Produced by The Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) [Illustration: FIRST LIEUTENANT BROWNING CAPTAIN GROOME SECOND LIEUTENANT MCFADDEN] CAMPAIGN OF THE First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry APRIL 25--NOVEMBER 11 1898 JAMES COOPER PHILADELPHIA: HALLOWELL CO. LTD., PUBLISHERS 14 SOUTH FIFTH STREET _For all that is good in this little book acknowledgment is due to Captain John C. Groome, Lieutenant J. Frank McFadden, Lieutenant J. Willis Martin, Sergeant John Wagner, Jr., Sergeant Robert E. Glendinning, F. B. Neilson, T. Wallis Huidekoper, Hugh Craig, Jr., and the publisher. They have provided the photographs and practically all the material used. Many passages are taken entirely from letters and other writings of these Troopers. The writer's personal observations merely covered the time of the Troop's stay at Mt. Gretna, Camp Alger and Newport News._ CONTENTS. CHAP. PAGE I. THE CALL TO ARMS 9 II. THE TROOP AT MT. GRETNA 18 III. DEPARTURE FOR CAMP ALGER 32 IV. FIRST DAYS AT CAMP ALGER 37 V. CAMP ALGER AND NEWPORT NEWS 46 VI. LIFE ABOARD A TROOP SHIP 56 VII. IN THE ENEMY'S COUNTRY 65 VIII. THE FIGHT THAT FAILED 74 IX. AFTER THE BATTLE 83 X. HOME AGAIN 99 ILLUSTRATIONS. PAGE Captain Groome, Lieuts. Browning and McFadden, _frontispiece_ Troopers Camp at Mt. Gretna, 17 Pistol Practice at Camp Hastings, 30 A Lesson in Horse Throwing, 34 Having Fun with "Hazel," 39 Glimpse into a Troop Ship, 58 Cathedral Virgin del Carmen, 62 Bivouac Outside Cathedral Virgin del Carmen, 63 Bringing the Horses Ashore at Ponce, 65 Camp at Arroyo, 71 En Route to the Battlefield.--Military Road from Guayama to Caney, 77 "Camp Esperanca,"--Guayama in the Distance, 85 At the Beach near Guayama, 87 Return Along the Road from Guayama to Ponce, 93 Hacienda Carmen, 99 Sergeant's Club at Guayama, 103 CHAPTER I. THE CALL TO ARMS. When the members of the First Troop of Philadelphia City Cavalry were summoned to prepare for the annual inspection, on April 23rd, 1898, there was but one great topic of conversation among the people of the United States. Early in February, the U. S. Battleship Maine had been destroyed by an explosion in Havana harbor, and two hundred and forty-eight American sailors had lost their lives. A board of naval officers, after daily sessions for seven weeks, had decided that the destruction of the vessel was not due to an accident; confirming the popular opinion that the blowing up of this vessel was an act of Spanish treachery. Both branches of Congress were debating measures regarding American intervention in the Cuban rebellion, which the natives of that island had successfully carried on against Spanish rule for three years. The question of the hour was whether war with Spain was at hand. That the annual inspection of the Troop occurred just at this time was merely a coincidence--six months before the plans had been made. Nothing was changed by the exciting rumors of the day, for the Troopers belonged to that conservative class of business men, which even at this time, did not believe in the likelihood of a resort to arms over the disputes pending between the United States and Spain. In former years it had been the custom of the Troopers to drill Saturday afternoons, throughout the spring, in Fairmount Park. This plan had proven so troublesome that it had been decided to give up every afternoon for one week previous to the annual inspection for manoeuvres at Fort Side grounds and omit the Saturday drills in the Park. The Wednesday before the date set for the first practice, some new horses for the City Troopers were sent to Fort Washington, and rooms were secured for the men at Fort Side Inn. On Monday, April 18th, the Troop having assembled at Fort Side, in service uniform, fully equipped and mounted, were formed in line promptly at four o'clock, and at the command of Captain Groome trotted off to their first drill, which was held in a fine broad meadow bordering on the Wissahickon, opposite the Inn. After two hours of troop and squad movements they returned to the Inn, where they learned that while they had been drilling the House and Senate conferrees had agreed to a joint resolution in regard to intervention. Throughout the week the drills continued, and each afternoon showed a marked improvement, both in the men and horses. The latter soon became accustomed to the noise of the firing during the skirmish drill, and one hour each day was spent in drilling in extended order and "as skirmishers." As each twenty-four hours passed the reports from the nation's capitol showed war to be closer at hand than upon the preceding day. On Wednesday despatches from Washington were printed in all papers saying that the National Guard would be called out within forty-eight hours and sent to camp at Mt. Gretna, Pa. Captain Groome quietly passed word along the line to make ready, and arrangements were completed with the Pennsylvania Railroad to transport the Troopers to the State camp, direct from Fort Washington, should need arise. In fact there was a general hope among the men that in this way the dreaded farewells from loved ones might be avoided. Thursday night the President signed the resolutions of Congress, which stated that American troops would be sent to Cuba at once to end the war. At the same time an ultimatum was sent to Spain to withdraw her troops from the island quietly or prepare for invasion. It was announced that Spain had been given forty-eight hours in which to answer. Her only reply was to despatch her best fleet westward. On Saturday, the day of the Troopers inspection, President McKinley issued a call for 125,000 volunteers. While this fact overshadowed all others, the Troopers made a splendid showing that afternoon, and were heartily congratulated upon their high state of efficiency by Major Sweeney, Inspector of the First Brigade. Sunday was the last day of rest at home