Because I can’t write it any better than Wikipedia:
“The Spanish-American War was an armed conflict between Spain and the United States in 1898. Hostilities began in the aftermath of the internal explosion of USS Maine in Havana Harbor in Cuba, leading to U.S. intervention in the Cuban War of Independence. The war led to emergence of U.S. predominance in the Caribbean region, and resulted in U.S. acquisition of Spain’s Pacific possessions. That led to U.S. involvement in the Philippine Revolution and ultimately in the Philippine-American War.
“The main issue was Cuban independence. Revolts had been occurring for some years in Cuba against Spanish rule. The U.S. later backed these revolts upon entering the Spanish-American War….The U.S. had important economic interests that were being harmed by the prolonged conflict and deepening uncertainty about the future of Cuba. Shipping firms that had relied heavily on trade with Cuba now suffered losses as the conflict continued unsolved.
“McKinley sent USS Maine to Havana to ensure the safety of American citizens and interests, and to underscore the urgent need for reform.
“At 9:40 on the evening of February 15, 1898, Maine sank in Havana Harbor after suffering a massive explosion. While McKinley urged patience and did not declare that Spain had caused the explosion, the deaths of 250 out of 355 sailors on board focused American attention…Most American leaders took the position that the cause of the explosion was unknown, but public attention was now riveted on the situation and Spain could not find a diplomatic solution to avoid war.
“On March 28, the U.S. Navy’s investigation, made public, concluded that the ship’s powder magazines were ignited when an external explosion was set off under the ship’s hull. This report poured fuel on popular indignation in the US, making war inevitable.
“After Maine was destroyed, New York City newspaper publishers Hearst and Pulitzer decided that the Spanish were to blame, and they publicized this theory as fact in their papers. They both used sensationalistic and astonishing accounts of “atrocities” committed by the Spanish in Cuba by using headlines in their newspapers, such as ‘Spanish Murderers’ and ‘Remember the Maine.’ Their press exaggerated what was happening and how the Spanish were treating the Cuban prisoners. The stories were based on factual accounts, but most of the time, the articles that were published were embellished and written with incendiary language causing emotional and often heated responses among readers. A common myth falsely states that when illustrator Frederic Remington said there was no war brewing in Cuba, Hearst responded: ‘You furnish the pictures and I’ll furnish the war.’
“On April 20, 1898, McKinley signed a joint Congressional resolution demanding Spanish withdrawal and authorizing the President to use military force to help Cuba gain independence.
“On April 21, in response, Spain severed diplomatic relations with the United States.
“On the same day, the U.S. Navy began a blockade of Cuba.
“Both sides declared war, neither had allies.”
(see Wikipedia for the rest!)
Sylvester “Harry” Scovel, Correspondent.
Beginning in 1896 the Cuban struggle for independence was thrillingly described by an engineer turned adventurer turned journalist named Harry Scovel. Harry, born in Pittsburg, was the son of the at-the-time president of the University of Wooster. Harry was a correspondent for Pulitzer’s papers.
Dueling newspapers: circulation wars between the New York Journal owned by William Randolph Hearst and the New York World and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch owned by Joseph Pulitzer came to a head during the Spanish-American War.
Wooster Republican
Wooster, Ohio
Wednesday, 26 February, 1896
pg 4
Home For Good Cause.
Harry Scovel Back From Cuba Because Wounded.
A Close Call For His Life, But Courageous Cubans Imperiled Themselves to Save Him—A Thrilling Escape.
President Sylvester Scovel’s son, who went to Cuba as a newspaper correspondent, and who was captured and imprisoned by the Spaniards, has returned to Pittsburg. He relates his experiences in an interesting manner in the Dispatch. Mr. Scovel was injured during a scrimmage with Spanish cavalry on Feb. 4, as will be seen below, and this is his reason for returning to the United States for a brief rest. The story of his escape is a thrilling one.
“It was a close shave that I had on Feb. 4,” said Mr. Scovel, in relating his experiences last night. “I was nearly captured. This, for me, would have meant certain death, for the Spanish cavalry into which my escort ran were under Col. Calitto Ruis. This officer has said he would never allow the Dispatch correspondent to get to Havana alive.
“I started for the town of Quividan with an escort of a captain and 16 men. These had one cartridge apiece. Gomez at that time had about 1,000 cartridges for his 2,500 men. Arriving near the town, two men were sent into it to see if any Spanish troops were there. They came back and said ‘No.’ Then all hands galloped gaily into the edge of the town.
“Suddenly two mounted men were seen ahead. They were not in regular uniform. They might have been Cubans. They were challenged ‘Halto’ Quien Vive.’ They did not reply. Then the Cuban challenge, ‘Halto, Quien Va.’ Still they kept quiet, but started to edge off back into town.
“I rode forward to get a better look at them from the shelter of a heavy house. Two of my escort preceded me about 40 yards.
“Suddenly Bang’ Bang’ the heavy reports of their carbines went echoing down a cross-street a short distance ahead. Then the two men first seen opened fire.
“Then the other Cubans fired, each his only cartridge. Then all the escort started on the run toward the bush, and my horse turning quickly, fell flat in the mud. The main Spanish cavalry, about 100, came thundering toward me around the corner.
“I tried a trick came to my mind, learned in cavalry gymnastics with the First Cleveland troop. I ran with my horse, grasping a lock of the horse’s mane. I took the ‘galloping step’ and succeeded in keeping up with the frightened animal in its rush for the woods.”
“The 30 yards’ interval lengthened into 50 as the terrified horse drew away from the pursuing Spaniards whose Mauser rifles were turned loose to the limit.
“I tried to vault into the saddle on the gallop, but the ground was too wet.
“I thought the ‘gig was up and as a forlorn hope called for help. Now came a heroic action. At the first call the two last men of the fleeing escort, one a Cuban, the other a mulatto, turned their horses and came back to me, full in the face of 100 Spanish cavalry and 600 Mauser bullets a minute. They knew to be captured would be to be killed. Still they came back. I found myself wondering which would get to me first—Cubans or Spaniards.
“The two Cubans commenced firing with their revolvers—usually considered useless in battle—and checked somewhat the Spanish advance. The Cubans got to me first. One dismounted and helped me on the other one’s horse. This took time.
“The Spanish cavalry were now right upon us. The two Cubans turned in their saddles and fired their revolvers at the first Spaniards, now not five yards away. They pulled up a little and we got to the thick woods called ‘manigua’ in Cuba. The Spaniards slackened their pace. They didn’t know but what a thousand Cubans might be behind those woods. The Cubans reached the first trees. The horse that had carried two fell dead. He had three holes through him. The riders staggered into their companions’ arms—safe.
“George Rea, correspondent for the New York Herald, was with the party. Although far behind when the first shots were fired, his horse was shot dead. Two bullets had crushed through my hat. One of the escorts was mortally wounded.”
Mr. Scovel says that he has been badly scared many times. He thinks that the knife edge hiss of the modern high speed bullet will never become pleasant to him, even if he lives to be 100 years old and sees a battle every other day. His remarks upon this point are candid and worthy of attention. He says:
“I have often felt uneasy when the balls began to whistle at 400 yards range. I have often longed to be able to throw newspaper non-partisanship to the winds and to join the charge—anything to get into actual action. This may not be heroic, but it is true.”
