Chapter III: Part 3

The War Department was as unprepared as the Militia of Massachusetts. The machinery for handling an army of 26,000 men in peace, was called upon to mobilize 275,000 men of war. It was altogether inadequate to meet the emergency. There were practically no reserve supplies. On April 23rd the Government had enough Springfield rifles to equip the volunteers, but that was all. The cloth of the uniforms first issued to some regiments at Chickamauga, was not manufactured when the regiments were mustered into service.

Large quantities of commissary supplies were purchased in the market, and rushed to the large camps for concentration. These supplies were uniformly of standard quality, and were accumulated in sufficient quantities at the depots, but were often delayed in distribution to the troops. Volunteer officers were at first unacquainted with the use of requisition blanks, and the red tape of Government issue, and the Commissary Department lacked facilities to make prompt and full deliveries. This was the earliest department, however, to get into working order, and subsequent complaints at Chickamauga were due to the inexperience of officers and men in handling the rations.

The Quartermaster's Department also made large purchases in the market, but were handicapped by having to wait for articles to be manufactured to fill orders. This department at Chickamauga was further handicapped by inefficiency and failure to appreciate the situation, and the necessary requirements of the troops.

As soon as wagon transportation was issued to the Eighth, they began to bring the water from the Blue Spring. This was a long haul, and required many barrels for transportation and storage in camp. The supply of barrels issued by the Quartermaster's Department to the regiment was inadequate. The Chief Quartermaster was repeatedly requested to furnish sufficient barrels for this purpose, and refused. The regiment subsequently purchased, at its own expense, at Chattanooga, sufficient receptacles.

The refusal of the Chief Quartermaster was reported to the Inspector General's Department, and was thus commented upon:--

"One of the principal appeals made to me during the many
inspections that I made was for water barrels and boilers,
so that the strict order to boil all drinking water might be
complied with. I made several trips to the office of the chief
quartermaster in behalf of the command on this matter, but
without success. I finally went to the corps commander, and he
told me to go again to the chief quartermaster, who told me that
the regiments had as many as 15 water barrels to each regiment
(twelve companies), and the water being hauled from four to seven
miles. This reply convinced me at once of a total failure to
appreciate the condition of affairs, what was required, and what
should be done. Owing to a failure of this department to provide
the proper shelter, supplies, and clothing, I am satisfied that
much of the sickness was caused.

The whole matter sums itself up in this, that the regulations
necessary for the conduct of a small army during a period of
thirty-five years of peace, when built upon and expanded into
those required for an army ten times as large in time of war,
failed absolutely and went to pieces."

The Regimental Commander repeatedly asked the Quartermaster's Department for disinfectants and lumber; these requisitions were disallowed. Whatever supplies of this nature the regiment had, were purchased by private contribution, until the spread of disease excited public indignation and demanded liberal issues. After official investigation began, a change was noticed in the policy of the department. By the end of the summer it is probable that porcelain lined bath tubs would have been issued for the mere asking.

During the hot summer months, 75 per cent. of the men at Chickamauga were forced to wear heavy woolen clothing. The Eighth was the only regiment fully equipped with canvas suits. These had been purchased by the State of Massachusetts. If sufficient energy had been displayed by the Quartermaster's Department, the same clothing would have been purchased and issued to all the regiments. What supplies were on hand were held in small storehouses, and their issues blocked by lack of system and necessary labor to handle the goods.

The Medical Department at Chickamauga was inefficient and displayed lack of both professional and executive ability. There was an unnecessary shortage of medical supplies and hospital attendants. No provision was at first made for general hospitals. The sick were cared for in regimental hospitals, and later when these were abolished, in Division Hospitals. Division hospitals are organized to accompany troops in the field, and serve as a collecting station, where the injured receive temporary treatment and are transferred as soon as practicable to general hospitals.

The field hospitals at Chickamauga were swarmed with the sick, and were forced to become general hospitals, as no other provision had been made. The accommodations were inadequate. Hospital tents were insufficient in number, and were not supplied with proper furnishings. There was a lack of medicine and nourishing food. The nurses were enlisted men detailed from the various regiments, and were ignorant of their duties, and without experience.

The quarters and grounds were dirty, and the service was undisciplined, disorganized and demoralized. Until taken firmly in hand by General Sanger and reorganized, the Third Division Hospital was a monument to the ignorance and incapacity of the Medical Department.

This Department was thus described in an inspection report:--

"I found quite a number of sick in each regiment, and was
informed by the regimental surgeons that they could not get from
the medical depot those medicines and other supplies needed
for the sick, and was also informed that, in reply to their
request, they were told that no issue of medicine or medical
supplies could be had from the depot until the field cases were
filled; that, although the medicines were on hand, it was not
the intention to make issues until everything could be done
in the order required by the Army Regulations, resulting in
unnecessary discomfort and suffering to the sick. The different
aid societies did a great deal toward helping out the unfortunate
conditions, but on the whole, the administration of the affairs
of this department was a dismal failure. Those regimental medical
officers bought a great deal of medicine with their own funds
and from funds furnished them by their friends at home. There
were no cots, blankets, pillows, nor sheets. The medicine and
medical supplies were entirely inadequate for many days after my
reporting for duty. There were no floors in the tents where the
sick were. They were crowded together in dangerous proximity to
each other, and those gentlemen of the medical profession of the
volunteer service were very bitter in their denunciations of our
miserable system."

