USA > Ohio > The Fourteenth Ohio national guard- the Fourth Ohio volunteer infantry > Part 14
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The weather was exceptionally bad at the time Major Jones began paying the men on September 23, but the spirits of the regiment presented quite a con- trast to the condition of the weather. The boys marched through a heavy rain to the regimental headquarters and then as soon as they received their money, they hastened to the brigade store to pur- chase anything they could get that was fit to eat. The result was that by the time the Fourth Ohio was paid, the stock of the brigade store was almost exhausted and the members of the other regiments at Guayama were compelled to save their money until a new supply could be received. After the men had pro- vided themselves with all the provisions they could secure, they visited the Guayama stores and purchased everything in sight that could be carried home as souvenirs of the place. In this way the sums that were distributed by the paymaster soon disappeared and the men were again "financially embarrassed," but they were happy. At the same time the business of Guayama had exprienced such a revival that it had never seen before or probably will ever know.
Major Jones had hardly finished paying the troops when he received orders to pay for the month of September so that the men received pay for three months at one time. The effect of this was not only that the men had plenty of money, but also that the health of the regiment was greatly improved and from that time on the sickness began to disappear until when the regiment left Guayama, there were very few men in the hospital. The boys could purchase
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eggs, milk and fresh meat, and this added to what they could secure at the brigade store had "filled a long felt want" with the result that was only natural. As soon as the troops at Guayama were paid, the de- tachments were followed up and the money due them duly delivered.
If the visit of Major Jones produced a good ef- fect on the enlisted strength of the regiment, it had a better effect upon the commissioned officers, for they were suffering really more than their men. Many of them "messed" with their companies, but even this advantage could not be enjoyed by the field officers for they had no men with whom they could board. The brigade store did a credit business to a very limited extent, but the officers could secure the same bread that was issued to the men by paying for it. A bakery had been established at brigade head- quarters, but the quality of the product was such that the operation of the bakery at home would not have had a serious effect on the market. Sergeant George Zwerner, of D company, the oldest enlisted man in the regiment in point of service, acted as steward for the headquarters officers' mess and it kept him busy gath- ering up food for his wards on the few pennies that could be raked together among the members. When the payment was made, however, Zwerner was a happy man as was also those who depended upon his judgment and activity for their daily bread.
After the health of the men began to improve there was less cause of complaint against the Guay- ama camp, but the main cause for the desire to go
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home still existed and rumors were soon again on their way about the camp. It was but a few days after the visit of Major Jones that a happy epoch in the history of the camp was made. It was the visit to the boys of Mr. Frank P. Klotts, a Columbus gen- tleman, whose son was a member of Company A. Mr. Klotts had come to visit his son, who had been a patient in the hospital, but when the father arrived at the camp, he learned that the son had been sent home on a hospital ship and that the two had uncon- sciously met in mid-ocean. Mr. Klotts was loaded down with letters from parents to their boys in the field and the receipt of these and the sight of "a real live Buckeye" as one of the men expressed it, was the source of much pleasure to the boys. The visitor was received with open arms and every comfort the place afforded was bestowed upon Mr. Klotts during his stay in the camp. He remained but a few days and returned, taking with him thousands of messages to the folks at home.
After the visits of the paymaster, very little oc- curred to break the monotony of camp life until early in October, when orders finally came for the dis- bandment of the Second brigade. The Fourth Penn- sylvania regiment had been sent home, nearly every man in the Third Illinois was either in the hospital or sick in quarters, so that the regiment was practic- ally unfit for duty, and all the work in sight had de- volved upon the Fourth Ohio. For this reason it was decided to disband the brigade and relieve the Fourth Ohio with fresh troops. Porto Rico was divided into
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two military districts, the divisions of the West with headquarters at Ponce, General Henry commanding, and the division of the East under General Grant, with headquarters at San Juan. Accordingly what remained of the Fourth Ohio in the camp at Guayama was ordered to San Juan, with a view to the embarka- tion there for home.
