Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-27
TOTAL OF FIVE BATTLES
Washington Boys Experience in the War
With the Filipinos.
William seweII Writes a Letter tc
His Mother His Views
of Situation.

William Sewell, Washington boy who is
with the Hospital Corps in the Philippines,
has written his mother from the field as
follows:
Since my last letter to you, written on
the eve of my departure for the field, we
have gone through five battles-Mooyag-
array. Angot, Marowger San Rafeal and
Balinag. The first battle was fought April
"a. The enemy opened fire on US at 6 am,
and. after two hours of heavy fighting, we
marched, with our colors flying, into the
town, with only four wounded. The first
of those wounded was a man of my COM
pany-D, 18th Minnesota Volunteers. He
stood about five yards from me when hit
the bullet penetrating the wrist about half
an inch. L ran to him. managed to pull
the bullet out, applied the first aid bandage,
then carried him to the ambulance. / was
covered with blood, the sight of which gave
me courage. My patient is doing finely, 1
am glad to say.
Our second battle was fought when at
tempting to take the town of Angot. Talk
about raining bullets. They came as swift
as l wish to see them-in front Of me and
behind me, and even struck my litter. The
enemy retreated from thu town to the ad-
joining hills, and there continued to fire
until late in the day. We only had one
man wounded, and this one in the shoulder
The battle opened about am. After cap
1t, and in few minutes every house and
magnificent church were ablaze.
The third battle was fought April % at
Messenger, with only a few shots being ex-
changed. We marched into the town with
out one man being struck
The fourth battle, fought at San Rafeal,
l am sorry to say, shall always remember
with grief and sadness, for here one of our
comrades was shot through the heart and
as lifted him to place him on the litter
he died in my arms. His name was Frank
JnNIv1C of Mirrl
fine young man, and / shall never forget
his death on the field of battle. Our wound
ed in this engagement numbered ten or
twelve.
THE fifth and last battle I'D to the time
of writing this letter was fought at Bal
mag the ID of May, about pm.,, after a
long march from San RafeaI through dust
bamboo thicketS and fording a river about
200 yards wide and four feet deep. Firing
was opened by the insurgents, as usual
and lasted for two hours, after which they
ned to Maasin, suburb Of Balinag. We
followed and drove them to the adjoining
town, just above this place, the name of
which L cannot learn. Here they are
awaiting our coming, and when We drive
them from this place their next and last
place is San Magill, spoken of as the in
surgents' stronghold.
our killed number two; wounded, six.
Maj. Diggles in command of our regiment,
was shot through the head. The second a
private was shot through the abdomen
and died next morning. He was about
twenty years of age, but as strong as an
OK, and perfect picture of good health
and fine manhood.
THE majors wife and several children
survive him.
when we shall make the next advance
l cannot say, but one thing is certain-our
army must be speedy, as the rainy season
is almost upon US, and then for at least
nVe months our troops can do simply moth
ing, as this part of the island is as a large
lake. They tell me it rains as long as
thirty days without stopping, so you can
imagine the condition of the soil.
Friday last we had a very sad accident
A corporal of Company NJ. Sd Regulars,
while cleaning a revolver for his captain
accidentally discharged the same the bull
let entering the body of his comrade, who
hours later, and the next morning at 10
IN we buried him under a large tree near
this place. The Oregon chaplain read the
burial service, Gpeaking so kindly of the
corporal who through carelessness, COM
mitted the deed. Three volleys were fired
over the comrades grave, after which the
bugler blew taps and all that remained of
what was a true, brave soldier was COM
mitted to the ground. His body will in
short time be removed to Manila, then to
America.
1T is quite hot, 95 in the shade. This is
the average temperature since | arrived
Il am looking for the Washington Star
every day. but it is doubtful If they will
send the paper mail out to us, as there is
SO much of this second-class matter they
will be kept until return to Manila,
which will be soon. 1 am writing on a
bareback box, my only writing desk, on the
grass, in the midst of bamboo huts.
The natives are a very low, ignorant,