The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-03
NOW AT MANILA.
Another Of the Moran Boys
in the Philippines.


William Moran Of this city, a mem
Der Of the band connected with the
list regiment of California volunteers
now on duty at Manila, has written an
interesting letter to his relatives In
this city, describing the fight of the
United States troops IN the Philippine
islands. After informing his folks that
he is well, he says! 1T was pretty hard
on the boats, as it took us 40 days to
reach here. We landed July I'd and
remained at Cavite two weeks during
which time the only thing which both
cred me was the heat. 1t was very hot
Then we moved to Camp Dewey which
is about one mile from the Spanish
lines. We were at Camp Dewey about
month and we saw much active ser
vice.
Camp Dewey is on very low land
and we struck 1t during the rainy sea-
son, and our camp was under water
most of the time. We built our beds
on bamboo poles and-got along re-
markably well. Twice a week we went
to the trenches for "a hours. You see
at night to hold the Spaniards, and
many Of our boys were killed during
these fights. I am glad to say the
band took a very prominent part IN
all the fights our regiment was In. We
carry rifles as we'll as instruments.
We had one very bad night. The
Pennsylvania regiment WAS on out
post duty, and 1t was attacked by the
Spaniards, and a terrific battle fol-
like flends, but the Spaniards were too
much for them, and the California reg
iment was ordered to assist them.
was down on the beach watching the
fight when the call to arms sounded
in the camp, we being the nearest to
the fighting line.
The California boys went off in fine
shape. The band had TO wait to get
more ammunition, and then we start
ed. 1t was very dark-about 1910 a.
m.--and raining very hard We got
within half mile of the trenches and
stopped for short time. Here one Of
the band boys was shot while we were
lying on our faces behind some
bushes.
The Pennsylvania by this time had
fallen back, badly cut up but they
held their position very bravely and
deserve much credit The Utah bat
terry now had the centre, the regulars
to the right Of them, with the insur-
gents on the extreme right and the
Californians on the left, the latters'
left being flanked by the bay. We were
between the road leading to Manila
and the beach. There being a lull in
the firing this time, the band was or
dered to join the regiment in the
trenches. The list battalion of our
regiment had by this time gained the
trenches and the ball opened again,
Just as we started, friend of mine
in the hospital corps was hit twice
and will die. How we got to the
trenches I don't know, but we got
there (the band) without further loss.
The second battalion lost one captain
killed, one first sergeant killed and 16
wounded in getting to the trenches
The third battalion was unable to get
there at all. We laid all night in the
trenches. 1t Fained very hard and as
many Of US came off without much
clothing, 1t was far from pleasant and
the Spaniards kept UP q constant hail
Of shot and shell. We beld them off
until morning and never was / so glad
to see morning as I was after that
night.
The band of the 1st California has
been known through the whole COM
mand since then as the fighting band.
We were publicly praised by our coll
onel and the general sent his thanks
to the LIST California for It's fine work.
The next day we had a very unpleas>
ant job in burying the dead We had
to play for the Pennsylvanians and
they had to bury nine that day. The
Spanish loss was much greater than
ours as they tried to take our trenches
and charged several times but the
guns of the Utah battery swept them
off in terrible shape They would have
lost more if we had known the ground
as well as they did.
The next night they tried to turn
our right flank which was held by the
list Colorado and the Sd battalion of
scrap, and the Spanish lost many men.
After that we were left alone until we
advanced on Manila, which you will
know all about long before you re-
ceive this Enough for me to say that
the I'd battalion of the 1st California
were the first troops into the city Of
Manila, and the band was with the I'd
battalion. We are all glad to get here,
and hope we will soon be sent home.
This city is very old and in many
places very beautiful. There are many
fine churches here and some of the res
licences are grand. The band is with
the headquarters officers in the secre-
tarys house that is the secretary of
the Spanish admiral. The boys in the
companies do not have quite such
stylish place, but it is just as COM
Portable. I am sorry to hear John
has taken so hard to army life. A
man must expect hard usage. I hope
he will have it easier by this time. I
received a letter from him which
pleased me very much. I hope I will
hear from him again before long"
The brother John to whom Musician
Moran refers in the above letter, was
Private John M. Moran Of the yelling
ton Rifles, who died recently as a re-
suit of fever contracted in the Santiago
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