Fear yellow fever.

I was scared at first when I was ordered to the yellow fever hospital I thought my time had come, but they examined me and pronounced my case some other than yellow fever.  The boys fear yellow jack like a rattlesnake.  When I return I will know how to appreciate my country.  I am very weak and sick, but I think I will be well in a short time after I get home.  With all I have suffered I am ready for more if Uncle Sam wants me.

As to the fight, our four troops of the Second United States cavalry were the only mounted troops in Cuba.  We were the staff escort.  I tell you, it is worth all the trials, and hardships, and sickness which I underwent, when I contemplated the scene of the surrender of Santiago.  When Old Glory went up I cried and felt ashamed and looked around to see if any of my comrades had noticed me.  I found they were all crying.  Then we began to laugh and yell again so we would not be babies.  I tell you, it was the proudest moment of my life.

Picks off Spaniards.

I was in the San Juan hill fight.  We were used mostly as scouts.  I know there are two or three poor Spaniards killed or in hospitals.  I took it coolly and just shot at every Spaniard I could see, far or near.  I aim sure I dropped three.  It is quite ticklish at first to be under fire, but the novelty soon wears off.

Just before the battle at Manila.

A. J. Luther, second lieutenant of the First Colorado volunteers, writes as follows, dated Camp Dewey, July 27: 

You may talk about your Cuban war and all other wars, but you may rest assured that the Philippine war is no snap, either.  All the land around us for miles and miles is nothing but deep jungles and swampy ground.  On our west lies Manila bay, 100 yards from our camp.  On the north, for four miles, to Manila, in fact, a jungle and swamp, while on the east it is swamp and on the south more swamp.  Our camp is on a long strip of land between a heavy jungle on all sides.  It is a good camp, considering the location which is made necessary by the position of the Spaniards.

I am reliably informed that the natives of these islands are no farther advanced in civilization than they were 300 years ago.  They live in old boats on the water, in palm trees, in bark huts, or wherever they can hold on long enough to live.  Their life is one of degradation and four-fifths of them have noxious diseases.  You can imagine what a nasty mess we have got into.

They wear for dress very thin cheesecloth and they keep that scanty raiment as clean as any class of people on earth, but their bodies do not seem to amount to that much trouble in their eyes.  From the way they take care of themselves I imagine that they consider their clothes the only essential part of their exterior that ought to be kept clean.

We have not gone into Manila yet and I cannot say just when we will, but you will know through the papers when we do.  I want you to send me all the papers you get hold of which contain anything relating to the Manila troops.  We have a lot of correspondents with us and between them you can glean all the news of importance.