Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 89, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1898 — From An "Indiana Tiger.” [ARTICLE]

From An "Indiana Tiger.”

Port Jampa City, July 8, ’9B. To The Republican: After breaking camp several times, with orders to move, the disappointed 157th still remains in camp anxiously awaiting for the right opportunity to occur. . We are brigaded with the 121st Ohio from Cincinnati, and 3rd Penna., of Philadelphia, with Gen. Hall commanding. We have been expecting to depart for the last two weeks, but we have been disappointed so many times that the boys are becoming discouraged and are coming’to the conclusion that they will never take a Spanish scalp. It is my opinion that if Uncle Sam desires a speedy extermination of all Spanish troops in Cuba he has only to turn this brigade loose and the work will be well accomplished. It may be for our welfare that we have not departed and we should not complain for there are 100,000 men baote of us, and only three volunteer regiments that have left American soil, but nevertheless I think Indiana would be proud to know that one of her regiments had succeeded in taking part in the fight. We are from one of the brigades of Gen. Coppinger’s corps and their destination is yet unknown, but you can rest assured that if the old 157th ever sees active service it will give a good account of itself. The heavy rains of the past two weeks have driven us to a new camping place and we are all busily engaged in getting settled in our new’ quarters. Continual target practice and long marches are bring the men into proper condition and two wesks more will see them all in condition for any kind of service. The monthly pay day carried its usual number of victims and the guard house is overflowing with prisoners; several serving the penalty for selling the clothes issued by Uncle Sam. The Southern people, especially the blacks, seem astonished at the number of troops sent from the North, as they ask you the question, “Where youseall hail from?”, and seem under the impression that women must be at a high premium. Our rations are becoming better and complaints are less numerous. Our hospital list is quite small considering the exposure and treatment some of the men have received, and our regiment, as a whole, has been quite fortunate. Transports are daily arriving at the port, but whether we go I cannot say. I have been interrupted in writing this letter by a large snake which has just crawled through my tent and will therefore have to close. Yours Truly, Theodore. George, With “Indiana Tigers.”