The Worthington advance., 1898-10-06
MOBILES COUNTY
BOYS
In the Fight at Manila and See
the Horrors Of War and Rails
ing the Stars and Stripes AT:
ter q Victory.

In SPN1sH AnBusoADE OUTSIDE THE
CITY OF MANILA, Aug. Is, 1898. {
MY DEAR MorHER:-
This is the first time since tn,
fight that l have had a chance t.
write. We met the Spanish Satur
day, the 18th, and whipped them ane
made them surrender and now tn,
Stars and Stripes float over ever,
building in Manila, that is every
public building. / will try to tel
you little about it. We broke
camp at Camp Dewey or left and
marched about three miles to where
our breastworks were and where We
were to hold the key to the entrance
of the city, the mud was deep and ii
rained about half the time. When
We reached the works We spent about
an hour building the works stronger
and fixing things ready to repulse
a charge if it should be made.
The Astor Battery was right sup.
port and Gen. Green had the Utah
battery on our left. He commanded
the 14th and 23rd Regulars. His
batteries opened fire on the breast
works at about 9:45, aud the Astor
battery opened on the right and
front at the block house directly in
our front, and Dewey sent in few
shots from his guns. The shellinp
continued for about half an hour
when l was sent out with a squad
that volunteered to go out and To-
cate the enemy, we were unable to
got shot at them as they had Just
left their position and were retreat
ing in disorder into the woods. II
was the tho first to mount their works
and Immediately the regulars came
up and raised the flag. We were
held there several minutes and our
battalion was sent up the road
toward the city after the retreating
Spanish, leaving us detached from
the company, they went up the road
for about half or three-quarters of a
mile in mud up to their knees, then
they were halted for a few moments.
then on they went at double quick
time for about one and one half miles
to where the fight took place. for the
last half mile where the road made a
curve, they were under a heavy fire
from the Spanish infantry. Nv de-
tacbment did not catch up until they
reached the church, we came upon
the run, the lead flying like hail
stones from in front aud left flank, II
saw three men fall before we got to
tho church, we crossed two orsthree
of their breastworks and they would
make stand and fall back, when they
got past the church about one hun
dred yards they took up a position
in an old house that was banked |
with sacks of dirt on the inside and
then, God pity them, they fought as !
only soldiers can fight. Our men
we're In behind the church aud the
street was clear except for water and
mud, then General Macarthur called
for men to volunteer to 90 into the
street and try and drive them out of |
the stronghold, there was a SQUAD of |
US went, Lou and I were almort side
by side-ope man between us-lying
in the mud and water a foot deep. we
gave them the best we had in the |
way OF 45.lead from our Sprlnafelds. |
The fire lasted about two hours, that
is the infantry fire, then all was over
We fell back about three rods and
stood for about fifteen minutes and.
you could hear the cheering ali over
The town wherever the white flag
vent up and MANILA WAS OURS!
Dur regiment lost one killed and
thirteenth wounded, and ono has
since died. l can't see how we got
out 50 lucky, an old regular told me
that he never saw bullets fly so thick |
and he was in the Civil War three |
years. l saw eleven men fall that |
day but the most were regulars, one
was shot through the head while ly-
ing in the street next to me, be
was 50 close that his brains and
blood sPattered on my face, got one |
bullet through my hat rim and one
went through my Poncho, WHICH was |
hung on my belt, cutting the thing |
lntwo and going through man who |
was talking with me, 1 never cot |
scratched nor did Lou. We have a |
good place here when we get it clean |
ed up; say, it is shame and a pity
to sec the country and works laid
waste by this war, thousands of ma