Catoctin clarion., 1900-10-25
China Relief Expedition,
Peking, Aug. 2s.
DEAR MAMMA


broken up, as is every man who made that
terrible march. We understood before start
ing that we would haYe about 90 miles of
road to get over, insteal Of which were more
than 12O miles Of hot, dusty cornfields, often
without food or water for day at a time.
Our outfit carried leach man) his haversack
with mess kit, &c, canteen, blanket roll, rifle
and belt with 100 rounds, and the sun was
hotter than in the Phiipplnes,and sometimes
it would be midnight until we got into camp,
and then would often have TO start again at
4. Men, horses, Chinese coolies who were
working with the armies, dropped out by
the hundreds daily. many dying after few
hours suffering, others left with minds affec-
ted for life There were 10000 men in the
column with the Japs leading Russia second,
United States third, then England with
France and Germany bringing up the rear,
and all were determined to reach Pekin as
soon as possible, which we did alright bat
in delapidated condition. Had severa,
fights on the way up and on the nth night
out we camped outside the walls of the Tar.
tar city and on the next morning entered the
city and had our last fight with the Imperial
battery, supported by our six companies of
marines, took position on the cutter wall of
the Imperial city. while the 9th and 14th
stood by In the court below ready to charge
when the time came, and as the Chinese were
on the inner wall, only $50 yards from us,
for few hours there was hot closerange
fire. They made desperate stand but had
to give in, though don't think there were
many left to retreat. Capt. Riley was killed
there the only man hit out of all that were
on the wall. He was well liked by his men
and what they did with their 5 big guns to
the Chinos after that was grand to see. All
the fights put together since Tcintsin would
not equal that battle, and think all expected
a harder fl sht here Well, will try to tell
a little Of the city, as miserable o hole as can
be found anywhere. We passed through
many cities coming up and we actually had
dread when coming to one, for with their
one story mud houses, narrow streets, dead
and half starved children lying in the cutters
with hogs, but when we came into this city
we expected something different and instead
we struck something worse No such thing
as pavement s known and hogs have made
big holes in the streets in which they roll
and raise stencil all day These people
won't even bury their own dead and up to
few days ago fellow had to stop breathing
pretty often. These people are great for
having dogs and they eat up the "stifIs, and
it was common sight to see a big dog come
running down the street with the front or
hind quarter of some heathen. But our peo-
pie now send out a crowd of coolies each day
under guard to bury all dead and the Ameri.
can Scctiou is in pretty good shape. About
every tenth house in this city is a joss House
with dozen or more wooden images, and
chief delight is to get IN there with good,
heavy club and star. in, and many one I've
put on the bum.
1t is surely time seme country got hold Of
the best way to do it would be to kill all Of
them.
The women are ignorant slaves, most Of
them with their feet squeezed into bit of
flesh about 81 or inches long, and all they
eat is rice with grease on it three times a
day, not half as clean as the p. |, women nor
half as enlightened.
A conference was held in the Sacred City
yesterday between the different generals and
the Empress's representatives, and we think
the fighting is over. AT least We know it IS
for U.S. that Is, the 14th and 9th and us, and
we expect to be relieved by fresh troops and
sent either home or to the =. l. The two
army regiments are to be sent home for nci.
ther has half its strength, and We think that
in month or so We will be Sent to Cavlte
and from there home shortly after. Our
clothing is all down there, nearly 5000 miles
from here, and we are not prepared for such
winters as they have In this country.
know every man of us is heartily sick Of
China and war and would be only too glad
to go back to Cavite, where there is at least
restaurant or two to 60 to when a fellow
gets hungry.
The marine corps is not equipped for field
duty, having no wagon trains, ETC., and even
now We get only ration, which Is not
enough for sick man. But we do little
complaining knowing we'll that this was an
exceptional case and that we had to get here
to rescue our people, and a cablegram from
the President read to us last night put new
life into US.
l am awful anxious to &c: some papers
from the States and if you kept sending them
to my old address in Cayite, l will get them
some time.
certainly have many things to tell you,
and when get back will try for 80 days
off and talk to you all about war aud troops
of different countries until you'll wish was
back In China. think could go into any
part of the world now and feel perfectly at
home-no, not at home, but at ease, for there
is any old soldier here from Algiers to the
Turks Of Northern India, little, bow legged
fellow about feet high.
! The Japs, on the way up, being IN the lead