Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1898-06-13
NEWS FROM FRONT
A New Mexican War Correspondent
Sends the News Before Break
ing Camp at Tampa.
The Rough Riders Will Live Up to the Ex-
pectations Of the World-0ficers Idol
lied by the Men-That San An
tonic Dance Affair.
Special Correspondence New Mexican.

Correspondence New Mexican.
Tampa, Fla, June 5.-My commune
to the New MEXICAN have nee
e~ssarily been few lately, owing to the
fact that we have been too busy to do
anything but that which We have been
called upon for by our officers in COM
mand.
| am always anxious to get word to
the New MEXICAN, knowing that it is
read extensively throughout the terri
tory and that those at home who have
loved ones among us are always Just as
anxious to hear of their welfare; to
know what they are at present doing,
and what the program for the future is.
The latter question is very hard to an
swer, everything being of the rumor
order.
One week ago we broke camp in San
Antonio and started for Tampa, where
we arrived Friday morning, all well.
The boys stood the very wearisome trip
well, but one or two being troubled on
the way. After a visit to the ''red
cross" however, they were soon all
sound again. Every man in III troop
nswer roll call regularly, and we have
but one man lone of the new ones) in
the guard house. This is a good record
so far and to say we are proud of the
fact is putting it lightly. After our ar
rival we Immediately pitched our tents
and went about preparing for the future.
The first day we were visited by Gen
eral Miles and staff and later by Gen
eral Wheeler. They arc fine looking
men, Both were very tlattering in their
remarks about the LIST United States
volunteer cavalry, and unh~esitatingly
said it is the finest looking volunteer
regiment they ever saw; also, that never
have they known a regiment, either
regular or volunteer, to have learned so
much as we in the one months service
we have seen. 1t is no wonder we have
learned fast. Every man in the regi-
ment has volunteered and determined
to make the great showing expected of
us. The eyes of the entire United
States are upon us, as well as the great
er part of the world, which fact is well
known by every man. Then again our
officers are kind and ever watchful of
our interests. thus winning the love of
their men. Once having the esteem of
| the class of men which make up their
regiment there is hardly anything which
| can not be accomplished. While we are
extremely proud of the various compli-
mentS heaped upon US, we are indignant
at the reputation we have gained
| throughout the country. Those of you
at home who know the boys and their
| x,art ,a,I,,tnttryc npy, oryNVnnintn thic
fact. In San Antonio, for instance, at
a concert given for our benefit, q com
position entitled, "The Cavalry Charge"
was rendered. The professor asked for
10 men to fire their revolvers at random
| at a given signal. Of course the boys
were glad to do anything in return for
his bands kindness, so armed them
| selves with six blank cartridges apiece,
and were the only ones on the grounds
of the volunteers who had ammunition.
They fired their guns as requested. lie
| was pleased and the immense gathering
| of people were pleased, the tune being
| very appropriate at the present time.
The gardens were lighted up by cleo
| tricity furnished by a very inferior
plant, and the lights went out. Even
so the band finished the concert. The
next evening a dirty little ''rat" sheet
| came out and under a black-face, scare
| head told of how 800 trough riders had
| punctured a concert, firing in the neigh
| borhood of 1000 shots, causing women
| to stampede and children to scream and
clutch their mothers skirts, and that
| the "ungentlemanly cowboys" had cut
| the electric wires and robbed the tills
| of the bar-rooms Whereabouts. This re-
port was sent out by a press agent to
the world at large. The people of Tam
pa heard of the shooting up" of the
concert and consequently feared our
coming. We were to have been paid
Yesterday we heard, so did the citizens
of Tampa. They Immediately petitioned
| the paymaster to defer paying us off I'M
til after our departure, because they
were afraid of us. How absurd! They
seem to think the boys a set OF hyenas,
| cut throats, murderers and horse thieves
and that they have no regard for human
lives or public property. We wonder If
our friends at home will fear our return
after hearing how terrible vicious we
| have grown. One good effect it may
have, however, will be when we meet
the enemy, if they have heard of us.
This is Sunday, and heretofore on the
Lords day we have had no drill, but to-
day it seems they are making mp for all
| the rest we have had. just after break
fast the troops were lined up and
marched below camp a short ways,
| where religious services We're held by
the %regimental chaplain. General Wheel
er was in attendance. He stood be-
meath a tall tree, surrounded by all the
regimental officers. just in front were
the boys who are to follow him to vic
tory. The services were opened with
hymn, my Country, Ills of Thee" after
which there vas prayer; theR"Rock Of
Ages was sung by nearly 500 troopers,
After this the chaplain gave the boys
short talk-not a sermon, but simply
good, common sense talk. 'God Be
With You Till We Meet Again and ben
ediction ended the services. The troops
were marched back to their rows Of
tents and prepared Immediately for dis.
mounted drill with carbines. This aft.
ernoon we are to have drills again,
mounted and dismounted. The reason
of all the dismounted drill is due to the
fact that we do our first months fight.
ing on foot, the government not having
enough transport boats for the stock.
After our animals arrive we are to &C
through with a rush and make things
hum while going. The present plan
according to dame rumor, is to take
eight troops from this regiment along
with the first expedition, leaving thu
balance, it is presumed, back to care fol
the stock. Our troop (E) is to be one Of
the eight and the boys are accordingl.
happy. This is another evidence of thu
esteem in which Captain Muller is HEX
by the regimental commanders. Captain
Luna's troop also seems TO stand a yer,
good show Of going. His boys are doins
we'll and are always speaking in praise
of him. He is a hustler and always OF
- - - --.- ~