Campaign of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry Part 1

Campaign of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry.

by James Cooper.

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 cla.s.s 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 Sat.u.r.day 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 Sat.u.r.day 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 a.s.sembled 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 pa.s.sed 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 pa.s.sed 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 Sat.u.r.day, 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 pa.s.sports, 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 pa.s.sed 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 a.s.suming 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, a.s.sistant 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. G.o.dfrey, 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, Mitch.e.l.l 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 a.s.sembly. 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 pa.s.sed 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.

[Ill.u.s.tration: 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 a.r.s.enal. 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 a.s.signed 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 Sat.u.r.day 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 circ.u.mstances 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 a.s.sistant 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.

Sat.u.r.day, 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.