it apparently interfered with the comfort of the wigglers, as they
came to the surface. Crude petroleum was suggested as being stickier
than refined oil, and a can was procured in Chattanooga and tried.
Experiments showed that this oil often imprisoned the mother insect
when laying eggs, and was a complete bar through which the wigglers,
when grown, could not penetrate and emerge from the pits. Crude
petroleum was purchased by the barrel and used in these open sinks.
From the Eighth Regiment the use of petroleum spread through the
First and Third Corps, and subsequently became recognized throughout
the country as a means of destroying mosquitoes and other insects
that breed in stagnant waters.
The efforts which were made by the Eighth Regiment to maintain
a sanitary camp, were recognized in the report of Colonel A. A.
Woodhull, Deputy Surgeon General, U. S. A., on conditions in Camp
George H. Thomas. Under the various sub-headings of his report, he
refers to the regiment as follows:--
Under the sub-heading "Water Supply" he says:--
"There are general instructions to boil all water, whether
filtered or not. In the only regiment where I could be sure the
order was actually enforced (Eighth Massachusetts), no typhoid
has yet been recognized, and although the camp is very low and
wet and remittant fever has occurred within the last fortnight,
the general sick rate is only 2.56 per cent."
Under sub-heading "Character of Troops" he says:--
"The dirty camps are the sickly camps here as elsewhere. But
discipline and intelligence have their reward also. Without
specifying instances low in the scale, attention is invited to
the Eighth Massachusetts, already cited, where the positive
enforcement of orders by punitive measures when necessary has
resulted in the actual use of only boiled water for drinking,
with exemption from typhoid fever and a low sick rate as a
probable consequence."
Again, under the heading "Third Division, First Corps" he says:--
"The Eighth Massachusetts, whose discipline is good and which
boils its water, has a sick rate of 2.56, although its camp site
is bad."
Some of the volunteers were handicapped by the qualities of their
officers. The American soldier responds to sympathetic leadership,
but not to the sympathy that expresses itself in exaggeration of his
hardships, and in frequent reference to his woes. This kind of talk
destroys the back bone of resistance, and makes a company a mob of
weaklings.
It is easy enough to be pleasant
When life moves along like a song,
But the man worth while is the man with a smile,
When everything goes dead wrong.
General Chaffee has said:--
"Soldier's do not like sympathy; sympathy is for women and
children. Soldiers are men, but they do like fair commendation
when deserving of it, and especially when their fortitude
has been severely tested. Commend our soldiers for manfully
undergoing privations and they will readily respond again; but
prate of their privations, deficiencies, and heavy burdens, and
they soon learn to dread the hour that shall disturb their ease;
the spirit becomes one of submission rather than one cheerfully
embracing the opportunity to exhibit their endurance and their
stamina."
The strength of the Eighth lay in the manhood of her officers and
men, who were ready with a determined smile to face any game into
which they were called.
A commission appointed by the President to investigate the sanitary
conditions of the military camps of 1898 reported early in 1899. The
report contains an allusion to the Eighth Massachusetts. It says:--
"The intelligent and watchful supervision on the part of the
surgeons and regimental officers, and the observance of the
well established rules of camp sanitation shown by the record
of the Eighth Massachusetts Volunteers at Camp Thomas, is very
commendable. This regiment was for many weeks very healthy, while
much sickness was occurring in regiments near by, although the
camp site, water and drill were practically the same."
This was a great compliment to the volunteer regimental commander and
his officers.
In some of the camps in the United States, no thoroughly well
established rules of sanitation were observed. Little restriction
was placed on drunkenness and immorality. Soldiers did not seem to
care how they lived, and their officers did not watch or teach them.
Frequently the food was poorly cared for, and badly cooked, and the
men were permitted to eat and drink anything and everything they
could find. Sickness naturally followed in regiments where laxity
prevailed.
The Eighth, according to evidence before the commission, followed
just the opposite plan. Discipline was strict and impartial, and the
health of the troops consequently of the best. They were a source
of much admiration to all who saw them, both at Camp Thomas and
the other places. No other regiment in the whole American army was
similarly favored in the Commissioner's report.