The medical officers of the Eighth were at all times zealous and efficient in instructing officers how to combat disease, and the regimental officers were intelligent and active in carrying out these instructions.

Before typhoid became epidemic, Colonel Pew assembled officers and men after evening parade, and explained to them the nature and cause of this fever. He said this disease had already broken out, and he anticipated it would become a scourge to the troops, because of the unsanitary condition of the various camps. That it was caused by microscopic germs found in the discharges of the sick. That these germs were very tenacious of life, and increased and multiplied rapidly in filth. That when dry they would drift about in the air and lodge on food, clothing or the person. That they were harmless unless taken into the mouth, but as they were too small to be seen, there was always danger of contagion. That they were killed by boiling, and for that reason the men would be required to drink only boiled water, and keep their food protected against dust. That all human excreta must be deposited in the proper place, and covered with a paddle, as Moses taught the children of Israel to care for themselves in the Wilderness. That police regulations would be enforced, and camp conditions made as unfavorable as possible for the growth and development of these germs. He urged the men to appreciate the danger to which they were exposed, and to avoid it by complying strictly with all sanitary regulations.

The Medical Board appointed to examine into the causes of the existence and spread of typhoid in the national camp of 1898, reported that this fever was brought to Camp Thomas by the volunteers, and spread by the neglect of the rules of sanitation and military hygiene. Out of forty-eight regiments whose medical records were examined, nine regiments reached Chickamauga with developed cases of typhoid, twenty-five regiments developed cases within two weeks, and at the expiration of one month only two regiments of the forty-eight were free from this disease. The first case of typhoid in the Eighth Regiment was reported July 13.

The average volunteer at Chickamauga had little discipline, and a slight knowledge of sanitation. He was willing to fight, as he had enlisted for that purpose, but he rather resented as an invasion of personal rights, any attempt to dictate what he should eat or drink. He did not accept in full faith the germ theory of disease, and was skeptical about the existence of bugs he could not see.

If water looked clear and was cool, he was unwilling to believe it was unwholesome, especially when it tasted sweet and satisfied his cravings. He was willing to believe that any water in which fish could swim, was good to drink, or to accept any other absurd test which was current.

The experience of an outpost from the regiment illustrates the chances intelligent college men would take, when it became a question of satisfying the appetite. This outpost was established on the banks of Chickamauga Creek, below the inflow of camp sewerage, and obtained their drinking water from a spring bubbling up in the slope of the bank. A sudden rain caused the creek to rise and submerge the spring. After the water subsided, the outpost discovered the surface of the spring covered with slime.

Someone suggested bad germs floated, and acting upon this theory, they plunged a canteen to the bottom of the spring, with the opening stopped by the thumb against the entrance of bacteria. When the canteen was on the bottom, the thumb was removed until the canteen was filled, the opening was then again plugged with the thumb, and the supply brought to the surface. Every member of this outpost was stricken with typhoid as a result of this experiment.

Although orders had been issued to drink only boiled water, most men in the corps drank what they pleased. Unsatisfactory rations led many men to patronize the various food venders. Near the railroad station a swarm of booths sprung up, where all kinds of food were dispensed. These stands were not subject to medical inspection, and later were denounced by the Medical Department as sources of contagion.

The chief sources of contagion were company sinks. Digging and caring for sinks did not appeal to the men as heroic soldiering. They hated and shirked this duty and as a result the sinks of many regiments were so repulsive that the men refused to use them, and polluted territory surrounding the camp.

The care of the sinks was always a matter of great solicitude to the officers of the Eighth. Their cleanliness was insisted upon at all times with martinet rigidity, and men were punished for not using them, after the formality of a trial and conviction before a summary court.

It was recognized that these pest holes might become breeding grounds of flies which would infest the camp and carry contagion. The following extract from a circular shows to what extent this danger was appreciated.

"No doubt typhoid fever, camp diarrhœa, and probably yellow fever
are frequently communicated to soldiers in camp through the
agency of flies, which swarm about fecal matter and filth of all
kinds deposited upon the ground or in shallow pits and directly
convey infectious material, attached to their feet or contained
in their excreta, to the food which is exposed while being
prepared at the company kitchens or while being served in the
mess tent. It is for this reason that a strict sanitary police
is so important."

Although the Eighth prevented flies breeding in its own camp, it could not prevent them swarming from other camps and spreading contagion. Flies increased and multiplied. A roast of beef exposed for a few minutes looked as black as a mass of charcoal, so dense was its surface packed with flies. Netting was purchased, and an attempt was made to keep all food covered. Some of the officers constructed mess quarters of scantlings covered with fly screens.

For two months the Eighth Regiment, fully realizing the danger to which it was exposed, fought against typhoid and combated it with intelligence and energy. During the last two months of its stay at Chickamauga, it was smitten with a heavy hand, and became the victims of a system which failed to furnish sanitary safeguards against the spread of communicable disease.

Digging was at all times difficult in the territory of the Eighth, as the soil was a hard clay and the outcropping ledges caused the abandonment of many sink holes when half dug. When the rainy season began a new danger threatened the regiment. The sinks would fill with water and stay full. Refilling the holes with lumps of clay that had been taken out, would cause an overflow and pollute the surrounding ground. Sinks had to be abandoned after every heavy rain, and new holes dug.

