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 discovered a use for canned tomatoes as a
travel ration.
During the trip hard tack circulated as souvenirs among the girls
at the various stops, usually inscribed with the donor's name and
address, and given in exchange for pieces of ribbon and other
feminine favors. Enthusiastic crowds were in evidence at all the
stations, where they gathered to see the troop trains pass. The men
were confined to the cars, but managed to carry on many flirtations
and make exchanges through the windows. Every day they were taken
out at some stop for a run around or a bit of setting up exercise,
and once the Third Battalion took advantage of a mountain stream for
bathing purposes.
On the morning of May 19th the regiment awoke to find itself in the
Citico Freight Yard, just outside the city of Chattanooga, together
with other troop trains containing the men of the Twelfth New York,
and the Twenty-First Kansas, with whom the regiment subsequently
brigaded. After spending a day in the freight yard, the sections
began late in the afternoon to slowly travel the fourteen miles
between Chattanooga and Chickamauga Park. At Battle Station the
battalions disembarked, the baggage was piled near the track and
left under guard, while the regiment enjoyed its first bivouac on a
neighboring hill.
The Colonel reported to General Brooke and was told that a camp site
would be assigned and transportation for the baggage furnished the
following day.
Chickamauga Park is a National Reservation in the northwestern
corner of the State of Georgia, embracing some ten squares miles of
territory, and commemorates the battle which was fought there in
1863. The park is wooded, with here and there open fields. Much of
the underbrush had been cleared away, and good dirt roads constructed
by the Government. The water supply consisted of a few dozen wells,
which had supported a small farming population before the Government
purchased the land. The soil is clayey above a limestone formation,
which frequently outcrops and renders digging difficult. The months
of May and June are liable to be pleasant and dry, but in July and
August, abundant rain turns the ground where vegetation is worn
off, into a mire of sticky mud. On one side, the Park is bounded
by Chickamauga Creek, meaning in the Indian tongue, "The River of
Death", and into this creek the whole surface of the Park drains. The
Government intended to organize on this ground the First, Third and
Sixth Army Corps, and at one time assembled about 55,000 men for this
purpose. The camp was named, Camp George H. Thomas, in honor of the
gallant soldier who rendered conspicuous service to the Federal cause
in the battle of Chickamauga.
The Eighth Regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third
Division, First Army Corps. As Colonel William A. Pew, Jr. was the
senior Colonel in the three regiments comprising this brigade, he was
assigned to the command, pending the arrival of a Brigadier General,
and the command of the Eighth Regiment devolved upon Lieutenant
Colonel Edwin W. M. Bailey. Colonel Pew remained in command of the
Brigade until June 29th, when he was succeeded by General Waites of
Texas. Lieutenant Thomas D. Barroll, the Regimental Adjutant, and
Lieutenant Charles F. Wonson, the Regimental Quartermaster, were
detailed to Brigade Headquarters, and acted respectively as Adjutant
General and Brigade Quartermaster. Their places in the regiment
were filled by the detail of Lieutenant George W. Langdon, Acting
Regimental Adjutant, and Lieutenant George I. Canfield, Acting
Regimental Quartermaster, while Lieutenant Augustus G. Reynolds acted
as Regimental Commissary.
The Third Division of the First Army Corps encamped on the Alexander
Bridge road, near the southeastern corner of the Park, and about
three miles from the railroad station. The camp of the Eighth was
located in the woods, which were not dense, but more than sufficient
for shade purposes. The tents of the Commanding Officer and his staff
faced the west. Fifty paces in front of Headquarters were the tents
of the line officers, and fifty paces in front of the quarters of the
line officers were the heads of the Company streets. The tents of the
men faced south, and were five paces apart. The Company streets were
thirty paces wide. Thirty paces from the last tent in the Company
street were the Company kitchens, and fifty paces in rear of the
kitchens, were the Company sinks. The Eighth had the longest camp
front of any Regiment in the Park, and later when sickness began
to appear in the various camps, the wisdom of this arrangement was
apparent.
