The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-03-29
THEIR BAPTISM Of FIRE.
WASHINGTON SOLDIER TELLS 0E
HIS FIRST BATTLE.
Companies Eager Ia Get 1T Filfpinos
-tuerring Narksmanshtn In
Battl~-Coi. Wholiey In Aguinal-
Special Correspondence.

Special Correspondence.
MANILA Feb. lit was about SIS on
the evening OF Saturday. February 1. that
the first gun was fired in thu battle with
the insurgents. Within twenty-four hours
OF that time the Americans had killed
and wounded many thousands of the enc
my and put the rest TO SYNONYMOUS flight.
captured large stores OF ammunition and
advanced the outpost lines a numeer OF
miles into the interior. The First Wash
ington regiment was II the fight from
start 10 finish.
blew as usual In all the quarters and
no unusual sounds disturbed the sleeping
city OF Manila Three-Quarters OF an hour
later q solitary shot was heard in the
Pandaear district, followed by scattered
shots, then whole yolleys- Then everyone
knew that the tension OF the last four
months was at an end and that the long
expected battle between the rival armies
was on. Every regiment In the city was
under arms almost Instantly. The First
Washington, from its favorable location
near the outpost lines. was of the
first to arrive on the scene OF action-in
fact Company ID and thir,y-three men
OF Company r were on outpost duty at
the time the firing began.
Companies Quickly In Line.
The different companies were speedily
taken 10 their positions in the firing line
Company ID under Lieut.. Egsli. remained
at Artillery knot. slightly To the left and
rear OF Blockhouse - Company Il had
a detail of ,hirty-thr<e men under Lieut..
Gormiey guarding Blockhouse IL where
they remained all night, and twenty eight
more Company men. under Lieut. Moss.
took up position at the little stream
d hundred yards In front and slightly
TO the left of the blockhouse. Another
detachment of Il company men under
Sergt- Head. were away TO the left with
l company Companies II and c were 10
the left OF Lieut. Moss men. along the
bank OF the creek. During the night
Companies G. l and took their positions
siili further to the left. behind a dirt en-
bankrnent running almost parallel TO the
Pasig river. Company F was held under
orders In the Pandacan district, on the
extreme left.
Under Fire for the First Time.
Directly across the road from Block
house II Companies and NJ formed their
lines i'll a low rice field Companies l.
and X We're on their right, stretching to-
ward Artillery knoll.
Throughout the long night heavy firing
was kept up. The men everywhere showed
an intense eagerness To get on the firing
lire and commence operations on their
own account. and they We're not kept In
waiting very long. BY daylight the firing
all along the line was terrific. Col. Who'll
ley and the three battalion commanders.
Capt. Adams. OF the First: Capt Fortson
Of the Second and Major we.senberger,
OF the Third. We're the firing line con-
stantly. comforting with company OIL
GERS. directing the FIRE and encouraging
The men. Nest Of the men experienced
for the first time the delightful sensation
Of being under Ere. for they could hear
the Mauser bullets ring over their heads.
apparently five or ak feet up
The insurgents were game to the last.
F. They KEEP, up spirited return fire. but,
rule, shot too high The men whom
the First Washington opposed on that day
were Aguinaldos veterans fully uniform
cd, well armed and with plenty of ammu
milton Two modern krupp guns formed
their stock % artillery. Their numbers
can only be estimated. but we've certainly
far greater than ours.
Insurgents Well Iutrenched.
Their general line OF defenses was par
aliel tn ours. In the great plains stretch
ing oHt from BockhouSes II and - to-
ward SAN Pedro they had thrown I'D a
series OF strong intrenchrnents On the
Santa Ana road above Riockhouse II were
many buildings and trees from which
vsaiags ground they poured heavy Are
into Companies A and N who could find
very little protection in their natural sur
rounaings. A short distance 10 the left
81 the road was long low shed which
the insurgents used as a fort and here
nesr the river hank we've their two can
nor. On the left OF the building. stretch
Ing Down the raslg In front Of Company
G's position. is a long and thick growth
~ banana trees. Opposite | company was
tAe strongest position Of ala high knoll.
oblor~ IN shape. set in tire center Of a
large plain. On its s,oping sides were
banana trees. hiding the top from view.
ard deep trenches were dug all around
just inside the top. II was defended b..
several hundred Insurgents
Between this knoll ard The banana grove
and eur firing iinc IS an open rice. field
without a single tree. and cut IN t~o nv
. little stream thirty feet wide and four
feet deep
Natives Hind II Too Hot
From O'Clock OH X became evident
that the tefrfae volleys being poured into
;ae iuxuTgent siafeuses were beginning 20
teil on them Wherever a native showed
ms bead he ~AS shot After o'clock
Insurgents could ha seen one ts ONE
leaving the{r positions ani running aark
toward the river They were invariably
kf'ea ecfore th%y had gotten ten wards
Toward O'Clock the tisne seemed r8ne
fcr 3 general advance. which was AC
coFdEr@y ordered h~sinx begun rs the
c0InIantes oR t}e right Ose~hals OF -
COMPANY uacer I4auF Lamping ard I.
nnd X companies charged across fne great
plain. sweeping s2e rAisxes s<fore chem
Companies \ ana u advanced far Up guto
fse ssAnfA Ans district pn the right os
be read }sesh se:achaaeutx ~ Company
IS wish fA@ Ssh artillery fs4ck Bosses
ssow ~ fbe Ar*3Ee anf Santa Ans Rad
II - caGpany belongs the honor 81 c&gs-
furlnE ,as Knapp EunN. wh1eh they dGd
1g&srEF
fcrfson Urges His Nen On
%afff Capt tssfsaeEg tod gAe w7er es
Company $ - 40 after -vsn trey waited
tsr ga seeaE3 s3d*Inx With a good ola