USA > Massachusetts > The old First Massachusetts coast artillery in war and peace > Part 10
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1882 was notable for the Daniel Webster centennial. Pres. Chester A. Arthur honored Boston with a visit on this occa- sion, and on Oct. 11, the Ist Regiment served as Presidential escort during the celebration at Marshfield. The habit of visiting distant cities now grew on the regiment, so that on August 8, 1885, they were found in New York participating in the tremendous funeral procession in honor of their old- time commander-in-chief, U. S. Grant. Their fame grew.
All Roxbury joined in celebrating the centennial of its favorite corps, the City Guard, in 1884. March 22 of that year will long be remembered for its parade, and other demonstrations of affectionate enthusiasm. In 1886 the 12th Company visited Providence, R. I., as guests of the
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Light Infantry ; and assisted their hosts to celebrate in fit- ting manner the two hundred fiftieth anniversary of Rhode Island's settlement. 1887 brought the Fusilier centennial; and was likewise properly observed.
In 1887 the United States celebrated the centenary of the signing of its constitution, choosing Philadelphia, where the document had been drafted, as the place for the demonstra- tion. Massachusetts decided to send Gov. Oliver Ames and to provide, as his military escort, the most proficient regi- ment in the State. It was not necessary to lose any time searching for the regiment-orders were promptly issued to Col. Wellington, that he prepare his command for the Philadelphia trip, the Commonwealth to pay expenses. Sept. 15 found the regiment on its way to Philadelphia, Sept. 16 saw them marching as one of the most brilliant units of the great parade under command of Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, while Sept. 17 was signalized by their return to Boston. D. W. Reeves was band-leader that year-no unworthy successor to Fillebrown and Gilmore-and he contributed, as his share in the event, a new march, "The March of the First." Chaplain Minot J. Savage, who added to his gift of eloquence the rarer talent of poetry, wrote words for Reeves' music,
" We're brothers of all noble men, Who wear our country's blue; We brothers find in any race, Where men are brave and true. But we've a pride in our own band, And we are all agreed, Whatever grand deeds others do, The 'Old First' still shall lead."
The fame of the regiment became nation-wide as a conse- quence of the Philadelphia trip.
Col. Wellington's most notable innovation was the in-
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troduction of artillery instruction, or the re-introduction, as it was for those companies originally in the old First. The change was made for the purpose of rendering drills more interesting. It is easier to maintain the interest of artillerymen-they have their guns as a rallying-point. Moreover the artillery virus was in the Ist Regiment blood and was bound eventually to manifest its presence.
That year of Col. Wellington's accession, 1882, the legis- lature appropriated $5,000 for the construction of "Battery Dalton" at Framingham. Named in honor of the Adjutant General, Samuel Dalton, it was truly a marvelous work of coast defence. Its mortars had a range of five hundred yards. After firing the projectile, the cannoneers walked over and solemnly dug the same up from its self-made grave, and fired it over again. Artillery practice was economically conducted in those pioneer days. Sept. 13, 1883, the regiment was permitted to hold one day's practice at Fort Warren, a great concession by the War Department, and a long step in artillery progress. Sept. 4, 1885, one month after the Grant funeral, the privilege of artillery practice was repeated.
A riot in Cambridge brought the 6th Company into active service for two days on Feb. 21 and 22, 1887.
Col. Wellington's death occurred while he still filled the office of regimental commander, on Sept. 18, 1888. The funeral is said to have been the saddest tour of duty ever performed by the regiment, an expression of heart-felt grief. They were then looking forward to occupying the new South Armory; and everyone contributed the entire pay received for the day toward the expenses of a memorial room in the building. This money equipped and furnished the gymnasium in the tower, the room now devoted to the war-game.
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Thomas R. Mathews, Colonel from Dec. 10, 1888, until July 19, 1897, had served in the 2d Company during the Civil War, and had subsequently been Captain of the Ist Co. (in 1880). On Oct. 8, 1888, just before Col. Mathews' election, the regiment took part in a general mobilization of militia in Boston. On Thanksgiving day, Nov. 28, 1889, the Boston companies were assembled at the armories in readiness for service in maintaining public order at a great fire then raging. Fortunately they did not have to leave their stations.
