WHEREIN IS NARRATED THE ADVENTURES ON THE HIGH SEAS OF SPRINGFIELD'S
SAILORS.
While the land soldiers which Springfield furnished the government were
enjoying themselves in Florida and Cuba and toying with the canned
roast beef and other incidentals of a campaign, the Springfield marine
contingent was not having an altogether lovely time. On the monitor
Lehigh and the auxiliary cruiser Prairie there was work and hard work
too in plenty but on the whole the rations and the quarters were
better than those enjoyed by the infantry contingent. But the boys of
H company, naval brigade, pined for active service and those on the
Lehigh were aggrieved at not getting it while their comrades on the
Prairie were roaming the seas on a fast ship in chase of the enemy
or doing blockade duty off the coasts of Cuba and Porto Rico. It was
hard work for the Lehigh men to be cooped up on their old, "flat boat"
in Boston harbor during the stirring times of the summer of 1898 but it
is to their credit that although they grumbled at their lot as all good
sailors do, yet they did their full duty and did it well.
The bringing of the Lehigh from the League Island navy yard to Boston
Harbor was in itself something of an achievement for the tug which
towed her broke down and the monitor was forced to proceed under her
own steam, much to the surprise of those on the tug Clara Clorita.
This happened at Vineyard Haven and from that point to Boston the
Lehigh was cast off from the tug and was sailed the remainder of the
way under her own steam and by her own crew. When the Lehigh left
Philadelphia the navy yard officials were apprehensive of her behavior
at sea as she was primarily a coast defence vessel but the naval
brigade men in the monitor found no great trouble in sailing her.
The Lehigh reached Boston on May 5 and on the 9th the Springfield
officers and men of the crew were given leaves of absence and
furloughs to enable them to attend the presentation of "The Ensign" by
Springfield amateurs at the Court Square theater for the benefit of the
company fund. The crew included Lieut. J. K. Dexter, Lieut, (j. g.) W.
O. Cohn, Ensign Walter S. Barr and Seamen W. A. Sabin, A. N. Luce, R.
P. King, Paul H. Lathrop, L. E. Ladd, W. S. Johnson, W. F. Bright and
R. H. B. Warburton. The presentation was a successful one in every way
and netted quite a sum.
Meanwhile the Lehigh had been permanently detailed for duty in Boston
harbor as a coast defence vessel and a disagreeable surprise was in
store for some of the Springfield men when they returned from their
furloughs. They were all anxious to re-enlist for service and had been
assured by Capt. Weeks, commanding the naval brigade, that if they
telegraphed to him their willingness to re-enlist before a certain hour
on the 10th, places would be kept for them. But on their arrival on
the ship on May 12th they found that there was only one vacancy left.
Just how the mistake was made was never thoroughly explained, but it
was suspected by the Springfield men that there was a scheme to shut as
many of them as possible out in favor of some Boston naval militiamen.
They felt it keenly and Lieut. Dexter succeeded in straightening out
matters so that Coxswain Johnson and Seamen Bright and Warburton were
re-enlisted. Sabin, Luce and King had already done so and this left
only Lathrop and Ladd out in the cold. In spite of their efforts they
could not get in.
The officers suffered also from the fact that there were not places
enough for all of them in the Lehigh's complement as a coast defense
ship. Lieut. Colin was offered the alternative of going on the waiting
list or being reduced in rank to ensign. He chose the latter and
remained with the ship but there was no place for Ensign Barr and he
was placed on the waiting list and returned home to await orders. Later
Lieut. Dexter was taken from the Lehigh and placed on the converted
ferry boat "Governor Russell," the property of the City of Boston which
had turned over to the government, as executive officer.
All this time the "Prairie dogs," as the crew of that vessel were
dubbed by their less fortunate comrades, were having a fairly good time
at the Brooklyn navy yard. Much time was spent there in fitting up the
vessel as an auxiliary cruiser and until the work was well advanced the
crew was lodged and fed in hotels and later in the navy yard barracks.
As it happened, Ralph H. Newcomb was the first of the Springfield men
to reach the Prairie and report for duty. He was in Washington on a
visit when orders were issued for H company to report at Brooklyn and
when he was notified by Lieut. Crossman he lost no time in getting to
that city and the navy yard, beating out his comrades by several hours.
Hammocks were "swung" on the Prairie for the first time on Saturday,
May 7th, and from that time until muster-out in September hotel fare
was a dream of the past to which the boys looked back with considerable
regret. The Prairie, completely transformed into a war ship, left
the navy yard and steamed down the harbor to Tompkinsville. This was
on Friday, the 13th of May, but if there was any "hoodoo" it failed
to work. The next day the Prairie steamed out to sea and had target
practice, badly frightening some of the residents of the coast with
the big guns. Late in the afternoon the Prairie gave chase to a
suspicious craft which turned out to be an English tramp steamer.
The Prairie had been assigned to patrol duty on the North Atlantic
coast with the San Francisco. The "Frisco" was sighted on the day
following and both ships steamed into Provincetown and remained there
for the next day, sailing out late in the afternoon. It is recorded
that the sailors washed clothes during their stay in Provincetown and
it is evident they were getting a taste of the life of a jolly tar. The
regular patrol tour of the Prairie was from Provincetown north to some
40 miles above Boston, then south to Nantucket to Provincetown, meeting
the San Francisco off the cape and obtaining mail.