The ground in the rear of the camp was filled with open pits in which polluted water stagnated. It was noticed that this stagnant water became the breeding ground for insects. The ingenuity of the officers was taxed to invent a method of sealing these sinks. A happy suggestion occurred to a group of officers who had been in the habit of dining at an Italian Restaurant in Boston. They had seen flasks of Chianti sealed with a few spoonfuls of olive oil, and the analogy suggested oil to seal the sinks against insect life. A can of kerosene was secured, and the experiment tried.

As the oil spread over the surface of the water, it was noticed that it apparently interfered with the comfort of the wigglers, as they came to the surface. Crude petroleum was suggested as being stickier than refined oil, and a can was procured in Chattanooga and tried. Experiments showed that this oil often imprisoned the mother insect when laying eggs, and was a complete bar through which the wigglers, when grown, could not penetrate and emerge from the pits. Crude petroleum was purchased by the barrel and used in these open sinks.

From the Eighth Regiment the use of petroleum spread through the First and Third Corps, and subsequently became recognized throughout the country as a means of destroying mosquitoes and other insects that breed in stagnant waters.

The efforts which were made by the Eighth Regiment to maintain a sanitary camp, were recognized in the report of Colonel A. A. Woodhull, Deputy Surgeon General, U. S. A., on conditions in Camp George H. Thomas. Under the various sub-headings of his report, he refers to the regiment as follows:--

Under the sub-heading "Water Supply" he says:--

"There are general instructions to boil all water, whether
filtered or not. In the only regiment where I could be sure the
order was actually enforced (Eighth Massachusetts), no typhoid
has yet been recognized, and although the camp is very low and
wet and remittant fever has occurred within the last fortnight,
the general sick rate is only 2.56 per cent."

Under sub-heading "Character of Troops" he says:--

"The dirty camps are the sickly camps here as elsewhere. But
discipline and intelligence have their reward also. Without
specifying instances low in the scale, attention is invited to
the Eighth Massachusetts, already cited, where the positive
enforcement of orders by punitive measures when necessary has
resulted in the actual use of only boiled water for drinking,
with exemption from typhoid fever and a low sick rate as a
probable consequence."

Again, under the heading "Third Division, First Corps" he says:--

"The Eighth Massachusetts, whose discipline is good and which
boils its water, has a sick rate of 2.56, although its camp site
is bad."

Some of the volunteers were handicapped by the qualities of their officers. The American soldier responds to sympathetic leadership, but not to the sympathy that expresses itself in exaggeration of his hardships, and in frequent reference to his woes. This kind of talk destroys the back bone of resistance, and makes a company a mob of weaklings.

It is easy enough to be pleasant
When life moves along like a song,
But the man worth while is the man with a smile,
When everything goes dead wrong.

General Chaffee has said:--

"Soldier's do not like sympathy; sympathy is for women and
children. Soldiers are men, but they do like fair commendation
when deserving of it, and especially when their fortitude
has been severely tested. Commend our soldiers for manfully
undergoing privations and they will readily respond again; but
prate of their privations, deficiencies, and heavy burdens, and
they soon learn to dread the hour that shall disturb their ease;
the spirit becomes one of submission rather than one cheerfully
embracing the opportunity to exhibit their endurance and their
stamina."

The strength of the Eighth lay in the manhood of her officers and men, who were ready with a determined smile to face any game into which they were called.

A commission appointed by the President to investigate the sanitary conditions of the military camps of 1898 reported early in 1899. The report contains an allusion to the Eighth Massachusetts. It says:--

"The intelligent and watchful supervision on the part of the
surgeons and regimental officers, and the observance of the
well established rules of camp sanitation shown by the record
of the Eighth Massachusetts Volunteers at Camp Thomas, is very
commendable. This regiment was for many weeks very healthy, while
much sickness was occurring in regiments near by, although the
camp site, water and drill were practically the same."

This was a great compliment to the volunteer regimental commander and his officers.

In some of the camps in the United States, no thoroughly well established rules of sanitation were observed. Little restriction was placed on drunkenness and immorality. Soldiers did not seem to care how they lived, and their officers did not watch or teach them. Frequently the food was poorly cared for, and badly cooked, and the men were permitted to eat and drink anything and everything they could find. Sickness naturally followed in regiments where laxity prevailed.

The Eighth, according to evidence before the commission, followed just the opposite plan. Discipline was strict and impartial, and the health of the troops consequently of the best. They were a source of much admiration to all who saw them, both at Camp Thomas and the other places. No other regiment in the whole American army was similarly favored in the Commissioner's report.

_Lexington_

The Kentucky home of the Eighth was about five miles from Lexington on a knoll between the Bryan Pike and the Kentucky & Eastern Railroad. Access to the city and its markets was over the Pike or by rail from the station of Montrose, a few hundred yards away. A pipe line connecting with the city supply, brought water to the foot of every company street. Lumber was to be had upon requisition, and abundant facilities were offered for being and keeping well. The sun penetrating to every corner of the camp, dried the seeds of disease, and the breezes from the hay and clover fields blew away and dissipated the germs. The expanding green and golden fields rolling into distant stretches, rested eyes accustomed to the damp and closed woods of Georgia.

Men depressed by the atmosphere of Chickamauga, opened their eyes upon a new world, and began to experience the joy of living. The place, time of year, and the intelligent efforts of officers to stamp out disease, backed by unlimited Government supplies, infused new life into the tired and jaded regiments of the Third Division. General Sanger was indefatigable in his efforts to restore health, and was loyally supported by the line and medical officers.

