Monroe County, Wisconsin - Chapter 46: The Spanish-American War, 1912

Tlu' liistoi'v of the two coiiipaiiies in this (^oimty belonp:ing to the Third Regiment,AVisconsiu National Guard, is, of course, the history of the Third AViseonsin Volunteer Infantry in the Spanish AVar. While at intervals either Company L or Company K may have been on detached service for a short time, upon the whole the companies were with the regiment and participated with it in the campaign in Porto Rico. A¥hen tlic news was flashed over the Avires that war had been declared by the United States against Spain, patriotic feeling was kindled all over the country and the excitement attending these times was very great in every town in which a military company was located. The call by the President for volunteers required three regiments of infantry from the state of Wisconsin and orders were at once wired to the three regiments then organized to prepare for war. It was necessary, of course, under the law, as it then stood, that each company and each individual in each company should volunteer, and when the call came to the companies of the Third Regiment about the 26th day of April, 1898, the companies, L and K, almost to a man volunteered and Avere ready to go to tlie front. On the night of the 27th and 28th of April orders were issni'd by telegraph by the governor ordering the Third Regiment to mobolize at ]\Iilwaukee on the following day, and the 28th of April found the Third Regiment complete and assigned to eaiiip at the state fair grounds in jMihvaukee, the various companies being quartered in the horse barns, which were very comfortable for this purpose. "Camp Harvey," as it was known, has many memories in the minds of those who were there ; the anxious days preceding the I)hysi('al examination, to know whether one would be accepted or re.ieeted, the drills and parades, and the thousands upon thousands of people who came to see the soldier Iioys. all coml)ined to make the two weeks of this camp one long to be remembered. On tlie nth day of Alay. ]8n8, Ca])t. AVilliam L. Buck, of the United States Army, mustered into the service the Third Wisconsin Infantry and from that time forth it became the Third Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and it was tlie first regiment to be mustered into the service of the United States from AVisconsin. Orders were received soon after to proceed to Chickamauga Park, near Chattanooga, Tenn., and on the morning of ]May 14th the first section of the special train containing the third battalion, headquarters, and staff left Camp Harvey, passing through the Soldiers' Home, where the old veterans were lined up on the lawn on each side of the track, truly a pathetic sight and one which affected every man who saw it. Down through Chicago into the state of Indiana, passing through historic battlefields in Tennessee, arriving at Chickamauga on the morning of the 16th of May, detrained Lytle, Georgia, the railroad station at the park, the regiment was assigned to camp ground on the Kelly Field and went into camp. The regiment was assigned to the First Brigade, First Division, First Army Corps, under the command of Brigadier General Andrew Burt ; afterwards General Burt was sent South and Brigade General 0. H. Ernest was assigned to the command of the brigade, which was later made up of the Second and Third Wisconsin and the Sixteenth Pennsylvania, although the brigade was first composed of the Third Wisconsin, Fifth Illinois and First Kentucky.

Several weeks were occupied at the camp waiting for the mobolization of other troops before proceeding to the front and the time was taken up with drills of all kinds, parades and reviews, in all of which the regiment received high praise from the corps commander, General Brooke, for its soldierly appearance and the personnel of the men. Orders came July 4th for the regiment to march to Ringgold, Ga., there to entrain and proceed South. On July 5th the march was taken up, the regiment arriving at Ringgold on the evening of that day, in connection with the Second AVisconsin, and was taken by three special trains to Charleston, S. C, and there quartered in large cotton warehouses on the sea front.

The Third Wisconsin held a dress parade soon after its arrival on Marion square, in front of the statue of Calhoun, and it was the first dress parade of Northern troops ever held in the city of Charleston. The people of Charleston evidently had become thoroughly reconciled to the results of the AYar of the Rebellion, for the troops everywhere met a hearty reception and it was an inspiring sight indeed when the regiment, dressed in its best, swung into the street leading to Alarion square headed by Dana's magnificent Third Regiment Band playing "Dixie," to see the stars and stripes waving everywhere, out of the windows, and to hear the cheers of the people as the regiment swung by. AVliilc at Charleston practice inarclies were ordered l\v General AVilson, the division commander, which v.rought much harm to the health of the men. The hot nights iu these large warehouses, with no air stirring, was not a good condition for sleeping and the men became jaded and were ordered upon these marches as some sort of a test, which both resulted disastrously; many men in all of the companies were overcome by the heat and fell by the roadside and afterward required considerable treatment and in some cases healtli was entirely shattered. Bad food, bad quarters and the hot days undoubtedly all combined to help produce this result, but it was a cruel thing to order such a march and one which was severely condemned, not only by the civil but by the military authorities. The editor cannot refrain from commenting, as a result of his experience, upon the inefficiency of the quartermaster's department in this campaign; often by political appointment some senator's son, who didn't know a side of pork from a can of beans, was appointed chief quartermaster commissary and spent his time swelling around in a new uniform while the men starved ; for it is a fact, that right in the city of Charleston, during the ten days this regiment spent there, there were times when the men. in the midst of plenty, didn't have enough to eat.

