The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-09
FIGHTING In THE ISLANDS
LIEUT. CHARLES $. TARLTox's IN
TEREsTING LETTER.
A Brave Sergeant Who
Finally Lost His Life-Oth-
er Incidents.

A letter written by Lieutenant Charles
s. TarIton. who is at present serving his
country on the Island OF Luzon. to a friend
ir his city contains an interesting descrip-
ton OF some Of the incidents which he
encountered in a recent campaign with
General Schwan. In relating his expert
ences OF a forced march to San Diago,
Lieutenant Tarlton said that the first
morning ort he was much surprised to
see a very pretty young native woman
tramping along in front OF the troops with
the Macabeebe scouts. AT first" said he.
..she attracted very little attention, but
as mile after mile of bad road was chopped
OF the map we became very much inter-
ested in her. BY making inquiries Of one
OF the guides 1 discovered that she was
a blushing young bride of only a day, hay
ing married one OF the scouts while stay
ing in Bataugas, and having nothing else
to do she concludede TO go on the cam
paign with her husband, walking mile
after mile with apparent Indifference TO
fatigue. We all thought there was some
pretty little romance connected with the
story. but were disillusioned when We
found that she had only known her hus-
band a day before she married him."
After referring 10 the inadequacy Of
the brides apparel at her first appearance
Lieutenant TarIton says that before the
first days march had been completed she
was metamorphosed into a veritable prin-
cess. First a big hat and then an UNI
brella made its appearance" said he, then
a shawl, shoes and even a pair Of stock
ings, which she proceeded to put on IN
front of the entire command. Then came
ribbons and bundles Of mats. BY night
she was mounted on a pony, then a side
saddle found its way TO her growing
trousseau, and when the command started
next morning another pony had been add
cd, which carried her plumber, consisting
OF pots, skiIlets and native pans" n re-
markabIe think about the accumulation OF
all this plumber. Lieutenant Tarlton says,
was the fact that the regiment was march
at the rate of twenty-five miles a day, but
notwithstanding this and the additional
fact that orders were very strict against
lcoting the Macbeebe scouts were deter
mined to give her a nice sendoff, and did
the thing right.
In another portion of the letter Lieut..
Tarlton gives the following interesting ac-
count of a supper scene which was rude'y
interrupted by the natives. and incidentally
tells Of the bravado of one of the soldiers
while under the influence Of some native
whisky which he had stolen without the
knowledge of his superior officers.
After describing how the enemy had been
that the whole column ~bivouacked GU the
plaza in front OF a convent. I'm a few
minutes" he said. ''the whole scene was
transformed from darkness into light.
Lights began to appear in numerous shacks
and hundreds Of camp fires began to Cot
the plaza like the stars in the heavens.
The hurrying tramp Of numerous squads
going out to take post for the night TO
guard against surprise; hundreds of figures
silhouetted against the camp fires, throw
ing fantastic shadows on the dark walls Of
the great convent, all made a fitting back
ground to such an imposing and c~hangeable
scene. To this was added the hum of a
multitude OF voices as they chatted and
sang snatches Of songs as only men can
sing and talk when out on a campaign.
Then the smell Of the bacon and the coffee
how delicious to the hungry soldiersi
Lieutenant Boyle and your humble SER
want were just sitting down to this en-
Jcy aAAC ohPPN@Ba WHICH, WoAhAhSg
from the adjacent hills to the south and
east of us the insurgents opened upon US
with heavy volleys. The plaza and adjoin-
ing streets were alive with soldiers cooking
and eating their suppers, and hey pre-
scented a most tempting target. In much
less time than IL takes to tell it coffee. ba-
con, chicken and fires were all kicked to-
gether in one sizzling and smoldering mess.
and the Transformation was most startling.
The darkness was made more intense by.
the Hastings Of the guns on the hills, which
were being worked by some very energetic
fellows. The outposts opened up as they
were driven into the town, and any one
coming upon the scene would think a sure
enough battle was under way. But above
the din could be heard the sharp, snappy
voices Of the officers as they gave their
commands for the assembling of their COM
panies. In less time than il takes to tell it
the enemy had been driven out and our out
posts had been re-established
when supper was well on a second time
Il was discovered that the shacks on the
main street OF the town were filled with
Jars OF veno. This was at once reported to
the commanding officer, who ordered it all
poured into a drain or canal which fur
nished the water supply for the town, but
some of the men had discovered its where
abouts earlier in the evening and the eff
feet of il had already begun 10 show. One
man could be heard chattering like a mag
pie. and wanted 10 go out alone and put
down the insurrection. Barrel-house
whisky is a delightful beverage when COM
pared 10 this stuff. The captain hearing
him and noting his condition poked his
out OF a window and said, Hunter if you
don't be quiet L will tie you To a post
Hunter came right back at him and said,
All right. Captain. just tie me to an out
post This was evidently too much for
the captain, as he retired into the shack
&c finish HIS supper. Now this Hunter was
the son of a soldier, who was the son Of
a soldier. and he proposed to show the
boys what a real soldier could do in the
neld. After collecting quite a crowd he
proposed to lie down in the drain where
the water was four Of five inches deep and
like Jacob with "A rock for a pillow spend
a comfortable night. The men were on TO
Hunter though, and refused TO allow him
10 lie down. saying that there were over
three hundred gallons of veno in the