It was not given to the Eighth, however, to overcome at once the results of their long stay at Chickamauga, surrounded by infection. For months they had fought contagion, and kept typhoid at bay, but were finally powerless against the swarm of flies that overspread their camp, depositing bacteria upon food and clothing. The regiment left Chickamauga inoculated with poison, and during the first few weeks at Lexington, enteric fever broke out and was more prevalent than at any other period.

For a month the energies of the regiment were devoted to getting down to the bed rock of health. Sources of contagion were destroyed or removed. At sick call, men with abnormal temperatures were removed from their comrades, and sent to the general hospital. Suspicious cases were held under observation until the outcome was known. Sick men who might be a source of new contagion, were at once separated from the regiment, and so thoroughly was this work done, that more than half the regiment was away from the colors.

A systematic crusade was made against the old germs that had traveled with the regiment from Chickamauga hid in blankets, clothing or personal belongings. Corrosive sublimate and chlorinated lime were freely used.

Clothing and blankets were boiled, brushed, and hung up for sunshine and wind to work through. All excreta was collected in closed sinks from which flies were excluded, and germ life was poisoned with chemical agents.

Tent floors were daily washed with corrosive sublimate, and weekly stood on end for the under side to be dried and white washed. Location of tents were frequently changed, and the uncovered ground thoroughly treated with lime. The camp was thoroughly drained, policed, and was as near medically clean as the science of military hygiene permitted.

As soon as possible a new issue of tentage was obtained, and those used at Chickamauga were destroyed. Each tent was furnished with a floor, and wooden sleeping bunks.

Sales by pedlers were regulated by orders from Division Headquarters. Chickamauga Park had been overrun by fakirs selling cakes, pies and other foods, much of which was believed to have been contaminated, and to have materially contributed to the spread of camp diseases. As soon as the food pedlers appeared in the new camp, they were rounded up by the guard and expelled. Certain permits were issued, regulating the sale of foods. Pedlers were required to report to the Officer of the Day, and conduct their business under his direction and supervision.

Many men suffering from intestinal troubles, could not assimilate the sturdy Government ration, and large quantities of milk and eggs were daily needed for their nourishment. Such perishable articles were not furnished by the Government, and company commanders had to depend upon the company fund for their purchase.

The sale of beer was the chief source of revenue to the Canteen, and was accordingly resorted to. A commodious wooden building was erected as a Post Exchange, and a large ice box was constructed, where gallons of milk and hundreds of eggs were stored. Captain Horace S. Bean, of Company B, was put in charge of the Canteen, and made large purchases from the neighboring farmers. The favorite tipple served over the bar was a milk and egg shake. Many of the company commanders served an egg nog to each man at 10 A. M. and 4 P. M. daily. The best quality of beer was obtained from Milwaukee, and was hereafter retained as a regular Canteen supply, while the regiment remained in the service.

The profit on the sale of beer became a material factor in building up the health of the regiment, and augmenting the company funds. At one time over three thousand dollars was divided among companies as a Canteen dividend.

A new hospital tent was received from the Massachusetts Volunteer Aid Association, and was pitched on the left flank of the regiment. As the regimental hospital had been abolished, this was used as a dispensary. All soldiers requiring treatment reported to the dispensary, where their case was diagnosed by the regimental surgeon, and if it was found that the patient was in a condition requiring treatment, he was immediately sent to the Division hospital.

This was known as the John Blair Gibbs Hospital, and was situated about a mile from camp. It was presided over by a competent staff of skilled surgeons, assisted by a corps of trained nurses, from whom the men received excellent treatment.

During this period of recuperation, furloughs were freely given. This privilege was sometimes abused, and some men without any ailment, except a desire to go home, managed to pass the surgeons and secure a furlough. The "furlough walk" and "furlough face" came to be recognized as evidence of homesickness, and was more or less joked about among the men as means of obtaining a furlough. Nearly all the men, however, who were sent home, needed a change, and were granted furloughs as a sanitary precaution.

Lexington had been the home of Henry Clay, and as a compliment to the city, the camp was named Camp Henry Clay, in honor of the Kentucky statesman. This name was subsequently changed, as the War Department had adopted the practice of naming the camps in honor of soldiers who had fallen in the Spanish War, to Camp J. M. Hamilton, in honor of an officer in the Ninth United States Infantry, who fell at Santiago.

The "P jacket" first appeared in the regiment at Camp Hamilton. Previous to its introduction, one unacquainted with military affairs, could not distinguish prisoners from other soldiers.

These jackets were a distinctive badge. They were a blue jumper with a large capital P painted in white upon the back, and a smaller letter P, and the prisoner's number painted upon the arm.

It was related that a party of young ladies visiting the camp, became very much interested in these uniforms; but not understanding the letter P, inquired its significance from one of the prisoners, and was smilingly told that it stood for "Perfect," and that the jacket was a badge of honor.

The condition of the regiment was a source of great solicitude to its friends at home, and many anxious inquiries were made as to its health and surroundings. On September 8th, Mayor Ramsdell of Lynn, visited the camp and remained a number of days. He was the first of several Northern people who visited the camp to inquire into and report upon the condition of the troops.

