An unexpected guest was Charles Wheeler, an old member of the organization, but off the active list for years. He had just returned from a trip through Japan. He was anxious to rejoin his old comrades, and as there was one vacancy in the Troop it was promptly filled.
Tuesday morning Captain Groome received orders to have his men ready to embark at four o'clock. Tents were struck at noon, the operation being watched by scores of friends who had reached the camp by that time. Promptly at the hour mentioned in the order the Captain marched his men down to the wharf, where they found no transport awaiting them. Hour after hour passed, and still no sign of a vessel. Night found the Troopers still lounging about the dock.
During this long wait a full score of prominent Philadelphia ladies, who had come down to say a last good-by to their relatives and friends in the Troop, had an opportunity to show the traditional spirit of American women. The ladies had stood around the camp all morning, had followed the Troop into the city and to the wharf, where they had shared all the discomforts of the situation. It began to rain, but they only laughed and refused to seek shelter. Not a mouthful had they eaten since breakfast, but tired, wet and hungry as they were, they smiled bravely to keep up the spirits of the men; all unconsciously they afforded fine illustrations of what the mothers, wives and sisters of American soldiers have been in all hours of need.
When six o'clock came, and it was evident that the Troopers were in for a tough time of it, the ladies went in a body to the nearest restaurant and secured some sandwiches and coffee. Walking fearlessly through the crowd upon the dock, dodging under horses' heads and around mule packs, they brought the food to the cavalrymen, and even waited upon them. In the language of one trooper whose young bride was among the number of ladies upon the wharf, "there was only one regret at going to the front, and that was the leaving behind of girls like those."
Until seven o'clock the City Troopers were kept upon the wharf. At that hour Captain Groome was informed that no transport could then be secured, and that he should return with the Troop to Newport News and report to General Fred. Grant. Captain Groome ordered the Troop to bivouac in the grass in front of the hotel for the night. There was a general rush for shelter. The ladies sought their rooms in the hotel, from the windows of which they could see the cavalrymen lying in the grass of a field opposite, rolled up in their blankets.
Captain Groome did not retire however. He returned to the wharf and spent several hours arguing with various captains, in order to find a speedy way in which to embark the Troop. It was not easy work to make headway against the seemingly endless array of objections and red tape, but perseverance won out, and the Captain was at last informed, that if he would have his men on hand at four o'clock they would be taken aboard.
This last bivouac upon American soil was exceedingly picturesque to the spectator, but hard upon the men. Every Trooper had been thoroughly soaked by the rain while standing upon the wharf. In their wet clothes they had been obliged to wrap their blankets about them and lay down to slumber in the midst of a damp grass plot under a cloudy sky, which threatened another downpour at any moment. With the exception of some pretty tough sandwiches the men had been without food since morning, and the easy way in which they accepted the situation spoke volumes for the value of the training in camp life received at Mt. Gretna and Camp Alger.
The Troop at this time consisted of three officers, one contract surgeon, ninety-nine men, one hundred and four horses and twenty mules. The Sheridan and Governor's Troop had not received orders to sail, and the members of these commands were extremely disappointed. They remained at Newport News under the command of Major Jones.
Captain Groome arranged for an early breakfast of coffee and sandwiches for his men, and at 4.30 a. m. the next day the City Troopers were again ordered to the wharf. This time there was no disappointment. The transport "Massachusetts" was there taking on a great load of men, horses and mules. All was bustle and confusion. Within a short time the Troopers went aboard, and almost at once the vessel made ready to sail. Last words to the faithful friends ashore were shouted, there was a waving of hands and handkerchiefs, and a little after midday the "Massachusetts" began ploughing her way toward the southern isle, where General Brooke's army and the Spanish forces were reported to be already face to face.