Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1900-07-20
philippines
An InterestidgL etter. Especial
ly for the Recorder.
=. PART III

with the exception Of our 0attdl-
Lon stayed to garrison this Province.
We would like to have stayed also
bat were ordered to return by "a
different route to Iloilo. We made
about EaE Of the Journey and were
far fur NJ in the mountains, when
heavy ratns caused The rivers to be-
come unfordabIe and in cense-
olcnee of the delay our supply OF
rations ran short and we bad to re-
turn all the hot weary distance to
Capiz and get a new stock and
start anew.
Christmas day fonnd us making
The last trail over the mouns&ins
into "a valley where we could strike
an old Spanish military road. Early
in the morning We had a akirnlish
and every thing except the pack
train and escort moved ahead to
clear The road. 1t was terrible
lot day and WHEN night came on
We were still in the mountains
without supper and no place to
camp unless we Ely in tle mud.
which in this country is Us bad III
the mountains as elsewhere We
pushed on and fell over banks and
into mud holes until midnight
when We suddenly came out OH the
road within mile Of a town which
We had camped in Oil our previous
trip. We all fell asleep wondering
how people. at home were spending
Xmas. The next morning NC were
astlr early, bat had no breakfast
because the pack train had not ar
rived vet. and did not until nearly
noon. After baaty dinner we re-
sumpd "PIodding our weary way"
towards Iloilo, which we reached
without farther mishaps the last
day Of 1899. On the 10th Of Jan.
we we're again embarked on the
TRANSPORT EACauo ard landed at
San .joQuim the same night where
we Joined two companies OF the 9Th
lnfantray. Capt. Gordons Mounted
Scouts and two guns Of Bridgnan's
Mountain Battery. Early the next
morning we started over range Of
mountains into the Province of
Antique and reached a small de-
serted village in about three miles
of the town Of Antique at dark.
The Insurgent Generalsen US an
invitation to come and visit him
the next day as he had been max
ing preparations to receive us for
long time. During the night the
gunbo Concord and patrol boat
No. arrived to assist il the ciyiliz-
ing process on the morrow. Be-
fore day light in the morning the
column was Oh the move towards |
their positions. and the fight began
at sun up. This was the incest
scrap" we had on account Of the
ground being perfectly level III
front of their position, thereby CIV
ing the tyoops a chance to dep'oy
in strictly military style. The
gun boats commenced to send in !
broadsiles at the first inSurgent
volley, while our battery fired oyer
MS At their positions on the hills.
The Mauser and Remington bull
lets seemed to literally fill the air
for a short time until they got rat
tied, which they always 90 when
things get fast and furious. In
about az hourit WAS over aud they
left two brass field pieces and one
Nordcnftlt rapid fire gun Of the
most improved model op the field.
1t was frightful sight to see their
trenches near the beach where the
six inch guns had fired
schrapnel into them. | will not
attempt to give any detail descrip-
ton Of our scraps" as it would oc-
cupy too much space and would
not be Of interest to any one not
acquainted with military matters.
We advanced to this town same
day but found no combat. 1t is
what ali enormous
amount Of work they have done in
the way Of digging trenches. &c.
and the Judgment shown III select
ing positions,
Since we have been in this PROV
nee we have had number of men
liiled and wounded. Everytime a
party goes out they are fired on
but it is impossible to bring on an
Engagement because thev will be
IN top Of some almost inaccessible
ill and after few yolleys they =
cave that position to appear farth-
n ahead. t
Contrary to their usual custom
hey have taken to firing on us in {
lie night.
The papers in the States speak 2
# the iusnrrection being oyer. but !
We see it in far different light. !
70 be sure there is no organized &
rny any more but the country t
warns with gurilIa bands who |
eally Kill more men than were 7
He'd in holly contested battles. :
The garrison here has been in |
l.. ca e. con,o+imo hut 40 yve