The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-22
PACKING UP THEIR TRAPS.
REGULARS PREPARING TO LEAVE
FOR CIENFUEGOS.


They Are Not Anxious to Return to
Cubn-Savannah Is Good Enough
for Them-The second Regiment
Had Its share of Fighting at San
tiago-Omcers and Men Fronting
by Their Former Experience and
Laying in Supplies Here for Their
Comfort While in Cubn-Savan-
nahians Woula Like the Regiment
to Remain Here.
The battalion Of the Second Infantry,
that has been doing provost duty here
during the time the volunteer regiments
mustered out at Savannah were in camp,
is under orders TO embark on the trans
port Crook for Cienfuegos. Cuba, and the
officers of the battalion expect to get away
some time this week. probably Thursday
morning.
The Crook left New York Saturday or
yesterday and ought TO reach Savannah
by tomorrow at the very latest Allow
ing two days to coal and provision her for
the voyage and to make whatever final
preparations are necessary, there would
seem to be nothing in the way of the bat
talon going aboard Thursday and the
vessel getting under way on the same day.
At any rate orders at present are to this
effect and though the same uncertainty
that generally accompanies the movements
Of troops by water accompanies this, it is
not thought by those who are in a posi-
ton to become acquainted with the
chances of getting off at the appointed
time that there will be any appreciate
delay.
The officers and men of the Second, who
are now here, do not view the prospect
of departure for Cuba, where they spent
the weary months of last summer, with
any degree of satisfaction Without eX-
ception, they are comfortable as they are,
and quite content to spend the rest of the
summer or the rest of the year in Savan-
nah. The attractions of the Pearl of the
Antilles, that have proved a magnet to
those little acquainted with the peculiari-
ties of the island, possess no drawing
power for the gallant boys Of the Second,
who have experienced them at their worst,
and agree that their worst is as bad as
anything in this world can possibly be.
They were in Cuba during the fighting
around Santiago, and when the Seventy
first New York, saddled with a lot of in
uniform of officers, lay down on their
arms and refused to move forward. the
Second marched calamity on and through
their defeated ranks. They were in the
hottest fighting of the campaign, and in
all the trying and disagreeable aftermath
of the struggle. They saw war as il is,
and not as il should be, and in it all they
played a gallant part.
They were sent from Cuba to Montauk
r~,,I,s. flrr To
that point came to Savannah. The bat
talon has been doing provost duty here
for several months and its thorough disc
pine has made Itself evident in the man.
ner in which the streets have been cleared
and kept free of serious disturbance There
has been no rioting and no disorder while
the boys of the Second were on duty, and
any attempt on the part of the drunken
and licentious soldiery' to break the peace
or the windows has been promptly quelled.
The citizens of Savannah, no less than
the officers and men of the battalion them
selves, will regret 20 see 1t depart.
Out in the camp of the four companies,
al Anderson and Bun and Anderson and
Ahercorn streets, preparations are being
Systematically made for the departure this
week. Government property is being put
in condition for transportation and the
personal belongings of the men collected
from the washerwomen and kept close at
hand so that when the orders come they
will be ready and their lamps trimmed
and burning. The officers are laying in
stock of provisions against the time when
necessities VIII be difficult and luxuries
impossible TO obtain and endeavoring by
the exercise of foresight in the present
TO guard against some of the hardships
the future would otherwise hold in store
for them.
Camp mess outfits are being stocked
with the eatables and drinkables that APP
peal to the soldier when he is far from
home and good dinners and the officers
than whom, by the way, there are no more
courteous gentlemen and gallant soldiers,
are planning to make themselves as com
Portable as possible during the hot and dis
agreeable rainy season in Cuba.
To the people in the ne.ghborhood of the
camp the men of the Second have been a
revelation of the qualities and attributes
Of the regular soldier. The camp itself is
n model Of neatness and order, with a
place for everything and everything in its
place. The men are quiet neat and clean
in appearance, sober and law-abiding in
personal habits The camp Is free from
noises and the senseless and demoralizing
horse-play that accompanies the advent of
the volunteer. The neignbors have had no
complaint to make, and viii regret as
much as anyone else the departure of the
soldier boys whom they have learned to
know and to like.
-s-so
FIRED WITH POOR AIM.