Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1900-02-15
Letter From the Philippines.
Manila. December. 90. 100.

"A
for few months, will Try md let you know how
things are here Ii was in July ] last wrote you,
then was in Manila ] remained there until Sep
tember Sth then most of the 4th cavalry was sent TO
San Fernando. We shipped our horses by rail ; its
about 40 miles north OF Manila in the province OF
Pampanga where much fighting has been done. Our
lines had moved farther ont on the railroad but
little s<irmish outpost was about all around there
then though if you wanted some sport take and ride
away a few miles and you could get IT. We were
uuartered there just one month. had been through
part of this province last May. from Mt Arayat TO
CoumpIt. This IS Of the weatheSt provinces on
the Island. II has $40 square miles, and the Popula-
ton Is z4z,yoo. There axe some good towns. Baca-
Tor is the capital. good town OF 1890 inhabitants
The Chief product is sugar, nce' Indian corn ndIgo'
and / saw coffee growing ia most every YARD.
We lett San Fernando September oth, with Cen
eIal Nouugs brigade Part OF the 4th cavalry had
run the insurgents out few days before got there
We remained IN santa Anna Two days. They were
then planning attack on ATayaL We started on
to take Arayat, kicked up little skirmlsh, and
walked right IN the town. General LawtOns forces
took all these towns last NAY, but moved ont, and
the insurgents moved in, now this time they
moved for good. They sarTisoncd the town. Here
al AIayat General LdwtOu joined Us, and our troop
was his escort and bOdyguard We laid there few
days until thcy gOtaicTry across the hampana fiyer'
which is a good river. steam launches came up
from Manila and ,asgoeS with provisions. Several
companies of MacaDcbc scouts, were sent up here.
The scouts, with plenty OF backing, went after the
insurgents The Malabebc had an old grudge
against the IagalOs and they fought them Ike good
soldiers. Ne lett there after few days for CaDao.
heard good deal Ot iTng, but didn get a chance
myself. and wasn't a bit cross about II, either some
OF the scouts and some Of the ed l. >. Infantry lost
some men. This town Is IN the Province OF NuCya
Elxa which has an area OF 4.IIo square miles he
inhabitants are $4,000 including some savage tribes
From CaUiao went 10 san lsldo. the capital i
also came through this town last May. san lsdIo
has 6,o4s inhabitants. nice little town with some
good buildings. There General Lawton established
= supply It's as tar Is they can get supplies
up uy water, and 50 miles from the railroad. there
are some very GOOD towns III this province. There
are miles and miles OF the hncst and most fertile
land. which has never been cultivated. Timber,
rice, Indian corn, sugar cane, tobacco and cattle are
raised tor the Manila market All kinds of tropical
fruit grow wild. coffee grows anywhere. II has
good climate and good water There Is more wealth
m tins province than many places IN your best
farming districts ia America, but there hasn't been
anything from ii since the insur -cton started
From san lsido TO Santa Rosa the Gusus had burned
every bridge, which made livery difficult travelling
from santa Rosa 10 CJbauatuan. Tins Is quite
town We remained here three days, waiting Tor the
r.yer 10 20 down Ii mad been raining TOR three OF
four days and the roads were awful At last launch
came up and brought "a Jerry boat, and We crossed
the river. We were dong scout duty while we lald
there. At last crossed the UNCT with General
LJwton in the lead. IL was impossible Tor mules and
an escort wagon travel SO CaIIDO or water UulUS,
were used. These animals are slow but are Just At
home IN mud. The government has hundreds OF
them. Any how, .ot through to a small town
called san Jose There part OF the 4Ih Cavalry re-
manned. but went ON. While General LAYTON
was gong through this country General Macarthur
with TWO brigudcs moving from IallaCan To Dag
upau. General Wheaton had also landed at san
lsblI on the west cost north of Dagupau. ! believe
there were IT least .oooo Americans IN the brigade
columns and they had AEElcs men on the 20. We
didn't have any heavy hghuug-a sklImlSh ana 90
right along We landed in Iayug, good town,
then we in the province OF Pausaslnan. Ihls IS
one Of the best OF the Island. The natives were
very friendly We hadn't anything TO eat, As our
buffalo Tram was stuck IN the mud Inc natives were
well fixed here. nIs one Of AsgIes chief sup
ply towns. We were pressing him hard here. We
rccapWrcd over spanish prisoners, lots O! his
supplies, from three to hyc thousand lnSurgent uni
forms. printing press, and about 10000 Mexican
dollars.
After eS days campaigningwe finally put our horses
on the tram and came back to Manila. We were
glad to see old Manila again. We spent Sunday in
Manila and the next day, December 10, We had
derS to prepare for SIX days trip. Every | troop
man knew Lawton had planned the expedition We
started out Monday night, December 6 at o'clock.
We met General Lawton on the road, and the rain
was coming down in sheets We went by La Iona
church, and took the road 10 NavalitChe. We
into the goth Infantry, and about o'clock in the
morning found part OF the nth Cavalry and
battalion Of the 27th Infantry | found they were
planning attack on San Mateao We rode until
daylight wet to the hide, nothing TO eat But good
soldiers never grumble when they see Major-Gen-
eral in the same fix after daylight the 10 could
look down san Meteao. The nth Cavalry was
sent to the north OF the town to the river and
get in rear and the Infantry attack in front
Well, the old man went straight up the firing line
The Gugus us and commenced to pour in their
old Remingtons. My troop was brought up and dis
mounted, the old General himself placing us in po-
suOn. We were the only Regular troops there, the
others were volunteers. We got some good shooting
for 4 while and the Gugu sharpShootcrs had paid
no attention to US. They knew Lawton, and were
waiting for him. When they noticed his white cork
helmet they turned loose Down went Lieut. Breck-
cnridge, and one of his staff officers Three of !
troop men carried Breckenridge behind cover, when
said the General wounded We
49, h 81. ..v.lsa l .gl1
General was gone. Another officer wounded
close by, and saw eight good American boyswoun
cd
Now this darned place had been taken eight times
before. and always three TO five men killed All the
same the nth Cavalry got behind the town, and
there roar there for two hours. The town
taken, but the insurgents escaped and one Of the best
men IN the L. =. Army was dead \ chill went
through every soldier especially the 4th Cavalry and
troop, his escort The river had raised so high that
II impossible TO get the dead and wounded
Manila they kept the General and the others there
until the next day, when We got them IN. We cs-
coucd the remains from his house to Pace Ccmctc-
~. Lookout for HarpeT> or Frank IcSlie'S wecklcS
which v have alL kinds o- pictures of the procession.
ahead 70, the Generals body. We are mounted on
pullpiu. ponies They are planning a big cNpcd
tom o. the southern part oil This island. think the
Gu-u> DO northern Lulou are ready TO stop. Well,
guess everybody iu old sacphcrd-towu are enjoying
their Christmas, ] ate my Christmas dinner with
sc.cgy. san Francisco friends, who IN business
here. Manila Is sill on the boom. Everything Is
growing. ] could hardly realize the difference IN
many parts 20. the city since ! had been away for
three months. / saw q letter iu the REGISTER from
Mau..J.J September WHO'S in the roth Infantry
He landed here m August 1890. ! landed here 90
August. 1905. JUST days after the surrender Of Ma
Mia. he speaks Of Manila being very ancient and
it one is Two miles from the center Of the city he
can hear The chatter %, monkeys and all kind of
Wild animals. lived 100 the same grounds tor eight
months and the widest animal / ever. saw was
drunken American soldier. And as for the Gaiymcn