USA > Ohio > The Fourteenth Ohio national guard- the Fourth Ohio volunteer infantry > Part 18
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19
joined by B Company at Rio Piedras, had reached San Juan on the evening of October 28th. These companies, except B, had been temporarily relieved by the First Kentucky. L Company at Carolina had gone to San Juan also and the regiment was again intact. The night at San Juan was spent in an old shed just outside the city, but no regular camp was established and the men were permitted to spend the night where and how they pleased. There were numerous restaurants in the city, and as the men still had a supply of cash, there was no suffering on ac- count of lack of provisions.
The crew of the Chester completed the renova- tion of the ship during the night and the next morn- ing, when the loading of baggage was begun. San Juan was interesting to the boys, especially the de fenses of the city and the effect of the bombardment by the American fleet in July. All the places of interest were visited, so that at first the quartermast- er's department could not get men to load the bag- gage. Captain Vincent and Captain Potter came to the rescue, however, and details were soon secured and the horses and baggage were loaded in quick time. The regiment itself did not board the vessel until about 4 p. m., although the Chester had been under orders to sail at noon.
It was nearly dark when the Chester weighed anchor and steamed out of the harbor. The U. S. S. S. Newark, one of the strongest vessels in the navy, was stationed in the harbor, and when the Chester began to move toward the bay, the band on the
293
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
Newark played "Home Sweet Home." This compli- ment was answered by a cheer from the men and a selection from the Fourth Ohio band, when the Newark played another tune, answered by "Yankee Doodle" by the Ohio band. Cheer after cheer was exchanged by the representatives of the army and navy, and with the firing of salutes, the tooting of whistles and the ringing of bells, the Chester steamed slowly out the harbor to the bay and turned her course toward New York.
It was quite dark when the Chester reached the open sea and the dim lights from the city gave the general view of the island where the boys had seen so much hard service, a sort of spectral appearance, exactly in keeping with the final impression of Porto Rico and Porto Ricans in the minds of most of the men.
The voyage to New York was less comfortable in some respects and more comfortable in others than the voyage on the St. Paul had been. There was less room on the Chester and quarters were not so comfortable, but better provision had been made for rations and cooking, and the men were supplied with warm meals. The weather was fine during the greater part of the voyage, but a storm came up during the third night out and those members of the band and non-commissioned staff and some of the members of the companies who had slept on the decks were compelled to seek shelter inside. All the available room had already been taken up, but the men who had not been assigned to any particular
294
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
part of the ship, appropriated the halls and compan- ion ways for their quarters. This was objected to by the quartermaster of the vessel, but Colonel Coit in- sisted that those men would remain there and they did. Some slept in the dining room, and others in the halls and passage ways, wherever they could find space enough to lie down. The officers were crowded into small state rooms and they were not much more comfortably situated than the men.
The only occurrence to mar the pleasure of the voyage from San Juan was the sudden death of Al- bert L. Vertner of K Company. The young man had not been feeling well, and the hospital force had prescribed what seemed to be the proper treatment, but their efforts were in vain and the young man died almost in sight of his native land.
The remains were buried at sea and the occasion was given all the honor that could be bestowed under the circumstances. Vertner was a popular member of the company and the death was a shock to all its officers and men.
The first time land was sighted after the Chester had left San Juan was on the afternoon of November 2nd, when the hills and steeples of the United States again came into view. There was very little to see and nothing to make out, but when the boys realized that they were once more in sight of their native land they nearly went wild with glee.
The band played "America," "Hail Columbia" and other national airs, and the regiment answered with cheers. Everybody on the vessel strained
295.
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
every nerve to get a glimpse of the land they loved so well and all was excitement on board the Chester for the remainder of the day.
Passing Sandy Hook, the Chester steamed on up the harbor until dark, when she cast anchor until a pilot boarded her, to direct the way to the quarantine station. The boys were a little disappointed at hav- ing to remain on the ship another night, but the as- surance that it was the last one quieted their unrest. An effort was made to secure permission for some of the officers to go ashore before morning, but this- could not be done on account of the rules of the quarantine.
