The Anaconda standard., 1899-03-10
BEFORE THE BIG FIGHT
A Letter Received From Lieuten-
ant Homer Richards.
THEY NEEDED A WHIPPING
The Insurgents Had an Idea That Our
Troops Would Run at the First
Firs-They Prefer Night
Fighting.

Ex- Governor Richards is in receipt of
an interesting letter from his son.
Lieut.. Homer Richards Of the 1st Mon
tana regiment at Manila. which was
written less than a week before the
fighting with the insurgents COM
menced, The letter reads:
We have call to arms every day
now. the outpoEts having been doubled
| l can not see how the United States can
bring about a settlement until we have
whipped these savages. They have the
idea that they can whip US. and until
it is demonstrated to tham that thay
can not our government will not be
able to handle them. If We have one big
battle ! think that would be enough for
the insurgents, but we would probably
brush is very thick, and that is just
what they like to fight in.
Il am now, as you know, on the staff
of Brigadier General Otis. We went to
a Spanish theater recently and enjoyed
it very much, although We could not
understand much of It, as the play was
| in Spanish throughout. That reminds
me of a play I have heard tell of that
was played here the night Dewey stole
quietly into Manila bay During one of
the acts they had a pig on the stage
with an American flag tied to his tail,
and a Spaniard chasing him around the
stage. 1t is said the audience went wild,
as it was understood to represent the
way Spain was going to handle the
United States. Not many hours after
ward Dewey opened up on the Spanish
feet.
Colonel Kessler has grown to be very
popular with the regiment. ] have
| thought all along that it was only a
matter of time until there would be this
change of sentiment.
II suppose the sieighinE with YOU is
very fine. l would emily coed sleigh
ride myself Last night it was quite
! chilly, and I slept under a blanket for
| the first time since ! have been here.
| The natives stood around shivering,
| complaining of being cold.
| I'VE received q very large mail two
days ago. Really, about the only pleas
ure we have down here is when we get
our mail. 1t takes only a few minutes
to read our letters. and then we are
| hungry for the next boat TO bring us
| our mail. All the boys want to start
| home. OF course. If there is a scrap of
any kind they will then be content to
remain, but they are getting very rest
less from lying around doing nothing
| but garrison duty and are hoping 10
be on their way home in a few months
Il am now gathering collection OF
pictures of this country that will be
very interesting, | think, when l get
them all together.
"It Is now 1890 p. M, and we are ex-
| pecting to be called out any minute as
| this is the most exciting night we have
had yet. The insurgents are getting
very bad, and we are looking for a fight
| any minute. I predict that something
must happen in IA very few days. as this
| condition of affairs can not last long
| We look for good deal of trouble right
| in the city, and the natives expect L
| attack us both in the city and on the
outside. You can imagine something OF
| the kind of outposts we now have when
| I tell you that the Montana regiment
| furnishes two entire companies for its
| outposts. the balance Of the regiment
remaining inside for street fighting, II
! it comes to that. We are now Of the