The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-10

Iof Iuo wCSo8 Oh 0ODl1BtSSU WIN SpeAu
In The Philippines In May. 1854. today
st foot again upon their native land.
They debark upon . part Of the Pacific
coast which II politically another state
from that Of Washington. but they Will
fed that they ere 1t once at homo and
aaaong their friends. They VIII be pre-.
vented BY the warmth Of their welcome
In California from realiEing that they
ere IN another state than their own, and
ths reception delegation. headed By the
governor Of thsis state. VIII bssin that
series Of hospitaiities which VIII attend
them until they break line themselves,
In order 20 escape further attention
Now II becomes the duty OF the peo-
pie Of the state Of Washington to put
into shape the plans they have con-
csived for the worthy welcoming Of the
Washington velunteers-not only be-
cause they recruited from this state,
but because they performed such deeds
OF vaior 40 to bring glory to tho state
from which they hailed. The record OF
the fighting First Washington In not .
mere matter Of local pride--it has be-
come q part Of the brilliant military
history OF the United States. With the
one exception OF Nebraska. no muster
roll shows . greater number OF casual
ties than that Of Washington. and II II
had not been that the Nebraskans were
caught In trap and suffered severely
on one day Washington would be Ia
the lead.
This forms the sad feature Of the oc-
casson of the return home Of the Wash
ington boys. Glad as we shall be 10
zee them and hearty ~ shall Be our
greeting to the living. the event win 10
tempered with sorrow at the loss Of
those who viii be missed - the soldiers
march through the streets.
Cheers for the living; tssrs for the
dead"
Many . brave hsart gave up its lies
blood with no hope Of ever receiving
thanks or honors- Chief among them
was the gallant George Fortson. who
led that Desperate charge which won
the title Fighting First for the Ssgi-
msut The men who followed him on
that memorable day knew they were
facing death Out Of three companies
Of 23s men, only sixty-three were able
to rally to the nnaI appeal OF their
commanding ofhcsr. A he looked at
the strong position and realized what
q desperate chance they wers takirg.
Fortson turned to the gallant handful
and said: Some OF Us will have to
fall. but We must make the charge
Come. I will head you"
That was IN February, and the battle
Of Santa Ana was only the nrst Of the
bloody fights In which our boys were
engaged. They had barely rested when
they participated IN the battle Of Psco
church. where Capt. Adams led his men
In the famous charge and rescued ma
tive women. For thirty days not one
passed without a fight; they fought on
the field all day and slept In the trenches
at night. The battles OF Guadalupe
and Pasig were fought on March ID;
the following day they participated in
the battle OF Pateros. Next day they
were untiringiy following up victory at
60 -
1883. that the gallant leader who had
always been In the thick OF the fray
was ambushed and killed. Always sent
forward with the advanced posts. the
Washington regiment was conspicuous
at Santa Cruz. Pagsagan. Paits and
Tasuig.
In June. after having unremittingiy
and uneomplainingiy manned the
trenches for more than a month. Who'll
iey's flying column commenced It's sec
end campaign on the PasIs river. and
until August l constant duty was de-
nanded OF the everything and ever
successful washingtonians.
Here at home we have read % the
deeds Of vaior and fidelity OF our boys.
bat their praise has been sung all over
the land by every commanding officer
who experienced service with them.
Gen King rcie up 20 the men nj the
| close OF the battle q Santa Ana and
shouted enthusiastically:
Il am indeed proud Of the Washing
ton regiment today. for this has been
the heaviest fighting ever saw In my
gfs."
This tribute has been repeated scores
81 times. and scarcely a dispatch re-
counting a eoufic, passed over the
wires from Manila 20 the commander
in-chier which ana not contain words
Of praise for the Washington volun-
;eers.
They deserve cordial welcome; moth
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