that the Troopers were to enjoy for months to come. On the following Monday, Governor Hastings ordered the State Troops to mobilize at Mt. Gretna Thursday. President McKinley's call had made no requisition for cavalry, but Captain Groome received a personal telegram from Governor Hastings saying that the Troop would be wanted without question, and the usual printed notices were sent out, ordering the men to be at the armory ready to start at five o'clock Thursday morning. As a matter of fact, a majority of the Troopers spent the two preceding days there, helping pack the stores and equipments, and getting everything in perfect condition. Wednesday night all was in readiness, and the cavalrymen's spirits were high as they read in the evening papers how Sampson's fleet was engaged in bombarding Matanzas, and how the Spaniards were rushing work upon their fortifications in Cuba and Porto Rico. War had been begun without any formal declaration. Spain had refused to answer the American ultimatum and had given Minister Woodford his passports, thus breaking diplomatic relations. At once the United States fleet, off the Cuban coast, began to capture Spanish vessels. Then, at the request of the President, Congress passed a declaration to the effect that a state of war had existed between the United States and Spain since Monday, April 25th. At this time Spain was credited with having two powerful fleets of a strength almost equal to that of the United States Navy, and with possessing an army in Cuba and Porto Rico of 150,000 well seasoned, splendidly drilled men; war problems were admittedly assuming a graver aspect each day. All the forces of nature seemed combined, on Thursday morning, to deter the City Troopers from their expressed intention of joining the volunteer army. Faint-hearted men would surely have been terrified at the first view presented of the hardships of a soldier's life. It was freezing cold, yet a sort of rain was falling that at times became hail and at times came down as snow. Whatever form the downfall took, it soaked through all coverings and chilled to the bone those compelled to endure its pelting attack. An icy wind was twisting and cutting through the streets of the city. When the Troopers stepped from their comfortable homes into the storm, it was not yet five o'clock. Daylight was scarce as strong as the light from the lamps still burning in the streets; deep slush covered the streets and sidewalks. Singly, and by groups of two or threes, the cavalrymen slipped and splashed their way to the old armory on Twenty-first Street. Roll call at five o'clock found, out of the sixty-six active members of the Troop, the following present: Captain John C. Groome, First Lieutenant Edward Browning, Assistant Surgeon Charles H. Frazier, Cornet Richard Tilghman, First Sergeant J. Willis Martin, Quartermaster Sergeant William C. Lott, Sergeants R. E. Glendinning, John Wagner, Jr., Frederick Thibault, C. Emory McMichael and William H. Hart; Corporals William E. Bates, Charles H. Smith, John Houston Merrill and Francis A. Thibault; Trumpeters Pugh and Singer; Privates A. Mercer Biddle, Frank B. Bower, Ward Brinton, Thomas Cadwalader, Jay Cooke, 3d, Francis L. Cramp, Herman A. Denckla, George L. Farnum, J. Edward Farnum, William I. Forbes, Persifor Frazier, Jr., H. Percy Glendinning, Henry S. Godfrey, Samuel Goodman, Francis E. Green, Robert E. Griffith, Guston A. Heckscher, T. Wallis Huidekoper, Francis A. Janney, Charles K. Lennig, George McFadden, Percy C. Madeira, Richard W. Meirs, Frederick B. Neilson, Edward P. Rawle, Benjamin B. Reath, Samuel K. Reeves, J. Ridgway Reilly, James M. Rhodes, Jr., Thomas Ridgway, Henry D. Riley, Thomas Robb, Jr., Adolph G. Rosengarten, Mitchell G. Rosengarten, Jr., Edward K. Rowland, Reginald K. Shober, James Starr, J. C. Stevens, Edward C. Taylor, Nelson B. Warden, William G. Warden, Bromley Wharton and Alexander W. Wister, Jr. The absentees were: Second Lieutenant J. Frank McFadden, who was coming to rejoin his command as fast as the "Lucania" could bring him from Europe; George Thayer, who had cabled from Ireland that he would return upon the first available vessel; H. C. Butcher, who was in the mountains near Cripple Creek beyond the reach of telegrams, and who at that time did not know war was talked of; W. Goodman and S. Chew, who were in a similar condition of ignorance somewhere in the Klondike regions of Alaska, and Corporal Borie, sick in bed with typhoid fever. Just at 5.50 the ringing notes of the bugle sounded assembly. At six o'clock came "boots and saddles." Ten minutes later the men mounted and rode out into the icy rain, each man wearing the service uniform, heavy overcoat and poncho, and armed with saber, Springfield carbine (cal. 45) and Colts' revolver (cal. 38), and with the blanket, mess outfit, haversack and nose bag, and two days' rations securely strapped to the saddle. With bowed heads they slowly passed to the Reading siding at the corner of Twenty-third and Arch Streets, where the long troop train was waiting. Quartermaster Sergeant Lott and his detail having loaded all the stores and camp equipage before the arrival of the Troop, there was nothing for the men to do but load their horses on the cars. Inside of half an hour the last horse had been loaded, and the Troop was ready to start. For nearly an hour, however, they remained in the cars at the siding, and "last" good-bys were said over again to the few remaining friends who had braved the weather to see the cavalrymen off. Finally at 7.30 the engine gave a warning toot, and the train pulled slowly out amid prolonged cheers. Delays innumerable and inexplainable occurred on that journey, and a trip which ordinarily requires less than three hours consumed, in the Troopers' case, an entire day; so that the shades of evening were added to the gloom which had prevailed all day when Camp Hastings