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Muster In

Shortly after 2 o'clock on the afternoon of May 5th, the Eighth marched onto the State Camp Grounds at South Framingham. The Second and Ninth Regiments turned out with a hearty welcome as the Fife and Drum Corps swung through the gate playing "Teddy Was a Sojer."

When the four volunteer regiments were mustered into the service, they dispensed with bands. The Eighth, however, took its drum corps, which as early as March 16th had volunteered, through the Drum Major. Drum Major Thomas was and still is (1908) an institution in the regiment. No one remembers when he was not Drum Major. Rumor says he was drummer boy at Bunker Hill, Lundy Lane and Chepultepec, and all know he marched with Sherman to the sea. Invincible against fever and malaria, he is never sick. Always busy, never complaining or tired, he is a cheerful regimental inspiration. Time does not change him, except as it adds new glories in the form of service stripes. His reveille from Low Scotch, through Austrian, Hessian, Double Drag, Dutch, to Quick Scotch, is always welcome as an eye opener. It is a tradition that the Colonel gets up before reveille for the mere pleasure of seeing Thomas lead, and of watching the drum sticks rattle. It is certainly true that the regiment was never late when Thomas led the band.

Camp was soon established. The Second Regiment, which assembled May 3rd, occupied the right of the line; next came the Ninth, which came into camp May 4th, followed by the Eighth. On the left was reserved a position for the Sixth, which was to assemble the next day. Adjutant Edward H. Eldredge was detailed as Brigade Adjutant General, and his place on the Regimental Staff was filled by Lieutenant Thomas D. Barroll of L Company.

Dame Rumor was soon busy spreading reports that the United States, personified by impartial and inexorable army surgeons, was rejecting men as unfit for foreign service. Already ten officers of the Second had been rejected for physical deficiencies. What pledges, words and wills had been unable to accomplish, the dread of a full service medical examination accomplished, and officers and men, who for years had smoked or broken minor rules of health, stopped on the moment to brace themselves for this ordeal.

The officers were ordered before the doctors the day after arriving in camp, and at intervals of twenty minutes they reported in groups of threes. Major Dudley B. Purbeck, who had recently suffered from a serious illness, was rejected. There was much excitement in the streets of Company C when it was reported that Captain James Tucker, Lieutenants Edgar J. Marshall and Frank B. Denning had failed to pass. The Selectmen and influential citizens of Marblehead were appealed to, and in some way secured a re-examination and a reversal of the finding in the case of Lieutenant Denning, who was finally mustered and commissioned as Captain.

After the officers had passed, the enlisted men faced the surgeons, the companies going up in alphabetical order. Many men were rejected and sent home. It was the rule not to muster a company until it had a full complement of qualified officers and men. The process was slow, and it was not until May 10th that the first company of the Eighth was mustered, followed in rapid succession by the others. The last company was mustered May 11th, and the Colonel sworn in.

The ceremony of mustering was interesting and impressive. Companies were marched to Brigade Headquarters, with the men arranged alphabetically in line. Facing the colors, taking off their hats, and raising their right hands, after roll call, they subscribed the following oath administered by Captain Erastus M. Weaver, U. S. A.:—

"All and each of you do solemnly swear that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and that you will serve them honestly and faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever, and that you will obey the President of the United States, and the orders of the officers appointed over you, according to the rules and articles of war, so help you God."

There was much pleasant rivalry between the Eighth and Ninth Regiments in a race to be first mustered in the United States service. The last company of the Ninth was mustered in just before the last company of the Eighth, and the Colonel of the Eighth being the last officer in the Regiment to be mustered into the service, was mustered in before the Colonel of the Ninth. The important question was never settled, which regiment was first mustered into the United States service.

After a company was mustered into the service, its Captain was given a copy of the Articles of War, and directed to read them to his company. From this tiresome reading of all the articles at once, a company wag said it was the general impression that the whole regiment was ordered by the President to suffer death or such other penalty as the court martial should prescribe.

