The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1899-04-14
A Manila Letter.
MANILA, P. l.,
Feb. 20, 1899.


My Dear Folks:-
Your letters Of Jan. 9Th and 2lst ar
rived Friday, Feb. cath on the scandia'
etc.
Ihings are about the same here since
the fight started. Have a scrap nearly
every day. Hardly day passes wlthou
soure regiment has little skirm,sh, but
every case the insurgents nave to turn
their heels and make for the woods.
The Goth Infantry came in on tine Scandia
which will help us ont great deal
They were ,r 'ered cut to TIE front yes
terday,
The insurgents have tried two OF three
times within the last week to burn Ma
nila. They have succeeded in destroy
ing great deal OF property around the
outer edge Of the new town. Wednt sday
night FEB. ,2Sdl they set fire to some
native huts in the Tondo district, ole oi
the worst places in Manila. There was
4 strong wind, 90 the fire spread rapidly
Our regiment was turned out. Our Co.
and Co. l.. were ordered to 60 over and
ight. fire. As luck would have il, was
the adjutant's orderly, and had to stay
here. The companies left here at mid
night, and did not get back until seven
O'Clock in the morning. They were
lighting FIRE all the time. Some Of the
boys told me that every once in while
they could hear bullet zip through the
air, but fortunately no one was hurt.
When they were relieved the fire was
under control. That dav, Thursday,
Co. NJ and Co Z OF our regiment were
ordered to go to the same place to drive
the natives out. Two companies OF
MinnesotaP, two OF the 2Si and our two
companies were after them all day. had
pretty nice little scrap. There were
about $50 natives killed and quite
number OF prisoners taken. So that put
an end to their burning Manila for a
while any way, until Aquinaldo can
send some more men down from Maioloe
There was not q man killed on the Amer.
lean side and only two or three wounded.
Every time any OF our regiment has been
ordered TO do any thing, Ike the other
night q: the fire, our colonel has ALWAYS
received compliment from the general
for the way the men conducted them
selves. So you see We are alright when
they give us chance to do anything.
Gen. Hughes said the night cf the fire,
that he never saw men that fought fin
ike the Oregon boys did. The boys
showed what they had been doing the
next morning, when they came 10 wei
and black as "niggers." II is pretty
hard to tell when the insurgents will gel
enough. hardly think it viii be Ions
though. When MalolOs. the capital. is
taken, they will he pretty we'll cleaned
out. / hope it will not be very long. Il
is getting monotonous staying here in
quarters all Of the time, ready to fail ir,
any time.
But q person can't tell what will be
Hext in the army. lam musician Of the
guard today. Have to 90 on every other
day, either MUSICIAN Of the guard or or
derly. blew church call this morning
at l0.l2. 1t Is the pretliest call of all.
am getting along fine with ny bug'e.
l can blow As good As any of them. The
adjutant said the other day that the
buRler in Co. was all right He said.
"WRen he blows a call, can tell what
it ID" and some of them be couldn't tel
what they we're trying to do. 1 have
just sounded first sergeants call. They
now go to the a6jutanIs office and get
their morning report, and derA'ls for TO
morrow.
think there will be a good many
hearts leap for joy when the oyder comes
to set the 2nd Oregon ready to sail TO,
home. Here is one that will be happy,
can::assure you.
only weigh AS pounds now. When
l enlisted 1 weighed I5S pounds. I am
glad Roy was not old enough to join the
army.
! Your boy,
4 EH,-r~-F