In regard to the actual state of affairs in Cuba today, he sums the matter up by saying:
“Both the Spanish and Cuban warriors have been living off the country in western Cuba. The food here will give out entirely in a month’s time. Then Spain will have to feed half a million of her starving, peaceable and hitherto taxpaying subjects. She will, also, have to spend enormous sums to provide and transport food for her troops. How long can Spain stand this? More important still, her troop ox trains cannot move (even with few breakdowns) at more than two and one-half miles an hour. Her columns can not move faster than her support trains.
“How can they catch the Cuban cavalry? These can move 40 miles a day if necessary. They have been laying up supplies of food in safe places. This they can live upon, even if not able to capture enough food from the necessarily easily attacked Spanish supply trains.
“There is no doubt but that the Cubans can keep away from the Spanish troops as long as they want to. All the inhabitants of western Cuba are friendly to them and give full information as to Spanish movements. If the Cubans get plenty of cartridges (as I am informed they soon will) Gomez and Maceo will fight, for they both want to make reputations as fighting generals. but even if they don’t get cartridges, so long as they continue to keep away from the Spanish columns the only question of how soon the Cubans will be free is ‘How long can Spain find the money?;”
Wooster Republican
Wooster, Ohio
Wednesday, 3 March, 1897
pg 1
Inside Spanish Lines.
Scovel Saved His Life By Coolness And Politeness.
The Complete Story of His Capture Now Told for the First Time—Even the Spaniards Lionize Him.
Another letter from Sylvester Scovel, dated at “Caboose No. 1, Prison of Sancti Spiritus Santa Clara Province, Cuba, Feb 6,” appears in today’s World and Dispatch, by cable from Havana, where it was sent by special courier. It is an interesting and thorough review of the Cuban situation, showing the insurgent condition and prospects, and giving evidence and proof that the revolution has steadily strengthened from the beginning.
More interesting, however, to Mr. Scovel’s friends here at home is the completed story of his capture, published today for the first time in the Dispatch and World from another regular correspondent, Thomas S. Alvord, whose assignments within the Spanish lines, so that his special from Sancti Spiritus is dated Feb. 19. The part that tells about Scovel is so interesting that it will be read with zest by all those who know the brave correspondent as a Wooster boy. Mr. Alvord thus entertainingly tells the story.
Sylvester Scovel and General Weyler are both in this mountain city of war-worn Cuba. Your fearless correspondent is in a cell, and Spain’s proud general occupies the most luxurious house here. But the Captain General of Cuba is not receiving one half as much homage as the prisoner of Spain in the little Sancti Spiritus jail.
The devotion of the Cubans to Mr. Scovel is touching. Many risk their liberty to send him presents of food, flowers and luxuries. His cell looks like a conservatory. He’s called a lucky fellow, and he is so. If he had been captured in any other way than on a railroad train and by the Civil Guard, the flower of the Spanish army, he would never have lived to be taken to jail.
He was on his way to the coast from General Gomez’s camp when he was arrested. He got to the plantation of Francisco Thome on Friday, Feb. 5. Tired out, hungry, his clothes ragged from long exposure in the mountains, and at his wits’ end to reach the coast, where he expected a dispatch boat to carry his dispatches, he sought a way to divert suspicion from himself as he approached the important seaport of Tunas. He asked Thome if he had any old copper for sale. Senor Thome sold him 1,000 pounds at six cents a pound, to be paid for after the war. Then Senor Thome went with Mr. Scovel to Zaza, an intermediate station on the railroad running from Sancti Spiritus to Tunas. Mr. Scovel’s idea was that if he could go into a fortified town with a well known planter, he would be all right; but Gen. Luque, Captain General of the province, unfortunately had sent out orders to look for Mr. Scovel in the field, as the Spanish scouts had already intercepted messengers carrying dispatches from Mr. Scovel. Mr. Scovel got his railroad ticket and was actually among the soldiers in the car when the lieutenant of the Guardia Civil asked for his papers. Mr. Scovel handed him a police passport made out in the name of Harry Williams. He did not have the military permit to go beyond the Spanish lines. The lieutenant told him he was under arrest. This lieutenant afterward told the writer that his first impulse was to take Scovel out and shoot him, but he found him so cool, so intelligent and so much of a gentleman that he refrained. Mr. Scovel afterward expressed satisfaction to him that he had so refrained.
Mr. Scovel was taken to Sancti Spiritus and interrogated by Gen. Luque, who said that if he had sent word immediately to him his life would have been much safer. Mr. Scovel replied that he was not a mind-reader. The prisoner of war then got a three-column interview with Gen. Luque, which he sent off by messenger before he was turned over to the civil authorities.
The judges at the preliminary examination could get none of the Guardia Civil in the train to testify against Mr. Scovel. This is the elite corps and contains some of the finest young men in Spain. They had taken a strong liking to Mr. Scovel. Nevertheless he was indicted on four counts.
The United States Consular agent, Rafael Madrigal, acted with great vigor. Mr. and Mrs. Madrigal have sent Mr. Scovel bountiful meals each day, have given him a bed and a bath tub in jail, and are devoted to him. Mr. Madrigal is an American citizen, formerly of Baltimore.
Gen. Luque told me he was personally convinced that Mr. Scovel had done nothing against Spanish arms, but had confined himself to the legitimate work of a correspondent. The most remarkable thing about his case was his personal bravery. He had voluntarily traveled over ?00 miles of Cuba alone and unarmed riding over mountains to reach General Gomez, and any moment he was liable to be shot.
The officer who arrested Mr. Scovel called on him last Sunday to shake hands with him and to express his personal regret. The warden of the jail gave him the full limits of the prison. Other prisoners sent things to “Mr. Scovel, the brave American.” Lots of pretty girls call daily to see him. I am inclined to think Mr. Scovel would object to being moved, if he is to stay in prison. His trial will take place at Santa Clara before five judges, but under the Spanish judicial system it probably take two months to reach the end.
The case against him is admitted on all sides to be weak. He has committed no act of rebellion; he has merely refused to observe General Weyler’s edict saying “A state of war exists, and that anyone who travels in the field without a military pass is a rebel. Spain officially insists to our State Department that “war” does not exist in Cuba.
If Mr. Scovel is convicted an appeal will be taken for immediate re-trial. His discharge will be insisted upon. The best local counselor in Santa Clara has been employed to defend him.
The Scovel Case in the State Department.
Hon. A.S. McClure, M.C., is reported in Washington specials to be doing all that he can to aid W.J. Mullins, W.H. Mullins and John McSweeney in their efforts at Washington in behalf of Sylvester Scovel. They interviewed Secretary of State Olney, but the reports from that seem to indicate insufficient interest on his part. Therefore they are hoping for better things from the new administration, particularly in view of President McKinley’s personal acquaintance, and his hearty letter to Senator Sherman, soon to be Secretary of State, introducing the Wooster gentlemen.
The Last Word From Cuba.
N.Y. World Editorial, Feb. 24.
A delayed despatch from Sylvester Scovel, the World’s war correspondent in Cuba, contains the most important official news that has come from the island since the outbreak of the revolution.
It embodies a declaration from President Cisneros and General-in-Chief Gomez, addressed to the World, that the patriot leaders stand by the article of their Constitution which says: “Any treaty with Spain must be definitely based upon the absolute independence of the island of Cuba.” They “cannot admit autonomy or any solution that presupposes the continuance of the sovereignty of Spain.”
They also renew through the World over their signatures, their offer to purchase the freedom of Cuba by an indemnity, and will accept the intervention of the United States as arbitrators on this basis.
Mr. Scovel’s splendidly strong and clear letter leaves no doubt as to the united purpose of the patriots, nor as to the best means of ending the conflict.