The designation of the Regiments as finally mustered into the United States service, early became a matter of interest. It was rumored that in as much as Massachusetts sent sixty-two regiments to the Civil War, the numbering of the regiments in the Spanish War was to begin where the numbering of the Civil War regiments left off. In that case the Eighth would be known as the Sixty-Third or Sixty-Fourth Regiment. This enumeration was followed in some states. The designation of the regiment was left to Governor Wolcott, who published as the official name, Eighth Regiment Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.

The facings on the uniform was immediately changed from blue to white, and a collar device adopted consisting of crossed rifles with the figure eight above, and the abbreviation "Mass." below the rifles.

During the stay at Framingham everyone was busy, recruits were drilled, the regiment was exercised in striking and pitching tents, company cooks and kitchen police were made familiar with the army ration, battalions and companies were drilled, guards were instructed, and the usual parade and daily ceremonies held. The days were crisp and clear; the evenings, however, were chilly, but the dampness was dissipated by roaring camp fires on the parade, about which the soldiers clustered until taps.

It was the intention of the Adjutant-General of Massachusetts to have the regiments leave the State in order of the seniority of the Colonels. This would give third place to the Eighth.

On May 13th, the Adjutant-General of the United States Army telegraphed the United States mustering officer at South Framingham to notify the Colonels of mustered regiments to report direct to the War Department when their regiments would be ready to leave the State. This notice was sent to the Headquarters of the Eighth and Ninth. Colonel Pew immediately telegraphed the War Department that the Eighth was ready to leave at once, and in a few hours received a telegraphic order to take the regiment to Chickamauga Park, Georgia. Owing to the lack of railroad transportation, it was impossible for the Regiment to get away until May 16th.

Saturday, May 14th, was Eighth Regiment day at Camp Dewey. On Friday evening as soon as the soldiers were notified that the regiment was to hold itself ready to move at once, they rushed to the telegraph station and sent word to their friends at home that if they wished to see them, they should come to Camp Dewey in the morning, as it was expected that the Regiment would be on its way south by Saturday night.

Early in the morning, the friends of the soldiers began to arrive on the field, and every train brought crowds until by noon there were hundreds from every town and city having a company in the regiment. As the families of the soldiers came into camp, they brought with them boxes and bundles of the good things which a New England housewife knows so well how to cook, and during the hours between drills, there were family picnics all about the camp.

In the afternoon, Governor Wolcott and some of his staff visited the camp to present the officers with their commissions in the United States service. After passing in review before His Excellency, the Regiment formed three sides of a hollow square, with officers in the center. The Governor and his party formed a fourth side. The square was surrounded by friends of the Regiment, who covered half of the great parade ground. The remarks of His Excellency were deeply impressive, and at times he visibly showed the emotion which he felt. In a voice audible to everyone on the field, Governor Wolcott said:—

"Men of Essex and Middlesex:—Two days ago your parting cheers made sweet music in the ears of your comrades of the Second Regiment as they left the Commonwealth in the high service of the United States of America. Today you obey the same summons, and are ready, as they were, to endure hardship and suffering in the same exalted cause.

Your cause, men of Massachusetts, is a just and righteous one. I greatly misread the heart of this great nation if the historian of the future shall not record that this war was entered upon by a mighty and free people, who had heard, as long as they could endure them, the sighs and groans of an oppressed neighboring population, bending beneath the tyranny of a nation of the old world.

It is to set free the oppressed and to bind up their wounds that you now enter the service of the United States. You will find yourselves shoulder to shoulder with the men of other states. Let there be no other rivalry than generous emulation, that you shall show that the men of Massachusetts, where valor calls for sacrifice, or where the duty of the soldier calls for prompt obedience and good discipline, are second to the sons of no other Commonwealth and no other State in the United States of America.

You leave with the prayers and the confidence of the people of this Commonwealth. Officially, as the Governor of the Commonwealth, I bid you Godspeed! And may the God of battles bring you victory and an honorable peace!

It is now my privilege and honor to present to the officers of the Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, United States Volunteers, the commissions under which they enter the service of the United States."

After presenting the commissions, Governor Wolcott said:—

"Colonel Pew:—You have a regiment worthy of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and of the service of the United States of America."