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CHAPTER XV.
FROM GUAYAMA TO SAN JUAN.
Regiment Leaves Guayama Camp-"The Girl I Left Behind Me"-Marching Through Rain-Road to Cayey-A Terrible March-Arrived at Cayey-Further Detach- ments-Flag Raising-March to Caguas-Duty There- Flags Raised-March to Rio Piedros-Arrival at San Juan.
The morning of the sixth day of October, 1898, is one that the boys of the Fourth Ohio will never for- get. It was then that it was definitely decided that the camp at Guayama would forever be abandoned and such information, although for many weeks longed for, prayed for and hoped for, was a glad sur- prise to every man in the command. A and E com- panies, which were left behind, did not fully under- stand why they, too, were not included in the order, but life with them in the city had not been attended with many of the inconveniences of the hillside camp, and they could easily see how, if they were the only troops at Guayama, much of the unpleasantness of the place would be avoided.
It was arranged that the regiment would leave Guayama early Thursday morning, but General Grant showed his confidence in the officers of the regiment and the ability of their men by saying to Colonel Coit: "Colonel, you will proceed as far as Cayey Thursday, raise the flag there, and leaving
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Captain Potter's company in possession of the town, you will make headquarters at Caguas until further orders. I leave all to your judgment."
Thursday morning was dark and dreary-just the kind of weather to drive the men into their quar- ters, there to exchange condolence and cigars and sing the songs of home. The distance from Guayama to Cayey is seventeen miles and the colonel realized that the start must be made as early as possible to make the trip. Dinner was ordered at 10:30, and all day long the men packed their belongings. As soon as dinner was over, wagons were driven through the camp for all subsistence, personal baggage and com- pany chests and desks. Unfortunately some of the men neglected that most important of a soldier's duty, the filling of haversacks. This was the source of much annoyance later on.
At 2 o'clock all was ready and the start was made. It so happened that the boys got off "between showers," but they had not proceeded far when the first shower came up. The "first" might be said to be the only one, because it rained almost constantly during the entire march of seventeen miles. After the regiment was formed the column moved in fours to the music of "The Girl I Left Behind Me." Then the band struck up "Dixie" and "Marching Through Georgia." Everybody was happy. Even if it had been raining, snowing or anything, it would have been good enough for "The Day We Leave Guayama."
The rain began soon after the start was made. All the men had to carry was their canteens, haver-
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sacks and rifles, so they could easily use their pon- chos. These are good things in light showers, but when they were put into service in water spouts and cloud bursts, they proved about as serviceable as pieces of mosquito bar the same size. Long before dark every officer and man in the regiment was as wet as he could be.
The road from Guayama to Cayey has been de- scribed in another chapter. It is a dangerous one to travel in daytime and much more so at night. At one side, the bluffs towered high above the heads of the traveler and on the other the descent was as steep as a stone wall. A misstep at any time might have meant a severe collision with the sharp stones in the grade at one side or a fall into the darkness and gloom thousands of feet below at the other. To these con- ditions add darkness so dense that one could abso- lutely see nothing twelve inches in front of him, and one may form an idea of the march to Cayey.
One of the interesting features of the march was passing along the point where A and C companies met with the disaster on August 8, and the sight of the intrenchments and fortifications which would have had to have been carried, had a forced movement toward San Juan been ordered before August 13. At one point the Spanish garrison could have marched out to the roadway, killed off a regiment in one vol- ley, and returned to their quarters before the next regiment would have had time to come up. When the boys saw what they might have had to encounter,
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most of them heaved a sigh of relief to realize that the war was actually over.
With the darkness came an experience which in every particular beggars description. Wet to the skin, supperless, tired and weary, the men plodded along, all the way up hill, through narrow passes, where the men actually had to feel their way; where had a step to the side been made, the unfortunate would have been dashed to the rocks a thousand feet below; where, had a horse become frightened or jumped to one side, it would have meant certain death to himself and rider; where, had a Spanish sym- pathizer chosen to have done so, he could have blown out a culvert, and dozens of lives would have gone out in an instant; where if one man fell, a whole company would have stumbled over his prostrate form.