_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 corner of the camp, dried the seeds of
disease, and the breezes from the hay and clover fields blew away and
dissipated the germs. The expanding green and golden fields rolling
into distant stretches, rested eyes accustomed to the damp and closed
woods of Georgia.
Men depressed by the atmosphere of Chickamauga, opened their eyes
upon a new world, and began to experience the joy of living. The
place, time of year, and the intelligent efforts of officers to
stamp out disease, backed by unlimited Government supplies, infused
new life into the tired and jaded regiments of the Third Division.
General Sanger was indefatigable in his efforts to restore health,
and was loyally supported by the line and medical officers.
It was not given to the Eighth, however, to overcome at once the
results of their long stay at Chickamauga, surrounded by infection.
For months they had fought contagion, and kept typhoid at bay, but
were finally powerless against the swarm of flies that overspread
their camp, depositing bacteria upon food and clothing. The regiment
left Chickamauga inoculated with poison, and during the first few
weeks at Lexington, enteric fever broke out and was more prevalent
than at any other period.
For a month the energies of the regiment were devoted to getting down
to the bed rock of health. Sources of contagion were destroyed or
removed. At sick call, men with abnormal temperatures were removed
from their comrades, and sent to the general hospital. Suspicious
cases were held under observation until the outcome was known. Sick
men who might be a source of new contagion, were at once separated
from the regiment, and so thoroughly was this work done, that more
than half the regiment was away from the colors.
A systematic crusade was made against the old germs that had traveled
with the regiment from Chickamauga hid in blankets, clothing or
personal belongings. Corrosive sublimate and chlorinated lime were
freely used.
Clothing and blankets were boiled, brushed, and hung up for sunshine
and wind to work through. All excreta was collected in closed sinks
from which flies were excluded, and germ life was poisoned with
chemical agents.
Tent floors were daily washed with corrosive sublimate, and weekly
stood on end for the under side to be dried and white washed.
Location of tents were frequently changed, and the uncovered ground
thoroughly treated with lime. The camp was thoroughly drained,
policed, and was as near medically clean as the science of military
hygiene permitted.
As soon as possible a new issue of tentage was obtained, and those
used at Chickamauga were destroyed. Each tent was furnished with a
floor, and wooden sleeping bunks.
Sales by pedlers were regulated by orders from Division Headquarters.
Chickamauga Park had been overrun by fakirs selling cakes, pies and
other foods, much of which was believed to have been contaminated,
and to have materially contributed to the spread of camp diseases.
As soon as the food pedlers appeared in the new camp, they were
rounded up by the guard and expelled. Certain permits were issued,
regulating the sale of foods. Pedlers were required to report to the
Officer of the Day, and conduct their business under his direction
and supervision.
Many men suffering from intestinal troubles, could not assimilate the
sturdy Government ration, and large quantities of milk and eggs were
daily needed for their nourishment. Such perishable articles were not
furnished by the Government, and company commanders had to depend
upon the company fund for their purchase.
The sale of beer was the chief source of revenue to the Canteen, and
was accordingly resorted to. A commodious wooden building was erected
as a Post Exchange, and a large ice box was constructed, where
gallons of milk and hundreds of eggs were stored. Captain Horace S.
Bean, of Company B, was put in charge of the Canteen, and made large
purchases from the neighboring farmers. The favorite tipple served
over the bar was a milk and egg shake. Many of the company commanders
served an egg nog to each man at 10 A. M. and 4 P. M. daily. The
best quality of beer was obtained from Milwaukee, and was hereafter
retained as a regular Canteen supply, while the regiment remained in
the service.
The profit on the sale of beer became a material factor in building
up the health of the regiment, and augmenting the company funds. At
one time over three thousand dollars was divided among companies as a
Canteen dividend.
A new hospital tent was received from the Massachusetts Volunteer
Aid Association, and was pitched on the left flank of the regiment.
As the regimental hospital had been abolished, this was used as
a dispensary. All soldiers requiring treatment reported to the
dispensary, where their case was diagnosed by the regimental surgeon,
and if it was found that the patient was in a condition requiring
treatment, he was immediately sent to the Division hospital.
