USA > Kansas > The fighting Twentieth. History and official souvenir of the Twentieth Kansas Regiment > Part 3
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February 7 the Kansans were ordered to attack the insurgents' position before its front. The work necessitated an advance against a strongly protected position in a dense jungle. The charge was brilliant, the enemy being driven like chaff and the Kansans penetrating the very heart of Caloocan before they could be recalled. In this attack Kansas lost its first commissioned officer, Lieut. Alfred C. Alford, of Lawrence, who fell while bravely leading his company. His death was a serious blow, as he was not only a popular officer, but also possessed a military knowledge far in advance of the ordinary citizen soldier.
It was discovered on February 9 that the enemy was massing in front of MacArthur's line, and on the afternoon of February 10 orders were issued for the dislodgment of the native forces. The advance commenced at 3:40 P. M., with Kansas in the lead. Across the open swept Funston's boys, driving the natives from their earthworks, and at six o'clock the insurgent position with the railroad line was in the hands of the Americans. That night the line of the "fighting Twentieth " was established at Caloocan amidst the ruins of the town, which the insurgents had fired before their retreat. At this point the Kansas boys proceeded to
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Hudson.
.S. INDIANA WITH 20TH KANSI
LEAVING THE GOLDEN GATE-GOOD-BY TO NATIVE LAND.
entrench themselves, and there awaited orders for a further advance. Here, before Caloocan, Kansas was several times attacked, an exceptionally strong effort being made by the natives on the night of February 22. This attack was intended to break the American line so that the natives might enter Manila. It did not take long to drive the Filipinos back. They retreated in disorder and with heavy loss. Hardly a day passed without some minor engagement, and the Kansans were constantly exposed to the fire of native sharpshooters. In one of these skirmishes, on February 27, Capt. David S. Elliott, of company G, was killed. He was one of the bravest, most competent and most popular officers in the regiment. He was a civil war veteran, had been a county officer in Montgomery county, and had edited a newspaper at Independence.
The Kansans remained entrenched in Caloocan until March 25. It had been known for some days that a decisive movement of some sort was contemplated, and on the 25th the advance began, with Kansas in the lead. The Filipinos were strongly in- trenched, but Funston's men charged line after line of earthworks, leaving many dead Tagals in every trench. At one point they were brought directly under a heavy fire from a blockhouse on the opposite side of the Tulijan river. It was necessary to take the blockhouse, but no bridge was at hand. Rafts were made from logs hastily chopped, and on them enough of the Kansans crossed to make the expedition successful. Dripping, but with ardor undampened, the cheering men from the prairie charged the blockhouse and the entrenchments surrounding it. The Filipinos, thoroughly terrified by such an exhibition of bravery, fled in dismay without further resistance.
This was the first day's work in the advance on Malolos, the insurgent capital. On March 26 there were engagements at Malinta and Meycuayan, in which the Kansans again demonstrated their bravery. At Marilao the rebels made a determined stand on the north side of the river, and it was necessary for the Kansans to cross to the other side, in order to engage them. The river was too deep to ford, so General Funston and a few picked men swam the river, charged the works on the other side and took eighty prisoners. It was the publication of this exploit that made Colonel Funston famous and had much to do with his reward- a brigadier general's commission. It was an instance of daring that justly delights the public mind and in popular fancy made Fred Funston, like Hobson, one of the picturesque heroes of the war.
The "fighting Twentieth " rested ouly one night in Marilao. There was more fighting to be done. In the skirmishes during the next few days both Colonel Funston and Major Metcalf were slightly wounded. March 30, the Kansans, at the head of the flying column, reached Malolos, another Filipino "capital." The next day the Kansans were first to enter the city. Here they remained for nearly a month. It was not until April 24 that Generals Wheaton, Hale and MacArthur began the advance on Calumpit. It was in this final campaign that the Twentieth Kansas performed more glorious feats and added new honor to the name of their state. Early in the morning the Kansans reached the Bagbag river. The insurgents had destroyed the bridge and constructed strong fortifications on the other side. Colonel Funston called for volunteers to cross the river, and there were plenty.
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CARLTON Y ROSE, KOL
DISMANTLED BRIDGE OVER THE BAGBAG RIVER, WHICH THE KANSANS CROSSED UNDER FIRE.
