Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-24

iments of infantry and two light bat
teries of artillery would be Iowa's pro-
portion, and that the national guard
was preferred. The governor promptly
replied that the troops had been or
dered modified at Des Moines and
would be ready to be mustered in May
2. The troops Immediately came to
Des Moines and were quartered at the
state fair ground, which was chris
tened Camp Mckinley. April 80 Sec
rotary Alger notified the governor that
the states apportionment had been
changed TO four regiments of infantry,
each composed of eighteen field, staff
and non-commissioned staff officers,
twelve companies, each composed of
men; total aggregate strength, 1886
men.
Taking up now the history of the
Fifty-first, the regiment was mustered
into the federal service on May 30,
1898, and on June started for San
Francisco. They Immediately Went
into camp at Camp Merritt. The camp
was, unfortunately, located on the
shore of San Francisco bay, aud in
part on the site of an old Chinese
graveyard. Conditions were extremely
unsanitary, and in a short time the
sick reports became alarming. Pneu-
lnonia and typhoid fever We're especial
ly prevalent. Finally, on July 20, the
camp was removed to the Preside, an
ideal location for a military camp.
There was long and tedious delay at
the Preside. Month after month went
by, with no indication of the policy of
the war department with regard to
sending the lowans to the Orient, but
at last orders came, and on Nov. 8,
1905, at II a. M, the regiment marched
from its camp to the transport Penn
sylvania in San Francisco bay, and at
$3.50 that afternoon the transport sail
ed for Manila via Honolulu.
Arrived ut Manila.
The regiment arrived at Honolulu
Nov. 12 and remained until Nov. 16.
Lieutenant L. A. Mitchell, of Com
pany X, and thirty-two enlisted men
We're left in the hospital at Honolulu.
On Nov. "a, in the middle of the North
Pacific, the smoke of the steamship
City of Pueblo was sighted.
The regiment arrived at Manila Dec.
Z, and Colonel Lopez reported to the
commanding officer of the department
of the Pacific and the Eighth army
corps. The Iowans were assigned to
The first separate brigade of the Eighth
army corps, Gen. NJ. p. Miller, com
handing. On Dec. 26, without having
disembarlled, the regiment sailed on
the Pennsylvania for Iloilo, island of
Panay, and two days later anchored off
the city. On Dec. so the transport was
moved up to within one mile of the
city and it was expected an assault
would be made on the town. But no
assault was ordered, and during the
entire month of January the regiment
was held awaiting orders on board the
transport before Iloilo. On Jan. 20 it
sailed back to Cavite and again re-
ported to the commander of the Eighth
army corps.
On Feb. 8, 1899, the regiment was
finally allowed to disembarll from the
Pennsylvania and took up quarters in
the navy yard, Fort San Felipe. The
regiment had been continuously on
the transport ninety-three days. It is
claimed there is no record of any other
regiment ever being held continuously
on transport SO long period. On
Feb. 9 the Third battalion, consisting
of Companies B, G, L and X, under Ma
jor S. P. Moore, and the Second bat
talon, Companies c, e, L and NJ, un.
der Major John P. Hume, and Batter
les A and d, First California heavy
artillery, acting as infantry, and Troop
A, First Nevada volunteer cavalry, oc-
cupied the town of San Rogue, passed
through and constructed line of en-
trenchments on the narrow neck of
land between San Rogue and Old Ca
vite. Feb. II the Second battalian re-
turned to quarters in Cavite. Feb. IS
the First battalion, Companies A, D,
T and II, commanded by Major w. j.
Duggan, were ordered to Manila to re
port to Brig. Gen. Ovenshine at the
front. This order was the first which
placed any body of Iowa soldiers In
reasonable prospect of taking part in
an actual battle since the declaration
of war with Spain.
Borduwine Reported Missing.
Major Hume, with Companies C and
NJ, reported to the provost marshal in
Manila, March &c. Companies z and L
reported to the commanding general at
Manila, March 20, and were also as
signed to duty with the provost mar
shall. On March 2S, Private Alfred j.
Borduwine of Company H was report.
ed missing. He was a member of a
scouting party sent out south of Gull
culi church, and from the time OF his
disappearance to this day no word has
ever been heard from him. The scout
| ing party unexpectedly encountered q
force of Filipinos which fired on them
Confronted by superior numbers the
party beat hasty and somewhat dis.
orderly retreat. When they had
reached place Of safety, Borduwine
was missing. It was supposed he was
| wounded and cant,1red From, raoan,