Monroe City Democrat. (Monroe City, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1899-01-12
From Cuba.
CANT COiCMRIh, NEAR HAVANA,
CUBA, Dec II, 1898,

CUBA, Dec, 81, 1898,
ARR months weary waiting and
mnch preparation for military duty,
The SLh acmy cu,ps is ut last campcd
an the heights above Havana
On board utc transport Michigan,
were Brig, Gen, Wheaton aud staff,
One baialiiuu hand and ~egimental
hospital Of tho LIST TEX, 100 team
sters, 50 wagons, s00at 80 mules and
horses and a great quantity of sup.
plies. Two bataiiious OF the LIST Tex,
and the ID La. came over ON the
transport Mobile,
Having finished loading OH the af-
tprnuun Of the I'D the Michigan. was
towed tn tac month at The Savannah
River by the tug Dluutless. Leaving
port on The mOrniGg of the oath, land
soon faded from view aud with fair
Weather and calm sea, the FIRST two
days az the voyage was very pleasant
and the tran sition from temperate
10 "A tropical atmosphere At this time
az the year vas agreeable. We came
in sight of land again of the south
coast OF Florida and passing Miami
Xmas night many rockets aud search
lights could hc seen. Crossing the
Strait Florida on the 18th some very
rough sea was experienced. Waves
were strong enough To raise and
lower the transport 8 or 10 feet and
move il 10 the side II or IL fett, and
with the onward movement the ship
lad IA perisGuliG u.oJion which pro-
duced a disturbance in the equilibrium
and stomach of many boys, h't some
rs Gid rot experience any sea sick
ness,
We entarEd tae harhOr at FIa vana
ahOut Z O'Clock iE the afternoon OF
the 18th and passing under Moro
Castle within u stones throw of the
gums. The band went on deck aud
played several patriotic American
airs, while many of the Spanish gar
rison in the forts would dance and
"hlNt IuJtl bN \ vi
guns was fired by one Of the
Spanish forts protecting the harbor
entrance.
Anchor was cast about 100 yards
htnt Maine, where for some time
We viewed the wreck and harbOr sur
rOundings.
Not far from us were three Spanish
transports loading with Spanish sol
dicrs, WHO, dressed in pajamas and
straw hats, presented u rather unsOl'
dierly appearance. In the harboi
also lay the battleships Texas, dress
ed in the white color of peace, and the
New York still in the war paint O
dark gray. We unlOaded on the 27tt
and as we marched up through the
city great throng of Cubans followed
with flags and hallowing "Ameri
canos." The streets, some narrow
s0ne broad and we'll paved. through
which we MARCHED, appeared to be a.
clean as those of A merle an cities ant
all along the route Cuban and U. S
flags in profusion waived from TIN
buildings, so one would think Their
were no Spaniards in that part of tn
city.
Arriving at the camp the first per
son ! saw was Charley Brown, who il
enlisted in Co. d., 10 U. S. INIT.
The camp sites are { miles west q
the city, although the suberbs extern
almost to the camp. They are O
gentle sloping ground 450 #. abov
sea level, which is little less than tn
altitude Of Monroe.
The soil here is q red loan under
laid gith u very soft lime stone, tn
ground is covered with grass an,
everything is green. Our tents wer
left standing at Savannah, but larg
new tents lSxl8 were issued us here
and there are only 6 men in each ten
We also have new canvass top, folG
ing cots and are very comfortably si
uated. Respectfully,
A. X. CRIsLER.
Band, LIST Tex. Vol, Havana, Cubs