Newton County GaArchives News.....LETTER FROM MANILA, Extracts From a Letter Written by Marvin Middlebrook to his Father. February 2, 1900 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Phyllis Thompson http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00011.html#0002524 August 5, 2006, 10:49 am The Georgia Enterprise February 2, 1900 IN CAMP, NEAR MANILA Dec. 24th, 1899 MY DEAR FATHER I have just received your letter of November 18th., and have received several from home since I last wrote; but have not had an opportunity of answering them. I have at last had my first experience of being under fire; it was at San Mateo, on the 19th., the day General LAWTON was killed. It had not rained for two weeks up to December, 18; and we left camp at eleven o’clock at night, expecting to get to San Mateo, at 6 o’clock A. M. on the 19, but it rained hard all night. We lost our way, and did not arrive on the ground before San Mateo, until 8:30 A. M. The fight had opened before we got to our position which was on our left flank. Our troops sat on their horses under fire for an hour; but we had the good fortune not to lose a man or a horse. But the mouser bullets sounded sickening. I was a bit nervous at first, but when I got where I could use my gun I was alright. This troop was in the first cavalry charge on the island. We charged across a rice field knee deep in water; lost two horses, but not a man hurt. We captured lots of prisoners, but got no guns, they hide the guns. The first and last time I ever saw General LAWTON was about an hour before he was killed. CARL RHEBERG was in the fight and came out all right. I saw him after it was over. WE staid in the town and had chicken and rice to eat. I was in the saddle 32 hours, and out of camp four days, but got back yesterday and have not got rested yet, but feel good. We expect to go south in a few days and I may not get a chance to write soon but don’t get uneasy. Your Son, MARVIN, Troop M. 11th Cavalry, U. S. V. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Georgia Enterprise, April 6, 1900 A Covington Boy in Manila MANILA, P. I., Feb. 14, 1900 MY DEAR FATHER, I have at last an opportunity to write my second letter this year. I am well, and have been all the time. Have just received a letter from Mother, dated December 31st. This is the first letter I have had from home all year. I will now give you a short sketch of the campaign I had the honor to go through for the last forty-two days. We worked hard, New Year’s Day, getting ready. Cavalry, you know, have a good deal to do in preparing for a six weeks campaign. On the second of January we went to Pasog, which was the headquarters of the 4th cavalry. Our squadron, which is the 2d, was attached to the 4th cavalry, all under the command of Lieut. Col. HAYES. We pulled out from here on the 3d. Went to San Pedro, with General SCHWANN’S brigade. We left there on the 5th. The next day we lost a man, the first casualty of the campaign, just outside of Binan. On the next morning, which was Sunday, we had a great deal of fun. WE chased the _________ forty-three miles, through four towns, killing 23 and capturing about 50 rifles. Troop M, had one sergeant wounded. Just a dark, we went into Indong, which was occupied by 700 of the enemy. We took them by surprise, and soon had them running _____ ______ _____ _______ of our men, however, before _____ got our of range. In this affair we captured 17 mousers, $16,000 in silver and $5,200 in gold. On the 9th, we advanced on Niag. Here we lost a Georgia boy, young NAPIER, from Macon He was shot four times, while holding horses. I went with the pack train that day, and had more fighting than the boys in front. I had a lively personal encounter, a sort of duel, with a native who was posted in a tree. He fired at me five times, and I shot at him seven, when down he came. As soon as we got into the town, I was ordered back to Indong, to carry dispatches to Gen. SCHWANN. I had orders to go through fast, and in trying to obey them, I rode my horse so hard that it killed him. But I got the dispatches through, all right. I got back to the command at Niag, next day at noon, and _____ ______ _______ ________ vino, their worst enemy. We went back over the same trail. On the 13th we went South. Had no trouble until the 20th, when we were ambushed, and had three men and four horses killed, by the ____ volley; but as some soon as we could form, we routed the locals, and it was the next day that I shot the only Philippine that I am sure I got. I went and examined him. On the 23rd , we left our _______ the place where we had been ambushed, and marched on foot to Luibon, which was said to be strongly fortified and ________. We found the town and when they saw that we were about to ______ them, they ________ and we occupied the place without assistance. This was as far south as we went. We then returned to Santa Cruz, and on the way had some skirmishing. We were on duty at Santa Cruz two weeks, escorting wagon trains and convoying generally. Santa Cruz is said to be the second city in Luzon. We were then relieved and returned to Manila. Our squadron, during the 42 days, lost 12 men killed about 20 horses killed, and a good number of men wounded. I send you, under a separate cover, a genuine insurgent flags, and an insurgent paper. I would like to write oftener, but don’t have the chance. I see a good many of my friends from Georgia in the 29th infantry. Lieutenant ALMAND is sick, in Manila, but is not seriously so, however. Remember me to my friends. Your Son, THOS M. MIDDLEBROOK, Corporal, Troop M. Eleventh Cavalry, U. S. V. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/newton/newspapers/letterfr1552gnw.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/ File size: 6.2 Kb