The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-07-17
G. PERCY HAYES, JR


In tackTing the most onerous duties Of
the camp and ms good spirits under all
conditions soon gave him place in the
Rnccuonate regard OF the stalwart Rough
Riders
Being a nne horseman as well as a
trained soldier ne presented points likely
20 attract the admiration Of these men of
far West and they already recognize I'm
the Richmond boy the stuff that makes
American fighters.
CAMP LIFE
Camp life among the Rough Riders is
not AN a holiday picnic. Inc following
extracts OF letters written by young
Hawes TO his friends here give some of
the lights and shadows of the daily life
at the cavalry camp at Tampa:
NEARLY an Of me norses have had the
distcmpcr and are now in good condition.
Thev are a peculiar lot: one day they
Will look so sleepy and dull that you
would think 30 necessary TO build IRE
under them 10 make them move; while
the next day they Will buck and plunge
90 violently. n they get chance that
their shoes would almost fan on. some
Of them are so vicious that they strike
out with their front feet I'm a way That
does credit 20 a trained pugilist The
work here Is nard and IS no childs play
but / am rapidly getting accustomed 10
Il and am wen. The residents OF Tampa
look susplciously at us especially is this
the case when five or six OF as ride into
town together. We sleep IN shelter tents
two men in tent and when we break
camp each man takes half OF the tent
rolled behind his saddle. The grub il
plain but wholesome and our work gives
us good appetitcs for t.
CAVALRY DRILL.
The drills OF the regular cavalry near
by are pretty sights, as the men ana
horses are well drilled The Rough Roders
horses are quite wild, and do not compare
TO those Of the regulars In drilenS. but
the Rough Riders surpass the regulars
IN horsemanship. The Rough Riders are
n jolly good natured set OF men, very
generous and noble hearted and easy
to get along with so long as you 40
not rub the hair the wrong way. Inc
Western men of the command take NE
as they ind Il without complaint, hut
10 some the confinement OF camp is rath-
er UNPLEASANT our mascot is a young
mountain uOness. she Is a beauty but
rather cross sometimes, especially at
night. our inform consists of campaign
nat, blue shirt brown canvas SUIT ana
lcgginrs our arms are six shooter new
csrbine and a machette. When the Ermy
went 20 Cuba two squadrons OF our resi-
nent we're taken dismounted, and men
were detailed from each troop 10 remain
mere TO take care of tho horses am
on that uetail from Troop A. Major
hersay Is the officer in charge OF our
camp. our Caily routine Is reveille al
A. ~, feed horses, eat breakfast, water
horses drill At u o'clock we feed ana
water horses and eat dinner. AZ $50 T.
NJ feed and water horses and eat supper
and drilT At l.. NJ. we nave taps. The
nights are cool and good Tor sleeping.
II Is very hot about midday. and II rains
nearly every afternoon. The after
noon OF tho %. VIC expect TO
have to leave here tho next Gay,
SO we obsan 10 pack up. hut
the next day our orders were counter
manded. We now expect 10 set OF about
the 10th or I'M as II Is reported that
TRANSPORTS will come TO Port Tampa for
us The Captain OF our ucop-A-Cap-
tain ONen. was Killed in the night near
Senuaro he was a very Iular ONCE.
ana his loss Is derlored 10y US This Is
q rousht life and man has TO have
good constitution 20 stand Il.
HE Is THE barry.
am the Youngest looking man IN the
outnt an, hrVe been dubbed The Kid"
Nv tent mate Is fine fellow who has
becn an over me country. / have had
some experience at herding horses and
White IL Is hard work II IS healthy and
plcasant and | enjoyed A. II is great
snort 10 see the fellows ride and break In
the Wild and unruly horses. Buffalo Bins
wild West show amt In Il 50 far as the
hucking bronco Is concerned. Adopting
the rule OF the regular cavalry horses or
each troop are OF the same color. Troop
A has fhe bays. another troop the sorrels.
another the blacks. and 50 on. This Is
done a. FAR as possible.
life I'm tent In rainy weather -
had enough but when one is IN dog tent
where YOU cannot SIT up straight, II Is
horrible.
FULL OF FUN.
However the men I'm this camp are
40 fun OF flin that there Is no time 10 set
the hlucs. N one talks about peace 10
acme % these fellows who are anxious 10
GET TO Cuba ~ means war. re have
received about 10 recruits from New Mex
leo the paymaster visited camp few
DAYS since and settle zap win all the
BOYS 10 the LIST OF July. II was haro 70
rnd a man with money in twenty-four
hours afterward. There Is no regiment
ora earth like the Rough Riders ana II
~ worth a long trip 70 anyone 10 see
them. We are much pleased 10 see our
colonel made b-Eadie< and Lieutenant
Colonel Roosevelt advanced TO run
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