Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-03-13


duct During the Fight.
CAMP RowN, JACUpAN VALLEY,
Cebu Island, 2. /.
| promised that I would write to
the New DOMINION but so far have
been too busy to do SO.
We had very nice tripcoming over
stopping at Honolulu, Manila, and
Iloilo.
/ got to go ashore at Manila long
enough to go out to the 30th's lines
and see Mestrezat and Dorsey. They
are having good time and are doing
well. Mestrezat is said to have the
best Volunteer hand in the Army.
We arrived at Cebu Dec. Doth and
disembarked and went into camp
December 30th. On January Ist we
broke camp and moved out TO our
present camp which we call pleasant
Valley" On January 9Th we moved )
miles farther up stream to Camp
Winston and stayed there until about
o'clock Sunday evening.
Sunday afternoon two guns of the
9Th light artillery, which had been
placed on the mountain above our
camp, opened on the enemy's works
in order to get the range of the forts.
That evening we began our move to
get into position for the next days
fight.
Night had settled on US before we
got on the way but the moon was
shining SO brightly that we had no
trouble in seeing our way.
For three hours we marched up the
little river sometimes wading in water
up to our waists, crossing and re-
crossing the stream. climbing over
monster rocks and stealing our way
along the edge Of thiclxets, keeping in
the shadow as much as possible and
expecting yolley from some Of the
enemy's rifle pits at any time.
At last we came to halt at the
foot Of the Sudlon Mountain Just be-
low the enemy's first line of forts, and
we threw ourselves down on the hard
stones Of the river bottom for few
hours sleep,
1t was rather cool that evening and,
wet as we were, sleep was almost i'm
possible.
Before daylight the next morning
we were moving into position and
early daylight saw US ia line of battle.
Co. NJ commanded by Capt Malley
occupied the right of our Battalion,
which was on the right of the line,
Co. j commanded by Lieut.. White,
the left: and Co. X commanded by
Capt. Smith was the reserve Company.
Co. |, 10th Inf. commanded by Capt.
Rowan was on the left of Lieut..
Whites Company and another Com
pany of the 23d was on the left of
Capt. Rowan's Co. but did not come
up in time to do much in the fight.
/ had been selected by the Colonel
to carry the colors and was ordered to
attach myself and guard to Co. K.
The Companies then moved up over
the crest of the first slope, and for
ward little distance, allowing Co. K
to move up over the crest also, and
we were ordered to lie down, but not
before the bullets began to go zip"
and ping around US, and before we
knew it we had received our sBap-
tiSm of Fire"
The line then moved forward aud
for short time the bullets from the
first fort ON the right made it quite
warm for having opened on us both
with rifle and cannon.
just when they were making it
hottest for us a she'll from one OF our
guns struck her and for an instant
s'niggers, dust, pieces of bamboo and
guns mingled together in one grand
upheaval.
This silenced this fort with the ex-
ception Ct i few sharp shooters who
promptly took to refuge behind rocks
trees etc.
This first fort was about mile
from the bottom Of the hill. From it
on up along the top of the mountain
are forts and rifle pits galore. Co. X.
was ordered up on the right flank and
we were detached and moved up be-
tween Co.'S | and M.
The whole line then moved forward
and the first line Of forts were ours,
you ought to have heard the boys give
their shout of victory as they came up
and saw the insurgents breaking for
the other forts which were much
stronger and much higher up.
Lieut.. White was the first volunteer
officer 10 reach the top. He seemed
to have. almost perfect control OF his
company and was always cool and anx-
.ious to move forward. Instead OF
ordering his men forward he said
sscome on" and they ''came.
After little rest we again moved
forward taking one fort after another
until we came to the forts on the TOP
of the hill. Here we met quite a
warm reception, but the boys in
s'bluen moved steadily forward al
though canister and bullets were fly
ing everywhere, aud soon the stars and
stripes were flying from the highest
fort.
We were unable to lind anything
tbprr hnwpgsf egcept blood he sDat-