Scovel’s Family are Grateful.
Havana, Feb. 25.—The local newspapers print a statement to the effect that the Spanish minister at Washington, Senor Dupuy de Lome, has called here saying that the family of Sylvester Scovel, the correspondent of the New York World who is awaiting trial at Santa Clara on the charge of communicating with the insurgents, have expressed their thanks to Captain General Weyler for the good treatment the prisoner has received while in the custody of the Spaniards.
[look up: “De Lome Letter”]
February 15, 1898 the USS Maine was sunk by explosion in Havana Harbor, Havana, Cuba.
Check out Wikipedia for a complete description of the USS Maine. Wikipedia: USS Maine (1889)
The St. Louis Post Dispatch, available online through newspapers.com, provides the full cataclytic effect of the explosion of the USS Maine.
Wooster Republican
Wooster, Ohio
Monday, 25 April, 1898
War Declared!
House Voted It Today in Only a Minute.
Bombarding Of Havana.
To Begin Without Delay—50,000 Men to Go to Cuba, and Gomez to Help—Britain Orders All Ships Away—The Paris Surely Safe.
Washington, D.C., April 25.—The special Cabinet session to-day was called to review the President’s message asking Congress to formally declare war upon Spain.
The President’s message to the House reviewed the actions of the Spanish and American governments since their diplomatic relations were severed. He then recommends that Congress adopt the joint resolution declaring a state of war in order that the international status of the United States as a belligerent power may be asserted.
The House adopted the declaration of war in little over a minute after the message was received from President McKinley.
Senate Also Declares War.
Washington, April 25.—The Senate Committee on Foreigh Relations have decided to report the War Bill just as it was passed by the House today.
Bombardment to Begin.
London, April 25.—British Consul Gollon at Havana cables the government here that he has been notified by Rear Admiral Sampson that the American fleet will begin today to bombard and to arrange accordingly. Admiral Sampson’s notice simply stated that he intended to begin the bombardment. It is not known whether his ships will confine themselves to the batteries, and after silencing them, take Havana with sailors and marines or will try to compel surrender by shelling the city itself, in answer to the shots the Spanish have fired several times.
This Hits Spain Much the Hardest.
London, April 23.—The British government has given formal notice to both the contending parties that all warships belonging to Spain and the United States must leave British ports within 24 hours. This is in pursuance of her policy of absolute, strict neutrality, giving neither party any advantage over the other by compelling them to depend absolutely upon their own maritime and military resources.
As to Foreign Interference.
New York, April 25.—Some bulletin boards here today announce a report that Chili will join in an attack on San Francisco, when Spain attacks the eastern coast of the United States. Also, that there is a call from Paris for an alliance of the Latin races against the Anglo-Saxon, with a declaration that Austria, Germany, Russia and Italy. It is true that with one important exception there is general Continental condemnation of the United States. This exception is the St. Petersburg Vedomosti, speaking for Russia’s attitude of friendship. It is said that business interests are also ?ing other Continental powers towards the United States.
Call for Hospital Corps Recruits
Cleveland, April 25.—Orders from Washington to enlist all men possible for the Hospital Corps have been received. Men between 25 and 35 years of age are desired.
The Paris is Safe
New York, April 25.—The American line office here has word that the City of Paris is safe from Spanish attack.
Reports from News Centers.
The New York News Bureau with its wire quotations to the Wooster Stock and Grain Exchange, also telegraphs each day the reports current in New York city that affect the market, among them being the following dispatches:
Key West, April 25.—The gunboar Algonquin has arrived here with two Spanish schooners in tow.
Washington, D.C. April 25.—A line of dispatch boars will open connection with Gen. Gomez and the insurgents preparatory to a combined attack upon Havana.
New York, April 25.—It is stated that all American ports are to be closed from sunrise to sunset. This is confirmed at the White Star line offices.
Glasgow, April 25. —The American liner Paris sailed around Scotland and escaped the Spanish warships, so says a special to the New York Press.
Washington, April 25.—It is reported that Secretary Alger has decided to send 50,000 men to Cuba at once to establish operations.
Spanish forts at Havana are firing at our vessels, but cannot hit them.
A History of Wayne County in the World War and in the Wars of the Past
by Edward Harry Hauenstein (1919)
The Spanish-American War 1898
Eighth Regiment Officers
Charles W. Dick, Akron, Lieutenant-Colonel
Edward Vollrath, Bucyrus, Major
Frederick C. Bryan, Akron, Major
Charles C. Weybrecht, Alliance, Major
Wilbert A. Hobbs, Easst Liverpool, Major-Surgeon
George H. Wuchter, Wadsworth, Captain and Assistant Surgeon
Allen V. Smith, Canton, Captain and Assistant Surgeon
Alexander W. Maynes, Akron, Captain and Regimental Adjutant
Herman L. Kuhns, Canton, Captain and Quartermaster
Charles F. Schaber, Bucyrus, Second Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant
George M. Wright, Akron, Second Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant
Andrew T. Weybrecht, Alliance, Second Lieutenant and Battalion Adjutant
Isaiah N. Kieffer, Wooster, Chaplain
James O. Campbell, Wooster, Chaplain
Edward P. Barber, Akron, Regimental Sergeant Major
Edward G. Reid, Bucyrus, Regimental Sergeant Major
Daniel W. Brown, Akron, Regimental Sergeant Major
George Rea, Canton, Regimental Sergeant Major
William R. Palmer, Akron, Chief Musician
Frederick S. McKinney, Wooster, Hospital Steward
Zaddock F. Atwell, Wooster, Hospital Steward
In the short war with Spain which lasted 114 days in 1898, Wayne county sent two companies of national guardsmen, Company D, of Wooster, and Company H, of Shreve, and did her full part in loyally supporting the national government in bringing the conflict to a successful conclusion.
A crisis in Cuban affairs brought on the war. The chief contributing event was the blowing up of the U.S. battleship Maine in the harbor of Havana February 15, 1898. The exact cause of this explosion has always been a matter of doubt, but at the time the blame was placed upon agents of the Spanish government, and a Court of Inquiry appointed by the United States reported that the cause was an external mine.
During the six weeks that followed the blowing up of the Maine conditions moved rapidly towards war.
The sentiment of the people of Wayne county was well expressed in an utterance of Capt. Lemuel Jeffries, a veteran of the Civil war, who was then mayor of the city of Wooster. Mayor Jeffries’ message was telegraphed to the New York World by George Kettler, local correspondent for that newspaper. He said:
“The time has come for this great government to assert its power in the interest of suffering humanity, and to demand of Spain the immediate independence of Cuba.”
On April 20th, President William McKinley, authorized by Congress to intervene in Cuba, using the United States military and naval forces sent an ultimatum to Spain. Spain declared war upon the United States April 24th, and the declaration of war by the United States came the following day.
In the next three and a half months the United States land and sea forces destroyed two Spanish fleets, received the surrender of more than 35,000 Spanish soldiers, took by conquest the fortified cities of Santiago de Cuba, in Cuba; Once, in Porto Rico; and Manilla, on the island of Luzon, in the Philippines; and secured control, pending peace negotiations of the entire Spanish possessions in the West Indies, the Philippines, and Quam, of the Ladrone islands. The Americans suffered no loss of ships or territory, and but 279 killed and 1,465 wounded in battle, while the cost to Spain aside from prisoners, ships, and lost territory, was 2,199 killed, and 2,948 wounded. The cost to the United States in money was $141,000,000.
