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[Illustration: FIRST LIEUTENANT BROWNING CAPTAIN GROOME SECOND
LIEUTENANT MCFADDEN]
CAMPAIGN
OF THE
First Troop
Philadelphia City Cavalry
APRIL 25--NOVEMBER 11
1898
JAMES COOPER
PHILADELPHIA:
HALLOWELL CO. LTD., PUBLISHERS
14 SOUTH FIFTH STREET
_For all that is good in this little book acknowledgment is due to
Captain John C. Groome, Lieutenant J. Frank McFadden, Lieutenant J.
Willis Martin, Sergeant John Wagner, Jr., Sergeant Robert E.
Glendinning, F. B. Neilson, T. Wallis Huidekoper, Hugh Craig, Jr., and
the publisher. They have provided the photographs and practically all
the material used. Many passages are taken entirely from letters and
other writings of these Troopers. The writer's personal observations
merely covered the time of the Troop's stay at Mt. Gretna, Camp Alger
and Newport News._
CONTENTS.
CHAP. PAGE
I. THE CALL TO ARMS 9
II. THE TROOP AT MT. GRETNA 18
III. DEPARTURE FOR CAMP ALGER 32
IV. FIRST DAYS AT CAMP ALGER 37
V. CAMP ALGER AND NEWPORT NEWS 46
VI. LIFE ABOARD A TROOP SHIP 56
VII. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY 65
VIII. THE FIGHT THAT FAILED 74
IX. AFTER THE BATTLE 83
X. HOME AGAIN 99
ILLUSTRATIONS.
PAGE
Captain Groome, Lieuts. Browning and McFadden, _frontispiece_
Troopers Camp at Mt. Gretna, 17
Pistol Practice at Camp Hastings, 30
A Lesson in Horse Throwing, 34
Having Fun with "Hazel," 39
Glimpse into a Troop Ship, 58
Cathedral Virgin del Carmen, 62
Bivouac Outside Cathedral Virgin del Carmen, 63
Bringing the Horses Ashore at Ponce, 65
Camp at Arroyo, 71
En Route to the Battlefield.--Military Road from Guayama to Caney, 77
"Camp Esperanca,"--Guayama in the Distance, 85
At the Beach near Guayama, 87
Return Along the Road from Guayama to Ponce, 93
Hacienda Carmen, 99
Sergeant's Club at Guayama, 103
CHAPTER I.
THE CALL TO ARMS.
When the members of the First Troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry were
summoned to prepare for the annual inspection, on April 23rd, 1898,
there was but one great topic of conversation among the people of the
United States. Early in February, the U. S. Battleship Maine had been
destroyed by an explosion in Havana harbor, and two hundred and
forty-eight American sailors had lost their lives. A board of naval
officers, after daily sessions for seven weeks, had decided that the
destruction of the vessel was not due to an accident; confirming the
popular opinion that the blowing up of this vessel was an act of Spanish
treachery. Both branches of Congress were debating measures regarding
American intervention in the Cuban rebellion, which the natives of that
island had successfully carried on against Spanish rule for three years.
The question of the hour was whether war with Spain was at hand.
That the annual inspection of the Troop occurred just at this time was
merely a coincidence--six months before the plans had been made.
Nothing was changed by the exciting rumors of the day, for the Troopers
belonged to that conservative class of business men, which even at this
time, did not believe in the likelihood of a resort to arms over the
disputes pending between the United States and Spain.
In former years it had been the custom of the Troopers to drill Saturday
afternoons, throughout the spring, in Fairmount Park. This plan had
proven so troublesome that it had been decided to give up every
afternoon for one week previous to the annual inspection for manoeuvres
at Fort Side grounds and omit the Saturday drills in the Park. The
Wednesday before the date set for the first practice, some new horses
for the City Troopers were sent to Fort Washington, and rooms were
secured for the men at Fort Side Inn.
