The Ellensburg dawn. [volume] (Ellensburg, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1899-03-24
Another Manila Letter.

MANILA. P. l., SANTA ANNA, Feb ., 'o9
The battle is on. 1t commenced at
9 80 d. M, Feb. 4th when an attack
was made on the Nebraska regiment by
the insurgents. We we're ordered out
Feb. Sd and stayed IN the trenches all
night. but were not disturbed. and all
was quiet Saturday until 2:30 p m,
when we were ordered out to the trenches
again. where we made our beds and had
I lust gotten to sleep when we heard Tour
or five shots which awoke rs all. when
| awoke | could hear over 1000 shots Il
second. 1t was across the Pasig river at
the Nebraska camp, about three miles
| from where our regiment was. lie
fighting kept upall along the Pasig river
until about Ii 80 p. M, when they
stopped until 2 80 il. M, then the Ne
braska commenced on them again. We
had orders not to shoot until we had or
ders to do so.
Sunday morning there were few
shots fired at us, but it was so dark we
could see nothing but the blaze from
their guns. After they had shot about
ten shots, our good and brave colonel
gave us orders to fire, and then there
was line of firing clear around TIE
town. We shot from behind the en-
bankment for about three hours, or
until it was daylight, when Companys
A and M, OF our regiment, also one OF
the LIST California companys made a
charge on the left that scared the lnsur
gents out from the trenches, and | saw
over fifty OF them fall from the effects OF
COMPANY HIS bullets. Then We had
orders to move toward the enemy, and
in order to do this we had to wade
Il liver about fifty feet Wide, ana
with the water up to our waists We ran
after them for about 800 yards, killing
every one we saw until we got up behind
the enbankment. We laid there and
sent the balls after them.
saw one OF our men killed. lie be-
longcd TO Co f OF Yakima and was shot
right through the heart. Word came
from the lett OF on, company that our
company bar Der wis shot SO we sent tor
the doctor who came in about three
mnntes-the balls were flying thick all
around. The next man To- be shot was
brave Lieutenant Smith OF our company
He and were behind high emblnk-
ment at the time. First >ergt John
Charlton and myself dressed his wound
which was in the right leg, but was not
very severe.
The most daring charge which was
made was bv our company and was
made by our First Lieutenant Southern
who ran in front OF us shouting come
on hoysu' while the balls We're flying all
around. The insurgents upon whom We
charged were in Il strong fort, bnt we
drove them out killing about 40 and
capturing two cannons and the tort.
The light artillery was firing all the
time, the heavy artillery being about ten
miles away bombarding Il small town
The native houses around here are all
burned, even a large Catholic church,
The reason it was burned was because
twenty insurgents got up III the tower
and shot some OF our guards so we took
a can of coal oil and Went inside throw
ing it all around and setting il on fire
The church was iull OF natives which
were all captured but about twenty and
they were the ones in The tower ana they
were blown to pieces with cannon balls
We are getting II great many relics
such as guns, knives, ring, ETC., ana are
living on chickens, killing all we see.
The natives around here aie scared
nearly to death and every house has a
white flag flying.
have had all the fighting want but
there is lots OF fun in it. did not get
excited at all, nor did any OF our com
pany. captured the paper am writing
on. must close as the mail leaves to-
dav WILL. MCDowELL.