The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-07-16
TORREY ROUGH RIDERS
Most Thoroughly Equipped Regi-
ment In Camp.
TROOP l IN GOOD SHAPE
HAS TWO MOUNTED DRILLS A
DAY, RAIN OR SHINE.
Men All Anxious to Get to the
Front Before the End of the War
Utah Boys Experiencing An
Unusual Amount of Rain-Colo-
mel Torrey Still Lame.
fspecial Corresnondence.l


Camp Cuba Libre. Fla, July 1.-THE
end of the second week finds the Sec
ond United States volunteer cavalry
well settled in camp here, and fast be-
coming acclimated. The men are all
getting anxious again 10 be moving, as
they want TO get TO the front before
the war is over. \ rigid regimental ia
spection was made last Friday and Sat
urGay. which resulted in report TO
General Lee by the inspecting officer
that Torreys command was the most
thoroughly equipped of any in this
camp. Inspection of the first squadron
Urder Major Hubbard, consisting or
tire ops A, Z. X and l, was completed
before General Miles sailed from Char
lesion. and the men of l troop were
happy for two days. in the hope that
the squadron might be detached and
assigned to his command, but we are
stll in camp. and the expedition under
Miles has gone.
l troop INDUCES in two mounted
drills day. out in the woods, rain or
Shine, and it's generally in the rain.
The men are getting plenty of orac-
tice in skirmish drill. The underground
in places is very thick, and horses so
down occasionally. but no one gets
hurt.
The parade to Jacksonville on the
Fourth was postponed on account of
rain. but it seems the rainy season has
just begun. and the same weather pre-
vailed on the 9Th, so the regiment was
turned out There were Il regiments
in line. The cavalry, however. seems
to be something entirely new to this
country, and the people gave us a Sor-
geous reception. 1t rained hard during
the entire 12-fnile march, and every
man got soaked. but they are all used
to that row. Carbines and six-shoot-
ers were carried. and Jacksonville Deo-
pie say the rough riders looked very
bUsiness-like. Incidentally, the men all
wore poncho5, to protect them from the
rain. a trooper of 1 expressed the
general opinion of the troop regarding
the ooncho issued to us, when he re-
marked that the idea must have been
evolved by some clever member of our
strategic board in Washington.
The cavalry enjoyed the parade much
more thar the infantry. as they were
undoubtedly the favoIites of the coed
people oe Jacksonville. but our sport
came the next day, in securing up sad
dies. brides. etc.
1t rains here most OF the time, AID
it keeps the men busy polishing up
equipment. When we have nothing else
to do. we are inspected by somebody.
Announcements are inspected imme-
diately after breakfast. then it rains,
then the men clean things I'D, than
they have some more inspection. and
this order is kept up during the day,
with an occasional drill thrown in to
break the rnonotony.
We are getting pretty good grub
for soldiers. and there is no sickness.
The men thought when we first arrived.
here that they would never become ac-
customed to the heat. but they f-d
ROW they are able to do just as much
work as at Cheyenne.
Yesterday several members OF troop
took advantage of excursion rates AID
went to st. Augustine, where they
found themselves objects of great Gu
riosity 10 the few people who inhabit
that ANTICIPATED place in the summer
time. The big hotels We're all closed.
ard a large majority of the regular
residents seemed to be Spaniards. They
did not receive the troopers with any
degree of enthusiasm. The boys took
in all points OF interest. including the
old Spanish works called Fort Marion,
where, ii is said. some of the prisoners
taken at Santiago are to be taken care
of. The dungeons in the old fort are
from l troop could easily look after
Blanco's whole command. After in
specting the fort. the boys all took
swim in the surf. and then returned to
Jacksonville.
Colonel Torrey is still disabled from
injuries received at TGpelo, bat prom
ises to go with the regiment 10 Porto
Rico. if our luck holds out. Dull.