The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-05-19

April IA, 1899.
To the Editor of the State Journal:
At the earnest request of several
members of Company A, L Will try to
write a few facts about our company
to the people of Topeka through your
paper.
To begin with, we arrived in Manila
Bay, as you know, on the night of De-
cember 6, 1898, and landed on December
IL. We went into barracks in one of the
worst parts of the city and in cOnse
quence of that we lost three men of
Company A through smallpox. We
moved out of these barracks and went
into those of the First California when
that regiment had orders to go to some
other place, but had to move back
into our first quarters after a few days
on account of the California regiment
coming back. This was in the first part
of January. We again stayed in those
barracks a couple of weeks, and then
moved to our present quarters in Ma
Mia, one of the best barracks in the
city, and in a very healthy locality.
On the night of February 4 when the
present trouble broke out, all of the
boys were waiting for call to arms" to
sound, and when it did sound there was
no body of men in the service that re-
sponded to it more quickly than did
Company A. We marched down the
''Luneta'' at 11.45 that night, and ar
rived at our regiment headquarters soon
after.
Company A took the ammunition
train out to the line and was fired on
several times from the houses on the
way out. When we got to the line half
of the company stayed and the others
went back to the city for more ammuni-
ton, so were were in the first fight with
the FilipinOS that night. We were with
the wagon until Tuesday, February Z,
and were then relieved to go into the
trenches before CalOocan.
Company A took d prominent part in
the battle of CaIOocan. being on the ex-
IRENE left of the regiment. We had to
fight through swamps, mud and water
to our waists.
Company A was the first company to
dig the trenches on the MalabOn road,
where many men were overcome by
the heat and quite a number were
wounded in other companies after we
left them.
on February II Private Kershner
was wounded while in the trenches at
CalOocan, and on February Is Private
Payne was wounded while in the same
place.
Company A moved back to Manila
and were in camp outside of Bilibed
prison, and were there the night of the
fires in Manila. We took a prominent
part in that nights skirmishes, too. A
few nights after that we moved back to
CalOocan and did guard duty around
the town until we went with the regf-
ment to La LONE church, from which
place We started the advance on MalOlos
on March 25.
Private Stewart of our company was
wounded in the head just as we ad-
vanced a few hundred yards on that
date.
We were in all of the fights but two,
and they were in the reserve Just be-
hind the firing line. On March % Com
pany was the second to cross the
bridge al Mariloa, where three men of
the regiment We're killed in crossing
Corporal Fred Recob of our company
was wounded just after getting into
line after crossing the bridge, and while
we were crossing the bridge and get
ting into line the bullets were falling
like hail all around US.
ON March % the daV IA Ia ba
fight the Kansas regiment has had
where twenty-six men were wounded
and three were killed in a few minutes,
Company A was the first to cross the
bridge and the first company in line
We were just formed and were lying on
the ground when the insurgents opened
fire US. Private Waters of Company
was wounded in the head here. and
it is a wonder that more of our men
were not wounded or killed.
Company A was the second to enter
Malolos on March 81, and we were sit
ting in the shade eating cocoanuts
when the rest of the regiment came in
We rested here about an hour and then
started for our present position, about
a mile outside the city.
On the night of April 9, when the in
Surgents came up to within about $50
yards of us, Company A fired on an
average of seventy shots to the man,
and had only one man wounded that
night, one of our cooks.
Company A has been very fortunate
none killed, considering that we have
been in all of the important battles up
to date.
When the regiment left in Topeka in
May and arrived in San Francisco we
were called the "Tramps of Kansas
because we left there in any old thing
and the people of California gave US
clothing to wear that we needed and
that they did not want. We have near
ly everything that we need now, but
while we were in San Francisco and
Manila things from home would have
been appreciated by nearly all of the
boys.
Twenty-Five new Krag- Jorgensen ri
files have been issued to each company
in the regiment now. and we are hoping
that all of the men will get them, for
it was demonstrated on March % that
our old Springfields were not good
enough, nor would they reach far
enough while the insurgents used
MauSers.
The rainy season will be on us soon