was reached. From the cars the Troopers tramped a half mile, up and down hill, to a little valley which had been designated as their camp site. [Illustration: TROOPERS CAMP AT MT. GRETNA.] After the flood of the day the valley was ankle deep in mud, and a more discouraging prospect than confronted the Troopers would be hard to imagine. No shelter had been prepared for them, nor could any be secured. By some mistake, on the part of others, their tents had not yet arrived from the State Arsenal. All buildings about the camp grounds were crowded with the constantly increasing throngs of infantrymen, each troop train upon its arrival adding to the thousands of shelterless soldiers. A half dozen of the largest Troopers were sent out to forage, and while they were gone arrangements were made, through the courtesy of Captain Warburton, with the men of Battery A to share their tents for the night. The battery had arrived the day before and was comfortably located. Of course the doubling up of quarters caused crowding, but the grateful Troopers, wet and tired as they were, were soon dreaming their first soldier dreams, while the rain beat a mournful tattoo on the canvas overhead. CHAPTER II. THE TROOP AT MT. GRETNA. Had the Troopers not known from experience that Mt. Gretna was an ideal spot for a camp, their impressions of the place, gained from observations taken the morning after their arrival, would have been disagreeable beyond expression. In the words of "Longfeller," as one Trooper expressed it, in a letter to the _Press_, "We saw the tents of the others, Gleam through the rain and the mist, And a feeling of sadness came o'er us, That our hearts could not resist." For, to the disgust of the Troopers, daylight brought no news of the missing canvas, and visions of another night in the mess tents of the Battery and Sheridan Troop began to disturb the men. Captain Groome and his lieutenants had planned plenty of work for the men, however, and as soon as their minds were once occupied they began to feel better. Details were sent to relieve the guard that had been placed over the baggage car, to secure wagons to haul the luggage to the camp grounds and to do regular sentry duty. While the spot selected for a camp by Captain Groome had its disadvantages in rainy weather, it proved to be on the whole, the most desirable spot on the entire grounds; one of its greatest advantages being the nearness of Lake Conawago, where later in the season the men enjoyed a daily bath. The Philadelphia infantry commands had been assigned the worst quarters at Mt. Gretna. They occupied a deep basin, fully a mile and a half from the station and telegraph office, and during the entire time the First, Second, Third Regiments and Battalion of State Fencibles remained there, the valley was a sea of red mud. Every other regiment was encamped on rising ground, where the sandy soil was well drained and kept comparatively dry despite the long continued rains which set in. In the afternoon the Troopers tents arrived, and went up with astonishing rapidity. The men worked hard arranging wooden supports for their straw-filled canvas bags, so they would not be obliged to sleep on the wet turf. The horses had been well sheltered in the woods near the camp, but men and beasts alike were glad when they saw the bright sun on Saturday morning. These weather conditions quickly wrought a great change throughout the miles of tented streets. Soldiers faces brightened and the Troopers, who had kept up their pluck splendidly under a stress of unfortunate circumstances such as no other organization had been obliged to face, could not help showing their pleasure at the improved prospects. Sunday was spent for the most part in straightening up the camp. In the afternoon there were a number of visitors on hand from Philadelphia, although rainy weather had set in again. All kind of rumors were current as to what would be done with the State organizations, and many feared that the Troop would not be allowed to enlist as a whole, but that the men would be called upon to enter the volunteer service as individuals. These rumors soon died away, however, and on Monday when the men were lined up and asked if they were willing to enter the service of the United States there was but a single dissenting voice. One private refused to volunteer, and he at once resigned from the Troop. As there was no provision in the call for volunteers for an assistant surgeon, with a troop of cavalry, Dr. Charles H. Frazier could not be mustered in. After the privates and non-commissioned officers had expressed their willingness to volunteer, Colonel Morrell addressed the officers as follows: "Is it your desire that I should request the Governor of Pennsylvania to issue to you a commission for the same places you now hold in the volunteer army of the United States?" Captain Groome and Lieutenants Browning and McFadden signified their desire to serve, and Governor Hastings at once responded that it would give him great pleasure to have the commissions made out as requested. After this inspection the men settled down to camp life with zest. On the day they had signified their willingness to enlist, the great news had come of Commodore Dewey's victory in the harbor of Manila. The destruction of the entire Spanish fleet in the East, gave a new turn to the war, and it was soon whispered that it would not be long before some of the men encamped at Mt. Gretna would be on their way to these distant islands in the Pacific. Daily drills were taken up with added interest. Wednesday and Thursday were rainy. The brigade surgeons were being examined, and all was put in readiness for the physical examination of the soldiers, preliminary to their being mustered into the volunteer service. Friday the City Troopers were examined and four men were rejected by the surgeons, chiefly for defects in eyesight. Two