passed through the principal streets of the city, in the following
order: Fitz E. Oaks, chief marshal, and staff; Gloucester Band;
Company M, Massachusetts Naval Brigade; High School Cadet Battalion;
Colonel Allen Post 45, G. A. R.; Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S.
V. Band; Company G, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; members
of the fire department; J. Franklin Dyer Camp, Sons of Veterans;
Hutchinson's Military Band; Ocean Lodge, I. O. O. F.; Wingaersheek
Tribe, Red Men; Fernwood Lodge, A. O. U. W.; Gloucester Council,
Knights of Columbus; St. Angelo Council, Knights of Malta; Acoriana
Beneficiary Society; carriages containing distinguished citizens;
mounted men.
In the evening there was a big banquet, at which time Judge Taft
presided and there were speeches by men in the public life of
Gloucester, and men in military circles.
When Company H, of Salem, reached home, it found thousands of people
awaiting its return. The churches had dismissed their congregations
that the members might unite with the other citizens in a royal
welcoming of the soldier boys. Red fire was burned freely and there
were salutes. At the station, a big parade awaited the volunteers,
and taking the company under escort, marched to the Armory, where
the men were dismissed. The parade was as follows: Salem Cadet Band;
Second Corps Cadets, M. V. M.; Phil H. Sheridan Post 34, G. A. R.;
postal clerks and carriers; Salem Light Infantry Veteran Association;
Mayor James H. Turner and members of the city government; Army
and Navy League; Company H, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S.
V. The fire alarm had sounded an agreed upon signal, which gave
those intending to parade time enough to gather at the various
headquarters. Mayor Turner had met the company in Boston and made the
arrangements for the affair.
Tuesday, April 11th, was the day set aside for the official
celebration, and the streets were lined with thousands, who cheered
and shouted, but it was not the spontaneous outburst that had been
given the company when it first arrived home.
The parade passed through the principal streets of the city, and was
made up as follows: Colonel Samuel A. Johnson, chief marshal, and
staff; Salem Cadet Band; Second Corps Cadets, M. V. M.; Phil H.
Sheridan Post 34, G. A. R.; Army and Navy League; Lieutenant-Colonel
Henry Merritt Camp, Sons of Veterans; carriages containing disabled
members of the G. A. R., and Mayor Turner and members of the city
government; National Guards Band; Salem Light Infantry Veteran
Association; Company H, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.;
Salem Brass Band; Salem Letter Carriers and Postal clerks; Salem
Fire Department; Salem Veteran Firemen's Association; Salem Drum
Corps; Father Mathews Total Abstinence Society; St. Joseph's Benefit
Society; street department drivers, mounted.
In the evening the Salem Light Infantry Veteran Association tendered
a banquet to the volunteers in the armory at the Franklin building.
Captain John P. Reynolds acted as toastmaster, and a number of
distinguished citizens and military guests responded to the toasts.
The West Peabody Brass Band, Ward Post 90, G. A. R. and ex-members of
Company K, were found waiting at the depot by the members of Company
K of Danvers, when they stepped from the train. Line was immediately
formed and through a lane of red fire and cheering citizens, the
company marched to the armory, partook of a lunch and then separated
for their homes.
On April 11 the town officially received her sons back from the
Spanish war with a parade, reception and banquet. The parade formed
in the following order: Chief Marshal F. U. French and staff;
cavalcade of citizens; West Peabody Brass Band; Ward Post 90, G.
A. R.; carriages containing the selectmen and guests; Company K,
Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; ex-members of Company K and
citizens; school children.
After the parade a reception was in progress at the Town Hall for
two hours, after which the line was re-formed and the party proceeded
to the armory, where a fine banquet was served, followed by speeches
from prominent townspeople and guests, M. C. Pettengill acting as
presiding officer.
Mayor Eaton went to Boston, met the members of Company L, and
telephoned word back to Lawrence that the company was coming home.
The fire alarm was immediately blown and as at the other places, the
company was met by a big crowd at the depot, and a procession to
escort it to its armory. Battery C, M. V. M. fired a salute as the
train rolled into the station. The parade formed in the following
order: Colonel Donovan, chief marshal; band; Battery C, M. V. M.;
Company F, Ninth Infantry, M. V. M.; Colonel Sargeant camp, Sons of
Veterans; band; Needham Post 39, G. A. R.; drum corps; seven fire
companies; Gratton Guards; citizens committee; Company L, Eighth
Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; city government and citizens in
carriages. The parade marched directly to the armory, where the
volunteers were dismissed.
