The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-10-07
AT CAMP CUBA LIBRE.
WHAT TAR HEEL SEES ON ATWO
DAYS, STAY IN CAMP.
A Grand Review-The First North
Carolina RegIment-Its Campfire
Health Of the Men-Questlon of Pre-.
Z ference Of the Soldiers for Service or
Men-Other Regiments of the Corps.
Especial Correspondence.)

Being Observation-Disclosures of the
Men-Other Regiment Of the Corps.
Especial Correspondence
Raleigh, n. c., October l.
Having seen what may be termed the
creation of the volunteer army, several
Of the smaller camps and the emarh-
alton Of troops for service in Porto
Rico, you correspondent had a partic-
ular desire to see one of the great
camps and also a review of an army
corps. A flying trip to Camp Cuba
Libre at Jacksonville was therefore
made and what has been termed the
best of all the camps was seen, togeth-
er with a parade and review of General
Lees Seventh army corps.
The first soldier seen at Jacksonville
was General Lee himself. Stouter than
ever, with hair now snowy white, he
is the picture Of a soldier. He is so
stout that on foot he rolls like Gov
ernor Russell, but the instant he is in
the saddle he is like Buffalo Bill. He
ranks as one of the finest riders in the
country. in the old army the late Gen
eral Ransom was considered the finest
of them all. General Lee did not ride
the grand stallion which Colonel Ben
nehan Cameron presented him, but
rode a gray, a very fine animal. The
stallion, the soldiers say, is such a
hig stopper that he can almost walk
over the telephone wires. The time has
been when that was exactly the ami
NAL General Lee wanted. General Lee
was at the station, with four troops
of unite cavalry, waiting to re-
ceive that much execrated man, Sec
rotary Of War Alger. M time was
last Sunday morning and the day a
pleasant one, with a regular Florida
breeze blowing.
THE REVIEW
The review was held at a suburb
known as Springfield, at which the
First North Carolina regiment and
many others were encamped, but
which they have vacated. To see the
review In the proper way, from an ell
ovation, your correspondent initiated
Zaccheus and climbed, not a sycamore
tree, but a long-leaf pine and from it's
top took in the entire scene. The first
regiment to arrive was the First North
Carolina, Lieutenant Colonel Cowles
commanding, in the absence of Colonel
aArmfield on leave. The regiment pre-
'sented a very smart appearance 1t
wore campaign hats, blue flannel
shirts, brown canvass trousers and
leggins. Each enlisted man carried a
canteen Of cold coffee, and a rubbed
poncho was passed under the cartridge
belt, to be handy in case of rain, which
is always more than a possibility in
Florida. The next regiment to take
ground was the the Second Illinois,
which is in the brigade with the First
North Carolina, commanded by Gen
eral Andy" Burt, who is, by the way,
greatly beloved by his Illinois and
North Carolina officers and men.
The review at Springfield was of the
First and Second divisions of the
corps. The uniform of all the enlist
ed men was precisely the same as
that described. This added greatly tC
the brilliancy and effectiveness of thu
review. The two divisions were formed
in mass in column of battaliOns facins
the reviewing stand. Suddenly Genera
Lees headquarters color-bearer ap
peared, and the immense seven-pointeC
star, the corps badge, made the flag
he bore resemble a. Chinese ensign
The general and Secretary Alger wer,
in a carriage. On arrival at the re
viewing stand the secretary took hi
stand thereon, with Generals Stern
berg, Of the medical, and Livingston
Of the quartermaster's department
General Lee proceeded to mount. Thi
was a matter requiring some troubl
and time. An orderly brought up tn
big ray The general on the secon,
effort negotiated the mount Once il
h saddle he was Fitz Lee all over
and dashing off at a rafting gait h
set the pace for his staff. He rod
along the line, casting a critical ey
at his men and then came past the re
viewing tand. With a flashing swee
of his sword he gave the salute t
90 vol -An ~ %I@x~ Z l. L
rear, dismOunted and went upon tn
stand. The march past, thus begun
continued for half an hour Or more
The regiments passed in cOmpan
front as a rule in fine style; the bar
of each wheeling 80 as to face the re
viewing stand and playing it's regimen
by, then marching off in rear. A clos
watch was kept on the North Carolin
regiment. It's band is a Door one. On!
ten companies We're in line, the elev
enth company being on duty at tn
division target range and the Twelfth
Captain T. H. Bains) having jus
come off duty as provost guard i
Jacksonville, was given the honorabl
post as guard at the reviewing stand.
The First North Carolina parade
about $50 strong, the companies Dein
equalized in twenty files front. Dis
tances and intervals were we'll kel
and the alignnentS were good, say
thd ny dh VI lie OAHU the CllI
was changed as the head
the Second battalion was coming L
to the reviewing point. The First ba
talon passed in excellent style, but tt
change of time made the second OF
ragged. The new step was quick
caught and in a couple of seconds IL
regiment showed how we'll it cou
march.
The best marching was. done by IL
Fourth regiment of immunes. whiC
also had the best band. The band
the Second Illinois was mex. IN poi
of excellence. There was no 1dmmer
no holiday business, about the revie,
it was business-like throughout. Eat
regiment has two flags, given by Il
government. The national flag bea
the name and numbe of the regimen
embroidered in white silk, the sta
or rather the regimental color IS
dark blue silk, with the arms and Z
nam and nuynhnr heavily apohra;Iarr