The Spanish fleet in Manilla bay was destroyed by Admiral Dewey’s fleet May 1, while every vessel of Admiral Cervera’s squadron that attempted to escape from Santiago harbor on July 3rd, was sunk. The biggest land battle of the war was the storming, by the United States regular army troops and New York volunteers of San Juan Hill, July 1st. The American losses were 231 killed and 1,364 wounded. Manilla was captured August 13th, the day after Spain agreed to President McKinley’s terms, which called for the independence of Cuba, cession of Porto Rico to the United States, and the retention of Manilla by the United States pending the final disposition of the Philippines by a joint commission.
Word reached Wooster and Shreve headquarters of Companies D and H of the eighth regiment, Ohio National Guard, on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 20th that President McKinley’s first call for volunteers would be for National Guard organizations, and volunteering began at once. Capt. F.C. Gerlach was the commander of Company D and the Co. H commander was Capt. A.B. Critchfield. Official orders came the following day from H.A. Axline, adjutant general of Ohio, directing that infantry companies be recruited to maximum strength of seventy-five men, rank and file.
The scale of pay for national guardsmen, orders stated, would “be the same per month as the men in the regular army,” which was as follows: Private, $13; corporal, $15; sergeant, $18; first sergeant, $25; quartermaster sergeant, $23; sergeant major, $23; hospital stewart, $45; second lieutenant, $116.83; first lieutenant, $125; captain, $150; major, $208.83; lieutenant colonel, $250; colonel, $291.67.
On April 22nd, Col. C.V. Hard, of Wooster, who was the commander of the Eighth regiment, received instructions to hold himself in readiness for a special call for volunteers. The call was for 125,000, of which Ohio’s quota was 7.248, or just about the strength of the state’s national guard.
The announcement that war existed was made in Wooster at 4 p.m., April 20, by the sounding of the riot call of tan taps of the fire bell. “In just 20 seconds,” says the Republican of that date, “all Wooster knew the long expected, terrible news. The streets were filled with people in a remarkably short time, and again in the evening, when city papers arrived, the streets were thronged, the scenes on the sidewalks reminding one of the stirring excitement of ’61.
“The statement in the Republican that Capt. F.C. Gerlach would be at the armory at 7:30 p.m. to enlist reserve recruits was enough to draw 500 people to recruiting headquarters. The twelve men who had volunteered on Wednesday evening and were mustered in were on hand. Nine others were added, and at 8:30 Capt. Gerlach, Lieut. Barnard and Lieut. Unger formed the recruits in line and soon had the biggest awkward squad that ever stood up in the armory. Col. C.V. Hard saw the drill and expressed his pleasure at the zeal manifested. The war spirit about the square was increased at 9 p.m. when the city guards drum corps filled the air with martial music as they marched through the town with American and Cuban colors.”
The twelve men who volunteered on the first night were: Frederick Leopold, Fisk E. Bowers, George H. Blake, Thomas P. Brown, Harry Branstetter, Fred T. Jackson, Willis A. Trunk, John F. Stotsbury, Chas. W. Frazier Alvin E. Clay, Harvey F. Jolliff and John F. Landers.
The recruits on the second evening were Will H. Boyd, Will A. Stotsbury, Edward Mahaney, George Burg, Will H. Hughes, William Robertson, Ira E. Sidle, Harry Kinkler and William Baughman.
The war spirit showed no decline in the county during the days that followed. Both at Wooster and Shreve recruiting made good progress. Numerous volunteers came from various parts of the county, while some from the northwest part of the county went to Polk. Company C was mobilized there.
Several from north-eastern Wayne county enlisted at Wadsworth and at Akron.
Among the Wayne county men who served in Eighth regiment units organized outside of Wayne county were:
Company C, Polk—Lieut. Kaiser W. Taylor, West Salem; Corporal Wm. F. Marks, Overton; Corporal Charles E. Warner, Pleasant Home; Joseph Berry, West Salem; Charles W. Brownson, Lattisburg; Woodbury W. Gearhart, West Salem; Clarence A. Hider, West Salem; Frank S. McKee, West Salem; John Newton, Fredericksburg; Wilfred B. Schott, West Salem.
Company G, Wadsworth—Charles E. Herst, Creston; John Martin, Orrville; Charles G. McIntyre, Orrville; Wilber J. Tanner, Creston; Harry G. Tuttle, Creston; Clarence Wells, Creston; John S. Lee, Easton; Byron A. Sheets, Rittman.
Company I, Canton—First Lieutenant Dudley J. Hard, Wooster.
An anxiety to be off for war immediately was apparent in the war camps, and the departure was not to be long delayed. On Sunday evening the men of Company D heard Rev. J.Frank Smith, pastor of the Methodist church, in a stirring patriotic sermon, in which he bade them farewell and Godspeed. Drilling went on as usual on Monday and orders were received at 8 p.m. that Companies D and H, as well as Co. A of Bucyrus, would depart on Tuesday, April 26th, for Akron, where the regiment mobilized.
Company H, with eighty men reached Wooster at 7 a.m. Tuesday over the B. & O. and marched to the Ft. Wayne depot where they met Co. A and escorted them to East North street, where the armory doors swung open, and Company D stepped into line.
The three companies received a great ovation. A great parade had been arranged, with Sheriff W.W. Garver as chief marshal, and S.S. McClure as assistant, and the soldier boys were given an escort to the B. & O. depot, where they entrained in a special train of six coaches at 1 p.m. and started for Akron by way of Lodi.
The following organizations participated in the parade: Wooster City Band, C.E. Smith, leader; Canton Wright, Patriarchs Militant, twenty-eight men in line, commanded by Capt. Forbes Alcock; Marshal R.J. Smith; Given Post Drum Corps; Given Post No. 133, 100 veterans in line; veterans of Company D, eighteen men, in command of Lieut. Robert Cameron; Col. C.V. Hard and Chaplain I.N. Kieffer closing up the file; Major Edward Vollrath; Co. A, Bucyrus, seventy-five men, Capt. M.A. Charlton; Co. H, Shreve, eighty men, Capt. A.B. Critchfield; Company D, Wooster, seventy men, Capt. F.C. Gerlach; forty boys of Wooster high school with banner and flags; 110 students of Wooster university with flags, and members of faculty; Hoover Cottage young ladies in tally-ho and carriages; long line of citizens.
Four thousand people saw the departure “with the band playing patriotic airs, the populace waving flags, and cheering like mad.”
The rosters of Companies D and H were as follows:
Captain—Frank C. Gerlach.
First Lieutenant—William E. Barnard.
Second Lieutenant—Gustave W. Unger.
First Sergeant, Arch Dice; Second Sergeant, H.P. Eaby; Third Sergeant, George S. Limb; Fourth Sergeant, Horace W. Miller; Fifth Sergeant, Edwin R. Mann.
First Corporal, Frank Horn; Second Corporal, Webster Horn; Third Corporal, Louis E. Gasche; Fifth Corporal, Charles R. Scott.
Musicians—David R. Drushal, Charles A. Heater.
