Evening Star Newspaper, September 9, 1898, Page 10

10 THE EVENING STAR, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1898-16 PAGES. ITS RECORD OF SERVICE The Honorable Career of the District Volunteer Regiment. - Prompt aud Eficient in Every Position in Which It Was Placed—Praised by the Generals it Command. —_>——_ ‘This is not a history of the war; it is not the history of an army or the story of a na- It is only a sketch of the life of a ent: the story of nine hundred and -three brave men, who answered their country’s call and followed the flag: of nine hundred and eighty-three men, many of them tender youths, who did more than duty, who pushed forward to find danger; of nine hundred and eighty-three who are returning today men, all men, in courage and heart; of nine hundred and eighty- three men, every one of whom, whenever he passes the regimental colors, the stars and stripes, be it once or be it fifty times ® day, removes his hat and salutes; of the Ist District of Columbia Regiment, which has represented the capital of the nation throughout the war honorably and bravely in camp and in the trenches and returns to us today with glory and laurels. The District of Columbia has the best of reasons for feeling proud of her soldiers in the late war. The record of the regiment has been without a flaw and has been prats- throughout by men whose praise on matters means something. The regiment has had the characteristics of regulars in many particvlars. The officers have held it well in hand at all times, dis- cipline has been maintained and the laxity and weakness of most volunteer regiments has been lacking. The results have been that the regiment is generally regarded by experts in the army as among the best, if not the very best volunteer organization in the army. This belief has pushed the regi- ment to the front. Almost immediately after mustering it was sent to the south, then further south, then picked for Cuba smong the very first, and only delayed from going by reason of an accident; then chosen from 10,000 troops to go to Cuba; at San- tiago, by its own energy, carried to the front, and by orders placed in one of the @angerous places in the trenches, maintain- ing order and discipline during the trying days after Santiago surrendered, and final- ly brought back to this country with dis- cipline unimpaired, shaken and worn, but soldierly still, ready for duty, in better Physical and mental shape than any regi- ment of returning volunteers. The watch- | word running through the story of the regi- ment has been willingness. The National Guard. When war was certain with Spain the National Guard of the District of C bia was prompt in offering their services. There was immediate activity in the guard, frcm Bridagter General Harries down to the smallest and latest recruit. Would the whcle guard go? Would a regiment go? Would anybody go? These were the ques- tions debated at the armories and on the street. In th2 meantime the companies Were drilling vigorcusly and persistently ‘There was a strong desire to have the Dis- trict of Columbia well represented in the patriotic army that was to ve organized to fight for Cuba. The least that the citizens and soldiers warted was a iegimeni and most asked for a brigade. As a first step | it was deemed wise that the entiret Na. tional Gvard of the District sould be call. ' ed out and placed im camp near Washing- ton, In order that the men might learn something of soldier life and be ready for the actual duties of war. 1t was argued that from this body of men in camp what- ever force the District should be allowed to furnish could be drawn and the rest could then return to their homes. These | views were lafd before the War Department, | and as a result an order was issued to place the National Guard of the District in camp. tion. ‘olum- Saturday, April 23, Gen. Harries issued or- ders to the guard to assemble at the arm- ory on orning of Monday, April 25, in heavy marching order. The guard re- sponded with alacrit ing and Monday morn- he entire organization, 1,800 strong, dy to move wherever ordered. It eresting fact that the day the rd marched from its armory, ting to fight, war was formal- ly declared by the Presiden e District National Guard was therefjre among the very first trocps to move :n the war. Ac- cording to the plans, the main bedy cf the trecps were to go into camp at Soldiers’ Home, while a detach: t was tO move up to Great Falls and guard the water supply. Accordingly, at 9 o'clock in the morning the brigade began to move. The 4th Bat- talion moved first for Soldiers’ Ho Shc 11 the t company had lef. mery and was on ita way to its des- - ‘Then came an order from the War Department returning the brigade armory, and the different battalions, ny of them far on their way, were hur- ly recalled. The recalling’ order was 7 bout by the fact shat the calling brigade had tak®A hundreds of ment clerks from their desks, and themselves short- A consultation In ‘ought about the -conclusion alling out of the guard could b d for awhile. 