USA > New Jersey > Soldiers and sailors of New Jersey in the Spanish-American War, embracing a chronological account of the Army and Navy > Part 1
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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
Gc
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01086 2552
1
SOLDIERS AND SAILORS
OF NEW JERSEY
IN THE
SPANISH - AMERICAN WAR,
5 EMBRACING A
CHRONOLOGICAL ACCOUNT
OF THE
ARMY AND NAVY.
PUBLISHER,
B MCNALLY,
NEWARK, N. J.
COPYRIGHT, 1898.
-61725
1757841
1.1 1
SOLDIERS SAILORS OF IND NEW JERSEY IN
Spanish-
American War.
Ist. Reg, N.J.
B.MSNALLY PUBLISHER NEWARK, N.J.
-------
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2012
http://archive.org/details/soldierssailors00mcna
McNally, Bernard, comp.
F 853 .54 Soldiers and sailors of New Jersey in the Spanish- American war, embracing a chronological account of the army and navy. Newark, N. J., B. McNally, '1898.
46 p. 26ªm.
Includes a history and roster of the First regiment of New Jersey vol- unteer infantry, 1898.
1. New Jersey-Hist .- War of 1898. 2. U. S .- Hist .- War of 1898- N. J. inf .- Ist. 3. New Jersey infantry. Ist regt., 1898. I. Title.
1-27846 Revised
F853.54
PREFACE.
1
In presenting the essential incidents of the opposing forces in the late war between United States and Spain, and from which such vast results have come to this coun- try, we have deemed it sufficient ina work of this character to present the facts briefly in their sequences, and in chronological form. I have begun with the ordering by our gov- ernment of the U. S. battleship Maine to the harbor of Havana, January 25th, 1898. From that date the acts of the contending powers have been chronicled down through the past eight months, showing the opera- tions of the civil, the armies and navies ct the respective contending governments.
After the prominent acts of the general government engaged in the late war have been stated, I have devoted a liberal space to the action of the State of New Jersey and its executive authority relating to war affairs. In this part of the work I have given all the facts of interest relating to the formation of the First Regiment N. J. Vol- unteers, and the mustering of it into the United States service; the departure of the same from Newark to Camp Voorhees at Sea Girt, N. J., and also its departure from New Jersey to camp life in Virginia, and itsfinalreturnhome. Innavalaffairs I have given a pretty full history of the New Jer- sey Naval Reserves, and an extended ac- count of the cruising and other duties of the U. S. S. Badger. These two accounts have been kindly furnished for the work -- "Soldiers and Sailors of New Jersey " in the Spanish-American war, by Lieut. Thom- as Goldingay of the Badger. For other facts and assistance I am indebted to Mr
Charles S. Allen, the war correspondent from the different camps of the First Reg- ment N. J. Volunteers, to the Newark Daily Advertiser.
For facts relating to Co. G, First Regiment N. Volunteers, and those who enlisted in oth- er companies and in other military organiza- tions, and in the naval branch of the United States service, and the facts and incidents. showing the action of the citizens of Har- rison, Kearny, Arlington, and the Bor- ough of East Newark in their relation to the soldiers and sailors who enlisted in the war, from those towns and boroughs, I hereby acknowledge the services rendered me by Mr. William G. Greenfield, Presi- dent of the Board of Education, Kearny, N. J., and Mr. James Reilly, Assistant. of the Board of Trade. of Newark- Last, though not least in the prepa, ration of these pages, I have had the assist- ·ance of a painstaking and arduous labor of Mr. James D. Booraem, of this city.
In these pages no attempt has been made at criticism or deductions or quivering; finally drawing conclusions, all of this has been passed over. The compiler claims no further merit than the facts arranged along these pages may serve the purpose of guid- ing and stimulating others to undertake elaborate work on this subject, as a finger- board does sometimes when placed at cross- roads, points out and tells the traveler which is tlie shortest and best way to reach the goal.
B. McNALLY, Publisher. October, 1898.
182128
....
BRIEF HISTORY OF THE Naval Reserves of New Jersey.
. The naval militia of the several States is about twelve thousand strong, and is rap- idly growing in numbers and increasing in efficiency. Of the total, New Jersey has about 400. The naval militia organi- zation in this State is known as the Naval Reserve of New Jersey. It is divided into the Battalion of the East and the Battalion of the West. The Battalion of the East has for its headquarters the sloop-of-war Portsmouth, at present lying at the foot of Fifteenth Street, Hoboken: it is command- " by Lieutenant Commander Washington living. To the Battalion of the West has been assigned as headquarters and train- ing-ship the Monitor Ajax, now docked in Caniden. This battalion has for its chief officer Commander Dahlgren.
