Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-03-30
Fighting KANSANS,
SOLDIER BOYS LIFE At THE
FRONT AT MANILA.
Guy Tate and Tro Blesh Write Of the
Exciting Incidents Of the War
Tate Letter to His Father, j. Z.
Tate,-Blesh's to Dollie Clark.

MANILA, P. l., Military Station No.
/, Feb. l2.-I suppose you have heard
all the war news by this time and
perhaps know as much or more than
lido about it. | was relieved from
duty in the field this morning for "a
hours and will write and let you know
that l am getting long all right and
have been in some Of the thickest OF
the fighting.
1t was last Saturday night, Feb. 4,
when call to arms was blown. About
10 o'clock we we're all lined up, dress
ed in our fighting clothes. We all
thought it was rumor as before, but
in q short time we heard the roar OF
cannon and the cracks Of the Spring
fields and we knew it meant business.
We went on a run (when say we,
mean the lst battalion) into the city
about mile and a half distant, and
patroled the city all night. Fighting
was going on all this time on the
outposts. We did not get a wink OF
sleep that night.
The next morning we raided the
city, went throught every house,
took all arms and arrested all suspi-
cious persons. 1t was here first
heard bullets whistle about my head.
with nine Others was detailed to
take ammunition out to the firing line.
For about half a mile we had to 60
over road that the insurgents were
firing down. tell you it was pretty
scary.
About 8 o'clock p. M. we marched
out to the firing line and all four
companies-B, l., A and F-formed a
skirmish line and commenced their
first firing on the battlefield. Here
is where old Co. l. made a reputation.
Company L was in the middle and had
no protection. The bare road lay in
front Of them. Company M was on
their right and + on the left. Both
these companies had the protection of
the trees.
We made charge for the foes
breastworks. This charge was just
in time to save the Utah battery's
guns. We routed the insurgents
from their breastworks and | think
we would have driven them clear
back into the hills had not Gen. Otis
called Colonel Funston back. We
had already gone a thousand yards
too far. We then fell back and dug
trenches for the night.
All the time during the fight Col.
Funston was running up and down
the line patting us on the back and
telling us to give them hell. After
the fight | heard him tell Gen. Otis;
at is a damn good regiment; it
can't be beaten"
was on picket that night and was
run back to the trenches three times.
The last time we stayed and in 10
minutes we were attacked along the
whole line. We soon drove them
back and were bothered no that night.
The next morning we moved on
1000 yards and dug trenches and
laid there until Friday. Friday after
noon we moved out again about three
o'clock and fought until dark. We
pushed the insurgents back about flve
miles.
In this fight we captured small
town named Caloo IAN and railroad
that connects Manila with Caloocan.
This road now goes by the name OF
Kansas H. Utah Short Line. We have
another town at our mercy whenever
We want to take it.
Aguinaldo says he is going to de-
clare war against the .. 5. Kansas
and Utah battery il we don't quit
f.oI;r,, NTH hio oiitnnsts