The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-30
FUNSTON WRITES
Most Graphic Account of the
Initial Charge.
How the Soldiers Acted While
Under Fire.
DRAMATIC RECITAL.
Men Chaffed Each Other as They
Listened to Mausers.
Miraculous Escape From Shells
Of the Ships.

The following graphic account of the
was written by General Frederick Fun
Ston at san Fernando on July IL ana pup
ished in Tuesdays Globe-Democrat:
Prefacing his account with the plain
and positive statement that all of the
weeks that war was inevitable and sure,
For some days previous tothis time the
insurgents had almost hourly grown more
insulting in speech and daring in manner.
me CONNECT so soon 70 occur mad been
nearly precipitated on the I'd, by an insur-
gent of1lcer with detachment OF about
forty natves-all armed ana very drunk
attempting to pass the line held by the
me tact ana soIdlerly ATTITUDE or Colonel
StOtesenb burg prevented a fight. But to
challenged and told to halt by a sentinel
near the Santa Mesa bridge, a party of
four armed insurgents attempted to force
our lines and establish an outpost actually
within our territory. 1t was about $50,
man of the Nebraska fired and fired to
kill, and the fight was on. The Nebraskas.
suits They had not long to wait-per-
maps tnlrty minutes As they stood IN the
Of flashes. MARKING for a BRIEF instant the
line of insurgent trenches. Volley follow
perate attempt to cross the bridge over
the San Juan and in the Immediate front
of the Nebraska was soon made by the
rebels, and very nearly succeeded. They
side / had just gone to bed, when Maj.
Colonel, it's on It's of!'' To tumble out
strike a light and hastily dress took but a
ing-I couldn't find one boot. You would
think a man could find a boot in o lighted
room i'll two SecOndS-Im afraid that l
was somewhat excited. 1t found, I called
the orderly to saddle the ponies, and, go
ing out on a rear balcony OF my head
quarters with the major, far away to the
hear the PacowW-Pac-oww, that unmis-
taxable double report of Mausers. AS We
grew into a dull roar. Ny own regiment
though quartered in town, maintained a
ocean road, and 1 felt that in but a short
time they, too, would be engaged. The
ciattered. And Strangely quiet ana de-
serted that street WaS-nOt a sound not a
short blocks to the regimental headquar-
ters required but little time. There we
found the regiment under arms; the men
laughing; joking and all impatience to
NOV move: ,Ihey had stood much in those
was being made a target Taking two hat
taliOns, we broke into column of tours
and took up the route to our previously
The men continued to chaff and com
menI ana We're positively gleeful. They
was unboGnded Arrfving h near of o9
post, the firing that had gradually creDt
right broke out ahead of us We could
hear Captain Clark with the grea test cool
and then, sst! Spatl The bullets from the
enemy sped by or landed in Nipa kuts It
men; and it crept so quickly. too; no
more laughter-noW it was business. But
their eagerness was not abated: and the
check on their chatting was, indeed. but
~ 9ktAt y tlleS soon prohe out again
70 ddu 10 the rackeI-there was no con-
fusfOn-at irregular intervals there tore
over our heads shrapnel from the old
sInooth-pore that the rebels had planted
about three-fourths of a mile to our front
But on up the narrow street we went, and
soon IN ana through gardens, behind walls
ana houses, we were in position; a bat
old cannon kept ripping out it's Internal
roar and the men were fairly crazy to To-
opened with volleys, firing slowly and well
under control, but the insurgents with
pretty thoroughly punctured with their
rifle fire They We're using individual fire
expenditure. Through the long night their
fire kept up-now ragged and Sow ana
then bursting into quick, fierce VoIleYs
morning, so lOnged for finally daWned.
What a long night it was We made a
slow, steady advance of about 400 yards
followed shortly by a second of 200 Then
I got word from the Sd artillery. on our
right, that they were cramped by the
ground and intended making a forward
movement to get into a better position.
Daylight showed US a line of the enc
my some 500 yards away, behind a barri-
cadeggand daylight also brought with it a
advances had thrown the left of my resi-
shell fre-indeed it looked a bit as if the
navy were Smelling my left Happily but
men, The navy firing had ceased, I ell
eo cTage my men preparatory to making
absolutely sure that the insurgent fire
was inaccurate, but / said: Come on.
men; don't think they can stop u.s. and
sounding the charge we went at them.
1t was grand; it was superb. Arriving at
a point so yards from the first harricade.
l did what l could not do again, because
II would be unnecessary. We halted and
liked bayonets. That done there was no
stopping US. The first barricade was
rushed and taken, the men going right in
on top of the rebels and the second. $50
yards further on, and not hitherto seen,
we also assaulted and, when the resulting
slight confusion had been overcome we
to our left front, in similar manner, but
Just then We received peremptory orders
70 Withdraw; we had gotten ahead at too
RAPID ga1t ana we went reluctantly
back to our former position Reassem-
march and then had the most distinct
shock of any that have experienced dur
ing the campaign The navy reopeued fire
ana sneiI-a shrapnel-Seemtngly as big
as bucket, struck within 80 yards and to
the right front of the head of the column;
exploding with a terrific crash it literally
swept with its fragments and bullets a
path across our very route. How we es-
capped, for it right on top of us I
shall never even hazard a guess; but we
did escape. For that matter the whole
night had been a period of great and good
advance in column up that narrow street
under Mauser and artillery fire AMI all the
subsequent long hours of waiting for the
day to come. not a man had been touched
1t was marvellous, but it was fortunately
true.
once back from out the navy's range,
we took up our position of the night be-
lore and the rest is another chapter of
what fear wtll-indeed, must-be i story
OF many volumes before the end can be
There were some humorous things that
l recall as having occurred that night
One vas the jeering of the men as a shell
would go sailing high over their heads;
and their yells, borrowed from base ball
or High ball. Get EN- down, old man;
get 'em DOWN. But the night itself is a
other experience that have ever under
gone"