The true northerner., 1900-03-15
IN THE PHILIPPINES.
r. E. NICHOLSON WRITES TO HIS FATHER
CONCERNING ARMY LIFE.
Mac, p. l., Jan. 26, 1900.

Dear Father
received letter of December 12 in
answer to the one | wrote from Homo
lulu.
The disaster that befell the 3lst regi-
ment while on the transport, they being
obliged to bail out water with pals,
standing in water up to their arm pits,
was on paper only, as met them almost
every day, and they never once mention
ed the fact and was surprised to learn
through you that such report had been
circulated in the United States.
We arrived in Manila Dec. 20, and
there | wrote you, but there being no
chance to mail it took it to shore and
to camp. We were ordered right to the
front. Is miles south, near where Gen.
Lawton was killed, and in swimming the
Pasig river to get to the battle field l
lost your letter and the fishes only will
know its contents.
Well, we formed in line. Companies
a, +" "B, &C" ard IL" of the 10th were
on the left of attacking line, forming the
left flank. Four troops OF cavalry and
four companies of the 10th artillery
formed the attacking force. | do not
know the exact position of the enemy,
but do know that the bullets came
close enough for comfort, and am sur
prised that SO few were hurt, only one
killed and seven wounded, and the blues
put the insurgents "on the bum" in good
shape, and their loss must have been
heavy.
Now, don't worry about my getting
downhearted, as | am the "happiest
baby in the bunch" at all times, and as
for getting wounded, of course there is
some chance, / have had lot of
bullets sizzle all around me, but they go
wide of the mark; think they are all
left handed, like the Benjaminites of old
Bible times; but the insurgents are not
as proficient with the rifle as they were
with the sling, as every one of them
could sling a stone to hairs breadth.
We were so seasick we could throw up
our toe nails, most of the way from
"Cisco" to Honolulu, but were over it on
arriving at the latter place. We bought
square meal there, but were obliged to
eat rotten meat all the way from there
to Manila; but having a good voyage from
Honolulu, we got to the end of the jour
ney without sick man.
Since we landed we have been on the
"hike" all the time and fought many
battles, in two of which we were in mud
up to our armpits, and put 600 of the
enemy out of their misery and took ten
towns, and our loss in killed and wound
ed has been nothing except in first bat
tie mentioned above; SO you see the
the chance for our escape is pretty good
| suppose you have read about the
gallant 45th; we are known in Manila as
Wheatons trough walkers" and the
"hiking 45th." They say we have covered
more territory and taken more towns
than any other regiment on the island liz
the same time.
/ wrote you previous to this, while
lying in trench at San Mantah, and one
to Less. Colburn at the same time; being
short of stamps and envelopes, | put
them in the same envelope, they being
hard to get and paper impossible to find
| would like to have you slip in some
when you write. You see paper is
scarce, as | am obliged to write on the
old envelope.
Well, the insurrection is about broken
up as there has been no fighting of late
Guess they are tired of trying to stand
against the U. S. troops, as wegave then
hot lead in large quantities. We got two
months pay the oath inst. received
S3l60: let the lieutenant take $1,000 to
Manila lit being the only money order
Office in the Philippines) to send home
shall need the rest.
We are getting plenty to eat and it Is
good We get fresh meat from Australia
1t is the finest beef l ever ate. / am
getting tired of hardtack, but can live
yet on rice.
think we will soon be home; by pres
idential election sure, and maybe before
will give bill of fare for dinner to-
day: Ok tail soup, cranberry sauce
biscuit and butter, apricots, oysters and
beer, which we bought of the commissary
it did not cost much, but you bet it was
good.
All well but Dan Robb and he is in
hospital at Manila.
Best regards to all.
X. T.. NICHOLSON.