The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-08-06
NSI'tNIdI w 81
Camp Cuba Iibrc,
Near Jacksonville. Fla, Aug. ).

| q
| camp.
The paymaster and the order to pre-
| pare to 90 to Porto Rico are too much
for one day, but they both came Thurs
| day. OF the two. | think the order to
| Porto Rico caused greatest joy.
The routine of camp life, with little
prospect ahead Of active service. had
! sickcned and Disguised the men and
| officers. Regrets at having enlisted
were heard on all sides. But early yes
| life Singing and whistlng. the hustle
of life and activity-unmistakab signs
| Of happiness and contentment--w were
heard throughout the Tar Heel camp.
Have you heard the news? We are
going to Porto Rico was the greeting
on every hand
Out of the regiments here only one
was chosen. and that one the First
North Carolina. Hence it Is an object
of envy to all the other fourteen regi-
ments in camp here. The other two
regiments put down as being in Jack
sonvillc-I'irSt Alabama and Second
Tcxas-are still at Miami, though they
have been ordered here.
Though the Tar Heels are very happy
over their good fortune, their JOY is
| nothing compared to what it would he
were they sure they would really go
that there would be no slip 'twixt the
ordering and the going. SO, often have
they heard false alarms raised and so
often have they known orders TO be
countermanded that they will not con
| slider themselves sure of Porto Rica
until they find themselves aboard the
| transports. on their way.
| 1t is said that Gen. Lee is much dis
pleased with the order, as it takes sew
| eral regiments out of his corps. He
especially dislikes the idea Of losing the
North Carolina regiment, and, | am
| told, may protest against it.
lie thinks those who go to Porto
Rico will have but little. if any. fighting
| TO do. and that as soon as that island is
subjugated the volunteer troops sem
there will he disbanded and returned to
their homes.
But the Seventh Army Corps" he
continued, will go to Havana early this
fall. peace or no peace. 1t viii see
plenty of active service too. I'm con-
WINGED Of that. for it will he part OF
the army of occupation. The regiments
in it will have Il chance TO serve out
their enlistment, for it will take two
years and perhaps five to establish order
in the island"
Gen. Lee added that such of his
regiments as wished to join other OK
petitions could do so. but that he much
preferred they would remain as they
We're. He minated that those leaving
| the Seventh Corps would have their
| places. in it promptly filed. and the ar
my of occupation would be composed of
| volunteer troops that HAD not already
| been sent to the front.
The North Carolinians most heartily
appreciate Gen. Lees regret at giving
| them up and while they had rather
| serve under him than under any other
| officer, they are anxious to get to the
| front and take their chances at "A scrap
before the war is over. They love Gen.
| Lee and would like to serve under him,
but the idea of going back home with
out having smelt powder Isl more than
4 they can bear.
Fortunate boys" said Brigad q
| General Burt, when he heard the news.
Il rejoice i'll your good luck, but I'm
mighty sorry to give you up. Wish
| ! could go with you. Oh, it's picnic
this going to Porto Rico. Finest coun-
try in the world. And then you Tar
| Heels, you are such fighters. Before
| YOU go, though. | want to get all YOU
men together and make you little
speech want to tell you how much
think Of you and give You my blessing"
Gen. Burt is a fighter from way back
and he is not at all happy when there
is lighting going on and he is not in it.
There is no telling just exactly when
| the First Regiment will leave here. The
best opinion is that it will go within the
coming week. Some equipment is still
necessary, as it is announced that Gen.
Wade's division is to be the best equip
ped yet sent out. 1t il believed that
this equipment can be provided within
the next few days. The chief quarter
master and the chief commissary have
already received orders to fit out the
First North Carolina in preference to
all other regiments in camp here.
The two companies of North Carolina
volunteers stationed at the barracks at
st. Augustine are anXiously awaiting
the appearance Of the paymaster. The
boys have quite ii number Of duties to
perform. As already stated. they have
II detail of men engaged in guarding
prisoners mt the fort, another squad man
ming the battery at Anasrasia Island.
while the remainder are stationed ut the
| barracks.
/ Dr.NPaul c. Hutton. formerly sergeant
| III the Goldsboro company, but now Act
| mig Assistant Surgeon, United States
Army, has gone to Porto Rico. He
went as medical officer on the transport
"Aransas," which sailed from TAMPA
| Wednesday evening at 6 o'clock. On
board the transport was Il detachment
of 300 men and horses from the Fifth
United States Artillery
Discharges for physical disability have
been granted Iebulon V. Cox. OF the
Waynesyille company; William A. Baker
and Charles A. Moore Jr.. of the Ashe-
vile company; Thad Mangum. of the
Raleigh company and Gus Il. Wavra. Of
the Hornets Nest Rifles. Mangum and
Moore are new recruits. Wavra is !,
native of Vienna Austria. He is a
printer by profession.
-Four measles and two malaria eases
were yesterday sent to the division lbs
ptal. Those with measles are Robert
+. Chilly. Winston company; Grank
Ledford and John f. Evans. of the
Waynesyille company, and Tom Gr's