USA > Ohio > History of Ohio; the rise and progress of an American state, Volume Four > Part 28
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Early in June the Governor was appealed to, to sustain the law in a notorious lynching case at Urbana. A terrible crime had been committed by a negro by the name of Charles Mitchell, who had been arrested, identified by his victim and taken to jail. Excitement became so great that the prisoner was hurried into the courthouse, where he pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to the penitentiary for life, being the highest penalty for the crime committed. Before he could be taken to the penitentiary, a mob surrounded the jail, which was guarded on the inside by an Urbana company of the Ohio National Guard. Shortly before 3 o'clock in the morning of June 4th the mob began battering in the door of the jail. The militia inside fired from the windows and the door upon the crowd ouside, and two
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men were killed and ten wounded by the volley. A military company, which had been sent from Spring- field by order of Governor Bushnell, now arrived on the scene, and some one, assuming to act for the sheriff, ordered the Springfield troops to return to the train, which they did. The Urbana company stacked their arms and promised not to fire again. At 7:45 A. M. the mob returned to the jail, broke in the door, secured the keys to Mitchell's cell, put a rope around the negro's neck, and dragged him across the courthouse yard, the mob kicking and beating him all the way. He was then strung up to a tree and left to die. The affair created intense indignation throughout the State, except in the neighborhood of Urbana, where it was directed against the troops for firing upon the crowd and against the sheriff for calling out the troops. Gov- ernor Bushnell directed an inquiry into the responsi- bility for the management of the troops, and urged upon the local authorities that the lynchers be brought to punishment, but nothing was done. No indict- ments were brought by the Champaign county grand jury, either against the lynchers of Mitchell or the soldiers.
Passing for the time the minor events of Governor Bushnell's Administration, we come to the narrative of its greatest work. For the fourth time, Ohio was called upon to furnish its share of men and money in a National war. This emergency gave Governor Bushnell conspicuous responsibility, which he met with great capacity and patriotism.
CHAPTER XV. OHIO IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR
T HE Administration of President Mckinley was from the beginning very seriously con- cerned with the situation in the Island of Cuba, where since February, 1895, a war for independence had been raging. In the presidential campaign of 1896, both the great parties of the United States had incorporated in their platforms expressions favorable to the Cuban cause, with intimations of independence as the logical conclusion. It was not, however, the policy of President Cleveland to force a critical issue with Spain. Events at that time had not matured, and the commitment of our Government to so grave a responsibility by an Administration soon to expire was not expedient. Nevertheless efforts had been initiated to procure an honorable adjustment of the contest through the mediation of the United States, with a view to self-government by Cuba under Spanish sovereignty. But these offers of President Cleveland had been vigorously repelled by the Spanish government, which insisted that there could be no accommodation of the matter other than the uncondi- tional submission of the insurgents.
The probable program of the new Administration was well indicated by the decisive declaration of the platform on which Mr. Mckinley was elected: "The government of Spain, having lost control of Cuba and being unable to protect the property or lives of resi- dent American citizens, or to comply with its treaty obligations, we believe that the government of the United States should actively use its influence and good offices to restore peace and give independence to the Island." This proved indeed the literal definition of
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our governmental attitude and policy respecting Cuba from the time of the inauguration of President Mc- Kinley until exercise of mere "good offices" was super- seded by armed intervention.
The first disclosure of the intended course of the United States was made in September, 1897, when the newly appointed American minister to Spain, General Stewart L. Woodford, arrived in Madrid and presented a diplomatic note which very politely but expressly signified determination to have permanent peace in Cuba, but refrained from stipulating the specific remedies. From this and subsequent communications there resulted certain seeming concessions to American opinion and demand-notably the recall of Governor General Weyler, whose "reconcentration" system and generally inhumane measures had excited profound indignation; the recall of the Spanish minister to Washington, de Lome, for a published letter criticizing President Mckinley; and finally, the institution of a so-styled autonomous government in Cuba. This, however, was a pure makeshift, with no real coöper- ation from the native population.
