The Iola register., 1901-02-15
HENRY DECKER PROMOTED.
Allen County Boy islAdvanced for Gal
liant Work Against Big Odds in
Fight With the msurg ents.

The following letters from Henry
Decker, son of ex-county treasurer
Decker are publ shed in the REGISTER
because his home friends know him
and are interested in his deeds, and
despite of his modest request that they
be kept private. The REGISTER glad
ly assumes responsibility for making
them public.
The first one, under date of Novem-
Der 8, and written at Pasuquin, p. l.,
says:
"It has been some time since have
written you but everything has been
albright with me- and my health excel
lent. We had good time Sunday
night celebrating the election. About
2 a. m. Monday morning the outpost
was fired upon by body of "goo-
COOS" They drove the outposts back
to our barracks and then the fun be-
gan. There were only thirty of us
garrisoning this place and the attack
ing party was 300 strong, l20 riilemen
and the rest bolomen. [ was out with
a detachment of six men while the
others stayed in the barracks. My
detachment drove out forty rinemen
from a trench, killing two and captur-
ing two rifles. Then we went after
another gangof them was reinforced
by three or four men) and this time we
were running to cut them off from the
river, which we did, but they made
stand on us. This gang consisted of
more than twenty-five riHemen and
they let us get upon them before they
opened fire. We were within fifteen
yards of each other, so you can guess
it was hot fire. | saw they would
get some of us unless there was
move and so ordered charge which
was successful. We did not get to
see how many we killed as another
detachment gave us hell from the rear.
So we turned on them and here we
killed two more niggers and captured
threelriles, one a Krag BY this time
most of them were getting out of town
as fast as they could. The last bunch
we got into was sixty strong, most of
them armed with rifles, while the bolo-
men waited on the edge of town to
charge us when we started to run,
but we didn't run.
"You people may think this is not
so, but l can show you in black and
white when | get home. Now don't
publish this, for people who don't
know me may not believe it.
We have no commissioned officers
here and a sergeant is in charge. Our
lieutenant colonel, Hawze says we
did grand work The native police
brought in two wounded the morning
after the fight and we buried them that
night.
"Hurrah for Mckinley aud Roose-
welt We have the news that they
are elected, so the niggers will either
fight or give up. | am willing to stay
until my time is up to show the black
rascals what they must do. had
one man wounded but not seriously"
The other letter is dated December
10, and says in part:
"Well am still here with prospects
OF staying two or three months more.
But guess | will stand it all right,
as l am we'll seasoned now apd our
duty is light and we are living we'll.
Nevertheless | am ready to leave,
most any old time.
"The goo-goos are very quiet since
the election, in fact don't think there
is much danger of their showing up
any more. They know it is hopeless
since Mckinley is elected and | think
they will soon disband and become
amigos. Our colonel is with us now.
having come up from Manila last
month, for which am sorry as it will
relieve lieutenant colonel HawZe from
command here, and most of us thought
there was no one like him. He was a
fighter from top to bottom.
BY the way l was promoted Decem-
Der to sergeant and the best of it is
that was promoted for the part I
took here November in the attack
wrote you about. was fourth rank
ing corporal so you understand |
must be we'll thought of by the officers
or ! would not have received the pro-
motion,
/ shall come home as soon as | am
discharged, but don't know what |
shall do then. Love to all,
HENRY #. DECKER.