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Twelve Months with the Eighth Massachusetts Infantry in the Service of the United States
Twelve Months with the Eighth Massachusetts Infantry in the Service of the United States
By HARRY E. WEBBER With an Introduction by Maj. Gen. J. P. Sanger, U. S. A. (retired). Sometime Commander of the Third Division, First Army Corps, U. S. A. SALEM, MASS. Newcomb & Gauss, Printers 1908 Copyright , 1908 By Harry E. Webber To the Officers and Men of the Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V., this volume is dedicated...
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Preface
Preface
It is a habit with the citizens of old Essex, one of the pioneer counties of the grand old Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to point with pride to the fact that since the earliest days of the settlement, she was ever ready to take up arms at the country's call, and her sons were always found ready and willing to go forth to do battle for what they believed to be the right. The record of her soldiers and sailors is a splendid one, and her sons have nobly represented her on land and on sea. It is pe
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The Call to Arms
The Call to Arms
Between February 15th, when the U. S. S. Maine was destroyed in the harbor of Havana, and March 28th, 1898, when Congress received the report of the Naval Board of Inquiry, declaring the Maine to have been destroyed by an exterior explosion, public opinion in the United States was crystalizing in favor of declaring war with Spain and recognizing the independence of Cuba. On March 16th a meeting of the officers of the Eighth Regiment Infantry, M. V. M., was held in the Headquarters of the regimen
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Muster In
Muster In
Shortly after 2 o'clock on the afternoon of May 5th, the Eighth marched onto the State Camp Grounds at South Framingham. The Second and Ninth Regiments turned out with a hearty welcome as the Fife and Drum Corps swung through the gate playing "Teddy Was a Sojer." When the four volunteer regiments were mustered into the service, they dispensed with bands. The Eighth, however, took its drum corps, which as early as March 16th had volunteered, through the Drum Major. Drum Major Thomas was and still
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Chickamauga
Chickamauga
The route of the regiment to Chickamauga was through the valleys of the Hudson and Shennandoah. The cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and Knoxville, were seen in passing, but stops were only made to allow the officers to obtain meals for themselves and coffee for the men. The Government furnished travel rations for the men consisting of hard tack, canned corned beef, beans and tomatoes, and a money allowance for coffee. In their year of service, no one in the regiment ever
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Sickness at Chickamauga
Sickness at Chickamauga
The prevailing sickness at Chickamauga was diarrhœa, dysentery and typhoid. During the spring and summer about 80,000 men passed through the park, but there were probably never over 50,000 encamped there at any one time. The board which investigated the sanitary conditions of 44,803 men at Camp Thomas, reported 9,960 probable cases of typhoid, and 713 fatal results from this disease. One man in every five suffered from this fever, and almost every man was afflicted with some intestinal disorder.
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Lexington
Lexington
The Kentucky home of the Eighth was about five miles from Lexington on a knoll between the Bryan Pike and the Kentucky & Eastern Railroad. Access to the city and its markets was over the Pike or by rail from the station of Montrose, a few hundred yards away. A pipe line connecting with the city supply, brought water to the foot of every company street. Lumber was to be had upon requisition, and abundant facilities were offered for being and keeping well. The sun penetrating to every corn
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Americus
Americus
On the morning of November 12th, the four sections bearing the Eighth Massachusetts and its impedimenta reached Americus. The two camp sites were about a mile from the city, and separated by the highway. The Eighth was assigned to a large sodded field, where substantial wooden company sinks had been constructed, water pipes laid to each company kitchen, and an electric street lighting system was being installed. For a week the men of the Eighth were as industrious as ants. Each company erected a
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Matanzas
Matanzas
On January 10th the Obdam bearing the First Battalion of the Eighth, came to anchor at Matanzas, in a wide, shallow bay, where ships lie a mile or more off shore to discharge. Hills topped with palms, rose on either side of the city, which spread out on a strip of land between two little rivers, and straggled up the slopes, until the stone houses of the town proper gave place to palm thatched huts on the outskirts. The city upon a close inspection, was dirty and battered, but from the sea its pi
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Muster Out
Muster Out
The trip to Boston was uneventful, except that sea sickness among the cooks and the novelty of handling rations on board ship, somewhat disarranged the commissary department. On April 12th the companies reported in Boston. The men were quartered in the South Armory. There was practically nothing for them to do except guard duty and evening parade on Boston Common. This parade daily attracted a large crowd of spectators. The clerical force of each company however, was busy on the muster out rolls
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Welcome Home
Welcome Home
