USA > Michigan > Calhoun County > History of Calhoun county, Michigan : a narrative account of its historical progress, its people, and its principal interests, Volume I > Part 70
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Wheeler, Thomas B. Company I. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Nov. 5, 1862. Died, in service, Jan. 8, 1863.
Whelply, Ferdinand A. Company H. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Aug. 28, 1861. Discharged, Sept. 15, 1864.
Whitaker, Selim D. Company I. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Aug. 27, 1861. Wounded in action, July 18, 1862. Discharged for disability, May 11, 1863.
White, John M. Company I. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Aug. 17, 1861. Cor- poral, 1861. Sergeant, July 1, 1862. Second Lieutenant, May 1, 1863. First Lieut., March 7, 1864. Captain, Dec. 6, 1864. Mustered out, Sept. 19, 1865.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
White, Sylvester D. Company I. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Aug. 24, 1861, as blacksmith. Died in service, Nov. 4, 1861.
White, William. Company I. Enlisted, Aug. 30, 1864. Discharged, June 15, 1865.
Wiekard, Amos. Company I. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Aug. 26, 1861. Dis- charged for disability, Jan. 13, 1862.
Wicks, Adelbert T. Company H. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Nov. 3, 1862. Mus- tered out, Sept. 19, 1865.
Wilber, Samuel B. Company L. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Dee. 12, 1862. Mustered ont, Sept. 19, 1865.
Wilbur, Flavins J. Company H. Enlisted from Penfield, Feb. 8, 1864. Mus-
tered out, Sept. 19, 1865. Wilburn, James J. Company H. Enlisted, Feb. 8, 1864. Mustered out, Sept. 19, 1865.
Wilcox, Eleazar. Company H. Enlisted at Battle Creek, March 6, 1862. Dis- charged for disability, June 30, 1862.
Wilder, Charles H. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Aug. 28, 1861. Mustered out, Sept. 15, 1864.
Williams, Isaac C. Company I. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Aug. 9, 1864. Mns- tered ont, Sept. 19, 1865.
Williams, John H. Company I. Enlisted at Penfield, Jan. 4, 1864. Mustered ont, Sept. 19, 1865.
Wilson, James. Company I. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Aug. 20, 1861. Died of wounds received in action, July 20, 1862.
Wilson, John K. Company H. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Aug. 28, 1861. Cor- poral, Nov. 1, 1862. Sergeant, Dec. 1, 1864. Mustered out Sept. 19, 1865.
Wilson, William H. H. Company L. Enlisted at Athens, Dec. 9, 1862. Dis- charged, July 13, 1865.
Wilmoth, Charles E. Company H. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Aug. 27, 1861. Mustered out, Sept. 15, 1864.
Wilmoth, Ed. Company H. Enlisted at Battle Creek. Aug. 27, 1861. Mus- tered, Sept. 9, and no further reeord.
Wing, Bronson. Company H. Enlisted at Battle Creek, Dec. 2, 1862. Mns- tered out, Sept. 19, 1865.
Wood, Edwin H. Company L. Enlisted at Athens, Dec. 9, 1862. Discharged for disability, May 26, 1863.
Woodruff, Alfred C. Company I. Enlisted at Emmet, Jan. 4, 1864. Deserted, July 25, 1865.
Woodward, William. Company I. Enlisted at Battle Creek. Aug. 24, 1861. Died in serviee, June 6, 1863.
IN THE FIRST MICHIGAN REGIMENT LIGHT ARTILLERY
Calhoun County had but few men. This regiment was composed of twelve six gun batteries; the batteries being designated by the letters of the alphabet from A to L inclusive. These batteries did not serve as consolidated units in a single regiment, but rather as independent organizations attached to various infantry commands.
Battery D of this regiment was organized at Coldwater, in the fall of 1861. Its service was chiefly with the army of the Cumberland. So far as we have been able to ascertain, only the following served in Bat- tery D from this county.
Crandall, Ira. Enlisted at Burlington, Sept. 2, 1862. Discharged at Mur- freesboro, Tenn., July 4, 1865.
