Evening star., 1898-09-09


daily expecting orders to embark for home
The men were ordered when they left to
leave all tents standing and to destroy all
beddage
Lieut.. Field fell Ill in the early days of
August and was sent to hospital This was
a severe blow to the regiment, as Lieut.
Field was almost invaluable quarter
master. Lieut.. Griffiths shouldered the bur-
den along with his other duties. Lieut..
Heron was also a very i'll man. By this
time yellow fever was raging all over the
American camp, not in virulent form, but
as 1t usually appears at the start of an
epidemic. Lieut.. Harden died at Siboney
August 9.
Catania Refused.
On August IL the silver band with the
word Santiago" and the date, which the
regiment was entitled to put on the staff of
the regimental colors was procured. The
same day Col. Harries was informed that
the regiment had been ordered to embark
or the transport Catania on August 13
Col. Harries was between the dilemma Of
his own and his mems desire to get home
and his knowledge of the unseaworthy
character of the Catana. The boat would
not steer. her small boats were worthless,
her machinery was of no use and her crew
inefficient. medium storm would certain
ly prove the end of the Catania and ali on
board Col Harries took the line his duty
clearly pointed out and entered a firm pro-
test against returning on the Catania
This protest proved effectual, and al
Though it delayed the departure of the regi-
ment for time It's wisdom was clearly
shown by the eleventh day passage of the
Catania to these shores, and the horrible
condition of the men who came on her.
August IA Lieutenant Heron left for
home on a hosital ship. Socrates Maupin,
a popular member of the regiment, was
dead, and his body was held to bring TO
this country for burial
Off for Home.
August II there was 8 medical inspection
of the camp, and August 1S orders were
received to embark 500 of the regiment on
the transport Hudson. The I'd and Sd Bat
talions were designated to go by Colonel
Harries, under command of Major Hine.
The order for a part of the regiment to
go had a splendid effect on the men, and
singing and laughter were heard once more
in the camp
On the 10th there was a partial issue of
clothes and the old stuff was burned. At
1870, with the band playing Home, Sweet
Home the ID and Sd battaions started on
the march from the camp to the steamer.
The appearance of the men was good, and
there was no struggling.
The Hudson's Voyage.
The march to the embarking point a
tedious one, considering the condition of
the men, but at the same time pleasant
one, because every step brought the men
nearer to home. By afternoon the two bat
talions, with the band, were safely housed
on the Hudson. and early on the following
morning the ships nose was pointed to sea
and the men were fairly homeward bound.
The men were glad, indeed. TO get started,
but there was no outward enthusiasm.
These boys in blue had gon9 through too
much to show any great feeling. Then the
large number of sick and suffering COM
rades was a damper. During the trip to
this country DR.. Cox and DIR. Ebbert, who
had been attached TO the regiment, and who
had performed splendid service had long,
hard fight to ward death from many Of the
men under their charge. The doctors were
hampered by the lack of proper food for
the sick and by the insufficient supply of
medical stores. All their work could not
keep death from claiming Private VIM. Nc
Donald, who died August % and was buried
at sea.
Major Hine, who had long been sick, but
who had fought the attacks Off was obliged
to succumb and go on sick report, and Ma
jor OBrien took charge of the command
and looked after the men in way that
brings him credit as an officer and regard
as a man.
Montauk Point was sighted Monday night
and there was joy on board Next morning
the boat was in the fIarbor and the trans
port Vigilant took the sick to the shors. of
whom about ninety were sent to- hospital
Lighters took the men on shore where they
Were welcomed by the Red Cross and by a
representative of The Evening Stars re
lief fund, VINO did all that could be done
for their comfort. The men were marched
to the detention camp at Camp Wikoff,
where they stayed two days, and then re-
moved to separate camp some three miles
from Montauk Point Here Major O'Brien
took every means to make his men COM
Portable, and in this he was assisted by
The Stars relief fund, in charge of Major
Neumeyer, aided by Lieutenant Sweigart
and by the committee sent by the Citizens
Association. Sergeant Newton H Ferree
died on the 2Sth at the hospital.
To Gods Country.
Col. Harries and the 1st Battalion had
been left on Cuban soil, but the same day
that the Hudson sailed, August 20, orders
were received by the colonel to embark on
the Mnnewaska on the 22d. Deaths were
common enough in Cuba then, and bodies
were being burned instead of buried
On August % the 1st Battalion and the
regimental staff got away from it's camp
by II o'clock in the morning, and, with
loaded wagons, started on a slow march to
Santiago. The men were weak, and seven
dropped on the way. When the city was
reached, however, the men braced up Won
derfully and went past the palace, where
headquarters were, with heads up and the
true swinging gait of the veteran. 1t was
a fine exhibition of nerve.
The command was soon on board the
transport. where the men made themselves
comfortable. Col. Harries was the ranking
officer on the transport. The Minnewaska
did not get Ler anchor up ur til 4:30 o'clock
in the afternoon of the 23d, when the order
was given of Full speed ahead for home"
The food was poor on the transport, and
this part was q special and serious hard
ship for the sick men, many of whom
scarcely were able to get any proper nour-
ishment until they landed in this country.
August 26 Private Bohlman died. There had
already been one burial at sea, that of a
ships fireman named Baldwin, and after it
was found impossible to carry him further,
the body of Bohman was also consigned to
the deep, with impressive ceremonies by
the chaplain.
Fire Island was sighted August % at II
a. m, and in the evening the ship got into
Fort Pond. The next morning she was in
spected and given clean bill of health,
and on August 30 the men were taken
ashore and marched to the detention camp
at Camp Wikoff.
The 1st Battalion was safely housed in
detention camp on the afternoon of the
10Th, about sixty of the command how
ever, going to hospital
At Camp WikOH.
The battalion left the detention camp Sep
tember J., and the regiment was again
formed, and Col Harries resumed COM
mand. The 1st Battalion had been looked
after as the first arrivals had and all the
men were grateful for the thought ne thosa