The Dickinson press., 1898-10-22
Lieut.. Osborn's Letter.

Lieut.. Osborn's Letter.
Manila, Sept. J., 1893.
THE PREss:-After another delay of
nearly 80 days, l will try and muster
ambition enough to write. You have
heard ere this all about our landing in
this far away country and what l will
write this time will be principally re-
garding our field work-the line of battle,
Co. KS part, etc. presume, too, that
you have already heard much of this,
but l will tell it from my stand point and
it may be that l shall be able to throw
additional light on that which you have
previously read.
Let me say here that our first mail
from home, after leaving San Francisco,
was received here on the evening of
August 8, and there was great rejoicing.
1t did seem good to hear from home. We
also received orders the same night to be
in readiness to to 20 to the front next
day.
On the morning of the 9th (August) we
were taken from Cavite across the bay to
Camp Dewey. Our landing was at the
mouth of the Parauaque river, one mile
below camp.
W. remained at Camp Dewey until
the I2th, when we were ordered into the
trenches to relieve the Ist California,
stationed as follows: Ist battalion in the
trenches to the left of the 23rd regular
infantry; Cos. c and X with battalion
headquarters at Pasai, about 900 yards
in rear of trenches; Co. l at cross roads,
just west of Pasai, with four outposts in
rifle pits, and connecting with the left of
the insurgent line. Co. D was stationed
at Markaband, also with a line of out
posts; they we're to act as reserve. The
men in the trenches we're busy all day,
and at about 9 p. m. Maj. Frame received
orders to report at Col. Treuman's head
quarters at once. He received orders of
the demonstration that was to be made
against the city the next day, Aug. I3th,
and was told to notify Cos. l and D to
hold their positions at all hazards. He
was informed that Cos. X and c would
be joined by the 1st battalion in the morn
ing and they, with one battalion of the
23rd and five Cos. of the l4th regular in
tantry, would form the support of the
firing line, and they were to be relieved
by the 18th Minnesota and the Astor bat
terry on the morning of the 18TH. 1t was
not intended that the fire should open
until 10 o'clock a. m, but for some reason
firing commenced at 6:3o, our boys firing
several volleys. The firing lasted but a
short time, and at 1890 our boys and the
23rd were relieved by the Minnesota
regiment. We fell back and took a po-
sition behind a stone church and wall.
At 10 o'clock Dewey's fleet opened a
bombardment, which lasted one hour and
ceased, for what reason we did not know.
At this time we. received orders to go to
the front and in five minutes we were all
moving. The noise of musketry and the
boom of the Utah and Astor battery
guns caused an effect that we had never
before realized. The Mauser bullets
commenced to whistle over our heads,
cutting the twigs and leaves of the trees
and bushes. No one faltered. Our pace
was terrific and the boys commenced to
throw away their blankets and haver-
sacks. We were marched out in front
of the first line of the Spanish trenches
which they had vacated. The road they
took turned to the right and when we
had gained the next turn to the left we
found that owing to the dense jungle on
either side of the road. we could not de.
Ploy for battle, and there was all the
troops in front Of US that could be used
at that time, hence we received orders
, to halt and await further orders. About
| this time there came a shower Of bullets
down the road and the Major commanded
the men to lie down. The first place ]
found offering protection was in a hole
by the roadside where a she'll had burst
but before had got fairly settled dowr
l discovered that l was in a big ant hill
and thought of moving across the road
rising a little, a bullet whistled rather to.
close for comfort and l concluded that
would remain where l was. Just thel
Lieut.. Gruschus came up and notified
Major Frame that Capt. Aud had beer
/. overcome by heat during our rapid ad
vance. l wa given orders to take com
] mand of the company. l left my ant
5 nest, located the boys, and lay dow
again when a perfect shower Of Mause
missiles came upon us, kicking up tn
mud and cutting down the bushes. Evi
IDENTITY the Spaniards had us located.
: discovered a little mound OF earth an
J took advantage of it. A Co. c man re
: marked that a fellow might as we'll stan
up and be shot by Spaniards as to Ii
down and die for want of breath. H
stuck his head up and in an instant
bullet took the top Of his hat out. Hi
head went down and he remained quit
T until we had orders to move wei to tn
e left and relieve Co. M of the 18th MINI,
81 sofa, the Ist battalion, of our regimen
! remaining.
Cos. K and c relieved the Minneso,
s boys At block house No. II where l thre
out = line Of sentinels to the front hrous