Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1902-09-23
A SOLDIER WRITES.

LHCAHOCA u lHc l. WcHtA -ScNCnlu 1u1,
band, located on the. island of Min
danao. We publish the letter for the
perusal of readers who may be inter
ested in the affairs of the United States
soldiers fighting in the Philippines:
MALABANG, P. L., Aug. 2, 1902,
E. b. Thayer,
WaHsau, Wis,
DEAR SIR Your letter of June 2d
is just at hand and as promised to
send you any news of interest | will
try to give your readers an idea of the
battle of Bayan. | stated in my letter
of March 30th, that the expedition to
the lake would start on April 1st, but
owing to various delays did not get
away until April 9th We, the band,
have just returned to the coast, having
been up on the mountain for several
months OF the many happenings on
the trail and little skirmishes before
the main fight 1 won't stop to speak of.
The journey up the mountains occu-
pied the time from April 9th to May 1st.
On account of the heavy rains the trail,
just mere path, winding in and out
among the trees, over rocks, in some
places ascending up the side of rocky
lodges, was almost impossible, and on
account of the expedition being accom-
panied by light artillery the advance
was very tiresome and slow From
this point until nearly to the lake, are
dense forests cut by deep ravines, but
the country lying around the lake is
open, and very beautiful.
Our force consisted of about 800 men
on the start, but by leaving men to
protect the various camps along the
trail it was reduced to about 400 rifles
and four guns. No serious trouble
occurred on our way up the mountain,
except having the trail in many places
obstructed by fallen trees, and having
our telegraphic communication cut
many times, the N5ros falling back as
we advanced. Ic Macy places we
found trenches thrown up, but no
stand was made against us We
reached the open country on May LIST
and found the natives occupying two
strong forts on the top of two hills,
Just to the south of the lake A mes
sage was sent to the head Dato asking
him to come out and see our colonel, |
promising him full protection under
the flag of truce. He refused to come
out and then word was sent back that
if he did not turn over to Col +. ID. !
Baldwin, the Moros who had murdered |
some American soldiers in the month |
of March, and also to give up some
horses stolen from the 10Th Cav before
noon, May I'd, the American forces
would attack his forts. No reply was
received from the Dato, aud while at |
mess, just before noon, the Moros |
opened fire, want to say right here |
that the idea of war between us and |
the Moros was not considered proba-
bility, aud had Dato Bayan shown any
disposition to avoid trouble, it would |
not have occurred. The forces on the
line now consisted of Co.'S E, +, 6 and
II, 27th Inf, a small detachment of Co. |
B, 9th Inf, and the 25th Battery of
Light Artillery. Co. H had the extreme
left Of line, Co. + the center, Co. & the
right, and Co. f and the battery little
to the rear of the center of our line at
slight elevation. The left of line was
near the lake and the line extended in
a crescent facing The west and south
faces of the fort. The fort was about
|, 100 yards distant, and about BOG feet
higher than our position. Very soon
after the Moros opened fire, Col, Bald
win ordered the battery to begin firing.
1t opened with shrapHel and soon was
dropping the shells nearly where they
were wanted, and after firing about 90
rounds, the infantry was ordered to
advance. 1t was very warm and the
rank grass was about waist high. but
the line swept up the steep hill in true
American style and never stopped
until the top was reached The fort
was built of stone and dirt and was de-
Tended by deep trenches, lines of
sharpened bamboo stakes, pitfalls, etc
In the fort were several brass cannons
and, | should judge, about 400 Moros,
many armed with rifles. Co.'S +
and II forced the trenches, mount
ed the walls of the fort, and
soon had the Moros running down
the hill toward the main fort, about
one-half mile distant. Co. E and the
battery now came up and took new
position on the top of the Hill and the
battery began throwing shells into the
main fort. Co Il in the meantime had
been sent around by the right flank to
get in the rear of the fort and by this
time had gained the desired position.
Again the infantry was ordered to ad-
vance and here occurred the only mis-
take of the battle. We were ordered to
advance in line of skirmishers to 800
yds. and halt, but the command to halt
was not understood and so we kept on
The battery was soon forced TO cease
firing on account of the asr.ss to us,
and soon we were engaged in hand to
hand struggle with the Moros. who
filed four lines Of trenches on all sides
of the fort / cannot compare this fight
with any other as it was my first and
only experience Of this kind and
haven't any objections to its being the
last, but it was bayonet against bolo
and no quarter on either side. The
Moros would fight until their very last
breath and die grinding their teeth and
striking with their bolos as long as any
strength remained in their arms This
fort Bayan, from which the battle takes
It's name, was at the end Of stony
ridge aud was built entirely Of stone,
the walls being nine feet high and four
feet thick, protected by four lines of
49, t-,..