The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-04-07
OUR s. D. BOYS.
Soldier Boys Tell of Life
in the Philippines.
How the Great War Presents
Itself to the Eyes of Geo. Bert
rand and Joe LaBrec.

| W. IL. D0EtTHuu nus received Two lev
tiers Of late from his brother George Of
company G, First South Dakota voluD
teers, Of considerable interest. The first
is dated Philippine Islands, February
q, IN which he says:
Il am we'll, and company G has not
had any fighting lately. We vent back
to the city to get some rest after the
battles of the 4th to the 9Th inst, and
were in about eighteen hours when we
we're ordered out again. We have not
been undressed since the fighting began
except once when we came back to the
city. We got Il bath aud clean clothes.
We are on the right OF the regiment,
next to the Colorudoe. Have to keep
our guns where we can grab them ut a
moments notice. There was some firing
on our left to-day and We tumbled INTO
the bitches. We have made three sets
of trenches since the former battles.
We get all we want to eat, good %ra,ione.
and have got to carry 145 rounds Of
cartridges. There is q little fighting all
along the lines at times. The river gun
boat lost a lieutenant-Harting- good
officer, aud three men are missing that
were with him. The boat swamped.
We think one OF them belonged to our
company. The body OF the lieutenant
has been found.
I'VE give quarter to all natives who
are willing to give up their arms aud be
peaceable, but don't ask any. l would
as soon let an Indian get hold Of me as
an insurgent. but l don't think they
will get hold of many OF the boys. They
have caught a few and have killed and
cut them to pieces in a horrible manner.
II won't join the regular army, but if !
can get my discharge aud transportation
money I will stay here aud 60 to New
Zealand. That is a good country for a
laboring man. In this country you can
hire a native for 6 pesos, or 81, a month.
American money. Four Chinamen will
carry q heavy piano anywhere for 30
cents, Mexican, or y cents, American
money. Only skilled labor can get u
fair chance"
His second letter is dated Manila. Feb
rusry "a, and postmarked March |. In
this be says:
IL am not feeling Well at present and
have not for six days. We had a scrap
With the natives on the I31. About 9
O'Clock We commenced firing and drove
the insurgents back. | tired what
%smokeiess powder l had and sixteen
rounds Of black powder. The black
powder kicked so hat it made me sick
and l was sent back. l have got some
medicine to. Gay and | think | will 90
out in the morning. The firing was
heavy for awhile. When we drew the
ramrod We had to yut our handkerchief
around it and even then the sights on
the rifles were so hot that We could not
change them with our bare hands. /
do not know how many we're killed on
either side. l do not feel like writing
more"
Joe LEBrec writes his friend George
Mellon Of this city under date OF Febru-
airy -. He first gives his account
OF the battle at Block house No. 4, Feb
ruary 5, much as was given in George
Bertrand's former letter in these col.
umns, noting some things that we're not
in that letter. One OF these is that the
natives were led in the attack by priests,
and Joe adds:
"Evesythlng has been quiet along our
line since, until three days ago when the
natives came out OF the woods about
two or three thousand strong and were
led by priests who tried to get them to
charge our trenches, but the heavy fire