The following officers received their commissions from Governor Wolcott on this occasion:—

Colonel—William A. Pew, Jr. of Salem.

Lieutenant Colonel—Edwin W. M. Bailey of Amesbury.

Majors—William Stopford of Beverly; Frank A. Graves of Marblehead; Edward H. Eldredge of Boston.

Adjutant—Lieutenant Thomas D. Barrol of Boston.

Quartermaster—Lieutenant Charles F. Wonson of Gloucester.

Surgeon—Major William Cogswell of Salem.

Assistant Surgeons—Lieutenant Thomas L. Jenkins of Topsfield; Lieutenant Frank P. T. Logan of Gloucester.

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, John M. Pettingill; Second Lieutenant, Frank Stinson.

Company C, Marblehead—Captain, Frank B. Denning; First Lieutenant, Linville H. Wardwell; Second Lieutenant, Frederic P. Smith.

Company D, Lynn—Captain, Charles T. Hilliker; First Lieutenant, Thomas J. Coby; Second Lieutenant, William F. Young.

Company E, Beverly—Captain, Frederick W. Stopford; First Lieutenant, Charles H. Farnham; Second Lieutenant, Francisco A. DeSousa.

Company F, Haverhill—Captain, William C. Dow; First Lieutenant, Per Justus Swanberg; Second Lieutenant, David E. Jewell.

Company G, Gloucester—Captain, Edward J. Horton; First Lieutenant, Charles M. McIsaac; Second Lieutenant, James C. Nutt.

Company H, Salem—Captain, Walter P. Nichols; First Lieutenant, George N. Jewett; Second Lieutenant, Augustus G. Reynolds.

Company I, Lynn—Captain, John E. Williams; First Lieutenant, Francis H. Downey; Second Lieutenant, William H. Perry.

Company K, Danvers—Captain, A. Preston Chase; First Lieutenant, Henry W. French; Second Lieutenant, Stephen N. Bond.

Company L, Lawrence—Captain, James Forbes; First Lieutenant, James H. Craig; Second Lieutenant, Roland H. Sherman.

Company M, Somerville—Captain, Herbert W. Whitten; First Lieutenant, George I. Canfield; Second Lieutenant, Frederick W. Pierce.

From May 14th to May 16th the Regiment waited, uncertain when its train transportation would arrive. Shortly after noon on the 16th, camp was struck. It was a damp and dreary day. There was no large crowd to cheer their departure, as the home stations of the companies were too remote, and the movement too sudden for the friends of the regiment to see them off. Late in the afternoon the regiment passed in review before Governor Wolcott, and took up its line of march for the railroad station. There it was quickly embarked in three sections. Each battalion had a section consisting of eleven cars, one for baggage, one for guard quarters, and two for each company. A Wagner sleeper was furnished on each section for the accommodation of the officers. The first section pulled out of the station at South Framingham at 6 o'clock, followed shortly afterwards by the others. The last section left at 6.30. The three sections carried 47 officers and 896 men.

Chickamauga

The route of the regiment to Chickamauga was through the valleys of the Hudson and Shennandoah. The cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington and Knoxville, were seen in passing, but stops were only made to allow the officers to obtain meals for themselves and coffee for the men. The Government furnished travel rations for the men consisting of hard tack, canned corned beef, beans and tomatoes, and a money allowance for coffee. In their year of service, no one in the regiment ever discovered a use for canned tomatoes as a travel ration.

During the trip hard tack circulated as souvenirs among the girls at the various stops, usually inscribed with the donor's name and address, and given in exchange for pieces of ribbon and other feminine favors. Enthusiastic crowds were in evidence at all the stations, where they gathered to see the troop trains pass. The men were confined to the cars, but managed to carry on many flirtations and make exchanges through the windows. Every day they were taken out at some stop for a run around or a bit of setting up exercise, and once the Third Battalion took advantage of a mountain stream for bathing purposes.

