The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-11-18
AT CAMP CUBA LIBRE.


Florida, and especially in and about
Jacksonville, all through the month Of
May, when Camp Cuba Libra" was
being established and every few days
additional regiments would arrive in fhe
city to swell the numbers. How eager
every one was to go OUT and see how the
soldiers lived; and the afternoon dress
parades of the different regiments drew
thousands Of visitors
II seemed to US if the war was really
well over we should find bat little of
this strange excitement when we came
back to Jacksonville. But we see
soldiers on the right, soldiers on Sire left,
soldiers everywhere. There are so many
on the streets that one asks, Can, there
be many out IN camp? Let us go cat to
the different divisions and see. A ride
on the car to the end of the line in Fair
field, and then short walk, bring us
to large part of the encampments. AS
we look about the guards are all very
courteous. and one soldier, who seems to
have no particular duty at present, kind
ly offers to show us around. We walk
through different company streets, with
their rows of little tents stretching off
Through the pines, and away over yonder
see a company at target practice. In
another direction we view the mess tents
and the camp kitchen. Then the
quartermaster's supplies, the regimental
hospital tents and the Red Cross nurses
headquarters. AS we come out we pass
an old s-canteen" building, abandoned
nova most disreputable looking place
it looks in keeping with its evil ways.
Many regiments from the West and
South, as well as from the North are
camped' here, and thousands of men have
passed the long, hot, summer days here
in the mOnotonous routine of camp life.
But'the afternoon is waning, and weare
reminded that the sun is well over, and
that the southern twilight is very short.
Over by yonder live oak trees, hung with
the beautiful moss, we hear the bugle
call, and reminding us it is time for dress
parade; SO we wait to see it once more.
This issa Texas regiment and the band
plays those Southern airs SO familiar to
all; Dixie and 1.-The Mocking Bird
and that sound very sweet.
We hear much Of sickness among the
and'a wish to the Second Divi-
sion hospital gives one a more real
knowledge of what war costs in some
ways-than anything short of battlefield
could.
Great endhranesand wonderful bravery
were displayed before Santiago and at
San Juan, but are there not as many
true heroes among those who. after the
long, hot summer in camp here, sue
to the fever and passed many
weary days-off suffering in those hospital
tents.g..
The hospitalidivision is in a beautiful
pine grove and the long rows of white
tents with every tent-pin and bit of
woodwork whitewashed, give a very
clean, peaceful look 10 everything. But
the fact OF there being $50 sick men
there, and the impressions received as
we walked along By row after row of
cots whose occupants are so wasted by
sickness, will never be forgotten. An
hospital Grain on,the track not far away
was being made ready, and never can
1 forgeb my feelings as saw the men
nurses, coming and going in different
directions through the roads, carrying
the sick ones on, stretehers to the cars
These men are on the convalescentih list
and being taken, to q cooler place.
A eompaniOnswith me was looking for
a sick, friend, so we were allowed TO go
through tbs. train By turning every
other seat six men could be provided
with bed on each side, thus making
one car accommodate twelve maA The
Windows were open, curtains drawn
down, aad they looked as comfortable
as one could expect. We spoke to differ
ent onss, and ON shaking hands with one
and wishing him safe trip. as he was.
hot with fever, said, DO you feel able.
to take this Journey He-1eplied, "NoS;
don't. but am going toward homes"
and with those words how their faces
al lighted upl We hope the $50 naen
who were started on tlaat train all lived
to reach home.
Another very sad feature connected
with the camp life here has been che sol
diers' funerals. They generally take
place in the afternoon, shortly before the
departure of the evening trains, and at
many. many times have been downtown
in the afternoon, to meet two, and some
times three, professions on their way to
the depot. If it be an officer the band is