The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-02-24
BATTLE ANT|C|PANONS
A Highly Interesting Letter
from Fred Nelson Givesa
Graphic Picture of
Manila. Before
the Battle.


following letter from Fred Nelson to
his father, dated January 8, gives a
vivid picture of the way the boys felt
as they saw affairs shaping them
selves for war without their being In
the slightest degree able to stem the
tide. Twenty-six days before the
battle, Immediately following Emilio
Aguinaldo's manifesto, the untried |
soldier writes as follows:
Headquarters 10th. Kansas Inf,
us. ", r. o. M. Dept. Manila, p. ].
January 8, 1899.
Dear Folks-I have not time this
evening to write you long letter
but hope to before the next mail
steamer leaves here. Things here
just now seem to be in q critical con-
dition. Last Thursday Maj. General
OTIS proclamation was issued in Eng
lish, Spanish and Philippine. 1t is
rathep indefinite, but you have read
1t. The next day Aguinaldo's procla-
nation or rather protest appeared
posted along besides Gen. Otis, and
then the Philippine. began to look
cross and the friendly ones to drop
their friendship. Today Aguinaldos
second proclamation appeared pro-
testing and ending "Let all the blood
that is spilled be on his head" mean.
ing Gen. Merritt who brought Agui-
| nalhn from Hnnn anh w hn
Aguinaldo claims promised him that
the Philippines would be- given in
dependence. He also ordered the
women and children to leave the
lower portion of the city where we
are located. A bout 1850 "call to
arms" was sounded In all quarters
here and all were given field rations
and ammunition and ordered to stay in
quarters. / was over at the 1st. bat
TALON this forenoon getting some Of
ticer's signatures and did not get
them all until about p. m. They
have been moved and are now in old
spanish barracks way across the
river about a mile and half from
Headquarters. When returned the
soldiers at all on them. AS crossed
the bridge of SPAIN" which spans
the Pasig, could see many of the
numerous coast steamers which were
in the peers below the bridge steam
ing up and the great columns of
black smoke rolling from their smoke
stacks. 1 glanced across toward
Cavite where Dewey's fleet lies and
could see a dull cloud of grey coal
smoke hanging near. Every native
met wore a frown and looked me
straight in the eye which Is unusual
for them. The "Bridge of Spain"
and the Escholta, main street, were
almost clear of vehicles and pedes-
TRANS which is unusual as 1t is usual
ly almost impossible to get through.
Tonight everyone Is kept in. But
Fox, the store keeper, and / who
sleep all alone in the q. NJ. Dept,
building and have NO guard to keep
us in, went up town on the EschOlta.
Monday evening is big evening for
every one to be on the street here,
but this evening there was no one
hardly. / only saw four soldiers and
hardly any Phils. or Spanish. There
were few Cinnamon, who are very
friendly to the Americans. The
natives are all leaving the city to-
night.
Now then-There may be some
fighting here before long and there
may not. l do not claim to even have
an opinion as to that, but DO not be-
lieve 1t will come tonight.l But the
Philippinos.are gnerillas. Ifthey are
going to carry on that sort of warfare
a night attack would be the best way
to go at it. They will be fools If they
go at 1t in any other way and guess
/ think that If they do make an at
tack II will be soon and at night. In
the last day or two 1 have felt little
of being an enemy in hostile city.
No telling what moment an outbreak
may occur. No telling from what
one of these thousands Of dark alleys
or half hidden door ways some native
will run knife through you. No
telling what night an attack may be
made on your barracks. our guards
stabbed and others stabbed while
asleep. You know the natives are
poor hands with gun but artists
with knife. Yesterday was the first
time 1 had noticed any unfriendly
looks on the part of the PHILIPPINE. l
went alone for walk in the afternoon
and wandered away out where there
was nothing but matched bamboo
native huts. was looking for a
cross street but found out that there
was none but that 1t was road