Diary kept during Service in Troop A, 11th U.S. Volunteer Cavalry in the Philippine Islands during the Philippine-American War. Also a Few Photographs

Pruitt, Eugene W.

Beschreibung

Small ruled notebook probably purchased in the Philippines ("Chofre y Comp." at bottom of label on front cover). 16 cm. Cover (thin card covered with marbled paper) is worn. Font cover broken and split almost entirely in two. Most pages unused. The brief "diary" occupies 12 pages somewhere near the center of the notebook. Most of it appears to have been written in chunks rather than daily; The handwriting, first portions in pencil, rest in pen, is decent but rather small with letters carelessly formed. We found it rather difficult to read. Inside the front and back covers of the notebook, Pruitt enters his Baltimore home address and his enlistment in the Regiment on August 25, 1899 with his commitment ending June 30, 1901 and calculates his pay for the period of his enlistment on the inside of both covers of the notebook. He records on a separate page, the "Relicks" he had obtained which cconsisted of an insurgent's bluse (blouse?) captured Aug. 25, 1900 in the mountains 10 miles from Pagsanjan, a bolo captured from insurgents at Santa Cruz on May 16, 1900, some kind of tooth which he got a Cavinti on May 27 and granite from Sherman, Wyoming Ames Monument (where his train had probably stopped to switch engines on its way to San Francisco). Pruitt lists Commissioned and Noncommissioned officers of the Troop on another separate page. He also made a start at creating a Soldiers Memorial of Troop A on two pages toward the back of this notebook. A young person named Roland Pruitt used a couple of pages near the beginning of the notebook to practice cursive writing. Roland may also be responsible for the crayon drawings on two early pages. Included with the album are thirteen individual mounted photos which came to us with the notebook. Eight of those photos appear to have been taken in or near the Philippine Islands; the other five seem to be USA, including one with marching soldiers. Pruitt records in his diary to he shipped out on Transport Valencia and arrived in Manila on Nov. 7, 1899. He records an insurgent attack on the American soldiers encamped in or near Pagsanjan (Laguna Province) on Aug. 20, 1900 where the insurgents opened fire on the American soldiers (including Pruitt), causing them to have to make for their quarters "as quick as possible" for their carbines and belts of ammunition. The attack seems to have killed one horse, wounded six and scattered some or all the rest most of which were recovered. The next paragraph begins, "Burned town about 2:30 in the afternoon." We assume this was a nearby town or village from which the insurgents were thought to have come. Pruitt reports that he accidentally shot his 45 caliber revolver on Sept. 4th. Some sort of Board is held about the shot which is ruled accidental in line of duty. Nothing is recorded after that until General inspection on Dec. 15 after which his troop moves around a bit before being reviewed by General McArthur on Jan. 28 1901 (". at which he said wonderful things of the splendid organizations like 11 Cav. U. S. V."). They turned in their carbines and ammunition the next day and boarded Transport Meade on the 30th. They were given shore leave in Nagasaki while the ship was being coaled. The last entry reports that two escaped prisoners were found in a boiler room. Pruitt appears to record no personal injuries or sickness.

Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 93709

Bibliografische Details

• Titel: Diary kept during Service in Troop A, 11th U.S. Volunteer Cavalry in the Philippine Islands during the Philippine-American War. Also a Few Photographs
• Zustand: Good
• Verkäuferkataloge:
  • Philippines
  • Military