Daily camera., 1898-08-27
EXPECTING A FIGHT.
Private Pate Tells of Campaigning Lite ut
camp Dewey.

Private Pate Tells of Campaigning Lite at
camp Dewey.
IT.. Pate received the following inter-
esting letter from his son, Edgar. pri-
vate in Company H, First Colorado,
which contains many details not hereto
fore brought out:
Camp Dewey, July n, 1898.
Dear Home Folks:
As will have the opportunity to mail
my letter tomorrow, will drop you
few more lines to let you know that am
still we'll.
We landed on the. east bank of Ma
nila bay ten days ago. We were trans
ported from the China by ferry boats un-
til about 100 wards of the shore; here we
jumped into the bay and waded ashore.
We were wet up to our waists. At II
o'clock we laid on the damp ground
with our blankets and slept until 5
o'clock. Next day we put up our tents
and began military life at Camp Dewey.
Our tents are all in one single row. 81 of
them, all even and white, the officers
tent at one end and cook tent at the
other.
The Spanish and insurgents fight
every night. only about two miles away.
Some of Co. H boys got leave from camp
and went within few hundred yards of
the Spanish entertainments. Several
volteys were fired at them as they led a
hasty retreat. They are not stuck on
war since that experience.
l was stationed as sentry on outpost
Tuesday and at night several bullets
whizzed by me, one passing through
tree about IS feet from me. l tell you it
was very interesting for awhile. The
dead and wounded insurgents were car.
ried down road near my post. l never
had an idea what war was until got in
to it. got soaking wet when on guard,
my feet were muddy, and when time
came for me to sleep ! laid down in
natives hut and slept IN my wet clothing
without any cover. The roof was leak
ing and the rain was dropping upon me.
1t rains here nearly all the time and the
ground is always damp. have my bed
about l8 inches from the ground, on
bamboo poles, and then laid cross ways.
So have very good place when / am
at home.
We have neither knives nor forks;
each has spoon, cup and pie pan for
plate. So you know how l can feast.
We don't have enough grub to hurt US.
Some meals are very good. while others
coffee and hard tack is about all we
get.
The natives all sleep several feet above
the ground. They make their houses of
bamboo and cover them with banana
leaves.
Out in the bay, which is but $50 yards
from us, we can see Dewey's feet. sunk
en- Spanish ships, and the ghnboats of
various nations. Can also see Manila,
which is a pretty looking city OF about
275,ooo people. The Spanish have
good hold on the city and can only be
driven out by artillery. There is a
growth of shlubbery in front of their
trench and there is where they can hold
the infantry back. We all anticipate
taking Manila without a struggle but
cannot tell. We will have better quar-.
tiers when we secure the Spanish bar
racks.
Will write you often and tell you the
news. Send me some newsy Cameras
as the cost of mailing is the same as in
the United States. and will be great pleas
ure for me to read. have not heard
from Boulder since left San Francisco.
Must now fall into line for retreat.
Am we'll, as also is Frank Smith.
Lovingly yours.
EDWIN l. PATE,