The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-04-18
Thrilling Charge at the Bridge
of Santa Ana.
VOLLEYS AND CHEERS
Then the Volunteers of the
West Dashed Forward
Upon the Enemy and Put Them
to Flight.
By Gen. Charles King, Commander Of
"King'S Brigade")

is nara TO give you a falr AQea OF what
the United States army in the Philip
pines has done in the past month-the
first at real war. The capture of the
town of Santa Ana by Kings brigade is
a fair example.
For nights there had been warnings
of attack, but nothing came. We were
liberty, and they took full advantage.
We were not permitted to cross their
lines. Officers and men had been work
ed up to a pitch of evaporation by the
sneers and gestures of the Filipinos
who inferred from the passive submits
sion of the American troops that the
Yankee dare not fight. That was an
other lesson the plucky but misguided
little fellows had to learn. Now remem-
Der, L have always expressed my re-
spect for the bravery of the Filipino
and my sympathy for him in this pre-
dicament. The Aguinaldo cabinet must
be held responsible for what happened,
which was this:
1t was just 2:4O in the morning when
the insurgents began the attack on our
outposts. AT that moment the First
Washington had six companies at our
front, supporting blocl5house No IL.
This gallant regiment had been the de-
light of the brigade commander for
weeks past. 1t was so soldierly, so well
ana SO every duty
Now it had to lie down in the rice
fields and answer as best it could a
rasping fire coming in three directions
from across the Stream-a narrow eS-
tuary of the Pasig that formed the di-
viding line between Manila limits and
the territory of the insurgents.
Every minute the fire grew hotter.
The F'ilipinos had been taught that
they had only to advance and open fire
and our fellows would go back. In the
village behind the line, Pace, the insur-
gents occupied the church, and from
there and from dozens of Nipa huts.
fired on our orderlies and wounded men
drifting back from the front. The mo-
ment 1 saw this I ordered the destruc-
ton of the huts. 1t took fight to get
the insurgents out of the church, but
"tlNH s another story"
So ugly was the fire in our front that
the situation became almost unbeara-
BILE, and at o'clock in the morning I
wired to division headquarters begging
permission to charge and clear the
front. The answer was, Defend your
line, but do not attack" land under those
orders the brigade had to act until
broad daylight.
Then, at last, the order came-and
then the result.
DASHING AT THE ENEMY.
I have seen the hounds loosened from
their leash, and the racers of the best
states given the drum tap and the word
Co. but in all my life L have seen no
that, that came when, launching the
Washington state volunteers across the
stream and letting the Idaho regiment
follow close, l rode into the attack.
Hawthorne, with the Aston battery
guns, was already well forward near
the Santa Ana bridge, and, unlimber
ing, let drive shot after shot across the
rice fields to our left front, aiming ever
at the blaze of the hitherto concealed
Krupps. To right and left of the old
bridge that so long had been the one
medium of communication between FIJI
ipinO land and YankeedOm, on the east
ward front of the city, the WaShingtonS
took the plunge into the narrow little
estuary and clambored up the opposite
bank, mud up to their middles, but in
an instant their Springfelds were blaz-
ing across the fields and Johnny Fill
pino streaked it for his entertainments,
diving into them like many prairie
dogs, and then, turning, let drive with
Mauser and Remington on the steadily
advancing lines.
The hottest, heaviest fire came from
our left front, where, sheltered by the
big walled Enclosure of the Norwegian
consul's house, and by the convent
walls, 700 yards away, the little rascals
let drive for all they were worth
The sight of the Idaho regiment COM
ing up from Paco with colorS flying
(they wouldn't leave them behind),
seemed to set fire to every wall and
hedge row, and the bullets buzzed like
wasps in a fury, sweeping Santa Ana
bridge diagonally, smashing lamps into
flinders and sending the chips flying
from the stone parapetS-
At the crisis our Filipino horses took
sides with their native country. Only
three of the staff were with me at the
moment, and one orderly. was al
ready on my second mount, a stiff-leg-
ged little brute the Washington regt-
ment had given me two hours earlier.
Something had to be done to at least
partially Quell that internal fire from
Ioft a
available infantry 1 could for an in
slant see nothing but the dead or
wounded of the WashingtonS, still lying
on the original battle line where so long
we were held in check by orders from
the rear. Almost the first officer strick-
en- there was Lieut. Erwin of Wiscon-
sin, and when the word Forward" was
given their captain, Otis, rose up grim
" with his right cheek and ear scored
by a Mauser, and led on down into the
bloody ditch.
FOUGHT LIKE APACHES.
Now spra wled upon the lee side of the
repairing damages and renting 5eitsIweLe
words ~ ee called them into action again ana
sent them flying like Apaches straight
sd@ 6eyo sns nnt the h Was
fun 300 yards beyond the bridge
splitting p earthworks beyond: the whole
Prgomptiy every Filipino ducked and began
TO fire wild. Then up came Idaho, six
strong companies, whir1ing over the bridge
without loss of a man. Then the first
three companies trotted out to the right
to support the long extended line of the
Washington regiment
I sent three more companies of the Idaho
regiment to the left under command of
brave Major McConville, to aid in the
sauit on the earthworks and the guns
SO that the redoubts hight be attacked at
the same instant in front and flank
Now came the pinch of the fight and
the fiercest work of the day, and yet it
went like clock-work- The plan had been
the right until the first firing line had
passed the Santa Ana The center had