Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1899-09-11
THE NEVADA CAvALRY.
An Interesting Letter From Sergeant
Leichter.

We have received the following
letter from Sergeant Ed. Leichter of
the Nevada Cavalry, now doing duty
in the Philippines. Although the
letter was not written for publica-
ton, We take the liberty of publish
ing it, as it contains a good deal of
information regarding our boys and
the condition of affairs at the front.
The letter is dated Mallabay, July
80, 1899: '.
@FRIEND BooHER:--It has been
considerable time since I have last
written to you, but it has been i'm
possible for me to write, as we have
been ON active service for nearly
fifty days, and prior to that we were
doing detached guard in Manila, and
consequently we have had little or
no time in quarters. I will give you
an idea OF our movements from April
22nd to the present day. In my last
letter to you, we we're stationed at
Cavite and enjoying the blissful ease
OF garrison life, but as the winds of
military disposition and arrangement
blow in good many unexpected
courses, we have at last been drawn
into the flood Of activity and return
soldiers to the word, battle worn,
bullet SCARED, and always respond
ent to the word forward" We left
Cavite on the 22nd of April, and were
given temporary quarters in Manila,
and there proceededNto do the guard
duty Of the whole Eighth Army
Corps, but we weren't quite large
enough; still we did 2 hours on and
hours off for nearly a month, our
quarters consisting of an old Spanish
barracks, with nothing but the floor
and government blanket for rest
and sleep. We soon tired of our new
job. but grandma Otis liked our
work and the way the did it, 80 we
stayed. We we're relieved of this
duty by two companies of the 18th
Infantry, U. S. Regulars, on the first
OF June. and remained in quarters
until the 9th, when we received or
ders to prepare for the firing line, and
from that time on il has been one
continual round Of pleasure, espec-
tally since the rainy season has set in
but to continue. We left Manila at
$3.50 a. m, June 9th, and proceeded to
San Pedro Macatte, preparatory to
Joining Gen eral Lawton's command
in the southern campaign. The troop
having arrived at the grounds as
signed ue, we we're allowed to rest
until the following day. June the
tenth. damp and foggy, dawned on
the camp of eight thousand men and
breakfast was eaten and preparations
for the march began.
: The different organizations we're
drawn into line at 4:3O and at 5 a. M.
the column, headed by the 1st Ne
vada Volunteer Cavalry began NOV
ing southwark. We kept our column
formation for about FIVE miles, when
the command was given to deploy as
skirmishers, our troop occupying the
right flank Of the command. Imag-
inc the country to be covered by a
command of eight thousand men de-
ployed with intervals Of three yards
between men. thought it one of
the grandest sights had ever be-
held, the long waving line Of men
and cleaning rifles as far as the eye
could reach, reminding one OF ser.
pent, miles in length, winding his
way through the tall grass.
We had three engagements that
day with the enemy, and 1 can tell
you that the bullets were coming in
real earnest each time. Some of our
boys had some close calls. Private