It is the purpose of this book to treat simply of the part played in the conflict by the Eighth Regiment, Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V., which was the official designation of the boys of the Eighth Regiment Infantry, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, when called into the service of the United States.
Although one of the first volunteer regiments to get away, it so happened that it was so assigned for duty that it missed getting into an engagement with the enemy, although being sent to Cuba and performing several months of its service there. It was the first foreign service of the regiment, and was a performance that will take a prominent part in the history of the Eighth Massachusetts, which embraces so long and honorable a record.
[Introduction]
To the officers and men of the Eighth Massachusetts Infantry, U. S. V.:—
I have been requested by the author, Mr. Harry E. Webber, to write some account of the Eighth Massachusetts Regiment, while under my command during the Spanish-American war.
I reported for duty in Chickamauga Park, June 20th, 1898, and was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division of the First Corps, consisting of the Third Illinois, Fourth Pennsylvania, and Fourth Ohio Regiments. These were all good regiments, especially the Fourth Pennsylvania, under Colonel David B. Case. As I expected to remain with this brigade throughout the war, I began an inspection by company, battalion, and regiment, so that I might learn something more about their actual condition, and the capacity of the officers than could be learned on parade. I mention this circumstance, not because it concerns the Eighth Massachusetts, but because the information I gathered was of the greatest use to me later on in dealing with other volunteer regiments.