New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-31
COLONEL HOODS IMMUNES.
THEIR CAMP NEAR CONVICTION La
THE YOUNGEST OFFICER OF
HIS RANK.

Camp Cafery. on the beautiful Tcheufuncta
River near Covingtor. La. was the first I'M
mune camp established after the passage OF the
Immune act calling for ten thousand troops spe-
cially qualified for service in Cuba. The ilrst IN
tention Of the bill was TO include only regiments
made up Of men who had passed through one
or more epidemics of yellow fever. The act.
however passed without this requirement. and
men from designated Southern States were con-
sidered acclimated and eligible. Companies OF
men came from Memphis and more Northern
points from Texas and from the stretch OF
country intervening between these points. Louis
lana and Texas furnished the majority. and
fully half the men "immunes in the real
sense of the word
So anxious were Southern men to fight under
Colonel Hood that no fewer than seventeen full
companies had to be rejected from Texas. to say
nothing Of others from elsewhere. after Hoods
regiment was complete.
The regiment is encamped in what military
experts have pronounced to be the best laid out
camp in the South. It Is on almost level land
the great yellow pine belt Of Louisiana shutting
in the plains and filling the air with resnous
odor which attracts to Covngton consumptives
from all over the United States. The Tcheu-
functa and Covington rivers furnish splendid
bathing facilities. natural springs OF purest
water bubble up at intervals all about the camp
and the hard earth. covered with short grass OF
pine needles. furnishes the best of drill grounda.
The ancient little town of Covington lies a
mile or two beyond the camp. and is base OK
supplies and communication for the soldiers. So
cheap and plentiful are fruit and vegetables
here and comfortable the beds Of young pine
tips that the soldiers say they will not know
how to rough it in Cuba Colonel Hood, however.
makes drilling even amid such surroundings
soldierly art that gives the a foretastc OF
what forced marches and the like will mean
hen they go (as they expect to) to storm Porto
Rico Havana.
The physical average Of the men is said to be
up to that Of the Regular Army. which demands
a more perfect type Of physical excellence than
that required for volunteer commands.
Colonel Hood and his aid observation-disclosures J.
Y. Grubbs. Of West Point both experienced
though young Army officers. and are said to DO
disciplinarians of the highest order.
Colonel Duncan n. Hood is the son Of the late
General John e. Hood. of the Confederate Army.
Both Of Colonel Hoods parents and his grand
mother and eldest sister died Of yellow fever in
1877. and Colonel Hood then about SIX years
of age was adopted by the millionaire John A.
Morris. He was graduated with honor from
West Point in 1896 and afterward resigned
from the Army and took up the profession OF
mining engineer. AS soon as he foresaw that
war was imminent he FASTENED to Louisiana
and offered his services to Governor Foster to
raise a regiment. at the same time refusing
fatterng offer from the State Of Texas
Colonel Hoods regiment was not included in
the call for 125 900 volunteers and he energet-
icaIy set to work to organize a regiment of fever
mmunes He originated the Immune bill.
which the Senate promptly passed. but the OPP
position in the Lower House was so great that
Colonel Hood had to go back TO Washington aud
urge the advantages Of the measure to secure its
passage.
Colonel Hood is the youngest officer OF his
rank in the Army. and. officials say one OF tho
ablest. He spent thousands in organizing his
regiment. and is preparing now for active ser