Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-15

naNlnS never Deeh eIudtieu DE ANY
troops in the state. During the week
that followed the detachment was full!
equipped by General Richards. the
equipment being identical with that OF
the regular army about to take the
fleld.'
The detachment left Augusta on ths
morning OF June l6. having been or
dered to report at Washington. Sew.
eral amusing incidents on the trip are
noted by Capt. Butler and then hf
says;
The Maine company was the first
to report for duty. On June 20 we were
selected to go to Tampa. Florida. with
the understanding that we were TO &C
to Cuba. If needed. our equipment be.
ing far better than that of any COM
rany that had arrived. On the $50 we
arrived in Tampa and went into camp
on the Tampa Bay hotel grounds
where the signal camp was then To-
Gated. We here found company of
regulars which had been picked up
from regiments of the line. In and
around Tampa everything was in an
Understandable state Of confusion. The
railroad tracks were blocked for miles
with freight and stock cars: the streets
We're crowded with n moving mass of
mule teams. pack trains, moving artil-
lery. cavalry and infantry regiments,
"hilc on the sidewalks all grades Of
army men, from the newly -fiadged aid
de-camp. with q bandbox attachment,
to the long-haired broneho buster from
the wild and woody West. rushed here
ana there With refreshing disregard
foi pet corns.
The signal camp was in charge Of
Major Samael Rcber and from him
took my first lessons in real army life.
Or June 2s. an order was wired Major
Reber from the chief signal officer to
send the Maine company TO Cuba with
the second expedition which was pre-
pairing to sail from Port Tampa. The
major was an officer of the regular
army and naturally did not like the
idea of sending a volunteer company
when he had a company Of regulars
availa Die. and, after sending a protest,
tried, III the presence. Of other officers,
to have me acknowledge that l was
not yet in condition to go. i This l re-
fused te do had to admit. however,
thai the regulars were better instruct
ed in visual signalling, but insisted
hat my operators and electricians were
the equal to any in the camp.
He pictured to me the difficulties l
would have to meet and overcome; that
would be thrown upon my own re-
sources In a tropical country at the
worst time in the year, when the yellow
fever lurked in every drop of water
,,,NA \, # ir- hn ~
men were not acclimated, having just
arrived from one of the most northerly
states in the Union that our work
would be Of the most difficult nature
and must be done under the most try
ing conditions.
THE next afternoon, an. order was
received by the major TO send the
Maine company on board the transport
at, once. The next day we. embarked
on hoard the transport Comanche.
There were six steamships in the expe-
dition. and the troops We're all in COM
pand Of General Randolph. A detail
of skilled signal men was made for
each ship. By this means cemmunica-
ton was maintained throughout the
fleet BY flag or lantern. day and night,
and all orders We're transmitted with
precision and promptness during the
voyage to Santiago.
July found us near Dry Tortugas
and in a short time we were at anchor
in Key West harbor It was then We
learned that the Spanish fleet under
Admiral Cervera had been totally de-
stroyed. General Randolph brought the
| news to our transport. Then what
cheers arose from the COO men on board
while those on the other ships looked
| on in wonder. Their suspense was OF
short duration for Sergeant Floyd leap
| ed on top of the pilot house and wig
wagged the pleasing news to them.
las soon as possible we left Key
| West for Santiago. our convoy con.
sisting of the gunboats Machias ant
| Wilmington. The government tug Ly-
den also accompanied US to tow tbs
Unionist. AZ she could not make sis
knots under her own steam. On the
morning Of the 9th We arrived off Sibo
ney, and. as was anxious to get thu
balloon ashore before the sea became
rouh, took one of the ships boats ant
a crew Of my own men and landed il
safely on the beach. A boat from on'
Of the other transports. which contain
ed two Of our men. landed a few yard:
ahead of u.s. and Private II. NJ. Sterling
was the first Maine man to land. Re
porting my arrival by telephone to tn
chief signal officer of the 5th Corps,
was directed to go into camp at Sibone.
and await further orders. The plac'
selected for a camp was about half wa.
up the cliff on the east side of the tow,
It was reached by a winding path GU
in the face of the cliff. This path ha'
been in existence for many years. a
there had been at one time fort there
the ruins of which remain today. Al
though hard of access, the camp wa
high above the low. marshy groun
which makes Siboney pest hole.
After going into camp though w
; had rations FOR several days. I bega
to look around to see where more wa
coming from Calling QuartermastH
Sergeant Herrick to my tent gave hiI
the following lecture. which ha
learned BY heart from Major Reber:
Sergeant. the United States gov
: eminent allows for every enlisted ma
in the army so many. ounces of mea
. -four. vegetables, seasoning. soap an
! candles. every day in the year. II W
: cannot draw it. get it..
. And no did. have known him
. come back from the commissary wit
A = NyE 60. .