cords which adorn the commander, shine no 
blighter than the worn and faded blouse of the volun- 




riilV. KOSS VVILKl^S. 





PRIV. THOS. PHILLIPS. PHI V. SCHUYLER SWEENEY 

Four members of Co. I who died in the service. 



Death Under the Old Flac;. 333 

teer in the ranks. The niornin(( follo\vin<if his death he 
was buried at sea. 

The Obdam arrived at Santiago the following Fri- 
day night, entering the harbor in the morning. The 
crew was engaged in unloading supplies for the army 
ifi Cub, I until midnight Sunda}' when it sailed for New 
York. At about ten o'clock the next morning, after 
rounding the eastern point of Cuba the slack in the 
bunkers was discovered to be on tire and the boat 
turned back towards Santiago where it arrived the same 
night. The fire was not of much consequence and at 
noon Thursday the boat again set sail for New York. 
On the way out of the harbor the boys had an excellent 
view of the fortifications and Morro Castle. The boat 
reached New York on the eleventh and on the morning 
of the twelfth all were transferred to the city and taken 
to Miss Helen Gould's place for soldiers. 

Among the number who returned on this vessel 
were the four bo3S from company E and the following 
members from company I: Q. M. Serg't Andrew Math- 
ews, Serg't Andrew Osborne and privates Verne Smith, 
Fred Brearton and Edward Lepper. Serg't Harry 
Rockey and Corp'l Harry Berry of compan}- I, both 
of whom were more dead than alive, left Ponce on 
the hospital ship Missouri on September twenty-eighth, 
arriving at Fortress Monroe, Newport News, October 
first. They were taken to the hospital where they re- 
mained for some time gradually regaining health and 
strength until able to continue the journey home. 

Privates Ross Wilkins, Charles Freek and Henry 
Patterson of company 1, were among the number who 
returned to Newport News on the Missouri. James 
Andrews, William Lueck and Clarence Sears arrived 



334 History of Companies I and E. 

later and all of the boys from both companies E and I 
eventually reached their homes with the exception of 
private Wilkins, who died at Fortress Monroe on the 
ninth of November. The circumstances surrounding 
the death of private Wilkins were peculiar and excep- 
tionally sad. About the first of November he wrote to 
his parents stating that he was able to return home if 
someone would go there to accompan}' him on the 
journey. Later a telegram was received which stated 
that he thought he was hardly able to withstand the 
long trip at that time, and two days later he died.. No 
notice of his death was sent his parents, although he had 
their address on his person. His brother went after 
him intending to remain with him until he had recov- 
ered sufficient to be brought home. On arriving at the 
hospital he found that the soldier brother had been dead 
and buried some ten days. The shock was a severe 
one to his relatives and friends. The remains were 
later brought to Lyndon for burial. 

On October nineteenth occurred the death of pri- 
vate Thomas Phillips of C.^ompan}- I. He was one of 
the number who joined the company at Springfiefd, his 
home was at Buda 111. When the regiment was fur- 
loughed he came to Morrison \a ith ihe company and 
was taken ill with typhoid fever a short time afterward. 
He sank gradually, the end coming quite suddenly. 
Relatives came and took the remains to Buda where 
they were interred. 

The fourth member of company I to close his eyes 
to all things earthly while in the service of the govern- 
ment was Ralph Humphrey. When the regiment left 
Porto Rico, with Ralph in the mountains, none suspect- 
ed that they had looked upon his face for the last time 



Ralph Humphrey Dies at Utuado. 335 

in life. His parents heard from him at intervals and he 
was apparently in good health and the first intimation 
received that he had been ill was in the return of a let- 
ter which was mailed to him on the fourteenth of Octo- 
ber. It was received at Utuado November third and 
returned to Morrison arriving on the thirteenth. Across 
its face the burning words were written '-Deceased,- 
Returned." The heart stricken parents could hardly 
realize that their son was not among the living until his 
death was confirmed officially a few days later. . 

Following the first notice of his death letters were 
received from his comrades who were at h'is bedside 
when the end came, giving' the details in connection 
with his illness and death. He had been on duty at the 
hospital up to the time he vvas admitted as a patient, 
October fifteenth, and developed typhoid fever. He 
appeared to be gaining up to the twenty-ninth when he 
suffered a relapse from which he never rallied and en 
the thirtieth he died. He was buried with military 
honors in the pretty little cemetery at Utuado by the 
side of a number of his unfortunate comrades. He was 
the first and onlv one of the boys from Whiteside coun- 
ty to suffer death in the beautiful little island of Porto 
Rico. His remains were disinterred and brought to 
Morrison where thev were buried in Grove Hill ceme- 
tery April thirtieth. 1899. 

One of the most sad incidents occurring in the 
history of the Sixth regiment was the death of Major 
William E. Baldwin of Dixon. Shortly after the arrival 
of the regiment in Porto Rico he was affected with 
dvsenterv. His health failed gradually and when the 
return to Ponce was made he was so weakened that he 
decided to lake a berth on the hospital ship Relief. He 



336 History of Companies I and E. 

was taken to Philadelphia and placed in a hospital 
where he remained until the time of his death which oc- 
curred on Sepiember fifteenth. In a letter written his 
wife under date of the fourteenth of September, he 
stated he was receiving the best possible treatment and 
attention, that he was getting along nicely and there 
was no cause for her to worry as he would be home 
shortly. 

