The trails were, in a great many places, almost impassable, making
marching with equipments very laborious. However, we arrived at Bayubao
about 2 p.m. and rested for refreshments on the top of a high hill,
which over-looked the fort and the unruffled waters of Lake Lanao.
We had not been long in the enjoyment of our much needed rest, when the
natives, who were until then concealed in the brush, poured a volley
into our midst. The entire column was immediately summoned to action,
and a grander sight could not be witnessed than to see that body of
brave and disciplined soldiers taking their respective places and
falling into line for action.
The Battery was brought into action on the hill-top, with the guns
carefully trained on the fort by reliable and experienced marksmen, then
a noise arose which seemed to echo back from the very firmaments as if
the giant and mighty mountains had left their very sockets and were
tumbling in a confused mass into the deep waters of the lake below.
The Battery had cut loose and "let her go," and projectile after
projectile was sent from the guns on the hill-top "straight home" and
into the very midst of the fort, enveloping everything for a moment in
clouds of smoke and flying fragments, which was almost suffocating.
Oh! what a strange feeling influences the soldier when he hears the
first "Boom" of a cannon, for full well he knows that it is only a
stepping stone leading to the midst of the fray.
The natives returned the fire slowly but steadily, and in a manner that
was creditable, for they were not only taken by surprise but were at a
critical disadvantage owing to the elevation. Still the firing kept up
and more than one dark-skinned foeman could be seen falling, rifle in
hand, lifeless on the green sward.
They were now growing confused, ungovernable, and were firing recklessly
like savage maniacs at the unflinching column of brave American
soldiers, who were cooly aiming and firing at the commands of the
valiant officers whenever a well directed shot was to be had. It now
appeared evident that before this rain of bullets from the Infantry and
the bursting of shrapnel from the Artillery they could not withstand
much longer, and our position was such that to hit us at such a range
and elevation was almost impossible.
Again the Battery opened up with one last and mighty sheet of solid shot
and shrapnel, which made the very walls tremble and shake like the
leaves of a forest before a hurricane, and then deathlike shrieks could
be heard from within, the stout walls had crumbled to a thousand atoms,
and the Sultan of Bayubao, with many of his tribesmen, had fallen to
rise no more.