Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-11-09
A SOLDIERS STORY.
F. E. Strong Tells of His Campaign
With Fifty-hrst.
He was ONCE SLIGHTLY WOUNDED.
How 1t Feels to be Hit with a Mauser
Bullet-The Death OF the Colonel
OF the First Nebraska-On
ahe Return Trip.

Fred E. Strong, OF Company n, Fifty
first Iowa volunteers, arrived last ey-
ening on Burlington No. e. after nearly
a years actual service in the Philip
pines. Mr.. Strong was accompanied by
his mother, Mrs. C. NJ. Strong, of 3Os
North Jefferson street, who went to
Council Bluffs to meet her son.
MIR. Strong was member of Com
pany NJ, which was recruited at Red
Oak, but he Joined the company at
San Francisco. Speaking of his trip,
Mr.. Strong said:
I'VE sailed for Manila on Nov. 8,
1898, on the transport Pennsylvania,
and arrived off Honolulu on the night
of Nov. l. We visited the city and to
me the natives and their customs were
a source of much pleasure and wonder
ment. On NOV. 16 we weighed anchor
and sailed for our destination. Nov, /
curious thing happened; we crossed
the $50 meridian on that date, and in-
stead of the next day rolling around
like it does on a white mans calendar,
it was, as far as the almanac is con
cerned, two days after, or on the 23d of
November.
(" IA few days later we passed the CITY
Iof, Pueblo, the only vessel we saw on
the way over, and on Dec. S sighted
the island of Luzon, and arrived in Ma
Mia Bay Dec. Z, at 1890 in the morn
ing. We lay in the harbor until the
26th of that month, when we went
south under the escort of the crew
of the Baltimore, on the Iloilo expedi-
ton to the island of Panay. We arriv-
ed in the harber Dec. 80, and lay there
on board the vessel until Jan. 20.
when we went back to Manila and
landed.
I'VE We're put to work guarding the
navy yard and arsenal at Cayite. My
| seld and others procured leave of alb
sence and went inside the walled city
of Manila, where joined the fortunes
OF the First Dakota for a time. The
first battle was in was with this regi-
ment. l came back to Cayite and our
regiment was ordered to Manila, where
we guarded captured Filipino prisoners.
On April IA we were ordered to Malo-
los to relieve the Tenth Pennsylya-
mia.
"The first action in which the regi-
ment was engaged was at Quingua.
Major Bells scouts were in this action
and we went to their relief. This was
| the battle in which Colonel Stotzen-
berg was killed. He was in the city of
Manila and hearing that his regiment
was in action, kissed his wife good
bye and took the train for the seat Of
the trouble. He took command Of the
regiment and while leading them was
killed within eighty feet of the enemy's
trenches. After. Colonel Stotzenberg
fell he still encouraged his men, shout
/ ing to them, Go on, boys, go on, boys,
go on, First Nebraska The desire of
the boys to avenge the death of their
colonel made them fight like fiends.
"At the Marilalo river occurred one
of the hottest fights we were in. We
waded the river and charged the ma
tives. Aguinaldo was with them, lend
ing his influence and encouragement,
but our boys were too much for them
and they retreated. In the evening
they came back again aud when within
600 yards of our line opened fire. We
could see them advancing and we wait
ed until they opened fire, when we
commenced the same kind OF racket.
They retreated, and the Kansas regi-
ment was sent after them, pursuing
them several miles.
"The next engagement was at Quin-
guinto and consisted of several Skin
mishes. This was where I was wound
ed. How does it feel to be hat with a
Mauser? Well, ] was not fairly hit;
tthe bullet just igrazed the side of my
head, but that is as as close as care
to have them come. I felt just as if
someone had hit me on the side OF The
head with board and got as limp as
rag. was in the hospital for two
days, not on account of the wound so
much as on account OF my weakened
condition. At the end OF that time I
rejoined my regiment, which had been
ordered to Malolos. a few days before
the fight. We We're in the act of get
ting dinner when the call to arms
sounded. We fought them that after
noon, but at nightfall hostilities prac-