The news & observer., 1905-12-30
Z PRAISE OF CAPT. BACHELOR.
The Valiant service Rendered by
Raleigh Officer.

The friends of the late capt. Joseph
b. Bachelor, Of the gath u. $. Infantry
are gratified that his associates and
comrades remember his courageous
service in the inSurrection in the Phil
ippines. The people OF Raleigh. who
were PROUD of the high position he
attained, rejoice that others recall his
gallantry, as the following from the
Washington Post shoys:
1T was just six years ago today,
said DR.. Joseph Milton Heller late
major and surgeon, L. 5. ", at the
Snoreham, "that the lamented Capt.
Joseph =. Bachelor, u. $. A. com
mandinS Il bata!ii"r of The twenty
fourth Infantry, completed what Is
generally conceded to be the most
remarkable and hazardous expedition
that took place during the Philippine
insurrection. and one OF which by Il
combination OF unfortunate circum>
stances. the American people know lit
tie or nothing.
Captain Bachelor, a North Caro-
linian. and n hero if ever one lived,
with $50 colored troopers. a brave
and splendidly disciplined little band,
marched and fought their way over
a distance of 80 miles in one month.
The route was over roads so diff
cult as to be almost impossible. They
roads but were rather trails, through
WHICH our men plodded. sinking up
to their knees in mud The eXpedi-
ton was chasing that willy scamp,
the famed AguinalGo, through the
northern and central portions OF Lu-
zon toward the China Sea.
81 never saw men show truer cour-
age than Bachelors men did on this
memorable march. With cheerful
spirit they bore fatigues, scant ra-
tions. and tattered clothes (many
without shoeS). every man display
ing the gaiiantry of their noble leader,
pushing into an unknown country.
with no definite idea Of the force they
might have to oppose. In brief. this
band of $50, insufficiently clothed,
marched without guides into a strange
region. through chilling nights and
sweltering days, made 123 deep fordS,
crossed precipitouS mountains where
the daily average of ascent and de-
cent was not less than 5000 feet fer
ried twice. and once forced passage
lover an unfordabie stream; lived three
weeks on unaccustomed and insufti-
cient food; twice drove the enemy
from strong positions; killed, wounded
|and captured many natives; turned ov-
er TO the United States in one month
three provinces; liberated more than
400 prisoners; forced the surrender
of the general commanding all the in
surrecto forces in it's front. and made
the people of these three rich prov
inces in Luzon enthusiastic advocates
of American supremacy
"No other single command in the
Philippines ever went through such
hardShipS or accomplished so much
as these negro soldiers Of Bachelor
and no other ever received SO little
credit. The untimely death of the
great and glorious Lawton, who ver-
baliy ordered Bachelor to strike into
the mountains and look for Aguinaldo
live off the country, and push for al
you are worth. and who was person
ally cognizant of how we'll his order
had been obeyed. robbed the com
mand and Bachelor of the credit and
fame so grandly won. General Law
ton was killed before he could make
out his report and Bachelor died OF
cholera in the Philippines, going to his
grave without reward of recognition
for one of the bravest expeditions il
modern times"