The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-04-01

our elbows. About II o'clock we hear
shouting in front of u.s. followed by
three shots on our left, then firing from
most of our pickets. We lad orders &c
stay on the line until we We're called
| or relieved. We could see nothing, 81
waited. Soon volley firing opened all
along the line, Mauser bullets cracking
about us, I said, Let us 60" but be
fore We arose A company fired a vollrv
over our heads, and, thank heavel,
| they fired high. AS soon as 1t passe
over we sprang UP and ran into the
edge of strip of timber. The bullets
We're flying thick. Morrison stretched
his six feet behind a big tree and l be-
hind him, with my face between his legs
never SO close to Mother Earth before.
We lay there. until the company had
fired three or four more volleys and the
bullets became thinner; then rushed
back to the trench in time to fire two
out of the eight volleys the company
fired. A bullet cut limb from a ham
boo and dropped it into the trench near
me. The Utah battery and gunboats
shelled the woods and our heavy fire
drove the enemy back. When it was
over / asked the corporal about our re-
call. He said he had called us and
asked on his return if all We're in, and
was told we were. None of the boys
ShD"Co bilC WHITE lGdlllSI EoOIllt WEI Z
nervous and excited. I got along with
my nerves better than I anticipated.
The corporal of the next relief Will
Tolbert, had started out to us, but the
attack sent him back.
The next night. after being 60 hours
on the firing line, we were relieved and
sent back few yards as reserve, hut
slept under fire, coming at intervals, all
night. We were told we would go into
battle next day. 1t will be my first, but
l am not nervous [ can take what
comes. pray for help every night and
trust in God
Sunday. Feb. Sit is over I have
been through my first battle, have come
out unhurt and have confidence in NY
self Clarence Briggs was shot in the
neck while lying down waiting for the
advance. The bullet ranged down and
came out below the shoulder He took
the fever in the hospital and it killed
him. Seth Dibble was Shot in two pla ces
in the lower left leg, the bullet going
through the bone without shattering it;
and through the f1eshy part of the right
leg. He Is doing well and in fine spirits.
Jack Billiard was struck in the chin,
passing up along the bone and opening
his face. He Is up and around.
At O'Clock the company was formed
with IS rounds of srlokaless In belt
and 100 in haversack, and moved out in
front or the trenches as skirmishe.s
and lay down, the enemy opening fire.
! was No. in the second set of fours
On my right was Morrison, to The left
was poor Briggs. Morrison and took
a chew for good luck At command, we
arose and moved forward SO yards. AS
we arose think Briggs was shot, as we
missed him after we left that place. Ly-
ing down we began firing again. Our
section under Ed Cornelius was separat-
ed from the rest by the brush and he
could not hear commands but gave his
own. So on advancing again. l plunged
through mud hole to my knees I
can not give every stage of the fight. l
was not nervous. but had the excite
ment of battle in me. The belt holding
my trousers failed on me and I had 10
stop and adjust it.
After fighting through the brush for
two hours. we came out within 300
yards of the trenches, pouring vollev
after volley into them starting them on
the run. Colonel Wallace stood behind
us, shouting, They rum They run!
Give them hell, boys!" In a short time
he was shot through the breast With
the excitement Of battle on us, we were
standing up firing. I could see them
running. We kept after them driving
them through the town and on into the
woods beyond. AS we charged, nv
with rifle in one hand. while the other
did what the belt refused to do.
While resting after the charge, Ser
geant Major Kumpe came up and drop
ped beside me. almost exhausted. He
had been on the go all day with orders
Had passed through the wood five
times. Many of the enemys sharp
shooters had been able to remain, as
their smokeless powder kept them from
our sight in the trees while fighting
through.
l was on picket that night. The dew
is so heavy that our joints were stiff |
the next morning. After warming up
the next morning, I started out to look |
over the battlefield. One battlefield is |
all | cared to see. Our Springfelds had |
lone awful work I saw one man with |
1 hole in his breast as large as an Eng |
ish walnut. One of the boys captured |
a native, whose wardrobe consisted of |
ong hair, three-inch cap and breech-
elout. His skin was as tough as a rhi-
losceros hide. Our blankets came I'm
Sunday night on the cars.