West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1900-07-26
FIGHTING FiLIPINos.
= Kinswood Boy Writes Home
About His Life in the Army.
4 letter from William c. Rexroad 10
Ills Mother Here.

BEYnEGc,. f5LANu on I.ryTf. May 20.
Dear Mother we received some mail
to-day, BAT as Tor myself, did not re, any.
so concluded 10 write anyhow and lea -
kuow TIA, everything Is well with me. Tai
bsea away from my company for long
while and did no; &c, any Of your letters un-
iil came back 10 the company about six
weeks ago, aud then 7 60, tsem all togetV
We came from Negros Island to this ISLAND
aboa, SIS weeks ago and found il a regular
iusuuecto counuy, and they had no use for
American soldiers a, az.
Oar company marched inland * miles ,o
a town called Degami, which IS just a, the
FOO, Of the mountains and right in the heart
of tho insunecto country, and there we wen,
into quarters in large stone church. which
made ycry hpe quarters for rs. There we
waited FOR endorsements, aud in about a
week they came, and We started for the
mountains where large force Of Triggers"
were fortifying We had to wade rivers.
cross ricc paddles. and Chamber over loes
and bamboo brush until we reached the foot
Of The mountains. Then we had 10 wade
down river for about four miles before
we could find The trail leading 10 the fort.
and when We reached the trail we captured a
Filipino outpost Taking one OF the ngcers
that we captured, who looked pretty scarev.
we pointed rife at his head aud told h.m
TO lead us 10 The FOR, up in the mountain
pass, and he, seeing where We had him, i'm
medaiely promised to do So
We started out again, with The niger in
front Of ms, and then commenced one of the
most difficult climbs that have ever expert
enced.
The mountain was almost perpendicular.
aud The path SO narrow that we had to 90
single file and catch hold If bushes and
roots TO help US along. You could look up.
almost right over you, and see the front Of
the column as i slowly moved along, and if
one should have fallen, it would have been
almost ike one falling of the cath, for he
could not have stopped at all until he reach
ed bottom.
finallyw reached a place where we could
form some kind Of a skirmish line, and the
Niger said we were about mile from the
first trenches, which proved true, as lust
then the outpost fred sho, and let the
eaemy know we we're close on them.
We came in about 100 yards of the
trenches, when the niggers opened up the
ball by firing yollcy at us, but /, did no
harm to us except make onr hearts jump
faster than usual
w. marched ,,r r,tt,.-. ,....,4 49,.
100 yards, when a large smooth bore cannon
which The enemy had was discharged, giving
the signal Tor them all TO open up, and then
came one Of the warmesi times ever expe-
rienosd, The oapnons we're loaded with
chunks Of lead, ron. brass and anything
that they could get. ard i, fell around a,
ike hail. and about that lime the Mauser
balls began 10 hun; for rs and We began 10
hunt for rocks, trees, and such other things
as afforded protection and then we began
firing in eames; at the niggers and slowly.
craving toward them. We kept this up for
about twq hours and then charge was or.
de'ed ON lhe trenches. Everything being
readf we started up the hin at o,u bes,
speed. wi bayoneis fixed, and th- yci we
let our s'emsd to chin lie blood in the
n'gg wis they 6.s, looked a. o.. then
hred aEoiisy and ran from their trenea,,
like deer
We ciim5ed over TIE trenches ,iga after
them, hrilg aud yelling ike mad, and then
took a much needed rest racsc were dead
niggers lying everywhere, and, beside these,
go7i many i,ed been carried away. They
were SO thoroughly scat cred THAT il was use
less 20 follow q en- sp w went inio camp
there ON ,he mountain. ustt III the very
trenches which sz hours before had been
considered, and was, one Of the strongest
slr3ngholds in :hc islands
The next day We burned and DESTROYED
everything in sight and then went back
down to the towns on the coast and went
into quarters, a company in each town.
This place, where we now are, is very
Peaceable and also avery wealthy place, and
50 now we are enjoying rest which we have
Tong needed. The war is practically over
and there is nothing to do but look after a
rev robber bands that infcs, these islands.
and orders have been issued to shoot them
ON sight, so1hey viii gradually settle down
and quit their meanuess and accept what
their foster father Uncle sam, has 10 give
them.
There is probability that we will get
home some timc next fall OF winter bu, we
can't icll much about Shat
Well, viii close. hoping to hear from
you soon. Love 70 all.
Your SON,
Wm. G. REXpOAn,
Co. d, 44lh Y. s. Vols, Manila. J.. T.
J. -