The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-28

IHe city limits, IN what Is cdlleu lne
Binondo district. A few minutes later
the call came for the Montanans to go
to the front We were held in reserve
until II a. m. Feb. 5. when we were
ordered out to the firing line. Reach
ing the line four companies of Mon
tana, H, X, L ana M, under command
of Lieutenant Colonel R. B. Wallace,
advanced across an open rice field to-
ward the Binondo Chinese cemetery,
which lay on a hillside on our front.
Here the enemy lay in wait for us.
They allowed us to advance to within
800 yards of them. when they opened
fire on us, and the warm reception they
rendered us for three hours afterward
will not be forgotten by any who par
ticipated in the festivities. We had
but one man wounded-Sorenson of
Company l.. shot through the head with
MauSer bullet. He is still alive and
strong hopes for his recovery are en-
tertained.
our boys kept UP a continuous fire
on the cemetery, but not a very effect
i've one. for the enemy was well en-
trenched behind tombstones and
graves, but few well-directed shots
from piece of artillery. which had
been run up the road to our rear, soon
had them on the run, with the four
companies of Montanans following on
their rear. the Sd artillery on the left
flank and the Pennsylvanians on the
right flank, jumping them out of their
entertainments and hiding places. We
continued our line of advance until we
captured the church and block house, in
which they were fortified. That night
we lay in the trenches on the firing line
with no trouble, but an occasional vol
ley at some troublesome natives who
would persist in coming u and taking
shot at the lines.
Feb. opened up clear and warm.
We had foraged chicken for breakfast,
of which we made a meal. AT a. m.
we advanced our line, the Kansas regi-
ment on our left, next to the bay shore,
and the Sd artillery on our right, ad-
vanced about mile on both sides of
the railroad, driving the enemy ahead
of us and burning everything as we
went. We camped on the reserve for
the balance of the day. There was no
disturbance, except an occasional shot
from a sharpshooter. A Kansas lieu
tenant was wounded. At p. m. Com
pany K was ordered on the firing line,
but the night passed without incident.
On Feb. at I a. m. we were relieved
by Company A of Great Falls. We laid
on the reserve line all day and at $50
p. m. were called out and lined up.
There was heavy volley firing on the
firing line, which was kept up at inter
walls all day and night. On Feb. s we
were on the support line all day and al
night. everything betting quiet. On the
9th Company X was on the firing line
with fighting all night. One man was
wounded in Company B.
"On Feb. 10 at a. m. we were re-
1ieved on the firing line by Company
D of Virginia City. About 8 p. m. all
the troops We're drawn up for battle.
Uncle George Dewey threw three shells
into the timber on our left, which was
the signal for a1Vanpp When o
command was given the Montanans
We're over their entertainments skirting
the timber, in which the insurgents
We're entrenched. The advance was
continued under a very heavy fire.
routing the enemy as they came out of
their trenches and hiding places. We
trayersed distance of at least three
miles on the run all the way. keeping
up continuous fire. The enemy made
a stand at the town and grave yard of
sCaloocan,= but were soon compelled to
retreat, leaving a great many of their
dead behind them. Our company had
but one man slightly wounded.
Company M, Captain Hallahan's,
has the honor and distinction of being
the first to raise the American colors
over the town of Caloocan. The ma
jority of the insurgents with whom we
battled are now at Malabon, mile and
a half from here. We have the town
practically surrounded. The town is
built on a peninsula with a road run
ming across lagoon which is covered
by the Utah battery. Their only way
of escape, therefore, is to the northwest
through some timber of which Dewey
has a commanding view, day and night.
We are expecting to, attack Malabon
any moment. Our forces hold the rail-
road from Manila to CaIoocan. which
is very useful for transporting troops
nd ho tS n roI nv
an English syndicate.
There have been a shower of pro-
motions in Company K during the last
month. Second Lieutenant Philip
Greenan received his promotion at first
lieutenant last month: Sergeant
Myles Kelly and Corporal O'Leary re-
ceived their commissions as lieutenants'
on Jan. IS. Lieutenant O'Leary was
assigned to duty with Company NJ and
Lieutenant Kelly with Company H, but
since has returned to Company K. Our
captain. Thomas S. Dillon. who led us
through last Fridays battle in the TAX
ing of Caloocan had the command of
Companies K and H of Montana,
proved himself a very efficient officer
on the field
Our life on the field is now becom-
ing monotonous We sleep in the
trenches at night trying to knock out
mosquitoes. John J. Campbell of Ana
conda, who was wounded in Fridays
battle by a brass coated bullet. died
on the 18th of blood poisoning at the
Reserve hospital
Hercules Charette of this city, who
has three sons in the Philippines re-
ceived as many letters from them yes
terday. His son, E. H. Charette, writes
from Caloocan under date of February
49, a lengthy letter, in which he gives
the details of the fighting at great
length, with a view to all the particular
movements of each company. The plan
of the fighting is illustrated by two
very creditable diagrams, one showing
the position of the companies before
the big fight, and the other after the
victory was won. Mr. Chare'tte evident
ly wrote himself out of paper for the
last four sheets" are written on cart
ridge box covers. a mute but eloquent
reminder of resources the soldiers have
Adolph Charette was slightly wound
ed in the fight. He says: Il received
a slight wound. A ball struck my gun
breaking it in several pieces and talk