The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-11
Letters From Utah Boys In Front
of Manila.
PRAISE FOR NEBRASKANS
OUR VOLUNTEERS ADMIRE MEN
CAMPED WITH THEM.
Destined to Fight Together-Refer-
encs to DR.. Harry Young's Ap-
pointment-Many of the Letters
Received Contained Little Souven-
irs-Urge Their Friends to Write.

Letters from the Utah volunteers in
camp near Manila, under date of Jan. 81
and Feb. ], were received by friends and
relatives of the gallant soldiers yesterday.
One written at Camp Santa Mesa says:
I'VE are here, sections and 6, battery A,
with one gun each, in camp with the Ne
braska regiment, about five miles from
Manila, on the banks of the Pasig river,
under command of Lieutenant WeDD. our
position is one that commands all OF the
insurgents at this point. They have four
blocknouses in PLAIN sight, not less tran
three modern 3.2-inch guns, while in the
tower of church they have two rapid
IRE guns. But they do not know the
hrst principle about punching schrap-
mel or how to find the range, which we
know to an inch on each gun and block
house, and also on their barracks. The
FihpinoS claim to have at this point eight
regiments Of Infantry. while at santa
Anna, just across the river, they have two
or three large buildings filled with troops.
II night starts, a gunboat lying at this
point would take care of them, while we
could silence the guns on this side in
thirty minutes. Then the First Nebraska
would take the balance of the fight out of
them in short order. The Nebraskans
are as fine a lot of men as there are on
the islands. They have taken us into
| full fellowship from the night we came to
! their camp, which is a. very nice location
and far ahead Of the town, as the air is
more pure and the surroundings much
cleaner. We have our tents up and a
.
| cool. in fact. there is winter here. The
days average so in the shade-very cool
weather for this country.
Don't let our friends get the idea that
We are going to be returned right away,
and stop writing or sending papers. The
belief prevails here that we may stay
SIX months yet.
"of course, we came here to fight, and
now we are going to have it. We know
| that perfectly well. And the fighting can
only result one way-the crushing of Agui-
N
! awsse of this. but they will put up The
best fight they can. as it will enable them
to bleed the natives out of more money.
1t is going to start pretty soon, but the
insurgents will have to be the aggressors,
and they are quite willing to assume that
role role, When n, the wave Of battle com
great 'Aggie' will be out cf reach Of the
American guns, too.
of course, we know that there must be
a lot of casualties among us, for there
Will never be any wavering among the
Utah and Nebraska boys. Wait until the
reports come in and see how we conduct
ourselves In saying We the Nebras-
miration for those sons of the prairies is
just as great as theirs is for US.
we expect TO be put in some exposed
positions, but know how to take care of
ourselves, and are determined to acquit
ourselves with all the credit our state can
expect of us.
THE appointment of Dr. Harry Young
as surgeon is hailed with delight by every
man in the batteries, for he has endeared
himself to ALL
Another letter says: Angus Nicholson.
Frank Shelley and John Rogers and all of
the recruits are all right. Nystrom, GAL
liant young Nystrom, is back on duty.
Hughes is still in the pesthouse. but from
what we learn will soon be back"
Many of the letters contained queer lit
tie souvenirs. in the shape of cigarettes
a yard long and coiled up, the user cut
ting or what is needed for a smoke; Ma
Mia. street car tickets used railway tick
cts. etc.
The. tone of nearly all the letters re-
ceiVed was cheerful, and although the
boys seemed at that time to know that
1t was only a matter of hours or DAYS
Wnen the battle would be on, they looked
forward to it complacently.