The destruction by explosion (since shown to have been due to an external agency) of the United States battleship "Maine" in the harbor of Havana, Febru- ary 15, 1898, greatly intensified popular feeling. Mean- time the situation in Cuba had in no manner improved, it was evident that the hostility of the Island to the mother country was irreconcilable, and Spain on her part was as obstinate and resolute as ever in refusing to consider any other solution than the abject sub- mission of the Cubans.
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The final developments date from the President's special message to Congress, April II, 1898, a state paper of extraordinary ability and interest. After reciting the history of the Cuban situation, reviewing its important features, and commenting on the different solutions proposed, Mr. Mckinley committed the whole subject to Congress, requesting authorization and empowerment "to secure a full and final termination of hostilities between the government of Spain and the people of Cuba, to secure in the Island the establish- ment of a stable government, capable of maintaining order and observing its international obligations, in- suring peace and the tranquillity of its citizens as well as our own, and to use the military and naval forces of the United States as may be necessary for these purposes." Resolutions were accordingly passed, April 18th, declaring the independence of Cuba and giving the President the desired authority and power. This resolution received executive approval April 20th, and on that day the Spanish-American War officially began, though there was no formal declaration of hostilities.
A proclamation was issued by the President April 23d, for volunteers to the aggregate number of 125,000, to be apportioned as far as practicable among the states and territories according to population, and to serve for two years unless sooner discharged. This was supplemented by a call on the 25th of May for volun- teers to fill companies in the field to the maximum strength under the law. National camps for the reception and drill of the soldiers were established at Chickamauga Park (Camp Thomas); Tampa, Florida; Jacksonville, Florida (Camp Cuba Libre); Dun Land-
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ing, near Falls Church, Virginia (Camp Alger); Middle- town, Pennsylvania (Camp Meade); Huntsville, Alabama (Camp Wheeler); Lexington, Kentucky (Camp Hamilton); Knoxville, Tennessee (Camp Poland); and other places.
Ohio's part in the war was characterized by great promptitude in the organization and dispatch of her quota and marked efficiency on the part of those responsibly concerned. There was also apparent a superiority of discipline and general fitness in the men together with a prevailing spirit of enthusiasm for the cause throughout the State. Immediately upon receipt of the first presidential call, April 25, Governor Asa S. Bushnell issued orders for the mobilization of the various military organizations, and these were soon assembled at a specially improvised rendezvous which was christened "Camp Bushnell," near Colum- bus. The command devolved upon Major General Henry A. Axline, who at that time occupied the office of Adjutant General.
"So expeditious was the work of getting Ohio's quota ready for service," says Governor Bushnell in his annual message of 1900, "that but a comparatively short time elapsed in camp life at the rendezvous. The entire mustering was completed in eight days. Ohio was the first State in the Union to put a volunteer regiment in the field. The First Ohio Cavalry was the first organi- zation to leave the rendezvous, it proceeding on the 14th of May, 1898, to Camp George H. Thomas, Chicka- mauga Park, Georgia. It was followed by the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, formerly the Fourteenth Ohio National Guard, on the same day. These organi-
ASA SMITH BUSHNELL
Born in Rome, New York, September 16, 1834, and came to Ohio in 1845; received a common school education and engaged in business pursuits in Springfield, where he became a highly successful manufacturer; during the Civil War commanded a company in the One Hundred and Fifty-Second Volunteer Infantry; Governor of Ohio, 1896-1900; died January 15, 1904.
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"So expeditious was the work of getting Ohl quota rowdy twice," says Governor Bushnell in annual message of 1yoo, "that but a comparatively time elapsed in camp life at the rendezvous. The end mustering was completed in eight days. Ohio war first State in the Union to put a volunteer regime the field. The First Ohio Cavalry was the first on zation to leave the rendezvous, it proceeding of 14th of May, 1898, to Camp George H. Thomas, Chilis mauga Park, Georgia. It was followed by the Puth Ohig Volunteer Infantry, formerly the Fournaith Ohio National Guard, on the same day. These or cool
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zations were the pioneers of the great volunteer army of the country to appear for duty at a general rendez- vous designated by the War Department."