Men who had been over the road in the daytime were sent ahead as guides. The regimental staff followed, most of the officers leading their horses. The guides were of little use, however, as all they could do was to shout back that the road was clear. They could announce a new turn to the right or left every few yards, but no one could see it, and the warning simply made them more careful in feeling for the road.
Had it not been for the presence of an All Wise Providence, the regiment could not possibly have covered the distance. Even as it was the wagon train had to halt and wait for daylight. Every few min- utes the lightning would flash across the road, thus
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showing the way for a few feet. Often the regiment had to halt and wait for a flash of lightning to show culverts where the water could be heard roaring down over the precipices. A peculiar circumstance which seemed to be a manifestation of the presence of Providence was the settling of a large "lightning bug" on the hip of the chaplain's horse. Company B followed immediately after the chaplain and those in front could see which way to go, guided by this animal "pillar of fire."
It was shortly after nine o'clock when the regi- ment reached Cayey. The wagon train with all sub- sistence was back in the hills and no food in the haver- sacks. Company commanders hustled around, how- ever, and secured some bread and the men were put to "bed" on a cold cement floor with bread and water for support and their clothing thoroughly soaked. Friday morning quinine was issued freely and as soon as the wagons arrived the men were given a good breakfast and some of them were able to secure dry clothes. By noon everybody was comfortably fixed, but no duty was assigned except to Company F and the First provisional battalion.
Although Cayey had been occupied several days by American troops, the Stars and Stripes had not been officially raised in the town. As Company F had been ordered to take possession of Cayey, that company was accorded the honor of raising the flag. The entire First Provisional battalion, organized at Guayama by direction of Colonel Coit, and consisting of companies B, C, G and H, turned out under Cap-
COFFRE PLANTATION, AGUAS BUENOS.
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tain Vincent. Preceded by the regimental band the battalion escorted F company to the city hall.
Lieutenant McCoy and Sergeant Freeman raised the flag, F company fired the salute and the band played "The Star Spangled Banner." When the citi- zens saw the beautiful tri-colored banner floating over them, and realized what it meant, they went wild with excitement. After a short serenade by the band, the battalion marched around the plaza and public square, thence back to the quarters near the town. The Spanish flag, which had waved from the public hall of Cayey, became the property of Captain Vin- cent. The exercises of the afternoon were thoroughly enjoyed, and the men felt that they were amply re- warded already for their long weary march across the hills.
At Cayey K company left the regiment to go to Aibonito to take possession of that and the towns in the district so that all that remained of the "regiment" was the First Provisional battalion. The start to Caguas was not made until Saturday morning and the time spent at Cayey as the guests of F company was for the purpose of rest. An amusing experience during this brief stay was a serenade by the native band. The members were not in uniform, either as to dress, time, harmony, pitch or chord. The in- struments were somewhat similar to those used in American bands except the drum or "guichara" which was a long ghord shaped species of calabash, which had been plucked while green and in the sur- face of which had been cut a number of small circu-
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lar grooves which had become almost as hard as flint when the instrument had ripened in the sun. It was "played" by rubbing a hard stick across the grooves, thus making a most unearthly noise, but which served as a very good chronometer for the other per- formers. After the band had "rendered" several se- lections, Colonel Coit addressed the crowd, which had assembled, expressing for himself and staff, an ap- preciation of the serenade and the royal welcome which the citizens of Cayey had given the American troops. The crowd answered with cheer after cheer for the "soldados Americanos."
