The Saint Paul globe., 1898-09-27
COL. AMES' LETTER.
He and Maj. Bean Were in the Fir
Ing Line.


Col. Fred w. Ames, who was lieu
tenant colonel at the time of the battle,
writes to his wife under date of Aug.
15:
Saturday, Aug. 6, I was ordered to
go with Company * and a number Of
other men. in all about 100, on board
the boat Ylite, an old Spanish gunboat,
which Dewey captured, and on which
We're the cook outfits of the different
companies, and $4,000 rounds Of am
munition. and we attempted to make a
lalolng at Pakor, but could not, and
then went to Cavite, where 1 left a
guard on the boat, and the men spent
the night in the cathedral, which the
Insurgents looted Of everything.
Il was entertained by the officers Of
the Oregon regiment which Is station
ed there. George Teller, an old Min
neapolis boy, is a lieutenant in the Ore
gon regiment, and l knew him we'll,
and l was beautifully treated. In the
morning early we were all aboard the
boat and at about $50 o'clock Capt
Masterman and 1 set foot again on
Mother Earth at Paranague, after an
exciting trip in a small boat rowed by
natives. The men and supplies were
landed in boats towed by steam launch
es of the navy and the most Of the
supplies l had transported to Camp
Dewey by native wagons. Leaving the
guard over the ammunition l went
with Company K to camp, by person.
al orders of Cen Greene 1 reported
to Gen. Macarthur, took dinner with
him and then laid out the camp. The
regiment came ashore In boats from a
sldeWheel steamer and marched into
camp about dark. We were highly
complimented on the way we came
ashore and went into camp by the
higher officers. On Aug. 10 the regi-
n1ent was ordered into the trenches
which are in the line of fortif1cation
Maj. Bean and I were with the First
battalion, Which occupied the most ad-
vanced position in our lines
Il took charge of Companies K and
L and strengthened the Notifications
with bags Of sand. Bean took charge
of Companies M and G. The mud and
water was fearful and 1t radned hard
in the night and morning. No attack
was made by the Spanish and we fin-
tshed tWenty-SiX hours duty, used up
bodily.
Saturday, Aug. 13, was decided on
for the battle, and at $50 o'clock a. M,
our regiment marched to their position,
which was near the right of the line
OF the camp. Directly in front Of us
was fort, which is called Blockhouse
Nc. IA, and considered the strongest
point occupied by the Spaniards.
1T was marshy and covered with
struggling timber and underbrush all
round this section and almost impossi-
bic to get through
I'VE had orders to lie quiet until the
fleet were through firing and we did so.
Dewey began firing his big guns at
the Spanish lines at $40, and for about
an hour the ground shook with the
discharge Of the heavy guns.
Then the order came to advance
and our regiment went up the road in
doUbletime. Those in advance had a.
hard fight at a church called Santa
Anna church and the balance Of the
companies were a little further back.
MY! how the bullets from Spanish
Mausers did sing by our ears and arms.
Where was we could see no one to
fire at. We lay there being fired at
for some time and then moved to the
front, and the Spanish retreated
Part of the boys had hard fighting
but at last the Spaniards retreated
into the town and we followed, and
Manila was ours.
1--WE don't know exactly how many
were killed and wounded in the entire
American forces, but we had more kill
ed and wounded in our regiment and
harder fighting than any regiment here,
and no one faltered or was scared that
I could see.
eve marched in, raising the United
States flag on all the principal places,
the boys covered with mud, most of
their equipments lost, except guns and
! ammunition, cheering and pushing on
to the wall Of the old city over which
floated the white flag.
before sundOWn we occupied the
whole city with our troops, and then
the work began of keeping out the in
surgents, but I think there will be no
| special danger from that source.
eve had one man killed, Patterson,
bugler of Company 1, and twenty two
| wounded in our regiment
oscar Seebach, captain Company G.,
whose baby died while he was in
| Frisco, and whom he returned to Min
nesota to bury, was badly wounded In
| the lungs, but we hope he will recover.
Capt. Bjornstad, of Company H, who
| took Hardy's place, was wounded In
the back, but will get on all right
Lieut.. Bunker Of Company G, was
shot in the wrist.
Sergeant Burnsen, of Company G,
| is badly wounded in the head
'The balance are not dangerously
wounded
my! but we were glad tS get to Ma
| Mia. Over 10000 Spanish troops sur
} rendered and gave up their arms and
! equipments, ammunition and artillery
!
army If we had not had our navy, OF
which they are mortally scared.
Long before you get this you will
! hear the news of our victory.
1--WE are not at ali pleased with this
country, and we are praying to be sent
| home soon.
'The ground Is very low and marshy
and the city Is damp and unwholesome
II would not have you and the chill
| dren live here for the world, and I only
hope to be sent home soon.
Don't worry about me for I am well
and the war is practically over out
here
Our regiment put up a great fight
and kept UP the reputation of Mime
sofa soldiers during the war.
"The people here in Manila were aw-
| full glad when we whipped the Span
ish and came into town, for there has
been practically no business done here
for several months, and everybody was
short Of food.
1.-THE regiment is now stationed tenn
porari1y in barracks just outside the
wall Of the old city doing guard duty
| Most of our stuff is back at camp and
we have had no chance yet to move
our stuff. I sent for my satchel and
blankets and have got what clothes
had in camp. My trunk is still on the
steamer Para, but I expect to get II
soon.
! CIIPHE0M kMPC ME EMnDICo