Referring to the popular spirit in support of the war, the Governor says the whole experience "furnished a grand exhibition of the loyalty, patriotism, and strength of our people." "Those who were physically disquali- fied for service went home with regret. Those who could not get in under the first call by reason of the limitation of numbers were not content, but tried in every conceivable way to be enrolled in the volunteer army. There was no difficulty in obtaining recruits. As a general proposition it may be said that Ohio could have furnished many times the number it did. * Applicants and applications for military service were received by hundreds and by thousands, the women who desired to go to the front as nurses being as marked in their insistence of patriotic endeavor as the men."
On March 31, 1898, the consolidated strength of the National Guard of Ohio was 501 officers and 6,361 enlisted men, these figures including all the eight regi- ments of infantry, one battalion of infantry, eight batteries of artillery, one troop of cavalry and the naval brigade. This entire force (excepting eliminations for physical reasons, etc.) was incorporated into the National Volunteer Army and was much enlarged by necessary increases to meet the prescribed numerical standard for the component organizations. Under the first call Ohio furnished 428 officers and 8,052 enlisted men, under the second call 73 officers and 6,801 enlisted men, making a total of 15,354.
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Owing to the brevity of the war and the great excess of volunteer forces above the nation's requirements, only three of the Ohio regiments saw service in a foreign land. The Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Alonzo B. Coit, received its baptism of fire at the Barrio de Las Palmas, near Guayama in Porto Rico. Five of the command were wounded. The whole divi- sion under General Brooks then advanced to attack the Spanish position at Cayey. Just as a battery of the Fourth Artillery, under Captain R. H. Anderson, of Ohio, had opened fire, a mounted orderly brought a dispatch announcing the peace protocol.
The Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Colonel William V. McMaken, was dispatched to the district of Santa Clara, Cuba, arriving after the declara- tion of peace. The Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Colonel Curtis V. Hard, reached Santiago just too late to take part in the siege, subsequently per- forming duty at various places in eastern Cuba until its return to Montauk Point, Long Island, in a greatly enfeebled condition owing to disease. The total num- ber of deaths in Ohio volunteer organizations, as reported in Governor Bushnell's message of 1900, was seven officers and two hundred and twenty-three enlisted men.
The General Assembly of Ohio authorized the ex- penditure of a million dollars for the war, but the total outlay was only $472,361.56, from which is to be deducted the sum of $411,124.18, charged to the United States Government. "After receiving from the Government proper return of quartermasters' stores taken during the war," said Governor Bushnell, "Ohio
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will practically have expended no money for military purposes. Indeed, it is warrantable to declare that the State will be a gainer."
When Ohio's war accounts were audited at Wash- ington it was remarked with some curiosity that the prices charged for many articles of equipment were singularly low when compared with those paid by other states and even by the Government. This was explained by the exceptional preparedness of Ohio for the situation. Some time before the rupture of diplomatic relations, the authorities of Ohio, convinced that the drift was toward war, decided to put its mili- tary establishment upon such a footing as would meet any emergency, and Adjutant General Axline, being aforetime in the purchase of equipment, had the advan- tage of the normal prevailing prices of times of peace. This anticipatory measure was of course without legis- lative authority or appropriation. It was purely the arbitrary exercise of executive power; and it is worthy of record that Governor Bushnell in this action gave his personal guarantee for the discharge of all financial obligations in connection with the timely purchases.
As no comprehensive account has been published of Ohio's part in the Spanish-American war, it is fitting here to embody a summary of the more noteworthy details relating to the participating volunteer organiza- tions, from data supplied by the Government and State officials.
First Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Headquarters at Cin- cinnati. Organized as First Regiment, Ohio National Guard, June 21, 1875; as First Regiment, Ohio Volun- teer Infantry, April 25, 1898. Mustered in for war
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with Spain, May 6, 1898. Strength for the war, fifty officers, one thousand, three hundred and two enlisted men. Commanded by Colonel Charles G. Hunt dur- ing war operations. Stationed during war: (1) Chick- amauga, Ga .; (2) Tampa, Fla .; (3) Fernandina, Fla .; (4) Jacksonville, Fla. Casualties during campaign, death of ten men. Mustered out at Cincinnati, Octo- ber 25, 1898.
