Joseph John Collins:
Spanish-American War Diary

(June)

June 1 We are very short on tobacco fellows all playing cards had pants and leggings (?) altered.

June 2 Working hauling lumber all day from old commissary Lieut Slack and Yost with 50 men on a 4 hr. scouting expedition artillery had practice. Steamer Mayon came in with 4 sacks mail received 5 from home. Mae 1 Mamie Lane Harry Boyle. lots of shooting at night.

June 3 On guard at bridge answered 4 letters fellows digging trench for target. fellows are all reading papers few shells fired at night. fellows got up at June 4 4.30 AM to work to avoid the sun came off guard at 7.15 AM slept all morning. read near all afternoon quiet at night

(June 4: no entry)

June 5 Working in the morning hauling stones in the afternoon sand and lime some of the fellows had target practice received news from Pilar that we killed 7.insurgents in the scrap of May 16 and wounded more last night received news that we killed 8 on the 29 May. Boat crew captured 2 at Pilar Had target practice in afternoon made 16 at 200 and 18 at 300 Surmosa with a sailboat in two arrived from Pilar. Went on guard at night

(June 6: no entry)

June 7 Came off guard slept all morning in afternoon was keeping score at target practice June at 6.30 PM the niggers fired on us with Artillery Capt Hart with 60 en started for the hill while we were going up the hill the Artillery fired a few schrapnel we gained the top with a cheer but the niggers had retreated we came back pretty well heated up

June 8 Was scoring at the target all morning was hauling stone in the afternoon stayed up playing cards in the hospital until 12 Oclock with Grant

June 9 Had inspection went on guard in the church tower. Lieut Cole with detachment of 16 men went out on the hill returned at 7.30 PM at 8.30 PM Lieut Cole takes another detachment of 20 men out on the hill for the night

June 10 Sunday raining all day. spent most of day sleeping Detachment went out on hill this afternoon under Lieut Cole returned at evening developed nothing

June 11 Detailed in kitchen Gunboat Marietta came in about 1030 Officers looked over town. heard that Bul-an was burned to the ground. Boat left about 2.PM she is to patrol between here and Legaspi. At 8.30 PM fired few shells at outpost stayed up until 1 Oclock playing cards in the hospital

June 12 Nice day but very warm was guarding prisoners that was building us a bath-house part of company having target-practice Detail went on hill at 3 PM returned at 6 PM on guard at night at Commisary.

June 13 Came off guard at 6 AM. slept in the morning pleasant day had little thunder shower at night. played cards until 10.30 PM with Oldham

June 14 Was room orderly hike to Magoon at 10AM returned at 5PM killed 2 and captured 2 and a sail boat Sergt McHenry narrow escape from drowning was rescued by Prvt Quornstran (?) who has been recommended for medal. Stayed up until 10PM learning Underwood how to play double pedro.

June 15 Nothing of importance during day at night went on guard at Commisary at 9 PM. a bomb thrown from the bridge brush between the two bridges striking about 100 yds in front of platoon bridge it did no damage as it failed to explode had a storm at night

June 16 Came off guard at 6 AM, had inspection at 9.30. washed belt and moved buttons on pants seas is very rought and the town full of water few men went on the hill at night the wind is blowing a gale

June 17 Sunday no work sea is very rough. showers all day. fellows are all in bathing in afternoon put a shack for sentry on beach. at 5 PM Lieut Slack with few men reconnoitered around hills fired at an outpost and returned very dark at night played whist until bed-time

June 18 Wind still blowing and a heavy surf. guarding prisoners in morning. Went on guard at night along the kitchen very dark and dreary. Broderick caught asleep by Lieut Harrison at 430. AM

June 19 Came off of guard at 6 AM slept until dinner time in afternoon read a novel Surmosa came in at 4.30 PM heard there was mail at Sorsogon cloudy at night and windy fired a shell at an outpost across the river

June 20 Got up at 4.30 AM to go on an expedition to Pilar Boarded the Surmosa with 20 men and gun detachment under Capt Hart left at 10. AM pulled into Pilar with all soldiers out of sight gun was mounted but was covered with canvas to hide it. we threw a line to a sail boat that was loaded with natives that wanted to get away we towed them back to Donsol arrived about 5 PM a steamer passed in sight on the way to Manila. dark at night played cards in hospital until taps.

June 21 On water detail Sergt of guard discovered a bamboo pole on the hill with a notice attached to it warning the Presidente and natives that they would kill them as traitors if they ever caught them, natives are going to Sorsogon. boat left with (?) Sergt and Major and 8.30 PM played cards in hospital till taps

June 22 Went on guard at 7.15 wrote letter to Mother and Phillips showers in afternoon very dark at night received strict orders not to remove belts when sleeping

June 23 Came of guard at 10.15 AM boatt from Bulan iwth cattle and half sack mail. Mayoon came in at 4.30 PM with 7 sacks of mail received 4 letters 1 from Thresa Major returned with boat

June 24 Sunday all the fellows are reading papers and answering letters Lieut Cole with 10 men went out on the hill returned at dark went on guard on 2 platoon bridge

June 25 Came off guard at 6 AM slept in the morning read in the afternoon very warm. had Gramaphone in quarters in the night retired at 10 PM. drizzling rain

June 26 Working in the kitchen Detail of 20 men from each company went to Magoon on a sail -boat for some lumber under Capt Walsh. has been raining all day,

June 27 Sleep in the morning read in afternoon Mayoon came in with from Pilar brought some important news it then went to Magon with the Major Detail there all O.K. returned and Left port at 7 PM went on guard at bridge was dark with showers

June 28 Came off guard at 6 AM slept until dinner. Boat crew went up to detail at Magoon very pleasant afternoon Lieut Yost with detail 20 men went out on the hill fired 2 shots and returned at 7.30 Detail from boat came down for water at 9. PM

June 29 Rained most of the day at 6 PM can see sail-boat pulling away fro Magoon arrived at 12m. stayed on boat all night.

June 30 Detail from boat came ashore. had 9 prisoners 11 women they had a little scrap and killed 4 Musto went on guard at 8.PM. Inspection and muster at 2 PM Company had picture taken drizzled rain at night.