The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-06-30
FIGHTING THE FIL|P|NOS
Graphic Description of the Elk
perience of the Montana Boys.
NEVER KNOWN TO FINCH
An Interesting Letter From Harry Pay
son to His Father, Dated on the
Anniversary OF the Day Both
Were Mustered In.

Lieutenant E. A. Paxson is in receipt
of an interesting letter from his son,
Harry, who is still in the Philippines
The letter is dated May I, the ami
versary of the day on which father
and son We're both mustered into the
service of the government as volunteer
soldiers, the father as a commissioned
officer, the boy as a private. The lad
recalls the pleasure that day brought
to both and after other personal refer
ence to the matter and the changes
that have come to both since, speaks of
his present situation at San Fernando,
and says:
San Fernando seems to be a fine
town, beautiful and grand. 1t is the
best and largest town this side of Ma
Mia. Tree tower high above the house
tops, and to look at the narrow
streets is like looking through a tunnel.
We left Malolos on the 24th of April,
and marched about mile, where we
stayed till the 26th, when we again
moved. Forming a skirnlish line with
Kansas on the left and Montana on the
right of the railroad track, we ad-
vanced towards the first river near
Calumpit, where we had that hot time
on the 4th of April. AS we drew near
ID
fire. We had the armored car with us,
and as it rounded the bend and came
into plain sight of the insurgents it's
Cuttings and one and six Founders
We're turned loose. What a racket it
made. The bridge had been cut down,
and on the opposite side of the river
were trenches 10 feet deep. IS feet
thick and covered over with railroad
iron and banks of dirt: but the SIX
FOUNDER and Cuttings tore the trenches
to pieces and the infantry and artillery
and the brigade on the right made 1t
hot for the niggers.
After three hours of fighting every
thing behind Calumpit fell. Many of
our men fell in the enga cement and
dozen or so were wounded. We
camped on the river that night, and in
the morning crossed, formed in line
of battle and advanced to the Rio
Grande de Pampanga. The insurgents
had extended themselves in a wonder
full way across the river. There We're
$500 armed rebels commanded by Cen
eral Luna. Our armored car was of no
use, as it could not cross the river. We
crept up to one of the trenches, where
we lay from 10 a. m. to p m. under a
hot Mauser fire, which the rebels kept
up continually at the river, 500 yards
away.
"A skirmish line was at the rivers
edge, and many a poor fellow fell dead.
For the first time since we left Calico
can the rebels opened on US with can
non. Several shots landed few yards
from our party. Most of the shells
failed to explode and no damage was
done by those that did. We were in a
safe place, but some carelessly exposed
themselves and got hit One was killed
AT O'Clock we left the trench and
| marched into Calumpit and camped.
The next day squads of sharrshooters
We're detailed and stationed at points
where they made it warm for the Mig
gers at their loopholets. OF course, the
rebels had some good shots. and some
of our men were killed and wounded
also some of the Kansas boys, but
with artillery, sharpshooters and a
flank movement by the Kansans we
put the enemy to fight.
''The Rio Grande is a wide river, and
the $1,000000 bridge was badly wrecked,
so that our men had to cross on a thin
railing, walking sidewSe. 1t took each
| man Is minutes to cross Kansas got
across first, and then Montana, and
the crossing was made through a rain
of bullets. Had any been hit they
would have fallen 40 feet into the swift
river, but fortunately all escaped that
fate. Old Sol was active, too, and as
we advanced in line after the retreat
ing enemy many fell out Frustrated.
We advanced two miles to the town of
Apalit. Many niggers had been killed
at the bridge, and we captured two
rapid fire guns they had used on us
the night before. The rebels retreated
six miles so we broke the line and en-
tered the houses just in time to be shell
tered from storm, such as 1 had
never seen before.
I'VE were quartered at Apalit five
days, and a squad of seven from G
Company went with Major Shields out
to the insurgent lines under a white
flag to take some food to the American
prisoners We returned safely after
our IL miles walk.
May 4th we left Apalit and attacked
the enemy near San Tomas. After a
brief fight in which four men Of our
brigade Gone Montanan) and as many
of Hale's brigade were killed, the line
went on to the town. our company be-
ing left to guard the artillery, which
could not be gotten across the river
that night. The next day we went into
San Tomas and yesterday came to San
Fernando, which had been evacuated.
We are quartered in a fine house with
polished floors and have artesan water.
1t is rumored that Kansas and Mon
tana will not advance any more.
hope it is SO, for my feet are all cracked
from sweat. One toe has two cracks
under it which go almost to the bone.
+ walked from Malolos with 1t, II miles,
I went to the hospital and had it
dressed to-day.
Joe Robinson will have to have two
toes amputated. The list of Montana's
dead and wounded up to date is 90
killed and 105 wounded"
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