Chriss A. Bell

Corporal in the Second Oregon Volunteer Infantry state militia.

March 27, 1899

Oregon boys rested yesterday but fighting continued on right of line. We lost about 14 men killed & 70 wounded and advanced our lines to

March 28, 1899

Sent home letters maps and papers of the fight. Malabon has fallen & troops are near Malolos where it is now expected a hard fight

March 29, 1899

More mail. One from F. Grant now have charge of Guard House. It is a thankless job. Everything is quiet at front except for rumor

March 31 – April 1, 1899

April 1, 1899

Another attempt to burn town was expected but failed to materialize. Rumor says regiment will come in action in a few days.

April 11, 1899

Everything quiet. Expect Jim to go to Corrigedor [Corregidor]. He seems some worse. Oregon & Minn. outposts have all attacked last night. Oregon lost 3

April 12, 1899

Everything quiet both on lines and in town. Santa Cruz was captured by Lawton with no trouble & Santa Maria by Oregon & Minn. Ornegas*

April 13, 1899

Everything quiet Troops expect to move in[to] Calumpit Saturday.

April 14-15, 1899

April 15, 1899

Still everything quiet. No move yet made on Calumpit. Penns [Pennsylvania] came in front line & I was to take their place. Everything points to

April 16, 1899

Sunday. All quiet. Davies go to front and Penns. take their place at Cavite all sorts of rumors as to home going.

April 18-21, 1899

April 21, 1899

Nothing to note in last three days except mail arrived yesterday and massing of brigade to move down valley. Now Col. Summers is in charge

April 23, 1899

Sunday. All quiet in town. 4 Cavite [natives) & Nebraska got into a mix-up. We lost about 25 men wounded & killed. Col. Stottemberg [Stotsenberg] of

April 24, 1899

Went into action. House as inspection in place of Nicolly Walker who goes out as boat guard. The work will be an agreeable charge to

April 25, 1899

About 40 wounded & dead brought in last night mostly Nebraskas (sic) & Cavalry. No one yet from [Col. Owen] Summers[.] Troops are now near

April 26, 1899

Summers heard from. He beat Lawton to meeting place by two days. Captured town and cleared country around Brigade. Lost, killed, & wounded about 10

April 27, 1899

Calumpit fell yesterday with loss smaller on side although the city was entrenched behind the most formidable trenches yet uncountered [encountered]. No further news from Lawton

April 28, 1899

Col. Mas Arguell [Manuel Arguelles] & Lieut Col. Jown [Florentino Torres] [and] [an] Adj. [of] Gen. Luna [Ambrosio Flores] yesterday [went] through McArthur’s lines to

April 29, 1899

Saturday only work 1/2 day at custom house. Philippine Commissioners left for lines at noon. They asked for armistice of 3 weeks so as to

May 2, 1899

Mail came today. Received one letter from home & one from Mary S. & Cleona. Most of the boys received a large mail. Am still

May 3 & 4, 1899

May 4, 1899

[Aguinaldo’s Peace] Commissioners [and Gen.] Otis could not agree so they left & we are advancing. Nothing of note occurred. Mail leaves in a few

May 7, 1899

Sunday. Lay around quarters reading all day. About 5 Miss Dunn called for me in her cart we went out on Luenetta [Luneta] listened to

May 13, 1899

Saturday. 21st Infantry start for lines near Waterworks also some regulars start for Lawton’s division to relieve Oregon. In afternoon get Carmetta [and] get Miss

May 14, 1899

Lay around quarters all AM. At two met Miss Dunne who took me for a drive. Out out toward the waterworks as far as Deposit

May 24, 1899

Typhoon been raging for several days. For now calmer today. About 700 niggers attacked McArthur in the forenoon* when the artillery Montana’s and Dakotas [Dakotas’] get

May 25, 1899

Was not at custom house today. Bothered with diarrhea. Seven regiments came in and a more sunburned blacker dustier looking lot of boys one could

June 18, 1899

The Reg was put in Hills – Lawton’s division for a trip through Mariquina battery and around lake [Laguna de Bai] tomorrow [June 2] we