On June 1, 1897, by act of the legislature, the regiment received a new name—it became the 1st Regiment of Heavy Artillery. In point of fact it had begun to separate from the 1st Brigade back in Col. Wellington’s time, and had become increasingly committed to the artillery branch; this act of legislation officially recognized a transition which had already taken place. Now the facings on the uniforms could be changed from the blue of infantry to the brighter and more distinctive scarlet. Massachusetts was the first state to have heavy artillery in its militia—the old regiment was again “first.” Companies were rechristened “batteries” in connection with the change of service.
Col. Mathews became Brigadier General on July 19, 1897, and Charles Pfaff succeeded as Colonel on July 28. Col. Pfaff’s military training had been in the Cadets, and as Captain of the 8th Company, Coast Artillery; and he had served four years as Major. To him was to fall the honor of commanding the regiment during its Spanish War service.
There was nothing unexpected about the war with Spain. From the day the “Maine” was destroyed until April 25, when war was declared, more than two months elapsed. Members of the command were in constant readiness during this entire period for the summons which they knew must come; and it was well understood that instant mobilization would ensue upon receipt of orders.
But if we had reason to be in readiness, we also had good cause to anticipate danger and hardship. The United States was notorious for lack of preparedness, both by land and sea. On the other hand the might of the Spanish fleet and the fame of the “Spanish infantry” had been so magnified that much popular trepidation existed. Boston anticipated instant attack; merchants and bankers deposited their treasure with inland banks; while real estate owners were insistent that the national government should afford them protection. Col. Pfaff and his men were to volunteer in the belief that they would meet with instant and active fighting. Beyond question the general public drew a deep sigh of relief as the blue-clad column, on that fateful 26th of April, to the music of the “March of the First,” swung steadily down Huntington Ave. The out-of-town commands had left their home stations early and received Godspeed from newsboys and milkmen only. In Boston, however, the display of enthusiasm left nothing to be desired; and demonstrated not only the city’s dependence upon its heavy artillerymen but also its real affection for the red-legged organization. They were paid from April 25.
Besides Col. Pfaff, the regimental officers were: Lt. Col., Charles B. Woodman; Majors, Perlie A. Dyar, George F. Quinby, James A. Frye; Captains, 1st Co., Joseph H. Frothingham; 2d Co., Frederic S. Howes; 3d Co., Albert B. Chick; 4th Co., Joseph L. Gibbs; 5th Co., Walter L. Pratt; 6th Co., Walter E. Lombard; 7th Co., Charles P. Nutter; 8th Co., John Bordman, Jr.; 9th Co., Norris O. Danforth; 10th Co., Charles Williamson; 11th Co., Frederick M. Whiting; 12th Co., Sierra L. Braley. Capt. Braley had been private and corporal in the 3d Reg. during its nine-months service in 1862. He had been 2d Lieutenant in Battery I, 2d Mass. Heavy Art., and in Bat. L, 14th U. S. Colored Art., during 1864 and 1865. From 1866 until 1878 he continuously held commissions in the 3d Reg. and, after 1878, in the 1st, his latest command being the 12th Company. Capt. Braley was the only officer of the regiment to serve in both the Civil and Spanish Wars.
On April 26 the regiment began active duty at Fort Warren, the orders reading that they would encamp there for eight days. Five more days were added to this; and then the command was taken into the U. S. service “for the war.” Since the thirteen days of state duty is added to the total in computing their record, they were the first regiment of the entire nation to begin war service. The Old First still led.
When they left the armory for Fort Warren, there were only six men absent from the command—four sick and two out of the country. Opportunity was later given for men with families to withdraw, if they desired; and all were subjected to a rigid physical examination. Ultimately three per cent. were rejected for disability and eight per cent. excused for family reasons. These vacancies were immediately filled from the throngs of would-be recruits who volunteered. It was a disappointment to the regiment that the War Department never permitted them to increase their numbers to the full war strength; their Spanish War roster bore 751 names.
They started out in the rain on April 26, and it seemed as if it would rain until they returned; during their first six weeks, they were blest with sunshine only three days. By and by, when they had ceased to care, the weather changed and they had sunny days. At Warren they were quartered in wooden buildings, originally election booths in the city; prisoners from Deer Island were imported to assist in erecting these; and some humorist promptly designated them the “3d Corps of Cadets.” While in the state service, the regiment was fed by a caterer, after the fashion then prevalent at Framingham. When they became U. S. soldiers, they messed themselves. All thru this war, ammunition was very scarce indeed. The least a self-respecting military post can do is to fire morning and evening guns; this was possible in 1898 only by cutting cartridges in two and using half-charges. Most of the ordnance was of Civil War vintage, or very slightly more modern.
Spain had been vastly over-rated, and there was very little fight in her. The regiment passed a busy and profitable month at Fort Warren from April 26 to May 30, being mustered into the United States service on May 7. During these weeks the companies or “batteries” attained a high degree of proficiency in both infantry and artillery drill. Shortly after midnight on May 13 the Engineers’ steamer, the “Tourist,” came down the harbor from the Navy Yard to announce that the Spanish fleet had actually been sighted off Nantucket. But men watched in vain for the enemy vessels to appear.
On Memorial day, thru the exigency of service conditions, the companies were moved and distributed along the coast at posts ranging from Portsmouth to New Bedford. Maj. Frye and the Cape companies remained at Warren. Lt. Col. Woodman with the 3d and 11th Companies garrisoned the fort at Clark’s Point, New Bedford, a work which had been in existence since 1857 but which awaited July 23, 1898, and these companies as godfathers, before it was christened Fort Rodman. The Colonel, Headquarters, and the remaining six companies proceeded by boat to various points along the North Shore, at some of which militia field artillery batteries had previously been on guard, the Colonel himself being stationed at Salem in command of the entire Essex County district. This transfer of troops was accomplished without peril or even discomfort. The 1st and 7th Companies under Maj. Dyar became the garrison at Salem; Maj. Quinby and the 2d Company were at Gloucester; the 6th Company was on Plum Island near Newburyport, and subsequently at Portsmouth; the 5th Company at Marblehead; and the 8th at Nahant as guard of the mining-casemate. Lieuts. E. Dwight Fullerton of the 8th Company and P. Frank Packard of the 2d were specially detailed to duty with the regulars at Fort Columbus, Governor’s Island, New York, and remained there several months. Lieut. Fullerton was called upon to untangle the snarl into which the War Department had gotten with regard to records of sick soldiers in the New York hospitals.