The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-11-01

liove that such will be their verdict on
the seventh day of next month at the
polls"
BARNETT UNDER FIRE.
Sergeant William G. Vance, who
served in the Tenth regiment, Com
pany d, and is now at Camp Meade
preparing to return to the Philippines
with another regiment, says:
Il will tell you what | saw and
heard at the battle of De La LONE
church concerning Lieutenant Colonel
Barnett, to which | will make affidavit
if necessary. The Tenth regiment had
moved fully 100 yards toward the ridge
upon which the church is situated.
There was an incline of space about
! 200 yards between the position occu-
pied by our regiment and the South
| Dakota boys. We were in the advance
] and our position was so exposed that
we were subjected to a most raking
| fire from the Filipinos. 1t was so Sc
we're that Colonel Hawkins ordered
us to lie down for protection, and We
were held in this position for over half
an hour. During the time we lay there
we heard Lieutenant Colonel Barnett
firing at the Filipinos. He had a pc
culiar rapid firing gun, the sound of
which was exactly similar to that of
a Mauser rife, and could be easily dis
tinguished from the others. Colonel
Barnett kept up a steady and constant
fire, and the boys made frequent COM
ments upon his abilities as a sharp
shooter | was lying beside Captain
Hawkins, son of our colonel, who turn
ed over and remarked to me, Bar
nett is giving them hell At the bat
tie of Guiguinto saw Lieutenant Colo
mel Barnett during the whole of the
engagement, and he was always where
the Filipinos' bullets fell the thickest.
He inspired the men by his courage,
and his actions were such that showed
the kind of stun he is made of. He
didn't finch once, and on several oc-
casions | saw him in advance of his
pen, leading them on to victory. No
man that saw him in that battle could
help but admire him for his bravery
and his daring. In this battle and at
Malolos he commanded the Second bat
TALON. AT Malolos, as at the battle of
Guiguinto, he was under fire all day.
Lieutenant Colonel Barnett gave his
commands coolly, and the men under
had every confidence in him."
WHAT OTHERS SAY.
First Lieutenant r. l.. Tidball says
Il have known Colonel Barnett for a
number of years and can say that all
his actions in the Philippines were, so
far as / knew and saw, just as SOL
dierly and brave as any. | was with
him on several occasions while he was
in command of the province of Ca
vite, and | never had reason to think
that he was anything but brave man.
l am a Democrat. and l do not know
whether | will vote for Barnett or not,
but | am opposed to villifying him for
political effect, and brand the report
of his cowardice as a falsehood."
Second Lieutenant ]. A Ewing says
Il have known Colonel Barnett for ten
years, and want to say that was with
him the day he was shot. | know by
personal experience that Colonel Bar
nett did his whole duty, whether IN
barracks or in the presence of the
enemy; that his service was noble and
faithful, and this is the most loyal
tribute that can be paid to any SOL
der"
Quartermaster Sergeant j. NJ. Gee
says 81 have known Colonel Barnett
since belonging to the regiment. six
years, and from all have seen of him
| e has always conducted himself as a
soldier. He has done things that have
! not altogether pleased the majority,
yet On a whole | think it was for the
benefit of the regiment. / have the
! highest esteem for Colonel Barnett"
First Lieutenant G. L. Gordon says:
81 have seen Colonel Barnett under
fire at different times, and never saw
anything in his actions indicating the
least sign of cowardice."
Lieutenant Harhuis says "I am not
familiar in full with the charges pre-
ferred against Colonel Barnett. but.
in so far as his conduct as a brave
soldier is placed in the balance, know
ing what do, am free to say that in
my opinion there is nothing in his
conduct as such that would reflect dis
credit upon him"
Corporal ]. B. Edgar, of Company B,
cowardice against Colonel Barnett,
take pleasure in deuouncing them as
false, if not malicious, as his bravery
and courage we're never doubted by
any member OF the regiment, so far as
l have ever heard. nor did | ever see
any indication Of cowardice on his
part"
Corporal C. w. Brown, Of Company
E, says: IF Colonel Barnett is a
coward, so am !. and SO is every man
in the regiment, but the Filipinos will
not care TO face such towards every
day. He never flinched while under
fire. l will face any man who charges
him with cowardice and defy him to
prove his statements"
Captains Crago and Watson, Captain
Hunter, Lieutenant Aiken, Major Neff
and many Others have given similar
testimony.
ANONYMOUS CHARGES.
Ihese are but a few or the many
testimonials for Colonel Barnett that
have come from members of his regi-
ment since this last hour political at
tack was sprung upon him. A care
ful reading of the publications inspired
by the Democratic state committee
and its allies will show that all of the
important statements affecting Colonel
Barnett are from "a member of the
Tenth regiment" or private of Com
pany |, or "a corporal in one of the
companies or some other person
whose name is not given. Here and