Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-05-27
Letter From the Philippines.

/
] We are all alive and well. have beer
In five battles since the 25th of March
and neither one of us was hurt, won
say scratched, for the bamboo thorn
scratched our faces and hands and tore
our clothes into shreds. Co. /. has haC
seven wounded and one killed SO far
The battle of Malolas didn't amount tc
much, the only regiments that partici
pated were the South Dakota and Ne
braska. The 18th regulars relieved us
on the oath and We moved by the block
after dark. Early next morning we de-
ployed as skirmishers with the Nebras.
ka on our right and the 10th Pennsyl.
yania on our left and advanced on the
Filipinos line about 1000 yards in front
OF us. They opened up on us after we
had advanced about 200 yards We
marched fully 300 yards under fire with
out firing shot. Finally the command
| was given and returned their fire with
interest. Then we charged them and
they run 30 fast that we couldn't keep
them in sight. The insurgents were fir
ing at us from very long range. Early
in the morning of the Goth we formed
columns of fours and continued our
march by the left flank, so that our
direction was changed from north to
west. We followed wide dusty road
for about four miles when heavy firing
opened up on us in front and lasted
about an hour, during which time we
| rested and ate dinner. Finally the fir
ing ceased and we moved forward again,
resting frequently, but suffered consid-
erable with the heat and from lack of
water. About 3 a. m. we came to a great
fiat where the Kansas and Montana
regiments were already deployed and
received long range fire from the en-
trenchments around Polo. We deployed
on their right and laid down behind a
rice ridge to wait for the other troops to
get in position which took about an
hour. When everything was ready the
artillery fired few shots on our right
and left and we advanced. We hadn't
advanced 80 yards when the insurgents
opened upon US all along the line. They
fired so high that several men were
wounded mile and a half behind US.
AS usual we advanced about 800 yards
under fire without firing q shot. When
close to the trenches We charged and
sent the niggers running like rabbits.
Barber Of Co. | was shot through the
right lung with Remington brass bull
let just as he mounted the trenches
Crosier of Co. | was wounded in the
right arm almost at the same time. We
halted after crossing the intrenchments
and advanced about half mile through a
dense jungle when we came to a muddy
river. The insurgents were entrenched
just on the other bank. The big squad
got separated from the company and
we had hot little fight all by ourselves.
There were only about 10 niggers in the
entertainments just ahead of us and we
had them going in no time. We then
tried TO cross the river when we dis
covered that several sharp shooters
were in an old church about 400 yards
across the river. We went under cover
again and exchanged shots with them
for about fifteen minutes. Hastings of
the big squad asked permission to get
behind a big tree about 10 yards in
front Of the rice ridge We were behind,
and | gave it. He hadn't fired more,
than three shots when he tumbIed over
shot through the knee. Co. and two
other companies to our right got sight
Of train load of insurgents coming to
reinforce the intrenchments. We fred
into it and tumbled As nigs down the
grade dead. We crossed the railroad
bridge under hot fire. ! passed one
of General McArthur's staff officers gasp
ing his last breath with a bullet hole
through his chest also several wounded
men and two or three dead. After
crossing the bridge we turned to the
right again and waded through slough
which was up to our hips. We helped
take another line Of in.renchments and
captured about 80 prisoners. Some of
them were only boys about II years old,
and said they had to take their choice
of fighting or being put to death This
was the battle of Polo. On the 9th the
third battalion of the South Dakota was
thrown ahead on the firing line. We
hadn't advanced more than ID miles
when we run up against strong line of
and at the same time
cross fire opened On us from the left
The first battalion deployed on double
time and pushed forward to reinforce
the firing line, not moment too soon
either, for the third battalion was re-
treating, Col. Frost dashed ahead and
finally got them started back again.
The insurgents were intrenched on the
other side of the river about 1000 strong.
By the time we reached the fiat in front
of the river there were only about 100
men on the firing line, the rest had
played out never was SO near played
out in my life. My flesh was on fire
it was so hot. / kept up with the head
ones though and was among the first to
cross the river. l think John Wells
was the first man across. About 80 of
the boys stood on the shore and shot
over us while We were crossing When
we looked over the intrenchments fully
1000 niggers were retreating. South
Dakota lost quite heavy while crossing
that fiat don't know the number, but
l saw Lieut.. Adams, Lieut. Morrison,
Lieut.. Lien, 1st Sergt. Preacher, Will
May, and two or three more that were
killed, besides score wounded. May
and Stockmeyer Of Co. / were wounded.
May was shot through the abdomen
and died two days later. Homer Stock
We lay here until about o'clock under
a long range fire, so long that we
couldn't reach them with our Spring
fields, although they killed one man
and wounded two. Finally the niggers
done a nice trick and fooled our officers
very nicely. They made feint at our
left, and while everybody's attention
was at this point, they swung around
and fanked us on the right. Every
thing was confusion, and officers as
we'll as enlisted men were excited,
and / thought for a short time that
there was going to be a panic, but the
Nebraska on our right swung around
and charged, chasing the niggers about
two miles. A number Of men were
wounded in that flank fire. Lieut..
Paul McClelland was hit in the arm,
and so was Corp. Amoe of Co. l. This
was the battle of Marola. About dusk
we advanced $50 yards and throwed out
outpost and rear guard, and camped
for the night. There were only about
36 men left in Co. l. The next day
y taI 10