These were not idle days by any means. What with battalion drills,
inspection, target practice, painting ship and the regular routine of
ship's work the long hours of duty passed quickly and the men were
pretty well tired out as a rule when the time came to get into their
hammocks. But the men of H company learned fast and soon accustomed
themselves to life on one of Uncle Sam's war ships. The one thing they
did not take to very kindly in the line of work was coaling ship and
this came rather oftener than they had any relish for.
In the way of food there was little to complain of, although the fare
was not Delmonico-like by any means. One of the mess cooks kept a diary
of what he served up for every meal during the service of the Prairie
and it shows that the menus, while probably simple enough to the men
on board, would have been regarded as the acme of luxurious living by
their brethren of the Second. A few samples are given: breakfast, June
10, Indian meal and coffee; dinner, soup, roast beef and potatoes;
supper, hash and French toast. June 12th, breakfast, bacon and
potatoes; dinner, sausages and potatoes; supper, beans, cold meat and
sausages. The daily average was fully up to the samples given above.
Capt. Train of the Prairie was a disciplinarian and there were
punishments meted out for various small offences. One man was deprived
of shore liberty for three months for throwing swill out of a port
hole. For smoking outside of "smoking hours" the customary punishment
was 48 hours of extra duty, while for being late with hammocks the
sentence was for the delinquents to parade the deck for an hour or two
hours with the hammocks on their shoulders.
The Prairie sailed from Provincetown June 10th for a brief cruise
southward, but returned on the 14th. The weather was very foggy during
the cruise and on the 14th the ship came near running down an English
tramp steamer passing within a boat's length of her.
On the 16th the Prairie sailed again from Provincetown for Delaware
breakwater, arriving there on the 18th. The next day she sailed for
New York, anchoring off Tompkinsville the 20th. Coaling ship was one
of the innocent amusements of the day and the men stowed away 83 tons
in the afternoon. Early next morning the sport was resumed and before
breakfast 28 tons more had been put away in the bunkers, the record for
the day being 182 tons. The next day the coal situation again took the
attention of the crew but they finished the job. Shore liberty resulted
in some of the men overstaying it and being shut off from any more
during the stay. On Sunday, June 26th, the men got into blue dress for
inspection but before the ceremony was over orders came to sail at once
for Key West. Off came the blue suits and the men got into their "coal"
suits again and finished coaling ship at 1.30 in the morning. The
Prairie sailed for Key West on the 27th, arriving there June 1st. Her
stay was short, for the same day she left with mail for the blockading
squadron off Cuba and sighting the Amphitrite the next day transferred
her mail to her. Later that day the Prairie gave the mail to the
Newport, Montgomery, Vicksburg and Marietta. That afternoon the men on
the Prairie saw the Marietta pick up a refugee from the shore and saw
the guns from Morro Castle fire at her but fail to strike.
On July Fourth the men paraded in blue and fired the national salute.
The Prairie for a day or two acted as flagship of the squadron during
the absence of the Amphitrite at Key West.
On Tuesday, July 5th, the Hawk came alongside the Prairie with orders
for the latter to proceed to Mariel, 23-1/2 miles from Havana, and
assist in the capture of a liner supposed to have been trying to run
the blockade. The liner proved to be the Spanish transport Alphonso
XII, with a large number of soldiers on board. She had tried to run the
blockade but had been discovered and chased so sharply by a couple of
the converted yachts attached to the blockading squadron that she was
run ashore and lay head on. The troops and her crew had managed to get
ashore by the time the Prairie came up, but it was not certain that she
was not manned and several shots were sent at her from the starboard
six-inch guns. After the fourth or fifth shot there was an explosion,
evidently her magazine, and as she did not return the fire the Prairie
ceased firing. During the firing a saucy little Spanish gunboat stuck
her nose out of the harbor but a couple of six-inch shells settled her
fate and she was sunk in quick time. The firing at the Alphonso XII
was first-rate target practice and at long range, too, all the shells
hitting her, although the range was 6600 yards.
On July 7th the Tecumseh brought a lot of mail from Key West for the
Prairie and a good share of the day was put in in reading it. On the
9th a small shark was caught and some of the boys secured teeth as
souvenirs.
Monday, July 11th, the Prairie was relieved of blockade duty off Mariel
and ordered to Gibara with the Topeka, Mayflower and Badger, the
Prairie being made the flagship of the squadron. The trip to Gibara
was without special incidents and the ships arrived there on the 13th.
Just as the blockaders appeared a schooner and two fishing smacks which
were just coming out made haste to get back into the port. Blockade
duty was kept up for several days and occasionally the ship would go in
so close to the town that the people could be seen in the streets. The
search-lights were used about every night and this work was pleasing to
the men detailed for it.
The San Francisco arrived on the 17th and took off a lot of mail for
the United States. Since leaving Havana the crew of the Prairie had
not received any mail and were eagerly expecting some. On the 18th
the supply of sugar gave out and this was keenly felt until some was
procured. On the 20th the Maple, which had joined the squadron, caught
a small sloop with a crew of four men and laden with tobacco, making
the first prize of the tour.
One of the marine detail on the Prairie was a Springfield man named
John Fenton and on the 21st he was the victim of a severe accident
caused by the slipping of a six-inch shell from his hands at gun
practice. The shell landed on his foot, badly crushing it.