The scope of usefulness of the naval mi- litia has never been defined with exactness. Generally speaking, the object of organiz- ing it was to supply the United States Navy with a reserve force of trained men to be called upon in case of war. As the several States having naval militia organ- izations bear nearly all of the cost of their maintenance, those organizations are ex- pected also to co-operate with the National . Grard in the event of domestic disturb- ance. Their training, however, is entirely on naval lines, its direct aim being to ren- der each such organization as one of the New Jersey battalions able to man and work a fighting ship without assistance from the regulars.
The first official sanction given by this State to the establishment of a naval mi- litia was embodied in an enactment of the Legislature of 1894, which was never acted upon by the State military authorities. be- cause of certain defects which it contained. Previous to the passage of this law a bat- talion of naval militia had been formed in Jer- wy City, andit was through its efforts that the law was passed. It was modelled on the plan of the First Naval Battalion of New York. As a civil organization the rank of commander was conferred upon Edward McClure Peters, as a token of appreciation of his assistance to the young organization.
The members held meetings in Company A's headquarters in the old Fourth Regi- nient Armory and Captain Keim drilled them. Mainly through the writings of Frank J. Urquhart in the "Newark Sunday Call," interest in the naval militia was aroused in Newark, and the muster-roll of the Jersey City battalion soon began to show Newark names. In August, 1894, the Newarkers became so numerous in the organization that they asked leave to form themselves into a separate division of the battalion, with headquarters in Newark. . Permission was granted them, and on the first Monday evening of September they organized in Chosen Friends' Hall, at the corner of Market and Broad Streets, New- ark.
In January, 1895, the dissolution of the provisional organization seemed imminent when the Second Division took the admin- istration of affairs into its own hands. It opened up communications with the pro- visional Battalion of the West, proposed that the Governor should be asked why the men were not mustered in, and that if a de- fect in the law were the cause it should be remedied at once. A committee, consist- ing of Lieutenant Urquhart, Ensign Prieth and Boatswain's Mate Tansey, called upon the Governor, discovered that the law was defective, and drafted a new bill, which the members of the Battalion of the West put before the Legislature. It was passed and is the present law.
Interest revived sufficiently after the passage of this law to enable the division to hold together the members it then had. On May 20, 1895, they assembled in Ferry- man's Hall, Hoboken, and were mustered in by Lieutenant-Commander Washington Irving, who had been appointed a short time before to organize the Battalion of the East. Captain Jaques was present and made an address to the recruits. The Jersey City Division was first mustered in. It was named the First Division, and the Newark Division was called the Second.
On June 29, 1895, the Portsmouth was brought from the Navy Yard to 14th St.,
..
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Hoboken. and was put into commission. on August 24, with proper ceremonies. Lieutenant-Commander Irving announced on that day the appointment of Lieutenant Edward M. C. Peters as Navigator, Lieu- tenant Farnham Yardley as Adjutant, and Lieutenant Arthur H. Colby as Paymaster.
The battalion went into camp at Boyn- ton Beach on August 31, 1895, after hav- ing made the journey to that place in the ship's boat. On the way a fierce storm was encountered, giving the men an op- portunity to display their pluck and endur- ance, which they did so well as to bring words of praise from the Lieutenant-Con- mander.
The 3d Division of Engineers was add- ed to the Battalion in November, '98, and was made up chiefly from students of Ste- vens Institute, Hoboken.
During the Winter of'95-'96 they were drill- ed on the Portsmouth and in different halls which they hired at their own expense, in artillery, infantry and learned the rudi- ments of seamanship.
On July 26th the Battalion of the East put to sea in the Portsmouth, and made a week's voyage on Long Island Sound, en- tirely manning and handling her, (be it remembered that she is a sailing ship.)
In the Winter of '96 and '97, drills were resumed as in the previous year under the same disadvantages. Many legislative at- tempts were made during February, '96, to put the organization out of existence, but they failed.
In May, '97, the Reserves paraded at Washington at the inauguration of Presi- dent Mckinley.
On July 27, '97, the Reserves sailed away again on their annual cruise, a more extended one than the previous year, as they sailed up Long Island Sound, to the Capes of Delaware and home, occupying a little over two weeks. During the cruise three days were spent on board the U. S. S. Maine, at heavy gun drill.
In the Winter of '97-'98. drills were again resumed, and legislative attempts to dishand the Reserves again made their appearance without success.
