“E. J. McClernand,
“Assistant Adjutant-General.”
Second Endorsement.
“Office of the Ordnance Officer,
“Lafayette Street Bridge,
“Tampa, Fla., June 5, 1898.
“Respectfully referred to Lieut. John H. Parker for his information.
“Jno. T. Thompson,
“1st Lieut., Ordnance Dept, U. S. A.”
Waiting.
It will be seen from the first endorsement that a certain amount of discretion was left to the detachment commander. He was authorized to take action if he could make the arrangements suggested within. Lieut. Thompson had authorized an escort for the reserve ammunition, if it was considered necessary. The detachment commander resolved to take action by using his whole detachment as an escort, putting it on board the Cherokee, with the reserve ammunition, and accompanying it to its destination—in Cuba, trusting to the future to enable him to complete the detachment according to the first endorsement.
It was now 11 o’clock in the forenoon. Between that time and 4 o’clock it was necessary to obtain two freight cars, have them placed upon the siding at a convenient point, have more than twenty wagon-loads of ammunition, camp equipage, etc., placed in these cars, have the four guns with their limbers placed on board, and, more difficult than all the rest, go through the necessary red tape at the quartermaster’s office in order to get the two cars moved to Port Tampa. It was all accomplished.