[Illustration: "STARTS US ON OUR JOURNEY AND THE BEGINNING OF OUR
LITTLE WORLD OF WARFARE."]
IN CAMP WITH
L COMPANY
[Illustration]
Second Regiment
New Jersey Volunteer Infantry
[Illustration]
BY
CORPORAL GEORGE W. PETTY
[Illustration]
WYNKOOP HALLENBECK CRAWFORD CO.
PRINTERS
NEW YORK AND ALBANY
To the officers, and the men in the ranks, of my company, and to the
memory of departed comrades, this book is respectfully dedicated.
The Author
"God of all nations! Sovereign Lord!
In Thy dread name we draw the sword
We lift the starry flag on high
That fills with light our stormy sky."
PREFACE
[Illustration]
In writing this book it has not been my purpose to compile a history
of our Company, which would necessitate the gathering together of its
records, which of themselves would be dry and uninteresting to the
average reader, but such a narrative as would give to our friends a
wider knowledge of our everyday life while in the service, and to my
comrades that feeling of kinship so dear to the soldier's heart.
PART FIRST
THE MUSTERING
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
Company L was organized and mustered into the State service June
22, 1893, and assigned as the 11th company of the Second Regiment
with headquarters at Paterson, with the following officers: Addison
Ely, Captain; Wilkin Bookstaver, First Lieutenant; Joseph J. Blake,
Second Lieutenant. Lieutenant Bookstaver resigned in February, 1896,
Lieutenant Blake was promoted to First Lieutenant and First Sergeant
Robert A. Brunner was promoted to Second Lieutenant. From its first
season at rifle practice the Company was a decided factor in the
making up of the State records; the first year, out of fifty-six
companies it stood sixth, in 1895 it was fourth and in 1897 second
on the list with ten sharpshooters and fifty-eight marksmen, pushing
Company C of Paterson hard for first honors, that company having twelve
sharpshooters and sixty marksmen. A match was arranged in the fall of
'97 between the companies composing the Second Battalion, E, F, G and
L, ten men constituting a team; this match we won handily.
Matches between the squads proved exciting and interesting, the prize
being a silver loving cup donated by Lieutenant Brunner. Our range
being on the meadows not only insured safety, but was actually one of
the best ranges used by any Company in the State. Our discipline was
excellent and our annual inspection invariably showed 100 per cent.
The armory was built during the winter of 1896-7, and was formally
opened in March, 1897, with a grand fair which was honored by a visit
of Governor Griggs and a large number of military and civic officers.
It cost about $20,000, and contains, besides a large drill-room, a well
appointed stage, meeting rooms and living apartments.
During the winter of 1897-8 particular attention was given to
Regimental, Battalion and Company drills in extended order and when
spring opened and the mutterings of war were heard, the Company had
been drilled quite thoroughly in battle exercises, and an enthusiasm
had been instilled, so that every man was on his mettle. It was
natural, then, that when the orders came the Company was enabled to
turn out a larger percentage of National Guardsmen than any other
Company in the regiment. The personnel of the entire body insured an
honorable mention in the State annals. Our officers were capable and
well liked; and the non-commissioned officers, that body of men in our
armies which are the fighting unit, were a potent factor in our make
up. How well these officers and subs did their duty the records of
details, escorts, provost guards, etc., will show.
[Illustration]
April 30, 1898, the orders we had been expecting arrived and from
this time on a nervous excitement prevailed in the armory and spread
for miles around. Final visits were made; business affairs wound up;
underclothing bought, and when Sunday evening arrived it found us all
ready to start. During the night the telegraph ticked off the rumors
of the battle in Manila harbor, and at dawn all the country was aflame
with patriotism and eager to know the facts. Every hour brought fresh
tidings of that grand victory and it was with lighter hearts and more
cheerful faces that we set about our final task.
Everywhere now was bustle and excitement, but it was freely predicted
that we would not get further than Sea Girt, and we heard this repeated
so often that we began to be rather anxious to be off, as if afraid the
war would end before we had fairly got in it. The time to don our war
togs came at last; mothers, sisters and sweethearts were given final
injunctions not to worry, just as if we expected they would obey, and
then we repaired to the armory, where the excitement was at fever heat
and the crowd of sightseers outside pushed and swayed, the boys were
impatient to be off. The clear notes of the bugle sound the assembly.
The command to fall in is given. The drill-room is hushed, but the
excitement is still there. Impatient commands are given and finally the
sharp command, "March!" starts us on our journey and the beginning of
our little world of warfare.
But bedlam had broken loose. Steadily we marched out of the doorway,
only to face a great crowd. Our feelings were various at this time, I
doubt not. Personally I wanted to get away from that crowd and felt
angry that they should be cheering so, not daring to look aside, but
deaf to all the shouts of encouragement. I was fully realizing the
fact that it was not such a fine thing to leave home and friends for
a perilous two years of strife and bloodshed. Finally reaching the
station by a circuitous route, we waited fully an hour for the train.