Until May 23rd, when wagons and mules were issued to the Regiment,
water was scarce. Every farm well in the vicinity was under guard,
and had a line of details waiting for a turn at the pump handle.
The wells were pumped dry many times daily. The details remained
in line waiting for them to fill up. Chickamauga Creek was already
contaminated by drainage, and long expeditions were made to obtain
enough water for drinking and cooking purposes.
With the issuing of transportation, water was hauled for all purposes
from the Blue Spring, some five miles from camp, until the Government
constructed a pipe line and brought water to the vicinity of every
camp. This pipe line water was never used in the Regiment for
drinking, and during the whole stay of the Regiment at Chickamauga,
all drinking water was daily brought from the Blue Spring.
The lack of water led to the circulation of many absurd rumors at
home. It was reported that the wells had been poisoned by the Spanish
spies, and that some had been detected in the act and shot. The water
famine was much exaggerated in the reports from Chickamauga. The
regiment undoubtedly suffered much inconvenience at first, but not
greater than should have been expected from the hurried manner in
which the troops were brought together.
For some time the army mule was a source of entertainment and worry
to the regiment. The Government issued to each regiment twenty-seven
wagons and one hundred and eight mules. Previous to this issue, these
mules were assembled in a large corral near the railroad station.
Usually, a detail of four men was sent to draw a wagon, four mules
and harnesses. The mules were turned over to this detail, together
with various parts of harnesses and a wagon, as they came from the
factory. It was the duty of the detail to hold the mules and at the
same time assemble harnesses and wagon. This was new work for most
of the men, and the outfits were brought into camp after many sad
experiences. It was not unusual for the detail to start from the
corral driving in a careful manner, but after going a mile or two
without mishap, the desire to speed a little overcame this caution,
and the mules were urged to a trot or canter. As few of these animals
had been broken, the first turn of a road presented an opportunity
for a spill.
There was such a turn near the camp of the Eighth, and many of the
men used to sit under the trees watching the details from other
regiments navigate their mules around the bend. Often mules would
continue on a straight course into the woods, and bid up when some
tree separated the leaders and threw them down, with the wheel
mules and wagon piled on top. This performance was at first a daily
occurrence, and apparently resulted in no injury to the mules or men.
Another source of amusement was to hire the darkies who loafed about
the camps, to break the mules. They were usually ridden bare back,
and succeeded in throwing their riders several times before they
would submit.
The mule quarters at first consisted of a cable stretched from tree
to tree, to which the mules were fastened by halters. This was the
practice in all the camps, and every night each regiment lost from
ten to twelve mules. The mules usually wandered around the park until
appropriated by some Quartermaster to make up his quota.
After submitting for a few nights to this loss, Lieutenant Colonel
Bailey determined to construct a corral of rails, and for this
purposes obtained permission to use the top rails of various fences
along the Alexander road. This work of construction took place on
a moonlight night, and in the morning it was discovered that the
rail fences for a long distance had disappeared, and a large area in
the camp of the Eighth was surrounded with a Virginia fence some 12
feet high. The detail charged with the work of construction stoutly
maintained, when explanation was demanded, that none of them had
taken anything but "top rails". With this improvised stable the
Quartermaster of the Eighth was able to maintain his supply of mules.
There were two entrances to this corral at which sentinels were
maintained, with orders to allow any stray mules to go in, but none
to come out. Every morning an extra surplus of mules was found in the
corral.
The wagon master, who was a civilian employee, and had been hired
by the Quartermaster on account of his experience with mules, soon
had his pick of all the mules in the Park. His first duty in the
morning was a readjustment of mule property. Any surplus was held
and delivered to inquiring Quartermasters who had lost mules. As
all mules look alike to most Quartermasters, it came to pass in the
course of time, that the wagon master of the Eighth had by far the
best mule teams of any Regiment. It was, in fact, a selection from
the mules of fifty odd regiments.
