Rensselaer Journal, Volume 10, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1901 — A PHILIPPINE LETTER. [ARTICLE]

A PHILIPPINE LETTER.

Sergeant Gerrle Clifton in Many Engagements. Leyte, P. I. Editor Journal—Hearing you would like to have aft article for your paper direct from the P. 1., I will try to give you some idea of how we soldiers get along and an idea of the class of people we have to deal with. I left some friends in and around Jasper county and as a beginning they may like to know something of my doings since leaving Indiana. I went direct to California, worked a year and a half for the Pacific Mutual Life Ins. Co., first as an agent, later on a salary and a per-cent of what my agent wrote. Hearing of a new gold strike I went to the mines, came back to Frisco a few months later, wiser but none the poorer, went to work for the Santa Fe railroad company and was firing when I took a notion to see the P. I. Enlisted as a private and left San Francisco Nov. 20, 1899; stopped on our way at Honolulu for a week, coaling; was ashore several times and spent a day in the foothills; it is a beautiful place and wealthy. We arrived in Manila Bay the morning of Dec. 19th. Ashore the 21st, the day after Gen. Lawton was killed. We were marched at once to the firing line and took up our duties as soldiers. By we I mean Cos. L and M of the 43rd Reg. U. S. V., the only companies made up and sent from Frisco; the balance of companies were from New York. We were stationed at El De Posito for a week. While there part of our company went out to the front as an escort for a provision train, composed of caribous or water buffaloes and rude carts. We arrived at San Mateo that evening and up along the hillside or mountain side rather a fight was taking place. We turned over the train and were held in readiness to take part, if needed. While waiting we saw many of the boys brought past on stretchers, some with an arm missing, others dead to all appearances. These were regulars. One fellow, as he was carried by us, had life enough to raise up on an elbow and say, “Why don’t you rookies go up and fight; have you got cold feet?” Of course we were “rookies,” but did not care to be told of it. Any way, we were not rookies long. A fight or two will make old soldiers of them all. We were relieved and ordered back next morning. We were sent forth to the front the next week to Camp Marquino. Here I had my first and last scare. Every night a patrol went to the river some two miles from camp and patroled the banks where it was thought the insurrectos were getting supplies across’ to their army. It was a corporal’s duty to take eight men and walk up the bank for half a mile, and back every two hours. Having been made a corporal, I had charge of one of the patrols. The bank was covered with thick bamboo and brush. The path rubbed the outside of this all the way, and as it was a very dark night, you could not see, but had to feel the path. We had turned and started back when we heard a commotion in the bamboo a short way ahead of us. Of course we were scared, for what did we nine rookies know but what a hundred or two bolo men were laying for us. Any way we put on a bold front and left the path some 15 feet, so we would have a chance to use our guns. I think none of us drew our breath for a few seconds; then it was all over and proved to be an old water buffalo trying to get a night’s sleep and perhaps had a bad dream. The scare done us all good, for after that I was never frightened when we were fired upon. We saw no actual fighting while around Manila and as soon as our regiment arrived we were ordered in and aboard. Left Manila Jan. 18th, in company with the 47th regiment, some artillery, hospital corps and three gun boats, the Brooklyn, Helena and Paupangau, a very small boat to run in close to shore with. No need of telling you how we fared for nine days on board, packed on deck like a lot of cattle, nothing but hard tack and corn beef to eat, and not room enough to lay dawn, many having to sit up and sleep. At last our turn to land, the balance ottWide the 3rd battery under Maj. Allen and Col. Murray of the 43rd having been put ashore at different places, and at nearly every place having a fight, for up to this time no Americans had been on this island, Samar. As I said, one morning we pulled into a most beautiful bay, crescent shaped with a background of hiyh mountains all around. I have a clipping from a paper telling of the fight at Catbalogn, the capitol of Samar. I said I had a clipping of

the battle but I can not find it, so will have to give you a short description of it and pass on. We dropped anchor, the gun boats on either side and as near shore as they could get. We were rushed into row boats and towed ashore by the steam launches of the Brooklyn and Helena. As we started for the shore, smoke began to rise from several large buildings and we knew at once that they had fired the town. We made for shore as hard as steam could take us, not knowing what minute we might be fired upon, as the town was built down to the waters edge. The boats soon struck bottom and we all jumped into water up to our waist and made for shore. Fire by this time was pouring from many fine houses and smoke was blowing in our faces so we could hardly see. We formed a line along the beach and started through the town; not a shot as yet had been fired. The major ordered a detachment to halt and fight fire. I happened to be in the detachment but ran to one side around a building and got into line again. As soon as we struck the brick streets we began to get it from in front and on all sides and you can bet things were warm for a while. Nothing could stop the boys, though and they went, knowing in front were the

