The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-03-30

materially slackcned, and the left section
was retired to a position on the same line
as the middle section and both poured a
rapid and heavy fire into the insurgents
on the hill, in their front As the
fire from our original antagonists now
practically ceased, the position of the
right section was also promptly changed
tunder cover of the fire from our other
sections by facing 1t TO the rear and
wheeling around to the right. bringing 1t
in its original relative position but racing
| in the same direction as the rest OF the
| company The firing from our original
| antagonists ceased about this time. tact
which was very fortunate, as it enabled
us to devote our exclusive attention 10
those on the hill. who had a much better
position and a a much closer range than
those who first attacked us.
Seeing that the line of entertainments
now almost directly on our left flank was
| hotly engaged with our troops, rapidly
| advancing upon it, and that the Sd artil-
cry was steadily advancing in magniti-
cent line in our immediate rear. 1t was
| decided to press forward on the insurgents
| (who were pouring a hot fire into u.s.. be-
cause, as they held a position on the
high ground. they had a slightly plunging
fire and the banks of the paddy fields
were not sufficiently high to afford pro-
| lection to the line. Calling upon the men
to LOOK behind them so that they might be
| encouraged by the sight of reinforcements
ready at hand we rushed forward, alter
| natCly by sections, and kept up so not
| fire that the enemy's fire was weakened.
We also ran from six to eight men out
of the ravine in our front who had been
| taking pot shots al us from very close
range. I saw only two of these men es-
/ cape alive behind the thickets in our front,
as they were all apparently killed while
running up hill.
Though our rushes by sections had
| been so fast and rapid to resemble
| charges more than tactical rushes, after
| clearing the ravine, which was almost ST.
| mutaneously done. the entire line joined
in a splendid. enthusiastic charge and ran
the enemy from behind the first line of
thicket and hedge to one further to the
| rear hundred yards and more back of
the crest of the hill. By the time we had
reached this crest the men were cont
, pletely out of breath and portion of
them out of ammunition, the rest having
still little left. This made known
to me and / saloped to the rear. reported
our condition to the commanding officer of
the Sd artillery and asked for prompt as
sstancC
'Ths splendid body of men. under com
mand of Major William A. koobe, Sd ar
tilery, had been advancing in our rear in
a line as fine as is ordinarily seen on a pa
ing a steady advance in quick time to our
support. only a few hundred yards in our
rear. As the insurgents were firing wildly
they were in much greater danger than
we. When I asked for assistance they
came forward with rush and by many
| splendid advances soon had the insur-
gents scampering in wild confusion over
the hills in our front. A great number of
them were killed and those who We're not
very soon disappeared.
II Joined the artillery when it ad-
vanced and Company of Montana ad-
vanced with them, but the artillery line,
being much more extensive than that of
the company I lost touch with Captain
Hallahan and was unable to find him after
the fight. ! am consequently not inform
ed as to the number of casualties in the
| company, but one man was wounded in
| the arm and sent to the rear by me early
| in the fight
"rhroughout the entire engagement both
the officers and the men of the company
behaved in magnificent manner They
were cool and calm. many of them lok-
ing on the line and seeming to enjoy the
whole performance immensely. l particu-
larry observed that Captain Hallahan
never sought cover. maintaining an erect
position all the time, but requiring his
men to keep under cover. When we
charged the insurgents up the hill he
ing the difficult change of front under fire
it was his GOODNESS and steadiness that
abled the men to execute the move
ments as well as they would have done it
on the parade ground. He is a brave and
courageou man. and I understand an
experienced veteran soldier. He has a
company that could not possibly be ex-
celled in fighting qualities and one which
any officer might be proud of. Though the
final result of the contest would undoubt-
eddy have been the same, no matter where
, the insurgents who came out of the forest
, went. still it is a fact that the position
assumed and occupied by this company
effeCtually prevented the reinforcement of
, | CaloOCan by two small companies and a
, detachment.
AT the time the insurgents from the
forest ceased firing I did not understand
what had led to this action, for ] could
, not see them retire, but I afterwards
! learned that the Utah artillery had turned
their battery upon them, and I consider
that the battery thus rendered us a most
, valuable service at a critical time.
Il constantly observed throughout the
, engagement that the Insurgents were rat
tied and terrOrized by the shriekng and
bursting of shells in their vicinity. They
, seem much more afraid of this arm thar
OF any other and at the very first shot Of
the battle from the navy every mar
+
, terry Immediately scampered within it, ant
| never saw them again.
captain Hallahan's gallant and fear
y less conduct throughout the day under cir
+ cumstanCes which involved great danger
. to his life was so striking that l consider
4 him entitled 10 special distinction and tax,
n pleasure in recommending him for thu
= consideration his superior officers deem
n such conduct merits.
q There is young lieutenant of the 81
q | artillery whose enthusiasm and galantr,
e ] happened to especially observe whom
: desire to mention. but as ! do not know
| | his name I will.rescrve his case for fu
| ture communication.
. 81 have reserved for the end of this let
. | ter mention of the exceedingly gallan
: and courageous conduct of Professo
!, George F. Becker, United States geoogist
9 because, in accordance with his idea o
; his duty he insisted on accompanying MI
: into this fight and remained with ths