Fairfield News-Herald May 12 1899 pg 8

Our Manila Letter - Manila, P I Mach 23, 1899

My Dear Mother,

  As I have a few minutes to spare before our march to Malolos I will write a few lines for we are expecting some very hard fighting and on account of Nebraska's past service in this late uprising, we are to be shoved to the front and as Malolos is the Capital of the Philippine Republic we expect some hard fighting.  We are in excellent shape as we have been resting up for the past fifteen days, and have drawn new clothes and good arms and equipments.  I am going to use my Manser rifle for they shoot about 2 1/2 miles and are the truest gun and beat the old army Springfield and one can carry about four or five hundred rounds with ease while 150 rounds of Springfield is awful awkward and heavy we have to carry a gun belt, haversack, canteen and poncho, and as we have good shoes and new brown coats and pants, we are right in it.

  It would surprise father to see the spirit of the boys today, they are laughing and joshing each other, and every one talks about us going out after "game", that is the word they use when we start on a skirmish.  Well, I must close as it is time to break camp.  Well don't worry for I will come out all right if any one else does.  Well, good bye for this time for I may not get to write soon.

Fairfield News-Herald June 2 1899 pg 5

Our Manila Letter - First Reserve Hospital Manila P I April 24 1899

My Dear Mother:

  As I am feeling rather good tonight, I have decided to write you a letter.  Well how are all you folks back in Old Nebraska, I got three letters from home today, one from you, Belle, and Jay Hubbell.  They cheered me up wonderfully, for as you know I was wounded Sunday about 8 a.m. near Malalos P I  It was an ugly wound but thank God it went in far enough to miss my spinal column and not far enough to touch my brain.  It was made by a Mansen bullet.  I was sitting down talking with Major Mulford, Capt. Holderman and Leu't, Burr, and were keeping under cover out of sight until some smarty got out in sight, and the niggers had strong entrenchments almost 800 yrds away and opened a very heavy fire.  They got several of us but worst of all they shot poor Col. Stotsenberg through the breast and also Leu't Sisson and several other poor boys.  They all thought I was killed-for it paralized my body.  But did  not bother my head in the least bit.  Major Mulford said I guess poor Tingley is killed, and I looked up and laughed and told him I guess I was a pretty good man yet.  They thought I was dying but I kept talking to them and they bound up my head and sent for a litter.  I told them not to bother I could walk to the ambulance and I jumped up and walked as if nothing happened.

  I will enclose my tag and diagram of where I was hit; the bullet didn't come only about half out and the surgeon cut it out and handed it to me.  I wouldn't take a $1000 for it.  Now  don't you worry at all for I am just as well and happy as ever.  My head is doing nicely and by the time you get this letter I will be well and perhaps on my journey home.

  We have 20 men in old fighting company F and the 3rd Battalion has 78 men in it.  The others have just about the same.  The poor Nebraska boys are on every ones lips for over 200 have been killed and wounded, and several have diseases and others have just played out, so the actual strength is about 320 out of 1030.  There are over seven hundred killed, wounded and sick.

  Willis Attebury from Crete Neb. is in my company and he is discharged and is going home tomorrow and he said he would come and see you.  He and I were always playing jokes on the boys and helped to keep them cheered up.  But now!

  Now dear father; mother, sister and brother don't worry for I am getting along nicely, so good night.

Your soldier son.  Walter Tingley.

Fairfield News-Herald Aug 4 1899 pg 1

A telegram from F A Snyder, Co. surgeon, concerning Walter Tingley and sent from San Francisco to G W Tingley states that he is fully recovered and doing duty.

Fairfield News-Herald September 1 1899 pg 1

Walter Tingley our soldier boy came home Wednesday evening.

Fairfield News-Herald September 15 1899 pg 8

Walter G Tingley and brother Ed of Fairfield were in Harvard last week. Walter is the member of Co. F 1st Nebr who was shot through the head at the same time Col. Stotsenburg was killed. He says he has fully recovered.