This was extremely trying to us, but amid an outburst of cheers we
boarded it bound for camp, and now our spirits rose, for we were off,
and instead of looking behind it was forward, and we determined then
and there to make the best of everything as we found it, and that duty
in its plainest, boldest light lay before us, and now was the time
to begin. Our officers and non-coms were hurrying through the cars,
making up lists, detailing guards, making assignments. Every engine we
passed saluted us with deafening screeches; factory, street and doorway
contributed their share of waving handkerchiefs and cheering crowds,
the streets of Newark near the station were packed with people, and so
the patriotism followed us all the way to Sea Girt, which was reached
at four in the evening.
Immediately disembarking, we formed rapidly and marched to the camp
grounds, passing in review before the Governor. This was my first view
of the War Man of our State. Standing upon a horse block in front of
the White House with uncovered head and a sober, serious countenance,
Governor Voorhees impressed me with the belief that he, at least, felt
the full responsibility of his position. Well and nobly did he fill
it. From Trenton he brought his headquarters to Sea Girt and there he
stayed until he saw the last regiment depart for the south, having
ceaselessly urged forward equipments, personally looked after the
comfort of the men, taken a deep and thoughtful interest in all our
surroundings, and finally bid us Godspeed upon our journey, a loyal,
devout patriot.
As we marched to our streets ominous mutterings and black storm clouds
in the west warned us to get sheltered as quickly as possible; and at
the word, ranks were broken and a wild scramble for tents began; but we
were soon roused out again to get sacks of straw to sleep upon. This
news was comforting, for the fresh green sod, still moist from recent
rains, was anything but inviting. The sacks were intended for two
battalions. Our battalion was to have had cots. There was considerable
confusion and orders got mixed, so we sailed in with the other fellows
to get sacks. These were stored at the rear of the mess houses about
200 yards back of the camp. Eight hundred men got the order at the same
time and all made a dash for the pile. The sacks were about seven feet
long and it was a most ludicrous spectacle to see the men dragging
these clumsy things after them. The field seemed alive with great brown
ants crawling after each man. The boys enjoyed the fun greatly. Guards
were being posted and we soon made ready for the night. While the
blankets were being issued it commenced to rain; and after eating the
last crust of bread we had brought from home, we turned in and slept
soundly.
Tuesday we received cots, while those tents which could boast of floors
were given the sacks.
The rations or "grub" served the first day consisted of a small piece
of steak and a whole loaf of bread. The bread broken in half with the
meat between would make a home made sandwich that could be eaten on
the installment plan. The loaf was our allowance of bread for the day.
Coffee of rather doubtful quality was served, also one whole boiled
potato, and some of them appeared to have grown for a couple of years.
This breakfast was duplicated every day during the week. At dinner the
meat ration was varied by bacon, liver or fish.
Mustering officers and surgeons were very busy all the time, and
companies of the First and Third were constantly passing our tents,
to and from the mustering field. Orders were received to hurry up the
mustering of the Second Regiment. Rumor had it that we were to go to
Washington in a few days, the Third to stay and the First to go to
Chickamauga Park to act with the Regulars in the contemplated invasion
of Cuba. During the week the showers and wet fields kept us continually
indoors and the first Sunday in camp it rained a flood. The streets
were turned into quagmires and every now and then the slip-slop of some
soldier passing the tent made the situation all the more gloomy.
[Illustration]
Detailed news of Commodore Dewey's victory in Manila harbor reached
us Sunday morning. The completeness of it, with such slight injury to
ourselves, was pronounced as marvelous and cheering broke through the
sodden air, stirring the dripping camp to life and action.
This day was my initiation as Corporal in Guard Mounting and, although
the Junior Corporal present, I was detailed to take out the first
relief. It rained incessantly and at nine in the evening the guard was
dismissed. My face then was quite numb from exposure. At three o'clock
the next morning the guard resumed its duty.
The second week turned out to be a pretty stiff one for drills, the
weather being less wet. Friday, May 13th, we were examined by Surgeon
Brien of our Regiment and all but four passed. One man failed to
report; he had left camp for home. In the evening G Company started out
with fife and drum to have a good time. They carried nearly the whole
Battalion with them to the quarters of the commanding officers, who
were repeatedly called out and made short speeches amid much cheering,
after which the boys paraded through the camp. They were received with
considerable enthusiasm in every street. The escapade proved welcome,
for it diverted our thoughts from the weather.
I had been temporarily assigned to the Quartermaster's Department
shortly after our arrival at camp and was kept quite busy all the
time making up schedules of equipments for each Regiment, and these
were completed only within a few days of our departure south. Col.
