The Somerset reporter., 1900-12-27
Letter from the Philippines.

pines, written by Geo. +. w. Foster in
which he speaks of Corp. William Stinch-
field and Edward Pomlow. contains
much of their soldier life of interest to
the REPORTER readers:
Baybay, Leyte Island, Oct. 27, 1900.
Dear friend:
Yours of Aug. 26 just received and
finds me in good health. Was glad to
hear from you as letters from the old
town are few and far between.
You ask about Fred Doe, do you:
Well, he is still alive and we'll On Feb.
20, 400, Sergt. George F. Doe, one cor
porsl and three privates were sent to
Borongan, Samar Island, and while en-
route were attacked by number of in
surrectos. Sergt. Doe had command
of the detachment, who, at the time Of
the attack, were going up the river in
small native canoes. In trying to es-
cape. which was the only thing they
could do, their boat overturned and be
fore they could lift hand in their de.
fense they were surrounded and eaptur-
ed, afterward being compelled to 20
into the mountains as prisoners.
Word has been brought in from time
to time, sent bv himself and others, that
he is we'll, but is constantly kept on the
go, here and there, as their captors elude
the many detachmeuts that are being
sent out to effect their recapture. One
private WAS put to death Immediately
after his capture for Offering slight
resistance-befOre the eyes of his com
rade'. The other two privates made
their escape and joined their company
leaving Sergt. Doe and the corporal to
undergo none knows what.
The first authentic news we had of
their being alive was when detachment
out on scouting expedition saw on
trees, rocks and "slacks" in the different
villages they passed through, marks and
III oxen words and sentences relating to
their captivity. Later, native messen-
gers brought messages from Fred him
self to our officers.
General Lucban, who commands the
insurgents in that section of Samar
Island, has at last brought himself into
communication with our officers, and
terms for the exchange of prisoners are
now going on, in which he will exchange
his prisoners for ours, and by the time
you get this letter Sergt. Doe will prob
ably be with his company again. Seret.
Does picture WAS in the Lewiston Week
ly Journal of May 81, 1900, Thursday,
with the heading, "Burned to Death in
the Philippines" which statement | am
happy to say is false, although they
probably thought at the time that it was
true, in fact we all did until later devel-
opments proved it otherwise.
Up to this morning this garrison con-
sisted of whole companY--Co. K.
Now there are only about so men here j;
SO mem. e. enlisted men-and COM
missioned officers have gone to town
5 leagues from here-a Filipino league is
about miles-to intercept Gen. Moxica
who Is being chased by Majors Allen
and Andrews of this regiment in the
hopes of capturing him by driving him
into our forces who will be stationed at
the town to which our detachment are
now on their way. The rest of us are
to hold this town which will be a diff
cult job should they attack US, for we
have only handful of men compared
with the size of the town. There are
only 80 or 40 men to do duty here while
the detachment Is away. The rest of
the company are as follows: dead,
wounded, | deserted, discharged for
disability. discharged without honor,
sick in the hospital and 2 away on
special duty, all of which happened
since we arrived in the Philippine Is
lands. There were number deserted
before we landed In Manila which | do
not count in the above, therefore our
force is very small, too small, in fact, for
the safety OF all concerned, IL 300 or 400,
which is generally the number, should
attack the garrison. The regiment is all
split up in just that wise,. there not
being over company at garrison.
Leyte island, which Is fourth 10 size
OF the Philippine Archipelago, has the
43d Inf. u. ). V, and two companies
Of the 44th Inf. U. S. V. to garrison the
whole island; force altogether too
small for the island, in the fact that
they have such treacherous way of
lighting. Generally they will take a
very dark night, mobilize at some dis
tance from their place Of attack, and In
body creep and crawl as far az they
can get or unless discovered, in which
case the riflemen who will be stationed
in the rear Of the bolomen, will open fire
on US to locate our position, and il sue
cessful will continue till they think the
bolOmen are near enough to spring on
US and wipe US out, then they will cease
firing and we have the bolo charge.
The black devils will come at you with
their bolo In the air, and it Is a wicked
weapon, too, very few living after a
good square blow.
Our bullets are too much for them,
however, and after four or five good vol
leys they generally scatter. When we
charge on them with bright, glittering
bayonets and that "Yankee veil" they
can't be seen for dust. Whereas, ii
they get up courage enough to charge
US we just stand or kneel right there and
work them "Krags" till they see their
mistake and retreat. They can not un-
derstand why the Americans will not
run from them when they make a
charge, they can not seem to realize that
as fast as we are killed more will come
to take our place and that we never re-
trest-not for nigger anyway.
1t is strange that there are no wild
animals over here, for the almost im-
passable jungles of the hills and noun
tains would offer most excellent rem
d, zvous for wild animals Of any descrip-
tion. Cows are very numerous in most
towns aud Of very good stock, mostly
Jerseys, but they never milk them, not
even after they calve. One reason Is
that milk would not keep four hours In
this climate, another is that the majority
of the people do not like il and again the
poorer class could not afford its luxury
II such these people would call il, there
fore they raise them for beef anu work.
ing purposes.
hnrQa W mot