Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1898-07-28
Letter From Billy Simms.

CAPT. G. S. WHITE, Ninita, |. T.:
DEAR CAPTAIN:-I at last have time
to write you a few lines. | believe
Sergt. Byrne wrote you what hap
pened me. was brought here Sat
urday on the steamship Solace. We
had nice trip: only one night of
rough weather and it was not very
bad then. We got good attention on
the boat.
Well, Captain, the troop that you
sent TO the front is almost wiped out,
and every one of them did his duty as
a soldier. They were thrown to the
front every time and the more Of
them that got it seemed to only make
the survivors fight that much harder,
| did not think we would be the
advance on the first Of July, but we
had to lead that day too. You made
no mistake in selecting the men you
did for the troop; only about two got
"culd feet" and one of them was
pet, and | did not expect any better
of him. Lieut.. Thomas is a brave
man and did all any one could till lie
was wounded. Lieut.. Day was truly
loved by his men and was awful sorry
he was wounded, for he loved military
life and was making a name for him
self Would like to hear from him,
but do not know where they took him
or any of the boys except Kline; see
by the papers he is in Brooklyn. L
did not get to leave Cuba till after all
the rest were gone. | was the only
one who was thought TO be danger
ously wounded and for about three
days | would only have had to close
my ewes and | would have went out:
but l did not see how / could quit just
then. Our surgeons told me it was
all up for me and l got another fellow
to probe my wound and he took out
some pieces of bone and Il piece OF Il
match case that the bail had carried
with it. After he did that he set my
leg again and I've been getting along
pretty well ever since. They tell me
III won't get well for six or seven
months, but that viii beat giving up.
| think the bone in my leg is going
together all right.
wish, if it will not be too much
trouble, you would get Jim SheehaI
to send me my watch and money: it
was taken off me on the field by a
captain and sent to my lodge; there
was only s4.25 in money and about
sl.50 in Spanish money. You and Jim
keep the Spanish money, but please
give Chas. Wasmond piece of it. OF
course, my stuff may not be there yet,
for it was taken off me on the field
and the officer may have had no
chance to send it: but when it does
get there please send my money right
away, for l am out of tobacco and
stamps, and l missed pay day in Cuba
and don't know when will get paid
now.
l hope this will find you well and
doing well. How l wish l could see
you and have long talk with you.
have found out some of the dirt that
was played you that l don't think is
generally known. But it will be
Just as soon as L got home, for in
tend to tell it openly and above board
l have the positive proof of it. While
young Thomas bravery helped him /;
great deal with the boys, they nevel
got over the way that whole thing
was worked, and now they are al
Just as anxious TO get even with ;
certain judge as they ever were, anC
if he ever tries to work the army IN
will get left-and you know he viii
, try to work it. Remember me TO al
the boys, and especially Mr.. West ant
DR.. Griffith. BILLY SIMMs.