The record-union., 1899-03-20
FIGHTING The FILIPINOS.
A SACRAMENTO BOY WITH THE
ARMY AT MANILA.
Sergeant John J. Byrne Writes of
the Big Battle Of February
5th and 9Th.

j. Byrne, VINO IS member of the Sig
nal Corps from Sacramento 1t is
dated "At the Reservoir near Manila,
February 6th,' and reads:
| Dearest Mother and Folks: You
must have read by this time how we
put the natives in the clear. Don't
worry, for your boy is all o. K. We
haven't lost a man out of either COM
pany, but I have heard the bullets
sing, and that's no mistake.
| Firing started at $40 p. m. February
4th, at the Nebraska outpost, near the
Pasig River A small native village
about 100 yards from our lines had a
good many OF native soldiers in it, and
they We're causing us lots of trouble.
This they took about 1:3O o. m ON the
same day, and Colonel Stolsenburg of
the Nebraska moved the outposts into
the village. AT that time a native rode
up ITO the patrol and was commanded
to halt three times, and not doing so
they shot him dead.
This opened the ball. Brisk firing
soon commenced all along the line
About midnight there was a hull for an
hour or so, after which it started with
renewed vigor
| Our men did not advance until day-
break, when the skirmish line ad-
yanced. About 7:3O o. m. February
10th blockhouses Nos. g. and 5 were
taken by the First Pennsylvania. First
South Dakota and First Colorado Reg
iments. Shortly after the Nebraska
boys took bloekhouse No. z. They still
continued to advance, and soon took
the bridge All the troops kept up a
steady fire until about 4 O'Clock on
February 9Th, twenty hours almost
continuous.
There was very little firing after that
until about $50 o. M, and then it
continued until about 3 a. m. February
9TH The four regiments named con-
| t1nued to take ground, advancing in
skirmish line formation.
| Kansas and Montana haven't gained
as much ground, and for a time it was
very hot work. The warship Charles
ton was anchored off blockhouse No.
l, which we occupied before the battle.
The monitor Monadnock was anchored
off Fort Malite. They both did a ter
rible lot of execution, and as some of
the boys say, surely did put the fear
of God in the Filipinos' hearts. One
Shell from the Monadnock cleared the
native entertainments from the beach
to the river, about three miles.
AT Fort Malite and blockhouse No.
IL talso held by our troops before
hand) the natives We're just strewn
over the ground AT these places were
the Fourteenth Regiment, the First
| washington, Fourth Cavalry Regi-
ment, Montana and the First Cali
fornia. also part Of the Second Oregon
and First Tennessee. The field artil-
lery, both the Sixth Regiment and
Utah, were at different camps The
Third Regiment of Artillery, armed
with rifles, were stationed between the
Kansas and Montana.
Well, I have to turn in now, as it is
IL O'Clock, and I have had but six hours
sleep in forty-eight hours. So will bid
you good might, as I am dead tired.
Later-Well, I have been very busy
since [ closed this, laying wires to the
Waterworks which are three miles off.
ana am now at the reservoir. We ar
rived on the firing line yesterday morn
ing. The natives are across the val
ley from us. Had about four hours
sleep last night; had to sleep on a
board floor, but of course lived through
it.
But talk about fun, Well, we had it
on the 9th, when we arrived on the
firing line. The Utah Light Artillery
opened up shortly after we got here.
and you should have seen the natives
running out from under their huts and
| taking to the hills when the shells
burst In one place there was about
forty of them, and after shell burst
l could see only eleven or twelve run
into a cane field.
The worst part of it is over, as we
have their backbone broken. and they
have found out that the Spanish are
not dealing with them.
On the extreme left light firing has
continued. Our troops have not ad-
vanced far at this point. Caaoocan.
which is five miles out on the left will
soon be in our hands. Here it is that
reports say Aguinaldo will concentrate
his troops. This place can easily be
| shelled by the fleet.
To-day the troops of this division re-
ceived orders not to- fire on natives who
came to our lines. They were coming
in all day, carrying white flags
Last night there was an outbreak in
town, but none of our boys were hurt
Up to date we have lost two officers
i and Colonel Smith of the First Ten
nessee died of apoplexy. There are
about 70 enlisted men, with $50 to 200
wounded, mostly all not serious. The
natives have lost about / 200 killed
and wounded and | don't know how
many prisoners.
I again say, don't worry about me.
for it's hard to hurt an Irish,nan But
can say have heard the bullets sing,
and am all o. X, except a little tired
And now, with love and kisses to you
all, l will close, as we have to string
four miles of Wire in the morning.
Another Sacramento Claimant.
Another Sacramento claimant to q
portion Of the Fench spoliation claims
has appeared in the person of Mrs
Jessie L. Kripp.
This makes three Sacramentans who
have more or less interest in the
SO, 100000 appropriation made by Con-
gress to pay these old-time claims.
They are Will H. Young, John +.
Carrere and Mrs. Kripp. Neither of
them yet knows to what sum he or
she is entitled.
The prompt and proper use of a pure
stimulant has saved many a human
life The famous old Jesse Moore AA
| Whisky is the purest and best. Sold by
adj druggists. -
Those Extra nenuf;es