The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-31
GUARDS WELL CARED FOR.
CONDITIONS AT TAMPA AS SEEN BY
EX-MAYoR MYERS.

Watching over the Health and
Comfort of Their Men-Boxes From
Friends at Savannah Greatly APP
precfated by the SOIdiers-secOnd
Regiment May Move to Jackson
ViIle-Guards' Gray Uniforms At
tract Much AttentiOn-Men Rapidly
BrOnzing and Hardening for the
Work Alphabetically Drilling
Volunteers to Proficiency.
Mr. Herman Myers returned yesterday
from trip to Tampa, lie went down TO
the camp to see the volunteers from Sa-
vannah, especially. and get some idea of
the life they are leading under canvas.
He was agreeably surprised to find them in
much better shape than he had anticipated.
and with daily Improvement in the con-
ditions surrounding them. The govern
ment, he feels assured, is perfecting its
commissary service and is looking after
the health and welfare of the men. Causes
for complaint have been remedled, or are
being quickly removed, and there is evil
dent a determination on the part of those
charged with the duties, he says, TO put
the army in the very best condition for the
hard work that is before it.
There was no evidence while 1 was in
Tampa of any intention to move on Cuba
at an early date" said Mr. Myers. "And
men that would Indicate that they ex.
pected the invasion to begin soon. Down
at Port Tampa there were tWenty-three
large steamers lying in readiness for trans
porting men and supplies whenever the
government needs their services. Among
them were three of the Baltimore line and
the well-known Olivette. The feeling
among the volunteers. is not so strong for
an early invasion of Cuba as 1t doubtless
was when they first reached Tampa. The
men and the officers both realize that the
army of volunteers is in crude shape as
yet, not equipped and not well drilled. The
volunteers are able-bodied, eager to learn
and they are making rapid progress, I was
told by the officers, toward state of pro-
hcency. But in every company, almost
there are many who up to a few weeks
ago never handled a gun and had no
knowledge whatever of military tactics
Company drills are the order of the hour
1he men are not competent yet for regi-
mental work, as a rule. They are drilled
twice day, enter into the drills with zest
and the commanding officers say are full
OF fire and enthusiasm. There was no doubt
among the officers with whom I talked
that the material for one of the finest
armies on earth was gathered under the
recent call for volunteers
Gen Wheeler and Gen. Lee are both
at Tampa. and are very popular with the
men. There is unquestionably some little
Jealousy among the regular army officers
as regards the differing of the volunteer
army The impression exists among many
regular officers that they, having made a
life long profession of military matters,
should have been placed in charge of the
brigades, regiments, etc. Mixing with the
regular officers you soon find a current
of such sentiment that is quite strong
The volunteers are aware of it, There is
a general feeling among them that the
government acted very wisely in giving
the volunteers their own officers The
will with which the men have gone to work
under the officers from their own neigh
borhoods, whom they know and have con-
fdence in, demonstrates that the best
course has been pursued
THE camp where the Second Regiment
of Georgia Infantry is located is all that
could be desired, being near a small bay
where the men can battle in the early
morning and late in the day. There is
an abundant supply of artesian water in
camp, the drainage seems to be all right,
although it has been dry for so long that
one cannot tell much about that and the
Georgians have pleasant enough neigh
bors in the Florida regiment and two Ohio
regiments. Our Savannah boys are the
only soldiers in camp wearing gray uni
forms and are subjects of much inquiry.
I was amused to hear many questions
asked by visitors as to how the men in
gray were. They are the best known
soldiers in camp because of their uniform
1t was stated Sunday that to-day they
were to don their new regulation uniforms
of brown canvas, with which the invading
army is to be clad While the change may
add to the comfort of the Sayannahilns
L rather think many of them will be sorry
to lay off their gray cloth. l think they
were getting rather proud of the atten-
ton they attracted.
The Savannah battalion stands high
among the volunteer troops. There is no
question about that. The men have taken
hold of their duties with a vim. They
have forgotten everything else except mil
itary business, and their officers are sat
iStied they are going to take first rank
for proficiency in everything pertaining to
a soldiers life. They are standing the
and in water very well, much better, per-
haps than any other battalion in camp.
There were only four of them on the sick
list on Sunday and they were suffering
from nothing serious. The Florida regl-
ment, 1 understand had a very large
number temporarily on the sick list. Our
Savannah boys are getting sun-burned and
hardened very fast. They will be so
bronzed in a few weeks as 10 be almost
at first glance. Camp life
and the work of the soldier is undoubted-
ly building the men up physically.
THE boxes that have been received
from home have been greatly appreciated
by all 1t is not only what the boxes con-
tain, but the thought that they are so re-
membered that makes these donations so
pleasant. No one need fear that the sup
plies sent to Tampa are not appreciated
It does not matter what it is that is re-
ceived, it is given hearty welcome. A
wagon is sent In to the express office every
day and packages are brought out to camp
on ii at once. If those who are sending
packages of substantials and deHcacies
could see how graufed the soldiers are
when they are received, they would feel
well repaid for their expense and trouble.
THE Second Georgia is expected to be
moved up to Jacksonville, where all of
Gen. Lees division will be modified No