West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1899-05-25

1
these hnts are from six TO ten persons
living.
For "A time the study OF the numerous
customs of the natives was great
source of pleasure, but one becomes
Tired OF IL. But l never geN tired of
the many strange sights we can see on
every corner.
One evening my chum and had an
evening that we did not have to ans
wer check roll or be on guard. 80 we
went TO the "rAeatru Filipino" The
ahin,ssloh war SIX cents tnex) np,eca.
and with the eight cents more. we rot
as many peanuts aS we wanted. The
whole cost Of the evenings entertain.
nent was one ''pesida or ten cents in
American money. Previous To tha out
break of Feb. ith, 5th and 9Th, We
were worked pretty hard. The end
Battalion was over at Cavite, and one
company was sent away, south of
here with six hundred Spanish Tilipi
no prisoners That left seven compan-
les to do the duties of regiment,
Sometimes we were on duty every dav.
We never missed more than one
night off duty.
The constant strain all the troops
were under for the two or three weeks
previous to the outbreak, was rather
| hard During that time we were not
allowed TO leave the company quart.
ers, unless on pass. We slept in our
day clothes, and on our guns and side
arms.
when the call ITO arms" sounded On
that memorable night. we were out
and formed In regimental position
within seven minutes, ready TO march
To the firing line We marched over
through Old Manila and stacked arms
by the old Spanish bridge, aud w .itt "
for further orders, While we waited
there, tSe firing all along the hne was
very hot. At / O'Clock IL had almost
ceased, the light artillery being used
with such deadly effect. We then
went back To camp and ordered TO bed:
but we hadn't gotten TO sleeo before
lighting broke out again, and we went
To our o.d stand, About 4'3o the "Char.
lesion" began Smelling the trenches
back over the city. We could hear
the shells whistliug through the air ms
they passed us and burst when awav
back OF the city In the Insurgents
trencheA A few shots qrieted ,hem
in that section. aud at daylight we
again went To camp. Again nt o we
went To our oil stand. BY this time
we began TO think we peveI would do
anything but march in ana out OF
camp. But not SO. The end Batal.
lion was sent TO the centre OF tho fir.
! ing line and in few minutes word
camo back that Col Smith had drop
ped dead off his horse. This was trv-
! ing. Our turn finally came. The LIST
Battalion was ordered out 10 assist the
l4th Infantry. While we were gong
out there the Mauser bnilets were not
very careful where they strolled.
Frequently you could see mans head
dodgc-the cause was more audible
than visible But none OF the boys
could have been kept back from their
companies They were tho happiest
fellows You eyer saw. Companies a,
& and T., wese sent out Co flank the
enemy, 'I'' being used as "a reserve.
| while the l4th engaged them i'm front
The movement was considered n
very hazardous one, and we were told
that IL we entered we would be cut all
TO pieces, so IL might have been. but
the enemy saw that they were liable
20 bs fanked, and when we got over.
they we're on the run, some two hun.
dred Ya.ds in advance of us. They
had been entrencbed in an extremely
strong position and could have killed
all OF us. but luckily for as they yam
osed In more than double quick time.
After chasing them several miles. we
returned 10 tho emergency hospital
and camped for the night, going out in
scouting parties along In the night.
One OF the crowds thought they saw
some insurgents in q clump Of bamf,do
and fired volley into the place. The
next morning they found a dead bun.
alo with FIVE bullet holes IN him We
thought IL quite joke. The fighting
IN our position was very hard. The
| 18th did the hardest work Of any reOt.
nent--theY lost the most men. with
the assistance of the Mondouck they
killed some ten or twelve hnnared
men. When this fighting was going
on in the night, very hot firing was
/ kebt up constantly In the centre. The
! End Bstallion was therefore more g,v.
orcd than us But we did the very
best we knew how Those in our req.
iment who worG iu the battles in Cuba
say the fighting st Manila. Feb. ffh
aud 10Th, was harder fought battle
than any In Cuba, and those in the
scraps on July 3ist, and Aug 18Th
say these days were nothing near so
hard as tho late MaaiIa scrap,
Certain It is that the Filipinos we
had 10 face this time are no poor scrap.
! pcrs. They had been close Observers
of every movement OF our drilling since
the arrival last summer. And since
The fall Of Spanish authority they had
made remarkable Improvement. The