This same day a delegation of the prominent citizens of Gibara came
out in a small boat and offered to surrender the town as the Spanish
garrison was about to leave and the inhabitants were afraid of the
negroes in the vicinity. On receiving the offer the Prairie steamed to
Nipe bay where the Topeka was found engaged in shelling the town. The
Dupont took a message to the Topeka and the Prairie returned to Gibara.
From a Cuban who came out in a dory it was learned that the inhabitants
had raised an American flag over the town and were anxious that a force
be landed to take possession of the place. It was also learned that
the town was short of provisions. The Cuban's heart was gladdened by
the gift of hardtack, canned meat, corn and coffee. On the 25th the
Mangrove brought orders to proceed to Guantanamo bay and coal up at
once. At Guantanamo fresh meat and also newspapers a week or two old
were received.
Wednesday, July 27th, marked the close of the third month of service
of the Prairie's crew and as if to celebrate the event the Supply came
in with a lot of provisions. The work of coaling ship was begun on the
night of the 25th and did not cease until the 27th, the men standing
their regular watches and doing their trick with the coal as if it was
nothing unusual.
The Prairie sailed from Guantanamo bay on the evening of the 27th and
reached San Juan, Porto Rico, on the 29th. Some ammunition brought from
Guantanamo for the cruiser New Orleans was transferred to her in boats.
The Prairie did not stay long at San Juan but sailed for Ponce on the
other side of the island on the 31st, arriving there the next day.
Troops were being landed at Ponce and the roadstead was filled with
war ships and transports. One of the transports became stuck on a bar
outside the light-house and the Prairie had hard work getting her off
the bar. A lot of mangoes brought aboard resulted in a number of the
men being made ill from indulging too freely in the fruit. The soldiers
on the transport Massachusetts, the one which was stuck, were taken on
board the Prairie and fed, being landed the next day.
News of the cessation of hostilities reached the ship August 5th and
was received at first with incredulity. The night of Friday, August
12th, was made memorable by Burgess tumbling out of his hammock three
times in rapid succession. "Rags," the canine mascot, had become
subject to fits and was assisted to commit suicide one day while in the
harbor.
The Prairie received orders to sail for the United States and on August
18th left for Santiago, arriving there the 20th. The ship left Santiago
the 21st, with three companies of the Seventh infantry on board. All
went well until the 25th, when a heavy fog came on and the Prairie ran
aground near Amagansett Point, 15 miles from Montauk Point. There was
considerable confusion, of course, but the Prairie was handled well.
All the boats were lowered and two kedge anchors were put out, one from
the starboard quarter and the other from the starboard forecastle. The
boats were out all night and it was not until at high tide the next day
that the Prairie was hauled off by the tug Brittania and a light-house
tender. The soldiers were landed and taken to Montauk Point. After
being hauled off the Prairie sailed for Montauk Point, arriving there
early in the evening. At Montauk the Prairie was put into quarantine
until the 28th. Hardly was she out of quarantine before she steamed
to Newport and from there to Fall River, where a warm reception was
given the Fall River men on board the ship. That evening the Fall
River and New Bedford men went ashore but the Springfield contingent
was kept on board, much to their disappointment. On the 30th the
Prairie left Fall River and steamed down to Newport, the event of the
evening being the playing of the "Fu-Fu" band. The next day the ship
started for New York and remained there until the 19th, when she went
to Delaware Breakwater. Rumors of discharge began to agitate the crew
soon after arriving in New York and Capt. Train went to Washington to
confer with the Navy Department concerning it but returned with no
definite knowledge of the exact time the muster-out would take place.
From Delaware Breakwater the Prairie steamed up to the League Island
navy yard where some of the guns were taken off and transferred to the
New York. During the stay in New York and at League Island the "Rough
Riders" made several successful initiations.
Sunday, September 25, hammocks were lashed for the last time and after
the dunnage had been loaded on a tug, the crew mustered and gave three
cheers for Capt. Train and Lieuts. Stone and Stimpson. This done, the
crew bade good bye to the Prairie and went ashore, going to Jersey
City by train. After a brief trip on a ferry, the Fall River boat was
boarded for the trip to that city and Boston. The latter place was
reached about 10 o'clock Monday morning and after passing in review
before the governor at the state house the Prairie men proceeded
to the receiving ship Wabash, where they were furloughed until the
following Wednesday. The boys enjoyed themselves hugely in Boston until
Wednesday, when they were mustered out and given their discharges from
the service of the United States.
At 9.15 that evening, the Springfield part of the crew arrived home
and were given an enthusiastic welcome in which red fire and fireworks
played a prominent part. At the armory the men were greeted by glad
relatives and soon dispersed to their homes plain naval militiamen once
more after doing their full duty to Uncle Sam and serving him well.
Lieut. H. S Crossman, who went out with the Prairie detail remained on
the ship until she was ordered south, when he and some of the other
officers were sent out on special duty. He was assigned to duty as
recruiting officer on the Minnesota and remained there until a short
time before the dismissal of the Prairie's crew from the service.
Lieut. J. K. Dexter was detailed from duty on the Lehigh to duty as
navigator on the converted ferry boat, Gov. Russell, and ordered to
take her to Key West. The trip was an eventful one, for the Gov.
Russell as a war boat was a fearfully and wonderfully constructed piece
of marine architecture, and there were times when it was a question
whether she would ever reach a port or not. But finally she was
navigated as far as Newport News, and after looking her carefully over,
the naval authorities decided that it was not wise to expose her again
to the high seas.
