The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-06-17
Laoag, Ilocos Norte, Luzon. P. l.,
Ag}ril %, 1900.

April %, 1900.
Friend Henry-I cannot find words to
express the pleasure felt when 1 received
YOUR letter and package. You cannot
realize what intense pleasure a poor SOL
dier feels when reading a letter from his
home far away. / suppose ann not differ
ent from other soldiers in that respect l
know that q letter from you always brings
sunshine to my heart.
Ii YOU and others could but realize how
the hearts Of soldiers long for news from
tome and friends-how much joy It affords
theu-you would write oftener. Then, too,
one cannot tell which will be the last let.
Ter, for when that soldier, friend, brother
or sweetheart Is gone, one cannot he-p
regretting for not having written.
The day after Easter was a very black
day for the natives of the city OF Patac>
This city was garrisoned by a detachment
of G Company, Thirty-fourth Infantry.
The city was known to have been the
rendezvous of the instructors. Therefore,
a accommodating party was sent out from
Laoag, it being a detachment of H Com
pany Of the Thirty-fourth Infantry. They
were directed to go to Piewhy, over the
mountains, by rail. They arrived at Pic
Why without incident, but when scouting
around Patac which is only two and a half
| miles from Piewhy, they encountered a
body of the enemy, numbering about three
hundred, which they fought until their
ammunition got very low, when they re-
treated, or fell back to Patac. The insur-
rectors, then thinking that they had an
easy thing, pushed on, their numbers in
creasing as they approached the barracks,
| which were occupied by Americans. See
ing our men they made a rush towards the
| building. Wien Uncle Sans boys began
firing volley after volley into their ranks
| and leaving no impression on the insur-
| gent aines Captain Rolls telegraphed to
Colonel Houze at Laoag for ammunition
| and reinforcements. He sent out a detach-
| ment of A Troop, Third Cavalry, together
with ten thousand rounds of ammunition.
A CITY IN FLAMES.
Arriving On sight of the city OF Patac we
found 1t in flames: we also cams in sight
| OF the enemy at the same time. We
charged through them, with ammunition.
| into the burning city Our horses were
rnaddened by the fire and the noise made
by the fall Of the burning buildings, and
! they suddenly dashed off into the river. It
| was lucky that they did SO, for some had
their manes and tails on fire. We swan
| the river and made haste 10 the BARRACKS
| to shelter our horses.
The building in which the soldiers were
uuartcred was safe from destruction by
FIRE it being flre-proof' and a great dis
lance from any other buildings. After
st,aftering our horses we threw out a
SkirlllSh line anu gave TIE iltSu- SSitiS eili
thew wanted at least We thought SO, for
a while until we saw tlesn coming for
! US with drawn knives or bolos, when en-
sued. one Of the fiercests hand-to-hand con-
f1icts ever known In history.
About 5 o'clock all was quiet, and a look
over rhe battlefield revealed to US 8 most
| pitifM sight; tho dead in numbers or piles
here and there. We counted 106. shot
dead or killed in battle, and God knows
how many were burned to death. Three
days after we found on going through the
| ruins of this cursed city Gor as such do
the FliDinos call it), the charred bodies
OF men, worne1r and children; we had
native prisoners burryins them We thank
God we Gid not lose but one man killed In
the field and one wounded he dying a day
later. ~
| KILLED INSURRECToRS
For Ave days after the attack and burn
ing Of this city re were sent out to re-
connoIter. and each and every time left
from seven to fourteen instructors dead
son tho Geld. During the time ne lost ona