The Dickinson press., 1898-10-08

rounded them, thrown up intrenchments
across the bridge in front Of them, and.
threatened to charge the American lines.
They wanted to cut the threats of the
Spanish prisoners. They could not I'M
derstand why we would not let them and
asked il the Americans and Spaniards
we're friends. We were marched up, di.
vided into platoons, and ordered to load
our guns, before we knew what was the
trouble. The first platoon under Lieut..
Gruschus held the bridge. The second
platoon held a side street, Coo held the
street behind us Our orders were to
shoot to kill if they attempted to pass us
1t was a pretty tight place-threc COM
panies against thousands, at IL o'clock
we fell back and the regulars relieved us;
but we waited and watched all night
long. A thing hard to do under circum-
stances like these. 1t was the same in.
other parts of the city. Here was a situa-
ton unequaled in history. a victorious
army drawn up in line of battle ready to
defend with their lives, the men who a
few hours before had been their bitterest
enemies. However the insurgents did
not make any attack. They have great
respect for our arms, especially the
Spring6elds. They do not like the big
bullets nor the noise they make. Most
of the insurgents are equipped with old
Spanish rifles. They are very poor shots
and cannot stand fire as was demonstrate
ed OIL the day of the battle.
On the 10Th inst. we Zoos. X and c.
we're detailed for outpost duty at fort
Malate, just south of Manila. We were
on duty ninety-six hours. We slept with
our guns by our sides, ready to jump at
any moment. 1t was very fatiguing
work, but we stood it we'll. Private
Buckley of Co. c was accidentally shot,
while on post, by the sentinel with him.
He died almost Immediately.
Co. K is not much like the Co. that left
Dickinson-no fancy uniforms here; but
we are all we'll. We have smelt powder,
learned to sleep anywhere, and gone
through any amount of mud and water
and have been wet more than we have
been dry. We have had very poor food
for quite a while. There is something
wrong somewhere in that department.
Sometimes we could not get ever hard.
tack.
Most of the boys are ready to go home
l n0Vu MorSIo 30 t,1o~ %h> -1s.oA &c.
hot and wet.
The only aspirant to the honor of kill.
ing any of the Dons is Corporal Link,
who claims to have killed two, though
we did not see him do it. Doc Davis,
our young bugler, is an A No. at the
business now. He is thinner and taller
than when he left, in fact, none of us have
fattened up very much. Sergt. Story
Aud says he would sooner punch cows
than soldier. Harry Klinefelter says he
will drive the dray instead of going the
next time war breaks out. Oscar Skein
has examined every blacksmith shop he
has seen since we left Dickinson, and l
know he would like to be home at work
in Brien's now. But this trip will do us
all a great deal of good though we do
have a tough time.
have tried to find out what the loss OF
life has been. AS near as l can tell we
lost II killed and 81 wounded. The
Spanish loss is not known but was over
700 killed and wounded. We have 1900
prisoners inside the walled city.
Manila seems to be a nice city, but ]
do not like it-there are too many natives.
We have only had a glance at the inside
of the walls. l was in there a few DAYS
ago. There are some very fine cathe.
drals, the Spanish are using them for
barracks at present. The street cars
have started to run within the past few
days. The city outside the walls is more
like a city of the new world. You proba.
bly, know more about the city and army
over there than we do.
Part of the fourth expedition has ar.
rived. All are we'll, we expect t o go on
duty again soon. l think the mail leaves
tomorrow so will close.
Yours truly
FULTON BURNETT