Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-06-15
AT THE FRONT.
W. C. Seaton Writes Of the Work Of
Our Soldiers.

we were aUie W near lue HelVo eiaon
of arms to our right where Gen. Law
ton was trying to flank the insurgents.
In the evening eleven men were se-
lected from Co. l. as guards for the
engineer corps. j was one OF the
chosen and we advanced upon the
enemy for about three miles while we
rebuilt the railroad torn up by the
enemy. Guy Tate and ! were sta
toned in a cane field as sentries.
On the evening Of the oath we were
placed on the outpost after receiving
our mail.
April % About noon we started
up and marched about five miles close
along a river. Major Whitman with
his battalion was on the firing line,
Capt. Watson commanding First bat
talon, Lieut.. Fry commanding Co.
L. An armored car was pushed in
reach of the enemy and did good
work. Inever heard anything that
sounded much better than their bonn.
bardment. 1t is said about 800 were
killed by the Nebraska regiment yes
terday.
April 26.-Halted last night near q
river where insurgents had wonderful
intrenchments built, using rails for
armor plate. Early this morning
crossed the river and deployed to the
left Of railroad, then making 20 right
flank movement drove the enemy
across the river. This river is about
twice as large as the Smoky Hill. We
then halted. The insurgents have
two cannon which they used with 1T
tic effect. The railroad bridge had
three spans, each one about twice as
large as Mud creek bridge. We
passed seven bridges in a space OF
half a mile. The country is now
beautiful, there are many cane fields
and actual grass growing, sugar mills
and molasses mills. There is a net
work Of trenches facing both rear and
front
April 27.--Wc passeda quiet night.
About 10 o'clock today Colonel Funs-
ton asked for fifteen volunteers to
hold off the rebels while two men
swan the rivor-and fastened a rope
10 the other side. This accomplished,
raft was pulled over by men taking
the rope hand over hand. They
crossed and held the position till
Others came This was a starter but
soon the men we're crossing the rail-
road bridge. The insurgents charged
on Colonel Funston and his little sup
port but he quickly ordered up two
battalions which arrived just in time
Owing to the terrible heat many
were overcome, Funston among them.
hope he will soon be with us again
for he is the heart of the regiment. |
was compelled to fall out though |
caught up an hour later.
The rebels made good their escape
and fled on the cars. A great num-
Der we're wounded but they succeeded
in loading most of them on the train.
Guns and ammunition were captured.
| saw a house that had two pianos
and mahogany floor. We drink the
river water. This afternoon terri
Bile rain came down Tonight 1t is
raining hard.
April 2S,-All wet waiting for the
sun to dry our clothes. And here we
are beyond that strongly fortified but
captured city, Calumpit. A rebel
general under flag Of truce has passed
through our lines.
April 29. Moved on to Alapit and
ouartered in the native shacks on the
banks Of the Rio Grande river, Great
quantities Of moasses and brown
sugar are found. The boys make
talFy This is written with q Fill
pino goose quill found in shack
April 30.--One year ago today we
were in Abilene being examined. We
"took up the white mans burden"
and drove the "half devil and half
child" from his stronghold.
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