The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1901-02-21
FROM CHINA.

I
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FROM CHINA.
The Marietta Journal is in receipt OF
q very lengthy letter from Mr.. II. J.
Carruth, of Company NJ, 9th United
States Cavalry, now at Pekin, China,
dated January 3D., 1901. Mr.. Carruth
is u Cobb county young man, and en-
listed as a soldier in Dallas Texas, De-
cember Dist 1899, and was sent to the
Philippine Islands. When the trouble
broke out in China his regiment was
sent there. He was in the march with
the allied forces to Pelsin lie says:
On August 18th at Tien Chow, at ,
O'Clock in the morning, they were at
tackled by 1900 Boxers and fought I'M
| til o'clock in the afternoon, the allied
forces losing POO men. Over 1000 Box
ers were killed they were so thick on
the ground you couldn't walk without
stepping on the dead. They piled them
up and threw little dirt on them and
left them.
The japanese soldiers, he considers,
| are the bravest and hardest soldiers he
ever saw. Their average height is
about 5 feet, inches.
The. Russian soldiers are regular
butchers He saw them throw little
children in wells and bitches.
The march to Pekin, China, was a
hard one and men had to fall out with
exhaustion. In twelve miles of Pekin
we encountered $1,000 Boxers behind
breastworks, cannon and gatlin guns
Capt. Riley's battery fired the first shot
at range of | 900 yards and he saw the
dust fly up. We made a charge and
fought with all our might with sabres
and soon vanquished the Boxers losing
80 Americans and other allied forces
losst also. 1t Is said 900 Boxers were
killed.
On August I4th we led the advance
and were attacked by the Chinese
forces, but were compelled to fall back
to the main army, as our skirmish line
consisted of only 100 men.
Rileys battery was the first to arrive
before the walls of Pekin, and we slaugh-
tered the Boxers so fearfully they fell
behind the walls of Pekin. We threw
out skirmish link six miles long and
closed up to about 1900 yards OF the
walls. Large guns were mounted on
| top of the walls. The walls are 40 feet
high and 40 feet wide. They had look
outs on top of them over 100 feet high
in which we're sharp shooters. Capt.
| Riley fired the first shot and saw the
| lookout come tumbling down They
returned the fire with cannon balls and
bullets. They shot lyddite guns at us
and tore up the ground fearfully. We
remained there until sun down and
then advanced to 1000 yards of the
walls, and at o clock that night Riley's
battery shot at the gate, which were
made OF wood and iron, four feet thick
1t was battered to pieces and the Box
ers started to come out at that gate to
charge us and the battery turned the
Gatlin gun loose and the soldiers poured
in volley after volley at the Boxers
as they come out the gate. We killed
them faster than they could come, and
they retreated to the second wall. We
made charge through the gate. We
dismounted from our horses and threw
the dead Cinnamon out of the way. as
| they were piled waist deep. The streets
were paved with stone and blood flowed
across the street. 500 Boxers were
laying all around that gate Our troops
were the first to enterinto Pekin. The
Boxers took refuge behind the second
wall By that time the band came il
playing TIE STARS and Stripes Forever
and our enthused men sent up a yell
We entered the Pearl City and rescued
the. missionaries, which | may tell yor
about in another letter.
Our American soldiers are the 6tl
cavalry and the 9th infantry.
This is a fine country. The native,
say they are having better times anC
more money since the Americans tool
possession than ever before.
Sometimes get pass and go GU
and chat with a Chinese girl. III evel
get home again l intend to live for the
good can do Iwould like to see friend.
around County Line and Roxana.
JACK CARRUrH.
10 NJ II = ~