Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-06-24
LETTER FROM TAE FRONT.
KY Putnam Of Co. I. Writes from Calum-
pit to His Parents In this city.
CALUMPIr. April %. 1896

CALUMPIT, April 20, 1899.
You have probably heard before thi,
that Hub was wounded April 25th, and
are worrying yourselves unnecessarily
so will relief you on that point. 1t il
merely flesh wound on the left leg
above the knee, and is not at all serious
although very painful. The ball hit a
limb of tree, glanced down and cut
Charley Wagner's scalp open, passed
over j. P. Foran's stomach, and hit
Hubs left leg on the inside above the
knee and passed through the flesh so
that it stuck out on the other side.
tried to pull it out with my fingers but
couldn't, so / got hold of it with my
teeth and pulled 80 hard that 1t hurt
my Jaws. bound IT mp with q first
aid package and waited for the hospital
corps. He was taken to Manila that
evening on the train and is now safe in
the hospital from any danger until this
thing is ended, receiving the very best
of care by experienced lady nurses.
First Sergeant o. G. Lapp received a
much more painful and serious wound,
having both legs broken by Remming-
ton balls. Harrison was slightly wound
ed in the shoulder by spent ball.
We are in reserves today for the first
time in this campaign. The Montana
and Kansas regiments are in front of
Calumpit fighting. 1t is about mile
from here, and the bullets land around
here once in awhile. The insurgents
are using artillery. think when we
get Calumpit the volunteers will be re-.
lieved, at least that is the report. We
started from camp near Malolos April
25th, and followed that little muddy
stream in columns Of fours until we
came to Quinquo. The Nebraska regi
ment was shot to pieces at this point and
was still fighting when we arrived but the
insurgents had evacuated the town and
were in breast works across the river
We camped in an old church yard
whose walls protected US from the bull
lets. Early the following morning we
deployed as skirmishers and went by
the left flank down to the bank Of the
river. The artillery and the 5lst Iowa
hailed the opposite bank while the
South Dakota crossed. The river was
about 100 yards across and was spanned
by narrow bamboo bridge, wide
enough only for one man to cross at a
time. We went across in single file
on the dead run, while the big shells
and bullets whistled and buzzed over
our heads. The niggers began to re-
treat just rs soon as they saw we were
coming. The bridge broke down on
the other side, so we had to lump in
and wade the rest of the way. After
we got across we went columns right
and left into line of skirmishers and
then advanced to the outer edge Of the
woods and waited for the 5lst Iowa.
what was left of the Nebraska, (about
300 mer) and the artillery to cross.
The Iowa formed on our right and the
Nebraska on our left, then we advanced.
Had sharp engagement about Z Of a
mile from Quinquo and killed over 40
niggers. We lost three men killed and
five wounded. No Co. men were hurt
here. About p. m. the nigs opened up
on Us from maske ed entertainments about
half mile long. The fight lasted about
fifty minutes and then we charged and
the nigs vamoused We camped here
on the night of April 24th Early
April 25th We advanced again very slow
and cautious. Crossed muddy slough
where the water and mud was hip deep.
Passed several breast works which were
newly made, but were evacuated. About
10 o'clock the nigs opened up on us
again when we were about half mile
from the river. We laid under fire
until the artillery bombardedthe woods,
then We fired several volleys and ad.
yanced until we came up to within $50
yards to the edge of the river. The nigs
were entrenched on the opposite bank,
about 250 feet from us, We poured such
a hot fire into them that they dare not
show their heads above the works.
They would just stick their guns over
the works and let them 90. All we
could see to shoot at was the hand and
wrist. Finally our ammunition began
to run low and we ceased firing, then
the nigs got in their work. The sharp
shooters, hid in the brush, were pick
ing us off wherever We showed up.
Lapp and Harrison were hit almost at
the same time. We took care of Lapp
and put him in a safe place, then hunt
ed cover ourselves. Ten or twelve of
US got down behind a we'll dump close
to the river. We were packed in like
sardines. Hub, Ori and myself were
there. This is where Hub and Charley
Wagner were wounded. Every time
one OF US would raise leg or head too
high bullet would whizz close. While
| was tending Hubs leg they took few
sh OTIS at me and hit another fellow lust
behind me in the leg. In the mean
time the artillery was working on the
right near the bridge. Sixty Cinnamon
had pushed three armored cars up near
the bridge and poured hot fire into
the entrenchments which were almost
boom proof. The Nebraska and Mon
tana managed to cross and soon had the
nigs on the run, while we gave them a
cross fire. This was about o'clock p.
m, the fight had lasted about four hours.
Calumpit was taken on the 9th by the
Kansas and Montanas.
had just finished this letter when
the orders came for Col. Frost to get
his regiment mp on the line as quick as
possible. We went up nearly TO the fir
ng line, two miles beyond Calumpit)
and then were ordered back to Calum-