A Gala Day
Title
A Gala Day
Subject
For Our Boys in Havana When Old Glory Was Hoised On New Year's Day - Pay Day Has Come Again - Honorably Discharged
Description
Camp Colombia, near Havana Cuba
January 6th, 1898. (NB: this is a printing error in the original)
To the Standard: - Much has been said through the Associated Press giving details of the celebrated New Year's day in Havana, therefore I will state briefly that the North Carolina regiment participated in the event of lowering the Spanish and raising American flags over Morro Castle and Fort Cabanas.
The parade consisted of twelve regiments of the Seventh Army Corps. The soldiers stood the march of 20 miles - to the city and return - far better than anyone expected, it having been the first long march since being in the service.
The city of Havana was gaily decorated with festoons of burnting and Cuban and American flags. The gala attire in the quaint, narrow streets presented quite a pretty scene, but the most impressive was happiness of the Cuban people. Their expression and manuvers were not of a boisterous, thorough exultant nature. The streets were thronged with people who had gathered for the occasion, but buisness in the shops, rum-cellars, and hucksters was flourishing.
The flags of the two nations were exchanged at the salute of the gunboats in the harbors and from guns in the respective forts. It was very solemn and immediately after the firing ceased Old Glory was unfurled to the breezes and the American and Cuban people made the entire city roar with cheers and salutes, short impressive speeches from the officals, etc.
Wednesday was a pay day and the boys are now living on the tropical products instead of army bacon, beef, and beans. "B. B. B." is a sure remedy for the aching void particular to soldiers after an extensive drill.
Normal threadgall, who was sent from Jacksonville to Fort Thomas, Ark., last September, has been given an honorable discharge from the service.
The inhabitants of the Island are divided into four classes - Spanish, Cubans (Kubans), Mulattos and Negros, and they do not mix under any circumstances. Some of the Cubans are highly educated and accomplished in the works of art, architecture, science and warfare, but the majority are of the less fortunate. The lower classes have very particular ideas of their "freedom," and seem to think they are now at liberty to do as they please, and this is the class that the American people will have to subdue.
The "Nanigo" is an organization among the lower classes, principally negroes, who are banded for the purpose of wreaking vengeance upon an enemy, and they are considered as being very treacherous and dangerous.
The members of Co. L are all well and are enjoying splendid health, with the exception of Primly Dry, who sprained his left ankle and is now in the regimental hospital.
Regards to all,
H P Deatcn.
January 6th, 1898. (NB: this is a printing error in the original)
To the Standard: - Much has been said through the Associated Press giving details of the celebrated New Year's day in Havana, therefore I will state briefly that the North Carolina regiment participated in the event of lowering the Spanish and raising American flags over Morro Castle and Fort Cabanas.
The parade consisted of twelve regiments of the Seventh Army Corps. The soldiers stood the march of 20 miles - to the city and return - far better than anyone expected, it having been the first long march since being in the service.
The city of Havana was gaily decorated with festoons of burnting and Cuban and American flags. The gala attire in the quaint, narrow streets presented quite a pretty scene, but the most impressive was happiness of the Cuban people. Their expression and manuvers were not of a boisterous, thorough exultant nature. The streets were thronged with people who had gathered for the occasion, but buisness in the shops, rum-cellars, and hucksters was flourishing.
The flags of the two nations were exchanged at the salute of the gunboats in the harbors and from guns in the respective forts. It was very solemn and immediately after the firing ceased Old Glory was unfurled to the breezes and the American and Cuban people made the entire city roar with cheers and salutes, short impressive speeches from the officals, etc.
Wednesday was a pay day and the boys are now living on the tropical products instead of army bacon, beef, and beans. "B. B. B." is a sure remedy for the aching void particular to soldiers after an extensive drill.
Normal threadgall, who was sent from Jacksonville to Fort Thomas, Ark., last September, has been given an honorable discharge from the service.
The inhabitants of the Island are divided into four classes - Spanish, Cubans (Kubans), Mulattos and Negros, and they do not mix under any circumstances. Some of the Cubans are highly educated and accomplished in the works of art, architecture, science and warfare, but the majority are of the less fortunate. The lower classes have very particular ideas of their "freedom," and seem to think they are now at liberty to do as they please, and this is the class that the American people will have to subdue.
The "Nanigo" is an organization among the lower classes, principally negroes, who are banded for the purpose of wreaking vengeance upon an enemy, and they are considered as being very treacherous and dangerous.
The members of Co. L are all well and are enjoying splendid health, with the exception of Primly Dry, who sprained his left ankle and is now in the regimental hospital.
Regards to all,
H P Deatcn.
Creator
Harry P. Deaton. (misspelled in the primary text)
Source
Daily Concord Standard
Date
January 10, 1899.
Type
Newspaper Article
Identifier
http://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn91068267/1899-01-10/ed-1/seq-1/
Files
Citation
Harry P. Deaton. (misspelled in the primary text) , “A Gala Day,” The North Carolina Experience in the Spanish American War, accessed April 27, 2024, https://csilkenat.omeka.net/items/show/18.