of these were afterward reinstated by direct orders from Washington. Saturday, April 28th, the Troopers were marched down to division headquarters to be mustered in. A heavy Scotch mist hung over the camp, and objects at a short distance were invisible. The men were lined up before a long wooden platform upon which stood Major William A. Thompson, of the First U. S. Cavalry, the officer detailed by the War Department to muster the Pennsylvania National Guard troops into the Volunteer service of the United States; Governor Hastings and his staff, and hundreds of spectators. As the roll was called, each Trooper stepped forward and answered to his name. Then the mustering officer told the men and officers to raise their right hand. Up went the hands and the spectators removed their hats while Major Thompson repeated this oath: "Do you solemnly swear that you will bear true faith and allegiance to the United States of America, and will serve them faithfully against all their enemies whomsoever, and that you will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of officers appointed over you, according to the rules and articles of war?" "I do!" shouted each man in the same breath, and as the hearty response went up, the spectators applauded and the Third Regiment Band, sheltered in a building near at hand, struck up "The Star Spangled Banner." The officers' commissions were then filled in by the Governor and handed to their owners. Back to their camp marched the Troopers, no longer their own masters but servants of Uncle Sam, and as they filed past the mustering stand, a company of infantrymen stepped up to go through the same ceremony. Noah is credited with being the only man who ever saw it rain for forty days and forty nights, but the City Troopers ran him a close race in the month that followed. The intervals between showers were almost too brief to be noticed, and it became a popular jest that the weather man was trying to break the men in for a campaign in Cuba during the rainy season. The worst storm of the lot was reserved for the Sunday following the muster-in of the Troopers. In regular cloud-bursts the floods descended upon Camp Hastings. The camp of the Troopers was surrounded by hills on three sides, and down these hills came innumerable streams, all headed for the Troop street. Visitors in large numbers had come out from the city on the long excursion trains, and many were half ferried, half driven to camp in an old wagon which seemed especially designed to do service as a boat. Bad as was the Troopers' lot, it was almost nothing compared to what the Philadelphia infantrymen were compelled to endure. The foot soldiers in the first place had not taken the same precautions as the Troopers in raising their mattresses from the ground, and in some cases they actually found their beds under water by nightfall. Mud in the streets of every camp in the First Brigade was six inches deep, and so sticky that to attempt to walk through it, invariably meant the loss of a boot. On Monday morning, drills were resumed by the Troopers, and upon Tuesday they were called to bid farewell to the men of Battery A, who had been ordered to Newport News for guard duty. Although the rain spoiled all attempts at systematic drill, captains throughout the camp were gradually getting their men in better shape, and the work of mustering-in had proceeded uninterruptedly. On Friday, the 13th, the last of the Pennsylvania Troops had entered the volunteer army. There were at that time 10,860 in all, and a grand review by the Governor was planned for the next afternoon. As if to compensate for past sins and sins to come, the weather for that day was perfect, and by three o'clock on Saturday afternoon the various troops and regiments throughout the camp began wending their way from the tents to the parade ground. The Troopers took up their stand on a little hill near their camp, but the rising ground prevented their seeing the miles of blue ranks, glittering with steel, that stretched away just beyond. The Governor and his staff rode at full gallop along the lines, while a little band, the only one in camp, kept blowing out the strains of "Hail to the Chief." The lack of proper music was the only drawback to this occasion. Then the order to march came; the many commands swung past the reviewing party, and the finest display ever made by Pennsylvania troops since the Civil War was at an end. The second command of Philadelphia soldiers to leave Camp Hastings was the Third Regiment. Colonel Ralston received his orders the Sunday following the review, and attempted to get off that afternoon, but railroad facilities were wanting and it was not until Monday evening that the boys of the Third got away. Tampa was their destination. The next day Captain Groome received an order to report to General Merritt, of the Department of the East, and this order gave the reporters of the various papers material for many scare stories, as it became known the next day that General Merritt had been ordered to take command of the expedition to the Philippines, and it was supposed by some that he would take the Troopers with him. This rumor was in a measure substantiated by the orders which came for the Tenth Regiment to prepare to take a journey to the islands. For, like the Troopers, the Tenth had just previously been ordered to report to General Merritt, and when the orders came regarding the Philippines, the men of the Tenth had struck tents preparatory to going to meet General Merritt in New York. On this same Tuesday the First Regiment, made up of Philadelphia men, left Mt. Gretna for Camp Thomas, Chickamauga, and the Ninth Regiment started for the same camp. From the movement of the infantry regiments it seemed probable that they would soon be required for active service, but the cavalry troops were detained at Mt. Gretna waiting for the issue of arms