Prior to 1890 the Companies had been quartered in vari- ous halls and rinks of Boston and the suburbs, Faneuil Hall being the most coveted location, unavailable, however, most of the time, and Boylston Hall, Boylston and Washington Streets, ranking next.
1890 was the date of the South Armory dedication. Mas- sachusetts had entered, after long years of discussion, upon her policy of providing adequate accommodations for her volunteer militia. New York had led the way ten years earlier ; and the Massachusetts authorities were especially in- debted to the N. Y. 7th for providing an armory after which others could pattern. It is a far cry from the 7th's building to that on Irvington St., but there is a similarity of type. It must be borne in mind that the South Armory was relatively one of the best in the country when the Ist Regiment occupied it in 1890. Nor had the railroad de- veloped into such a nuisance at that time. The South Armory was the first State armory in Massachusetts; and led the way for the entire series, by means of which our troops are quartered as well as any in the land; its dedica- tion was an important event in military history. Fall River followed, and dedicated her State armory in 1895, Cam- bridge and New Bedford in 1903, Brockton in 1906, Chelsea
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in 1907, and Taunton in 1917. Chelsea and Brockton sub- sequently lost their buildings by fire; the structures were rebuilt respectively in 1909 and 1912.
Col. Mathews' command served as personal escort to Gov. William E. Russell, Feb. 29, 1892, at the ceremony of presenting Massachusetts' first long-service medals. Amongst others, twenty-eight officers and men of the Ist received medals.
An artillery tour was held at Fort Warren, Aug. 7 to 13, 1892, when the men had practice on the eight-inch muzzle- loading converted rifles and the fifteen-inch muzzle-loading smooth-bores. Modern coast artillery had not yet "ar- rived"; but the regiment was making progress. In 1893 they encamped at Framingham and manned "Battery Dal- ton" once more. In 1895 they had their last experience with these twelve-inch mortars-and the sand-bank five hundred yards away ; 1894, 1896 and 1897 saw them at Fort Warren each summer. In 1896 the regulars did not take them seri- ously and could not "waste time" instructing the militia- men; in 1897, with Lieut. Erasmus M. Weaver temporarily detailed as instructor, the regiment made progress. There- after, until 1911, regular officers from the forts added to their other service the duty of visiting the South Armory and coaching the militia regiment.
All twelve companies were ordered to be in readiness on March 10, 1893, for service in connection with the disas- trous "Lincoln St. fire," but were not marched out of the armories.
The state expended $2,500 in 1894 providing a model battery at the South Armory. While crude compared with the huge gun and mortar installed in 1913, to which the name "Battery Lombard" is sometimes given, this earlier
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artillery installation marked a long advance in drills and instruction.
On Oct. 9, 1894, the regiment again participated in a gen- eral mobilization of the militia at Boston. The monument to Robert Gould Shaw, on the Common, was formally dedi- cated May 31, 1897, and the regiment paraded in honor of the event. One feature of the day recalled certain historic processions of thirty years previously-the New York 7th, in which Col. Shaw had once served, came on to have a share in this demonstration of affection.
On June 1, 1897, by act of the legislature, the regiment received a new name-it became the Ist Regiment of Heavy Artillery. In point of fact it had begun to separate from the Ist Brigade back in Col. Wellington's time, and had be- come increasingly committed to the artillery branch; this act of legislation officially recognized a transition which had already taken place. Now the facings on the uniforms could be changed from the blue of infantry to the brighter and more distinctive scarlet. Massachusetts was the first state to have heavy artillery in its militia-the old regiment was again "first." Companies were rechristened "batteries" in connection with the change of service.
Col. Mathews became Brigadier General on July 19, 1897. and Charles Pfaff succeeded as Colonel on July 28. Col. Pfaff's military training had been in the Cadets, and as Cap- tain of the 8th Company, Coast Artillery ; and he had served four years as Major. To him was to fall the honor of commanding the regiment during its Spanish War service.
There was nothing unexpected about the war with Spain. From the day the "Maine" was destroyed until April 25, when war was declared, more than two months elapsed. Members of the command were in constant readiness during this entire period for the summons which they knew must
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come; and it was well understood that instant mobilization would ensue upon receipt of orders.