After muster-out of the Lehigh detail H company was once more at home
and it was not long before the reorganization of the command as a part
of the state militia was begun and successfully carried out, a good
number of the officers and men who had seen service remaining. Today
the company is once more in its old position of the best all-round
company in the Massachusetts naval brigade.
On October 27th, a number of prominent citizens tendered H company a
banquet at Hotel Worthy, and the occasion will long be remembered as a
very pleasant one. During the evening the handsome silk American flag,
purchased for the company by citizens, was presented by Rev. Dr. P. S.
Moxom.
ROSTER.
FIELD STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
COLONEL, EMBURY P. CLARK.
MAJOR, FREDERICK G. SOUTHMAYD.
ADJUTANT, FIRST LIEUT. PAUL R. HAWKINS.
QUARTERMASTER, FIRST LIEUT. EDWARD E. SAWTELL.
MAJOR AND SURGEON, HENRY C. BOWEN.
MAJOR AND SURGEON, ERNEST A. GATES.
SERGEANT-MAJOR, ROBERT N. INGERSOL.
QUARTERMASTER-SERGEANT, ROSS L. LUSK.
HOSPITAL STEWARD, EDSON P. HOWES.
G. COMPANY.
CAPTAIN, JOHN J. LEONARD.
FIRST LIEUTENANT, WILLIAM C. HAYES.
SECOND LIEUTENANT, EDWARD J. LEYDEN.
FIRST SERGEANT, WILLIAM BUTEMENT.
SERGEANTS, JEREMIAH F. SCULLY.
JOSEPH N. LOVELY.
WALTER W. WARD.
JOSEPH A. MURPHY.
JAMES A. GIBBONS.
CORPORALS, ROBERT A. ROSS.
PATRICK J. NOONE.
MICHAEL J. MCHALE.
FRANK C. KEATING, Chicopee Falls.
NATALINE GARDELLA.
ERNEST E. ROBINSON.
MUSICIANS, PATRICK J. O'CONNELL.
ROBERT D. CARGILL.
WAGONER, JAMES R. SHENE.
ARTIFICER, BENJAMIN A. SEAMANS.
PRIVATES
Frank A. Anderson Dozilva P. Lamoreaux, Chicopee
Timothy T. Austin Andrew Little
Elmer B. Barrowcliffe Christopher T. Lovett
Frank J. Barsalow John J. Mahoney, W. Sp'f'd
Daniel J. Bellamy Thomas F. Mahoney
Wilbur G. Brassard, Thompsonville George H. Markham
James H. Bresnahan John B. Mandeville
Patrick J. Bresnan Ernest P. Marble
Alfred C. Brownell Dennis F. McCarthy
Francis C. Burke Henry E. Merchant
Thomas Burke Louis Monteverde
Henry T. Conrad Fred H. Morrill
George W. Campbell Carl A. Mueller
Thomas M. Conlin James J. O'Brien
William E. Coolidge Charles A. Nelson
Timothy J. Crowley John J. O'Leary
William R. Dillon, W. Sp'f'd Arthur H. Packard
John H. Dunn Walter A. Packard
George E. Easton Jacob Peterson
William Ferrier George A. Richmond
Charles R. Fisher William J. Rooney
Theodore Gelinas, Holyoke William J. Root
Frank M. Hannon Jeremiah J. Shea
Patrick J. Hayes Cyrus A. Shufelt
Andrew F. Higgins Henry J. Slattery
Frank N. Hunt Fred S. Stetson
Robert G. Kelly John E. Tobin
Edward K. Lathrop Henry B. Whitmore
Henry H. Lawler Samuel Wilson
B COMPANY.
CAPTAIN, HENRY MCDONALD.
FIRST LIEUTENANT, WILLIAM J. YOUNG.
SECOND LIEUTENANT, HARRY J. VESPER.
SECOND LIEUTENANT, THOMAS F. BURKE.
SERGEANTS, RICHARD H. BEARSE.
SAMUEL E. SMITH.
GEORGE J. MCKEOWN.
JOHN J. O'CONNELL.
EVERETT W. WILCOX.
CORPORALS, FRANK A. WAKEFIELD.
MELVIN H. RANSOM.
RICHARD B. BLANEY.
MICHAEL J. DONAHUH.
JOHN B. FULTON.
THOMAS F. HANDY.
MUSICIANS, HENRY F. LADBURY.
BERNARD E. COMEY.
WAGONER, PAUL J. KINGSTON.
ARTIFICER, ORVIN E. ALBERTS.
PRIVATES
Charles H. Ashley Donald A. McPhee
John Bryson William J. Mack
Peter F. Boyer Daniel J. Moriarty
William F. Barton Frank C. Mattoon
William J. Barton Axel Mahlstrom, East Longmeadow
John M. Carey John J. Malone
William F. Childs Howard S. Meyrick, Agawam
Matthew J. Clark John J. O'Donnell
Theophile J. Champagne Arthur M. Partridge
Clarence E. Chapman Giles S. Potter, Pittsfield
William W. Chadbourne Alwin B. Richter
Albert M. Chandler Christopher J. Riordan
Lewis R. Dikeman Thos. R. Rooney, Westfield
Frank F. Dingman Wilmore S. Riopel
Robert D. Draper Matthew M. P. Ryan
Daniel S. Devine James C. Ryan
Albert R. Dunn Henry P. Roberts
George DeGray Frank X. Rivers
John K. DeLoach Clarence B. Ross
Frank L. Edson Harry H. Richards, West Springfield
Henry T. Ellis Alfred E. Rose
James F. Ferrier John J. Smith
Ellsworth Frey Frank Twohey, Worcester
Eugene B. Grenier Paul L. Vesper
Morris Grenowitz Harry C. Wakefield
Joseph Genereaux Ernest C. Whitcomb
John C. Hurley Edwin W. Wright
Robert J. F. Judd
Michael F. Kelleher
Ernest J. Monseau
K COMPANY.
