The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1906-11-08
North Carolinian Again First Amer
lean Officer Entering Cuba.

Ashevlle Gazette-News.
There was a coincidence in the oc-
cupatiOn OF Cuba by American troops
twice within a period of eight years
that will be of interest to many Ashe-
vile boys who in 1898 wore the regu-
lation blue and the dull khaki of the
United States volunteer army. A staff
correspondent of the New York Times
at Havana writes that paper under
date of October IL, that Col. Cowles,
who commanded the men on board
the transport Sumner, was the first
commanding officer to enter Cuba
with troops during the recent trou-
bles on the island and that Col. Cowles
was again congratulated upon being
the first commanding officer of troops
to march through Havana for Amer
lean occupation.
Col. Cowles was second in command
OF the First North Carolina regiment,
volunteers, that first entered Cuba as
an army OF occupation shortly after
the close OF the Spanish-American
war. Included in the companies that
went to make up the First North
Carolina regiment was the old Ashe-
vile Light Infantry, and Asheville
boys were, therefore, among the first
soldiers to occupy Cuba in the name
OF the United States government. The
New York correspondent in referring
to the part that North Carolina
played in the first occupation ofCuba
says:
"Major Baker told Col. Cowles, who
commanded the men Oh the Sumner,
that early this morning the ship
would be brought alongside the Ha-
vana Central pier and unloaded. Spec
ial street cars would be ready to take
the men direct to their place at Camp
Columbia, with other cars ready for
baggage and camp equipment. Ev-
erything was to be ready so that the
men could get their noon-day meal
in their own camp and sleep tonight
in their own cots under their own
canvas
Then the major congratulated the
colonel on being again the first COM
handing officer OF troops to march
into Havana for an American occupa-
ton. Col. Cowles was the lieutenant
colonel OF North Carolina regiment
during the war with Spain. His reg
iment was chosen for garrison duty
here, but it arrived in the harbor sew
eral days after the 2O2nd New York.
The New Workers had been lying
on their transport Vi Vigorously dis
cussing the perplexing question of
whether they wanted to march
through Havana. yellow fever strick-
en-, and occupied by Spanish troops.
or not. While they we're still talking
along came the North Carolinians.
Then the New Workers made up their
minds, but before they could trans
form their determination into action
Col Cowles had disembarked his men
and was already on his way through
the city"
As q matter Of fact, when the First
North Carolina landed and marched
through the streets OF Havana, it
was under the personal command of
its colonel, now Brigadeir General
Joseph F. Armfield. In Jackson
vile Col. Armfield was acting briga-
der general, and the command ofhis
regiment devolved upon Lieut.. Col.
Cowles. When the regiment boarded
a transport for Havana, Col. Arm
field relinquished command OF the
brigade. Subsequently another reg.
iment OF the brigade iron Illinois)
Joined the First North Carolina in
Havana, whereupon Col. Armield as
sumed command of the two regi-
ments and the command OF the First
North Carolina again developed upon
Lieut.. Col. COwles.