Springfield in the Spanish American War

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Ward Walter W.. Springfield in the Spanish American War

PREFACE

CHAPTER I. WHICH IS PRELIMINARY TO THOSE WHICH FOLLOW IT

CHAPTER II. WHICH TELLS ABOUT THE CALLING OUT OF H COMPANY, NAVAL BRIGADE

CHAPTER III. HOW G, B AND K COMPANIES WENT TO SOUTH FRAMINGHAM

CHAPTER IV. WHEREIN IS TOLD HOW WE WERE TRANSFORMED FROM "TIN" SOLDIERS INTO THE REAL ARTICLE

CHAPTER V. WE GET ORDERS TO LEAVE FOR THE SUNNY SOUTH AND OBEY THEM

CHAPTER VI. WE GO TO THE SOUTHLAND AND BEGIN TO FIND OUT WHERE WE ARE AT

CHAPTER VII. WE STAY IN YBOR CITY AND THEN ENJOY (?) LIFE ON TRANSPORTS IN THE HARBOR

CHAPTER VIII. WE HAVE A LOVELY SAIL ON THE PALATIAL KNICKERBOCKER AND REACH CUBA WITHOUT MISHAP

CHAPTER IX. WHEREIN IS NARRATED OUR LANDING AT DAIQUIRI AND SOME THINGS WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY HAPPENED

CHAPTER X. IN WHICH IS TO BE FOUND THE TALE OF "CRAB HOLLOW" AND SOME OTHER THINGS

CHAPTER XI. WHICH TELLS HOW WE GOT READY TO TAKE THE TOWN OF EL CANEY

CHAPTER XII. WHEREIN IS RELATED SOME EVENTS WHICH HAPPENED TO US ON JULY FIRST

CHAPTER XIII. WE LEARN SOME MORE THINGS ABOUT THE ART OF WAR AS CONDUCTED IN THESE DAYS

CHAPTER XIV. WE CONTINUE OUR EDUCATION IN THE ART OF WAR AND LEARN A FEW THINGS

CHAPTER XV. WE HAVE TO FACE ANOTHER ENEMY MORE DEADLY THAN THE SPANIARDS

CHAPTER XVI. OUR VOYAGE HOMEWARD ON THE DEATH SHIP MOBILE

CHAPTER XVII. WE AND OUR FRIENDS ENJOY OURSELVES AT CAMP WIKOFF, MONTAUK POINT

CHAPTER XVIII. IN WHICH IS TOLD HOW WE PREPARE TO QUIT UNCLE SAM'S SERVICE

CHAPTER XIX. WE BECOME PLAIN CITIZENS ONCE MORE AND SQUARE ACCOUNTS WITH UNCLE SAM

CHAPTER XX. WHEREIN IS NARRATED THE ADVENTURES ON THE HIGH SEAS OF SPRINGFIELD'S SAILORS

ROSTER

THE ROLL OF HONOR

SPRINGFIELD'S DEAD HEROES

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WITHIN the few years preceding the fateful one of 1898 a decided impetus had been given the military spirit in Springfield by the stationing of two additional companies of the state militia in this city. To the already organized companies, G and B of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, had been added K company, the company of that name in Amherst having been disbanded and its letter transferred to Springfield. The organization in this city of a company of the state naval brigade and the building of a handsome and commodious state armory helped to place the militia of Springfield on a higher level in the public interest and regard than had previously been the case.

Springfield has always been rich in military tradition. Her earliest sons helped fight the Indians who disputed the right of the first settlers to the lands they roamed over in the fertile Connecticut valley; they had served in the Colonial wars and Springfield blood was shed in the Revolutionary war. Soon after this war Springfield was the scene of one of the episodes of Shay's rebellion. In the Civil war she sent her full quota and more of her young men to serve under the flag and after the war the ranks of her militia companies were always kept filled with her best young men. Undoubtedly the presence here of a United States military post and the famous Springfield arsenal has done much to aid in keeping up the military spirit.

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And here a little digression. No effort of any kind was made to transfer as absolute unities the companies of militia into companies of United States Volunteers. It can truthfully be said that no man was asked to go to South Framingham by the officers. On the contrary Col. Clark and the company officers were all careful to impress upon the men of the militia that their volunteering into the service of the United States was purely a voluntary and personal matter with them. There were dozens of instances in which the officers realized that the sacrifice was such as some of their men should not make. There were men with families dependent upon them or so otherwise circumstanced that it was best for them not to go and these men were talked to candidly and kindly and dissuaded from putting their names on the enlistment rolls. It was a volunteer movement purely and simply and the Second was in the highest sense of the word a volunteer regiment.

Long before the orders for mobilization at South Framingham were issued preparations had been made to the end that Massachusetts might be ready to respond to the first call for troops from the national government. Early in April Gov. Wolcott had constituted some of the officers of the state militia as his advisory board in matters relating to the part Massachusetts would take in the war. On April 20, Col. Clark of the Second and some of his field and staff officers were called to Boston in consultation with the governor and on the 24th Gov. Wolcott in his capacity of commander-in-chief of the military and naval forces of the state issued an order calling upon the militia to hold themselves in readiness for duty within 24 hours.

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