His perdiction of the early arrival at home proved 
true, but little did anyone surmise the conditions that 
would surround the return of the soldier. The an- 
nouncement of his death following so closely upon the 
receipt of the cheering letter completely overcame the 
waiting wife, a bride of a 3'ear, and the anxious father 
and mother were grief stricken. While in the hospital 
apparently on the road to ultimate recovery, he suffered 
a relapse and passed away very suddenly. The re- 
mains were brought to Dixon for interment. Guarded 
by a squad of G. A. R. veterans, the body lay in state 
in the corridor of the Lee county court house, where it 
was viewed by hundreds of sorrowing friends. The 
funeral occurred on the Sunday following his death. It 
was one of the largest and most impressive ever held 
in this section of the state. He was buried with mili^ 
tary honors befitting his rank. 

Major Baldwin had been connected with the Illinois 
National Guard for ten years, having enlisted as an 
original member of company G of Dixon, July second 
1888. He served as a non-commissioned officer for a 
time and was commissioned second lieutenant in 1890; 
promoted to captain in 1891, commanding the company 
during its service in Chicago where it participated in the 
campaign arising from the railroad strike. In the fall 




Major Wm, E. Baldwin and his mount. 



Death of Major Baldwin. 337 

of 1896 he was comiT.issioned major of the Third 
Battalion and entered the service of the government as 
a volunteer officer in this capacity, }Ie was well and 
favorably known throughout the regiment and his 
death caused a wave of sorrow to svveep over the entire 
command. 



338 History of Companies I and E. 



cha'pter xxyi. 

The sixty days furlough granted the volunteers were 
spent in accepting invitations to, and attending receptions, 
which came one after another with amazing rapidity. 
Public affairs in which the entire community partici- 
pated were followed by informal dinners and parties 
where the thought which appeared uppermost in the 
minds of the hosts was to heap tempting morsels of food 
upon the tables until they fairly groaned from the over 
burdening. Everything that lay in the power of these 
good people was done for the comfort of the returned 
soldiers, and the thoughts of the days and nights of 
hunger, rain and mud, passed in the jungles of Porto 
Rico, were quickly replaced by the most pleasant mem- 
ories of the days following the home comijig. 

About a week after the furlough was granted, the 
company commanders and their assistants were ordered 
to Springfield to begin the work of preparing the mus- 
ter-out rolls. This occupied much of the time which 
followed previous to the date of discharge, as the reg- 
ular army officer detailed by the government to oversee 
the work of mustering out the regiment, and under 
whose directions the work had made fair progress, was 
relieved from this duty and succeeded by another whose 
ideas concerning the rules to be followed were entirely 



Mustered Out. 339 

different from those of the hrst olhcer on tlie field, and 
much that had been completed was ruled out and re- 
placed by such entries as the ideas of the laie arrival 
deemed proper. 

The serious illness of many of the returned soldiers, 
with the receipt of the information, now and then, of the 
death of some comrade, kept the homes of many in a 
state of gloom ond suspense for someiime, but this 
graduiiliy wore awav and as the bo_vs gathered in their 
accustomed haunts as of yore, those places took on a fam- 
iliar aspect and much that had occurred in the summer 
which had passed, was apparenth' forgotten. 

Sunday morning, November twentieth, company I 
boarded the train for SterliTig, where they joined com- 
panies E and G and were soon enroute for Springfield 
over the '"Q."' They arrived at their destination iu the 
evening and reported to Colonel Foster the following 
morning. Several from each company had not sufficient- 
ly recovered from their illness as to be in condition to re- 
port to Springfield and while Ihosewhodid report for 
the muster were given a very thorough physical exami- 
nation previous to receiving their discharge, the sick 
boys at home, some of whom were yet hovering between 
life and death, were given their final papers releasino- 
them from the service withojit so much as a single query 
being put to them or their physicians, as to their physi- 
cal condition. 

Of company E members, the following were 
mustered out while ill at home: privates Eager, Lingle, 
Haberle, Book, Compton and McKelvey. The members 
of comyany \I who were unable to report at Springfield 
were: musician Colebaugh, and privates McKenzie, Sav- 
age, Reynolds, Smith and Bunzey. Typhoid malarial 



340 History of Companies I and E. 

fever was the complaint in each case. 

While at Camp Tanner the regiment was quartered 
in the Machinery Hall which had been prepared for their 
coming by the merchants and citizens of Springfield. The 
weather turned cold and they were chilled to the marrow 
as they huddled around the big stoves and strove to keep 
warm. The Monday following their arrival the boys 
were given the physical examination. During the next 
few days pay rolls were signed and on the twenty-fifth 
they were given their final settlement. They received 
two and one-half months pay, together with the balance 
of clothing allowance and ration money while on furlough 
and that evenings boarded the train for home, soldiers no 
more, but citizens of the state of Illinois. They arrived 
the next morning, and the Sixth Regiment of Infantry. 
Illinois Volunteers, of the Spanish -American War of 
1898 was an organization of the past and had gone iiito 
history. 

