Twelve Months with the Eighth Massachusetts Infantry in the Service of the United States

Muster Out

The trip to Boston was uneventful, except that sea sickness among the cooks and the novelty of handling rations on board ship, somewhat disarranged the commissary department.

Early Sunday morning, April 9th, Boston Light was sighted. At quarantine, Governor Wolcott boarded the ship bringing the welcome of the Commonwealth. In the afternoon the regiment disembarked at the New England docks, and marched to the South Armory. A salute was tendered the Mayor at City Hall, and the Governor at the State House. There was a tremendous outpouring of people to welcome the troops, and their demonstration was magnificent. The soldiers marching with rhythmic swing and perfect alignment, and their brown, hearty and healthy appearance, testified to the drill and discipline they had undergone during their term of service. The regiment was furloughed to report at the South Armory on April 12th, and the companies were dismissed to their home stations, where they were received with great demonstrations of joy and many impromptu celebrations.

On April 12th the companies reported in Boston. The men were quartered in the South Armory. There was practically nothing for them to do except guard duty and evening parade on Boston Common. This parade daily attracted a large crowd of spectators. The clerical force of each company however, was busy on the muster out rolls, and the quartermaster's department was straightening out its accounts with the government, and getting ready for the final reckoning.

On April 19th the men were dismissed to report on April 28th, which was the day selected for mustering out the regiment.

A day or so previous to muster out a change occurred in the commissioned officers of the regiment. Captain Jacob C. R. Peabody of Company H, resigned to accept a position on General Ludlow's staff. First Lieutenant Augustus G. Reynolds was promoted to captain of the company, and Second Lieutenant William F. Young of Company D became first lieutenant of Company H, while Color Sergeant William F. Marston of Company G was commissioned a second lieutenant in Company D.

On the morning of April 28th the Eighth reported for its last day of duty. It did not take long to set the wheels of mustering out in motion. Every man discharged was given two months extra pay. One hundred eight thousand dollars in gold and silver representing the amount due the men was paid out. There was a large crowd present from all the towns represented by the companies. Captain Erastus M. Weaver officiated as mustering out officer. It took about half an hour to muster out each company, and the work was completed by 5.30.

At the time of muster out, the roster of the regiment was as follows, numerous changes having taken place during its term of service.

Colonel—William A. Pew, Jr. of Salem.

Lieutenant Colonel—William Stopford of Beverly.

Majors—Frank A. Graves of Marblehead, and Edward H. Eldredge of Boston.

Adjutant—Lieutenant Thomas H. Barroll of Boston.

Quartermaster—Lieutenant Charles F. Wonson of Gloucester.

Surgeon—Major William Cogswell of Boston.

Assistant Surgeons—Lieutenant Frank P. T. Logan of Gloucester and Lieutenant Horace Bird Frost of Boston.

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, Frank Stinson; Second Lieutenant, James W. Jackman.

Company C, Marblehead—Captain, James M. Pettengill; First Lieutenant, Frederic P. Smith; Second Lieutenant, Edgar J. Whelpley.

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

Company E, Beverly—Captain, Frederick W. Stopford; First Lieutenant, Charles H. Farnham; Second Lieutenant, Loran J. Harvey.

Company F, Haverhill—Captain, William C. Dow; First Lieutenant, Per Justus W. Svanberg; Second Lieutenant, Alexander Robertson.

Company G, Gloucester—Captain, Edward J. Horton; First Lieutenant, Charles M. McIsaac; Second Lieutenant, Charles R. Warner.

Company H, Salem—Captain, Augustus G. Reynolds; First Lieutenant, William F. Young; Second Lieutenant, Thomas O. H. Pineau.

Company I, Lynn—Captain, John E. Williams; First Lieutenant, Francisco A. DeSousa; Second Lieutenant, William H. Perry.

Company K, Danvers—Captain, A. Preston Chase; First Lieutenant, David E. Jewell; Second Lieutenant, David F. Whittier.

Company L, Lawrence—Captain, James Forbes; First Lieutenant, James H. Creig; Second Lieutenant, William H. Clendennin.

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

With the muster out of Colonel Pew, the Eighth Regiment Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V., ceased to exist, after just a year's service, reckoning from the day the rolls were opened for volunteers. It was in the service longer than any other regiment from Massachusetts, and while it never took part in a battle or skirmish, its record stands second to no other volunteer regiment in the service of the United States.

Welcome Home

No fault could be found by the members of the regiment with the receptions they received upon the return of the companies to the home stations. Although it was Sunday night, the enthusiasm knew no bounds, and in most places a large procession awaited the arrival of the company, took it under escort and started for the armory. Later, in most every place, official receptions were held, but they lacked the spontaneous enthusiasm which marked the welcome home on the arrival of the companies from the South Armory, Boston.

