The times., 1899-06-17
GENERAL KINGS REPORT.
High Praise for the Officers of the
First Volunteer Brigade.

High Praise for the Officers of the
First Volunteer Brigade.
The War Department made public yester-
day Brigadier General Kings report on
the operations of the First Brigade from
February4 to IA. After graphically
describing the opening of hostilities and
the first engagements Of his command,
General King says
Though our losses in killed and wound
ed is greater than that of any brigade in
the corps. the damage inflicted on the en-
emy far exceeds that to which any other
lays claim. This in itself is evidence OF
our severe and stubborn fight. | had re-
ported to you 10 of the enemy's dead
as buried on the field in front of our left
wing, but in reaching out toward San Pedro
Macati, Colonel Wholley found many more
and gave them burial. making a total OF
153. Even such of their wonded as could
not be carried away fought hard, and many
of them, in uniform, were taken in charge
by our sergeants. l beg leave to call at
tention to the fact that this is the only
exclusively volunteer regiment in our
corps and that 1t fought with all the stead
mess. dash, and discipline of their COM
rades, the regulars.
And now there devolves on me a duty
that | falter in attempting. | saw no in
stance of shirking-l saw many instances
of daring leadership on the part of the
officers and of devoted following on the
part Of the men. l shrink from discrim-
mating, but l should not deserve the faith
of the command of which | am so proud
were / TO fail TO publicly mention the off,
GERS who. acting under my orders, were
most conspicuous. My regimental COM
manders, Colonel Smith, First California; ;
Colonel Wholley. First Washington, and
Major Higgins, First Idaho, bore them
selves with marked bravery and ability
Wholley being under the heaviest fire for
the longest time-his maiden fight at that
Major McConville died proudly heading his
men in the dash on dangerous line. Ma
jor Weisenburger, First Washington, was
an example of soldierly bearing through
out. Captain Fortso was in command in
Pandacan Island, constantly exposed and
he and Captain -, First Idaho won my
admiration for a daring assault on
| fiercely defended position-the redoubt
| across the Concordia
Captain Otis, First Washington. with
his cheek and ear scored by a Mauser,
led his company from start to finish Their
loss of twenty-five killed and wounded in
| one company shows what they had to fight
| through. Lieutenants Erwin and Luhn
First Washington, the former severely
| wounded, we're notably cool. Captain
Dyer and Lieutenant Hawthorne, of the
artillery, won the plaudits OF the men for
consummate skill and GOODNESS. For the
| commendation OF others in the line whom
| / did not see. | must refer you TO their re-
ports as to the bearing of their officers
| and men.
Every man on my staff from the senior
in rank, Brigade Surgeon Major Shields
| down to our mounted orderlies, won my
| thanks and admiration. Major Shields
was constant in his attendance to the
| wounded at the extreme front and under
| heavy fire. Lieutenant Merriam, Third
| United States Artillery, and Lieutenant
| Hutton, First California, were time and
| time again compelled to risk their lives
| in carrying orders along the line Captain
| Saxton, a. A. c., was systematic in the
| field office. His horse and Lieutenant
| Merriam's gave out at COncordia Bridge
but they followed me afoot across the field
| Captain Handy brigade commissary, car
! ried out his duties under the fire of tht
enemy instead of the roof of his Office Ont
| more name, that of Lieutenant Colone
| Duboce, First California. must not bt
omitted. He had difficult and hazardou!
task in wiping out the cowardly gang that
| under the sanctity of a church roof, anC
| from within the walls of apparently peace.
| ful homesteads. for a time kept up
| treacherous fire on officers and men, hur-
| rying by with orders or messages. l saw
| his work long. after it was finished ant
| il was well done"