Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-01-04
vuRGtNIAxs MORE COMFORTABLE
IN THEIR NEW CAMP.
tbs REGIMENT IN FINE SHAPE.
To Have Fresh Beef-Generni Lees
Picturesque Headauarters-A SOL
dicr's Advantage I'm the M"t'eo Oh
Writing Letters.
lcnrresnondence Of the pIspateh.l


IN a new country.
II IS remarked by those who are In
position TO know that the regiment Is IN
better shape than Il has ever BEEN ana
equal TO any In the Seventh Army corps
in health. strength, and tactical efficiency
The health OF the men is excellent, very
few being sick.
The recruiting has been very successtul
and beneficial. and the efforts Of Captain
Wyatt and the other members of the de-
tsil--s-aptain Vaughan and Aeutensn's
Couch Wassum. HILL and Rlx-in this
direction are commended by oil.
Colonel Taylo- spoke In very con9li-
rnenfary manne~ of the conduct OF the
men I'm their new experiences, TeinarNhg
that they stood the trip beautifully ana
could not have behaved better under the
discomforts they have suffered.
The rain and wind which we had curing
the first half Of the week are over, ana
we are now baskng In the warm sun
shine. Many OF the boys have taken ad-
vantage Of tho good weather to dig sweet
potatoes from the patch on which our
camp IS pitched. and are doing a good
business in this line. while others. by
securing the country far and wide, have
brought back pineapples. bananas, ana
oranges.
For a parade and battle-ground we have
taken possession of the camp-ground
cleared and Just vacated by the Eighth
Infantry. Ii is inclosed by groves OF
royal palms and tropical plants, and our
regiment in dress parade amid these sur
roundings presents a very picturesque
appearance.
The lumber which we brought over with
us will be devoted TO floors for the mems
tents. For the present we Will use tents
instead Of wood houseg for the guard
house, canteen. kitchens, etc How
ever from Information gathered from the
chief commissary. lumber enough for
euard-house, canteen. kitchens. dining
sheds. tables, benches, and bakery has
been ordered from the States. An i'm
mense commissary depot has been con
structed about a mile west of the Vir-
glnia camp Swift & Co. are going 10 put
up O refrigerator plant, and fresh meat
will be supplied as needed. This plant
will be supplied with beef from the States
by refrigerator ships furnished with long
tanks i'm their holds The meat viii be I'M
loaded from the ships into tho refrlgera-
tor plant, and left there until issued 70
the men. The quantity or salt pork VIII
be reduced. while more cereal food Will
demanded by the climate.
To-day we received notice that our sup
ply of firewood won't arrive for ten days.
and so we have begun cutting down a few
OF the shade trees around camp. we are
more unfortunate In this camp than we
were i'm the others, by reason OF the fact
that all Of the fences about US are built
of stone. rock, or barbed wire, which don't
supply firewOrk as the fences about camps
Lee, Cuba Libre, and Onward did.
The regiments in this camp are being
somewhat broken up by detail OF com
naries on special duty at different points |
ON the island. So far only two com |
panies have been taken from our regi-
ment-Company II, at the Second DIVISION !
headquarters and Company c, at Regal
hut we are likely TO be called on at any |
time for further details.
one battalion Of the Forty-ninth Iowa |
has been ordered by General Lee to take |
possession of Cienfuegos, In the province |
OF Santa Clara, on the other side OF the i
island.
The Seventh Army Corps was not as
signed TO that province but General |
Brooke. who has chief command in the |
island. drew on General Lees troops to |
take possession until the troops who have |
been assigned 10 that station arrive from |
the States
General Lees headquarters are in a |
very unique position, fronting on the main |
road which runs from the city of Haoana |
10 Marianao. The point Is midway be-
tween these two towns and at the same |
time I'm the centre of the camps OF his |
corps. The General and all Of his stan |
have their offices in q fine old Cuban |
hacienda, handsomely built after the style |
prevailing here, ana surrounded by how-
ers. tropical plants, pretty hedges, and
tall palma The house Is conveniently
arranged, and fitted with telephone ana
telegraph connections
General Lee is very busy arranging the
details for the encampments here. the
assignment OF troops which are arriving
and other matters. lie says that ne
doesn't expect that the contemplated
muster-out of the $1,000 volunteers In Jan
uary will apply 10 any of the troops here
When the Generals attention was called
10 the fact that there was another regi-
ment from Virginia in the field, and that
the Fourth or sixth would have TO be
mustered out. be said, with his charac-
teristic off-handedness: THAT sixth is
a fine regiment. They believe in keeping
Up excitement"
BY the time this letter is read in the
Dispatch the Fourth Virginia, with all
OF the Seventh Army Corps and other
United States troops around Habana will
have marched into town and take pos
session OF the capital and island making
the very handsome New-Year's gift of
their freedom TO the poor long-suffering
Cubans. The Cuban soldiers, however
are not 20 participate in the parade.
Up 10 the present time the men haven't
been permitted TO see much OF the city of
Habana, as passes have only been allow
ed for two days OF our stay here. They
were cut off some time ago by an order
from division headquarters forbidding
passes 10 enlisted men and officers 10 visit
Habana until further orders.
Friends OF the soldiers will notice an
endorsement on the letters which they
receive from the army. and IL is explain
I'd by an order issued from corps head |
quarters, which says: "All letters sent |
hereafter from the military post-ofiice, IN |
order 10 20 for cents, must be marked |
soldiers Letter on the envelop, with an
officers signature underneath. Otherwise. ,
6 cents postage must be paid" While |
this order has the disadvantage OF letting |
"A fellows captain know how many billet |
doux a soldier writes. II protects him in
his right TO send his girl two letters to
every one sent by his rival who may To- |
cate In business In Habana.
our canteen is now open, doing q large |
business. supplying the men with pre-
serves. sardines. other canned goods, to-
bacco. and crackers at American prices.
Jones. who has charge Of the |
brought over about $1,000 worth
OF such goods on the Chester, and I'm this
way alleviates the suffering under the !
high prices prevailing IN Habana-
The following promotions have been or
dered: Corporals @. b. McCorkle w H.