The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1900-02-08


other troops we were compelled TO re-
treat to our old camp. We had no
wounded that day: but to save my life,
/ don't sec how the men escaped.
When we came to camp, it was grow
ing dark. We put outposts ON the
hills and around the camp but hardly
was It dark when the rebels commence
ed to gather
There are many wild dogs in the is
land. We heard the bowling and
thought it was dogs but discovered
later that it was the rebels signaling.
At0 o'clock they commenced firing
into our camp. They fred in vol!eys
but as usual too high. There was
nothing for us to do but leave, as we
were encamped in the valley and the
rebels held all the hills. ln silence we
gathered our traps together, loaded
our natives with the rations, and took
river as our road. The water in
many places was up to our waists.
/ We marched until three O'Clock next
morning, our march being unknown
| to the enemy because OF the roaring OF
the stream as it passed over falls OF
different heights. AT three O'Clock we
were ready to drop with fatigue, and
we simply lay down under the big
rocks near high waterfall. | slept
with the spray dashing over me. We
had no idea where we were. We were
as completely lost as the "babes in the
woods"
At daylight we started to march
down the creek. Hardly had we left
the fall when we found ourselves in a
whole nest of rebel forts and rifle pits.
was with the coolies and we received
the major portion Of the fire. 1t was
comical to see our laborers jump be
hind the stones in the creek bottom
and hunt cover of any kind. One fei-
low dropped bag Of sugar in the
creek in his excitement Another hid
himself, or rather his head in u tin
boiler used to cook coffee. His legs
and posterior eXtremities must have
afforded a good mark for the enemy,
for the bullets played all around him
We didn't return the fire because wC
we're short OF ammunition. AS my COO
lies were delaying the column, | had
to hunt them up being continually un
der fire. I don't see how l ESCAPED
without u scratch. one man was hi
by a Ma lser, making a flesh wound il
the calf of the right leg. After quar-
ter of an hour,we were out of the range
{ of the rebels. At ! O'Clock we reached
: q camp Of American soldiers on thC
same creek, or, rather, river. UpoI
examination found that had a hol'
, in my canteen, it being on my righ
side Had the bullet been an incl
nearer, would have been in the hos
pital. Five days we stayed in camp
: resting our wearied limbs and patch
! ing up our sore feet. A detail went tC
| town and brought us back some clothe
and shoes.
: son the sixth day reconnoiterinl
party went out and were driven back
} On Friday, four companies went on
including our company after sealing
2 a mountain and viewing the enemy
= position. il was deemed best not onl.
3 to return tc camp, but to return Il
town. After taking back the artiller,
5 which had been brought from the tow
t of Parcloon, Friday last we returned
| to our old barracks. 1t will take 800
1 men to take those hills, and will eos
great loss of life.
A This morning we he rd that the u
7 S. Government would content itsel
, with holding Cebu(the city and tina
e wei Company II would leave in "A fe'
days for Iloilo( Island of Panay &
b. help the troops there 1000 mem VIII
5 were hard pushed by about l4,OOO reb
T. els. Before we go / shall write yo
n again. The enclosed scapulary wa
i taken from native who was left bleed
5 ing to death on our first day out.
= am happy to say that | am well not
e withstanding all the hardships hay
- been through.
5 This island is magnificent Th
e climate is superb. Wealth abound
= here, if the country were only deyeI
S oped.
81 have referred in my letter to som
e papers found when we fired on the ma
d tiyes on our second day out. The
d proved TO be valuable. one shove
q that the rebellion here was under Ag
- uinaldo's direction; and another, tina
(. firm of English merchants in Ceb
g were supplying the rebels with arm:
e A search of their warehouses here dis
e closed 5000 Mauser Rifles which the
b, had smuggled in. They are now
d jail and the guns under Il guard of
|. $. soldiers.
d THE SICK.
H. 1 III l.