and equipments from the Government. As the City Troop was fully armed with the carbine, saber and pistol, uniformed, equipped and mounted, and owned all their equipments and horses, Captain Groome offered to Governor Hastings, and through him to the Secretary of War, to transfer immediately all the horses and troop property of every description to the United States, to be settled for at any time and price satisfactory to the Government. The Troopers hoped by this offer to be enabled to take the field at once, but unfortunately this was not accepted, although the spirit which prompted it was warmly commended in the return message from the War Department. After this there was nothing to do but wait for the Government to provide new horses and equipments. On the afternoon of Wednesday, the 19th, Captain Groome was called to Washington and Lieutenant Browning remained in charge of the City Troopers camp. He put the men through a long dismounted drill and followed it up with another the next day. While the captain was away, a report came from Washington, through the Associated Press despatches, that the Pennsylvania Cavalry were to be ordered at once to Hempstead, L. I., to camp there until wanted. Saturday noon Captain Groome returned. He borrowed thirty horses belonging to the Sheridan Troop and took one-half of the City Troopers out for drill. When they returned Lieutenant Browning took out the other squad. In the evening there came an inquiry from the War Department as to how many horses were needed by the City Troop. This did not arouse any enthusiasm, however, as the same request had been made two weeks before and nothing had come of it. Sunday was a pleasant day, for a change, and the Troopers spent it quietly. There were not many visitors on the grounds, as all the regiments had departed except the Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Eighteenth. Most of these men came from distant parts of the State. In the afternoon Sergeant Glendinning tried some experiments in kite flying that were watched with interest, and others of the Troopers planned to go into the kite manufacturing business to be ready for sport on the next clear day. There was a novelty in the way of drill in store for thirty of the Troopers, on Monday, as they were sent out in search of tramps who had settled in a nearby mountain, and were said to be moonshiners on a small scale. The exercise was splendid, but no tramps were found. That night a baby cyclone struck the camp. The wind got in its fine work about one o'clock in the morning, and the Troopers had to jump out of bed and hold their tents down. Some of the tents were sent flying before the alarm was given, and as rain immediately followed the blow, there were many men who passed an uncomfortable night. At this time the order of the day, in camp, was as follows: 5.55 A. M. First call. 6 A. M. Reveille roll call. 6.05 A. M. Setting up exercises. 6.20 A. M. Mess. 7 A. M. Police camp. 8 A. M. Guard mount. 8.30 A. M. Drill. 11.30 A. M. Inspection of quarters. 12 M. Mess. 3 P. M. Drill. 6.15 P. M. Mess. 7 P. M. Retreat roll call. 9.30 P. M. Tattoo. 10 P. M. Taps. All the men contributed to the mess from their pay, so that the meals did not consist solely of salt pork and hard tack. In the mornings the drill covered the manual of carbine or saber drills, and pistol practice by squad or troop, also dismounted drill by the Troop; this drill lasted as a rule two hours. The afternoon drill as a rule extended over three hours, and was chiefly in outpost and skirmish work. One platoon would start, under the command of an officer, telling the general direction it would take, and having gone a certain distance would establish outposts of an imaginary camp, twenty minutes later a second platoon would start on a march through the country, throwing out flankers and advance guard. The men of the two platoons wearing different colors on their hats so as to distinguish them. Up hill and down dale the men would crawl their way until the crack of the pistols would show that one platoon had been unmasked. Then it was left to the officers to decide which side had the best of the manoeuvres. While two platoons were thus engaged a third was always left in charge of camp. Each morning half the Troop would be taken over to the rifle range for pistol and carbine practice. One piece of work had been done by the Troopers, during the early days of their stay at Camp Hastings, that has not been referred to. It was a squad of City Troopers that went over the triple muster rolls of the entire quota of Pennsylvania volunteers, for Major Thompson, and their quick, accurate work helped greatly in the rapid mustering-in of the men. When he discharged these Troopers from further duty, Major Thompson wrote a cordial letter to Captain Groome, giving the Troopers high praise. And so the days passed on. Sometimes the Troopers felt that their peaceful camp life was pretty slow, but as the drills became harder day by day they realized that it was not only a great school of experience, but that each day's drill was part of a general plan of their officers, that would gradually improve their physical condition and bring them to a high state of efficiency as a Troop when they were needed for active service. And so each night, when at the last note of "retreat" the guidon was taken in, they felt they had not only earned a good night's rest, but that they had learned something during the day. [Illustration: PISTOL PRACTICE AT CAMP HASTINGS.] On May 25th, President McKinley issued his second call for troops, and it was announced that the men thus called for would be added to the organizations already in the field. The City Troop was to be recruited up to a complete war footing of one hundred men, and arrangements were made to notify the men upon the waiting list of the opportunity that would be thus offered. Two days later