Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-05-12
ON THE nARCH.
Letter from John Peterson Describes
the Advance of the North Da-
kota Troops.

The following letter has been received
by Mrs. Tatley from her son, John Peter
son, descriptive of the advance of the
North Dakotans with General King:
In camp on Pasig river, about nine miles
from Manila, between San Pedro Macati
and Pateras.
March q, 1900.
Dear Ones at Home: It has been a
couple of weeks since I last wrote home but
I have been unable to write since then on
account of being on the move. Boys are
all in good health, none rounded or killed
In the North Dakota regiment yet. North
Dakota regiment has been transferred from
General Ovenshine's to General Kings bril-
gade, which accounts for us being moved.
We left our former position between Pas
ay and San Pedro Macat March %: we
broke camp March 22nd at 10 o'clock in
the morning, stopped at San Pedro Macati
for dinner, leaving Co. B at San Pedro; we
marched to Guadalupe church., reachingi
there at $3.50 p. M, where we camped for
the night. Guadalupe church used to be
a great stronghold OF the Insurgents before
they were driven back. There are breast
works after breastworks back Of the
church and are all built oftstone.
March 23.-Rroke camp this afternoon,
leaving Co.. H at Guadalupe church; Com
panies A and G marched to our present
camp. We are calnped on the banks Of
the Pasig in our "dog tents" Boys go
swimming every day. A steam launch
brings fresh water from Manila. every day,
but since the battle Of Malabon they have
been busy taking the wounded to Manila.
We have Cinnamon to build our breast
works now doctors at the hospital claim
four men went insane from working in the
hot sun.
While at Guadalupe church Captain Moi
fet reported back to his company. Gen.
Ovenshine tried his best to keep the North
Dakota regiment in his brigade; he sent his
aide to Gen. Otis to see If he couldn't keep
the North Dakota boys, but they reported
back the change had been made; he then
saw Otis personally. but without further
results. He was very much attached to
Major White. The gallant Thirteenth
Minnesota AVE been relieved from police
duty by the Twentieth U. S. infantry and
have gone to the front. The battleship
Oregon arrived about a week ago. The
hospital boat Solace also arrived. I will
write you a few notes out of my diary for
the last two days.
March 25.-Received orders we were to
occupy the trenches before daylight, so we
all turned in. Had breakfast and went
to the trenches, when a detail out Of A,:G
and D went out ON a scouting expedition;
can hear the bombarding Of Malabon. Will
McIIugh, Will Dolan and I went out after
the scouting party: we came across sew
eral dead insurgents in "amego' clothes;
we hadn't gone over a mile when we heard
firing ahead of us, so we waited until the
scouting party came back: we then went to
dinner. The firing ahead Of us was from
insurgents our boys went out to locate.
March 26.-Received news of the capture
the insurgents our boys went out to locate.
and surrender Of Malabon; our loss reported
killed, 45, and wounded, 100. Insurgents
loss not known at present, but must have
been great. It is rumored that the insur-
gents raised a white flag over Malabon
and our troops ven in. While crossing the
bridge the insurgents opened fire on our
boys which caused such a heavy loss.
W%ashingtons to, our left, who are holding
Pateros and Pasig, lost one captain n
two privates this a. m. A steam launch
just passed by with some wounded. Rodry
Church stopped here this morning on his
way to town. Received orders to move
~ " al oo14a0 vi
Thirty-fve men Of Companies A, G and D
went out on another scouting expedition;
went over the same ground as yesterday;
when we reached the last hill wescould see
the %bombarding of Paranaque, and a large
fire toward Malabon. Our main body
rested here, while a few secuted out ahead;
when they advanced a half a mile a body
of insurgents opened fire on our boys. The
advanced body retreated as they were only
to locate the enemy. The insurgents fired
quite a few shots but pone Of our. boys
were hit, although there were many struck
near and whistled by ua. After the adj
vancing party fell back to the hill, we all
went back to camp for supper about darl)
as an attack was expected from the insur-
gents driven out Of Paranaque; we had to
sleep In the trenches.
The second battalion Of the North iDa-
kotas are to our left. The North Dakotas