Omaha daily bee., 1899-03-03
LIFE IN NEBRASKA'S CAMP
Private Describes Routine and Incident in
First Regiment,
QUARTERS ARE A MODEL OF NtATNtSS
One of Most Important Roads 20 city
in Its Chnrge-Christmas and New
Years Are spent In Feasting
and Merriment.

and Merriment.
| CAMP SANTA MESA. Manila, p. l., Jan.
19.-To the Editor of The Bee: The re-
cruits for the regiment have been received
with warm welcome by the twelve com
panies, as 1t lessons the work OF the old
men to a considerable extent This addition
makes no change in the size of the COM
panies, for shortly after the arrival of the
recruits orders we're received to reduce the
companies to eighty men. This allowed OF
the sending home of those who had been
sick in the hospital and had not been par
ticipating in the duties OF the regiment. The
recruits we're soon at home with their new
comrades and now can hardly be called
rockies" The stories of their cakewalk
into Manila up to their waists in water and
dining upon hardtack have been recited to
the recruits.
The day after the recruits were landed
the regiment was hurried out into the field
about five miles out from the city in an old
abandoned rice field. The camp is situated
on small hill, which is reached by success
sive rows of terraces about foot in height.
After a shower the water settles in these
spaces and leaves the ground almost contn
ually swampy. On three sides of the camp
are camps of the insurgent army and their
bugle calls can be heard at almost any hour
of the day or night. We have our outposts
from 300 to 500 yards from camp, some
within fifty yards of the insurgents out
post.
Go Shares on n Bridge.
One outpost in particular Is on a bridge
crossing the Pasg river and is on a main
road to the city. On one end of the bridge
we have two sentinels, while on the other
inc -, /. :,
there has been firing at different times but
no serious encounter About 200 yards in
the rear of these sentinels the support Is
stationed in an old blockhouse. This is one
of the main outposts, for in case of an attack
the insurgents would have to take this road
to the city. Upon the alarm at least one
battalion would proceed along this road and
If possible stop the insurgents from advanc-
ing any further upon the city. About a mile
from this point the outposts of the
Colorado and South Dakota regiments
which are also within easy call in case of
trouble.
The people in the city have been stirred
up several times by rumors that the Ne
braskans had been attacked. These false
rumors managed to spread all over the city
before we knew anything of them Three
different times during the night have we
been aroused and ordered to dress for a
sudden call. which never came, only to ask
the next day who got scared and thought
we were going to have fght?" Although
several times it has looked very threaten,
ing with the entire three divisions under
arms and none of the men allowed to leave
their barracks.
The day following Agunaldo's proclama-
tion the roads leading from the city were
crowded with natives moving from town to
the insurgents lines But the scare speedily
blew over and now everything rests calmly.
Everybody is waiting to see what course the
United States will follow.
Home Becomes Sweet Word.
The volunteers all anxious to have the
affair come to a climax they can return
home. The general question now is, when
are we going home?" There is quite
variety of opinions on this subject. Some
think March 1, some July 1, while still
others think we will remain here our two
years of enlistment
The regiment is kept busy with the drills,
fatigue and other duty. Almost the first
thing in the morning is company or battalion
drill, which is closely followed by guard
mount and fatigue call. The fatigue duties
are rather severe at present owing to the
breaking in of new camp, and there is al
! ways piehly VI WOTh 10 De 1OunQ with
pick and shovel In the afternoon there is
again fatigue call, followed by battalion or
regmental drill. There are no duties during
the middle of the day excepting guard duty,
which at present is rather heavy owing to
the strained relations existing.
The discipline is very rigid amongst the
companies, and the meh are looked after
very closely, not only in department but
health. Close attention is paid to the sani-
tary condition of the camp. Each company
mas bath tent in the rear of its street
Ihere are two men to each tent which
they are expected to keep in first class shape
Each has bamboo cot and floor of Stats
Of bamboo lashed to four bamboo poles The
floors are raised about a foot and n half
from the ground, so that the men NAV
not be affected by the damp ground and
the space also allows of plenty of air circu-
lating through the tent
Merry Times Mt Christmas.
Christmas was celebrated by all OF the
companies in the best manner possible
Much disappointment was felt on account
Of the delay of the Christmas boxes. which
had been held in San Francisco But all
OF the companies were in receipt of a money
order from home to add to their Christmas
fund. This materially assisted them in
Rifles, started two days before Christmas to
prepare the delicacies of the spread The
cooks were kept busy all OF the night of
Christmas eve and when mess call blew
Christmas day every man, dressed in white.
sat down to the long table heaped with
chicken, pie, cakes and all kinds of good
things that are not often seen in a soldiers
life. The boys at once attacked the con-
tents OF the table, intending soon to clear
1t Of everything, but they found that
Quartermaster Pat White and Chief Cook
Frank Reed not only had enough for dinner
but also for grand supper and then still
some left over,
After the cigars were passed, with the
compliments Of Private Harry Harrison, an
impromptu entertainment was held Letters
from the companys chaplain, Rev. g.
Wright Butler, and Judge Estele we're read
by Captain Taylor After this cheers were
given for Rev. Mr. Butler, Judge Estelle.
the Ladies Auxiliary OF the Thurston Rifles
and the citizens of Omaha On a suggestion
from Charles Anderson that we must not
forget our mothers and sweethearts three