Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-07-07
SOLDIERS LETTERS.


Captain Elliott of the Kansas Regl-
ment, Feb. %:
"Talk about war being hell this war
beats the hottest estimate ever made OF
that locality. Caloocan was supposed
to contain seventeen thousand inhabit-
ants. The Twentieth Kansas swept
through it, and now Caloocan contains
not one living native. OF the buildings,
the battered walls of the great church
and dismal prison alone remain. The
village of Maypaia, where our first fight
occurred on the night of the fourth. had
five thousand people in 1t at that day.
now not one stone remains upon top OF
another. You can only family imagine
this terrible scene of desolation. War Is
worse than hell"
Frank NJ. Erb of the Pennsylvania
regiment, Feb. %;
1--WE have been in this nigger-fghting
business now for twenty-three days, and
have been under fire for the greater
part of that time. The niggers shoot
over one anothers heads or any old way.
Even while am writing this the black
boys are banging away at out outposts,
but they very seldom hit anybody. The
morning of the 9Th a burying detail
from our regiment buried forty-nine
niger enlisted men and two Niger
officers. and when we stopped chasing
them the night before, we could see
'em carrying a great many with them.
We are supposed to have killed about
three hundred. Take my advice and
don't enlist in the regulars. for you are
good for three years AM not sorry
enlisted, but you see we have had some
excitement and we only have about
fourteen months time to serve. if they
keep US our full time, which is not
likely, We will, no doubt. start home
as soon as we get these niggers
rounded up"
Edgar Thomson, Cresco soldier:
"a few days ago a vote was taken in
the regiment to determine how many
wished to remain for an extra six
months. and the result showed that
none cared to stay any longer than they
have to. SO the colonel did not volun-
teer the service of the regiment. but in
formed us that it is his opinion that we
will be home and out of the service by
the first of July. This seems like long
time yet. but it is not so bad when COM
pared to a year and two months. Our
enlistment read for two years, unless
sooner discharged to serve in the
Spanish American war So you may
see we did not enlist to fight these in.
surgents, and a. few Of the men are in
favor of holding the islands, we do not
feel it our duty to enlist for an addition
al six months. Now that the treaty has
been ratified by Spain and the United
States we are entitled to our discharge
within sixty days; at least that Is the
way we understood it when we enlisted,
/, and our captain says that is the way he
understood il: but we will not complain
: If they get us home before the Fourth.
do not care TO spend another Fourth of
July in the service of Uncle Sam if
can avoid it,.
Lieut.. Henry Page of the regular
army:
after stay of about eight months
among these people. during which time
no opportunity has been lost TO study
their qualities, find myself still unable
to express a decided opinion about the
matter, but | can unreservedly affirm
that the more evidence collected the
greater my respect for the native and
his capacities. The recent bat.
tie of Feb. ) was somewhat of a
revelation to Americans. They expected
the motley horde to run at the firing OF
the first gun. 1t was my good fortune
to be placed-about ten hours afterward
ha ,rhara thi. frat
E fired. | found the Americans still held
in check. Our artillery then began tC
assail the enemy's position, and it wa:
only by the stoutest kind of fighting
that the Tennessee and Nebraska reg
ments were able to drive him out. The
Fllipinos' retreat, however, was more
7 creditabe than their stand. Perfect or
2 der prevailed. One of their companie;
! would hold our advance until the com
C pany in their rear could retire and re
0 load, when in turn this company would
q stand until the former had retired ant
n reloaded. A frequent exclamation
i. along our lines was Haven't these
e little fellows got grlt:' They had more
e.. than grit-they had organization.
: In each town church, a convent OF
e priests home, tribunal which i
n courthouse, jail, and record Office all II
;, one, and school, constitute the public
: buildings. The schools were neat. sub
: stantial buildings, which testified tina
e the Spanish made an honest effort t
t educate the masses. The Filipino il
: very anxious to learn, and the new gov
: eminent of Aguinaldo used every effor
| IA -al,1
Der of natives who speak Spanish a
-. we'll as their native tongue, and wh'
, also know how to read and write, is re
q markable. No school teacher has beef
n appointed in San Jose, and the schoo
J. buildings are held by the American
a officers. In spite of this discourage
e ment there is private school flourish
e ing in native hut