George G. Felton, Deputy Quartermaster-General, was in charge and
was a most efficient officer. His department was a hive of industry,
unloading cars, filling quotas, making out lists and distributing to
the regiments, and when everything had been supplied he viewed with
satisfaction as well an equipped force as ever entered the volunteer
service of the United States.
[Illustration: SEA GIRT, N.J., MAY, 1898.]
While serving here I missed a number of marches the Company
participated in, the most notable being the march along the beach and
through the thick woods and swamps, ending with a vigorous charge over
the sand hills bordering the ocean.
The manual of arms used by the National Guard was abruptly changed
to conform to the army manual and this change was brought about in
an incredibly short time under the able instruction of our First
Lieutenant, and the movements were executed with marked precision.
Considerable attention was given to setting up exercises as practiced
by the United States Army, so that we became quite proficient in the
simpler movements. Though not having enough clear days to go more
deeply into the more difficult exercises, the Regiment in companies
would be at times seen on the field and it proved quite an interesting
sight.
The interesting ceremony of transforming us into soldiers of the
United States Army occurred on Saturday afternoon, May 14th, before
a large crowd of excursionists. Captain Ely being absent, Lieutenant
Blake formed the Company a little after noon and marched us to the
front of the mustering tent. Upon the arrival of the Captain the
ceremony proceeded.
As our names were called we formed in double time to the right of the
officer, the Sergeants and Corporals making the alignment. This was
to prove our actual presence. The names were again called. This time
the officers formed the first line, the non-commissioned officers the
second, and the balance, the third line, in company formation. An
opportunity to withdraw was then given, the penalties for disobedience,
desertion and other crimes enumerated in the articles of war were
explained. He then ordered us to take off our caps, raise our right
hands and swear to uphold the Government, fight _all_ its enemies and
be true soldiers of the United States, "so help me God." The Regiment
was mustered the next day.
The First Regiment received its marching orders May 16th and on the
19th we were formed to escort this finely equipped Regiment to the
station. They were bound for Camp Alger, near Washington, D.C. It was
believed at the time that this Regiment was to go to Cuba with the
first invading army and it was with intense interest that we watched
these stalwart men, most of them of Irish fighting stock, loaded down
with their equipments march silently past. We gave them a cheer and
a Godspeed as their train drew out. The episode sent us back to camp
thinking hard over the uncertainties of life and what was to be the
outcome of the war.
Up to this time the wet weather had made Sunday services impossible,
but Sunday, May 21st, was a grand day and after inspection of quarters
the men of the Second and Third Regiments assembled on the lawn at
the White House, while flags gayly fluttered, visitors arriving in
their best attire, carriages and bicycles on the outskirts, with
the ever-present green sward as a background stretching down to the
sea, made a memorable picture and as the Governor stepped from the
threshold of his cottage he could not but admire the pretty scene.
He motioned that his chair should be placed in the midst of "his boys"
instead of a more favorable position but apart from them. He took a
lively interest in the service and sang "Onward Christian Soldiers"
with as much vim as anybody. Chaplain Glazbrook of the Third early
interested his hearers by citing during his discourse an ancient fable
of an invincible, conquering warrior and his ultimate end.
As far as appearances went, the last week in camp turned us all into
sure enough soldiers, having been fully equipped for field service.
The distributing of underwear and clothing was unique in its way. Our
Quartermaster took my measure: For blouse, 36-inch; for trousers,
32-inch × 30-inch. This is what was issued to me: Blouse, 38-inch;
trousers, 34-inch × 31-inch; blue shirt, 15-1/2-inch; shoes, nothing
smaller than 8 or 9. After much protesting I finally consented to take
the above to be exchanged later. That later never came. Our Uncle
Sammy evidently believed in giving all his soldier boys plenty of room
for development.
Each Company now had a cooking arrangement, known as a "Buzzacott,"
invented by a private of that name in the Regular Army. It consisted of
a number of flat bars of iron welded together and resting on legs one
foot from the ground and so joined together as to fold up or take apart
as necessity demanded, the whole arrangement making a gridiron about
two feet wide by four feet long when in use; one field desk and cooking
utensils, while each man was provided with one suit of underwear,
socks, blue shirt, trousers and blouse of state uniform, campaign
hat, web cartridge belt, Springfield rifle, leggings, kit--viz, one
each combination frying pan and plate, knife, fork, tablespoon and
cup--haversack, knapsack, poncho, blanket and canteen. This outfit
would become complete when we received fifty rounds of ammunition and
it was just about as much as we could stagger under.
Manasquan had always been an enticing place even during our short stay
at camp for rifle practice in former years and it became doubly so now
as the boys formed acquaintances there, and notwithstanding the orders,
guard running was becoming quite an art and up to this time had been
very successful, so when an order was read at dress parade prescribing
penalties relating to this subject there were many long faces in the
ranks. These penalties were graded according to the seriousness of the
offense: guard house one to six days, ditto on bread and water; again
for absence without leave, "Carrying a forty pound pack six hours a day
for four days." The guilty ones were often seen fore and aft of a wagon
bringing sand from the beach for the low places in "Shoulder Strap row"
and doing other "chores."