The war was over as far as actual hostilities were 
concerned. The signing of the peace protocol on the 
twelfth day of August was practically the end. A peace 
commission was a] (pointed and negotiations were in 
progress which eventually resulted in the renewing of 
the friendly relations, officially, between our government 
and that of Spain. A number of regiments of volunteers 
were retained in the service to do garrison duty in both 
Cuba and Porto Rico as the then existing conditions 
were such as would warrant the presence of the military 
for some time to come. 

Porto Rico became a United States possession, the 
Cubans were given their liberty and the Philippine Is- 
lands became the property of our government, which in a 
spirit of generosity, paid the Spanish government twenty 



Results of the War. 341 

millions of dollars in exchange for its rigb.ts and titles to 
these islands. This act went far to substantiate the state- 
ment made by o'lr government at the onthreak of the 
war, when it declared that this was not a war of conquest 
but of civilization and humanity. Althoncjh our covern- 
ment realized that Spain's actual claims to the Philip- 
pines at the commencement of the war were hardly worth 
twenty cents, it also knew that in the eyes of the nations 
of the world Spain still retained the right of sovereignty 
over the islands even if she did maintain it by force of 
arms and that in but a few localities along the coast. 

To allow Spain to remain in possession of the islands 
was not to be considered, as the inhabitants had done 
much to aid in driving her out of that territory. To 
withdraw our troops at that period would have been an 
act unworthy of our people. To remain in possession 
without remuneration to the Spanish government would 
place the war as one of conqest, hence the payment of the 
twenty millions. 

The Philippine war which followed, and has dragged 
along since, is to be deplored, but in the future when 
peace reigns over the land which has been torn by wars 
from center to circumference for years, those untutored, 
half civilized people will recognize the beauties and 
strength of our government and their hearts will be filled 
with thankfulness in being allowed the protection of the 
parental wing of a people whose very existence as a gov- 
ernment is based upon the watchword, "freedom," a peo- 
ple who, in a single century has risen from a position of 
the humblest to that of the foremost in the ranks of the 
nations of the globe, and is known and feared alike the 
world over for its stand for right and justice in every in- 
stance and the power which it can and does bring to bear 



342 History of Companies I and E. 

to enforce its principles. 

In every war in the history of our government from 
that of 1776 to the late war of 1898, the American sold- 
ier has carried the stars and stripes to a glorious victory. 
Many dark clouds have appeared but each had its silver 
lining and on many occasions when hope was all but lost, 
the determination to fight it out never lessened, the tide 
of war would change, at times ebbing and flowing gently 
and again rushing fiercely along but ultimately landing 
the American eagle, with the red. white, and blue em- 
blem clutched in its talons, high and dry, there to rest 
from its wearying struggle and regain its spent energies. 
The intervening hand of Providence which has come be- 
tween our people and their enemies so many times, and 
which appears to be continually hovering over this united 
people, must have a significant meaning to those who 
recognize a supreme power and who will give the subject 
the consideration which it merits. 

The Sixth III. regiment covered three thousand miles 
by rail, three thousand on the sea, and marched nearly 
two hundred miles over cart roads and horse trails along 
the coast and in the mountains of Porto Rico, during its 
brief campaign. The record which it made in the few 
months of service, though not a brilliant one, as army 
records go, yet it was one of which it may well feel proud. 
Every duty which it was requested to perform was carried 
out with an energy which gave it a prominent place in 
the volunteer regiments of the Spanish war. 

When the regiment w^is in New York, enroute from 
Porto Rico, Chaplain Ferris met a regular army officer, 
who, upon learning of the chaplain's connection with the 
Sixth Illinois, coi;igratulated him on the sterling quali- 
ties which the men of the regiment had shown in the re- 



Kind Words for the Sixth. 343 

cent campaign. The general, for such was the rfmk of 
the officer with whom Chaplain Ferris held the conversa- 
tion, said, ''You should be proud of your men. They are 
soldiers, every inch of them. Every time the world has 
heard of the Sixth Illinois, it has been because of some 
duty well done. They have not crept into the newspa- 
pers because of scandals among the officers, wholesale 
complaints from the men or in any of the many ways in 
which some regiments have acquired "yellow' fame. 
They have done every duty well, and while they did 
not do any shooting, the part they took in the war was 
in every way honorable. The officers have watched them 
and I assure you that we consider the record of the Sixth 
Illinois as true soldiers the best of any of the volunteer 
regiments." 

During the month of October 1898, General Miles 
passed through Illinois enroute to Omaha, and at one 
of the cities in which he stopped he is quoted as say- 
ing: "I had two regiments of Illinois volunteers in Por- 
to Rico, and in justice I must say they stood the fatigue 
and hardships better than the eastern troops. The 
Sixth Illinois was brigaded with the Sixth Massachu- 
setts, and I am bound to say the bo3's from the prairies 
of Illinois stood the campaign better than the boys 
from the mills of New England." 