On the morning of May 19th the regiment awoke to find itself in the Citico Freight Yard, just outside the city of Chattanooga, together with other troop trains containing the men of the Twelfth New York, and the Twenty-First Kansas, with whom the regiment subsequently brigaded. After spending a day in the freight yard, the sections began late in the afternoon to slowly travel the fourteen miles between Chattanooga and Chickamauga Park. At Battle Station the battalions disembarked, the baggage was piled near the track and left under guard, while the regiment enjoyed its first bivouac on a neighboring hill.

The Colonel reported to General Brooke and was told that a camp site would be assigned and transportation for the baggage furnished the following day.

Chickamauga Park is a National Reservation in the northwestern corner of the State of Georgia, embracing some ten squares miles of territory, and commemorates the battle which was fought there in 1863. The park is wooded, with here and there open fields. Much of the underbrush had been cleared away, and good dirt roads constructed by the Government. The water supply consisted of a few dozen wells, which had supported a small farming population before the Government purchased the land. The soil is clayey above a limestone formation, which frequently outcrops and renders digging difficult. The months of May and June are liable to be pleasant and dry, but in July and August, abundant rain turns the ground where vegetation is worn off, into a mire of sticky mud. On one side, the Park is bounded by Chickamauga Creek, meaning in the Indian tongue, "The River of Death", and into this creek the whole surface of the Park drains. The Government intended to organize on this ground the First, Third and Sixth Army Corps, and at one time assembled about 55,000 men for this purpose. The camp was named, Camp George H. Thomas, in honor of the gallant soldier who rendered conspicuous service to the Federal cause in the battle of Chickamauga.

The Eighth Regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps. As Colonel William A. Pew, Jr. was the senior Colonel in the three regiments comprising this brigade, he was assigned to the command, pending the arrival of a Brigadier General, and the command of the Eighth Regiment devolved upon Lieutenant Colonel Edwin W. M. Bailey. Colonel Pew remained in command of the Brigade until June 29th, when he was succeeded by General Waites of Texas. Lieutenant Thomas D. Barroll, the Regimental Adjutant, and Lieutenant Charles F. Wonson, the Regimental Quartermaster, were detailed to Brigade Headquarters, and acted respectively as Adjutant General and Brigade Quartermaster. Their places in the regiment were filled by the detail of Lieutenant George W. Langdon, Acting Regimental Adjutant, and Lieutenant George I. Canfield, Acting Regimental Quartermaster, while Lieutenant Augustus G. Reynolds acted as Regimental Commissary.

The Third Division of the First Army Corps encamped on the Alexander Bridge road, near the southeastern corner of the Park, and about three miles from the railroad station. The camp of the Eighth was located in the woods, which were not dense, but more than sufficient for shade purposes. The tents of the Commanding Officer and his staff faced the west. Fifty paces in front of Headquarters were the tents of the line officers, and fifty paces in front of the quarters of the line officers were the heads of the Company streets. The tents of the men faced south, and were five paces apart. The Company streets were thirty paces wide. Thirty paces from the last tent in the Company street were the Company kitchens, and fifty paces in rear of the kitchens, were the Company sinks. The Eighth had the longest camp front of any Regiment in the Park, and later when sickness began to appear in the various camps, the wisdom of this arrangement was apparent.

Until May 23rd, when wagons and mules were issued to the Regiment, water was scarce. Every farm well in the vicinity was under guard, and had a line of details waiting for a turn at the pump handle. The wells were pumped dry many times daily. The details remained in line waiting for them to fill up. Chickamauga Creek was already contaminated by drainage, and long expeditions were made to obtain enough water for drinking and cooking purposes.

With the issuing of transportation, water was hauled for all purposes from the Blue Spring, some five miles from camp, until the Government constructed a pipe line and brought water to the vicinity of every camp. This pipe line water was never used in the Regiment for drinking, and during the whole stay of the Regiment at Chickamauga, all drinking water was daily brought from the Blue Spring.

The lack of water led to the circulation of many absurd rumors at home. It was reported that the wells had been poisoned by the Spanish spies, and that some had been detected in the act and shot. The water famine was much exaggerated in the reports from Chickamauga. The regiment undoubtedly suffered much inconvenience at first, but not greater than should have been expected from the hurried manner in which the troops were brought together.

