The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-18

pox- I did not write TO you about the
smallpox because was afraid you would
worry about me, but I have had It now
and got over il and there IS no more
danger from it fer me. I had only light
case OF it. 1 was not very sick with il,
but had to stay in the hospital eighteen
days. 1 went TO the trenches the same day
got out, and have not been away from
them since.
The charge on Caloocan was the first
fight was in. That was on the 10Th after
we took Caloocan. We entrenched our
selves and stayed there about thirty-fiye
days We did not have much fighting ex-
cept about three or four days when the
natives attacked our trenches on the left
end of the platoon of our company. About
thirty men were stationed about fifty
yards to the front and about 10l yards
TO the left of the other trenches, 10 guard
a road leading from Malabon, and we were
attacked from the front and the left side
at the same time. II is estimated that
there were about 1000 natives in that
charge and our platoon held them of all
day, until We were reinforced by the rest
Of our company, about o'clock that night.
That was Thursday and we held that
place until aSturday night. without hardly
anything to eat and no sleep. One week
ago today we were taken from that place
and put in what is called the Flying brig
ade, and started for Malolos, the insurgent
capital, and now here we are, and I
haven't any holes in my HE yet I
don't think we will have very much more
fighting now. I think they Will send the
volunteers home soon
We have got the best colonel on this
island; at least. so everybody SAYS. He
gets right in the line and goes right with
US. We have got one of the best repu-
tations on the island. They caH US the
fighting Twentieth, or the Nellie Blv's.
because when we start the rest of them
can hardly keep up with US. Our colonel
is all right, but our lieutenant colonel
oh, pshaw; he is made fun of by every
body on thee island The colonel was
afraid to put our battalion on the firing
line with him in command, so when be
puts US on the line he stays right with
US most Of the time. Colonel Funston
told US yesterday that we had taken the
places we started for, now, and he thought
We would get away before long. He said
he was going to do all in his power TO get
US away from here and he has a pretty
good pull. 1 think that he can make II
II anybody does. I suppose you know
more about our losses than we do here
on the line. We have only had one killed
IN our company and eight wounded. We
have been very lucky some way
Night before last abor. o'c,oo'- -, ran
into nest of natives. We were right out
in an open field and they were in brush
and trenches about seven or eight hun
dred yards ahead Of US. We did not know
there was native anywhere near, until
they threw a volley into US, so we Just
iattened on the ground and began firing.
We fired few volleys and then made
rush Of about 100 yards towards them.
We did that two or three times. and thew
began TO get scared and left their trenches
and retreated. They have some very fine
trenches but they can't stay in them TN
we get to them, any more. They stood
pretty well at first but we have whipped
them.
Night before last the man on each side
of me was hit but I came through with
out a scratch. We had four men hit that
night. We have been expecting 10 meet
with hard fight here at this place We
supposed they would defend their capital
bun this was the easiest place we struck
Well, I hope this will find you all well |
am in good health now and hope to |
remain the same. so I will close for this |
time, hoping 1 will get letter from you /
soon. I got letter from Frisco this week |
From your brother,
SIMPSON TAYLOR