Such words as these, coming from the lips of 
trained soldiers whose lives had been spent in study- 
ing the arts of war. had a very pleasing effect on the 
members of the regiment and they were content to al- 
low the people to pass judgment upon their aciions 
while serving as United States volunteers. 

Shortly after the first call for troops was made in 
the spring of '98, the second company of volunteers 



344 History of Companies I and E. 

was organized in Sterling and Kock Falls. Walter N. 
Haskell, ex-officer of company E, Sixth 111. N. G., was 
elected captain, W. L. Emmons ist lieutenant, and 
G. A. McKelvey 2nd lieutenant. The company was 
made a part of the provisional regiment which was 
organized by Gen. Clendenin of Moline and stood ready 
for a call to the frcnt. The early termination of the 
war made this unnecessary and the company was not 
mustered into the service, much as it desired to be. 

Illinois has never failed to furnish its quota of 
men when duty called them to shoulder the musket 
in times of war. Whiteside county has always been 
Kmong the first to be heard on such occasions and the 
brilliant record it has made in offering its wealth of 
men and treasures in behalf of the love it bears ''Old 
Glory," when danger threatens it, is the source of con- 
tinual pride of its loyal hearted citizens. 

Since the close of the war death has claimed a num- 
ber of the boys for its victims. In each case the death 
of the men could be traced to disease contracted while 
serving as volunteers. Private Leo H." Bushnell of 
company E, died April twenty sixth 1899. Bugler Roy 
Eshleman, who it will be remembered was discharged 
while the regiment was at Camp Alger, died of con- 
sumption August eleventh 1899, and private Frank 
Aument who was ill for some time at Fortress Monroe, 
and was afterward granted a penison for disability, died 
March twenty-fourth 1900. Lieut. Ed. Lawton of 
company I, died at Springfield, Ills., October twenty- 
first 1899, and private Albert Anstett of Alban}', an ex- 
member of company I, died April second, 1901. 

A number of the boys found the life of a soldier 
so much to their liking that they re-enlisted a short 









It-^i 



:r -— . 












ii^ ■'iji ,41 






Re-enterin(; the Service. 345 

time after being discharged from the Sixth Ills., regi- 
ment. As far as is known the following is a complete 
reijister of those who re-entered the service: ex-mem- 
hers of company E, Serg't Leslie Sheldon, company, M, 
Fourth U. S. Infantry and private Richard O, Jones, 
company >!, Nineteenth U. S. Infantry, both of whom 
served in the Philippines; private Wilson R. Byers, 
company E, Eighth U. S. Infantry, served in Cuba, 
and private John Sheldon who enlisted in 1899 but was 
discharged shortly afterward for disability. 

The ex-merr.bers of company I, who enlisted in the 
regular service and saw duty in the Philippines were 
privates Frank Weaver, William Schanz, William 
Dahlstrom, Rollin Humphrey and Lewis Turner. The 
last named w'as wounded during an engagement in 
which he participated and was invalided home. Private 
Otto Stakelbeck, another ex-member of company I, 
enlisted in the Heavy Artillery early in 1B99 arid was 
aissigned to duty at Fort Moultrie in South Carolina. 
Private Mark Wood enlisted in the cavalry and served 
a full term in Cuba. 

It is not the intention of the writer to attempt to 
record the names of all those who may have served in 
the different branches of the service from Whiteside 
county during the Spanish^ — American war, but among 
the number there are a few whose services can will not 
be overlooked. Any attempt to complete an entire 
register of the names w^ould entail considerable expense 
on the part of the person who went in search of the 
data covering such a record, as men offered their ser- 
vices from nearly every town, village and hamlet within 
the borders of the county, besides oihers from the farms. 
It was decided to make brief mention of those whose 



346 History of Companies I and E. 

records were available, or could be secured without 
adding materially to the already unwarranted expense 
of publishing the book. 

James P. Kervan, of Sterling, served throughout 
the Cuban campaign as a corporal in company C, 
Twenty-second U. S. Infantry. He was in the midst 
of the battles before Santiago and El Caney and came 
out of the combats uninjured. His record as a soldier 
was an honorable one and he returned to the States 
with his regiment anticipating an early rejoinder with 
the home folks. While at Montauk Point he was 
taken down with typhoid fever and soon succumbed to 
the disease. He died August thirty-first, 1898. The 
remains were brought to Sterling for burial, the funer- 
al taking place Sunday, September eleventh. The 
services were conducted by the Sterling G. A. R. 
Post and "taps" were sounded o'er the grave, bring- 
ing to a close one of the most solemn and impressive 
funeral services ever held in that city. 

