The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-08-24
ALEIIIER FROM
THE PHILIPPINES
An Interesting Account of the Cap
ture Of CatbaIogan.
AT POINT OF THE BAYoNET.
The Enemy Were Driven from Their
Trenches and Their Flag and Bat
terry Capturcd-kinu Words for
Captain w. B. Preston.

I'VE learn from private sources that the
company of Captain w. B. Preston, Com
pany y of the Forty-third Infantry, bore
a distinguished part in the battle which
resulted in the downfall Of Catbalogan, the
capital OF Samar the third largest island
in the Philippines. IN this engagement
Capt Preston's company not only drove
in the jnsurgent sharpshooters and in
fantry upon their battery OF brass iieio
pieces posted on tn esummit of ridge,
but drove the enemy from their entrench-
ments at the point OF the bayonet, captur-
ing not only their battery, but thus oc-
cupying the key to the enemy's position.
The letter mentions the approach being
at first impossible owing to their front
being covered by q ditch with mud and
water mid-les deep and so choked by bam-
boos and briars that it was impossible to
force our way through even il they had
not been playing at at very short
range.
The letter continues: "At home in Viz
ginia our Captain was sportsman, as
well as a farmer, with a knowledge of
cattle and their habits. His experience in
these lines stood him in good stead in
this pinch, in that he looked for cattle
paths knowing that these animals abhor
a swamp. He found path made by cattle
and sheep across these sloughs where we
could creep in single file through the
jungle and get at them. We did this, COM
ing out on dry open ground on the other
side where we dcployed and opened a
return fire upon the enemy, who We're
about one hundred yards away in shelter
and at least ten to our one I heard the
CAPTAIN say to Lieut.. Price. we must
not let them find out orr weakness. lie
then commanded rapid fire, the trum-
peters to sound the charge and the men
to charge bayonets.' The enemy save
ground rapidly. retiring up the hills to
their rear. Their artillery now opened
upon US heavily. which. added to the in
fantry fire, made the next ten minutes
about as hot as I ever hope to see. Several
men were killed and wounded; indeed, the
sound Of tearing leaves and singing bull
lets was such as to make me wonder why
we were not all killed
PUSHED ON.
1--WE pushed on however. the CAPTAIN
finding that he could rely upon his officers
and men to follow where he led I may
here say that he never orders a man to
go where he will. not go himself. thus
! giving US absolute confidence in him. So
| at about twenty yards from their works
! we gave them the magazine fire and with
| a yell and a hurrah we went over their
| trenches and through their artillery en-
| brasures at them. They ran to a man.
| leaving their artillery flag. ammunition
and supplies in our hands.
Another letter of later date says in refer
| ence to an expedition across the island of
San7ar:
Captain Preston with Lieut.. Price and
| forty men of his company undertook to
| cross the island with the intention OF
| discovering and destroying a factory of
! arms and ammunition supposed to exist
| on the eastern coast. Our way lay through
a hostile country rough and mountainous
and without any roadways. Part OF the
| tourney had to be made down an unknown
| river in native canoes. The stream was
so turbulent that we We're often unset. but
| fortunately no lives were lost. In many
| nlares the men had to de,ark and the
| boats lowered. by means of ropes. over
| cataracts and rapids. AS far as [ can learn
we are the only marty who hive traversed
| the island SO rough and dangerous is
| that coast considered that no war vessel
has ever been there. Tho scenery was fine
and wild: trhe danger but added interest tn
orr expedition. which was marked with
| success. as captured and DESTROYED
| the factory After q march over this rough
| country sleeping in wet clothes. some
| times going 7ranv hours without food. we
| returned TO CathaIo@an practically shoe
| less but safe and sound. and feeling very
| proud of our captain and ourselves