The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-30
FOURTH VIRGINIA
IN CUBAN CAMP.
RatiOnS on the Chester a
Nightmare Of Memory.
A WARM RECEPTION.
Cubans Asked for Water, Give Wine
With II.
A HANGER ON GOES IN DISGRACE
The Nirginians are Located in Beau
tifuI situation and are Well
Satisfied With Their Sur
roundings-All the
Men Sleep on
Cots.
A HANGER ON GOES IN DISGRACE

V1SGfNIA'S CAMP, MlAIilANAO'
CUBA. Dec. % Special.-licre We are
after all on Cuban soil. For weeks, ana
even for months. the question has been
aplfated among the NlrEiuans, who Of
fer.d their services 10 the general gov
ernment. whether they would nave 10
po 10 Cuba. as far as they mad enlisted
iu the army. or whether they wound De
sent home Certainly every dount was
removed when the Fourth Virginia Reg
iment embarked on board the chester,
an old vessel which had been secured
by the government because under certain
circumstance 10 could AFFORD so-cailed
acconmod alton for a given number OF
men.
Tho Fourth Virginia Regiment the
flower OF Virginia, camo over on that
boat. and what a time they did nave.
when commissioned officers had nothing
but conoe. oat meal and corn bread Tor
breakfast. 10 might readily bc imagined
what time the enlisted men had and
stul the government paid az the rate OF
twenty-five cents "a day FOR the rations
Of every enlisted man.
What these rations were. only those
can appreciate who went through this
trip but there are plenty OF men in the
army, who have disnc'inatiOn 10 touch
corned beef for some slime 20 come after
IL has been offered 90 them on this MEM
orable trip. every day for breakfast and
supper. with "a cover Of hardtac6 on
either side
But be this as 70 may. some fault ind
ers can bc picked mp any whore. although
the Mobile carried its soldiers over
in good shape and on Tar better treatment
than has been experienced any where
else. there could not Doe "a murmur Of
dissatisfaction heard hy the outside peo-
pie when the Chester pulled up al the
wharf No { in Havana. ON Wednesday
morning. after the troops had been de-
taincd on board long enough from the
moment of cmbarkation. 20 make trip
10 Europe
Wednesday morning looked brighter 10
the people ON board the Chester than
any which they had seen before.
OK CUBAN SOIL.
Soon after breakfast hour the com
panios OF the Fourth Regiment were or
dered to get ready, and soon after left
the old transport Chester, i'm heavy
marching ordcr-with hayersacks. KNAPP
sacks. blankets overcoats and p0nchos
rolled up. on the wharf there was a
tedious wait Of about an hour and "a
hair, bur finally the order TO move on
was given. ana the regiment started
for the street nearest the river. where
another tedious wait had 20 be gone
through with. a long rope had been
stretched I'm the centre Of the street from
one palm tree TO another, on which the
mules were tied as fast as they could
be brought ashore from the Chester.
The houses on the side furthcst 10 the
harbor-there is only one row OF houses
on that stroet-had omptied all their in
nabitants either i'm front of the dwell
ings or ON ton Of them. all shouting
"Viva. America" or "Cuba Lbre" and
waving the national colors of the two
countries. so 10 speak. which, after the
beginning OF the New Year, Will be
united into one.
shortly after y o'clock, when the
horses of the field and stad officers Of
the regiment had been safely gotten OF
tho ship. the regiment was ordered to
procced with Colonel George W. Taylor
al us head. and General Henry G. Has
b~ouck the commander Of the Second
brigade Of the Seventh Army Corps, as
The proui commander of the entire MILL
tary display
A CRACK REGIMENT.
That the Fourth Virginia Regiment is
Thought of "a good deal By those who
appreciate military qualities, crops out
even now and then. General hasbro0ck
has stated on more than one occasion
that he would like 10 be the commander
OF tho INNIM y hilih iN'HAih'At' ~
onel George W aylor. who certainly
ought TO know his own people well
enough. said when the several companies
Ie0 the transport that his men were
TOO good Co Doe forced 90 march with Their
knapsacks, blankets and pouches ON their
shoulders. or course this was sufhclent,
aud the march 90 camp was made with
havcrsacks and canteens only.
The regiment marched up town in col
umns Of fours. and wherever the space
would admit like around the public
square piatoons formed IN double ranks,
and well they did. Notwithstanding the
fact that the men had just alighted from
tedious trip that might have been
made in one-half OF the time. The cx-
element along the line of march on the
part OF the Cuban population was a per-
feet revelation 20 the members Of the
Fourth Virginia Regiment. They had
some idea that they would Doe we'll re-
ceiyod. but when they marched on from
one street 20 another, hearing the shout
ing by the residents in behalf Of the new
arrivals. they felt highly pleased. and
they did their very best. as far as march
ing is concerned.
As most OF the strcts OF the city OF Ha-
vana are narrow. the marching could
only be done IN columns OF four. tIt
when tho public square was reached, the
companies spread out In platoon front
and received "a liberal amount OF credit
Tor the fine marching Frequently cries
could be heard 10 the effect Viva Amer
canos." and flags OF both nationalties
were waived al every street corner.
WINE AND WATER
Finally q stopping point was made just
before leaving the precincts OF the city.
and 81 SO happened that Companies fl
and N Ohe Blues Of Richmond were
halted in front OF two neighboring ele-
giant homes Of Cuban patriOis. Some of
the boys asked for drink Of water. the
ghermometer being about 400 degrees
above zero al the time. Bat water was
not enough for the people living there 20
produce. So they brought-out wine ana
other delicacies. which were highly APP
prcciated by the men who hai hereto
fore mingled IN the very best society Of
Virginia, and who expressed their feel
.ngs In the usual manner by Offering
ehcers for their temporary hosts.