They proceeded to Camp Thomas, near the old Chickamauga battlefield in Tennessee, to prepare for battle in the Caribbean. In June, they were sent to South Carolina to prepare for the invasion of Cuba, but were delayed due to logistical problems and missed the Cuba campaign. Instead, in July of 1898, they joined the Puerto Rico campaign. They occupied the cities of Ponce and Coamo, and engaged in skirmishing in that area until the cessation of hostilities in August. During one skirmish, the regiment was fired on by Spanish artillery and suffered two killed.