Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1900-03-22
Letter From The PhiliD1ineS,

~ licI l-dHCdStCI DOy W HIS iuOGntl
at Bos5obel, was published in the
Dial Enterprise and the Editor of the
Herald was requested to reproduce It:
NoRzAGRY, p. T., FEB. ?, 1900.
DEAR MOTHER AND ALI expect
you will think am among the killed
after not hearing from me for so long,
but after leaving San Fernando we
were not in "A town where we could
get stamps, or any kind of stationery.
The stationery we took with us was
ruined by water from rains or swim
ing rivers; sometimes our saddle
pockets would he fall. We have
marched over 800 miles and been in
more than twenty different towns,
some of them we helped take The
hardest thing we have had to contend
with was the rain and mud. We
have marched when it was impossible
to make more than or miles day
and our poor horses would be nearly
played out. War is cruel thing on
| horses
was in Gen. Lawton's division up
to his death and found him TO lee a
fine officer, the men of the 18th Cav.
feel the loss Of so good man. His
little boy, not more than II or -
years old, went with him all through
the campaign being with his father
when he was killed.
When we got to this town we had
lived for three months on hard tack,
bacon and coffee and some spoiled
rice, almost dead for a change of
food. Soon after we got here COM
missary was opened so we can get
anything we want in the line of can
ed goods. A splendid baker is with
Us and he built an oven Of stones,
and is making the finest kind OF
bread. On Christmas we had a chic
ken dinner and several OF the boys in
my squad got a frait cake from home
SO | Jared pretty well.
Have collected but few relics thus
far One Of the boys caught me u pet
monkey at Tayug about 100 miles
north Of here. lie is 50 tame that
turn him loose and he will climb
from tree to tree, and when called
viii run out on limb and Jump on
my shoulder He always wants to
lay right against my face when | lie
down and when put him away he
will cry like baby. How would
YOU like to have me bring him home?
We are about - miles northeast of
Manila, nar the mountains where |
the weather is cool. We have had |
but little ram for over two months, |
though suffered very little from the
heat. am still corporal and not
likely TO get any higher this enlist
ment for there will be no more yacan-
cies before am discharged | have
had good many attacks of malaria
but they only last three or four days.
think | will be one Of the lucky ones
and get home sound and well. We
are III sibley tents for the irst time
since we came on the Island having
either slept in the houses that the
natives had left or on the ground /
was sent cut in charge Of twelve men
on a scout several days ago but. we
didn' find anything. Have been on
the support in several fights where
the bullets whlstlcd over our heads,
but the troops first on the line always |
put them 70 flight before ! could fire
a shot The natives are afraid of our
big horses and cavalry pistol. Sew
eral hundred insurgents tried to take
town not long ago, the troops b, NJ
and II. Of this regiment, were there
and when the outpost heard them
coming, they drew back in the dark
ness and sent for more men. they
formed in line and lay still, when the
goioes" did not find them they
thought the Americans had fled be-
comming bolder they cheered and
started charging when the Americans
opened up on them with rapid fire,
killing quite a number and | guess
the rest are running yet. Gen. Canon
who was in command, reported to
Aguinaldo that 800 Americans had
opened upon them with gattling
guns. Ten OF us could whip 100
Fiilpinos on open ground, for they
won't stand even in trenches, of
which they have so many.
1t is generally supposed That this
regiment will be sent to the states
this spring, but we don't know Just |
when. would like to see you all,
think ! could spend month or two
at home all right. Expect you have
all changed since | last saw you.
must close, hoping this will find you
all well. With love to all,
w f. MCKEL,
Troon + Ith l. ( Cavalry. |