Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-20
was taken, which cbeered our boys i'm

was taken, winch cneered our boys I'M
meDsely. This was really the first
chance, the Thirteenth had had to fight
together SINCE eibattle Of Manila.
"Thesgreatest drawback was the in
tense heat. Many men were overcome
and dropped. We could see many men
lying on the ground which we passed
over, and. of course, thought they were
dead, and for a short time thought our
loss was heavy, but we had'but 3 men
wounded and none killed"
Bat the most desperate strain and
peril of all came to the Minnesotans on
the 18th and 18th of April, when the
regiment was scattered by companies
along the railroad as guard. AS it had
been while on police duty in the city, so
it was out along the exposed track in
the open country, the enemy could ap-
proach from all directions.
The night Of the 10th the men went
to rest, expecting trouble At O clock
next morning there was firing In the
direction of the nearest town, Bocaua.
Gradually the firing extended all along
the line, and the troops took to cover
beside the track. Volleys of Mausers
swept the position, but the men were
cool throughout the ordeal of a night
attack. In short time General Wheat
on came mp from Malolos and Bocaua
with detached companies to re-enforce
Major Diggles battalion at Guiguinto.
General Wheaton at once ordered the
command to Ego at them" and with
two armored cars mounting Gattling
and HotChkiss guns the battalion start
ed to sweep the field of the black
amigos, ,urned traitors The rihemen
fired swift volleys into the woods and
other cover where flashes had disclosed
the lurking places of the natives, and
at the same time the Calling and
Hotchkiss guns searched the ground
with bullets and shells. When the col
umn reached Bocaua bridge, it found
Company 9 glad of help. This was one
of the coi>panies attacked in the city of
Manila, Feb. %. AT Bocaua bridge the
outpost of the company was attacked
by force which sneaked mp without
warning, The outpost retreated, and
the blacks followed taking position 200
yards from the company camp. 1t soon
became triangular fight, for the blacks
were on three sides. The company next
to G was attacked on three sides at once
and could offer 10 help. Thirty men of
Company E started to the relief of G..
On the march they were challenged in
good English, and answering. "Com.
pany E, Thirteenth Minnesota" re.
ceived a terrible volley from the chal-
lengers whose orders were given in
Spanish. BY retiring and making a de.
tour to escape the ambush the men OF
E brought up on line with G at the
bridge. After daylight this detachment
charged across the bridge and thanked
the natives killing and wounding near
ly 100 at that point. While this was
going on Company ID came up from il:
camp a mile away and took the black:
in the rear. Captain Metz of this com
pany killed one native with his revolver
This night and day fight of the Thir
teenth COST 3 killed and IS wounded
1t was not the end of work for the time
but it was of death. The boys kept or
going latter the enemy" Every battle
dispatch recounting an attack upon oul
forces has been followed by news of ad
vance with the natives fleeing. TIL,
sequel to this defensive fight on tn,
railroad was an advance in force t
clear the country of the treacherou
blacks, who only hung around CAM
protesting to be friendly to watch {
chance for attack. The Thirteenth anC
the Oregons, with artillery, started acros
the great plain leading to the town o