Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-20
The ELUSIVE FILIPINO
His Ability to Maintain Running Fight on
His Native Heath
Letter From a Member of the Second
Oregon Regiment, New Home
ward Bound.


Mr.. Robert E. Smith of 1907 P street, from
his son. Robert E. Smith, jr., who is a
member of the 10Th Oregon Regiment of
Volunteers and up to a few days ago
participant in good deal of fighting in
the Philippines.
The letter is dated "Lawton's Division,
L. S. A, near Balinaz, Luzon, May II,
1892 and says:
I'VE are resting at present and awaiting
orders A supply train just in reports fight
ing around Manila. Col Summers of our
regiment has had command of the brigade
in this movement. He has done good work
and proved himself a capable officer, and
we feel he is entitled to at least one star.
Col Summers has with him here a Maasin
and Balnaz the 18th Minnesota. ID Ore
gon, two battalions of the Sd Regulars, and
portion of the 9th United States Artillery,
and some of the 4th United States Cavalry,
who are with us everywhere. We started
on this expedition the 22d of April, and
have captured seven towns three of which,
San Rafael Marunco and BainaZ, were
strongly garrisoned and put up good fight.
Our loss thus far has been slight COM
pared with that of the enemy. What saves
US is the high shooting of the enemy, other
wise losses would be fearful Our sad
dest and severest loss thus far was the
wounding of Major Diggles of the 18th
Minnesota, the Sth instant.
The Enemy Concealed.
"Col Summers, with Maj. Diggles and
Company K of the 18th Minnesota and F of
the ID Oregon, started on reconnaissance
and had not proceeded more than three
fourths of mile from cur outposts when they
sighted force of the insurgents massing
on their right, near a small village. Our
small force sought an advantageous position
upon being discovered by the enemy. Two
of our boys from the top of a knoll saw
two companies of insurgents advance a
short distance in regular skirmish order
and suddenly disappear. 1t was only a
ruse on the part of the brownies" for in
less time than it takes to tell it the pecu-
liar ping and whiz of the Mauser and Rem
ington bullets were heard and the fight was
on. To show how cute these Tagals
| It is necessary to state that what the boys
saw was the Balinag reserve, for the enc
my's advance force was under cover in
deep ravine near the Americans.
Many of us in camp became alarmed at
the firing, which was quite heavy, and seiZ-
ing our rifles We started at once through
the jungles to take a part in the fight, II
necessary. From the noise and extent of
the firing the hills seemed to be alive with
the enemy. Two companies of American
soldiers were standing off what proved to
be nearly an entire regiment of Filipinos.
We soon came upon a party of our boys
carrying wounded man on a litter. 1t was
Major Diggles, gallant officer and splendid
man. who was shot through the head. AS
he lay there IN what 10 us seemed TO De
the agonies of death we heard him say:
Boys, let me turn over on my left side, and
I'll be good.
Besides Major Diggles several of our
boys were wounded, but none killed. We
| heard this morning that the major had a
good show for his life, and we all sincerely
hope it is true for we can i'll afford to lose
such an officer
of February has fallen on the volunteers,
notwithstanding the fact there are many
regular regiments here with splendid rec
ords. If the volunteers are accomplishing
anything we have no complaint to make,
and are willing to do all We can, but If our
hard and trying work and suffertngs are to
amount to nothing We wish to be sent
home We have more or less SklrmaSh1ng
and fighting every day, resulting in the
killing wounding and capturing of many
insurgents and getting them into traps
| which they may easily slip out of again
but it is at sacrifice also on our part, and
every day one more of our brave COM
| rades answers the last roll call Several
times we nave been told we had the bulk of
Aguinaldo's army in our grasp and 1T was
| impossible for 1T to get away, put 1T mas
| and we haven't peace nor Aguinaldo yet.
1--WE have discarded our bayonets in or
| der to tighten the load we have to carry.
They were of use to us, as We make
| running fire charges, and the enemy will
not stand close fighting or bayonet charges
| The TagaI Native.
| 1.-The genuine Tagal is a natural born
sprinter, and will take the prize anywhere.
| He goes barefooted, does not weigh more
| than hundred pounds, wears little clothing,
| needs very little food to sustain him, car
| res very little of anything but his gun and
| ammunition, and if Aguinaldo can get the
| arms and ammunition he can keep up this
| kind of warfare for an indefinite time. The
| other night captured black fellow sneak
! ing on to outpost l had charge of, and
| took splendid bolo away from him. I am
| sorry 1 will have to throw 1t away, but it
| will be impossible for to keep it. as we
| are on the go SO much
We are miles away from the railroad
| and our base of supplies, and the weather
| is so hot and the rain becoming so inces-
| SAINT that we will soon be obliged to give I'D
! this movement and lose all we have gained
| My health is good, considering everything
but a look at a comrades face shows
| plainly that the campaign is telling on U.S.
Our regiment has Travelled many long and
Lweary miles with Gems. Wheaton, Lawton
land Summers but Notwithstanding our
many battles and skirmishes and marches
| in the heat, rain and mud, and the lonely
long hours we have put in on our danger
Gus outpost duty, we have been very fortu-