An early start was made Saturday morning and before noon the regiment was well on its way to Caguas. The rains had ceased and the sun shone brightly, but not nearly so hot as on the day of the last long march on August 13th. The distance was about the same and the road led first to the top of the northern mountain chain and then down again into the fertile valley below, where the town of Caguas was situated. It was two o'clock when the regiment halted outside the city limits and preparations were made for the entrance into the city. At the time of the march from Guayama to Cayey, many of the boys would drop from the ranks and then wait for the baggage train to ride. This was avoided on the march to Caguas by sending the baggage train ahead of the regiment. Even this arrangement did not pre- vent all the boys from saving their legs, for they walked ahead of the regiment on some pretext or other and caught up with the train when they would
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climb on the wagons in spite of the protests of the drivers and ride over the remaining portion of the march. The wagon train had not been at Caguas more than an hour when the main column appeared.
The regiment halted long enough for the few stragglers to come up and for those who had gone ahead to be brought back and then with colors flying, a triumphant entry to the city was made. A hearty welcome was extended to the regiment by the citi- zens and the town was dressed in holiday attire. From nearly every building the American flag proudly waved and the people nearly shouted them- selves hoarse at the sight of the troops. Captain French had occupied the town for several days with L company and the American flag had not only been raised over the public building, but it had been placed on every business house and private residence in the town. These flags were supplied by the citizens themselves.
The occupation of Caguas was not attended with the discomforts of Guayama. The citizens were found to be far more intelligent and the business men far more reliable than those at Guayama and these conditions, together with comfortable quarters in bar- racks for the men, made the stay at Caguas very pleasant. Then again there were not so many sol- diers to enjoy the hospitality and generosity of the people and this state of affairs increased the comfort of the men.
Soon after the regimental headquarters had been established at Caguas, four nurses arrived in Porto
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Rico to take care of the sick of the Fourth Ohio. The members had written home from the camp at Guayama while everything was at its worst and the people of central Ohio had become thoroughly alarmed for the safety of their sons and friends in the island. The noble women who offered their services for the men of the Fourth were Sisters Mary Bren- dam and Mary Edberga, Miss Dr. Emma O. Jones and Mrs. Taylor. These ladies were eminently qual- ified to take care of the sick soldiers, but they did not arrive until September 28, and this was after the men had been paid and many of the sick had been sent home. There was still a number in the hospital, however, and the work of these good women was greatly appreciated by the physicians and by every officer and man in the regiment. They remained with the regiment until it reached Columbus, when they were extended the same welcome that was made for the men. They were made honorary members of the regiment and they were appointed lieutenants with spcial commissions by Colonel Coit.
On October 12 Company C was sent out to the town of Aguas Buenos to assume charge of the town for the day and to convert it into an American sta- tion by raising the flag of the United States. Cap- tain Reynolds took a detachment of his company and accompanied by Major Baker several headquarters attaches and the band, the detachment rode across the country in wagons. The road was not a rough one, but it extended through one of the most pictur- esque sections of the island. Aguas Buenos was in
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the center of a rich coffee growing section and the people were found to be well to do and very intelli- gent. The soldiers were welcomed to the village and the flag was raised over their homes with great re- joicing. As a part of the flag raising ceremony Major Baker made a brief address to the assembled populace, telling them to be good and that things would come out "all right."
The Spanish flag, which had been on the al- calda's office, became the property of Captain Rey- nolds. Major Baker was presented with a memorial thanking the American troops for the benefit they had been to the people of Porto Rico and pledging their allegiance to the United States. After the cere- mony of raising the flag, the alcalda received the American officers at his home with all the prominent
citizens of the province as guests. An elaborate breakfast was served and after making several calls upon other of the officials, the detachment returned to Caguas. On the following day B company was sent to the town of Gurabo and the American flag was raised there also. Here the soldiers were given a most hearty welcome and they were entertained with the best the town afforded during their brief stay. A detachment from H company was afterwards sent to Aguas Buenos, but no troops were assigned to Gurabo.
Two days after B company returned from Gurabo, Captain White received orders to proceed to Rio Piedras and take possession of the entire district. Rio Piedras was on a short railway seven miles from the capital and the third largest town on the island.
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The service of the company at this station is de scribed in another chapter.
