Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-03-07

KNOWN ana very popular member OF the
Old Dominion Guard, from Portsmouth,
Mr.. w. Il. Calvert, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles T.. Calvert, gives his version OF
an eventful period in the history of
that command:
Camp Columbia,
Monday, Feb. 10th.
We were up this morning at O'clock,
about one hour and IL half earlier than
usual After eating breakfast and
packing everything UP we were ready
for the long-looked for march we
were in heavy marching order, carry
ing a canteen, haver-sack, blanket,
poucher gun and twenty-five rounds
of ammunition: also n small tent (the
boys term it dos tenD. We left camp
al a. m. sharp in the following order
viz: General Hasbrouch and Brigade
STAN. Fourth Virginia Forty-n.nth
iowa and Sixth Missouri. 4 company
formed the advance guard. with l.,
Is ana Il, as support, the main body
bringing up in the rear.
Our march is over for to-day, and we
are completely exhausted. We march
ea about sixteen miles. and are now
camped in an open field. We passed
through four villages to-day. but was
unable TO find out their names Tho
scenery all around us is beautiful. 1t
is very mountainous country, with
oranges, bananas. cocoanuts and pine
apples in abundance. You could see SOL
diers dropping out on all sides on nc
count of the intense heat. 1t was lust
scorching. and 1 think the march is too
long without stopping. for we only had
FOUR snort halts from camp here and If
we have it as hard the other nine DAYS
as to-day there won't be much left of
us when we get back The cooks are
getting supper ready now, which we
are waiting for very patiently. for we
haven't had anything TO eat since
morning, and you can imagine how
hungry we are. Taps have blown. and
we haze turned in for the night
February 81.
We arose at daybrcak at the sound
OF reviile. although very tired from the
effects of yesterdays march. The dew
is almost as heavy as n light rain
Alter partaking Of n hasty breakfast
and providing ourselves with a sand
wien, consisting of two slices of bread
anu small piece of hog meat, the roll
was called, and found all present or
accounted for. 1t was nearing s O'Clock.
and the call of break camp was sound
ed 1t only took us n few minutes to
strike camp and be prepared to move
tiike an Arab in the night. At s
o'clock sharp the assembly blew, and
we began to move on our second DAYS
march in The following order: Forty
ninth Iowa. Sixth Missouri and Fourth
| Nlrglnia. 1T was very pleasant on the
| start, but towards the middle of tie
day 1t was more than we had bargained
| FOR. The THERMOMETERS must have been
between 80 ana 100 degrees. We passed
through two more villages. and they
| We're a sight to see. y good many
houses lay in ruins from recent fires
| ana the people were Of the very poorest
class. The huts We saw along the route
| were very curious looking places. We
marched until about IL o'clock. and
stopped for two hours alongside an
| orange grove, and what the bows did
for them was a plenty: they got at
least 90 bushels; everybody had n
! haversack full.
Wei, it was r. IN. and we resum-
cd our march. and never stopped again
until O'Clock. and then only about 10
minutes. The boys were showing the
Directs or the march; also the heat
| 1Hcy We're dropping out of tine like
| sacep. You talk about cruelty to ami
| mais. This was worse The ambu-
lance was in the rear of the regiments
| to pick up those who couldn't stand it
| any longer. l concluded TO drop out,
but finally made up my mind 10 try
| and mold out succeeded, for in a few
| minutes we arrived at san Antonio, n
| city of 10000 inhabitants. The city was
decorated with American and Cuban
flags. and we came through with bands
| playing, but we could hardly drag one
foot after the other, for in the two
days march we had covered the dis
| lance of 80 miles. We arrived at the
camping ground (Which is on the edge
/ OF the city, at o'clock, and very few
minutes aftcrward we had our tents
| pitched again I don't think we will
wait until taps before we crawl in and
/ Try TO sleep.
We arose on the morning Of the end
as carly as usual. but We felt better
satisfied because we did not have any
| marching to do. we took it easy that
| day. Many of the boys were foOt-sore.
| Its Il sight to see us camped in these
/ little dogs tents. If IL rains, why we
] don't stand much show. We are camp
/ ed in Il very nice locality alongside n
! fine stream of water. and the boys have
/ all the chance to battle they want.
! on The 23rd the second Battalion OF
I each regiment went on Il march, while
we stayed in camp. on the oath the
! First Battnlion (of which Company l.,
/ OF Portsmouth, is the second company
| left samp ut san Antonio at o'clock a.
1 "a and went to Gura de Mclenna. Il
( town of 5000 or 1000 inhabitants. The
/ people Just crowded the streets when
We marched in. We were very tired
/ when we arrived there, and Captain
! Sheen, acting major in command of
| the battalion. let US stack arms and
/ save Us permission to 20 around the
/ place. After staying there on hour. we
/ started FOR camp. which we reached
| about 1 o'clock in the afternoon, nav
! ing covered IS miles. All along the
route tobacco was growing on both
| sides Of the road In most of the
| country villages the residents are the
| poorest class, ana some OF them are n
| pidful sight TO witness. On Saturday
! CHAT being our last day to stay At San
! Anttnio) the brigade marched in re-
view for the benefit of some Cuban Of
licev;. The boys are getting tired and
want 10 get back To the camp ut Ma
| rioE2ON. WHORE lhnN hive n cot In slnn,a