© Atiaw:©6 6 (ALLO MING
WW Ew iLY
Our first stop was Mobile, where a
great crowd greeted us; and most every-
body got off the train and bought about
everything in sight. We telegraphed
a combination message, Teddy and I,
to Orange, and [ sent one to father?
Saw Garrison there for first time, and
hardly recognized him with his shaven
head. This was late in the afternoon,
and after leaving, we soon began to
fix for bed. Some of the men, Guy
Murphy and Hollister, were on guard;
so Bob Wrenn and I sat up until
eleven, with our feet hanging out of the
door. Singing and talking helped
along the time, and we felt “out of
sight” to have at last become even con-
nected with the Regiment. Soon we
turned in, and I found a bunk on the
top of a lot of saddles, close to the top
of the car, which place, comfortable
enough at first, became more and more
rocky and bumpy as the night advanced
and the novelty wore off.
We stopped at Pensacola that night,
but could see nothing of the city. Our
next long stop was at Tallahassee, where
they watered their horses; we stopped
from noon until about five o'clock.
Our Troop cooked dinner under a tree,
and two of the men caught a chicken,
and later, a man named Stewart caught
a rooster. They picked them, and all
I saw of the result was some chicken
broth for the hospital patients in our
car. Troop A caught a small pig, and
another Troop had a goose. Holt and
I purchased some very good milk, and
that, with the army rations of hard
tack, tomatoes and potato apiece, made
a good meal. We had our first good
wash in a brook near the track, and it
did certainly feel good. The coons
were thick, and we made them sing and
dance for us at the station. We later
raided a bottling shop, and had some
fine ginger ale with Col. Wood and
another officer. The Mayor of the town
was very anxious to have the Regiment
stop off there for camp, and offered all
sorts of inducements; but after the
horses were watered and fed, and all
was ready we pushed on.
PLANS FOR ENLISTING.
We decided this dav (after the arrival
at Tampa) to enlist as follows: Teddy
and I in Troop D and Bob Wrenn and
Bill Larned in Troop A. Friends had
a good deal to do with the decision.
We looked on D for the horses, too,
as they had several extra. D_ has
splendid officers. Teddy and I wanted
to be ‘bunkers,’ and we knew that
by enlisting at the same time, we would
be likely to be so. We returned to
camp to find things more or’ less
arranged; some tents up and the picket
line out and the horses attached. We
had a supper, not quite so luxurious as
our dinner, but we managed to make
a meal out of it. That night I slept
out in the open between C’s horses and
our line of fence, on some borrowed
blankets. Wright helped me _ ott.
Teddy had a cold and headache, so
returned to town.
The next pages tell of the enlistment
and the few first days and nights in
camp.
On our return to camp after the last
trip to town, I found that orders had
just been issued to break up camp,
preparatory to marching any minute. [
did nothing but wait in expectation
all the afternoon. Packing occupied
all our time next day, and Dade hustled.
around to get Teddy and me equipped,
but reported at four o’clock very little
show; but I got everything together
possible and was about equipped.
There were to be only seventy men
from our Troop, and this cut out
Teddy and me, for we were not
equipped and others had to stay with
us to keep horses in readiness to fol-
low. The order had been issued that
the men were to go dismounted. When
we learned that we were to be left
behind, we were badly disappointed—
Teddy not so much as I. We talked
it over and decided that if only one
could go, that I should take the place.
At five the men were lined up to see
just what men were equipped. It was
found that 69 answered, so the Captain
Gai 0. Us: at the: sidé:° Ti any man
can find a gun, he may go.” I hap-
pened to notice where one had been
placed by a man told to stay with
the horses (—— the saddler), so
hustled right over to get it, and pre-
sented myself to the Uaptain. I pre-
viously had equipped myself with the
exception of a gun. But ‘as I came
up claimed the gun and I gave
it to him; but Captain said I could
I did not know the reason, and
go.
told to understand I was not
taking his place by any pull; for
he was dead anxious to go. He re-
ported to Captain and Captain said he
could go. He jumped in the air and
yelled for joy at the news, while I
almost broke down with disappoint-
ment, and did cry. I thought my
goose was cooked, but kept at it and
hoped for something to turn up.
Everybody was excited, and we heard
the cheers from the different troops
as they received orders.
CHOSEN. AT THE LAST MINUTE.
Next morning, as I was standing
about talking, and bemoaning my fate,
the Captain came up and handed me
a gun and cartridge belt. I asked no
questions, but simply leaped inwardly
at my good fortune. I learned after-
wards, that a man named Vandersleve
had been found asleep on guard the
night before, and that they had taken
his gun and given it to me.
