The Saint Paul globe., 1898-09-27


turn of an hour or two hours, as the
case may be, on post, which is usual
ly from 100 to 200 yards out beyond
where the squad is stationed. And 1T
is no small matter to be stationed away
out on an outpost, in a bamboo thicket
where the darkness is so thick 1t can
almost be cut with a knife, the rain
coming down In torrents, not knowing
what moment you may be shot or stab
bed to death by a stealthy foe. If any
or the boys who staid at home think
this is Tin soldiering''-well, let them
come over and try it.
When bedtime came we spread our
rubber blankets and ponchos on the
stone foor and laid down en- the soft
slae to sleep. PriVatas Harrington and
Nlcol slept on the altar. Corporal Miss
on the altar steps. Sergeant jackson
and Privates Key and O'Reilley just in
side the chancel rail. Pat Perrine crept
lnto the glass case Of an old hearse
and slept peacefully $50 he said)
through the dreary night. Others slept
on the main floor wherever there was
room.
But all this was not without it's
amusing features. One was an old ma
tive woman going along the road by
the church, wearing what seemed to be
a large wooden WaShbOWl over her
mead, as proudly as our American girls
wear a new spring bonnet. In her
mouth she held a large "three-a-day"
cigar, which she was smoking as con-
tentedly as any veteran of the weed
RMS only goes to illustrate the habits
OF the people here-Spaniardss as we'll
as natives. The cigarette habit in the
United States is not to be compared
with the habit here. Men and women,
boys and girls, native and European.
smoke in some form or other most
generally the cigarette.
Next morning we were relieved by a
company from the First Cal fornia regi-
nlent and we returned to camp. Thurs
day and Friday we spent in camp rest
ing up Tor the march on Manila, the
order for which came Friday evening
Early Saturday morning found us on
the way again to the trenches. Shortly
a1ter starting 1T began to rain and kept
II up nearly all the way. We were soon
drenched and then we didn't care, as
we couldn't get any wetter. In addi-
ton to our heavy marching order we
each took turns carrying a shovel,
spade or an ak. By o'clock we were
In the trenches and the mud was deeper
tnan ever. But when the bOmbardment
began We were glad to get down in the
mud where we remained until ordered
to advance. From this time on the
run commenced. We moved up for
quite distance, just in the rear Of the
=
front and sustaining the heaviest fire.
Company ID was sent to the left to take
position supposed to be held by the
enemy. Upon arriving at the point
designated we found it had already
been captured and we had to counter
march back to the road again through
the bamboo thicket, underbrush. mud
and a broiling sun. And the boys were
not and swearing mad, as it seemed
we had done lot Of unnecessary work
But 1t was war, and we accepted 1t as
such and waded through. Not a man
IN ID, and l dare say in the regiment
would have turned back then if he ha0
heen given an opportunity Back to
the road again, through the midland
such mud-We crept almost on our
hands and knees to a point about 100
yards from the firing line, where we
moved off to the right in the rear OF
some huts to the edge Of a swamp
where we laid down in the mud, the
bullets dropping all around US like hail.
FROM here we were ordered forward
and across the road again. After
Drlet halt the company was ordered off
to the left of the Twenty-third infan-
try to throw up intrenchments, but on
arriving there the enemy had fled and
again Company D was denied the priv
1lege Of firing a shot. Although hun
dredS Of shots were fired at us, we
could not get in position to fire a.
single one in return. The line was re-
formed and the company marched
down to the corner or crossroads
where was located another old church
and a native village, which might be
called the hornets nest" Of the fight
Here the battalion was reformed and
the march to Manila continued This
ended the struggle and our onward
march was unOpposed We had no
sooner reached the edge of the city
than we learned of the surrender. ana
about this time-2:30 p. M, of the 18th
day Of Aug, we noticed an American
flag floating from the top of a build
Ing ahead Of us and at sight thereat a
mighty cheer went up all along the
line. From here we marched down
through the southern part Of the city
to the Spanish barracks on the beach
These we found to be in q very filthy
condition, especially the commissary
department. We reached these bar
racks about 4:30 p. M. and by had
gotten off our accOutrements, and after
supper of hard tack and hastily
made coffee we began to feel that we
might get some rest, when the bugle
sounded the assembly for the company,
and we had to go out for street patrol
duty, as the insurgents seemed de-
termined to come into the city in force
the American authorities had guaran-
teed to protect. And because we would
not let them they seemed to feel that
we had turned against them and were
showing too much friendship to the
hated Spanish.
Their battle cry had been Gust one
hour in Manila" But they haven't had
it yet and it looks as though they
wouldn't. We stood guard all Satur-
day night, after the march and battle
of the day, were relieved Monday
morning and rested until after dinner,
when we again fell in and marched
with the battalion back to the building
where the American flag was first rails
ed, which proved to be a fire station.
| This was made regimental headquar-
ters and Company was stationed here
for another tour Of outpost duty. Here
we stood guard at the roads leading
| into the city, with orders to search
every native going into or coming out
| of the city for arms If they were
armed we had to either disarm them or
| turn them back. Fortunately most of
the people took the matter of searching
| goOd-naturedly, or we might have had
serious trouble. Monday afternoon we
were relieved, taking our quarters in
| the barracks across the street from
! our former quarters, where we are at
! present. The building we are in is
! built somewhat on the style of the ma
/ tive hut, having palmgrass roof and
! sides on upright poles and bamboo
! mating for walls. In size it is about
| 25X100 feet. Companies D and c are
| quartered in this building, which is
! hardly large enough for so many
AT this writing all the wounded are
doing well with the exception of Capt.
| Scebach, Of Company G, whose con-
! dition is reported as serious.
Company d was extremely fortunate