The Saint Paul globe., 1900-06-10
CHASING THE F|L|P|N)S
HOSPITAL CORPORAL OvNEILL
WRITES OF HIS RECENT CAM
PAIGN EXPERIENCES
1s IN MANY ENGAGEMENTS
Rebels Show Bravery, but Cannot,
With Bows and Bo!os, With
stand the Assaults of the
Americans.

William O'Nell, assistant state weigh
master, Of Minneapolis, has just received
the following interesting letter from
Charles O'NeiH, a Duluth man, who is
hospital corporal of the Forty-ffth in
fahtry, United States volunteers, on duty
in the Philippines:
YRIGA, p. l., April 6, 19OO-Dear
Friend: I just got a few days off, hav-
ing returned from our hardest campaign.
Glad to have a rest up; sorry 1 never re-
ceived your letters. Was wondering if
you had forgotten to write. I suppose it
must have been mislaid.
1 Will now give you the details of my
adventures. dating back from Jan. 10,
1900. We left Naic at S a. m. Jan. Is and
arrived at Magdalena at $50 p. M, a dis
tance of about twenty miles. 1t was a
beautiful country, but nothing but trails
and rice fields, making marching very
difficult Jan. 16 we left Magdalena at $50
a. m. and arrived at Nasugbu at $50 p.
m, a distance of twenty-three miles.
Jan Il we laid over at Nasugbu. Jan. IS
left Nasugbu at 6:30 a. m. and arrived at
Magdalena at $50 p. m. Camped for the
night Jan. 19 left Magdalena at d. m.
About three miles from town we engaged
the enemy about seventy strong, lying
in ambush for us In one Of the worst
raVines in the country. They opened fire
at 6:45 a. m and the fight lasted until II
a. m. the enemy holding a beautiful pO-
SitiOn, being entrenChed on the hill,
whereas we had to ascend 120 feet to the
base of the raVine. After they opened
hre the hospital corps was ordered to
the front. We aSCended the raVine at an
interval Of ten PAGES, the bullets striking
on the right and left as We ascended
Finally our men succeeded in driving
them cut The enemy's loss was six kill
ed and one captured Two Americans
were slightly wounded.
We arrived at Naic the same afternoon
at $50. From Jan. 20 until Feb. IS we
did garrison duty at Naic. Feb. Is We
went on board the United States trans
port Tartar, there being six ships in the
fleet, four carrying troops and two with
provisions horses etc, escorted by the
gunDOat Marietta. Feb. 19 we reached
San Maguil bay and anchored for the
night. Feb. 70 the Second Battalion Of
the F0rty-Hfth regiment and all of the
tOrtleth infantry landed in small boats.
The FOrty-iifth was compelled to wade
through mud and water reaching nearly
under the chin, and at the same time un-
DER IRE, the men having to go on the
firing line, not having time TO put their
clothes on The enemy charged on our
men with bows and arrows. Enemys
loss was five killed. One American was
killed. a private of Company @. He was
shot through the abdomen.
Feb. p the whole of the Forty-fifth
landed. Leaving the transport at a.
loaded with troops. About three miles
from the mouth of the river we ran on
a sandbar but got off and proceeded
about five miles, when we got struck
again, and abandoned the tug and land
Ell in small boats. We marched to a
Spanish convent about three miles from
the landing, where we met the FIRST bat
talon Of the FOrtieth regiment, which
had engaged the enemy in a terrible
night, killing about l2O, wOunding 16 and
capturing Y. The American loss was one
The encmy here fought with great pluck,
coming almost hand-tO-hand with the
Americans with bolo knives. They also
used rifles, bows, arrows and spears.
Feb. y We left for a landing at $50 a.
M, arriving al 1880 q. m. We crossed the
river in row boats, ate dinner and pro-
ceeded to NueVa CaSCeras, where we ar
rived at p. m, being fired upon twice
en- route.
Feb. p we left at p. M. and marched
until 1890 a. IN. Laid down on the road to
sleep about three miles from the enemy'S
lines. We slept two hours and arose at
5;3J, advanced two miles and stopped for
breakfast. From here we could see the
enemy on the mountains, openly and
within fun view of cur troops at times.
IL was clearly to be seen they meant
business. When we We're eating break
fast one of their scouts rode up within
20 yards and fired a shot. 1t went high
and nobody was hurt. At a. m. we
went after them, and, after a hot fire
lasting about three hours they were COM
PEELED to leave their trenches. We cap
tured one cannon and ammunition con-
sistng of nails. old iron, etc, and when
We reached their trenches we actually
found wooden guns, old spears and bows
and arrows. The enemy's loss was about
80 killed and sixteen wounded.
1t almost made me sick to see those
young natives killed in the trenches not
more than fifteen or sixteen years old.
Americans lost none, not even one
wounded. We ate dinner The name of
the town around which we had the light
was, I believe, called San Antonio.
Al 3:l5 p. n. messenger came in
and reported to our colonel that
a general by the name OF SAM
wished to surrender with his forces Tbs,
however, was a ruse to ascertain our
strength. He assured our colonel that we
could march through the town and there
would not a shot fired. The name Of the
town was B2u. So at p. m. We started
and arrived At Bau al p M. White flass
were flying everywhere. Here we staid
Overnight. Feb 26 we left Bau and ar
rived at Yriga at 10 a. m. where Gen.
SanZ surrendered with fOrty-three Span
ish prisoners, but no rifles or ammunition.
W Nhen they came to that point he said
Co. Pinar. a noted rebel, got away with
all the troops with the exception of six
ard was determined to fight. This Gen.
SAM was a colonel in the Spanish army
and was captured by FiIipinos, who,