Now we had to fix up Teddy, and we
hustled about to get him equipped, in
hope something would turn up for
him. After dinner, as we were lying
about under the trees, Holt, Simpson,
Teddy, et al., Lieut. Carr came along
with a paper asking for subscriptions
from the men to send a man named
Crosby home, on account of the .ex-
pected death of his wife. This mis-
fortune proved the great fortune of
Teddy, for it gave him a place. So
finally we were all fixed, Wrenn and
Larned had worked into Troop A, by
pull or otherwise. Roosevelt gave
Bob Wrenn his own gun,—such was
the scarcity in that essential part of
the equipment. Troop C_ was left
behind; also H, L and M. This was
very hard luck for Garrie and Jerry
Edmund and Lieut. Lares from Har-
vard, all of whom were in Troop C.
At about twelve o’clock’ the order
came to march. We lined up, and by
the light of the moon, which had been
a beauty during our whole stay, ad-
vanced to the railroad. After many
“fake” alarms and wakings from sleep
around a bonfire, we were marched
to another railroad. There seemed to
have been some mistake about trains.
I never spent such a night in my life.
We sponged some breakfast from an-
other Regiment nearbv and Bill Larned
and I foraged the neighboring private
houses, waking up everybody, in search
of food. At about five o’clock a coal
train pulled up, and we were ordered
aboard. The cars were:of the roughest
type—dump cars—and we sat on the
edges and stood in the bottom, just
being able to peer over the top, but
were so delighted at leaving that we
put up with anything.
Arrived at Port Tampa about ten
o’clock, and marched about a half mile
tO. our. steamer,..the Yucatan. /ihere
was a terrible delay in putting up the
gangway, and we had to stand out in
the burning sun. I went aboard but
was soon detailed to carry stuff. Al-
most died under weight of a bag of
coffee. Never worked so hard in my
life. We were assigned deck quarters,
and our squad, under Sergt. Hhill, fixed
themselves about ten times b€fore set-
tling down. We have a spendid squad
—Seret. Hill, Teddy, Rhodes, McClure,
Newcomb, Beal, Russell, Smutts, Wolf,
McMillan, Knox. Certainly a peach
crowd. The ship was terribly crowded.
We returned to dock the next day
and took on more provisions and sup-
plies, and spent the night moored in
the dock channel, and the next morn- .
ing passed out again into the harbor,
where we lay until Monday afternoon.
The accommodations on the boat, while
the extra men were there, were some-
thing frightful. I have often wondered
how steerage passengers live. I found
out by experiencing a much worse life.
THE STRUGGLE FOR FOOD.
Our food grew worse and worse
every day, and we would surely have
starved had it not been for our friends
in the kitchen. I got our squad to join
another and have a beef hash, which
relieved the monotony some. We had
to pay enormous prices for everything
in the kitchen, and the cooks imposed
upon the men terribly. It is said that
the baker made $200 the first day for
tips, and selling bread and ordinary
stuff. He charged 50 cents for pies,
and men paid anything between that
‘so. good.
and $1 for pies. The New York men
simply poured money into the kitchen,
and, at first, were allowed to board in
the dining room after the officers, but
later were forbidden this very great
luxury. One can hardly realize how
we begged for food, and even stole a
cracker or piece of bread from pass-
ing waiters.
Saturday, the 12th, I had my hair
cut, in fact shingled, and indulged in
a most excellent shave also. We
sighted land Friday, and from all indi-
cations it was Cuban soil. We later
passed a sailing boat that carried mail
from Cuban points to Nassau. Satur-
day passed with land in sight most of
the day. At night I saw an incident
which but indicates our point of des-
peration in search of food. A K man
of New York sat upon the side of the
cook’s dining-room door, and when he
thought no one was looking, reached
in stealthily, grabbed a plate that had
some gravy left from a meal, and drank
it from the dish. Men offered any price
for food, or even a scrap of bread from
the kitchen.
I had felt ‘‘bum” all day and could eat
nothing. The coffee was “rotten,” and
I took just a sip in the morning with
two bites of hard tack, for breakfast;.
a sardine for dinner, which Bill Larned
gave me, and had nothing for supper,
hoping to work a pull I had arranged
in the kitchen; but the fool cook went
back on me. I had spoken to Bob
Wrenn, Bill Larned, Teddy, Holt and
Hill, so we were all disappointed.
Holt, Bob and I went in search
of anything we could get from the
kitchen, and Teddy went with Doc. I
never so craved even a crust of bread.
The steward had ordered no one to sell
anything, so the cooks did it on the
sly only, and charged enormously and
made tremendous money. They soon
became terribly independent and domi-’
neering. We waited from seven until
nearly ten down in a dark old alley,
driven about by the guard and cooks
like cattle. Holt thought he had a
pull on some food, but it, too, failed.
Finally Teddy and Doc bought a loaf
of fresh bread: for a. quarter, - They
called me and I “did not do a thing”
to that bread. I never had bread taste
We saved some for the
others, so I did not get half enough.
We used all means of persuasion, and
had a plot to break into the cook’s
mess, but could not accomplish it.
