The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-14
A HOT FIGHT DESCRIBED
SERGEANT SHIRLEY TELLS OF A
TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
United States Soldiers Ambushed and
Subjected to a Calling Fire for
Forty Minutes.

An interesting letter was received yes
terday by j. A. Shirley. a real estate deal
er of this city, from his son, who is first
sergeant Of Company A, Forty-fourth Unit
ed States Volunteers, now stationed at He
longos, Leyte, Philippine islands. He tells
Of an experience he and other soldiers had
on Nov. % with the insurgents. He says:
'"Thirty-ive of us, under the command Of
First Lieutenant Lynch. left there at 5
o'clock in the morning for Pulta, almost
fifteen miles from Heren, having received
information OF a force of insurgents there.
To reach the place we had to follow a
treacherous river bank through a range
OF mountains. We found that our objective
point could only be reached by going
through a narrow defile with a towering
mountain of rocks on each side. We
thought II inadvisable to risk entering with
such a small number of men, so we made
about for home. About eight miles from
Helongos we made a turn in the river
which brought us in the center of four
large hills. There was no sign of life
about the place and not a sound was heard,
until we were startled by a terrible volley,
which was poured in on us from the rear.
followed Immediately from the right and
left. We started on the run for the front,
only to be stopped by another volley. This
lasted for five minutes and all was con-
fusion. We shouted and yelled and vainly
sought shelter by getting behind bushes
that would not stop a pebble from a sling
shot.
BEGAN TO SHOOT.
II have oftep read of a perfect hail of
bullets but never took it literally before,
but without ~exaggeration they fell every
bit as thick as that. Instinctively we be-
| gan to shoot but with no thought except 10
die fighting. For every man thought there
was not the slightest possible chance of
one of us living to tell the story. There
were, as we afterwards learned, over two
hundred rinemen and about the same num-
Der armed with bolos. Our efforts were
directed toward preventing a charge by
them. as We preferred death by bullet. An
insurrecto officer was running up and down
in plain sight, trying to get the Dolomen
to charge. He kicked and cuffed them and
even drew his revolver and shot one
through the head, out they would only
rake a feeble attempt to reach US, only TO
fall back at a volley or two from us. But
the rifiemen were still getting in their
work. a fact which every man of the de-
tachment bears evidence OF.
Lieutenant Lynch was mounted, but
4 vas uIlStdltu Dy a SnOI which went
through his thigh and killed his horse. He,
on account of being an officer, was the tar
get Tor as terrible q rain of bullets as man
ever experienced and lived to tell about.
They went through his hat, his clothing
and one cut the straps of his canteen al
lowing 1t to fall to the ground. As eacn
bullet grazed him he would strike at the af-
fected spot with his hand with angry
calculations, as If stung by a bee. Finally
he gave a man his revolver and grabbing a
rifle went TO shooting at the enemy as IA Il
as the rest of us. After about twenty min
utes OF hell each man was not wondering If
ne would be killed, but how soon. Lieute-.-
ant Lynch came over TO me and shouted.
THOUGHT 1T SURE DEATH.
Its sure death either way, but we will
make for home. You take charge of the
rear" And off we started, trying feebly
TO give a yell. We were handicapped by
our disabled men-Corporal Rezner and
Private Benner-and our native guide
Dewey" The insurgents began to close
in on us. but we retreated slowly. firms
volley after volley and holding them in
check. At one place we were in very great
danger on account of our difficulty In get.
ting Private Benner. of Bennington. Kan.
through the underbrush. He begged us tC
leave him and escape, but of course that
was not considered for a minute. After
about twenty minutes OF fighting and re
treating We began 10 be more hopeful, anC
| can assure you there never was a NOR,
welcome sight than the stone wall OF oul
barracks, when the insurrectos finally
dropped and We reached home I'm safety
with none killed and only three seriously
wounded. Every man has some mark o.
the awful ordeal TO which We were sub
jected for forty minutes as. timed by on
men at Helongos., who could hear th'
shooting quite plainly. Each man has som,
article OF clothing or equipment with on,
or more bullet holes I'm IL which he Is saw
ing as a memento of the worst experienc,
OF his life. We have doubled the guard il
anticipation OF an attack. as the insur
rectos seemed to have more nerve anC
skill than ever before in our experience
We expect reinforcements soon and viii
then probably have II out with them"