Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-10-19

COL. WILDER S. METCALF.
army. Recruiting stations were estab-
! 1ished in various parts of the state, and
the regiments were raised in short
order and modified at Camp Leedy, at
Topeka. It was decided to number the
regiments the Twentieth, Twenty-frst
and Twenty-second, a continuation of
the numbers of Kansas regiments in
| the civil war, to distinguish between
| the civil war regiments and the Span
ish-American war regiments. Fred
erick Funston was appointed colonel
of the Twentieth because of his knowl-
edge of Cuba and the Cubans. No one
thought at that time but what the
troops would all be used in Cuba.
While the troops were modified at
| Topeka it rained almost daily and the
camp ground was a regular mudhOle.
The camp was not well equipped, and
uniforms and blankets were an I'M
known quantity. Things got so bad,
| however, that Gov. Leedy took money
out of his contingent fund and bought
the boys blankets. The volunteers en-
dured the hardships of the Topeka
| camp without a murmur.
In the meantime, the war situation
had changed. Dewey had slipped into
Manila bay and destroyed the Spanish
feet. An American army was then
necessary there. The war department
ordered, among others, the Twentieth
Kansas regiment to San Francisco to
be in readiness 10 en- bark for the orient.
The regiment left Topeka on May Is,
in command of Lieut. Col. Little; they
arrived in San Francisco on May 20,
nd n OF hn
Their camp was filthy. Other regi-
ments had refused to stay there, but
the Kansans had to put up with it
until August 5, almost three months,
when they We're removed to Camp
Merriam. Col Funston joined his regi-
ment in Frisco, and worked like Tro-
jan getting his regiment into shape.
On October ~ the Second and Third
battalions, field and staff, the non
commissioned staff and the band en-
barlzed on the Indiana. They arrived
at Honolulu Novem Der 5, and departed
four days later, arriving at Manila on
December 1.
The First battalion EN- barked from
San Francisco on the Newport, Novem-
Der 8. It arrived at Honolulu Novem-
Der Is, and left there on November 10,
arriving at Manila on December 6.
There was very little sickness among
the troops. Ten volunteers on the In
diana and six on the Newport made up
the list of sick that were left at
Honolulu.
The Kansas regiment took up quar-
tiers in a tobacco house near Manila,
where it remained until driven out by
smallpox on January s. 1t then took
up quarters formerly occupied by the
Wyoming troops.
Official Report of Battles.
Beginning with the report for Feb
ruary, 1899, the month when the re-
bellion opened, and ending with the
report for July, 1899, the last one re-
ceived by Adjt. Gen. S. NJ. Fox up to
date, the colonies say:
February-About ten O'Clock p. m, Febru-
airy 4, orders were received for the regiment to
take the field in accordance with previously
arranged plan, and the second and third bat
talionS, under the regimental commander, at
once proceeded to the scene of hostilitieS at
the Kansas outpoSts at the extreme left of the
American lines. where the enemy held in
check by the outpost guard of two officers and
so men. Line was quickly formed and fire
was opened upon the insurgents The fire was
returned and a heavy exchange of rife shots
m lintained until daylight and internationally
until noon of the 9Th inst, when advance of
the entire brigade line was ordered and imme-
meanwhile Joined the command The enemy
was quickly driven back past two lines of in
trenchments to their blockhouse, about two
miles north of Manila, from which point
treat was ordered. the line fell back about 1000
yards in an orderly manner. but retook the po-
SitiOn without opposition the next morning.
On the 9TH inst. the reginental commander
asked and obtained permission to attack the in
surgent forces in our front. and moved against
them with four companies, c, L B. and E, driv-
ing them from their position with heavy loss
after sharp fight of about 10 minutes
At three p m, February 10, orders were
ceived to take the town of Caloocan in conjunc-
ton with the First Montana volunteers and the
Third United States artillery; the left flank
was protected by two companies of the First
Idaho volunteers, and the line reinforced by two
guns each Of the Utah light artillery, and the
Sixth United States artillery After a half
hours Smelling of the town by. the feet, the ad-
vance began gradually swinging to the right,
and drove the enemy with heavy loss through
and beyond the town. where the line was halted
and formed for the night. The following day
position was taken about half mile beyond
Caloocan church. where the command still lies