The sentries were given strict orders to prevent this running out at
night and the bayonet was sometimes used with disagreeable effect. The
bands of discipline were tightened and the Regiment took a great brace.
The parades were superb and brought crowds from all the nearby towns,
and now that the sun shone the parade ground was a beautiful sight,
stretching down to the sea with its hundreds of tents laid out in
strict accordance to regulations.
Tent pitching and striking was practiced at every favorable opportunity
and was under the charge of a line officer, each Company detail under
the immediate supervision of its Artificer, assisted by the Sergeants
and Corporals.
[Illustration]
Thursday, May 25th, we formed for escort of the Third Regiment. We
had a different feeling this time, more of sympathy than otherwise,
for they were to do garrison duty at Fort Hancock, Sandy Hook
fortifications and at Pompton Plains to guard the powder mills there.
It rained hard at midnight just as each section was disembarking at its
destination. The Fort Hancock detail had a particularly sorry time of
it after leaving the cars.
Monday, May 30th, was observed as a holiday and enough men were gotten
together to form a battalion for the purpose of assisting the G.A.R.
at their services in Manasquan. This battalion was composed entirely
of the Sons of Veterans of the Civil War and was a striking example
of how fighting blood runs down through generations. That evening we
had parade and review before the Governor. A telegram from the War
Department was read in orders directing the Regiment to proceed at once
to Chickamauga Park.
This order was the prevailing topic of conversation for the rest
of the evening. During the night long trains of cars arrived, but
notwithstanding the nearness of our departure for the actual seat
of war, and Chickamauga was recognized as only a stepping stone to
Tampa, where the invading army was gathering, we slept soundly and
peacefully. Such was the effect of the fresh salt breezes from the
ocean and the outdoor life that in one short month our nervous systems
had been completely renovated, and exciting events could not make any
inroads upon our time for repose, but we always rose fresh and bright
at daylight, ready for the day's drills and exercises. Tuesday broke
bright and clear and found most of our "traps" packed and awaiting
final orders. I hastily arranged to take a night at home. All furloughs
had been stopped, but mine was "managed" with a few others, thanks
to our commanding officer. After visiting everybody we could in the
short time allotted to us we started for camp again Wednesday morning.
Arriving there at noon, we found all the tents down, baggage being
packed and the men sitting on their knapsacks eating hard tack. A few
lucky ones were eating sandwiches.
There was work ahead for me, however, and I was soon assisting on the
Company rolls, which were being made up for (as we thought) State pay.
While this was going on the Company was marched out and photographed.
It was a good picture, but unfortunately the Captain and a number of
men were left out, owing to absence on details. The sun shone from
an unclouded sky and with direct fierceness as if to atone for its
shyness for the past four weeks. Everything now being ready, tents and
baggage loaded, we marched out in heavy marching order and were again
photographed. Orders now arrived rapidly and we were soon forming for a
final review before the Governor.
Crowds had come down to see us off, and many were the tearful
farewells and handshakes. But what a load our equipments made. We had
discarded all the comforts and a great many things we believed we
could do without, but still there was an immense dead weight in those
knapsacks and the tinkling cups dangling from our haversacks added
to this discomfort. The repeated warnings and commands of "close up,
close up," caused the men, heavily loaded as they were, to jostle each
other while the veins in their foreheads stood out like whip cords.
The tremendous physical strain, together with the heat, made this a
never-to-be forgotten march, and was only equalled by the celebrated
"dust march" at the end of our journey. With very little delay we
boarded our section and with many a frantic farewell we started on our
long and eventful journey to the land of palms and soft breezes.
PART SECOND
THE JOURNEY SOUTH
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
At three thirty in the afternoon, June 2d, 1898, we pulled out of the
station at Sea Girt and immediately proceeded to make ourselves as
comfortable as possible. Each man had a seat to himself, these being
of the low backed variety. Our equipments we hung on the package
racks, and they jangled and banged with every movement of the car. We
had hardly gotten settled in our seats when we became aware that the
population all along our route had turned out to see us, and every
little cross road had its group of farm wagons and country people, who
had been there for hours, and cheered us as we passed. Our journey
became a continual ovation, which reached its height as we swung past
Monmouth Junction. At this place occurred the most touching sight it
was my fortune to witness during our eventful journey. As we drew
near the station a series of whistles brought every head in the car
to the window. Every doorstep, garden and fence had its waving flag.
