Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-08-08
major in the Eighth army corps, and

major in the Eighth army corps, and
one of the best.
Well, Bill, we were pretty tired by
this time and so they let us sleep in
the trenches we had captured that
night. The insurgents are fine trench
builders, making them far superior to
any ever saw, much better than the
ones the Americans make. 1t seems
strange they spend SO much time maxi
ing trenches when they, don't stay in
them only about fifteen minutes af-
ter the Americans open fire. The
next day we took up the march for
Calumpit and after shot time, as
you already know, we captured it.
This was the strongest fortified place
on the island but it would take dan
dy to Withstand the lead that the en-
tire division pumped into the place
Shrapnel, rapid fire and automatic
| field pieces all played a prominent part
in taking the place. In one port hole
/ counted twenty-six bullet holes that
had gone in a trench and the port hole
wasn't a foot square. This doesn't
speak SO bad for the workmanship of
the American infantry. Eighty-two
insurgents were piled up in this trench
alone. So you can hardly blame
them for not wanting to stay in the
trenches. Afterwards we fought the
fights of Duinga and Apolate and
these assisted in the capture of this
place.
We had a bad time when we first
arrived here, getting rations. The in
surgents had cut two three-span
bridges so the railroad could not come
in for over three weeks, meanwhile
we lived ON corn, pigs and chickens
that we foraged. The insurgents had
taken almost everything with them
SO it was with anxious eyes that we
looked for the train and there was
great rejoicing when we at last heard
the whistle that seemed to make
sweeter music than any band we ever
heard.
Here we have one of the biggest
snaps that we have had since I went
into the service. On guard only once
in six days and we support some out
post one night between. The insur.
gents are just bothersome enough to
make things interesting and break the
monotony. Two days ago, about 4
o'clock q. M, we were sleeping sound.
| ly when we heard several crashes. We
were up in q minute, had our guns
and "fell in" Major Duggan was sick
SO Capt. Mount had charge of our bat
TALON. We marched in the direction
OF the shooting when we met an or.
derby coming who said that Company
d was on outpost, and surrounded on
three sides, were out of ammunition
and for Gods sake to hurry. We did
1t had now begun to get light and I'm.
der cover of fog we advanced to the
help of the company from Knoxville
When about ITO yards on we saw
| something but couldn't make out
whether they were t'niggers'' o,
whites. In a few minutes we saw
what they were and volley after yolley
of Iowa lead went after them. They
returned the fire and began to retreat
Then began a running fight and such
good "nigger shooting" 1 never expect
to enjoy. At short range we began
to drop them. Talk about quails run
ming through tall grass-it wasn't &
commencement. It was more like
hunting rabbits with broom stick in
a foot of snow. In three hours the in
lsurgents were beyond reach and WE
had returned to eat our breakfast
relate our tale and file notches or
our gun barrel. All day they were
bringing dead and wounded into towr
and hurying them in the town GENE
i terry. l got two insurgent rifles, blu,
4 gave one to the colonel. The other /
will bring home if I can find room t.
carry it.
i One amusing incident noticed. Thu
u Chinese are our litter bearers. 7 no.
4 ticed them carrying in several wound
i ed insurgents and they died on thu