The National tribune., 1899-04-13
yETR WASHINGTON VOLUNTEERS.
Interesting Letter Written Before FIshting
Began.

Interesting Letter Written Before Fighting
Began.
The following is taken from letter
written'by C. G. Mihills. Co. ID, Ist Wash ,
10 his mother. residing in Evansville.
Wis. and shows the condition Of alfiiIs
prevailing around Manila before active
fighting commenced. The letter 10 dated
Jan. IS.
"Our headquarters got information That
we were 10 he attacked, and Saturday
night, the 15th. the whole division was
ordered out in a hard rain. We marched
to blockhouse No. II and Slept In the
road with very hard rain pouring down.
"Re stayed there until 70. then went
into The yard Of very large convent
The sisters said they Never allowed men
within The walls but Captain said he
guessed we would go in, If we had to break
down the gate. They opened up ut that.
and we stood in a shed until Gen King
rode in and ordered us under the porch of
the convent. 'fhey expected an attack
at dayhreaIS, and we were supposed {" he
in ambush. but ] think that the insur
gents knew We were there. Everything
was quiet. and at 10 n. m. we marched
back. about as wet and dirty as mud and
water could make us.
Monday VIC dried cut. and yesterday |
was on what Is known as CosSack guard
My post was On q little river bank in o
rice field, water up 10 my knees. and
orders to shoot at anything suspicious on
the other bank nT in the river. l came
very near shooting at shadows twice in
the night il was moonlight. but cloudy,
and a person could sec all kinds Of thirgs
At one time il il had not lightencd /
should have blazed away for sure. II
gets quite cold early in the morning, and
when we get wet through we feel pretty
chilled, hut j did not even catch cold
The weather here now is very like August
at home, only a little more rain.
cit is surprising how little is known
about these islands, not even the number
in the group, let alone the area. Some Of
the smaller islands are said to he the
richest, but il is next TO impossible 10 find
out anything about them. ! think there
is a great chance here for lumber and
sawmills. All the lumber sold here is
whip-sawed by Chinese, and sells for $40,
Mexican, for common. Almost every
next TO impossible TO buy white sugar
here. | bought pound OF stuff they call
sugar, but it is not as good as the poorest
grade in the States; paid Is cents, Next
can. The fruit here is poor and rather
high. About the finest thing we get is
chocolate, at 10 cents, Mexican, a cup.
"If il ever comes 10 a fight there will be
exciting times here, for there are about
100000 natives in the city, and we would
be shot at from every house and wall
The natives all think they are gIeat
fighters with knives, but ! don't think
they can fight with anything When on
outpost their guard is often within 30 feet
of US, and whenever there is anyone
watching they take out their knives and
fence with them, but from what i could
see, they have but two cuts and a thrust
One of our cavalry would be match for
three or four. Our soldiers kill about
three or four a week on outposts and
guardhouses. The boys have good luck; /;
whenever they shoot they seem to get
their man. But in spite of this the in
surgcnts think we are afraid of them, and
say that they will drive us into the sea
when they get ready"