Orders came at last to go to the front and reinforce General Shafter in Cuba. The ''Obdam" steamed into port. Orders were issued to load the entire regiment with their horses in this boat, w^hich was folloAved by the "Duchess," having on board the Second Wisconsin. The orders Avere changed, however, to go to Porto Rico and reinforce General Miles, instead of Cuba. The trip South cannot be called a delightful one, for here, more so than ever, was the inefficiency of the commissary department notable, for the men actually suffered for the want of food on the voyage.

On the morning of July 26th the ''Columbia," one of Uncle Sam's warships, came racing around the high land of Porto Rico with the information that General ^Miles had lauded at Guanico on the previous day and was Avaiting for the regiment. Grim and business like, indeed, was this warship, with its gray paint, and showing the marks received at the battle of Santiago. The next morning the "Obdam" arrived at Guanico, a most beautiful little harbor, Avhich looked for all the Avorld like a piece of stage setting with its luxuriant foliage rising out of the still waters of the bay. Orders Avere issued to capture the city of Ponce, farther

On the morning of the 27th the "Obdam" steamed into the harbor of Ponce, having been preceded, however, by the Massachusetts battleship and the cruisers Gloucester and Dixie ; and orders were issued to disembark, with the Third regiment leading the way, and capture the city. The harbor and surrounding territory was shelled by the gunboats, and the Third AYisconsin landed in lighters, without resistance. Detachments were dispatched here and there to hold strategic points, and the regiment took up its march to the city of Ponce, up the paved road, through the magnificent tropical scenery of this beautiful little island. Reaching the city they marched through paved streets, the city having water works and electric lights, much to the astonishment of the boys. They had not expected to see a modern city in this island. Arriving at the plaza amid the noisy acclaims of the inhabitants, who everywhere were frantic with joy, waving flags, embracing each other with many "viva Ameri cano." After a short halt the regiment marched out into a field west of the city and camped upon ground belonging, before that time, to the little King of Spain, and its first night on the foreign soil was spent sleeping under the blue sky for a camp.

The editor secured that day a copy of a native paper, published principally in the Spanish language, but having in one or two columns an account printed in quaint English of the landing of the American troops, which is herewith quoted.

"On the 27th inst., at 2 p. m., a fleet approaching the port w^as signalled from the signal hill, and truly from all the roofs and points of vantage of the city could be seem three ships nearing our harbor at great speed, of which two were apparently transports and the other a tug. It did not take them long to come into port and anchor. After a while a boat was seen to leave the side of one of the ships bearing a white flag reached the shore shortly afterwards with an officer, who on landing bent his steps to the captain of the port's ofiice in search of the military commander of the town for whom he had a despatch.

"The captain of the port answered him that he had no military jurisdiction and sent for the military commander, residing up town here, to take delivery of the despatch brought by said officer. At about this time a small volunteer force got into posi- tion near the custom house and the two companies of the regulars. Avhich on tlie first alarm of the approach of the American tieet had been ordered to the port, -were stationed on the road leading from here to the harbor. With the latter forces came the late military commander of this district, Colonel Sanmartin.

"On the latter being informed that there was an American officer bearing, under flag of truce, a despatch for him. he replied that without direct authority from the governor general he could not receive it. On getting this reply the American officer informed the captain of the port that he Avould give half an hour's grace for the military commander to come and take delivery of the despatch.

