The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1899-04-11

ing snOCS regularly. Inc adJu-
tant got Disguised with the rife
and, taking out his belt revolver,
he stepped up where he could get
a better view and the first shot
he got his man. 1t was foolish
ly brave act but illustrates the
spirit and bearing of the memb-
ers of the First Idaho, both Off
GERS and men.
The Second battalion under
Major McConville was ordered to
cross the bride over the lagoon
and deploy to the left and ad-
vance; companies B, G and G
composed the battalion. They
were met by fearful fire. There
were more Of the enemy in their
front than on the right side of
the road, and they were better
intrenched and were between the
fire from our boys and the river
and they had fight or die or be
captured. They made a desper-
ate fight and the mystery remains
unsolved why all our men were
not killed. AS it was we are to-
day mourning the loss of Major
McConville and six of our brave
Idaho boys, and we have some
% wounded more or less serious
ly. No Drawer man ever lived Oh
died than Major McConville.
When he was shot he had just
fired q musket which had drop
ped from the hand of a fatally
wounded soldier before he had
discharged it, and at the same
time a bullet pierced his breast
and another his shoulder. He
fell, and Adjutant Roos, who was
lighting in the line with B com
pany, and the captain of B com
pany ran to him and did up his
wounds and carried him off the
field.
| met them carrying him to the
rear and when he saw me his
face lighted up and he said with
q smile, Sergeant, it was glori-
Gus. The Idaho boys are cover
ing themselves with glory" He
never thought apparently of his
own fatal wounds.
My eyes swim in tears as
think of his death and our great
loss. After the battle l went
back to the field hospital to see
him pass away. His son, Harry
was by his side clasping his
hand, and closed his eyes when
he passed away. He was made
a brigadier general before he
died, in recognition of his BRAY
cry.
His brave men fought the bat
tie through and achieved great
victory. They captured the
cannon spoken of previously.
The two companies. B and G,
lost the most heavily of any in
the regiment, company @ being
extremely fortunate as they were
under as heavy fire as any COM
pany in the fight, but lost but two
killed and three wounded.
The impetuosity of the charge
drove the rebels before them
pell nell and soon they were
huddled together in grove of
bananas on the bank of the river.
They were panic-striclzen and
many of them jumped into the
Pasig river and attempted to
save themselves by swimming
across. But the Idaho rabbit
hunters were on the bank above
them and none reached the other
side. 1t was grand but horrible.
When the rebels saw what be-
fell those that jumped into the
river, 1T rather discouraged them
and they ran up white flag and
about 200 of them surrendered,
and that closed the fighting for
the day.
The sharpshooters continued
w oOhd bil OSCuSiOudi SllOU luUO
our boys from the native shacks
of the town and finally an order
was received to burn them. Then
a wild scene ensued. Before set
ting them on fire the soldiers
searched them and some valuable
finds were made.
The battlefield. I suppose, was
typical one. The dead lay the
thickest where they made their
stands, and where they were
routed and reiterated to another
embankment. Their dead lay
scattered here and there thinly
over their line of retreat. Most
of them, think fully so per
cent of them, were shot through
the head, as that was the only
part visible. They almost in
variably shot too high to do us
much damage on our firing line.
Most of our men were hit further
back along the line of reserves.
Tho ,,tiSnnnY.c xxyn tool el,o-o1