The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1917-01-25
STATE SOLDIERS
RANK WITH BEST
FIRST NORTH DAKOTA INFANTRY
HAS FINE RECORD.
ITS WORK IN PHILIPPINES
Good Hiking and Unbeatable Fi0htlNo
ELECTED High Praise from General
Acknowledgment Now On
Mexican Border.
BY W. A. Stickioy.

BY w. A. stickiey.
! An item Of pride with the people Of
North Dakota and one which can just
ly demand place in the columns Of
week, is the First North Dakota In
fantry, of the National Guard.
The regiment was organized in
1883 and has kept pace with the times
In military affairs from the beginning.
In 1898 when President Mckinley
called for the guard of the United
States, this regiment was modified
in three days, going into camp at
Fargo, May 1. On May 20 1t left
for San Francisco and on July 81
1t landed in Manila. Just one year
later to day the regiment embarked
for America, arriving at home about
the first of October.
During that year in the Islands this
regiment saw some of the hardest
service of that campaign, participate
ing In 80 engagements, and winning
high honors for valiancy. General
Lawton made a remark which made q
slogan for the regiment as long a.
1t shall last. He said after most
stubborn battle: "You can't STAN.
pede the North Dakotas" It was on
his first expedition In the Philippines
that General Lawton learned the
worth of the First North Dakota and
complimented it SO highly. He was
displeased when he had to take vol.
unteers on the expedition, but after
the first days march he was satisfied
with the manner in which they hiked.
In the second day an engagement was
inevitable. The order to charge"
came and the boys fought like de.
mons, cleaning every native before
them.
| lawton's High Praise.
| When it was over General Lawtol
said:
Il always had an idea that . volun
tser soldier was not worth anything,
| Yesterday found out that he could
march, and today have learned that
he can fight like h. Hereafter those
men go with me II I can have any.
thing to say about 1t. I need them
to show the regulars how to fight,
You can't stampede the First North
Dakotas."
The First North Dakota went farthe.
into the interior of the Islands than
any other volunteer regiment. Its boys
saw as much service as any other
regiment, and while they did not leave
as many men on the field as some
others, nevertheless they were in the
hottest of every engagement they
participated in. Upon their return
congress passed resolutions of appre,
citation for the record the First North
Dakota had made.
| Went to Mexican Border.
On June 10, 1916, the First North
Dakota Infantry received its second
call to arms and on the morning Of
the 10th every organization reported
for duty. The regiment went into
camp on the 25th of that month at
Fort Lincoln, Bismarck, and on July
20 entrained for the Rio Grande, ar.
irving at Mercedes, Texas, which 10
right on the Mexican border, on the
afternoon of July 26. They were
marched through the mud into the
cactus, brush and grass, where they
were overtaken by darkness and
| slept as best they could. In a few
days they had established an excellent
camp. They are still there doing Dor.
| der duty.
The regiment is an honor to its
state, standing among the very best on
the border. It was complimented by
many high officials, and especially by
General Funston. The regiment 10
| under the command Of Colonel Frame,
| and better commander could not be
| found. There are fourteen veterans
| Of the Philippine campaign now with
the regiment.
| Do Not Murnaur at Neglect.
| The North Dakota regiment, like
all other organizations of the National
Guard, has been shamefully neglected.
In 1898 the food was bad, there was
lack Of clothing, ammunition, arms,
tentage and everything which was
needed. Many of the soldiers entered
Manila in Their citizens clothes, be-
cause the government could not flt
them out with the proper clothing.
After Is years the same trouble was
experienced in 1916 when the guard
was called, though the conditions
were not SO bad. There was a woe
full lack of clothing, especially shoes
and underwear. Long after the boys
arrived on the border, under the boil.
ing sun of that climate, they were
compelled to buy their own shoes and
underwear, and wear the hot flannel
clothing which had been issued in
this northern climate. The heat burn
ed their bodies till their condition was
almost unbearable.
But the boys never murmured. They
did their plain duty. They drilled, dug
trenches, repaired roads, did patrol
duty on the river bank guarded tho
big pumping stations, the cities and
the farmers homes on the border.
When on inspection they carried them.
selves in soldier-like manner, far
i