The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-04-19
ALL GLORY To THE WASHINGTON
~TR0OPA
Santa Ana Barraebs Near Manila.

Efers cur BOYS achieve some glorious sue
cess. little or no credss is given us. while
on the other hand some other regiment
claims the credit when we did the work.
Let me cite a few examples that have oc-
CURED since the beginning Of the present
| Filipino rebellion.
Tee truth Of the battle of February Is
thar the Washington regimen, had some OF
the severest fighting along the whole line
OF battle, which extended several miles.
During that battle two OF our companies.
c and III. captured two Krupp fed guns
from The enemy. Some zeafaus correspon-
dent gave the credit Of this capture 10 the
First Idaho. II was our Second battalion
that charged under Capt. Fortson and took
the deadly knoll beyond biockhouse IL
Here IL was that some OF our brave boys
fell. Who got the cresiits The First Cali
fornia. which wasn't within half mile OF
the place at the time.
II was the Washington band under Lieut..
Bryan, that burned Paco cathedral, which
at the time was full of the enemy's sharp
shooters, who directed constant rain OF
Maaser bullets upon Pace palace Who
got the credit here, The First California,
of course.
A few days after the battle, when our
lines were moved out TO San Pedro Macati,
two miles east of Manila suburbs. Col.
Smith. CT the First California, was made
military governor of that province. He
liant First CHS own regiment). and when
there was dangerous position 10 take he
sent for the Washington regiment. But
here is the very place ne earned for him
self the everlasting displeasure of al vol
uateers but his own. The insurgents were
reported In large numbers in a small town
at the foot of a slope, which was hidden
among banana and bamboo trees and brush.
Col Smith ordered two Washington com
4panies to deploy as skirmisherS and attack.
Just then a battalion of engineers were at
tackled from this hidden place and driven
back to the first line Of trenches. where
they prepared TO make determined resist
ance. Just al the time when GOODNESS
should have prevailed and the men allowed
to let the enemy come UP TO short dis
lance. Col. Smith ordered the First Cali
fornia TO retreat. also the other supports.
and all had TO beat an inglorious retreat
to San Pedro, lesng strip OF territory
a mile and a half wide. Col. Smiths ex-
cuse for retreat was the overwhelming
force of the enemy, which was estimated
at 1900 But the Washingtons could lie
cool and wait for the enemy. They have
tackled three times their number before,
and can do II again. That episode VIII
remain fresh In every volunteers memory
as the battle of Smiths run The Call
fornians opened up an ineffective fire on
the enemy at 1.7oO yards whereas the
Washington troops could and would wait
until the enemy would come within 200
or even less.
Look at our record later on. For dan
gerous scouting parties and daredevil ex-
curslons to the enemy's lines the Wash
ington boys were always in the lead, and
always got the least credit. Local news
papers of different regiments seem to hurt
themselves with the bare mention OF what
We do
See what we did in the assault on Pasig
City on March 13. The officers OF GER
tain regiment OF lately arrived regulars.
when ordered TO charge the city and burn
II. argued that 1t would be a useless waste
of lives on our side. Gen. Wheaton COM
manded them to take the place, and after
vain attempts Of the officers to drive and
coax and curse and beg their men to go,
they gave 1t up. Col. Wholiey then said TO
Gen. Wheaton: LET the Washingtons
loose. They'll take It, for / know my men
Will. The permission was granted, and
what was the result? The city was cap
tured and burned. and nearly 500 prisoners
captured! That's Washington soldiers for
you! And who got the credit? The Jealous
correspondent wrote ''Pasig City was
taken by Gen. Wheaton's brigade" Bril-
gade indeed, Six or seven companies OF
the First Washington did II all.
Let it be known far and wide that the
following statement by the Californians Is
bOfl riaEclo0s ana untrue, Alter tIe DAT
tie OF February the regimental paper OF
the First California stated: 1.-THE First
Washington regiment fought like demons
all night OF the 4th. but at daylight they
wavered and would have fallen back were
II not for the gallant support OF the First
California"
Waiver! What. waver, for washing.ons?
And Gen. King win say: start the Wash
ingtons and all hell can't stop them!'
U.,ysv srSa tho wasbturfor
regiment was the first to enter Santa Ana,
San Pedro and Guadeloupe. Gen. King
complimen,ed the Washington boys after
the battle OF February in the following
words:
Members OF Washington regiment and
Hawthorn battery: I have been ordered
by the military governor. Gen. Otis 10 ex-
tend TO YOU his sincere thanks and heart
fels appreciation Of the splendid work OF
this regiment and battery during the battle
OF last Sunday and since. And will add a
few words % my own. am proud TO have
in my brigade such regiment OF trusty,
courageous men. who unf'inehinrly held
thar ground aga;ns. greatly superior num-
bers. Ard II a. any time you should need
assistance in any way. you have but to
mention the magic words, Washington
or Hawthorn and II II is in my power
your request shall be granted. Men, once
more 7 thank you and am proud OF you,'
Another time. when Gen. King asked
Gen. Otis for artillery 70 reinforce our
lInes at San Pedro. Gen. Otis said: ''you
have nothing but volunteers In your bri-
gafe' Suppose the guns would be cap
tured9" Gen. King replied General, the
Washington boys are cut there. The guns
viii be safe"
And Gen King got what be asked for
The sooner people get the impression that
we are entitled 10 all the credit we have
won. the sooner we Will appreciate II
After being the first regiment 10 ep.er
THE captured province OF Santa Ana. and
our regirnenta. band the frs. On the isl-
and TO play the stirring strains OF s'The
Stsr-Spanyied Banner both a. Santa Ana
ard San Pedro. 20 be denied the credit OF
what we have done causes some sore feel
IL 80 among ~.
But we win get cur fun share OF credit
some day. In the meantime we win do
cur duty.
WASHINGTON VOLUNTEER.