was a joyful expression of gratitude for deliverance from oppression.
Extensive preparations were made by the people; public and private
buildings were decorated, and numerous arches spanned the streets,
bearing appropriate inscriptions in both Spanish and English. One
arch bore the inscription, "Hurrah for us." The word "us" painted
in small letters, referred to the United States, and was evidently
the way the author remembered the marks on Government property. The
American and Cuban flags were waved together throughout the city.
The exercises commenced with a street parade of Cuban troops, the
fire department, school children and citizens. The Eighth Drum Corps
did duty at the head of the insurgent soldiers. In the afternoon,
vespers were held in the Cathedral, and at night there was a display
of fireworks and general public rejoicing throughout the city.
An interesting feature of the celebration took place the next day
opposite the camp of the Eighth, where a solemn high mass of requiem
was celebrated to the memory of some sixty persons who had been
garroted on the spot by the public executioner. These were political
prisoners who had suffered in the death chair, by having their necks
broken while held in an iron collar, by a screw driven against their
spinal cord, and operated on the back of the chair, very much as the
screw of a letter press is worked.
An altar, covered with black velvet and decorated with silver
fringe, was erected on the site of these executions. The priests
and acolytes were dressed in black. During the services the Cuban
soldiers rested on their arms, and formed a military guard about the
altar. The Eighth Regiment and the Cuban Infantry Bands furnished
music for the mass. The relatives of the persons executed attended in
deep mourning, and added to the solemnity of the services by their
expressions of intense grief. The corner stone of a monument to the
memory of these patriots was laid with Catholic ceremonies. A detail
from the Engineer Battalion prepared and lowered this stone in place
during the ceremonies.
In the afternoon the school children, dressed in American and Cuban
colors, led by the Eighth Regiment Drum Corps, paraded and held a
festival in the theatre. During the evening there were numerous
balls and fetes and further exercises in the theatre. Twenty men
from each company were given passes and allowed to go into town.
On January 23rd the celebration concluded with a review of all the
troops, before the Municipal Palace, to show that the American troops
sympathized with the inhabitants in their festivities.
On February 9th, a shot was fired by a member of the Eighth Regiment
in the discharge of his duty. It was the stormiest night the regiment
experienced in Cuba. About midnight the sentinel in front of the
Colonel's quarters thought he saw two men coming from the hills and
creeping towards the tents. They refused to halt when challenged. The
sentinel rested his rifle over a corner of the tent, with the muzzle
a few inches above the Colonel's ear and fired. The sentinel reported
that one of the men uttered an exclamation in good strong English,
and the two beat a hasty retreat. As an investigation disclosed
two goats in rear of the camp, it was generally supposed that the
sentinel attributed some general remarks of the Colonel about this
occurrence, to one of the goats.
On February 11th all the troops at Matanzas were reviewed by General
Breckenridge, Inspector General of the United States Army. The
review took place upon the boulevard, and was followed by a careful
inspection of the camps. This inspection was thus commented upon in
his official report to the War Department:--
"Matanzas Infantry Camp a model. ****** These same soldiers
had a perfect camp also at Lexington, Kentucky. Such seasoned,
well-instructed soldiers as the best of these, like the Eighth
Massachusetts, Twelfth New York, and Third Engineers, and
such handsome, healthful camps, wrung from adverse nature are
gratifying to all whoever commanded them, and are to be expected
from such officers as Generals Wilson and Sanger."
On February 20th the Regiment assisted in the reception of General
Maximo Gomez, the Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Army. The men of
the Eighth were stationed about five paces apart on each side of the
streets leading from the Plaza to the railroad station. An escort
consisting of six troops of the Second United States Cavalry, the
fire department of the city, societies of citizens, and the school
children, all under the command of Colonel Pew, met the General at
the station, and conducted him between the lines of the Eighth, to
the Municipal Palace. The streets were decorated with flags, and the
citizens turned out in holiday apparel. The General was received with
all the honors due his exalted station and standing in the island.
Enthusiasm was unbounded, and the Cuban General appeared much moved
by the ovation accorded him along the entire route.
Flowers were showered upon him from the balconies, and flags were
everywhere waved. The General was slight in stature, appeared about
seventy years of age, and was mounted on a handsome Cuban charger.
