The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1899-08-18

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OF not having barracks for us. On the
10th we were landed and went into a
large building used for ware house.
We had very comfortable place.
Nothing of Importance happened, ex-
cept going around and seeing the city,
taking in the Cathedrels, forts and
other buildings until the evening OF
the 4th of Feb. Warren's circus, an
American show, was in town and a
good many of us boys were there,
when, above the music Of the band,
another sound was heard. ''Hark!'
someone said. "Hear the bugle?
They are sounding call to arms "
Then we strained our ears, we heard
distant reports of rifles. then we saw
white rocket sent up. We knew
what that meant. Our outposts were
attacked but were holding their own.
everything was moving.
We boys ran out and took every
thing that was convenient IN the line
Of conveyances and put them into use
aud to the barracks we came with our
ponies on the run.
We were ready to start but were
waiting for orders. "Why do they
net Gomez" some one would ask and
finally orders came for US to proceed
to the front on double-quick time. 1t
was about two miles out. We ran
most of the way and when we arrived
there everything seemed quiet when
finally rifle cracked and 1 heard my
first bullet whistle over me when in
battle and 1 know l was not the only
one, then hail Of the steel and lead
en- death messengers whistled to us,
and we were ordered forward onto the
! line. We arrived there just in time
to get in the next skirmish that took
place. We were no more tin soldiers
as they called US, now we were vet
erans. We had one man wounded in
our company, but just scalp wound,
not dangerous. We had several skir-
mishes during the night.
About 2p, M, on the 5th of Feb,
we were ordered to advance, when we
had gone about half mile the en-
emy opened fire on US at 1000 yards.
We dropped behind rice dyke that
was about three feet high and into
mud and the dirtiest kind of salt wat
er, but that seemed to be fine place;
then we opened up on them and the
firing lasted about three hours. The
enemy's loss was pretty heavy and we
had not lost man. This was victory
for us. 1 speak for the company be-
long to as for the others 1 cannot.
We lay that night with GU wet
clothes on and then I realized what
war was. We had a skirmish that
night. Next day we advanced about
two miles and took the position that
We drove the enemy out of the day
before. We lay here for nine days
then the battle of Caloocan came off.
Still we had no more men killed or
wounded, but our regiment had lost
quite few. We lay there about six
weeks having skirmish nearly every
night anxiously waiting for re-enfor-
cements to arrive.
On the 25th of March our long ad.
vance on Malolas commenced. There
was very hard fighting all the way
there, then we were delayed there for
about three week to rest up. On the
26th of April we again started out to
fight one of the hardest battles of the
campaign. We reached the Bagbag
river where the enemy was heavily
intrenched, but our regiment was
held in reserve that day, so we did
not get to see the fight. After two
hours hard fighting tie enemy was
routed and we held tarir position
that night.
Next day, the 9th, we again started
at daylight. The enemy was met
again on the opposite side of the Rio
Grande river. We lay within one
hundred yards Of them and here is
where our gallant Col. Funston made
his dashlng charge across the river
with l20 men and routed the enemy.
Up to this time we had killed large
number OF the enemy.
Then or to Sac Fernando we went
and after hard fighting took the town.
Up to this time our regiment had
about so killed and 125 wounded.
Now, as we have done our duty, III
am waiting patiently for orders to |
embark to start on our journey home
ward bound, and once more breathe
the fresh air of the good old grass-hop-
per state.
From your affectionate brother,
Serg't. J. d. SPENCE.
To Mrs. T. L. Tomlinson, Chanute,
Kansas.