Privates—Fred A. Schuch, drummer; Charles W. Barnhart, George Webb, James Greist, George W. Brown (student); Harry Plank, Lodi; Fred Jackson, Will Boyd, Sinclair Pennicks, Robert Cameron, Jr.; Louis Christine, Jerome Clark, Edward Conrad, Lyman R. Chritchfield, Jr.; Charles E. Cumberland, Laverne A. Cumberland, William R. Curry, Sterling Funck, George Burg, Quentin Gravatt, Carey W. Grossenbach, Glann W. Hall, Ira Sidle, Clement E. Langell, perrine and Irvin Lautzenheiser, Percy Maize, Harry L. McClarran, Charles McKinney, Charles H. Moses, Roy H. Smith, Thomas R. Stevens, William A. Taggart, Charles A. Unger, Samuel M. Glenn, Jr.; Joseph T. Glenn, Neil Cameron, Harvey Jolliff, Sherman Carr, Harry Kinkler, William Baughman, Edward Mahaney, William Stottsbury, John Stottsbury, Lloyd Naftzger, Frederick Leopold, Fisk Bowers, William Schuch, George Blake, Thomas P. Brown, Harry Branstetter, Charles Frazier, Wayne township; W.S. Bucher, Will A. Lersch, Russell Barnes, Calvin Winebrenner, Harry Miller, Merton Johnson, Ephriam S. Yoder, Weilersville; A.B. Clay, Applecreek; William Hughes, Antonio Altmanns, Frank Sipe, William Conrad, artificer
Captain—A.B. Critchfield.
First Lieutenant—S.M. Swartz.
Second Lieutenant—M.S. Robison.
First Sergeant, P.E. Miller; Second Sergeant, E.A. Funk; Third Sergeant, Sam Manson; Fourth Sergeant, Bert Robison.
First Corporal, Otto Brenneman; Second Corporal, Harley Airhart; Third Corporal, John C. Manson; Fourth Croporal, Henry Miller; Fifth Corporal, C.V. Mohn.
Musicians—Walter Campbell, Harold Hoover.
Privates—Charles Airhart, R.A. Anderson, E.E. Allmeroth, R.L. Armstrong, Earl Butler, Frank Bedford, W.H. Burnett, Thomas Brown, Ernest Berry, Earl T. Beelman, A.L. Bricker, H.S. Brink, George B. Brown, George Biggs, George Barnhill, Charles E. Bird, S.R. Berklew, J. R. Campbell, James R. Cole, Charles E. Clewell, Ben Critchfield, John W. Croker, William M. Close, martin W. Dix, W.H. Douglass, Harvey Douglass, Joseph Duer, Lawrence Derry, George Eberly, G.C. Eberhart, C.W. Farver, John W. Gets, Charles Gardner Edward Genet, Fred Gilbert, Harry Hague, G.L. Happer, R.H. Hanna Charles W. Hudnut, Roland W. Hensel, E.W. Hensel, Arthur Jarvis, Samuel Jones, Samuel Kidd, E.G. Kuhn, Melville Keister, E.A. Kuhn, William Leeper, H.D. Toller, W.H. Linton, Bert Miller, Bert Morrison, Eugene Merkel, D.C. Miley, H.N. McNamara, Bruce N. Pell, D.H. Ports, Thomas C. Patterson, Walter Robinson, James Shurtz, W.F. Smith, Harry Snoddy, Henry Switzer, Owen Shreve, Benjamin Sentel, Alfred Shelly, George W. Stuber, William W. Wood, L.L. Weiker, Harry B. White, OlT. Wyre, A. Welker.
The regiment reached Akron late on the afternoon of the 26th, and on the following day was honored with a great parade. Orders come prior to the parade to the effect that the regiment was to move to Columbus on the 28th. That word was flashed back to Wooster and Shreve, so that on Thursday, when the regiment, traveling in two trains, passed through Orrville and Applecreek, bidding farewell to old Wayne county, great crowds were assembled for the final parting.
One train bearing the greater part of Companies D and H, stopped at Applecreek at 12 o’clock, noon. Horses which had been purchased by Wooster people, were presented to Col. Hard and Chaplain Kiefer, the spokesman being Capt. James B. Taylor.
A letter written by Lyman R. Critchfield just before command left Akron states that the final breakfast there consisted of beefsteak, eggs, potatoes, bread, butter, and coffee.
The regiment reached Columbus at 3 o’clock on the afternoon of April 28th and proceeded to Bullitt park, in the southeast part of the city, where it pitched its tents in Camp Bushnell.
The Eighth was placed in the Second Brigade under Colonel Coit, with the Fifth, Fourteenth and Seventeenth. The men witnessed a near mutiny on their first night in camp, for fully 2,000 soldiers from other regiments were without tents. Only the Eighth and Fourteenth regiments had light on the first night, and all water had to be taken to the camp in sprinkling cards, the city of Columbus having failed to carry out its contract to pipe water to the camp.
On Friday, April 29th, there were 10,000 men in the camp, the majority scheduled to remain for at least thirty days. During the next ten days rigid physical examinations took place, along with daily drilling. The Eighth regiment was recognized as the crack regiment of the camp, and was the first to be mustered into the federal service. The mustering in took place on Friday, May 13th, at 13 minutes after 4 p.m.
On Wednesday, May 18th, the regiment left Camp Bushnell, entraining at 9:30 a.m. for Washington, D.C., or rather Falls Church, Va., eight miles from the National Capital. The camp immediately became known as Camp Alger, named in honor of General Russel A. Alger, who was born and raised at Medina and Akron. It was located near the historic battlefield of Bull Run, and had been planned for a great permanent camp for the training of men for the Spanish-American war.
In this camp the Eighth regiment was assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division of the Second Corps, under command of Col. D. Jack Foster, of the Sixth Illinois. On May 27th President McKinley visited Camp Alger, and reviewed the troops encamped there. The boys from Wayne county had numerous opportunities to take sight-seeing trips to the city.
While the county’s guardsmen were at Camp Alger, Memorial Day came and went, the services back here at home being the most impressive in years. In Wooster Lieut. Mahlon Rouch was president of the day, while the chief address was made by Rev. H.C. Martindale, of Burbank, who was listened to with great interest while he told the story of Dewey’s victory at Manilla; gave Dewey’s order to Gridley, “You may begin firing any time you are ready;” told how each of the ships of the enemy went down. “Havanna bay had its compliment in Manilla Harbor,” the speaker shouted. “Whatever mystery hangs about the dark tragedy of February 15th, there was none whatever about the open battle of May 1. The shapeless wrecks of iron and steel that lie buried beneath the Eastern sea, had a goodly company under the waves of the western ocean, and if you ask me for an epitaph for the sunken Spanish fleet of Admiral Montijo, I answer, ‘gone to find out what sank the Maine.’”
On June 9th, First Sergeant Arch Dice, of Company D, returned to Wooster from Camp Alger to recruit men for the service. Order had been issued to add an average of 34 men to each company, and recruiting stations were opened in each town where companies had been mobilized. Private William Close, of Company H, opened the recruiting station for that company at Millersburg. A “full strength” company was composed of 106 men.
Within two days Sergeant Dice had the names of fifty-six men who were anxious to join the command. Immediate service with Company D was promised. Dr. James D. Beer was examining physician. The recruiting, physical examinations and mustering in of the new men, in all, took seven days. The recruits left Wooster for Camp Alger on June 16th, in the evening, being given an ovation as they departed. A brief farewell talk was given by Capt. Joseph C. McClelland a blind veteran of the Civil war. The thirty-five recruits who left were:
Robert Segner, Jr.; Arthur R. Milham, William G. McClelland, Joseph Kistler, Amos L. Ross, Edward H. Miller, Edward C. Thomen, Wallace K. Criley, Harry A. Jacobs, William Robertson, John P. Myers, Howard R. Albright, Harry L. McClarren, Vernon J. Smith, Charles C. Stottsbury, John T. Swarts, Frank Kostenbader, Ralph W. Eddy, Eddie W. Derr, Charles L. Fortney, New Pittsburg; Thomas D. Brown, Maysville; Willint K. Beckley, Orrville; Floyd H. Plum, Orrville; Jacob T. Fitler, Orrville; Fern R. Naftzger, Burbank; William W. Norris, Smithville; Sharles W. Linberger, Orrville; William W. Graves, Massillon; Samuel E. Weaver, New Pittsburg; O. Earl Immler, Akron; harry M. Heller, Orrville; William B. Swartz, Smithville; Frank G. Gray, Smithville; Howard J. Mosely, Orrville; Edwin G. Emrick, Orrville; Olin L. Smith, Smithville.
