Twelve Months with the Eighth Massachusetts Infantry in the Service of the United States

by Harry Endicott Webber

On February 9th, a shot was fired by a member of the Eighth Regiment in the discharge of his duty. It was the stormiest night the regiment experienced in Cuba. About midnight the sentinel in front of the Colonel's quarters thought he saw two men coming from the hills and creeping towards the tents. They refused to halt when challenged. The sentinel rested his rifle over a corner of the tent, with the muzzle a few inches above the Colonel's ear and fired. The sentinel reported that one of the men uttered an exclamation in good strong English, and the two beat a hasty retreat. As an investigation disclosed two goats in rear of the camp, it was generally supposed that the sentinel attributed some general remarks of the Colonel about this occurrence, to one of the goats.

On February 11th all the troops at Matanzas were reviewed by General Breckenridge, Inspector General of the United States Army. The review took place upon the boulevard, and was followed by a careful inspection of the camps. This inspection was thus commented upon in his official report to the War Department:—

"Matanzas Infantry Camp a model. ****** These same soldiers had a perfect camp also at Lexington, Kentucky. Such seasoned, well-instructed soldiers as the best of these, like the Eighth Massachusetts, Twelfth New York, and Third Engineers, and such handsome, healthful camps, wrung from adverse nature are gratifying to all whoever commanded them, and are to be expected from such officers as Generals Wilson and Sanger."

On February 20th the Regiment assisted in the reception of General Maximo Gomez, the Commander-in-Chief of the Cuban Army. The men of the Eighth were stationed about five paces apart on each side of the streets leading from the Plaza to the railroad station. An escort consisting of six troops of the Second United States Cavalry, the fire department of the city, societies of citizens, and the school children, all under the command of Colonel Pew, met the General at the station, and conducted him between the lines of the Eighth, to the Municipal Palace. The streets were decorated with flags, and the citizens turned out in holiday apparel. The General was received with all the honors due his exalted station and standing in the island. Enthusiasm was unbounded, and the Cuban General appeared much moved by the ovation accorded him along the entire route.

Flowers were showered upon him from the balconies, and flags were everywhere waved. The General was slight in stature, appeared about seventy years of age, and was mounted on a handsome Cuban charger.

As the procession passed, the members of the Eighth fell in behind and brought up the rear in columns of fours. At the Municipal Palace the General reviewed the troops forming his escort. General Gomez remained in the city a number of days, and upon leaving was escorted to the railroad station by the Eighth.

During his stay, he visited the camps and spent some time at the target range, which had been installed under the direction of Major Eldredge. The General tried his hand at shooting, and received an excellent score card from Lieutenant Craig, who was in charge of the range. His visit was made the occasion of a reception and ball given at the theatre, by all the officers of the Garrison. This ball was the social function of the season, and was in acknowledgment of the many courtesies extended to the officers by the citizens of Matanzas.

The Twelfth New York was the first Volunteer Regiment to leave Matanzas. When the transport which was to carry it home, arrived in the bay, the band of the Eighth paraded through the line officers street, and company after company fell in and marched to the camp of the Twelfth to show the good feeling existing between the regiments. While marching over the band played "On the Bowery." As the column passed through the camp of the Twelfth, its band got together and joined the band of the Eighth on the march back, playing "Home, Sweet Home." The men of the two regiments fell in together behind the bands, and after marching through both camps, halted in the open space between the camps while the bands played "Auld Lang Syne."

On March 21st the Eighth, after evening parade, escorted the Twelfth New York to the wharf, where it embarked in lighters to go on board the transport "Meade", which sailed the following day.