Evening journal., 1899-04-12
a I.ErrER FROM MANILA.

A LEIfIlER F1tOh MANILA
Everett Janyier, OF this city, has re-
ceived an interesting letter that was
written on the battlefield near Calico |
can, In the Philippine Islands. The
writer. Second Lieutenant Il. V. ID. |
Murphy. lived i'm Wilmington for about
a wear. but went West and enlisted u
the First Montana Regiment Through
the courtesy Of Mr. Janvier the Way
farer Is enabled to print the letter in
full:
In the Field. Near Caloocan. Prov. OF
Manila p l.. Feb %. 1899.
Ny Dear Everett: Your newsy letter
as well as the papers, arrived the other
day. You may be sure I was glad to hear
from you. particularly under our present
circumstances. We are out here frying
up with the heat during the day and
freezing during the night We are In
trenches, holding our ground and await
ing reinforcements.
I presume you have heard by this time
Of our little war, and the fghtlng that
has been going on around here, but per
haps a first-hand account OF Il would be
interesting. 1t all started Of a sudden on
Saturday night. February 4. They at
tackled our outposts near the river and
then the sound OF the firing just seemed
to roll all around the outskirts Of the
city, from bay to bay. My company was
held in reserve until Monday morning
Wncn We were sent 10 the uIlnE lnts
The attack was easily repulscd Saturday
night. and Sunday morning our whole
line advanced and drove the Insurgents
back for several miles. We held that po-
sition until the 10th, when the Montanas
Kansas and Third Artillery Regulars
we're ordered to advance on Caloocan, a
town which the insurgents had fortified.
We started out at p. m. and had to ad-
vance through piece Of woods and
swamp FOR about a mile and a-half. The
natives were cnucnched Ia these. and
made a warm fight Our regiment had
twcnty-thrce wounded and three killed
that day, The Kansas about the same
After We got through the woods we soon
cleared the town and burned it. About
300 were Killed in the trenches and ln
Caloocan. il was "A CHASTITY sight 20 see
them lying around In httle heaps. a good
many were burned up with the town
how many we viii never knoE. They
fought Ike demons while they had q
chance. and then retroated In good order
We then took up our positions around
the RUNS Of the town ana have been
there ever since The natives attack u'
every night, and occasionally during the
day. We have had 20 cntrench ourselves
to protect us from the natives fire They
have q lot OF long-range rifles. Mausers
which enable them TO keep at SAFE
distance from us and drop bullets al
around us. Our casualties In this way
have mounted up to about sixty killed
and wounded. Several have died on ac
count OF their wounds
We have killed few. but can't tel
how many. They attempted 10 burn Ma
nila the other night. but the proves
guard put the uprising down killing
good many. Well, ] came over here q
fight Spaniards. but 70 seems that w
have got another proposition on hand
and one that isn't bit easier. Tn
losses of the whole army here. as pub
lished In one OF our newspapers 20 dat
Is sfyfniy-eight killed and lOl wounded
pretty heavy losses. Well we are tryinl
20 get what enjoyment we can out o
lying around n trenches ln the hr0iin
sun and drinking water that is fairly hot
Our grub however is fairly good. so "
have not much sick la that direction. /
looked for awhile as II we would &c
home pretty soon. but az the presen
outlook 10 viii be some time yet Wei
guess IN switch the subject and writ
about matters more agreeable and home
like. Perhaps, though. ] ought to ad
here that ] have been promoted, and an
now a second lieutenant. Didn't get tn
promotion for bravery In the neld bu
Tor my services I'm making a good CON
pany out OF an aggregation that the
thought Of firing out OF the service O
account OF insubordinatiOn and open mt
tiny. ! was promoted and mustered
January T. and left with my old con
pany. They behaved fine az the BATH
and we had three men wounded In OF
company.
Am sorry l can't look in on you a II
tie while this evening, and take part
quiet game or euchre. ] had an avn
nice time when I lived IN Wilmington
and II ] get out OF this all right I al
going TO spend a few days there again.
That turkey dinner appeals vei
strongly to me to-day ! had a kind
stew made out OF canned beef and pot,
toes with hard tack and coffee Tor dh
ner, and a real nice turkey feed wou
MI a long-felt want Canned beef is
great thing Oor the cannersl but 20
not tine most appctizing dish in q
world. We lived pretty good FOR a day
Two. there were lots of chickens al
pigs in the country but now We ha'
eaten them an up, and are back on arm
rations once more. Do YOU ever see CO
onel Wainwright? Give him my best .
CARDS n you do, and tell him where I al
Wen, / guess I'll have 10 close ana q
tend 10 business I have charge OF o
outposts this evening. and must take
look around before dark. An orderly
gathering up our mail. so I'll get this
and on. Am awfuly glad 20 hear fro
you and hope Il won't be your la
Thanks for the papers. Give my best
CARDS TO everyone, particularly your
ther and mother. and all my 9th
friends, and believe me.
Yours sincerely,
+. Y. d. MURPHY
r. +. Janvier. Wilmington, Del.
Excuse my writing paper. Ii was ru
led from the ruins Of the town.