Through a misunderstanding on the part of somebody, there was no one
to welcome home the members of Company M, at Somerville, and when
they arrived at the armory they found the place locked and deserted.
Finally the police were secured and the doors forced open and the
command marched inside. After giving three cheers for the city and
the company, the men were dismissed.
Somerville citizens more than made up for the lack of cordiality on
the night of the return home, by the enthusiastic reception they
gave the company and other Somerville volunteers at the official
welcome home which took place on April 19. The principal part of the
day's programme was a big parade, which moved through the principal
streets, packed with cheering people, in the following order: Chief
Marshal, F. DeWitt Lapham and staff; platoon of 20 members of the
National Lancers, M. V. M.; First Regiment Band; company of letter
carriers; Bunker Hill Cadet Band; Bunker Hill Guards, Division 37, A.
O. H.; Davitt Guards, Division 40, A. O. H.; Knights of Sacred Heart
Drum Corps; Knights of Sacred Heart; Somerville Veteran Firemen's
Association; T. F. Meagher Drum Corps; W. C. Kingsley Post 139, G. A.
R.; Company M, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; unattached
soldiers and sailors; carriages containing city officials and guests.
Following the parade, the company and invited guests were given light
refreshments at Bow Street hall, after which many speeches were made,
Alderman Wilson acting as presiding officer.
In the evening, at 6 o'clock, the company was banquetted in Beacon
hall, where plates were spread for a large gathering. After the
banquet had been enjoyed, Alderman Wilson, who again acted as
chairman, rapped for order and speeches followed by prominent city
officials and guests.
_The Roll of Honor_
In every war the percentage of deaths from disease is greater than of
deaths on the battlefield, and the Spanish war was no exception. Of
the hundreds of Massachusetts young men who volunteered and answered
the call of President McKinley for troops, 292 were called upon to
sacrifice their lives for their country.
Of this number, but nine were killed or died of wounds on the
battlefield, the remaining 283 dying of disease or meeting death in
an accidental manner.
The First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery lost one man during its term
of service; the Second Massachusetts Infantry had nine killed or
died of wounds received in battle and 89 died of disease; the Fifth
Massachusetts Infantry lost nine men during its term of service;
the Sixth Massachusetts Infantry lost 26 men during its term of
service; the Eighth Massachusetts Infantry lost 31 men, and the Ninth
Massachusetts Infantry 125 men. The Naval Brigade, during its term
of service, lost two men, making the total number of men who were
killed, died of wounds or disease, 292.
Of this number, as the foregoing list will show, the Eighth
Massachusetts Infantry contributed the lives of one officer and 30
enlisted men, to which might be added the name of Private Charles A.
Currier of Company B, who died soon after being transferred to the
Hospital Corps, U. S. A.
The great majority of these men died in the hospitals in the south,
far from home and friends. They gave up their lives willingly to
their country's cause, and who is there to say that theirs was not
as much a hero's death as that of the men who fell while bravely
charging through the Cuban jungles or up the steep slope of San Juan
Hill.
The roll of honor of the Eighth is as follows:
May 28, 1898.--Private Herbert O. Burnham of Company D of Lynn, of
pneumonia, at regimental hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
May 29--Private Clarence L. Bartol of Company C of Marblehead, of
heart disease, at regimental hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
June 11--Corporal Clarence R. Stewart of Company M of Somerville, of
pneumonia, at regimental hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
June 13--Private Timothy O. Lamprey of Company B of Amesbury, of
appendicitis, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
July 18--Private Harvey Dunn of Company L of Lawrence, of typhoid
fever, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
August 2--Private Frank A. Hinckley of Company I of Lynn, of typhoid
fever, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
August 4--Corporal John M. Doran of Company G of Gloucester, of
typhoid fever, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
August 7--Private Walter D. Thompson of Company I of Lynn, of
malarial fever, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park,
Georgia.
August 19--Musician Spencer S. Hobbs of Company K of Danvers, of
typhoid fever, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
August 26--Private Joseph Pocket of Company I of Lynn, of typhoid
fever, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
September 2--Sergeant Frank E. Draper of Company M of Somerville, of
typhoid fever, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
September 3--Private Kenneth G. Constine of Company B of Amesbury, of
typhoid fever, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
September 6--Private John F. Dottridge of Company D of Lynn, of
typhoid fever, at John Blair Gibbs General Hospital, Lexington,
Kentucky.
