The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-03-31
PRAISE FROM GEN. LEE
TRlUMpHS OF COMPANY OFFI-
GERS AND ENLISTED MEN.
THE FIRST BIDDING HAVANA FAREWELL
A Son of the Old North State Watching Then
Go, and Hearing The Strains of Dixie"
Longs for the Vanished Scenes
of Sweet Home,
of Sweet Home.

The following letter written by Mr..
March Goth, will have an interest to all
who are preparing to welcome the boys
of the First Regiment, who will be
home in few days:
The bugle on the Resolute sounded at
| six O'Clock, the various national tags
| in Havana harbor were lowered from
their masts, the sun dipped behind the
| islands cliffs, and out in the harbor
Il Dand on the transport fitzpatrick was
playing that old familiar tune Home,
| Sweet Home" \ thousand men were
| crowding the rails of the vessel shouting
| their last farewell to Cuba, and up
high above tins water, up on the ruins of
| the Convent of San Francisco | watched
them as the ship went by.
The regiment ON board the transport
was the First North Carolina Volunteer
| Infantry the first regiment of the army
OF occupation to land in Havana Prov
| ince. the first regiment of the Seventh
Army Corps i'll point Of ability to fulfill
! all expectations of the corps commanding
officers and other military experts. The
history of this regiment ms 1T is roid to-
Etay in Cuba is one of which every North
aroiinian is proud 1t may not be beard
at home other than from the men
| themselves, and then only among their
intimates, for these men are not given
to boasting. and probably that IS one
of the reasons why they have gained
this enved reputation of being first
| in everything in which the Seventh
corps is interested.
Yesterday as the Tar Heel regimen
tai band played Home Sweet Home
and the whistles of the hundred vessels
in harbor saluted their outgoing mate,
/ waved Il farewell to tho men from this
old building, and it made my heart glad
to see such happy souls as theirs But
that unseltish wish for the JOY of those
brave boys who volunteered at the tirst
call for troops, soon gave place 70 a
longing TO be with them, Il longing to
go back in that triumpha march home
ward-to once more be in Gods country.
| Late i'll December when Americans
were few in this island when comforts
were unknown quantities, and dangers
were all about, these men landed in the
city of Havana and pitched the first
! American tents, flew the first American
flags, first taught the natives the Gus
toms of the great protector nation, and
| made safe the entrance of the first
| American civilians into this province.
| Il wish that | could tell you all of
the good things that are said of these
| men. | would prefer that You could
hear them; but above all | wish that
you could have witnessed the scenes
on the streets of Havana yesterday along
the line of march to the transport.
Too much credit for the late Ameri
can victories has been gwen 10 com
manding officers who stood IN the rear,
| or swung i'll hammocks for comfort, bat
not enough can be given to the men and
officers of this regiment, the men who
brought about the reorganization Of that
body of stalwart soldiers.
Praise from General Zee IS praise
| from Sir Hubert and YET these men
who carry with them the North Caro-
| lima flag have received words that ne
| other regiment in the Seventh corps can
| lay claim to.
"a few Sundays ago | was Il guest 1T
4 luncheon at headquarters of the Seventh
corps, and there it WAS That learned
| the first good news Of the triumphs of
| the North Carolina boys; and, it is
| needless to say, that is not the place
I
words about conduct of troops and the
organization Of regiments.
speaking of the various regiments
in corps OF 10000 men there WITS an.
undivided opinion that the greatest inn
provement made by any one regiment,
| was shown by an inspection @f the
| First North Carolina. There were trib-
utes to Colonel Armfield. who, on nc
| count of his superior ability. has been
| acting Brigadier General ever since his
| arrival in Cuba. Lieutenant Colone!
| Cowles, who has commanded The regi-
| ment of late, was also compllmcnte.i, but
| those who received the greatest praise
We're the company officers and the en-
listed men, and to tlem is Ehe greater
credit due.
"One officer who has been with the
| corps since its first organization in
/ jacksonville. told the story of the reg
ment's Improvement. When the Carolina
boys first arrived at Jacksonville they
| were laughing stock for the other sol
| dicrs. 1t was hoOdoo regiment. With
out discipline or knowledge of military
| tactics the regiment made such an ugly
| appearance that other organizations n
| the corps were ashamed to he III the
| same parade Almost instantly State
| pride conquered the Tar Heels. An
1 organization such as the corps bad not
| before known was perfected, and within
| a few weeks the regiment made Such an
| appearance that the tables were turned
and scarcely regiment at Jacksonville
| was ashamed TO follow the North taro-
| limans, and every regiment was work
| ing more diligently TO be able To cope
with these sturdy Southern soldier
| boys.
| Yesterday when the regiment left
| Havana. every member of the organiza-
ton was happy for that fact. and vet
| every mothers son wished that the en-
| tire body could go back 10 the native
| State together. instead Of dlspandinc
| elsewhere, to LET the people ut home see
| for themselves what body of men REP