Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-06-29
FunstOn's Story.

date Of May Is:
"At the time the Twentieth Kansas
was mustered, j. w. Leedy was IN
the governors chair, Kansas had a
fairly good national guard organlza-
ton in the state, but when the call
was made for volunteers the governor
decided to ignore the national guard
entirely and call for volunteers. lie
determined to give men who had
served in the national guard the
preference, and, if they chose, permit
them to elect their own officers.
was slightly acquainted with the
governor; he belonged to different
party than myself. l had just come
back from Cuba, where l had served
in the Cuban army. For that reason
the governor telegraphed for me to
come to Topeka.
When l saw him he said: I'VE have
been called on for three regiments OF
volunteers and l want to appoint you
colonel"
told him that did not have the
necessary qualifications for colonel;
that I knew nothing about military
drill; l would have all 10 learn. l
told him the only regiments that
would go into the war would be those
that could be quickly beaten into
shape. He told that he had not sent
for me to argue the matter, and that
if wanted the appointment | could
have it. He wanted me because Of
my experience ia Cuba. / told him
that under those circumstances |
would accept commission as colonel.
I left the Twentieth Kansas in
charge of the lieutenant colonel, end
three days later I left for Tampa the
regiment was ordered to San Fran
cisco. 1t arrived there in such con-
dition as to equipment that it YVES the
laughing stock OF the whole Pacific
coast.
The men had mostly old Springfield
rifles, and the great majority wore
civilian clothing. They had left Kan
sas at the heated season and reached
Frisco when it was cold, 80 that they
suffered from pneumonia and bron-
chlal troubles. Our sick list was as
high as l5O
The regiment was at once put
through a course of instruction, but
it soon became evident that the men
would not be available for duty in
Philippines for many months. Our
men had to stay there and see regi-
ment after regiment arrive and start
on it's way to the far east because
better qualified than the Kansans.
As to the personnel Of the regiment,
nearly all of the officers are young
professional men. Three fourth OF
them are lawyers. Theirs are two
college, professors, one insurance man,
two newspaper men and few me
chanics.
The great bulk of the enlisted men
are the sons Of fairly well-to, do farm
ers. There are only eighteen men of
foreign birth in the entire regiment
Most OF them are Of Anglo-Saxon
blood. AS o rule, they are out.and-
out Americans.
There are few men from towns Of
any size, principally because there
are few towns of any size in Kansas
Shortly after we arrived in Frisco l
began to get rid of the vicious ele-
ment in the regiment
/ doubt If the Twentieth Kansas
regiment differs much from the aver
age volunteer regiment. It has been
a fortunate regiment in that
it has had good opportunities. The
men have liked their officers as rule.
There are not more than one or two
officers disliked by the men. think
that is why the men fight so we'll.
In the advances from MaIolos q
conspicuous part was played by the
srmored train and the infantry of
Wheaton's brigade had little to do
save when number Of Montana men
and one company of Kansas, under
cover Of fire from the armored car,
advanced and occupied the banks of
the Bsgbsg river.
Twelve men of the Kansans charg-
ed across the broken bridge while 1t
was still under fire from the enemy,
jumped into the river and swan to
the other side, when all that were
left of the enemy fed. The bridge
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