Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 May 1899 — SERVICE OF THE 160TH. [ARTICLE]

SERVICE OF THE 160TH.

Brief Nummary of the Regiment’* History by the Chaplain. The 160th Indiana regiment started into active, service under discouraging conditions, but notwithstanding them, has had an experience that has been both pleasant and profitable. Chaplain W. J. Vigus, of the regiment, in reviewing the history of the organization, makes the following statement: "Thousands of citizens ih the twelve cities furnishing companies for the 160th Indiana regiment are interested in everything relating to that organization. It will be remembered that the four Indiana regiments constituted the militia of the State, which was organized on a peace basis with only the remote possibility of ever seeing other service than that of suppressing riots within the border of the State. When, therefore, war was declared with Spain these regiments were called •nto the service officered very much as iu time of peace. This wifi account for some of the difficulties encountered during the year of more or less active service. It is safe to say had these companies and regiments been organized under the call of the President, and with special reference to war, the organization would have been different, though possibly not more efficient. "The call for troops was issued April 23, 1898, by the President, and on the 25th of the same month Gov. Mount issued the call for the troops to assemble at Indianapolis, and by the evening of the next day 4,(MX) men were encamped within the inclosure of the fair grounds. On the afternoon of May 12 the Fourth regiment, with whose history we are more directly interested. was mustered into the United States service, and on May 16 pitched tents in Camp Thomas, Chickamauga Park. On July 28, the regiment was ordered to Newport News, from whence it was to embark for Porto Rico and came very near making the trip. An exhausting stay at Newport News was ended by the command being ordered to Lexington, Ky. On Nov. 9 the regiment was ordered to Camp Conrad, Columbus, Ga., ami from thence to Matanzas, Cuba, from which place it was ordered to Savannah, Ga.. for . muster out, which occurred April 25, just one year from the time the call was issued for the assembling of the troops. Those who first came to Camp Mount will not soon forget the discouraging circumstances of these few weeks, not the least of which was the regiment turning over its equipment to other organizations, whose good fortune, as it seemed then, it was to move first. Without guns and with scarcely a whole pair of trousers in a company the regiment presenting a grotesque appearance when the anxiously looked for start was made for the South. Up to the time of the disappointment at Newport News, in being ordered to Lexington, the soldiers hoped to see real war. But from that time the spirit of the men was broken and the desire to return home became more and more intense. The order to Cuba was somewhat of a relief and compensated for the long wait endured. And now that it is over I venture to say, it is looked back to as one of the most delightful episodes in the history of the regiment, and by far the most talked about. It not only gave the Hoosier boys an opportunity of seeing foreign service, but that of knowing something of a country and people about which they knew but little and which are destined to become part of this republic. The regiment went to the front with 1,326 men, only twelve of whom died, a showing unprecedented among Indiana troops, or perhaps those of any other State. The greatest care wrfs taken throughout the campaign to maintain cleanliness, a healthful diet and in short everything which could contribute to the best interest of the regiment. It could not be otherwise than that some animosities should be engendered. This doubtless vftis sometimes the fault of the officers, whose duty it was to exact military discipline, but who did it in an offensive, unnecessarily severe manner, but more frequently it was due to that independence to which the men had been accustomed in home life. Everyone who has had any experience in such matters knows that the most difficult thing is to learn the lesson of implicit and unqualified obedience to superiors in office. This is especially true, when in private life the enlisted man ranked the officer in intelligence, social position, business capacity and moral character. It was a pleasure, however, to observe that as the time approached for muster-outJhese animosities softened and were perceptible only in a few cases when the regiment was disbanded; and it is hoped these will entirely disappear in civil life. No word has such significance to old veterans as ‘comrade,’ and in time it will have equal significance to the soldiers of the American-Spanish war. It was the verdict of the people in every place where the regiment was encamped. of the train men and boat crews transporting us from.place to place, that the 160th regiment was one of the most orderly and gentlemanly commands in the service. While alMvere anxious to return home when the war was ended, and post duty only could be expected, yet there was an element of intense sadness in the breaking up of the associations of army life. The twelve who had fallen were afft'etionately remembered, as well as their friends, whose heart wounds would be opened afresh by the absence of dear ones from the ranks of the returning companies. That the regiment was not in the hottest of the fight was not its fault. Every man was anxious for it, and had the opportunity been afforded. Indiana would havd been proud of its record. But it had the honor of being a part of (he great reserve that gave confidence to the country and inspired our enemies with respectful fear. From colonel to private we are proud of our regiment and of its history in the most remarkable war on record. To all we say heartily, ‘Good-by, Jim, take keer o’ yourself.’ ” Short State Item*. Frederick Ross, aged 65, former Mayor of Terre Haute, is dead. The anti-booze rule is being rigidly enforced on the latke Shore road. Barnes hardware store, one of the oldest stores in Anderson, closed by the sheriff. J’ Albert Kfttridge, a traveling horse trader, died in a blacksmith shop at Marion* the only place he could find shelter while sick. At Lawrenceburg, Miss Elizabeth West, aged 50, shot five times at George Smith, aged 60, on the street, but only succeeded in perforating hia clothes. Mrs. 8. A. Anderson, Chesterton, was given SBSO by her husband some time ago, and she hid it in the stove for safe keeping. The other day she threw some old papers in the stove to start a fire, without thinking of the money until it was burned ■p. J