Guard duty at Caguas was performed by the different companies which remained, C, G and H. Guard was mounted each morning and the regular camp routine, even to evening parade, was main- tained as though the entire regiment was stationed in the city.
One of the most pleasant features of the stay at Caguas was the supply of ice which was received daily from San Juan. This was a luxury which the boys had not enjoyed since they left Newport News and the rapidity with which ice cream and lemonade disappeared would have made the keeper of a circus refreshment stand grow sick at heart. A concert was given by the band in the plaza each evening and the people enjoyed the music very much. There was a number of fine musicians at Caguas and these with some of the members of the band arranged an enter- tainment which proved quite a success. At first the soldiers were not restricted as to their mingling with the natives, but this privilege was abused by a few careless men so that by special order, at the sound- ing of "taps" every man in the command except those on guard was expected to be in quarters.
Frequent excursions were made to San Juan the capital, and on the occasion of the formal possession of the city by the Americans on October 18, Colonel Coit and his staff and a large number of the men and officers of the regiment went to the city to witness the flag raising ceremonies.
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Finally, on the 28th, the command having been relieved by a detachment of the First Kentucky, the regiment marched from Caguas to Rio Piedras. F and K companies had also been relieved and had joined the regiment. The march from Caguas, seventeen miles, was made in five hours, remarkably good time for that climate and the kind of day, for the sun shone almost as hot as it had on August 13, dur- ing the forenoon, and then in the afternoon a terrific rainstorm came up. F company had not started with the main column and these men were nearly drowned when they reached Rio Piedras.
The command took dinner and a good rest at Rio Piedras and at four o'clock all the companies ex- cept B boarded a train and proceeded to San Juan. B company marching across the valley to the capital, earned the record of being the only company which had marched across the island from the Carribean sea to the Atlantic ocean. Two other companies, however, K and L, had marched a greater number of miles.
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CHAPTER XVI.
THE HOSPITAL CORPS.
The Corps in the Fourteenth-Its Organization and Effi- ciency-Its Effect on Enlistment-Refused Admittance as a Body Into the U. S. Service-Members Enlist in Companies-Details at Camp Thomas-Reserve Ambu- lance Corps-Detachments From the Regiment-Orders for Porto Rico-Reunited on Massachusetts-Again Separated in Porto Rico-Sent to San Juan-Home With the Regiment-Stragglers Arrive.
When the Fourteenth Regiment of Infantry of the Ohio National Guards assembled for the purpose of entering the volunteer service of the United States, that organization contained one of the best auxiliaries for hospital service within the United States. It consisted under the state regulations of one major surgeon, three assistant surgeons, one hospital steward, two acting hospital stewards and twenty four privates.
The surgeons were men who had been chosen for their fitness in duties which were liable at any time to occur in street riots and other emergency cases where the state militia was apt to be engaged. The stewards and acting stewards were men who had been trained by education and experience to perform just such duties as would be likely to devolve upon them in times where judgment, alacrity and precision were elements absolutely essential in their qualifica- tions as such officers. The privates were all young inen who had taken and nourished an interest in the
FROM PONCE TO ARROYO.
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care of the sick and they had by study, application and . drill acquired such an ability in the matters pertain- ing to active field hospital work that they were ad- mitedly among the best men Ohio or any other state could have furnished a military organization.
It is a fact that the rapid enlistment to the maximum strength allowed by the government in so short a time was due to the fact that it was well known that the Fourteenth was better able to take care of her sick than any other regiment in the state service. The hospital corps was the pride of the regiment and of that section of the state which boasted the Four- teenth Infantry. Everybody fully expected that the hospital corps as it was organized would be a part of the new regiment of volunteers that was being or- ganized, and great was the surprise and the disap- pointment of not only the men and officers of the regiment, but the corps itself when it was learned that the order for the new organization would not permit the muster of the corps. A great effort was made by the hospital boys, the members of the regiment and the citizens of the state to prevail upon the gov- ernment authorities to arrange for the preservation of the corps, but the effort was in vain.
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