The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1899-10-19
WAS WITH LAWTON,
James Barrett Returns to His KenOSha
Home After Long Service in
the Philippines.
ENTERED MANILA IN TRIUMPH

Kenosha Slider Returns to Tell the Story
of Great Fights in and About Manila =
was one of the Men Wounded at the
Battle of Massin.-Swam the River with
Funston's Men and Took Active Part in
the Fighting in the Interior.
Drowned and tanned with almost
two years of service in the army under
the tropical sun of the Philippines,
James Barrett returned to Kenosha
Saturday evening, for brief holiday
with his mother and other friends in
this city.
It is pleasure for the people of the
city to extend a hearty welcome to
Barrett, for he comes with an honor
able discharge covered over with noti-
ces and marks of brave service in his
work defending the flag. He was one
of the heroes who entered Manila in
| triumph, and one of the heroes who
followed up the triumpha1 entry in a
dozen stern, hard fought battles with
the Fi1ipinos.
Barrett left Kenosha in June, 1898,
and went to ST. Paul, where he enlist
ed as member of Company H, of the
18th Minnesota volunteers. The regi-
ment was one of the first to be ordered
to the Philippines, and fighting under
Col. Ames, it was one of the first to
take part in the active service in the
islands.
Barrett was seen at his home on
Park street this afternoon but he is
modest fellow and wanted to give the
idea that he was simply one of the
common soldiers. But his honorable
discharge tells a different story. The
company reached Manila on Aug 1,
and two weeks later they were in the
vanguard beating their way into the
very heart of the Philippines. Barrett
says that it was not a triumpha1
entry. Every inch of the way was
contested and when the Americans
reached the center of the city the lives
! of many brave men had been sacrificed
in the struggle. During the fight
Capt. Bjorensend, who was in COM
n1and of the company of which Barrett
was a member, fell morta11y wounded
into the arms of the Kenosha soldier.
After the city had been taken Barrett
spent four months in Manila as a
member of the United States police.
In speaking of Manila Mr., Barrett
said that the soldiers all 1oathed the
place. It was not home for Ameri-
cans and the soldiers were all glad
/ when they were ordered to take up
their arms and go to the exterior. On
the 18th of March Barrett was ordered
to join Wheaton's Brigade and for the
next three months he was constantly
under the enemies fire. Many men
were wounded in the constant Skin
n1ishes and many of the brave boys in
Barrett's company fell beneath the
deadly fire of the insurgents. Barrett
took part in the now famous battle of
Ma11abon, but was left with the re-
serve forces at Ma11oas, only to see the
hottest part of the fighting. After
these battles the Kenosha soldier spent
several moths in grading the railroad
lines to Manila.
But the Minnesota company were de-
sirous of seeing the fighting and few
weeks later Barrett was ordered to join
the forces under Col Funston. With
these forces from morning until late
at night the Kenosha boy was con-
stant1y under fire. Enduring the
worst of hardships, swimming the riv-
ers and capturing the works of the
enemy, life was exceedingly interest
ing. AT the battle of Massin Barrett
received his first wound in the service
of the flag. He had been fighting all
night in the very front of the battle
line. Early in the morning the insur-
| gents renewed the attack and took the
Americans off their guard. Many of
the Americans fell and Barrett was
badly wounded in the right shoulder.
He was back with his company in a
few days and few weeks later was
assigned to duty with Lawton in the
interior. For the next thirty three
days the company were fighting all the
time along the foot hills and this war
fare continued until the boys were dis
charged from the service.
During his stay in Manila Barrett
formed the acquaintance of Aguina1do,
the Filipino leader. He speaks of him
as man of great personal magnetism
and says that he was well liked by the
ing out of hosti1ities between the
American troops and the insurgents
none Of the American soldiers had
seen the leader of the opposition.
Barrett is of the opinion that the war
in the Philippines will be closed by
the end of this year. The American
leaders in the Philippines are doing all
that is in their power to end the
struggle, and while the war is not pop
u1ar with the soldiers, it is not on ac--
count of the faults of the leaders, but
on account of the unpopu1arity of the
cause. Barrett will remain in this
city for several weeks before he re-
turns to St. Paul, where he will go into
business.
The Telegraph ourier-$1.o 90 year