But if we had reason to be in readiness, we also had good cause to anticipate danger and hardship. The United States was notorious for lack of preparedness, both by land and sea. On the other hand the might of the Span- ish fleet and the fame of the "Spanish infantry" had been so magnified that much popular trepidation existed. Boston anticipated instant attack ; merchants and bankers deposited their treasure with inland banks; while real estate owners were insistent that the national government should afford them protection. Col. Pfaff and his men were to volunteer in the belief that they would meet with instant and active fighting. Beyond question the general public drew a deep sigh of relief as the blue-clad column, on that fateful 26th of April, to the music of the "March of the First," swung steadily down Huntington Ave. The out-of-town commands had left their home stations early and received Godspeed from newsboys and milkmen only. In Boston, however, the display of enthusiasm left nothing to be desired; and demonstrated not only the city's dependence upon its heavy artillerymen but also its real affection for the red-legged organization. They were paid from April 25.
Besides Col. Pfaff, the regimental officers were : Lt. Col., Charles B. Woodman; Majors, Perlie A. Dyar, George F. Quinby, James A. Frye ; Captains, Ist Co., Joseph H. Frothi- ingham; 2d Co., Frederic S. Howes; 3d Co., Albert B. Chick; 4th Co., Joseph L. Gibbs ; 5th Co., Walter L. Pratt ; 6th Co., Walter E. Lombard; 7th Co., Charles P. Nutter ; 8th Co., John Bordman, Jr .; 9th Co., Norris O. Danforth; Ioth Co., Charles Williamson; IIth Co., Frederick M. Whiting; 12th Co., Sierra L. Braley. Capt. Braley had been private and corporal in the 3d Reg. during its nine-months
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service in 1862. He had been 2d Lieutenant in Battery I, 2d Mass. Heavy Art., and in Bat. L, 14th U. S. Colored Art., during 1864 and 1865. From 1866 until 1878 he continu- ously held commissions in the 3d Reg. and, after 1878, in the Ist, his latest command being the 12th Company. Capt. Braley was the only officer of the regiment to serve in both the Civil and Spanish Wars.
On April 26 the regiment began active duty at Fort Warren, the orders reading that they would encamp there for eight days. Five more days were added to this; and then the command was taken into the U. S. service "for the war." Since the thirteen days of state duty is added to the total in computing their record, they were the first regiment of the entire nation to begin war service. The Old First still led.
When they left the armory for Fort Warren, there were only six men absent from the command-four sick and two out of the country. Opportunity was later given for men with families to withdraw, if they desired; and all were subjected to a rigid physical examination. Ultimately three per cent. were rejected for disability and eight per cent. excused for family reasons. These vacancies were immedi- ately filled from the throngs of would-be recruits who vol- unteered. It was a disappointment to the regiment that the War Department never permitted them to increase their numbers to the full war strength; their Spanish War roster bore 751 names.
They started out in the rain on April 26, and it seemed as if it would rain until they returned; during their first six weeks, they were blest with sunshine only three days. By and by, when they had ceased to care, the weather changed and they had sunny days. At Warren they were quartered in wooden buildings, originally election booths in the city;
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prisoners from Deer Island were imported to assist in erect- ing these ; and some humorist promptly designated them the "3d Corps of Cadets." While in the state service, the regi- ment was fed by a caterer, after the fashion then prevalent at Framingham. When they became U. S. soldiers, they messed themselves. All thru this war, ammunition was very scarce indeed. The least a self-respecting military post can do is to fire morning and evening guns; this was possible in 1898 only by cutting cartridges in two and using half-charges. Most of the ordnance was of Civil War vint- age, or very slightly more modern.
Spain had been vastly over-rated, and there was very little fight in her. The regiment passed a busy and profit- able month at Fort Warren from April 26 to May 30, being mustered into the United States service on May 7. During these weeks the companies or "batteries" attained a high degree of proficiency in both infantry and artillery drill. Shortly after midnight on May 13 the Engineers' steamer, the "Tourist," came down the harbor from the Navy Yard to announce that the Spanish fleet had actually been sighted off Nantucket. But men watched in vain for the enemy vessels to appear.
