The Topeka state journal., 1899-10-11

pit was taken up with Generals AGacAr-
thur, Wheaton and Hale in personal COM
the rebel stronghold, Kansas rested until
dawn OF the next day, which was to bring
soldiers. In the early morning advance
Captain Boltwood,s company after having
across an open field, was stayed by the
Bagbag river. where the enemy had con-
besides destroying a span of the railway
bridge. BoltWOod's company bravely held
ance of the regiment Here Colonel Fun
stOn performed the most brilliant acts of
the campaign, which, together with his
other deeds of bravery, brought to him
the advancement he so well deserved 1
want volunteers to cross the bridge with
me- was Colonel F'unston's call He might
have had the whole regiment, but the
tenant Ball, a corporal and three pr1Vates
COIoneI t'unston craWled over Ihe IRON or
the destroyed bridge. until the Droken
tRe rushing current and swan the re-
naming distance Once more sturdy Kan
sas bravely won the day, for the fnsur-
gents seeing that they had not succeeded
in destroying this daring band, bolted
from their strongest position, leaving a
clear road for the Kansans to cross the
stream. Following their advantage Fun
stOn's men pursued the flying Fflipinos,
and with the assistance of requirements
from Hale's brigade carried the remain
ing earthwOrks between the Bagbag and
Calumpit, and at nghtIal oI april %.
old Glory was run up in the center of
the town The rebels retreated to a
series or strong 1ntreIlchrnents DeyonQ tnes
Rio Grande, which flows to the north of
without rest Funston and his Kansans
pushed on in the wake Of the fleeing Fill
plnos' hoping to oVertake, them ana I+ 3e+
str0y large portOn OF Ihelr IoTce- Bue
still another stream lay between the Kan
sas soldiers and the rebel earthworks.
At It's crossing tunSIon ana ms DIsNe
lads We're destined to again make rec
the most serious obstacles which had yet
faced MacArthur's advance. 1t was on
reached the south bank of the Rio Grande
Just across the stream lay Apalit, and be
network of rebel intrenchmentS occupied
by the flower of Aguinaldo's army, led by
rectiOn the kansans constructed RATS
capable of carrying ten soldiers each, for
stroyed By the Insurgents During this
work their position had been constantly
trenches on the opposite bluff. At last the
the most daring escapades of the Philip
pine campaigns Under Colonel FunStOn'S
direction Privates White and Trembley
bravely faced the rushing current, carry
ing a line with which to draw a raft
across. The Filipinos saw the movement
and every rifle spoke the two brave
lads carried the line across, and then
dragged over a raft containing Colonel
Funston and a detachment of Kansans.
Other RATS followed, and with their lead
formed and a bold flank movement exc
cuted, before which the Ffltpinos fled, pell
nell, leaving many dead in the trenches.
Thus. again, by the exceptional daring
of Funston and his Kansans, had the
rebels been routed from one of their
''As a result of his exceptional bravery,
dorsed Colonel Funston for promotion,
with the result that on May he became
n brigadier general OF volunteers by spec
tal orders Of President Mckinley. Major
Wilder S. Netcalf was Immediately ad-
Xanced TO the coloneIcy OF the Fighting
''On May Generals Wheaton and Fun
ston, with flying column, led by the
Fighting Twentieth advanced against
san omas. Inelr movements We're des-
perately resisted, but Kansas routed the
rebels, driving them through and beyond
the town IN TINS engagement Kansas
lost another OF It's brave officers, Lieut.
enant William z. McTaggart. who fell at
comprising one OF the most decisive VIC
tories of the campaign. The following day
from which AguinaldO hurriedly removed
his capital.
Fighting Twentieth maintained its posi-
ton as a portion of General Funstons
bands Of insurrectos Who from time to
time made futile attempts to break
these men in brown from our Kansas
prairies: Every skirmish told some new
story OF Kansas bravery until now these
gallant lads are returning with the
greatest 1aurels that the Philippine cam
THE brown ranks of Kansas were made
act and not to talk. No finer exampies Of
sight, and in addition to this high quality
of its men the Kansas Twentieth was for
tunate in being exceptionally well COM
manded. General Funston has by those
deeds of daring, in which he was so Wei
supported by his men, gained not only
military advancement, but reputation
for personal bravery, which renders him
easily a shining central figure of the en-
tire war. In Colonel Metcalf was found
q fitting successor to lead the Kansans.
Both of these cOlonels have been ably
supported by Lieutenant Colonel Little,
and in fact by every officer of the regi-
ment. In a short time these gallant vol
unteers will once more become citizens in
stead of soldiers. Every Individual in
the regiment is entitled to the thanks of
a grateful people for the honor he has
brought to the state which sent him forth
to battle.
The glorious welcome which Kansas
will give to her returning heroes will be
more particularly appreciated because it
is Well deserved