USA > Illinois > Whiteside County > History of companies I and E, Sixth Regt., Illinois Volunteer Infantry from Whiteside County > Part 20
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WAITING FOR A TRANSPORT.
hades, and laughing at the discomfitted man, turned out on the trail and hurriedly followed in the footsteps of his comrade. Not until then did it dawn upon the na ive that the boys had no intentions of giving him any- thing in return for the fowl and his rage knew no bounds. Shaking his clenched fists at the receeding man in blue and howling like an Indian. he made a movement forward as though he would follow him, but had not proceded far when the soldier halted and made as though intending to return. Then the native stopped suddenly and hurling a parting shot at the soldier dis- appeared in the brush. The man with the duck sat down and awaited the coming of his comrade. when together, they proceeded until feeling safe from pursuit, then dressed the fowl, built a fire and ate their dinner, all the while congratulating themselves on the success of their plan.
Although camped within a few miles of the wharf at Ponce, where tons upon tons of supplies were stored, our rations did not materially improve. We did get a quantity of canned hamburger-steak but it soon dis- appeared and we fell back on hardtack and sowbelly. About a half mile below us a battery of the Seventh Light Artillery was camped. A number of our boys made regular trips to this camp about mess time and for a while received a warm welcome. The men of the artillery were being well fed and had rations to spare. They geneously shared with our boys until their officers put a stop to it. They told us they had never seen the time since entering the service that they had not been well supplied with rations and could hardly credit our stories when we informed them how we had been ex- isting.
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
With nothing to do but keep our spirits up while awaiting the order to embark, many of the boys made regular trips to the city. To remain in camp and lie about on the damp ground was only to aggravate the sorry condition of their fever infected systems and al- though barely able to stand, many of them forced them- selves to keep on their feet and felt better, if much wearied, from the six mile tramp to town and . return. There were many other regiments represented in and about the city, but one could distinguish a member of our regiment frem that of any other as far as he could be seen. With clothing ragged and dirty, rough beards and dilap- itated footgear, or perhaps barefooted, tanned brown from continued exposure to the weather, worn thin and gaunt by lack of provisions and the ravages of disease, but with a devil-may-care bearing, they contrasted strangely with the neat, rugged appearance of the other troops met with.
If other proof was lacking, this in itself was suffi- cient to convince us that our experiences had been much more severe than those of any other troops we had so far encountered. True we had not been in an engagement with the enemy, with the exception of the skirmish par- ticipated in by company G, the first morning after our arrival at Guanica. But it is a well known fact that in all active armies of the world, bullets work less destruc- tion than disease, and the hardest worked lot of men in the army, and those having much responsibility resting on their shoulders are the surgeons and corps of assis- tants. The men may be half clothed and illy fed, but it seldom occurs that they enter an active campaign short of ammunition. This vital point is never overlooked.
If it does occur that the supply of ammunition is not
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As IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.
equal to the occasion, then the advance or attack is de- layed until the stock is replenished. There are excep- tions to this but they are rare indeed. Why then is it such a difficult problem to forward rations and hospital supplies to the front ? In onr short campaign we had concluded that the difficulty lay between two evils. red tape or negligence. In the case of a heavy engagement where thousands were slain or wounded and the needs of the men increased a hundred fold it is an entirely differ- ent matter and there is some excuse for a shortage of sup- plies.
When the conditions are normal. or in other words. when an army of ten thousand or one hundred thousand men are put in the field. the officials can. without difficul- ty, determine the amount of supplies necessary to pro- vide each man, and it is their duty to see that he receives them. It would be an easy matter for one who has the au- thority. and the health and comfort of the men in mind, to make a tour of the camps at the proper hour and see for themselves how they are being taken care of. If un- desirable conditions are found, then let them take the matter np through the proper channel and push it vigor- ously until the wrong is set aright. If the course of pro- cedure is slow and difficult, then why allow officials to remain in charge of the work who have proven themselves negligent or incapable?
The men have but little opportunity to look to their own comfort in the way of supplies. When taking the oath and donning the blue uniform. they trust to God and the government. They are a party to an agreement. whereby they willingly place their lives at the disposal of their country.
In return. they are to receive a remuneration of a
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
few dollars per month and a certain amount of clothing and rations. Their compensation is based upon this al- lowance and when the supplies are not deliverd to them. the contract is broken and the men are defrauded with no chance of having the matter adjusted.
The regulations provide for a moneyed reimburse- ment where the rations or clothing are not drawn by the men. But to avail themselves of this proviso a strict ac- count must be kept as to what portion of the allowance has not been drawn and is yet forthcoming. It also pro- vides that asupply of requisition blanks will be furnished and must be used in drawing on the different departments for supplies. At stated periods a report must be for- warded giving in detail each item for which a shortage is claimed. If this report is delayed or overlooked. then it is taken for granted that there is nothing due the men and their accounts are balanced accordingly. In every way, the regulations cover the question completely and the course of action is made clear, but where it errs is in not providing each volunteer company with a stenographer and bookeeper, who could keepan account of the many de- tails. and an attorney who could prosecute a claim and keep it moving through its torturous channels.
