Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1900-03-06
SOLDIER
Writes From Cebu.
What Alfred NJ. Jones
Thinks Of the Isle,
And Remarks on Soldier
ingln Tropics.
Natives of Cebu Treat Soldiers
Very Kindly.
Glimpses at Interesting Points Noticed
While Making Voyage.

In Garrison at Tailisaye, Isle of Ce-
bu, Jan. 30, 1900
Mr.. Earnest g.. Schaefrer, Akron, O.
Dear Friend: l am well and enjoy
ing life as well as could be expected,
under the circumstances. 1 enlisted
on the 10th day of October, and arrived
at San Francisco on Oct 26, where I
remained until Nov. 10, when was
assigned to the 45th u. s. Vol. Infan-
try, which was to sail on the above
date on board the United States Trans
port Senator. We arrived ut Honolulu,
Hawaii on the morning of the 26th,
having had two days of rough wealth
or. We remained at Honolulu until
noon of the Both. While backing away
from the dock into the bay, we rau on
to a sand bar. 1t took until . u. m.
to extricatc us from this position, and
we again started forth OH our long
voyage. On Dec. ii, we passed the
isle of DeFajaro, which is nothing but
a huge volcano. We passed near
enough to sec the flames and lava is
suing from its mouth. At 10 D. m.
Dec. 90, the Senator dropper anchor In
Manila Bay.
We arrived at Captain Royne's at IL
a. M. and remained for dinner. At
! noon We again started up river for
| Camp Winston, which was four miles
north of Royne's camp, the place ap-
pointed for the meeting of the troops
We arrived at $3.50 p. H., and pitched
our dog tents along the stream. In the
evening | was detailed, for outpost du-
| ty one and one-half miles UP the river,
towards the 'Filipiuo's forts. About
midnight, the outpost was attacked by
| the insurgents. There were 20 of them
aud but six OF us, with corporal,
| making our number seven in all. We
| amused them for awhile, killing two
and wounding five. One of our men,
Harold Cooper, was shot in the arm.
They did not return during the night,
having received plenty. On the af.
ternoon of the seventh all the troops
were called together and given a short
talk by Col. Mcclellan, or the 44th vol
unteers.
When Company NJ volunteered to
take the advance up the river that
night for an attack ON the enemy's
forts, at 6:30 p. H., under cover of
darkness, companies l, NJ, II and s of
the 44th, following the 10th, bringing
up the rear With Companies ID, and
G, we advanced up the stream four
miles, to position directly under the
Filipino's forts. where we waited for
daylight to begin hostilities, few men
sleeping, on account of being soaking
wet. At daybreak, our guns mounted
on the opposite mountain began to
ibelch forth death and destruction, the
infantry then began to move forward,
Company NJ ill the advance, the 44th
ON the right and the 18th on the left.
We had to climb up the hill at least
mile to the first fort.
When within about 200 or 800 yards
OF the fort, we We're greeted with a
shower of lead and scrap iron. was
struck in the right arm, about two in
clles above the elbow. Very little
damage having been done, was able
to continue up the hill with my COM
pany. In about 10 or 20 minutes after
we started we had taken their first
rife pit, and captured their first fort
at III a. m.-740 men in all officers
had captured two forts, and
IL rifle pits. Only four of our men
We're wounded, one in the left leg and
thiSc III the dTllli IlUt IL man Delng lOSh
About every so yards we would find
II Filipino dead or wounded. The
wounded were buried If officers were
not at hand to prevent 1t, by reason of
there being "A lot of stray bullets fly
ing about.
The troops commenced to return to
their different camps, at noon of the
9th. Company NJ remained until the
Of the 10th, all the forts being
destroyed by that time. We arrived
1t Camp Winston about 0 a. M, and
we're given hearty welcome. We
'ested for short time and arrived at ,
Japtain Royne's camp at noon. We
emained there for dinner, leaving at
Il gl2;3oap. m, arriving at El Pardo
bout A p. IN. The men were very
irpd and tyrru out parfovu, e..l an ,,,,, | 4