Physical Description: .025 Linear Feet(1 folder)
Physical Description: Some of the letters are fragile and enclosed in polyester covers.
Language of Material: English.
Scope and Contents
This series contains five letters written by Lynton E. Athey, a bugler with Company H. of the Idaho Volunteer Infantry. Athey
wrote the letters while at Camp Merritt in San Francisco and while stationed in the Philippines before the Philippine-American
War.
In one letter from June 4, 1898, Athey refers to camp songs at Camp Merritt. One is "Hang Gen. W. on Sour Apple Tree." It
may refer to General Weyler of Spain. A search retrieved a few references in books to Weyler's name being mentioned in the
song in the late 1890s.
In other letters, Athey writes about being in the Philippines. One letter from January 22, 1899 mentions a sentry shooting
and killing an insurgent captain. In another letter from October 21, 1898, Athey writes that "Idaho has lost two men since
arriving here."
The October 21, 1898 letter contains an original poem.