For some time the army mule was a source of entertainment and worry to the regiment. The Government issued to each regiment twenty-seven wagons and one hundred and eight mules. Previous to this issue, these mules were assembled in a large corral near the railroad station. Usually, a detail of four men was sent to draw a wagon, four mules and harnesses. The mules were turned over to this detail, together with various parts of harnesses and a wagon, as they came from the factory. It was the duty of the detail to hold the mules and at the same time assemble harnesses and wagon. This was new work for most of the men, and the outfits were brought into camp after many sad experiences. It was not unusual for the detail to start from the corral driving in a careful manner, but after going a mile or two without mishap, the desire to speed a little overcame this caution, and the mules were urged to a trot or canter. As few of these animals had been broken, the first turn of a road presented an opportunity for a spill.

There was such a turn near the camp of the Eighth, and many of the men used to sit under the trees watching the details from other regiments navigate their mules around the bend. Often mules would continue on a straight course into the woods, and bid up when some tree separated the leaders and threw them down, with the wheel mules and wagon piled on top. This performance was at first a daily occurrence, and apparently resulted in no injury to the mules or men.

Another source of amusement was to hire the darkies who loafed about the camps, to break the mules. They were usually ridden bare back, and succeeded in throwing their riders several times before they would submit.

The mule quarters at first consisted of a cable stretched from tree to tree, to which the mules were fastened by halters. This was the practice in all the camps, and every night each regiment lost from ten to twelve mules. The mules usually wandered around the park until appropriated by some Quartermaster to make up his quota.

After submitting for a few nights to this loss, Lieutenant Colonel Bailey determined to construct a corral of rails, and for this purposes obtained permission to use the top rails of various fences along the Alexander road. This work of construction took place on a moonlight night, and in the morning it was discovered that the rail fences for a long distance had disappeared, and a large area in the camp of the Eighth was surrounded with a Virginia fence some 12 feet high. The detail charged with the work of construction stoutly maintained, when explanation was demanded, that none of them had taken anything but "top rails". With this improvised stable the Quartermaster of the Eighth was able to maintain his supply of mules.

There were two entrances to this corral at which sentinels were maintained, with orders to allow any stray mules to go in, but none to come out. Every morning an extra surplus of mules was found in the corral.

The wagon master, who was a civilian employee, and had been hired by the Quartermaster on account of his experience with mules, soon had his pick of all the mules in the Park. His first duty in the morning was a readjustment of mule property. Any surplus was held and delivered to inquiring Quartermasters who had lost mules. As all mules look alike to most Quartermasters, it came to pass in the course of time, that the wagon master of the Eighth had by far the best mule teams of any Regiment. It was, in fact, a selection from the mules of fifty odd regiments.

Apparently no one suspected this process of eliminating poor mules, and the corral of the Eighth was looked upon as a public benefaction, where lost mules could usually be found and identified. The process of identification was directed and controlled by the experienced wagon master of the Eighth.

During May the evenings were delightfully cool in contrast with the heat of the day. Work finished, with parade and after supper, the men collected in groups to sing, listen to the drum corps, or gossip about the future of the regiment. Rumors of immediate moves were always in circulation. It was generally believed that the First Corps was destined to invest Havana in the fall, but this belief was often shaken by rumors of orders to go to Manila, Honolulu, Santiago, or Porto Rico. The regiment was always expecting marching orders in the immediate future.

Almost every large congregation contains some men who need a free application of soap and water. In a camp where many men are herded together, the personal cleanliness of each soldier is a factor in the general health.

As soon as the pipe line was established, and water was abundant, orders were issued in regard to bathing, and were enforced by weekly inspections. The men were required to strip in quarters, and were examined by the surgeons. The first inspection disclosed an unfortunate who had secreted on his person, a liberal amount of Georgia real estate.

Eight husky sergeants, armed with fresh stable brooms and soap, were detailed to accompany the victim to the stand pipe. The detail, clad only in their birthday clothes, marched through the camp, conducting the victim in solemn procession, to the place of execution. The novel sight of the naked detail and prisoner attracted many spectators from the regiment, who observed the enforced bathing, and materially assisted by their advice and presence the cleansing operation. The man was washed as he had never been washed before.

