Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1899-03-22
Letter from Manila.


the front the following letter dated Man
lila, Feb. 10th.
Last Saturday evening just before bed
time we received orders to sleep with the
lamps burning and with our clothes
handy as it was believed that an attack
would be made that night. 1t is un-
usual to receive scuch orders about the
lights but we all supposed it 20 be another
scare. went to bed at O'Clock but
could not sleep and about 1890 the sound
of distant firing reached us. All was ex-
citement and uproar in moment and in
a short time we were marching toward
the outpost. We went about fourth Of
mile and into the yard of an old church
where we lay for about half an hour.
There the firing increased and we march
ed about three hundred yards further
out and stopped i'll the road. Here we
lay until 1890 when we were ordered to
our quarters for blankets. We marched
back to the church from quarters and
tried to get a little sleep but ! couldn't
sleep; too much excitement The rattle
of small arms was continuous and at
irregular intervals the deep "boom" of a
field piece would roll along. We lay in
the church yard about three quarters
of an hour when we marched again to
our former position on the street. Here
| heard the first bullets sing and before
we knew it one man was MORALLY
wounded and one shot through the arm
Both of "B" Co. of Lewiston. We were
marched into a cross street between
buildings for protection and here we lay
until E O'Clock when we returned to
quarters for breakfast On the way in
we met regiment after regiment Of
infantry and artillery enroute to the front
and then we realized there was to be a
battle that day. Stray bullets from the
firing line were striking the quarters and
our guard was slightly wounded at
the gate by spent bali We ate break
fast with the bullets whistling through
the dining room and fell i'll again I'M
inediately after. We marched again to
the old church and waited there for
orders
Everything was hustle and excitement
Generals and stats, orderlies, aids,
ambulances, ammunition wagons, and
troops passed to and from the front.
n
short time with a wounded officer. Soon
Gen. King came along and ordered us to
the front and as we fell in ranks we we're
greeted with brisk fusilade from the
belfry of the church. Eight men from
each company were ordered to attend to
the church and amid perfect hail of
bullets we started for the front. Not a
man was hit and but how we escaped
being annihilated is mystery to me.
Gen. King rode ahead and behind him
marched the regiment in close column of
tours. The bullets whistled amongst us
but not man fell and soon we were
thrown in thin skirmish line about one
hundred and fifty yards in the rear of
our firing line. Advance by rushes was
given and after crossing two or three
sloughs aud rice fields from knee to waist
deep in mud we arrived on the firing
line where we were greeted with cheers.
Here we shot the first time since we
have been on the island. The old firing
line was ordered to fall back and we were
ordered to advance. After two or three
rushes we were rushed into a CALLING
cross FIRE but not man fell and now get
ting on our feet we went after them.
King ordered us to halt several times
but disregarding his orders we charged
1.-THE enemy in the bamboo thickets,
native huts, banana groves and run them
clear across the pasig river, On our
left the and Bat. made the gallant charge
that took the guns and in leading which
Maj. McConville lost his life. Right
here I want to say that Higgins and
Fem are all right. Neither of them lay
down once during the advance although
the bullets struck around them like hail.
felt awful ticklish when l first got
under fire but i'll short time after
began firing back, forgot all about them.
One Red Cross woman followed the
end Bat across the fields and was under
the same FIRE the soldiers were.
Gen. King personally complinented
our regiment and on passing the spot
move his hat