Funston, Lieut. Colin H. Ball and four privates crawled along the iron girders of the dismantled bridge. When the end of this was reached they plunged into the water below and swam to the opposite shore. The insurgents bolted their strongest position and fled, leaving the Kansans a clear field to advance. At nightfall on April 25 Old Glory was run up in the center of the town. The Kansans, headed by Colonel Funston, were the first to enter Calumpit.
The exploit of crossing the dismantled bridge across the Bagbag is best told by Lieutenant Ball himself. In a statement to a correspondent for the Topeka Capital he said:
"Owing to the excitement and confusion which always attend an event of this character, it would be impossible to estimate the particular acts of individuals. I would not attempt to say who all crossed the river at this time under fire, for fear of doing some deserving soldier a grave injustice.
"The popular impression is that General Funston called for volunteers in this particular instance, but such is not the case. The facts in the matter, as I recall them, are as follows:
"The Twentieth Kansas infantry was halted under cover of the timber three-quarters of a mile from the Bagbag to wait for the armored car to open and drive the enemy from its fortified position at the farther end of the bridge. Shortly after the car opened the engagement General Funston ordered me to take a scouting party across the open country to the river, and ascertain whether there was any of the enemy on our side. I was to select my own men. I accordingly took with me four men of my own company on whose good judgment, coolness and intrepidity I could rely. They were Corporal Arthur Ferguson, Norman Ramsey, Edward Cornett, and Woodruff. We crossed the open field and reached the river in safety, leaving the American line nearly a mile in the rear. We made our way carefully up the stream until nearly opposite the fortification on the other bank, from which the enemy was maintaining a steady fire at the armored car. This car had the most of the enemy's attention, so that my party was able to maintain a careful fire at the portholes in the Filipino entrenchment. At this time but eighty yards of water lay between us and the insurgents. The American line was nearly a mile in the rear.
" We had been interesting the Filipinos for probably twenty minutes when company K came from the timber in open order, advancing toward the river. General Funston was with the company, and after they joined us on the river bank the enemy quit the armored car and gave us the full benefit of the car. At this time company K and my party were lying flat on the river bank and the fire was quite heavy. The general ran up to me and asked :
"' How the devil can I get across ?'
1993852
"'Swim,' I replied.
""'Can't we get some bamboo poles and put them over that broken span ?' he asked.
" I told him I would see, and ran over to the end of the bridge. I moved the first squad of A company and my own four men
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THREE "KANSAS CORN-FED" FIGHTERS.
LIEUTENANT AGNEW.
CAPTAIN BISHOP.
CAPTAIN GLASGOW.
up to the end of the bridge and then ran out on the structure. The insurgents had removed the ties and all the woodwork, so that we made our way along the top of the iron girder. Arriving at the end of the broken span, I removed a rubber poncho from my shoulders and slid down an iron rod into the water, followed by the men one at a time. We swam from here to the bank, proba- bly a distance of forty feet.
" The first enlisted man whom I saw after gaining the opposite bank was Ray Enslow, first sergeant of K company. Corporal Ferguson and Privates Ramsey and Cornett and Trumpeter Barshfield were over in a moment, and there may have been others. I did not, at that time, deem it important to note these facts. Within a very short time the bank was swarming with soldiers.
"General Funston came on the bridge with the first men but stopped at the end to remove his boots, and when I turned around from the top of the enemy's parapet, he greeted me, dripping wet from head to foot."
The Filipinos were hotly pursued to the Rio Grande river beyond Calumpit to the north. Without rest the Kansans pushed ahead, and on April 27 the river was reached. On the other side lay Apolit, and between the town and the river was a seemingly impregnable stronghold, garrisoned by General Luna and the pick of Aguinaldo's army.
The Kansans had had too much experience in crossing rivers to be kept back, and too poor a respect for native resistance to fear the result. Rafts were made, each capable of holding ten men. When they were completed two soldiers from Kansas City, Kan., privates White and Trembly, swam the river with ropes with which to tow the rafts across. They were under fire the entire distance, but reached the opposite shore safely. Other rafts followed them, and the natives fled pell-mell with heavy loss.
