The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-01-21
LETTER FROM THE PHILIPPINES
Mr.. Joe Barbee Writes Interestingly
of the War.

I
of the War.
| The following very interesting better
was received Yesterday by Mr.. NJ b
Barbee, of this city, from his grandson
Joseph Barbee. who is now in the Philip
pine islands, a soldier in the 10Th Infan-
try.
The letter was written on December
End, from Tarlac, Philippine Islands. 1t
is, in Fart. as follows:
' Eve landed at Manila on the morning
Of Oct. 2Sth and l would have written
| TO YOU Immediately. as was my intention
| hui was ordered to JOIN my command al
| the front at once. You may have some
| conception of how | was rushed through
| from the fact that in less than twenty
| four hours from the time of landing l
was on the firing line.
On the morning of the Both (Thanks-
giving a scouting party came in with the
intelligence that the enemy several hun
bred in number We're intrenched ON a
mountain side about FIVE miles from o-'
position and orders were Immediately rs
sued for an advance. After hurredly
filing our canteens and receiving an IS
sue of rationS we moved forward. by
| company, acting as advance guard. AT
about five hundred yards from their lines
we received n heavy yolley which killed
two of our mem and wounded five. While
this scrap was going ON two companies
of the Ninth Infantry depEoyed through
the brush to the right and left, and flank
ed them ON both sides. The fight lasted
an hour when they ''yamoosed' up the
mountains and scattered in every direc-
tion. When they began their retreat they
| had to- cross an open field and here we
got in some good target practice result
ing i'll about twenty-three of Them being
put out Of business and securing quar-
tiers in the happy hunting grounds. We
pitched camp that might in their trenches
as pursuit was impossible, owing to the
fact that they never retreat in any order.
but flee in every Objection, and we simply
have to wait until they come together
somewhere and go after them again.
Organized armed resistance is rapidly
on the wane here. and the general opinion
is that peace will soon he restored. The
natives are tired of it. which fact is
evinced by the demonstrations with which
our troops are greeted in every town we
take. OF course it will require some
time. probably years. to put down the
guerilla bands up in mountains, and the
progress of civilization will undoubtedly
effect this end more quickly and more
thoroughly than armed force.
Out here on the north line where we
are now fighting, the country Is the finest
| ever saw. or course it as UVcrgrown
; with undf1brush Ne. hut all Ut needs
is cultivation and it could not be equalled
the world over.
Well | guess few lines descriptive of
my trip across the pond" win be of some
interest, so here goes: The run from
Frisco to Honolulu, III. L. something
over =, 400 miles was made in seven days.
When several miles out from the Golden
Gate the boat began to roi.k very badly
sometimes nearly dipping in a dead calm.
This was caused by her being improperly
loaded. and her ballast being unpqually
distributed. We remained IN Honolulu
two days. The run from here to Manila
via island Of Guam about $500 miles.
we expected to make i'll about eighteen
days. but shortly after leaving Honolulu
we sighted thc transport "Manuense' dis
playing distress signals. We hove to and
asceltained she was partially disabled
from a break DOWN in her machinery;
we had to keep her in sight after this,
which reduced our speed to about half.
Considerable confusion was caused
among the men by the change of date,
when we crossed the international date
line. We retired one Thursday night and
the next moIuing was Saturday.
Just before we entered the China Sea,
we encountered a typhoon, and had a
rough time Of it for three days.
We haven't received any news from
the States in nearly two months. i would
be glad to receive some of the home ma
pers. no matter of what date, as any
news is late news.
There is much speculation among the
regulars as to the time we will return to
the States. My regiment-the 18th, has
been here moue than twelve months, con-
sequently we will he among the first TO
return; so if "Aggie" deems it unHeces-
Sary to detain me with one of his Mauser
persausives / expect to be in Gods coun-
try by next summer.
Shortly before | left Frisco / uet Coke
and Geo West. They were assigned To
the 4th Cavalry. They were both to sail
when l did. but Coke was sent to the
hospital with malaria West came over
with me. / met a felew yesterday who
had been discharged from the Fourth
Infantry. He knew Rom Young and said
he was alright. He is stationed at linus
on the South Line. If you see his father
let him know about Rom. They are
having some pretty hot work down there
at present. probably he hasn't time TO
write.
When this reaches You the holidays
will be over and Christmas greetings will
be out of date. but YOU know | wish
You ard all the loved ones at home every
JOY for the New Year. / hope ere an
, other twelve months to be with YOU