NEWS FROM THE RIFLES

               Lt. Giddens Acts as War Correspondent 
                       For the Argus this Time

Camp Cuba Libre
Jacksonville, Fla.
Co. B 1st Reg. N.C.V.
June 12, 1898

Dear Argus: We do not know whose time it is to write to you, and as
volunteers are needed again, and I am in the habit of such, here goes.

Since your paper first came, the camp has grown to be quite a city. Troops 
come in every day or two. The majority of them are well equiped, but all
are like the North Carolina boys in one respect: they have that "gone
expression," and there is but one thing that could possibly correct it,
and until that cause is remedied, a great many will continue to wear that
"gone" appearance. Our dear Uncle Sam has forgotten to pay us.

The boys of North Carolina were given shoes, etc. today. Some looked
pleased with their new "brogs," while others wanted to don their bare
feet until pay day. It was amusing to see Tom Slocumb, Frank Freeman and
Paul Hutton after getting their brogans. They looked down on their newly
dressed pedal appendages with an admiring air that would cause desertion
to be a thing of the past. Capt. Bain's and mine will be in some time 
to-morrow.

Sunday, some of our boys went out to the beach. Among the wonderful 
discoveries was a life preserver found by Lieut. Guiick. It was of special
interest on account of being one belonging to the fillibustering boat
"The Tree Friends." It was too large to bring back whole, so the Lieutenant 
cut off a souvenir. Several of the boys have pieces for "luck," I guess
they will use it in place of a North Carolina rabbit's foot.

Some people would think the Goldsboro company was a company of regulars now.
They are decidedly the best drilled, and can stand more than any other
company in the regiment. It is a source of much displeasure to us to know of
the deserters from our ranks, but believe that after the court martial gets
through with some already captured, they will realize then that desertion
is of the same class of murder, at least the punishment is death. This will 
stop it. 

The two Wiggs boys were caught near Savannah this morning, and that good, 
true soldier Sergeant W.G. Lewis, Jr., with private F.M. Watson went on the 
noon train with hand cuffs etc. to bring them in. Sgt. Jim Baker says: "I tell 
you, whenever a piece-of-a-man sees so many soldiers, so many guns and so much 
ammunition it causes him to kind of droop all up, then the next thing you know 
- he's gone." He pointed out several of the "drooping" kind as the boys from 
different companies passed. Jim is a good soldier, too.

General Lee reviewed the North Carolina regiment at dress parade Sunday
afternoon. It was his first appearance in an official capacity, so North
Carolina is honored again. It was a time; after the companies had been 
dismissed, there was a continuous cheering so long as he was visible.

  "We love our General Lee,
  And from Sapin will never flee."

This little extract is taken from a beautiful piece of poetry written by our
devoted friend Sgt. Fred McDonald. Any one wishing a copy may enclose $1.00 
to the author and receive it by return mail with his thanks and with the
thanks of every man in the company. Money orders will do.

Besides rain and hot sun, we have at night whip-poor-wills and some charming
owls, who howl all night. The nicest point about the owl is that he takes his
position in a tall tree near the hospital. This accounts for the wonderfully
small amount of sickness in camp. One of our men, whose name we will withhold,
became suddenly ill yesterday morning just before drill; so went to the
hospital. This morning he was well. I was surprised, so asked him how it was.
He simply replied that he'd rather drill all the time than spend five minutes
in the hospital when that -- owl was around. He hasn't seen the joke yet. I
think Dr. Wilder has trained nurses and owls, too.

Colonel Armfield is a fine man, and a soldier every inch, and I might add, for
the interest of the girls, is single. He is very good to every man in his
regiment and especially so to Company B. If there is an opening for special
duty, he sends to Company B for a man. Today we have quite a number doing
extra for the Colonel.

The boys are anxious to go to Cuba now, and are expecting to leave just as
soon as they get over their vaccination. By the way, Sgt. P.C. Hutton, as a
special detail at the hospital, vaccinated about 400 men. Paul is all right,
too. He has been appointed as the representative from our company in the 
recruiting corps, to go to N.C. in a few days. I hope he will go to Goldsboro
before returning, so he can tell the home people how it is here.

Soldiers are always too tired to write; then another thing, talk is cheaper
than stationery.

Send the Argus every day, we like to hear from home. Come down and spend
Sunday sometime, invite a few others, too, and bring your meals. We have
plenty of good water to drink.

                                                 Yours truly,
                                                   L.D. Giddens, Jr.







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