The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-04-14
LETTER FROM ERIE TAYLOR
The Soldier Boy Receives the Sad
Tidings Of His Brothers. Death.
Death of Chaplain Lelapd of the First
Tennessee-Other Notes of the
Regiment.
IL RARRAcKs ATILoILo. !

y 7
March 2, 1899.
Ny Dear Mother and HonefoLks:-
l hardly know how to begin This let
ter, and am afraid | shall make
failure in my attempt to comfort. /
have been thinking all along that l
would be the happiest boy in the
world when | reached home, but
since Sunday night at nine o'clock |
have not felt 50. Mail was received
that night, and in it three letters
from sister, telling me of the sickness
and then the death OF my dear
brother. ] could hardly stand it; it
was a terrible blow, and knew how
grieved you all were. | wish it had
been your baby boy instead of your
manly Burt. Since Burt has been
taken from you want to get out of
this disease infected islands and re-
turn to you at home, for I know you
need me. Then too ] know you
should die or be killed here. The
only thing | think of when march
out to attack the insurgents is that |
must return safely for mothers sake.
l am not afraid of their bullets, nor
am | afraid to die, but my love for
you makes me want to live.
o, where will my brother be when
reach home? will miss him when
get off the train. / will miss him
always and every where. Who will
take his place-no one can fill Burt's
place. Let us all try to so live that
when we have lived our time on
earth we can go to our Burt's new
and beautiful home where he will
welcome MS with Out-stretched arms.
He will watch for papa, mama and
all of us. SO don't grieve dear ones,
We'll see him again, and then there
will be no more partings.
read the HERALD Just before
dinner and read Burt's memorial
service through eyes almost too dim
to see; twas sweet and sad. Sister
said she wanted us to spend part of
the money that comes to us in beau
tifying Burt's grave, and erecting a
nice monument. Yes, sister, if ]
don't get home in time you can use
it all If you wish, and let the monu-
ment be a beautiful one. will look
after his grave when | get hcme, for
L am going to stay with you. You
can raise, lots of pretty flowers and
you mama, can arrange them and you
and I can take them and place them
on his grave. | wish | was with you
all now; / am glad I was not there
when Burt was taken away. don't
miss him here like you do at home.
L am not accustomed to seeing him
here. Yet L will realize it when l
get home and look in vain for his
familiar face and form and listen
for his voice. But l must write of
something else, for [ fear | only
grieve you more.
Sunday afternoon was sad time
for us. Our Chaplain died of small
poX Saturday night in a small BAN
! boo hut on tue river bank in front of
our barracks. His coffin was rudely
constructed of planks, taken from
one of the partially burnt buildings,
and even the charcoal had not been
planed off. Around his coffin was
wrapped piece of white domestic.
| His hearse was an old twO-wheeled
cart with a water buffalo hitched to
it. His grave is in a forlorn place.
| Only about twenty of the boys were
present, on account of the nature of
the disease. Every one said it was
the saddest funeral he ever wit
messed.
The insurgents still shoot at US.
We were called out last night and
marched to Jaro where the insurg-
ents had made an attack on our
outposts. To day Co. F was armed
with axes instead of guns and at
tackled the bamboo in front of
trenches and many of the enemy
fell in the charge. Breastworks OF
sand and logs are now being built.
We go on a three days march to-
morrow, but / will send you some
Manila papers with such news. We
get wet through our clothes with per-
spiration and are as hungry as wolves
after such marches. We have cap
tured several brass cannon, and Col
Childress said he thought he would
have one melted and made into
medals for each of the boys.
Gen, Miller asked Gen. Otis fol-
three regiments of infantry. Gen
Otis sent him the First Tennessee
with this letter: II send you the