As the procession passed, the members of the Eighth fell in behind
and brought up the rear in columns of fours. At the Municipal Palace
the General reviewed the troops forming his escort. General Gomez
remained in the city a number of days, and upon leaving was escorted
to the railroad station by the Eighth.
During his stay, he visited the camps and spent some time at the
target range, which had been installed under the direction of Major
Eldredge. The General tried his hand at shooting, and received an
excellent score card from Lieutenant Craig, who was in charge of the
range. His visit was made the occasion of a reception and ball given
at the theatre, by all the officers of the Garrison. This ball was
the social function of the season, and was in acknowledgment of the
many courtesies extended to the officers by the citizens of Matanzas.
The Twelfth New York was the first Volunteer Regiment to leave
Matanzas. When the transport which was to carry it home, arrived in
the bay, the band of the Eighth paraded through the line officers
street, and company after company fell in and marched to the camp of
the Twelfth to show the good feeling existing between the regiments.
While marching over the band played "On the Bowery." As the column
passed through the camp of the Twelfth, its band got together and
joined the band of the Eighth on the march back, playing "Home,
Sweet Home." The men of the two regiments fell in together behind
the bands, and after marching through both camps, halted in the open
space between the camps while the bands played "Auld Lang Syne."
On March 21st the Eighth, after evening parade, escorted the Twelfth
New York to the wharf, where it embarked in lighters to go on board
the transport "Meade", which sailed the following day.
On March 27th, orders were issued for the Eighth to be mustered out
in Boston. On April 2nd, the transport "Meade" returned from New
York, and the Eighth was ordered to embark the following day. In the
evening the officers, with the band, called upon General Sanger to
pay respects for the last time to their chief. During most of their
service, they had served in his command. They appreciated the efforts
he had made to maintain their health, and held in high esteem his
qualities as an officer and soldier.
On the afternoon of April 3rd the post flag was lowered in the camp
of the Eighth, and the regiment, numbering 46 officers and 1177
men, embarked. Early the next morning the transport steamed out of
Matanzas Bay, and the foreign service of the regiment was ended.
Just before sailing, a messenger from the Municipal Government
of Matanzas presented the Colonel with an official copy of a
proclamation, which had been adopted and issued by the city the
preceding day.
"TO THE EIGHTH REGIMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS.
The brief period which you have spent among us has been
sufficient to enable us to appreciate your patriotism, your great
virtues, and your self-sacrifice and generosity. An indelible
token of eternal gratitude and admiration you leave stamped upon
our hearts. You are worthy sons of George Washington.
You are returning to your beloved homes. Return then; There,
love, friendship and hope await you. Speed you, and be you happy
there, you who have accomplished in Cuba the greatest moral and
material undertaking of the 19th century. There you will be able
to hold up your heads among the great and the good; for great and
noble also are those who there have contributed to the glory of
the homeland. Believe therefore, and be assured that you leave
friends here, brethren whose gratitude will ever cause them to
love and bless you. Farewell!
Matanzas, April 3, 1899:
ALFRED O. CARNOT,
_Mayor of the City._
By order of the Council:
Municipal Residence."
_Muster Out_
The trip to Boston was uneventful, except that sea sickness among the
cooks and the novelty of handling rations on board ship, somewhat
disarranged the commissary department.
Early Sunday morning, April 9th, Boston Light was sighted. At
quarantine, Governor Wolcott boarded the ship bringing the welcome
of the Commonwealth. In the afternoon the regiment disembarked at
the New England docks, and marched to the South Armory. A salute was
tendered the Mayor at City Hall, and the Governor at the State House.
There was a tremendous outpouring of people to welcome the troops,
and their demonstration was magnificent. The soldiers marching with
rhythmic swing and perfect alignment, and their brown, hearty and
healthy appearance, testified to the drill and discipline they had
undergone during their term of service. The regiment was furloughed
to report at the South Armory on April 12th, and the companies were
dismissed to their home stations, where they were received with great
demonstrations of joy and many impromptu celebrations.
On April 12th the companies reported in Boston. The men were
quartered in the South Armory. There was practically nothing for them
to do except guard duty and evening parade on Boston Common. This
parade daily attracted a large crowd of spectators. The clerical
force of each company however, was busy on the muster out rolls, and
the quartermaster's department was straightening out its accounts
with the government, and getting ready for the final reckoning.