As these receptions took place within the year covered by the service of the regiment, it seems fitting that a brief account of them should find a place in this history of the organization.

Company A of Newburyport reached home about 9.15 o'clock, but its coming had been announced some two hours previously, by the sounding of the militia call on the fire alarm, consequently there was a tremendous crowd at the station, which gave the command a rousing cheer as the men stepped from the train.

A delegation of paraders were awaiting the arrival of the company and the line was soon formed in the following order; Newburyport Cadet Band; Mayor Huse and members of the city government; Company L, Massachusetts Naval Brigade; National Band of Newburyport; Company A, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; Newburyport fire department; Newburyport Bicycle club and Shields Division, A. O. H. The line of march led through the principal streets which were packed with people who cheered and burned red fire as the company passed. Wolfe tavern was finally reached, and there the festivities of the evening ended with a supper served the members of the company.

On April 23, Company A was officially entertained at a banquet which was spread in the armory and to which some 400 people sat down. Mayor Huse presided at the after dinner exercises and there was speaking by prominent citizens.

The Amesbury company, Company B, arrived from Boston at 9.40 o'clock and found a large crowd waiting its arrival, the fire alarm having sounded the warning of the company's approach. All the business houses were brilliantly illuminated and a salute was fired as the train rolled into the station. A parade was formed and passed through the principal streets in the following order; Drum corps; veterans of Company B; E. P. Wallace Post 122, G. A. R.; high school battalion; the fire department and Company B, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.

The official welcome home took place on April 26th, when there was a public reception to the members of the company from 4 to 6 o'clock at Armory Hall, followed by a big banquet in the evening, at which time Commander Charles E. Kennard of Post 122, G. A. R. presided and speeches were made by prominent townspeople.

The Grand Army post, headed by a drum corps, and hundreds of the people of Marblehead were at the station to welcome home Company C and gave the members a rousing reception. The company was escorted to Abbot Hall, where H. C. Sparhawk, chairman of the board of selectmen welcomed them home in the name of the town, and Captain Pettengill and Lieutenant Whelpley responded for the company. The men were then dismissed.

On April 14th, the town was alive with bunting and enthusiasm, for this was the day of the official welcoming. A big parade was a feature of the day, the line being formed in the following order: Thomas Swasey, chief marshal, and staff; Excelsior Drum Corps; John Goodwin Post, G. A. R., barge containing crippled Civil War veterans; cannon captured by the U. S. S. Marblehead at Fort Cayo del Torei; Cuban mine pulled up at Guantanamo by the Marblehead, on drays; Company C, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; officers of the fire department in carriages; Pickett Veteran Firemen's Association; Lafayette Brass Band of Salem; members of fire department; Phenix Veteran Firemen's Association; apparatus of the fire department; Thorner's Rough Riders. There was an exhibition drill by Company C, a supper and reception. The day's exercises wound up at Abbot Hall, where Henry C. Sparhawk, of the board of selectmen presided, and speeches were made by various people. Among the incidents of the day was the presentation of a button to every member of the company by the Volunteer Aid Association, through its president, Mrs. Mary E. Graves.

Central Square, Lynn, was black with people awaiting the home-coming of the members of Companies D and I of that city, and every train which passed through with companies aboard, bound homeward, was greeted with loud cheers. Finally, the Lynn companies arrived, and the air was rent with cheers, and excitement was at a high pitch. Cannon boomed and red fire was burned in quantities. Mayor Shepard had met the company at Boston, and found that it was the wish of the men to go directly home, so beyond this outburst of enthusiasm, nothing was done in the way of a welcome, the companies marching directly to the armory, and the men were there dismissed.

On April 13th, however, Lynn people officially received the companies in a manner which will not soon be forgotten. The city was bedecked with bunting, and thousands crowded the streets through which the parade passed, and cheered to the echo the returned war veterans. The parade was formed in the following order: General Charles C. Frye, chief marshal, and staff; Lynn Brass Band; General Lander Post, No. 5, G. A. R.; Lieutenant-Colonel Mudge Camp, Sons of Veterans; Lynn Light Infantry Veteran Association; Wooldredge Cadet Veterans; Lynn Cadet Band; English High School Battalion; Classical High School Battalion; carriages containing Mayor Shepard, and members of the city government; Eighth Massachusetts Infantry; U. S. V. Band; Company I, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; Company D, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; Veterans of Company E, Massachusetts Naval Brigade; Veterans of the Spanish War. A banquet at the State Armory followed, at which time 800 plates were laid and Mayor Shepard acted as toastmaster, and speeches were made by many prominent people, both in military and civil life.

