The San Francisco call., 1899-10-11
HOW THEY WON FAME.
Gallant Record OF the Wash
ing Volunteers in the
PhilippineS.

EnlllppltSS.
The homecoming volunteers are all, as
they should be, alike dear and deserving
in the eyes of the people of San Fran
cisco: but if any distinctions could be
made after her own brave soldier boys,
who have already had their welcome
home" first would very properly and
justly come the gallant fellows from the
State OF Washington. They were the first
Of the outside volunteers to enter our
gates and take their place in Uncle Sans
service along side the California boys.
who preceded them but few days. They
are the sons of our neighbor and sister
Pacific State, TO whom many personal ties
of kinship and social and business con-
nection bind US more closely and init
mately than most of the others. And
again, they were in more than name
brothers in arms of our First California
boys. They were brigaded with them,
and when the trial of battle came fought
and fell side by side with them
All these things and others incident to
her contact with them make for the
Washington boys place very near the
warm heart of San Francisco.
The advance of the Washingtons, under
Major Weissenberger, arrived in San
Francisco early in May and were followed
by the Second Battalion, under Lieutenant
Colonel Fife, on the 18th. and the Third,
on the 22d. They sailed from here in the
same order in October. On arriving at
Manila they were quartered on the south
side OF the P2slg. and later assign cd with
the First California, the First 1daho and
the First Wyoming TO General King
brigade of Major General Anderson's divi-
sion, which held the American line from
the Pasig River near Pendacan down
along the Estero Concordia and the Trlpa
de Gallina. westward TO Malate, on the
bay. Kings brigade covered the eastern
portion OF this line, winding from the river
along the streams mentioned TO the vicin-
ity Of bIockhouse u, a little to the south
east OF Paco. This threw them face to
face with General Mascart's division of
the Filipino army, comprising some of the
best troops in their whole muster.
For some weeks preceding the Filipino
outbreak it had been expected, and when
il came the Washington boys were eager
and ready for the fray. The insurgent
fire which began about midnight of Feb
ruary I at Santa Mesa, just north OF them
on the other side of the river, was opened
on Kings brigade at 2:39 in the morning
of the 5th, and for several hours the hght-
ing was made across the streams separ-
ating the two lines. The Americans were
impatient at the comparative inactiOn and
wanted 10 90 in and whip the enemy out
of hand. but for several hours, however,
they were restrained by their officers un-
der orders from the commanding general
When the word did come, at o'cIoch,
Lieutenant Erwin and nearly a score OF
men OF Company A. which lay near the
stream, had been wounded and two killed
suffered more or less severely. AT the
word, though covered with mud, wet 10
the skin and stiff from the cramped posi-
tionS they had occupied so long, the
WashingtOnS Sprang up, rushed down the
bank and through the stream, waist deep,
UP on the other side and in ten minutes
had cleared the enemy'S trenches and the
thiCkets and riCehelds beyond, and sup
ported on either side by the Californians,
and Idahos were rushing the enemy to-
ward their fortfhcaions before Santa
Ana There were no laggards or shiTk-
ers, but every man, like the gallant Otis
of Company A, bore himself like a true
soldier. That officer, severely wounded in
the face as they crossed the stream, was
advised by General King to retire, ULt
responded; It's only scratch. sir; I
can't let my men go in without me" He
but spoke the spirit of the whole regi-
Without a halt, the Washingtons,
California and on the left by the First
Idaho, kept right on toward Santa Ana.
To the left OF the road the insurgents
had strong redouts and earthworks,
armed with Krupp guns They fought
with obstinate courage and no little skid.
especially at the strong redout in front
of Pendacan- 1t was in the attack on
this place with the two companies of the
Washlngtons that he had led across the
COncordia breast deep that the gallant
Fortson, captain of Company B, received
his mortal wound. But valor and skill
availed the enemy but little against the
onsweep of the Americans, whose cheer
the bayonet, in just one hour after the
advance had been ordered captured Santa
Ana and it's arsenal with the guns, re-
serve ammunition and supplies of the
Filipino army, none of which they had
time TO destroy.
A short halt was made there, however,
leaving a few companies to round up the
prisoners and guard the town. The main
body kept right on after the enemy that
reinforced from San Pedro Macati, made
another stand on the road to that place. |
They were quickly routed, however and
pursued through the town to Guadalupe /
four miles farther up the river. where
they made another stand behind the con-
vent walls, only to be again dislodged and
carried in full flight to Pasig, on the lake
where they took refuge behind strong iu-
trenchments. The whole affair had lasted
less than three hours, yet in that brer
time nine fine fellows of the Washington
regiment had fallen in death and fifty
wounded. Company A suffered the most. |
losing killed and 16 wounded; L next,
with killed and wounded, and 1, with
killed and wounded.
The Washington regiment remained in
the vicinity of San Pedro Macati until the
end of the campaign, except when ordered |
out for time on special service. Though
they were not again called upon for such |
heavy work as fell to their lot on the |
first day, they were under an almost in |
cessant fire from the enemy until the ad- |
vance on June 10 cleared them away south |
beyond linus. On several occasions the
enemy made strong attacks on their lines, /
IN WnIcn a greater or less number OF men I
fell on March 8, s on March IS. 8 killed
and II wounded on March 25. of whlm
Company B lost s, and killed and 10
wounded on April q, of whom Company
II lost Y. The aggregate loss in dead was
A and 100 wounded.
Their service had but little of the va
riety in change of field and position of
cppouents that fell to the lot of most of
the other regiments, but they endured
every hardship and performed every duty
with cheerfulness and alacrity and won
for themselves frequent expression OF ap-
provdl from the commanding general.
Yet with it all they are glad 10 ge-
home.