The Crittenden record. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1904-1907, 1906-11-16
Observation-Disclosures
4 Soldiers Letter


JOLu JoLD. L. L.,
KIND father:I will endeayOr to give
you an account Of the Mt. Dago fight.
The narrative is in part as follows. The
battle proper began on the afternoon of
March 6, 1905, being mainly confined to
Reconnaissance and artillery work on
that day II was the beginning of the
great fight. II the afternoon Of March
9TH Capt Lawton's Nineteenth Infan-
try had lined up ard started no the
marrow path third of a mile.long that
follows the flank of Dago to the pre-
cepitous trail ,hat reached the Moro
fort on the summit Of the crater One
could hardly have believed that out of
that number Of mon, less than two hun
dred who we're stepping off as gaily as
II hey were going To shoot pigeons,
there would be ten killed and thirty
five wounded. At that time did not
realize the nature Of this particular ex-
pedition, having just got into the camp
from Jolo and took up my position with
the artillery who were Smelling the fort
and their rifemcn were clearing path
for the advance OF Lawton's men up
the summit. The artillery consisted of
the Twenty-eighth Battalion under
Capt. McGlothlin. But the gun which
the writer was with was commanded
by Liet. Mack together with Lieut..
Powell, Of the engineer corps. This
gun did remarkable work. 1t was like
target practice; every shot seemed to
strike just where aimed by the veteran
gunner, Corporal 0'Bryan. On the
summit Of Dago. just IN front Of the
trenches four or five Moros were run
ming, evidently watching Lawton's for
ces, who had already begun the steep
ascent; Mack 0'Bryan sighted the gun,
the string was pulled and there was a
deafening explosion. a huge cloud of
smoke rose and there was one less
Moro. Without the work of the artill-
cry who necessarily threw shrapneis
to the heights above, the fight would
not have been won as soon as it was.
The Moros gathered on hundreds Of
surrounding hills. and having been en-
couraged, and made flank attack on
the Americans and annilhilated them.
The shrapnels bursting above their
trenches killed many OF them ana ne
stroyed their trenches, and thoroughly
demoralized their fighting men. The
riiemen kept up tremendous fire al
ways little in advance Of Lawton's
men. Hundreds and hundreds Of pounds
Of lead was fired into the hill, and the
sound Of the volleys echoed from the
crater side like the roar Of thunder
Mack and his men displayed great
bravery under the FIRE Of the Moro
snipers. The Moros possessed some
good rifles and were able to carry to
TO the position Of the artillery and rifle
men
As rule the Moros aimed much TO
high. and ! believe that no American
soldier vas hit at any distance. Occa-
sionally one could hear the report Of a
Mauscr, and one bullet striking under q
mule standing under a tree caused her
TO jump so high. that a soldier said her
name was surely Maud.
Meanwhile Eawton's men were slow.
y toiling up the trail. Directly under
the enemy's Gotta (forO II is a hand
trail and weary. the red volcanic gran
lie disintcgrated into a sort Of porous
loan; breaks into ones hand as he en-
deayors to catch upon the soil and slips
under his feet; now the men would
grasp some huge root that uaiIed down
the surface OF the hill Ike Vine and
pull themselves up through the forest
tina, run o. both sides Of tht narrow
path; again a man would stand upon
his comrades shoulders. Il was gasp
ing. choking work. and the hot sun