In the Spanish-American war the hand of Providence appeared to be with us at every turn and had the govern .. ment, or the men whom the government placed in res- ponsible positions, charged with the welfare of the soldiers, done their duty, their simple duty, then there would have been but little cause for the men to make complaint. The men expected, and were willing to endure hardships. Not for an instant did they carry the idea they were on a holiday excursion or making a tour of foreign lands ou pleasure bent. Expecting but little
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RESULT OF A SIX WEEKS CAMPAIGN.
they were terribly disappointed in oven that. The volun- teer appointments seemed to be made not on the merits of the applicant. but his political pull alone was consid- ered. The man of ability was forced into the background and the preference given to the politician. This in ref- erence to the men who were issued commissions bearing an attractive rank. whose duties. (as they saw them ) were to wear a spotless uniform and draw a handsome salary. not the officers in the field who were brought face to face with all the privations of an enlisted man. Such positions as those were little sought after by the hungry man with a pull.
The regular army officer had been given a five years training in the art of war at West Point and had been taught the mode of procedure in taking action in almost any emergency that might arise. Besides this. the ma- jority of those in the service during the late war had years of experience which taught them much that could not be learned in any other manner. These men. when connected with the volunteer troops. were placed in posi- tions of such high rank that a protest from the men was usually shelved before reaching them.
The troops in Porto Rico were in an unenviable po- sition. Separated from home and friends by hundreds of miles of land and sea. in active service in a foreign country and a tropical climate. among a strange people, illy fed and poorly clad. their stories of privations which did reach home discredited and laughed to scorn. with no one in authority who appeared to care whether the the men suffered unnecessarily or not. and those who did and made an effort to adjust matters found their work blocked at every turn. disease dwindling the ranks of men fit for duty down to a mere nothing. and this all
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within less than six weeks. Such was the situation on the first of September. Is it surprising that they early became disgusted with the life they were leading ?
In dwelling upon this matter it would be well to consider that to one sitting in the home, with all its pleas- ant surroundings; provided with all the necessities of life. with dry clothing, wealthy in the possession of health and with an unconscious sense of contentment pervading the soul, for such an one it is difficult tofully comprehend the true situation. They may picture, in their imagina- tion. themselves placed in just such a situation but they cannot realize the effect of it all. Experience alone can bring this about. No picture can portray it. The veter- ans of the 60's understand. Many of them experienced years of soldier life. They were brought face to face with dangers which we never met. Many of them more than once were in the midst of scenes of carnage, where the blood ran red and the dead were strewn all about them.
These were experiences of which we knew nothing. But on the other hand they were in their own country, a few hours ride would land them at the door of their own homes. The climate differed little from that to which they had been accustomed all their lives. A successful foraging expedition replenished the ration supply. and in various ways their position differed from that of the men who were serving in a foreign land. This compari- son is not draw with the intention of in any manner at- empting to place our services or experiences on an equal with those of the civil war veteran. But to point out how. in some respects, the conditions varied and brought about entirely different results.
No class of citizens in the republic, not actually par-
O
"Falling of the tents." Last camp near Ponce,
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VETERANS OF THE 60's.
ticipating in the civil war, realize more fully the many privations endured by the soldiers of the war of the rebellion, than does the men who saw actual service in the war with Spain. Standing as they did the keystone of our Union, preservers of a republic, the greatness of which has placed it at the front among the first nations of the world. those soldiers of Abraham Lincoln, are ad- mired, respected and loved by our whole people, and es- pecially so by the soldiers of a younger generation, the volunteers of 1898. We shall ever touch our hats in res- peetful salutation to them and in after years, when the last one has answered the final summons, then shall we consider it our sacred duty to strew flowers o'er their graves and plant the banner which they loved in life on the mounds which mark their resting places. The mem- ory of those men will be fondly cherished for all time.
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
CHAPTER XXIV.
During the few weeks which elapsed between the date of the entrance of our regiment into Ponce on its way to the front, and its subsequent return enroute to the States, there had been visible changes wrought in the ap- pearance of the main portion of the town. A number of the business houses had been newly painted in attractive colors. .Before. the sameness of the shades of every building wearied the eye and gave the town an unattract- ive aspect. The interior of many of the store buildings had been cleaned and on the shelves we found a surpris- ing quantity of American goods, and above the doors of several of the stores, signs had been placed which in- formed the soldiers that English was spoken by one or more of the courteous clerks.