trenches, probably full of black devils. We gained the trenches, but found them empty except for a few wounded, who were unable to run. The trenches were at the foot of the mountain and from here began a steep climb, but the boys tackled it like goats, keeping up a steady fire as they ran. As we started up, a big Irish lad from my company was shot down by my side. He simply said, “I’m done for,” and dropped, shot through the breast by a piece of chain from one of the native cannons. As soon as we began to climb the mountain, the gun boats could see us and they opened up, and you that have never heard cannon shells screaming over your head and bursting among the enemy, can not imagine what a welcome sound it was to us. We sent up a cheer along the mountain side and started up again. I see I will have to cut this short, as I am going to run out of paper. The fighting lasted about five hours; only one American killed, the one I mentioned, Logue by name. Several were wounded. One poor fellow from Indiana had his foot shot off, and crawled into the brush and lay for four hours before he was found. Said he didn’t want to stop any of the boys from the fight. We got 29 old cannon from the They loaded these with old chain links, bolt heads, nails or any old scrap iron pounded up. Two days later, Maj. Allen and two companies started up the river to the powder works, so called. Here Gen. Lukban was reported to have stopped and here he made shells and powder, and also brass cannon. Many places we had to climb up rope ladders, so steep was the trail. We arrived, but found the place had just been deserted, except a few women and old men, who told us that they had only left about half an hour ago. A detachment gave chase but no use among these mountains and dense brush and woods. Along the trail was found SIB,OOO in Mexican money Lukban had to drop as too heavy to get away with. At the powder works were found some of the latest patterns of machinery. No telling where they got it. We destroyed everything and burnt the buildings. For two months all was quiet in town and we were spending the time in long hikes over the island, trying to capture Lukban and his fol lowers, but no use. The companies were divided up and sent to different towns to garrison and protect the amigos or friendly natives. After being divided up the hiking had to stop, for we did not have enough men to do it with. -For a month every thing was quiet and every town filled up with people, then the insurrectos began to attack different towns and they kept us busy for four months keeping them out. The colonel sent for more men, but could not get them. Gen. Lukban swore he would retake Cotbaloga, and for a time it looked as if he would. He had captured five of our men and killed twenty at one time at Oatubig. We only had a few men over a company at Ootbalogan, and from the 3rd of June till the time we were relieved at Samar, the third of July, we were at least attacked once a day and some times twice. Our boys were like walking ghosts from loss of sleep and from overwork. None of us _K9 fc more than one night in out of three, and the officers and sergeants stood guard, so as to let some of the privates get some much needed rest. Most of this time we had a gunboat in the bay and that was about all that saved us, for they were afraid of her and a few shells would scatter them. The 3rd

of July we were relieved by the 29th regulars and they said they would mighty soon stop the insurrectos; what they would do would be a plenty. That night as we were just finishing loading 'aboard to leave, they had their outposts out and were ready to eat the natives up. They got the chance. The natives opened up on them from all sides as they had done on us a hundred times. We from the boats could see them running here and there, and the outposts came running into town, leaving the town open The way we guyed them was a plenty. Next morning we left for Leyto and here we are today. Have seen some hard fighting and have lost a good many men. The natives at present are giving us trouble all over the island. Two weeks ago four of my Co. S. were killed at the first volley and several wounded. Lt. Leaf, of Co. K, was shot through the leg and had to have taken off. Three days ago, a detachment of Co. M and of native soldiers, under Lt. Steele, left here to fix a wire that had been cut. They ran into ambush about 3 miles from town and had a hand to hand fight. One of the Co. M men was killed, and about 60 dead natives and many wounded were left on the ground, which was proof to them that they bad better let our boys and Kraggs alone. Hoping this letter will prove interesting to those who read it, I remain, Yours truly,

CHARLES G. CLIFTON.

Ist Sergt. Leyto Scouts.

Leyto, P. I.