Another Sterling boy who made a brilliant record 
with the Cuban army of i.nvasion was Frank D. Ely. 
He inlisted in company E, 111. N. G. as an original 
member of that organization and Vv'as promoted to the 
rank of corporal and sergeant within the year. Some 
years later he successfully entered the contest for an 
appointment to West Point, from which institution he 
graduated with high honors and was issued a com- 
mission in the regular arm}-. Plis regiment was 
among the first to be ordered to Cuba and participated 
in the engagements before San Juan Hill and El Caney. 
Fortunately he received no wounds, but he, like hun- 
dreds of others returned home to be bed ridden for 
long weary weeks, suffering from typhoid fever, con- 



Review OF Volunteers FROM Whiteside. 847 

traded in the treacherous climate of Cuba. 

Will H. Allen, who was a resident of Morrison 
up to the time of his receiving the appointment to the 
Naval Academy at i^ nnapolis some } ears ago, was a 
Lieut, on board the battleship Oregon during the 
Spanish-i^mericTn war. He was on duty on this ves- 
sel when it made that wonderful run from the Pacific 
ocean to join Admiral Sampson's fieet at Santiago, and 
during the naval fight off Santiago harbor on that 
memorable third day of July, 1898, where the Oregon 
and Brookh ri did such terrible execution and estab- 
lished records as fighting machines which surprised 
the civilized world. 

George H. Fay. an old Morrisonite, and first 
Captain of the original organization of company I, 111. 
N. G.. also a veteran of the civil war, served throughout 
the war of '98, in the paymasters department with the 
rank of Major. At the time of receiving the appoint- 
ment he was a practicing attorne}- at Oakes, N. D., and 
where he now resides. 

Another of Whiteside county's sons who served as 
a volunteer is Henr}- Clayton Thompson, of Fenton. 
He was taking a course in medicine in Hahnemann Col- 
lege, Chicago, and when the call for volunteers came 
was studying with a physician in Appleton, Wis. He 
enlisted in company E. Second Wisconsin \'olunteers, 
June seventeenth, and was immediately sent to Chicka- 
magua Park, Ga. Later he was transferred to the Re- 
serve Ambulance Corps which accompanied the regi- 
ment to Charleston. S. C. The members of the Sixth 
Ills, will remember meeting the Wisconsin regiment at 
Charleston, and afterward fn Porto Rico. Private 
Thompson \vas taken ill at Charleston and placed in the 



348 History of Companies I and E. 

hospital where he remained from July ninth until Octo- 
ber fourteenth. His case of typhoid and malaria was 
a severe one and it was a miracle that he recovered. 
He was given a furlough and sent home and later was 
discharged. 

The above brief mention of a number of Whiteside 
county boys who were Uncle Sam's servants in '98, 
closes Part II of this histor}-. On the following pages 
the record of companies E and I, 111. N. G., is taken up 
with the arrival at home after being mustered out of the 
volunteer service, and completed to April thirtieth, 1901, 
the date on which this record closes, giving a roster of 
the members of both companies as they were entered 
upon the company registers at that date. 



PART III. 



ILLINOIS NATIONAL GUARD. 



Closing Chapters of the History of Companies I and 
E, Recording the Incidents Occurring Follow- 
ing Their Volunteer Service, and Com- 
pleted TO April 30, 1001. 



CHAPTER I. 

For some time after the return of the volunteers 
military affairs remained very quiet in the National 
Guard. Many of the ex-volunteers who were guards- 
men were adverse to taking up the work of drilling and 
maneuvering with the state troops for a time at least. 
These men were in no great hurr^^ to pick up the 
thread where it had been dropped some months before 
as they had satisfied the longing for a soldier life to a 
certain extent, and the National Guard had but little 
attraction for them. 

This feeling of indifference graduallv disappeared 
and the interest in the State orcjanizations was a^ain 
manifest in a short time, although a goodlv number of 
those whose term of enlistment had expired during the 



352 History of Companies I and E. 

summer months did not again enter the service. On 
the other hand there was more of an interest apparent 
in the affairs of the Guard on the part of the citizens of 
the communities wherein the companies were located 
than had existed for years. A number of the boys who 
had served as volunteers, but who had not previously 
been connected with the Guard, entered their names up- 
on the rolls for a term of years. 

The military spirit which had enveloped and 
swayed our people from one end of the country to the 
other during the late war, had left its effects on the 
youths throughout the land and they were anxious to 
become connected with the State troops. With the 
general awakening of the interest of the citizens in the 
affairs of the Guard and the spirit with which the mem- 
bers entered upon their duties, the companies rapidly 
re-organized and were soon placed on a footing which 
bid fair to advance the efficiency of the troops in gen- 
eral beyond that of former years and add materially to 
their worth as citizens soldiers whose duties it is to 
guard and protect the interests of peaceful citizens with- 
in the borders of their State. 

The affairs of companies I and E ran along on the 
old even tenor for a time and the regular weekly drills 
were called as of yore. The first change of any note 
occurred when Capt. Lawrie ot Company E was elect- 
ed Major of the Third Battalion. He was commis- 
sioned as such January fifth, 1899. The vacancy caused 
by the promotion of Capt. Lawrie was filled by electing 
2nd Lieut. J. Frank Wahl as Captain, his commission 
was dated Feb. ninth, 1899. On the same date Order- 
ly Sergt. Samuel H. Feigley was commissioned as 2nd. 
Lieut, On the first of July following these changes, 




Capt H. S. Green. 

