The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-03-03
GarwoOd's Sarsaparila-for the blood
guaranteed to cure. A. B. RAINS
LIEUT.. RAGSDALE.
Letters Written From Manila Before the
Fighting Began.

Letters Written From Manila Before the
Fighting Began.
The following extracts are taken
from letters written to Mr.. John A.
Oakes, of this city, by his nephew,
Lieut.. r. 0. Ragsdale, of Company
b., First Tennessee, before the fight
ing between the Insurgents in the
Philippines commenced:
CAvITE, P, l., Jan. 3.
"Our battalion is detached from the
regiment, and we are stationed here in
Cavite, while the balance are in Ma
Mia, which is only about 10 miles up the
bay. | like Cavite much better than
Manila. 1t is cooler here, and we are in
good barracks, while the rest of the
regiment are in camp.
II have had very good health so far,
and am taking good care of myself. L
heard this morning there was a case of
and | have just sent Company B. to the
hospital to be examined and see their
vaccination was all right My vacci-
nation is all right, but you can bet |
am going to stay away from the Bird
battalion.
81 heard the other day that Gen. Otis
had received orders to take the whole
island, and that President Mckinley
would issue proclamation at once
and if he does ] expect it will mean a
fight for us ; but | do not think it will
be of long duration, as our forces are so
much larger than the insurgents.
81 was in San Rogue yesterday
which is occupied by the insurgents,
! and they did not molest me; in fact
they were very kindly towards me.
"f got me a Mauser rifle the otherd day
and | must say they are much better
than the ones we are using but the in
surgents are not fully equipped with
them. They have a mixture of arms
some of them are using the old Pen
nington rifle, and they have but little
ammunition. They could never ge
into our lines, as they would have t
cross a cause-way about 80 feet wide
and 200 feet long, and then come through
a sally-port, and we have three gattlir
guns and three breach-loading guns
over the sally-port.
"We are inside wall which is from
3 to 40 feet thick. 1t is one of the finest
forts in the world.
"Jan. 8. Well, we are at last in tn
trenches. We got orders this after
noon, aud am glad to say Company Il
was the first company to go out w
received information that Aguinald
had got 700 cavalrymen and was goinI
to make an attack on this place. Tn
insurgents are stationed in San Rogue
which is divided from Cavite by
causeway 80 feet wide and 300 yard
long, and Aguinaldo's intention was 3
rush his cavalry across the causewa.
and take the city, but | guess we hav
enough troops here to block his game
"rhe United States battles hip Petre
is anchored out about 500 yards fron
the causeway, an1 has its guns traine'
on the entrance at san Rogue. So
think it will be impossible for anyOn
to get across. l have just come in fron
there to see about some of our men an
get some more ammunition, and Wi
have to hurry and get back to the con
pany.
"I'he First California boys are all o.
transports ready to sail somewhere, n
one knows, but / think they are goiD
To sail about 800 miles south Of here.
"I am still in very good health, an
tell grandma not be uneasy about m
Love to all. Your Nephew,
X. q. RAGsDALE."