Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-05-13
CUSTER CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA SATURDAY, MAY 13, 1899

insurgents when they fell back. In the
afternoon, February 9Th, the Pennsyl-
vanias started TO advance toward mas
sive stone church on the crest CT long
slope or hill. The insurgents had two
forts between them and the church, also
strong intrenchments,s and they made a
strong resistance. General Macarthur
then ordered the South Dakota to ad-
vance and form on the left of the Penn
sylvanias, Co. /. was the first Co. to form
on the firing line. and when we left the
| timber the bullets began to ping"
Hiram Fay of Co. /. was wounded just
as we started. Soon six companies of
our regiment was on the firing line and
advancing up over the open rice ridges
in long line of skirmishers, Co. was
on the left joining the Pennsylvania.
At this time the insurgents were shoot
ing volley after volley from their Maus-
ers, but luckily they shoot wild at times.
The left Of our line, Co. /, charged and
captured the two forts and mud build
ing (fortified), then our line swept on
in advance OF TIC i'enGsylvanias until
the massive stone walls of the stone
church was in view Our Col then gave
the command to charge, and with yell
that would make an Indian sick with
envy, the boys charged the church. 1t
was here that the fight was at closest
quarters. The insurgents tough, bravely
until the charge and then tried to get
away, but it was too late for many. The
ground was dotted with their bodies,
but very few were allowed to escape
Our line advanced few hundred yards
beyond the church, went through the
church with one platoon. At the gate
way lay a Filipino officer dying |
crawled through hole in the wall made
by a shell, and so passed through the
yard and rejoined the main line which
had gone around to the right of the wall.
General Macarthur was iii command of
all the troops and formed the line we
now occupy. We were about tired out
that night but could not sleep for the
firing kept up all night. The next day
all hands went to work throwing up
trenches and we are in the trenches
now. On the 23rd of February the in
surgents attacked our lines, but were
driyen back with loss. We lost two
men, Sergeant Smith of Co. Nj. being
killed, and one man Of Go. &.
Hardly day passes without fighting
on some part of the line, but the boys
have become used to it and can eat and
sleep contentedly behind the trenches
All the Custer boys are well, and though
anxious to get home soon, are ready for
another fight. Private Green and
Loves were from the eastern part of the
state. Their bodies will be shipped
home. Atpresent the sick listin the com
pany is lower than at any time since we
landed; the life in the trenches agrees
with the soldiers as long as ii is dry.
The rainy season sets in about June. |
think before that time the trouble here
will have ended.
| have not attempted to write any
thing about the part taken by other
regiments, for you can hear that from
the papers as well Suffice TO say that
they all did their share and whipped
the FilipinOs wherever they struck.
The Custer hoys unite in sending best
wishes to all the friends in the far away
home in the United States
PAU ID. MCCLELLAND,
Ist Lieut.. lst 5. ID. Inf.
Commanding Co. |.