The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1899-03-28
Of the Fighting Near
Manila.
SIIRPSIIOOIER CLAWS LETTER
Seattle Boy Describes the Incidents
That Befoil MIN on the
Bsttio.heId.

u. Of the First Washington reRl-
inent now serving at Manila. The
letter Was addressed 10 his broth
er. Chas. 81. Clay. Of iis Marion
street. and IL. IN part. as foliowsi
Manila. Feb. is
Although I have been through
one OF the greatest battles that has
been fought since the civil War.
arm sound az = dollar and IN excel
lent health. aaturl.x aizAs -Fsszts1ss
--~ Y. aftFT had been asleep for
about half an hour. heard heavy
firing on the extreme left Of our
line where the Nebraska regiment
vas stationed. and II was not many
seconds until I was in line with the
company on our way 20 the firing
line. We marched 20 our regimental
headquarters. where our company
vas divided into three details. one
under FIRST Lieutenant Gormiey. one
under Second Lieutenant Noes. and
the third. Of which was member.
Joined our Captain Forison at what
IL called Pandocbcn bridge. Here
We arrived about II O'Clock ana
found there three companies. y. q.
and !, All were placed under COM
mand u Captain Fortson. and We
waited until about 7sao o'clock sun
day morning for orders from GEN
erai ktnx. our detail. consisting Of
our Hrrt sergeant and seventy priv
atrH. were placed a, the head OF
Company y. which was the leading
company. sunday morning we were
ordered TO bead In the Paste nv
er. where we remained in sight Of
the insurgents without nrinE n shot
until Z no o. clock. when we receiv-
The rbs.k.m~ut Higgins
ed the auiek order. Load. Ready.
Aim. Fire" the order was obeycd
with a viii. and We continued firing
In shis position Until daylight. when
We moved 60 a position directly IN
front Of the insurgents fort. which
was their strongest position. We
rumained nrfnR on the fort for some
time With little effect. when SER
Eeant came up and asked for twelve
sharnshooterr They were given to
him. and I was one 81 the number.
We crept around 10 the left flank Of
the fort where we lay behind a
picket fence and fired into, the
enemy. The man on my right.
y hile aiming hts rifie 10 nre. was
shot. while he was trying to re-
turn the Gre on the man who had
shot him. a bullet from the enemy
struck the hammer of his rife.
breaking on a piece. and the bullet
then entered his eye. passing
through his head and killing him
instantly. helped carry him on
tho heid. and we were then ordered
TO return 90 the rest OF the COM
mnni.
We remained at the post for
Chasing fnsargen,s.
short time. when about neventy-five
Insurgents left the fort and start
"a across the rice neids towards the
river. out we went after them, un-
der heavy fire from the fort. but
we succeeded in killing every one
% them. Some jumped into the
river. but we killed them all be-
foIe they reached the opposite shore.
We then returned TO our first posi-
ton. where We remained for "A few
minutes when Captain Fortson HRid.
Boys. We must charge that fort and
drive them out" and as soon as he
had said that up went a cheer for
the captain.
We then moved around 10 the left
flank. where mentioned one of the
bova was Killed. and got behind n
stone wall. then broke through
picket fence. and with yell aud
whoou We started across the rice
fields nring as we went. We jump
ed into a creek which was between
us and the fort. and although the
water was w 20 our waists we
didn't mind that We went across
another rice Held on the other side
Capture of the Port.
and up the side OF the fort under a
perfect hail of MnuHer bullets. never
stopping until We reached the further
end % the fort. Here the inEur-
gents were all in a deep entrench-
ment. where we captured or kill
ed those who tried to escape.
In this charge. with only Ave ON
GERS and Is men. we captured
the insurgents strongest fortified
ton. took thirty-one prisoners, and
killed thlrty-dve. our loss was only
also captured i2S Mauser rifles. I
have one which I took from a prls-
oncr. and which ! prize. All along
the line the insurgents were driven
back. and We arc now In possession
OF the town 81 Santa Ana, which
was captured within twelve hours.
aud which the Spaniards have been
trying to capture for the last twenty
years.
The day after the battle we re-
cclved the thanks Of Gen. Anderson
and Gen. King for cur good behavior
on the field and for the splendid
work We did. IL Is admitted by all
Washington Troops Thanked.
the generals that the Washington
regiment deserves the credit for the
grand victory. We hope To be In
poaaosalon OF all the strongholds be-
fore the first OF March. and then
We can talk about going home but
l assure you ! do not want to leave
the islands until all OF the inspr-
gents have their stomachs full of
American lead or have been brought
to time.
am In charge OF the commissary
department OF the regiment where
hive been ever since two weeks
after wo arrived. That does not
keep me by any means from should
ering my rifle and iighting the insur-
gents with the balance of the boys.
Since the fight commenced our
regiment has captured two Krupp
guns. three and a half inch bore,
and about 500 prisoners, with loss
4. Il - IA