Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1900-08-09
Philippine Letter.
Jolo, 2. l., June 81. 1900

Mr.. Warren Cole,
Dear Fir lend. II am again in receipt
of one of your most kind and welcome
letters of May 9th, which was received
yesterday. 1t found me we'll and
hearty as usual, doing justice to my
meals of which we have plenty and
can still say that have never been on
on sick report yet, enjoying the best Of
health. We are still stationed at the
same place doing garrison duty but we
leave next week for Baumgan to re-
lieve Co. G which has been stationed
there the last three months. The
3rd battalion which is now here from
Cuba is making preparations of going
aboard the transport, Warren, today if
possible, and sail for the States but
will stop at Manila on their way. The
battalion consists Of l, X. s and M of
forty men to the company which will
be nicknamed the sick, lame and lazy,
and men who's enlistment has nearly
expired. This includes men from the
whole regiment Men belonging to
this battalion who are not taken will
be transferred and equally distributed
among the remaining companies. There
is twenty-five out of our company goes
with the home battalion and we receive
seventy men in their place making our
company 1874 strong. That is really too
many as it makes the companies hard
to handle and can not hear the COM
mands at the extreme rear of the COM
pany. We are so crowded in the
quarters that we do not hardly have
breathing room.
Mr.. Farrell was transferred to A COM
pany which is at the islands Of Isabel
where they have numerous scraps. 1
company suffered the greatest loss
while at Cebu. 1t is doubtful if the
Warren sails today an Major Sweet
with 100 men from b company and a
part OF the artillery force went down
to an island yesterday, the name of
which I have not learned, to protect
the natives from band of robbers
that came over from Borneo plumber
ing and killing the natives, and have
not cameba yet. Major Sweet is pro-
NOTED to Lieut.. Colonel of volunteer
regiment and goes away on this boat,
leaving his command to Major James.
The thing l regret is, We loose
our LIST Seargent, Bryan III. Smith.
do not believe there ever was
better man lived for that place and
was liked by all in the company. He
understood military tactics thorough
ly, being in the service fifteen years
but was promoted to Commissary
Seargent which is of higher salary and
belonging to the staff.
At the present writing we are having
plenty of rain, but is cool making it
fine soldering. You spoke about it in
your letter of numbering which is of
rare occurrence here for / had been
here over three months before heard
the first thunder. Quite often large
black clouds come up from the south
and southeast, so black that it would
bring terror among the inhabitants of
the States, but here it passes over with
steady downfall of rain without the
slightest wind in front or rear of it.
Some times there will be little dis
tant thunder warning us of its APP
proach. There is not any sharp light
ming but distance sheet lightning
There isn't any wind here, Just merely
a breeze that comes floating in off the
bay. have never seen enough wind
to sway the branches of the trees since
l have been here but once.
Jolo is situated ON the very waters
edge while its background consists of IA
chain of mountains. have seen moth
ing but mountains since my first
twenty-four hours ride on the way to
the Philippines. Iawoke in the morn
ing after the first nights ride and cast
my eyes out OF my hearth window be-
fore the sun had made its appearance
in the eastern horizon and saw in the
distance a chain of mountains whose
crests we're white with snow and have
seen nothing but mountains ever since.
Well, will have to close as the Major
Sweet is not back and we are ordered
to hold ourselves in readiness to go
aboard the Warren to see what is the
trouble as they had only two rations
apiece with the and it is now forty
hours since they left. Yours truly,
VIM. j. HAMILTON
Il