The Irish standard., 1898-10-01
TWO LETTERS FROM MANILA.
Written by Lieut.. w. j. Byrnes to His
Father in Minncapolis.

been received by Mr.. Martin Byrnes from
his son, Lieut.. w. j. Brynes. Co. I, 18th
Minnesota, who participated with his
company in the battle of Malate:
well. the fight is over. and am safe
and sound The 18th is not yet in Ma
Mia proper. but in the suburbs south of
the city. called Maate. The city is made
up of 10 number of suburbs, around an old
center. which is walled in The troops
are scattered all over the city surround
ing the territory, guarding the roads and
protecting life and property. We do not
allow any armed insurgents to enter the
city, consequently thousands of them are
swarnling in the woods outside, disap-
pointed and becoming more ugly and
threatening every day. We have driven
the Spanish into the city from the
trenches, and captured it. and have now
| taken possession and are holding it
| against the insurgents. These people, as
| soon as we advance from trench to
| trench. follow and mix with lis, though
not taking any part. AS soon as the
| enemy abandoned trench the insur-
! gents would take possession, that is,
after we had gone on further, and picked
up everything of value to them. The
| Spanish left much ammunition, which
| they took hold of and carried away.
Many carried bags under their arms, en-
pectinS to fill them with plumber when
! they got into the city.
THE day of the fight, Saturday, Aug.
| 10, opened up cloudy and wet After
| hasty breakfast we fell into line and
started on thS march to our trenches.
Just as we started the rain came down in
torrents, soaking us to the skin in two
minutes. The mud was half way up to-
our knees, but the boys in their brown
pants and blue shirts plowcd on, crack
! ing jokes all the way. When we reach
ed our outpost line we halted. We set
to work to strengthen the trench. After
an hours work Of digging and piling up
| bamboo trees we sat down and waited.
AT $50 the fleet opened up on the Span
ish shore batteries, and for an hour the
| earth trembled with the terrific uproar.
| We could not see, being in the woods,
! and spent our time guessing at the dam
age done. The bombardment lasted an
hour; then a long wait; finally our bat
talon got orders to move forward.
| N., nf In fnr )oI
| column on the road and started oft: We
| ran about GOO yards and came to the
first Spanish outpost. There was a deep
trench here, with block'louse in the
center that our guns had opened on
early in the morning. We passed there
turned down a road, and We're ordered to
lie down.We got into a narrow trench be-
hind 1t ridge of trees, and sat there, with
the Mauser bullets singing in the trees
above us and striking the ground around
us. Most Of them went high
clear of our heads. 1t was queer SEN
sation for us to hear these little bullets
whislling around us. Next we were told
to advance and reinforce the firing line.
Thus far We had been in the support.
Co. | was ahead when we started off
up the road, and We moved ahead about
a quarter of a mile. Capt. Corriston is
acting as major while Major Diggles is
at San Francisco, SO was in command
of the company.
When | got this far, and not finding
our troops, did not know where to go.
There were no men stationed along there
to tell us where to find them. After
making hurried inquiry. Capt. Corri-
ston was told that our troops were in
the woods to the left of the road.
turned in the woods, ran through a rice
field and came up to company OF regu-
lars. who were throwing up cntrcnch-
ments.
They told us that the Minnesota troops
were on their left. Co. l started OIL
again. trawled through dense thcket
OF thorns and found big swamp in front
of U.S. We plunged in at once. the water
reaching over our waists. and waded to
the opposite side. about 200 yards. Way
up in front, at the head Of the swamp
there was a line of skirmishers, who
proved to be regulars. Orders came tC
halt and turn back. We re-crossed the
swamps and woods. coming out on the
road. Here we found that our troops
had been directly ahead on the road al
the time In fact. at the very time we
were in tho swamp the st. Paul com
panes were in the thick OF the fight at 9
little village in front of the church. This
is where most of our men were wounded
But for being INSTRUCTED the Minnesota
companies would have been in the flgh,
instead of the other companies. Three OF
our officers and II mon were wounded
here.
Just before we came out on the road Co
| lost a musician. a bugler. Archie Pat
terson. "A bullet striking him in the breast
killing him almost instantly. He wa:
detached with COrriston and was killed
almost behind him. Two other mer
from Co. Il wcte wounded at this place
at the same time. This was just after
we left the road the first time.
After coming back from the swamp We
| re-f0rmed and pushed III the road to the