Philippines Insurrection 1898-1899, Diary of Col. A. B. Welch

A. B. Welch’s Diary of his participation in numerous battles, Personal Letters, Photos, Newspaper Clippings and Original U.S. and Insurrecto Documents.

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 Ed Note: We will follow his diary, adding Letters, photos, clippings and documents,  as we witness Welch change from a very proper-looking ‘gentleman’ into an experienced sharp-shooting warrior.

He served with Company D, 1st Washington Volunteer Infantry in the Philippine Insurrection ..  April 30, 1898 to November 1, 1899

His diary starts with teary goodbyes in Puget Sound, thence an interesting time in San Francisco as troops are assembled for transport, and on to Honolulu for a well-described “tourist brochure-like presentation,” arriving in Manila for his baptism under fire.

Index

Leaving Home in Tacoma

San Francisco embarkation readiness 

         Welch visits the Tenderloin

           Horrible Hospital Conditions…Troop Riots on Pay Day

         Welch visits Chinatown

Underway to Honolulu

Honolulu

Honolulu to Manila

Luzon

        Manila

        Leaders of the Insurrection

        His First Skirmish

        Behind enemy lines

        Fighting Starts

      “They’re at it boys”

        Some splendid shooting and bro’t many to earth

       Welch’s battle map of April 27, 1899 fight at Taguig

      “I had some splendid shots”

       The Spanish Prisoner

      “Shootin’ ‘em up”   

       1st Washington Volunteers at Taguig

       Taking Morong

      “Little house by the river bank”

       Two man charge on the insurgents

       Nearing the end

     ”But some serious fighting around Calamba

      “A Scout Trip”

       Salute to the 1st Washington Volunteers

       A Senorita he left behind

       And a delightful Family and Daughters he also left Behind

On the Way Home

Nagasaki

Tokio and setting sail for home

Welcome to San Francisco

Life as a Soldier ended

Sailing for Seattle

Reunion, 25 years later


 

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Leaving Home in Tacoma

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Leaving Home

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Leaving Home

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Leaving Home

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Leaving Home

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Leaving Home

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Leaving Home

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San Francisco

Ed Note: None of Welch’s photos, clippings of this stage of his adventure have survived, so I have added artwork which ‘he might have captured.’

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco, Tenderloin

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco…Horrible Hospital Conditions…Troop Riots on Pay Day

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San Francisco

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San Francisco

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San Francisco, Welch visits Chinatown

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Underway to Honolulu

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Underway to Honolulu

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Underway to Honolulu

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Honolulu

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Honolulu Typed Diary Pages are followed by original pages

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Honolulu to Manila

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Luzon

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Manila

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This 1900 Harper’s Weekly panorama of Manila has deteriorated into sections.

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The following piece of the Manila Panorama looks like the quay Welch walked upon leaving the ship for his first time on shore

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Leaders of the Insurrection

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His First Skirmish

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Behind Enemy Lines

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Fighting Starts

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They are at it, Boys!

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Some splendid shooting and bro’t many to earth

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Welch’s battle map of April 27, 1899 fight at Taguig

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“I had some splendid shots, It was quite a fight.”

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The Spanish Prisoner

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“Shootin’ ’em up”

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1st Washington Volumteers at Taguig

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Taking Morong

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Little House by the river bank

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Two Man charge on the Insurgents

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Nearing the End

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But some serious fighting around Calamba

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A Scout Trip

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Salute to the 1st Washington Volunteers

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A Senorita he left Behind

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And a delightful Family and Daughters he also left Behind

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On The Way Home

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Nagasaki

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Tokio and setting sail for home

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Welcome to San Francisco

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Life as a Soldier ended

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Sailing for Home

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25 Year Reunion

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