Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-08-24
THEY WANTED TO FIGHT.
Third Wisconsin Boys We're Eager
for a Battle.
JUST BEFORE PEACE.
Next Thing to Strife Among the
Companies to be Assigned to
Outpost Duty.

In the Field Near Coamo. Aug. u
Especial. There have been number Of
brushes between the Wisconsin troops
and the enemy in this vicinity during she
past few days. Ever since the fight near
Coamo when the Sixteenth Pennsyl-
vania had the brunt of the shooting and
the Second Wisconsin regiment arrived
too late. after driving the Spaniards iEto
the Pennsylvania boys hands, there has
been the liveliest competition III the brl-
gade for assignment to positions on ou,-
post when the enemy was near. Cos. ID.
Il and VI of the Third Wisconsin have
been for some days before the pass held
by the Spanish troops, the possession of
which they dispute very positively. These
three companies have been exchanging
shots every day with the Spanish, but at
more or less long range. Today stronger
forces were sent out With i couple of ad-
dItional batteries of artillery. The bat
terles are to reduce the Spanish works
III the pass, after which the Infantry will
be used.
Day before yesterday the Third Wis
consin regiment was ready to move across
the mountain with six days rations 70
flank the Spanish position. The order TO
90 Was countermanded, supposedly be
cause of the talk Of peace. Inc SpaniarG!s
holding the pass, however, refuse to
bulge and peace or no peace, are now to
be dslodged.
Col. Moore at officers meeting this at
ternoou Informed the officers OF his regl-
ment that he thought he could assure the
command OF Il tight tomorrow or the next
day.
The men are we'll informed on the
mechanism of their new krag-JorgenSen
rifles, but with the exception of few
companies have not fired their pieces. Ihe
indications are now that they will have
the chance.
In compliance with a general order
from diyisiol. headquarters this morning
all revoiyers of the enlisted men Of the
Second and Third and Sixteenth PennSyi-
wanna except the staff and other eNcep-
tons, were turned III to the division ord
nance officer. This order was issued be-
cause Of the fact that~in the last twenty
four hours there has been three "acclden-
tai" discharges Of pocket weapons and
the lives of soldiers are endangered by
the careles handling of firearms. Ihe
regiments were assembled and the person
al possessions Of The men searched. There
are now very few pistols III the possession
of the men.
Gen. Wilson also ordered search made
for arms. ammunition and accoutrements
belonging to the Spanish and taken on
the 9th, when they were cornered. The
rifles. etc. They were picked up by the
American soldiers and natives, but about
ali eventually found their way into the
hands of the men. So few were being
turned in that the general ordered
search. Many Mauser guns intended to
be sent home TO Wisconsin as souvenirs
Of the fight will never get there. The
search for pistols and guns was made at
the same time 1t is not proposed to give
the pistols back until the return to the
United States.
The men are well acclimated and so far
have not had single march which taxed
their strength SO much as the Charleston
affair The majority Of the sick cases
have been returned to Newport News for
treatment, the physicians aiming to get
the worst cut Of this country.
Sparta Wis. Aug. 2-[Special. IA
letter from q member Of Co. l.. Third
Wisconsin, now in Porto Rico. received
here today, says Private Vought Of the
Sparta company. who was shot IN the
stomach has since died The other Sparta
boys who were wounded are doing vel.
The Wisconsin regiments are il good
health generally. It was Corp. August
Yanke instead of Corp. Tired Ianke who
was wounded.