Omaha daily bee., 1899-12-31

I will so back to the time OF our arrival
here and let YOU know what we have teen
doing. We arrived ON November /; the en-
tire regiment was transported here from
Manila in one day, although the Americans
control only four or five engines. On arrival
our battalion went into quarters in huts
and are still in them. My brother Franks
regiment was here and remained here until
November .. On the Sth my brother viii
came up on a short leave to my complete
surprise. So | have most Unexpectedly been
able to see them both within ten days Of
my arrival.
Outpost Duty.
After a day or two Of rest we entered on
our first tour of outpost duty on November
4 This. you know, is quite an important
event in the life OF q new regiment and is
usually just ms funny for older regiments
as it seems serious to them. 1t is the usual
experience Cf new regiments that on their
first tour of outpost duty they shoot at
every shadow and every rustling bush and
1t is jokingly said that the enemy can tell
when a new regiment is on outpost duty
by the promiscuous firing that is done.
Many are the stories of how new regiments
killed dogs and cattle that were
heard wandering in the woods.
As We were right up here
next to the enemy and as not a shot had
been fired by the outpost Of either army
for ten days before our arrival, We were
expected to wake things up. But we are
quite proud Of the fact that during our
first two nights of duty not II shot was fired
by us. The stray cattle in the woods were
safe those two nights.
on the morning of November 3 the first
forward tpDVntnpnt was made hy my bTOt her
Franks regiment. We were placed in po-
sition ready to take a part in the conflict
If necessary, but we were not needed. We
beard the firing Of the Seventeenth a short
defiance away, but we could not get in the
scrap. Three days later all the rest of the
division except our regiment moved forward,
but again we were disappointed, for there
/ was no fighting. We were left behind to gar
rison the city and to guard wagon trains,
furnish patrols to neighboring towns and
do any other necessary duty. 1t has been a
great disappointment to us that We have
not been able to go ahead with the regiment.
Personally | have been on one expedition
up TO Mahalache with an escort to Il wagon
train and have done some outpost duty dur
ing the first few days. In a day or two |
hope to go with a patrol to Malang. Today
orders were received that breaks the regi-
ment up into small pieces. Six companies
are scattered over four towns and the other
six remain here. Fortunately our battalion
remains in Angeles. This breaking up OF
the regiment means that for some weeks
we will do garrison duty. Whether we
will get out of it in time to see any active
service is a question.
War Nearly over.
We are all quite satisfied, from what we
see about us, that the war is very near
a close. 1t may be that Aguinaldo is al
ready shut in and will be unable to escape
to the north. But even If he does he will
have to leave the best part of the island in
cur possession and we will, in a few months
re-establish the that is so neccs-
sary to bring back prosperity. The best
part Of the island will be paciticd and
Aguinaldo will be so far fran Manila thai
he will worry no one. That is the way il
seems to us. | am supremely confident tina
before next juno all organized opposition
to our government will be crushed com,
pletely. Just put this down as my safe
guess.
BY the way, l do not know what news yol
get in your papers, but the news published
in the Manila papers as to the fighting anc
particularly as to the enemy's losses is yer!
lCltuDle. Inc lSCNS dS pubiASutu lhiS %
far with those We get from division head
quarters. OF course the papers write thing
up somewhat enthusiastically, but the state
ments beneath the rhetoric are facts.
Judge from this that you probably get au
thentic news in your papers.
You know we are supposed to be in th'
dry season, but the Lord save us from tn
wet season if this is the dry. 1t has raine.
just about every other day since we have
been here and for two days now 1t ha
attended strictly to the rain business.
have been soaked so many times that
cease any longer to mind it. l suppose i
will get us into that desirable condition
called "acclimated," unless we get web
footed first. Yours,
HENRY NJ. MORROW.