Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-06-07

per arrived, and the way we put It out
of sight was a caution.
We held that position all night and
the next morning started on another
'coon hunt, " and after a stubborn re-
sistance succeeded in driving the enemy
on to the open ground near the site OF
Camp Dewey. At this time the Monitor
Monadnock got in her work. She shelled
the country for the entire day-February
Occasionally firinga Pinch shell among
them, the result being the scattering OF
the niggers over the surrounding coun-
try, and when any of the North Dakotas
or the Fourteenth regulars saw one, we
let drive, and by sundown that day
everything was quiet and peaceable all
along our south line of trenches from
the beach to San Pedro Macati, on the
Pasig river, where the north line of
trenches joined ours. Our south line of
trenches is about three miles due south
of Malate, and no "dagoes" are allowed
to pass either way. There are between
1000 and 10000 niggers between our
line and Cavite, the majority being lin
the vicinity of Paranaque, but so far
back from the beach that the guns from
the warships cannot reach them.
We have not undressed or slept with
our shoes off since February 4, rs we
have lain in the trenches ever since.
There is never day or a night passes
that we do not exchange shots, and only
few times have they tried to break our
lines by general attack. They content
themselves by sneaking up on our
pickets and outposts trying to pick them
off. In the three months we have been
here we have not lost a man that |
know OF, though several have been
wounded.
As we were going across the battle
field of February 5 in skirmish line, we
saw hundreds of dead Filipinos, and all
sorts of weapons; we were too busily
engaged just then to collect any relics,
and could not have carried them had we
gathered them.
For long time after we had our
trenches completed our food was cooked
at the quarters and sent out to us on a
bull cart. We got two good meals day
there; after awhile the entire cook hous
was moved out in the field, after which
time we had three meals, A commits
sary department was also established at
Pasay, at which we could buy nearly all
kinds of groceries we wished, as well as
tobacco which latter article the boys
greatly suffered for, especially in the
early days of the campaign.
Things moved along without anything
Of importance happening TO us on the
south lines till the 9Th Of April when We
got orders TO pack up and get ready for d
so mile march. We were all wondering
what was coming. We bathed, changed
our clothes, sent all unnecessary trap
pings TO quarters, received 100 extra
rounds OF ammunition apiece, and were
rendy to move in just half an hour after
the order came.
Something happened that know moi
to delay us, so that we did not ger
started till about o'clock p. m. OF Apri
8. We found out meantime that W,
were TO compose General Lawton's Fly
ing Brigade, or as we nicknamed our
selves, Lawton's Bill Posters. The com
mand was 800 strong composed of
battalions of the Fourteenth, one of tn,
North Dakotas, one OF the Idahos,
troops of the Fourth cavalry, some OF tn
Washington scouts, and Hawthorne
mountain battery.
We formed in line along the Pasa,
road and marched 10 San Pedro Macat
3 miles, We then went on boar
cascas on the Pasig river and were towe'
up TO Lake Laguna de Bay in the dark
ness. We were crowded together lik
sheep in a pen, and it was impossible /
sit or lie down. We had TO stand mp al
night long, and in the morning we ate
breakfast of hardtack and canned beei
We continued our trip till we arrived oi
Santa Cruz about o'clock p. m. April
We got the cascas within so yards o
the lake shore when they wen
aground. We then jumpeed Oyerboar'
into feet of water and waded ashore
Some Of the troops were not landed a
this point, but were taken to plac
nearly opposite the city. After "
landed we made coffee and had supper
after which We fell in and mad
straight for the city on double time
We had TO cross swamps, rice paddles
and all sort of rough land for abou
2OOO yards till we gained the timber
Not finding any insurgent thus fan
we made flank moyemer
TO the right and left, an
then made straight for the city agaiI
After advancing some 1900 yards ii
niggers turned loose on us at about II
wards range. They were in den'
caneReld and we were not aware thu
they were so close. We were ordered
lie down and stayed in that positio
till the firing line directly in our froI
, and left gave yell, and before Il
echo had died away, the support (whiC
was one battalion of the l4th) gave d
answering yell and away we wei
. after the firing line, and We had