When the boys woke up on the morning of the 3rd they could not see from one side of the vessel to the other. A dense fog had collected in the harbor and fears began to be entertained that another day would have to be spent on the ship, and the dissatis- faction that was created by this idea can easily be imagined. Finally, about S o'clock, a quarantine officer boarded the Chester and made a thorough in- spection of the ship. He found the vessel in an elegant condition considering the large number of passengers, horses and baggage she contained, so per- mission was quickly granted to land. The fog pre- vented a landing, however, and all that could be done was for the Chester to proceed further up the harbor, where she waited near the base of the Statue of Liberty for the fog to disappear. Captain Dona- vin and several other members of the regiment went ashore with the quarantine officer, loaded down with
296
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
Inessages from the soldiers to their families and friends at home, announcing the arrival of the regi- ment in New York.
The fog did not disappear until afternoon and the work of unloading was not completed until al- most evening. It was almost night when the regiment touched land at Jersey City, all the baggage and all the men having been taken off the Chester by a large ferry boat. A train of three sections was in waiting at the depot at Jersey City, but the train did not leave there until about midnight the night of October 3rd. During the wait in Jersey City the boys were given the liberty of the town, and nearly all of them made a visit across the river to New York, where they did just what would be expected-bought the largest meal they could find. Beef steak, oysters, butter, fresh bread that was made to be eaten, pie, red apples and the thousand and one things that had been wanted, but which could not be obtained in Porto Rico, were gathered together in baskets, bags and stomachs in quantities that under ordinary cir- cumstances would have fed an entire army for a week. A committee of Columbus gentlemen, repre- senting the citizens of central Ohio, had come to New York to meet the regiment at the moment it reached American soil and to extend to them a hearty welcome. This compliment was more than the of- ficers or men had anticipated, and it was accordingly appreciated. Lieutenant Colonel Adams, who had left the island from Guayama on leave of absence, came to New York from his home in Delaware to
CITY HALL AND HEADQUARTERS, CAGAUS.
297
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
greet his comrades and to again share with them the joys or sorrows of the few remaining days of absence from home. The gentlemen who had met the regi- ment as a committee of greeting were Messrs. Buck- master, Miller, Donavin, Helwagen, Thrall and Huling. Mr. Buckmaster was a railroad man, and being one of the warmest friends of the regiment in Ohio, he did all in his power to assure the safety and comfort of the men on the homeward trip. Captain Thrall had a special interest in the regiment, having come to greet his son, who acted in the capacity of regimental clerk until the regiment was mustered out of the service. The other gentlemen had been active also in securing orders for the return of the regiment to the United States, and they naturally felt an interest in seeing that the boys had a good time after they were once in the limits of the United States.
This was but the beginning of the hearty recog- nition of the service performed by the regiment. At every station on the way from New York to Colum- bus crowds gathered at the railway stations to extend greetings.
The stay at Jersey City, although but eight hours, made many more friends for the Fourth Ohio. Several other regiments had landed at that place after foreign service and the first thing they had done when they reached the place was to indulge in all the intoxicants the place afforded. They were noisy and ungentlemanly and their action in the city and in the vicinity was anything but becoming the conduct
.
298
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
of an American soldier. In marked contrast to this conduct the members of the Ohio regiment con- ducted themselves after the fashion of the gentlemen they were, and this conduct at once earned the ad- miration of the officers and citizens of the entire city. The contrast was the subject of favorable comment in the New York papers the following day.
Leaving Jersey City about midnight, the regi- ment went over the Baltimore and Ohio railway to Washington, where they arrived shortly after day- light, and where the command was accorded an honor which had not been extended to any other regiment in the service. As soon as breakfast had been served, the regiment was formed and following an escort of mounted policemen, marched to the White House, where it passed in review before President McKinley and a number of other prominent gov- ernment officials. After passing the reviewing stand, the veranda at the White House, the regiment marched to the street, where arms were stacked and left under guard while the regiment returned to the executive mansion to be received by the president. Here the head of the American government paid a high tribute to the service of the regiment, and feeling thus greatly honored, the boys returned to the rail- way station to resume the journey home.
