Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1899-09-15
Volume 33.
THE NEVADA CAVALRY.
An Interesting Letter From Sergeant
- Leichtor.

An Interesting Letter From Sergeant
Lsichtor.
We have received the following
letter from Sergeant Ed Leichter Of
the Nevada Cavalry, now doing duty
in the Philippines. Although the
letter was not written for publica.
ton. we take the liberty OF publish.
ing it, ms 1t contains a good deal OF
information regarding our boys and
the condition OF affairs ut the front.
Tho letter is dated Mallabay, July
80, 1889:
"FRIESD RoouER:--It has been
considerable time since / have last
written to you. but it has been i'm
possible for me In write. rs we have
been on active service for nearly
lift! days. and prior tn that we were
doing detached guard i'll Munila. aud
consequently we have had little or
no time i'll quarters. | will give you
mn ii,a ni our movements from April
22nd to the present day. In my last
letter to you, we were stationed at
Cavitc and enjoying the bliss'ul cnsc
of garrison lie, but as the winds OF
military disposition and arrangement
blow i'll good many unexpected
courses, we have at last been drawn
into the flood uf activity and return
soldiers to the word, battle worn,
bullet SCARED, and always respond.
ent To tho word forward" We left
CavItc on the 22nd OF April. md were
given temporary quarters III Maniln,
and there proceeded to do the guard
duty Of tho whole Eighth Army
Corps, bnt we weren't quite large
enough; still we did = hours on and 4
hours oil for nearly month, our
quarters consisting of an old Spanish
barracks. with nothing but the floor
and Il government blanket for rest
md sleep. We soon tired OF our new
job. but 'granima Otis liked our
work and the way the did it, go we
stayed. We were relieved Of tins
duty by two companirs OF the 18th
Infantry, U. S. Regulars. on the first
OF June. and remnined in quarters
until the 9Th, when we received or
ders to prepnrc for the firing line, and
from that time on il has been one
continual round Of pleasure, espec-
tally since the rainy season has set in
but to continue. We left Manila mt
$3.50 II. IN, June oh, and proceeded to
San Pedro Macatte, preparatory to
joining Gen eral Lawton's command
i'll the southern campaign. Tho troop
having arrived mt the grounds us.
signcd us, we were allowed To rcet
until the following day. June tho
tenth, damp and ioggy. dawned on
tho camp OF eight thousand men and
breakfast wns eaten aud preparations
for tho march began.
Tho different organizations were
drawn into line at 4 30 and at D a. M.
the column, headed by the lst Ne
vada Volunteer Cavalry began moy-
ing southward. We kept our column
formation for about five miles, when
tho command was given to deploy as
skirmishcrs, our troop occupying The
right flank Of the command. lmag-
inc the country to bc covered by
command Of eight thousand men de-
plOycd with intervals OF three yards
between men. thought il one Of
the grandcst eights had ever be.
held, the long waving line Of men
and cleaning rifles ns far us the oye
could reach, reminding ono of SER
pent. milcs in length, winding his
way through tho tall grasg.
We had three engagements that
day with tho enemy, aud can tell
you That the bullets wcro coming in
rcal earnest each time. Some OF our
boys had some close calls. Private
Noibuhr got bullet through his
Logging; Sergeant LitCh, ono through
his SHIRT; Private Tuyno received II
center shoot in his cantccD, between
tho U. and S, but fortunately tho
cantccn was full Of water aud tho
bullet went half way through the
other eido and fell back IN tho cnntccn.
Trumpctcr Leo Leonard had his can.
tocn shot from tho hook and Private
Mnllon E.Tuylor wHs slightly wound.
cd, having been shot in tho neck. Tho
rest Of the troop fired we'll although
few were overcome 10y tho heat and
fatigue of tho day. Tho division lost
about ~ men in killed and wounded
aD1 IN Tn. neighborhuod oi 800 men
fell ont OF line from;c Hhaustion.lt was
n grim sight to behold tho line Of
battle made 10y our troops: ammnni.
tioD, havcrsucks, shelter icnts,ponchos
md oven clothes wore pcattcrcd for
miles along the limo ~ march; mon.
eingly and IN groups, wandered about
IN their dclirium in search OF water