"In the meantime >ianmartin had come up town and had a conference with the governor general by wire, laying before him the state of affairs. But as the hour fixed by the American officer was drawing to its close, and he threatened to return on l)oard Avitli the despatch undelivered, two members of the counsular body - Messrs. F. ]M. Toro. British vice consul, and P. J. Rosaly, vice consul of the Netherlands - went down to the port together with our mayor - ^Ir. R. U. Colom - and one of our citizens - ^Ir. P. J. Fournier - with the ob.ject of requesting an extension of the time fixed by the officer to await the reply of the governor general.

"It seems that the latter 's answer to the military commander was that he should do his duty ; by which, we suppose, he implied that resistance should be made, in spite of the immense superiority of the invading forces and of the fleet, which, by this time, had increased by the arrival of several vessels more. As the American commander grew impatient at the non-return of the first boat sent ashore, they sent another, bringing two officers and a squad of soldiers, who bore with them the American flag and two rockets for sigalling, we presume, in case of need. Said officers with the squad and flag advanced as far as the very door of captain of the port's office; but the British vice consul requested that the soldiers should Avithdraw to the sea shore, the officer with Old Glory, etc.. remaining, however, at the door of the building. The consular and other officers entered the building. They were there received by the captain of the port, who, by the way, was dressed in a soiled white drill suit witliout any insignia to denote his rank. The German vice consul - ^fr. 11. C. Fritze - .-joined his colleagues of England and the Netherlands in their good offices in the matter, together with the American merchant. !Mr. Lucas Valliviese.

"Said consuls began to work to bring about the surrender of the town (which had been demanded at discretion), in their desire to avoid bloodshed and damage to the town, as the Spanish forces Avere insignificant, compared with tJiose of the United States and besides the Spaniards having no defensive works or artillery to answer the fire of the fleet. At about 10 p. m. it was rumored that an armistice had been arranged, in virtue of which the Spanish forces would evacuate the town and that the American troops would not land Avithin a stipulated time to allow the former forces to get well on their way to Aibonito. It was reported that this arrangement was firm and the people began to treat more freely about the peaceful solution of the conflict. But unhappily their joy was of short duration as - about 1 a. m. - - it began to be noised about that the governor general had deposed the military commander, Sanmartiu, ordering him to give up the command to the lieutenant-colonel of the Civil Guards, instructing the latter to offer resistance to the invading forces.

"On this becoming known the alarm was great among all classes, and the exodus to the neighboring country, which had already begun in the afternoon and evening, was immense, approaching nearly to a panic. But the vice consuls continued their labors to obtain that the armistice arranged with Colonel Sanmartin by them should be respected and kept in good faith, and the representative of England and Germany protested against its being broken and brought to bear on the negotiations all the weight that their nations represent.

"The lieutenant-colonel of the Civil Guard on his part, seeing the impossibility of resistance to the powerful fleet of the enemy, which had been reinforced by several ships more, with the means he had at his disposal, decided at length to evacuate the town, retiring with all the forces under his command, by the road leading to the interior of the island.

"As soon as this decision was arrived at the retreat began, but not before attempting to set fire to the railroad station, in M'hich they only succeeded in burning a few cars. But even after the retreat there was anxiety among the inhabitants, as it was reported that the powder magazine of the barracks would be blown up before the Spaniards left the town definitely; we are happy to say that this did not happen.

"The town was left in charge of the local first brigade, who undertook the duty of keeping order, but their services were not called upon that night, nor has been since, as not the slightest disturbance has taken place. Ponce gave proofs of its good sense as usual. At dayhi-rak the next morning a half dozen men of the American forces hoisted the Stars and Stripes on the custom house together Avith the headtjuarter's tiag of the commander in chief. Later llic flag was unfurled over the town liall.

"Tlie landing of the troojjs began aiul were distributed about in accordance with instructions of the American commanders. The people welcomed the American forces as liberators and friends and with the greatest demonstrations of joy and heartiness.

"The commander of the expeditionary forces decided that the municipal and judicial authorities should remain at their post as well as the local police and the employees of the custom house, which later is in charge of Colonel Ilill, appointed inspector of the port and customs. The American troops have entered this town with the greatest order and are fraternizing Avith the people. Said troops later relieved the fireman at gu;ird duty at the city prison and other places.

"The political prisoners have been set at lil)erty and among them our friends Messrs. Santiago Geraldino, Rodulfo Figueroa, Jose Hilaria Roche and others. AVe heartily congratulate them all. The inhabitants that had gone into the country have gradually begun to return to town, in which the greatest order prevails.