4 One Regiment Called. re was no complaint over this coun- termarch from General Harries or from his officers, and soldierly bearing in the face of a perplexing situation was thor- th? Secretary of : had much to do with the District being given a regiment instead of the much ler quota coming to it naturally under Tr ings ined in statu quo, istrict representation w: gue time. There was an p, and a constant réadines to an- marked the entire National ization. B2fore this the Prast- f 125,000 volunteers had been is call the District of Co- entitl to_ 350 men, ucta ¥as published the cap- on was only called on for Was a great disap- ens and to the hun- ‘s Wtsious to go. In had been Depart "4 ent would be accepted = of Columbia. This -prom- sac® ‘ficial for some time, and corvensS@@ two weeks other regi- s Over the c@untry were mustered into evict. Thi delay resulted tn some- * a hands@ip for the colonel of the “trict regiment, as three times during ihe war he missed command of a brigade by reason of other colonels ranking him by one, two and four days. Finally on May 19 the pattence of the city and the guard was rewarded, and the Dis- trict of Columbia was officially called on to furnish one infantry regiment of twelve conrpanies, 77 m2n each, making, with staff, | cent of the regiment | Was taken in c ity of those wh d 50 officers. The number of men also includes the band, which was aft- erward organized from the enlisted men, the leader being a serg2ant. Quick Mustering. Now, indeed, there was hustle and bustle and hurry among the would-be soldiers. In the states the nomina of regimental and company officers devolved on the gov- ernors. {n the District these nominations were given to Geo. H. Harrics, as tue briga- dier general in command of the District tional Guard. It was the genera: expec- tation and wish of practicaily everybody in the District that Gen. Harries should go to the front as colonel of the Ist District of Columbia Regiment, which was to be the official designation of iae ioeal representa- tion in the army. The fitness of this arose not only from his position at the head of the guard, but from his long end wide army experience and his eminent capabil- as an officer and a man. With the coloneley settled, it was 4 matter of careful and deep thought for G Harries to select the officers for his r2gimeat. ‘Th District Guard was rich in g material for offi- cers and nearly all were chosen from the body. In arly every ci oMcers took lower rank in the regiment than they held in the Guard, and that this wis done cheer- fully and without remons-cance shows the spirit of the men. The offic chosen solely on the requisite of fimess and in fluence was not considere. Many of the members of the .wational G 1 also found places as non-commissione1 oticers in the Col. Harries at Montauk. new organization. and aav more went in- to the ranks. Tne crgani 2 the com- panies was not mad regard to old National Guar? ers of ie old organization were given ist chance®o enlist and that was all. ably 50 per front i it went to the uard. were members of th The .work of sign the rolls and m tering the men was gone at vigorous] from May ll. After the rolls were signed the strict medical examination through which the men were put was a stumbling block to many would-be so! great number of applicants vw out for some ph: 1 defect. regiment was enrolled, mustered. ugme: and equipped in a shorter space of ti than any other regiment in the countr The work was commenced May 11 and fin- shed May 17, late in the afternoon, when Col. Harries was mustered In. The regiment took their National G equipments and guns, blankets, &c.. and Were immediately ‘ready for service wherevec they might be ordered. They did not get the kaki uniform then or any time later. in spite of the statement that all the troops sent to Cuba were provided rd with these uniforms. The regiment had no kand at first, but places were held in the ranks for bandsmen who were later ¢ listed. Indetinite leave of absence from the National Guard was belonging to that b loughs to all the e ra Biver all the officers ¥. and indefinite men. Th prevent the poss of wered the country’s call from losing their status in the guard. Regimental Officers. The. regimental officers as mustered in were as follows: Colonel, Geo. H. Harries; Neutenant col- —~—: regimental adjutant, First - Horton; major, M. Emmett haries Del. Hine: major rd A. O'Br' majer and surgeon, R. A. Pyles; chaplain, Dudley; first Meutenant and vattalion adjutant, James L. Mock; first 1 nd battalion adju- C irst lieutenant and battalion adjuta ‘red Cook; first lieu- tenant and qu master, John M. Field; first lieutenant and assistant surgeon, C. A. Weav: first lieutenant and assistant sur- geon, 8. Clifford Cox. Company A—Captain, Harry Walsh; first tant, Chas. B. Company H—-Captain, H. B. Looker; first Heutenant, C. S. Lanham; second lieuten- ant, A. A. Smith. Cormpany I—Captain, R. D. Sims; first Heutenant, T. B. Waiker; second lieuten- ent, R. B. Hayes. Company K—Captain, G. B. Young; first lieutenant, C. H. Hudson; second lieuten- ant, W. E. Sorrels. Company L—Captain, G.W. England; first lieutenant, C. A. Meyer; second lieutenant, F._B. Wheaton. Company M—Captain, S. R. Jacobs; first ieutenant, F. G. Stutz; second Meutenant, E. N. Meekins. r ‘There were come changes in the list of officers during service. The regimental ad- jutant, Lieut. Horton, was placed on Gen. Hawkins’ staff, and First Lieut. R. D. May- €r served splendidly in that position. Capt. Simonson resigned, and sickness and other causes cased some shifting of the detatis. At Camp Alger. As fast as four companies of the reg!