the Paymaster reached camp for the first time. Three members of the Troop were sent to Harrisburg to secure the cash, and that night the men had their first look at Government money; for in their previous campaigns, as a troop, their pay had come from the State. A Board was appointed, consisting of Major W. A. Thompson, First U. S. Cavalry, and Captain Paxton, Sixth Infantry, U. S. A., to purchase horses for the three troops of cavalry, and the last day of May Captain Groome left camp to join them in New Castle, Pa. CHAPTER III. DEPARTURE FOR CAMP ALGER. June first found Captain Groome back again, with the information that if possible the horses for the City Troop would be grey. A large number of that color had been found and accepted by the Board, and as grey was the color best suited for service in tropical countries, the Captain had bespoken the greys for his troop. On June 4th the Captain rejoined the Horse Board, and the first animals purchased reached camp. The greys were tied to the picket line, which was extended in front of the Troop's long row of tents. On the seventh of the month the City Troop received orders from Major-General Graham, commanding the Second Army Corps, to proceed at once to Camp Alger, and report as a part of that corps. To do this would be to leave the camp with but a part of the Troop's horses and equipments, so Captain Groome requested that the Troop be allowed to remain until fully equipped, if possible. However, all arrangements were made in compliance with the first order, and camp was broken on the afternoon of June 9th. Some of the officers' wives, who had taken cottages at Chautauqua, had dismissed their servants, and the Troopers were ready to march to the train, when an order came granting the Captain's request, and ordering the Troop to remain until fully equipped. Recruiting officers were at once sent to Philadelphia, and two days later twelve new Troopers arrived, fully uniformed. Captain Groome was too busy to remain with the Horse Board any longer, and Lieutenant Browning went in his stead. The drills increased in length each day, and the new recruits as fast as they arrived were sent out in squads to learn the first principles, and then were given a turn with the entire Troop. The officers had a class in tactics daily, and the men took up the study of bugle calls. The recruits were given much guard duty to perform, and wherever they went they carried their books of regulations, learning the paragraphs by heart. On June 24th, Samuel Chew arrived at camp, direct from the Klondike gold regions, and took up his duties as if he had done nothing unusual, yet he had made the long journey in record-breaking time simply to rejoin his comrades. Twenty new tents arrived that day, affording accommodations for the new men. On the 17th, the last of the regiments of infantry left, and the Troopers were monarchs of all they surveyed. While the infantrymen were good fellows, there were many reasons why the Troopers were glad when they had gone. Some time previously the Troopers had erected a rough shed in which they had placed shower baths, but now that they had undisputed possession of the lake, they enjoyed long daily swims. Upon the departure of the last infantry regiment Captain Groome became the commanding officer at Camp Hastings, by virtue of seniority, he having been the first volunteer cavalry officer to be sworn into the United States service. He at once formed the three troops, Governor's, Sheridan and City Troop, into a squadron and assumed command. A change in the camp routine at once went into effect. Squadron drills were held daily, and other features of camp life, which interested all visitors, were squadron guard mount and evening parade. The new horses were utterly unused to cavalry exercises, in fact many of them had never been ridden before, and the Troopers had lively times training their steeds. One of the sights which visitors to the camp were never tired of watching was the skill with which the Troopers "threw" their horses, to accustom them to the exercise in which the horses are supposed to lie down and afford forts for the riders. The throwing is exciting sport. The left fore leg of a horse is strapped up so that the animal stands upon three legs, a strap is attached to the other fore leg and grasped by the rider, who suddenly turns the horse's head way around to one side and pulls the other fore leg from the ground. The animal is obliged to fall to his knees and is then coaxed over. When once the horse realizes that the rider means him no harm, the work is more than half done. [Illustration: A LESSON IN HORSE THROWING] On the 20th of June, Private Edward Carpenter was notified of his appointment, by the President, as a second lieutenant in the regular service. He had long been anxious to make the army his profession, and was greatly pleased. The first Khaiki uniform in the Trooper's camp appeared the next day upon Lieutenant McFadden, and was the subject of much attention. Fifteen men from each troop were constantly on guard duty over the camp grounds and railroad property. "Two hours on and four hours off," was the rule with the men during their day's duty. A blacksmith's forge was set up at the foot of the Trooper's camp, and men were detailed each day to act as assistants. The horses had all been unshod upon their arrival, and it was a long job getting them properly fitted out. June passed into July, and still the Troopers remained at Mt. Gretna. By this time the Troop had practically its full number of horses, and the men were drilled almost to the point of perfection. They were as fit for service as soldiers could be, and the orders to move, which came July 7th, were welcome indeed. The squadron was to go to Camp Alger, but all the men felt that this was but a preliminary move, and that soon they would be at the front. Tents were struck the same day. No