The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-30
ANACONDA NEWS
LETTER FROM MANILA.
Former Member of the Montana hegi-
ment Writes Home.

ment Writes Home.
Now and then a brief bit OF news
comes from the Montana boys VINO re-
enlisted in the volunteer army IN the
Philippines. Here is letter received
by the Standard from former men,
Der of one of the Butte companies:
Manila, P. l., Sept %, 1S99.-To the
Editor Anaconda Standard-Dear Sir:
BY the time this reaches you the Mon
tana regiment will be home with you
and scattered over the state in the
peaceful pursuits of civil life, while
some of us, like myself have decided
to stay longer in military life. We
have a glow of pride in our hearts to
Know that we are ex-members or the
Montana regiment, and the good peo-
pie of Montana must bear with the
boys and take into consideration how
they have suffered-more than, l hope,
they will ever be called upon to do
again-and not allow them to want for
anything, if any. of them should ever
be in need. l myself have joined
volunteer regiment that is made up
from different regiments OF regulars
and volunteers, but tell you the Mon
tana boys don't take a back seat for
any one. When it comes to talking
over the deeds of the different organi-
coincide with me. To give you and my
former comrades an idea: Some of the
south line boys, or some former First
division boy. will say in a josh for our
benefit, Did you ever hear of the First
Montana?' Well, another one will adj
init that he had heard of such an or
ganization. One will say. Did they
do any fighting?" and then it is all off.
Whats the matter with the night of
February 4? Who was out on the line
then? ! guess Montana was. What's
the matter with the battle of Cemetery
hill, the charge on Caloocan, La Iona
church, Polo. Malabon, Malolos, Bag
Bag river, Columpit, Santo Tomas, San
Fernando, and lots Of skirmishes on
the side? Yes l guess the Montana
boys We're in this neck of the woods,
and left their footprints, too"
When the regiment was leaving for
home local paper said that the Mon
tana boys We're leaving, and, while
they did not have many trumpeters for
them in the press and they would not
blow their own horn, that an English
officer said that when he saw the
charge of the brigade on Caloocan, that
England had no better. And he was
right, for that brigade would go
| through he'll. Its composition was reg
| ulars and volunteers alike-the Third
artillery acting as infantry, the Twen-
tieth Kansas volunteer infantry, First
! Montana volunteer infantry, Utah ar
tillery, volunteers, two troops of the
Fourth cavalry and one or two guns
| of the Sixth artillery. In reply to the
editor of the Freedoms compliment to
the Montana regiment, 1 took it upon
myself to thank him, being a former
member of the regiment, and, among
other things, said that. while the Mon
tana regiment took pride in the deeds
of the Second division and had broth
erly feeling for those who composed
| its brigades. yet it never lost sight Of
| the fact that it belonged to that grand
| organization, the Eighth army corps,
| whose members, regulars and voiuu-
| teers alike, did their duty wherever
placed, and I believe I represent the
| sentiments Of the regiment when l said
that. So goodbye, comrades of the
First Montana; may health and pros
perity streW your path through life, is
the wish of your comrades in the
| Philippines, and when you are eating
| turkey and beefsteak and pie,
think of us here, and then laugh. You
| used to dream about pie and turkey
when here. If you think we don't eat
you are away Off We had rice and
| tack for breakfast and coffee with su-
gar that is. I mean sugar growing
near by. We will have something for
| dinner, l guess; and salmon, oh, sal
mon, for supper.
FRANK S. MNEILL,
| Co. H, 36th U. S. Vol.
| Manila. P. l.
| Formerly member Company B, First
| Montana volunteers.