Campaign of the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry / April 25-November 11, 1898

print within a few weeks after active war operations commenced. Not one word, however, regarding the discomforts of the City Troop on the trip to Puerto Rico was written. Yet, if existence upon

of him. Two feet is the regulation distance in the navy, but circumstances alter cases, and what might be a fair allowance on a carefully kept, well-ventilated war vessel, became a distinct hardship aboard the "Massachusetts

hundred men and fourteen hundred horses and mules were considered about her proper capacity. When the Troopers first boarded the vessel their bundles of clothing and equipm

ck, but as the vessel came off Cape Hatteras about midnight she struck a regular squall. The air became cold, the "Massachusetts" began to pitch about violently and then rain came rushing down in great volumes, drivin

the constant stamping of horses. Between these two layers of animals the cavalrymen passed a restless night. But if their first attempt at sleep was disturbed, the conditions prevailing the second night can better be imagined than d

was piled high on the main deck. There, under the stars, swept by refreshing sea breezes, the Troopers slept well-if not comfortabl

times it was positively hot, and always insipid and filthy looking. A skirmish by the commissary brought to light a case of beer, although there was no ice to make it palatable. The beer lasted but a day, and to keep alive the water had to be accepted and

INTO A T

and in order to enable the men at the bottom to stand the heat, their comrades kept pouring water down upon their heads and bodies. As fast

drink, and all through the day's trying struggle the Troopers silently endured the added pangs of thirst. There was more real suffering for twenty-four hours than any man in

but on several occasions the old transport reeled sufficiently to send a

, and it was their duty each morning to gather together their equipments for inspection, the same as though they

tatement of the discovery of the fire was given in a loud tone, which instantly caused the alarm to spread throughout the ship. It was no pleasant thought for the men, who knew so well the inflammable nature of the cargo and the crowded condition aboard, and there was a rush for the point from

same time she did, awaiting her arrival off Guayama. A despatch boat came puffing down to meet her, flying the signal, "Follow me," and Troopers in

Pitcher, who was in charge of the transport, so he shouted back, "By whose authority do you give those

bow saw that the transport was steering directly into shoal water, at the bottom of which a coral reef could be plainly seen. They shouted to the man at the whe

ed by the fumes from the hundreds of horses and mules aboard, without water, the situation was well nigh unbearable. Up to the moment of grounding not an animal aboard had died. Within two hours after the motion of the ves

VIRGIN D

E CATHEDRAL VI

e the Cathedral de la Carmen, and returning with an order from General Miles that the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, should land at once. This

, owing to the constant readiness in which they had kept. A rope tied about their outfit was all that w

mselves they set to work to bring their horses off the transport. The air was full of rumors that the cavalry were needed in a hurry for active service, and th

ad gone into the camp selected by Lieutenant Browning the day before, on the flagstones outside of the little cathedral. All day rain came do

HORSES ASHO