A Soldier in the Philippines

ny men lost their provisions in the battle or in crossing the river. Mine was lost in the river together with my mess kit, canteen and haversack. Those who were fortunate enough not to lose

f ranks and straggle along as best I could. My company set out for Caloocan with one hundred and twenty-eight men, only eighteen of whom marched through that night. The others were scattered along the route, footsore and worn out. Many of them pulled off their s

the First Regiment of Colorado Volunteers. He made many inquiries about us and our regiment and asked all about the battle fought that day. He looked after our welfare by providing us with shelter and beds, but there was something else we wanted before sleeping. We were perishing for food and a

when I fell asleep. I was so stiff and sore that it was miserable to have to m

ore my party reported at Caloocan one of the other two and myself were reported captured by the Filipinos, or lost. That night we all went back into Manila to resume guard and patrol duty.

tal of Luzon and the most important city of the Philippine Islands. The energy and enterprise is due t

three languages, if not more. Spanish is the prevailing lan

all in this filthy hole. Their principal food is rice and soup. One dollar of United States currency will buy enough for one person to live on a whole month. When the Americans first entered Manila it was v

n a great deal of disease and death is

holes, or probably I would be more correct in saying, about half covered with ea

ground and handled like dead hogs. They would be covered a little and left to the dogs. I don't bel

ners. They do not sit down like Americans. This is the case with all the natives. They sit

n the feet and most of them wear nothing on the head. They are not fond of clothing, and many wear very little, almost going nude. They find a great deal of pleasure

eir guns to the soldiers they would make a motion like giving up a gun, but instead jump back and attempt to shoot a soldie

is to keep possession of his gun, and sometime

ithout working for it. Their principal cause for idleness is the cheapness of their living, rice and fish being their principal food. They will catch fish

y of their indolence and filth. The Filipinos and native tribes are extremely filthy in their e

ch better people than the Filipinos and more intelligent. This tribe is h

ipped by the Americans, and placed in the field agai