- ment were mustered they were sent out to Camp Alger, which had just been estab- lished, the other side of Falls Church, Va. On the 18th of May Colonel Harries, ac- companied by Captain Horton, the resi- mental adjutant, who afterward distin- guished himself greatly, while a member of General Hawkins’ staff, in the charge on San Juan Hill, rode out to the camp and took command of the regiment. The Dis- trict regiment was amcng the pioneers at Camp Alzer and were pleasantly located On the 20th of May the Legion of Loyal Women presented the regiment with its colors. The presentation was made by Mrs. Ferree, who had two brave sons in the regiment, and the colors were accepted by Colonel Harries. The regiment had -ts first dress parade on the 19th, and in spite of the fact of its recent organization the shcwing was more than creditable. In fact, the District quota was a compact, soldierly regiment from the very start. A large pro- pcrtion of the officers and men had worked together before, and the machinery fell into place naturally. The regiment was in such good shape and showed such exce!- lent discipline that the authorities saw no reason for holding it at Camp Alger, and it was, therefore, almest immediately started on its way to the front. March Throngh Washington. The command moved from camp Satur- day, the 2st of May, at 9 o'clock in th> Taorning, ma ing to Dunn Loring, and taking trains there for Washington. The regiment reaghed this city in the early part of the afternoon and marched to the south side of the Monument grounds, where a halt of s2veral hours was made. It is an interesting side fact that while the men were resting at this point the watchmen endeavored to force them to move up,to the north sid2 of th> grounds, on the plea that they were damaging the grass. | T. day the boys could have stood on Grass they might select and no watchmen would have s; them nay, which shows the difference betw2en going away and coming home. However, the District regi- ment, in spite of objecting wat ed on the grass and under th they were visited by hundreds of ves and hun- nd sist2rs, not ak of fatners and brothers and ci ordinary, every: were brougat them With nice things to and many a touching scene was >nacted there, and tears sparkled in many fair eyes and many lumps arose in young sol- dier threats. The regiment moved from the Monument grounds at 4:15 in'the afiernoon, marching up lith streat to Pennsylvania avenue and a’ong Pennsylvania avenue to the White House grounds. The line then passed tn co!umns of fours through the grounds and under the portico of the White House, where th> men were reviewed by the com- mander-in-chief of the armies of the Unit- ed States, President McKinley. On the pertico with the President were Secrstary of War Alger and many other distinguish- ed official people. From the east gate of the White House grounds the regiment moved in columns of platoons along Penn- sylvania avenue to 3d street, large crowds the march and admiring the earance of th> men, who were, of course, in heavy marching order. At 3d street the column changed to fours and marched out 3d street to the Ecking- ton station. Here th> men, horses and lug- gage were placed on cars. Many friends and parents had followed the regiment to this point and there was a renewed scene of lvave-taking before the train pulled out in three sections, the first containing head- quarters, staff and the Ist Battalion, leay- ing at 5 p.m. The other two battalions each occupied a section. Battalion Formation. The regiment was divided into battalions, as follows: First Battalion, Companies F, A, B and G. Second Battalion, Companies L, D, E and M. Third Battalion, Companies K) I, C and H. At Camp Thomas. The 22d of May th> regiment spent on the cars traveling in the direction of its next camp at Chickamauga. Near Marion, Va., on this day, at one of the halts near a stream, the entire regiment was ordered from the cars and 2very man took a bath in the water. On the 23d of May the regi- ment reached Citico, outside of Chatta- ncoga. Rossville was reached at 10:30 in the morning and the command debarked from the cars ready for th? march to Chickamauga Park, eleven miles away. The day was an int2nsely hot one and the REGIMENTAL STAFF AT MONTAUK. lteutenant, Richard.J. Harden; second lieu- tenant, Chas. H. Harlow. Company B—Captain, Wm. T. H.. King;. first lieutenant, Thos. 8. King; second lieu- tenant, Horace M. Bell. Company C—Captain, Chas. §. Domer; first Heutenant, W. E. Crist; second lieuten- ant, 8. C. Redman. Compuny D—Captain, W. 8, Hodges; first Heutenant, R. J. Donnelly; second Heuten- ant, Louis F. Bolseau. Company E—Captain, F. L. Graham; first lieutenant, J. H. Griffiths; second Heuten- ent. F. E. Skinnec. Company F—Captain, Otto G. Simonson; first lieutenant, C. V. Sayer; second lieuten- ant, W. H. Harrison. Company G—Captain, F. 8. Hodgson; first ileutenant, D. N. Chisheim; second Neuten- ant, L. M. Herron. regiment experienced its first severe marap- ing test. The command did well, however, and reached camp in good condition. Co}. Harries made his first report to the com- manding officsr, who was Col. Fred. Grant, on the svening of the 23d. He later re- ported to Brigadier General L. H. Carpen- ter, and the regiment was formally. as- signed to the 2d Brigade, lst Division, 34 Army Corp: Th time the District regiment spent in Chickamauga was the early days of that camp. In ordet to pratect the magnificent timber of the park prohibitions had been put on cutting any frees, and as a conse- quence wood was exceedingly scares. At that time water was even a harder com- modity to secure than wood, and as a