"At the town hall there took place an incident worthy of mention. Mr. Figueroa, who had l)een just sot free, went up to the Seasions hall and unslinging tlie porti-ait of the queen regent with the king and the crown which overtopped them, attempted to throw them over the balcony, saying: 'There go the remnants of Spanish domination.' But an American officer who was present interfered in a friendly way, requesting that said picture and crown should be given him as a historical memento of the occasion, which request was immediately granted."

Notice. "To this office has been brought a hat belonging to one of the guards of the army at present in the city. Tt is marked R. J. Bilie, Fort AVingate. X. AT. AVe hold same at the disposal of said guard."

Colonel Sanmartin was in charge of the Spanish troops at the city of Ponce. At the time of the advance of tlu^ American troops he and his men Med along the military highway lowards the northern i)art of Ihe island, leaving the Spanish barracks, a fine large building, cai)able of housing a reginuMit. with nil its furnishings, including the Spanish flags and sonu> uniforms and equipments, and all of his own household furniture; afterwards Colonel Sanmartin was sentenced to death bv a court nuirtial for not defending the eity, but it was afterwards changed to life impi'isonment. After a few days' stay in camp at the city of Ponce, Avhere the regiment was fully equipped with new "Krag" rifles, orders were given to proceed to the front and early in the morning of the 7th of August the regiment started on its march to meet the enemy and arrived in front of Coamo on the evening of August 8th ; outposts were thrown out, almost being in touch with the Spanish troops. Company K under Captain Warren being sent out to the front. It was important that this city be captured and a careful plan of campaign was laid out by General Ernest and the commanders of the Second and Third Wisconsin and Sixteenth Pennsylvania, comprising the brigade. To understand the battle of Coamo a description of the city and surrounding country is necessary; the land is very hilly along the entire south coast and towards the west it becomes mountainous. Coamo is eight miles from the seashore and is situated in a pocket of high hills; these hills are a guard to the city, being covered with ravines and clitfs which in many places are impassable. An advance on the city by any other way than the roads leading to the toAvn is next to impossible ; three roads lead toward the city; from the southwest is the San Juan road leading from Ponce, from Coamo to San Juan; this road takes a northeasterly direction from the city towards Aibonito ; from the south is a road leading from St. Isabel, the road having been named after the town; on all of these roads the Spanish government had built many culverts and bridges to cover ravines and streams ; the work was done with great care and the bridges were very substantial ; the roads are all macadamized and are like boulevards ; on the outskirts southwest of the city is a block house situated between the San Juan and St. Isabel roads. From the block house the Spaniards had a clear range of the valley leading towards the city and in this block house the enemy was lodged and from there the Spanish had shut off former attempts to enter the city. Company K, as has been stated, and Company G of Wausau were posted on the high hills commanding the San Juan road and had a full view of the block house and the city; all night a vigilant Avatch was kept on the Spanish, but they made no demonstration. The commanders were given their instructions for march on the; day previous. At four o'clock in the morning the troops w^ere awakened, men were ordered to take their guns and belts, haversacks and three meals and their poncos, leaving the rest of the equipments behind. It was yet dark and at -4:30 breakfast was served; the men were in high spirits, only the sick Avoro s.ad ; 1 rouble was brewing niul at last we w^rc within touch of the enemy; the Second and Third Wisconsin were iudil back and the Sixteenth Pennsylvania was sent l\y a detour to get in the rear of the city and there attack the enemy should they retreat; all the American forces had camped before the city on the San Juan road two miles st)uthwest of it. At 5:80 iu llie inoiiiiiii;' 1lie Sixteeiilh Pennsylvania had started for its position and after a wait until six o'clock the Second and Third were ordered to move; taking a position in the valley near the San Juan road. Lancaster's battery had from there a clean sweep of the block house and also commanded the range for firing into the city. The Second and Third "Wisconsin supported the battery on the left, the Second being nearest to it. General Ernest and staff had taken a position on the hills where Captain AVarren and the Tomah men had acted as pickets during the night and from here he directed Colonel ]Moore where to move his regiment; he was to take the Third to the south of the town and advance by way of the St. Isabel road, cutting off all escape from that direction, (\iptains AVrrren and Abraham and their companies had been left ))ehind on outpost duty, and Captain Hommel, of Neillsville. with his company guarded the camp at Jnana Diaz, so that the Third only had nine companies in the field. IMajor Richards liad two companies of his battalion left, Company D of INIauston, Captain Turner and Company F of Portage, Captain Lee, and was assigned to lead the advance. INIajor Kircheis followed with the Second Battalion consisting of Company B, Captain Schultz, La Crosse; Company M, Captain Peck, La Crosse; Company L. Captain ^IcCoy, Sparta, and Alajor George Avith the First Battalion, composed of Company Y., Captain Ballard, Eau Claire; Comjiany C, Captain Kiney. Hudson; Company I, Lieutenant Smith. AVest Sui)erior; the Second Regiment followed to the letl ; the movement began at (i:30; the battery had taken its position and IMajor Richards ami Lieutenant Colonel Saloday of the Second sent out their skirmishes. They stretched out toward the hills covering nearly a mile and cautiously the advance on the hills south of the town began. At exactly five mimites past seven the first shell from Lancaster's battery was fired and at the third shot the range of the block house, having been gotten, it was set on fii'e. AVith the advance began the opening of tire by the Spaniards and the AVisconsin troops were for the first time engaged in battle; the men in the advance skirmish line crept through the Avet grass which was high enough to almost hide them from view; the regiment f(^l-