September 6--Sergeant Fred Thomas of Company F of Haverhill, of
typhoid fever, at Sternberg General Hospital, Chickamauga Park,
Georgia.
September 6--Corporal George Patten of Company B of Amesbury, of
typhoid fever, while on furlough at Amesbury, Massachusetts.
September 7--Sergeant John F. Balch of Company A of Newburyport, of
typhoid fever, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
September 13--Private Henry A. Deasy of Company H of Salem, of
typhoid fever, while on furlough at Kingston, New Hampshire.
September 15--Private Michael J. Hayes of Company I of Lynn, of
dysentery, at Third Division Hospital, Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
September 17--Corporal John H. Nichols of Company H of Salem, of
typhoid fever, at John Blair Gibbs General Hospital, Lexington,
Kentucky.
September 18--Private Rolvin G. Coombs of Company B of Amesbury,
of typhoid fever, at John Blair Gibbs General Hospital, Lexington,
Kentucky.
September 19--Private George F. Walen of Company G of Gloucester,
of typhoid fever, at John Blair Gibbs General Hospital, Lexington,
Kentucky.
September 22--Private John F. Hanson of Company L of Lawrence, of
typhoid fever, at John Blair Gibbs General Hospital, Lexington,
Kentucky.
September 22--Private George O. Cook of Company D of Lynn, while on
furlough at Dorchester, Massachusetts.
September 24--Corporal Henry Higgins of Company B of Amesbury, of
typhoid fever, at John Blair Gibbs General Hospital, Lexington,
Kentucky.
September 30--Private William B. Cahoon of Company G of Gloucester,
of peritonitis, at John Blair Gibbs General Hospital, Lexington,
Kentucky.
October 8--Private William H. Florence of Company C of Marblehead, of
bright's disease, at John Blair Gibbs General Hospital, Lexington,
Kentucky.
October 10--Private William D. Curley of Company G of Gloucester,
of typhoid fever, at John Blair Gibbs General Hospital, Lexington,
Kentucky.
October 20--Private Thomas Sweeney of Company B of Amesbury, of
malarial fever, at John Blair Gibbs General Hospital, Lexington,
Kentucky.
October 24--First Lieutenant Francis H. Downey of Company I of Lynn,
of pneumonia and fever, at St. Joseph's Hospital, Lexington, Kentucky.
March 3, 1899.--Private Lewis F. Channell of Company F of Haverhill,
of typhoid fever, on board the U. S. Hospital Ship "Missouri," off
Cuba.
March 15--Private Charles W. Benson of Company C of Marblehead, of
malarial fever, on board U. S. Hospital Ship "Missouri," off Cuba.
August 9--Private Charles A. Currier, U. S. Hospital Corps, formerly
member of Company B of Amesbury, of exhaustion following typhoid
fever, on board U. S. Hospital Ship "Relief" off Ponce, Porto Rico.
_Some Statistics_
During the year of service in the volunteers 1465 names were borne
upon the rolls of the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment. This does not
necessarily mean that 1465 different men were connected with the
regiment, for that was not so, for some of the men's names appear
upon the rolls twice, such as when an enlisted man was promoted to
be an officer, or when an officer was transferred from one company
to another, or an enlisted man transferred from a company to the
regimental band.
The following figures will no doubt be of interest to the men who
served in the regiment.
Of the officers of the regiment 46 were mustered out with the
regiment, 12 resigned and were discharged, one died, one was
discharged by reason of promotion outside the regiment, and four were
discharged for promotion in the regiment.
Of the enlisted men, 1161 were mustered out, 53 were discharged
for disability, 5 were discharged because they were minors, 2 were
discharged (no reason given), 51 were discharged by order, (the
majority for physical unfitness), 11 were discharged for promotion;
6 were dishonorably discharged; 71 were discharged by reason of
transfer, 30 died, and 11 deserted.
* * * * *
The record by companies is as follows:
Field and staff--Ten mustered out and three resigned. Total 13.
Non-Commissioned staff--Nine mustered out with the regiment and three
were discharged by order. Total 12.
Band--Twenty were mustered out with the regiment. Total 20.
Company A, Newburyport--Three officers and 96 men were mustered out
with the regiment, one man was discharged for disability; one man
was discharged by reason of being a minor; two men were discharged
by order; one man was dishonorably discharged; five men were
transferred; one man died and two men deserted. Total 112.
