Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-04-13
MANILA LETTER.

l.. w. Hubbard Pays Col. Frost "a Spien-
did ompliment.
The following letter written by
Lew. W. Hubbard to the De Smet
News will be read with interest by
many of our people. Mr. Hubbard has
been member of the Brookings band
and his statement will be believed by
those who know him. 1t will be no.
ticed that Major Will Allison, Of this
city, comes in for share Of the glory:
MANILA, p. l., Feb. 20, 1899.
/ have seen several letters that have
been written home about our hospital
and our Colonel. l have only few
moments to write but would like to
tell the people at home just how
things are here.
l have written several times before
! and have not drawn the figure its
plainest and must say that in several
instances l have made some things
really worse than they are but will
now tell you in few words just as
near as possible the truth, as 1t may
be the means Of tightening the heavy
load on more than one mothers
shoulders.
In the first place their boys are as
well taken care Of in the hospitals
here as they would be at home and in
a great many instances, better. I'm
mediately after they are taken sick
they are taken to the regimental hos
pital and from there they 60 to the di-
vision hospital where trained nurses
are in attendance and they get the
best of care. At the time those letters
scoring the medical department were
written, there was more sickness In
the regiment than at any other time
before or since. There was such a de-
mand for medical attendance that we
only had one surgeon and two hospital
stewards and six or seven corps men,
and they were busy night and day and
out Of possibly $50 that were very sick
all recovered with the exception Of
or 6, or maybeS. When one stops to
consider this is not one bit worse than
would have been at home.
Now about our Colonel. Many are
the letters that have been sent home
telling of the many faults Of Col
Frost. He has been dubbed such
names as the "nigger driver" the
"swell-hsad" and numerous other
names, and all kinds of stories told
about how he has misused his mer
simply because he has opportunity
Now the story has changed. Since
the battle the men are perfectly will
ing to take off their hats. The boyI
will have to admit that braver mar
never led a regiment in battle thar
Col. Frost, OF the First South Dakota
Volunteers. Just notice that thi.
reads LED instead of FOLLOWED
From the time our regiment was or
dered to the firing line until they hac
reached the end our Colonel was IL
the lead and won the highest compli
ments from MaJor-General Otis. o.
his bravery nothing can be said. o.
course he is strictly military. 1t 10 hi
business and to make success of 4
he must live up to regulations. Far
ther than this he has never gone. Th,
movements of the regiment and thei
military bearing are strong proof o
the advantage Of military training
and surict discipline.
would like to write more, but m,
time is very limited. In closing wisl
to say that all respect is due Lieut..
COL Stover and Major Allison for thei
bravery and good judgment in thi
campaign. All the officers are to b,
complimented and finer lot Of mel
never oflicered regiment.
Hoping all are well at home remain
Yours In the field,
L. w. HUBBARD,
Il Principal Musician lst S. d. V. /.