Leaving Washington about 5 o'clock, the trains bearing the regiment passed through the District of Columbia and Maryland, and bounding across the Allegheny mountains, reached the Ohio line about daylight. When the boys found themselves on
299
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
Buckeye soil once more they hardly knew how to act. Some cheered, some sang songs and some wept for joy. "I knew the moment we crossed the river," said one fellow, "by the air I was breathing." It was indeed a proud moment for every member of the command, but nothing as compared to the arrival in Columbus. The weather was chilly, and having just come from a land where frost is unknown, and being dressed accordingly, the cold had a rather bad effect on the health of the men, but in marked contrast to the position of the mercury, the reception extended to the regiment by the people of Columbus was cer- tainly "warm." Great crowds of people had come to the railroad to get glimpses of their friends or rela- tives as soon as they set foot in the capital of their native state.
The train from New York had been run in three sections and as soon as the entire train had reached Columbus the regiment was formed and with an escort of all the civic and military organizations of Columbus, made a tour of the city, passing in review before Governor Bushnell. A more extensive demonstration was never seen in the capital city than that in honor of the return of the Fourth Ohio. The parade was dismissed at the Columbus Auditorium and the regiment was then marched inside, where there was in waiting for them a grand feast, prepared by the citizens of Columbus. After enjoying lunch the entire command was dismissed, the members of the Columbus battalion going immediately to their homes and the companies of the other b. ttalions tak-
300
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
ing first trains out of the city for their respective home towns. At Washington Court House, Marion, Portsmouth, Lancaster, Delaware, Mt. Vernon and Circleville, demonstrations similar to those at Co- lumbus, but on smaller scales, were made, and every man in the regiment was given a most sincere wel- come. A furlough of sixty days was granted to all the members of the regiment except the surgeons, adjutant, quartermaster, commissary and ordnance officers, who were on duty at the Auditorium in Co- lumbus during the entire time of the furlough.
On January 5th, after the regiment had reached home on November 6th, the command was again as- sembled and remained at the capital until the 19th of January, when the final payment and muster out was made. During their stay in Columbus the men were comfortably quartered at the Columbus Audit- orium. Rows of bunks were constructed for sleep- ing apartments, but the men were permitted to go elsewhere if they chose. On the first night of the stay in Columbus three tiers of bunks occupied by H, M and E Companies collapsed and twenty men were caught in the falling timbers. No lives were lost and no permanent injury was sustained, but the accident was of such a nature that it was regarded almost a miracle that none were killed. While in Columbus the men were fed at restaurants and each man received three hot meals each day, an experi- ence thy had not known during all the time they were in the service.
301
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
While the accounts were being made up between the accountable officers and the government and be- tween the officers and men, an order was received from Washington directing that the sum received by each enlisted man as pay from the State of Ohio for the service from April 25th to May 9th be deducted. from the jay due him at the time of final settlement with the government. This pay had been received while the regiment was at Chickamauga park and. the state had filed an account with the government authorities, asking that the state treasury be reim- bursed for the money expended in preparing for the war. The claim would have been allowed, but the government would have reimbursed itself from the men themselves, thus denying them the sum allowed by the state for active service. This was objected to very vehemently on the part of the members of the regiment and their friends, and the matter was only settled by the withdrawal of the claim by the state authorities, thus securing for the men all the pay due them.
As soon as the men received their pay from the two government paymasters at the State House, they were handed their discharges and dismissed. Some of the officers who, having lost some triplicate re- ceipt or sume insignificant account or technical docu -. ment did not receive any pay at the time the men were paid, but they were discharged from the service. As soon as they were relieved from their accounta- bility to the government, however, the money due- them was promptly paid.