con- sequence. of the lack of these n2cessary. articles camp life was-not as happy as- it | 1 | | might. have heen. - however, wagors 4! coming for th> use began to be a com jules were forth- ‘regiment, and it ively easy matter > tHist “was. actually at Chickamau- t Regiment began to realize fact that army. life Was not all play, ara that plenty of hard work went along with the glory of wearing the blue. The men in the regiment, how- ever, toox hold of their work in a business- hike way and there was littl2 or no shirk- ing anywhere. During these days the Dis- trict men had the pleasure of receiving at their camp Gen. H."'V. Boynton, Col. Gail- lard and Capt. Black, who had lately been Ccmmissicner of the District. The regi- ment was brigaded at this time with the 2a New York and the 24 Nebraska. Col. Hardin of the 2d New York was the bri- gade commander. At Chickamauga both officsrs and me2 went through a course of instruction and disciplire that was of splendid service to them later on. On the 26th of May the officers’ school was organized, with Major Hine as instrictor. This school was held once each day, and the part of the drill book or what2ver topic was being consid- ered was laid out in advance and the offi- cers posted themsclye3 up. By this means the quizzing and the explanations were made exceedingly clear to all the officers of the regtment. The common practice of making the junior officers do all the work did not at any time prevail with the Ist District Regiment. At all the calls every one of the officers was expected to turn out, and in this way the men were kept in- terested and ware shown continually that they were not called om for anything in which the officers were not included. The first religious service of the regiment in Camp Thomas waa, held Sunday, May 2 when Chaplain Dudley, on a pulpit built of boxes of ammunition covered with a tent fly, preached from the text, “But when f became a man I put away childish things.” The service was well attended, and, under the great trees, was exceedingly impressive. The regiment's camp at Chickamauga, situ- ated in the trees, was extremely pictur- esque, but was probably equally unhealthy. The tents, pitched as they w2re under the trees, could not be dried out by the as experience has shown camp should be. The day following thes services the mem- bers of the Ist District Regiment put away a good many things that were not strictly childish. Imp2dimenta of all kinds were plain Geo. E, Dudley. given away, sold or-abandoned. The regi- ment was ordered to Tampa. Its good rec- ord at Alger had s3nt it to Chickamauga, and its efficiency at Chickamauga was pushing it still closer to the scene of war. By this time the boys had become pretty well seasoned as soldiers, and had been taught the usslessness of lugging around wnnecessary baggage, and because of this lesson a large proportion of the material they had brought with them from home ceased to incumber them any further. The r2giment was crdered to move to Tampa on the 30th, “and the order was received with delight and pleasure by the members. The 2a New York and the 5th Maryland, with whom the District boys were afterward mor? intimately associated, were ordered to move at the same time. Just before moving from Camp Thomas the field officers’ court was organized, with Major Hine in charge. In time of war this court was to take the place of the summary court which is a feature of every army post. The jurisdiction of the court is con- fined to trying men for minor offenses, and its penalties cannot exceed: one month's confinement or a fine of one month’s pay. Rec2ntly this court has been abolished, and the summary court has again taken its place. The summary court's proceeding: are passed upon by the regimental com- mander only, while in the field officers’ court the brigade commander's approval of the findings was also necessary. Of for Tampa. June th2 first, with a complete outfit of thirty-nine new wagons, the metive power being furnished by a hundred and twenty more or less new mules, the regiment moved out for Rossville. Only one man was ‘left sick in the hospital, and he afterward died. The march to Rossville was rather a hard one, and during the first half of it there was some straggling in the regiment. After that the men got warmed up to their | Werk, and there wos no further falling out. The men at this time were in a good, healthy state, but had not been thoroughly hardened, and did not yet understand the evil lurking in ice water or lemonade and such stuff when hard marching was on the program. The regiment made a good rec- ord in getting away fr-m Camp Thomas and on its way to Tamya. The column keft the camp five hours after the 2d New York had started. and oe of the. 4 moved out in adv-aice of two sections New York regiment’: train. The eles work was due to ths superior energy end bush of the District men, and was a policy they maimtained throughout their service: and- which constantly carried them to the front. The: regiment left Rossville m-five sections, the tast on? getting off about § p.m. The next day, June'2, the men break. fasted at Atlanta. us conimands that had gone south had displiyed a good deal of rowdyism, which had had the tendency to rather kill the enthusiastic hospitaiity which had at first ben extended all through the south to every soidier.. The District men to some extent~ suffered by reason of: this, -and«during» most~ef their. trip to Tampa