of games in progress—cards, checkers, dominoes and the like. The good story tellers of the various troops were the centre of laughing groups; many of the business men had their heads buried in the commercial page of the evening papers; some of the more stolid warriors attempted to go to sleep the moment the train started; in all it formed a picturesque grouping, and furnished rich material for the students of human nature among the troops.

The discussions of the men regarding the general campaign were interesting, as the war fever was then at its height. Four days before the Atlantic Squadron, under Sampson and Schley, had destroyed the fleet of Admiral Cervera during its attempt to escape from the harbor of Santiago. General Shafter's men were then pressing upon Santiago, and its surrender was hourly expected. Then it was believed that the word would come "On to Havana," and many of the Troopers believed that their command would surely have a part in this movement.