Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-05-31
Letter From the Philippines.
NAeA, P. l., March y, 1900.

since we drove the reOeIS Oul VI VIC tOA' -
ON Sudlon Heights about ten miles from
here. We marched until noon and went
into camp. For the remainder OF the
day we lay about a mile or two from
the forts, which lay on a high range OF
mountains about two or three thous-
and feet high. A small stream OF wa
ter ran along the foot OF the range, and
across on the other range opposite the
forts our artillery had two mountain
guns planted. On the evening OF the
same day we marched from here and
Law about a mile or two from the forts.
The two mountain guns opened up on
the rebels. 1t was sight to see them. A
couple of boys and myself got permits
sion 10 90 up where we could see the
fun-and it was fun, too. The gunners
could put their shells just where they
wanted them to go. One OF the shells
went a little too close TO one Of the forts
and disfgured it little by taking of
one corner Of it. Well, they got all the
range they wanted and ceased firing fer
the day. 1t was about five o'clock, and
the cooks were busy preparing supper
for the boys, while we were running
around trying to catch monkeys which
the green trees. Well, supper was ready
and it consisted of fried bacon, hard
tack and coffee. We ate our supper
and filled our haversack with the same
for the next day, and at $50 assembly
sounded and we fell in ready for any
thing that came along.
We began the hike up this creek TO
the forts and a hike it was, too. We
carried our haversacks with grub and a
hundred rounds ammunition and our
gun and belt with hundred rounds in
il. our canteep filed with water and
all this made quite a load to carry. We
would be on dry ground for a minute
then in the water up to our waist, fall
ing over rocks and getting up again.
Every one seemed to enjoy it.
We had orders not to talk above a
whisper, for we were right under the
enemy'S gnns.
We marched until about twelve
o'clock, when we stopped to rest for the
night. Our company was in the lead
and the other companies fell in the rear
of us. Well, just as we stopped some
one lit match We were all crowded
up together, when down came half
dozen or more bullets right among us.
You ought to have seen those boys scat
ter and get behind the rocks Some
were lying down, some were standing
up, some fell down any way, just so
they got down. We couldn't tell where
the bullets came from or where they
went, but they came and flew wild
around our heads. Well, we stayed
there the balance Of the night. We
laid on the ground and rOcks-any place
we could find place to lay down. We
awoke the next morning before the
break Of dawn and ate our breakfast
aud resumed our march up the creek.
We marched about mile and then
halted There were seven companies
of u.s. We formed companies and be-
gan the ascent TO the forts. AS we
started up the heights the big guns be-
hind us opened fire upon the forts, and
when they would throw a shell into the
forts the niggers would scatter, and as
they would Jump out of the forts we
would pick them off with our kragS.
The hill was covered with blue coats in
less than an hour. 1t was about seven
o'clock when the first gun was fired,
and by half-past eleven we were sitting
on top Of the insurgents forts eating d
hearty dinner, and old glory was flying
over our heads, where for many years
the insurgent flag had been flying. The
Spaniards had often tried TO take these
forts, but were driven back. We took
about twenty in all, and several rifle
pits with about six hundred men, and
never lost a man We only had three
wounded. The insurgents loss was
pretty heavy. We could find them ly-
ing along the paths, half hidden in the
bushes, where they had been wounded
and left the forts and ran until they
could go no farther. When they fell
they would try to hide themselves in
the bushes. The insurgents had one of
the Twenty-third infantry boys up in
the forts. They had captured him in
the city of Cebu about eight months
ago. lie escaped them and came back
to Cebu and reported to Colonel Snyder
who is now encouragement Of the Is
land of Cebu. He said the morning
we took the forts the insurgents tied
him up in piece Of straw mattress and
then fastened him to a bamboo pole,
and when they would have to leave
fort they would carry him from one
fort to another on this pole, borne by
two husky insurgents, and after we had
run them out of the forts and they had
to retreat to the woods they took him
along and kept him well guarded. DE
said he was fed as well as could be eX
pected They gave him the best they
had in store. OF course it was nothing
extra, but man could live on it. 1t
consisted of corn, rice, sweet potatoes,
hogs and goats, and such as that. He
saws he lived very well, but they kept
him heavily guarded all the time. lie
said when they first got him they were
going to kill him for his clothes, but
they couldn't decide who was 10 wear
the clothes after they killed him, so
they concluded TO keep him until we
came up to take the forts, when they
would drive us back and then make
him get up on the forts and torment US
with him. But the ball rolled the 9th
er way. Instead OF them running us
back as they did the Spaniards, we
changed the Joke on them. This fell
low said that the rebels couldn't savvy
the way the Americans fight. They
said the Spaniards would fight while
and then retreat, but the Americans
when they started they kept a-coming
and wouldn't 60 back. We stayed in
the forts all night and the next day we
sent into Cebu and got a lot Of rock
powder and dynamite and put the forts
on the bum. We left a company up
there to guard the forts and to keep the
rebels from rebuilding again. We cap
tured ten three-inch smooth-bore guns
and several small guns, also lot OF old
Remington and Springfield rifles.
Well, every thing is quiet around here
now, and | guess | will close for this
time. We are all healthy and enjoying
good health. c. w. SIsLER.
The feud known in Lewis county
as the Rexroad- Simmons-Taft feud
L. 1917 -. G. H. L. D. IL