had to fall back cn thelr a‘yery short time, }own resources. Hastman; Ga., was an ex- ception to the general rule, and here the District boys were given a royal reception, due, it was sald, to some advance informa- tion sent to friends in Hastman that the District of Cchumbia regiment was com- of -genticmren. Along ths way to Florida the boys left hardtack behind them, with their names written on it, given away to paople ai the different stations. Later in First Lieut. and Adit. R. D. Mager. the campaign many a man cast a longing thought to the hardtack scattered so pro- fusely between Cnickamauga and Tampa. June 3 the regiment entered Florida, and its entrance into the state was marked by the engine of one of the sections jumping the track. The men were jarred and bruls- ed considerably, but no one was s=rious' hurt. After the railroad men had fuss around with the engine for some time with- out accomplishing anything which pointed to un early start, Colonel Harries ordered Major Hine to go forward and put the en- gine on the track. Major Hine is not a large man, and it seemed something of a big job, but he nevertheless accomplished and that in a very brief time. It is all in knowing how to do things, and Major Hine is an >xperienced railroad man, and_his knewledge in this line of work proved of in- estimable value to the regiment during the campaign. The night of June 3 the regi- ment camped on the cars at Turkey cr2ek, Just outside of Tampa. In Camp at Tampa. The next day, June 4, the regiment went into camp on the reservation at o!d Fort Brooke. The weather was red hot and the camp was in heavy, thick sand. The men had only shelter tents, which they then use for the first time. Tre common name for this affair, dog tents, was promptly changed to pup tents, because, it was ex- plained, they were not big enough for a full grown dog. The men, however, were better off than the regimental staff, which had no tents at all, and slept that night on bales of hay. June 5 Col. Harries was notified to look out for orders to embark immediately for Cuba. It will be seen by this that the au- thorities from the v art considered the District regiment a: of the very crack voluntetr organizations, and that the in- tention right through was to push it where fighting was to be done. The regiment was assigned to Carpenter's brigade, Snyder's division, attached to the 5th Corps. The 2d ..ew York and the 5th Maryland were brigaded with the District regiment. The: were then about 40,000 troops at Tampa. The officers of the Ist District Regime: were not among those who inhabited and spent their time at the Tampa Bay Hotel. They stayed out in the sand with their men and enjoyed the society of a large and exceedingly active population, ting of tarantulas, scorpions and other insects, not to speak of the unlimited millions of flies. The band joined the regiment at this time and made things lively for the men. It con- sisted of seventeen men, who used their Major O’Brien on Horseback. own instruments, and it may be said that the band is today using those same instru- ments, battered and worn, ~ fh tunes es- caping here and there through the holes, but dearer to the District men than if they were made of solid gold. Complete band instruments have been following the regi- ment since it left home, almost, but have not yet caught up. The regimental wall + | operas It reached Rossville at 3-p.m./ sections of “its train pee tents also came in, but they were not put up, as the command expected to move at any moment, and the men continued to tie themselves into double knots in an effort to make themselves comfortable in the shelter tents. Paid, but Disappointed. Hard rains at night were one of the un- comfortable features of the stay at Tampa. Early in the morning of June 6 the regi- ment received orders from General Car- penter to ship all horses to Port Tampa at 1 o'clock that day in order to make an im- mediate move for Cuba. The baggage al- lowance of the men was thereupon cut down still lower. Huge assortments had been abandoned at Chickamauga, but at Tampa the men found that there were still a good many things that could be left. All the horses were sent to Port Tampa that afternoon, and were put on board t*> transport Florida. Every man in the regi- ment expected to be off the next day for the scene of war. The men turned out ar revyeilie on the 7th, still expecting to move before nightfall.. The certainty was tn- creased by Snyder's division being detached from the 5th Corps.and added to the 4th Corps, under General Coppinger, the regi- ment now. being in the 2d Brigade, 2d the men waited for the word to go. The story came that the regiment had been pulled out of the Cuban expedition and would be sent-at once to Porto Rico, where it was thought at that time the hardest fighting would be experienced.> The regi- ment‘did not care so much where it went go long as it went somewhere, and went there quickly. Drilling’ was kept- up and ammunition was gathered and issued. June § the hearts of the-men were made glad by the appearance’ in camp. of’ Major Sniffen, who--paid the men for. thirteen days. ‘There were so, many. men. in the regimen..sho understood the “army pay. r yi-phat the transaction was’ put! through “#*'an exceedingly quick way, ‘and: the paymaster complimented the regiment’ very highly.