7.  After the white flag had twice been presented to the 25th Infantry firing line, and after all fire from the stone fort had ceased, the firing line rushed forward, took up a position facing to their left—­that is, facing the town—­and began a vigorous fire on a small blockhouse and on the town.

     Respectfully,

     JAMES A. MOSS,
     First Lieutenant, 24th U.S.  Infantry.

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE SANTIAGO CAMPAIGN, BY CAPTAIN R.H.R.  LOUGHBOROUGH, 25TH U.S.  INFANTRY.

The 25th U.S.  Infantry left its stations in Montana on the 10th of April, 1898; six companies (B, C, D, E, F and H) went in camp at Chickamauga National Park; the other two companies (A and G) went to Key West, Fla.

On May 6th the six companies at the Chickamauga National Park moved by rail to Tampa, Fla., arriving the night of the 7th, where they were joined by the two companies from Key West.  With the exception of three days in 1870, the regiment had never been together since its organization in 1869.  It necessarily followed that many of the officers, as well as men, were strangers to each other.

Our camp at Tampa was fair; the ground is sandy and flat, but as the rainy season had not set in, it was dry and the health was good.  Drills and parades were held daily (Sundays excepted), but on account of the intense heat the hours for it were limited to the early mornings and after sunset.  The clothing of the men was the same they had worn in Montana, and did not add to their comfort.  Supplies of all kinds (except rations) came by piecemeal, and we finally sailed for the tropics with the same clothing used in the Northwest.

At 6 o’clock P.M.  June 6th the regiment received orders to strike tents and be ready to move within an hour; the order was immediately complied with, though the necessary transportation to move the baggage did not report until the forenoon of the following day; it was not far from noon when the last of it left the camp for the railroad station, en route to Port Tampa, where we were to embark on transports for the seat of war.

As soon as the camp equipage was started, the regiment was formed and marched to West Tampa (about three miles), where we took a train for Port Tampa, distant nine miles.  On arrival, the regiment boarded the steamer “Concho,” one of the vessels to carry the expedition to its destination.  The 4th U.S.  Infantry had preceded us, and the next day a battalion of the 2d Massachusetts Volunteers was put on, but owing to the crowded condition of the ship, a few days later they were transferred to another vessel.

The “Concho” is a large ship, but without the comforts I have seen since