Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1899-03-10
A SOLDIERS
LETTER.
Fred Ship Writes Another
Interesting Letter from Cuba.
Havana, Cuba,
N arch end, 90.

n
have Just returned from a ten
day practice march to the inter-
ior of the Island, ard must say
as warm as it was, We enjoyed ii
very much. The first day out
we broke camp here, carrying
one halfa shelter tent, [dog
tent three pegs, one stick,
haversack with change of under
| wear, comb, brush, glass. tobac>
CO, rations for dinner and other
things too numerous to mention,
also canteen full Of water.
We marched until 4 p. IN
stopping As minutes for dinner,
| pitched our tents in grass waist
high, had supper, felt around to
get the softest piece of real es>
| tate to lay on and went to sleep.
The next morning we were
awoke by the bugle sounding
reveles, at 5 80 had breakfast
and again broke camp at 8 a m
We were issued bread for din,
ner and one can of salmon fo1
every three men was put on the
wagon. Our march was through
and over the mountains, one
wagon broke down there was
no on the train and Our din
ner On the wagon could not
reach us, but the old saying
"The devil looks out for his
own" once more asserted itself
as we were halted close to an
orange grove and what the boys
did to it was plenty. 500 is
what the owner put in his bill
for, guess he was nearly right
as soldiers shirt holds quite a
good many. In the afternoon il
got 50 warm and the roads SC
BAD that the men fell out in
large NUN bers, but our Reg1>
ment Jared better than the 9TH
er two.
We reached San Antonio al
| 5 p. ID, making our march fol-
the two days thirty eight miles
from Camp Column bia. San
Antonio is nice little place Of
twelve thousand inhabitants but
was treated badly by the Span
lards, they tore up the parks,
monuments, lights, &C., and
treated the inhabitants as though
they were dogs.
"Wednesday being Washing>
tons Birthday, l thought 1t just
and proper to take a bath, SO
went to the river and commenc
I'd, after a good wash l came
out and started to dress, some
good kind friend needing my
shoes, socks and leggings more
than l did had made a mistake
and got his on and mine too and
there l was, seven days maj CHI
ing before me, pair of 9 feet
with me but no shoes. They
do not keep leather shoes in
small towns so l could only get
a pair canvas slippers, the Cap ,
tain would rot allow me to
march in these, said l would
ruin my feet, SO | had to ride
and if there is anything on earth
that hurts a soldiers feet it is to
ride.
We rested fer a couple Of days
and then went On one days
march, carrying our canteen,
haversack and dinner, went to a
city called "Guira de Melena. "
nine miles distant. At that
place we saw a church that had
been fortified and made a pris>
on. We returned at 5 o'clock
had supper and l returned the
shoes l had borrowed for the
day and went to bed. These
"dog" tents are only five feet
long and l being six of course
my feet had to 60 outside, aud
about two a. m, l avoke think
ing some OF the boys had broke
the "dam" On the river, but it
was only one of the many tropi>
cal rains in this country.
Our march back was through
a lovely farming section and ev-
erythirg looked nice and neat.
We made the trip back in one
and one half days, the bes
speed that has been made by
any Regiment SO far but the
boys knew they had been
marching and not many care for
another ten days outing.
1t is said that the Regiment
will be sent back to the States
this month and to New York
City in April. l think the boys
would be thankful to get back
to the States once more, they
say Cuba is to warm.
Trusting that may able to
see my E. City friends sometime
soon, am
Sincerely,
F. H. SHIP,
Co. A. 4th Va. Vol.