Chronology


February, 1898.

15.U. S. S. Maine destroyed in Havana harbor.

March.

9.Congress appropriates $50,000,000 for national defence.
16.Meeting of the Eighth Regiment, M. V. M. officers at headquarters in Salem to discuss matter of regiment volunteering in case of war with Spain. Decision was to volunteer.
24.Spanish torpedo gunboat flotilla assembled at Cape Verde Islands.
28.Congress received report of Naval Board of Inquiry declaring that U. S. S. Maine was destroyed by an exterior explosion.

April.

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

May.

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

June.

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

July.

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

August.

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

September.

15.Twenty-First Kansas volunteers of the brigade received orders to prepare for home and muster out.
20.Secretary of War, General Russell A. Alger of Michigan, visited camp and reviewed the troops.
23.Governor Bradley of Kentucky and staff reviewed the troops.
24.Regiment visited Louden Park race track, Lexington, and gave exhibition drill.
26.Twenty-First Kansas regiment departed for muster out at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
27.First Territorial regiment arrived in camp from west.

October.

10.First battalion of regiment sent out on Bryan Pike on account of trouble at Lexington.
11.Men of regiment visited Forepaugh & Sells Brothers circus at Lexington.
20.General Breckinridge turned command over to General Wilson.

November.

10.Regiment transferred to Second Brigade, Second Division, First Army Corps.
Evacuation of Lexington.
12.Regiment arrived at Americus, Georgia, and went into camp.
Krag-Jorgensen rifles arrived.
Thanksgiving day.   Men enjoyed dinner provided by Captain Augustus P. Gardner of Hamilton, Massachusetts.

December.

10.Commissioners at Paris signed treaty of peace.
25.Christmas day. Camp decorated. Men provided with dinner by Hon. George von L. Meyer of Hamilton, Massachusetts.
26.Twelfth New York regiment left camp enroute for Cuba.
31.Orders received for regiment to prepare to move to Cuba.

January.

6.First Battalion broke camp and left for Cuba, via Savannah, Georgia.
8.First Battalion embarked on Transport Obdam from Savannah for Cuba.
Second and Third Battalions left Americus, Georgia, for Cuba, via Savannah.
9.Arrived at Savannah. Fire in freight yard.
10.Second and Third Battalions embarked on Transport Michigan for Cuba.
First Battalion arrived and landed at Matanzas, Cuba.
13.Second and Third Battalions arrived and landed at Matanzas, Cuba.
20.Cuban insurgents laid down their arms. Celebration in honor of event.

February.

20.Regiment participated in parade and reception to General Gomez, Cuban General.
25.Twelfth New York regiment of brigade got orders to prepare for home and muster out.

March.

18.Regiment received orders to prepare for home and muster out.
24.Regiment escorted the Twelfth New York to Transport Meade and watched it embark for home.

April.

3.Regiment embarked on Transport Meade for home.
4.Transport sailed for Boston at 6.30 A. M.
9.Transport arrived at Boston. Regiment disembarked at New England dock and marched to South Armory, being reviewed at State House by Governor Wolcott and staff. Regiment furloughed and companies returned to home stations. Receptions given returning commands.
11.President William McKinley officially proclaimed the war to have terminated.
12.Men of regiment reported for duty from furlough.
19.Regiment furloughed until April 28.
28.Regiment reported for duty at 8.30 A. M. and companies were mustered out in the following order: Companies E, D, G, M, L, K, B, C, F, I, H, and A, Band, field and staff, Colonel Pew.