, 1899-03-21


Are Eager to Fight-Receive Many
Compliments.
The following interesting letter was
received yesterday by the parents of
Lieutenant Coburn, who is at Manila
with the Wyoming Battalion, and it
contains vivid and accurate description
of the fight which occurred at Manila
last month, and in which the Wyoming
troops took an active and important
part:
Maiate, p. l., Feb. Z, 1899.
My Dear Parents.
Very busy; no time to write much.
| send you my notes taken in the field
of our action Our boys have done
themselves proud. San Juan was a
hard fight, but our engagements yes
terday were almost equal to it. For
solid three and one-half hours we were
under fire from right and left and CEN
ter, taking hill after hill, and three
strongholds. They shot at us from
houses, trees and walls, for almost five
miles. No one regiment can claim the
honors here. Every regiment is equal
to every other. Our action is but the
repetition Of all the rest here. 1t was a
grand sight. For miles and miles you
could see the tearing of shells and
puffs Of smoke and burning villages.
Twenty Thousand troops were en-
gagged.
The boys are all well and glad Of the
scrap" and eager for more. A fellow
wants to be in it ALI the time after one
little taste.
NOTES TAKEN ON FIELD.
February 5, 1s99-Firing all night of
4th. just arrived from Cavite ON the
18th; tired. Under arms all night. Ar
tillery and volly very heavy.
5th, 5:45 a. m.-Had breakfast; on
march at $50. Halt for orders. Met
General Charles King: Glad to know
you gentlemen" General Anderson
and staff came up. We followed them
to the outpost; are delayed behind
block house. Bullets are flying thick;
engagements going on around us. We
are ordered on the right flank OF Cali
fornia.
9 a. m.-We are advancing under
v of our own men (the Fourteenth
infantry; the Mauser bullets are fly
ing thick and low; men are falling here
and there; the insurgents are retreat
ing; the CALIFORNIA; on our left are
storming Lurta and the town is burn
ing; insurgents fighting stubbornly;
the ARTILLERY is working rapidly. We
see the insurgents falling back; they
keep us close to the ground; now We
We have advanced three miles
into the country; now we take the for
tification at English cemetery; the in
surgents retreat; now our boys are
firing rapidly; we advance. Crumrine
of Company F is shot in the foot;
merely a flesh wound. Weidmer of
Company c shot in breast; do not know
how badly wounded; their wounds II
cared for by surgeons. We advance
under fire; the insurgents are falling
back.
1890 a. m.-We capture with the
CALIFORNIA; HIT. Hans Company, the San
Pedro de Macati and an arsenal. We
have advanced five miles and are the
fartherest troops.
IL o'clock-We are resting; orderly
rides in. Sergeant Rogers of Company
c was killed in hospital while leaning
from window.
2p. m.-Estimated 100 men have been
wounded; a great many killed. Hun
dreds Of insurgents have bit the dust.
4p. m-Firing heavy between us and
the town. The %guniboats and artillery
have been working hard all day long.
Our men have managed to secure suf-
ficient to eat so far. Men have done
we'll to-day. General King sends his
compliments to the Wyoming battal-
lOu. MEL are COOl. 'WdltIuS OIuciS uI
4:3O; 600 men here, California and Wy
oming. We can see the insurgents not
far of.
Companies G and # are ordered to
drive any insurgents from the hills to
our right. They form in skirmish lines
F on right and G on center. They
sweep the hills with several volleys,
but receive no return fire. The in
surgents seem to have fallen back rap
idly. Every house is empty. In the
arsenal we find much ammunition OF
German model 1895, hundreds Of
machetas and many artillery shells.
$40 p. m.-Geuerai Oveushine comes
up.
6 D. m.-Captain Millnr's company
goes to guard the north Of town Ma
CAt. Companies F and H guard in
terior.
$50 p. m.-Company F Is ordered to
move IN one mile and surround a
church TIL morning; supposed 10 have
three companies OF insurgents In It
Ore tho huts all slous river bank
nd IA the town. We ahUot ct every
49, 49, srRr~ a~-~>>>~A