Bob Wrenn, unbeknown to us, had
succeeded in buying from one of the
crew, his supper of dry bread, bacon .
GERARD MERRICK IVES, Or
DIED OF TYPHOID FEVER CONTRACTED
AT TAMPA.
and a little bologna. We were leav-
ing and had the most dejected spirits,
when, suddenly, Bob produced this
plate of stuff. I almost fell on his
neck. This certainly braced me up,
for I felt much better the next day. * *
ANSWERING THE BANCROFT.
To-day (Sunday, the 19th) we were
ordered by the Flagship to drop back
and accompany the City of Washing-
ton, the transport that was near the
Maine when she was blown up. The
City of Washington is towing an am-
munition supply schooner, so goes
more slowly than the rest. We made
a large circle and rounded up along-
side. While doing so, the Bancroft
fired a shot signal for us to stop, and
immediately ran alongside, and in-
quired why we had dropped back,
There was some difficulty in under-
standing at the distance, as we-had
no megaphone aboard. The com-
mander of the Bancroft, after getting
the desired information, and calling
down” our Captain for not reporting
change of orders, asked what troops
were aboard, and upon reply from the
Capt. that they were the Rough Riders
with Roosevelt and Wood, there went
up a great shout from the marines
aboard the Bancroft, answered by a
cheer for the Navy from our boat. It
was tremendously inspiring. Later the
Bancroft steamed alongside, and asked
how Cols. Wood and Roosevelt were,
and our men replied, almost in one
voice: hes all richt.” *.* *
I was posted down in the hold and
went on at seven. During my second
guard, Lieut. Goodrich came down and
we had a little talk. This post I had
was to guard dynamite, and I had to
keep very strict watch about lights,
etc. We had service in the morning,
and I sang in the choir next to Col.
Roosevelt. Very good sermon on
“Respect.”. We had a very good
Chaplain.
Wednesday, 22d. This morning
reveille sounded at half past three, and
we packed everthing ready for landing.
About seven o’clock came the bom-
bardment of the shore in front of our
column. The New York and New
Orleans, with several gunboats and
small yachts, carried: on a fierce fire,
and cleared the woods at the Spanish
American Iron Company’s pier. Du-.
pree Hall planted the American flag
on top of hill first of all, thus giving
the honor to our Regiment. The’
Cuban forces met our men at the pier.
Our Company did not disembark until
about six o'clock p.m., and learned
from Cubans that 1,000 Spaniards had
been driven back.
“TEDDY” GIVES OUT.
Thursday. Had a lot of cocoanuts
and rested at this place. Packed up
about three o'clock under marching
orders. Were among advance and
started off on a terrible march. Teddy
gave out at end of a mile and almost
fainted. I took haversack, and after
our first rest, we started on again.
There was a great deal of climbing,
and the starting and stopping was terri-
bly tiresome. Started out in fours but
soon changed to twos, and finally
single file, through deep thicket.
Teddy was pretty weak, and stopped
by the wayside twice, and by orders I
had to leave him; but he pluckily
Caught ip agam “aiter (4 rest. ~ His
case was not exceptional, for the road
was simply lined with regulars and
Rough Riders. Our packs were terri-
bly heavy, and a man without a haver-
sack had t0:.carry?a shovel or axe. or
pick. I carried both quite a distance.
We arrived at the place the left column
had landed, where was quite a settle-
ment. A railroad had been ruined by
Spaniards, but was repaired by our
forces and kept in working order.
We arrived about eight o’clock, after
outstripping all regiments, and _ be-
came advance guard of our forces.
Hundreds of men dropped out and kept
coming into camp for some time. It
started :; to: tam soon after Teddy
arrived, and I fixed him up with his
rubber blanket and cooked something
for him. He was badly done up. After
the shower he got up, while I was away
in search of water and port wine,
which had been thrown about by bar-
relfuls before we arrived. On my re-
turn Bill Larned was with, him, and
they were drying their clothes before
the fire. I cooked some coffee then
and got my bed arranged, but did not
get to sleep until nearly twelve, after
drying clothes thoroughly, a precau-
tion I always take. The march had
been the feat of the day—about eleven
miles through terrible sands and
mud and thickets, but we made
it in shorter time than the regulars.
Most of it was made on double quick,
and the catching up after helping on
Teddy was very trying. We slept well
that night, but in the morning at half
past four Teddy aWoke delirious.
Friday, 24th. Teddy wanted to go
terribly, but was out of his head and
talked incessantly about Polo. match,
which he thought he was playing and
in which he had been hurt. I reported
him and let Bill Larned and Bob know
about him. I saw Surgeon Lamont,
and offered fifty of Teddy’s money to
take care of him; no surgeon was to
stay, so those left behind had to take
care of themselves and each other. I
helped Teddy to a house and fixed up
his roll and money matters, and did
