Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 72, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 May 1899 — SERVICE OF THE 160TH. [ARTICLE]

SERVICE OF THE 160TH.

Brief Summary of the ■sgiawafi History by the Chaplain. The 160th Indiana regiment started into active service under discouraging condt tions, but notwithstanding them, has had an experience that has been both pleasant and profitable. Chaplain W. J. Vigus, 9# the regiment, in reviewing the history 'Si the organization, makes the following! statement: “Thousands of citizens in the: twelve cities famishing companies for the 160th Indiana regiment are interested hi 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 pea m basis with only the remote possibility of ever seeing other service than that of sop* pressing riots within the border of the State. When, therefore, war waa declared with Spain these regiments were called into the service officered very much as in time of peace. This will account for soma of the difficulties encountered during the year of more or less active service. It la safe to say bad these companies and regiments been organized ander 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 Oov. Mount issued the call for the troops to assemble at Indian-: apolis, and by the evening of the next day 4,000 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, Chickajnauga Park. On July 28, the regiment was ordered to Newport News, from whence it was to embark for Porto Rico and canto: 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, Columbns, and from thence to Matanzas, Cuba, from which place it was ordered to Savannah, Ga., for muster out, which occurred April 25, jtwfc one year from the time the call waa issued for the assembling of the troops. Those who first came to Camp Mount will not soon forget the discouraging dreamt stances 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 find. Without guns iM s&reefy a whole pair erf trouser* la a co3]ssny tne regiment presenting a grotesque appearance when the anxiously looked for start wag Jor the South, Up to the time of the disappointment at Newport News, in being ordered to Lexington, the soldiers hoped to see real 4 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 moat delightful episodes in the history of the regiment, and by far the most talked about. It not only gave the Hoosier boy* an opportunity of seeing foreign service, but that of knowing something of a country and people about which they knew bat little and which are destined to become: part of this republic. The regiment went to the froqt with 1.326 men, only swely£ of whom died, a snowing unprecedented, among Indiana troops, or perhaps those" of any other State. The greatest care was 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 was sometimes the fault of the; officers', whose duty it was to exact ndls| tary discipline, but who did it in an offensive, unnecessarily severe manner, bat more frequently it was doe to that independence to which the men had been accustomed in home life. Everyone who has had any experience in such matters 1 nog-s that the most difficult thing is to team 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-out these animositiei: 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 eqnal significance to the soldiers of the American-Spahish war. It was the verdict of the people i» every place where the regiment was encamped, of the train men and boat crewa transporting us from place to place, that, the 160tb regiment was one of the most orderly and gentlemanly commands in the service. While ail were 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 np of the associations of army life. The twelve who had fallen were affectionately 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 wonld have been proud of ite record. Bat it had the; honor of being a part of the great reserve that gave confidence to the country amt; inspired onr enemies with respectful fear.. From colonel to private we are proud of onr regiment and of its history in the mosftl remarkable war on record. To all we say heartily, ‘Good-by, Jim, take keer o’ yourr Short State Item. Frederick Ross, aged 65, former Majorl of Terre Haute, is dead. The anti-booze rule is being rigidly en- • forced on the Lake Shore road. Barnes hardware store, one of the oldest stores in Anderson, closed by the sheriff. the only place he could find shelter white aged 60, on the street, but only succeeded