In the last engagement in which the Kansans participated-the taking of Santo Tomas, on May 5-Lieut. William A. McTaggart was among the killed. He was a son of the late Senator Dan. McTaggart, of Montgomery county, and was a splendid young man. The following day Kansas' line advanced to San Fernando, from which Aguinaldo hurriedly removed his capital.
Until its final recall to Manila, the "fighting Twentieth" maintained its position as a portion of General Funston's brigade, being repeatedly engaged with bands of insurrectos, who from time to time made futile attempts to break through the invin- cible line formed by these men in brown from our Kansas prairies. Every skirmish told some new story of Kansas bravery.
AS TOLD IN THE OFFICIAL REPORTS.
The operations of the Twentieth Kansas regiment during the Philippine campaign are best told by the official reports made to the War Department by Colonel (now General ) Funston and his successor, Colonel Metcalf. These reports are models of military brevity and as such are entitled to be preserved. They are noteworthy not only for their brevity, but also for their modesty. They go much farther into detail than any mere sketch of the regiment's operations could well go, and give a more accurate insight into its brilliant achievements than can be obtained from any other source. The reports follow.
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BRIDGE FROM WHICH THE FIRST SHOT OF THE PHILIPPINE WAR WAS FIRED.
OFFICIAL REPORT FOR FEBRUARY.
About ten P. M., February 4, orders were received for the regiment to take the field, in accordance with a pre- viously arranged plan, and the second and third battalions, under the regimental commander, at once proceeded to the scene of hostilities at the Kansas outposts at the extreme left of the American lines, where the enemy were held in check by the outpost guard of two officers and sixty men. Line was quickly formed, and fire opened upon the insurgents. The fire was returned, and a heavy exchange of rifle shots main- tained until daylight, and intermittently until noon of the 5th inst., when an advance of the entire brigade line was ordered and immediately executed, the first battalion having mean- while joined the command. The enemy were quickly driven back past two lines of entrenchments to their blockhouse, about two miles north of Manila, from which point a retreat was ordered; the line fell back about 1000 yards in an orderly manner, but retook the position without opposition the follow- ing morning.
On the 7th inst. the regimental commander asked and ob- tained permission to attack the insurgent forces in our front, and moved against them with four companies, C, I, B, and E, driving them from their position with heavy loss after a sharp fight of about forty-five minutes.
At three P. M., February 10, orders were received to take the town of Caloocan, in conjunction with the First Montana vol- unteers, and the Third United States artillery; the left flank was protected by two companies of the First Idaho volunteers,
and the line reinforced by two guns each of the Utah light artillery and the Sixth United States artillery. After a half hour's shelling of the town by the fleet, the advance began gradually swinging to the right, and drove the enemy with heavy loss through and beyond the town, where the line was halted and formed for the night. The following day position was taken about half a mile beyond Caloocan church, where the command still lies entrenched in face of a continuous fire from the enemy in front and on the left, the latter from the town of Malabon.
In all of these engagements, the troops of this command, most of whom were under fire for the first time, behaved in the most excellent manner, advancing in the face of heavy fire steadily and without flinching. To the inferior marksmanship of the insurgents is attributed the comparatively small per- centage of casualties, a major portion of which are slight .- FUNSTON.
REPORT FOR MARCH.
