The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-08-11

Otto smith. Of the Flfty-First Iowa, De
soziBss the Situation.

san Fernando =. i, June I'll re-
oeiEed q copy Of your paper, and in
reading it am surprised Of the advance
ment you have made in putting before
the public an up-to-date newspaper.
You have now IS neRsy a county paper
as one would wish to read. It would be
no surprise to me to hear Of you gen
tIemen printing a daily paper. 1t seems
the tide has turned-better times are
looked forward to by all and Kansas
VII not be without its bOoms. I would
like to see GOodlsnd a city Of 5000,
and the farms in Sherman county
With hOurishing crops and the farmers
with broad smiles on their counter
ances, suggestive Of mUchO denero,
Spanish for much money! Sherman
county wiz be the cream Of Kansas
land some day. undoubtedly. 1 have
talked with many soldiers who came
over the Rock Island, and all say that
western Kansas is a most beautiful
piece Of land-no hills, no rOcks-but
just a level stretch Of country which
all farmers like to work. or course,
Kansas has its drawbacks, they don't
get enough rain, not casting any reflec-
ton at al on the rainmakers, but eX-
peet to see Kansas as wet q country as
Iowa some day, the land will soon be en-
tireIy cultivated and trees planted,
then it must rain. I am authority on
that.
We have just completed a rather
trying campaign from Mololas to San
Fernando. Gen. MacArthur's division,
which consists Of two brigades, one be-
ing commanded by-Gen. Hale, the
other by Gen. Wheaton. We we're in
Hale's brigade, which was composed Of
the Nebraska, South Dakota and Fifty
First Iowa, haYinR the right of the
line, and Gen. Wheaton with the Mon
tana and Kansas on the left. These
two brigades formed a skirmish line,
from which would not blame the
natives for running, as it looked so de-
termined with South Dakota and Mont
ana in reserve. We started toward
Calumpit, this was one Of Aggies
strongest places, being fortified so that
even schrapneI could have done them
no damage had they staid by their in
trenchments, but seeing the Americans
steadily advancing they lost heart.
Kansas and Montana received the brUnt
Of the engagement, being directly in
front Of the native trenches, although
Iowa, which was on the extreme right,
received a heavy fire which we advanced
under, and were able to pour a most
deadly cross fire into the enemy. Kan
sas boys swan the river with Col. Fun
stOn at their head and the niggers ran
from their entertainments to the rear
as hard as they could; then came the
Iowa's work and South Dakota. We
fired volleys into them as they left
! their trenches, and many a poor gUgOO
sought his happy hunting ground.
Kansas covered herself with glory dur
ing this engagement, as in all previous
/ fights. Col. Funston is a brave man,
and has a good, cool head, and you can
always find him to the front with his
command. He has been promoted to
brigadier general, relieving Gen. Whea-
| ton, but I understand Gen. Grant has
now relieved Gen. Funston.
The Kansas boys are all in Manila
now, having left last week. They viii
soon embark for old United States
good old Americal Kansas should be
proud Of the Twentieth for they are all
heros. Three cheers for theml May
they live long and prosper is the wish
Of an Iowa boy.
After the fight at Calumpit We ad-
vanced on Santa Thomas and with the
usual hard luck After wading swamps
and covered with mud we engaged the
enemy, but they soon fed, not, how
ever, until we had baRge1 a large num-
Der Of them. Iowa was right to the
front, and fought like true American
soldiers do. We took Santa Thomas and
stayed there over night, and early in
the morning the first and second bat
taIIion OF Iowa was ordered to San
Fernando, and We went, and though
we found places too deep to wade, We
kept going until We had reached the
city. The niggers had been too badly
cut up the day before, and when the
Iowa boys arrived there was only one
company to receive them, and at least
50 Of these are now underneath terra
drma. The next day the rest Of the
command reached rs, and then We CON-
menced outpost duty, which IS no snap.
ARgie says he viii take San Fernando /
back again, but he is finding it to be a /
rather large piece Of business. They
have made several attacks, the last one 1
being q severe engagement as the at
tack Was well planned. We we're at
lacked from all sides Of the town, but