Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1899-03-30

getting ready for fighting, we were given 16C
rounds OF cartridges, three days rations and on
cahteehs hlled with coffee. We expected an at
tack IRON the insurgents that night for Gen
GUS and Admiral Dewey sent over a message
telling them that il they did not lay down their
arms before O'Clock Feb. 9th, we would attack
them on land and Dewey'S ships would shell
them from both sides. just across the causeway
leading out from Gavite is the city of San Rookie
where the insurgents were stationed $4,000
strong.
We had to sleep with all our clothes and
equipments on, on the night of the Sth, but were
not called out. At S:l5 on the 9th they set fire
to the city and running up Il white flag to delay
us until the city had gotten well anre, they re-
treated thinking we could not get through the
burning city, but we fooled them. We were
after them hot and heavy and although we did
not know but what we were running into trap
we went across the causeway on double time.
Company l. lead the second battalion and we
formed the support for third. The first was
LETT III CaVte to protect that city. Two bat
talionS OF artillery went with us, the heavy
battery and the light, but the heavy battery
could not get their heavy guns through and TAX
ing to the bay they pulled their guns through
the water back to Cavite In the meantime we
proceeded on, passed over the cal,se-way but
owing to the burning buildings had to turn into
the water of the bay, which we waded up TO our
waists until we got around the first part of the
fire and then started through for the other side
We got there, but how we did it without losing
man is miracle. We sometimes had to run
tn Unf nll
sides by fire, but we kept on, now jumping over
burning logs and sometimes under burning
rafters, till at last we gained the other beach.
Then we had TO wade water again, crossing
streams that run out into the bay. When we
mad crossed the worst part of the city we were
thrown into II line of sklrmlshers and swept
the whole ground leading from the city to San
Rookie. We captured several prisoners who
had not been able to keep up with the Insur-
gents. Those who ran or showed fight were
shot. Still we went on knowing that we were
not far behind the enemy Deweys ships
dared not to shoot for we were so close to the
Insurgents that lie was afraid of hitting us. We
went through rice Swamps and cactus bushes,
searching huts and capturing prisoners till we
gained position of the Insurgents intrencli.
mentS driving them away or back to some more
well garriSOned intrcnchments farther back
toward the mountains. Owing to our command
being so small and the country ahead OF us
opening wider and wider, we dared not 20
farther for fear of being surrounded and cut
Off. But we had dandy position and with the
aid of the light artillery we could hold every
inch OF ground we had gained. We held IL and
waited further orders from Gen. Otis. Our
Colonel was well pleased with what we had
done. lie said with laugh that fire nor water
seemed TO stop us. Only a few of our boys got
wounded. When we gained our last posi- ION
the Insurgents were.jus ahead of us running
like sin. One of the boys managed TO reach one
OF the towards with a bullet and several of us
went down and buried him. The bullet had
gone through his side and tore nearly his whole
left arm off. If we had been allowed to chase
them four miles farther we would have caught
them, but it was dangerous going farther when
we had such good position.
But cant say any more about this for it will
tire you out. went out fOraging again yester
day and was chased up tree by wild hog.
didn't have time to shoot, so you can imagine
with what haste swung into that tree l shot
then and with terrible Squeals he was of
through the bushes in II hurry. | don't know
whether killed her or not. l only had my
revolver YOU know. ] also saw lizard as big
as u dog and several of the largest snakes You
can rest assured that | turned out for them.
One OF our boys got badly stabbed by a native
who happened to be In one of the Old huts which
the soldier was searching. The native was
killed soon after by a squad of dismOunted cav
airy who were sent out after him. We lived on
chickens, eggs and sheep and wild hogs which
the boys shot Yesterday afternoon the heavy
artillery got out to the Entertainments from
Cavite and our battalion was ordered back here
to Cayite. We arrived last night after dusty
march of five miles. got several relies from
the native huts. For after getting our positions
l took a stroll back over part of the woods we
had gone through. took my revolver along
of course. | got piece Of lace some pretty
shells, an old native weapon, string OF beads,
Roman bible, Spanish text book, Chinese
counting board, native knife and a lot OF other
things. have most of them now. Twin bring
them home with me- ..-.-
We are eXpectinga call "tO arms" most any
minute and are ordered to stay in our quarters
and be ready. The boys are having some hard
fighting around Manila. We got mail yesterday
from the steamer Scandal" which arrived
from Ned dated Jan. LIST, and two or three
papers. haven't read yerybuch of the papers
yet as was too nearly worn cut last night to do
any hing but sleep. | was too sleepy TO even
dream. did notice in the paper that Jim g.
was guilty and that Puss got second prize of the
dolls at RusSelrs. Glad to hear il. Tell Hank
that our old brigade comrades, the Tennessee
boys, when ordered into battle east Of Manila,
waded into water up to their waists yelling
'hot time, and they drove the Insurgents I'm
front of them for II miles and were not heard
from for two days. They did not obey orders
when ordered TO stop and when they got back
to Manila were reprimanded by Gen. Otis and
sent to llollo to assist the 18th Regulars. read
the death list of the Nebraska and Idaho regi-
ments and find that Gregg Wolfe's brother is all
right and so is Jim Riley. II we ever get things
with the natives Strengthened up l want to find
Jim and also Gregg's brother and make their
acquaintance. Mother mustn't worry for l am
tickled To death over affairs here and can hard
ly wait till we are ordered out again Love to
all Hope you are in good health. Write often
Yours lovingly,
WILLIAM G. WILSON