The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-08-26
IN WITH THE REGULARS
Continued from First Page.

Continued from First Page.
On typical Florida train with frequent
stops, the distance, six miles, was made
in three hours. Here the soldiers went
on board the different transport ships,
the Sixth and Third Cavalry regiments
being assigned to the steamship "Rio
Grande." On this vessel, which is an
ordinary coast-wise steamer, were 900
men All the state rooms and the most
desirable section of the deck was occu-
pied by the officers The soldiers slept
on board in hunks" as they were
called, three built one above another.
The Rio Grande, after lying in dock
four days. steamed out into the bay.
While the soldiers were permitted to go
about as they choose during the day,
there was little to interest them, and
any movement in the direction of the
transport fleet was welcomed. For
three days the thirty two transport ships
lay at anchor at distances of from one to
three miles No one knew when the
fleet was to start, and the soldiers chafed
under the delay. Each day while in
dock the tcall to arms" was sounded to
learn how quickly the soldiers could
gather up their equipments and get
ashore. Going in bathing from the
ships side and watching the signalling
by flags on the transports were two d.
versions of the troops
The soldiers breathe a sigh of relief
or satisfaction when the transport feet,
after lying at anchor seven days, started
for Spanish waters. The assemblage of
vessels was remarkable one Every
thing in the way of a boat was to be
seen, from water barges to war vessels,
several of the latter acting as conveys.
Three sidewheelers were among the feet,
and the rate of speed did not exceed six
miles an hour; 30 that fourteen days
were necessary to reach the coast of
Cuba. The cramped condition of the
soldiers was responsible for considerable
suffering, but few were i'll. The latter
fact speaks well for the hardihood of the
American soldier.
No attempt was made by the Spaniards
to resist the landing of American
soldiers at Daiquiri, off which place the
fleet of transports lay, while several
-r,oIIo, NOV x,onco1c lo<v,, Lo rdod tho oOact
for ten miles, This was done as pre-
caution, to drive from the shore any
troops of the enemy that might be
located thereabout It is doubtful if
such a spectacle as this bombardment
proved to be had ever been witnessed by
soldiers or officers before. The trans
ports lay off short distance from the
shore, in case the Spaniards should re-
ply Shell and shot struck the noun
tain side, tearing away great piles of
earth and stone, the big guns rivalling
in sound the most terrific thunder
When an American flag was hoisted on
a guardhouse which was located on the
highest point along that part of the
coast, every ships whistle echoed a
sound of jubilation.
Nearly three days were occupied in
landing all the soldiers, small boats
towed by steam launches being used to
take them ashore In landing the
horses and mules, owing to poor man.
agement, many swan out to sea and
were drowned, and the shore was lined
with their carcases.
The country about the southern por-
ton of Santiago province is very noun
famous, and giant hills tower one above
the other for miles. There is every
where a dense growth of vines and
shrubbery, making the trails there are
no roads, almost impossible. The single
road toward the city of Santiago, over
which every American soldier passed,
had to be repaired daily by a corps of
engineers and several hundred men
Upon landing. most of the troops were
given a twelve-miIe march, and this, too.
after having been three weeks on boat.
Because of the intense heat coats and
blankets by hundreds were thrown by
the wayside. The regulation blue uni
form was ill-suited to such climate.
On account of the dense foliage the
camps could be seen for only short dis
lance. The soldiers were annoyed by
tarantulas, land crabs and insects, which
infest the island.
Many Cubans were seen and all asked
for something to eat. Indeed, this was
nearly all they were ever known to do.
<'Tenza Daucha omlve" q have much
hunger was the salute which the Amer
leans always expected upon seeing one
IF the duslxv inorates Some of the