1st Lieut. H. A. Weaver. 2nd Lieut. J. L. Rockey. 

Officers of Co. I., Sixth 111. N. G. 



Illinois National Guards. 353 

ist. Lieut. G. B. Dillon was placed upon the retired 
list by his own request, and on the fourteenth of the 
same month 2nd. Lieut. Feigley was. commissioned ist. 
Lieut, and Sergt. Charles F. Hoobler was advanced to 
the grade of 2nd. Lieut, which constitutes the roster of 
commissioned officers of company E at the close of these 
records, April thirtieth 1901. 

The return home of company I found it without a 
lieutenant. The resignation of 2nd Lieut. E. J. Weaver 
from the volunteers which was accepted May fovirteenth 
1898. was also effective in the National Guard. The 
commission of ist Lieut, E. C. Lawton expired May 
thirtieth 1898. An election was called to fill such va- 
cancies as existed at the time, which resulted in the 
selection of Sergt. Harry Weaver as ist. Lieut, and 
Sergt. Jacob L. Rockey as 2nd Lieut., each commission 
bearing the date of March ninth. 1899. Capt. W. F. 
Colebaugh's commission expired July ninth of the same 
year and Harvey S. Green was elected Captain and 
commissioned as such July fourteenth. By referring to 
the roster of company I it will be seen that Capt. Green 
had served as a private and non-commissioned officer 
in this company some ten vears previous. 

Walter Burritt of Morrison was re-appointed Q, M. 
Sergt. of the ist Battalion July twenty-ninth, 1899, ^"^ 
promoted to Regimental Commissary Sergt., July 
twenty-third 1900. On the twenty-first day of July 
1900, Corp"l Paul F. Boyd of company I received the 
appointment of Hospital Steward of the Sixth Regi- 
ment. During the annual encampment at Springfield 
in August 1899, Sergt. John Cushman of company E 
was appointed Regimental Ordnance Sergt. of the 
Sixth. 



354 History of Companies I and E. 

On October sixteenth 1899, Edward A. Smith of 
Morrison was commissioned ist Lieut, and attached to 
the staff of Gen. Wm. Clendenin, commanding the 
Third Brigade. During the Brigade encampment held 
at Springfield in August 1900, Lieut. Smith was com- 
missioned Colonel and Aide de camp on Governor 
Tanner's staff. Although Col. Smith did not accept 
the commission officially, it was entered on the State 
records at Springfield and he retained this rank until the 
expiration of Governor Tanner's term of office. 

Company E continues to retain the even, tranqui 
tenor of the early days. Nothing appears to disturb the 
serenity of its existence. Each member seemingly 
takes a deep interest in the affairs of the company and 
they work in harmony in everything which they under- 
take. In following this unwritten rule, as it were, they 
have strengthened the organization materially. Con- 
fidence in their officers and comrades in the ranks, has 
much to do with the general condition of the company 
as a military organization; renders pleasant the duties 
which the men may be called upon to perform, and is 
invaluable in bringing about that very desirable con- 
dition of affairs which can only be attained by the 
united efforts of every officer and man in the ' company, 
to the mutual benefit of all. 

To company E and its members since the date of 
organization in i888, is due no little credit for the man- 
ner in which it has maintained its enviable position in the 
National Guard. This company is today, and always 
has been, one of the most efficient and best drilled in the 
state. 

With company I there has been a wonderful trans- 
formation in its condition in the past few years. When 



Illinois National Guards. 355 

Captain Green was placed in command of the company 
he reahzed that the organization was sadly in need of 
assistance in various ways. He immediately set to 
work determined to re-build the company and if his 
personal assistance was equal to the task, place ii on a 
par with the foremost organizations of like character in 
the state. From that day to the present he has never 
lagged, and the elegant home of company I today is the 
result of his untiring labors. Not alone in this respect 
has his influence and energies benetited the compan}-, 
but also in the general condition of the organization as 
citizen soldiers. With this installation of new vigor and 
life, those connected with the company combined their 
efforts in an attempt to raise it from the level to which 
it had graduallv fallen, with a result that is highly grat- 
ifying to all. 

Shortly after receiving his commission, Captain 
Green began laying plans for the erection of a new, 
commodious armory. x\fter some time had been ex- 
pended in formulating plans and securing the assistance, 
financially, of interested citizens, a lot was purchased on 
west main street and the work of building began in 
earnest. Ground was broken in September 1900, and 
although handicapped by the inclemency of the weather 
during the early winter months, the armory was prac- 
tically completed by January first 1901. The building 
is constructed of brick and is the full depth of the lot. 
The drill room is on the tirst floor and is large and well 
proportioned. The wardrobe room is also located on 
the flrst floor. 

