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Page 20 text:
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The Old Guard HE restoration of the bronze tablet, commemorating the Uni- versity’s student soldiers, na- turally rouses new interest in the military traditions of our school, which were for several years a dominant factor in stu- dent life. Our first military instructor, q Lieutenant Edward R. Chris- man, had finished his four years’ detail in February, 1808, and in order to remain with the University until the close of the school year, he had secured a leave of absence from his command, as the regulations did not permit of a longer detail. His winning personal qualities and ardent devotion to his work had made his department very popular. Immedi- ately after the blowing up of the Maine in Havana Harbor all officers on leave were summoned to rejoin their commands at once, and Lieutenant Chrisman left Moscow on April 18. His departure was the occasion of a demonstration un- paralleled up to the present time in the history of the Uni- versity, which may properly be considered the opening chap- ter of our military annals. At the train were gathered the faculty, student body, cadets and others, the local G. A. R. post, and the whole population of the community, partly drawn up in regular bodies, partly in such promiscuous lines as could be formed impromptu. To us all it seemed that this gallant and dear friend was our personal and collective offering to the cause of our nation. So deep was the emotion that the lines stood in silence for a long time, while the lieutenant passed II slowly along with a farewell grasp of the hand for each. Not an eye but filled with tears and not a voice but choked with feeling when the moment for the good-bye came. Many others could have made the confession that President Gault made to his wife when he returned to his house:—“I had a nice little speech made up, but when I came to take his hand it was all I could do to say, ‘Goodbye, Lieutenant.’” Beyond doubt this event had a strone influence in heighten- ing the outburst of military enthusiasm which swept through the school in the following two weeks, while the nation was making rapid preparation for war. In the call for volunteers Idaho had been asked to furnish one battalion of four companies, but the enthusiasm all over the state was so great that the President was induced to increase the quota to two battalions, which would be large enough to form a separate command. At first it was believed that the University would furnish one entire company out of the eight, but there are various influences that hinder student soldiers from entering active military life. Several boys failed in the physical examination, mostly because they were too small. Still others could not secure their parents’ consent, necessary because they were under age. So the number shrank until it was found expedient to combine with Company D, the militia company of the neighboring town of Genesee. This consolidated company, including about fifty cadets of the University, left Moscow for Boise on May 4, 1808. Again the whole town was at the depot, where the cere- monies were more elaborate than on April 18, though hardly so personal, as it was impossible for all the boys to say good-
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Page 21 text:
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bye individually. Two of the more impetuous of the girl students, not satisfied with the opportunities for good-byes offered before the departure, rode to Pullman on the train and, during the trip, passed through the cadet car and im- partially bestowed a farewell kiss on every fellow. At Boise there was some delay while the companies were assembling, and the cadets spent the time in learning military life in Camp Stevenson. When the final mustering in was accomplished on May 12 several more had been left out by reason of failure to pass a second and more strict physical examination. Two of the most enthusiastic cadets, James Gibb and Robert McGregor, had the humiliation of being left behind because they were suffering from that infantile disease called the measles. They afterward went to San Francisco at their own expense and were taken as recruits to fill the ranks of a South Dakota company. Company D, when it left Boise on May 19, contained 35 cadets of the University. Cadet Major Edward Smith was its captain and the lieutenants were McRoberts and Bell of Genesee; Joseph Gilbreth, who was not in the company, received a commission in the regular army at about the same time. J. A. MacNab started as a private in the company, but was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Twenty-cighth infantry on July 26. One more, Paul Draper, had enlisted in the Sixth Infantry, regulars, a few months before and was ambitious to earn a commission. So with all these, the roll of honor contains thirty-nine names. Draper was the only man to serve in Cuba, and a very singular ineident occurred there. At the battle of San Juan Hill Lieutenant Chrisman was meving transversely across the field of battle to connect with his regiment, the Fourteenth, when he came upon Paul Draper, unconscious, overcome by the heat, and lying exposed to the full strength of the tropical sun. There he would probably have died had he not been found by Lieutenant Chrisman, the only other representative of the University of Idaho in Cuba that day! Chrisman re- vived him and they both went their ways to join their regi- ments. Whether they ever met again I do not know. It occasioned much gratification but no surprise in Moscow to learn that Lieutenant Chrisman had distinguished himself in this battle, being among the first to reach the summit in the final charge. His company lost thirty-five per cent in killed and wounded, among the former being Lieutenant Albert Ord, classmate and dear friend of Chrisman. So when the telegraph brought the news that on that same eventful day, among the peaceful hills of Indiana, a little son had been added to the Chrisman family, the lieutenant said: “Let his name be Albert Ord.” Meanwhile the Idaho battalion had been transferred to San Francisco, where there was more waiting. At last, on June 27, on the transport Morgan City, they departed for Manila, in company with several other shiploads of soldiers. At Hono- lulu the cadets found that their fame had preceded them and they were met and entertained by “friends of Miss Cushman, preceptress at Idaho then, but formerly a teacher in Hono- lulu. Aside from this bright spot, the trip to Manila was a nightmare to the cadet soldiers. The accommodations on the vessel were vile and food was poor and scare. At length, on July 30, the northern end of Luzon was sighted, and the next day they dropped anchor in Manila Bay. But it was in the midst of the stormy season and they had to wait six days before they could be landed. Then, when they were landed, they were drenched with tropical rains for another week before they began to have anything like comfort. The Spaniards still held Manila, but the town was captured with but little fighting on August 13. The Idaho battalion
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