Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-01-01
LETTER FROM CUBA
Lieut.. Causey Whites to His SuF-I
folk Friends.
Tho Boys snena their chr,stmns noi.
idnys in July Temperature-
Camps beautifully Aocated-A Big
Dry Anticipated Sunday.
Especial to evlrglnlan-Pilot.)


Suffolk. Va, Dec. 31.-Passing theirI
Christmas holidays in July Temporal
ture. 'Suffolk'S soldier boys are in CubaI
drinking in the beauties of nature and
bathing in tepid tropical waters. Theyl
were geceived with continued ovations
in Havana. Two hundred Missouri
turkeys were sent them for Christmas
dinner. The following interesting letter
telling about the joys and experiences
in Cuba was received to-day from las.
Z. Causey, ESQ, first lieutenant Of
Company G. Fourth Virginia Voluntees
Infantry, and n staff officer at brlgads
Headquarters:
Second Division. Seventh Army Corps
Camp Columbia, 4
Havana. Cuba, Dec. 81, 1898. i
Z. IL. Pruden, Esq, Suffolk Editor Viz
ginian- Pilot
Dear Percy-As you requested before
we left Savannah that 1 telegraph You
the date OF our departure. 1 did so
and hope the kilograms We're satisfac.
tory. l would have cabled you of our
safe arrival in Havana. but I found
that 1t would cost you just 40 cents q
word. including date. address and sigl
nature. -,
We reached Havana safely after q
beautiful voyage across from Savan-
nah. The sea was as smooth as n mill
pond. When we left Savannah our SAIL
ing orders were for Mariana, but we
landed at Havana, and unloaded and
marched through the city out to our
camp, which is about eight miles from
san Jose wharf, Where we landed. The
san Jose wharf is only IL few hundred
yards from the wreck of the Maine,
which was plainly seen by all on board.
as we passed within hundred feet of II,
on the way to our dock.
A JULY CHRISTMAS.
The day we landed, December 90, was
rs hot as July day in Virginia, and
the march to cana would have beela
Very fatigulng to all but for the MANN
Interesting sights that kept every ond
on the alert.
We marched for several miles
through Havana with oul. colors 0yins
and our band playing. The street,,
We're thronged With people. When W.
got to that part of the city which hal
been evacuated by the Spanish and Is
now free to the Cubans we received
perfect ovation. From every house the
American andsScuban flags were nyins
ana IN many instances they were Of
the richest workmanship and material
and were often draped together.
our camps are beautifully located
we are in hiily. rolling country. ana
are over Two hundred feet above the SCI
ieVel. The sea is plainly visible and
My about three miles from our Cant
Our camo is an IDEAL one and there +
40 reason why we should not enjoy
perfect health, as all the conditions ara
favorable for IT,
y ZIG DAY SUNDAY.
Ne%t Sunday, January list. will be a
Dig day here. Then we assume CONF
piete control of the island, and our
nag WIN be raised over MORO Castle. Il
In an extra issued by La Lucha this
~ h.h s.t..
evacuation Committee make public the
detailed arrangements effected with
captain General Casteqlanos for the
final surrender of the city on New
Years Day, and request the co-opera-
ton OF residents in general, Cuban and
spanish. to preserve order and prevent
friction.
The Havana city districts beyond G$-
llano street, including the Ward Or
Aonserrate and CaIzada del Monta. I
were evacuated last night, and this
morning all leading business establish
ments and private residences appeared
Gai!y decorated in American and Cuban
colcr5. The enthusiasm of the public
in general and the Cuban in particu-I
lar seems 10 know no bounds. The
cry, Viva Cuba Libre; viva n los
Americanos' is heard on every hand.
WINTER SEA BATHING. l
We had q very quiet Christmas day.
1t was rs warm as the Fourth of July
at home. Several of us went bathing
in the ocean in the morning \
The Missouri people, headed by the,
st. Louis Star sent the Sixth Missouri
regiment, which is in our brigade. a
big Christmas dinner in the shape of
two hundred turkeys, number Of.
chickens and several pigs. all of which
were alive. besides numerous other ar
ticles.
Why don't some OF our Virginia
friends do something like this for the,
Fourth Virginia? From all appear-
ances as TO the interest they take in ue
they prefer to discourage rather than
encourage the officers and men of the
regiment from the Old Dominion.
Please ask the management of the
Virginian- Pilot to send US few COMES
each day, as the majority of our men
are from that section. and the papers
VIII be gladly received. If they will do
this [ WIFI gladly see to the delivery
OF them among the men.
1 hope you all had a merry Christ.
mas, and will have n happy New Year.
Yours very truly,
]. G. CAUSEY, Jr.,
list 1T. ith Va. Vol. Inf'try, and A. D.
c. I1dq'rs, I'd Brigade, I'd Div.,7 th
a. G.. Camp Columbia Havana,