Hall, Horace. Enlisted at Burlington, Sept. 2, 1862. Discharged April 25, 1863.
Sannders, Daniel B. Enlisted from Burlington, Sept. 2, 1862. Corporal, Nov. 4, 1864. Mustered ont Ang. 3, 1865.
Vol. I-38
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Battery E was organized at Marshall, in December, 1861. While it had something over thirty men from Calhoun County, it had but one commissioned officer, who went out from this county with the organiza- tion. Two were promoted from the ranks while it was in the field. Most, if not all, the service performed by this battery was in connection with the Army of the Cumberland. It had a total enrollment of 349. One died of wounds; three died of disease, and forty-eight were dis- charged for disability.
FROM CALHOUN COUNTY
Brown, William. Enlisted at Marshall, Feb. 16, 1862. Discharged for dis- ability, Jan. 10, 1863.
Burns, Hollister. Eulisted from Marengo, Nov. 7, 1861. Died near Pitts- burg Landing, Tenn., April 26, 1862.
Burns, Jerome. From Marshall. Second Lieutenant, Nov. 1, 1861. First Lieutenant, Jan. 1, 1862. Resigned, June 9, 1862.
Clark, William. Enlisted at Marshall, Jan. 31, 1862. Discharged, Nov. 27, 1862, to enlist in Fourth U. S. Cavalry.
Cook, William C. Enlisted at Marshall, Jan. 30, 1862. Discharged for dis- ability, July, 1862. Cox, George N. Eulisted at Marshall, Feb. 24, 1862. Discharged for dis- ability, Aug. 15, 1862.
Cunningham, Oliver. Enlisted at Marshall, Nov. 25, 1861. Corporal, Sept. 1862. Sergeant, December, 1862. Mustered out, July 30, 1865.
Davelin, William. Enlisted at Marshall, Dec. 15, 1861. Died at Nashville, Tenn., March 26, 1863.
De Vries, Peter. Entered service from Marshall as Second Lieutenant, Dec. 1, 1861. First Lieut., June 9, 1862. Captain, March 16, 1864. Mustered out, July 30, 1865.
Druce, George. Enlisted at Marshall, Nov. 25, 1861. No further record.
Durand, Charles M. First Sergeant, Dec., 1861. Second Lieut., Aug., 1863. Senior Second Lieut., April, 1864. Mustered out, March 27, 1865.
Farrand, Henry. Enlisted at Marshall, March 6, 1862. Died in hospital, Nash- ville, 'T'enn.
Faulkner, John A. Enlisted at Marshall, Feb. 20, 1862. Discharged for disability, Oct. 12, 1863.
Faulkner, Washington P. Enlisted at Albion, Feb. 15, 1862. Mustered out, July 30, 1865.
Gildersleeve, Edmund B. Eulisted at Marshall, Nov. 27, 1861. Corporal, Sept., 1862. Sergeant, Feb., 1863. First Sergeant, May, 1865.
Hill, Alonzo. Enlisted at Marshall, Nov. 20, 1861. Discharged for disability, Aug. 7, 1862. Hinkle, Frederick. Enlisted at Marshall, Feb. 4, 1862. Discharged, March 10, 1865.
Jeffery, William D. Enlisted at Marshall, March 5, 1862. Discharged, April 9, 1865.
Miller, Spencer L. Enlisted at Marshall, Feb. 28, 1862. Discharged for disability, Oct. 19, 1862.
Mullen, James H. Enlisted at Marshall, Oct. 29, 1861. Deserted, Dec. 21, 1862. Oliver, Robert B Enlisted at Marshall, Nov. 25, 1861. Discharged for dis- ability, Oct. 18, 1862. Pardy, Lorenzo. Enlisted at Marshall, March 3, 1862
Parker, Clarence. Enlisted at Marshall, March 6, 1862. Corporal. Mustered out, July 30, 1865. Parker, Jock D. Enlisted at Albion, Dec. 18, 1862. Corporal. Mustered
out, July 30, 1865. Pelkey, Israel D. Enlisted at Albion, March 1, 1862. Discharged for dis- ability, Jan., 1863.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Pieyuet, Selah. Enlisted at Albion, Feb. 15, 1862. Died in hospital, Louis- ville, Ky., June 27, 1862.
