The Oskaloosa herald., 1903-10-29
ON THE FIRING Line.
Oskaloosa Soldier Boys in the Midst
of a Battle.


Fort Riley, Kan, Oct. 22-The new
cook has proven success. Yester-
days supper was masterpiece of
culinary art. Our meal was all we
could want.
We left camp Wednesday at 8 a. m.
and marched out about five miles and
took our position on the firing line.
Part of our company was thrown out
as outposts, and the rest were held
back about eight hundred yards to
await the enemy. They attacked us
on our right about two miles from
where our battalion were stationed.
About noon our outpost were fired on
by the 10th cavalry ,colored, (regulars)
dismounted our artillery then opened
fire on them and the regulars deploy-
ed as skirmishers and advanced on
our main body. The companies to
our right and left fired on them at
about six hundred yards. Company f
55th Iowa were in line of skirmlshers,
and hid in small ravine. When the
enemy had advanced to about five
hundred yards of us, we were adj
vanced to the crest Of the ravine.
They had not as yet discovered our
position. The enemy continued their
advance, and when within three hun
dred and fifty or five hundred yards
we were commanded to fire three vol
legs on them. 1t was complete sur
prise to them and they lost heavily.
Here is where the men from Company
f of Oskaloosa distinguished them
selves. Drinkle, Bennett and Baugh-
man were told by Capt. Thrift to pick
off some of the nemy. They did it to
his entire satisfaction. The umpire
after we shot Immediately declared
three officers who had exposed them
selves, dead and out Of action. That
means another banquet. The enemy
still advanced, but after a heavy fire
from us they were forced to retreat.
Company F, 55th Iowa, had repealed
the attack of an entire battalion OF
regular infantry. One troop had been
put out of action at the first fire, and
the other three companies of the bat
TALON were cut down by half, while
our loss in killed was only six. Our
major exposed himself and was shot
and killed. Poor major. Drinkle in
sisted on killing one of the umpires
but after putting several bullets in
him he gave it up. He wouldn't die
None of the Terrible Ten were killed
or wounded.
We returned to camp about four p
m, being out eight hours. When We
got back we Immediately commenced
washing Baughman's face and getting
him cleaned up in general. He hat
to go on guard.
At guard mount the Terrible Ter
again showed their superiority oVel
the rest of the battalion by getting
4 orderly. Baughman did it. That
means another banquet from our deal
Capt. Fred.
Bennett just remarked that he hat
man and Drinkle feel the same way
i Mccoy, Drinkle, Bennett, Pilgrim
and Devol were over to the fort OF
Wednesday night but everything
worth stealing was chained down, 81
they came back emptyhanded. The
cashier at the post exchange was the
only thing really worth stealing, ant
they had her Gagged up and we could
not get at her. We intend trying
again Thursday night
The Texas and the Iowa regiment:
have got on very good terms on &C
count of Iowa's battle with the col
ored regiment. Texas and the 25tf
Infantry don't get along very well.
Yours very truly,
i The Terrible Ten.
Extra Special-McCoy and Drinkle
have added two new hairs to theil
boards. Just heard we were TO star
out some time to-day for a two days
hike.