The school children had been dismissed and had marched in a body to
the long freight platform at the depot. Along the whole front of this
line of children was stretched the national colors, while from their
hands waved the Emblem of Guardianship to our homes and little ones,
and tiny voices were singing patriotic songs. Up to this time I had
been skeptical of the patriotism of our people, believing that the
enthusiasm heretofore witnessed was merely a personal feeling, but
here were people utter strangers to us, bringing their children. And
why? Evidently to instill in their young minds that love of country
which they themselves had and for which many of them had suffered a
generation ago. All this burst upon me with indescribable rapidity and
I know that I was not the only one in that car who had something in
his throat which he did not like to speak of. Shortly after we struck
the main line of the P. & R.R.R. We reached Trenton at five o'clock
and crossed the Delaware. We were now going through a section much
travelled over by the opposing forces in the Revolutionary War, and
now occurred an altogether surprising and somewhat touching incident.
My tent-mate and I being seated opposite each other were admiring the
scenery; we had lost our bearings somewhat and had only a faint idea
as to where we were, when the train suddenly emerged from the hills
and presented before us a most beautiful landscape. He immediately
recognized it as the fertile and rich Chester Valley. He had lived in
this valley until he was nineteen years of age and became quite excited
as he found we would pass the threshold of his home, where he had left
his mother, brothers and sisters the week before. He knew all the
points of interest. On the ridge yonder was Washington's headquarters
where his shoeless army shivered and shook in their tattered garments
at Valley Forge during the winter of 1777-8. The remarkably clear
atmosphere enabled the General with his glasses to sweep the valley
for twenty miles. How many anxious glances he must have given in the
direction of Philadelphia. A short distance farther on we crossed
the Brandywine, that memorable stream on which the disastrous battle
was fought and Philadelphia was laid open to the enemy. There was
the stone dwelling in which the British General Gage, of Bunker Hill
fame, was when the information was brought him of the band of Patriots
sleeping peacefully around some hay ricks at Paoli, which resulted in
their surprise and massacre. Then we approached his home and he looked
eagerly to see if any one was around the house, but there was no one.
The carpenter shop in which he had learned his trade was pointed out.
We passed Phoenixville and my enthusiastic friend kept naming over the
villages, and often the names of householders within several miles of
his old home. Lime of the best quality is found in the soil of this
valley and accounts for the fertility of it. The sun now began to
sink in a blaze of gold and about eight in the evening we drew into
Harrisburg.
[Illustration]
Harrisburg is noted far and wide for its steel and iron industries,
and it was a most interesting sight to see the tall chimneys along
the approach to the city vomiting forth columns of flame high in the
air, lighting the whole neighborhood, while inside the foundries great
masses of red hot metal glowed and sparkled while going through the
molding process. But we never dreamed there were so many pretty girls
there, in fact we were literally besieged as soon as our section
arrived in the car sheds. Our officers were very positive in their
order that no one should leave the cars, so we had to look cheerful
while a fellow from some other Company walked off with the girl who
had turned up such a bewitching, beseeching face for "just a little
button." The boys from eleven companies of the Regiment had a mighty
good time while we were waiting here, but some of the girls didn't
mind being pulled up to a window and paying a forfeit as long as they
got the button, and when the trains finally drew out again the boys of
Company L had quite pleasant dreams of the Harrisburg girls. We had
been waiting here for about two hours when our Junior Lieutenant came
into the car and with a cheerfully serious face announced: "Well boys
we are in for it now; we are bound for Jacksonville, Florida." I think
an electric current must have passed through the car at that instant,
everybody jumped out of their seats so quickly. Jacksonville and Tampa
were about the same in our minds. It seems that Chickamauga Park was
filling too rapidly with troops and transportation was getting clogged;
hence the switching us off to the south. It was estimated that we had
gone about three hundred miles out of our way. About eleven o'clock
we drew out of Harrisburg, taps were sounded through the trains and
all lights were extinguished. We found that the only way of taking
a comfortable sleep was as follows: The back of one seat was swung
upright and held in position by our rifles placed under one end; we
then took out each seat and placed them crosswise; the lower ends would
be under the upright backs. This gave us room to stretch ourselves at
full length, and by putting our blankets under our heads for a pillow
we managed to sleep fairly well. We arrived in Washington during the
early hours of the morning and were awakened by the train starting
out again at daylight. We caught a glimpse of the monument and the dome
of the Capitol as we were rushed across the Potomac. In Alexandria,
the town made famous in 1861 by the tragic death of Colonel Ellsworth,
the white people were still sleeping and only stray negroes were out
to see us pass. We skirted the Potomac for some miles, when we turned
westward and southward. At Widewater we stopped for water and I plucked
two daisies from Virginia soil and sent them home in a letter. This
section of country which we traversed was as desolate and uncultivated
a region as I ever want to see. It was totally unexpected and wholly
disappointing. Vast fields in Virginia appeared as if the growing of
grass was a hardship. Here and there a negro's log cabin, with its ten
by ten garden of dwarf corn, with perhaps a bed of peanuts or sweet
potatoes, reminded us that we had not left civilization entirely.