Pierce, Ezekiel. Enlisted at Marshall, Dec. 1, 1861. Discharged for disability, Aug. 13, 1862.
Rundia, Robert H. Enlisted at Marengo, Oct. 23, 1861. Died at Shiloh, Tenn., May 6, 1862.
Shingler, Benjamin. Enlisted at Marshall, March 3, 1862. Corporal. Dis- charged, March 28, 1865.
Verplank, Thaddeus J. Enlisted at Marshall, March 18, 1862. Discharged for disability, July, 1862.
Wallace, Ralph B. Enlisted at Albion, Jan. 21, 1862. Quartermaster Ser- geant, April 27, 1865. Mustered out, July 28, 1865.
Wilson, George M. Enlisted as Sergeant at Marshall, Nov. 11, 1861. Junior Second Lieut., March 16, 1864. Junior First Lieut., March 27, 1865. Mustered out July 30, 1865.
Battery G: Baker, Charles. Enlisted at Marshall, Nov. 19, 1861. Discharged for disability, Sept. 8, 1863.
Boynton, Lucius F. Enlisted at Marshall, Nov. 12, 1861. Mustered out, Jan. 28, 1865.
Crawford, Somerfield A. E. Enlisted, Jan. 17, 1862. Discharged, Jan. 1, 1865. King, John G. Enlisted Aug. 18, 1864. Mustered out, Aug. 6, 1865.
Fourteenth Battery; Elms, Byron C. Enlisted at Marshall, Sept. 12, 1863, as Sergeant. Second Lient., Feb. 20, 1865. Mustered out, July 1, 1865.
Grottingzer, Jacob. Enlisted at Marshall, Oct. 21, 1863. Mustered out, July 1, 1865.
Hawkins, Charles. Enlisted at Marshall, Sept. 12, 1863. Discharged for disability, May 22, 1864.
Keiser, John M. Enlisted at Marshall, Sept. 18, 1863. Mustered out, July 1, 1865.
Keeler, Ralph R. Enlisted at Marshall, Dee. 31, 1863. Mustered out, July 1, 1865.
Schieek, Carl. Enlisted from Marengo, Oct. 21, 1863, as Corporal. Sergeant, 1865. Junior Second Lieut., March 17, 1865. Mustered out, July 1, 1865.
Sweet, Frank B. Enlisted at Marshall, Sept. 12, 1863, as First Sergeant. Senior Second Lieut., March 1, 1864. Mustered out, July 1, 1865.
Vanarman, Luther. Enlisted at Marshall, Oct. 1, 1863. Mustered out, July 1, 1865.
MISCELLANEOUS ORGANIZATIONS
Great pains has been taken by the Adjutant General's Department at Lansing, to obtain, as far as possible, the names and records of all offieers and men who served in other than Michigan organizations, who were residents or citizens of Michigan at the time of enlistment. Of these, the following are credited to Calhoun County, viz. :
Andrews, Elisha. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Company D, 65th Ill. Infantry, March 6, 1862. Corporal. Discharged, Oct. 17, 1862.
Andrur, Charles. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Company D, 65th Illinois Infan- try, March 6, 1862. Deserted, Oct. 18, 1862.
Andrur, Marion. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Company D, 65th Illinois Infan- try, March 6, 1862. Died in service, Sept. 15, 1863.
Anthony, Herbert. Bedford. Enlisted in Company G, 39th Illinois Infantry, Ang. 23, 1861. Killed in action, May 15, 1864.
Blackman, Charles. Marshall. Enlisted in Company H, 13th Illinois Cavalry, Jan. 23, 1862. Mustered out, June 2, 1865.
Darling, Charles W. Marshall. Battery I. First Illinois Artillery. Enlisted, Jan. 2, 1862.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Davey, Elias C. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Co. D, 65th Ill. Infantry, March 7, 1862. Deserted, Nov. 20, 1862.
