The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1899-08-18
THE FIRST WASHINGTON.
Its Work in the Philippines.


The following is taken from the
!" American" of Manila. Philippine
Islands, issue of July End.
iii were merely the purpose of this
article to state tersely and succinetly
the story of the Washington regiment,
itcould be easily done with one word,
success and thus be conservative
of verbige and space. While this
might be a literal one word history, it
woulb hardly serve the ends of The
American or the desires of its readers,
who are accustomed to have their
news pleasantly and entertaininaly
told. When the curtain shall have
been rung down for the last time upon
the Filipino tragedy drama and the
last word shall have been said, it will
be remembered that the Washington
troops had much to do with making
the settings perfect and the action
complete.
Broad, strong and rugged as the
trees of the Evergreen State from
which they have come, the people of
the commonwealth which border upon
beautiful Puget Sound should be very
proud of the men they sent forth TO
battle for the flag. 1t is neither dis
paragement nor comparison of other
regiments to say that the Spanish.
American Filipino war was produced
no better soldiers than those whose
names are to be found in the personel
of the Washington regiment.
In one respect-or rather in two
its record has been unique. Assem-
bled at Camp Rogers, in Washington
fully equipped for the field on the day
Admiral Dewey fought and breakfasted
in Manila bay, the three battalions
were sent to active duty as rapidly ai
they were mustered in. The frs,
battalion commanded by Lieutenant
Colonel Fife was sent immediatly to
San Francisco, following the Oregon
regiment within few hours. Several
days later, he End battalion came
with Maj. Carr. Shortly after that
Major Carr and the End battalion gar
isoned Angel Island, Lieutenant Col
onel Fife commanding the post.
Maj. Weisenburger and the 1st bat
tilion was sent to the Presidio, while
Colonel Wholley, staff and the 3rd
battalion proceeded directly to Van
couver Barracks, of which post Colonel
Wholley assumed command. Some
time in July, the 3rd battalion joined
the 1st battalion at the PresldiO, and
assisted in the garrison duties there
until the long looked for and joyfully
received orders came in October to be-
come a part of the Philippine expe'
dition undar Brigadier General King
than whom there was never finer sol
der nor kindlier man. Arrived IL
Manila, the regiment was at once as
signed to the outpost, so that 1t bas
practically been in actual service fol
more than Ia onths.,
There has not been day since its
arrival that it has not been at the ex'
treme front of the line, and there hal
not been day Since the 4th of Feb
ruary that it has not been exposed *
the attacks and fire of the enemy.
When the Nebraska boys started the
bonfire at Santa mesa on the evening
OF FEBRUARY 4th a detachment of ths
regiment was holding Blockhouse No
| IL. After that, the entire regiment
was deployed to the right and left Q
the blockhouse it is not the provinct
| of this article to describe the battle
nor the part the Washington boys took
in it, for that would require more
facile, agile, pen than the ore writing
this, but that they were "in it and vi
akainst it" is amply attested by tht
two facts than the battle is officiall,
known by the name of the suburb
which was captured by them tina
morning, and that their killed ant
wounded list was heavier than that o
any other other regiment in the fight
Moved Immediately into the trenches
San Pedro Macati after the Santa Ans
battle, the regiment has always gone
with the advance. It has been a par
of every action and every movement
that has taken place upon the Soutl
/ line since the first shot was fired. y
has garrlsoned Paco, Santa Ana, Sar
Pedro Macati Gin the trenches) Fort
son Barracks (on the river between
Santa Ana and Pedro Macati), Taguig
Pateros and Pasig, but has never hat
Quarters nearer Manila than the arch
bishop palace in Paco. Il has been II
the trenches since FEBRUARY 9th and
with the exception Of the time since
4 =, IS srr,--- ~. Qo,rfo MoronU m m