Mayor Benjamin D. Webber, of Beverly, went to Boston as soon as he heard that the Transport Meade was in, and together with other prominent citizens went down the harbor to welcome the members of Company E. A specially chartered tug was used. Learning that the company was to come home that night, he telephoned to Beverly the fact, and upon the arrival of Company E at the station, a large gathering of people was on hand and welcomed the command with three rousing cheers. A parade was formed, consisting of a Drum Corps, Post 89, G. A. R., and John Low Camp, Sons of Veterans, and the line of march taken up for the armory, where there were short speeches, followed by a collation.

The official celebration in honor of the return of the volunteers took place on April 11th, when a parade was formed in the following order: Captain W. E. Perry, chief marshal, and staff; Beverly Cadet Band; John H. Chipman Post, 89, G. A. R.; John Low Camp, Sons of Veterans; Preston Post, 188, G. A. R; Charles Haddock Camp, Sons of Veterans; barouches containing disabled Civil War veterans and Mayor Webber and members of the city government; Lynn Brass Band; Company E, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; Beverly fire department, apparatus and men; Bass River Lodge, I. O. O. F.; letter carriers; Excelsior Drum Corps; Golden Star Council, O. U. A. M.; Young Men's Catholic Temperance Society; Ancient Order of Hibernians; Bass River Court of Forresters; carriages containing members of Roger Conant Council, Royal Arcanum, and Beverly Lodge, Knights of Pythias; four-horse drag with members of Jubilee Yacht Club; carriages containing citizens.

After the parade, the members of the company enjoyed a New England boiled dinner at the armory, and in the evening attended exercises at the City Hall. Mayor Webber presided, speeches were made by representative citizens, and the school children sang patriotic songs.

On the evening of April 28th, the members of the company were tendered a banquet at City Hall, Mayor Webber making a speech of welcome and presiding the remainder of the evening, during which various prominent citizens responded to toasts. The galleries were filled with people, they having been thrown open to the public.

Company F, of Haverhill, arrived home rather unexpectedly at 8.15 P. M., but Mayor Chase was awake and the city was not caught napping. There was a good-sized crowd present at the depot, and it enlarged every minute, so that by the time the parade moved, the streets were filled with a shouting, cheering people. The parade formed as follows: Haverhill City Band; Major How Post, 47, G. A. R.; General Burnside Command, Veterans' Union; Provisional Company, State Militia; Eighth Regiment Drum Corps; Company F, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; carriages containing Mayor Chase and members of the city government.

It was 11.15 P. M. before the members of Company G returned once more to Gloucester. For several hours a crowd had awaited their coming at the depot, the military call on the fire alarm having notified the citizens that the company was on its way home. Although the hour was late, there was plenty of enthusiasm, and salutes were fired and red fire burned. A parade was formed, made up in the following order: Gloucester Band; Massachusetts Naval Brigade, mounted detachment of citizens; Colonel Allen Post 45, G. A. R.; Company G, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; delegations from the various fire companies; Wingaersheek Band; Wingaersheek Tribe of Red Men; Gloucester Council Knights of Columbus; Portuguese Acoriana Society; carriages containing prominent citizens.

On April 14th, the official celebration took place, when a big parade passed through the principal streets of the city, in the following order: Fitz E. Oaks, chief marshal, and staff; Gloucester Band; Company M, Massachusetts Naval Brigade; High School Cadet Battalion; Colonel Allen Post 45, G. A. R.; Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V. Band; Company G, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; members of the fire department; J. Franklin Dyer Camp, Sons of Veterans; Hutchinson's Military Band; Ocean Lodge, I. O. O. F.; Wingaersheek Tribe, Red Men; Fernwood Lodge, A. O. U. W.; Gloucester Council, Knights of Columbus; St. Angelo Council, Knights of Malta; Acoriana Beneficiary Society; carriages containing distinguished citizens; mounted men.

In the evening there was a big banquet, at which time Judge Taft presided and there were speeches by men in the public life of Gloucester, and men in military circles.

When Company H, of Salem, reached home, it found thousands of people awaiting its return. The churches had dismissed their congregations that the members might unite with the other citizens in a royal welcoming of the soldier boys. Red fire was burned freely and there were salutes. At the station, a big parade awaited the volunteers, and taking the company under escort, marched to the Armory, where the men were dismissed. The parade was as follows: Salem Cadet Band; Second Corps Cadets, M. V. M.; Phil H. Sheridan Post 34, G. A. R.; postal clerks and carriers; Salem Light Infantry Veteran Association; Mayor James H. Turner and members of the city government; Army and Navy League; Company H, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V. The fire alarm had sounded an agreed upon signal, which gave those intending to parade time enough to gather at the various headquarters. Mayor Turner had met the company in Boston and made the arrangements for the affair.

