Soldier's Letter - Charles Taylor, 1900

Note from the Coordinator: The following letter was written by Charles D. Taylor, a young soldier who was stationed in the Philippines during what must have been the Spanish American War. His mother, Mrs. Nan Taylor, probably submitted it to the local newspaper for publication.

The Jamestown Press
Jamestown, [Boone County] Indiana
Friday, August 3, 1900 - page 4

SOLDIER'S LETTER

Nufva Carceres, P. I., 5-27-1900
Mrs. Nan. TAYLOR, New Ross, Indiana

Dear Mother:

As I am at liberty this evening will write you a few lines.

Things are going on about the same here. We have a little rain every day. The rainy season commences next month, and from what they say, I guess we will get enough. It rains nearly all the time.

We have had some fighting since I wrote you. We have had one killed instantly; one had to have his arm taken off and died; one shot in the mouth, but is getting along all right so far; and one speared in the hand; but while they were doing that we were not sleep. We have killed close to 100 and captured the same number. It don't seem like they know when they got enough, but it is only a matter of a few days when the rainy season sets in, and I think the larger portion of them will come in then and give up. They can not do anything here when it rains like it does here. I was in hopes we would get home before it commenced, but I have about given up hopes, but we do not get the straight news about anything here. What we do get is from one to three months old.
 
I have not seen or heard anything of Hollis DAZELL since we were in Imus. Don't even know where his regiment is. We are about three hundred miles from Imus and don't suppose we will ever get on that end of the island again. They laid a cable up the river today- commenced it in the bay- and now we have direct communication with Manilla. We are about ten miles from the bay, but small steamers come up the river.

They are working us hard as ever. I don't know how we stand it as we do. All of Co. M was condemned, but they will rest up a few days and go back at it again. We have been and are still looking for relief, but don't know how or when we will get it. They say if MC KINLEY brings them home, they will vote for him; and if he don't they will never vote the Republican ticket again. I want to get home bad enough, but not bad enough to vote the Republican ticket to get there.

I have not received any mail from any one but you since I have been on the island. I guess New Ross must be on the boom and people haven't time to write.

My best to all,
your son,
Charles D. Taylor

Submitted by: Janet Isley Price