The Iola register., 1899-04-14

IOlIOWlDR bCCOu0t Vi tne huNhuC6 anu
capture of Caloocsn. The letter is
written from that captured burg.
1--WE made an advance of at least
two miles driving the enemy before us
when we got mixed up with Shrapnel
from Dewey's fleet. In fact we were
about one thousand yards ia advance
of where we should have been when
we received orders to fall back, which
the Colonel did with many regrets.
We fell back about half a mile where
we stayed all night, at all times un-
der,the enemy's fire. Monday morn
ing we advanced beyond the rebels
entrenchmests across the river, where
we took up our position and threw up
entertainments. We kept up this
position under desultory fire from
the rebels until Tuesday afternoon
when Companies /, b, c and part of
+ made IA charge and drove the rebels
back, after which we were bothered
no more for u day or so. Friday is
our day for most everything and
seemed the best day for us again, as
that day general advance of the
! division was ordered to capture
| Caloocan, one Of the best strongholds
that the enemy held The battle
commenced with three shots from one
of Dewey's fleets and was followed by
| the artillery. and finally by the in
fantry. They may say all they please
about the charge at san Juan hill but
think | may rightfully say that it
| did not surpass our charge on CaloO-
can. The Kansas regiment held the
| extreme left supported by a battery
OF the Utah artillery. Montana was
on our right with the Third Artillery
| (armed with Krag-Jorgensen riiles)
on their right and the Pennsylvania
on the extreme right. Our firing
line was in the neighborhoOd of four
miles long our entire firing line at
present date is about thirty mile $
long. When we started on our adj
vance we just went along as though
there was nothing to stop us, except
at one time when we advanced over
the crest of hill where the bullets
were falling like hail. Only for an
instant did we pause to gather
strength for the final charge. We
drove the rebels before us just like
sheep. We went through the town
which was burned by our supporting
line. 1t was grand sight, One
which | shall not forget for some
time. And it was pretty sight, but
alas, too, it was IA deadly one. 1t was
something to gaze at when we got on
the top of the hill and could see most
of the entire firing line.
We advanced about one and one
half miles beyond the city when we
quit on account of darkness. We
slept that ight behind some rice
field dykes and moved back about
one-half mile the next morning which
position we now occupy, for how long
we know not. Different reasons are
going as to why we remain here. We
think the real cause Is to wait for re-
Inducements which are said to arrive
soon. Our own reglmental details
under charge of Lieut.. Hull, have
buried over three hundred.
We are living good, have plenty to
eat and cover over our trenches
We have lost out of our regiment up
to date five killed and twenty five
wounded. We expect some more
hard fighting as the rebels are said
to be strongly entrenched in front OF
us about mile and half. We look
for, and will probably have two more
battles, one where the rebels are now
entrenched and at MalolOs. We have
as II regiment been highly compli.
mented by the higher officers for oul
fighting qualities and for our good
discipline.
After we had captured the town
and made our stop for the night oul
company was formed in company from
to get positions. Colonel Funston
was sitting on his pony just behind
the company when Major Genera
Macarthur rode up and said to the
Colonel, "Hurrah for Kansas, by -
Our Colonel is fighter and leader
of the fret water and anywhere he
goes 80 Will his regiment A II oul
officers as far as | can observe are
cool and brave. Our Captain, in
battle especially, is a very cool-head
ed man. And Major Metcalf, say! he
walks up and down the line as coo
as watermelon just out of the ice
chest and seems to have no thought
of the hail of bullets around and
about him.
One word concerning the enlisted
man The rank and file is com DOg0d