This was known as the John Blair Gibbs Hospital, and was situated
about a mile from camp. It was presided over by a competent staff of
skilled surgeons, assisted by a corps of trained nurses, from whom
the men received excellent treatment.
During this period of recuperation, furloughs were freely given. This
privilege was sometimes abused, and some men without any ailment,
except a desire to go home, managed to pass the surgeons and secure
a furlough. The "furlough walk" and "furlough face" came to be
recognized as evidence of homesickness, and was more or less joked
about among the men as means of obtaining a furlough. Nearly all the
men, however, who were sent home, needed a change, and were granted
furloughs as a sanitary precaution.
Lexington had been the home of Henry Clay, and as a compliment to the
city, the camp was named Camp Henry Clay, in honor of the Kentucky
statesman. This name was subsequently changed, as the War Department
had adopted the practice of naming the camps in honor of soldiers who
had fallen in the Spanish War, to Camp J. M. Hamilton, in honor of an
officer in the Ninth United States Infantry, who fell at Santiago.
The "P jacket" first appeared in the regiment at Camp Hamilton.
Previous to its introduction, one unacquainted with military affairs,
could not distinguish prisoners from other soldiers.
These jackets were a distinctive badge. They were a blue jumper with
a large capital P painted in white upon the back, and a smaller
letter P, and the prisoner's number painted upon the arm.
It was related that a party of young ladies visiting the camp, became
very much interested in these uniforms; but not understanding the
letter P, inquired its significance from one of the prisoners, and
was smilingly told that it stood for "Perfect," and that the jacket
was a badge of honor.
The condition of the regiment was a source of great solicitude to
its friends at home, and many anxious inquiries were made as to its
health and surroundings. On September 8th, Mayor Ramsdell of Lynn,
visited the camp and remained a number of days. He was the first of
several Northern people who visited the camp to inquire into and
report upon the condition of the troops.
On September 8th, the camp was visited by a delegation from
Massachusetts, headed by Colonel Benjamin S. Lovell of Weymouth, of
the military committee of Governor Wolcott's council. This trip was
the result of a story printed in a Cincinnati paper, to the effect
that the Eighth was demoralized with typhoid fever.
Colonel Lovell and others, who were in attendance at the national
encampment of the G. A. R., in the Ohio city, saw the report in the
paper, and Colonel Lovell telegraphed for authority to proceed to
Lexington and make an investigation, and permission was granted by
Governor Wolcott.
A special car was chartered, and Colonel Lovell, Colonel William M.
Olin, secretary of the commonwealth, a veteran of the Civil War, who
camped at Lexington in those stirring days, Captain J. G. B. Adams,
sergeant-at-arms of the Massachusetts legislature, himself a past
commander-in-chief of the G. A. R., accompanied by Mrs. L. A. Turner,
prominent in Women's Relief Corps circles, and other Massachusetts
people, made the trip to Lexington.
The day was spent in looking over the regiment, and Colonel
Lovell, Colonel Olin and Captain Adams, made a thorough inspection
of the regiment and its conditions, in regard to food, sanitary
arrangements, and especially in regard to sickness. Colonel Lovell
made a report to the governor upon his return home, and the same is
on file at the State House, although it could not be located at the
time this chapter was written.
At the close of the day, the entire party went back to Cincinnati,
satisfied that the report was greatly exaggerated by the newspaper
which had published the story, as there was but little typhoid among
the men.
On September 12th, Mayor Chase of Haverhill, also visited the camp,
being the guest of Company F of that city.