countermanding orders came this time, and all the camp luggage was despatched to the station ahead of the cavalrymen. The squadron at this time consisted of three troops and nine officers. Each troop consisted of one hundred men and one hundred and six horses. The men of the three commands had become well acquainted with one another during their long wait at Camp Hastings, and upon their camp sites left mementoes of their stay which will be seen for years to come. Two of the Troops names are cut deeply upon great rocks, together with the dates of their arrival and departure. The men of the Governor's troop erected a huge monument of stones, held together with mud, and great pride was taken by the Harrisburg Troopers in this "work of art." CHAPTER IV. FIRST DAYS AT CAMP ALGER. From the little valley, in which the Troopers had pitched their tents seventy-one days previous, they rode away late in the afternoon of Thursday, July 8th, in the best condition of any command which had been mustered in at Mt. Gretna. No comrades in arms remained to be drawn up in line to give the cavalrymen a parting cheer, but fully two hundred cottagers of the Chautauqua grounds were at the station to witness the departure. The train was in waiting, made up in two sections; the baggage, horses and horse detail were to go in the first, and the work of loading was at once begun. While the greys were being led aboard the cars, many friends of the Philadelphia men gathered upon the railroad platform to say a last good-by. Among those from whom the Troopers parted with sincere regret were T. Dawson Coleman and William T. Smith, President of the Cornwall and Lebanon road, both of whom had done much to contribute to the pleasure of the men in camp during their long stay. At seven o'clock the first section pulled out of the station, Stable Sergeant Wagner and Troopers T. Cadwalader, Goodman, Pemberton and Rogers being detailed to accompany the horses. An hour later the remainder of the Troop was allowed to start. The train arrangements were excellent, every man in the squadron having a full seat to himself. It was interesting to note the various ways in which the Troopers prepared for their night of travel. A trip through the train showed all sorts of games in progress--cards, checkers, dominoes and the like. The good story tellers of the various troops were the centre of laughing groups; many of the business men had their heads buried in the commercial page of the evening papers; some of the more stolid warriors attempted to go to sleep the moment the train started; in all it formed a picturesque grouping, and furnished rich material for the students of human nature among the troops. The discussions of the men regarding the general campaign were interesting, as the war fever was then at its height. Four days before the Atlantic Squadron, under Sampson and Schley, had destroyed the fleet of Admiral Cervera during its attempt to escape from the harbor of Santiago. General Shafter's men were then pressing upon Santiago, and its surrender was hourly expected. Then it was believed that the word would come "On to Havana," and many of the Troopers believed that their command would surely have a part in this movement. [Illustration: HAVING FUN WITH "HAZEL."] So far the war had been one of surprises, scarcely an engagement having taken place at a point where a few months before the military leaders would have deemed it possible to expect one. Spain's navy had proven no match for that of the United States, but her little army about Santiago had made a good showing, and hard fights seemed probable before the main army would be driven from Cuba. The train first came to a stop in Harrisburg, in the midst of a mass of enthusiastic men and women, assembled to greet the members of the Governor's troop and Sheridan troop. The crowd rushed pell-mell through the cars containing the troopers of the other organizations, knocking down carbines and sabers, and upsetting things generally. But sentries had thoughtfully been placed by Lieutenant Browning at the doors of the City Troop cars, and this company's share in the demonstration was conducted through the windows. "Hazel," the goat presented to the Troop during its service at the time of the Hazelton riots, gravely surveyed the scene from her outlook, and came in for a lion's share of attention. Just as the train started an enthusiastic young woman, who had been fighting her way toward the train, thrust a white kitten into the hands of Corporal Wister, with instructions to be good to it. In all it was a pleasant break in the monotony of a long ride. By midnight the State line was passed, and at Baltimore the first section of the train was overtaken. The Troopers, with the exception of the officers, were in day coaches, and made a picturesque sight, asleep in all conceivable attitudes. Enough were awake, however, to chat for a time with the members of the horse detail. By half-past four the men aroused, and thirty minutes later reached the station at Dunn Loring, Va. A breakfast of milk and sandwiches was eaten on the train, and then the unloading began. This work was speedily accomplished without a hitch or accident, and by nine o'clock the canvas of the three troops began to go up on the site of the camp formerly occupied by the Eighth Ohio Infantry, commonly known as "The President's Own." All day long the cavalrymen worked upon the sun-baked slope, and by nightfall the grounds were in splendid order. In one regard the Troopers were fortunate, an artesian well being within fifty feet of their camp. This, however, supplied the wants of the men only, the horses, at first, having to be led more than a mile for water. Shade was abundant near the camp, the horses being better off in that respect than at Camp Hastings. After a good night's sleep the men were called upon for disagreeable duty, which was at once