The rolling of military drum beats in February over a half-century ago brought curious spectators by the dozens to the Harlan County Courthouse square.

While Felix McCreary was beating out the drum rolls, the only musical insturment available at the time. Jim Forester and John Carter were rounding up all the prospects they could.

And as Napoleon French and Grant Forester issued the call to arms, a company of men was musterd to contribute their bit to the Spanish-American War.

Battleship Maine Blown Up

On Feb. 15, 1898 the battleship Maine was blown up in Havana Harbor. The U.S. was in sympathy with Cuba yet there was some doubt as to who blew up the Maine causing 160 Americans to lose their lives. The U.S. went to the aid of Cuba.

There were four regiments to be organized in Kentucky. Before the company in Harlan was organized Jeff Rice, Jim Kelly, Smith Ball and Hiram Hensley went to Barboursville and joined the calvary unit. Soldiers for the Spanish-American War was strictly on a volunteer basis.

Few Fail to Pass

There was no age limit. Very few failed to pass the examination. Even a man with one eye passed like a top. The group of 90 men from Harlan county started out on their long walk to Hagan, Va., to board the train for Lexington.

By the time they reached Hagan a few men had fallen by the wayside and gone back home. When they arrived in Lexington the group was too small to form a company. Determined as they were they decided to borrow a few men from Captain William Dison's group from Leslie County to finish their number.

Jim Forester returned to Harlan for more men. When the number had been acquired John Howard, of Middlesboro, spent hours and hours every daydrilling the men. Equipment was issued in Lexington after the clothes they were wearing, wore out.

One of the soldiers remembered how they passed through the line and someone pitched them a shirt, shoes, coat and trousers. They exchanged with eachother until they found a fit. There were no sizes.

Single Shot Springfields

They used Springfield rifles that fired only one shot. The soldiers were mighty proud of their blue uniforms. The girls were mighty proud, too. Usually the girls snipped off a coat button and strung it on a ribbon to wear around their neck.

Each soldier had a heavy quart cup for coffee. The java was made in a large vessel that held gallons and gallons. Some times their rations consisted of "hard tack," but it wasn't so bad dipped in coffee. There was plenty of sugar but no cream.

Among the Harlan countains leaving with the first group were: Capt. Jim Forester, Lt. John Carter, Lt. John Howard, Robert Hall, Milt Hall, Green Osborne, Leander Skidmore, Jim Middleton, Charles Middleton, Ben Middleton, Frank Kelly, Walter Kelly, and Carter Unthank, Milt Unthank, Harlan Blanton, Richard blanton, Landan Hopkins, James Stewart, and sons Lee and Marion; David Eldridge and son Bill; and Burman Sargent.

Monument Erected

After the Americans had won the waar and had sunk the Spanish fleet the Cubans celebrated Feb. 15 astheir day of liberation just as we celebrate teh Fourth of July. A monument was erected to the Maine in Cuba and each year a wreath of flowers is placed on it. Two or three soldiers died with spinal meningitis. The disease was dreaded more than bullets.

Before world War I each state formed a militia. The group shown here is a part of the Harlan County militia. Each summer they went to camp. The state paid the expense.

Jim Gross, who was once a school teacher, was captain of the company. When a small boy his, greatest desire was to become a soldier and captain of a company. Every chance he had to get a group of boys together and drill he did just that.

He helped organize the first national guard in Harlan County and when the Mexican War broke out, he as captain took the entire company to Mexico. He wa a real captain. his boyhood dreams had come true. His military life was such a part of him that everyone knew him as Captain Gross.

Sunday February 8, 1953

Volume 52 Number 32

Pages 1 & 8

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