302
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
With honorable discharges from an honorable service in their hands, the men were free to go where and when they chose. Some of them remained in Columbus several days, but all soon returned to their respective homes to resume the citizenship which they had temporarily abandoned. These men had shown by the manner in which they had performed every exacting duty, that they were made of the stuff which makes good citizens and that they were of the class of men who help dignify the laws of the country which they had defended.
The men returned to the farm, to the office and to the factory, there to follow the pur- suits which they had chosen in the carlier part of their careers. Many were at once tendered the posi- tions which they had occupied before they had left for the front, and most of the remainder oon obtained profitable employment, but unfortunately a few were compelled to seek many weeks before they could secure means to support thewolves and their families.
In the transformation won soldier to citizen the Columbus Board of Trade 4 a valuable aid. Its had y wrienced the wroili career and The boswell he could.,
secretary, Mr. J. Y. P. trials attending the closi: he was able and willing t The Board of Trade ha Testol Wen interest in the regiment while it pr jondl for service and after it had tolen in The field. By the energies of this open field officers of the regiment hallo horses, and while the regim fan- a beautiful
303
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
stand of colors was presented by the Board of Trade. This flag was carried all through the Porto Rico campaign and returned to Columbus, but not without the marks of battle. There are several bullet holes in the starry emblem which mutely tell how the command performed its duty, but there is not a stain on its silken folds which tell of a deed of which any man in the regiment or one of its friends need be ashamed. In return for this flag, the Spanish flag which had marked the allegiance of the city of Guayama was given to the Board of Trade, a present from the Fourth Ohio. There were other friends who watched the every movement of the regiment besides the Board of Trade, and the personal friends or families of the members of the regiment. Public spirited men, who regarded every man in the rank and file of the regiment as a son or brother, were ever watchful to supply every possible comfort which the government did not afford. Colonel James Kil- bourne, Colonel George D. Freeman, Colonel Knauss, the W. C. T. U. and many other societies and private citizens, did all in their power to make the boys in the field comfortable, their families at home happy and to look after the welfare of all when they re- turned to their homes. At Columbus the wives, sisters and mothers of the boys formed themselves into a society for the purpose of rendering all the aid they could, and many were the comforts that these good women were able to provide where homes would otherwise have remained cheerless.
304
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
The Fourth Ohio, as it was known in the Span- ish-American war has ceased its existence except in the hearts of those who gave it and in the pages of history. Central Ohio was well represented in this effort and the brilliant record of the Fourth Ohio in the Civil war was as successfully emulated as the circumstances of the service permitted. A soldier's only duty is to obey orders and the Fourth Ohio has set an example in this which it will be well for suc- ceeding regiments to follow. The Fourteenth In- fantry is still a state organization, and if its future may be judged by the past, it will ever remain a monument to the valor of Ohio's citizen soldiery.
4
THE FOURTH O. V. I. 305
ROSTER
OF THE
FOURTH O. V. I.
FIELD, STAFF AND NON-COMMISSIONED STAFF.
Colonel Alonzo B. Coit
Lieutenant-Colonel C. Barton Adams
Major John C. Speaks
Major John F. Sellers
Major Charles V. Baker
Surgeon Edward M. Semeans
Assistant Surgeon
Thompson B. Wright
Assistant Surgeon Henry M. Taylor
Adjutant . Mac Lee Wilson
Chaplain.
James C. Shindel
Quartermaster.
George B. Donavin
Battalion Adjutant.
.T. Perry Williams
Battalion Adjutant
Edward M. Fullington
Battalion Adjutant.
. Harry W. Krumm
Regimental Sergeant Major
Frank C. Radcliffe
Q. M. Sergeant. . Charles L. Taylor
Chief Musician Jesse Worthington
Principal Musician
Lewis F. Lytle
Principal Musician
Charles J. Rulo
Principal Musician George F. McDonald
Hospital Steward John W. Richards
Hospital Steward . Louis F. Ritter Hospital Steward Frank H. Burr Battalion Sergeant Major Charles W. Finley
Battalion Sergeant Major
Lewis F. Philo
Battalion Sergeant Major
Charles E. Creager
.
