The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-27
LEAVING CAMP ONWARD
M ENTHUSIASTIC DEPART RE
AMID FLOWERS AND
CHEERS
GUNS DOOMED A WELCOME AT HAVANA
Colonel Armh-Id Refused 10 March Urd FWl
ed Flags Escorted t, Camp b, ieven
Thousand Weeping, Cheer
ing CuhanS.
ing Cubans.
CORRESPONDENCE Washington Post.l

Correspondence Washington PoStJ
On December 3. 1898. my regiment.
the First North Carolina Volunteer i'll
fantry. was il camp at Savannah. tia,
having recently arrived from Jackson
willie, where it had fought heat. ma!a-
ria. and mosquitoes since the first
alarm Of war. We wara now at Camp
Onward, and. as every man had longed
TO 20 forward, we considered the name
prophetic. Regiment after regiment.
from time to time of the Seventh Amy
Corps had been detached AMI honored
and the First had. like true soldiers.
stood at their post without murmur.
The preparation for the hard service
went steadily on. and the volunteers
gradually assumed the air of well disci-
plined regulars. At Camp Onward the
old Springfield rifles were replaced BY
the Krag- Iorgensen. and with smokeless
powder the boys felt no tcrrors of the
deadly Mauser They were at least
equal in arms, and superior rs soldiers
to any others. except their comrades.
in the world. When the order came
from Gen. Fitzhugh Lee for the First
North Carolina to prepare to move 70
Havana. JOY was unbounded in every
heart, and the throatS Of thirteen hun
dred men made the wclkin ring Col.
Joe +. Armticld. like Gen. Grant. Il
silent soldier. and like Gen. Grant,
brave. determined, accomplished, and re-
sourceful hsd impressed his character
on every man. Disturbing rumoYs were
afoat that the first regiment of Amcri-
can troops of the army of occupation TO
land in Havana with colorS flying wonld
meet resistance, but this rnmor only
made our boys the more eager for the
journey and the probable conflict.
Arntield'S right arm IN nlolding this
splendid body Of young Tar Heels into
IN effective and thorough lighting ma
chine. was Lieut. Col. Calvin ID. Cowles
class of 73. West Point. Captain Tween
ty-thrd United States Infanrry. Every
company commander had seen long SER
vice in the National Guard. and the
education received in times Of piping
peace" served them well amid the dread
alarms of war. CaptS. Robinson BeS-
sent and Balm were already distinguish
cd. commanding crack companies in
times Of domestic tronbc for twenty
years. and capable now Of higher service
The wool and warn of this regiment
were soldiers. trained in the State
Guard, and their superiority over the
purely volunteer is tribute To the Ma
tional Guard. although it proved slch
a disappointment to the people nj the
beginning Of the war with Spain.
TIE START FROM SAVANNAH
The gallant First acknowledged Gen
Lees compliment in placing il in the
van and no soldiers ever marched with
lighter step or happier hearts TO do
battle for the free than this regiment
rs it passed proudly through the streets
Of Savannah to the transport The side
walks and streets for miles we're throng-
cd with patriotic admirers who cheer
ed themselves hoarsc. "Rcmemhor the
Maine. Remember Bagley" ''HRrfah
for Hobs0n.'' and "BlHe too were
heard on every side. and then the whole
throng. soldiers. citizens. women and
children. 10 make the Slil,bolcth COM
pletc, would chant What's the matter
with Lee? He's all right" And the
next moment. as if Il storm Were de-
Sccnding, thousands Of voices mingled:
Lee, Fitzlugh Lee. Hurrah. hurrah for
Gen. Lee Above the din occasionally
the President was cheered. and then the
programme would he varied by the mad
ding crowd cheering the regiment To the
echo. the boys passing through a wilder
ness of flowers. SO much beauty ad0rn-
ed the way that | instantly thought of
Byron's words: When Belgimm's CAPT
tai had gathered there her beauty and
her chiyalry and to paraphrase. Savan-
nah, the pearl of the Atlantic south
coast, had done likewise. That word
painting referred TO the evening before
the battle OF Waterloo. Was history to
repeat: Little rocked the glorious
First. They knew how Capron. Ship.
Hamilton. Smith and Fish died al San
Juan hill. and their fathers ut Buena
Vista the Alamo. Chapultepec. as they
stormcd the ramparts and on hundred
other battle fields. They must do their
duty for their country. their sires, AID
their posterty Pulsating in every
heart could expression have found vent
was IIallecl's immortal song
Come to the bridal chamber. Death
Come when the mother feels for the
first time her first born's breath;
Come in consumption's CHASTITY form.
The earthquake shock, or the ocean
storm. and thou art terrible,
But to the hero who has won the battle
for the free.
Thy voice sounds like a prophets word.
And in it's hollow tones are heard
The thanks Of millions yet to be"
The voyage was without incident, and
on tho third day Cuba was sighted in
the distance. looking like n thin streak
.4f..t
after cheer alarmed the sea birds and
maybe The sportive dolphin-but the boys
were twice happy, for they We're reach
| ing their destination and closing a tire
| some journey on a crowded boat.
FIRST VIEW OF CUBA.
On and ON the vessel sped, its great