The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1900-05-09
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
PRANK AZ. LONG WRITES ENTERTAINMENT
OF SOLDIER EXPERIENCES.

ms letter - Tor the Dcutht VI 4 Nv
True Northerner. We left about Octo
Der Z for IT. Smelling. October - We
started for San Francisco and reached
there the 9th. We set sail for Manila
November ID, arrived in Honolulu the
26th, and left for Manila, Thanksgiving
Day. December we went to bed ano
awoke in the morning TO find the date
December I've had crossed the line
between two hemispheres during the
night and had lost day, which we will
find on our return. December Ia we
passed large volcano that stood 2O,OOI
feet in the air and threw forth large
amount of smoke and ashes. The first
land we saw in the eastern hemisphere
was the Ladrone islands, on one of which
this volcano is located We landed al
Manila December 81, and on the second
day after our arrival took the train for
Caloocan, a little town about eight miles
from Manila. Our first engagement was
December ~, at Montalabon: after that
we we're marched back to Caloocan
where we camped until January 3, leav-
ing two days later for the south. Pass
ing through many towns, we reached
Mac, and February ID We left for the
eastern coast of the Luzon islands, on the
S. s. Tartar, accompanied 10y the gun
boat Marietta. We steamed into San
Miguel bay February 20, and the next
day we embarked in life boats and were
towed seven miles up the river Baco and
landed, taking up march. As we en-
tering Margarac the morning Of Febru-
airy -, a few shots were fired by the
flankers, and we found the town destroyed.
After marching the entire night of Feb
ruary -, excepting two hours, we had
an engagement the next day at Calanno.
The battle lasted three hours, and at noon
the town was in our possession. After
dinner and three hours rest, we re-
sumed the march and at shutdown
reached Baco; the insurgents surren-
dered. We proceeded from there TO
Irigo and relieved forty-siX Spanish pris-
oners, then pushed on toward Buhi,
arriving at p. M, and found the enemy
leaving in canoes, crossing a lake for the
mountains on the other side. March ,,
we had another engagement at Antipolo,
where we released forty-three Spanish
prisoners. taking them with Us to Nucya
Cacerres, where we went into garrison
for a while to recruit up for some more
long marches.
While we were at Mac, we went up
into the mountains, and February l we
arrived at Allonzo. We left there the
second and marched all day and slept
among the hills that night. Continuing
our march the next day, we were fired
upon about ten o'clock, but we did not
follow the enemy and saw few of them,
as we were out of rations and had about
a two days march ahead of US. We
camped at a town called Plasic View, and
February marched to Moganales, an
insurgent town, which we found mostly
deserted, SO we helped ourselves TO pigs,
chickens and eggs, and the next morning
started on a march to Americangondon,
where the natives were very friendly
with Us and fed Us on sugar and rice.
On our return to Mac, news had come
in that Colonel Dor5e Just had a big
fight. Company a" is the company
Col Dorse always wants at the front,
and he almost always gets them there.
The doth regiment would be lost without
company ~" 1t is the best company
in the re. inent. has done the most fight
ing and has made the longest march of
any company in the regiment. General
Bell sent his congratulations for the brave
release OF tGe Spanish prisoners, who
had been held 10y The insurgents for over
year. Fify-one men of our company,
led by Capt. Montford, met big
column of insurgents, several of
whom were wounded, some captured,
besides a colonels sword and lots of bows
and arrows. Our captain is a brave man
and the ranking captain of the regiment.
We have also a lst lieutenant by the
name of ribbits; he is not afraid to 90
anywhere with his company. The boys
think whole lot Of their three company
officers. We have first-cass sergeant
by the name of Markley; he is well liked
by all the boys, besides being friend to
the fellows in other companies.
The boys who enlisted at Paw Paw are
all well as far as | know. Jesse Thomas
and Daniel +. Robb have positions in
the commissary department.
The report is that in the battle to-day
company &C" lost fourteen men and had
a great many wounded. This is the lat
est report Of the company.
The last scrap that our boys had-we
had skirmish line for over one mile in
length six pieces of mountain artillery
were captured. 1t is hard place among
the mountains to fight the negroes. The
boys can run right onto them before
they know where they are. The fight
took place on Sunday morning about ten
o'clock, and lasted three hours. The
bullets were coming pretty fast and
thick, but we did not stop for their little
song that they would sing, but pushed
right to the front. The captain said,
"do you see them niggers over there on
that hill? Well, throw a little lead over
there and see if you can't kick some
of them out" The lead was soon over
there and we could see the insurgents
scamper to some other hills. We killed
eighty odd insurgents that morning. We