Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-20
Local Matters.
THEIR cusAN CAMP.
Two Battery Boys Wsite Of Their Impressions
Of the Island.


The following letter has been received
in this city by a friend of the Two young
men:
Battery b. LIST Maine volunteers, Heavy
Artillery. Military Station No. ~. Camp
Buena Vista, Cuba, Feb. s. 1899.
Dear Friend: | now sit down 70 pen
Won a few lines to let you know that we
have not forgotten you anu your kiiu.
nesses and to let you know now we are
getting along. Well, at iast we are III
last Thursday evening about dark. Two
weeks ago last Sunday ABOUT +. NJ We
received our orders to get our things
bort OLDHAM, for Havana, Cuba. Nc
broke camp in a rain storm and marched
through the rain down town and got our
pay and then went On board the boat
We left the wharf about II A. M. Tues
day and had a pleasant trip down the
coast of Florida. The last three hours or
our voyage were quite rough and most OF
us were seasick but we soon got over It.
We'll, we glided into Havana harbol
within about 100 feet of MORO castle. Just
about dark. We had . good view sso OF the ne
the harbor about 100 yards off from the
wreck of the battleship Maine. Some Or
the boys secured a boat and went on !ne
wreck and cut pieces OF 1t and are sa I,ns
Well, the next morning. we MADE 1ast -
the dock and all went on shore ana M
loaded the shin and we had TO so nach
on board the boat to sleep that night
ecause we had no other place 70 ~.
The campground that was picked OUT .o'
us was objected to because the next reg
iment to 1t had smallpox among them;
Well. Saturday forenoon, we started I"
march to our new camp. 1t was Il hot
day and the dust on The roads was ABOUT
two inches deep. So you see our nlne
mile march was not the most pleasant ex,
perience in the world. We were tired ana
dusty when we arrived here amons
-I-x,s. Int yyrst n
bed of rocks and little bushes Dut we aaau
to work pitching our tents ana sett,iis
things squared around klnd Of SNIP
shape. We worked until dark ana tnen
we had some of the army StdHupE. haI"-
tack and coffee.
Now since we have got Strengthened
around we have as nice little camp as
there is in the Cuban island. We nave
nice square tents of a brown color. Ihey
are about II feet square. We have Wool
en- frames and 4 good floor IN them. Inc
floor is two feet from the ground SO We
have a good chance to keep clean and
dry, and then We have cot beds to steep
on that is much better than the soft side
of "A board that we mad TO sleep on pc De-,
are within one and one-half mile al the
ocean so we can go and have Il bath as
often as we like and it is quite a trea
for some of the Pine Tree State boys VINO
never were in the salt water.
The weather here is quite q lot differ
cnt from ihe weather IN Maine Two
day, it is cool and a small cyclone mas
been blowing down tents. When We wer'.
at mess his morning. two tents and the
baker, shop blew down
The health Of the boys is in good con
dition. We have only one man in the
hospital here and he has the measles.
One of the negroes that came with us
from Savannah, Ga. 10 drive, the mules,
died, Monday ana was buried yesterday,
morning. We have only had one drill
since we came here and we had one re-
-;a haf Lee
We We're anxious to come TO tuh2 BUY
now we are willing to go Ike ck as soon a.
Uncle Sam says for us 10 go Wei. ! VIII
have to bring this scribbing to d ciose
for I have to so on guard IL few mill
utes, so hoping to hear from You soon
and hoping too. that this will find You IL
as good health is it leaves us, we botn
join in sending you our kind regards.
Yours truly.
EARL. i, MCDONALD.
JEPTHA 5. EIFFINGTON.