Company B, Amesbury--Three officers and 96 men were mustered out with
the regiment; one officer was discharged for promotion; ten men were
discharged for disability; three men were discharged by order; eight
men were transferred and six men died. Total 127.
Company C, Marblehead--Three officers and 97 men were mustered out
with the regiment; two officers resigned; seven men were discharged
for disability; one man was discharged by order; two men were
transferred; three men died and two men deserted. Total 117.
Company D, Lynn--Three officers and 94 men were mustered out with the
regiment; one officer was discharged for promotion; three men were
discharged for disability; three men were discharged by order; two
men were dishonorably discharged; ten men were transferred; three
died and two deserted. Total 121.
Company E, Beverly--Three officers and 96 men were mustered out
with the regiment; one officer and one enlisted man were discharged
for promotion; one man was discharged; two men were discharged
for disability; two men were discharged by order; one man was
dishonorably discharged and eight men were transferred. Total 115.
Company F, Haverhill--Three officers and 96 men were mustered out
with the regiment; one officer and two enlisted men were discharged
for promotion; four men were discharged for disability; five men were
transferred and two died. Total 113.
Company G, Gloucester--Three officers and 92 men were mustered out
with the regiment; one officer resigned; four men were discharged for
disability; one was discharged by reason of being a minor; ten men
were discharged by order; one man was discharged for promotion; one
man was dishonorably discharged; four men were transferred and four
died. Total 121.
Company H, Salem--Three officers and 91 men were mustered out with
the regiment; two officers resigned; one officer was discharged
for promotion outside the regiment; six men were discharged for
disability; ten men were discharged by order; two men were discharged
for promotion; six men were transferred and two died. Total 123.
Company I, Lynn--Three officers and 94 men were mustered out with the
regiment; one officer died; one man was discharged for disability;
one man was discharged; five men were discharged by order; two men
were discharged for promotion; four men were transferred; four died
and two deserted. Total 117.
Company K, Danvers--Three officers and 93 men were mustered out with
the regiment; two officers resigned; five men were discharged for
disability; six men were discharged by order; one man was discharged
for promotion; one man was dishonorably discharged; four men were
transferred, one died and one deserted. Total 117.
Company L, Lawrence--Three officers and 98 men were mustered out with
the regiment; two officers resigned; two men were discharged for
disability; two men were discharged by reason of being minors; one
man was discharged by order; one man was discharged for promotion;
five men were transferred, two died and one deserted. Total 117.
Company M, Somerville--Three officers and 89 men were mustered out
with the regiment; eight men were discharged for disability; one man
was discharged by reason of being a minor; five men were discharged
by order; one man was discharged by promotion; ten men were
transferred; two died and one deserted. Total 120.
* * * * *
By the foregoing it will be seen that Company B of Amesbury had the
largest number of entries upon its rolls during the year, 127, while
Company F of Haverhill had the smallest, 113. Company E of Beverly
was the only company which did not have a death among its members
during the term of service.
There were ten states and eighty-nine cities and towns represented in
the regiment, according to the residences as given upon the muster
out roll on file at the Adjutant-General's office, at the State House.
The ten states were Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont,
Rhode Island, New York, Ohio, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and Georgia.
* * * * *
The cities and towns represented, and the number of men furnished the
regiment by each, are as follows:
Lynn 214; Salem 168; Haverhill 145; Lawrence 114; Newburyport 101;
Somerville 99; Amesbury 96; Gloucester 95; Marblehead 74; Beverly 72,
and Danvers 45. These eleven places represent the home stations of
the companies comprising the regiment; Lynn, of course, furnishing
two companies to the command.
The other places represented in the regiment were as follows: Peabody
19; Boston 20; Lowell 19; Cambridge 15; Marlboro 14; Swampscott
6; Topsfield 8; Merrimac 2; Middleton 4; Ipswich 6; Hamilton 3;
Manchester 2; Essex 3; North Andover 5; Andover 3; Saugus 2; Rockport
8; Melrose 2; Worcester 3; Milford 4; Wakefield 3; South Framingham
5; Greenwood 2; Fitchburg 5; Webster 2; Southbridge 5; Dorchester
7; Charlestown 6; Waltham 2; Chelsea 2; North Cambridge 2; West
Somerville 2; Allston 3; South Lawrence 2; Medford 2; Americus,
Georgia, 2; and South Boston; Everett; Quincy; Wellesley Hills; East
Boston; Pawtucket, R. I.; West Chelmsford; Cambridgeport; Freedom,
N. H.; Washington Court House, Ohio; Concord; Cambridge, Vermont;
Lewiston, Penn.; Middleboro; Portland, Me.; Chatfield, Minn.; Revere;
Seabrook, N. H.; Stoneham; Pittsfield; Newton; Staten Island, New
York; Hingham; Winchester; Cleveland, Ohio; Milton; Keene, N. H.;
Stowe; Roxbury; Madrid, N. H.,; South Hampton, N. H.; Saco, Me.;
Reading; Hyde Park; Kingston, N. H.; Brockton; Dedham; Roslindale;
Cliftondale; Wenham; Boxford and Salisbury, one each.