No fault could be found by the members of the regiment with the receptions they received upon the return of the companies to the home stations. Although it was Sunday night, the enthusiasm knew no bounds, and in most places a large procession awaited the arrival of the company, took it under escort and started for the armory. Later, in most every place, official receptions were held, but they lacked the spontaneous enthusiasm which marked the welcome home on the arrival of the companies from the
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The Roll of Honor
The Roll of Honor
In every war the percentage of deaths from disease is greater than of deaths on the battlefield, and the Spanish war was no exception. Of the hundreds of Massachusetts young men who volunteered and answered the call of President McKinley for troops, 292 were called upon to sacrifice their lives for their country. Of this number, but nine were killed or died of wounds on the battlefield, the remaining 283 dying of disease or meeting death in an accidental manner. The First Massachusetts Heavy Art
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Some Statistics
Some Statistics
During the year of service in the volunteers 1465 names were borne upon the rolls of the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment. This does not necessarily mean that 1465 different men were connected with the regiment, for that was not so, for some of the men's names appear upon the rolls twice, such as when an enlisted man was promoted to be an officer, or when an officer was transferred from one company to another, or an enlisted man transferred from a company to the regimental band. The following figur
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Field and Staff
Field and Staff
Pew, William A. Jr. , Salem, Colonel, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Assigned to command Second Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps, May 20 to June 29. Commander of Second Brigade, First Army Corps, October 28 to October 31, also from November 1 to November 3, and December 17 to December 24. Bailey, Edwin W. M. , Amesbury, Lieutenant-Colonel, April 28, 1898, resigned October 28, 1898. In command of the regiment from May 19 to June 29. Stopford, William , Beverly, Major, April
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Non-Commissioned Staff
Non-Commissioned Staff
Sanborn, John R. , Haverhill, Sergeant-Major, February 1, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899. (See Company F. ) Dodge, Julian M. , Hamilton, Sergeant-Major, April 28, 1898; discharged by order, January 5, 1899. Perkins, Charles F. , Salem, Quartermaster-Sergeant, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Spaulding, Charles L. , Beverly, Hospital Steward, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Burnham, E. Bennett , Essex, Hospital Steward, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Wood
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The Band
The Band
Boucher, Alfred , Haverhill, enlisted Company D, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899. Brasseur, George D. , Haverhill, enlisted Company F, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899. Crowley, Herbert L. , North Cambridge, enlisted Company M, April 28, 1898; transferred to band March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899. Cummings, John A. , West Somerville, enlisted Company M, April 28, 1898; transferred to band,
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Company A, Newburyport
Company A, Newburyport
Perkins, Alexander G., Newburyport, Captain, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Commanded the Second Battalion by reason of seniority, October 27 to November 8 and November 19 to December 22, 1898. Langdon, George W., Newburyport, First Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Detailed Battalion Adjutant, May 11 to 19; Acting Regimental Adjutant, May 20 to June 19. Battalion Adjutant, June 20 to 31; Regimental Inspector Rifle Practice, July 1 to 29; Inspector Rifle Prac
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Company B, Amesbury
Company B, Amesbury
Bean, Horace S., Amesbury, Captain, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Commanded First Battalion by reason of seniority, June 10 to July 21; December 20, 1898 to January 19, 1899. Detached service, distributing rations, Matanzas, Cuba, January 19 to April 3, 1899. Pettingell, John M., Amesbury, First Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; commanding Company, June 10 to July 20; discharged for promotion, January 17, 1899. (See Company C. ) Assigned as Commanding Officer, Company C, December 21, 18
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Company C, Marblehead
Company C, Marblehead
Pettingell, James M., Amesbury, Captain, January 18, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899. (See Company B. ) Denning, Frank B., Marblehead, Second Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; Captain, May 11, 1898; resigned December 9, 1898. Smith, Frederic P., Dedham, Second Lieutenant, May 10, 1898; First Lieutenant, January 11, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899. Wardwell, Linville H., Beverly, Sergeant Major, April 28, 1898; First Lieutenant, May 11, 1898; resigned December 13, 1898. Whelpley, Edgar J., Salem, S
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Company D, Lynn
Company D, Lynn
Hilliker, Charles T., Lynn, Captain, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Detached service, General Court Martial, November 19 to 25, and November 28 to December 6, and December 14 to 22. Cobey, Thomas J., Lynn, First Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Battalion Adjutant July 6 to August 29. Commanding Company B, November 15 to November 24. Battalion Adjutant November 25 to December 21. Young, William F., Lynn, Second Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; discharged for promo
