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 that their compliment was appreciated by the Troopers. Two members of the City Troop served on the Provost Guard the night of the 16th, and great was their amazement, when, amid the drunks and disorderly prisoners turned over to their charge, they found a chaplain. He was escorted to the guard house by a very disgusted squad.
That same night, Private Robert Fell returned to camp, after two weeks confinement at his home with a kicked knee. His place on sick report was taken by Private Rowland, who had been slightly ill for several days, although he kept that information to himself until scarcely able to stand upon his feet.
Inspection of arms and equipments of the Troopers came on Saturday, and, as the arms just issued were uniformly dirty, a large number of the men put in an hour or two of hard cleaning and polishing. In the evening a dozen of the City Troopers attended the Camp Alger Theatre, the tent for which had been pitched right at the foot of the company's street. The price at that popular resort was twenty-five cents for all seats, and the audience generally contained two rows of Troopers, who joined heartily with the vaudeville performers in singing the choruses and making things lively. Every feature was first-class in all respects, and good temper always prevailed on and off the stage.
An incident occurred at the Theatre that night, which served to show the frame of mind of the American volunteers. A portion of the performance consisted of an exhibition of moving pictures. Finally a large flag was thrown on the sheet, and the man in charge said:
"There's the flag you are fighting for, boys!"
Instantly a dry western voice called out from the audience: "I wish to God we could get the chance!" and the immediate and tremendous cheer which followed, showed how heartily his wish was echoed by all present.
On Monday and Tuesday several details were sent out to do some work upon a site for a new camp nearer the station. Time began to hang heavy on all hands, and a strong rumor that the Troop was soon to go to Puerto Rico, failed to excite the interest that it would have a month before. Not that the men were less anxious to get to the front, but simply that they hated to let their hopes rise for fear of another disappointment.
On Tuesday night, while watching Corporal Chew throw his horse, in order to put a bridle on the unruly animal, Private Wetherill received both heels of the beast on his left thigh, the horse having succeeded for a moment in getting away from the big corporal. The injuries were not of a serious nature, however, and the bruised trooper refused to put in a plea of sickness.
It was expected by the men that the camps would be shifted on the 20th, and the failure to do so was regarded as lending color to the Puerto Rico rumors. On this morning the Troop dismounted and drilled finely. Their excellent work culminated when Lieutenant Browning rallied the men. Standing in close order, they fired three volleys that produced long cheering from the crowd. About two minutes later an orderly rode over from General Graham and reported to Lieutenant Browning that the commanding officer wished to know what company had fired those volleys. The General expressed himself as delighted to hear that it was a troop of cavalry dismounted.
Nearly every horse in camp at this time had distemper, and at night it was decided to give each of the invalids a pretty stiff drink, consisting of a pint of whiskey and sixty grains of quinine. The dose was shot down the animals throats from a great syringe, and the stable guard was advised to be on the lookout for any unusual hilarity; but no behavior out of the ordinary was noticed.
J. L. Wetherill was granted sick leave on the 21st. He had been ill for several days, and it was thought best for him to return home. Shortly after he had done so his sickness took a serious turn, and he was unable to rejoin the Troop until its return from Puerto Rico.
Squadron guard mount, drills and evening parade continued throughout the Troop's stay, under orders of Acting Major Groome. The day before the cavalry troops left Camp Alger, however, Captain Jones, of the Sheridan Troop, was commissioned major. Captain Jones held the longest record of any officer in the Pennsylvania State troops, and had served as a captain in the Civil War. As his commission did not arrive until after the squadron had left Camp Alger, his appointment made no difference in the camp routine, and as the Sheridan and Governor's troops were left behind at Newport News, the City Troopers were not affected in the least by the change in the officer commanding the squadron.
The night of the 21st one more of the greys died, but the rest of the animals were in splendid condition, and the men felt that they could make a good showing, so far as their mounts were concerned, in the foreign service soon to come.
There were many occurrences to make Friday, July 22d, an eventful day. In the morning one hundred Krag-Jorgensen carbines arrived for the City Troopers; there was an unusually interesting skirmish drill in the afternoon, and late in the evening came the eagerly awaited orders for the Troop to proceed forthwith to Newport News to take transports for Puerto Rico. Needless to say the camp was at once thrown into a thoroughly happy mood, and dozens of telegrams were sent notifying Philadelphia friends of the good luck of the Troop in securing active service, when fully 7,000 regular cavalrymen were fretting in camps of mobilization. Post Quartermaster Hugh Craig, Jr., arrived the next day, and announced his intention of staying with the Troop until it left for the front. The men could not help feeling better when they saw his jolly face in the camp.