The skirmishers and their squads had gone about 60 yards when General Ernest moved from the hill in which he had stationed himself and went over to the battery. It was then seven o'clock and it was decided that the Pennsylvania regiment had by that time arrived in rear of the city. "With the opening of fire by the battery the battle became lively and when the block house was set on fire by shells the Spaniards retreated along the road back into the city; while the battery was shelling the block house INIajor Richards had advanced the skirmishers towards the east and was within range of the hills on Avhich the Spanish outposts were stationed. Thoroughly aroused at this time by the boldness of the Americans in shelling the block house the Spaniards opened fire on the skirmishers and the bullets whistled thick and fast over the heads of Captain Turner's men; but they were poAverless to return the fire, because under the cover of the heavy brush the Spaniards could not be seen ; with the retreat of the Spanish troops the advance of the Second and Third AVisconsin, which up to this time had been comparatively smooth, now became difficult ; ravines, rivers, groves with deep underbrush and other obstructions were soon encountered, scarcely had one obstruction been overcome than another was met with ; then came the river and the bluffs. ])oth sides of which were so steep that for a time it was thought impossible to reach the other side. The block house had long before been deserted and now the infantry fire of the Sixteenth Pennsylvania was heard. The advance skirmishers of the Third climbing the bluffs Avith the guns in one hand and with the other holding on to vines that hung over the cliffs, to hold themselves not knowing what awaited them below, nor did they care ; once below the river was waded and a march through a cornfield brought them to the St. Isabel road leading to the town where the Second Regiment and Second Battalion of the Third Regiment Avere coming along the road. Adjutant Holway and Major George leading the First Battalion on the other side of the river ; scouts were sent out to see the effect the artillery fire had; the terrible result of it Avas seen; on reaching the river both regiments crossed the stream, the Third taking the lead and up the road toAvard the city Avhere the Spanish had tried to bloAV up several bridges, but in their haste had not been successful. The AVisconsin troops Avere noAV Avithin a mile of the toAvn and natives came out to meet them; Avord came that the Spaniards had deserted the place and Avere l)eing ongagfed liy tlic Peniisylvaiiia regiment on the outskirts towards the west. Tired and wriwy, yet the l^adgcr men liurried on, still spoiling for a tight. As the Third entered tlie town many natives came out Avaving white tlags, they cheered the Americans, and it was a repetition of the entrance into Ponce; in the streets Spanish I'ntrenchments were encountered which Avere made by digging a ditch and piling u[) hags of sand and in some instances iron water pipes and sewer pipes; the barracks were soon reached Avliere the natives Avere found in control, tearing everything that Avas Spanisli to pieces, shoAving their utmost hatred for Spain. Stores Avere closed, many merchants had fled and the toAvn Avas on the A'ery verge of starvation, ttie Spanish soldiers had taken all they needed and the country folks had not brought any eatables to toAvn for over a Aveek, being afraid of the soldiers.