Apparently no one suspected this process of eliminating poor mules,
and the corral of the Eighth was looked upon as a public benefaction,
where lost mules could usually be found and identified. The process
of identification was directed and controlled by the experienced
wagon master of the Eighth.
During May the evenings were delightfully cool in contrast with the
heat of the day. Work finished, with parade and after supper, the men
collected in groups to sing, listen to the drum corps, or gossip
about the future of the regiment. Rumors of immediate moves were
always in circulation. It was generally believed that the First Corps
was destined to invest Havana in the fall, but this belief was often
shaken by rumors of orders to go to Manila, Honolulu, Santiago, or
Porto Rico. The regiment was always expecting marching orders in the
immediate future.
Almost every large congregation contains some men who need a free
application of soap and water. In a camp where many men are herded
together, the personal cleanliness of each soldier is a factor in the
general health.
As soon as the pipe line was established, and water was abundant,
orders were issued in regard to bathing, and were enforced by
weekly inspections. The men were required to strip in quarters,
and were examined by the surgeons. The first inspection disclosed
an unfortunate who had secreted on his person, a liberal amount of
Georgia real estate.
Eight husky sergeants, armed with fresh stable brooms and soap, were
detailed to accompany the victim to the stand pipe. The detail, clad
only in their birthday clothes, marched through the camp, conducting
the victim in solemn procession, to the place of execution. The novel
sight of the naked detail and prisoner attracted many spectators
from the regiment, who observed the enforced bathing, and materially
assisted by their advice and presence the cleansing operation. The
man was washed as he had never been washed before.
The result of this public exhibition deterred others from
disregarding bathing regulations. During the service of the regiment,
no other man was ever reported as the result of these inspections,
for personal uncleanliness.
At midnight on May 28th, the first death occurred in the regiment.
Private Herbert O. Burnham, Company D, passed away at the Regimental
Hospital. He contracted pneumonia at Framingham, was taken sick on
the train, and gradually grew worse until the end came. The next
night, a second member of the command obeyed the summons and was
mustered out by death. Clarence L. Bartol of Company C, died at the
Regimental Hospital of heart disease. The two deaths coming so close
together, produced an effect upon the men, and caused them to realize
more fully the duties of the service upon which they had entered.
The regiment early established a club for the enlisted men where they
could loaf and make small purchases. These clubs were authorized
by Army Regulations, and known as Post Exchanges or Canteens. They
were managed by a council of officers. The profits on all sales went
to the men. Regular dividends were declared and paid to company
commanders, and were accounted for by them to the government, as a
part of their company fund. Canteen dividends could be used only to
improve the ration or condition of the men. The sale of beer and
light wines was permitted.
The Eighth carried on its list of Canteen supplies, draught beer,
which was furnished by a Chattanooga brewery, together with a supply
of ice sufficient to keep the beer cool. This was the only supply of
ice in camp, and the only place where a cool drink could be had.
In close proximity to the Canteen, was the Y. M. C. A. tent, which
offered another home for the enlisted men where they could read,
write letters, play games, and meet for social or religious purposes.
The most excellent young gentlemen in charge, viewed with disapproval
the sale of beer in the rival club. The beer was also condemned
by the surgeons, on the ground that it was not up to standard in
quality, and that the poor quality of the beer aggravated intestinal
troubles.
One day at mess the Commanding Officer entered into an agreement
with the Y. M. C. A. representative, that the sale of beer should be
prohibited at the Canteen as long as the Y. M. C. A. furnished for
the enlisted men a barrel of distilled ice water in front of their
tent. The Regimental Quartermaster furnished daily transportation to
Chattanooga where barrels of distilled water and ice were purchased
from the brewery company, and duly installed by the Y. M. C. A.
This supply was maintained during the time the regiment remained at
Chickamauga. The water and ice cost as much as beer, but the expense
was borne by contributions solicited by the Y. M. C. A. manager from
the various friends of temperance in the north.
This substitution of water for beer gave the Colonel some notoriety
as a temperance reformer, and caused him to receive much advice about
running the regiment.
