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1898 OVI SURGEON'S SPANISH AMERICAN WAR LETTER W/STAMP
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1898 OVI SURGEON'S SPANISH AMERICAN WAR LETTER W/STAMP
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I have for auction a Spanish American War letter in the continuing saga of (Major Surgeon) Dr. E. C. Farquhar, of the Eighth Regiment Infantry which became the 8th Ohio Volunteer Infantry at the beginning of this saga. These letters were written starting in May, 1898 continuing until Sept. 1898. Some of the letters talk about life as a surgeon during the Santiago Cuba skirmish. They were written to his three daughters he left behind in Zanesville, Ohio and he had to leave them in the care of family since the death of his wife in April of 1898. The first letter was written from Camp Bushnell in Columbus, Ohio, the letters continue from Camp Alger, Washington DC, Falls Church, Virginia, on board the USS Steamer St. Paul, Sandyhook, New York, off the Florida coast, Seville Santiago Cuba, and Wikoff Montauk Point, Long Island w he died of pneumonia. Following is an excerpt from one of these letters home: Camp of 8th Regt OVI Santiago De CubaTuesday July 19, 1898 My Darling Daughters, Having a little spare time on hand this morning thought I would drop you a few lines. We have hard time to get paper and envelopes we cannot buy it and our envelopes are all stuck together so we have to fix them any way we can. If we could only get inside the city we probably could get supplies but the Spanish soldiers who surrendered are still t and we are not allowed to go in until they leave for home and we can not tell just when that will be. Our baggage is still at Siboney on the Sea Coast w we first disembarked from the St Paul. None of us have a change of clothes with us we go to the little creek near us wash our clothes hang them on tree limbs to dry and play in the water until they are dry enough to put on, then we go to Camp again. The Spanish army in this province numbering 25000 surrendered Sunday at 12 oclock, at that hour the Stars and Stripes were run up on the city buildings and also Morro Fort the soldiers of Spain came out and stacked their arms and our people came out and they shook hands and our bands played Star Spangled Banner all taking off hats. The Spanish soldiers then treated to Native wine & whiskey to those who wanted it and our people gave them food. They were nearly starved to death. T is people along the road in fact all over the island who are hourly dying from starvation. We meet them and they point to their mouths and stomach. We all carry something to eat with us w ever we go and we divide with the poor hungry Cubans. Two old people died close to us yesterday with their mouths full of hard tack but they were to weak to chew it. I think these people will be prosperous and happy when government is established again. These Spanish towns and cities are rough places but I think good government will change all this. we have not seen a paper since the 6th of July the day we left New York, you know more at home about the details of the conditions than we do ______ hear nothing, but we know the war is over and we will be returned to the States as soon as transportation can be furnished us. I am still in good health eat well and sleep well. I drank a quart of black coffee eat 8 hard tack with sugar on then some cooked beans and sow belly and two onions for breakfast so you can see I have appetite for Soldier substantials as you will see. ______ and save all paper about this expedition as it will be interesting reading to me when I get home. We are having a very hot day today but with shade t is quite a pleasant breeze. We have 8 in the hospital with bowel troubles and it is so hard to feed them as we cannot get food fit for the sick. I am trying to collect some souvenirs of this Campaign to bring home with me to keep. Wish I could hear from you once but am afraid to have you write for fear I will no... 
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