The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-25
ANOTHER SHOT.
Lieut. Callahan Bitterly Fires Another
Gun.

Gun
The State Journal today received a
letter from Lieutenant w. A. Callahan
replying to the parting charges made
by Gen. Funston.
Mr.. Callahan brings out a. new story
on Gen. Funston which has never be-
fore been made public. He says:
Gen. Funston in his parting shot
from bridge of the Indian, charging
sas were towards is as false as are the
rest of his statements.
When Gen. Funston said there were
five towards among the officers OF the
regiment he must have included himself
in the number or perhaps he had for
gotten his cOWardly action while he
was leading the regiment in a column
of tours against the trenches north OF
San Fernando on the 25th of May.
He was riding at the head of the
column and had marched in this fOrnla-
ton to within easy range of where he
knew the insurgents to be intrenched
when suddenly three shots were fired
he wheeled his horse on his hind feet
and dashed into a ditch and yelled to a
whole regiment to get under cover
The men stood fast like the true brave
fellows they are and had not Capt. G.
N. Watson of company L, who was in
command of the First battalion, given
the command right front into line of
skirmishers' and gotten the men de-
ployed, serious results might have hap
pened. AS soon as the men were de-
plOyed Gen. Funston dug himself out of
the ditch and resumed command.
He has already alluded to one of the
bravest and grandest old men in the
regiment, one who, at the advanced age
of so years, stood the fatigue and hard
ships of that hard campaign, was in
every battle as a coward.
Z refer to Captain Edmond Boltwood
of K company, a, tried and true veteran
of 81 to '65 whose home is in Ottawa.
My discharge shows as also my com
pany records that I was in the princi-
pal battles up to and including the bat
tie of GuiguintO, after which I did go to
town, but not until I had gotten per-
mission from Col. Funston, personally.
Two days before this 1 had been told
by Assistant Surgeon Huffman that
had better leave the line and go to Ma
Mia.
He says I remained away three
months which is false because the rec
ords show that I was in the battle of
San Fernando on May %.
IF [ had remained away that length
of time what reason could 1 have had
for returning to the line. The regiment
had returned to Manila five days be-
fore the expiration of this time to pre-
pare to embark for the United States.
L have told nothing but the truth in
all of my statements and 1 defy any
one to prove them otherwise.
'sW. a. CALLAHAN"
FUNSTON VS.. AIETCALF
On the back of Mr.. Callahan's dis
charge appears this notation under the
head of battles, engagements, Skin
miSheS. expeditions: Served during
Spanish-American war 1898 in Philip
pines and during Philippine Insurrec-
ton, 1S99-ManiIa. Feb.4 ). Is; CaIOocan
Feb. 10; Defense Of CalOOcan, Feb Il to
March "A; MalentO, March 26: Maniac
March p; Bocave, March %; 'Guiguinto.
March %. Defense of San Fernando,
May 6, to June p; Bacolor. May "a
Engagements north of San Fernando.
May 25."
(Signed WILDER s. METCALF
Col. goth Kansas Infantry L. S. V,
Commanding Regiment.
This shows conclusively that Lieut.
". A. Callahan was at Guigulnto and
the incident should be closed.