The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-29
GOMEZ'S SOLDIER
WRITES A LETTER
lie Is AT PRESENT IN COLUMBUS, GA,
AT THE HOME OF HIS FATHER.
Gives Advice to Mlitia--Says HammncLs
Are Ne ccssary For Soldiers to Sleep In
1t IL Unsafe to Sleep on tho Ground
-Is u Captain in tho Insurgent
Army-Ho Was In Cuba Two
and u Half Ytaro.
Atlanta Constitution.

-
To every ono who enlists in the ar
my of invasion soon to be modified
on Georgia soil preparatory to de-
parture for Cuba, and particularly to
officers of tho army, the following
letter will 30 of unusual interest and
benefit. 1t is from Mr.. Mccormick
Neal, OF Covington, Ga, who writes
of a young kinsman's experiences in
tho army Of General Gomez, and
offers advice to tho volunteers of the
state about tho danger soldier ia OK
posed to in Cuba from fever and other
diseases, and the best way to guard
against them. Tho young soldier re-
ferrcd to in tho letter has boon in
Cuba two and n half years, and has
risen froua'hn ranks Of tho insur-
gent army to tho position Of cap
tain. He is at the present time in
Columbus, Ga, at tho homo of his
father, having returned from the
scene of war On account of wounds
that could not be given proper medi-
cal attention on the island.
His name has been withheld for
reasons explained in tho letter. Tho
advice contained in the communica.
ton is on tho same line as that given
somo time since by Consul General
Lee while in Washington, only the
writer goes more into detail upon
the necessities that confront the SOL
dier in Cuba:
"Edito, Constitution-It is the
duty Of all to furnish information to
those who will so to Cuba, to enable
them to endure the labor and hard.
ah;ro of " ~~.>>r l:e-- I'll - h----
my fortune to meet in this place a
nephew of my wife, grandson Of
Judge Floyd, now deceased, Coving-
ton, Ga, known to so many in this
state.
"This gallant young man of about
twenty eight years OF age, about two
and years ago, having love Of
the military and sympathy for Cuba
in her struggle, quietly stole away
and left via Jacksonville on tho Three
Friends for the island, and joined
tho insurgents. He was in twenty
four engagements in thirteen months.
In the seventeenth he won distinction,
and was promoted to lioutenancy,
afterwards 10 the position of captain
on the staff Of General Maceo, and
had not bis health failed him, he
would have beon made major, be-
cause Of the subsequent early death
Of General Maceo. He was wounded
twice in the battle Of Soroa severely,
and afterwards on volunteer caval-
ry raid near LaTapid, in the Province
Of Plnar del Rio. His health finally
failed him. and from exposure and
no medical attention he was forced
to come to Havana, then New York
and from there reached the home of
his father in Columbus, Ga, IN July
last His health is not entirely res
tored, and he will not go to Cuba
again until it is.
ellis experience is of value, and OF
that wish to write. He enjoyed
uninterrupted health for eleven
months save from wounds. 1t is his
Judgment that by every soldier
supplying himself with a light ham
mock and sleeping in it at night
above ground, light blanket or GOV
ering and rubber cloth sufficiently
large, he will escape all malarial dis
eases. The loast clothing possible
and that cotton, not wool. The hea
is intense part Of the day, and the
nights are very cool. A constant sol
breeze Is blowing all the time. Witt
these articles furnished him, he (the
writer) would have no dread Of fight
ing again in tho battles of Cuba. He
like General Lee, should be made I
commander aud oil activity put fortl
to push to an early commencement
and quick ending this most unfor
tunate war. lIo IS an intelligen
, young man, and in conversation gav
Il most interesting account of wha
, ho saw while in tho Cuban war.
: tried to get him to publish this &c
) count himself, bnt he is modest, ans
, has no INCLINATION to appear in tn
papers, SO have in my crude wa,
tried to furnish you this report.
MeCoRMoK NEAL.