Of the original men who went to South Framingham with the regiment,
the greater number were single, the muster rolls showing a large
percentage of single men. The companies were then allowed 77 men, and
the figures are as follows:
Married. Single. Total.
Company A, Newburyport, 12 65 77
Company B, Amesbury, 16 61 77
Company C, Marblehead, 15 62 77
Company D, Lynn, 15 62 77
Company E, Beverly, 9 68 77
Company F, Haverhill, 20 57 77
Company G, Gloucester, 13 64 77
Company H, Salem, 14 63 77
Company I, Lynn, 12 65 77
Company K, Danvers, 5 72 77
Company L, Lawrence, 17 60 77
Company M, Somerville, 13 64 77
Field and Staff and N. C. O.
Staff, 10 9 19
--- --- ---
Totals, 170 773 943
On the following pages will be found a complete roster of the
regiment, containing the name of every man who served in the regiment
during its year of service.
The record of each man is a copy of that contained in the muster out
roll, now on file at the Adjutant General's office, State House,
Boston, Mass.
The greatest possible care has been taken to avoid errors, and in
only one case was a change made in a man's record. Upon the muster
out roll the man was charged with being a deserter and also with
having been discharged honorably. After consultation with the company
commander, it was decided that the man should be given the benefit
of an honorable discharge, especially as he was not classified as a
deserter in the summary at the end of the company roll.
It will be noticed that two men, both of whom were former members of
the First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery are credited as enlisting
from Americus, Georgia. This is so stated upon the muster out roll,
and consequently is so printed. They were probably mustered into the
regiment in the Georgia town, hence the reason for being credited to
it. In a few cases the date of transfer of a man from a company to
the band does not agree, one date being recorded on the band roll and
another on the company roll. This is sometimes true as to his place
of residence, but the muster out rolls were followed in these cases.
The full record of the men transferred to the Reserve Ambulance
company, U. S. A., or the Hospital Corps, U. S. A., has been added to
the record. Their record on the muster out roll ends with the day of
their transfer from the regiment, but it was thought best to publish
their full service record, which was secured from the War Department,
through the courtesy of Hon. A. P. Gardner, representative in
Congress from the Sixth Massachusetts district.
_Field and Staff_
PEW, WILLIAM A. JR., Salem, Colonel, April 28, 1898; mustered out
April 28, 1899.
Assigned to command Second Brigade, Third Division, First Army
Corps, May 20 to June 29. Commander of Second Brigade, First Army
Corps, October 28 to October 31, also from November 1 to November
3, and December 17 to December 24.
BAILEY, EDWIN W. M., Amesbury, Lieutenant-Colonel, April 28,
1898, resigned October 28, 1898.
In command of the regiment from May 19 to June 29.
STOPFORD, WILLIAM, Beverly, Major, April 28, 1898;
Lieutenant-Colonel, October 31, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899.
On recruiting service June 11 to June 20. Commanded regiment
by reason of seniority, October 24; October 29 to November 4;
November 8, 17, 18, 27, 28; December 18 to 25, 1898; January 31,
February 1, 22, 25, 26; March 23 to 25, 1899.
GRAVES, FRANK A., Marblehead, Major, April 28, 1898; mustered out
April 28, 1899.
Special duty on General Court Martial, October 26 to November 23
and on detached service, General Court Martial, November 23 to
December 21.
ELDREDGE, EDWARD H., Boston, Major, April 28, 1898; mustered out
April 28, 1899.
Special duty as Inspector Rifle Practice, Third Division, First
Army Corps, June 30 to July 24. Inspector Rifle Practice,
Second Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps, December 13
until departure for Cuba. Inspector Rifle Practice, District of
Matanzas, January 12, 1899. Special duty as Provost Marshal,
District of Matanzas, February 27 to April 3.
COGSWELL, WILLIAM, Boston, Surgeon, April 28, 1898; mustered out
April 28, 1899.