Doy, George E. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Co. D, 65th Ill. Inft., March 7, 1862. Mustered out, July 13, 1865. Drimple, Samuel. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Co. D, 65th Ill. Inft., March 5, 1862.
Getehin, William. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Battery I. First Ill. Artillery, Jan. 29, 1862. Discharged, Feb. 10, 1865.
Hamas, Lorin H. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Co. D, 65th III. Inft., March 15, 1862. Deserted, Jan. 18, 1863.
Jones, Ebenezer. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Co. D, 65th Ill. Inft., Feb. 15, 1862. Corporal. Died in service, May 18, 1862.
Lattin, Orzo. Marshall. Enlisted in Battery 1, First Ill. Artillery, Feb. 14, 1862. Mustered out, July 26, 1865.
Lockhart, John. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Co. D, 65th Ill. Inft., March 13, 1862.
Majo, Monte. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Company D, 65th Ill., April 14, 1862. Rogers, Silas. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Company D, 65th Ill. Inft., March 7, 1862. Died in Andersonville prison, Jan. 10, 1864.
Scott, George W. Marshall. Enlisted in Battery I. First Ill. Artillery, Jan. 29, 1862. Corporal. Discharged, Aug. 31, 1862.
Stevens, Samuel J. Marshall. Enlisted in Co. B, 88th Ill. Inft., Aug. 5, 1862. Mustered out as Corporal, June 9, 1865.
Thompson, Erastus G. Marshall. Enlisted in Co. A., 13th Ill. Cavalry, Jan. 8, 1862. Mustered out, Feb. 24, 1865.
Van Brocklin, Bela. Enlisted in Co. D, 65th Ill. Inft., March 6, 1862. Deserted, Nov. 17, 1862.
Walker, Robert L. Marshall. Enlisted in Company A, 13 Ill. Cavalry, Jan. 8, 1862. Mustered, May 23, 1863. No further record.
Wetzel, Philip. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Company D, 65th Ill. Inft., March 5, 1862. Deserted, Nov. 12, 1862.
Wilcox, Charles J. Battle Creek. Enlisted in Co. D, 6th Ill. Inft., April 15, 1862. Discharged, March 23, 1863.
CHAPTER XXIX
IN THE WAR WITH SPAIN
OFFICIAL DATA-VOLUNTEERS OUTSIDE OF COMPANY D-CALHOUN COUN- TY IN THE SPANISHI-AMERICAN WAR (BY COLONEL WILLIAM H. HATCH )-COMPANY D ORDERED INTO CAMP-LEAVES FOR TAMPA, FLORIDA-TRANSPORT "FLORIDA" DISABLED-IN CAMP AT FERNAN- DINO-STARTING FOR HOME-WELCOME HOME-ROSTER OF COMPANY D-CAPTAIN D. E. W. LYLE.
For much of the following data relative to Michigan's part in the war with Spain, we are indebted to the report of the Adjutant General of the State for the years 1897-1898.
OFFICIAL DATA
War having been declared with Spain, President MeKinley, on April 23d, 1898, issued his proclamation calling for 125,000 volunteers. Michi- gan's quota, of this number, was 4,104, to consist of four regiments of infantry of 1,026 officers and men each. On the following day general orders were issued from the adjutant general's office at Lansing, for the mobilization of the entire Michigan National Guard at Island Lake, April 26, 1908. The regiments to be organized were designated as the 31st, 32d, 33d and 34th Michigan Volunteer Infantry, following in numerical order the infantry regiments of the Civil War.
May 10, 1898, the enlistment and muster of the 31st was completed and in the service of the United States, and on May 15, 1898, under command of Colonel Cornelius Gardener, left Island Lake for Chicka- manga Park, Georgia. The 32d was mustered in, May 4th, 1898, and on the 19th under command of Colonel William T. McGurrin, departed for Tampa, Florida.
The 33d and 34th were mustered in May 20 and 25, respectively, Colonels Charles L. Boynton and John P. Peterman commanding. These regiments left Island Lake, May 28, and June 6, 1898, for Camp Alger, Virginia.