[Illustration: "NEGRO LOG CABIN, WITH ITS TEN BY TEN GARDEN PATCH OF
CORN AND PEANUTS."]
As we rode swiftly towards the South a great disappointment was felt
that we were not to go through the cities of Virginia--Fredericksburg,
Petersburg and Richmond, historical places that we were peculiarly
anxious to see. These were skirted or passed some distance away, but
we caught a glimpse of the spires of Richmond and it set us all agog.
We passed into North Carolina and soon entered Weldon, the scene of
several cavalry engagements. After leaving this city we passed through
miles of desolate country, over which once waved the tall and stately
pines, but now only the blackened stumps greeted us. Occasionally a
small forest was passed, which looked amid the general destruction as
if it had been forgotten by the axeman.
These small forests, which had been used only for tapping for
turpentine and resin, contained trees sixty or seventy feet high,
straight as an arrow, with the lowest branches twenty feet from the
ground. These trees were about the only interesting features of this
whole region of piney atmosphere. Occasionally we caught a glimpse of
some far away range of mountains, but the view was quickly lost. At
Henderson we stopped for water and our ice coolers were refilled. The
water was gotten to the coolers through the top of the car by means of
hose from a hydrant at the station. This refilling was done hurriedly
and they were not very particular as to the direction in which the hose
pointed, hence quite a few sorry looking soldiers.
As we were slowly crossing over one of the many muddy streams of North
Carolina a workman called out to us: "Be you un's come all the way from
New Jersey?" "Yes." "And be you un's all goin' to Cuba?" "Yes." "Well
you un's had better all go right back, for its hotter 'n hell-fire down
there." A peculiar thing I noticed was the absence of all enthusiasm
among the groups of people we occasionally met in the wilderness
through which we passed. Most of these were negroes, but in nearly
every group of black-faced humanity could be seen the fair face of the
white girl, "Missus's little lamb," who took the household with her to
see the Yankee soldiers, whose fathers years before had tramped through
that very region, leaving burning forests and even cities in their
wake. We entered Raleigh and passed the encampment where the State
militia had mobilized. Soon after leaving Hamlet darkness descended,
taps were sounded and we prepared for our second night's repose.
We woke next morning as the train was crossing the Savannah river
and immediately afterward entered Augusta, Ga., just as the cocks
were crowing, having passed through South Carolina during the night.
Here we enjoyed the luxury of a good wash and we needed it badly. The
only water obtainable on the cars was in the water coolers and they
had been empty a long while. Augusta gave us quite a welcome. It had
been steadily getting warmer and warmer, until now as we pulled out
of Augusta at about 8 a.m. the thermometer in the car marked 87°; at
noon it was 95°, where it remained until far into the afternoon. Upon
leaving Augusta we noticed for the first time the unmistakable signs
of the tropics, great ferns, seven and eight feet high, which had rank
growth in the swamps lining our route. Here and there scrub palmettos
reared their graceful branches like giant hands bestowing a blessing
upon the smaller growth beneath, and farther south loomed the shaggy
headed cabbage palmetto, the sight of which recalled the brave fight
at Fort Moultrie off Charleston in 1776, which fort was built almost
entirely of palmetto logs, the principal advantage being the fact that
they did not splinter when struck. We passed vast swampy areas of
tangled scrub, out of which we could almost expect to see alligators
show their bony snouts.
[Illustration]
We stopped at Millen near noon to take our coffee. This town was burned
when Sherman's troops marched through on their way to Augusta. It was a
sleepy sort of a town. No one seemed to have any business to attend to.
The stores were one story affairs, and upon entering we would select
whatever we wanted and drop the nickel in the hand of the proprietor,
who was seated at the door. The only busy place was the post-office,
which did a thriving business during the hour we halted there. About 2
p.m. we drew into the car sheds at Savannah only long enough to have
the cars inspected. Here the boys were again besieged for buttons and
souvenirs.
All through Georgia were large numbers of hogs, "razor backs," the boys
called them, probably of the same variety as Sherman's "bummers" had
such fun over. They were very lean, had long legs and long snout, with
a decidedly "bad" eye. At one of the stops for water a family was spied
peacefully rooting among the pines, but the furious charge made upon
them by the fun-loving boys soon scattered all but the sow; she defied
them, and they let her alone, but the little fellows could run like
rabbits. Three or four of our boys would corner a little black porker
and suddenly drop on him, but somehow he was never under the pile when
it landed. One, however, was caught and brought squealing into the
cars, but was afterward dropped some distance farther on.
We now sped due south, reaching Waycross late in the afternoon. Beyond
its being a railroad center it was uninteresting. The forests now
presented a truly tropical appearance with festoons of moss hanging
from the branches of the palmettos; with ferns here and there. Against
the dense green of the leaves stood in lovely contrast perfect showers
of beautiful pink blossoms which covered large trees. We were now
nearing Florida, the land of flowers, luscious fruit, ancient buildings
and brilliant fountains of perpetual youth, but now the mecca of
thousands of Uncle Sam's soldiers. It was growing dark as we crossed
the line into the most southern State. We arrived at Jacksonville
station about 10 o'clock. Taps were sounded, lights put out and we
slept soundly.
