The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-28
BRAVE COMPANY {.
COtfey County Boys Make a
Good Record
Along the Firing Line Out in
the Philippines.
FAST CAMPAIGNING.
Sent to Support the Artillery
ON February 4
They Have Been in Constant
Skirmish Since.
TFrom the Chicago Record.1

L. =
Kansas troops have covered themselves
with glory and scars in this campaign,
to say nothing of tan and whiskers.
But this is not to be the story of the
Twentieth regiment, which this morning
is lying about the nipa huts of San
Fernando or doing outpost duty where
the sun beats down mercilessly and an
occasional Mauser bullet flies. 1t is to
be simply a story of Company E. Some
companies may have lost more men
and others may have more mem berS in
the hospital at Manila, but there are
few which have seen harder fighting or
more of it. There are true heroes in
Company E.
When the Kansas regiment came into
the Philippine islands Company E had
a captain. Today it is under the COM
mand of First Lieutenant d. F. Craig,
and it is doubtful if any of the Garnet
friends would recognize in this brOnzed
veteran the timid young man who was
graduated from the high school there
three years ago. Capt. Watson, whose
home is in Pittsburg, is in the hospital
in Manila. He is the second captain
the company has had since it recruited
in LIE Roy. The first was Charles NJ.
Cristy, who was county attorney of
COffey county and whose home is in
Burlington. He resigned March IL with
a bullet wound in his wrist received
the day before at the battle of Caloocan.
Then Watson was chosen. Philip S.
tenant But he resigned before the boat
sailed from San Francisco. His success
sor is Collin H. Ball of Sedan. Capt.
Watson took command March % and
six days later received a wound in his
breast at the Battle of Guiguinto.
When the trouble began these youths,
entirely untried, were sent out to sup
port the artillery on the memorable
night of Feb. A. That is the time from
which all things are dated here,
for on that night hostilities opened and
the Nebraska regiment began the max
ing of history. 1t so happened that on
the next day the troops advanced so far
that they got in range of some of the
shells which Admiral Dewey was drop
ping from his men-of-war in the bay.
1t became necessary for the company to
move back, and the men declare that
it is the only time they have had to re-
treat.
Monday, Feb. 6, the next day after
Dewey had interfered with their for
ward movement they marched up and
took possession of 'Blockhouse No. L.
This is on the railroad line running into
custom house. 1t will be seen that the
Filipinos were not far away from the
city. In this block house the regiment
lay until the next afternoon. Then three
companies were taken out by Col. Fun
ston. With these companies, of which
E was one, the colonel made a charge
toward Caloocan. The troops found the
enemy and drove him up the track.
Then they returned to their trenches
and lay there until Friday afternoon,
the 10th, when the advance was made
on Caloocan. On that day Capt. Chris
to and Privates Mills and Barber were
wounded. The Kansas regiment hur-
ried through Calooean and in the even
ing the campfires of the men were blaz-
ing in the trenches of the enemy. They
lay there exposed to the fire of the Fill
ipino SharpshOoterS and several men
were carried back injured, John c.
Muir of Westphalia receiving a fatal
wound.
They had a real battle ahead of them.
however, when they started forward
again on the oath. The Kansas regiment
took up a position on the right of the
Third artillery and to the left of the
Montana troops, the forces advancing
in this order to the Toolahan river
where stubborn resistance was encoun-
tered When they crossed the river the
first men to set foot on the northern
shore were those of E company, which
had f1anked the Filipinos and driven
them from their position. The engage
ment was won at a heavy cost, and
Company E left behind it, among the
dead, Privates Plumber of Anderson
county and Curran c. Craig, the brother
of the lieutenant. Private Bryant of
WOodSon county, Privates Cravens and
Heff1fn of Coffey county and Private
Evans of Miami county were wounded.
The men lay in the Filipino trenches be-
side the river until daylight, when they
began their advance on Polo, meeting
Win little OppOSlJ1On ana speedily max
ing the town an American possession
The next serious encounter took place
when the Kansas regiment crossed the
railroad bridge under a calling fire and
forced the enemy to retreat. The sol
diers then rested until the morning of
the 29th, when they advanced on Boeave
proceeding nearly all the way under fire.
Metcalf, major of the battalion, was
wounded in that exploit. The Kansas
men, however, won the day and had
the privilege of eating their dinners in
BOcaVe. Soldiers eat their dinners at
noon, when they can, so they had the
afternoon before them in which to win
other victories and the regiment start
ed at once for Guiguinto. Again they
crossed a bridge while bullets were fly
ipg about them, and in this enga cement
Capt Watson and Privates ShaugT1-
messy and Carter, both of Garrett, were
wounded.
This was fast campaigning, but the
next night found the Kansas men at
Buyambayam river, and the day fol-
lowing they were advancing on Malo-
los, then the capital of the Filipino
government and the residence of
Aguinaldo. The march on Malolos be-
gan early on the morning of March 81
and at $3.50 o'clock the same day the
regiment was in the trenches that had
been built by the insurgents. Col. Fun
Ston selected company E to go with
him on a little scouting expedition. Two
squads under Lieut.. Bell were sent
ahead, the rest of the company follow
ing and securing the honor of being the
first to enter Malo1OS. The company
took dinner on the plaza under the
shade of the church, and in the after
noon moved out to the northwest of the
town and sat down to rest. It was on
outpost duty, but the weather was fine
and the men were glad of the chance
to recuperate.
On April g. when the insurgents made