The men were in command of Will Robertson, an old member of Company D who had been rejected at the first call. They traveled over the penna lines, and reached Camp Alger the following day.
Clarence Wells and Charles Herst, two Creston boys, enlisted in the Wadsworth company, and went to Camp Alger with that group of new men.
The first sad news Wooster received from Camp Alger was that of the death of the regiment’s beloved chaplain, the Rev. I.N. Kieffer, of Wooster. He expired suddenly on June 23rd in the early morning, death occurring in his tent. Rev. Kieffer was a native of Smithville and was aged 55 years. He was a veteran of the Civil war, and for many years a pastor of the Lutheran church. The body reached Wooster on Friday, and funeral services were conducted on Sunday, June 29th from the home in Bloomington. Rev. Kieffer was buried in Wooster cemetery with full military honors.
Dr. James O. Campbell, pastor of the United Presbyterian church, of Wooster, succeeded Rev. Kieffer as chaplain of the Eighth.
A roster made just before Co. D left Camp Alger, shows the personnel of the command at that time was as follows:
Captain—F.C. Gerlach.
First Lieutenant—William E. Barnard.
Second Lieutenant—Gustave Unger.
Sergeants—Arch Dice, George Limb, Horace Miller, Harry Eaby, Louis Gasche, Frank Horn.
Corporals—Webster D. Horn, Harry Woolman. George M. Swartz, Charley Scott, Cary Grossenbach, Robert Cameron, Jr.; LaVerne G. Cumberland, Charley E. Unger, Perrine Lautzenheiser, Sterling R. Funk, Will R. Curry, Thomas R. Stevens.
Musicians—Charles A. Heater, David Drusnal.
Artificer—Wm. A. Conrad.
Wagoner.—Lloyd A. Naftzger.
Privates.—Howard Albright, John R. Barnes, William Baughman, Willard D. Beckley, George H. Blake, William H. Boyd, George W. Brown, Thomas P. Brown, Harry P. Branstetter, George Burg, William H. Bucher, Jr.; Nathanial Cameron, Sherman H. Carr, Louis Cristine, Charles Christy, Jerome E. Clark, Alvin E. Clay, Edward Conrad, Owen W. Creath, Lyman R. Critchfield, Wallace K. Criley, Chas. E. Cumberland, Eddie W. Derr, Ralph Eddy, Edward E. Emrick, Jacob C. Fitler, Charles L. Fortney, Charles W. Frazier, Samuel M. Glenn, Jr.; Joseph T. Glenn, Quinten M. Gravatt, William Welch Graves, Frank Guy Gray, James E. Greist, Harry M. Heller, William H. Hughes, Earl O. Immler, Harry A. Jacobs, Harvey F. Jolliff, Merton Johnson, Harry Kinkler, Joseph W. Kistler, Frank Kostenbader, Clement E. Langell, Irvin Lautzenheiser, William G. Lerch, Frederick Leopold, Charles W. Linberger, Percy M. Maize, Edward Mahaney, Harry C. Miller, Edward H. Miller, Arthur Milham, Charley H. McKinney, Harry L. McClarran, William G. McClelland, Howard J. Moseley, John P. Pyers, Fern R. Naftzher, Willis W. Norris, Antonio Oltmanns, Harry F. Plank, Sinclair Pinnicks, Floyd H. Plum, Edmund H. Reider, William W. Robertson, Amos L. Ross, William Schuch, Fred A. Schuch, Robert Segner, Jr.; Vernon J. Smith, Olin L. Smith, John F. Stotsbury, William A. Stotsbury, Charles C. Stotsbury, John T. Swarts, William Swarts, Edward C. Thomen, Samuel F. Weaver, George B. Webb, Calvin A. Winebrenner, Ephriam A. Yoder.
Wooster celebrated the Fourth of July in an impromptu manner. Late in the afternoon the news of Sampson’s victory was received and enthusiasm knew no bounds. The chief speeches of the evening were made by Hon. John McSweeney, and Hon. A.S. McClure.
The Eighth regiment reached New York city on the morning of July 6th, after a night ride from Camp Alger, and on the evening of the same day sailed for Cuba, aboard Capt. Sigsbee’s cruiser, the St. Paul. Their first camp in Cuba was on the Aquadores river, near Santiago. On July 16th the regiment encamped on Sevilla Hill. The date of landing was Sunday, July 10th at Siboney.
The first men in the regiment who died on Cuban soil were two enlisted men in Company H, Harry Hague, a son of Dr. I.H. Hague, and Leonard L. Weiker, a son of Jacob Weiker. Malarial fever was the cause of both deaths.
Will Adams, George L. Happer and Moses McDowell, three other members of Company H, died a few days later, word reaching Shreve on August 13th. Yellow fever was given as the cause of these deaths.
Reports rapidly gained circulation at home that conditions throughout the regiment were very bad. A letter from Lyman R. Critchfield, July 24th, served to relieve a part of the anxiety of mothers of men in Company D. He reported this company camped on a high hioll, and free from malaria. His letter, however, was not all joy. “We are getting very tired of this live—nothing to do,” he wrote. “Rain, rain, rain every day, and between rains the sun pours down a regular blaze that only produces more rain.”
Rumors, however, continued to infest the county. On August 15th, a cablegram was dispatched to Col. Hard, of Wooster, requesting him to cable the actual health conditions. Military regulations prevented a reply.
On the Saturday evening, previous, a cablegram received from Capt. Gerlach announced the first death in Company D in Cuba—that of Irvin Lautzenheiser. He was aged 24 years.
Robert Lincoln Armstrong, of Fredericksburg, a member of Company H, and Ward Willford, of Rittman, who had enlisted in Company B at Akron, died August 17th.
Fern Naftzger, 19, of Burbank a Company D man, died at Sebony, Cuba, August 19th.
Up to this time, all letters home had been written in an effort to minimize the illness that had been prevalent through the ranks of the Wayne countians. One who follows the many letters sent home, and news dispatches, fails to find any mention of what later on became the greatest scandal growing out of the war—the criminal inefficiency of the arty supply department, the short rations of unfit food weakening the men so that illness and death would have followed as a natural result even in a healthful climate.
After some weeks in Cuba it became apparent that it was the intention to send the Eighth regiment back to the States, and Montauk Point, L.I., was frequently referred to as the landing point. The following message was sent from Montauk Point to Wooster under date of August 22:
“Colonel Dick, after investigation, issued a statement on behalf of the Eighth regiment urging the sending of supplies to meet the transport here. After similar investigation, I can only echo his call. While matters are getting in shape, I must say that the prospects are not flattering for the reception of the sick soldiers. The call follows: ‘Expect Eighth regiment Wednesday. Will remain quarantined three days. Friends desiring to comfort the sick, send bed sacks blankets, comforts, pajamas, towels, underwear, soap, tobacco, fruits, dried and preserved, fresh lemons, assorted soups cereals, malted milk, anything nourishing and comfortable to wear and to sleep on. Cities interested should cooperate and express shipments to Charles Dick, lieutenant-colonel.’ (Signed) Harry A. March.