Second Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Headquarters at Cincinnati. Organized as Second Regiment, Ohio National Guard, July 1, 1879; as Second Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 25, 1898. Mustered in for war with Spain, May 10, 1898. Strength for the war, fifty officers, one thousand, two hundred and eighty-four enlisted men. Commanded by Colonel Julius A. Kuert during war operations. Stationed dur- ing war: (1) Chickamauga, Ga .; (2) Knoxville, Tenn .; (3) Macon, Ga. Casualties during campaign, death of fourteen men. Mustered out at Macon, Ga., February 10, 1899.
Third Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Headquarters at Springfield. Organized as Third Regiment, Ohio National Guard, July 21, 1875; as Third Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 25, 1898. Mustered in for war with Spain, May 10, 1898. Strength for the war, forty-two officers, one thousand, three hundred and thirteen enlisted men. Commanded by Colonel Charles Anthony during war operations. Stationed during war: (1) Tampa, Fla .; (2) Fernandina, Fla .; (3) Huntsville, Ala. Casualties during campaign, death of two officers and eight men. Mustered out at Columbus, October 26, 1898.
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Fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Headquarters at Columbus. Organized as Fourteenth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, October 20, 1877; as Fourth Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 25, 1898. Mus- tered in for war with Spain, May 9, 1898. Strength for the war, forty-nine officers, one thousand, three hundred and nineteen enlisted men. Commanded by Colonel Alonzo B. Coit during war operations. Sta- tioned during war: (1) Chickamauga, Ga .; (2) Porto Rico. This regiment took part in the invasion of Porto Rico and engaged in skirmishing when advancing from Guayama. Casualties during campaign, death of twenty-six men. Mustered out at Columbus, January 20, 1899.
Fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Headquarters at Cleveland. Organized as Fifth Regiment, Ohio Na- tional Guard, June 16, 1884; as Fifth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 25, 1898. Mustered in for war with Spain, May 11, 1898. Strength for the war, forty-eight officers, one thousand, three hundred and two enlisted men. Commanded by Colonel Courtland L. Kennan during war operations. Stationed during war: (1) Tampa, Fla .; (2) Fernandina, Fla. Casual- ties during campaign, death of twenty men. Mustered out at Cleveland, November 5, 1898.
Sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Headquarters at Toledo. Organized as Sixteenth Regiment, Ohio Na- tional Guard, September 14, 1877; as Sixth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 25, 1898. Mustered in for war with Spain, May 12, 1898. Strength for the war, forty-nine officers, one thousand, two hundred and ninty-nine enlisted men. Commanded by Colonel
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William V. McMaken during war operations. Stationed during war: (1) Chickamauga, Ga .; (2) Knoxville, Tenn .; (3) Charleston, S. C .; (4) Cuba. Casualties during campaign, death of twenty-one men. Mustered out at Augusta, Ga., May 12, 1899.
Seventh Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Headquarters at Chillicothe. Organized as Seventeenth Regiment, Ohio National Guard, September 14, 1877; as Seventh Regi- ment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 25, 1898. Mus- tered in for war with Spain, May 13, 1898. Strength for the war, forty-nine officers, one thousand, three hundred and four enlisted men. Commanded by Colonel Arthur L. Hamilton during war operations. Stationed during war: (1) Camp Alger, Va .; (2) Camp Meade, Pa .; (3) Camp Bushnell, O. Casualties during campaign, death of one officer and seven men. Mustered out at Columbus, November 6, 1898.
Eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Headquarters at Wooster. Organized as Eighth Regiment, Ohio Nation- al Guard, February 21, 1877; as Eighth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 25, 1898. Mustered in for war with Spain, May 13, 1898. Strength for the war, forty-nine officers, one thousand, two hundred and eighty-eight enlisted men. Commanded by Colonel Curtis V. Hard during war operations. Stationed during war: (1) Camp Alger, Va .; (2) Cuba; (3) Montauk Point, Long Island. Casualties during campaign, death of four officers and sixty-eight men. Mustered out at Wooster, November 21, 1898.
