Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-10-27
LIEUT.. SMITH WRITES.
North Dakota Boy, Who Got a Com
mission, Writes Interestingly
From the Philippines.

Lieut.. Fred E. Smith, who was former
~ with the North Dakota volunteers
but was given a commission as first
lieutenant in the 36th, writes an inter.
esting letter to friends at Grand Forks.
as follows:
Bacalor, Philippine Islands, Aug. 30,
1871 see a good deal of comment in
the papers about the way Gen. Otis is
managing affairs here. He is in a diff
cult position to hold-military governor
and commander of the troops combined.
Either one of these is difficult one to
I'LL. He is practically being overworked.
he does not rely upon his subordinates
out investigates everything for himself,
and understands it thoroughly, both in
civil and military matters. He should
be relieved from the position Of COM
mander Of the army here and be military
governor, having the former, however
under his orders. He is certainly en-.
titled to considerable credit for the way
he has managed affairs so far.
We have just started a form in the
regiment that is certainly agood one It
consists of calling the names of the men
killed in battle, at retreat roll-call. The
man on the right of tho front rank an.
swers skilled in action" when their
names are called. I am glad to say that
our company does not have any one Ito
answer for as yet, but the idea is cor
tainly a good one and will tend to.keep
in memory those who have passed away
and to impress those who join after,
with what the company has gone
through.
The report comes today that we are to
be brigaded with Gen. Joe Wheeler with
the Ninth and Twelfth infantry. If the
present good weather continues it will
not be long before there is a forward
movement. Porac our destination, is
about Is miles away. We will probably
move but little farther than that for
some time. Beyond that are high noun
tains. Our probable duties from then
on will be scouting in the hills.
Each day it does not rain one of our
Tour companies are sent on a scout
around the country in order to take a
look around and get acquainted with
the country.
Sept. 2.-Gen. Joe Wheeler dined with
the colonel and the officers called on him
in the afternoon. He is a rather short
man, very spare, white hair and beard,
but nevertheless he appears quite rugged.
He is something over GA years old.
Seemed as if he was most too old to
stand much field work such as a briga-
der general has to do, but he may sur
prise us. We have not yet been as
signed to his brigade. He gave us quite
a nice little talk; made us feel good by
telling us what a fine reputation the
western volunteers had, etc. He also
said he thought the climate here much
superior to that of Cuba; also that he
did not feel the heat 80 much here as
there.
We are living pretty good here now.
Got fresh meat every day nearly. The
grade of salt meat is also much superior
to what it used to be. They issue now
instead of side bacon, the entire side OF
a pig with the exception of the ham and
shoulder, leaving in all Of the tenderloin.
Today for dinner we had ham, corned
beef, rice, potatoes, bread and two kinds
of pie, lemon and cranberry. Not SO
bad, was it?
The Washington regiment went aboard
the Tartar today. Will Alderman is in
that regiment. We have nearly 100 Of
the Washington volunteers in the
Thirty-sixth. There was always a good
deal of rivalry between the Washington
and California regiments. It started by
the California's claiming to, have done
some of the work done by the Washing
ton troops. The Washington regiment
has done good work since they arrived
on the island. In the beginning they
lost heavier than any other regiment
-"-" ----