Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-13

firing rapidly at us from redoubt close
to the stream and near the east end of
Santa Ana. The stone bridge across the
Tripa seemed to be the main target, for
shivered glass from the lamp posts and
splintered stone from the parapets flew
with the whistling bullets diagonally across
the roadway. None the less, two little
mountain HOtChkiSS guns had been run for
ward by hand almost TO the arch, and there
coolly, placidly directing their fire-burst-
ing his shells squarely in the Filipino
works, and never even crouchiug to avoid
the incessant flight Of MauSer and Reming-
ton missiles-s'ood an officer who had al
ready won a name for daring and skill in
the face of a savage enemy. a Sioux bull
let at the bloody fight at Wounded Knee
eight years ago drove fragments of his
watch through his body, but in no wise
impaired his efficiency or daunted his nerve
when the next campaign came on. Between
| the cool, scientific handling of these guns
| by Lieut.. Hawthorne Of the 9th Artillery
and the fierce and rapid volieys Of the Cali
fornians crouching behind the read, the in
surgents lurking behind the low ridges in
the rice fields to our left front We're driven
TO cover further back and their shots flew
wild Then ii was possible to rush the LIST
Idaho across the bridge and form it for
| the attack on the redoubts. AT the head
of the second battalion strobe a veteran
soldier-Major Edward McConville. He had
served as a private in the civil war He
had later spent long years in the regular
army as private and non-commissioned
| officer He at one time carried a musket
in the company then commanded by Cap
tain. now Maj. Gen. Anderson. under whose
orders he again found himself when he
came as major to Manila. He was prob
ably the oldest man in the division-he GER
tainly was in the brigade-but no duty
was so wearisome or exacting that he did
not carry out his share of it to the utter
most. The men looked upon him as a
patriarch, but honored him for his devotion
to every detail of his soldier work.
Seasoned Veteran.
L think, now, that the brave old fellow
must have become somewhat deaf He had
misunderstood an order l gave him when
reporting to me for instructions as field
officer of the day a fortnight before the
fight. This had led to my writing out his
orders the next and last time he reported
for the same purpose and the veteran SOL
der had taken thiS-in connection with a
mild reproof l had given him for allowing
ms reserves and supports to be withdrawn
before daylight-very much to heart In a
brigade made up exclusively of volunteers
at the date of its maiden battle he was tht.
only officer l had felt obliged to reprove-
and he was an old regular.
But | can see him now as he came run
nlng to me on the Santa Ana road Just
after crossing the bridge. \ skirmish line
was dancing out across the rice fields
against the fire splitting entertainments
toward the river, and the Idahos-except
three companies sent in to back up Wash
ington for the rush into Santa Ana from
the south-were destined to act in support
We had exchanged cordial greetings carly
in the morning, McConville and l. when
the regiment reported for duty in East
Pace and now his face was aglow. his eyes
blazing with eagerness and excitement. 1t
had been all planned that as soon as the
1dahos were across and deployed for the at
tack from the high road-the south-rhat
Captain Fortson, with his companies
OF the WaShingtOnS, should ford the Con-
cOrdia and attack from the west the first
and most formidable of the redoubts-noW
fully located on a singular mound rising
from the midst of a level plain.
Wonder are the works major" were the
words of the order. Gross the fields in
big stone affair that stood close to the
stream three hundred yards to the left of
the road and charge everything into the
river"
Eager for the Fray.
California was to support on the right
Fortson on his left, but he never stopped
to inquire. Eagerly he answered: ''AIl
right, SIR and Fastening to the head of
his men. Eagerly he led them over the
field, and, in his eagerness, got mixed as
to the consufs house and passed behind
instead of in front of 1t, so that it took
ten minutes to straighten him out, but then
with cheers and volleys the lines rushed in
Just as the center of the Idahos reached
a little clump of trees and shrubbery half
way across the plain they were greeted by
a sudden and furious volley that staggered
them. In an instant McConville leaped to
the front, waving his sword over his head
and shouting to his men Come on, Come
on, Idaho!" and then, as he turned and
led the rush into the shrubbery a shot
struck him square in the breast and down
he went Even then. they told me. he