On Memorial day, thru the exigency of service conditions, the companies were moved and distributed along the coast at posts ranging from Portsmouth to New Bedford. Maj. Frye and the Cape companies remained at Warren. Lt. Col. Woodman with the 3d and IIth Companies garrisoned the fort at Clark's Point, New Bedford, a work which had been in existence since 1857 but which awaited July 23, 1898, and these companies as godfathers, before it was christened Fort Rodman. The Colonel, Headquarters, and the remain- ing six companies proceeded by boat to various points along the North Shore, at some of which militia field artillery
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batteries had previously been on guard, the Colonel himself being stationed at Salem in command of the entire Essex County district. This transfer of troops was accomplished without peril or even discomfort. The Ist and 7th Com- panies under Maj. Dyar became the garrison at Salem; Maj. Quinby and the 2d Company were at Gloucester; the 6th Company was on Plum Island near Newburyport, and sub- sequently at Portsmouth; the 5th Company at Marblehead ; and the 8th at Nahant as guard of the mining-casemate. Lieuts. E. Dwight Fullerton of the 8th Company and P. Frank Packard of the 2d were specially detailed to duty with the regulars at Fort Columbus, Governor's Island, New York, and remained there several months. Lieut. Fullerton was called upon to untangle the snarl into which the War Department had gotten with regard to records of sick soldiers in the New York hospitals.
It fell to the lot of certain "batteries" to reconstruct and man ancient earthworks whose history ran back many years. At Salem, Fort Pickering was put in commission; at Gloucester, the old Stage Fort where Myles Standish once came near having a battle ; near Portsmouth, Forts Constitu- tion and McClary; and at Marblehead, Fort Sewall. This is very romantic to relate. No doubt the renovated works with their armament of obsolete field pieces could have afforded some protection against Spanish raiders. But those who were called upon to occupy works built for seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth century warfare, and modernize them so as to render them useful under twentieth century conditions, agree in testifying that the romance is all in the narrative and not any in the fact. The 6th Company had at first been stationed in an earthwork on the Plum Island beach which had been constructed by the field battery, whom they relieved; as Plum Island, in
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June, is notable chiefly for flies and fleas, this company was glad enough when the transfer to Portsmouth brought the men again on solid ground. Fort Constitution had a long history-it used to be known as Fort William and Mary, and from its ancient magazine came the powder used by the patriots at Bunker Hill; but in 1898 it was a comparatively modern work, and mounted a battery of eight-inch rifles.
This Spanish War service is something of which the regi- ment are justly proud. On April 26, Col. Pfaff led 99 per cent. of the full militia strength of his command into the harbor forts, itself a conclusive demonstration that the Na- tional Guard is a dependable force. Foremost were they in the entire United States to assume their post of duty. First of all volunteers were they to be mustered in; the genius of "The Old First" was in control. Thruout the entire two- hundred-three days of duty they maintained the very highest standards of efficiency and discipline. It noway lessened the credit belonging to these volunteer soldiers that the Spaniards were so wise as to keep at a safe distance from the Massachusetts coast; the warmest kind of a welcome was awaiting them, had they come. When on Nov. 14, the command were mustered out of Federal service and re- turned to the militia, they had added a most creditable chapter to the long annals of their organization.
In 1899 a tour of duty was performed at Fort Rodman; and so satisfactory did it prove that the post was chosen for the annual coast defence exercises, with one exception, until 1906. In 1902 some companies were stationed at Fort Greble and other Rhode Island posts. The only serious objections to Rodman were the haze and fog, which hang low over Buzzard's Bay. As a consequence of the Spanish War, the flannel shirt and the khaki suit became part of the regimental uniform. Oct. 14, 1899, the regiment partici-
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pated in the ovation to Admiral George Dewey, and at the same time turned their Spanish War flags and colors over to the custody of the State. Col. Pfaff retired as Brigadier General Apr. 20, 1900. His loyal and generous interest in the old regiment has been shown in making possible the publication of this history.
Col. James A. Frye, who commanded the regiment from May 4, 1900, until Jan. 4, 1906, had served as Major during the Spanish War. Upon relinquishing command of the regi- ment, he became Adj. Gen. of the State. Col. Frye was the one selected to record the services of the command during the Spanish War; and his history will always stand as a worthy monument to his memory.
In 1903 the regiment participated in joint coast defence and naval maneuvers at Portland harbor, of which the chief feature was the long hours. The men were on duty all day and all night, so that sleeping almost became a forgotten art. On June 25, 1903, the Coast Artillery shared in the exercises of dedication around the magnificent statue of their old commander, Gen. Joseph Hooker. Members of the regiment had been foremost in securing the appropria- tion for the statue; and heartily did they rejoice to see the beautiful bronze by D. C. French which finally crowned their labor.