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Company E, Beverly
Company E, Beverly
Stopford, Frederick W., Beverly, Captain, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Provost Guard, Matanzas, Cuba, March 16 to April 3, 1899. Farnham, Charles H., Beverly, First Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Special duty with engineering party, making camp at Lexington, Kentucky, August 16 to September 17. Command of engineering party at Americus, Georgia, October 26 to November 26. Regimental pioneer officer, December 4. DeSousa, Francisco A., Beverly, Second Lieut
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Company F, Haverhill
Company F, Haverhill
Dow, William C., Haverhill, Captain, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Commanding the Third Battalion, by reason of seniority, October 8 to 29 and December 23, 1898 to March 23, 1899. Svanberg, Per Justis W., Amesbury, First Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Commanding the company by reason of seniority, October 8 to 29 and December 27, 1898 to March 25, 1899. Jewell, David E., Haverhill, Second Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; discharged for promotion, December 16,
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Company G, Gloucester
Company G, Gloucester
Horton, Edward J., Gloucester, Captain, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. McIsaac, Charles M., Gloucester, First Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Acting Regimental Quartermaster, October 3 to 14. Battalion Adjutant, November 21. Assistant Quartermaster, December 26 to January 23, 1899. Battalion Adjutant, January 23. Acting Regimental Adjutant, January 30 and March 11 and 12. Nutt, James C., Gloucester, Second Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; resigned December 27, 1
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Company H, Salem
Company H, Salem
Reynolds, Augustus G., Salem, Second Lieutenant, May 10, 1898; First Lieutenant, August 15, 1898; Captain, April 12, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899. Regimental commissary, May 20. Detached service to Third Division, First Army Corps Hospital, as Acting Assistant Quartermaster and Acting Commissary Subsistence, July 12 to August 11. Commanding Company K, September 10 to 17. Detached service as Acting Assistant Quartermaster and Acting Commissary Subsistence, Third Division, First Army Corps Ho
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Company I, Lynn
Company I, Lynn
Williams, John E., Lynn, Captain, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Downey, Francis H., Lynn, First Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; died at St. Joseph's Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky, October 24, 1898. Special duty as Regimental Commissary, July 15, 1898. DeSousa, Francisco A., Beverly, First Lieutenant, December 16, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. (See Company E. ) Special duty with Company B, January 15 to February 9. Special duty as Quartermaster, Division Hospital, Matanzas, Cuba,
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Company K, Danvers
Company K, Danvers
Chase, A. Preston, Danvers, Captain, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Detailed General Court Martial June 8 to July 11; December 11 to 21, 1898; January 7 to —. Detailed as Judge Advocate, March 8. Summary Court Officer. December 7 to 17; 18 to 26. French, Henry W., Danvers, First Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; resigned, September 1, 1898. On recruiting service, June 11 to July 20, 1898. Bond, Stephen N., Boston, Second Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; First Lieutenant, September 15, 1898; r
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Company L, Lawrence
Company L, Lawrence
Forbes, James Lawrence, Captain, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Craig, James H., Boston, Second Lieutenant, May 2, 1898; First Lieutenant, May 11, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Commanding company by reason of seniority October 15 to December 3. Regimental Inspector Rifle Practice, December 21, 1898, to March 31, 1899. Provost Guard, Fort San Severino, Matanzas, Cuba, January 15 to February 1. Sherman, Roland H., Lawrence, Second Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; resigned August 18,
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Company M, Somerville
Company M, Somerville
Whitten, Herbert W., Cambridge, Captain, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. On recruiting duty June 11 to July 20. Commanded Second Battalion by reason of seniority September 17 to October 17. Assistant Provost Marshal, District of Matanzas, Cuba, January 24. Summary court, District of Matanzas, Cuba, February 1, 1899. Canfield, George I., Somerville, First Lieutenant, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899. Acting Quartermaster of regiment May 20, to August 22. Provost guard at S
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Chronology
Chronology
February, 1898. March. April. May. June. July. August. September. October. November. December. January. February. March. April....
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Appendix
Appendix
The following letters will be of interest to the members of the regiment, showing, as they do, the standing the regiment and its commander had with officers higher in authority in '98, and the fact that the good opinion is retained 10 years later. Headquarters, Department of Matanzas, Matanzas, Cuba , March 10, 1899. To The President , Executive Mansion, Washington. Sir :—I take pleasure in saying that I have known Colonel William A. Pew, Jr., Eighth Massachusetts Volunteers, since his entry int
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