PART THIRD
CAMP CUBA LIBRE
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
The next morning we were caught napping sure enough--for during the
night the train had taken us out to the camp--bugles were calling to
each other, seemingly right under our "bed-room" windows, and away off
in the distance, the echoes were replying "Can't get 'em up; can't
get 'em up." Then our own buglers had their say, flinging back the
imputation that we were the only ones not up. Then the regimental band
took up the strain. It was a beautiful morning. The sun was just rising
and throwing slanting rays into the trees. All around us were the tents
of soldiers. Sentries with ominous looking cartridges in their belts
were wearily pacing their beats, but ever alert to the slightest move,
for we were now comparatively near to the seat of war. The band ceased
and sharp commands followed. In an incredibly short space of time the
companies nearest us were formed, every coat buttoned, every legging
laced, and the sergeant rapidly calling the roll. We had confidently
believed that we could give points in military efficiency to any
regiment we might come in contact with, but we inwardly confessed right
there and then that this regiment on our left could give us points on
getting out for roll call, and not during all our stay in the army did
we ever succeed in getting anywhere near the example set for us that
morning.
While waiting for the order to proceed to camp we were regaled with
marvelous tales of alligators, rattlesnakes, spiders and poisonous
creeping and flying things of all kinds. We participated in the killing
of a snake under the cars and had a great chase after an immense
spider, which "wasn't near" as "big" as "some," they said, so we
imagined they must have resembled crabs. They had an alligator about
four feet long, which they had caught not 100 feet away in a stream.
About noon we disembarked and with our invincible drum corps leading,
we marched through camp to the site selected for us. This march will
never be forgotten, and it was dubbed "the dust march." Fortunately for
us it was only for about half a mile, but we inhaled more dust then
than we will for the rest of our lives. Indeed, our company got the
full benefit of it, for we were the left or rear company. Wisconsin
and Illinois cheered us. Virginia and North Carolina yelled at us, and
altogether we got a pretty good welcome. Wisconsin took the trouble to
visit us the next day to tell us how glad they were to see us come into
camp, and we took to these hearty Milwaukee lads like a duck to water.
Sunday morning broke bright and clear and we were immediately in the
throes of "house" moving. All the lines of street had to be adjusted,
and it was late in the afternoon before we were finally settled and
could begin "house keeping" in good earnest. All our food so far had
been "travel rations," and the nice things we had brought began to
spoil. It was two days before the commissary could get our rations to
camp, their arrival relieved us greatly.
We were now camped on the left of the regiment, or northeast, getting
the full benefit of the breeze which at noon was sure to come and stay
until after dark. The evenings were fine. Such in the north in the hot
months are rare. The thermometer in the daytime registered 85° to 95°,
while in the evening it marks only 60°; no mosquitoes. The flaps of
tents were generally left open, but ours we closed because near morning
a heavy dew falls and saturates everything exposed and we did not think
it wise to leave them open.
The odor of pines was in the air constantly, and when we went into the
fields for drill a weed, when trampled on, emitted a perfume not unlike
locust blossoms. The fields also were full of the scrub palmettos about
two or three feet high. They were similar to the palm branches so
familiar on Palm Sunday. Another peculiar character in plant life here
was the moss which hangs in shroud-like gracefulness from all kinds
of trees. This moss looks very like curly sea-weed when dry and hangs
in festoons several feet long from the limbs and branches. This moss
some of the Wisconsin boys spread in their tents to sleep upon and it
evidently made comfortable beds.
Sunday I strolled into Jacksonville and watched the soldiers crabbing
from the piers. These crabs they told me were not fit to eat on account
of so much decayed vegetable matter in the St. Johns river, upon which
they feed. A striking feature of the river is the denseness with which
in places it is covered with hyacinths, which at times clog the wheels
of ferry-boats so as to stop navigation. These plants were introduced
here some time back for the purpose of beautifying the banks, having
handsome spikes of bloom. They grow very large. The leaf is much larger
than a pond-lily, and is frequently the home of a poisonous spider.
Tradition tells us that these spiders are to eventually destroy the
plants. I visited St. Johns Episcopal church and was received by the
Secretary of the Woman's Auxiliary, who kindly showed me around. On a
subsequent visit I met the Rector and enjoyed a chat with him on the
porch of the rectory. He told me that fourteen young men of his church
had left for the war. Some of them were from the choir, and I was
invited to take part with the choir in the services during our stay.
