Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1900-05-17


Sergeant Fred Gull who in company
with Paddy Phslen, left Osnabrock last
summer to take up arms for Uncle Sam
against the insurgents. 1t was written
relatives at st. Thomas but Is of much
interest to the many friends the boys
left behind them in Osnabrock and
vicinity. 1t comes from Mac where
Fred was recovering from an attack of
malaria:
Il will try and tell you something of
the fighting we haye had, We joined
General Schwans column or brigade
January LIST, and stated out on the End
towards the southern interior of the is
land. The first fight we had was at Cilon,
where we chased the Googoos into
big ravine and captured two brass can
non, one Hotchklss sixty-fve Mauser
and one Remington rifle. We then went
thro' the town, killing twenty-seven mig
gers. We had one man shot through
the arm. We went as far as Indang
that night.
'Next we went to the town where we
are now, and had fight. We had one
man wounded and one killed here.
| TIOlu uclS We NcAu W OOH I0uUlO, WueI0
we had a running fight in it's streets.
We drove the insurgents down to little
lake where they bad some more trenches,
went down after the firing ceased and I
captured Philippine lieutenant colonel,
captain and five privates. The officers
had two pretty swords, silver mounted,
which wanted but the captain wanted
them worse, so I had to turn them in.
We went on to Tiaon that night and
stopped there.
Next morning Paddy and we're with
the scouts and were fred on at a crossing
of river, where the Googoos had cut
away the bridge. We started to charge
them and thought we could Cross the
river most any place. [ was first and
jumped in but [ have not touched bot
tom yet. had to drop my carblne as
had a cartridge belt full of ammunition
and two six shooters. Things would
have been all up with me but the boys
leaned over the bank and held out their
guns, one Of which [ managed to grasp
and was hauled out. We managed to
cross the river and chased the Diggers
l found dead Niger on the road with a
Mauser, SO took possession of it and
his ammunition to replace what had
lost in the river. They built bridge
across the stream and the troops came
across on that.
Next we went to Batangas, a pretty
little place on the Lasuna de Bay. where
we camped for few days rest. We left
there January 2S, gong back to Tiaon,
next day we were proceeding through d
very heavily wooded country. Paddy
had told me that morning that he
thought the war was over Every thing
looked so peaceful We came to little
stony bottomed creek and could not see
a Niger, but they opened fire on us.
There must have been 300 of them and
we were so close that the powder burnt
our faces. We dismounted and laid
down among the stones, but they we're
SO low they were poor protection. Paddy
was shot first and told us to keep Oh fir
ing but we were unable to silence the
enemy. Then another of our boys Jump
: ed to his feet and fell over dead. The
Mouser rifle that I used was shot and
splintered in my hands so that I was
obliged to throw it away and took the
rife from beside my dead comrade and
used it.
We carried Paddy about three miles
on stretcher to the town called Laraiga,
. where we had to leave him with some
more wounded. Altogether we had four
} killed and seven wounded and five OF
our horses were killed. The doctor told
me Paddy would get better or would
have tried to stay wife him. We return
ed the next day and found him dead
Next we went to Santa Cruz where we
rested two weeks. I forgot to mention
that we we're under the immediate COM
mand of Lieut.. Colonel Hayes and the
} force consisted of five troops of the 4th
, and four of the 18th cavalry. From
there we went to Pasoy with the balance Of
the 4th cavalry. The large barracks in
which we are now quartered are very
comfortable but we will not stay here
during the rainy season as there are no
stables for our horses. We may 90 tc
the 4th cavalry quarters, as it is about
time they were going back home."