Marble Hill press. (Marbel [sic] Hill, Mo.) 1881-1923, 1900-05-10
A Letter from the Philippines.

Balanga, Luzon, P. l., March 10, 1900.
MY dear friends: 1t has been long time
since I wrote my last letter and will try
to give you some idea of what we have
seen and gone through since we reached
the Philippine Islands.
We haven't done a great deal of fight
ing, but have had many adventures and
have done great deal of hiking, as
we soldiers call it.
The first troops that came here just
stayed long enough to STIR the niggers
up right good and the job of catching
them was left for us and we have been
hot at their heels for three months and
still after them, wading through swampy
rice fields, crossing creeks and rivers,
climbing rocky mountains, marching
through rain and sunshine, but it would
require some more gifted writer to ex-
plain and describe our hardships, and
after all only those who have had ex-
perience, could know howto sympathize
with the American soldier in the Philip
pines. But, we came here for the sake
of our country and to fight for the stars
stripes. Many battles have been fought
and victories won and to-day in nearly
every town on the island of Luzon may
be seen floating in the air. the stars and
stripes.
Those who have laid down their aims
now respect the flag and in passing salute
it Just as we do, and when the band plays
the Star Spangled Banner, remove their
hats Just as we do. Sometimes one of
them forgets himself, but some of his own
people always notice it and remind him
of it in forcible manner.
'These people are very sneaking and
seeing themselves beaten, are organizing
small bands and resorting to gorilla
tactics; but are not succeeding well even
at that. Only once have they been able
to gain any advantage over our men and
then our men had no chance to save them
selves. Nine of our men were guarding
a provision wagon and were attacked
while crossing a small bridge which had
been fixed so it would go down with the
weight of a wagon. The men tried to
help the wagon out and the hidden foe
took advantage Of their opportunity and
killed six out of nine on the spot, the
other three got away but lost our
provisions.
We started on the advance at a town
called Donelonpeon and after marching
hard all day long, hungry as dogs,
expecting hard fight, and as for myself,
felt as though would as soon lay down
my life as not. In fact didn't feel like
had very much to lose. But after finding
the skirmish line and firing a few Volleys
they were in force too, took to their heels
and away they went, and al 'er firing a
few volleys after them we walked into
town where niggers were running, dogs
barking, but the chickens seemed to be
worse scared than the niggers and they
had a right to be, for soldier'sap appetite
after a, hard days march, don't allow
conscience to take very active part in
the preliminaries and it wasn't long till
the air was full of feathers on every
hand and soon, fires were ready to do the
culinary act; but about that time spark
caught one Of the dry bamboo shacks,
which were built close together and in a
short time it became very interesting,
there being no way to stop it we were
compelled to give up our chickens and
get to place of safety. Ina few minutes
fifty houses were in flames and the pop
ping of the bamboo's, which is equal to
the rattle of small arms while a battle is
in progress, made very interesting and
exciting occasion, but through it all |
could not keep from thinking of my lost
chicken, and had to sit down to piece
of fried bacon, hardtack and coffee. We
had started on five weeks march, but
it lasted seven. We could get but little
to eat and no clothing at all and the
brush here are very hard on clothing.
The bamboo has little hook in its small
branches, which is as sharp as briar
and very tough and will tear any kind of
cloth and as you must know, the soldier
has no time to look after his clothing
when on duty, we were a torn, battered,
barefooted, woe-begone looking crowd
and we felt as bad as we looked and to
undertake to describe our suffering would
battle the skill of veteran newspaper
correspondent.
enlisted in this Co. Z 32nd U. S. ",
under Lieutenant Gillespie Of Bloomfield,
Missouri and am proud to know we have
such brave officer. He commands 400
Macabebe scouts and they are scouting
the country from swamps to hills. He
is now in the mountains routing out the
Ladrones Cor thieves) with his scouts
and has captured many arms and great
deal Of ammunition. His bravery and
kindness to his men has captured the
hearts of all,
We are now doing garrison duty at
Balanga which is a. beautiful little city
within one mile Of Manila bay, surround
ed by very rich country-said to be
the richest in this island-which pro.
duces principally, sugar and rice.
1t hasn't rained here in three months
excepting two or three light showers,
and you understand that it is always
summer here. The sun shines every day
alike, never cloudy except during the
rainy season which begins in July.
have visited Manila, which is fine
wide-awalSe city. There is great deal
to be seen there. People Of almost any
nationality and have noticed three
different tribes Of Fillppinos; one has
short kinley hair like our African Negro,
another tribe looks lllso our Indian only
much darker, the third look nice being
proud, sensible and fairly we'll educated.
] was much surprised at the kind Of
sawmila they have in thiaconntry. They
put log on benches, mako II atealy,
hew both sides OF n and strihe a line