The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1899-08-01
SAN FERNANDO, Z. l., !
MAY %, 1899 (
DEAR SISTER ONA:

compelled to write. / have even
laid aside an interesting magazine
story IN order to write Won these few
lines. | think nay last letter was
written from Malolos. Since writ
ing that letter | have had years of
experience and days and nights of
walking, working, starving and fight
ing. have seen sights which few
men ever see and had experiences
which hope [ may never have again.
have seen as many as hundred
dead men on one field and forty or
more behind trench, not over twenty
yards IN length.
Since my last letter we have
marched over about fifty miles of
country fighting our way and driv-
ing the insurgents before us as we
went 1t would be interesting for
me to detail the several engagements
we have had and the numerous
obstacles we have encountered, but
| will just give you one DAYS pro
gramme as an example: We were
aroused from sound slumber at
/ Il. m. by the notes Of the bugle,
cooked our coffee, and bacon, and
swallowed 1T as fast as we could and
were in line at 5. We started out
in column of tours and marched
along the road few miles in this for
nation. This was all very well, but
we knew it would not last long.
Well as it happened our regiment,
as we neared the insurgent territory
was sent out in skirmish line ON
the left flank. We had not Travelled
far when ne struck big swamp
Still we had To keep up with the
other regiments which were march.
ing ON solid ground. More tkan this
We had to keep SO far apart, so as to
present an unbroken line to the enemy
and give them no chance to make a
pop shot of us.
We had received orders from Gen.
Hale not to stop our line under any
circumstances and if the enemy
should fight we were to flank them
on the left On we went through the
swamp and marsh grace which in
places was higher than our heads.
If we came to Il river we waded right
IN, never stopping to take of a thing.
During this day we waded thirteen
rivers, or at least we waded one or
more rivers thirteen times, but /
think it was the same river; and
because of some mistake in the align.
ment we had to cross it several times
unnecessarily. Well they engaged
the 'niggers," but we failed TO flank
them. Why? Because every man
was so worn out they had to stop the
''''N '''" toSI ''S oNeI 10 the ROAD out
Of the swamp. So We got behind Il
little grade along the road aud laid
there listening to the bullets whIstel
ing around us. As soon as We had
a little rest and had cleaned a title
of the mud and water out of our guns
which did by ripping ofa piece of
the tail OF my flannel shirt and using
1t as a gun rag, we started on again.
We were all congratularing ourselves
and feeling good because we thought
all the swamp had been passed, but
we were soon undeccived, for another
sklrmish line was formed and we were
sent through mud and swamp grass
so thick and high that you could not
tell where the line was or even see
the man you was marching next to
Well after while the bullets pnt 10
fly ing and we were lined up ON the |
edge Of the grass and commenced /
firing. We could see the niegers
flying in every direction, some Of /
them will never do ANY more shoot
ing Those are "Good Niggcr." nov |
We pushed ON with what men we |
had 'cfr and as The firing had about.
stopped we halted f,r dinner. When .
the halt was made for dinner there .
were only twenty four men, includ. .
ing officers and men lett in our com. /
pany. 1t is useless to add that.
The "Price Brothers" were among
the number In fact, not intending
to brag any, the Price boys have not
missed any part Of The Big SHOW"
Well to ~ on with my story, az we
had finished Our hard tack" and
Fan Of beans we tartcd out again.
We did not get in much Of the fpht.
lug during the afternoon, but there
Sas plenty going on around us aud
me Vt the boys Of III" COMPANY
was shot thr,rtrh tIc I,rI