CAPTAIN, WILLIAM S. WARRINER.
FIRST LIEUTENANT, PHILIP C. POWERS.
SECOND LIEUTENANT, HARRY H. PARKHURST.
FIRST SERGEANT, ARTHUR J. BERRY.
SERGEANTS, FRED A. JENKS, Chicopee.
G. BURTON HALL.
DAVID A. TURNER.
J. LEWIS KELLY.
HYATT W. AVERY.
CORPORALS, WILLIAM C. PIPER.
THOMAS C. BOONE.
BURDETT A. MADISON.
WILLIAM E. TURNER.
ALBERT MARSDEN.
BERT F. NICHOLS.
MUSICIANS, FRANK P. JONES.
LOUIS P. CASTALDINI.
WAGONER, FRANK N. BOULE.
ARTIFICER, WILSON C. EMERY.
PRIVATES.
Ernest L. Alderman Charles Hoadley
Edward N. Aiken Irving J. Johnson
Horace W. Allen Ward Lathrop
Wallace H. Brown Michael R. Lyons
George L. Bates Everett W. Luther
Ralph A. Barkman Myron W. Maynard
Arthur N. Broulette Charles E. McLeod
Arthur M. Burnham Wm. C. McCulloch, Chicopee
Albert J. Brunell Frank E. Moody
Michael E. Breck John L. Morehouse
James W. Britton Homer G. Munson
James A. Brazzil Samuel W. Nesbitt
Frank L. Carr Charles Owens
Arthur L. Chapman A. L. Potter
William C. Colvin George W. Potter
Alwin A. Cameron Walter J. Reardon
George S, Creeley Phillip H. Robinson
William R. Dunse William E. Stephens
Edwin A. Elwell George E. Sollace
Horatio M. Field Edgar W. Snell
Wm. J. Fish, W. Springfield Harry J. Symonds
Harry D. Fisher Alfred Stone
Ralph Fisk Robert B. Terrell
Herman H. Fuller Nicholas D. Vassilli
Julian B. Hawkes William J. Walsh
Louis H. Hall Harry O. Wilkins
Frank B. Hendricks Joseph G. Woodbury
George Hallier Henry Wright, Jr.
Edward R. Hubbard William A. Webb
[Illustration: HENRY S. LEE]
H COMPANY NAVAL BRIGADE.
Name Rating Ship
Lieut. Jenness K. Dexter U. S. S. Gov. Russell
Lieut. (j. g.) Henry S. Crossman U. S. S. Prairie
Lieut. (j. g.) William O. Cohn U. S. S. Lehigh
William A. Dearden, Boatswain's Mate, 2d class Prairie
William Owens, Gunner's Mate, 2d class "
James A. Turnbull, Gunner's Mate, 3d class "
Curtis H. Jennings, Gunner's Mate, 3d class "
Arthur H. Strong, Chief Q. M. Saturn
Winfred A. Sabin, Coxswain Lehigh
Herbert E. Burns, Bayman Prairie
Ernest F. Gilbert, Shipwright "
George H. Nobbs, Pay Yeoman "
Albert M. Pease, Cook "
SEAMEN.
William H. Brundett Prairie George W. Lyman Prairie
Weston F. Bright " Irving C. Lombra "
A. W. Blauvelt " George L. Meacham "
Webster C. Clark " Charles B. Miller "
Lewis B. Clark " Ralph Newcomb "
Winfred W. Crosier " Guy A. Preble "
Charles Crosier " Gilbert G. Patnode "
Charles W. Dearden " Goulding S. Patnode "
Lawrence W. Erricson " Walter Swazey "
Arthur J. C. Fischer " Edwin S. Smith "
Robert C. Goodale " Fred C. Steele "
Robert P. King Lehigh McClellan E. Streeter "
Albert N. Luce Prairie Rupert H. B. Warburton Lehigh
Howard Loomis " Robert H. Wheeler Prairie
Ward H. Long " Henry W. Watson "
Frank Ladd "
THE ROLL OF HONOR.
Henry C. Bowen, Major and Surgeon, died in Second Division
Hospital, Santiago, August 13, of malarial fever.
G COMPANY
Corporal Patrick J. Noone, died in Springfield, September 20, 1898,
typhoid fever.
Private George A. Richmond, died in field hospital near El Caney,
July 1, 1898, of wound in head.
Private Walter A. Packard, killed on field, El Caney, July 1, 1898.
Private Robert G. Kelly, died in division hospital of wound
received in action July 2d, at San Juan.
Private Francis A. Burke, died at Springfield, October 24, 1898.
Private Andrew Little, died in second division hospital, Santiago,
August 22, 1898.
Private Fred S. Stetson, died in second division hospital,
Santiago, August 24, 1898.
B COMPANY.
Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper, died on S. S. Mobile, August 17,
1898, of gastric enteritis.