On September 8th, the camp was visited by a delegation from Massachusetts, headed by Colonel Benjamin S. Lovell of Weymouth, of the military committee of Governor Wolcott's council. This trip was the result of a story printed in a Cincinnati paper, to the effect that the Eighth was demoralized with typhoid fever.

Colonel Lovell and others, who were in attendance at the national encampment of the G. A. R., in the Ohio city, saw the report in the paper, and Colonel Lovell telegraphed for authority to proceed to Lexington and make an investigation, and permission was granted by Governor Wolcott.

A special car was chartered, and Colonel Lovell, Colonel William M. Olin, secretary of the commonwealth, a veteran of the Civil War, who camped at Lexington in those stirring days, Captain J. G. B. Adams, sergeant-at-arms of the Massachusetts legislature, himself a past commander-in-chief of the G. A. R., accompanied by Mrs. L. A. Turner, prominent in Women's Relief Corps circles, and other Massachusetts people, made the trip to Lexington.

The day was spent in looking over the regiment, and Colonel Lovell, Colonel Olin and Captain Adams, made a thorough inspection of the regiment and its conditions, in regard to food, sanitary arrangements, and especially in regard to sickness. Colonel Lovell made a report to the governor upon his return home, and the same is on file at the State House, although it could not be located at the time this chapter was written.

At the close of the day, the entire party went back to Cincinnati, satisfied that the report was greatly exaggerated by the newspaper which had published the story, as there was but little typhoid among the men.

On September 12th, Mayor Chase of Haverhill, also visited the camp, being the guest of Company F of that city.

The troops quartered in and about Lexington were the Eighth Massachusetts, Twelfth New York, Twenty-First Kansas, One Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana, Third Kentucky, Fourth Kentucky, Third Mississippi, Second Missouri, Seventh United States Immunes, colored, Eighth United States Immunes, colored. On September 26th, the Twenty-First Kansas left for Fort Leavenworth, to be mustered out of the service, and upon the day following their place was taken by the First Territorial Regiment. This regiment was enlisted from the territories of New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma, and Indian Territory, and was composed of ranchmen, cowboys, and some Indians. Their initial appearance in the camp of the Eighth was explosive. As soon as a camp site had been assigned them, and they were dismissed, they started on a round of visits to the various camps. The visit was made upon the run, accompanied by a continuous yelling and whooping. This whirlwind of noise passed through every company street in the New York and Massachusetts regiments without stopping, and disappeared to repeat the performance in the camps of other regiments. The most orderly member of the command was a large brown bear, which did duty as regimental mascot.

Some amusement was furnished one evening as the men assembled for parade, by a barouche containing four ladies of the town, driven by a stately colored man. They disappeared in the camp of the Twelfth New York, but shortly returned with the large letters I. C., in chalk on the back of the carriage.

The camp site of the Eighth had formerly been cultivated, but during the summer the land had run to weeds. These were waist high until mowed. During one of the early changes of guard, the old guard was marched by the Lieutenant through some of these weeds, towards the regimental parade, where they were to be dismissed. Suddenly the guard broke ranks, and each man rushed for his quarters. The Lieutenant stopped in amazement and shouted to his men, "What in blank are you running for"? Before he got an answer, a swarm of hornets attached themselves to his person, and he was soon running as fast as any member of his guard.

The men were encouraged to engage in sports as a recreation. At one time, foot ball was taken up in a mild way, but after the Kentucky State College defeated Company H by a score of 59 to 0, interest in this strenuous sport died out.

Lexington was well supplied with entertainment, and on several occasions enlisted men attended the theatre and circus in a body.

Two evenings were known at the Opera House as Eighth Regiment nights, when the drum corps took part in the performance, and a large delegation from the regiment was represented in the audience.

The drum corps was well received throughout the south, and their rendering of Dixie was always greeted with Southern yells of approval.

On one occasion Company L was entertained at the home of Mrs. Kate Breen, where Lieutenant Breen, Inspector of Rifle Practice of the Ninth Massachusetts Infantry, was visiting. He acted as host, and left with the men a pleasant memory of his hospitality.

Dr. Horace B. Frost, of Boston, joined the regiment here, having been commissioned Assistant Surgeon, with the rank of Lieutenant, vice Jenkins, resigned.

The people of Lexington were most courteous and kind to the regiment. Many homes were opened, and the genial social life was welcomed as a help in making officers and men contented. On September 24th, the regiment was the guest of the Jockey Club at the Loudon Park. It gave an exhibition drill, and witnessed the races.

One of the features was a running race, open only to the officers of the Third Division. It was participated in by 20 officers, the leaders finishing in the following order:--

Major Nickerson, Seventh United States Cavalry; Lieutenant Hero, Fourth United States Artillery; Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey; Colonel Pew; Major Eldredge; Adjutant Barroll, and Quartermaster Wonson, all of the Eighth Massachusetts; Lieutenant Horton, Twelfth New York, and Lieutenant Stinson, Eighth Massachusetts.

This contest was continued two other days, the "finals" being run off Saturday, open to the entire camp (12,000), any military horse, with an officer "up." The final was won by Lieutenant-Colonel Bailey, Eighth Massachusetts, on his mare "Alathea," with Adjutant Barroll, Eighth Massachusetts, second, on Colonel Pew's "Essex."

