Kitabı oku: «Twelve Months with the Eighth Massachusetts Infantry in the Service of the United States», sayfa 9

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:

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.

Special duty with Ambulance Corps, First Army Corps, June 20 to July 9. Special duty as Brigade Surgeon, September 22 to December 16. Division Inspector at Lexington, Kentucky, September 27 to November 6.

Barroll, Thomas D., Boston, Adjutant, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Special duty as Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps, May 20 to June 19.

Wonson, Charles F., Gloucester, Quartermaster, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Special duty as Acting Commissary Subsistence, and Acting Assistant Quartermaster, Second Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps, May 20 to July 7. Acting Assistant Quartermaster, Second Brigade hospital, November 7 to December 17, 1898. Special duty as Depot Quartermaster at Americus, Georgia, December 25 to January 8, 1899.

Logan, Frank P. T., Gloucester, Assistant Surgeon, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Special duty at Division Hospital, Third Division, First Army Corps, June 10 to December 20.

Frost, Horace B., Boston, Assistant Surgeon, August 26, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Acting Regimental Surgeon September 22 to December 16, 1898. Special duty as Assistant Inspector of Sanitary Conditions, District of Matanzas, January 30 to April 3, 1899.

Jenkins, Thomas L., Topsfield, Assistant Surgeon, April 28, 1898; resigned July 11, 1898.

Sanders, George D., Gloucester, Chaplain, April 28, 1898; resigned October 7, 1898; re-commissioned Chaplain, January 6, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Special duty as chairman of the Commission of Charities and Corrections, District of Matanzas, January 28, 1899, until muster out.

Non-Commissioned Staff

Sanborn, John R., Haverhill, Sergeant-Major, February 1, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899. (See Company F.)

Dodge, Julian M., Hamilton, Sergeant-Major, April 28, 1898; discharged by order, January 5, 1899.

Perkins, Charles F., Salem, Quartermaster-Sergeant, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Spaulding, Charles L., Beverly, Hospital Steward, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Burnham, E. Bennett, Essex, Hospital Steward, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Wood, George A., Lynn, Hospital Steward, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Thomas, Walter H., Haverhill, Chief Musician, April 28, 1898; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Stiles, Harry E., Lynn, enlisted private, January 4, 1899, as per authority Secretary of War, in letter of October 11, 1898; appointed Principal Musician, January 19, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Banan, Frederick, Lawrence, Principal Musician, April 28, 1898; discharged by order January 14, 1899.

Clohecy, Patrick, Haverhill, Principal Musician, April 28, 1898; discharged by order December 4, 1898.

Johnson, Edgar J., Lawrence, Principal Musician, February 1, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899. (See Company D.)

Berry, William F., Greenwood, Band Sergeant, March 1, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899. (See Company M.)

The Band

Boucher, Alfred, Haverhill, enlisted Company D, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Brasseur, George D., Haverhill, enlisted Company F, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Crowley, Herbert L., North Cambridge, enlisted Company M, April 28, 1898; transferred to band March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Cummings, John A., West Somerville, enlisted Company M, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Dickie, William A., Newburyport, enlisted musician, Company A, April 28, 1898; transferred to band March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Drolet, Charles F., Rockport, enlisted Company G, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Givan, Charles F., Charlestown, enlisted Company M, June 20, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Goette, Albert H., Cambridgeport, enlisted Company M, June 29, 1898; transferred to band March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Greenlay, Joseph B., Haverhill, enlisted corporal, Company F, April 28, 1898; transferred to band March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Heffernan, Patrick J., Haverhill, enlisted musician, Company H, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

James, Charles T., Allston, enlisted Company M, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Larkin, John, West Chelmsford, enlisted Sixth Massachusetts Infantry, June 22, 1898; transferred from band Sixth Massachusetts Infantry to Company B, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, January 1, 1899; transferred to band from Company B, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

McBarron, James H., Boston, enlisted musician Company M, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Miner, Herbert W., Haverhill, enlisted musician, Company F, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Mitchell, Charles R., South Lawrence, enlisted Company B, April 28, 1898; transferred to band March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Mudgett, William L., Haverhill, enlisted musician, Company B, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Phillips, William N., South Lawrence, enlisted musician, Company L, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Sweetser, Frederic J., Haverhill, enlisted Company E, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Stickney, Horace I., Lynn, enlisted musician, Company D, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.

Taylor, Edward P., Lynn, enlisted Company I, April 28, 1898; transferred to band, March 20, 1899; mustered out April 28, 1899.