- ‘The pleasure. af receiving’ money Was a good-deal dampened, -how-' ever, by information received’ at’ the same time that the transport Florida, on which the regimental horses had been placed, had been in @ collision with another transport and both boats were considerably dam- sd. As these transports were the only ones available, the chances of the regiment going on the first Cuban expedition were end@i. None of the horses belonging to the regiment. were mjured in the collision. ‘The following day (Fune 9) the officers of the regimunt: smiled: and-looked pleasant; they had their pictures taken. A good many of the enlisted mén neither smiled nor looked’ pleasant. They were in the guard house, charged with absence without leave, and all on account of having been paid off on the day before. — . Lieutenant Colonelcy. The regiment was without Heutenant colonel, that position heaving never been filed, It had been held open for Captain Hey) of the regular army, who had acted as adjutent-for-the. District of Columbia | Brigade. At this -time word was received Division, 4th Army Corps. During tie day. from Captain Heyl that it would be im- possible for him to accept the lieutenant colonelship, and Col. Harries nominated Captein Theodore Mosher of the 24 In- fantry to that position. An effort was made to get Captain Mosher detached at once from his regiment, so that he could assume his new duties, but without success. Dur- ing the following days the District regi- ment, as well as the other soldiers at Tampa, were made unhappy at night by constant and heavy rain storms. They were buoyed up, however, by the strong belief that the regiment would very soon be on its way to Porto Rico. The men were con- fident that it > as an impossibility for the government ‘o manage two campaigns without their assistance. Between the band practicing, the constant rumors and the rain storms the men were kept up to a steady pitch of excitement. They still oc- cupied the little shelter tents, in the belief that a start would be made for somewhere at once. On the 1th of June.the regiment, however, decided that it was quite prob- able that it would spend some time at Tampa, and the big tents were put up. The same day the command received orders to move to Tampa Heights. Grand Larceny. The regiment, however, was not called upon to move to Tampa Heights at once. The following day, June 14, the command was the victim of grand larceny, of an ex- cusable sort, possibly, in view of the temptation and the pubiie necessity. Col. William M. Black of the engineer corps, who had resigned the commissionership of the District to take active service, came along with an order detaching Company H of the District regiment, and tak'ng it away to Picnic Island, there to be traine in the arts and secrets of engineering. Further highway robbery followed when brigade commander, General Carpente in his search fer fine material for his staff, carried away bodily Capt. Sims and Lieut. Donnely, the former ar quartermaster and the latter as commissary and ordnance offi- cer. These choices by eminent authorities Were fiattering to the regiment, but at the same time took away men whom every one hated to lose. The regiment proved itself valuable to the reputable peor exceedingly le in Tampa and Arbor City by furnishing from its tanks an active provost guard, who, in pursuance of law, arrested indisecrimi- Hately all persons who were disturbing or showed a disposition to disturb the public peace. At this time the regiment took up a new line of work, or, rather, an amplification of the old lines.’ At their camping place, which was in the louse sand, there wes @ lack of proper drill grounds. and the regi- ment was therefore sent out cn a rumber of practice runs to Tampa Heigh men carrying cne day's provisions with them. Under this order reveille scunded at 3 o'clock in the morning, and by 4 o'clock the men would be hard at work drilling on extended order and batt formation. Then, after a brief rest, th regiment would march back to the old camp. Often the men were taken, with Lieut. and Qm. John M. Field. their shelter tents, to Tampa Heights the night before. This sort of work was an immense advantage to the regiment. The men were hardened up and put into splen- did condition. Their work in extended or- Ger and open field drilling was so favorably commented upon that ft gave the regiment @ name for efficiency and good work that caused it to be picked out of three brigades later on as the best regiment to be sent to Cuba. Stampede of Horses. On June 16, late in the evening, when the men of the regiment were nearly all in their tents. taps having been sounded some time previously, some 700 horses and mules from the big corral stampeded and came dashing through the New York regiment's camp, which was empty at the time, as that regiment was on a practice march, and rushed into the camp of the District mea. The horses came through parts of the District camp three separate times in their circles—the first time merely on a trot and the other times on a wild stam- fede. Luckily, they did not come directly through the companies’ streets, but as they circled only went along certain parts of the camp. The men in the regiment did not lose their heads, but, under the direc- tions of their officers, remained quiet until the affair was over. The fact that the reg- iment was not disorganized by the start- ling occurrence was clearly shown by the fact that immediately after the disappear- ance of the animals Col. Harries ordered a roll call of the regiment, in order io see