The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-10-22

A Intsrsstiug Esstsr Prom ~ Psn q wm.
Eieksms

MANILA, PHILIPPINE, Sept. 2, 1873.
EDiT0R PREss; On August 9Th oar
regiment, let Idaho. was landed from
the Morgan City II point about Eve
miles south from this place and moved
up 70 within three miles OF the outer
fort. but only about two miles from the
Spanish outer line Of entertainments,
where camp was established known
- Camp Dewey. The 2lth, 18th and
ilth regulars and the 18th Minnesota
had previously established camp at that
point and the third expedition aug
mented their strength until there could
b. brought 70 bear against the enemy
about 1900 U. s. troops. No depend
enee could then be placed in the insur-
gent forces under AgninaIdo. nor, In
fact, can any dependence be placed In
them now. ana It 10 supposed that Gen.
Merritt and Admiral Dewey concluded
to risk an attack independent Of tise In
surgept forces. From the time OF es-
tablishing camp on August 9Th, we took
our turn IN the trenches opposite to and
within short range Of the spanish outer
entertainments. Occupying the en-
treDchments ~ we did tried the metal.
from physical standpoint. OF MI the
troops. The earthworks had been has
thy thrown up. and like brilliant Con-
federste officer IN the late civil war did,
the engineer had the ditch on the In
side: thousands Of gunny sacks were
brought from the United states, AID
these oiled with sand and piled up In
trout OF the ditch made by exeavating
for the sand formed the line Of entreneh-
ments. To little more thoroughly un-
deTstand the situation. l win say that
the country immediately surrounding
the enemy's position 10 Low. dat aud
densely covered with vines, bamboo and
willow, ~ well ~ all vegetation which
can be found Ia tropical climes, and the
growth beneath the surface 10 fully ~
great ~ above, . close mass Of roots
aud fibres- In less than twenty inches
one finds water and the accumulation
OF this water In the bitches made the
occupation Of them q toierably moist
hell: add 70 this almost incessant rains
and you can form some conception OF
what life 10 the trenches IL. In occupy
ing the trenches we had orders 70 take
one days ratiOns and 80 rounds OF am.
munition, when we would have been
fully ~ well on to have taken 80 IA
tons and one round Of ammunition, a
not gun was fired BY the Idaho troops
not even Accldently, which speaks vol
nmes for volunteers.
For six days after our landing thu
Amencan troops held the entrench-
ments, with an occasional shot along
our lines, and At six o'clock on the even
ing OF the 18th orders came 70 be ready
10 move 1t seven o'clock the following
morning with one days rations and 4
full supply Of ammunition. ''TheT
there was hurrylng Ia hot haste" many
were sending Nhat they thought woulC
be their last message on earth: other
were busy adjusting their packs and
safely slowing away their surplus bag
gage; still Others were negotiating viii
the natives for fruit. selling, or rSthel
trading. q shirt. towel. or old shoes fOI
two or three banana, or q cocoanut
Not until midnight did the noise In tn
camp cease. Those who could snatchet
. few minutes Of sleep, but many die
not close an eye. Promptly At seven I
m. the LIST Idaho moved 70 the front Il
the strains Of martial music, the Ab
sentees from company b being Link, Il
hospital with rheumatism, and Duncan
and Weeks on camp guard. all thre'
from CRur d'Alene, and one Hall from
the Boise contingent Of the company
Il was thought. and We have since IN
deutoOd that g was ordered. that th
Idaho troops were 70 BE- Of the attack
Ing party, aud with that belief and I'm
der those orders We were moved up d
within half mile Of the enemys line
where We remained until later 10 th
day, moving mp In accordance with OF
ders after hOstillties had ceased. Gu
line was formed at right angles 10 Oh
sea shore and we had n splendid view o
the movements Of DeweyS neek A
about seven =. m. the neet left Cavit
harbor, twelve miles distant from Man
liza, and at 30 sent . challenge frou
the aagship In the shape Of IN eigh
inch pcOjectile. immediately each shi
In its turn opened Ore on the outer for
on the most southern portion Of ii
Spanish line and but = few PAGES froT
the sea shore. About the third OF fourt
shot the gunners got the range dow
pat" and within fifteen minutes the en-
envy was on the double quick for Mar
liz proper where the main fertilization
are situate. One shell from Dewey
feet landed square on top and in th
center Of the fort and the works froI
the top now look like the crater Of som
extinct volcano. Some Of Deweys shot
4 went entirely through both walls. an
appeared 10 have done - much excct
ton after getting through a. they di
In their passage. One shot dlsmounte
three guns aud seems TO have given u
Spanish an idea that there might /
more healthy localities than that for
iiNs they were seen TO immediately retir
Al lIAO .. N. the white dag was ia
up over the inside fort aud the trooE
thai had not already been ordered
the mont were pushed forward. the o
der beng ''on 10 Manila, men: into u