The front of the building is two stories in height, 
the ground floor being occupied as a store room. The 
second floor is iriven to a suite of rooms for the use of 



356 History of Companies I and E. 

the "Morrison Military Club," an organization founded 
by the members of company I. On the east side of the 
upper floor is the bathroom, which is equipped with 
both tub and shower bathing apparatus, also toilet 
rooms. Joining this is the captains office which opens 
into the main room or clubroom proper. This room is 
large and fitted up for the convenience of the club 
members, and is a very pleasant resort for both the old 
and young men of the town as all citizens are eligible 
to membership upon payment of the regurlarl}' estab- 
lished quarterly dues. A janitor is in attendance both 
day and evening. 

This elegant home for the company was erected at 
a cost of twelve thousand dollars, and without doubt is 
one of the most roomy, comfortable, and convenient ar- 
mories in the State ol Illinois, outside of the regimental 
armories in Chicago. It is the pridj of* tha company 
and the citizens of Morrison. The company took poss- 
session of the building the first of the year, 1901, the 
dedication ceremonies were held on the evening of the 
twenty-second of that month. 

Company I stands first in the regiment in the point 
of numbers and as for general character and proficiency, 
stands second to none among. the companies which com- 
pose the country regiments of the state. This may 
appear to some as a very broad assertion but it is the 
simple truth nevertheless. Such conditions were not 
brought about without much hard work, and to retain 
this coveted state of affairs its members must continue 
to exert their energies and personal influence for the 
good of the company generally, and keep before them 
the fact that if everything is left to the willing hands of 
a few who have the interest of the company at heart. 




JOHN CUSHMAN, 

Kecentlv commissioned Capt. Co E, 

HI. N. G. 



Ili iNOis National Guarjds. 357 

those few will tire of the thankless task in time and the 
result will be a gradual declining into the old rut. 

The officers and enlisted men of both companies I 
and E are f ally justitied in having a sense of pride in 
their connection with these organizations as a part of 
the state troops of Illinois. Illinois, as a state, ranks 
among the first in the union, and it is fitting that the 
men who represent it in whatever capacity, should lend 
their every assistance in maintaining the fair name and 
honor of "Illinois." Next to serving the government 
there is no more patriotic manner of paying tribute to 
the tlag than in that of serving the state faithfully and 
loyally under all circumstances. 

There are those who are inclined to jeer at the 
National Guard but it is a noticeable fact that when a 
disturbance arises it is quickly brought to mind and its 
members called upon to shoulder their muskets, and leav- 
ing bench and stool, take up the thankless task of guard- 
ing lives and property even at the peril of their own lives. 



Since completing the records on the previous pages 
Capt. Wahl of company E, severed his connection with 
the Guard and upon his own application was placed on 
the retired list. His commission expired February ninth 
1902, he having been in the service continually since the 
company was organized in 1888. At the election which 
was called to fill the vacancy caused by the retirement 
of Capt. Wahl, John Cushman, the only remaining mem- 
ber of company E, who was a charter member of the 
organization, was elected Captain commanding. 

Captain Cushman enlisted in company E March 
twenty-fourth, 1888, and has been connected with the 



§5S History of Companies 1 and E. 

Guard continually since. He was appointed Corporal 
June sixteenth, 1891, and promoted to the ranlc of Ser- 
geant a short time later. He enlisted as a volunteer in 
company E April twenty-sixth, 1898, serving as a ser- 
geant until July when he was appointed Regimental 
Ordnance Sergeant of the Sixth Ills. Volunteers, and at- 
tached to the non-commissioned staff of that regiment. 

In August of the year following the war he was 
appointed Ordnance Sergt. of the Sixth Illinois National 
Guards which warrant and rank he held at the time 
of his being commissioned Captain of company E. 
The commission bears the date of February tenth, 1902. 
•Captain Cushman has a number decorations which 
he has received in recognition of his excellent marks- 
manship. He is considered one of the best shots in 
the state. He won the decoration of Distinguished 
Sharpshooter by a score of five hundred and thirty-eight 
points, which is the record score for Illinois as shown by 
the reports of the adjutant general of the state. He is 
popular among the members of the company and its af- 
fairs are placed in safe hands. The boys of company E 
and many friends of Captain Wahl regret that he should 
retire at this early day when prospects for his future in 
the Guard were exceedingly bright. 



Illinois National Guards. 359 



CHAPTER II. 

The roster of each company as recorded April 
thirtieth, 1901, follows. This closes Part III, and 
brings to a final the records of companies I and E. 
From the outset it has been the aim of the writer to 
record the many incidents and changes which have oc- 
curred since the organization of the companies, without 
partiality being shown^ to either company, or any one 
of their many members. The facts and data from 
which this history was compiled, were taken from the 
files of both companies and the utmost caution has been 
used throughout to place them just as they were written 
in every case. 

Company I. 

Captain, Harvey S. Green. 

1st Lieutenant, Harr}^ A. Weaver. 

2nd Lieutenant, Jacob L. Rockey. 

1st Sergeant, Harry H. Rockey. 

Commissary Sergt., E. L. Curtis. 
Sergeant, Andrew F. Mathews. 

Orville P. Kaler. 
" ' George A. Everhart. 

Corporal, Fred W. Brearton. 

" George Hunt. 