306
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
BAND.
Harry A. Davis. Acting Q. M. Sergeant
PRIVATES.
Beitler, Claude M.
Hosfield, Edwin J.
Brooke, Philo R.
Lilley, Frank P.
Davie, J. B.
McFarland, William R.
Davies, David E.
McNaughten, Thomas R.
Davis, Shell P.
McRae, William C.
Davis, Horace W.
Meihlheim, Leo C.
Dougherty, Jerome.
Rorick, Jonas M.
Ebner, Jacob C.
Thomas, Harry H.
Feeney, Joseph L.
Williard, Ezra H.
Getz, Oscar D.
Zeisler, Valentine.
Hane, William A.
HOSPITAL CORPS.
Edward Steve Darby
Acting Steward
Curry W. James Acting Steward
PRIVATES.
Davis, William R.
Oglesby, Nicholas B.
Dixon, Charles A.
Powell, John W.
Getz, John F.
Pringle, Leroy.
Hance, William T.
Rawley, Paul J.
Judkins, William J.
Sherwood, Milton W.
Kelley, John M.
Stimmell, John S.
Moon, Oliver C.
Wright Ed. M.
307
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
COMPANY A.
Captain. Joseph J. Walsh
First Lieutenant. Harry Graham
First Lieutenant.
Clyde R. Modie
Second Lieutenant . Cyrus W. Grandstaff
First Sergeant. William C. McConnell
Q. M. Sergeant. .L. B. Andrus
Q. M. Sergeant. G. B. Kilbourne
SERGEANTS.
A. C. McGuire.
J. A. Auld.
Ed. Stalter. J. D. Acker.
CORPORALS.
F. H. Stevenson.
Harry Syfert.
O. H. Bonn.
F. R. Thrall.
C. K. McClelland. Emil Meyer.
J. F. O'Shaughnessy. G. E. Walsh.
Frank Graham. A. G. Smith.
F. C. Lockhart.
Jos. F. Tate.
Musicians Preston Coit, T. R. Wirick
Artificer M. P. Grandstaff
Wagoner
Ollie E. Brixner
PRIVATES.
Barnes, P. M. Leuze, C. M. Barnes, F. B. McLaine, S. H. Beecher, J. P. Bennett, F. U. McClure, C. R. McMeekin, Joseph.
Mihan, M. M.
Musselman, Ferry.
Bergwitz, W. E. Bright, W. S. Brown, W. S. Marguardt, F. E.
Buskirk, T. M.
Noble, Otho.
308
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
Carder, T. A.
Pangle, D. C.
Carroll, Frank.
Patterson, W. S.
Carson, S. K.
Pierce, C. O. Pirt, Joseph.
Chamberlain, B. W.
Price, Frank C.
Chatterton, T. H.
Reichard, G. W.
Clawson, Burnes.
Riddle, Carlton.
Cockins, R. H.
Riffee, C. W.
Cott, E. P.
Romanis, Edwin.
Cramer, H. H.
Roy, C. F.
Cunningham, E. T.
Sackett, L. A.
Duffy, Thomas.
Schertle, D. B.
Edgington, W. J.
Schuman, John.
Evans, T. J.
Scringer, A. L.
Ewing, J. H.
Shearer, O. F.
Fleck, J. S.
Sigrist, C. F.
Fleck, H. N.
Simms, Irwin E.
Ford, C. L.
Smith, A. L.
French, S. N.
Strait, J. D.
Gorley, Clarence.
Teter, C. K.
Graham, J. A.
Thompson, W. H.
Guitard, C. B.
Walker, John W.
Hanway, A. L.
Wallace, H. D.
Hughey, C. F.
Weadon, J. S.
Hummell, C. E.
Webster, D. E.
Jeffrey, P. W.