May 25, 1898, the President issued his second call for troops of which Michigan's quota was one regiment of infantry of a maximum strength of 1,272 men and 47 officers. July 11, 1898, E. M. Irish was commissioned colonel of this, the 35th Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry, and on July 25th, it was mustered into the service of the
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
United States. On September 14th, under orders from the War De- partment, it moved from Island Lake, to Camp Meade, Pennsylvania.
The 33d and 34th Michigan formed part of the expedition under com- mand of General Shafter against Santiago, and bore their full share of the hardships and dangers of that campaign.
The Michigan Naval Reserves, consisting of eleven officers and two hundred and seventy men were detailed on the auxiliary cruiser Yo- semite and saw service at Havana, Santiago, Guantanamo and San Juan de Porto Rico, in all situations winning the approval of the regular naval authorities for the admirable manner in which they discharged their duties.
It is not too much to say that Michigan never sent into the service of the United States, a higher grade nor a more patriotic body of men than the Spanish-American War Volunteers. Had the opportunity of- fered, which for most of them, fortunately it did not, they would have demonstrated their courage on the battlefield as they did their patient endurance in the disease breeding camps.
We take pleasure in presenting at this point the admirable article prepared by Colonel William M. Hatch on "Calhoun County in the Spanish-American War," together with a roster of Company D of Battle Creek, of which Colonel Hatch was captain, and which was the only complete organization from this county. Following this is a list of volunteers from the county in other organizations :
VOLUNTEERS OUTSIDE OF COMPANY D.
The following is a list of volunteers other than those composing Company D, of the 32d regiment, who served in the Spanish-American war, from Calhoun county.
Thirty-first Regiment : Boyes, Charles E., Albion, chief musician; privates -- Caldwell, Clarence J., Co. H; Cole, George W., Co. H; Fall, Frank A., Co. L; Ford, Dick S., Co. H; Gardner, Carleton F., Co. E; Gardner, Willard B., Co. H.
Thirty-second Regiment: Holdeman, Harry C., Albion, musician, Co. H; privates-Gardner, Elton Goldthwaite, Co. A; Smith, H. Eugene, Co. A.
Thirty-third Regiment: Thomason, Henry D., Albion, surgeon ; Knickerbocker, Emory L., musician, Co. K; Passmore, Floyd, private, Co. M.
Thirty-fifth Regiment: Stine, Edward E., Battle Creek, corporal, Co. B; Diver, Ellis D., Marshall, private, Co. G.
Co. K, 35th Regiment: Richard S. Locton, captain; Sergeants- Frank Cathcart, Herbert N. Sapp; corporals-Roy H. Town, William W. Gaston, Charles J. Griffith, Frank D. Dowd; Harry P. Dickey, musi- cian ; George D. McNames, artificer, all of Marshall.
Privates-Albaugh, Charles W., Marshall; Baker, Albert J., Albion ; Beck, Fred. J., Marshall; Burkle, John, Marshall; Conrad, Jack, Mar- shall; Cook, Frank J., Marshall; Cushman, James D., Marshall ; Doo- little, Albert J., Eckford; Dunham, Charles S., Marshall; Hartson, Lewis N., Tekonsha; Holsenburg, Alfred H., Battle Creek; Hoey,
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
Nicholas C., Marshall ; Leeson, William H., Marshall; Lower, George F., Fredonia Twp .; Mabrey, Jesse, Marshall; Oles, Edward L., Marshall; Ryan, Philip A., Marshall; Sanders, John H., Marshall; Thayer, Fred A., Battle Creek ; Tyler, Charles E., Marshall ; Way, Roy S. Marshall; Werner, Louis F., Marshall ; Zanger, John, Marshall ; Zuber, John O., Marshall.
CALHOUN COUNTY IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR. By Colonel William H. Hatch
For many years subsequent to the closing of the Civil War, Calhoun County had no military organization of any character. Its record dur-
MICH
COL. WILLIAM II. HATCH
ing that gigantic struggle had been most ereditable, and it had furnished its full quotas of men and treasure in support of the Union Cause. But with the end of the war and the return to peaceful pursuits of the enormous armies of the north, the military spirit of the Nation, so long necessarily predominant, naturally waned almost to the vanishing point.
