COMPLIMENTARY ORDER.
Headquarters 25th Infantry,
Near Santiago de Cuba, August 11, 1898.
General Orders No. 19.
The regimental commander congratulates the regiment on the
prospect of its speedy return to the United States.
Gathered from three different stations, many of you
strangers to each other, you assembled as a regiment for the
first time in more than twenty-eight years on May 7, 1898,
at Tampa, Florida. There you endeavored to solidify and
prepare yourselves, as far as the oppressive weather would
permit, for the work that appeared to be before you; but,
who could have fortold the severity of that work?
You endured the severe hardships of a long sea voyage, which
no one who has not experienced it can appreciate. You then
disembarked, amidst dangerous surroundings; and on landing
were for the first time on hostile ground. You marched,
under a tropical sun, carrying blanket-roll, three days'
rations, and one hundred rounds of ammunition, through rain
and mud, part of the time at night, sleeping on the wet
ground without shelter, living part of the time on scant
rations, even, of bacon, hard bread and coffee, until on
July 1 you arrived at El Caney.
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