On April 19th the men were dismissed to report on April 28th, which
was the day selected for mustering out the regiment.
A day or so previous to muster out a change occurred in the
commissioned officers of the regiment. Captain Jacob C. R. Peabody
of Company H, resigned to accept a position on General Ludlow's
staff. First Lieutenant Augustus G. Reynolds was promoted to captain
of the company, and Second Lieutenant William F. Young of Company D
became first lieutenant of Company H, while Color Sergeant William F.
Marston of Company G was commissioned a second lieutenant in Company
D.
On the morning of April 28th the Eighth reported for its last day
of duty. It did not take long to set the wheels of mustering out in
motion. Every man discharged was given two months extra pay. One
hundred eight thousand dollars in gold and silver representing the
amount due the men was paid out. There was a large crowd present from
all the towns represented by the companies. Captain Erastus M. Weaver
officiated as mustering out officer. It took about half an hour to
muster out each company, and the work was completed by 5.30.
At the time of muster out, the roster of the regiment was as follows,
numerous changes having taken place during its term of service.
Colonel--WILLIAM A. PEW, JR. of Salem.
Lieutenant Colonel--WILLIAM STOPFORD of Beverly.
Majors--FRANK A. GRAVES of Marblehead, and EDWARD H. ELDREDGE of
Boston.
Adjutant--LIEUTENANT THOMAS H. BARROLL of Boston.
Quartermaster--LIEUTENANT CHARLES F. WONSON of Gloucester.
Surgeon--MAJOR WILLIAM COGSWELL of Boston.
Assistant Surgeons--LIEUTENANT FRANK P. T. LOGAN of Gloucester and
LIEUTENANT HORACE BIRD FROST of Boston.
Chaplain--REV. GEORGE D. SANDERS of Gloucester.
Company A, Newburyport--Captain, ALEXANDER G. PERKINS; First
Lieutenant, GEORGE W. LANGDON; Second Lieutenant, GEORGE H. DOW.
Company B, Amesbury--Captain, HORACE S. BEAN; First Lieutenant, FRANK
STINSON; Second Lieutenant, JAMES W. JACKMAN.
Company C, Marblehead--Captain, JAMES M. PETTENGILL; First
Lieutenant, FREDERIC P. SMITH; Second Lieutenant, EDGAR J. WHELPLEY.
Company D, Lynn--Captain, CHARLES T. HILLIKER; First Lieutenant,
THOMAS J. COBY; Second Lieutenant, WILLIAM F. MARSTON.
Company E, Beverly--Captain, FREDERICK W. STOPFORD; First Lieutenant,
CHARLES H. FARNHAM; Second Lieutenant, LORAN J. HARVEY.
Company F, Haverhill--Captain, WILLIAM C. DOW; First Lieutenant, PER
JUSTUS W. SVANBERG; Second Lieutenant, ALEXANDER ROBERTSON.
Company G, Gloucester--Captain, EDWARD J. HORTON; First Lieutenant,
CHARLES M. MCISAAC; Second Lieutenant, CHARLES R. WARNER.
Company H, Salem--Captain, AUGUSTUS G. REYNOLDS; First Lieutenant,
WILLIAM F. YOUNG; Second Lieutenant, THOMAS O. H. PINEAU.
Company I, Lynn--Captain, JOHN E. WILLIAMS; First Lieutenant,
FRANCISCO A. DESOUSA; Second Lieutenant, WILLIAM H. PERRY.
Company K, Danvers--Captain, A. PRESTON CHASE; First Lieutenant,
DAVID E. JEWELL; Second Lieutenant, DAVID F. WHITTIER.
Company L, Lawrence--Captain, JAMES FORBES; First Lieutenant, JAMES
H. CREIG; Second Lieutenant, WILLIAM H. CLENDENNIN.
Company M, Somerville--Captain, HERBERT W. WHITTEN; First Lieutenant,
GEORGE I. CANFIELD; Second Lieutenant, FREDERICK W. PIERCE.
With the muster out of Colonel Pew, the Eighth Regiment Massachusetts
Infantry, U. S. V., ceased to exist, after just a year's service,
reckoning from the day the rolls were opened for volunteers. It was
in the service longer than any other regiment from Massachusetts, and
while it never took part in a battle or skirmish, its record stands
second to no other volunteer regiment in the service of the United
States.
