April.

9.General Fitz Hugh Lee, consul-general, left Havana.
15.Legislature of Massachusetts appropriated $500,000 for local defence and equipment of troops.
21.Spanish government sent passports to U. S. Minister Woodford.
22.Colonel William A. Pew, Jr., commanding Eighth Regiment, M. V. M., tenders services of regiment to Governor Wolcott.
23.President William McKinley calls for 125,000 troops.
25.Congress declares war to have existed with Spain since April 21.
Admiral Dewey and fleet sailed from Hong Kong for Manila.
Governor Wolcott received notification from Secretary of War regarding quota to be furnished by Massachusetts.
27.Governor Wolcott received letter from Secretary of War requesting four Infantry regiments, and one of heavy artillery.
28.Colonel Pew and commanders of Second, Sixth and Ninth Regiments ordered to Boston to hold conference with Governor Wolcott.
Officers of Eighth Regiment met Colonel Pew at State House and arrangements made for recruiting a regiment of volunteers.
Recruiting opened in cities and towns represented by companies in Eighth Regiment.
29.Eighth Regiment ordered to report at State Camp Grounds, South Framingham, May 5, at 11 A. M.

May.

1.Admiral Montojo's Spanish fleet destroyed in Manila Bay by fleet under command of Admiral Dewey. News received several days later.
5.Companies of Eighth Regiment left home stations amid ovations. Reviewed at State House by Governor Wolcott. Went into camp at South Framingham.
6.Examination of commissioned officers.
7.Examinations of enlisted men commenced. Many rejected and sent home.
10.Companies B, F, E, G, L and M, sworn into the United States service. Governor Wolcott witnessed swearing in of Company L.
11.Companies A, C, D, H, I and K, sworn into the United States service, completing the regiment. Second Massachusetts Infantry left camp for Tampa, Florida.
14.Governor Wolcott and staff visited camp. Governor presented commissions to officers of Eighth Regiment.
Regiment received orders to move to Chickamauga Park, Georgia.
16.Regiment left camp for Chickamauga Park, Georgia, after being reviewed by Governor Wolcott.
19.Regiment arrived at Citico freight yard, outside Chattanooga, Tennessee. Arrived at Chickamauga Park, Georgia, early in evening and went into bivouac for night.
20.Marched to camp site on Alexander road and went into camp. Assigned to Second Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps, with Twelfth New York and Twenty-First Kansas Regiments. Colonel Pew, senior commander, placed in command of brigade.
28.First death in regiment. Private Herbert O. Burnham of Company D, of Lynn.

June.

3.U. S. S. Merrimac sunk in entrance to Santiago harbor by Hobson and others.
13.Paymaster Barr, Eighth Regiment, M. V. M., arrived in camp with state pay.
17.Bunker Hill day observed with bon-fire, and concert by Drum Corps.
20.Expedition under command of General Shafter landed at Baiquiri.
24.Action with the Spaniards at La Guasimas.
29.Colonel Pew relieved and brigade placed under command of General Waites of Texas.

July.

1-2.Actions with Spaniards at El Caney and San Juan hill.
Members of regiment transferred to United States Hospital Corps about this time.
3.Congressman William H. Moody of Massachusetts, arrived in camp.
Admiral Cevera's Spanish fleet annihilated off Santiago.
4.National holiday duly celebrated. Congressman Moody delivered patriotic address. Programme of sports interferred with by arrival of United States Paymaster.
13.First case of typhoid made its appearance in the regiment.
17.Regiment celebrated the fall of Santiago, assisted by Twelfth New York and Twenty-First Kansas Regiments.
19.Regiment, with exception of Company A of Newburyport, went on hike to Pea Vine valley, pitched camp and returned following day.
23.Old knapsacks, issued by state, condemned and burned. Blanket bags issued in their places.
26.Spain asks terms of peace.
29.Eighth Regiment won division rifle match with score of 481.
30.First division sham fight took place.

August.

9.New stand of colors received by regiment.
Colonel Pew addressed men concerning typhoid fever.
12.Peace protocol signed and hostilities suspended.
16.First furloughs granted to men broken down in health.
Eighth Regiment participated in big review at Snodgrass Hill.
22.Bon-fire and celebration in honor of receipt of orders to break camp.
23.Regiment marched over road to Rossville, Georgia. Embarked for Lexington, Kentucky.
24.Arrived and went into camp on Clark farm at Montrose, a few miles outside of Lexington, Kentucky.