The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1898-12-31
LETTERS FROM rHEFOURTH
BY Lieut.. L. S. Goddard, giving a
description Of their trip.
On Board Transport
"ManiIoba,"
Dec. /. 1898.

DEAR TIMEs:-Knowing that
many of your readers are anxiously
looking for a letter from the soldier
boys from Blount, take this oppor-
tunity of writing.
After spending five months at
Knoxville the 4th Tenn, regiment
received orders 10 hold itself in
readiness TO move to Cuba. On
Sunday evening, Nov. 80 h, definite
orders came 10 start for The "Gem
of the Antilles" just as soon as pos
sible. That night oil stores not
needed by the men were boxed and
sent home. The next morning the
tents and all stores to be carried
along were packed by 10 o'clock
and by twelve everything but The
men was aboard the train. The
men were all on before 3 o'clock
but for some reasons the train did
not pull out until IL o'clock Mon
day night. That night, the next
day and next night were spent on
the road. We reached Savannah,
Wednesday morning, Nov. 30th.
That day was spent in loading the
stores, mules and horses. This was
accomplished by O'clock, Dec. l,
1898 and by $3.50 o'clock all the men
were aboard the big transport
"ManitOba." At 7:45 O'Clock by
your time, or at S:A5 by Savannah
time the little tug started down the
Savannah River pulling our ship
gradually away from the wharf. 1t
seemed, that all Savannah were out
to see us off. The house tops win
dows and the wharf were lined with
people shouting and waving us
farewell and God speed. Our band
started "DiXie" and as the notes OF
this inspiring battle song of the
South rang out Oh the air the whole
regiment lifted up its voice in one
mighty and prolonged shout, which
was answered by the thousands Oh
shore. AS we went slowly down
the river all the whistles of the
large number OF shi ps steamers
anchored along the shore, saluted
us, as did the factories and every
thing else, along the shore thai
could makea noise. A large numbe,
of flags could be seen and all Of
them were "dipped" time and again
as a salute to us, we passed them
About two miles from the river q
regiment was encamped and as
we passed the whole regiment was
drawn up in line. The whole scene
was inspiring. IL is about eighteen
miles from Savanna to the sea anC
before we reached the mouth of til,
river we passed the passenger shil
Gate City" which had been re
ported lost in Wednesdays storm a
sea. She was a pretty ship and WI
all felt glad that she was safe.
We also passed an old tort abou
5 miles out, but did not learn tn,
name of it, nor could learn any o
Its history. AS we reached tn,
ocean the buoys attracted my at
tention. Most OF them had bells OF
top of them and one l noticed wa
what is called a "whistling buoy.
These are for the purpose of warn
ing sailors when their ships are ap
preaching danger.
After we had gotten fairly int
the ocean, our river pilot left US
taking with him many letters from
the boys to be sent back to tn,
loved ones at home.
Before going any farther a fe,
words about our good ship "Mani
tOba" will no doubt be of interes
She is a twin screw, four decke
and has four masts. She is said
be AS Fl. long at the water line an
465 It. on upper deck. She is abou
40 IT. wide. You will see by thI
that she is very large ship. Sh
will carry 1900 men and 500 horse