if any one had been hurt. A full report from every company was made to him in- side of six minutes. No one had been hurt in the slightest, and the damage was con- fined to the trampling down of a few tents. Ordered to Santiago. June 18 the regiment underwent its first inepection by the corps inspector. It was with minor exceptions more than satisfac- tory, and the regiment received many com- pliments. The work at Tampa with the marches to Tampa Heights and drills there was continued until Saturday, June 25, on the evening of which day the regiment received orders to proceed to Santiago to reinforce General Shafter. The choice of the regiment as a part of this expeditior Was a greatcompliment to the organization, as only the best men were being picked for the Cuban campaign, where it was realized that a fierce struggle was immi- nent. The regiment was chosen for the duty by force of the splendid record that it had made for efficiency and the fact that the brigade and division commanders felt cer- tain that Colonel Harries and his officers and his men could be trusted to do credit to themselves in whatever position they might be placed. The training of the regi- ment had been earnest and severe. Col- onel Harries had already proved hiinself an ideal regimental commander, es shown by their high state of efficiency which men had acquired in the short space o: time. The entire regiment was in splendid heatth and was well fitted in every par- ticular to go to the front and fight for, country and flag, to which the men had de- voted their services and their lives. The command was first assigned to the trans- port “Hudson, -but “the assignment was changed tothe transport Catania, on which the regimént finally embarked Saturday, July On Board Catania. The country was then just getting in pos- session of the news of the first fierce fight- ing at Santiago. The regiment sailed on Sunday, July 3, on what proved to Le in many particulars the most villainous trans- port on which men ever went to sea. The Catania run aground. three times in get- ting- away from Tampa harbor, which was ‘only a forewarning of what was to come. The -men of thé District regiment, how- ever, were enthusiastic in their delight in amaking .a-start-for. the scene of war, and they crowded -to-the sides and hung te the Tigging and-cheered the fag, themselves ‘and everything else in: sight. July 4 wes’-celebrated on board the transport. There was a patriotic concert by the band after reveille, winding up with the “Star Spangled Banner.” At 5 o'clock in the afternoon the officers and newspaper men assemb’ed aft around the regimental colors, held by Lieutenant Cook, and sang ‘My. Country, "Tis of Thee,” with band accompaniment. Chaplain Dudley - offcred prayer, and Mr. King, one of the newspa- per correspondents aboard, read the Decla- ration of Independence, after which every- -body sang the “Batlle Hymn of the Re- public” and went to supper. A ying Delays. It was thoroughly realized by this time by everybody on board the Catania that besides not being an ocean greyhound, their transport was not everything that was de- sirable. One of her faults, which was early displayed, was the utter inability of any power to steer her. She veered around from point to point of the compass, accord- ing ‘to her own sweet will. However, the outer harbor of Key West was reached without any serious accident, ind July 8 was spent at that point, July € was main- ly used up in an interesting, if not highly Successful, effort to make the fresh water pump pull water out of the tanks for the men to drink. It was useless to start for Cuba with this machinery out of fix, and every effort was made to get it inte work- ing order. The naval station people at Key West helped materially in this work, and showed a strong anxiety to help in any Way to relieve the men and to hurry the strong ship toward the scene of war. in contrast to the earnest work of the people at Key West, it may be sal no assistance of any kind was re from the army officials, although the Catania was a troopship, loaded with 1.000 much-needed recruits for the relief of ( Shafter, and the army a © equip- ped with tugs and material which might have quickly helped the boat tu get started During this delay the other ships of the expedition got away on the morning of the Sth, leaving the Catania in sol Srandeur, much to the disgust of man on board. The delays of the trans- Port on which the District regiment had the misfortune to be shipped were exas- perating in the extreme the me s felt that they were losing record-making da in Cuba. While the regment was wa at Key West Shafter's first consignment of wounded came in on the Iroquois, . ying the signal “Victors return’ Then care the particulars of the first day's fighting before Santiago, and the District regim nearly went mad with impatienc The Catania was not in condition to sail until 11 o'clock on July 6, Ww! she left with the United States boat Wasp as convo: The officers’ school was kept up during t period the men spent on the Cata On the same afternoon the men got their first sight of anything Cuban in a glimpse of one of the big lighthouses along the Cuban coast. After breakfast on July the Cuban coast line was clearly visible July 9 Cape Mays! was rounded, and in the early morning of that day the stanc. ship Catania was delayed a good many hours by reason of a broken boiler tube. After that she moved so very few knots an hour that