The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1898-05-03
TROOPS AT TAMPA
Receive Orders to Be in Readiness for
Immediate Departure.
{ Is Thought junction VIII BE Made
With the Insurgent Army in Cuba
Before the Rainy Season Sets
in on the Island.


Before the Rainy Season Sets
in on the Island.
TAMPA, Fla, April 29-The news of
the bombardment of Matanzas forts
by Adm. Sampson reached here Thurs
day afternoon, and soon afterward
Col. Melville A. Cochran, commanding
the First provisional brigade of the
Tampa division, received a telegram
from Washington instructing him to
hold his command in readiness for i'm
mediate departure, with rations for so
days. This is the first authentic in
formation regarding the future move
ments of tn" troops here.
The Taml a division embracing the
troops at this point and at Port Tampa
mas beer divided into two brigades.
Col. Cochran, the senior ranking Off
Ger in the camp, has been appointed
commander of the first brigade, and
Col. John Poland, the next ranking Of
fcer, to the second brigade The first
Includes the Fifth, Sixth, Ninth and
Thirteenth regiments. The second
brigade is composed of the Fourth,
Seventeenth and Twenty-frst regi-
ments, these being termed provisional
brigades. The staff officers have not
as yet been appointed, but Col. Cochran
has chosen Capt. Turner. of his regi-
ment, Sixth, as adjtant: Col. Poland
has selected Capt. Wrenn, of the Sew
enteenth, to fill that position in the
Second brigade. The order from Wash
10 70 ho 20 -
the First brigade referred to, is be-
ing whispered about among the Off
GERS in the rotunda of the hotel.
Although no definite orders as
yet have been received, it is
expected the second brigade will re-
ceive similar message from Washing
ton within few hours. Officers here
expect that all the troops now station
ed at Chickamauga will be here in a
few days. These troops consist OF
5000 cavalry, ten batteries of artillery
of 500 men and $500 infantry, or a
total of $500 men. On the arrival OF
these troops it is quite likely that they
will be organized into brigades and
regiments for transfer to Cuba.
1t is well known that the much
dreaded rainy season on the island does
not set in for several weeks and officers
believe that the purpose of the army
and navy authorities in Washington is
to effect a junction with the Cuban
army before that time or else land
10, 600 or $4,000 regular troops there and
make rush upon Havana.
WASHINGTON, April ga sudden
change in the plans of the administra.
ton with regard to the campaign in
Cuba was apparent Thursday night
| after a conference at the white house
between the president, Gen. Miles and
Brig. Gen, Shafter, who will be
in command of the army of in.
vasion. Orders have been issued for
| the immediate mobilization of the
troops at the ports of departure, and
it now seems to be the intention Oh
the president to take advantage of the
| inroads made at Matanzas Wednesday
and land troops in that vicinity at once.
| Several large transports were charter
| ed Thursday afternoon.
| At the conference Thursday night
both Gen. Miles and Gen. Shafter III
sisted that nothing could be done in
| Cuba until the troops had been landed
and were in position to cooperate
with the fleet. The president, il
is said, was impressed with the rep
reservations made and promised Z
/ speedy and effective campaign. He
said the fleet should strike no blow al
! Havana until the land forces were
! ready to follow up the attack Gen.
Shafter reported that he had trust
worthy advices that the Spanish army
! was badly demOralized and that d much
smaller army of energetic Americans
aided by the insurgents, could easily
defeat the Spaniards, who since THEN
entrance into Cuba had done no hard
fighting and had been reduced by sick
ness until their fighting strength was
such that they could not stand punish
ment such as he hoped to be able tC
! give them. 1t was reported after the
conference that an order would be
issued Friday to the commanders Of
troops notifying them to be ready tC
move at "a hours notice. Those al
Chickamauga are to be Immediately
sent to Mobile and Tampa, from which
point they will be taken in transports
to the Cuban coast in the vicinity o.
| MatanzaS.
TIE OnMEEDEEC