The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1898-06-15
The Troops Have Left for Cuba.

The Troops Have Left for Cuba
Washington, June 13.-The first
army of invasion is now we'll on its
way, 32 transport steamships bear
ing over $4,000 officers and men,
conveyed by battleships, cruisers,
gunboats and auxiliary craft, l6 in
number, having actually sailed from
Key West at daybreak this morning.
An authoritative statement to this
effect was made at the war depart
ment today setting at rest all reports
that the expedition was on its way,
or had landed last week. The
authorities made the announcement
for the reason that the time for
secrecy was now past, as the scout
boats had made sure that the path
was clear before it announced that
no possible menace could come from
the Spanish ships or troops, even
should the enemy know that our
forces were now advancing against
them. With the expedition off, off
cials here feel that there will be a
feeling OF comparative inaction for a
few days.
The troops making up the expedi-
ton which started today are as
follows:
Infantry Regiments-6th, 18th,
list New York Volunteers; 10th,
2lst, I'd, 18th, 9th, Oath, Sth, 22d,
I'd, Massachusetts Volunteers; lst,
25tb, 18th: 7lh, 10th, Sd, Goth.
Total, infantry, 56l officers and
1O,7O9 enlisted men.
Cavalry-Two dismounted squad
rons of four troops each from the Sd,
9Th, 9Th, 1st and 10th cavalry, and
two dismounted squadrons Of four
troops each from the 1st United
States Volunteer cavalry. Total,
dismounted cavalry, 159 officers,
2,S75 enlisted men. Mounted cav
alry-One squadron Of the I'd, 8
officers and 2S0 enlisted men.
Artillery-Light batteries E and
K 1st artillery. A. and F, I'd artillery,
IA officers and 1928 enlisted men.
Batteries G and H, 4th artillery,
siege guns, officers and 1872 enlisted
men.
Engineers-Companies G and E,
9 officers and 200 enlisted men.
Signal Corps-One detachment, 2
officers and As enlisted men.
Hospital attachments are included
in the foregoing figures. The staff
corps numbers Is officers.
The grand total Of the expedition
is 773 officers and 24,5G4 enlisted
men.
By Thursday at the fastest the
transports will be off Santiago, and
large American army will make it's
landing on Cuban soil. Admiral
Sampson has cleared the way for this
undertaking, and little danger is ap-
pretended in getting ashore. 1t will
be, after that, when the advance is
made, that the actual dramatic de-
velopments may be expected.
The regular troops make up the
greater part of the force, there being
but three volunteer organizations on
the ships.
Aside from the men and officers
making up the expedition, the boats
carried vast quantity of supplies,
ammunition and war equipments, ne
cessary to maintain an organization
of this size for at least 60 days.
Every detail for the landingrof this
party has been worked out by the
engineer corps Of the army. 1t will
be a laborious process at the best,
and will take full day or more.
The point of landing has been SO
chosen that there is little danger of
an interruption from the Spanish
forces, but should they attempt to
make trouble Admiral SIMPSONS
ships will insure ample protection
until the troops can care for them
selves.
The Spanish Cadiz feet is as much
of a mystery to the naval officers