1903 witnessed the most important national militia legisla- tion since the original militia act of 1792. By the "Dick law," with amendments added in 1908, the militia really became a national force, with clearly defined liability of service; and the name, National Guard, was officially conferred upon it. Nevertheless Massachusetts continued to call her citizen soldiers Volunteer Militia. 1904 brought the adoption of magazine-rifles.
On Nov. 1, 1905, the regiment was redesignated as the
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"Corps of Coast Artillery," a title which has been used by anticipation at various times in this book. Behind the change lay the fact that the War Department had been test- ing militia heavy or coast artillery ; and the latter, in the es- timation of the Washington authorities, were not found want- ing. A regiment is a closely united body, and is supposed to operate as a unit. A corps, on the contrary, is a group of smaller units associated for administrative purposes, but acting more or less independently in warfare. Tactically a corps is not a unit; each of its members is. Inasmuch as few forts require so much as a full regiment of coast artil- lery to garrison them, it was deemed best to organize the artillery in smaller units, in companies, better suited to the needs of the average fort. Companies are combined in fort commands of two or more each. Moreover, by 1905, a clear distinction had arisen between coast artillery and heavy artillery ; and it was necessary for organizations to decide which branch of the service they would choose. Heavy artillery follows a mobile army, and is used to batter down fortifications. Coast artillery mans the guns and submarine mines of our coast fortifications, and is not a mobile force. A moment's consideration will convince anyone that the Massachusetts men chose the more exciting branch, when they became coast artillery. The heavy artillery fire from great distances, while themselves entirely out of range of any answering shots, and fire at fixed targets. The coast artillery fire at ships, moving targets possessing the ability to return our shots, who will certainly and quickly "get us" unless we "get them" first. An increase of interest in the scientific side of artillery work immediately followed, and stimulated every officer and enlisted man to do his best. Companies were no longer termed "batteries," but were given numbers, the designations indicating seniority of
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charter. The band continued to wear the old regimental number "I" on their uniforms.
To the twelve companies of the Corps were, in 1907, assigned regular stations in the fortifications of Boston harbor, to which it would be their duty to repair at once in case of threatened hostilities. As they exercised each sum- mer on the very guns which they would man in actual ser- vice, they grew familiar with their work to a degree never before possible. After experimenting at seven different posts, in 1913 the Ist, 2d, 3d, and 6th Companies became part of the garrison of Fort Strong on Long Island (named in honor of Gen. Wm. K. Strong) ; the 5th, 7th, 8th and IIth Companies were assigned to Fort Andrews; and the 4th, 9th, Ioth and 12th Companies to Fort Warren.
Col. Charles P. Nutter commanded the Corps from Jan. 23, 1906, until March 10, 1910; he had been Captain of the 7th Company during the Spanish War. In August, 1907, the companies participated in a general mobilization of militia at Boston in connection with the "old home week" celebration. The War Department now determined to make a slight change in the name of the organization, perhaps in the interest of alphabetic symmetry. Whatever the cause may have been, on Nov. 15, 1907, the words were transposed and the "Corps of Coast Artillery" became the "Coast Artillery Corps."
It had been so long since the Boston companies were called out to maintain public order at a great fire, that such a contingency was not regarded seriously. Suddenly, on April 12, 1908, as men were returning from Palm Sunday services, they received word that Chelsea was in the clutch of a mammoth conflagration. Vast clouds of smoke could be seen arising on the north-eastern horizon; Boston's neighbor was indeed stricken.
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The 5th Company promptly responded to the call for help; but it was evident that assistance must come from outside; local forces were entirely inadequate to meet the emergency. At 5 P. M. the other companies were assembled at their armories ; and at 8.30, after eating a hearty supper, they started for their posts of duty. The work was of the usual sort, rescuing property and saving lives, guarding the property from vandals and thieves, and assisting the young, the weak and the aged to places of safety. Only men in uniform command confidence at such a season of disorder ; only disciplined men, working together, can accomplish results. Right nobly did the Corps meet its responsibilities during its three days in Chelsea, and many a firm friend did it win for the organization. The 5th Company continued on duty five days longer.
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