During the season maps were made of the river Passaic, and its approaches, by members of the Second Division.
At the outbreak of the war the Reserves immediately offered their services to the Government and the offer was accepted.
They were ordered to man the U. S. S. Badger, which they did, fully manning her and serving in her through the late war.
THE U. S. S. PORTSMOUTH.
Mome and Training Ship of the New Jer- sey Naval Reserve.
The United States Sloop-of-War Ports- mouth is of 1,000 tonnage and 151 feet long. She was launched at Kittery, Maine, in 1843, and was one of the staunch- est and fastest vessels of her class ever built.
In an article written by Rear Admiral Edward Sampson, U. S. N., entitled, "The United States Navy In Transition," which appeared in "Harper's Magazine" of June, 1886, are the following sentences: "Our wooden ships that sailed the ocean from 1840 to 1860 were the finest in the world. The old frigate Congress in 1842 · was the noblest specimen of the frigates of the day, and the sloop-of-war Ports- mouth was unsurpassed as a corvette; these ships need no eulogy beyond their own record, and were models for the imi- tation of all maritime nations."
The Portsmouth carried a heavy battery of 22 guns. 6 long twenty-eights, and six- teen long twenty-twos. Her crew, officers and men numbered about 260.
Her first service was done in the Mexi- can war. She was cruising in the Pacific off the coast of California when she en- countered the big frigate Admittance, which was in the service of the Mexican government. Size of battery was greatly in favor of the Mexican, but after an hour's hard fighting she struck her colors to the little Portsmouth, and was towed into port a very sorry looking wreck.
Shortly after that she and the Congress bombarded Guaymas, on the Gulf of Cali- fornia, and after a fierce fight captured it. That night, as the victorious vessel lay at anchor in the harbor, the brigantine Argo, whose captain was unaware of her presence there sailed in. - A lieutenant, two mid- shipmen and a few sailors from the Ports- mouth boarded her silently, and the Argo was captured without striking a blow.
In the two years following the Ports- mouth further embellished her career by taking many prizes along the Mexican coast.
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In 1848 she sailed for Africa and became the flagship of Commodore Gregory. It was while on this station she won her laur- els as a fast sailer. chasing and capturing many speedy slave ships.
She next went to Japan, in Commodore Perry's fleet, when he negotiated the treaty opening up the ports of that country to American trade.
From 1856 to 1858 she was in charge of Commodore Foote, and in that time trav- elled 40,000 miles. The bombardment and destruction of the Barrier Forts below Canton, China, which occurred in September, 1856, was caused by the Chinese firing upon the American flag carried by a cutter from the Portsmouth. This insult was not carried to Washington to be diplomat- ically attended to and wiped out by an apology. The fleet, consisting of the Portsmouth, San Jacinto and Levant, im- mediately opened fire on the forts, and af- ter nearly two days' hard fighting captured the forts and 170 guns. The Barrier Forts were previous to this considered impreg- nable. The Portsmouth was in the thick- est of the fighting all through the bom- bardment, and for the destruction she wrought was christened the "Black Devil."
At the beginning of the Civil War the Portsmouth was sent with Farragut's fleet below New Orleans, and was later made Admiral Porter's flagship. She was in the midst of the mortar flotilla, which was screened with branches of trees lashed to the masts of rigging to deceive the night sentinels at Forts Jackson and St. Philip, when the attempt to pass the forts was made. The attempt was discovered, how- ever, and as the batteries thundered from the forts, the Portsmouth opened up in re- ply, but the line by which the steamer tow- ed her was severed, and for a time she seemed to be at the mercy of the enemy's guns, but she made sail and escaped, and ever since she is believed by sailormen to bear a charmed existence.
Since the war she has had a more peace- ful time, and during the last few years has been used as a school ship, from which thousands of Uncle Sam's sailors have graduated.
The Portsmouth came into the posses- sion of the New Jersey Naval Reserve in August, 1895, and very proud the Reserves are of her.
THE U. S. AUXILIARY CRUISER BADGER.
Which was fully manned by the New Jer- sey Naval Reserves during the past war with Spain.
The U. S. S. Badger was purchased at the outbreak of the war from the New York and Cuba Mail and Transportation Co., better known, probably, as the "Ward Line." She was formerly known as the "Yumuri," was launched at Roach's ship- yard. Chester, Pa., in 1889, and up to the time of her purchase by the Government has been running between New York, Ha- vana and Vera Cruz as passenger and mail steamer.
