New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1927-06-25
RECALLS Departure
OF TROOPS IN 1898
Col. Bullen Describes Mo.
bilizatiOn and Soldiers
Leave Taking

The days in 1898 when the three
New Britain companies left to fight
the Spaniards and the day on which
they returned after grim battle,
not with foreign troops but with
typhoid fever, will be recalled by
many veteran of the Spanish
American war when the memorial to
the veterans OF that conflict is dedi-
Gated this afternoon. To none will
these memories be more vivid than
to Col. W. w. Bullen, the marshal
of the parade, for he had almost as
hard a struggle to serve under his
country's flag as did any of the
Cuban campaigners to capture San
Juan hill.
He had retired as captain of Co.
E on February Is, 1898. and then
OH Nil CHI came the startling news
OF the sinking of the Maine in
Havana harbor. War was declared
on April 81 and. when the local
National Guard companies we're ac-
cepted for war service he attempted
to enlist as a private. He was re-
buffed, the examining physician
telling him that he was physically
unsound. Patriot Bullen then
offered to box or run any man in the
outfit and for two weeks he paid his
own expenses at the training camp.
then prevailed upon the doctors to
accept him. He has a grim sort of
satisfaction in knowing that he has
far outlived the doctor who pro-
nounced him physically unfit.
The days before and during the
war were described In graphic
fashion by Colonel Bullen to a
Herald reporter. The colonel Of
the regiment offered the services of
his men to the government for active
duty and Immediately set about
making his troops ready. Mobiliza-
ton tests We're held frequently fol-
lowing the war declaration on April
q. A telephone call ordering mo-
Utilization would be received and
every effort would be made to have
the men assemble at the armory and
be ready in fighting trim in the
shortest time possible. Some COM
panies were able to do this in an
hour: the local companies best time
was an hour and 80 minutes. The
companies were recruited up to war
strength, 1S men responding on the
first day after Major NJ. c. Web
ster's call for volunteers.
The First regiment was selected
by the war department for active
service and was ordered to entrain
for Mantle on May 4. Colonel Bull
ems recollections Of that day are
rather hazy. because he set himself
the task of caring for the boys lug
gage and was busy driving back and
forth to the station. He says that
he does not believe there was any
particular senG-off except a band at
the head of the march to the sta
ton, but the files Of the Herald
show that his memory plays him
false.
Lieutenant. Colonel A. L. Thomp-
son was marshal Of the parade
which marched from the armory to
the station and the mayor and CON-
mon council, several ex-mayors, and
the selectmen headed the procession
which was witnessed by almost
every citizen Of New Britain. STAN
ley Post, G. A. r.. helped send off
its sons. and the Putnam Phalanx
came down from Hartford just as it
Is doing today. The Tabs. Fores-
tiers. Vega society," o. U. A. NJ. X. of
G.. E., employees of the Malleable
Iron Works, school children, Turner
society, fire department, and plain
citizens joined in the line OF
march, with music furnished by the
American and Philharmonic bands.
At the rear came Co. I under Cap
tain c. H. Moore, Co. E under
Captain A. /. Hauerwas. and Co D
under Captain s. NJ. Leonard. The
first two will be present this after
noon. but Captain Leonard is dead.
The boys went from here to
Hartford, where there was another
big procession. Then they entrain-
ed for camp at Mantle. where they
arrived at s o'clock just as 1t began
to rain. The rain continued for three
weeks without cessation. Colonel
Bullcn says, and the men were
poorly equipped. They lacked prop
er tentage. they had only heavy
Water clothing. and they used old
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