they were scarcely worth recording At 2 o'clock in the afternoon of the 9tn Guantanamo was reached, and the Catama waited outside while the Wasp went in to find out what was going on, and if there had been any change in the orders, The Wasp brought the information that San- tlago had been given until noon of the 10th (the following day) to surrender, and or- dered the Catania to follow her as rapidly as possible. The poor old nia made one effort to follow, and her botler broke down. This was the straw, and the officers and men gave way to the anger. The morning of the 10th it was found that the Catania could move slowly about five miles an hour, and she steamed slowly to Siboney, which’ was reached at 8 o'clock in the morning. Landing at Siboney. Then came the question of how to get ashore. The boats belonging to the tania would not float even if they could have been gotten from the biocks, which was an impossibility. The people on shore had their hands full and seemed unable render any Ssistance in unload! Catania, which had to lie away out in t harbor ‘because of her inability to. st and because there was no anc rake ch in. Finally Colonel Harries managed hail boat from the Machias, which carr him ashore, where he made for unloading the transport he was helped great! McCrea of the Machias and of this city A number of beats belonging to the gu: boais Machias and Wilmingten were cured and the work of janding the n commenced. Company F was the ‘irst to get ashore just after dinner July 10. Ma- jor Ureli was taken at the same time and every man brought his equipments along. Colonel Harries did not allow the men to remain at all in Sibon The wouoied were being brought down at that time and Coonel Harries’ experience with yeliow fever taught him that the place was taint- ed. Besides, other regiments had ianded at Siboney and had remained there in- definitely. to Cuba front the; The District regiment had come and to the they to the sent front, as soon get were as As as a compary was landed they marched at once to La Quasina, s mi.es out of Siboney, and where Roosevelt's Rough Riders had had their first figat. Before all the men could be nd from touched their feet cn Cuban soil the Catania the gunbcats were ca! away and it looked as if the District regiment would be divided for the night rey and push, however, will accomplish mu and Major Hine going immediately to Cap- tain Burr secured the use of a big pon- toon scow. He put to sea on this craft end loading the men on board, tweaty at a time, brought them on shore through the surf. This work was kept up throughout the night and every man with the excep- tion of a small guar@ was landed on Cuban soil by 2:30 in the morning. The men were pushed right out to the temporary camp at La Quasina where they made some coffee and ate a hurried breakfast To the Frent. Early in the morning, when the day was breaking, the regiment took up its line of p.arch in an effort to get further forward and to make itself useful. Colonel Har- ries went ahead and reported to General Shafter at headquarters about five miles from camp. The regiment was there; it had unloaded itself from a transport and without carried itself to the front, and was eve! then swinging along the road toward trenches. Other regiments that had start- ed sooner from America and had come faster were still either on transports or had not moved from Sibor If dange was the goal Colonel Harries and his men were seeking ‘here, energy and persever- ance were rewarded, for Colonel Harries Was ordered to report at one » General Lawton on the right of the line at the front. The regiment moved along to its post of danger in splendid formation, every officer and man afoot with the exception of Major Lient. J. H. Grifiths. Urell, who had captured a mule from the quertermas 's departme which had been promptly christened Ger eral Weyler, ‘because it was intimated that it was bern to be hang The regiment marched about four half miles toward Genera! Sha adquarters and then about four and a half miles more to the front. During about two and a half miles of this march plenty of steel and lead was moving repidly through the immediate atmosphere. Sheile were striking overhead, the crack of the Krag and the singing of the Mauser could be plainly distinguished from each other. A distressing feature of the march, through the underbrush, where the troops had fought during the preceding days, was the horrible smell which arote from the dead. Wounded men had crawle@ into the urderbrush, out of the road, and had died there. Buzzards by thousands hovered in the air and hopped out Into the road as tame as chickens. » After crossing the San Juan river mat- ters became still warmer to the untried regiment. The spit of the bullets could be beard as they struck the trees over- head, while the men were in constant dan- fer from shetis. That march should be a source of pride to every one who takes an interest in the isi District of Columbia Regiment. Only a very few of the command had ever been under fire, and yet the regiment went ehead as solid as masonry. It moved in column of fours and never on parade bad the men leoked better or marched better. Reguiar army officers who were there are savish in their praises of the way the District regi- ment went to the front. Ordered to Trenches. Colonel Harries reported to General Laws ton, and bis regiment was sent to relieve the 7th United States Infantry and the nt straggling