On Monday, April 18th, the Troop having assembled at Fort Side, in
service uniform, fully equipped and mounted, were formed in line
promptly at four o'clock, and at the command of Captain Groome trotted
off to their first drill, which was held in a fine broad meadow
bordering on the Wissahickon, opposite the Inn. After two hours of troop
and squad movements they returned to the Inn, where they learned that
while they had been drilling the House and Senate conferrees had agreed
to a joint resolution in regard to intervention. Throughout the week
the drills continued, and each afternoon showed a marked improvement,
both in the men and horses. The latter soon became accustomed to the
noise of the firing during the skirmish drill, and one hour each day was
spent in drilling in extended order and "as skirmishers." As each
twenty-four hours passed the reports from the nation's capitol showed
war to be closer at hand than upon the preceding day. On Wednesday
despatches from Washington were printed in all papers saying that the
National Guard would be called out within forty-eight hours and sent to
camp at Mt. Gretna, Pa. Captain Groome quietly passed word along the
line to make ready, and arrangements were completed with the
Pennsylvania Railroad to transport the Troopers to the State camp,
direct from Fort Washington, should need arise. In fact there was a
general hope among the men that in this way the dreaded farewells from
loved ones might be avoided. Thursday night the President signed the
resolutions of Congress, which stated that American troops would be sent
to Cuba at once to end the war. At the same time an ultimatum was sent
to Spain to withdraw her troops from the island quietly or prepare for
invasion. It was announced that Spain had been given forty-eight hours
in which to answer. Her only reply was to despatch her best fleet
westward.
On Saturday, the day of the Troopers inspection, President McKinley
issued a call for 125,000 volunteers. While this fact overshadowed all
others, the Troopers made a splendid showing that afternoon, and were
heartily congratulated upon their high state of efficiency by Major
Sweeney, Inspector of the First Brigade.
Sunday was the last day of rest at home that the Troopers were to enjoy
for months to come. On the following Monday, Governor Hastings ordered
the State Troops to mobilize at Mt. Gretna Thursday. President
McKinley's call had made no requisition for cavalry, but Captain Groome
received a personal telegram from Governor Hastings saying that the
Troop would be wanted without question, and the usual printed notices
were sent out, ordering the men to be at the armory ready to start at
five o'clock Thursday morning. As a matter of fact, a majority of the
Troopers spent the two preceding days there, helping pack the stores and
equipments, and getting everything in perfect condition.
Wednesday night all was in readiness, and the cavalrymen's spirits were
high as they read in the evening papers how Sampson's fleet was engaged
in bombarding Matanzas, and how the Spaniards were rushing work upon
their fortifications in Cuba and Porto Rico.
War had been begun without any formal declaration. Spain had refused to
answer the American ultimatum and had given Minister Woodford his
passports, thus breaking diplomatic relations. At once the United States
fleet, off the Cuban coast, began to capture Spanish vessels. Then, at
the request of the President, Congress passed a declaration to the
effect that a state of war had existed between the United States and
Spain since Monday, April 25th.
At this time Spain was credited with having two powerful fleets of a
strength almost equal to that of the United States Navy, and with
possessing an army in Cuba and Porto Rico of 150,000 well seasoned,
splendidly drilled men; war problems were admittedly assuming a graver
aspect each day.
All the forces of nature seemed combined, on Thursday morning, to deter
the City Troopers from their expressed intention of joining the
volunteer army. Faint-hearted men would surely have been terrified at
the first view presented of the hardships of a soldier's life. It was
freezing cold, yet a sort of rain was falling that at times became hail
and at times came down as snow. Whatever form the downfall took, it
soaked through all coverings and chilled to the bone those compelled to
endure its pelting attack. An icy wind was twisting and cutting through
the streets of the city.
When the Troopers stepped from their comfortable homes into the storm,
it was not yet five o'clock. Daylight was scarce as strong as the light
from the lamps still burning in the streets; deep slush covered the
streets and sidewalks. Singly, and by groups of two or threes, the
cavalrymen slipped and splashed their way to the old armory on
Twenty-first Street.
Roll call at five o'clock found, out of the sixty-six active members of
the Troop, the following present: Captain John C. Groome, First
Lieutenant Edward Browning, Assistant Surgeon Charles H. Frazier, Cornet
Richard Tilghman, First Sergeant J. Willis Martin, Quartermaster
Sergeant William C. Lott, Sergeants R. E. Glendinning, John Wagner, Jr.,
Frederick Thibault, C. Emory McMichael and William H. Hart; Corporals
William E. Bates, Charles H. Smith, John Houston Merrill and Francis A.