_Welcome Home_
No fault could be found by the members of the regiment with the
receptions they received upon the return of the companies to the
home stations. Although it was Sunday night, the enthusiasm knew no
bounds, and in most places a large procession awaited the arrival of
the company, took it under escort and started for the armory. Later,
in most every place, official receptions were held, but they lacked
the spontaneous enthusiasm which marked the welcome home on the
arrival of the companies from the South Armory, Boston.
As these receptions took place within the year covered by the service
of the regiment, it seems fitting that a brief account of them should
find a place in this history of the organization.
Company A of Newburyport reached home about 9.15 o'clock, but its
coming had been announced some two hours previously, by the sounding
of the militia call on the fire alarm, consequently there was a
tremendous crowd at the station, which gave the command a rousing
cheer as the men stepped from the train.
A delegation of paraders were awaiting the arrival of the company
and the line was soon formed in the following order; Newburyport
Cadet Band; Mayor Huse and members of the city government; Company L,
Massachusetts Naval Brigade; National Band of Newburyport; Company A,
Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; Newburyport fire department;
Newburyport Bicycle club and Shields Division, A. O. H. The line of
march led through the principal streets which were packed with people
who cheered and burned red fire as the company passed. Wolfe tavern
was finally reached, and there the festivities of the evening ended
with a supper served the members of the company.
On April 23, Company A was officially entertained at a banquet which
was spread in the armory and to which some 400 people sat down. Mayor
Huse presided at the after dinner exercises and there was speaking by
prominent citizens.
The Amesbury company, Company B, arrived from Boston at 9.40 o'clock
and found a large crowd waiting its arrival, the fire alarm having
sounded the warning of the company's approach. All the business
houses were brilliantly illuminated and a salute was fired as the
train rolled into the station. A parade was formed and passed through
the principal streets in the following order; Drum corps; veterans of
Company B; E. P. Wallace Post 122, G. A. R.; high school battalion;
the fire department and Company B, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U.
S. V.
The official welcome home took place on April 26th, when there was a
public reception to the members of the company from 4 to 6 o'clock
at Armory Hall, followed by a big banquet in the evening, at which
time Commander Charles E. Kennard of Post 122, G. A. R. presided and
speeches were made by prominent townspeople.
The Grand Army post, headed by a drum corps, and hundreds of the
people of Marblehead were at the station to welcome home Company C
and gave the members a rousing reception. The company was escorted to
Abbot Hall, where H. C. Sparhawk, chairman of the board of selectmen
welcomed them home in the name of the town, and Captain Pettengill
and Lieutenant Whelpley responded for the company. The men were then
dismissed.
On April 14th, the town was alive with bunting and enthusiasm,
for this was the day of the official welcoming. A big parade was a
feature of the day, the line being formed in the following order:
Thomas Swasey, chief marshal, and staff; Excelsior Drum Corps; John
Goodwin Post, G. A. R., barge containing crippled Civil War veterans;
cannon captured by the U. S. S. Marblehead at Fort Cayo del Torei;
Cuban mine pulled up at Guantanamo by the Marblehead, on drays;
Company C, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; officers of the
fire department in carriages; Pickett Veteran Firemen's Association;
Lafayette Brass Band of Salem; members of fire department; Phenix
Veteran Firemen's Association; apparatus of the fire department;
Thorner's Rough Riders. There was an exhibition drill by Company C,
a supper and reception. The day's exercises wound up at Abbot Hall,
where Henry C. Sparhawk, of the board of selectmen presided, and
speeches were made by various people. Among the incidents of the day
was the presentation of a button to every member of the company by
the Volunteer Aid Association, through its president, Mrs. Mary E.
Graves.
Central Square, Lynn, was black with people awaiting the home-coming
of the members of Companies D and I of that city, and every train
which passed through with companies aboard, bound homeward, was
greeted with loud cheers. Finally, the Lynn companies arrived, and
the air was rent with cheers, and excitement was at a high pitch.
Cannon boomed and red fire was burned in quantities. Mayor Shepard
had met the company at Boston, and found that it was the wish of
the men to go directly home, so beyond this outburst of enthusiasm,
nothing was done in the way of a welcome, the companies marching
directly to the armory, and the men were there dismissed.