Ladies were frequently the guests of the regiment, and especially on review days. Two large reviews were held in which all the troops participated, one in honor of General Russell A. Alger, Secretary of War, and the other in honor of Governor Bradley of Kentucky. On September 20th, General Russell A. Alger arrived by rail, and was met at the station by the Second Brigade, and escorted to General Breckenridge's headquarters. Later on, a review was tendered by the Division. The Eighth paraded over eight hundred men, and from this time its numbers were continually increasing by the return of convalescents to duty, and the expiration of furloughs.

After the review, the Secretary of War inspected the Division Hospital and the various camps. He spent some time in the camp of the Eighth, chatting with the officers, and took occasion to compliment the regiment upon its intelligent struggle against typhoid at Chickamauga.

Early in August, the Secretary of War had sent Colonel Hopkins, Assistant Inspector General of the United States Army, to examine and report upon the condition of the troops at Chickamauga. Colonel Hopkins' report to the Secretary of War was subsequently published, but was unknown to the regiment at this time. In it he said that the Eighth Massachusetts was the only regiment in the Park he was sure had complied with sanitary regulations, and that its low sick rate, as compared with that of other regiments, showed an intelligent appreciation of the situation by the officers, and an earnest effort to stop the spread of preventable disease, by the application of hygienic measures.

Later in the day, the Generals and Colonels of the Division met the Secretary at General Breckenridge's headquarters, and were invited to express their opinion on the sanitary conditions. Some of the officers bitterly denounced the inefficiency of the Quartermaster's Department and the Medical Department at Chickamauga; the Chief Surgeon of the corps was characterized as a horse doctor, and his professional qualifications were criticised.

Several changes of officers were made in October. On the 20th, General Breckenridge turned over the command of the Corps to General James H. Wilson, under whom the Eighth served until mustered out.

On the 7th, Rev. George D. Sanders, the Chaplain, resigned. The Rev. Milo H. Gates of Ipswich, was appointed to fill this vacancy November 11th, but before being mustered in, was thrown from a horse, and owing to his injuries was unable to pass the physical examination. Chaplain Sanders was subsequently re-appointed and joined the regiment in Cuba.

On October 24th, Lieutenant Francis H. Downey of Company I, died at the St. Joseph's Hospital in Lexington, of pneumonia. Funeral services were held over his remains in the city, and were attended by the officers of the regiment, and by Companies D and I. He was the only officer in the command who died during the service.

On the 28th, Lieutenant-Colonel Edwin W. M. Bailey resigned, and Major William Stopford was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel. The vacancy in majority was not filled, as the United States allowed at this time but two majors to a regiment. Colonel Stopford continued to command the First Battalion. Owing to the place of his promotion, he became known in Lexington society as the real Kentucky Colonel.

Lieutenant Stephen N. Bond of Company K, resigned on October 28th.

During the temporary absence of the regimental surgeon, Captain Rutherford of the Second Missouri, was assigned and remained on duty with the regiment several weeks.

After the Third Division had recovered its health, the proposition to make a practice march was again discussed. Lieutenant Francisco A. DeSousa of Company E, with a detail from the regiment, was sent over the road to Frankford, Kentucky, to locate camps and select a suitable place for rifle practice. It was the intention to have each regiment march to Frankford and spend a week at target practice. Owing to the lateness of the season and the approach of cold weather, the undertaking was abandoned.

On October 10th, General Waites, who was about to retire from the command of the Second Brigade, tendered the officers a reception at his quarters. Soon after the officers of the Eighth had returned to their camp, Colonel Pew received directions through a staff officer to issue ball ammunition, and hold his men in readiness to march. The order was immediately obeyed. No explanation was offered, and the regiment awaited developments.

In the quiet night the measured beat of marching was heard along the Bryan Pike, and the Regimental Guard reported the One Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana going into Lexington to quell a riot. A member of the Third Kentucky on provost duty in the city, had shot and killed a soldier of the Twelfth New York, who refused to halt when ordered. The sentinel was arrested pending an inquiry.

A rumor spread through the camp that a number of the Twelfth New York and the First Territorial Regiments had started for the city to lynch this sentinel. There was more or less disturbance at the Montrose station by a mob of excited soldiers, and several shots were fired.

The Eighth was ordered to deploy one battalion as skirmishers across the Bryan Pike, and railroad track, and stop all soldiers. The other two battalions were to remain under arms in camp as a reserve. Colonel Stopford executed this deployment with the First Battalion. Nothing happened, and he was withdrawn before morning. The situation in the city was easily controlled by the provost guard with the help of the One Hundred and Sixtieth Indiana.

In October Governor Wolcott directed General Robert A. Blood, the Surgeon General of Massachusetts, to visit the camps of the Eighth and Fifth Massachusetts regiments and report on the sanitary condition, rations and hospital accommodations of these regiments. As a result of this trip, General Blood made the following report to the Governor:--

"After three or four days at Camp Meade, visiting the Fifth
Regiment, I proceeded to Camp Hamilton, Lexington, Kentucky,
where I arrived in due time. I found the camp of the Eighth
Regiment about four or five miles out from Lexington, and in
the heart of the blue-grass country. This was a most delightful
situation, and I think, one of the finest locations for a camp I
have ever seen.

