The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-01-14
CAMP TENNESS SEE,
Sancti Spiritus. Santa Clara Prov
ince, Cuba,

5ancti Spiritus, Santa Clara Prov
ince, Cuba,
Sunday, Dec. ~, 1898.
Dear TINES The date of my
last letter was Dec 18th and was
enroute from Casilda TO
Tunls, While on board the little
steamer ManteO. | havn't had the
time, nor have l been situated so
that I. could write, or would have
given you another letter sooner; as
it is | will give you condensed ac-
count of what / have experienced
and seen since landing safely in
Tunis last Tuesday.
After landing We marched up
into the shade of shed along side
of large ware house where we
Deposited our loads and While
waiting for our train to back in, we
looked about us. Tunis is quaint
old sea port town. 1t is larger than
Casilda and seems TO have more
life. Along the side next the sea
strong breast-works of rocks, rail.
road iron and dirt are built and
around the outskirts of the town
are block-houses. Traces of the
bombardment, given this place
by the American gun boat Marble
head, and the torpedo boat,
Katherine, can be seen at different
places. The end of the old ware
house, spoken of above, had been
patched in several places where
it had been penetrated by shells,
one of which had on the inside and
the effects could plainly be seen by
the numerous large rents in the
walls and roof.
Shortly after - O'clock our train
backed up amid jeers from the
boys, who had 80 recently ridden
from Knoxville to Savannah in
fine American cars. THIS Cuban
cars were rude affairs, mostly un
painted and without any glass in
the windows. The seats were
made OF plank about eight inches
wide and long enough for the ac-
comodation of two persons. They
were upheld at the isle end by a
two by eight which extended on
up above the seat and was rounded
off to make an arm rest. They
had no backs. On this novelty we
rode from Tunis to Sancti Spiritus
At some times the engine seemed
to be going SO fast that the cars
would be shattered, as the track
was very rough, but we arrived
safely and started on a two miles
and half march to Camp. Upon
arriving at camp our sister com.
panies l.. and G. had fresh water
for us ard provided us with many
other luxeries that were greatly
appreciated by lot of tired men
We soon had our "dog tents
|
stretched and little supper cook
ed. After eating all crawled int
their tents aud slept the sleel
of the tired. Next morning W,
found that owing to the darkness
our tents We're not as symmetrical
as could be wished and we pulled
them all up and re-arranged them
We staid in our "deg tents" unit
Friday morning at which time on
new camp was ready for US. Thi
new camp is as fine place as on
could wish. 1t is situated on
beautiful level piece of ground be
tween two pretty clear creeks tina
look very much like our Mountai
streams. Que of these We use 70
washing and bathing purposes an
the other for drinking. Our tent
are very large and airy, being four
teen feet square, with Az foe
walls. This makes the center G
the tents about II feetabove grount
We will soon have all the tent
flo6red, as the lumber was brough
over in the Manitoba for TIL
purpose.
1t is not so disagreeable here a
one would think from reading til
accounts of Cuba. The nights her
are very cool and we boil our wate
in the evening and Let it cool dur