Some few of the boys managed in some way to se- cure a little money and purchased various articles which they carefully packed to be taken home to their friends. Down near the wharf, an American conducted a sutlers store. His main stock in trade consisted of tobaccos and goods of such nature which the soldiers would be willing to part with their scanty horde of money to secure. One of the boys from Whiteside county went down to pur- chase a supply of tobacco for his comrades who were less fortunate than he and had no money to make a purchase with. His bill of goods amounted to about seven dollars
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ARMY SUTLER IN PONCE.
and he give the sutler a ten dollar bill from which to take the amount of the purchase. The sutler was a ner- vous. excitable man. and during the transaction high words were exchanged in reference to the price of the goods. He had not regained his composure. and pick- ing up the currency, turned to the cash drawer and connting out the change. stepped over to the board coun- ter. and placed the ten dollar bill. which the soldier had but a moment before given him. together with the change, on top of the parcel of tobacco.
The soldier took the situation in at a glance and making an exeuse grabbed the package and the thir- teen dollars and hurriedly left the place. The moment he stepped on the street he selected a ronte which wound in and out among the buildings and soon brought him to the center of the town. Even then he did not feel comfortable and kept a sharp lookout for a possible pursuer but none appeared. It is safe to say that man never entered the sutlers store again. He was an even ten dollars to the good on the deal and out at camp it took him about fifteen minutes to dispose of the tobacco for more than double the price he was sup- posed to have paid the sutler, taking an l. O. U. in each case for settlement.
While we were in this, our last camp on the island. Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant, Rudolph Hicks. of Galena. succumbed to typhoid fever. He was ill but a short time but he suffered much. He was quite a large man and up until within a few days of taking to the hospital, had the appearance of one in perfect health. During the last hours before life left him it required the combined strength of several men to keep him on his cot. The news of his death was a shock to
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
every man in the regiment. He was popular with everyone and held in high esteem by the men. He was buried on the island with military honors. Corporal Rees Dillon of company E who had assisted in this department at different times was appointed to fill the vacancy.
The transport Manitoba, Jay out in the harbor and we were waiting for her to discharge her cargo and te put in readiness for us. It was slow work and the carpenters sent out to her had much to do before we could board her. It was then but a question of a few days when we would leave the island for home. It would never do to put us on shore at New York in the condition we were then in, consequently a supply of clothing was issued to the regiment and the men in- formed they would be expected to equip themselves with sufficient wearing apparel to make a good appear- ance when disembarking in the States. We were not anxious to return looking so rough, yet we felt that if we did, our appearance would be silent but overwhelm- ing testimony to substantiate the stories which had gone to our homes in advance of us. But it was determined that such a thing would not be allowed and of course we had no choice but to do as we were bid.
.
The work of issuing the clothing had but fairly be- gun when orders were received to break camp and march to the wharf. a distance of about five miles. The orders came to us at noon on the sixth of September, and contained the information that we were to strike tents at two thirty that afternoon, and have everything in readiness to march out of camp at three. At the appointed time every tent fell at the beat of a drum, the little city of tents disappearing as if by magic. The
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Returning to the United States.
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EMBARKING ON THE MANITOBA.
tents were soon rolled up and with the other heavy baggage was taken to the street and placed in readiness for the wagons.
At three o'clock we marched out headed by the band and we bade good bye to "Camp Starvation." As we arrived opposite the camp of the artillerymen. Col- onel Foster halted us and we gave them three rousing cheers and a goodbye. In reply, they fired a salute of several guns. We heard many of them express the wish that they might accompany us home now that the war was over. As we neared the center of the city the band struck up, playing marches and patriotic airs. About a mile from the wharf we passed the camp of the Nineteenth regulars, and below them a short distance two or three companies of the Second Wisconsin. The remainder of their regiment had embarked for the States several days before and they were anxiously waiting for a transport in which to follow them.
We were soon at the wharf and found the Manito- ba lying a short distance out in the bay. The horses were loaded before we arrived, a portion of our bag- gage had arrived and details of men were soon at work loading the barges. Darkness was upon us before much had been accomplished, but by the aid of lanterns the work continued as it was hoped that by making a special effort everything would be in readiness for an early start the following morning. We lay around on the ground and on boxes without supper, our provision wagons not getting in until after midnight.
We remained on the wharf all night and at nine o'clock the following morning assembly was sounded and we were soon on barges on our way to the boat. After boarding her we lay there until six o'clock in the
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
evening taking on baggage; then taking a parting look at the city we put out to sea.
On board we found Soo canvas hammocks. These we soon had arranged and we were not long in turning into them. The boat was of good size, 460 feet in length with 48 feet beam, there being four decks be- sides the saloon deck. She was an English boat and manned by an English crew. The government had either purchased or leased her, and she was used as a Quartermaster's supply boat. Her decks were very wet and dirty throughout the whole voyage, contrasting strangely with the neatness and cleanliness on board the U. S. S. Columbia.
