Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-02-24


! Cuba.
An interesting letter was received by
| Col. G. II. Bond Monday morning from
| Corporal Allie j. Tucker, a Brattleboro
boy who is now with the American army
in Matanzas, Cuba. Enclosed with the
letter was captains star, worn on the
sleeve by Spanish captain, and brass
! representation of bugle with figure "3"
denoting the captains rank. The letter,
which was dated at Matanzas, Feb. Ia,
was 20 pages long. The most interesting
portion of it is AS follows:
81 was mustered out of the Sth New
York volunteers and was intending to re-
turn to Brattleboro, but learning that the
18th was booked for foreign service
thought would have "try' at it, for
didn't feel satisfied until had seen it out,
so joined the 18th at Americas Ga. We
had very nice camp there on level field
of sandy loan which was covered at the
time OF our arrival with sweet potatoes and
cotton. We made good use of the former
and the latter we pulled up and burned.
"Our brigadier general was and is Gen.
Sanger of the regulars. He was colonel
and inspector general, and / tell you he
knows his little book too. He was order
ed to Cuba and was told to take his choice
from the First Army corps as a body guard
and he took the 18th, which we consider
ed quite compliment.
ION Jan. l, at p. NJ, we 'unfolded'
our anchor in Matanzas harbor, directly
| opposite San Solverino castle, the fort
where so many Cuban prisoners were exc
cuted and also where two American cores
pondents were imprisoned for some time.
When we got ashore tell you it made us
sick to look at the camp ground, which was
nothing more or less than coral reef and
terribly uneven. You might as well try to
drive tent peg into solid rock as into
that reef.
"We were soon surrounded by Cubans,
Spanish soldiers and half naked kids, part
~ out OF curiosity and partly for trade, for
they had Spanish swords, Cuban machetes,
bananas, oranges, cigars, cigarettes aud
all kinds of cakes to soak the 'Americanos'
at three or four times their value. The
next day my company was detailed as PRO
vost Guard in the city, and here we have
been ever since and probably will stay as
long as we are in Cuba, staying in the
Governors Palace as they call the city
hall here. We have a whole house right
in the best part of the city and just off the
Plaza de Armas,' and our captain, who
talks quite little Spanish, is giving great
satisfaction.
~ never had a very high estimate
OF the Cuban soldiers as fighting machines,
and when saw them in person their stock
dropped still lower in my mind. They
could not have whipped Spain in a thous-
and years. But what took the cake was
their marching. 1t was a short, quick
step of about six or eight inches, / should
judge, striking on the ball of the foo. with
sort of a shuttle as If they we've catching
the time for a sand jig. Then their cos
tune looked more as If they we're going to
masquerade than anything else. Big
broad-brimmed straw hats, turned ND in
front and down in back, with raw edge
OF about two inches. linen suits, canvas
shoes, rusty guns of the Remington pat
tern, gunny bags for blankets and any old
thing for haversack completed their out
fit.
Zone sees much here to attract ones at
tention. The costumes and habits of the
people and even the buildings interest the
American soldiers and tend to make time
pass pleasantly. We see every day the re-
suit of the terrible reconcentrado system:
poor wretches on the streets, simply walk
ing skeletons, and it is nothing short of a
miracle what holds body and soul together:
boys with legs on them the size of my
wrist, with eyes sunken and without a
spark of vitality. They are fed by the
United States government and draw their
rations every ten days, the same as we do,
The most of them have gone back into the
country, having been supplied with cows,
farming tools and seed by the government.
One Cuban who could talk good English
told me the other day that it was like God
coming down from heaven to have the
Americans come here About 10000 of
these unfortunate people died in this prov
ince alone.
THE poor Cubans are being EMPLOYED
improving the streets, for which they are
paid 81 day by the government. The
houses are not prepossessing, being built
of stone, one story high and painted blue
or yellow to protect the eyes from the glare
of the sun. They thus present a same
ness and barn-like appearance. But the
inside is different. Every house has a
court where they grow magnificent palms,
bananas, roses and every tropical plant
The rooms all open on to this court, max.
ing them cool and comfortable. The
houses are all tiled inside in different de-
signs, and look very neat and trim.
1--WE live very comfortably here in our
quarters, each squad having room to it.
oNiA oAlu oiSCPihB On Well-naQe DuQkS,
The only thing that bothers us is the dis
cipline, which is extremely strict, and the
short rations. We never have enough to
eat. We drew 10 days rations day before
yesterday, and we could easily eat them in
five days.
Before l close must tell you COM
plimert that was paid us by Gen. Breck-
enridge, who reviewed all the troops here.
(By the way they are the Sth Massacbu-
sets, Sd Kentucky, 160th Indiana. 10Th
New York, one battalion of Sd E. G.. and
the I'd cavalry. When our COMPANY
passed in review Gen. Breckenridge asked
what company that was. Gen. Sanger re-
piled provost Guard" to which Gen
Breckenridge replied, "Noble column
general" That heard myself.
1--WE are going to lose our general for
he is ordered to the Philippines. II is re-
ported that he wants to take us with him
Well colonel, think 1 have done pretty
well for an amateur. hope to see Won
soon for don't think our time is for lone
here, and by April we will be sailing for
Home, Sweet Home.'"