The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-28
GRAPHIC TALE OF BATTLE
FRANK T. BAKER WRITES OF THE
MANILA LAND ENGAGEMENT.
Letter from Harry vogt, Another Ma
tive Indianapoiitan, Who Took
Part in 1t.

nephew, Frank Harrington Baker, an old In
dianapolis boy. serving in the First Colo
RADIO Volunteers at Manila, tells the story
of the battle which gave General Merritt
possession of the city. His opportunities for
observation were of the best, as he is serv-
ing as interpreter to the general stan, and
while on duty had exceptional facilities for
seeing everything going on. beside taking an
active part in the battle.
The letter is dated Manila, Aug. 10, two
days after the battle and is prefaced by
few lines intended for the eyes of the MEM
bers of his family. With this portion elm
mated the letter is as follows:
Upon the 18th of August about noon, 1T
began to be noised about Camp Dewey
that the attack upon Manila was to be
made the following morning. So many rum
proven unreliable heretofore, that but few
of the men placed any credence in the re-
port, AS the afternoon heightened. per
ceptible activity throughout the entire
camp occasoned more wonderment and
more inquiries. At last details from each
company were called for and set to trans
porting ammunition and aiding in the NOV
ing forward of the guns of the different
batteries. By the time evening drew on, not
man in all camp failed to realize that the
night before the battle was creeping on
apace. Mess was eaten in the liveliest spir-
its, for the men, grown tired or the long
inactivity and tiresome hardships of out
ward to the morrow with eagerness ana
greeted it as the day of days for them. At
night, ammunition to the amount of 1S5
rounds per man. was issued and two days
emergency rations were also placed in the
haversacks, making a heavy and almost
unbearable load. All preparations finally
made, a quietness heretofore unnoticeable,
fell upon the camp and made conversation
in loud tones embarrassing. All realized and
all felt the gravity and seriousness of the
situation.
PRAYER BEFORE THE BATTLE.
'The reveille on the morning of the 18th
of August, the day of the battle, was
sounded an hour or more before daybreak
and breakfast was eaten in the uncertain
light of Pickering candles. By sunrise all
were ready for the forward movement. We
even brought out upon the parade grounds
and, in regimental array, listened to the
short but fervent prayer of the chaplain.
1t was then that all the meaning of the day
came home to us Some of us might see no
more sunrises, some would sleep their next
sleep with the dead, and men along those
brown ranks would be torn and mangled.
These thoughts were only momentary. The
Forward, march, passed down the line and
We were off to the front.
THE first position occupied by the Colo
RADIO troops was in the line of intrench-
ments. two or three hundred yards in the
rear of the main American line, and desig-
mated as support The support however,
was destined, as the. attack was planned
and conducted, to relieve the advance and
become. in turn, the firing line. 1t thus hap
pened that Colorado came first to the Span
ish line of forts, blockhouses and intrench-
mentS and was fortunate enough to first
cross into the enemys own breaStworks.
Our positions being finally, taken. | found
myself in charge of a squad the furthest to
the left of our line and almost in the sea.
At least, our position was such that very
often. the waves broke near us and the
spray fell over us. Consequently, better
view of the bay, less INSTRUCTED and clear
er, could not be had at any other point.
'All morning the vessels of Deweys
ing forward. At 9 o'clock they were less
than mile, probably less than three
quarters OF mile out ie the pay a ana YIN I'm
trenchments. Their movements held my
gaze riveted upon them, for I realized that
s:25 a report, followed by the scream of a
ball, brought me to my feet and the at
tack upon Manila had begun from the sea.
Time and time again, report after report,
in deep information, rang across the bay.
The vessels moved slowly forward weav-
ing from side to side to give the guns play
and from end to end. The Monterey lay FAR
off to the left and maintained a stolid 81
lence. Her guns were trained upon the great
water batteries of the Spaniards. Following
the heavy reports and the deeper screech
of the great Shells came the quick, sharp
reports, in succession so rapid as to defy
counting, of the rapid-fire guns. These Ger
tainly must have done great havoc and the
aim of all our gunners been excellent. for
the reply from the SpaniardS was desul-
tory and scattering, the shots falling snort
and never bursting, leading me to the view
that only solid shot came from their guns.
THE COMMANDMENT MAGNIFICENT.
"Closer moved our vessels and more furi-
Gus grew their fire. I could see that it was
directed against the land forts and Spanish
intrenchment and 1 could see that the steel
was falling true. The sound was deafening
the smoke hung low and the belching fire
from the cannon showed where our ships
lay. 1t was a sight grand and magnificent,
awe-inspiring and soul-stirring. 1t brought
the flush of war to our cheeks, the fever of
fight to our veins and spirit of unutter-
able pride for old glory and our country and
our men, So near had come our vessels
that, upon the Mccullough, at least, the
sailors were visible to the naked eye.
1T was then that our land batteries
opened and shell was poured thick ana fast
against the enemy Their reply to this was
more steady and the shrek OF steel could
be heard above our heads though again |
observed that very few of the Spanish
shells exploded.
This continued but a short time until the
signal was sent to the vessels. Cease firing;
the line wishes to advance Then came the
crack of rifles and the attack was fairly
begun. The command came to us to adj
vance and from that time on until we stood
upon the Spanish intrenchments and saw
our flag planted upon the fort of the enemy
we never paused. The ground we crossed
WAS luiChly cONeTeQ Will uluci bIuSi anu
the mire was knee deep. The loads then be-
came unbearable and many were discarded.
Ponchos, haversacks, canteens, bayonets
and articles of apparel lay streWn along the
ground. Our clothes were torn from us by
the brambleS and our skin scratched. Final
~ we came to the river just a few yards
from the intrenchment. The tide was in
and the place almost enforceable. How we
came across 1t half of us Will never know,
for the current was as swift as a millrace
and the Spanish fire came from our front
and raked across our right flank. But, as
usual, the bullets flew high and only sang
a grim song over our heads. Colorado was
now to the front and, across the stream,
breaking, as we ran, barb wire fences, we
crossed on over to their side. The bullets
from the enemy flew thick and fast and
spatted against the earthworks or shrieked
over our heads. But we were there TO hold
every inch we gained and every inch was
held. We were finally ordered further to
the right and here found some shelter. The
Spaniards rallied and feebly attempted a
charge upon our right. Volleys from our
Springfields sent them back and once more
we moved forward. We had passed the last
obstacle outside of the wall. the famous
wall of old Manila. Already We were crowd
ing into the suburbs.
'It was now nearly noon and, except for
a scattered fire from the enemy, one could
scarcely realize the Spaniards were near
us. A few little skirmishes occurred, but
not of sufficient magnitude to prevent our
men from snatching a bite to eat. While
thus engaged. and within a few moments
after noon the word came down the line
that the white flag was flying over the wall.
The cheers were earsplitting-the battle
was over and Manila was ours. We had
come across the Pacific, endured all the
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