Wooster, upon short notice raised $200, and Harry McClarran, Andrew Branstetter, S.H. Boyd and Capt. J.B. Taylor hurried to New York. More money was raised and forwarded later. A sum nearly as large was raised at Shreve.
The Eighth regiment reached Montauk Point on the evening of August 24th, having made the voyage on the Mohawk, and landed on the 26th. A heavy storm swept over the camp on the first night and many tents were blown away. Weird scenes were enacted within the hospital tent.
The regiment during its stay in Cuba, was not in a battle. The fighting was practically over when the Wayne county men arrived. .The time on the fever infested island was spent in two camps. The first was commonly known as Camp Misery. On August 10th the command moved to San Juan Hill, and pitched tents on the top of the hill which had been so gallantly stormed in the action of July 1 and 2.
Under date of August 25th Col. Hard telegraphed from New York that Privates Charles and William Stottsbury, of Wooster; Samuel A. Weaver and Fern R. Naftzger, of Burbank, of Co. D; and Privates Hites, Derry Bricker, Armstrong and Kiser, of Co. H had been left in the hospital at Santiago, ill with fever. Corporal Webster D. Horn was left in a hospital at Siboney. A considerable number of the others in both companies were quite ill when the command landed at Montauk Point. The regiment had a total of 297 men in the hospital when the landing place was reached.
Early Monday morning, August 29th, a special extra edition was issued by the Wooster Republican, printing a telegraphic dispatch from its correspondent, Lyman R. Critchfield, who stated he had visited all Wayne county boys in the hospital, and reported as follows:
Earl Immler, critically ill with typhoid fever; Percy Maize, improving, but very ill with typhoid; Charles Scott, convalescing, very weak; Thomas B. Brown, ill with stomach trouble, not serious; Carey Grossenbach, much better; Russell Barnes, Fredericksburg, improving; Amos Ross, Will Boyd and William Schuch, improving rapidly; James Greist, discharged from hospital; Samuel Glenn and Edward Mahanet, much better; Joseph Kistler, Howard Mosely (Co. D), John Landers and John Kostenbader (Co. H), have malarial fever, not seriously ill; Harry Eaby, Lloyd Naftzger and Eddie started for home last night; Harry Lehman (Co. H), much better; Alvin B. Clay, out of danger.”
During Monday six of the Wayne county men reached home, their physical condition showing great privations. According to The Republican, “Tears welled to the eyes of many in the throng as they gazed upon the terribly emaciated soldiers, who by their weakened forms, tottering steps, haunt looks and hollow eyes, told only too well the sad story of their sufferings and privations.” The men in the group were Corporal George Swarts, Ralph Eddy, Clement Langell, John Rope (Co. H), Albert Riffil and William W. Norris. The boys were given a great ovation, placed in a carriage, and driven to their homes. All of them complained of lack of food.
Private Earl Immler died at Camp Wikoff August 30th.
Lieut. Dudley Hard, Corporal Samuel Burnett, of Shreve, and Lloyd Naftzger returned to Wooster on August 30th, all greatly changed and weakened physically. A number of other men of Companies D and H arrived in Wooster during the next few days.
Private Charles Frazier, of Golden Corners, died at Camp Wikoff Sept. 2nd.
Alvin B. Clay died at Camp Wikoff Sept. 2.
The regiment remained in Camp Wikoff until Sept. 7th, when it entrained, the Wayne County men returning on Sept. 8th. While by a day they missed their share in the conflict of powder they nobly waged a braver battle. They went away, boys in appearance, boys in experience; they returned men, and veterans. It is estimated that 4,000 persons gathered at the Penna depot for the home-coming. The soldiers of Company D were escorted to the armory where a luncheon was served. Company H was given a most appropriate and enthusiastic welcome upon its return to Shreve.
The men in the regiment were not discharged immediately upon returning home. They were given a 60-day furlough, and on Sept. 13th Col. Hard issued orders for the officers and enlisted men of the regiment to assemble in Wooster on November 8th “to be mustered out of the United States service, if the war is really over by that time, or to proceed from here to the front, if the country still needs the services of our soldiers.”
From the middle of September until October 11th the doubt as to whether the command would see further service existed, but on that date a war department order was issued, authorizing the regiment to be mustered out. The days that had intervened saw the return of numerous men of Companies D and H from hospitals in the East, and in Cuba. For several weeks there was great mystery in conflicting reports concerning Fern Naftzger and for a time it was confidently believed that the report of his death was untrue. The death announcement, however, was later confirmed.
The discussion concerning poor food furnished the soldiers continued for many weeks. The men existed principally upon hardtack, canned been and canned tomatoes.
Private Byron A. Sheets, of Co. G, who resided at Rittman, died Sept. 16th, from typhoid fever.
Asa Bert Kiser, of Co. H, died at Shreve, October 14th.
The fact that Wooster was selected as the place for the final muster out of the service, resulted in great preparations here for the biggest military days in the city’s history. On October 20th officers of the regiment met here to arrange for the affair. Local committees were selected to carry out the various details, of housing the men during their stay here. Ohliger Hall, a large barracks was constructed by D.C. Curry on East North Street, being completed just in time for the arrival of the soldiers. Some of the men in the regiment arrived on November 8th, but it was two days later when the main body of troops took possession of the city. A steady down-pour of rain served to reduce the number of spectators, but the men who had been to Cuba were given a fitting welcome. The city was gayly bedecked with flags. Company A, of Akron, Company G, of Wadsworth, and the Eighth Regiment Band were the first arrivals, coming early in the afternoon. The first special train from the west brought 300 blue-clad members of Companies B, Bucyrus; M, Mansfield; and H, Shreve. A second train, coming from the east, brought 350 men of Companies E, East Liverpool; F, L and I, of Canton; and Company K, of Alliance.
A hospital was established in the Jones residence, North Market Street, and was in charge of the Women’s Relief Corps.
The Regiment’s first dress parade in Wooster took place at the fair grounds on November 11th. The 1200 men, with officers on horseback, marching through the streets, made an imposing military spectacle.
Memorial services for the dead of the command were held on the public square on November 16th.
The final muster out, which occurred in the presence of thousands of people, occurred on Monday, November 21st.
Thus more than two hundred men of Wayne County ended a period of seven months of service given to their country. Months filled with hardships and varied experiences, in which the goal they set out for—the battlefield—was missed by a day; but during which they were constantly battling against their invisible enemy—disease—which required stouter hearts than to face the missles of death, human foes would have aimed at them.
A score gave up their lives, victims of fever contracted in a poisonous climate, and the more deadly because of the unfit and scanty food they received; many others never fully recovered from the sufferings of the half-starved days of their army life, so that they have been permanently handicapped in attaining the goals they set in life, which held forth such bright prospects for each one of them.
But they did not die nor suffer in vain. The military machinery of the nation was awakened and spurred to action by the sharp prod of merciless criticism. In 1917 and 1918 Wayne County sent nearly fifteen hundred, (Draft Records show over 2,000), men into army training camps, and, except for the scourge of influenza, the death rate was reduced to a minimum never reached in the armies of any nation.
The remarkable record for the health in cantonments in this country and U.S. army camps abroad during the World War, can be directly attributed to the lesson—costly though it was—which was taught and learned in 1898.