On April 13th, however, Lynn people officially received the
companies in a manner which will not soon be forgotten. The city was
bedecked with bunting, and thousands crowded the streets through
which the parade passed, and cheered to the echo the returned war
veterans. The parade was formed in the following order: General
Charles C. Frye, chief marshal, and staff; Lynn Brass Band; General
Lander Post, No. 5, G. A. R.; Lieutenant-Colonel Mudge Camp, Sons of
Veterans; Lynn Light Infantry Veteran Association; Wooldredge Cadet
Veterans; Lynn Cadet Band; English High School Battalion; Classical
High School Battalion; carriages containing Mayor Shepard, and
members of the city government; Eighth Massachusetts Infantry; U. S.
V. Band; Company I, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; Company
D, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; Veterans of Company E,
Massachusetts Naval Brigade; Veterans of the Spanish War. A banquet
at the State Armory followed, at which time 800 plates were laid and
Mayor Shepard acted as toastmaster, and speeches were made by many
prominent people, both in military and civil life.
Mayor Benjamin D. Webber, of Beverly, went to Boston as soon as
he heard that the Transport Meade was in, and together with other
prominent citizens went down the harbor to welcome the members of
Company E. A specially chartered tug was used. Learning that the
company was to come home that night, he telephoned to Beverly the
fact, and upon the arrival of Company E at the station, a large
gathering of people was on hand and welcomed the command with three
rousing cheers. A parade was formed, consisting of a Drum Corps,
Post 89, G. A. R., and John Low Camp, Sons of Veterans, and the line
of march taken up for the armory, where there were short speeches,
followed by a collation.
The official celebration in honor of the return of the volunteers
took place on April 11th, when a parade was formed in the following
order: Captain W. E. Perry, chief marshal, and staff; Beverly Cadet
Band; John H. Chipman Post, 89, G. A. R.; John Low Camp, Sons of
Veterans; Preston Post, 188, G. A. R; Charles Haddock Camp, Sons of
Veterans; barouches containing disabled Civil War veterans and Mayor
Webber and members of the city government; Lynn Brass Band; Company
E, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; Beverly fire department,
apparatus and men; Bass River Lodge, I. O. O. F.; letter carriers;
Excelsior Drum Corps; Golden Star Council, O. U. A. M.; Young Men's
Catholic Temperance Society; Ancient Order of Hibernians; Bass River
Court of Forresters; carriages containing members of Roger Conant
Council, Royal Arcanum, and Beverly Lodge, Knights of Pythias;
four-horse drag with members of Jubilee Yacht Club; carriages
containing citizens.
After the parade, the members of the company enjoyed a New England
boiled dinner at the armory, and in the evening attended exercises
at the City Hall. Mayor Webber presided, speeches were made by
representative citizens, and the school children sang patriotic songs.
On the evening of April 28th, the members of the company were
tendered a banquet at City Hall, Mayor Webber making a speech of
welcome and presiding the remainder of the evening, during which
various prominent citizens responded to toasts. The galleries were
filled with people, they having been thrown open to the public.
Company F, of Haverhill, arrived home rather unexpectedly at 8.15 P.
M., but Mayor Chase was awake and the city was not caught napping.
There was a good-sized crowd present at the depot, and it enlarged
every minute, so that by the time the parade moved, the streets
were filled with a shouting, cheering people. The parade formed as
follows: Haverhill City Band; Major How Post, 47, G. A. R.; General
Burnside Command, Veterans' Union; Provisional Company, State
Militia; Eighth Regiment Drum Corps; Company F, Eighth Massachusetts
Infantry, U. S. V.; carriages containing Mayor Chase and members of
the city government.
It was 11.15 P. M. before the members of Company G returned once more
to Gloucester. For several hours a crowd had awaited their coming at
the depot, the military call on the fire alarm having notified the
citizens that the company was on its way home. Although the hour was
late, there was plenty of enthusiasm, and salutes were fired and red
fire burned. A parade was formed, made up in the following order:
Gloucester Band; Massachusetts Naval Brigade, mounted detachment
of citizens; Colonel Allen Post 45, G. A. R.; Company G, Eighth
Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; delegations from the various
fire companies; Wingaersheek Band; Wingaersheek Tribe of Red Men;
Gloucester Council Knights of Columbus; Portuguese Acoriana Society;
carriages containing prominent citizens.