Ft Thomas Soldiers
Cincinnati Enquirer, 30 August 1898, page 7
NEWPORT
TWO COMPANIES-The camp of the Eighth Regiment at Ft Thomas is to
be augmented in point of numbers this afternoon by two companies of colored
troops from Indiana.
Lieutenant Bee, the Quartermaster at the post, yesterday received orders from Washington directing him to lay water pipes to the camp of the Eighth Regiment sufficient to supply two more companies. The companies cannot become part of the Eighth Regiment as that already has its full quota. They are said to be independent companies, which were organized with a view of going into one of the immune regiments, but have not succeeded in being mustered into such a regiment yet.
The two companied will likely remain at Ft Thomas until the Eighth Regiment is ordered away and will probably accompany it.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 Oct 1898, page 8
BROUGHT TO NEWPORT
It was 5 o'clock when the train bearing the troops arrived in Newport, where the entire colored female population of the three cities was assembled to receive it. When the train arrived the scene which ensued between the dusky soldiers and their sweethearts beggared description. it took the entire Newport police under Chief of Police Bennett and the force of the C and O Railway to keep colored blood from being spilled by the Fast Flying Virginian which came through at 5 o'clock. As soon as the transfer of the troops was effected, they were given their coffee, consuming 100 gallons. The three sections each containing 17 cars, then pulled out for Chickamauga.
It is quite certain that the regiment will be part of the army of occupation sent to Cuba, and it is thought that its stay at Chickamauga will be very brief. It has come to be known as the best of the immune regiments and has attracted the attention of both the President and Secretary of War. During the time that the regiment was stationed at Ft Thomas, the officers formed many friendships and a number of prominent people were on hand yesterday morning to say good by to men whom they have learned to like, and to bid them god speed. there are officers in the Eighth to whom the crack of rifles will be no novelty and those who have watched it carefully feel sure that if the regiment gets an opportunity it will cover itself with glory. One thing can be depended upon: if any trouble occurs the Eighth will be found on the firing line.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 6 Oct 1899, page 12
CANTEEN FOR THE COLORED TROOPS
Arrangements have been completed with agents of a Newport brewery company for the establishment of a canteen at the camp of the Forty-eighth Volunteer Regiment. Work was begun upon the erection of the building yesterday and the canteen will be in full running order by tomorrow.
The following officers reported yesterday; Captain J S Buck, First Lieutenant McCowan and Lieutenant C C Caldwell. The latter reported with two colored recruits, which were enlisted at Columbus Ohio.
It is the opinion of a number of officers stationed at the post that the Forty-eighth Colored Regiment will not remain very long at the fort after it has received its full complement of men. A large number of the recruits are from the South and are ill prepared to endure the rigors of a Northern climate. The regiment will be either transferred to some Southern post or ordered to the Philippines.