She is about 3.300 tonnage, is 326 feet long and 43 feet beam, draws about 18 feet of water, is capable of a speed of 15 knots, and can carry about 1,300 tons of coal.
She was altered into an auxiliary cruiser by the Morgan Iron Works at the foot of 9th St., New York, and her armament, consisting of 6 five-inch breech loading guns of the latest pattern, and 6 three- pounder Maxim Nordenfeldt semi-auto- matic guns, was placed. She was put in commission on May 2, 1898, with Com- mander A. S. Snow commanding, and twelve days later the Governor of New Jersey was ordered to man her from the Battalion of the East, New Jersey Naval Reserves.
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ROUGH LOG OF THE U. S. S. BADGER DURING THE LATE WAR WITH SPAIN.
1898.
May 17. After more than three weeks of expectancy, anxiety and a desire to be of service to their country, the N. J. Naval Reserves, Battal- ion of the East, were ordered to report on board the U. S. S. Portsmouth, to be examined as to their fitness to serve Uncle Sam, and were officially notified that they were to man the U. S. . S. Badger, which was nearly ready. 18. The men of the three divisions reported on board the Ports- mouth, and were examined by Assistant Surgeon Pickerell of
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the U. S. Navy; this work occu- pied nearly seven days.
21. The men who were passed by . the Surgeon were mustered into the U. S. service for one year, or until the expiration of the war, by Lieutenant D. A. Mahan, of the U. S. N., who is appointed the Executive Officer of the Badger. The officers of the N. J. Naval Reserve, who have been appoint- ed to the Badger, received their commission from the President.
24 to 28. Was occupied in thoroughly equipping the men with clothing, giving them the Badger stations, and also in giving them liberty to say good-bye to their relatives and friends.
29. Sunday-Everything is ready now to go aboard the Badger, and at 12 o'clock when the Navy Yard tug Narkeeta comes along- side the Portsmouth, the bags and hammocks are transferred, and then the N. J. Naval Reserves. amid the cheering of thousands of their friends ashore, board the tug for their new ship. On their way around to 9th Street, they receive a very noisy demonstration in the way of cheering and steam whistles from vessels lying in the harbor cleaning ship.
30. Was occupied in cleaning ship.
31. Got up steam and moved over to Navy Yard at the Cob Dock.
June I to 6. Was occupied in getting aboard ordnance stores, equipment stores, ammunition, provisions and coal-five very busy days.
7. Off to Sea -- At 10:30 a. m. the lines were cast off and the Badger headed down East River with sealed orders. Passing under Brooklyn Bridge the crew were were mustered at quarters; pass- ed Sandy Hook Lightship at 1:30 and course was made E S E after dropping the pilot.
8. At 2:45 a. m. the Badger, which was running without sidelights, came across another vessel which had no running lights out. but put up two white lights when about 400 yards distant. The Badger's crew were instantly called to gen-
eral quarters and the guns loaded, signals were made, but not an- swered, and it was thought she was a Spanish man of war. Three shots were fired at the stranger, but a heavy fog coming on, the vessels were lost to each other. At 9 o'clock a. m., all hands were called . to general quarters again, whilst off Nan- tucket shoal light, when a num- ber of strange vessels were seen. Dropped anchor in Province- town, Mass., at 10:00 p. m.
9 to Io. At anchor in Province- town. Crew at exercises at quar- ters and at target practice. Lieut. Mahan was sent to Boston hospit- al.
IO to 22. The Badger was engaged during these days in patrolling the coast from Segum Light to the Grand Manan, being nearly every night at sea without any lights of any kind, and looking for the Spanish fleet, which was supposed to be laying around the New England coast. On June 18th the Badger rode out a very heavy gale. During these days there was drill-drill-drill, every- thing from lashing a hammock to clear ship for action. Target practice nearly all the time; every- thing being done to get the ship in fighting trim.
22 to 25. Badger goes to Portland and commences to coal ship immedi- ately after anchoring; four days. of very hard dirty work for men who are not used to it, but done with a good will, for there are ru- mors that the Badger is going South soon; on the 25th the Badger captures her first prize, a dory that was adrift.
26 to July 1. Hurrah! The Badg- er is ordered to Key West, and the men finish the coaling in the same spirit they would play foot ball; everybody is full of enthu- siasm. They are going to the front at last, hurrah! Got under- way at 9 o'clock and proceed South in pleasant weather, with few incidents other than holding up all the ships they pass, and
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making them show their colors; meeting the San Francisco and the Prairie on the way down.
July. I.