The Third Regiment flag Avas raised over the town, and soon Avord came that the Pennsylvania regiment had routed three hundred Spanish regulars ; the Spanish troops, thoroughly frightened by the advance of the Third Regiment, had attempted to flee toAvards the north and had run directly into the trap set for them ; a sharp but decisiA'e skirmish engagement in the brush took place at Avhich Major ]\Iarlinez, commander of the Spanish troops made a gallant etfort to hold his position flying up and doAvn his line like a mad man, thereby making a target of himself which soon resulted in his being shot from his horse, pierced in many places. The Spaniards lost six killed, tAvelve Avounded and one hundred and fifty prisoners and about one hundred and thirty-five Spaniards escaped by taking to the hills and later some of them surrendered.

The regiment took possession of the city and established a camp on the military road about a mile beyond the city limits; it Avas necessary to hold a large bridge over Avhich the Spanish had retreated up the road, leading to Aibonito pass Avhere the Spaniards had their stronghold and immediately ]Major Kircheis was sent to the front about four miles to hold this bridge having under his command Company D of ]\Iauston, Captain Turner; Company F, Portage, Captain Lee ; Company L, Sparta, Captain McCoy; Company ^1. T^a Crosse, Captain Peck. The enemy held this pass Aviiicli led through the Sierra Del Sur ^Mountains and Avere thorougldy intrenched on three hills Avhich commanded the pass and the road leading doAvn the mountain; ^Major Kircheis occupied the position beyond th(^ bridge and thrcAV outposts into the hills covering the position thoroughly and on August 12

Lancaster's battery was ordered to the front to shell the enemy as it was deemed impossible for infantry to make a charge upon the hills in order to capture the Spanish position ; the road which led toward their outposts was almost a crest of a mountain, and before the artillery could get into position it came into full view of the Spanish outposts and also of those behind the entrenchments. The battery as it advanced up the road was fired upon by the Spanish with their artillery, which seemed to be rather an obsolete kind, but which threw shells more or less effectively. The Spaniards changed their range from the battery and directed their fire toward the infantry, who were holding their line, all Wisconsin men, as before stated. About one dozen shells were thrown when a shell burst in the midst of Captain IMcCoy's Company L, which was stationed on the hill sloping toward the outposts headcjuarters, and Corporal Swanson, Company L, and a private of the same company were killed by the explosion, Corporal Yanke and Corporal Bunce were wounded. The artillery was now under a heavy fire from the enemy. Three pieces were stationed in the field below the road and opened fire on the entrenchments. General Wilson and staff then arrived and directed the infantry to cease firing on account of the long range, but the Spaniards continued to shoot at the Portage and La Crosse troops ; when the battery had fixed its distance the cannonade on the earthwork soon had its effect and whole companies of Spanish infantry could be seen leaving and after an hour's firing directly on the position held by the Spanish fieldpieces they were compelled to retire. During the time that the artillery was firing the Spanish had also continued to shell the infantry stationed aloiig the hills ; finally everything seemed to be silenced and the guns of the battery were ordered to move further up the road with Company F under Captain Leo as support.

As the horses and cannon dashed toward the enemy's position followed by the Portage troops they Avere surprised by a storm of bullets from a company of Spanish infantry and several shells from the hills, showing that the Spaniards were still in full possession of the position. The Portage company with the battery were obliged to fall back under a heavy fire which, however, caused only a few slight wounds, and the artillery then being out of ammunition, they were obliged to withdraw from the field. The Spanish had left their entrenchments and concealed themselves in a banana field ; it was almost impossible to locate them at first as they used smokeless powder with the ^lauser rifles.

TIr'V retreated into the hills, however, and the engagement ended with the Spanish still in their position and nothing gained for the American troops.

General Wilson determined to attack Aibonito pass by going through the mountains; a mule pack train was sent up to the Third Infantry and it was ordered to prepare for an early march tiirougli llie mountains by way of the trail in an endeavor to drive the enemy out of Aibonito and capture the pass and the cit3^ Ammunition and two day's rations were issued ready for the start at daylight. Colonel ]\Ioore called his officers together and stated that the Third would lead the assault up the mountain and that it would be the hardest piece of work yet ast^igned to the regiment and dismissed them Avith the statement, made in that positive way he had, of ""SVe will take that pass or there will be lots of room at mess for those Avho come back." An hour before daylight bugles rang out the reveille, the regiment had its breakfast, packed its packs, ammunition and rations, filed out into the road and awaited the order to start on their perilous march. AVhile waiting for the connuand to move a horseman was seen rushing up the road from the city, where the military telegraph station was located, waving in his hand a despatch, which was found to be ncAvs from the War Department that the peace protocal had been signed and that officially the fighting was over. While it was fortunate and saved the lives of many score of brave AVisconsin boys, still the news came as a disappointment, for the fighting blood of the Old Third was up. and on the face of every man w^as seen a determination to do his full share, whatever the result might have been.

