The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-07-05


Front and Speaks From Personal
Knowledge - JeaIOusies Started
Stories That Were Untrue-Per-
sonnet and SOIdierIy Hearing of
the Minnesota Soldiers.
MILWAUKEE, July A high tribute
is paid by Gen. Charles King to the Thir-
teenth Minnesota regiment. Gen. King,
who has just returned from Manila, says:
You may tell the friends of the Thir-
teenth Minnesota, ana the people gener-
ally, that the regiment is woruhy of all
honor, IS an admirable organization of
soldiers ana Is Wei omcered.
The story that the regiment, or any
part thereof, on the 18th OF last August
at Mania, showed the white leather, is
absolutely without warrant. l can i'm
aglne only one reason tor its having been
gwen amy voice at all The regiment was
advancing along the road IN pam slgnt
OF the spanish entertainments, and d.
rectlY in the line of fire, when Gen. Mac
Arthur in command of the brigade order
ed il to take cover behind a church. A
battalion OF the regiment obeyed the
order, and did so win considerable celer-
They were perfectly justifable in their
action, ana, had they been ordered to adj
vance directly against the Spanish en-,
trenchmentS, l have no doubt they would
have obeyed that order much quicker
than the one they did receive.
Certainly they are not open to crit-
clsm for obeying the general in com
mand.
JEALOUS OF MINNESOTANS
"I can imagine there was some jealousy
of the Thirteenth Minnesota, although
not of a serious character, and when the
troops in. the rear of them saw the bat
De that some INDUCED in an animadVer-
sion As | said before, the criticism was
unjust. You see the Thirteenth, which
was in my brigade at San Francisco, was
large regiment, with high reputation
and a fine band. / very proud of
them in San Francisco, and Gen: Mer-
rift, l know, thought very highly OF
them. You also know that Gen. Merritt
had much confidence in their colonel,
afterwards Gen. Reeve. While there was
no intention to show favoritism to any
regiment, it Is possible the Thirteenth
from the causes l have mentioned before.
excited some feeling which 1 believe,
however, long since passed away.
las you well know, the Thirteenth was
assigned to police duty in the City of
Manila. This duty, difficult, arduous and
dangerous was not conducive to CO.
hesion as Il regiment or the perfect disci-
pline that constant drilling gives There
was no opportunity for any but occa-
the Thirteenth was an undisciplined reg
iment. This would not be true. do
service they gave in Manila prevented
the opportunities for drilling which other
regiments enjoyed.
Gen. Hughes, provost marshal,
thought very highly of the Thirteenth
said before that the regiment was well
differed, but 1t was none the less I'M
fortunate in that some of the best of its
officers were not able to serve with it in
the field This is true of Maj. Bean
and Lieut.. Merrill. who We're placed in
charge of the Bilibid prison in Manila,
and who, ! assure you, had their hands
full.
81 repeat. the Thirteenth Minnesota is
an admirable regiment, soldierly, brave,
efficient, is well Differed. has given a
good account of Itself IN Luzon upon all
occasions when 1t could; is worthy of
and has earned a hearty welcome home
and the plaudits of all good citizens. You
may say this as coming from me-"
Gen. King, on required diet of iron,
arsenic, sea air and rest, IS rapidly re-
cuperating in health, and is looking for
ward to filling literary engagements in
which the general public has an interest.