The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-02
LETTER FROM MANILA.

The following letter from wichita
boy at Manila was the last one received
and gives many interesting details Of army
and camp life of the Kansas boys with
the Twentieth. Mr.. w. s. Bales enlisted
from Fort Scott. His brother Mr.. H. c.
| Bales, is night Waterman at the Union
| stock yards and his sister, Mrs. E. s.
Purviance, lives on North Waco avenue:
Manila, Philippine Islands. March Z, 1899.
Dear Sister and Brothers and Family:
I will try to write you few lines to tell
you how am getting along and in splen-
did health and in good spirits. for I am In
the country six miles from Manila, one
and a half miles from Malabon. We are
| by the town Of caloocan, or where 1t
used to be. We burned the town. We
nave been fighting twenty-five days out of
the last month; have been at it night
and day, for We Americans like to fight
| during the day time. But the insurgents
like better to fight at night, so to please
all concerned we have been fighting day
| and night until eight days ago the insur-
gents set flag of truce to our lines (the
Twentieth Kansas to ask US not to fight
them any more till they got some en-
amount to, for as soon as we quit firing
they move close up to US. with in forty
rods, and have built splendid trenches or
breastworks and have a few big guns
We have not been idle in meantime, for
we have made our breastworks just about
chin-high, built of gInny-sacks filed with
| dirt. We are so close up to them that we
can talk to them. We will go at them
some time between now and Sunday, but
| you will see the report in the papers long
| before you get this. The big guns have
just begun to boom about a mile down the
line to the southeast of US. We (the
Twentieth Kansas) are on the extreme left
OF our lines. The firing line extends from
mere around the Bay of Cavite, ebout
thlrty-hVe miles and We can't move for
ward on account of or for the reason
that We are in need OF more men. To
go forward would stretch our lines ont
and leave gaps so that the enemy would
slip through and come at us from the
rear. Evert can explain to all of YOU
what L mean. Our lines rest at the BAY
and each end will extend out into the
country and half circle, the center
about hve or six miles from the bay. Now
1 know Evert can see by what I've writ
ten here just how we are situated. There
are plenty of the insurgents to put I'D a
good front all along our lines and they
are just as brave as any soldier. In fact.
they will stay and fight till We run right
up to them and shoot them. All they
need Is training, arms, officers and guns
and something to eat. II they had these
they would be as good soldiers as could
De found In any country. We have burned
all the native part of the city of Manila
ali OF Caloocan but big church and the
car shops and depot. The town of Caloo-
can had about 5000 people, who fed when
We charged. We found some women and
few crippled children. We had men de-
tailed to burn the houses up as soon as
our hiring line passed them. OF course
some were burned in the houses for I
helped carry poor, old sick woman tn
the rear after the fighting was over. She
was taken out of a burning stack lust in
time to save her life. The reason we
burned the houses was this: As Wa
would drive the insurgents ahead OF US
their sharpshooters would stay behind m
the trees and houses and shoot at Us
after we had passed by. so We did it TO
protect ourselves.
l went back to the city last evening
and went to our barracks TO see how my
stuff was. I found everything all right.
1t had been just thirty-twO days since we
came away from the city. 1 could nave
gone in several times but you know l
came 10000 miles 10 shoot, and while
many others were at town ! was shoot
ing. and l am now spelling for a scrap.
We have good shelter made over our
trenches and have to sleep on the ground
We have plenty TO eat all the time.
Now. dear sister. IL has been a long
time since heard from you. got a let
ter from father and the boys few days
ago saying father and Charley were going
back 10 the old place. but Henry was
going TO stay there and work. l am glad:
they Will be better contented al home l
know 1 would. but you see am too far
away 10 come. besides my uncle Sam
won't let me come this spring. But be-
l!eve l will De there in time TO SOW wheat
this fall, for l don't think the war with
these insurgents viii las; so very long
I know i won't IL the officers will let Us
go at them, for as soon as We get all Of
them killed we can come home, for I
don't suppose ne would be needed here
any longer after that. There will be q
big slaughter the last OF this week Il ali
goes right. We will corral the most %
them. The right OF our army Will swing
around us and run them up 70 US and We
are going 10 send them 70 the happy
hunting grounds. The people n the CITY
are in a bad way for a place 10 live
They are even living n out-houseS and
Sleeping out OF doors. The weather Is
fine but they must suffer some o. tae
nights, for they are dressed N light stuff
ard almost all Of them lost al Of their
bedding, so you see that they are IN a
bad Say. for suppose TIE rioe must BE
getting scarce.
Now. dear folks, VII have 10 qu.t
writing for this time. FOR dinner. and
after dinner, or at u O'Clock. I must do
two hours guard dup All have 10 do
Is to stand W in my place and watch the
insurgents tro hours 70 see that they
don't play any prsnks CT u. We got
psid yesterday ana suppose they would