Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-05-13
FROM THE PHILIPPINES.
A Member of Company 1 Writes an In
terestlng Letter of the Fight
ing Near Manila.


from the PHILIPPINES the latter part oi
last week from some of the boys of Co
L. Among them was one from Lieut.
Paul McClelland to the CHRONICLE, Civ
ing particulars of the fighting near
Manila, and especially the part taken by
the South Dakota Regiment and Com
pany l, which we publish below in full
Intrenchment off Block House No 4,
PHILIPPINE Islands, March 20, '99.
Editor Custer Chronicle, Custer, 5. ID.
| DEAR SIR:-Thinking that the many
friends and relatives Of Company |, lst
South Dakota Infantry, would be glad
to hear the particulars of the fighting
in the vicinity of Manila, | will take
advantage of quiet day in the trenches
and write a brief description of the
part taken by the South Dakota Regi-
ment, and espe cially Co |.
| During the latter part of the month Of
| January rumors were atioat that the
insurgents might make an attack at any
time. Commanders of troops were or
dered to keep their men in readiness to
march at a moments notice The Anne
rican outposts were posted at the ex-
treme limits Of the city, several miles
| from the residence and business por-
| ton. The outposts thus posted formed
a continuous chain around the city, from
the bay on the north to the bay south
of the city, something in the shape of
half moon with the city inside the
circle. Outside, and facing our outposts,
the insurgents had like chain occupy
ing the old Spanish Block Houses and
intrenchments, their lines in some
places were not over two hundred yards
from the Americans. The South Da
kota outpost was in front of Block
House No. 4, about 800 yards distant.
Our (the South Dakota outpost consist
ed Of thirty-fye men in the day time
and about sixty at night.
Several different nights the alarm
was given and our companies fell in
under arms, but only to be returned to
quarters afterward until it was regarded
in rather the light Of a joke, although
vigillence was by no means relaxed.
The insurgents grew very insulting on
outposts, Dragging that one Filipino
could whip FIVE "Americanos " One
night when / was in command of the
outpost one of the senlinels was ap.
preached by two "Filipino Amigos" COR
unarmed natives) who saluted him, say
ing, Americana Filipino Amigo" As
the orders were to pass unarmed natives
he allowed them TO pass and turned to
walk his beat, when one of them drew a
maChete out Of his sleeve and struck
him fearful blow in the face, although
aimed at the throat. The sentinel who
was half stunned, recovered and shot
the Filipino dead before he ran ten
| steps, then fired and wounded the other.
We carried the dead Filipino down to
the guard tents, where he was buried
| the next morning. The sentinel, Pri-
vate Smith of Co. f., was sent to the
| hospital and recovered. This incident
will show the treacherous character of
| the natives.
On the night of February 4th attend
ed the theatre in company with Lieut.
| Col Stover and Captain Sessions.
| Quite a number of the South Dakota
| boys were there. The entertainment
had Just fairly started when some one
came to the door and called, "our out
posts are attacked" Officers and men
rushed to the door, and from thence to
| the quarters. In about twenty minutes
the lst Battalion LIST South Dakota In
| fantry, Co.'S. +. |. X, Go. B. being left
to guard quarters) were on the march to
| the outposts, the other battaliOns form.
| ing in the rear. At this time We could
! hear firing away out on the outpost, we
| had to march about four miles. Soon
we heard the artillery open up and
then the peculiar ring" or wall of the
Mauser ballet was heard. Cos. +. and
|. were in the advance, and when the
regiment arrived in the vicinity Of the
outpost the troops were halted,
scouts were sent out in advance
to size up the situation, then came the
order for the first two companies TO ad-
vance, form line OF squads, then ad
vance through the bamboo timber in
front of Block House until they occupied
the old position of our most advanced
outpost, our outpost haviuff fallen back
previous to this. The two companies
deployed, and although very dark, the
men kept good line through the TIM
! ber, the commissioned officers directing
their squads as they would at drill. We
advanced until we occupied the outpost.
At this time the firing in our direct
front had ceased. The General of our
Brigade coming up decided that Co. +
and | could hold the position, and the
balance of the regiment was ordered
| DdIh W lllS NllJ. w Z DOStCu hlduSCI
sentinels in front of Block House ia
warn of advance, then sat down to
listen to the firing on our right and left
| Suddenly the insurgents opened fear
iul fire on us from Block House No.
and the adjoining trenches. The out.
post, according to orders, fell back, but
Private Loves of Co. mot Lewis was
shot through the head when about
twenty yards from the cover of the tim.
ber. Private Fred Green of Co. / came
in safely from outpost and laid down
beside the rest of the men, few PAGES
in front of where | stood. He had
hardly laid down when bullet went
through his heart. Private Haskell
came up and reported that he was shot
through the neck. He was bleeding
quite badly and so was sent back
Lieut.. Col. Stover's horse was killed just
back of me, and right beside the Col
1t appeared as though the air was full
OF bullets After the outposts came in
We returned the fire for a while, then
set to work throwing up intrenchments
for We had very poor shelter in the tim
ber, Mauser bullet will 90 through a
common tree. At daybreak the firing
again started, and from that time on
until we charged the Block House the
firing was very heavy. About o'clock
a. IN. the rest of the regiment started to
advance on the Block House from our
right, (the regiment having returned
during the night For little while it
was one continual roar of musketry.
Soon the insurgents began to run from
the trenches, and it was then that Go
turned loose in earnest, from our posi-
ton we could see the insurgents when,
ever they left their trenches, and lining
up the Company poured III a terrible
fire, killing and wounding many as they
tried to reach the brush. This was the
first charge and first Block House cap