Wells, Ellsworth.
Johnson, E. J.
Whitman, H.
Klotts, E. P.
Whitney, C. A.
Knouff, O. M.
Williams, D. M.
Lazenby, C. B.
Williams, J. W.
Olds, J., Jr.
Cavinee, E. M.
309
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
COMPANY B.
Captain Will S. White
First Lieutenant.
.Frank L. Oyler
Second Lieutenant William B. Hamill
First Sergeant William P. Stevenson
Q. M. Sergeant. Robert Swigert
SERGEANTS.
Frank G. Jacokes.
Charles A. Hunt.
Frank T. Ethell.
Tilden T. Jones.
CORPORALS.
Charles E. Bolin.
Joseph Davis.
John M. Conti.
Charles R. Wagner.
S. Perry Capell.
Edward H. Smith.
Roy B. Shook.
Frank E. Williams.
Lewis M. Stevenson.
Henry Kaiser.
Joseph B. Clemens.
Walter C. Stout.
Artificer
John W. Warman
Wagoner Fred Buckingham
Musician Herbert A. Miller
PRIVATES.
Arthur, Joseph.
Loudenslager, Charles S.
Angell, Edgar F.
Long, Jacob F.
Anderson, William M.
Milligan, Elmer J.
Butler, Wm. J.
Morris, John C.
Brown, James W.
McDonald, James E.
Brown, Olliver T.
McDaniels, Charles H.
Brown, Charles F.
Morris, Edward F.
Boid, Eber L.
Nunamaker, Norman C. Noel, William J.
Bennett, Charles C.
Barr, Emory E.
Cumminns, Henry R.
Coons, Jasper N.
Osborn, David G. O'Harra, Cornelius C.
Robinson, Morton W.
310
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
Coss, Frank S.
Steinel, Jacob.
Cohn, William.
Shuffin, Harry W.
Dally, Vincent L.
Sines, James G.
Deuel, Joseph R.
Stewart, Elmer E.
Dauterman, Frank C.
Stoker, Jacob, jr.
Dakin, Perry E.
Shipley, Clarence J.
Elder, Arlie.
Shirrey, Burrell M.
Gregory, Charles F.
Smith, Charles A.
Green, Elmer E.
Sponsler, Charles E.
Graham, Earl W.
Sperry, Henry C.
Grove, Frank E.
Snyder, Frank.
Geis, Henry.
Smith, George B.
Grube, Arthur F.
Thompson, Robert C.
Hedges, Robert L.
Taylor, Ralph W.
Heiman, Simon.
Thrush, Jesse.
Hankee, Fred.
Trone, Wood. C.
Harper, Martin A.
Van Gilder, Lewis H.
Harrison, Foster S.
Van Eaton, Albert H.
Handley, Moses E.
Wolfel, Arthur.
Hopkins, Harry H.
Watsek, Adam E
Hayward, Herbert.
Woolard, Asa.
Ingraham, Robert B.
White, Carey B.
Keyes, Edward, Jr.
Walker, Arthur H.
Kessie, John.
Wiley, William H.
Kessie, Fred C.
Willhide, Melvin B.
Kuhn, George A.
Woodmansee, Charles M.
Lytle, Andrew G.
Werner, Edward J.
Lane, Cory L.
Williams, Joshua L.
Farahay, William I.
Swiger, William S.
311 .
THE FOURTH O. V. I.
COMPANY C.
Captain Thomas R. Biddle
Captain. Arthur W. Reynolds
First Lieutenant. Arthur W. Reynolds
First Lieutenant
Frank A. Alexander
Second Lieutenant
Frank A. Alexander
Second Lieutenant
Edward M. Biddle
First Sergeant Edward M. Biddle
First Sergeant
William E. Stimmel
Q. M. Sergeant.
Harry L. Barker
SERGEANTS.
Paul Armstrong.
Marvel W. Bliss.
S. Riley Harrod.
Charles D. Rowland.
Harry H. Nichols.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.