I was cordially received by Colonel Pew, commander of the Eighth
Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, and every opportunity was
given me by the Colonel to inspect this camp. This regiment was
stationed at Camp Thomas for a long time. There had been a great
deal of sickness, mostly typhoid fever, but at the time of my
visit there were no new cases, and the cases in the hospitals
were progressing favorably. At this time there were no regimental
hospitals. Orders for re-establishing the regimental hospitals
had just been received from headquarters, but no medicines or
medical supplies had been issued. I looked the camp over very
carefully, saw the men on duty and off duty, and visited other
camps for comparisons. I saw no regiment at Camp Hamilton that
seemed so thoroughly up to all that goes to make a good regiment
as the Eighth. The men were soldierly in their bearing, the
grounds were kept in perfect condition, tents were all in order
and scrupulously clean. A great many of the men had fixed up
temporary bunks or cots for their beds. Altogether this was
perhaps the cleanest regiment, excepting the Fifth Massachusetts,
that I saw in all my visiting soldiers in the field. It was
certainly equal to any.

I saw almost nothing in the sanitary arrangements of this
regiment to criticise. The only thing, as with the Fifth
Regiment, which I think could be improved, is the company
cooking. Of course this will improve in time. I stayed with
this regiment nearly a week. I visited and dined with General
Breckenridge, commander of this post, and with other general
officers commanding divisions and brigades. General Breckenridge
was very kind to me, showing me every attention, and all the
officers I met at Camp Hamilton treated me with the greatest
consideration. I take this opportunity to thank them. This army
corps was, I believe, under better discipline than any other
corps I saw during the summer, with the exception, possibly, the
regulars at Montauk.

I desire to say here, that, in my judgment, Colonel Pew is a most
excellent commander, and all the officers of the Eighth whom I
met seemed to be well up in their profession and doing most
excellent work. The regiment as I saw it was an honor to the
State."

By the end of October the nights had become chilly, and although bed sacks and extra blankets were issued to the men, it was difficult to keep warm. Americus, Georgia, had been designated in orders as the future home of the Eighth Massachusetts and Twelfth New York and a detail from the Eighth was already upon the ground preparing a camp site.

Orders were issued for the Eighth to entrain on November 10th for Americus, and upon this date the regiment was transferred to the Second Brigade, Second Division, First Army Corps. The regiment had been ordered to entrain early in the morning near the Montrose station, but owing to the delay in loading the baggage of Brigade Headquarters, it was impossible for the Quartermaster of the Eighth to begin loading his baggage before afternoon.

The regiment had risen early, and had its breakfast before 5 o'clock, and in compliance with orders, all baggage had been packed and transported to the station. The day was cold and raw, and a steady downpour of rain had converted the camp site into a mass of mud. Tents had been struck and shipped to the station, and the men were required to remain on the camp ground all day without food or shelter, waiting for the passenger sections to pull in from Lexington.

Many of the men in their efforts to keep warm, drank too much whiskey, and a large number in the regiment became sadly demoralized. The guard house, a wooden structure, was set on fire, and some of the prisoners had a narrow escape from cremation. The event was known as the evacuation of Lexington. The troop trains did not arrive until after dark, when the regiment embarked, and for the first time since five in the morning, the men were served with food and hot coffee. The departure from Lexington was sad and dispiriting and was made under trying conditions.

_Americus_

When the regiments of the Second Division were moved from Lexington, they were assigned to camps in southwestern Georgia, in the cities of Macon, Columbus, Americus and Albany. The Eighth Massachusetts and the Twelfth New York went to Americus, where three regimental camp sites had been prepared, and orders were issued for the Eighth United States Infantry to join the brigade. This order was countermanded, and no other regiments went to Americus.

On the morning of November 12th, the four sections bearing the Eighth Massachusetts and its impedimenta reached Americus. The two camp sites were about a mile from the city, and separated by the highway. The Eighth was assigned to a large sodded field, where substantial wooden company sinks had been constructed, water pipes laid to each company kitchen, and an electric street lighting system was being installed.

For a week the men of the Eighth were as industrious as ants. Each company erected a long shed at the foot of the company street, one end of which was closed in for a kitchen, in which was assembled every convenience for preparing food. The rest of the shed was used as a mess house, and furnished with long deal tables and benches, where the men could sit and enjoy their meals. Canvas awnings were attached to the long sides of the mess hall, to be used as a protection against rain and wind.

Deep pits were dug for kitchen sinks. These were covered with tree trunks and the dirt replaced and carefully arranged in a mound. A detachable hopper was placed in the top of each mound to drain liquid wastes into the sinks; the solids were than collected in closed iron cans, and were carted twice daily to a crematory. The hoppers were enclosed in wooden boxes with covers, which were always resplendent with a fresh coat of whitewash.

Long wash stands were constructed with an overflow trough into the kitchen sinks. A pipe ran the length of these stands, with frequent faucets and iron wash basins. Each company was supplied with a bathing tent in which a shower bath was constructed, where the men could bathe every day if they so desired, and were required to bathe twice a week. Tent floors were provided, and lumber for bunks and clothing racks. A system of drainage was installed, and each company street ditched and crowned to the center.

Battalion water plants were constructed, where all the water supplied to the regiment for drinking purposes was boiled, filtered and iced.

The means for caring for the sick were excellent. In addition to a regimental hospital, used as a dispensary, but supplied with quarters sufficient to care for a number of men, there was a brigade hospital located in a dwelling house, and adjacent to this were erected a number of hospital tents with double boarded floors, and with sides also boarded, so that patients were as comfortable in the mild climate of Georgia as if they had been in the best managed institution of the kind in Boston. The Brigade Hospital was in charge of Major William Cogswell.

