RECORD OF INDIANA VOLUNTEERS IN THE SPANISH AMERICAN WAR

1898-1899

     (5) AN ACT to provide for the printing, binding and distribution of the records of Indiana Volunteers in the Spanish-American War, and declaring an emergency.

     SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana, That the Adjutant-General of the State of Indiana is hereby empowered and directed to cause to be prepared, printed and bound, ten thousand (10,000) copies of the records of the Indiana Volunteers in the war with Spain, and the same distributed as follows: One (1),copy to each volunteer officer and soldier from Indiana in the war with Spain, three (3) copies to each member of the Sixty-first General Assembly of Indiana, two (2) copies to each of the adjutants-general of the several States and Territories of the United States, one (1) copy to each public library in the State of Indiana, one (1) copy to each of the State libraries in the United States, fifty (50) copies for the departments of the general government at Washington, three (3) copies to each member from Indiana in the Congress of the United States, two (2) copies to each State officer and deputy State officer of Indiana, and such other distribution as may best serve the interest of the State.

     SEC. 2. There is hereby appropriated, out of any moneys in the State treasury not otherwise appropriated by law, the sum of four thousand dollars ($4,000), or so much thereof as may be necessary to defray the expense of preparing, printing, binding and distributing the said records, which fund shall remain in the State treasury and be drawn on the voucher of the adjutant-General, approved by the Governor, for any expense under the provisions of this act: Provided, That the said appropriation shall remain in force until the said records are
completed.

     SEC. 3. An emergency exists for the immediate taking effect of this act, therefore the same shall be in force from and after its passage.

     At the beginning of the fiscal year, 1898, the National Guard consisted of forty-one companies of infantry and three batteries of artillery, with an aggregate of 2,822 officers and men. On December 31, 1897, a company of infantry was mustered into the State service at Brownstown, and on April 21st., one at Huntington. On or about April 1st war between the United States and Spain being imminent, company commanders were instructed to recruit their companies up to the maximum number of eighty-four.

     Meanwhile the clouds of war were growing darker and darker, until April 19th, when congress passed resolutions of intervention, which were approved on the 22d, and on the 23d the President issued his proclamation, calling for 125,000 volunteers to serve in the army of the United States for two years, unless sooner discharged; as follows:

     WHEREAS, A joint resolution of Congress was approved on the twentieth day of April, 1898, entitled "Joint resolution for the recognition of the independence of the people of Cuba, demanding that the government of Spain relinquish its authority and government in the island of Cuba, and to withdraw its land and naval forces from Cuba and Cuban waters, and directing the President of the United States to use the land and naval forces of the United States to carry these resolutions into effect," and

     WHEREEAS, By an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for temporarily increasing the military establishment of the United States in time of war and for other purposes," approved April 22, 1898; the President is authorized, in order to raise a volunteer army, to issue his proclamation calling for volunteers to serve in the army of the United States:

     Now, therefore, I, WILLIAM McKINLEY, President of the United States, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution and the laws, and deeming (8) sufficient occasion to exist, have thought fit to call forth, and hereby do call forth, volunteers to the aggregate number of 125,000, in order to carry into effect the purpose of the said resolution; the same to be apportioned, as far as practicable, among the several States and Territories and the District of Columbia, according to population, and to serve for two years, unless sooner discharged. The details for this object will be immediately communicated to the proper authorities through the War Department.

     In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

     Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-third day of April, A. D., 1898, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-second.

     AN ACT declaring that war exists between the United States of America and
the Kingdom of Spain.

     Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress Assembled: First. That war be, and the same is hereby declared to exist, and that war as existed since the twenty-first day of April, Anno Domini eighteen hundred and ninety-eight, including said day, between he United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain.

     Second. That the President of the United States be, and he hereby is, directed and empowered to use the entire land and naval forces of the United States, and to call into the actual service of the United States, the militia of the several States, to such extent as may be necessary to carry this act into effect.