One lady who had devoted fifty years to the cause of temperance,
wrote a poem which she sent to the Colonel and requested him to have
the men learn it by heart and recite it in unison as part of the
ceremony at evening parade.
Another friend of the cause sent a few thousand printed pledges,
with the advice that the men be required to sign a few pledges each
day and carry them in their various pockets. She thought every time
anything was taken from a pocket, a pledge would come out, and
stimulate by its sight, each man to renewed interest to the cause of
temperance.
The old battleground offered opportunities to the souvenir hunters,
and many bullets, pieces of shells and rifles were picked up and sent
home. Another craze was collecting State buttons from the uniforms of
volunteers from various states. These buttons treated to a gold wash
and attached to a belt, were favorite souvenirs for sweethearts.
In addition to his duties as Battalion Commander, Major Edward H.
Eldredge was detailed as Division Inspector of Rifle Practice. Under
his supervision a rifle range was opened near the Alexander Bridge,
and twenty-seven targets were installed. Three targets were assigned
to each regiment of the Division for daily use. Lieutenant George
W. Langdon of Company A, acted as Inspector, and supervised the
regimental work at this range. Near the end of July, a division rifle
match was shot, in which the following scores were made:--
Eighth Massachusetts, 481
First New Hampshire, 474
Twelfth New York, 473
Twelfth Minnesota, 457
Fifth Pennsylvania, 457
Twenty-First Kansas, 456
Second Missouri, 436
First South Carolina, 409
Ninth Pennsylvania, 409
The war strength of a company in the United States service was 106
enlisted men. Under the first call, Massachusetts was required
to furnish three batteries of Heavy Artillery. Influence was at
once brought to bear upon the authorities at Washington to accept
the First Heavy Artillery as a Regiment of twelve batteries. To
accomplish this and keep within the quota allowed Massachusetts,
infantry companies were cut down to 74 men. To this extent the four
infantry regiments which were raised for foreign service, were
crippled to increase the strength of the coast guard.
Upon the second call for volunteers, it was decided to raise the
infantry companies to full war strength of 106 men, and about the
first of June the Eighth was ordered to send a recruiting detail
of three officers and twelve men to Massachusetts for recruiting
purposes. The officers in charge of this detail were Major William
Stopford, Captain Herbert W. Whitten of Company M, and Lieutenant
Henry W. French of Company K. The detail left Chattanooga on June
8th. The first batch of new recruits arrived at Chickamauga on June
25th, from which time until after the 4th of July, recruits arrived
daily.
The average recruit who responds to the first call for volunteers, is
usually an all around better man than the average recruit obtained
upon subsequent calls. The interference with the original Government
plan of raising four full regiments, not only weakened the regiment
at first, but later lowered its morale by introducing a poorer class
of men than could have been obtained if the companies had recruited
to a full strength at their home stations under the first stimulus of
war.
On June 12th the regiment had its first experience with a Southern
rain storm. After a long dry spell, the heavens opened, and the
floods descended. Innocent looking gullies became rushing brooks,
which soon overflowed their banks and inundated many canvas homes.
After the storm, a system of drainage was inaugurated, and the men
were set to work on a main drain and connecting trenches, constructed
on lines taught by experience.
In the wake of the storm, and as it were, a silver lining to the
clouds, came Paymaster James C. Barr of the Eighth Massachusetts
Infantry, M. V. M., with $17,500. from the State of Massachusetts
in payment of the men for the time they had served at the Framingham
camp. This was the first pay the regiment received, and the paymaster
was welcomed like flowers in the spring. He was met at the railroad
station by an armed party and escorted to camp, where his little
fortune was safely guarded until distributed in payment to the men.
On June 22nd Captain Walter H. Nichols of Company H resigned, making
the first break among the officers of the regiment.
