The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-08-17

oo111ess ~ Manila.
Index AUG. Is. -.
To the Editor: The part the citizens o.
King county hare taken IN the spanish
American war and the Philippine inSurrec-
ton may not be FUZZY understood ~ many
residing in the county and BY the citiSens
Of the state generally. That all parts OF
the state stood ready 70 contribute to the
quota required DO not question. but -
the last Of our troops are about 70 be mus
tered out I thought II . proper time 70
make these observations. In the first call
for troops King county furnished Compan-
les b and d and also about forty men for
Company G. Of Vancouver. a. well a. .
number for various other companies, max
Ing at least 800 men out Of the Loo furnish
ed in the FIRST cali Seven oflcers were
commissioned from this county. Capt
Fortson. Leuts. Gormly and Moss OF Com
pany b: Capt Adams Heuts. Egell ana
IAmplktn. Of Company d. and Lieut.. Rine-
hart. Of Company @. Col. Wholley was
also nominally q resident Of King county.
OF these officers one was killed In battle.
Lisuts- Gormly and Egell have both been
made captains. one In his own regiment.
and one In the Eleventh United States vol
unteer cavalry. Lieut.. Moss was promoted
to frst lieutenant: Lieut.. Rinehart resign
ed at San Francisco and Walter Y. Cotch-
EFT. Of the same company. has now been
appointed first lieutenant In the Eleventh
cavalry. We believe three other enlisted
men from King county have been promot-
ed to lieutenancies.
In the second call for troops Washing
toms quota was 10 men. The exact num-
Der Of men furnished by King county for
this call is not known. although 1t b es,i-
mated at 200 Under this call thirty-nve
men were furnished to Capt Adams COM
pany, mainly from Capt. Terry's company.
and a like number to Capt Fortson's COM
pany, mainly from Capt Caywood's vol
un,eers The first lieutenant OF Capt. Ter
rvs company (now Company c. N. g. W.
also took forty men and Joined Capt. Ross
company, of Tacoma A like number was
also furnished to Company D. Of Water
vile. Capt Smith. who recruited for the
First Washington. aiso took about nifty
men from Seattle to the First regiment.
This statement II approximately correct.
showing that King county furnished about
300 Of the 10 men under the second cali
OF these eighty were mustered into the IN
dependent battalion and were sent to VAN
couver barracks, where they were muster
ed out after four months service The bali
ance were sent ~ recruits to the First regi-
ment and accompanied that regiment to the
Philippines.
Many people do not fully understand
what became OF the 10 men under the
second call for troops. The first regiment
received so recruits and 40 men were or
ganized into the independent battalion and
were mustered into the service ut Tacoma
and were sent to Vancouver barracks ,in-
der command Of MAI Fox. now adjutant
general National Guard OF Washington.
Although King county furnished ~ OF
the 10 men under the second call. Il did
not get one .counmissione6 oeacer. - any.
Of the statements above naae~ are a. AA1-
wise misleading. l shall be glad to be
corrected by any one having more thor
ough knowledge than myself
70 show the courage and endurance OF
the Washington troops here call atten-
ton to the fact that eighty-five ct them
infantry, and still larger number IL ex-
pected to join the Eleventh cavalry. The
fact that Gen. Otis has recommended nine
officers from the First Washington for
commissions In the Eleventh cavalry
speaks volumes for our brave men. And II
all the more remarkable when we remem-
Der that twenty regiments were In the
Philippines and two officers would have
been the quota for each regiment. Three Of
ficers had already been appointed from the
regiment to the Thirty-stxth volunteer In
fantry, making twelve oficers taken from
the Washington troops. Nothing better u
illustrates the mettle OF the Washington
troops than the fact that many men
wounded in battle either remained on the
field or returned to the ranks as soon ~
their wounds were dressed.
When 800 picked men were wanted they
were taken from the Washington troops
and Maj Weisenberger given the COM
mand. When Capt. Fortson was ordered
to cross the bridge and dislodye the enemy.
ne obeyed Mt the cost OF his life. When
Col. Fife was relieved Of his command for
some slight infractson OF military law and
the fight commenced. did he sulk in his
tent? No. but like true man and brave
soldier. he selxed gun and fought In the
ranks Of Company d TIL he was again
placed in command OF the troops he has 90
fearieesly led and 50 ably commanded.
Whether in field or camp King caunty
may well feel proud Of her record n tho
Spanish American war and the Philippine
instruction. The state Of Washington will
ever point with pride to the record Of her
soldiers. living and dead. who bore his
standard In the Philippines When q hum
dred years have passed and Lusnn IL q
state in the American union. the SPOT will
still be ehown where Fortson fell and
where the Washingtonians SWAN the river
under murderous sre. driving the enemy
before them. To the ladies' Of the Red
Cross the soldiers and citizens Of Wash
ington owe a debt OF gratitude for the
noble work they have done for the volun-
teer soldier At some future time intend
to write short history Of the Independent
battalion.
FRANK N SpEAR