After this, white fiags were put out by' both the Spanish and American troops, and the Aveary routine of camp life and Avaiting began, Avith nothing to do but establish outposts. Avith occasional drills for the sake of the health of the men. Still the malarial fever began to get its grip on these Wisconsin boys and the brigade hospital became larger than the l)rigade camp, and here is giA^en two sets of figures. While they are not official, they Avere gathered from a reliable source and are taken from a little l)ook published by Emanuel Rossiter. being a history of Company I of the Third Regiment: On September 13tli, out of the strength of the regiment there Avere 126 men sick in hospital, 200 sick in quarters and 128 sick in other places, making a total of 454; and to shoAV the increase of this terrible disease, just six days after that, on the 19th of September the reports shoAV 138 men sick in hospital, 413 men sick in quarters, 148 men sick in other places, 18 left for home invalided, 12 men died in Porto Rico, a total of 729. These were dark days indeed for the Third, for in August the Second Wisconsin was sent home but the Third, being still considered efficient, was held for whatever duty might arise and the dreary routine of waiting pulled heavily on the spirits of officers and men ; but the Third exhibited its sterling worth and when the order came to march from Coamo through to San Juan, there to take part in the formal exercises of raising the flag over the island of Porto Rico, great was the rejoicing, and upon the morning that the march began the editor, sitting on his horse beside Lieutenant IMcDonald. a surgeon of the regular army detailed for duty with the Third Regiment, watched the men as they swung out of the field and into the road, men who were indeed men in looks, some of them with lined faces, who had enlisted a few months before as mere boys, and Lieutenant IMcDonald said after the last company had gone by: "There are 600 men which you cannot kill with a club."

The brigade, consisting of the Sixteenth Pensylvania and the Second AVisconsin, reached Cayey on the 3d of October after a three days' march and here on the 4th orders were received to return to Ponce to take transports for home ; and returning over the same road, reaching Ponce a few days later, where the regiment was very comfortal)ly quartered in camps left by a regular regiment of infantry which was ordered away, the tents being left standing. Here the men rested for several days visiting the city, busily engaged in picking up souvenirs to carry home, waiting for the transports to arrive. On October 20th the "i\Ianitoba," a fine ship, came into the harbor at Ponce and the regiment was ordered to pack up, go aboard and start for home.

True to its record, the Third, instead of straggling down to the harbor, as had been the case with a regiment or two which had gone home before, packed its baggage, swung into column and, headed by the pitiful remnant of Dana's once famous Third Regiment band, marched proudly through the city with the same old swing, cheered mightily by their old friends, the First Kentucky, which had arrived on the island, and the Nineteenth Regular Infantry. Quickly they loaded everything on the "Alanitoba," laid in the harl)or that night for the sole reason, as was told, that it was Friday night and no sailor would move on that night, and the next day, October 22d, started the journey for home. This proved to be a record breaking passage of four and one-half days, and on the evening of the 26th of Octolier the twinkling lights along the Jersey shore were greeted witli great shouts of liappiness. for at last, after many trials, it looked like home. Held in quarantine that night, the ship steamed into the harbor the next morning, "where it was met by Governor Scofield himself, Avho came on board the vessel and had words of great praise for tlic conduct of the regiment. On the 28th arrangements were fully completed for the regiment and three special trains of sleepers started for home on the West Shore railroad, and on their way stopped at ^Milwaukee where a loyal banquet was served to every officer and man by the city of Milwaukee, and here the troops were distributed, going to their various home towns.

Later on they Avere mustered out by companies along in January, 1899, being visited at their home stations for that purpose by regular army officers detailed to muster out the companies and pay them in full. The total strength of the regiment was 1,353, of Avhom two men were killed in action, three wounded and forty-one died of disease. The colors carried by the regiment during the Spanish war are now at ^ladison in the capitol building in the case with flags of the Rebellion. The regiment was reorganized in a few months afterwards with Orlando Holway as its colonel and is now and has been ever since a part of the National Guard, in which Companies L and K have made good records.