The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-08-29
Guayamo. Porto Rico. Aug. 1871

Dear Mother: We arrived in Porto
Rico about the I'd of August and eff
fected landing under the protection Of
the cruiser Cincinnati's guns. We had
several skirmishes with the Spaniards,
little damage being done on either side.
The only real battle was fought by
the Fourth Ohio. They secured the
services of native guide to pilot them
across the mountains. He did very good
service until they were out of range of
the artillery, and then they were led
into an ambuscade by intrenched Span
ish They got off lucky, only six being
wounded
Well, Of course that made them mad,
so they hired team of native oxen,
hltched them to one of the dynamite
guns, and by twisting their tails, poking
and yelling, finally got our gun on a
ridge commanding a view of the
trenches. The old gun only let out one
below. and there were thirty Spaniards
left to demonstrate the powers of the
dynamite gun as an engine of war.
The rest of them skipped in double
quick, leaving their dead uncared for.
We have taken two towns since ar
irving here, and are pushing our way
L
expecting some trouble at our next
point of attack, as it is strongly forti-
fed. We are at a point about thirty
four miles from San Juan, slowly ad-
vancing
The plantation owners here are all
Spanish Dons. These Dons rank as
Lords. They control the natives and
impose tax at any time they see fit.
For example, a native buys a pig for
81 and raises it till it is fit to kill When
he wants to kill it he must go to the
Judge, or Don, and pay a tax Of S2.25.
That is the regular tax. If they want
to go from one town to another they
must pay 80 cents, and get a permit.
If a stranger is seen on a street the
police walk up and ask to see his pass.
If he hasn't got one he is thrown in
Jail. Al native isn't allowed to own any
land nor personal property. The Dons
can confiscate their property at any
time they please.
There is little sickness among the
boys, principally fevers. When the
boys go on march they throw away
everything except necessary articles.
Stamps are scarce as hens teeth, and
envelopes are a thing unheard Of here.
Well, have given you somewhat of
a rough sketch Of our movements since
arriving here. Perhaps I can amuse
you little by telling you what l have
learned Of the lives Of the natives
Quite lot Of Spaniards have de-
serted. One Spanish Lieutenant Colo
mel came into town, walked up to Gen
eral Haines, laid down his sword, took
-
followed by several Spanish volunteers.
The Spaniards are awfully poor shots,
almost invariably firing by volley-that
is, whole company. I could tell of a
thousand and one little incidents, but
can't for lack of space.
When we landed we had the old
Springfield rifles, and Of course it was
just Company Ms luck to get out for
post duty. We would see a Spanish
signal light, or something, and then we
would bang away with those old
Springers, and a stream Of fire would
squirt out about thirty yards. But we
have the Krag-Jorgensen guns now.
If a native wants to buy any food
or clothing he is obliged to go where
the Don dictates. They take all their
money and give them just merely
enough to subsist on. I forgot to men
ton the fact that most all the natives
are negroes. It is nothing unusual to
see girl or years old running
around as naked as the day she was
born.
They raise the finest cattle in the
world here, an 1900 pound OK being
nothing unusual, in fact, just simply
ordinary. But their horses are scrubby
and dwarfed, seldom weighing more
than 500 or 600 pounds. But what they
lack in size they make up in endur-
ance I never had so much money on
my person at any one time in my life.
We went to the Consulate and got our
American dollars exchanged for Span
ISL money one American dollar being
worth 1924, and it was nearly all in
coppers. If I cam get chance I'll send
you some.
We hear all sorts Of rumors of peace,
but don't place much stock in them.
Nearly all the boys would like to go
home, but the majority are in for max
ing Spain accede to our terms.
1t rains out of a clear sky here, and
when I say rain I mean like pouring it
out of a bucket. The first four days I
was here I never got more than five
hours sleep, being on guard night and
day-on a detached post, all alone, and
my duty was to give the alarm.
Say, a fellow gets lonesome Oh out
post duty. Once in a while he thinks
Of home, too.
Cigars sell for 1 cent each. sugar
cents a pound, lard IS cents per pound,
-four $50 per barrel.
My chum and I fired twenty five
shots at an old white horse one night,
and the next morning he was eating
grass within 100 yards of US. We fin
ally, after a consultation, came to the
conclusion that he was entitled to live.
Well, goodby for the present.
Ben.