Arrived in Key West and found the weather very hot and entirely different to what it had been North; took on some stores and mail for the fleet on July 3d; left Key West with orders for Ha- vana; arriving off Morro Castle at daybreak on July 4th, was giv- en her station on the blockading squadron and settled down to business. In the afternoon there were games and singing by the crew in celebration of the glori- ous 4th.
5. Off Havana-At daybreak a strange vessel was observed which went to sea again, and later was picked up by the Hawk and run ashore off Mariel: when the fir- ·ing commenced the Badger and Prairie went to the aid of the Hawk, and the vessel which at- terwards proved to be the Al- phonso XII, was set on fire by the shells exploding in her.
6. Off Havana-Firing heard again in the direction of Mariel. Cleared the ship for action and was put full speed ahead for the scene of action, followed by the Prairie. The Castine was found engaged with two sand forts at the en- trance of Mariel harbor. The en- gagement was a short one, last- ing only about an hour, with lit- tle satisfaction, as the forts being masked, it could not be told if much damage was done.
7. Off Havana-Badger still off Havana, and ran in close enoughi to-day to see the heavy batteries ashore; had target practice, and in the afternoon the boys were catching sharks, which are very numerous. The lighthouse off
Morro Castle was put out for about three hours, which causes a good deal of work on board the ships of the blockading squadron, who, having no bearing to guide them, got off their stations, and were heaving each other to, think- ing they were blockade runners.
.8. Off Havana-About noon to- day a vessel was reported making for Havana. The Badger's crew were called to quarters, and the chase began. The stranger was made out to be a man of war, but displayed no colors; she was over- hauled in about an hour and hove to with a. blank shot, when she hoisted the French flag and re- ported herself as the Frigate D'Estaing. She was ordered to report to the flag ship, which she did, no doubt convinced that the blockade of Havana was all right. At night the searchlight on Mor- ro Castle was showing up all the ships of the squadron, probably intending to guide blockade run- ners. First news of the destruc- tion of Cervera's fleet was brought to the Badger to-day by the Hawk, and occasioned a very noisy celebration after the boys went down to supper.
9. Havana-Saturday and general cleaning day with an inspection of clothing and hammocks in the forenoon.
IO. Havana-About 10 a. m., just as the men of the Badger were ready for inspection, firing was heard down at Mariel; Badger cleared ship for action and headed for where the firing was going on, followed by two other ships of the squadron, much to the disgust of the boys; they arrived only in time to see the wind up of an en- gagement between the San Fran- cisco and the sand batteries.
II. Badger was ordered to proceed to Nuevitas to blockade the port; the run of 300 miles was made without accident, other than stop- ping at Cardenas. Badger arriv- ed off Nuevitas about 5 p. m. of the 12th, and a half hour later chased a steamer which proved to be the U. S. S. Topeka.
13. Nuevitas-At about 2:40 a. m. chased a steamer which proved to be an Austrian man of war; she decorated herself with colors and brought lights: she had no doubt, been held up many times pre- vicusly.
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14. Tug Hudson passed to westward during the night, and had strong easterly winds with heavy sea . running.
15. Squally, with heavy sea; drink- ing water is 85 degrees, and grub is getting down to hard pan.
16. Fires were seen all around Nue- vitas during the evening; prob- ably plantations being burned by the Cubans.
17. Spoke to the San Francisco in the morning, and afterward chas- ed and hove to a schooner flying the British flag, with a Spanish crew on board. She was warned of the blockade and let go. At II p. m. a steamer light was picked up close. inshore, and was hove to. She proved to be the New- foundland, a British ship, and was boarded and warned of the block- ade.
18. At 6 a. m. the Badger had a long chase after a small steamer, which hove to after having five 5-inch shells sent after her at five miles range. She turned out to be the Three Friends, of filibustering fame; she was let go after being warned.
19 and 20. Nothing of importance occurred; searching the sea.
21. Picked up small sloop with four refugees.
22. Saw four of our ships going to eastward, probably to Porto Rico (Amphathrite, Puritan, Mont- gomery and Supply.)
23. Picked up small sloop with 22 refugees, who reported that Ji- bara had surrendered to the Prairie. Had a fine concert in the evening on board.
24. Seven Spanish soldiers surrender- ed to Badger with their arms and ammunition : large schooner came out of Nuevitas with about 70 refugees on board, who wanted to go to Nassau, N. P .; they were allowed to proceed. The Badger men are hoping to go in and cap- ture Nuevitas.
25. Hove to a schooner, the Belen- cita, of Nassau, N. P., with de- faced papers; she was, however,
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