Ninth Battalion, Ohio Volunteer Infantry (Colored) : Headquarters at Columbus. Organized as Ninth Bat- talion, Ohio National Guard, July 18, 1881; as Ninth
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Battalion, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, April 25, 1898. Mustered in for war with Spain, May 14, 1898. Strength for the war, sixteen officers, four hundred and thirty-one enlisted men. Commanded by Major Charles Young during war operations. Stationed dur- ing war: (1) Camp Alger, Va .; (2) Camp Meade, Pa .; (3) Camp Marion, S. C. Casualties during campaign, death of five men. Mustered out at Camp Marion, January 28, 1899.
Tenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry: Organized July I, 1898. Strength for the war with Spain, forty-six officers, one thousand, two hundred and eighty enlisted men. Commanded during war operations by Colonel Henry A. Axline, who resigned as Adjutant General, being succeeded by Herbert B. Kingsley; after the mustering out of the regiment, Colonel Axline resumed the duties of Adjutant General. Stationed during war: (1) Camp Meade, Pa .; (2) Camp Mackenzie, Ga. Casualties during campaign, death of twenty-three men. Mustered out at Augusta, Ga., March 23, 1899.
First Ohio Volunteer Cavalry: Headquarters of Troop A, Cleveland; Battery B, First Light Artillery (forming part of this organization), Cincinnati. Organ- ized April 25, 1898. Mustered in for war with Spain, May 9, 1898. Strength for the war, thirty-three offi- cers, three hundred and sixteen enlisted men. Com- manded by Lieutenant Colonel Matthias W. Day during war operations. Stationed during war: (1) Chickamauga, Ga .; (2) Lakeland, Fla .; (3) Huntsville, Ala. Casualties during campaign, death of eight men. Mustered out at Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus in October, 1898.
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First Ohio Volunteer Light Artillery: Headquarters at Zanesville. Organized as First Light Artillery, Ohio National Guard, May 6, 1886; as First Light Artil- lery, Ohio Volunteers, April 25, 1898. Mustered in for war with Spain, May 11, 1898. Strength for the war, twenty officers, seven hundred and seven enlisted men. Commanded by Major Charles T. Atwell during war operations. Stationed during war: (1) Chicka- mauga, Ga .; (2) Camp Bushnell, O. Casualties dur- ing campaign, death of thirteen men. Mustered out at Columbus, October 21, 1898.
From this record it will be seen that Ohio main- tained the same fidelity to the Nation that she had established in the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War. As in those, her citizen soldiers volun- teered beyond all requirements to enter the service of their country.
In the regular military forces of the United States, Ohio was also creditably represented. Among the general officers appointed by the President, who were Ohio men, or of Ohio nativity, were Generals Joseph Warren Keifer, Henry W. Lawton, Adna R. Chaffee, Thomas McArthur Anderson, George A. Garretson and Oswald A. Ernst. General Keifer, who had won a major general's commission in the Civil War, was given the same rank, and as such he commanded a division near Havana after the protocol and led the United States troops when they marched into and took possession of the city of Havana after its evacuation by the Spanish army on January 1, 1899.
General Lawton was one of the heroic figures of the war, as well as of the succeeding Philippine War. Born
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in Manhattan, Lucas county, Ohio, March 17, 1843, he served with credit in the Civil War and afterward entered the regular army. He was commissioned Brigadier General in May, 1898, commanding the Second Division of the Fifth Army Corps in Cuba, and won the first battle of the war at El Caney. He was promoted to Major General and was in command at Santiago after the surrender. In December, 1898, he was assigned to the command of a corps in the Philip- pines, where he greatly distinguished himself until killed in battle at San Mateo, Luzon, December 19, 1899. The sum of a hundred thousand dollars was raised by popular subscription and presented to his widow.
General Chaffee led a brigade in the Santiago cam- paign and was promoted to Major General of Volun- teers. His subsequent career was highly distinguished. It was he who had command of the American contin- gent in the celebrated march to relieve the legations at Pekin, China, during the Boxer uprising. He rose to the position of Chief of Staff of the United States army, being retired at his own request in 1906 after forty years of service.
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