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
About 1895, however, an effort was made to secure a place in the Michigan National Guard for a company from Battle Creek, which was then the largest city in the state without representation in the State Military Establishment. At that time Colonel Frank H. Latta was a member of the staff of Governor John T. Rich, and, at his suggestion an independent company was organized by Captain James T. Caldwell with a view of being prepared to fill vacancy in the Second Regiment M. N. G., soon to be made by the muster out of the Three Rivers Com- pany. Through the earnest efforts of Colonel Latta and Captain Cald- well, assisted by other prominent citizens, the vacancy was secured for Battle Creek and on September 14, 1896, the company was mustered into the state service as Company "D." 2d Infantry, Michigan National Guard. James T. Caldwell was captain, Wm. M. Hatch, first lieutenant, and Paul W. Geddes, second lieutenant. The Old Centennial HIall was leased for an armory, the second story of same block being utilized for lockers, officers' room, store rooms, etc. In July, 1897, Captain Cald- well was obliged to resign on account of business and Lieutenant Hatch was elected captain, Miles W. Ward, first lieutenant, and Ralph R. Stewart, second lieutenant. The company attended its first encamp- ment at Island Lake, Michigan, in August, 1897.
COMPANY D ORDERED INTO CAMP.
On April 23, 1898, war having been declared with Spain, the entire Michigan National Guard was ordered into camp at Island Lake, Michigan, preparatory to being mustered into the United States Service. Company "D" was immediately recruited up to its maximum strength of three officers and eighty-four enlisted men. Hundreds of Calhoun county's young men offered themselves for the service and many were sadly disappointed not to be included in the number chosen to fill the vacancies. The citizens of the entire county showed the greatest enthu- siasm and everything that love and patroitism could suggest was done for the boys of Company "D" before their departure. A mass meeting of citizens was held at Hamblin's Opera House on Sunday, April 24th, and the officers and men were assured of the loyal support of the people of the city and county. Monday evening, April 25th, a banquet was tendered the Company at the Independent Congregational Church, and a substantial sum of money was raised to be used in case of emergency.
On the morning of April 26, 1898, the Company left its armory in heavy marching order and marched to the Grand Trunk station where it entrained for Island Lake, amid the cheers of the thousands who had gathered to give the boys a Godspeed on their departure for the "front."
The Company arrived at Camp Eaton, Island Lake, Tuesday even- ing, April 26, 1898, and immediately began to prepare for muster into the United States Service. Examinations were held by United States Army surgeons and all who were physically unfit were honorably dis- charged, and their places filled by recruits from home stations. New equipment was issued and the days were taken up with arduous drilling and the instruction of officers and men in the details of the duties of the soldier. Four companies of the First Infantry were attached to
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
the Second Infantry to make the twelve company formation recently adopted by the army and the regiment then consisted of four com- panies from Detroit, four from Grand Rapids, and one company each from Kalamazoo, Coldwater, Grand Haven and Battle Creek. On May 11th, Company "D" was mustered into the United States Service as Company "D," 32d Regiment, Michigan Volunteer Infantry. Owing to the fact that it was the first company mustered in, Company D be- came the senior company of the Regiment and entitled to the right of the line in regimental formations.
LEAVES FOR TAMPA, FLORIDA.
