Joseph John Collins:
Spanish-American War Diary

(February)

Feb 1 Rained all day small hike went out

Feb 3 2 Nothing of importance

Feb 4 3 Went on Guard on Outpost wall (?) clear small steamer stopped could not get through the Straits

Feb 4 5 Still On hill Steamer left at 2 AM sail boat came in from Bulan with little mail. Privt Fret (?) and Corpl Prine (?) slele selected to go to Manila for the Police force rained.

Feb 6 4 Still on Out post Steamer Brutus came in at 5 PM with commesary Capt Bishop 1 sergt 1 corple from C Companie rumored was circulated we were to go to Manila Feb 20 to relieve the 20 REg and do Provast.

Feb 5 Came of guard at 9 AM Sergt and Detachment with Lieut Clark. Lieut took sick and came back hikers came back at 3 PM

Feb 6 Prisoner had red band sewed on shirts to distinqush them from other natives Colonels Launch came in little mail then left for Gubat. Para came in with 4 barrels of beer.

Feb 7 Hike under Sergt Taylor went out Prvt with him and Rogers left with Capt Hart on Colonels Launch

Feb 8 Went on Guard on hill General boat Francisco Reyes came in 8 AM no mail left 7 hospital to go to different places by launch

Feb 9 Still on hill plenty of rumors in town. Playing cards had chicken fired with sweet potatoes

Feb 10 Relieved from outpost at 9.30 AM Sunday Clear and I visited some natives.

Feb 11 Seen a water-spout at 1.30 PM between the Island of Saman and here Hike under Lieut Clark Sergt Rech went out at 7 am for 4 days Colonels Launch with Capt Hart 2^nd Presidente came in at 9.30 PM left right away for Gubat

Feb 12 Went on guard on hill rained hard all day.

Feb 13 Still on the hill 12 of the men that went on hike returned sick others went on to Bulasan

Feb 14 Came off guard at 9 AM hikers came in at 5.30 PM they was fired on at Bulasan no one hit

Feb 15 Mounted Guard at Guard house at 9 Am two large steamers passed Castellorno came in to avoid storm left at 4

Feb 16 Castellano came in at left at 4.30 AM relieved at 9AM spent day playing cards Co had inspection at 8 AM night quite Col Launch came in Hospital men left on it

Feb 17. 3 large steamer laid out in front of town at 1.30 ^PM left at 5 AM for Manila Sunday got rations for 2 day hike could not go by order of doctor

Feb 18 Hikers left at 6 AM with Capt Hart and doctor went to Gade returned about 6 PM Capt McLain 8 men and 13 natives came in at 8 PM eat some supper and slept in our quarters

Feb 19 Rain Capt McLain and men left at 1 PM overland Gun boat Ariel came in at 3.30 Pm and laid in harbor all night Ensign came off

Feb 20 Went on guard at Guard house several boats passed reduced hill guard to 3 men

Feb 21 Came off guard at 9 AM cleaned up and laid down Col Launch came in Capt and 12 men left in prow for sail boat Bulan to play B co a game of ball prow came in from Bulan receved some mail and papers

Feb 22 Washington Birthday Launch left for Sorsogon with Lt. Yost and Doctor Lieut Clark received dispatch from Lieut Deitz at Arosein (?) saying that Genl Victoria Genl Funez Commander Cortoro and 1200 soldiers had surrendered to him practically breaking up the insurrection around here. in afternoon helped Sergt Rollins at Comsry visited the Presidente at night

Feb 23 Raining went down to work at Commisary had inspection at 8.30 fellows all laying around doing nothing expecting launch back some time today

Feb 24 Went on guard on hill showers all day bal players returned with Lt Briggs Capt Hart Lt Yost and doctor the defeated B. co. by the score of 12. to 6. they also witnessed the surrender. Prvt Casey 1^st Sergt Weiss and cook Swabb were left behind night quite.

Feb 25 Came off guard at 9 AM sail boat came in with absent men Launch left for Gubat with Lt Briggs 2 post take off the hill outpost and the bridge leaving only 9 men on every day. Corp Rollins and Hernandez with six men started in a row boat to visite the Island opposite but on account of the roughness of the straits were nearly swamped and returned Launch passed on way to Sorsogon Drew $3.00 worth on credit at the commisary rained slightly at night. all the prisoners expected to be released tomorrow 1 shot gun surrendered to us today. at night Danfield and I figured up what we expected to get at our muster out.

Dec 26 (sic) Excused from old guard fatigue guard reduced to 6 men Kline getting tank on had tooth-ache at night Kline and Dugan went outside the lines drunk and started shooting Lieut Clark caught them and put them in the guard house. Native squad enlisted

Dec 27 (sic) Morning drill done away with 3 prisoners working out front. Clothing account settled up for 18 months saved $21.47 cleaning up for muster. Natives squad 1 corporal and 7 men building quarters for themselves. had no drill in the afternoon as expected. fellows passed the evening away by singing hymns.

Dec 28 (sic) Muster at 8.40 AM. slept until dinner. in afternoon done some washing. went in swimming with a crowd of the fellows. tooth-ache /\ ^at night