Joseph John Collins:
Spanish-American War Diary

(October)

Oct 1 Small detachment under Sergt Wise went out at 3 AM captured 1 Lt and 9 insurgents with a banco full of rice. On guard

Oct 2 Came off guard at 6. 45 AM men are working on a target trench at foot of hill.

Oct 3 nothing of importance at during day. at 9 PM a detachment under Sergt Wise that had went out after supper sent up 2 red rockets called for reinforcement in the vincinty of Pilar Co D. fell in and doubled timed to Pilar point but found out that they were out in the bay chasing filbusers and were chasing them towards town. were captured and ut in guard house.

Oct 4. Men still working at the target very near finished small detachment went out in boat scouting

Oct 5 Rained hard all day and night nothing more of importance

Oct 6. Had inspection at 9.30. sleep in the afternoon quite at night

Oct 7. Working in the kitchen Mayon came in the evening with mail received 1 paper. 20 men under Lts Slack and Yost went to Pilar on Mayoon.

Oct 8 went on guard at 1^st Plt bridge behind (?) surveyed from Pilar point up brought back 1 priest for information Native brought in report that Genl Bellameana was going to attack town tomorrow night Boat crew rowed the priest back to Pilar again mail received says that we are to be relieved the Last of October.

Oct 9. Came off guard at 7 AM sleep in morning laid around all afternoon Prvt Tanner (Farmer?) put in guard house for talking back to 1^st Sergt in ranks everbody anxious to be relieved even Officers.

Oct 10 On old guard fatigue hauled water in morning and afternoon played poker in night 1^st Sergt and 10 men dressed as natives went out at 7 PM at 9 PM sergt Dunkle with 15 men went to sugar mill near Seville in case 1^st Sergt needed help.

(in top margin) Note Oct 11 Major Capt Walsh went to Sorsogon on the Mayoon

Oct 11 Hikers came in at 6 AM men went out to work on target went on guard near old kitchen rained hard all night Colonels launch brought mail Major Doctor Capt Christu Capt Terry

Oct 12 came off guard at 6.15 AM slept in the morning 18 years old today a dull birthday issued 2 bottles of beer to each man for 25¢ a bottle are having a bad storm tonight.

Oct 13 raining very hard had no roll-call on old guard fatigue Colonels launch came in at 12 Oclock Major and mail

Oct 14 On water detail got beer at night boys raised rough house had Officer of the day in the quarters

Oct 15 Went on guard between bridges rained small fire in back of the hills

Oct 16 came off guard at 7 am had ordance inspection Russell opened up his store

Oct 17 Old guard fatigue heavey rain quite at night

Oct 18 Paymaster came in paid for 2 months beer was issued merry time in quarters

Oct 19 On guard between the bridges got report that the 9^th Calvary had struck Genl Belamina headquarters heavey fight for 3 hours were attacked at 4 PM from cocoanut grove on river side no casualties on our side enemys loss unknown

Oct 20 came of guard Capt asked Doctor went out on Spaniards boat Rocket sent up from town Lt Cabe and 1^st Sergt went out in cocoanut /\ ^grove and beat a tomtom quite at night.

Oct 21 Bowman and boats crew went out with Capt Hart to see what was supposed to be Filipinos leaving Masbate found to be floating brush. large whale seen at sea Musicorn Lane & Gurm (?) had a fight Gurm got a cut eye natives fined for selling wine

Oct 22 Rained building trenches natives brought in rumuor that there was 80 riflemen at San Vincente coming to attack garrison 1 shot fired at night no attack Major set building on out side of line on fire so we could see further

Oct 23 Went on guard between bridges men fixed No 7 trench Sergt Dunkle with 30 men went out to C hill to reconnoiter nothing seen rained night quite.

Oct 24 Surumusu came in at 2 A.M. little mail sleep part of the day Major and party went out scouting returned at eve nothing seen

Oct 25 Room orderly. at 6.30.PM Sergt Dunkle. reported seeing nigger on D. Hill. Dunkle and Detachment went to hill . heavy firing no casualties on our side loss unknown

Oct 26 On guard Bridge No 2. PM heavy rain quite at night have to wear bayonets on gun at night.

Oct 27 Inspection came of guard at 10. AM rain heavy quite at night.

Oct 28. Old guard fatigued Lt Cole with detachment proceeded to D. Hill at 5 AM to scout blew call to arms. heavey volley firing our loss none.

Oct 29. Kitchen Police 1 shot fired accidental No 9 post A. co quite at night Major and Capt Hart out sailing

Oct 30 On Guard bridge 2 post 4 heavy rain transport came in at 8.30 AM with section of 7^th Art 16 horses 4 mules hay and oats night quite 25 men 1 Lieut little delayed mail

Oct 31 Came off guard at 7 AM reville blew at 5.15.all the fellows unloading boat heavey rain 3 2/10 gun boat left for Sorsogon. Colonels launch came in with Inspector Genl Surgeon Comsy Officer and our new Lt. Clark. at night heavey typhoon for 8 hours tore trees up blew houses down could not sleep in quarters for rain building rocking to and fro slept in dinning room tore up the whole garrison boats floated up river detachment under Sergt Dunkle left on launch for Sorsogon. Chino brought beef from mountains B2P4 blew to fiecer Muster at 10 PM Cols. Wise and Hart