Our company had been designated as the Provost Guard, Second Division,
Seventh Army Corps, with Captain Ely as Provost Marshal. What honor
there was in it came from the fact that we were the body guard of
General Lee, and received orders from him only. We became a distinct
body, with the Provost Marshal's headquarters in Jacksonville, near the
General's headquarters. No State pay had come yet and everybody was
"dead broke." The extra blue shirts the boys bought on going to Sea
Girt they were now selling to the Illinois boys to obtain a few cents
to spend.
A canteen had been established which dispensed liquors and soft drinks
only. The men might go to the first sergeant and procure trading orders
on the canteen to the amount of two dollars. This amount was often
cut down to one dollar or less by the Captain, who used his judgment
in the matter. The men would laugh with childish glee upon obtaining
these orders and invite their friends to "come and have something,"
wondering how they had survived so long without it. The amount was soon
used up. The Y.M.C.A. had established a large tent just back of our
company and provided for the use of the regiment a stock of magazines
and periodicals. Also ice-water which was kept in barrels sunk in the
ground. Strange to say, the hospitality of the association was often
abused, but as a rule the boys generally appreciated their kindness.
This tent was supposed to follow the regiment to Cuba or wherever it
went. The soil being of a light sandy loam and mixed profusely with
soot from fires in the pine woods, rose easily with the breeze, which
sprang up about noon every day and gave us a liberal sprinkling of this
dusty compound. To keep the interior of our tent clean, we procured the
tufts of needles which grow thickly on the top of young pines like a
plume as they permitted the dust to sift through them, and when dried
made a couch which was soft and springy. It took about one to one and
a half hours to collect enough needles for one man, and for that reason
the idea was not generally adopted. "Too much trouble."
[Illustration]
The guard duty our company performed was such that we became more or
less a target at which uncomplimentary remarks were hurled by men of
other regiments, and it was only because it was in the line of duty
that it was done so cheerfully. During the week the regiment was paid
by the Government for the month of May, and the city of Jacksonville
was painted a Jersey color from end to end. The other regiments were
paid also, but they were not in it with Jersey. Lieutenant Brunner
reported that he had sent home for the boys amounts aggregating
three hundred dollars. Considerable industry finally erected a "real
bath-house," which contained two sprays and lots of pans for washing
purposes. It is needless to say that this house was the most popular
in camp. The camp was laid out in squares, and the dividing streets of
regiments were provided with stand pipes and troughs, both of which
were used from daylight until midnight. It was especially refreshing
to take a dip after marching until midnight and then creeping between
the blankets, sleep soundly until morning. This water was supplied by
the Jacksonville Water Co., which had four Artesian wells sunk back in
the country and piped to the pumping station in Jacksonville, whence
it was distributed around. One of these wells was nearly one thousand
feet deep. The water never ceased to flow, and was always bright and
sparkling, although rather warm, with a decided taste of sulphur,
which from some wells was positively disagreeable. This water was also
used for fire purposes and, besides its use by the city, supplied ten
thousand soldiers and several corrals of horses and mules for washing
and bathing purposes. The pumping station was guarded night and day,
for suspicious persons had been seen near it. It would have been
dangerous to go too near it after dark. Everything we ate and drank was
carefully guarded.
All the boys were enjoying their stay there immensely. We were getting
better food from the Government than we got at Sea Girt, nor must I
forget to mention that the people of Jacksonville always welcomed us,
and lots of things found their way into our tents. To the Jacksonville
people there was nothing just like the Jerseymen. We were treated with
great kindness. One lady, who said she used to live in New Jersey, sent
us a large can filled with stew, which we accepted with thanks, and it
was excellent, but that very noon we had stew at camp and we were dosed
with stews morning, noon and night. We decided to decline the next
donation.
[Illustration]
We had been away from home just one month and a half and in that
time--although not seeing any actual field service--we believed we had
become pretty thoroughly seasoned in camp life. One month of steady
downpour and half a month of blazing tropical sun was enough to do the
trick. We were housed in as comfortable quarters as possible under
the circumstances. The climate here made us so sleepy and lazy that
at all hours, between eight in the morning and five in the afternoon,
the tents contained sleeping men, and they slept so soundly that
often they would wake to find some joker had been smearing their
faces with soot and grease. Nights in Jacksonville, however, brought
that musical pest we all knew so well, the mosquito. He abounds along
the St. Johns river, and seemed to enjoy good health and strength,
judging from the looks of our boys, who were trying to sleep in provost
headquarters while off guard during the night.
[Illustration: CAMP OF THE SECOND NEW JERSEY REGIMENT JACKSONVILLE,
FLA., 1898.]
We were doing all night work now, relieved by Companies K, Forty-ninth
Iowa, and I, First Wisconsin. This was found necessary after pay-day.
This same day brought a rise in the price of souvenirs, live alligators
and everything the soldier would be likely to buy to send home. What
money the soldier received, if not sent home immediately, was generally
left in saloons, and the storekeepers were merely making a bid for it,
for it must go somewhere and right away too.
[Illustration]