Tents were struck at five o'clock Sunday morning, and an hour later the squadron boarded a special train waiting to carry it to Newport News. The journey occupied the entire day, it being nearly nine o'clock when the cars reached their destination. Instead of trying to find a camping ground that night, the men curled up in the cars and slept as best they could. In a pleasant spot on the coast, about two miles outside the city, the Troopers went into camp the next day. Even before the tents went up there were several visitors from Philadelphia who had hurried down to bid the Troopers "God-speed" upon their departure for the seat of war.
An unexpected guest was Charles Wheeler, an old member of the organization, but off the active list for years. He had just returned from a trip through Japan. He was anxious to rejoin his old comrades, and as there was one vacancy in the Troop it was promptly filled.
Tuesday morning Captain Groome received orders to have his men ready to embark at four o'clock. Tents were struck at noon, the operation being watched by scores of friends who had reached the camp by that time. Promptly at the hour mentioned in the order the Captain marched his men down to the wharf, where they found no transport awaiting them. Hour after hour passed, and still no sign of a vessel. Night found the Troopers still lounging about the dock.
During this long wait a full score of prominent Philadelphia ladies, who had come down to say a last good-by to their relatives and friends in the Troop, had an opportunity to show the traditional spirit of American women. The ladies had stood around the camp all morning, had followed the Troop into the city and to the wharf, where they had shared all the discomforts of the situation. It began to rain, but they only laughed and refused to seek shelter. Not a mouthful had they eaten since breakfast, but tired, wet and hungry as they were, they smiled bravely to keep up the spirits of the men; all unconsciously they afforded fine illustrations of what the mothers, wives and sisters of American soldiers have been in all hours of need.
When six o'clock came, and it was evident that the Troopers were in for a tough time of it, the ladies went in a body to the nearest restaurant and secured some sandwiches and coffee. Walking fearlessly through the crowd upon the dock, dodging under horses' heads and around mule packs, they brought the food to the cavalrymen, and even waited upon them. In the language of one trooper whose young bride was among the number of ladies upon the wharf, "there was only one regret at going to the front, and that was the leaving behind of girls like those."
Until seven o'clock the City Troopers were kept upon the wharf. At that hour Captain Groome was informed that no transport could then be secured, and that he should return with the Troop to Newport News and report to General Fred. Grant. Captain Groome ordered the Troop to bivouac in the grass in front of the hotel for the night. There was a general rush for shelter. The ladies sought their rooms in the hotel, from the windows of which they could see the cavalrymen lying in the grass of a field opposite, rolled up in their blankets.
Captain Groome did not retire however. He returned to the wharf and spent several hours arguing with various captains, in order to find a speedy way in which to embark the Troop. It was not easy work to make headway against the seemingly endless array of objections and red tape, but perseverance won out, and the Captain was at last informed, that if he would have his men on hand at four o'clock they would be taken aboard.
This last bivouac upon American soil was exceedingly picturesque to the spectator, but hard upon the men. Every Trooper had been thoroughly soaked by the rain while standing upon the wharf. In their wet clothes they had been obliged to wrap their blankets about them and lay down to slumber in the midst of a damp grass plot under a cloudy sky, which threatened another downpour at any moment. With the exception of some pretty tough sandwiches the men had been without food since morning, and the easy way in which they accepted the situation spoke volumes for the value of the training in camp life received at Mt. Gretna and Camp Alger.
The Troop at this time consisted of three officers, one contract surgeon, ninety-nine men, one hundred and four horses and twenty mules. The Sheridan and Governor's Troop had not received orders to sail, and the members of these commands were extremely disappointed. They remained at Newport News under the command of Major Jones.
Captain Groome arranged for an early breakfast of coffee and sandwiches for his men, and at 4.30 a. m. the next day the City Troopers were again ordered to the wharf. This time there was no disappointment. The transport "Massachusetts" was there taking on a great load of men, horses and mules. All was bustle and confusion. Within a short time the Troopers went aboard, and almost at once the vessel made ready to sail. Last words to the faithful friends ashore were shouted, there was a waving of hands and handkerchiefs, and a little after midday the "Massachusetts" began ploughing her way toward the southern isle, where General Brooke's army and the Spanish forces were reported to be already face to face.