" Robert C. Thompson. 



860 History of Companies I anp E. 

Corporal, Robert W. Taylor, 

" Emerson M. Fellows, 

" William H. Burch, 

<« Harry A. Bent. 

" Richard L. McKen^ie, 

Bugler, James Brearton, 

" G. Webber. 

" R. E. Davis. 

Hospital Corps, William Morse, 

Private, Annan, George 

Annan, Frank W. 
Annan, Floyd J, 
Adams, Ray 
Breiter, Arthur 
Bunzey, R. S. 
Besse, Karl 
Beckwith, E. Q. 
Bailey, Jesse 
Bowen, Floyd J. 
Brearton, Martin R. 
Brown, Lloyd J. 
Cargay, Olin 
Childs, Clarence C. 
Childs, W. L. 
Booth, Clarence A. 
Davis, Walter B. 
Davis, Floyd N. 
Derby^ Harry 
Drennen, Marcus L. 
Drury, Walter C. 
Donichy, James G. B, 
Ego, Sylvester 
Ege, Harry P, 




SAMUEL H. FEIGr.EY, 

1st Lieut. Co. E, 111. N. G. 



Illinois National Guards; 361 

Private, Fitzgerald, Charles D. 

" Fenton, William J. 

'• Green, John W. 

" Gorzney, John 

*• Gorzney, Joe 

" Hawse, George B. 

*' High, Aaron 

'' Hirleman, Samuel 

" Hirleman, Wilbur 

" Johnson, Bert 

•' Heiss, Joseph C. 

" Kennedy Vern V. 

«' Kaler, Ralph 

" Lamson, Claude B. 

" Lewis, Walter P. 

" McBride, Harley A. 

" Miller, Frank 

" Meyers, Frank 

«' Morrill, O. A. 

" Meyer, Sam 

<' Nelson, Melvin R. 

" Olmstead, Stuart 

«' Odell, Arthur B. 

" Pratt, Thurston T. 

" Riordon, John A. 

*' Stone, Erastus 

" Smith, Nick A. 

« Shaw, Harry V. 

Stalcup, James 

Stowell, Johrt 

Smaltz, Roy 

Seibert, John D, 

Shirk, Charles 



(( 



362 



History of Companies I and E. 



Private, 



Snyder, William 
Turner, Richard 
Weeks, Charles D. 
Wilcox, Albert 
Winans, Percy H. 
Weaver, Carl 
Welch, Chris 
Welch, Harry 
Wilbur, Sidney 
Yopst, Birt O. 



Captain, 

1st Lieutenant, 

2nd Lieutenant, 

1st Sergeant, 

Commissary Sergt, 

Sergeant, 



Corporal, 



Bugler, 

a 

Hospital Corps, 
Privates, 



Company E. 

J. Frank Wahl. 
Samuel H. Feigley. 
Charles F. Hoobler. 
Arthur E. Deem. 
J. D. Walck. 
Fred Hess. 
Frank H. Coryell. 
George Havens. 
Albert Street. 

Carl Winters 

Burt Sneed. 

James Burr. 

Fred Sneed. 

Lloyd Thompson. 

William Deem. 

William Lund. 

John Sampson. 

W^illiam Connell. 

Charles Ramsdell. 

Anning, A. H. 

Alderfer, Philip 




CHAS. F. HOOBLEJl, 
2nd Lieut. Co. E, 111. N. G. 



Illinois National Guards. 303 

Private, Aumeiit, Heruans 

Bailey, F. C 
Bassett, Bert 
Blair, George 
Bander, C. 
Betts, Verne 
Baker, John H. 
Conners, Waller 
Connell, James 
Clark, Edgar L. 
Diffenbaugh, Ben 
Emmons, Frank 
Eager, Wallace L. 
Feigley, J. Lovure 
Forrester, Frank M. 
Finch, Bert 
Grey, Arthur 
Grimes, Leon 
Harting, Frank 
Heaton, Frank 
Hoover, Arthur 
Hoover, Harry 
Hartman, Andrew 
Husler, Fred 
Hoover, Ben 
IngersoU, Bruce 
Jackson, Arthur 
Jackson, Merton 
Johnson, Fred 
Jamison, Paul R. 
Kent, George 
Latherow, Walter 
Landier, Herman 



364 History of Companies I and E. 

Private, Mangan, Clarence 

Mangers, Charles 
Meade, Clyde 
Nelms, William 
Partridge, Harry 
Phelps, Walter 
Onken, Anthony 
Shank, Ambrose J. 
Stevens, Earnest 
Shumaker, Harry E. 
Troste, Samuel D. 
Thome, George 
Van Drew, Clarence 
Wahl, Albert 
Wise, Ed. 



SAUK VALLEY CC LIBRARY 



3 15 



6 00014 7908 



E Bunzey 89574 

726 

.12 History of Companies 

B88 I and E. . . 



E 

726 
.12 
BBS 



Bunzey 

History of Companies 
I and E . . . 



SAUK VALLEY COLLEGE LIBRARY 

R.R. 1 

Dixon, IL 61021