The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-20
LETTER FROM THE PHILIPPINES
a North roll soldier c,~-a-
perfences and Tells III om. = y.
Fighting.

Editor Messenger:
Having a few idle moments at my
disposal it occurred TO me that a few
lines from n of the boys in the far
Philippines would be Of some interest
ito his friends and to your readers who
ARE interested in the Philippines.
My regiment, the Twenty-seventh
infantry, United States volunteers, ar
rived at Manila in the latter part of
October last and were landed on cas-
IcoeS in the harbor to be taken ashore.
I'VE were promptly marched out TO the
lines under the burning rays OF a trop-
lical sun and relieved the Thirteenth in
ifantry, United States army. My COM
pany, c, was stationed at San Felipe,
about six miles from Manila, in a
northerly direction The other COM
panies of the regiment were stationed
from a half to one mile apart in a
%northerly direction from Manila, the
whole line forming a sort OF Gordon to
prevent a surprise by the insurgents,
tack on Manila.
We were at a Felipe for a month,
and, save for deSultory firing on the
loutpostS and the occasional capture of
lso-called "amigoes" and supplies as
Icontraband of "a that the insurgents
IIldhlI6 oil ~ ~ SCI ~ IL
the lines, there is nothing Of much in
terest to write. l may state, however,
that the rainy season had not yet pass
ed and our sufferingS and discomforts
while remaining on the outposts for
ltwenty-four hours at d stretch in water
and mud were something to excite
sympathy; but we ave got over that.
After remaining about a month, as
stated, at San Felipe, We were ordered
to San Juan del Monte. At this place
which was close by brigade headquar-
tiers, we enjoyed G.? the same expert
IenceS.
On the 18th of December my
with B. A. and NJ companies, forming
the First battalion of our regiment, re-
Iceived orders to join General Lawton
on the west side of the town of San
Mateo and assist n battalion Of the
ITwenty-ninth infantry, w ~squadronS
of the Eleventh cavalry and one troop
of the Fourth cavalry General Law
tons body guard) in the capture Of the
town then held by h insurgents. We
marched all night in a heavy down.
pour of rain, ~encountering all kinds of
obstacles in the shape of mountains,
rivers, mud n holes, but at 8 O'Clock
a. m. the following morning (the 19th)
we effected a meeting with the other
commands, as above stated, and be-
gan the assault. A raging river 'sepa-
NN~ - eA~ No"A oAAA ou1 Il LIE
was at a range of 500 yards.
The insurgents occupied a strongly
l~intrenched position along the banks of
the river n returned our fire for two
hours. AT the end of this time Gen.
eral Lawton, who vas conspicuous
during the entire engagement by his
tall and commanding form on the firing
line, and his little disregard of the enc
my's bullets, was struck above the
heart by a SharpShooter of the enemy
and mortally wounded. He expired
within a few minutes, retaining con-
seriousness to the end. He ordered a
charge across the river when struck
the whole command made for the
river in the face Of a Shove of bullets
from the enemy, but after many es-
Icapes from drowning we reached shore,
W~hereupon the insurgents hastily with
drew from their trenches, taking their
dead and wounded with them over the
mountains which surround the town.
Our troops, utterly exhausted by
marches and fatigue incident to the
above described little affair were un-
able to pursue them over the noun
|talnS, but they have since been anus
ed by another attack on them in the
Businesses of the mountains.
Our casualties at San Mateo were
infantry killed and twenty enlisted
men wounded.
My company, with two others, now
occupy the town, while the remaining
companies of my regiment occupy
towns in adjacent territory. d.
We are compelled to make recon
~naissances yer the mountains from
time to time in search of the enemy
and occasionally come across them.
but more often they manage to elude
These marches over mountains and
streams for seventy-two hours at a
stretch in the fierce heat of the day are
damaging to the health of the
troops, but are made necessary by the
movements of the insurgents.
The Filipino is a tough proposition"
He lays his gun away when he thinks
safety warrants the act and dons white
clothes, an evidence of friendliness to-
wards the Americans. At night or at
such time as the opportunity presents
itself he steals forth, digs up his rifle
and gugu uniform and starts opera
tons against us. AS organized forces
we have them pretty we'll disintegrat-
ed, but l see the war no nearer an end
at this writing than when we arrived
the sland. From my experience on
the island and my observation OF the
natives thereon 1 have failed to be i'm
pressed with any evidence of their
fr1endliness towards us.
The climate acts as a poison to our
troops and the hospitals are crowded
with men suffering with malaria and
.dysentery. n not a few with wounds.
Our effective fighting force would not
To-Day reach more than 5000 to 40, 900
out of a total of about 60, 600. The men
are all ANXIOUS to be returned to the
states, and l would advise no one to
come here for any purpose.
l mad occasion to go to Manila a few
Gays g and had the pleasure to meet
our old friend Sol Satchwell, who is
employed In the adjutant generals Of
fee.
L am unable to say how lone we will
remain at the town GA lot of BAN
DOC shacks and a church.)
Our colonel. Bell, has been promoted
10 De brigadier general and has re-
nnQuished command Of the regiment.
Lieutenant Colonel Cummings ssumes
place. ~
Hoping the old town, its people and
paper are moving in progress.
NON CON.
If IG G0r1 fhaA