The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1899-06-10


a gsEmsE Gear 6'Alens Ulslu.ns whites e
~ thilippins Ri1hfs.
Joseph Strobe, 9 former member Of
NE F0pstk lnfantEy ~ Port Sherman,
and well knoNn 70 many people here,
W5iteD very interesting letter TO c. II.
Clayton descriptive Of the battles n
which the fdaho troops took part, Mr..
Strobe being aFst sergeant o. the Eegi.
ment. We take tbs following extracts
from his letter which win BE eaesriy
read By biz many friends:
Prom Santa Anna W advanced 70.
ward San Petr0. bot had the niggers
on the run. From there our battalion
went TO General MeArthurs division,
and the next battle was a. caloocan on
the =. =. north of Manila. another hot
6ght, but the Idahos only lost six men
killed and wounded. From there two
companies did guard duty In Manila for
about ten days 70 give them resi-. the
Others going TO G0udalonpe where en-
other victory was won By Idaho. Cali
fornia. Washington and North Dakota.
On April 10th companies c, r. A. and
II. and Eve sharpshooters from each Of
the other companies were assigned 70
General Lawton's brigade 70 taxa santa
Cruz, eighty miles up the Pasig river
and lake. and TO capture Aguinaidois
navy, which was captured, consisting Of
ave gun boats and several eascoes.
Santa Cruz was takea. three hundred
Fiiipinos turned mp their toes, while
our loss was but seven killed and I'VE
wounded. Most Of the killed belonged
70 70 the North DAkotas who were am
pushed. Six towns were taken and hard
marches were made under bllstering
sun. ! was Arst sergeant OF the sharp.
shooters and we got al the fighting in
front Of the main column. There d
where the llne country II to be found
m the Philippines. Nice mountain
streams and springs, our boys washing
gold wheneveE they had q few minutes
spare time and 1ndIng good coloSs. but
the country will not be safe for an
American 70 live In for yeers to come,
Cor the FilipinOs threaten TO cut any
Americans throat who ventures into
their country. Every way yon 60 you
ind trenches. even In the mountains,
and whers the North Dakotas got killed
IN old Spanish prisoner whom NE re-
leased told us Spanish column Of 1--WE
hundred men went through the same
place few years ago. Only seventeen
Of them returning. General Lawton 10
nov hot after Aguinaldo with 5000
msn and battles are fought daily up
north. On our line south we are shot
at al day and all night and have Skin
mish occasionally going ont to our
trenches and killing a few Of them.
They win then let ~ alone again for q
few days. Tue Fourth infantry 10 on
our night and ] have found many old
friends among them. ] am now lirst
sergeant Of d company and get more pay
than battalion sergeant major. After
Major McC0nville was killed did not
care for the job any more. ] got along
alright with him. Col. wholley b doing
good sekviee here with the washInetona,
and his troops have seen some hard
lights. They are . brave and well
trained lot Of soldiers. and. NJ General
King said, = Drawer lOt Of soldiers than
the IdahOs and washingtons are hard
to be found. and Iet no man say that
they won't fight
1--WE all wish 10 60 home, N We have
done our duty. would not exchange
eve acres Of ground along the Occur d.
Alene lake for the whole Philippine To-
land, q had 70 live here"