Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-01

day lighting the Thirteenth lost Il
wounded
Before the determined fighting of the
campaign. when Otis began to drive
things. the MinpesotaDs were relieved
from police duty. much 10 the joy OF
the rank and file, and sent to the front
On the 25th of March the regiment, as
such. had its first encounter with the
insurgent troops This was in the at
tack from along the Marqueta road
upon position known as San Juan
bill A St. Panl boy. Private John F.
PewteTs of Company G. thus describes
in private letter the experiences of
the regiment Says he LAS gray dawn
broke we made left flank movement,
and :; line of skirmishers seven miles
long began to move toward the enemy.
After advancing about 1900 yards or
so the enemy discovered us and opened
FIRE on our line We halted and re-
sponded with cheer Then the battle
ragged
1.-The enemy began retreating, but
rather slowly at first, taking advantage
of every rock and bush TO send Us vol
ley before giving way They were soon
Oh the run. however. and we kept them
going several miles. when General Hale
ordered flank movement, and the
Thirteenth swept around the left to
support the troops who were fighting
before Malabon.
''In the meantime the entire north
line was attacking the enemy, and a
hard time they had before the enemy
gave way, which was not before noon.
The Thirteenth was fighting alone and
independently, headed by General Hale
and, as before, our skirmish line was
about seven miles long, long interval
between each man and no reserve. In
charge through bamboo jungle our
| third battalion was cut off, but Joined
Us later, having three men wounded.
We soon received the news that Malabon
was taken, which cheered our boys i'm
menseiy: This was really the first
chance the Thirteenth had had to fight
together since the battle of Manila.
"The greatest drawback was the in
tense heat. Many men were overcome
and dropped. We could see many men
lying ON the ground which we passed
over, and, of coufse, thought they We're
dead, and for short time thought our
loss was heavy, but we had but 13 men
wounded and none killed.
But the most desperate strain and
peril of all came to the Minnesotans on
the 18th and 18th of April. when the
regiment was scattered by companies
along the railroad as guard As it had
been while on police duty in the city, so
it was out along the exposed track in
the open country, the enemy could ap-
proach from all directions.
The night of the 10th the men went
to rest, expecting trouble. At 1 o'clock
next morning there was firing in the
direction of the nearest town, Bocaua.
Gradually the firing extended all along
the line, and the troops took to cover
beside the track. Volleys of Mausers
swept the position, but the mep were
cool throughout the ordeal of night
attack In short time General Wheat
on came up from Malolos and Bocaua
with detached companies to re-enforce
Major Diggies' battalion at Guiguinto
General Wheaton at once ordered the
command to '.go at them, and with
two armored cars mounting Gattling
and Hotchkiss guns the battalion start
ed to sweep the field of the black
amigos, turned traitors. The rifelnen
fired swift volleys into the woods and
ofbor nouo,. laro Aocloc boI diS.1oSod
the lurking places of the natives, and
at the same time the Gatling and
Hotchkiss guns searched the ground
with bullets and shells. When the col
umn reached Bocaua bridge, it found
Company G glad of help. This was one
of the companies attacked in the city of
Manila, Feb. %. AT Bocaua bridge the
outpost of the company was attacked
by force which sneaked up without
warning. The outpost retreated, and
the blacks followed, taking position 200
yards from the company camp. 1t soon
became triangular fight, for the blacks
were on three sides. The company next
to G was attacked on three sides at once
and could offer 10 help. Thirty men of
Company E started to the relief of G.
On the march they were challenged in
good English, and answering, "Com-
pany E. Thirteenth Minnesota re-
ceived terrible volley from the chal-
lengers, whose orders were given in
Spanish. By retiring and making a de-
tour to escape the ambush the men of
E brought up on line with G at the
bridge. After daylight this detachment
charged across the bridge and hanked
the natives killing and wounding near
ly 100 at that point. While this was
going on Company D CAME up from its
camp mile away and took the blacks
in the rear. Captain Metz of this COM
pany killed one native with his revolver
This night and day fight of the Thir-
teenth cost killed and 1S wounded
1t was not the end of work for the time,
but it was of death. The boys kept on
going ''after the enemy" Every battle
dispatch recounting an attack upon our
forces has been followed by news of ad
vance with the natives fleeing. The
sequel to this defensive fight on the
railroad was an advance in force to-
clear the country of the treacherous
blacks, who only hung around camp
protesting to be friendly TO watch a
chance for attack. The Thirteenth and
the Oregons, with artillery, started across
the great plain leading to the Gown of
|.