The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1899-02-17
LETTER FROM CAPT. JAMES K. MaDlmaM.
SANTIAGO, DE CUBA, January 31st 1899.

SANTIAGO, DE CUBA, January 3lst 1889.
Editor The Commonwealth
l landed at Santiago last Thursday morning, and ere the sun in all its
fervd heat and brlnancy had reached the meridian, I was comfortably seat
ed in my little tent IN the hill in my shirt sleeves. with a palm fan trying
tocool off. 1t is as hot here today as in August in Mississippi but delight
fu1y cool at night. ] found a great deal of sickness in me regiment. ."I
Sargent was quite sick when l arrived. Indeed he has not been well for two
months. Major Liddel Zone of the noblest fellows) and one Of the best si-
diers in the service, and his wife and little girl are sick. The Chaplain and
his wife have been sick and gone home. In truth all the officers with FEW
exceptions look the worse for wear and the men, Ior fellows are in q most
ptiful condition. Fernhious malaria and dysentary are doing their deadly
work. There have been about as many deaths in the last two months the
time was absen) as all the balance of the time put together. Two more
OF the brave fellows passed away today. And when l watched the 1uhefai
cortege as it moved to the open grave in the old palm grove, my heart wen
out upon the wings of infinite sympathy to the home sc FAR away wherein
|dSens the loved ones of these poor boys. Oh my God! Think OF that
mother when she learns the sad news of her boys death-or perhaps a poor
dependent wife and needy little children left to the mercy of a selfish
world, tt be washed AID beat about until engulfed in the maelNrom OF want
ana wickedness. In my imagination l have suffered every PAIN l. "a We
Experienced every pang and my heart bleeds when I contemplate the nope
essness of the situation. If the men could go out and meet the enemy ana
die upon the field Of battle it would not be0 o bad. But to be forced TO re-
main here and become perneated with the poisons of this Internal PEST hoe'
M die and rot like a dog is, to put it mildly, a most disagreeaoie rehec''on'
nave been told that this is the healthy season in Cuba. If so, heaven re-
leave US from the sickly season. There is more fatal sickness in VI fegl-
nent today than ever before since its organization. The death rate islarger'
and we have no right to expect a decrease. But Notwithstanding it all the
oys keep a sf upper lip smile and go forth to meet the issues regardless
Of the consequences.
do not know what will be the future Of the command but l feel quite
sure that if it should be kept here during another rainy season that we
"ouo nave scarcely enough left to tell the tale. l think L shl " "Ws"
stand it. q can stand most anything) but / should dislike very NUN TO
see the regiment retained here. As stated above, to keep them here unnt
fl means that a great many will reuain here forever.
a great many officers who have been absent are back in camp. Capt.
i. sharp of Columbus, the noblest Roman Of them all, is with us again.
Maj. Money is back with his charming little wife, who is the favorite OF the
camp DR.. Anderson and his most excellent wife are with US. Lieu. Do-
ley has his good wife to grace his tent home, while COL Sargent and wife
and Lieut.. Birdsal and wife have become "od veterans Capt. Taylor is
expected n a few days with his wife. We will have a good many female
folks with us then, and I am glad of it. You know there is nothing 50 good,
enoolhg and so refining as the influence OF a good woman. And there
also no place where that influence is as much needed as in the army. For
the good of us all should like to have twice as many as we have but. God
knows am sorry for the ladies. But I should not be surprised after all IT
thy stand it better than men. A good woman would go through hell for
her oeasty husband: they will endure anything for those they love, and In
this campaign she in all probability will come out ahead.
The friends of Capt. Shields and Lieut.. Hood will doubtless be glad to
that they are still in good health. Capt. Shields is still in the city Oh =
duty while Hood is in command of a company They are both fine
and most excellent officer. Maj Lddel is still at Moro. He has
made a good name for himself as a soldier. In fact we have no better. First
Lieut. Franks the old Confederate veteran stands the climate we'll and
'ucky uptodate Lieut.. S. X. Mayors is one of the few who has not been
SICK. lie also enjoys the distinction Of being the first to be promoted. Mis-
contribution to the official roster Of the 9Th U. S. Regiment has
proven to be OF pretty substantial stuff any way. They have done their
luty and deserve the gratitude OF the public. We miss genial Will Jen-
nings Of Grenada. He was one of the most efficient and capable Lieuten-
ants in the volunteer service. That means that he was as good as any body.
take no stock in all this rot about the regular" being the only efficient
While l readily admit that dicplne is very necessary to efficiency
a m also convinced that sense and character count for a good deal. l pre-
er an army Of courageous, intelligent, county loving citizens. Men who
lgt from convictions for principle, with only limited drilling, to an army
machine men without spirit.
The pleasant face of George Whitehead is also greatly missed. And
1apt. Whitaker the clever and genial gentleman from New Orleans has quit
he army and returned to the paths Of peace. / miss him greatly. He was
good fellow, and true friend. Lieut.. Catchines Baird is at home oh we'll
earned leave OF absence. He has done more hard work-and he has done it
any officer in the regiment. The Alabama contingent seem to
lold out, and stand The climate better than the officers from other states.
The only two officers from that state who have fallen BY the wayside arc
-ieutCol. Wiley and DR.. Pollard, both Of whom we're sent home sick. DR..
however has returned and is sick again, but Col. Wiley still ENJOYS
he soubrous climate Of Alabama. Whether or not he will return TO the
egment is problem. 1t
Well. l guess this letter is long enough. and l am tired and hot 20
hll bid you goodnight. Love to my friends,
JAS. X. VAnpAMAN.
p L t M8
M still to Sfrapot nj Nh,;-,;ou; ,.-p. #