Joseph John Collins:
Spanish-American War Diary

(July)

July 1 1 shot fired at 4 AM. Came off guard at 7 AM slept in morning at 2.30 went out for cocoanuts to make gun oil guite at night chino caught at 12 am signaling across river.

July 2 Clear and warm all day rain at night with heavy thunder and lightning

July 3 guite all day rained at night shelling commenced at 12.30 a

July 4 2 volleys were fired by order of Major came off guard at 715 National salute fired at 12 AM by Artillery h squad had picture taken in afternoon fellows are having fun running race. Oh for a fight with the coons today rained hard at night.

July 5 Policed around quarter laid around all day shower all day sail boat came in at 6 PM. signed clothing roll for 2 under shirts. wrote letter to R. Hurd.

July 6 Showers all day wrote letter to M. Herd. Sail boat in from Bulan. very warm July. went on guard along river.

July 7 came of guard at 6 AM had inspection at 9.30. Detail of 25 men under Lieut Col. went out on a scouting (?) expedition returned at 5 PM. rained during night.

July 8 Raining very hard Paymaster expected this week. played poker in the night

July 9 Very warn Sorsogon came in at 3 PM with some rations drew 2 shirts helped to unload went on guard in the night along river.

July 10 Came off guard at 6 AM took a nap in the morning played poker in the afternoon for tobacco natives prisoners building Bambo fence along river Sergt Dunkle 15 men went out on a trip they run across an insurgent commissary containing rice sugar tobacco soap and hemp which was hidden in the bushes the capture 5 including a chino smuggler with his wig cut off. 33 rifles reported to be at San Vincente they are said to be reloading our old shells.

July 11 Men starting to have target practice again was in the pit with Collins. Baldwin made the best record 39 at 200 yds 30 men under Lieut Yost and the boat crew went to Mayoon came back at 6 PM with 2 natives and a boat played poker for tobacco in the night won 2 bags have got a slight attack of rheumatism in the right knee applying liniment

July 12 Room orderly today clear and cool. Co A had a detail at target practice best score was 44 made by Hoey. Detail from our Co. went out in the afternoon. best score was 46 made by Hollenbeck Rollins made 28 Donfield made 25. Capt Hart with a detail of 20 men went out on a scouting expedition returned 6 PM information obtained cause of postponement of a hike. large steamer passed at dark going towards Sorsogon captured chino give information concerning the enemies secret position located in the woods near Seville a newly built village since our arrival. and also that 140 men started for Donsol on Sunday but reached the opposite shore and then turned back they all had rifles and were ordered to attack us

July 13 Went on guard at 7 AM quite all day Heavy rain Storm at night

July 14 Had inspection at 9.30 came off guard at 10 Slept in morning Major Hernandez turned loose Niggers seen up the river Lieut Slack and 18 men went out but could not see them fellows are all playing poker for tobacco to pass away the time. Very warm

July 15 Sunday. rheumatism is getting worse. very quiete rain storm at night.

July 16 missed reveille went to the hospital at such call got some powders and was marked guard only received information yesterday we were to be attacked tonight Sergt Romanio released yesterday Was excused from guard on account of knee worse

July 17 Went to hospital knee is a little better. rain all day Steamer Mayoon came in at 6 PM with 4 sacks of mail and the 1^st Sergt from Sorsogon Surveying expedition under Lieut Yost and 30 men went out at 8 AM came back at 6.30 PM. Prvt Reamers fired at an old man. and hit him in the arm not serious July 18 received 3 letters and two Presses from home.

Drew 3 pairs of Socks today (written at top of page)

July 18 raining this morning fellows are all reading papers in the afternoon went out to target practice made 39 at 200 yds out of 10 shots Captain reprimanded company for not trying to score. Wrote a letter home very dark at night.

July 19 Dinning room orderly had picture taken with Clear and Donfield both companies finishes shooting at 200 yds Co A. made the poorest score. July 20 at 10.30 PM set fire to the church and convent on the outside of the lines. Guards commenced shooting company fell in the trenches we had a hard time saving the town from being destroyed Major Hernandez and 2 others also burned up. Recall 1.3 0 AM

July 20 Went on guard in back of church was recalled at 11 AM rained all day. had sight practice in the afternoon went on guard it dark very quite

July 21 Inspection came off guard 10 AM laid all day in quarters Steamer Mayoon came back from Pilar and took away mail captured small sail boat in afternoon rained about supper-time

July 22 Sunday Schooner arrived at 2 PM going to Magoon for lumber discovered niggers across river in evening and shot a few volleys at them Major signaled for gun-boat at night by setting off 3 rockets.

July 23 Went with detail after beef in afternoon got 2 cows Worked in July 24 kitchen all day went on guard near old kitchen

July 24 Came off guard at 6 AM Lieut Slack and 43 men went to Magoon to guard boat while loading lumber

July 25 Worked in the morning building trenches also in afternoon Mayon arrived at 4 PM on way to Manila. Was detailed and am getting ready to go on a hike at 4 AM in the morning. Schoch is in the hospital again

July 26 Detail of 125 men left at 4 PM in 4 columns commanded by Capt Hart Co D. Capt Walsh and Lt. Yost Co A and Lt Slack with the detachment from Magoon done a lot of maneuvering but accomplished nothing detachments assembled at a house near Pon-Pon and then started for home Capt Hart detachment arrived home at 1.30 PM Sergt Dunkle reported niggers crossing river in canoes started out but could find no trace of them had an early supper at 3 PM went on guard between bridges in the night at 8 PM 12 men under Lt Slack started for Pilar in boats crossed the insurgent line at 11 PM captured Captain of the town. Elayzo Hernandez also lot of Cigarettes and rice did not fire a shot

July 27 Came off guard at 7 PM detail from Pilar came back at 8 AM Slept in the morning Detail of 20 men from each company went across river at 1.39 PM under Capt. Hart detail went out after beef at 3 PM have a pimple growing on the inside of lower eye-lid went to hospital but Doctor would not cut it at 3.30 PM heavy firing heard up the river Major Wise with 30 men went up the river to reinforce Capt Hart met him about 2 ½ miles from town found out he had fired on a crowd of riflemen who were on the other side of the river following him. Both details arrived in town about 6 PM with 2 prisoners and Ottoricho's father and sister nothing of importance during night

July 28 On water detail had no inspection today old guard fatigue fixing bridge and putting up fence near old kitchen's shower in afternoon Capt issuing credit slip for canteen. Have released all prisoners except three Went on guard at night

July 29 Came off guard at 7 PM laid around all day everything quite.

July 30 Lieut Slack with 20 men went on a reconnoitering expedition towards Pilar returned at 6.30

July 31 Has been very good day went out after beef Muster at retreat 5 more months pay due us