Wooster Republican
Wooster, Ohio
Wednesday, 15 February 1905
pg 8
Death Was Untimely
Harry Sylvester Scovel Died in Havana, Cuba.
The Rev. S.F. Scovel, D.D., on Sabbath morning had a cablegram from Havana, Cuba, which announced the death in that city of his youngest son, Harry Sylvester Scovel, at 7:45 Saturday night. The family here knew that Mr. Scovel was in a critical condition. He had been in poor health the better part of the winter. His trouble was at first pronounced appendicitis and then liver trouble. His condition finally became such that an operation for abscess of the liver was decided necessary as a last resort. He was admitted to the hospital Jan. 24. The operation was performed Jan. 26 and it was thought would result in his restoration to health, but complications ensued and another operation followed a few days ago. A brother, Charles Scovel, of Pittsburg, was with him at the time of his death. Harry Scovel was in his 36th year, and was born near Pittsburg, Pa. He was wedded about six years ago to Miss Frances Cabanne, a member of one of the oldest families of St. Louis, Mo., and who survives him. Rev. S.F. Scovel has sent a cablegram to Havana stating that it was his wish to have the remains brought to Wooster for interment.
Harry Sylvester Scovel has been known to Woosterites ever since his parents, Dr. and Mrs. S.V. Scovel, came to Wooster, at the time Dr. Scovel assumed the presidency of the university. He attended the public schools and the university here and was also a student at one or more of the best military schools of the country. At the latter schools he became especially prominent in military science. He made an ideal “young officer,” being quick, impulsive and of untiring energy. His personal appearance as a young man was quite dashing, and he readily made friends and was an adept at keeping them.
Mr. Scovel spent some time at Cleveland after leaving Wooster. He was a member of the famous troop A of that city and was for two years trumpeter of the troop. He was secretary of the Cleveland Athletic club and was interested in athletics. During the war with Spain he was a correspondent of the New York World and was also attached to the Pittsburg Dispatch. The Dispatch in speaking of him said:
“Although he had distinguished men as his fellows during the stirring days including Richard Harding Davis, Stephen Crane, James Creelman, Edward Marshall, George Bronson Rea and others, it remained for Mr. Scovel to perform those particular deeds of daring and to achieve those clever news feats in Cuba which elicited the admiration of the world.
“Mr. Scovel went to Cuba first as the correspondent of the Pittsburg Dispatch. This was during the stirring times which immediately preceded the declaration of war by the United States and his letters, constituting the only authoritative correspondence issued from the island, were read with the greatest interest all over the United States.
“Later Mr. Scovel became the joint correspondent of the Dispatch and the New York World, and he executed his commissions (without regard to expense) in a series of brilliant news beats up until the fall of Santiago and the close of the war. At the formal lowering of the Spanish flag and the raising of the American standard at Santiago, it will be remembered Mr. Scovel slapped the face of Major General Shafter, commanding the army of the United States in Cuba. This was an act of particular boldness and truly typical of the daring and impulsiveness of the man. It merited instant punishment, even to the extent of promptly being shot, but after being arrested for the act he was subsequently released. Nevertheless, the deceased will go down in history as one of the ablest war correspondents America ever produced and the Dispatch is ready to pay the honor to his otherwise brilliant news record.”
At the close of the war Mr. Scovel located in Cuba, making frequent trips to this country. His last visit to Cleveland was less than a year ago. He had been a representative in Cuba for the Brown Hoisting Machinery Co., and his visit was of a business nature. Mr. Scovel was in Wooster last September on one of his flying visits.
The story of the personal encounter between Mr. Scovel and General Shafter has been repeated so often that it is well known all over the country. Although it made Scovel in bad repute in army circles, it increased his personal popularity for Shafter was gruff and unpopular. During the mustering out of the Eighth regiment Scovel was in Wooster and with his wife attended one of the parades of the regiment at the fair grounds. Here the Eighth regiment boys, who quickly recognized him, gave him three rousing cheers and a tiger. Scovel was extremely generous and many interesting stories of his generosity keep coming back from Cuba where it is stated that he himself suffered privation in order that some friend, and often some one he did not know, might have his burdens lightened.
A cablegram received in the city on Monday evening from Havana, Cuba, announced that Charles Scovel and Mrs. Harry S. Scovel would leave Havana on Tuesday on the steamer Havana with the remains of Harry Sylvester Scovel and that the body would be brought to Wooster for interment. The vessel should arrive in New York on Friday morning and as there is a train leaving the metropolis over the Pennsylvania Lines at 6 p.m. it is believed that the wife and brother will reach the city with the remains at 11:12 a.m. Saturday.
It is expected that the funeral will take place from the train, although this has not been fully settled. Mr. Scovel having been at one time a member of Co. D, Eighth Regt. O.N.G. and having attained honor and distinction in war, Capt. M.R. Limb offered to furnish a military escort. The offer was accepted and Capt. Limb will issue orders to his command for the service. The citizens very generally will be pleased to learn of this and feel that it is an honor due the dead.
NOTE: The obituary is mistakenly cites the Pittsburg Dispatch, which should have read St. Louis Dispatch. Scovel reported for Joseph Pulitzer who owned both the New York World and the St. Louis Dispatch.
Scovel is buried in the family plot in Wooster cemetery.
From findagrave.com, comes this obituary:
Well-known war correspondent during the Spanish American war. He died in Havana from the effects of a surgical operation.
From The State, Feb 27, 1905
Reporter Who Made His Fame Fighting For Cuba Libre
The report of the death of Harry Sylvester Scovel, the noted war correspondent has been confirmed by the receipt of a cable dispatch at Wooster, Ohio, by his father, the Rev Dr S F Scovel. He died in a hospital in Habana as a result of an operation for abcess of the liver.
Sylvester Scovel’s letters and dispatches to The New York World telling of Spanish misrule in Cuba, accompanied by his own photographs that eloquently supported his revelations concerning the wretchedness of the Cubans, were the first to arouse widespread American sympathy and interest for Cuba and its people, eventually resulting in their emancipation. For years, stories of cruelties, misery and manifold wrong had come from Cuba, but they were only half believed, for they were stoutly denied by the Spanish authorities. Fearlessly and with untiring energy he began the work that was to bring about the freedom of the Cuban people.
Scovel attended the public schools of his native town of Wooster, Ohio, and graduated from Wooster University, of which his father was president. In Cleveland he was an instructor in tactics and gymnastics to the City Troop of the State militia and thus became imbued with the military spirit. About a year before war was declared between the United States and Spain, Scovel suddenly left Ohio and was next heard from in Cuba as a of soldier of fortune. He won the confidence of the leaders of the insurrection, living with them in the field and helping to drill the green troops. Meanwhile, from mountain and swamp, by whatever means he could command, Scovel forwarded his stories of the Spanish yoke in Cuba. What first appeared to be exaggerations, he proved to be truth. His stories and photos attracted world-wide attention and the war was on in earnest. Scovel was hated and feared by the Spanish authorities, who daily executed by firing squads bands of captured revolutionaries.
Scovel was under 30 at the time of his Cuban experiences. He was of medium height, well built, with a frank face, beardless and boyish in appearance, and of engaging manners. To the Cubans he was known as Senor Sylvester. He was a bold and dashing figure in the field and was noted for his fiery impulses that several times involved him in serious clashes with the American military authorities.
For more on Scovel, check out
Soapy Smith’s Soap Box, part 1 and
Soapy Smith’s Soap Box, part 2