Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-08-21
WAS IN HARD FIGHT.
Former ottumwa Boy Sees Service in
PHILIPPINES.

FniIlpptheS.
Fighting from daylight until dark
and finishing with a winning bayonet
charge, Win Chambers, an Ottumwa
boy, participated in the engagement
in which his regiment successfully
routed the Filipinos from their strong
mold The fight took place at Bryan
IN the island of Mindanoa, and result
ed in complete victory for the union
forces. Mr.. Chambers is in the u. S.
army in the Philippines, and tells of
the battle In a letter to his parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. e. A. Chambers. who re-
side at 54S West Second street. The
following is portion of his letter:
Our regiment is now stationed at
Jola in the island of Jola, having re-
Gently left the island of Mindanoa.
This place is also the headquarters of
the 18th cavalry. There has been no
trouble on this island as yet, and it is
the general opinion that there will be
none. II. troop has suffered the loss
OF eight of its men, We left them
buried on the field of Bryan before
leaving Mindanao. We got orders on
May l, to break camp and take up the
march to the lakes, where it was said
the enemies have stronghold. We
found them all ready and waiting for
lis In well fortified position. Their
fortlhcations consisted of three forts
made OF bamboo, mud and rocks Each
tort was surrounded by deep trenches,
then for about fifty feet were sharpen
ed stakes, driven in the ground. 1t
was almost impossible to reach the
forts, but we did it just the same.
Fight Lasted All Day.
''The fight was hot one and was
in doubt until the last fort was taken.
After about twenty-five miles of the
hardest marching soldier ever en-
countered, through mud and clay
above our knees, we reached the lakes
and found the enemy entrenched n a
strong position. At daylight we open
ed fire on the first fort, the artillery
soon Carrying it, routing the blacks
who retired to the forts in the rear
The second fort followed the first, but
in the third one, which was much the
strongest, we encountered much diff
Guilty. The artillery was nearly out of
ammunition. The twenty-seventh did
run out, but they held their place and
were strongly in evidence when short
ly the troops arrived at point where
ammunition was unnecessary. The
fighting was fierce, and the sight will
never be forgotten by those who par
ticipated in the engagement We
would fire volley and then advance
keeping it up until so close that we
charged right into their trenches
Then followed hand to hand fight
that was terrible. The natives threw
down their guns and used their bolos
and spears, while the infantry used
bayonets, carbine butts and pistols
The fight lasted from daylight until
1880 o'clock in the evening, when amid
the downpour of cold, drizzling rain
and the cheering of soldiers, the enc
my raised the white flag, and came
out to surrender. Out of 600 natives,
only sixty We're left. Our loss is es-
timated at between forty and fifty
wounded, and fourteen killed. Sever
al officers peing among the number of
killed and wounded"
Prisoners Made a Break.
1--WE stayed at the fort all that night
guarding the prisoners in a steady
downpour of rain, and SO tired and
hungry that it was impossible to sleep.
When it became light enough to see,
the prisoners made a break to get
away, but not one of them got over
one hundred yards away. This was
the hardest fight that | have taken
part in since joining the army, and is
one that shall not soon forget"