The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-09
SkRGEANT'S REGIMENT AT SEA
TWO BATTALIONs OF MISSISSIPPI
ANS ON THEIR WAY TO SANTIAGO.

the Five-MiIe Tramp-Physicians
and Ladies Cared for the Fatigued
and Painting soIdiers-SeveraI I'm
able TO 60 and Were Left in st.
Joseph's HOSpitaI-Scenes Along
the River as the SOIdier-Laden
Transport Steamed Past the City.
Shortly after 8 o'clock yesterday after
noon the transport Rio Grande steamed
out of the Boston dock of the ocean Steam
ship Company, and started on her voyage
10 Santiago. Aboard, and making their
presence known by their cheers and the
waving of handkerchiefs, were the First
and Third Battalions of the Fifth Regi-
ment of United States Volunteers, under
command of Col. II. H. Sergeant.
In all COS men, and 30 officers were on the
steamship. The Second Battalion, under
command of Maj. II. D. Money, remains
here awaiting The transport Leona, which
is expected In this morning. Many of the
officers of this battalion witnessed the de-
parture of their comrades and got pre-
Urinary insight into what is in store for
them and their men.
At no other port has such a record for
swift handling of troops been made. The
Fifth Regiment arrived here at o'clock
Sunday night and twenty hours later, aft
or nights rest, was aboard ship and on
the way to Cuba. The fitness of Savannah
as a point for properly handling troops
could not have been better demonstrated.
If the troops had arrived in the morning
of Sunday they could have been taken di-
rectly to the wharf, without leaving the
cars, and been on the transport and out
of the city within five hours from the
tine of their arrival. Another regiment
could have been easily handled at the
same time from the adjacent dock Of the
company # a transport had been at hand.
To the effective work of Maj Willis and Of
Agent Trezevant of the Ocean Steamship
Company the credit of this is largely due.
The two battalions selected by Col. Sar-
geant for the first transport broke camp
at the Georgia Car Company's works
shortly before 8 o'clock. 1t was the I'M
Outstanding that the transport was to sail
between IL and o'clock. The men had
had a fairly comfortable night under the
car sheds. Breakfast was served at the
usual hour. The men started for the
wharf In heavy marching order, carry
lHS All lueH personal equipments Melbu-
ing in all about so pounds TO the man.
This is the custom, and was in no respect
out of the ordinary. Being without a
guide some time was lost and a mile or
two marched unnecessarily. The day was
not unusually sultry or oppressive, but
a number of the men proved unable to
stand the ordeal of march of probably
six miles in the sun.
For two hours and a half they trudged
along, with here and there one of them
compelled TO fall out and seek the shade
of some nearby tree until the effects of
heat prostration could be overcome. The
long ride of thirty hours in the cars had
fatigued them greatly. Some of them had
been indisposed when they reached here,
and the effects of the suns rays were too
much for their exhausted vitality. 1t was
not until they reached the city and began
the march down jefferson street that the
number of prostrauons began to be alarm
ing.
Fifteen or twenty Of the men were fore
ed to fall out as the companies made
their way at almost a dog trot down that
thoroughfare. Ladies promptly came TO
their assistance and furnished ice water
and stimuants. Several soon recovered
sufficiently to make their way after their
comrades, getting negroes to help them
carry their equipments. few lay where
they dropped out and awaited the coming
of ambulances to take them over to the
dock, while others were given a lift by
passing drivers and in that way reached
the ship. Much sympathy was felt for
the unfortunate men and a practical eX-
preston of the feelings of those who saw
their condition was at once apparent.
DR.. Elliott, Dr.. Norton. Dr. Nichols and
others gave their services and admins
tered to the needs OF the soldiers on
Bryan street several also fell by the way
side, one of two of whom were quite i'll
&nd evidently should not have attempted
vhe long march. One private was found
by Dr. Nichols to have a congested lung,
another one was also said to be threaten
ed with pneumonia. At the wharf doz-
en- or more who had kept up with their
companies lay down tagged out complete
ly. Ice water was poured on their heads
ano other simple remedies used, and be-
fore long nearly all OF them were able
10 look after themselves. A rather re-
markable fact was that most of those
who gave out were fine looking men phys
ically, while the boyish looking soldiers
went from the camp to the wharf without
seeming airy the worse for the march.
The march cannot be said to have been
one unusual for soldiers to take and the
heat was not as intense as on many
days. 1t was generally commented that if
in this climate two battaiions could not
march for a little over three hours in
heavy marching order without so many
temporary collapses, the outlook was not
very bright for the men if called on to
do any marching in the heat of the day
in Cuba.
Several of the soldiers were on the sick
list when the regiment arrived. Sergt. Pol
lard was consulted on board the Rio
Grande by United States Examining Sur
geon Edgar H. Nichols, as to the advsa-
billy of taking them TO Santiago. 1t was
decided TO leave them here under DR.. Mich
OILS care at the ST. Joseph's HospitalThey
will remain there under his treatment un-
til Col. Rays regiment departs. The sick
men are J. Holzar, Company A; II. c.
Howell Company c: c. Richards. Com
pany II; Il. Crawford, Company D; r.
Packee, Company NJ; John Cottele, Com
pany Fl. DR.. Nichols manifested lively
interest in the welfare of the men who
We're overcome by the march and viii be
kindly remembered for his services at the
wharf. as viii the other physicians for the
treatment given the men on the street
Practically everything was in readiness
for the embarkation of the troops when
they arrived at the wharf. Some ice re-
manned to be taken aboard but that did
not interfere with the embarking. IL was