Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1899-08-31

4
& the crack fight.
ing commands
The deeds of the First Minnesota and
Twenty fourth Michigan at Gettysburg
and of the Second Wisconsin in its
three years career have never been
eclipsed by any regiment known to his.
tory.
The Thirteenth Minnesota of the
Spanish war quota takes its number on
the list Of volunteers from that state
where the civil war left it, and, al
though it is the unlucky one, according
to the superstitious. that fact has been
source of levity rather than anxiety
among the Minnesotans now in the
Philippines.
The Thirteenth dates it's war exploits
from Aug. IS, 1898, when Manila was
captured from the Spaniards, but that
is not the red letter day in its calendar
now. When the Filipinos broke loose
on the 4th of February, the Mime
sotans were doing provost guard duty
in the city of Manila. A long expected
crisis had come, for the Filipinos had
no love to waste on American soldiers
after they had disposed Of the lordly
dons of CASTLE, and they never hest
tated to declare their sentiments On
the 4th of February they threw down
the gauge of battle, and 90 anxious
were some of the Minnesotans to have
hand in the fighting that they left
their quarters in the city without or
ders or permission to join the fighting
line In charge forward on the 9Th,
which carried the Americans into the
Filipino works, one band of so con-
tanned IA Minnesotans seven from one
company.
But at last war was brought home to
the camps of the Thirteenth. The night
Of Feb. 20 fires were started in differ
ent parts of Manila, the American
policed districts especially. The soldiery
and European residents turned out to
fight the flames and soon there were
scattering rife shots heard in different
quarters and red rocket signals seen
mounting into the skies. These last
were signals for a native uprising in
the strsets Qf. Manila, In spite Of the
impending danger the soldiers con.
tinhed to fight fire. Filipinos piled
their rifles from every concealed corner
upon the frefghters and twice attack
ed the Minnesota guard around the
burning district The posts Of Com.
panies G and NJ were finally surrounded
by smoking ruins and seemed to be cut
off from all help. Company NJ was in a
cathedral protected by stone wall.
The Filipinos fred at the building, but
made no headway in crossing the wall.
The men OF other companies became
anxious for their comrades in the
cathedral, but ceased to worry over
them when they saw brave trio from
the fire and bullet beleagured citadel
dashing through the flames after am
munition with which to hold the fort
And they did hold it.
Company G had to fight in the open,
When the flames appeared in its dis
trict, two platoons set out for the scene
and were fred on in the street as they
split up into squads. Three were hit at
the first volley, and the Filipinos paid
no mere attention to them for time.
but supposing that they had abandoned
their quarters in panic, made rush
for them, probably bent on plunder.
Lieutenant Snow was yet at the quar-
ters with 10 men under him. He re-
pulsed the attack and saved the quar-
tiers and baggage. Next day the two
companies joined with other troops in
rounding up Filipinos who were plum
dering the burned districts and taking
pot shots at the American firemen and
guards. The natives defended them
selves behind street barIicades and in
buildings which they had loopholed. In
some cases their lairC had TO be set on
fire to bring them out In one open
space, 80 feet square, surrounded by
stone walls, there were score OF dead
Filipinos after the Minnesotans got
done with them. During the night and
day fighting the Thirteenth lost 10
wounded.
Before the determined fighting of the
campaign, when Otis began to drive
things, the Minnesotans were relieved
from police duty, much to the JOY Of
Me rank and file, and sent to the front
On the 25th Of March the regiment. as
such, bad its first encounter with the
insurgent troops. This was in the at
tack from along the Marqueta road
upon position known as San Juan
hill. A st. Paul boy, Private John f.
Pewters Of Company g. thus describes