The 32d left Island Lake on May 19, 1898, for Tampa, Florida, in three trains of Pullman sleepers going via Toledo, Cincinnati, and the Queen & Crescent Route from there through Chattanooga, Atlanta and Macon, Georgia. At the latter point there was a delay of several hours while communications were being carried on by wire between Colonel McGurrin and the War Department relative to diverting the regiment to San Francisco for service in the Philippines. Owing to the fact that the men were still supplied with the old Springfield Rifles and had not yet been furnished the Krag-Jorgensen in use in the Regular Army, the department decided to adhere to its original plan and the regiment proceeded to Tampa, Florida, where it arrived on the evening of May 22d. In the morning of May 23d, the 32d marched to the camp site as- signed to it at Palmetto Beach on the shore of Hillsboro Bay-a branch of Tampa Bay-and about four miles from the City of Tampa. It was brigaded with the First Florida and the Fifth Ohio Regiments, form- ing the Second Brigade, First Division, Fifth Army Corps. commanded by General Shafter. The camp site was a grove of scrub palmettos, which have a tough sappy trunk and root, and for many days the boys did little but grub palmettos to clear the ground so it would be rendered fit for camping purposes. This work was the subject of much humorous comment by the soldiers, who thereafter dubbed themselves "The Florida Improvement Society."
TRANSPORT "FLORIDA" DISABLED
The 32d was one of the first regiments to arrive in Tampa and as the invading army under General Shafter, was to embark at that port every member of the 32d hoped and fully expected to participate in that campaign. The regiment received its first inspection by United States officers on May 26th and on June 16th the order came to break camp and prepare to embark at Fort Tampa on the Transport "Florida" for Cuba. As the regiment was about to commence the march to the port, word was received that the "Florida" had been disabled in collision in the Bay and the 32d was not included in Shafter's Expedition. Camp was again made and the regiment was transferred to the Fifth Army Corps under General Coppinger. The size of the Volunteer Companies was increased to three officers and one hundred and six enlisted men to conform to the new United States army standard and Corporal Stew-
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HISTORY OF CALHOUN COUNTY
art was sent back to Battle Creek to recruit the additional men re- quired. They experienced no difficulty in securing the recruits, as there were still hundreds of young men in Calhoun county who were eager to enlist, and Corporal Stewart arrived at Camp DeSoto on July 2d with twenty-three men, who were a welcome addition to the ranks of Company "D," which were already somewhat depleted by sickness. The hopes of all were still strong that the regiment would yet get to Cuba and see some actual service in the field. On the morning of July 4th, the news of the destruction of Cervera's fleet by Schley and Sampson was received with mingled feeling of delight and regret- delight at the glorious victory to American arms and regret at the thought that perhaps the war would close without the 32d being per- mitted to participate in an active manner.
IN CAMP AT FERNANDINO
On June 1st, the summer rains had commenced and in a few days the camp was literally a swamp. Every day there would be a tropical downpour and some days several, and as a result the hospitals began to fill up with malaria and typhoid patients. Every effort was made to have the regiment moved to higher ground, but without success, and it was not until July 19th, that orders were received to move across the state to Fernandino on the Atlantic coast north of Jacksonville This order raised new hopes in the hearts of the boys of Company "D" as it was believed that the regiment would be embarked from Fernan- dino for either Cuba or Porto Rico, to which latter island an expedition under General Miles was about to sail. The regiment left Tampa at midnight, July 19, and arrived at Fernandino on the evening of July 22d. The camp at this place was named Carpenter, in honor of the division commander, and the 32d was now attached to the Seventh Army Corps under General Fitzhugh Lee, who was a noted Confederate cav- alry leader and consul general at Havana at the time of the outbreak of the Spanish War. His Corps Headquarters were at Jacksonville. While at Fernandino, the arduous drilling continned and the men were in daily expectation of being ordered to embark for Cuba or Porto Rico. On August 10th, however, the peace protocol was signed and the pros- pect of actual service went glimmering., There was still the possibility of being called on for garrison duty in Cuba, but naturally most of the men did not take kindly to the idea of this kind of service. As long as the war continued, they were, to a man, eager to get to the front and par- ticipate in any fighting that might occur, but with the termination of hostilities, and the end of the war in sight, they were anxious to be re- turned as quickly as possible to their homes where most of them had left good positions to answer their country's call. A considerable pro- portion of all the companies were in the hospital, suffering from typhoid and malarial fever and other disabilities induced by the hardships of army life in a semi-tropical country. The sanitary conditions of most of the camps was extremely bad, and at first there was a scarcity of medical supplies and hospital equipment. This latter condition was im- proved later, but throughout the entire compaign the effect of the un-
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