West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-07-12
FIGHTING FILIPINOs.
Interesting Letter from Preston County
Soldier in the Far Away East.
SAN IAUN, LuzoN

1 JAN JAON, LUTON,
| PHILIPPINE ISLANDS, Nav 1S. 1000
Dear Editor Argus
received The ARGUS and was glad to
get II and will take time TO pen few lines for
the paper. We are now stationed at San
Jaun, IN the northern Luzons, about aso
miles from Manila and right in the heart of
the mountains and where the Insurgent
Army is strolling through junges, fighting
and running. When my Troop of Cavalry
came over here about nine months ago, we
were I7o strong, but now there are only 6s
to answer roll call. They have been killed
OF one or two at time, until half of them
are gone. will give little detail of a
| fight that twenty of us had the first of this
month, in charge of Corporal, and If
didn't smell as much powder as some of
those old fellows at Bull Run who fought
and ran away, then am no scrapper at all.
we were sent out with Lineman to put
up some poles and repair the telegraph line.
When about nine miles from camp. the
Corporal ordered us to camp and cook some
thing to eat. So the boys said we will 90
to the first turn which was not far away mn
the beach, and see il everything was all right.
Everybody was willing to 60 and when we
got there the advance guard saw Filipino
with gun and said s'There is the enemy.
The Corporal gave the command "Dis-
| mount, Right File lead horses TO the Rea, 80
Then about the time we were in line of
action they gave us a volley from their Mau-
ser rifles, but We stayed with them and
fought them for four hours and killed u and
wounded ~ and captured all their arms and
ammunition and - prisoners. The latter
do all the camp work for us. We lost 2
killed and wounded in our litsIe fight and
what hurt me worst of all was that my horse
was killed and had to walk back to camp
and every once in awhile some of the other
boys would guy me with such chaf as call
good cavalry soldiers walk, don't they
Watson ?'
This Is a 6ne country # you don't care
what you say. When we are not in the rain
and mud up to our knees we are burning M
with the heat We have gotten so used 10
getting up at midnight and riding twelve or
fifteen miles through the jungles after the
Gagues, that we are getting very tough and
the natives say "Ameucanos all the same as
Filipinos." During the hard campaign las,
rainy season, We were with Gen. Young
There are four or FIVE different races over
here, like the different tribes Of Indians ~
home. The Macabees are Tribe that the
Tagslos drove 20 the mountains and would
not let them stay in the towns with them.
selves, 50 they said they would fight for the
Americans II they would give them gun.
So our officials enlisted six companies Of
them and clothed them better than they eve,
were before, as follows a straw hat with
blue band and the American eagle in front.
blue shirt and pair Of Kahi pants. belt
with 100 rounds Of ammunition and Krag
Carbine. The little Maccabee will roll his
pants up to his knees and as they don't wear
any shoes, he makes a peculiar looking
soldier, but they can smell TaeaIo mile
away and is prouder Of his gun and bel, of
cartridges than boy with his first pair If
pants. and all he wants is for two or three
Americans to be along to give him encosr.
agemen, and backing and he will 6ght al
day.
hope ] will receive more papers by the
next steamer. We can only get our mail
from the States once in two or three months.
Very truly yours,
mosss WATSON,
Troop -.