In all garrisons one will find some men more musically
inclined than others; some who love to sing and some who do not; some
who have voices adapted to the production of musical tones, and some
who have not, and it is doubtless owing to these constitutional
differences that we find differences in habits and expressions.
Lieutenant Miley, of General Shafter's staff, in his description of
the departure of General Shatter from General Garcia's tent, gives us
a glimpse of the character of the men that composed the Cuban army in
that vicinity.
"While the interview was going on, the troops were being
assembled to do honor to the General on his departure.
Several companies were drawn up in front of the tent to
present arms as he came out, and a regiment escorted him to
the beach down the winding path, which was now lined on both
sides by Cuban soldiers standing about a yard apart and
presenting arms. The scene made a strong impression on all
in the party, there seemed to be such an earnestness and
fixedness of purpose displayed that all felt these soldiers
to be a power. About fifty per cent. were blacks, and the
rest mulattoes, with a small number of whites. They were
very poorly clad, many without shirts or shoes, but every
man had his gun and a belt full of ammunition.
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