Quartermaster Sergeant Richard H. Bearse, died in camp before
Santiago, August 1, 1898, of malarial fever.
Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, died on S. S. Mobile, August 27, 1898, of
malarial fever.
Private John J. Malone, died in field hospital, July 5, 1898, of
wound received at El Caney, July 1.
Private Paul Vesper, died in camp before Santiago, August 10, 1898,
of malarial fever.
K COMPANY.
Corporal William C. Piper, died in second division hospital, August
5, 1898.
Corporal Thomas C. Boone, died in Springfield, March 19, 1899.
Musician Frank P. Jones, died at Montauk Point, L. I., August 27,
1898.
Private Frank E. Moody, killed on field, July 1, 1898, at El Caney.
Private Arthur M. Burnham, died in division hospital, Santiago,
August 18, 1898, of typhoid fever.
Private Michael R. Lyons, died in Springfield, April 20, 1899.
Private George S. Creley, died in Springfield, June 28, 1899.
Private John L. Morehouse, died in Springfield, November 12, 1899.
* * * * *
Since the muster-out three more of Springfield's contingent, all K
company men, have answered the final roll call. Corporal Thomas C.
Boone died in Massachusetts general hospital at Boston, March 19, 1899,
and Private Michael R. Lyons at Springfield, April 20. Private George
C. Creley died June 25, at his home after a long illness. Private John
L. Morehouse died in Springfield, November 12, 1889.
SPRINGFIELD'S DEAD HEROES.
HENRY C. BOWEN.
Henry C. Bowen, major and surgeon of the Second regiment, died in the
Second Division hospital, near Santiago, after making a gallant fight
against sickness and death, not only for himself but for the regiment
under his care. It is not too much to say that but for the heavy burden
he was under with the care of over 800 sick and dying men on his hands,
he might have recovered from the Cuban fever and been alive to-day,
but as it was he succumbed. It was his misfortune to go to the front
ignorant of the red tape which forms an even more effectual barrier
to individual action than did the Spanish barbed wire to our troops,
and it was this same red tape which was indirectly responsible for
his death. When the regiment was in its worst condition in front of
Santiago, when he was alone in the work of caring for the sick and
dying, he found it next to impossible to obtain needed medical supplies
for his men, and yet knew he was held responsible for their welfare. It
is not to be wondered at under these circumstances that he grew nervous
and irritable, and repelled rather than attracted those who tried to
help him. The wonder of it was, that sick in body and mind as he was,
he bore up as long as he did. But he did what he could and gave his
health, and strength, and life in his duty.
Major Bowen was born in Castle Creek, N. Y., the son of Dr. Charles W.
Bowen of Westfield, and he studied in the public schools there and at
Wilbraham academy. He gained his medical education in the University
of New York and served in Bellevue hospital for eighteen months and in
the Broome street lying-in hospital. He began practice in Springfield
in 1894 and was fast reaching a high place in his profession when the
war broke out. At the time of his appointment he was a member of the
surgical staff of the Mercy hospital where he was liked by patients and
officials.
HARRY J. VESPER.
Second Lieutenant Harry J. Vesper of B company, came of fighting stock,
his father, O. R. Vesper, of Springfield, being a one armed veteran of
the civil war. Harry was born in Springfield and was 31 years of age
when he died on the Mobile. He studied in the public schools, leaving
the high school to enter the employ of the Springfield Homestead. There
he rose by steady industry and ability, to be head of the mailing
department and business manager of the electrotyping department. For
several years he had been deeply interested in the militia and had
enlisted in B company, rising through the grades of corporal and
sergeant to the second lieutenantcy, to which he was elected and
commissioned May 11, 1896. For two years he had served as adjutant of
the first battalion of the regiment, and was popular with everyone in
the command.
RICHARD H. BEARSE.
The news of the death of no member of the Second was received in
Springfield with more regret than that of Sergeant "Dickie" Bearse of
B company. A member of the company for several years, he was known and
liked by all the officers and men of the Springfield companies, for to
know "Dick" Bearse was to like him. With his pride in B company and the
regiment, not to speak of his patriotism, it was only natural he should
be anxious to go to the front with the Second, and he did so, although
he had to twice overcome the examining surgeon's objections. In camp
and on the march he was cheerful and helpful and at El Caney he was up
with the best of them. But all the while the hardships and toils of
the campaign were sapping his vitality, and when the deadly calentura
came, he had no strength left to resist it, but simply laid down and
died. In him B company and the Second lost one of their best. Sergeant
Bearse was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Bearse and was 24 years of
age. His body was brought home and interred in the family lot in Oak
Grove cemetery, after such a funeral as has seldom been witnessed in
Springfield, an outpouring of grief from hundreds of friends.
WILLIAM C. PIPER.
Corporal William C. Piper of K, was born at Marysville, O., in 1874,
and his father is a well known lawyer and probate judge of that state.
Corporal Piper came to Springfield in 1895 as manager of the Stetson
Shoe store and had charge of the establishment at the time he was
mustered in to the United States service. He enlisted in K company in
1897.
FRANK P. JONES.
Musician Frank P. Jones of K, and one of the best fellows in the
Second, died in the hospital at Camp Wikoff, August 27, after passing
through all the hardships of the campaign in Cuba without being
seriously ill. He was a native of Ludlow, Mass., and was 21 years of
age. He had served in K for three years and though opposed by his
parents, could not be kept from enlisting as a volunteer when the call
came for troops. Of a cheerful, happy disposition, he did much in the
dark days of sickness and death in the camp before Santiago, to help
his comrades, and his example helped many a sick man.
