Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-08-23
CHASING THE flLlPiNOS
Experiences of Soldier Boy on the Firing
Line.
March of sixty Miles With the Enemy
in FrOnt-NumerOus En-
Ragements.

Jack B. Walsh, member of the hospital
corps of Uncle Sans army in the Philip
pines, attached to the 9th United States In
fantry, in a letter to his mother in this
city, gives account of the experiences of
the soldiers on the firing line there. The
letter was dated July ., 1899. Following
are extracts:
Il have been out with the regiment in the
field. We started the night of June 1 and
marched from ) o'clock until 2:3O, when we
stopped for the night. AT 3 o'clock am.
we were called to breakfast, which consist
ed of one slice of bacon and some bareback
and coffee. After we had masticated that
We were given three slices more of bacon
and told that was to last US all day, added
to which was spoonful of coffee and one
of sugar We filled our haversacks with
bareback and our canteens with water and
were ready for days march; and we got
it. We marched five miles and stopped for
rest at the foot of a mountain, which we
were told was full of F'ilpinos. and that We
were to drive them out. While we We're
resting the mountain battery came up, fol-
lowed by the LIST Colorado Regiment and
the oregon regiment.
The First Engagement.
I'VE did not start in until after 1 o'clock.
The battery opened up on a village half a
mile from US, and some of the Oregonians
ioiio"e- II up lie HIluS ldSled Otlly tIiE
ty minutes, when the insurgents left the
town and went further up in the noun ,ains.
The brigade, which was commanded by
Gen. Hail. started after them, and for eight
days we chased them from ridge to ridge,
Smelling them when possible with the bat
terry and one gunboat. which followed up
a small river along the foot of the noun
tains. During the eight days we marched
over sixty miles; then We had to turn about
and back. altogether had a walk
of good hundred miles. None of the 9th
was hit during the scraps, but two of the
Oregons, two of the 4th Infantry and two
of the 4th Cavalry were killed, and ten of
the 4th Infantry We're wounded.
I'VE reached camp at Caloocan on the Sth
of June, at p. m, and at & pm We started
on another march to the south line. The
10th of June the first battle started, at 10
a. M, and continued till noon The CcIora-
do regiment was along, and went into ac-
ton first followed by the 21st Infantry, the
18th and the 18th. The 9th went into it on
the left of the line, supported by the light
artillery. Before we got into line We met
the wounded being carried back. The Col
orado regiment suffered most, as it got into
an ambush and lost about twenty-five men,
killed and wounded. Three men of the 9th
were hit One of them shot through
the left eye. 1 think he died later at the
hospital in Manila.
Artillery Too Much for Them.
The natives cannot stand the artillery
long, so when our boys charged with yell
they concluded they had business elsewhere.
and got Gut. We don't know what their
losses were, but they were very heavy. We
did not see anything more of them until 3
O'Clock in the Afternoon, when we caught
up with them at a town called Paranaque.
We got them out of there by pm. with
but slight loss to US. Only two men of the
9th were hit, one of them in the side of the
face, just below the left temple. We car
ried him along with the stretcher.
The following morning we went to town
called Las Pinas. from which point we sent
the wounded men to town. as we call
Manila. and camped for couple of DAYS
Tuesday, June 49, General Lawton
VINO was in command of the brigade. got
news that 10000 gugoos, as we call the
t1Hp1noS, were coming to attack US, SO he
ordered out the forces-the artillery two
battalions of the 21st Regiment ten COM
panies OF the 14th Regiment and one bat
talon of the 12th-and went to meet them
They were found a mile and a half from
town, where we opened up on them They
were on the opposite side of U.S. in the act
of starting across. We had four gunboats
to help us. the Monadanoca Helena, Mon
terey and one other
FOrded a Deep Creek.
THE fighting continued until pm, when
General Lawton sent back for two bat
talons of the 9th Regiment. 1 went with
the I'd Battalion. We crossed a creek up
to our shoulders, where we had to hold our
guns above heads Just as we got
across word was sent us to come back and
take up our position the left of the
bridge and start in, which we did. 1 was
kept back at the dressing station, which
was a quarter of mile behind the firing
line. The fighting continued till dusk but
hnaily we got them out of their trenches
and on the run. We chased them for a
couple Of miles, then stopped for the night.
The next morning l went to take look
at the trenches, and such trenches as they
were. I thought it was wonder we had
such hard time in getting the insurgents
out of them. The places were six feet deep
and nine feet WIDE and the dirt put up in
front of them was about fifteen feet thick.
They were supposed to be shell proof
Ordered to Manila.
1--WE stayed in camp at Bacoor and Emas
for a while, when We were ordered to
march 20 San Francisco de Malabon, which
was to be attacked. and hold ourselves as
a reserve, in case we were needed After
the fight was over we were ordered to Ma
Mia, where we arrived few days ago.
Our killed and wounded did not exceed fifty.
but the native loss is claimed to be over
]. 200.
General Lawton says the last named was
the hardest battle fought so far on the is
land. AS soon as We got to Manila we had
to go to San Fernando, where we are now.
Ever since We captured this place the Fill
pinos have been trying to get possession
again, and every night or so we have to
get out and drive them back.
I'VE were once forty-eight hours without
a mouthful to eat, because we were where
the wagons could not reach US, and we had
to wait till we could get to them, but we
did not mind that The most of US are
happy, now that we are in a town for a
While, We get pretty good eating"