On June 26th the camp was stirred to excitement by reason of an order
transferring the regiment to the First Brigade, First Division,
First Army Corps. The First Brigade was composed of the Eighth
Massachusetts, Second Wisconsin, and Fifth Illinois Regiments, and
was commanded by General Oswald Ernst. The division was commanded by
General J. M. Wilson. The Brigade was expected to move in a few days
to Newport News, where it was to take transports for Santiago. Camp
took on new life and excitement. All superfluous baggage was packed
for storage or home shipment. The excitement lasted a number of days,
but the regiment was doomed to disappointment, as the order was
countermanded and the regiment restored to its former place in the
Third Division.
July 4th was observed as a holiday. Congressman William H. Moody of
the Sixth Massachusetts District, who was spending a few days in
camp, delivered a patriotic address. A program of sports had been
arranged for the day, but the arrival of the U. S. Paymaster caused
the games to be called off. About $45,000 was paid to the regiment,
the men being paid from May 5th to June 30th. Many of the men took
advantage of the arrival of the money for a trip to Chattanooga,
where they passed the remainder of the day visiting the city or
Lookout Mountain. In the evening there was a mammoth bonfire in camp,
red fire was burned, and the drum corps gave a concert of patriotic
airs, in celebration of the victory of Sampson over the fleet of
Cevera off Santiago, the news of which was received that afternoon.
As the summer advanced, and the heat increased, reveille was sounded
at 4.30 and drills were held at a correspondingly early hour, so that
by the middle of the morning, all drills were over.
Soon after arriving in camp, the brigade was practiced in extended
order and the use of cover. This drill was known to the men as
"snake drill." Major Parker, of the Twelfth New York, a Regular Army
officer, acted as instructor at first. Before many weeks the regiment
became proficient in advancing on a position, and at the same time
taking advantage of natural cover. On several occasions the regiment
gave exhibitions for the benefit of officers of other organizations.
The evening parade was usually witnessed by many spectators. The
field where it was held was near the camps of the Third Army Corps,
and the men from this organization usually assembled to watch the
ceremony. The drum corps had been increased to forty-seven pieces,
and became celebrated for its military marches.
The men, early in the summer, discarded the blue uniform for brown
canvas, and with the ponchos worn white side out in a yoke from
the left shoulder, presented in ranks a natty and business-like
appearance. Their drill and marching was excellent, and upon all
ceremonies and reviews they created a most favorable impression.
On July 8th Captain Jacob C. R. Peabody arrived in camp and assumed
command of Company H. On July 11th Assistant Surgeon Thomas L.
Jenkins resigned.
Late on July 14th, news was received that Santiago had fallen. A
celebration was promptly inaugurated. The three regiments in the
brigade interchanged marching calls, headed by their band or field
music. As the Eighth marched through the camp of the Twelfth New
York singing patriotic songs, they were received with a novel
illumination, a man stood at the entrance of each tent holding a
lighted candle. In the camp of the Twenty-First Kansas, speeches
were made by the Colonels of both regiments, after which the Eighth
returned to its camp.
On July 21st the camp was again stirred by the report that the
regiment had been selected for Porto Rico, and would embark in a few
days. There was much activity in camp securing requisitions for the
men. General Brooke, who commanded the First Corps, left for Porto
Rico, and some of the regiments of the corps reached that Island
before the order was countermanded.
The dull routine of camp life, repeated disappointments in orders
to move, continued excessive heat, rain and mud, and the prevalence
of camp diseases, were fast impairing the efficiency of the First
Corps. General Breckenridge who succeeded General Wade in command,
immediately planned to break the monotony by a practice march. The
Third Division was ordered on a march into Tennessee, and a detail
was sent in advance to secure camp sites.
Pending this general movement, the Eighth was granted permission to
make a short march to Pea Vine Ridge. The start was made at daybreak
on July 19th along the Ringgold Pike, which had been traveled by
Sherman in his march to Atlanta. The morning was spent in advanced
guard work. The farmers along the route cherished unpleasant memories
of Northern troops, and spent their time guarding live stock while
the regiment remained in the vicinity. Camp was made at noon near
the Craven House, and the afternoon was devoted to play. Many of the
men dammed a mountain brook and spent the afternoon splashing in its
pools.