Evening star., 1900-04-04
Graphic Story of the Death of Cap
tain Smith, 10Th Infantry.
PRIVATE KEEPS OFF TWENTY MEN
Held Insurgents at Bay Until Re-
Inducements Came.
GUEARILLA WAYS ADOPTED


in a letter written by Corporal benjamin
F'oul2is. Company 6 of the 10Th Infantry,
to his mother Foulois was with Captain
Smith at the time of his death, and his
narrative Of the affair is so accurate that
it has been added to the official records of
the War Department. Captain Smith was
the son Of a prominent citizen of Connecu-
cut and relative of Senator Hawley- He
was graduated at West Point in the class
OF 1879, and reached the grade of captain
in January, 1895.
According TO Major ]. G.. Leafe, 10Th In
fantry. Captain Smith was shot in a s>ir-
mish while searching for some cf his men
who had struggled away from the line.
Having climbed up and down steep trails
for fifteen miles, the small column came
upon n collection of Nipa huts, where II
was thought the weary men might pass
the night in comfort. The captain halted
the column about 5000 yards away and
with several men proceeded toward the
huts to see if they could be utilized for
shelter. When within about 100 yards, the
enemy who had remained concea ed sud-
denly opened fire upon the little party, and
the captain received two bullets in the
abdomen. He did not fan at once but
heroiCally bade Private Gibson. who was
close to him. to engage the insurgents, who
to the number of sixteen had now ar
ranged themselves in front of the huts.
He then went back calling on the rest of
the command to come IN and open fire,
which they did, driving off the enemy.
Captain Smith died the next day despite the
best of care and nursing.
Another Account.
In his account of the affair Corporal Fou-
lois says:
we marched all day. and just before
dark Captain Smith took five men with
him and went across a valley about half
a mile away to a lot of huts. AS he
moved along, he left a man every little
while to keep US in sight. By the time
he had arrived within 200 yards of the
huts, he had only one man with him. He
was lanky Dutchman We never could
drill anything into. They moved up lit
tie closer to the huts, when they Were
fired on. The captain and the man with
him turned to look for cover, when the
captain said he was hit Two balls struck
his camera case. which he wore on his
hip. This Dutchman that was with him
turned around alone, and in plain sight,
stood this band of over twenty insurgents
off until we could reach him They re-
treated when we came up, taking their
dead with them. We carried the captain
back to camp. a distance of fourteen miles
that night. But he died at o'clock the
next night. February j.
1t seems awful lonesome now that our
captain has gone. We Will miss him very
much. as he always took pretty good care
of the company 1t made me feel pretty
bad, as he has always looked out for me
and always gave me every possible chance
TO get along, In all Of our fights up to this
last one ne had always given me a chance
to 60 up with him and he was always in
the front. But this last fight was a sur
prise, as We never expected TO meet any
insurgents when We did We had been
marching all day, and about an hour before
dark we saw group Of huts on ridge
opposite US, and about half a mile away.
We came cut in plain view of the huts onto
piece Of ground which sweet potatoes
We're growing. We started to dig some for
supper. when the captain said ne would go
across and see how the huts would be for
sleeping. He took five men with him and
started He had to % down into valley
and then up III" other ridge to the huts
ON the way up he left all of his men but
one at certain distance to notify soon
he arrived at the huts. Well. he and
the man with him had got within 200 yards
of the huts when they We're fired on. The
captain was hit by the first voley, one bull
let going through his body. He went down.
and as he fell he told the private who was
with him that he was hit hard The pri-
vatc told the captain TO get back to the
rear if he could. and he would stand them
off until we could get to him. Well. the
captain got up and. without any help, walk
ed back AT least 800 yards. where found
him when came up. on his way back
he had two bullets go through his camera
and one through his hat. Meanwhile. this
private had been up there popping away as
fast as ne could load and fire
The Rush to the Front.
''Well, the minute We heard the firing We
dropped everything but guns and belts and
uO"il w went iht" the NdiLVy ana up the
ridge As fast as We could GO When we
reached the ton Of the ridge ono Of the
- -. r., - -, Il, -, -
+' 4'''' g" ~ ''II4i''' S'iIeu %
Us thit the captain E'td been captured We
did not wait hear any more. but went
up with a rush. We soon came mp to the
captain IL was sitting on tho ground and
holding ,o tn his Icg asked him If bn
vas nuurdeH He said YES. bur % mn
AID 81 C-i9s.,r, tho r,rir..-a Nh. L,,j taorr
with him. NVt. formed a sEirTnjsb line and
w"'' up ard how tn bullets whistl'd, y
- -. ~ = ~'..7 " "a, ~ on I1'i,'"
sr.9 h,- b.. SUI, IL tI-7rt.t -. NM ',,
10 lau=l5r.s. y-r it was No. laughing matter
W. soon came ,.p 10 wh.re the private WIS.
i-' II" e"t rth.nd an ola stump and was
- ',T t,uH
over t-r minutes. until our e;lns got :, hot
w could not touch them. Th.. lieutenan.
tl-u gave the order t0 Charg-. and when w
STARTED Jh.y started, taking their dead WITH
them
r.a.-, .
al