The troops quartered in and about Lexington were the Eighth
Massachusetts, Twelfth New York, Twenty-First Kansas, One Hundred and
Sixtieth Indiana, Third Kentucky, Fourth Kentucky, Third Mississippi,
Second Missouri, Seventh United States Immunes, colored, Eighth
United States Immunes, colored. On September 26th, the Twenty-First
Kansas left for Fort Leavenworth, to be mustered out of the service,
and upon the day following their place was taken by the First
Territorial Regiment. This regiment was enlisted from the territories
of New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Indian Territory, and was
composed of ranchmen, cowboys, and some Indians. Their initial
appearance in the camp of the Eighth was explosive. As soon as a camp
site had been assigned them, and they were dismissed, they started
on a round of visits to the various camps. The visit was made upon
the run, accompanied by a continuous yelling and whooping. This
whirlwind of noise passed through every company street in the New
York and Massachusetts regiments without stopping, and disappeared
to repeat the performance in the camps of other regiments. The most
orderly member of the command was a large brown bear, which did duty
as regimental mascot.
Some amusement was furnished one evening as the men assembled for
parade, by a barouche containing four ladies of the town, driven by a
stately colored man. They disappeared in the camp of the Twelfth New
York, but shortly returned with the large letters I. C., in chalk on
the back of the carriage.
The camp site of the Eighth had formerly been cultivated, but during
the summer the land had run to weeds. These were waist high until
mowed. During one of the early changes of guard, the old guard was
marched by the Lieutenant through some of these weeds, towards
the regimental parade, where they were to be dismissed. Suddenly
the guard broke ranks, and each man rushed for his quarters. The
Lieutenant stopped in amazement and shouted to his men, "What in
blank are you running for"? Before he got an answer, a swarm of
hornets attached themselves to his person, and he was soon running as
fast as any member of his guard.
The men were encouraged to engage in sports as a recreation. At one
time, foot ball was taken up in a mild way, but after the Kentucky
State College defeated Company H by a score of 59 to 0, interest in
this strenuous sport died out.
Lexington was well supplied with entertainment, and on several
occasions enlisted men attended the theatre and circus in a body.
Two evenings were known at the Opera House as Eighth Regiment nights,
when the drum corps took part in the performance, and a large
delegation from the regiment was represented in the audience.
The drum corps was well received throughout the south, and their
rendering of Dixie was always greeted with Southern yells of approval.
On one occasion Company L was entertained at the home of Mrs. Kate
Breen, where Lieutenant Breen, Inspector of Rifle Practice of the
Ninth Massachusetts Infantry, was visiting. He acted as host, and
left with the men a pleasant memory of his hospitality.
Dr. Horace B. Frost, of Boston, joined the regiment here, having been
commissioned Assistant Surgeon, with the rank of Lieutenant, vice
Jenkins, resigned.
The people of Lexington were most courteous and kind to the regiment.
Many homes were opened, and the genial social life was welcomed as
a help in making officers and men contented. On September 24th, the
regiment was the guest of the Jockey Club at the Loudon Park. It gave
an exhibition drill, and witnessed the races.
One of the features was a running race, open only to the officers
of the Third Division. It was participated in by 20 officers, the
leaders finishing in the following order:--
Major Nickerson, Seventh United States Cavalry; Lieutenant Hero,
Fourth United States Artillery; Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey; Colonel
Pew; Major Eldredge; Adjutant Barroll, and Quartermaster Wonson, all
of the Eighth Massachusetts; Lieutenant Horton, Twelfth New York, and
Lieutenant Stinson, Eighth Massachusetts.
This contest was continued two other days, the "finals" being run
off Saturday, open to the entire camp (12,000), any military horse,
with an officer "up." The final was won by Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey,
Eighth Massachusetts, on his mare "Alathea," with Adjutant Barroll,
Eighth Massachusetts, second, on Colonel Pew's "Essex."
Ladies were frequently the guests of the regiment, and especially
on review days. Two large reviews were held in which all the troops
participated, one in honor of General Russell A. Alger, Secretary
of War, and the other in honor of Governor Bradley of Kentucky. On
September 20th, General Russell A. Alger arrived by rail, and was
met at the station by the Second Brigade, and escorted to General
Breckenridge's headquarters. Later on, a review was tendered by
the Division. The Eighth paraded over eight hundred men, and from
this time its numbers were continually increasing by the return of
convalescents to duty, and the expiration of furloughs.
After the review, the Secretary of War inspected the Division
Hospital and the various camps. He spent some time in the camp of the
Eighth, chatting with the officers, and took occasion to compliment
the regiment upon its intelligent struggle against typhoid at
Chickamauga.