PAUL J. KINGSTON.
Wagoner Paul J. Kingston, B company, was an efficient soldier and well
liked member of the command. He was 24 years of age when he died on
the Mobile and was the son of George Kingston, an expressman. He was
serving the third year of his enlistment in B when the war came and at
once volunteered to go to the front.
PAUL VESPER.
Private Paul Vesper of B was younger than his brother, Lieut. Harry J.
Vesper, but had many of the qualities which made the latter so well
liked. He was serving his first enlistment in B company when the war
came, and promptly expressed a desire to volunteer. He died in the camp
before Santiago, August 10, 1898.
ROBERT G. KELLY.
Robert G. Kelly was the third G company man to fall in the fighting in
front of Santiago. At 10 o'clock on the night of July 2d, the crashing
of rifle volleys and the screams of shells awoke the Second from the
sleep of fatigue, and the officers and men rushed to the crest of the
hill behind which they had bivouacked. The attack was to the right of
the Second's position, but while waiting for orders the regiment had to
stand the rain of scattering shot and Kelly was the first to be hit.
The bullet struck him in the left cheek, going through and lodging in
the muscles of the other side. He was taken to the division hospital
and died there July 15. He was the son of Samuel Kelly of Springfield
and enlisted just before the Second was ordered to South Framingham.
ARTHUR M. BURNHAM.
Private Arthur M. Burnham of K was the son of George M. Burnham, a
well known contractor and builder of Springfield. Arthur was born
in 1876 and studied in the public schools. He was popular with his
school fellows and with all who knew him. For three years previous to
the breaking out of the war he had been associated with his father
in business. He enlisted in K company soon after its transfer to
Springfield and after serving three years, left the company, a short
time before the war broke out. He was one of the first of the former
members to reenlist when it was known that war was certain and bore
himself manfully through the campaign. He was ill with typhoid when the
regiment left Cuba and was obliged to be left behind.
FRED A. STETSON.
Fred A. Stetson enlisted in G company at the outbreak of the war and
served faithfully until he was attacked by the disease which laid him
low, only a day or two after his comrades had left Cuba for home. He
was employed in Springfield when he enlisted, but had only been in the
city a short time, and had no near relatives living so far as known. He
was 24 years old.
JOHN J. MALONE.
John J. Malone, fatally wounded at El Caney, was a member of B company
and had been for two years previous to the outbreak of the war. He was
a bright, cheerful young fellow and was well liked by his acquaintances
as well as by his comrades. His parents died during his childhood and
John made his home with a relative. He was employed in the Homestead
office. At El Caney, Malone was one of the first men hit, the fatal
bullet striking him within a few moments after B company had taken its
position with the 22d. He died in the field hospital.
FRANK E. MOODY.
Frank E. Moody of K company, killed in action at El Caney, was the son
of Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Moody of Springfield and was 20 years old when
he enlisted in K, only a few days before the regiment left for South
Framingham. He was shot soon after B and K companies took position on
the right flank of the 22d.
ARTHUR HOWARD PACKARD.
Killed instantly at El Caney, July 1, 1898. He was the son of Mrs.
Helen N. Packard, who, the wife of a soldier of the civil war, saw her
two sons go to the front in the war with Spain, both being members of G
company. Arthur would have been 19 years of age in November, 1898, and
had been employed in the Homestead office. When only 17 he enlisted in
G company and was well liked by his comrades. When the war came Arthur
insisted on being one of the men to go with the company. Through the
campaign he was soldierly and cheerful and his bright, if sometimes
caustic sayings, did much to help his comrades. He was on the advanced
firing line of the Second in the squad under Lieut. Leyden when the
fatal bullet struck him and he died instantly.
GEORGE A. RICHMOND.
George A. Richmond was one of the oldest members of G company and was
born in Springfield. He enlisted in 1887, and remained a member of
the company for several years. When it was seen that war was coming,
Richmond was one of the first to apply to Capt. Leonard for a place
in the ranks and joined the company at South Framingham. At El Caney
Richmond was with Lieut. Leyden's squad, and was shot through the head
early in the engagement. Willing hands bore him to the improvised field
hospital where he lay in agony for several hours before death came. He
was comforted and consoled by Chaplain Fitzgerald of the 22d, who took
his last messages. Richmond's mother died in his early youth and he had
made his home with relatives. He had been employed in the Springfield
post office. He took a small camera with him to Cuba and made a number
of pictures.
FRANCIS A. BURKE.
Private Francis A. Burke of G company, who died at the House of Mercy
hospital, October 8, 1898, was the son of Thomas Burke and resided at
196 Spring street. He was employed as a clerk in the store of Forbes
& Wallace and was well liked by his associates. He was 22 years of
age. As a youth he took much interest in military matters and was for
some time a member of the Cathedral cadets. Later he enlisted in G
company and had served some time when the war broke out. He promptly
volunteered and served well in the campaign.
THOMAS C. BOONE.
The circumstances surrounding the death of Sergeant Thomas C. Boone,
who went to the front with K company, but was transferred to the U. S.
