Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-10-03
BOUND FOR MANILA.

The following letter was received
recently by Mr.. B. F. Peterson from
his son Ernest, who is with our army
of occupation in the Philippines.
At sea Pacific Ocean,
On board II. s. s. Scandal,
Sept, 2, 1898.
Dear PGrents:-
With pleasure and pride send you
few written thoughts from our new
possessions, the Hawaiian islands, u /.
S. A, that am about to visit for the
second time in my wanderings. We
expect to sight Diamond Head tomor-
row moning early and as the steamer
is in need of repairs before proceeding
to Manila we may be there for week
or ten days.
My life in the army has been an ex
ceedingly busy one, not sinecure I
assure you, but great deal of hard
work and long hours of labor among
the sick soldiers. Doubtless the pa
pers have kept you informed of the
condition of our troops at Camp Mer-
rift, the health of the camp was simply
wretched and was responsible for my
three months detention there. "My
services could not be spared" so was
told, the veracity of which I am in
clined to doubt. However, we treat
ed nearly 200 cases. I was given the
supervision of the nurses and wards
of the Division Field Hospital. 1 do
not wish to convey the idea that did
this unassisted, simply one factor in
an army Of many, my principal duty
was to see that the orders of the sur
geon were properly carried out and
that the patients received proper care
etc. We had many deaths but our
death rate was comparatively small
considering the large number of troops
camped there. The experience has
been an interesting, and in many re-
spects novel one, an experience l
could wish to put in book form had
the ability to do it.
1t was my desire and ambition
when / volunteered to take a part in
active sevice i'll the field and at the
front of hostilities but circumstances
destined it otherwise, and perhaps 1
have been as useful to my country in
the small share that has been mine,
at least it is gratifying to feel that my
efforts are appreciated and it has been
my pleasure to make manyf riends.
You will observe that the "conceit
of man. is strong within me as of old.
Our voyage has thus far proved
very pleasant, at least in personal
sense; perhaps [ should qualify that
for others less fortunate, for while l
have escaped entirely from that very
uncomfortable maia0y, 'sea sickness
many of my shipmates have not, some
of them are even subject to that ''pe-
culiar feelingn that comes with it an
expression of grave uncertain doubt
as to whether they will keep or lose
their elmer; however their courage
is good and they are rapidly acquiring
confidence in their stomachs once
more, and course are corresponding
happy. Heavy clothing is no longer
a. SOI1l VI dud WE1lO Nl1Ch oull0 pre-
dominate.
have been placed in charge of the
hospital on the Scandal; my duties
thus far have not been arduous, with
the exception of one case of pneu-
monia (Which is doing nicely we have
no serious sickness on board.
We have the 1st New York VOL
Regiment that will be left at Honolulu
for garrison duty, we then proceed to
the Philippines with one million dol
lars in gold and supplies for General
Merritt, including 1000 hospital beds
and 145 men of the Hos. Corps; There
we looked for and expect the hardest
work Of our service to begin. Among
SO many thousands of troops who are
not acchmated there will probably be
much sickness.
The New Workers have an excellent
band and the daily concerts on deck
are thoroughly enjoyed by all. Our
"mascots" are black cub bear, a dog
and an enormous cat, they are inter
esting.
My health as usual remains perfect
and I expect to keep well.
With love to all,
ERNEST.
S
~ 49, Il T.