The result of this public exhibition deterred others from disregarding bathing regulations. During the service of the regiment, no other man was ever reported as the result of these inspections, for personal uncleanliness.

At midnight on May 28th, the first death occurred in the regiment. Private Herbert O. Burnham, Company D, passed away at the Regimental Hospital. He contracted pneumonia at Framingham, was taken sick on the train, and gradually grew worse until the end came. The next night, a second member of the command obeyed the summons and was mustered out by death. Clarence L. Bartol of Company C, died at the Regimental Hospital of heart disease. The two deaths coming so close together, produced an effect upon the men, and caused them to realize more fully the duties of the service upon which they had entered.

The regiment early established a club for the enlisted men where they could loaf and make small purchases. These clubs were authorized by Army Regulations, and known as Post Exchanges or Canteens. They were managed by a council of officers. The profits on all sales went to the men. Regular dividends were declared and paid to company commanders, and were accounted for by them to the government, as a part of their company fund. Canteen dividends could be used only to improve the ration or condition of the men. The sale of beer and light wines was permitted.

The Eighth carried on its list of Canteen supplies, draught beer, which was furnished by a Chattanooga brewery, together with a supply of ice sufficient to keep the beer cool. This was the only supply of ice in camp, and the only place where a cool drink could be had.

In close proximity to the Canteen, was the Y. M. C. A. tent, which offered another home for the enlisted men where they could read, write letters, play games, and meet for social or religious purposes. The most excellent young gentlemen in charge, viewed with disapproval the sale of beer in the rival club. The beer was also condemned by the surgeons, on the ground that it was not up to standard in quality, and that the poor quality of the beer aggravated intestinal troubles.

One day at mess the Commanding Officer entered into an agreement with the Y. M. C. A. representative, that the sale of beer should be prohibited at the Canteen as long as the Y. M. C. A. furnished for the enlisted men a barrel of distilled ice water in front of their tent. The Regimental Quartermaster furnished daily transportation to Chattanooga where barrels of distilled water and ice were purchased from the brewery company, and duly installed by the Y. M. C. A. This supply was maintained during the time the regiment remained at Chickamauga. The water and ice cost as much as beer, but the expense was borne by contributions solicited by the Y. M. C. A. manager from the various friends of temperance in the north.

This substitution of water for beer gave the Colonel some notoriety as a temperance reformer, and caused him to receive much advice about running the regiment.

One lady who had devoted fifty years to the cause of temperance, wrote a poem which she sent to the Colonel and requested him to have the men learn it by heart and recite it in unison as part of the ceremony at evening parade.

Another friend of the cause sent a few thousand printed pledges, with the advice that the men be required to sign a few pledges each day and carry them in their various pockets. She thought every time anything was taken from a pocket, a pledge would come out, and stimulate by its sight, each man to renewed interest to the cause of temperance.

The old battleground offered opportunities to the souvenir hunters, and many bullets, pieces of shells and rifles were picked up and sent home. Another craze was collecting State buttons from the uniforms of volunteers from various states. These buttons treated to a gold wash and attached to a belt, were favorite souvenirs for sweethearts.

In addition to his duties as Battalion Commander, Major Edward H. Eldredge was detailed as Division Inspector of Rifle Practice. Under his supervision a rifle range was opened near the Alexander Bridge, and twenty-seven targets were installed. Three targets were assigned to each regiment of the Division for daily use. Lieutenant George W. Langdon of Company A, acted as Inspector, and supervised the regimental work at this range. Near the end of July, a division rifle match was shot, in which the following scores were made:—

The war strength of a company in the United States service was 106 enlisted men. Under the first call, Massachusetts was required to furnish three batteries of Heavy Artillery. Influence was at once brought to bear upon the authorities at Washington to accept the First Heavy Artillery as a Regiment of twelve batteries. To accomplish this and keep within the quota allowed Massachusetts, infantry companies were cut down to 74 men. To this extent the four infantry regiments which were raised for foreign service, were crippled to increase the strength of the coast guard.