Tuesday 2-28-99
February 28, 1899
Last night the usual amount of firing –only it was close, oh so close. Went in St Ana in a.m. –Picked out some clothes &
Alfred Burton Welch
(September 26, 1874 — June 30, 1945). Served with Company D, 1st Washington Volunteer Infantry in the Philippines, April 30, 1898 to November 1, 1899.
March 1-99
March 1, 1899
On guard from 4 to 6 a.m. Cool –could not move on acct. of s[harp].s[hooters]. Gen. Wheaton came along early and at 9.15 came the
March 26-99
March 26, 1899
Late on March 1st we worked on entrenchments and I recv’d a sunstroke & in 15 mins was talking like a “halibut.” Was taken to
March 27-99
March 27, 1899
We sent about 500 ducks down in canoes to Manila –for mess fund. Quiet last night but firing at Pasig this morn. Don’t savey [savvy]
March 28-99
March 28, 1899
Dug for treasures. Scouts go out early & Co. is under arms until their return. All quiet. About $3,000 found today.
March 30-99
March 30, 1899
Marched to Taguig in a.m. and took qts in the convent of a large church. Was on guard from 5 p.m. to 5 a.m.
March 31-99
March 31, 1899
They signaled on lake all night with torches, and the gun boat was a pretty sight. Her shell burst along the shores at Taytay. At
April 3rd-99
April 3, 1899
Very hot. Had squad slashing the “feathery” bamboo so we could detect the approach of enemy on that side. Cos D & H at church
April 4th-99
April 4, 1899
Scouts had a lively brush this a.m., having run upon about 150 insurrectos between here and bay. Tried to decoy them to us but they
April 5th-99
April 5, 1899
Our scouts run up against them again today, but it was a skirmish line at least two mi. long, and was too much. Am on
April 6th-99
April 6, 1899
All quiet last night but, signal fires gleamed and flashed. Was relieved at 5 p.m. Have been in the field over 2 mos.
April 7th-99
April 7, 1899
Lots o’ filips at the large umbrella tree 2½ mi. S.W. We can see them send out their scouting parties. They moved up within 300
April 8th to 16th-99
April 8, 1899
(Diary book was lost somehow) Several skirmishes took place during this time, reasulting as usual in the utter discomfiture of native troops under command of
April 16th-99
April 16, 1899
On outpost at Pateros. Black night with bad wind and rain. Creaking bamboos, strange cries in the night, half wild dogs and still wilder pigs
April 18th-99
April 18, 1899
Last night was on outpost away up river road. Several filips showed themselves within 200 ft. but, rather than betray our outposts we let them
April 19th-99
April 19, 1899
To Pasig to draw clothes in a.m. On the road I saw an armadillo with his scaly hide. Captured some tomatoes from an old hag
April 20th-99
April 20, 1899
Scouts under Serg. Rawson sprung the filips this side of the ruined church in the Village on the shore, the flips pressed them hard so
April 21-99
April 21, 1899
Was on lower river outpost last night. Saw only one filip. Heavy volley Krags firing to the east over Smith’s run for ½ hour. Hot today.
April 22nd-99
April 22, 1899
Very hot. Corp. Freeman sick, so took his outpost to east about ¼ mil. Started to rain & such a display of lightning and cannonading of
April 23rd-99
April 23, 1899
Wrote to Tops –a long one. More cannon (I think they are sells) are being placed on the hills for our benefit? Co F Wn
April 24th-99
April 24, 1899
Out outpost tonight. Ins. outposts on s.w. fired last night –at some shadow, perhaps– thinking it an Am. scout. Heavy firing to west today. Cloudy
April 25th-99
April 25, 1899
On outpost across river in ruins of old house. Close to bamboos. All quiet. Sabia’s husband came in at 8 a.m. with presents of chickens
April 26-99
April 26, 1899
Gunboat engaged enemie’s shore batteries today on the e. close to delta. Rebels fired 5 shots in 7 seconds, so it is either a rapid
April 27th-99
April 27, 1899
Filips close, so at 9.30 we filed across the creaking bamboo bridge –Co’s D, F & H, and in an hour Co’s G & L
April 28th-99
April 28, 1899
Slept in a.m. Cloudy and cool –about 90°. Co I are with us now and are in the church. Had potatoes and ham in eve
April 29th-99
April 29, 1899
Co A here today. We now have Co’s D, H, F, I & A at Taguig all in the church. 1 Batt. of 9th U.S.A.
May 10th-99
May 10, 1899
Very hot now. The Maj. Closed the games. Read “A Sailor’s Sweetheart.”