Accommodations for cooking were very poor, not being able to make any thing but coffee. Shortly after midnight our boat dropped anchor off the westerin coast of the island, lying there until daylight then entering the harbor of Mayaguez, where we took on ice. It looked very inviting for us as we had nothing to drink but con- densed sea water which was very warm, but we were disappointed when we learned, we would not be allowed any ice to use in the water. It was for the boat's crew and our officers.
We left the harbor at 10:30 a. m. and continued on our course direct to New York. Nothing of impor- tance occurred on board, everything going well until Sunday evening when we encountered a storm, and the boat was taken out of its course to avoid colliding with a water spont which could be plainly seen a short dis- tance ahead. From this time until we entered the har- bor at New York the wind blew a gale, retarding . the speed of the boat considerably and making the sea quite rough.
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ARRIVAL AT NEW YORK.
Sunday, Chaplain Ferris held church services on board and in the course of his talk he referred to the manner in which we had been fed while on the island. He said. "It was the work of a few mean, contemptible, damnable men, and they alone were the cause of all the suffering from lack of food. They were unfit to be called men." He scored them hard but not more than they deserved. This caused the boys to applaud loud and long. But why was it nothing had been said of this before. The devilish work had been going on for six or eight weeks and now we were on our way home it seemed rather late in the day. and if the matter had been taken up before we might have received some benefit from it.
Tuesday morning we sighted land and all was excitement from that time until we landed. Oh! how inviting it looked .- possibly because it was home. This was "God's country" as Col. Foster was pleased to term it The sick and down-hearted brightened up and everyone was cheerful. As we came slowly into the harbor small tugs and steam yachts came sailing out to greet us, whistles were blown continually, and all was confusion.
The water was full of ferry boats, excursion steam- ers. tugs, sailing boats and yachts. They sailed around us, some following us up the bay. all whistling and snorting. every one cheering us and waving hats, hand- kerchiefs and umbrellas. We stopped at the quarantine station and an officer came on board. He had been with us but a few moments when we noticed a small tug boat which had been following us some time steam along side. General Garrettson and several of his staff were taken on board the tug-boat where the General's
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
wife and a number of friends were waiting to receive him. This we knew meant no quarantine for us and soon we were on the move once more.
As we neared the statute of Liberty we again slowed down and came to a standstill. Our boat sig- nalled several times, by whistling, and shortly the har- bor master's tug came along side and after another short delay, we continued up North river to the docks of the West Shore Railroad in Weehawken where our vessel was made fast and our sea voyage terminated. This was about three o'clock in the afternoon of Tues- day, September thirteenth.
We were not allowed to go ashore until the follow- ing day when everyone was given the privilege of visiting New York across the river. Crowds of the boys crossed on the ferry-boats which transported them free. The people of New York and Weehawken treated us royally and nearly every man who came in on the boat was given a good meal. This was appreciated as it had been sometime since they had sat at a table and ate food like white men. Cigars and fruits in abundance were given freely. Congressman George Prince was an early caller to welcome the boys back to their homes and he gave each Captain ten dollars to expend for food for the men. Through him we were also issued soft bread.
The cargo of baggage and horses was unloaded Wednesday and at ten o'clock that night we boarded the cars for Springfield, arriving there about ten thirty Friday night. We left the cars at the uptown station and marched to Camp Lincoln, occuping the tents which had been vacated a short time previous by the men of the Fifth regiment.
Entrance to New York harbor.
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ON TO SPRINGFIELD.
The boys of the Fifth were a very disappointed lot. It will be remembered that the Third and Fifth regi- ments were mustered into the volunteer service in ad- vance of the Sixth, and they carried the idea that they would get to the front long before the boys of our regi- ment. In this they were mistaken as we landed in Porto Rica some little time ahead of the Third, and the boys of the Fifth, poor fellows, never got far from the shores of their own country. They were twice ordered to embark for Porto Rica, but each time were called back. At one time they had so far proceded as to board a vessel and had put out to sea when the com- mand was given calling them back, and they realized that their hopes were blasted and they must be content with the lot which befell them.
Our trip from New York to Springfield was thorough- ly enjoyed by the boys. They were met by cheering hos- pitality at every stopping place along the route, and sym- pathetic mothers made great inroads on their stores of canned goods. It seemed to us that they must have been preparing for our coming for weeks as the number of pies, cakes and cans of jelly given us was little short of astonishing. Great cans of pure, sweet milk were brought into the cars and carried from one end to the other and an open invitation was extended to each man to to fill his cup as often as he liked. Large bas- kets of various kinds of fruits were brought to the train and bushels of sandwiches were found at almost every stopping place.
In exchange for these gifts of food the people asked nothing in return except some little thing as a button, or a bullet. The craze appeared to settle on the cartridges and at every window there would be found a man, woman
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HISTORY OF COMPANIES I AND E.
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