Cottonwood report. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1893-1901, 1899-01-27
OUR MANILA LETTER.
Manila P. !. December 2, 1898.
Editor REPORT,
Cottonwood Idaho.
Dear Sir:

AS Bunker and myself have nothing
else to do, we will try and interest yonr
readers with short description of the
Philippine Islands. OF course we can't
describe the country as we'll as we would
like to, for the reason US soldiers are not
allowed outside the City limits of Manila
but will do our best. We steamed into
Manila Bay on the evening of July 81.
and cast anchor in the midst of Admiral
Dewey's fleet and within stones throw
of three largest Spanish vessels our Adj
miral sent to destruction last May
We were all anxious to be landed as
soon as the transport stopped moving,
fer we had been aboard of her for thirty
six days but we didn't land for six days
and then it was with difficulty, They
took us in little row boats and hauled
us ashore with steam launches. We
were all day making the landing and
were all Nringing wet from the drench-
ing rain that poured on US all that day
and night. When once on land we were
ordered to shoulder our guns and KNAPP
sacks and march to camp Dewey which
was about mile and half distant
We tramped along through mud and
water until our destination was reached,
! and we can assure you we didn't care to
go any further. Camp Dewey was To-
Gated on flat piece of ground sown in
Peanuts, and the water stood two inches
deep all over the camp.
That night we had nothing to eat but
little bareback and one can of tomatoes
for eight men, The natives were around
with rude bedsteads made of bamboo;
they sold them for one dollar each and
they were large enough for two men so
the most of us managed to get one some
way by trading old clothes and shoes for
we were all broke. Don't honestly be-
lieve there was So in Co. G. The next
day we received strict orders from our
officers not to eat any fruit, but the way
we slipped away from camp and ate Ba-
nanas and Cocoanuts wasn't slow. 1t
was three days before we got square
meal and that consisted of canned beef,
coffee, beans, and bareback that was
harder than the hubs of h. The
fifth morning we received orders to march
to the trenches to relieve the California, IS
Well of course we were all anxious to
go and if there was one there were five
thousand Spanards killed while we were
going out, but the tune changed when
were placed where we stood, in water
and they were the longest ones any of us
ever put in before. We took our turn
standing guard, that is, peeping through
the little holes made in the breastworks
for that purpose. Mike hurry, of
Grangeville, and myself were together.
Along about 3 o'clock in the morning,
hurry was on watch and was getting
pretty sleepy; he raised his head to the
port-hole and just then there was
lightning bug flashed up in his face, and
he fell clean over backward, and his hair
was standing straight up on his head.
Luckily we didn't fire shot and the
enemy never fired, so we marched back
to camp the next morning, tired, hungry
and wet. without even seeing Spaniard
On the evening of the 18th of August,
every command got orders to be ready,
early the next morning, for they were
going to make the final attack on Manila
At 6 O'Clock the next morning every
nan was ready long before the required