The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-04-16
A LETTER FROM THE FIELD.
AN OREGON SOLDIER TELLS OF
THE FIGHTING.
Treacherous Acts of the Fi1ipinos,
and How They Were Repaid
For Them.

Manila, F. r. Chase, a member OF the
Second Oregon Regiment, United States
Volunteers, in which he tells Of the
battles with the Filipinos in February:
Manila, P. l., February 81, 1899.
My Dear Cousin: Your kind letter
came to hand some time ago, but have
had no time for letter writing, for, rs
you have no doubt read in the papers,
we have been fighting day and night for
seventeen days. On the evening Of
February 4th the insurgents made an
attack on our outposts near the bridge
Leading into Manila on the north side Of
town, and in ten minutes the whole Of
the Eighth Army Corps were on the
lighting line, the war was on, and we
are unable to see the finish.
AT times there has been mutual ces-
sation of hostilities, but only for a few
hours, and then the fighting would COM
merce with renewed vigor. 1t is sim
ply impossible to describe the battle,
Tor 1t has been more a slaughter than
anything else. We have lost 143 killed
and BIG wounded, while the rebel less
is estimated anywhere from 5000 to
lo,OUO They far outnumber US, but
when 1t comes to good, hard fighting
they are not in it with the Americans.
Ihelr lighting force is estimated at 49,
OUo, and the best We can do is to put
l6,oCo men on the firing line We have
driven them back twelve miles from
their original position, but dare not ad-
vance farther as our skirmish line COW
ers twenty-five miles now, and any far
Their advance would weaken it so that
it would be impossible to hold our DO
sition.
We are expecting more troops daily.
and when they arrive it is understood
we are to advance on Mololos, the capt.
tai of the Filipino republic We are
looking forward to the hardest fighting
at that city, for it is strongly fortified
with heavy guns and a double line Of
trenches extending entirely around the
city
The whole country within twenty
miles of Manila has been burned to the
ground. Dozens of cities and small
towns are in ashes, not a stick left
standing. We have to do it for protec-
ton, for these people do not recognize
any of the modes of civilized warfare.
They hide in houses and fire at our am
bulances carrying dead and wounded
from the field, and any small party of
SuDEH6S
or ammunition We're sure to be attacked
from trees and houses by sharpshootars.
and every time a Mauser cracked one
Of our men would fall.
we would make a charge, and some
OF the rebels would play 'possum After
the troops had got past they would
hloe themselves in the palm trees If
you were sent to the rear the first thing
you would hear-"B-z-z-z-z." a Maui
ser bullet about an inch from your
mead. Great sensation, that You look
around to see where it came from. but
you can't locate it, for they use smoke
less powder.
! one time L was going to the rear with
orders. came to where there had been
d rouse, and some Of the boys had
caught some chickens and were cooking
| them on the fire that the house had
made l stopped to get some chicken.
one OF the boys had some chicken on a
TIN plate. "Bang!" the bullet knocked
the plate from his hand You bet we
| got out of there quick We got behind
hedge and watched two hours Then
we saw a rustling in a tree about POO
yards to the right. We poked our guns
through that hedge and fired four vol
leys INTO that same tree and two good
flilplnos fell to the ground. To make
sure they We're dead we gave them ar
other volley for luck Their hides
would make good sleeves.
Weu l got as far back as the reserve
| hospital and it got so hot I concluded
| TO wait until some detachment came
| along going to town. While there one
Oh the hospital sergeants thought no
would look out the window. That was
MS last look. A Mauser bullet went
clean through his head Shortly a. soua5
came along and located the rebs in a
mouse just across the street. We rig
geo up an old field piece that was there
and shot an explosive shell into the
mouse and set fire to it. Well when
those five Filipinos came out of that
mouse they wished they had not sno,Sen
lor they are up with the angels now.
Inc last charge that my companv
mace was last Friday, when we can
tured and burned the town of Mala bon.
we lost three killed and seventeen
wounded. We buried 112 savages end
they carried away some. We wera
charging their first line of trenches
When they ran up the white flag and
we We're ordered to cease firing. TIL.
oeVlis retreated to the second trenches
unoer cover Of that rag, and then OMEN
ed hre. That was when We lost orr
men. 'ui
Inc Major then gave the command TO
advance by rushes, give and take no
quarter and take no prisoners. If is
easier 10 bury them than to guard them
wen, the way we went. at those fellows
was fright. We drove them from their
trehches into an open rice field and
When we got done you could walk
across that field on the carcasses of
good Filipinos.
our headquarters have since been at
1naiaoon. Our outposts have skirmishes
Win them every night, but nothing of
any consequence, although on the ax
IRENE right. near the waterworks. they
are having hard fighting. SUNDAY they
| mace charge on San ROGUE. but orr
boys We're there. Now there is onlv
ashes and several hundred dead rebels.
l am IN town for orders. hence this Iat
| ter. Write soon and often. Yours as
| ever "a
r. 81 got a small flesh wound on
,ne reg from a Mauser, but it has nearly
heaied and am feeling fine. I did not
rose any time on it's account. r.
SENT TO RENO.