Tuesday, April 11th, was the day set aside for the official celebration, and the streets were lined with thousands, who cheered and shouted, but it was not the spontaneous outburst that had been given the company when it first arrived home.

The parade passed through the principal streets of the city, and was made up as follows: Colonel Samuel A. Johnson, chief marshal, and staff; Salem Cadet Band; Second Corps Cadets, M. V. M.; Phil H. Sheridan Post 34, G. A. R.; Army and Navy League; Lieutenant-Colonel Henry Merritt Camp, Sons of Veterans; carriages containing disabled members of the G. A. R., and Mayor Turner and members of the city government; National Guards Band; Salem Light Infantry Veteran Association; Company H, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; Salem Brass Band; Salem Letter Carriers and Postal clerks; Salem Fire Department; Salem Veteran Firemen's Association; Salem Drum Corps; Father Mathews Total Abstinence Society; St. Joseph's Benefit Society; street department drivers, mounted.

In the evening the Salem Light Infantry Veteran Association tendered a banquet to the volunteers in the armory at the Franklin building. Captain John P. Reynolds acted as toastmaster, and a number of distinguished citizens and military guests responded to the toasts.

The West Peabody Brass Band, Ward Post 90, G. A. R. and ex-members of Company K, were found waiting at the depot by the members of Company K of Danvers, when they stepped from the train. Line was immediately formed and through a lane of red fire and cheering citizens, the company marched to the armory, partook of a lunch and then separated for their homes.

On April 11 the town officially received her sons back from the Spanish war with a parade, reception and banquet. The parade formed in the following order: Chief Marshal F. U. French and staff; cavalcade of citizens; West Peabody Brass Band; Ward Post 90, G. A. R.; carriages containing the selectmen and guests; Company K, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; ex-members of Company K and citizens; school children.

After the parade a reception was in progress at the Town Hall for two hours, after which the line was re-formed and the party proceeded to the armory, where a fine banquet was served, followed by speeches from prominent townspeople and guests, M. C. Pettengill acting as presiding officer.

Mayor Eaton went to Boston, met the members of Company L, and telephoned word back to Lawrence that the company was coming home. The fire alarm was immediately blown and as at the other places, the company was met by a big crowd at the depot, and a procession to escort it to its armory. Battery C, M. V. M. fired a salute as the train rolled into the station. The parade formed in the following order: Colonel Donovan, chief marshal; band; Battery C, M. V. M.; Company F, Ninth Infantry, M. V. M.; Colonel Sargeant camp, Sons of Veterans; band; Needham Post 39, G. A. R.; drum corps; seven fire companies; Gratton Guards; citizens committee; Company L, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; city government and citizens in carriages. The parade marched directly to the armory, where the volunteers were dismissed.

Through a misunderstanding on the part of somebody, there was no one to welcome home the members of Company M, at Somerville, and when they arrived at the armory they found the place locked and deserted. Finally the police were secured and the doors forced open and the command marched inside. After giving three cheers for the city and the company, the men were dismissed.

Somerville citizens more than made up for the lack of cordiality on the night of the return home, by the enthusiastic reception they gave the company and other Somerville volunteers at the official welcome home which took place on April 19. The principal part of the day's programme was a big parade, which moved through the principal streets, packed with cheering people, in the following order: Chief Marshal, F. DeWitt Lapham and staff; platoon of 20 members of the National Lancers, M. V. M.; First Regiment Band; company of letter carriers; Bunker Hill Cadet Band; Bunker Hill Guards, Division 37, A. O. H.; Davitt Guards, Division 40, A. O. H.; Knights of Sacred Heart Drum Corps; Knights of Sacred Heart; Somerville Veteran Firemen's Association; T. F. Meagher Drum Corps; W. C. Kingsley Post 139, G. A. R.; Company M, Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.; unattached soldiers and sailors; carriages containing city officials and guests.

Following the parade, the company and invited guests were given light refreshments at Bow Street hall, after which many speeches were made, Alderman Wilson acting as presiding officer.

In the evening, at 6 o'clock, the company was banquetted in Beacon hall, where plates were spread for a large gathering. After the banquet had been enjoyed, Alderman Wilson, who again acted as chairman, rapped for order and speeches followed by prominent city officials and guests.

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.