A building was erected for a post exchange, which was successfully operated by a council of officers consisting of Captains Alexander G. Perkins of Company A, William C. Dow of Company F, and Edward J. Horton of Company G. All necessaries that were needed by the men were offered for sale here at reasonable rates, and its restaurant became famous for egg sandwiches and oyster stews. All these paraphernalia of comfort and health were daily inspected by company commanders, battalion commanders, regimental commander, and the brigade commander.

Just before Thanksgiving, Colonel Arnold A. Rand of Boston, visited the camp and reported its condition to Governor Wolcott. He said:--

"I think you would be glad to know that the regiment is in most
excellent condition; the officers cheery, trim, and a credit
to the State. I did not see the regiment on parade, but which
was very much better, I saw quite thoroughly the quarters, and
examined everything as to the sanitary condition, from the sinks
to the corral. I also saw the men at mess, and the quality of the
rations. The whole regiment seemed in excellent condition, and is
such a credit to the state that it is a very great pleasure to
make such a report to you."

The men were allowed much liberty between drills, and passes were issued to visit the city during the day. Many side trips were made to Andersonville to visit the site of the celebrated prison where many Federal soldiers were confined during the Civil War. Order was preserved in Americus by a provost guard, under command of Lieutenant George H. Dow of Company A. This guard arrested all soldiers found in the city without proper passes, and returned them to the guard houses of their respective regiments for trial for absence without leave.

The camp at Americus was at first named in honor of Major Forse. The name was subsequently changed to Camp Gilman, as another camp had earlier received the name of Camp Forse.

During the first few days at Americus, the Eighth was greeted with many showers. The weather, however, was so mild that the men did not wear overcoats except as a protection against the rain. During the entire stay of the Eighth, wildflowers and roses were in full bloom.

On one side of the camp an extensive cotton field waved acres of bolls, breaking into white flowering balls, which at a distance looked like a sea of white roses. It is said that the low prices of cotton did not warrant picking this field, and it was left intact and beautified the approach to camp.

At no great distance were fields of sugar cane fit for harvesting, where the men were often welcomed and treated to a supply of chewing cane for the company. A solitary peanut farm was discovered by some of the soldiers in their peregrinations, and its product brought to camp.

The Georgia pines attracted much attention. Many of these trees were transplanted and grouped about the camp for landscape effect. Every line officer had one at his front door.

All the officers constructed wooden porches in front of their tents. The porch had two faces, in one of which was a door, and in the other a glass window. The interior space between the two faces was utilized for a Sibley stove, and the pipe was carried through the wooden roof of the porch. All these porches were whitewashed. A line of officers' tents looked like a row of diminutive cottages, and in the morning when every funnel was smoking, suggested the busy preparation of breakfast in many little homes.

The officers of the regiment, however, messed together in a commodious building, which was divided into a dining hall and kitchen. The dining hall was also used as a regimental school room, and as a place for social meeting in the evening.

On one occasion a birthday dinner was given in this hall at which a historic cake figured. A lady sent this cake with an appropriate number of candles to one of the officers, and by way of a joke, wrote a letter to the Secretary of War, pretending to be the officer's sister, and asked to have the regiment held at Americus until her brother got his cake. This letter was preserved by Secretary Alger as a bonafide communication, and was later commented upon in his history of the War with Spain as follows:--

"Of all the requests however received, perhaps the most unique
was that which came from a young lady in Boston. Her note paper,
hand writing, and rhetoric vouched at least for the culture of
the writer. Her request was simple and plainly worded. With much
unfeigned earnestness she stated her case. The press despatches
had announced that the volunteer regiment of which her brother
was a member, was to leave for Cuba at a fixed date, but the
brother's birthday came two days before the date assigned for his
embarkation. A birthday box of cake, jellies, pies, etc., she
said, had been forwarded to him, and would not be received if the
regiment left on the date announced. She naively asked that the
regiment be detained until the sweetmeats arrived, as she was
sure it would make no difference to the Government, whereas, it
would be such a disappointment to her brother."

During the first few weeks at Americus, the camp was overrun with colored people. They came from far and near to see the soldiers. Many of them carried covered baskets, and it was not long before a well-founded suspicion grew, that many of these baskets came into camp empty, and went out filled with plunder. The Eighth soon had a little race problem of its own to solve. In each company a squad of strong men assumed the duty of elevating the colored race.

The process of elevation consisted in capturing every colored man with a covered basket, and tossing him on a blanket into the air, until the arms of the soldiers got tired, and they could keep it up no longer. The sight of a negro with a basket was the signal for a rush in his direction with a blanket, and he was soon traveling skyward, in spite of every objection on his part to such treatment. For a few days, every such colored visitor was received in the open arms of a regulation blanket.

As objectionable visitors became scarce, and covered baskets disappeared, this moral propaganda ceased, and as far as the Eighth was concerned, the race problem was solved.

Major Edward H. Eldredge was detailed by General Waites to select a rifle range for the entire brigade. He selected one about half a mile from the camp, where targets were installed under his direction at 200 and 500 yards. It was reported that the regiment was to be armed with the Krag-Jorgensen rifles before the command was sent to Cuba, and it was the intention to have the soldiers spend a portion of each day at the range.