The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-31
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.


states, are carried upon the rolls as
absent with leave, and upon returning
- this state viii. IL they desire. 30
back into the places they left.
On the 2ist of May, Gen, William
Ames, a veteran Of the war Of the re-
belion and a distinguished citizen of
Rhode Island, who had become very
much interested in the regiment itself.
presented To II at Quonset Point a stand
OF colors. This was an occasion which
was remarkable In itself because IL
showed what progress had been made
in getting together a regiment of three
battalions, evolving II from almost
nothing. and i'm three weeks time pre-
senting so perfect an organization that
It's battalion movements on the field at
Quonset Point won the admiration OF
the vast number of military men and
citizens who were present at the cere-
mony.
ON the 2Gth day Of May the First
Rhode Island l.. =. Volunteer Infantry
left the state for the front. Ii was
perfectly uniformed, armed, equipped
and was splendidly drilled regiment.
III lacked not 80 much an "A button;
the only thing that the United States
government had been asked 10 furnish
was gun sings for the rifles. and these
the war department Informed me could
not be had The occasion of the regi-
ments march through the city Of
wv ib'b', oli itS way t'O tue NdS
"A marked one I'm the history OF the
state; no such crowd had ever been
seen I'm the city, and the magnificent
appearance OF the regiment, its perfect
equipment and its superb marching was
the wonder OF every one in the immense
crowd.
ON May eth. at midnight, the regi-
ment reached Dunn Loring and re-
mained I'm the cars until the following
day. Under hot Virginia sun the reg
iment took up it's march TO Camp AL
ger. three and one-half miles away. Its
first camping ground was in wild un-
der growth of pine woods. and the first
task that the men had 10 perform was
10 cut away this underbrush sufficient
ly 70 pitch the tents. In this location
the regiment stayed about two weeks
1t was then changed 10 one about
mile away upon "a hill with not
shade tree near. The men We're cheer
ful with the hope constantly before
them that they We're soon To be sent TO
the front, and they entered into the
drill and duties OF soldiers with all the
spirit thad could be desired.
IL was conceded by all who saw them
at this early stage that the First X. /.
u. ;. Volunteer Infantry was more
than the equal of any other regiment
at Camp Alger, in efficiency, personnel,
and equipment.
The regiment remained at Camp AL
ger until the Sd of August, when il be-
gan its trying march through Virginia.
While on this march information was
received, and the regiment Itself was
notified, that Ii was TO go to Porto Rico
at once. This information proved to he
absolutely without foundation and the
march through Virginia continued
from the Sd until the 9th OF August.
when the regiment reached Thorough
fare Gap. The camp here was a mud
hole. Shelter tents offered no protec-
ton from weeks incessant rain. and
for that length of time the men slept
on rain soaked ground with wet ban-
kets and in wet clothes. AS result.
malaria began TO manifest itself. The
stay at Thoroughfare Gap and the
march there was the hardest expert
ence that fell to the lot Of the regi-
ment."
on the "a Of August, at Camp Alger.
the regimental sick report for that day
showed n total of Il: present 81, absent
20. When the regiment reached Thor
oughfare Gap. August s. the sick re-
port showed "A total of 16; present 80,
absent II. August 22-the day the sec
ond and third battalions left for Camp
Meade. the report showed 20: present
IL. absent 81. The maximum sick report
OF the regiment was reached ION the 2lst
or October at Camp Geo. G.. Meade: il
showed total of 2S2; 73 present and
2os absent. When the regiment arrived
at Columbia, on the 18th of November
the sick report showed total of l4g;
present SO. absent SO. The total number
or deaths in the regiment to date Is IL
From time to time as reports came
to Rhode Island of the increasing sick
ness in the regiment, the greatest an
yiety and distress was manifested by
the friends OF the soldiers. who could
in no way obtain Information as to the
condition or whereabouts Of the sick
men. Early in the war, regimental hos
pitals had been abolished, and division
hospitals substituted, 81 that. when
ever man was reported sick, and con-
tlnued sick for "A day or two. he was
taken To the division hospital, and from
there sent to the various hospitals in
Philadelphia and vicinity, but what
hospitals nobody knew. All that their
friends knew of the whereabouts of
these unfortunate soldiers was what
they saw in the newspapers. The Off
cials Of the division hospitals seemed
To be either unable or unwilling to give
any information at ALL
Realizing that this uncertain state Of
affairs would cause much uneasiness
among those whose relatives and
friends were known To be III. and also
Knowing how many anxious hours
would be spent in doubt by many fam
lilies who, by this very suspense would
be led TO fear the worst | arranged
with the hospital authorities in Wash
ington and Philadelphia to inform me
Of the condition of every sick Rhode
Island boy. and also gave Instructions
that they should receive the very best
of care, and If they died their remains
Were To be sent home. In short Rhode
Island was ready and willing to do
everything possible To see that her
boys lacked nothing. and to have every
sick man confident that everything for
his comfort would be provided, and that |
he was watched over and cared for by
the state he was so willing and ready
TO serve. AS soon as | ascertained that
our men were being sent TO the differ
ent hospitals in Philadelphia and else
where. Surgeon General Kenyon. at my
request, made a tour of all the hospi-
tails. locating the men and reporting To
me the names of the sick. not only at
Philadelphia, but at Washington, ami
even az far back as Thoroughfare Gap.
j myself correspondcd with all the hos
pttal authorities, knowing from week
to week the exact condition of every
one OF the men. and personally inspect