Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-10
ROCKBRIDGE COUNTY.
A Fatal Accidental Letter from
Manila.

LEXINGTON, VA, December 9.-(Spe-
clal. )-Joseph Robinson, OF Fairheld'
youth of II years, was buried at Fairhela
Thursday. having died from the effects
Of injuries received while cutting down
tree. on Tuesday, with his father ME-
j. w. Robinson, he was engaged IN cut
ting wood near Fairfield, when llmo
from the falling tree struck the youth
on the head crushing his skull, from tne
effects of which he never recovered con
seriousness. lie was also badly orulseu
about the body.
Senator-elect Charles e. McCorkle, Oh
Lexington, is in receipt of very inte-
resting letter from Mr.. John I. McCor-
kle. a cousin OF his, who Is private OF
Company G., First Regiment Colorado
United States Volunteers, now stationed
al Manila. Mr.. McCorkle is graduate OF
the Virginia Military Institute, class OF
1850. and previous to volunteering was
mining engineer in Colorado. lie is
son of James McCorkle, OF this county,
who lost his life in the first battle OF
Manassas, as member Of the Stonewah
Brigade. The letter is dated Manila, r.
l.. October %, 1895 and states tnat the
reader will doubtless be surprised to near
from him in that locality; that ne en-
listed as a private, and that his company
IS the banner company of the army corps
there. as II has not lost a single man from
sickness. while on the other hand, ms
comrades in other companies are dropping
off al an alarming rate. The First Col
orado won for ITSELF he says quite a
name in the lighting around Manila, on
August 18th. They led in the assault on
the main part OF the Spanish fortihca-
tons and won the applause OF Dewey
marines. They are told that they ale
the favorites of the navy, a distinction OF
which they are very proud.
"The Notifications" he says, taken ny
the First Colorado rested on the bay, so
that Dewey's feet could witness the
whole proceedings from beginning to END.
1t was indeed, an inspiring sight to see
the fighting line as ii swept over the IN
tervening space between our trenches
and the works of the enemy Though
the Mauser bullets were flying thick our
band followed close in the rear and play
ed "a Hot Time in the Old Town." while
fording the river i'm front OF old Fort
San Antonio, at the same moment orr
boys were entering the fort and placing
Old Glory above its grim walls. We
lost but one man, brave Phoenix, who
was shot while standing by the colOts.
Our boys behaved nobly throughout the
day and were compllmented highly by our
commanding officer, Colonel mow brigl-
dier-generaD Hale"
He also states that only the healthiest
and most rugged men survive on what
they have 10 eat and that the rest be-
come weak and low spirited, and lastly
sick The death rate outside OF one or
two companies from Colorado, which are
made UP of miners and prospectors, is
fearful Much OF this is attributed 10
the officers, and the feeling grows that
the private soldier has no rights; that
he is an inferior individual, TO be knocked
and cuffed about, and fed. or half-staryed,
as It suits within. Something must be
done 10 take a little OF this arrogance
out OF the United States army officer or
else they will become worse tyrants than
tho Spaniards. He states that he has
met quite a number OF Nirginians among
the officers and men. and specially men-
tions Major Lewis Harvey StTother, an
old Virginia Military Institute man. who
is on General Merritts staff. Also Cap
tain A. l.. Duncan, another Virginia Mill
tary Institute man, OF the class OF 1883,
who is captain Of Company L. Of a Mon
tana regiment.
Major Strother is from Lynchburg, ana
carried off the First Jackson-H Hope medal
ever given at the Virginia Military In
stitute. Captain Duncan was, after he
graduated. a sub-professor at the Virginia
Military Institute and afterwards, for
nearly a session, acting commandant. He
also graduated in law at the Washington
and Lee University.