Chapter I: Preface

In the Spanish-American war of 1898, Springfield rose to the occasion as she did in 1776 and 1861 and sent her youngest and best and bravest sons to the front. It was her sons who fought and fell at El Caney, the one battle of modern times where infantry, practically unsupported by artillery, captured a well fortified town and it was her sons who were in the lead in drawing the attacking lines so tightly about the city of Santiago that its surrender had to follow. It was her sons also who, on the high seas, on a fast auxiliary cruiser, did faithful service as a portion of the navy and had the satisfaction of doing their share in remembering the Maine by sinking a Spanish transport and a gun boat. Her sons fell on the battlefield and died in the camps and hospitals after enduring as soldiers, the hardships and toils of one of the shortest yet most important and bloodiest campaigns in history and of the honors of that war, Springfield claims a goodly share for herself.

In the near future a monument, the funds for which have been contributed from near and far, will be erected in Springfield to the memory of the officers and men of the Second Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. Volunteers who fell or died in the Spanish war. On that monument, whatever form it may take, will be inscribed the names of Bowen, Harry and Paul Vesper, Bearse, Noone, Piper, Boone, Jones, Richmond, Packard, Kelly, Moody, Burnham, Malone, Burke, Little, Stetson, Creley, Lyons and Morehouse. But their names have long before this been permanently inscribed on the hearts of their comrades and in no place are they more secure. They died for the flag, the highest honor possible to an American citizen. This volume is written in the attempt to portray as clearly as memory serves what these men and their comrades did in the war with Spain. While not actually a history, the intention has been to show as clearly as possible the people of Springfield what it was their sons and brothers and friends in her four organizations at the front went through in their short campaign.

Springfield, Nov. 1899.

W. W. W.

LIST OF CONTENTS.

CHAPTER. PAGE

I. Which is preliminary to those which
follow it, 9

II. Which tells about the calling out of
H company, Naval Brigade, 14

III. How G, B and K companies went to
South Framingham, 19

IV. Wherein is told how we were transformed
from "tin" soldiers into the
real article, 25

V. We get orders to leave for the sunny
South and obey them, 32

VI. We go to the Southland and begin to
find out where we are at, 38

VII. We stay in Ybor City and then
enjoy (?) life on the transports in the
harbor, 44

VIII. We have a lovely sail on the palatial
Knickerbocker and reach Cuba without
mishap, 51

IX. Wherein is related our landing at
Daiquiri and some things which subsequently
happened, 59

X. In which is to be found the tale of
Crab Hollow and some other things, 68

XI. Which tells how we got ready to
take the town of El Caney, 76

XII. Wherein is related some events which
happened to us on July first, 84

XIII. We learn some more things about the
art of war as conducted in these days, 94

XIV. We continue our education in the art
of war and learn a few things, 106

XV. We have to face another enemy more
deadly than the Spaniards, 119

XVI. Our voyage homeward on the death
ship Mobile, 129

XVII. We and our friends enjoy ourselves
at Camp Wickoff, Montauk Point, 136

XVIII. In which is told how we prepare to
quit Uncle Sam's service, 143

XIX. We become plain citizens once more
and square accounts with Uncle Sam, 151

XX. Wherein is narrated the adventures
on the high seas of Springfield's
sailors, 161

Roster, 172

The Roll of Honor, 178

Springfield's Dead Heroes, 180

THE CAMPAIGN IN CUBA.

Experiences of Co's G, B and K, M. V. M., and H Co., Naval Brigade in the war of 1898 and record of its service in the operations against Santiago.

BY WALTER W. WARD.