The National tribune., 1900-06-21
THE SD NF., U. S. V.
Summary of the Service OF a
Regiment in the Philippines.
By A. E. KRETSCHMAR,
Co. E, SD Inf, U. S. v.
BALANGA, LUzoN, March Z, 1900.

BALANGA. LDZoN, MdECH 4, l5Uu.
The 32d U. S. Y. Inf. arrived on the
Island of Luzon on Nov. L, 1899, and was
sent TO the firing line at Angeles, then the
extreme northern point reached by ou1
troops. On the morning of Nov. We
were lined up at ) o'clock, and
marched through the mud and rain in
dense darkness to the outpost on the road
reserve.
At daylight the 18th Regulars and q
portion of the 4th Cav. advanced on the
insurgent trenches and that day drove
them back and captured Magalang. Com
panies L. X and l. of the 32d lay in re-
serve until 1870 a. M, when we returned
to camp, and after dinner consisting of
one slice of bread and a small slice of ba-
con we drew one days travel rations, con-
Ssting of one can salmon and six hard
tack to each man. After drawing rations
we We're marched out on the Magalang
road and proceeded, as escort to a train
of bull carts, with provisions. etc, to the
4th Cav. and 18th Inf. at Magalang. Here
is where the men of this regiment had
their first experience of real war.
From the time we left camp at Angeles
at / 80 p. m. until we arrived in Maga-
lang at 11:30 that night the rain poured
necessarily, and the mud in places was
almost knee deep. When night came the
darkness was intense, and now the trou-
BILE only began. The native bull drivers
could not prevent their teams from lying
down, and it seemed as if they would al
ways choose the worst spots for their bath
of mud and water, which is almost n ne
cessity to them. Carts We're constantly
getting stuck in the mud or breaking down
under their heavy loads, and each time
something of this kind occurred it caused
delay and consequently many curses
from soldiers vino had to help pull carts
and goods from Luzon's muddy roads But
finally after many delays we reached Ma
galang.
march TO Angeles, and just on the out
skirts of Magalang we could see signs of
the battle of the day before. American
soldiers were everywhere in the rice fields
searching for the bodies of Filipino dead,
and here and there We could see them car
rylnS along body to bury it with others.
One of our boys secured pair of Ameri-
can shoes from the feet of a dead insur-
recto who lay near the road.
After returning TO Angeles we were
moved from our camp in shelter tents to
quarters in native shacks. The native
houses are simply light structures of bam-
boo thatched on the sides and roof with
cane leaves or grass, and are built about
flx feet above the ground to keep their in
mates out of the water in the rainy sea-
son.
The 32d Inf. was now cut up and COM
panies sent to garrison the towns of An
geles, Caloolit, San Fernando, San Rita,
San Luis and Mexico. The regiment did
garrison duty in these towns, with head
quarters in Angeles, until Dec. 2, when
the ID Battalion, under Mai. Spence, com
posed of Cos. b, ID, g and NJ, began
campaign toward the west coast, with
Subig Bay as the objective point
On Dec. 3, Co. G, under Capt. Rum
boldt, had a skirmish with rebels near
Florida Blanco, killing one insurgent off
Ger and capturing the town.
The night of Dec. 8 the regimental
scouts, under Capt. HaysOn. made
forced march TO Dinalupijan. in the hope
of entering and capturing that place be-
fore the arrival of the Sd Inf, which was
coming up from the south. They arrived
jast in time to see the last of the insur-
gents fleeing to the mountains The Sd
Inf. had occupied the town shortly before
the arrival of Capt. Hayson.
The remainder of the 32d arrived in
DInaiupiJan shortly before noon on Dec.
+. a search of the town produced
quantity of arms and ammunition, also
severa! kegs of powder, which we de-
stroyed. The battalion, in connection with
the I'd Battalion, Sd u. S. Inf. under
command of Gen. Grant, next day ad-
vanced on and captured the towns of Ara
nj and Aubacay. On Dec. we returned
to Dinalupijan, and after resting two days
We of the ID Battalion, 32d Reg. on the
11th of December marched over the noun
tains to Subg Bay.
Arriving there we found the arsenal in
the hands of marines, who had landed the
day before from the Oregon and RaIti-
more. The regimental scouts, Co. G, and
a detachment of Co. were sent to take
SublS City. but found the place deserted.
Remaining at Subig five days, Cos. E and
" returned 10 the arsenal, and the night
or Dec. l6 Gen. Grant, with a few men
OF u and NJ, together with few marines.
made an advance up Subig River in boats
10 capture steamer the rebels were re-
ported to have hid up the river. Shortly
after dark they discovered the enemv's
outpost and were fired on. A yolley drove
the enemy back and the men landed. An
other scattering volley drove the enemy
from their barracks, and in a short time
our men found the steamer concealed un-
ger covering of grass thatching and
branches of trees.
On Dec. Is we returned to Dinalupiian.
ieavlng Subig Arsenal in the hands of the
marines and Subig garrisOned by Cant
Hayson with the regimental scouts. After
two days in Dinalupijan we proceeded to
and garrisoned Orani. While in Orani we
received news that Co. ID, which had been
LETT behind to garrison Dinaupiian. had
sent out party on Dec. % to scout in the
nils and had been attacked by a superior
torce OF the enemy, but had escaped cap
ture oP
Dec. "a Cos. L and G went to the as
sistance of Co. d, and all day Christmas
searched the mountains for the enemy
without success.
January ], 1900, five men of Co. D. who
had been sent out to repair bridge be-
tween Dinalupijan and Hermosa, were at
tackled, with the result of one wounded
and two missing. Thirty men composing
mounted detachment of Co + were at
once sent out 10 try TO overtake the insur-
gents: but failed, and spent the night with
20. - and then early next morning re-
hulned the search. One of the missing
men was found short distance out eau
tously making his way toward camp. He
was sent OF in and we went on.
! lie detachment was soon broken up.
and small parties We're securing the coun-
Try III all directions in the hope Of finding
the other missing soldier or some trace of
the enemy. About 1890 a. m. Serg't Corr
with i've men ran onto the rear guard of
the insurgents IN z narrow gulch and af-
Ter few shots he was compclled 10 re-
treat or run the risk of capture. He at
once Feireated and communicated with
Capt. Scycir, who quickly called the de-
tachmeHt together and ordered the ad-
vance.
we soon came across the enemy at the
place where Scrg't Cory had found them,
and after few shots they began to re-
treat, and then a running fight started
which lasted until about 3 p. m and end
ec In the enemy escaping by scattering in