Omaha daily bee., 1898-07-20
WAIT FOR BR0OKE'S RETURN
Decision Will he Made Then as to
Which Regiments Are TO Leave
ChicknmaugR.

CHICKAMAUGA PARK, July 19.-Gen
eraI. Brooke will return to his headquarters
at Camp Thomas tomorrow morning, and
then the question of what regiments will
go to Porto Rico and when they will go
will be definitely decided. This question has
been the one of main interest in the big
army camp since the departure Of General
Brooke for Washington several days ago
! and there has been speculation and discus
sion among both officers and men. 1t is
| generally believed that the regiments COM
posing the First and Second divisions of the
First corps will be the ones to go, but this
belief is based on nothing official given out
here. As far as can be learned only two
divisions will be taken. Indications here
are that the movement will begin about
; the last of the present or the first of next
week. The railroads in the short notice
| given them have gotten trains in readiness
and will do their part without delay.
Major Nye, commissary Of subsistence of
the Chattanooga military supply depot, is
receiving large quantities of rations daily,
which would seem to indicate that a still
larger force of soldiers will be sent to
Chickamauga. Today he unloaded thirty
one cars of provisions, mostly meat, sugar,
-four and coffee. A st:;i larger number of
cars are expected to arrive tomorrow. So
| far Major Nye has received no orders to
ship provisions south. Captain Rockwell of
General Brooke's staff has been promoted
to a colonelcy. Colonel Rockwell has been
at the head OF the ordnance department and
will continue in that position. The colonel
is one of the hardest worked men at Camp
Thomas.
Adjutant o. L. Sues of Colonel Grigsby's
, Cowboys today began the instruction of the
regiment in saber movements. This prac-
| tice will be continued every day, Adjutant
| Sues instructing the officers and they in
turn instructing their men. Adjutant Sues
is an experienced swordsman, probably one
of the best in the country. The carbine
scabbards for the regiment have been re-
ceived at the camp and the regiment is now
fully equipped, with the exception of a few
minor supplies. The men are also becom-
ing we'll drilled and Colonel Grigsby says
that his regiment is ready to go anywhere
and do all kinds of fighting. 1t is asserted
that the regiment Is the best equipped and
the finest drilled Of any regiment of volun-
teer cavalry in the United States.
All of the arrangements have been COM
pleted for the brigade review, which occurs
one day this week. Those who will be in
the review are the Cowboys, the First Illi-
nolS cavalry ana the First Kentucky cav
airy. Twenty-hundred horses will be on
the field at one time, executing the various
cavalry movements, and the sight will be
quite interesting and well worth seeing.
General Compton's men of the Second
' division, Third corps, are now arranging
the new rifle ranges and will get down to
practice at once. The general states that
the equipment of his division is almost
complete, the regiment only lacking a few
articles Of various kinds.
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn, July 19.-The
officials of the Queen & Crescent route have
been notified to hold themselves in redi-
| ness to load 5000 soldiers for Newport
J News within the next twenty-four hours.
Although no information can be secured at
headquarters, the 5000 men referred TO
doubtless compose General Haine's Second
brigade, First division, First corps, which
Is in shape to get out on a few hours
notice. The regiments in this brigade are
the Fourth Ohio, Third Illinois and Fourth
pennsylvania. No regiments are expected
to receive moving orders, however, until
the arrival of General Brooke at camp to-
morrow morning.
At least 5000 men are in shape to leave
here on twenty-four hours notice.