Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-24
Maine Battalion Of Batteries
to Go to Savannah.
Orders Received, Saturday Afternoon
for Movement Before tuesday.
will BeAtfached to Seventh Corps Prepare.
tions for the Departure.
"All aboard for Cuba"

DIS tnOugh they were correct in be-
lieving they are bound for that place
But won't it be grand transforma
ton though, to go from this cold coun-
try where ice forms in the pitchers of
the officers tents, to place where the
sun warmly shining, {when it is out
of the clouds) and where everything
is at it's prettiest?
The orders have arrived for the bat
teries to move and there is great re-
joicing in the ranks, and among the
officers. -Four months in Camp Powers
has been to them a long time, but it
seems that their patience is to be re-
warded by winter tour in the South.
1t was one of the nastiest of days,
Saturday, and the rain was pouring as
fast as the presperation used to pour
from the faces of the men when they
first reached camp in July; the feelings
of the men were rather below par,
when at a little past / o'clock in the
afternoon, Captain Hume received a
telephone message from Major New
comb, who was at Hotel North, that he
had received orders to report in Bos-
ton, Tuesday, with his command ready
to take transport for Savannah, Ca
Captain Hume told those men who
were near him, and in very few min
utes the men all over the camp We're
cheering loudly at the news. Some
would not cheer but skeptically said it
was another of those jokes. The news
was confirmed however when Major
Newcomb arrived and said it was true
and showed the dispatch which reads
as follows:
Governors Island, N. Y, Oct %, 1898.
To Major e. Z. Newcomb Command
ing Battalion of Maine Artillery.
Secretary of war has directed that
the four batteries of Maine Artillery
now at Augusta, be held in readiness
to go on board ship which brings 9Th
Massachusetts to Boston, for transfer
to New York, where they will be
placed on board another ship and sent
to Savannah, Ga, for duty with the
18th Corps. Probably necessary for
your command to be in Boston not
later than Tuesday next. Take tent
age and complete field equipment and
five days travelling rations. Definite
instructions will be given you soon as
practicable. Acknowledge receipt.
BARBER, Assistant Adjuant General
What makes the officers and men
think that they will go to Cuba is the
part of the message that says they are
to be attached to the 7th Corps which
is the one that is commanded by Cen
eral Fitz Hugh Lee and this corps is to
do duty in Cuba.
Thus the dispatch is looked upon as
an order to go to Savannah, from
where they will later Jbe shipped to
Cuba, and possibly will go to Havana
when the troops enter there. More
men have been found who say they
are to raise the flag over Havana than
there are tents in the command, but
the best of all is the story that Cap
tain Hume told a friend who is ready
to believe anything told him. 1t was
told confidentially, but somehow it
leaked out.
Did you hear about my letter from
General Lee?" he asked the friend.
mo? Well l am chosen to be the officer
who raised the American flag over Ha-
vana. He said in view of the fact that
the Maine batteries were all that were
to represent the Pine Tree State there.
he had decided to have them raise the
flag in honor of the battleship Maine
Oh yes, it is quite an honor, but Cen
eral Lee understands what he is do
ing"
The captain isn't given to telling
yarns. but in this case it must be that
the good news of the movement, was
too much FOR him.
After receiving the orders, Major
Newcomb set about to get the men
who are away from camp, back as soon
as possible. Each captain was notified
to see that his men were ready by
Monday at sometime.
Quartermaster Dutton, who had but
just gone to his home in Waterville, to
rest from his illness, was telegraphed
to report as soon as possible, as his
part of the work is necessarily the
largest of all. He was resting when
the dispatch reached him, and in less
than 20 minutes he had dressed, bid
good by to his family, and was on the.
train bound for Augusta. Thanks to
his good methods he is not behind on
his books, and everything about the
department which is conducted by him
and his able assistant, Quartermaster
Sergeant Purnell, is in first class order.
He at once set about to pack up
everything, and prepared all to go with
them, unless he had orders to the con-
trary. He was a busy man, Sunday.
and though so i'll that he could hardly
stand he STAYED about and sunerintand