     Approved, April 25, 1898.

     At 6:15 P. M. on April 25, the following telegram was received from the Secretary of War:

The Governor of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind.:

     The number of troops from your State under the call of the President dated April 23, 1898, will be four (4) regiments of infantry and two (2) light batteries of artillery. It is the wish of the President that the regiments of the National Guard or State militia shall be used as far as their numbers will permit, for the (9) reason that they are armed, equipped and drilled. Please wire as early as possible what equipments, ammunition; arms, blankets, tents, etc., you will require.

     Please also state when troops will be ready for muster into United States service. Details to follow by mail.

     As soon as the above message was received there was issued by the Governor the following proclamation:

To the People of Indiana:

     WHEREAS, In the progress of events; war has been inaugurated between the government of the United States and the government of Spain, and

     WHEREAS, The President of the United States, in pursuance of an act of Congress, has issued a proclamation calling for 125,000 volunteers, of which number four regiments, approximating 1,000 men each, and two batteries, have been apportioned to the State of Indiana.

     Now, therefore, I, James A. MOUNT, Governor of the State of Indiana, acting on the authority vested in me by the constitution, do hereby call for the enlistment and mustering into the United States service of the number of men above stated who are qualified for military duty.

     In conformity with this call the Indiana National Guard is hereby directed and commanded to report without delay to Brigadier-General McKee at the Fair Grounds of the State Board of Agriculture, near Indianapolis, a designated camp, where they will be mobilized and mustered into the service of the United States government, in accordance with the provisions of the proclamation issued by the President.

     All vacancies that exist or may occur in regiments, companies or batteries will be immediately filled by the acceptance of volunteers to the limit of the State's quota, as designated by the authorities of the federal government.

     Inasmuch as the number of men who are at this time tendering their services is far in excess of requirements, I deem it timely to announce in this connection that there will be no compulsion upon any member of the Indiana National Guard to enter the federal service, except upon his own free will and accord. Any member of the National Guard whose business affairs would be jeopardized or whose domestic relations would subject his family to inconvenience and hardship, wilt be permitted to stand aside honorably and without prejudice.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my land and caused to be affixed the great seal of the State, at the city of Indianapolis, this twenty-fifth day of April, one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, the eighty-second year of the State, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-second.

     (10) After which the following order was issued:

     In accordance with the proclamation of the Governor, of this date, Brig.-Gen.
Will J. McKee is hereby directed to mobilize the Indiana National Guard, fully
armed and equipped, at the Fair Grounds of the State Board of Agriculture, near
Indianapolis, Ind., at the earliest possible moment, for the purpose of being mustered into the service of the United States.

     The necessary details for the transportation and subsistence of the troops will be arranged by the proper departments.

     All property in the hands of the companies and hands will be brought to the
rendezvous.

     The travel enjoined is necessary for the public service.

     By order of the Governor,

     Pursuant to the above orders, special orders were sent by telegraph to each company commander, and at 5:00 A. M., April 26, the first company (Capt. Allen's, of Frankfort) arrived in camp, and before night the companies had all arrived and were encamped in the Fair Grounds of the State Board of Agriculture, either in tents or barns belonging to the Fair Grounds.

     On April 27 the following telegraphic communication was received from the Adjutant-General of the United States at Washington, D. C.

The Governor of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind.

     The following decision of the Secretary of War of this date is communicated for your information:

     "All absolutely necessary expenses for the subsistence, transportation, sheltering, and generally the maintenance of volunteers during the interval between their enrollment (enlistment) and their muster (or being sworn) into the service of the United States; also all incidental expenses, messengers, etc., for mustering officers will be met by the government of the United States, from the proper appropriation at the disposal of the several Staff Departments of the Army.

     Certified vouchers for all expenditures herein authorized will be forwarded to the
War Department for audit and payment. The vouchers should be certified by
officers of the proper Staff Departments and approved by the mustering officers."

     The following companies were accepted to fill vacancies in the several regiments, some of which were organized before the breaking out of the war: (11)

 
     In numbering the regiments after being mustered into the United States service, it was determined to begin the numbers where the war of the rebellion left off: The 3d Regiment being the first ready to be mustered was designated as the 157th. The 2d Regiment was next and was made the 158th, the 1st was next and was made the 159th, and the 4th was designated the 160th.

     On the 10th of May the 157th and 158th and Battery A, designated as 27th Light Battery, and Battery E, 28th Light Battery, Indiana Volunteers, were mustered into the service of the United States. The 157th and the two batteries were paid by the State for their services while in camp, on the15th, and left for Chickamauga Park on the same day. The 158th was paid off and moved South on the 16th. The 160th was paid off and left for Chickamauga on the 16th. The 159th, having been stripped of arms and equipments to finish equipping the other three regiments, was detained in Camp Mount until May 22, when it left for Dunn Loring, Va.

     Colonel W. T. Durbin, of the Governor's staff, leaving been designated to act as Paymaster, to pay the troops the amounts due then; from the State, he performed that duty for the four infantry regiments and three batteries. Battery C, of Dana, was ordered into camp with the other troops, but, as the War department could not be prevailed upon to accept them, they were offered a place in one of the infantry regiments, which they declined, preferring to take their chances in another call for troops.

     Lieutenant (now Captain) W. T. May, on detail by the War Department with the National Guard of Indiana, was detailed chief mustering officer, and mustered the troops into the
service of the United States. Much credit is due him for his efficient work in instructing the National Guard.

     (12) On May 25 the following proclamation was issued by the President:

     WHEREAS, An act of Congress was approved on the twenty-fifth day of April, 1898, entitled "An act declaring that war exists between the United States of America and the Kingdom of Spain;" and

     WHEREAS, By an act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for temporarily increasing the military establishment of the United States in time of war, and for other purposes," approved April 22, 1898, the President is authorized, in order to raise a volunteer army, to issue his proclamation calling for volunteers to serve in the army of the United States.

     Now, therefore, I, WILLIAM McKINLEY, President of the United States, by virtue of the power vested in me by the Constitution and the laws, and deeming sufficient occasion to exist, have thought fit to call forth, and do hereby call forth, volunteers to the aggregate number of 75,000 in addition to the volunteers called forth by my proclamation of the twenty-third of April, in the present year; the same to be apportioned, as far as practicable, among the several States and territories and the District of Columbia, according to population, and to serve for two years unless sooner discharged. The proportion of each arm and the details of enlistment and organization will be made known through the War Department.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

     Done at the city of Washington, this twenty-fifth day of May, year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight, and of the independence of the United States the one hundred and twenty-second.

     On June 18 the following official communication, by telegraph, was received from the Secretary of War:

     Under the President's second call, May 25, 1898, after filling to the maximum the organizations already in the United States service from your State, you are required to furnish two new separate companies of infantry, organized as indicated below, and in addition one new regiment of infantry, to consist of one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, two majors, one adjutant (extra lieutenant), one quartermaster, one surgeon, two assistant surgeons (first lieutenants), one chaplain, one sergeant-major, one quartermaster sergeant, one chief musician, two principal musicians, three hospital stewards, twelve companies; all companies to consist of one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant, one first sergeant, one quartermaster-sergeant, four sergeants, twelve corporals, two musicians, one artificer, one wagoner, eighty-four privates maximum, seventy-four privates minimum.

     The mustering officer, First Lieutenant J. C. Waterman, ordered from Mount Vernon, Iowa, has been directed to confer with your representative concerning details affecting comfort, shelter, subsistence of organizations and the order in which they should be mobilized for muster.

     (13) To save expense, and for other reasons that will occur to you, it is suggested that preliminary physical examinations be made of men before they are taken from their homes. Blanks mailed to Adjutant-General of State.

     You are requested to constitute a board of three reputable physicians for the purpose only of examining the regimental medical officers nominated by you, these physicians to receive ten dollars per day and traveling expenses to place of meeting of the board and return. The regimental medical officers will then be mustered into the the United States service to assist the mustering officer with physical examinations of men. The recruitment for the old companies will be conducted by the officers now in the field and under orders from this office.

     On June 24, by direction of the War Department and under the President's second call for volunteers (issued May 5, 1898), to provide for Indiana's quota under said call, the following companies were ordered to report at Camp Mount:

     In addition to the above twelve companies, comprising the 161st Indiana Regiment Volunteer Infantry, Jacob Porter and John J. Buckner, of Indianapolis, were commissioned as Captains to raise two independent colored companies in accordance with the allotment made by the War Department, to wit: One regiment of white volunteers and two companies of colored volunteers.

     Barton F. Dickson was commissioned as Captain by the President to organize a company of engineers, which was designated as Co. D, 2d U. S. Volunteer Engineers, and was mustered into service by Captain T. M. Rockefeller and ordered to Fort Sheridan, Illinois. Captain Charles T. MacIntire was commissioned as Captain to organize a company for the signal service, which was designated as the 14th U. S. Volunteer Signal Corps. They were mustered into the United States service and were ordered to Washington, D. C.

     The destruction of the Spanish fleet at Santiago July 3, followed by the the surrender of all the Spanish troops in and about Santiago, and the occupation of Porto Rico, virtually ended the war, and on July 26 Spain made overtures of peace to the United States Government.

     (14) The 27th Battery was the only organization that was sent to the enemy's country during the war, though the 157th had their horses and camp equipage loaded on transports at Port Tampa City, Fla., and the 160th were ordered to Newport News, Va., and were ready to embark, but for some reason, the order to move was countermanded. The 27th Battery was sent to Porto Rico, and they were about to engage the Spaniards, and were on the firing line ready for action, when a messenger arrived announcing that Spain had sued for peace and that hostilities must cease.

     It was the aim to keep the records of this war so complete that there could be no question as to their accuracy. In pursuance of this object, the following circular letter was issued and sent to each commanding officer, together with blanks for reports:

     The matter of keeping a correct record of the troops from Indiana, in the office of the Adjutant-General, is one of great importance, not only to the troops themselves, but to all future generations.

     The records of the Civil War are very incomplete, and the lack of papers is now being felt very keenly by the soldiers, if living, or their families and friends, if dead.

     Oftentimes the records do a great injustice to a man because, by the lack of one particular entry, the record is broken, and it is almost impossible to supply the link at this late day.

     The only way the records can be kept correctly is by the co-operation of every commanding officer, who, by notifying the Adjutant-General, without delay, of every officer or soldier wounded or killed, his sickness or death, promotion or resignation, appointment or reduction; in fact, every detail that will be of use to the soldier or his family or friends, not for the present only, but for use when time has effaced from the memory of those interested the details that go to make up the soldier's personal record.

     Remember that you are making history that will live when the participants shall have passed away and be forgotten by all but their personal family, and the people of Indiana are looking to you to make that history so complete that no one will question what is written.

     You are respectfully requested to forward such data as you think will be of service to the soldier, when, in after years, too much broken in health to earn a livelihood, he will be in a position to prove, by the records, that he served his country faithfully and well, or, if an impostor, the records will prove him such.

     (15) As subsequent events proved, it was fortunate that it was decided in 1897 to place the Indiana National Guard in the best possible condition as to arms and equipment. The work was pushed with all available means, and when the United States government called for volunteers, Indiana was able to respond with her quota as well equipped as any State, and winning for the State compliments from the authorities at Washington, of which the following telegram and letter are samples:

     GEN. B. A. RICHARDSON, Quartermaster-General, Indiana:

     Your telegram to Secretary of War, inquiring if you should invoice to Captain McIntyre certain signal corps equipment, has been referred to me. I regret very much that I could not reach you before Captain McIntyre left Indianapolis. He reported to me this morning, but we are very short of signal equipment, especially the articles you so generously offer to invoice to Captain McIntyre, and I urgently request that you ship all the signal corps equipment mentioned in your telegram to the Secretary of War by express.

GEN. B. A. RICHARDSON,
                     Quartermaster-General State of Indiana, Indianapolis, Ind.:

     SIR--The Chief Signal Officer directs me to express the thanks of this office for the great assistance you have given us in the way of equipping Captain McIntyre's company.

     I request that you prepare bills in duplicate for this signal equipment, based upon the receipt enclosed, and forward to this office, when vouchers will be prepared and payment made. Please instruct me to whom the check should be drawn. 

     Subsequently, in compliance with General Orders Nos. 31 and 33 Headquarters of the Army, Adjutant-General's Office, Washington, , April 30 and May 5, 1898, the four regiments and two two batteries Indiana Volunteers were equipped so far as practicable.

     On or about the last days of August, the 157th, 158th, 159th and the 27th and 28th Batteries and the Signal Corps were (16) ordered to Indianapolis and furloughed for thirty days (with the exception of' the 27th Battery, which was furloughed for sixty days), at the expiration of which they were mustered out of the service. The 160th and the 161st were ordered to Cuba with the army of occupation.

     On August 29, under orders of the Governor directing the establishment of a hospital for the care of the returning volunteers, on requisition of Col. Orange S. Runnels, Surgeon-General, the Quartermaster-General procured and delivered at Camp Mount tentage, flooring, blankets, sheets, pillows, cots, ticks, straw, cooking apparatus and all other necessary equipment for field hospital purposes.

     All meat and food supplies were thoroughly inspected upon receipt at camp, microscopic and other tests being applied.

     Owing to the fact that the Indiana National Guard as a whole had been mustered into the United States service at the outbreak of hostilities with Spain, the medical service provided by the militia organization was non-existent. At the close of the war, therefore, and upon the eve of the return of the Indiana troops from the field, the Governor issued the following order:

COL. ORANGE S. RUNNELS, Surgeon-General of Indiana, City:

     SIR--You are directed to proceed at once to provide a State hospital with all necessary appurtenances--cots, medicines, nurses, delicacies, nourishment-- in short, all that will be necessary to provide for the sick soldiers who are soon to return to the State. I desire that you make ample preparations for every want of these brave men who are now returning to the State prostrate with disease and entitled to the best medical care and nursing that the State can provide.

     This hospital is to receive the sick soldiers from all the regiments and batteries that are ordered to Indianapolis to be mustered out of service. You will have charge of the State hospital, and you are expected to secure such medical assistance and such trained nurses as will be necessary to the proper care of these men. 

     Pursuant to this order, the Surgeon-General proceeded immediately to its execution. A hospital site was selected adjacent to the regimental lines at Camp Mount.

     (17) Ambulances were in waiting upon the arrival of the train to convey the sick to their beds in the hospital, where physicians and nurses were in readiness to minister to their wants.

     The wisdom of the Governor in thus preparing beforetime for the needs of the sick soldiers was apparent upon the arrival of the various hospital trains. In several instances the regimental surgeons were incapacitated for further service by sickness, or the long vigils incident to double and treble duty required prior to and during the homeward trip. Several of them were confined to their beds for weeks after with lingering fevers, and all were more or less reduced in physical ability by the battle with malaria which they had been forced to wage. The medical contingent of the army was thus so reduced as to make reinforcement necessary.

     Much suffering was also averted by the readiness of the preparations for the reception of the sick upon their arrival. No delay was encountered in transferring the men from their berths in the cars to their fresh clean beds in the hospital.

     The service rendered was a generosity on the part of the State, unique and apart from the regular provisions of the War Department. It has established at the beginning with the purpose of meeting an emergency upon the return home of a large number of very sick men, and of providing them with better treatment than was furnished through regular channels at the various other return-camps in the country.

     Anticipating the return of the forces to camp after their furlough, and in view of the reduced demands for the State's assistance in the sick-service, and believing that the proper time had arrived for the State to transfer its work to the War Department, the Surgeon-General made the following communication to Governor Mount:

GOVERNOR JAMES A. MOUNT, City.

     SIR--In accordance with your order of August 30, 1898, a hospital was established at Camp Mount for the better care of the sick men of the army of Indiana upon their return from the war.

     Everything was provided and in readiness for their proper care upon their arrival, and every service has been rendered them that intelligent affection and skill could suggest. Two hundred and sixty-nine men have thus far been cared (18) for with a mortality of four; while twelve men yet remain under treatment in the hospital.

     In view of the fact that the thirty days' furloughs granted the men of all the commands will begin to expire Oct. 10, 1898, and that the exigency that called for the extra service here rendered is largely past; and in view of the further fact that the returning army surgeons are now in condition to resume their duties, I submit this report for such action as you may deem advisable.

     The following was the reply:

SURGEON-GENERAL RUNNELS, Camp Mount, City:

     SIR--Having communicated the substance of your letter of October, 1898, to the War Department, I have received through Lieut.-Col. W. T. May, Commandant at Camp Mount, the request for the continuance of the hospital under your excellent management. He says that owing to the confusion incident to the changing conditions of the camp it will be impossible for the surgeons of the different commands to give anything like the close attention that the sick are now receiving in the State Hospital. I therefore direct that you continue in charge of the State Hospital, and that you spare no pains or cost needful for the comfort and care of our sick soldiers. 

     In accordance with this order and in view of the inclemency of the weather in the advancing cold season, the hospital in tents was exchanged for the commodious "Administration Building" of the State Fair Association, adjacent to Camp Mount, whither the sick men were removed on October 9, 1898, and where it was possible to heat the building and thus conduce to the betterment of the service.

     All of the regiments and batteries having been mustered out of the service, with the exception of the 159th Regiment, and the number of sick in the hospital again being reduced to a minimum, the Surgeon-General, just prior to the expiration of the furloughs of the men of the 159th Regiment and their return to camp on November 10, 1898, communicated to Governor Mount the facts relative to the status of the hospital service at that time, who immediately again communicated with Lieut.-Col. May, the Commandant, relative to the State's relinquishment of its service. The following was Col. May's response

     DEAR SIR--I have the Honor to acknowledge receipt of your letter of the 10th inst., expressing your desire to discontinue the State Hospital at Camp Mount upon the arrival of the 159th Regiment Indiana Volunteers, Nov. 10th inst.

     After mature consideration of the subject, I deem it for the best interests of the service respectfully to request that you continue said hospital under the present admirable management until the muster-out of the regiment now in camp, which will occur about the 21st inst.

     The lack of proper equipment and other facilities in the regiment for caring for patients in hospital prompts me to make the request, which I trust will meet with your approval.

     I am, sir,

     The service was thereupon continued by the Surgeon-General under order from Governor Mount, till the final muster-out of all the men and the disbursement of the camp, December 1, 1898.

     Having been ordered to Indianapolis for muster out, the 157th Regiment arrived there on the 2d of September, the 158th on September 14 and the 159th on September 12; all the regiments went into camp to prepare for muster out. The 157th was furloughed for thirty days from September 10, the 158th was furloughed for thirty days from September 17, and the 159th was furloughed for thirty days from September 18, which was later extended to include November 10.

     The 27th Battery reached Indianapolis September 17, and was furloughed for sixty days; the 28th Battery reached Indianapolis September 4, and was furloughed for thirty days from September 14.

     The 14th Signal Corps. company arrived at Indianapolis September 16, and was furloughed for thirty days.

     After the expiration of their period of furlough. the several organizations returned to Camp Mount and were mustered out of service as follows:

      (20) The two colored companies were mustered out of service at Camp Thomas on January 20, 1899.

     The 160th and 161st Regiments, which still remained in service, were ordered to Cuba with the army of occupation and remained there until ordered to this country to be mustered out of service. The 160th Regiment was mustered out at Savannah, Ga., April 25, 1899. The 161st Regiment was mustered out at Savannah, Ga., April 30, 1899.

     Although none of the Indiana organizations were in any of the battles of the war, they were ready and eager to do their part to keep the flag from being trailed in the dust.

     It was a great disappointment to all of them, but they accepted what was given them to do in the true soldierly spirit, and they can all look back with pride to the part they took in defense of their country.

     The State of Indiana can well be proud of the record she made in this war, being the first State in the Union to have their entire quota mustered into the service of the United States under the first call and filling her second quota as rapidly as any.

     This war has demonstrated the fact that the National Guard is the bulwark of our liberties, making an army in reserve that we may well take pride in, but it has also shown that the National Guard can be improved and made more effective.

     Indiana treated her soldiers well, paid every man before he left the State (under the first call), and provided them with as good an equipment as money could buy, but if there was any
thing lacking it was because it could not be bought and not because we had no money with which to buy it. The General assembly of 1895 made a provision in the law that placed the entire funds of the State, if needed, in the hands of the Governor in time of trouble, and Governor Mount, while not being extravagant, made such judicious use of this privilege that made Indiana second to none in furnishing needed equipment for her soldiers.

     This report would be incomplete without at least a mention of the part taken by the loyal and patriotic women of Indiana. In every city and hamlet from which the boys came to make up the volunteer army, there was an organization of devoted mothers, sisters and sweethearts who tried to make the soldier's life as easy as was possible, toiling early and late in (21) making articles and garments to send to hospital and camp, and doing all in their power to make the boys comfortable.

     An organization was perfected early in July, 1898, and was called the "Indiana Soldiers' Aid Society." The object was to render aid to Indiana soldiers in camp, field and hospital, to provide assistance for their families when in want, and to be ready for service at any time, and in any manner that opportunity offered. Large quantities of fruits, jellies, cordials and soups were sent to hospitals in the south, together with towels, handkerchiefs, pajamas, bedding, all of which were used for the comfort of Indiana's sons.

     All are deserving of praise and honor, and it would not be right to mention any particular organization, but the ladies of Indianapolis assisted in making the return of the regiments, batteries and separate companies so pleasant that it is due due them to say that they earned the respect and gratitude of of every man from this State.

     As regiment and battery returned to Indianapolis for muster out, the ladies met them at the station with delicacies for the sick and coffee and sandwiches for the well, and no organization arrived without being given the same hospitable welcome. A dinner was served to each organization by a committee selected for that purpose, and every man was made to feel that he was once more in the hands of friends.

     The following were the officers:

          President, Mrs. C. W. Fairbanks. 
          Vice-President, Mrs. C. B. Clarke. 
          Recording Secretary, Mrs. Irene V. Webb. 
          Corresponding secretary, Mrs. Jno. L. Griffiths. 
          Treasurer, Mrs. Wilbur Hitt. 
          Chairman Executive Committee, Mrs. John W. Kern.

     Vice-Presidents for the different organizations:

          157th Regiment, Mrs. R. Wes McBride.
          158th Regiment, Mrs. Frank F. McCrea.
          159th Regiment, Mrs. John Kurfis.
          160th Regiment, Mrs. Thomas Taggart.
          161st Regiment, Mrs. John L. Griffiths.
          27th Battery, Mrs. R. O. Hawkins.
          28th Battery, Mrs. Mahurin
          Engineer Company and Signal Corps Company, Mrs. George Hitt.
          Colored Companies, Mrs. B. W. Porter.

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