The Press., 1898-07-14
From the Monson Register.) From Our Special War Correspondents. On board transport No. 1a, on the northern


 On board transport No. 1a, on the northern coast Of Cuba, Monday, June eoth, 1893.
 MIR. EDITOR: I believe my last letter was written just as we were about to leave Tampa on board the transport No. IA, formerly the Ward liner Concho. Our experiences still continue as interesting and uncertain as ever. After lying from Wednesday until Saturday in Tampa Bay with about forty other boats, we, the Sd battalion of the Second Massachusetts, Volunteers, were transferred to a new transport, the Knickerbocker. Our quarters on the Concho were about as horrible as could be imagined. The after hold, where we were first placed, also ac- commodated three or four companies of the 25th regular infantry, negro regi- ment, who did not add to the cleanliness or smell of the place. In fact, after the first night not one of the Massachusetts boys slept there. Instead, we bunked on the upper deck, which was reserved for us. We gladiytwelconied e change, and moved with alacrity to the cleaner boat, Knickerbocker. This boat was notnum- bered, and judge of ours surprise and al to be 13, number skipped by all the other transports. The superstition of the boys asserted itself, and many wanted 1t changed. The captain of the boat. how ever, argued that there were thirteen let ters in the name of the boat, which had weathered every storm for twenty years; that there were thirteen officers aboard, and that we were from Massachusetts, a Q ate of thirteen letters. Consequently, with the best grace, the boys accepted his arguments. ..ss
 After several harrassing experienc s and narrow escapes from running down, or being run into by other boats, we found our boat to be as good a sailor as any in the fleet. The next day was the 18th, and we took ion the first battalion and headquarter officers from another trans port and moved to the wharf. Fifteen carloads of supplies were put into the hold, and early the next morning joined the other ships and proceeded to the low or bay, where we anchored. In about four hours we were again under way, this time 1t proved for our destinations Santiago de Cuba sOf course, no one knew our destination then, and 1t was the constant subject of our conversation. Many inquiries were put to the ships officers, who knew no more than we did. We sailed in three divisions, each headed by a battleship, and there were also seven gunboats and four torpedo boats along our Hanks and rear. We were No. 2 in the second division, or nearly in the cen. ter of the fleet, which made most i'm pressive sight as we sailed along. There ware a6ont 220s snO1 ff0ops m the expedls tion.
 Everything was very pleasant the first three days, and hardly any one on board boat did rock and pitch. Were we sick We'll, nearly every one had his side of the boat reserved, and held his place amid the rolling and pitching of the ship. We have subsisted for sixteen days on canned corned beef, canned roast beef, canned tomatoes and black coffee. I don't think that this feed was conducive to good health when continued for such a length of time. We, of course, did everything in our power to secure what else W, could. The steward sold soup at exorbi. tant prices, and soon gathered in all tn, change the boys had. But a little iudic ious fleeing of the sailors has kept us fl fairly good feed, at least once 8 day You can trust Chape to find a feed 1 there Is one to be had. Sunday 1t wal better, and we have managed to stay or deck nearly all day. We have been in sight of land many | times, but never so plain as to-day, wheI we passed Santiago de Cuba, and stopped near the coast, about thirty miles west o the city. We saw one or two of tn, squadron under Sampson, which Is guard ing the entrance to the harbor, as VI passed. We are in hopes to be landed soon, although I think the undertaking will be hard one, not on account of an. | opposition, but because everything vii have to be unloaded by lighters. Haven seen anything of Spaniard yet, but thel we are four miles from shore.
 | Later-have juet seen my first battleshil ! Id action, but we are too far of to se | more than the smoke and hear the can nonading. ..t.-t... - Some of the boats have already landed | and am so much interested in what i going on and in preparing to land that | will close. H. T. CHAPIN, Musician, Co. c, 2d Mass. Vols.