Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1898-11-01
MANILA. Aug.

We are in Manila. We took the town
on the unlucky 18th. but II was lucky 20
US, as We had but two killed 10 our regi-
ment aud few wounded. On the 3lst
OF July We had a scrap and lost ~ men
and about S5 wounded, and on the lst
and "a OF August again had TO fight
them. They took our intrenchmeuts, ss
we did not have but 1000 men in them,
but they did not keep them long, for re-
endorsements came and we drove them
back, killing 3.3 OF them and woundins
900, and our loss was small. | tell you
we have got some OF the worst scrsppers
YOU ever saw. They got At il hammer
and tongs. Hardly any OF them showed
the white feather.
On the 18th Of August We started In TO
take the town. Col. Hale told Us he
was proud OF the Colorsdos and wanted
Us 10 keep up our name as fghters-and
he told Us sfterward that we did.
Our regiment was in the second brig
sde and In reserve, but when the ball
opened you could not find one OF the
companies In the rear. They made 3
double-quick charge, and when the tight
WAS ended and they went 10 line up, the
Colorado Was IN the front, and Co. l.
was at the head Of the column. We
passed those in front Of Us and got on
the firing line. and We stayed there, too.
The shot and shell were going in all d.
rections, but We BOYS did not get rat
tied little bit; we just gave IL TO the
Spaniards till they threw up the white
flag. Then we stopped, but did not
want 70.
There have been about 100 men killed
and wounded on our side so far, bat the
Spanish have not got off so easily. They
have lost In killed and wounded as near
ly as We can find out something like
5000.
When Dewey started to shell the forts
he WAS right TO the left Of Us. We were
on the beach and could see everything,
and tell you II was grand. The little
Petrol, she Was the boa. that knocked
the devil out Of them. The way she
turned the cannon oyer was caution.
Her gunners would turn cannon over
every shot AT mile.
will try 10 describe the march We
had when We made the attack on Man
ils. For half mile IL was good, then
We came 10 the swamp. The water was
from one inch 10 four feet In depth, and
then we had 10 ford the river right under
the Spanish guns, but We came so fast
they didn't know what 70 do. We fought
seven miles and the time was about two
hours and half We had 200 rounds OF
ammunition each, and there was In al
about so pounds 10 man 10 pack, 50
you can see there wasn't any grass grow
ing under our feet.
When we got them going we kept them
going, and did not give them any time 20
recover. One of them told me yester-
dsy that they were afraid We would cut
their throsts. They are glad We are
here now. for the most OF them were
pressed into the service and had 20 fight
When We first came and did not &c
right at the Spanish, the natives said the
Americans were no good except TO eat
bread and drink coffee and drill, but they
think different now. The people here il
town are wild over the Spanish defest
and We can have anything we want.
don't know much about Manila vet
The buildings that have seen are nice,
We are qusrtered in q Spanish church
the tsllest building in town. The city Is
low and swsmpy, and guess that ia the
reason il is unhealthy; but / Sun getting
fat every day, and il the grub was
decent could not move in two months,
| would be so fat. The grub is rotten,
and has been so ever since we left San
Francisco. have paid out $500 for
grub, but | won't go hungry when |
have money.
Ii rains here every day now, but the
winter will be over in a month, and then
the hot weather begins; but this is fine
country, and have half mind TO stop
here while any way. OF course don't
know how long they will keep US here.
WILLIAM h. CUMMINGS,
Co. l.. lst Col. Vols.