Early in August, the Secretary of War had sent Colonel Hopkins,
Assistant Inspector General of the United States Army, to examine
and report upon the condition of the troops at Chickamauga. Colonel
Hopkins' report to the Secretary of War was subsequently published,
but was unknown to the regiment at this time. In it he said that
the Eighth Massachusetts was the only regiment in the Park he was
sure had complied with sanitary regulations, and that its low sick
rate, as compared with that of other regiments, showed an intelligent
appreciation of the situation by the officers, and an earnest effort
to stop the spread of preventable disease, by the application of
hygienic measures.
Later in the day, the Generals and Colonels of the Division met the
Secretary at General Breckenridge's headquarters, and were invited
to express their opinion on the sanitary conditions. Some of the
officers bitterly denounced the inefficiency of the Quartermaster's
Department and the Medical Department at Chickamauga; the Chief
Surgeon of the corps was characterized as a horse doctor, and his
professional qualifications were criticised.
Several changes of officers were made in October. On the 20th,
General Breckenridge turned over the command of the Corps to General
James H. Wilson, under whom the Eighth served until mustered out.
On the 7th, Rev. George D. Sanders, the Chaplain, resigned. The Rev.
Milo H. Gates of Ipswich, was appointed to fill this vacancy November
11th, but before being mustered in, was thrown from a horse, and
owing to his injuries was unable to pass the physical examination.
Chaplain Sanders was subsequently re-appointed and joined the
regiment in Cuba.
On October 24th, Lieutenant Francis H. Downey of Company I, died
at the St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington, of pneumonia. Funeral
services were held over his remains in the city, and were attended by
the officers of the regiment, and by Companies D and I. He was the
only officer in the command who died during the service.
On the 28th, Lieutenant-Colonel Edwin W. M. Bailey resigned, and
Major William Stopford was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. The
vacancy in majority was not filled, as the United States allowed at
this time but two majors to a regiment. Colonel Stopford continued to
command the First Battalion. Owing to the place of his promotion, he
became known in Lexington society as the real Kentucky Colonel.
Lieutenant Stephen N. Bond of Company K, resigned on October 28th.
During the temporary absence of the regimental surgeon, Captain
Rutherford of the Second Missouri, was assigned and remained on duty
with the regiment several weeks.
After the Third Division had recovered its health, the proposition
to make a practice march was again discussed. Lieutenant Francisco
A. DeSousa of Company E, with a detail from the regiment, was sent
over the road to Frankford, Kentucky, to locate camps and select a
suitable place for rifle practice. It was the intention to have each
regiment march to Frankford and spend a week at target practice.
Owing to the lateness of the season and the approach of cold weather,
the undertaking was abandoned.
On October 10th, General Waites, who was about to retire from the
command of the Second Brigade, tendered the officers a reception at
his quarters. Soon after the officers of the Eighth had returned to
their camp, Colonel Pew received directions through a staff officer
to issue ball ammunition, and hold his men in readiness to march. The
order was immediately obeyed. No explanation was offered, and the
regiment awaited developments.
In the quiet night the measured beat of marching was heard along the
Bryan Pike, and the Regimental Guard reported the One Hundred and
Sixtieth Indiana going into Lexington to quell a riot. A member of
the Third Kentucky on provost duty in the city, had shot and killed
a soldier of the Twelfth New York, who refused to halt when ordered.
The sentinel was arrested pending an inquiry.
A rumor spread through the camp that a number of the Twelfth New York
and the First Territorial Regiments had started for the city to lynch
this sentinel. There was more or less disturbance at the Montrose
station by a mob of excited soldiers, and several shots were fired.
The Eighth was ordered to deploy one battalion as skirmishers across
the Bryan Pike, and railroad track, and stop all soldiers. The other
two battalions were to remain under arms in camp as a reserve.
Colonel Stopford executed this deployment with the First Battalion.
Nothing happened, and he was withdrawn before morning. The situation
in the city was easily controlled by the provost guard with the help
of the One Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana.