History Of Co. A, 31st Michigan

History of Co. A, 31st Michigan

During its Service in the Spanish-American War from April 26, 1898, to May 18, 1899.

BY 1st SERGT. WILLIAM C. COOPER.

With bands playing and flags flying; with whistles screaming and cannon roaring; with the mingled cheers of 3,000 students and their fellow townsmen sounding upon the ears; amid the fluttering of handkerchiefs and waving of hands, the shouting of farewells and last good-byes, the Ann Arbor Light Infantry, officially known as "Co. A," First Infantry, M.N.G. left their home station on the morning of April 26, 1898. Their destination was Island Lake, Mich., to which place the entire brigade had been ordered upon the outbreak of the Spanish American War.  Our strength was 84 enlisted men and three officers.  Subsequently seven men failed to pass the medical examination and nine refused to enlist in the volunteer regiment then forming but their places were quickly filled by enthusiastic aspirants from home.

Sunday afternoon, May 8, '98, our company was mustered into the service of the United States as Co A., 31st Michigan Volunteer Infantry.  There were a few more days of camp life at Island Lake and then came orders to move, on May 15, to Chickamauga Park, Ga. May 15th came and with it thousands of friends of the regiment.  They came by train loads, in vehicles of every description, some came on wheels and some walked, and all brought their lunch baskets with them, and soon the beautiful grounds were dotted over with family groups who were lunching together there perhaps for the last time.  Mothers were there for reasons only too clear to all.  Fathers were there for a last firm shake of the hand and to say, "Well, good-bye Jim, take keer of yourself."  Sisters and brothers were there and sweethearts came for a last kiss and a look which meant everything. The day wore away and the crowd dispersed.  They went as they came and at midnight when the regiment boarded the cars only one person remained, I recall him clearly, an old naval hero of our civil war, who stood near the steps and with tears in his eyes shook hands with every man in Co. A.  He had been through it it all himself, for four years, and he, well -- he knew.

The sadness of parting being over the boys settled down to enjoy the trip.  The state had been kind and had provided parlor sleeping cars for our journey.  The boys appreciated this favor and was loud in their praises.  We arrived in Toledo about 7:30 a.m., May 16, and then began a long to be remembered passage through the great state of Ohio. We were the first regiment to pass through this state and the ovations we received we shall always recall with pleasure.  At every crossroads, village and town we were met by patriotic people, eager to shake our hands.  At many towns there were bands of music at the stations, and school-children were assembled who waved flags and sang patriotic songs. At Cincinnati our reception was tumultuous.  Thousands of people crowded around our trains and during the time we remained there, between 5 and 6 p.m., the bells and the whistles of hundreds of factories, locomotives, and steamboats kept up a continual din. It was a deafening welcome, a hearty God-speed from the citizens of one great state to the troops of another.  At 6 o'clock we left Cincinnati.  At a small town in Kentucky we "fell in" on a green for setting up exercises.  At Lexington we stopped for supper.  From there on it was night and we slept.  At 8 a.m. May 17, historic old Lookout Mountain loomed up in the distance and at 9 o'clock we arrived at Chattanooga, Tenn.  Here we stopped for breakfast and left for the park about noon. By 2 o'clock we were off the cars and had started for our camp.  It was a hot day and we marched up the dusty Brotherton road slowly as each man carried his haversack, canteen, rifle, and overcoat, besides some extras done up in his blanket roll.  After a three mile march we struck off into the woods and made camp for the night.  No tents were pitched but we mounted guard, prepared supper, and laid down for a much needed rest.  At daybreak we moved on somewhat farther and pitched our camp.

It is not necessary to relate here our varied experiences in this camp.  They have been told again and again and are familiar to everyone. Suffice it to say that the order to move to Knoxville, Tenn., was not received with any grumbling either by officers or men.  Accordingly, Sunday (always Sunday,) Aug 21st, we left Chickamauga forever and, on the following day marched over a wooded hillside into our new camp.  I recall now the glad shout that went up as the regiment emerged from the woods and marched out upon the grassy slope.  Here was real green grass, something we had not see since leaving Michigan, and there was a life and freshness in the atmosphere that was distinctly noticeable to all.  Our baggage not having arrived, we slept upon the ground the first night and pitched camp the following morning.

Our stay in Knoxville was remarkable for three things viz. the cordial and most friendly treatment our regiment was accorded by the citizens, the departure for home of our twin regiment, the First Georgia Infantry, and the many festive occasions of which it was a promoter, and the discharge from our company of 28 men which crippled us in no small degree. Recruiters were arriving however, and, by the time we left Savannah we had an aggregate strength of 88 men and three officers for our Cuban service.

From Knoxville we were moved to Savannah, Ga. Here we renewed our friendship with our First Georgia comrades.  They even went to the expense of banqueting the entire regiment, an event which proved their kindly sentiments toward us.  

Our stay in Savannah was of short duration.  Ten days covered it all and then on the 25th of January we marched through the city with a long train of army wagons loaded to their utmost capacity.  Half of Savannah was out and bade us farewell.  We loaded that night and on the 26th weighed anchor only to run aground a few miles below the city.  Here we stayed all day and night.  The next morning at high tide we got off only to repeat the performance a few miles farther down the river.  At this rate we figured that we could not reach Cuba during our term of enlistment and mutinous mutterings were heard among the men. The following day, however, we made the ocean proper and then queer to relate, those who were most savage in their remarks the day before were now the most meek and docile.  All sorts of fabulous prices were offered for a piece of land to stand upon, but there were none in sight.  A storm on the night of the 28th swept overboard two mules, a large number of cots and tents, and considerable forage.  The balance of the trip was delightful however, and we sighted Cuba, January 31.

On February 1, we entered the beautiful land-locked harbor of Cienfuegos and remained on board all day and night.  Several Spanish transports were in the harbor taking on soldiers and here we had our first sight of a solder from sunny Spain.  A band was on board one of the Spaniards and during the evening they alternated selections with our own band, they playing those dreamy melodious Spanish airs and our own band the dashing, thrilling marches and two steps of American composition, and we had cheers for them and they had cheers for us, and as they played through the stilly night it must have occurred to many on board how much more humanely progressive and in accordance with the spirit of the age it was, to exchange melody for melody and cheers for cheers rather than shot and shell.

On Feb. 2, we went ashore at Cienfuegos.  Two battalions went on to Rodrigo, and ours , the third, remained behind, camping in shelter tents on a common near the bay.  Here we remained two days interested observers of the people and their habits.  On the fifth, Sunday, we left and went by rail to Rodrigo, about as wretched and uninteresting a town as one ever stopped at.  Our company remained here till, Tuesday, Feb 7, when we packed our baggage, received 15 rounds of ammunition, and marked over the fields to Amaro.  To use one of the expressions a private made, this was "the cruelest blow ever struck." There was nothing at Amaro save an old ruined plantation, which we had to clean up against the regiment arriving.  The grass was head high and here we pitched camp.  We slept upon the ground as we had no cots till later.  We cleaned out an old well, were two days using it, and then it was never used.  One by one the remaining companies came over and we had better times, but it was a desolate place at most.  We had our drills and evening parade, and took long walks into the country and visited some mountains about 12 miles from camp from which a sight of the sea could be had.  We used to like to gaze upon the sea.  Sometimes we wished we were in it in preference to being at Amaro.  But the days passed on and one noon we received an order for Capt. Granger's Co. A. to proceed to Placetas, Santa Clara Province, taking 30 days rations and remaining there until further orders.

Accordingly on February 25, at 2 p.m. our company struck its tents, packed its baggage, loaded the wagons, and were soon moving slowly over hills and fields to Rodrigo accompanied by a large train of 13 wagons.  We marched in columns of twos, each man carrying his rifle, haversack, and canteen, the remainder of his equipment being upon the wagons.  At Rodrigo we loaded the cars and placed a guard around the train.  This was deemed necessary on account of the proximity of so many Cubans.  Supper was had and the we turned into an old warehouse till morning.  We were out of Rodrigo at 7 a.m., next morning and arrived at Placetas about 2 o'clock in the afternoon.  Our coming had been heralded about the town and consequently a large number of Cubans were at the station, many of whom had never seen an American soldier.  Appearing not to notice them particularly we unloaded the cars upon the dock and then into two wagons.  The cooking utensils and rations went on first, then the remainder at at 5 o'clock that afternoon we had all our baggage, etc. in camp, had pitched tents and were eating our bacon and hard tack and swallowing our coffee, well satisfied with our position.

Our stay at Placetas was pleasant.  The town had possibly 5,000 inhabitants and they accorded us the best of treatment.  At mess times some of the poorest classes would gather about our quarters for scraps of food as might remain uneaten, but other than that they gave us no trouble.  We set them an example of cleanliness and neatness, from which, if it is followed, some benefit will accrue to them.

We left Placetas April 12, being relived by a detachment of the Sixth U.S. Cavalry.  On passing through Cienfuegos on the way home we noticed a marked improvement in the appearance and actual condition of the streets, houses, etc.  Even the people looked cleaner and happier than they did before and such I hope is the case.

Our return trip to the United States and the days in camp awaiting muster our were of the most pleasant description.

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AN OLD TIME BICYCLE

CHRISTIAN EBERBACH RODE ONE 70 YEARS AGO.

It Was Very Unlike the Present Bicycle and the Rider Sat Erect with Feet on the Ground.

Christian Eberbach is speaking of bicycles a few evenings since, said: "I used to ride a bicycle when I was a young boy in Wurttemburg, Germany, 70 years ago.  It was a very different vehicle, however," said he, "than the modern bicycle.  There was not the difficulty in riding it that is experienced in learning to ride the modern wheel.  There was no difficulty in mounting or balancing, no headers to fear and no scorching.  Neither did we ever assume the ridiculous and unhealthful shape of a monkey riding a stick as is done now by those who want to ape racing methods."

Said he, "the old time bicycle consisted a plank hollowed out in the middle of something the shape of a saddle, with a wheel under each end with a standard extending up from the front wheel carrying handles by which to steer.  The rider seated himself in the saddle and, touching his feet to the ground for propelling purposes, started on his journey.  By this method which would seem decidedly antiquated today, the rider propelled himself along much more rapidly than he could walk and much more easily."  Said he, " If any one questions the fact of the world's progress, let him study the evolution of the bicycle.  He will be convinced that there is a long distance of progress from the bicycle of my boyhood to the machine of the present time".

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A NEW SUPERINTENDENT

For the Detroit, Ypsilanti, and Ann Arbor Railway.

It is not yet generally known to the traveling public that there has been a change in the superintendency of the Detroit, Ypsilanti & Ann Arbor railway.  Yet such an important event took place about two weeks ago when Robert W. Hemphill, jr., was relieved of his duties as superintendent and assigned to some position looking after the rolling stock of the company. The new superintendent is F.E. Merrill, of Dearborn.  He fills an important position and can if he sees fit do much to lessen the number of small damage suits which it has become popular to bring against the road.

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Brave Men Fall

Victims to stomach, liver and kidney troubles as well as women and all feel the results in loss of appetite, poisons in the blood, backache, nervousness, headache and tired, listless, run-down feeling. But there's no need to feel like that.  Listen to J. W. Gardner, Idaville, Ind.  He says: "Electric bitters are just the thing for a man when is all run down and don't care if he lives or dies.  It did more to give me new strength and good appetite than anything I could take. I can now eat anything and have a new lease on life." Only 50 cents at Eberbach & Son, Ann Arbor, and Geo. J. Haeussler, Manchester, Drug Stores.  Every bottle guaranteed.

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Chinese Preventative of Nervousness

It is averred by a famous Chinese doctor that nervousness is kept out of the celestial empire by the use of soft-soled shoes.  The hard soles worn by the Anglo-Saxon race are said to be the cause of their extreme nervous temperament.

[Photo caption: "COMPANY A., 31ST MICHIGAN, WHEN MUSTERED OUT AT SAVANNAH."]