St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1899-02-04
LETTER FROM CUBA.

OlmoE, MeuUeI Vi Iuc NSCOuu
Louisiana Volunteers, and formerly
engineer for Mr.. @. C. Alexius:
Beuna Vista, Jan. 10, 1899.
To Mr.. G. C. Alexius:
Dear Sir received your kind
and welcome letter, and was glad
to hea. you are all well. 1t found
me the same. l am glad you
liked my picture. will give you
an account of our movements since
you last heard finn me.
On Christmas Eve our regiment
was put on board the transport
Mobile. We had hard march
from camp to the landing, without
any dinner, and no supper till 8
O'Clock. Then it was coffee and
bareback, and we had the same for
breakfast, the next morning. For
oui Christmas dinner we had what
they call stew. at which your dog
would growl. You can guess what
kind OF q time we had, with 1900
men on board, and all dissatisfied.
We had q good trip, and ar
rived Monday night outside Ut
Havana harbor. As we entered the
harbor the next morning we met q
Spanish transport coming out, and
they loudly cheered us. I think
they were glad to go home.
They next thing we saw was the
wreck Of the Maine, about 800
wards from shore. There lie but
little to see of it, but one OF her
turrets and part OF her deck. 1t
was terrible sight.
On Wednesday we landed and
marched through the city Of Havana,
and you never saw a gladder lot OF
people in all your life. The streets
were SO full Of people we could
hardly pass. They would shout
and kiss each other, and take hold
Of our flag and cry "Viva Amer'-
cano" and Viva Cuba Libre." and
some of the poor, Of which there arc
many, would hold out their naked
children to show us their poverty,
which is indeed very great. shall
never forget the sight.
When we reached our camp that
night we were taken by surprise.
/ We we're told that everything
would be in readiness for US. but
found nothing but q camp Of
weeds and rocks. There we slep,
the FIRST night with rocks for pillows.
The worst thing was we had to 60 =
long way for water. They are put.
ting in waterwolks for US now.
Our camp ground is beautiful. Il
is on hill overlooking the ocean,
and the country around Havans
Is attractive and fertile. We hat
hard work for three days putting
up our tents. After that we go
orders to prepare for the glorious
dag raising, which was to take place
, on the lst Of January at Moro Gas
, tie and on all the public buildings il
Havana.
On New Years morning VI
marched into Havana after q slim
breakfast, and one meat ball ant
four hardtacks in our anapsacks TO
! dinner, and y fourteen mile marcl
ahead Of us, so you can judge wha
sort of New Years We had. Blu
. the day was not lost to US. after all
! for 7 do not believe any of the boy
9 will ever regret being there, eve'
] il we had nothing TO eat ut all.
We reached the city about II
y q. o'clock, and were received by tn
Cubans on all sides as their de
liverers. and they never stoppe'
p cheering until the Spanish flag va
= hauled down and the American fla
D was hoisted. When the first salut
J from the eunboaLs was fired, th
cheering was immense. You coul
not hear word spoken around you
y We expected some trouble, so v
i came prepared, With % rounds 9
J, cartridges, in our belts, but we ha
fno use for them. Our regimen
!, was lined up in front of tue Gel
J. man Counsul's house, and we wer
o we'll received. He treated US to cigar
It and cognac, which were highly ap
> preciated, under the circumstances
d About 8 O'Clock We left fer cam
}. again, and as we passed throug
: the streets the cheering seemed I
e have no bounds, and the flower
. that were thrown to US would hav
i made a good flower show. III
e people were 50 excited they woul
$ have given US anything VIC aske
. for, if they had it. At last v
e ,eacehd camp. tired and hungr,
r and there we have been ever since
IS for we are not allowed 70 go
y Havana. We are having bette
II times now. and are very well lite
: out with tents and hunks. Wei
8 this Is about all there is ut interes
Is so | will closed for the present.
e remain, yours truly,
q G. ULMER,
i Co. A. I'd. Louisiana Vol.
/ TO THE PUBLIC.