The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1899-06-09
TELLS OF The FIGHT
An Interesting Letter From Ben
Foderberg. of the SYST.
HE'S IN ACTUAL BATTLE,
Boys Fight Their Way Through Rivers,
Swamps. and Rice Fields. Thinks the
Boys Will Soon be Home.

DEAR Folks AT HOME:-Since my
last letter, April %, last Sunday,I have
had an experience and have gone
through something that 1 never want
to go through again. am very thank
full that / am here today with a whole
hide. At II a. m. last Sunday, April
%. we broke camp at the place where
we had been camping for several days.
We marched about three and half
miles in the hot sun, as fast as we could
walk, when we were attacked by the
enemy. We we're compelled to advance
for nearly mile under heavy fire
from the enemy, but we kept on going
and finally drove them out. When we
came to where the Insurgents had re-
Gently made their stand, halt was
called. Here we rested for two hours,
and ate what little hard tack and can
ned beef we had. We hadn't had any
dinner as we were called out just few
minutes before dinner was ready.
At about dusk we marched up the
road north about half mile; here we
put up for the night as best we could.
At four o'clock the next morning, Mon.
day. we got our breakfast and started
off north; we had gone about two miles
when we were fired upon from ambush;
here good many boys were hurt. The
Nebraska boys were on our left, they
had big fight and several of their boys
were killed and wounded. We came to
one trench where there were thirty
eight dead and dying Philippines. We
were still under fire and in the blood
stained trenches with the dead and
dying laying everywhere. We took
shelter and were glad for the chance.
We were in this trench only short
time, we then had to leave the trenches
and advance across large open rice
field in double quick. The 51th Iowa
was on the extreme right flank of Gen.
Hales brigade. We came on the lines
just in time to keep the Insurgents
from making flank movement which
if they could have executed it would
have meant a wholesale slaughter of
Americans. La less than five minutes
they were compelled to flee. After that
battle in one trench we found eighty
dead Philippines. How many more
were killed, l don't know.
From here We went in a westerly
direction for several miles and about
four o'clock p. m. we had another bat
tie. A few of our men were killed and
wounded but the Insurgents again met
with large death and wounded roll
Here we camped for the night. Tues
day morning bright and early, after
eating hurried and scantv meal we
started in south-westerlv direction,
wadiDg rivers and swamps, making our
way through brush and timber, through
corn fields and over rice bikes, we had
gone about five or six miles, when we
came to suburb of Calumplt. This
time, for wonder, the Insurgents let
us come up to within about 500 yards
when AL of sudden five shells burst in
our midst and their infantry all along
the line, for more than two miles, broke
loose, and sent the hot lead into our
lines. This was the largest battle that
has ever been fought on the islands.
1t lasted just three hours and fifteen
minutes, beginning at 1885 q. m. and
ending at 2:lOpm. 1t was constant
fire on both sides, I never did such
lodging in all my life before. Several
Americans were killed and wounded
and the Insurgents loss was heavy, dead
niggers lying everywhere. When the
first shells exploded 1 was less than 20
feet from two of them, no one was kill
ed by them, however. but five or six
we're wounded. Our Lieutenant Colonel
and Lieutenant Lanes horses were
shot from under them. Yesterday /
think was the last of this war. 1t ia
claimed that Gen. Lawton who has all
along been on the extreme left of the
line captured .Aguinaldo and several
other Insurgent officers. They claim
that the Insurgents have surrendered.
If it is true, don't think that we will
be here In the islands much LONGER.
The boys are all good and ready now to
go home. They have been in few
battles and most of them came out
alive and they seem to feel perfectly
satisfied with the good luck they have
had.
don't know as l shall say much
more at present. l am feeling first
rate and am glad TO hear that you were
all getting along so nicely when your
letter left home
Ben FoDERBEHG,
Co. X, 81 Iowa, Manila.
Philippine Islands.
Account Epworth League and Camp
Meeting to be held All LeMars limo ~