New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-12
SEVENTY-FIRST IN CAMP.
A LIVELY TINE IN LANDING AND a
FALSE ALARM

Headquarters list Regiment. New foIh No'-
untecrs, Near Santiago de CUBA June CO
Colonel Downs, Major Smith, Major BELL Nhap.
lain Van De Water and some otheT Objects VI
the list sat under tree IN their camp '"'S
morning famed by refreshing oreezes' Win q
tennpcrature OF - degrees. II Was the uhdni-
rcous oninion that the climate of Cuba. for tn"
last week al least. had been far less trying 'hap
Mad been expected 1t was thought likely that
there was worse to come. but the future was
allowed 10 take care Of Itself. The regiment IS
IN perfect condition. virtually not a man being
.jcf. 1t Just missed being IN the first fight be-
,veor tho United States Army and Spanish
t-oops. being near enough 70 hear the shots. IL
expects soon to BE- in the thick Of an assault
on Santiago and in general is as contented -
need be.
The landing DAY June ~. was the liveliest the
regiment has had since it entered the Govern
roent service All :he previous night was spent
in disembarking goods from the Nigilancla' on
which the entire regiment was transported AT
Siboney A; :, o'clock the men began 70 go
ashore in boats. They had all been iahaeo
when the first news reached the place Of the at
tack on the Isl Volunteer Cavalry. colonel
Downs at once ordered the regiment under arms
General Hawkins in whose brigade the bst is'
was not vet ashore and 1t was necessary TO wait
for orders from him. About 10 o'clock he left
his ship. The information at that time was tha'
The Rough Riders we're having the worse OF the
night so General Hawkins ordered tie New
Workers TO go TO the support OF the cavalry res'-
rent at once. BloIs"s and blankets were cast
aside guard being lofi TO watch them. and the
terrible march up the hill began. This is nearly
a mile In length and exceedingly steep. There Is
almost no shade.
The men had been on the transport for eigh-
teen DAYS and were hardly in the best shape for
so hard march. with the sun we'll up toward
the zenith But they started up with rush,
happy in the thought that their desire for action
was so soon to he gTatifed. Rut the climb was
q terrible ordeal. It IS remarkable thai only
Captain Heinzman Of Company and two
others were affected by the heat. Even they
were able. after rest. TO walk back to the
coast Chaplain Van De Water was detailed 20
accompany Captain Heinzman. General Haw-
k,ns in spite Of his sixtv-three years walked up
the hill
AS the march continued. many OF the WOUNDED
were met. lirnping along supported by com
panions or borne on l.tters. At the top OF the
hill AdIutant Hail. Of the Rough Riders. came
rushing up He shouted TO Colonel Downs a
most alarming account of tn battle. saying that
he was going for help lie declared that Colonel
Wood had been killed. and asked tha, his body
be brought back It turns out now that Adju-
tant Hall rnistook the wounded Journal cor
respondent Edward Marshall for Colonel Wood
After a time the sound OF firing could be heard.
and the excitement grew more intense Within
a mile Of the field where the fighting began the
advces 10 General Hawkins were that the vol
unteer cavalry needed no help. so the list was
ordered back 10 Siboney They were q disgust
ed lot at having SO hard march for nothing.
Sut more especially AZ missing the fight FIFTY
were detailed to carry the wounded TO tho shore
and the same number TO search the WOODS tor
the dead and wounded. Thirty-two were ordered
10 carry the injured men from the temporary
hospital TO the boats In which they were taken
TO the hospital ship Olivette. Not one or the
wounded groaned or made any other sign o.
pain
Camp was established In a locomotive shed.
and a. good rest was enjoyed. Company messes
have been abandoned, as being unwieidy ana
each man does his own cooking. Considerapie
ingenuity was shown In preparing the rations
Reans were cooked In an oven made OF railroad
iron. An old futing machine was riggeo up as
coffee-grinder. The regiment has representa-
lives Of nearly every common calling. and 10 ex-
ceedingly useful for that reason. Two locomo-
Spaniards were put in fine running order by the
skilled mechanics of the list Tor Generai Auo-
low of the Engineer Corps
The officers took possession Of the headquar-
tiers which had been occupied by the Spanish
commander Of Siboney. and many OF his letters
were found He himself was killed by shot
from a gunboat while standing on the railroad
bridge Monday, June q. the regiment moved
TO its present camping g place. Rations have been
received In sufficient quantities. On the marcn
out all the officers walked Eleven OF them
have horses. but gave them up TO carry ammuh'-
ton. Each man had two hundred rounds. OF
which one hundred were in his belt and hVe IN
his rifle With the blanket-ros. food and can
teens IL would have been a heavy burden TO
carry another ninety-fve rounds. so the add
tional amount was wrapped IN blankets and put
on the saddle-horses This act on the part OF
Colonel Downs and the other officers was only
an additional bond Of affection between them
and the men.
The present camp Is an open space. From an
elevation near 1t fine view may be had OF
Santiago. One battalion is stationed on the top
Of ridge near BY. on outpost duty. II is recog-
n,zed that this is the enemy's country. and
every precaution Is taken. The men are not
allowed to go even short distance for water
unless one-half the party is armed. About 4
O'Clock this morning an alarm was given. Be-
fore the officers Left their tents the men were
lined around the camp kneeling and ready TO
drop down II volley came. Some were even
beginning to load. in anticipation OF orders. II
turned out that tho sentry had been needlessly
alarmed. but the regiment now feels that It Is
ready for prompt action.
Major Bell. who is the brigade as well as the
regimental surgeon. has had the hospital corps
In vastly better shape than that OF any reg-
ment Of Regulars. His very zeal and energy
have been his misfortune. for of his corps 81
twenty men thirteen have been detached to
serve with some other command. DR.. James
Stafford has also been transferred. The reg-
ment started out with four physicians, seven
medical students. two trained nurses and a
dentist, and was the envy of the other surgeons.