The Chanute times., 1899-03-31
AFTER THE BATTLE.
An Account of the Fighting in February
Around Manila, Written by Corporal
c. A. McNuIty, Of Thayer.
DOES SOME SHARP. SHOOTING HIMSELF
MANILA, 2. l., Feb. 10.

Dear homefolks:-I suppose you are
worried about me, but am glad to let
you know there is no occasion for so
doing, as so far 1 have not received
even scratch.
On Saturday, Feb, 4, at 10 p. M,
we were called to arms and marched |
out to ouf outpost guard house, which
the insurgents we're attacking. We
were put out on the firing line at
once, and as we crossed the bridge we
met party of our boys carrying in a
wounded comrade, He said. "We are
giving them HI, but for Gods sake
look out for the cannon; they are
shooting grape shot and it is trained
right up the road where you have to
go." Well, we got into the trenches
without any casualties, and then we
began to pour the lead into them.
The trench we occupied was levy be-
tween two swamps. We laid in about
four inches of mud and water until
morning and were under heavy fire
from the insurgents all the time. AT
ter daylight another company was
sent to relieve us and we fell back to
another dixie aud did what we could
in the way pf resting and refreshing
ourselves.
About 10 a. m, our company was or
dered over to help out the Third ar
tillery. While we were getting our
position the insurgents fired volley
into us but failed to hit any of our
boys, but killed one man in Co. M and
wounded another. We had to wade
the swamp up to our knees to get our
position on the right of the Third ar
tillery, but we got there all right and
went into trenches where the mud
was up to and in some places above
our knees. After we had remained
there an hour we were ordered to ad-
vance with the Third artillery. We
advanced about two and half miles
under heavy fire from the insurg-
ents.
was in the file at the time and
happened to look up and saw some
thing unusual in one of the trees, and
upon further examination found 1t to
be kind of platform in the tree, with
a sharp shooter Cn it picking our boys
off. 1 didn't do thing but put a
bullet through him which stopped his
little game forever. Four Of our boys
got four more sharp shooters before
we got through the timber.
After we got through the timber we
waited for the Montana regiment to
;oin US, and then with the Third ar
tillery on the right and the Montana
boys on the left, we made charge up
hill about half mile into an old
graveyard. The insurgents were in
there thick as bees. Heavy firing fol-
lowed, during which men were killed
and wounded on both sides of us, but
none Of our boys were hit. 1t was
miracle how we escaped.
We advanced and took block house
and big church and drove the in
surgents back into the timber, but
our company lost no men In the ad-
vance. We camped here until the
morning Of Feb. Sth, when our Co.
was ordered back to the regiment,
going into the trenches in our regular
places and remaining there until FRI
day, Feb 10th. Every night we would
have to drive the insurgents back;
they would bother US just like a lot of
mosquitoes, shooting at US all the time.
About 3 p. m. Friday, Feb, 10th,
Dewey and the Utah Battery began
to shell the town of Colocan, place
about three miles ahead of us. We
were ordered to advance, and we sure
enough did advance and under ter
rifle fire from the insurgents, who
were hid behind good trenches. We
soon drove them out, though, and
chased them a mile or so on the other
side of Colocan. We then fell back to
the town and put up breastworks,
and still remain here, and as yet Co.
G has not had a man injured. Idon't
think il will take us long to clean
them out now.
General Macarthur said that the
charge we made up the hill to the
cemetery was the finest he ever saw,
and that it could not be surpassed,
The Kansas regiment has a great rep
utation here.
l just got into town and took bath
and changed my clothes. This is the
first time 1 have had my shoes and
leggins off since the 4th, and feel
like a new man now. Am having the
best OF health, and so are the rest OF
the boys from Thayer.
Let me hear from you as often as
nosxihle Rest love IN Won all