Signal Corps, were particularly sad as at the time his many friends
supposed he was practically recovered from the terrible experience
he underwent while in the service. Boone died in the Mass. General
Hospital, Boston, on March 19, 1899, after a comparatively brief
illness. He was a native of Maryland, being born in Annapolis in 1876,
and came to Springfield in 1894, enlisting in K company soon after
his coming here. At South Framingham Boone was appointed a corporal
by Capt. Warriner, but the number of these positions in the companies
being reduced Boone was obliged to serve as a private. Soon after
the arrival of the Second at Tampa he was transferred to the signal
corps with the rank of sergeant. He was an expert telegrapher and
was selected for that reason. On July 2d he with Col. Drew and Major
Maxfield were in the war balloon at San Juan and while the balloon
was at a height of 2700 feet and was being taken over a creek it was
pierced by three pieces of shrapnel from the Spanish lines and fell.
The basket caught in the top of a tree and Boone was caught in the
anchor and hung suspended over the stream for a long time with the
iron hook pressing into his side. Then he fell into the water. He was
badly injured, but did not realize it at the time. A few days later
he was sent to the hospital, but while being conveyed there in a mule
team the vehicle was upset and he was again injured. On his return to
the United States through an error on the part of some officer he was
accused of desertion but after several months the stain was taken away
and he received an honorable discharge. Boone was a popular member of
the company and also popular among a large number of friends.
MICHAEL R. LYONS.
Michael R. Lyons of K company, died in the Mercy hospital, Springfield,
April 20th, 1899, just a year from the time he enlisted and after
making a gallant fight against the effects of the hardships he
underwent in Cuba. He was a well-liked member of the company and
made an excellent soldier, doing his duty quietly and faithfully.
All through the campaign, although ill at times, he was cheerful and
uncomplaining and his example was not lost on his comrades. His body
was taken to Palmer for burial. His parents and brothers reside in
Springfield.
ANDREW LITTLE.
Andrew Little was one of the "recruits" of G company, he having gone
to the camp at South Framingham with the first batch of extra men
assembled in Springfield after it was known that several vacancies had
been caused in the company through rejections by the surgeons. He lived
in Middlebury, Vermont, but had been employed in Springfield for some
time. During the campaign he served as assistant company cook and stood
the hardships and exposure fairly well until a short time before the
regiment left Santiago for the United States.
GEORGE C. CRELEY.
George C. Creley, 21, was one of the last men of K company to die, his
death being due to consumption contracted in service in Cuba. His death
occurred June 28, 1899, after a long illness. Creley left a father and
a sister, the former living in Springfield. He was a recruit, enlisting
in K as soon as there was an opportunity and his service was faithful.
JOHN L. MOREHOUSE.
The last member of K company to pass away up to the time of issuing
this volume, was Private John L. Morehouse who died Nov. 12, 1899,
after an illness of several weeks. He was a cousin of Lieut. H. H.
Parkhurst of K and was well liked by his comrades, being easily one of
the most popular members of the company. He was 29 years of age and
aside from cousins, had no near relatives.
TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE
Italic text is denoted by _underscores_. Superscripts have been
converted to normal text.
Obvious typographical and punctuation errors have been corrected
after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and
consultation of external sources.
Except for those changes noted below, inconsistent or archaic spelling
of a word or word-pair within the text has been retained. For example:
blockhouses, block houses; good-bye, good bye; reenlist, re-enlist;
warships, war ships.
p 10. 'andmaintained' changed to 'and maintained'.
p 10. 'hereseveral' changed to 'here several'.
p 12. 'T. A. Sweney' changed to 'T. A. Sweeney'.
p 16. 'a. m.' changed to 'A. M.' for consistency.
p 20. 'Manilla' changed to 'Manila'.
p 34. 'to be be beaten' changed to 'to be beaten'.
p 36. 'somehew' changed to 'somehow'.
p 47. 'employe' changed to 'employee'.
p 54. 'utillized' changed to 'utilized'.
p 60. 'guage' changed to 'gauge'.
p 69. 'oocupants' changed to 'occupants'.
p 71. 'olock' changed to 'clock'.
p 72. 'in the the afternoon' changed to 'in the afternoon'.
p 74. 'envolope' changed to 'envelope'.
p 79. 'anothor' changed to 'another'.
p 80. 'oolor' changed to 'color'.
p 86. 'advavtage' changed to 'advantage'.
p 88. 'Boulè' changed to 'Boule'.
p 89. 'Backman' changed to 'Barkman'.
p 97. 'illuminatad' changed to 'illuminated'.
p 102. 'Sprinfields' changed to 'Springfields'.
P 110. 'Greenowitz' changed to 'Grenowitz'.
p 114. 'Khakir' changed to Khaki'.
p 115. 'Santiano' changed to 'Santiago'.
p 119. 'machette' changed to 'machete'.
p 124. 'round robbin' changed to 'round robin'.
p 131. 'suberb' changed to 'superb'.
p 141. 'recieved' changed to 'received'.
p 145. 'eht use of' changed to 'the use of'.
p 148. 'mpatience' changed to 'impatience'.
p 157. 'Lamoreau' changed to 'Lamoreaux'.
p 159. 'employes' changed to 'employees'.
p 159. 'Phillippines' changed to 'Philippines'.
p 161. 'chase of of the' changed to 'chase of the'.
p 163. 'Tomkinsville' changed to 'Tompkinsville'.
p 176. 'Frnak P. Jones' changed to 'Frank P. Jones'.