Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-13
TEE OFF FOR CUBA.
AN ANIMATED SCENE ON THE
WHARF AT SAVANNAH.
The ARRIVAL OF The CHESTER
which f. u Take the Fourth vir-
ginia-A sword PresentatiOn-Pro-
motions-PcrsOnaI and Other Notes
from Camp Onward.
Correspondence of the Dispatch.)

| CAMP ONWARD. SAVANNAH, GA.
| December ia great crowd gathered a
the Central Elevator Wharf this morn
| ing TO see General Lee and staff leave To-
| Cuba on the Panama. There were u
| great many soldiers and citizens present
| The ladies, who are always on hand OF
such occasions to bid each knight SO
where glory awaits thee" were present
in large numbers. Wives, sisters, and
sweethearts OF the officers fingered unit
after the gangways had been withdrawn
| and exchanged the customary farewell
| greetings.
Besides General Lee, his staff and Pro
vost-Marshal Harrison, there were about
ninety attaches in the way of clerks
orderlies. guards. and negro servants.
Very noticeable was the great number
OF cameras in the hands of ladies, oil
| GERS, and citizens, and enough photo
graphs of the brilliant scene were taken
| to fill an art gallery.
a good many attempts were. made TO
snap the jovial face Of General Lee, but
| the General had no idea of having his
countenance butchered by these amateurs,
and artfully turned away just as they
were about to press the button.
After considerable delay, at 4 o'clock
the tug whistled the signal of departure,
the crowd of visitors on deck hustled
ashore and the Panama was towed down
stream amid the waving of handkerchiels
and cheers of the crowd on shore.
The Panama eNpCctpi reach
Marianao Wednesday.
As she was pulling out, General Lee
shouted to Colonel Dows: "The Chester
is in the river | will tell them you all
are waiting for her"
Before leaving General Lee gave some
emphatic instructions with regard 10
transports The work of loading them
has proceeded too slowly to suit him.
II presume that we will enter Habana
and establish headquarters there about
January 1st," said General Lee to-day. 81
understand that the city will be turned
over at that time. In the mean time my
headquarters will be at MarianaO. The
corps will be moved TO Cuba just as rap
idly as possible, and l expect it all there
by January LIST. l will not remain on the
Panama, but will so right ashore upon
my arrival
General Lee will have about 1000 men
under his command in Cuba by January
LIST. He has urged upon the War De-
partment the hasty transportation Of his
men.
The Chester arrived in port this eve
ming, and General Lee had ISSUED an order
to the Fourth Virginia to board it as soon
as possible, Most all arrangements have
been already completed for our departure
and as soon as the ship is put in order
we will embark. The Chester is one Of
the finest transports in the service, and
has made several trips recently, carry
ing troops from this port TO Cuba.
Yesterday morning, after the regular
Saturday morning inspection of Company
II, Fourth Virginia Regiment. the order
given by Lieutenant l.. l.. Cheatwood 10
the first sergeant TO dismiss the company
was not oh yed with its customary
promptness. Lieutenant CheatwoOd was
called back and First-Sergeant Field VIII
bon, in behalf Of the company, presented
to him a handsome sword After speak
ing Of the attachment of the company 10
him, Sergeant Wilbon sald an order to
give you slight idea of the high esteem
and love which every member OF the com
pany has for you. they have decided to
present you with this sword, which l am
proud to hand to you on their behalf. with
their best wishes for your future welfare"
Though not given as a birthday present !
This happened to be on the Lieutenants |
For some time the position Of first SER
geant in Company NJ has been vacant. |
About two weeks ago an examination. I'm !
which several competed for the honor. |
was given to decide who should nil the |
vacancy Following is the report Of the |
board:
a frir
major and two first lieutcnants. requested |
by Captain w. J.. Daughtry Jr., com
Company NJ to recommend to
him one Of his sergeants for first ser
seant, has recommended Sergeant Joseph |
H. Young, Jr, for the position The or
der making Sergeant Young first sergeant
was duly issued to-day.
Sergeant J. a. Kimbal. Of Company O.
has been appointed first sergeant Of his
company to succeed Sergeant Harrison.
Corporal w. b. Holland, Of Company /.
has been promoted to the rank of line
sergeant
Private A. n. Goodwin, Of Company L.
who has been sick in the hospital, has re-
ported to his company for duty in re-
stored health
Newport News, who has been home on a
-hirty-day sick furlough, reported for
iuty to-day eager for Cuba.
Corporal McCorkle, Of Company F, who
has also been home on a thirty-day sick
returned to-day.
''F'' COMPANY EAIBARKS.
SAVANNAH, GA, December 12-(Spe-
'ial)-The Fourth Virginia Regiment is
expected to 80 aboard the Chester Thurs
lay and move out of the river Thursday
evening or Friday. About 2 o'clock this
afternoon the l6lst Indiana and the
Third Battalion Of the Second Illinois
'roke camp. They were joined by "Fv'
company, of the Fourth Virginia. who
eft their regiment amid the cheers OF
heir companions in the other companies.
10 the strains Of martial music they
marched in heavy order TO the central
wharf and boarded the Mobile. They will
all tomorrow al daybreak on tide. The
second Division and First Brigade head
uarters go with them. "F0' Company will
erye as guard at division headquarters In
'uba.