Thibault; Trumpeters Pugh and Singer; Privates A. Mercer Biddle, Frank
B. Bower, Ward Brinton, Thomas Cadwalader, Jay Cooke, 3d, Francis L.
Cramp, Herman A. Denckla, George L. Farnum, J. Edward Farnum, William I.
Forbes, Persifor Frazier, Jr., H. Percy Glendinning, Henry S. Godfrey,
Samuel Goodman, Francis E. Green, Robert E. Griffith, Guston A.
Heckscher, T. Wallis Huidekoper, Francis A. Janney, Charles K. Lennig,
George McFadden, Percy C. Madeira, Richard W. Meirs, Frederick B.
Neilson, Edward P. Rawle, Benjamin B. Reath, Samuel K. Reeves, J.
Ridgway Reilly, James M. Rhodes, Jr., Thomas Ridgway, Henry D. Riley,
Thomas Robb, Jr., Adolph G. Rosengarten, Mitchell G. Rosengarten, Jr.,
Edward K. Rowland, Reginald K. Shober, James Starr, J. C. Stevens,
Edward C. Taylor, Nelson B. Warden, William G. Warden, Bromley Wharton
and Alexander W. Wister, Jr. The absentees were: Second Lieutenant J.
Frank McFadden, who was coming to rejoin his command as fast as the
"Lucania" could bring him from Europe; George Thayer, who had cabled
from Ireland that he would return upon the first available vessel; H. C.
Butcher, who was in the mountains near Cripple Creek beyond the reach of
telegrams, and who at that time did not know war was talked of; W.
Goodman and S. Chew, who were in a similar condition of ignorance
somewhere in the Klondike regions of Alaska, and Corporal Borie, sick in
bed with typhoid fever.
Just at 5.50 the ringing notes of the bugle sounded assembly. At six
o'clock came "boots and saddles." Ten minutes later the men mounted and
rode out into the icy rain, each man wearing the service uniform, heavy
overcoat and poncho, and armed with saber, Springfield carbine (cal. 45)
and Colts' revolver (cal. 38), and with the blanket, mess outfit,
haversack and nose bag, and two days' rations securely strapped to the
saddle.
With bowed heads they slowly passed to the Reading siding at the corner
of Twenty-third and Arch Streets, where the long troop train was
waiting. Quartermaster Sergeant Lott and his detail having loaded all
the stores and camp equipage before the arrival of the Troop, there was
nothing for the men to do but load their horses on the cars. Inside of
half an hour the last horse had been loaded, and the Troop was ready to
start. For nearly an hour, however, they remained in the cars at the
siding, and "last" good-bys were said over again to the few remaining
friends who had braved the weather to see the cavalrymen off. Finally at
7.30 the engine gave a warning toot, and the train pulled slowly out
amid prolonged cheers.
Delays innumerable and inexplainable occurred on that journey, and a
trip which ordinarily requires less than three hours consumed, in the
Troopers' case, an entire day; so that the shades of evening were added
to the gloom which had prevailed all day when Camp Hastings was
reached. From the cars the Troopers tramped a half mile, up and down
hill, to a little valley which had been designated as their camp site.
[Illustration: TROOPERS CAMP AT MT. GRETNA.]
After the flood of the day the valley was ankle deep in mud, and a more
discouraging prospect than confronted the Troopers would be hard to
imagine. No shelter had been prepared for them, nor could any be
secured. By some mistake, on the part of others, their tents had not yet
arrived from the State Arsenal. All buildings about the camp grounds
were crowded with the constantly increasing throngs of infantrymen, each
troop train upon its arrival adding to the thousands of shelterless
soldiers.
A half dozen of the largest Troopers were sent out to forage, and while
they were gone arrangements were made, through the courtesy of Captain
Warburton, with the men of Battery A to share their tents for the night.
The battery had arrived the day before and was comfortably located. Of
course the doubling up of quarters caused crowding, but the grateful
Troopers, wet and tired as they were, were soon dreaming their first
soldier dreams, while the rain beat a mournful tattoo on the canvas
overhead.