The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-05
Special Correspondence of The Cali.
BY SOL. N. SHERIDAN.

who places his trust in regulars rather
than volunteers should have been with
the First California when the boys
made their way to the trenches last
night through storm of lead and iron,
which made the whole length of the
Gale Real one hell. 1 have cabled you
the story of the first battle, the mid
night alarm and the death list which
shows how pravcly the boys gave their
lives for their country.
l was asleep in Colonel Smiths tent
when the firing began out on the lines.
1t awakened me, but at first neither
the colonel nor any man in camp paid
great deal of heed. There had been
firing on the lines every night.
That is more than a fight between
Spaniards and rebels said Colonel
Smith.
He was fully dressed, the whole camp
was alarmed, before the call to arms
came-as 1t did come, to be greeted
with a cheer by the California lads
Before midnight the First California
was under arms, had reported to Brig
adler General Greene and had been or
dered to relieve the menin the trenches,
hard pressed by the Infanteria de Ma
rina, the best soldiers of Spain.
fornia was given the honor of go
ing first TO the front. 1t was
not d time to pick and choose.
Luck was with the general command
ing in placing reliable men for work at
his hand. Major Boxton, commanding
the First Battalion, moved down the
Gale Real, with orders to make his
way at once into the trenches at the
front. Major Slime, commanding the
Second Battalion, moved in column
of tours through the camps of the Astor
Battery and Of the Third Artillery to
the rice and peanut fields beyond, where
the men marched steadily forward, de-
spite the rain and the deep water-holes
and the plowed land through which
they were compelled to make their way.
With this battalion 1 accompanied
Colonel Smith on the hardest march Of
my life. 1t is only two miles from
Camp Dewey TO the front. To the boys
who marched last night, full of the
dor of battle, not even the obstacles
of the ground could make the way
seem longer. Major Shines orders We're
to advance to the second line of
trenches, 500 yards from the front, and
deploying from the beach to Pasay TO
cover the right. The Third Battalion,
commanded by Captain Cunningham
in the absence of Major Tilden, moved
last with orders to take position as
reserve halfway between Camp Dewey
and the Pasay road.
Behind the CalifOrnians the First
Colorado Regiment moved down across
the fields as second line of reserve,
but never came into action. Neither,
for that matter, did the Third Califor-
MIA Battalion, although the boys were
within range of the spanish guns.
The First Battalion was followed by
the band boys as ammunition carriers,
although every musician was armed.
Right here let me mention the gal
Iantry of Band Master HOLSTER, who,
shouldering his musket with the resE,
led his men through the hell of fire at
the second line of trenches, on quick
run and then, getting his right to the
front, fought as bravely as any man
in the ranks. Let me mention likewise
the youngest member of the band, ST.
Clair Moore, commonly called the
kid" He is a mere lad, and yet, in
the early gray of the morning l found
him on the firing line, beyond the
trenches to the right, and although he
was blue with cold and wet, his one
regret was that he had not seen a
chance to shoot a Spaniard.
Major BOxton carried his men down
the road almost to the second line Of
trenches Here was where brave Cap
men, who were crawling through the
danger zone, was shot in the head a
Mauser bullet pulverlzing the skull
where it struck, glancing. He fell,
saying: IT am dead, boys. Leave me, -
and lost consciousness.
The medical corps, Dr. Mccarthy in
charge, assisted by DR.. P. J. Farrell
and DR.. O'Brien, had come up with the
rest and had field hospitals established
while the men were advancing. Three
times these hospitals were removed to
secure safety, but even in the
sung through the sides and thatched
roofs of the native huts selected for the
sick, while the doctors worked on the
wounded.
At the point where Captain Richter
was shot most of the casualties to the
Californians occurred. Sergeant Justh
was killed farther to the front. in the
advanced works. He was leading the
company, in the line of duty, as a
brave man should have been. IT am
gone. boys" he said and fell dead,
the first Californian to give his life for
liberty in this distant land
The First Battalion reached the
trenches almost upon the heels of the
regulars Of the Heavy Artillery. Col
onel Hawkins men, when help came,
had not more than four rounds Of am
munition to the man remaining. They
had held thei" ground CALAMITY. but
without bullets could not stay the
Spanish rushes, although Company
D had already done good work with
the bayonet. The Terrible Tenth"
fell back, therefore, and the Califor-
mans, rushing forward, divided cart
ridges with them, while Major O'Hara
took the exposed position on the left
with one battery. heavier equipped.
The Californians and what was left
of the Pennsylvanians held the center,
and the Californians were at the ex-
treme left, covering the beach. Still
the battle ragged. The Spanish fire, for
three hours, did not slacken percep-
tibly, and there were forward PUSHES
after the rejnforcements came up and
after the Utah Battery had secured a
new supply Of ammunition. but there
never was a chance for Spanish success
after the regulars and the gallant First
when the fresh troops came up. the
battle of the Convent de SCledad, al