cheerfully taken up. The "doughboys" who had occupied the grounds previously had left the woods in the rear in such a condition as to menace the health of the camp, and twenty men from each troop were detailed by Captain Groome to police the woods, and at the end of the second day the grounds were comparatively clean, and the men were then called upon for their first drill at Camp Alger. There was a great crowd around the parade grounds when the Troopers made their first appearance, and the repeated cheers and applause of the spectators came as an unexpected and pleasing surprise. Upon return to camp Private J. Edward Farnum was notified of his appointment, by the President, as an assistant commissary, with the rank of captain. The new government carbines, saddles and spurs were also received and distributed, but by some mistake no saddle blankets were sent, so the Troopers continued to use their regular blankets. Sunday the Khaiki uniforms arrived, and were at once donned by all the men. The universal verdict seemed to be that the new uniforms were not particularly adapted for cavalry service, and were as ugly as they well could be. Right from the moment of their appearance at Camp Alger the City Troopers were in demand by the headquarters officers. Large details were required each day for orderlies at Camp, Division and Brigade headquarters, and for mounted patrol duty. On July 10th quite an addition was made to the camp of the City Troop. Eight government mules, with all the largeness of ears, friskiness of feet and sweetness of voice, possessed by their race, were assigned to Captain Groome's command. The men gathered about the new comers in an admiring group, wondered how fast they could trot, what would happen if a Trooper twisted one of their tails, and just what they were good for anyway. Before the campaign was over mules had ceased to arouse any admiration whatever, but the Troopers at Camp Alger could not see into the future, with its endless mule train and trials, so they made the most of their new possessions for the time being. Besides the mules, two wagons and two teamsters were assigned to the Troop, and these aids were greatly appreciated, as up to this time there had been a constant struggle to find conveyances for troop supplies and baggage between different points of the camps. Although the mules were in a thriving condition, the Troopers had troubles of their own with their greys. A majority of the horses had contracted shipping colds, and incessant doctoring was the order of the day and night. All of the animals came through all right, however, with the exception of the horse ridden by Sergeant Hart, which died the fifth day after the Troop's arrival at the new camp. The first detachment of mules was soon followed by another, until a full score had been sent to the Troop. Other commands throughout the camp had also received supplies of mules, and the animals showed a great fondness for communicating with one another in the early morning. Far away on one side of the camp a mule would raise his silvery voice to heaven; somewhere from the headquarter's mules would come an answering bray, and in a moment the chorus would resound throughout the camping grounds. At first the novelty of these sounds appealed to the Troopers' sense of humor, but the best jokes grow wearisome by repetition, and it was not long before the men were mentally offering all sorts of rewards for the man who could devise a plan to silence the long-eared singers. On the morning of July 14th, Corporal Hecksher and Troopers Coulston, Wheeler and Mills were sent by the Provost Marshal to escort back from Washington fifteen foot soldiers who had overstayed their leave of absence. The derelicts were turned over to the tender mercies of the headquarters guard, to be dealt with as military regulations direct. A private of a western regiment, who had evidently been in Washington, returned to camp about eleven o'clock this night. After some parley with the Troop's sentinel, then on guard on the main road back of Captain Groome's headquarters, he proceeded to mix things up with the sentry, and was promptly marched to the guard house, where he spent a repentant night. Since the arrival of the squadron at Camp Alger Captain Groome, who was in command, had posted orders for Squadron Guard Mount every morning, and for Troop Drill and Squadron Parade every evening. The number of spectators upon these occasions kept increasing daily, and the reputation for excellence in drill on the part of the squadron spread rapidly. The officers of all the commands in the camp were attracted by these reports, and the evolutions of the cavalrymen were frequently watched with a critical eye by many of the best known officers of the army. Though they came as critics they remained to praise, and many admitted that they gained a vast amount of useful knowledge by an inspection of the camp of the squadron. The paymaster put in an appearance July 15th. The Troop lined up and received their portions of hard-earned government money, and then promptly turned the cash over to the Quartermaster. In the afternoon General Butler honored the Troopers by riding out especially to watch their drill, and he warmly commended Captain Groome for the fine showing of the cavalry. CHAPTER V. CAMP ALGER AND NEWPORT NEWS. At retreat roll call, on the evening of July 15th, an example was given of the affectionate regard the rest of the Pennsylvania Militia feel and show toward the Philadelphia horsemen. The battalion of State Fencibles, which formed a portion of the Sixth Regiment, marching in fours, came tramping into the Troop's street. Once there they halted and gave repeated cheers for the cavalrymen. Then away they trudged, after being assured
{'title': 'Campaign of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry by Cooper', 'source': 'Project Gutenberg', 'lang': 'en'}