Camp Columbia, Havana, Cuba,

February 26, 1899.

Dear Father: This is surely the land of everything waits 'till tomorrow. We have all acquired the habit in spite of ourselves, and this letter that you should have had some time ago has been delayed several "mananas." General Maximo Gomez is in town and the Cubans are wild with joy. They are all big overgrown children, as full of fun and practical jokes as school boys. The celebration of Gomez's entry into Havana has already lasted two days and this afternoon the fun was fast and furious. The streets were full of gaily dressed people, while Gomez drove through the enthusiastic crowds --in a magnificent coach gaily decorated with ribbons and streamers of all colors. The crowds were no respecters of persons nor clothes they threw flour and flowers at every one the former with effect very disastrous to the beauty of many of the fine costumes. On Friday the old General was escorted into town by a portion of his troops. They passed near our camp, and they make a sorry looking army. Perhaps half of the thousand or more men that we saw were mounted mounted on the sorriest looking collec natural resour limit tion of steeds yon ever saw. They say that when the Cuban army was organized each man that could get a horse, no matter what sort, eo long as it was a horse, went into the cavalry, and all others into infantry. It is evident that all who possibly could, made a violent effort to get into cavalry. The equip ment of the men is very poor and without the least uniformity. We saw rifles of half a dozen different sorts in one company, and all of them pretty hard looking.
On February 15 our battallion was fortunate in being tho one assigned from the First Division to be present at Colon Cemetery when the graves of the Maine victims were decorated. I would not have missed being there for a great deal. The marines and sailors acted as escort to the ladies who did the decorating and they certainly made a fine appearance. We followed with slow step to the music of a dirge. The Second Illinois was the only other regiment of infantry represented. As we passed under the magnificent entrance and up the wide avenue toward the Chapel, with tall royal palms on either side, and beyond them the white monuments with sculpturing that shows the work of the masters of that art, I thought of the rapidity of events in this drama of war. It was only a short year ago that the Maine victims were buried there. But in that time, the proudest old nation on earth has been forced to give up her richest her most beautiful possession this "Pearl of the Antilles." The United States has called into campaign a quarter of a million men, and five thousand of them have died in battle or in camp. Those who went into the active campaigns of Santiago and Porto Rico and Manila suffered intensely, but they had the hope of battle to look forward to, and the memory of heroic deeds to recall. Those who went into the fever campaigns of the summer camps of Florida and Georgia had no such hopes nor memories to help them endure what they must. They would have welcomed a battle with a visible enemy I cannot say how gladly, but to see every other man stricken down with fever, to sit idly by and wonder when his turn would come, that was what took the heart and nerve out of a man. And to know that he must go home "only a tin soldier" that was worst of all. And all this to free Cuba or was it to avenge the Maine? But those of us who were at the Colon Cemetery on that day felt repaid for it all not by what we saw nor what we heard, but by what we felt and thought, and the love and respect that was awakened in us for the flag that floated over us. I believe one must serve under the flag before he can have the truly patriotic feeling for it, and the harder the service the more dearly he will love it and the government it represents.

The news of the fighting about Manila and the work of the First Regiment there has filled all of us with a great desire to be there. And it is said on pretty good authority that Col. Vifquain has cabled the War Department asking that we be 6ent to the Philippines. But of course there is no such good luck as that in store for us.
For a few days after the clash at Gar-cia- 's funeral it seemed as though we might have a chance to fight here, but things have quieted down and for the present there is no such possibility. Still, in the "Times of Cuba" a few days ago a letter from Gomez to the New York Journal was published, in which ho acknowledged having offered his sword to the Porto Ricans to free them from the United States. Something may develop from that.

On Wednesday our brigade starts on a ten days' march. Nearly all the troops of the Seventh corps have been on marches into the interior, and in this way it had been pretty well explored. Our route is to the south and it is very likely that we will go clear across the island for it is only about thirty-fiv- e miles wide here. This trip will be a very pleasant break in the monotony of camp life and give ns an opportunity to see more of the island. There are only a very few of the men who are kicking at the idea of a "hike" as they call it Most of us would welcome orders to march to Santiago, or any other place, anything to keep on the move.

The regiment is in fine shape, very few are sick and the well have hard work to find something to "kick" at. I believe that soldiers never lived better in the field than ours are doing. The food is excellent, very often it is much better than at our own mess, and only occasionally is there a day too warm for comfort. Next time I write I will be able to tell yon something about the interior.

Affectionately,
Charles C. Pulis.
Second Lieutenant Third Nebraska Infantry