The command remained in the trenches of Caloocan until evening of March 24, 1899, when it was moved to La Loma church, about one mile southeast. At 6:30 A. M., March 25, 1899, the advance began, this regiment in center of brigade line, the entire division gradually swinging to the left until stopped at the Tulijan river, where the enemy was strongly entrenched on the north bank. Crossing under the enemy's fire was finally accomplished by company E, under command of Captain Watson, driving the enemy from their position, and the entire command passed to the opposite bank about noon. No further opposition was met with and position was taken for
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the night. At seven A. M. the following day the advance was continued with little resistance from the insurgents, until the Manila-Dagupan railway was crossed near Polo station. Later in the day line was formed for the night about one mile north of station, the third battalion in rear. On the 27th the command moved forward at seven A. M., passing through the town of Mey- cauayan and halting just beyond for dinner. Shortly after noon companies H and I were called into action on left of road, engaging the enemy across the Marilao river. It was found impossible to dislodge them, and the regimental command, with One platoon of company C, crossed river on left and attacked in rear, taking twenty-eight prison- ers and rifles, besides killed and wounded. This platoon returned, and command moved down river and crossed at the town of Marilao in time to par- ticipate in engagement with the insurgents, who attempted to advance but were driven hack, and position taken for the night just north of river. No move was made on the 28th. March 29 the line moved forward at six A. M., this regiment on right of brigade line and to left of railroad track, the third battalion in support. The enemy were engaged within a mile and quickly driven back across the Santa Marva, Bigoa, and Guiginto rivers, halting for about two hours just south of the town of Bigoa. Just north of the Guiginto river the advance was checked by a spirited fire from the enemy. Line was quickly formed, and the fire silenced after a hard fight of about twenty minutes. The line remained in this posi- tion until 2:30 P. M., March 30, when the advance was continued, with the first battalion in sup- port, to the main road into Malolos, where, some resistance being met with, the line was halted for
Just before the charge at Caloocan.
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the night, and preparations made to advance on the town the following day.
In all of these engagements the men of this command con- tinued to exhibit the soldierly qualities heretofore character- istic of their services, encountering the numerous difficulties of the campaign with patience, fortitude, and endurance .- FUNSTON.
REPORT FOR APRIL.
On the 31st of March the regiment, on the right of the brigade line and west of the Manila-Dagupan railway, advanced upon the city of Malolos. The regimental commander, with a small party from company E, moved in front of the command and was the first to enter the public square of the city, meeting with little resistance. Line was formed about a mile north of Malolos, and no further move was made until April 25, when active operations were again resumed, and the command moved, in conjunction with the First Montana, against the Filipino entrenchments on the north bank of the Bagbag river. Line was halted about half a mile from same, and, after a spirited shelling of the works by the armored train, company K ad- vanced to the river and drove the enemy from their position after a few minutes' fire. Position was taken for the night on south bank of river, and on the 26th the advance was re- sumed until opposite the town of Calumpit.
After a continuous fire maintained for the balance of the day, a portion of the 27th, it was found impossible to force the passage at the railroad, and the regimental commander, with forty-five men from various companies, crossed the river about a quarter of a mile below the bridge and attacked the enemy
in the rear, quickly driving them from their position. Mean- while the balance of the regiment, together with the Montana regiment, crossed the river on the railroad bridge, and the enemy were rapidly pressed northward through the town of Apolit, at which place the regiment is now located.
The enemy's loss in these engagements was very heavy in killed and wounded, while the total casualties in this command were one killed and fourteen wounded, three of whom have since died .- FUNSTON.
REPORT FOR MAY.
The regiment, in conjunction with the First Montana, left Apolit early on the morning of May 4, marching north ward along the Manila-Dagupan railway, crossing several streams by means of railway bridges, until at about nine A. M. the third battalion, which was leading the advance, encountered the enemy, who were entrenched on the north side of the Santo Tomas river, and engaged them. Company H, supporting a battery consisting of one Hotchkiss and one Gatling gun, de- ployed on the right of the railroad, and later company C de- ployed on the right of company H. After considerable firing, company I was ordered to relieve company H, whose supply of ammunition was short. Company D advanced along the rail- road, firing on the enemy to the left. After about an hour's engagement the enemy retreated to their trenches north of the Santo Tomas railroad station, where they made a stronger stand. Companies C, D, and I, having crossed the bridge, of which one span had been cut and dropped into the river, ad- vanced and, being reinforced by companies G and E, of the second battalion, a charge was made, dislodging the enemy
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1
and driving them from the field. That night and the follow- ing day the regiment rested at Santo Tomas, and on May 6 entered San Fernando.
On the evening of May 8 outposts were attacked, the engage- ment lasting about one hour, in which companies B, C, D, H, I and M took part.
The regiment left quartere at 8:30 A. M., May 24, under com- mand of Major Whitman, to engage the enemy west of San Fernando, the third battalion being left in reserve. The first and second battalions made a detour to the right, moving under cover of the woods, the leading company arriving within about 150 yards of the enemy's entrenchmente before being discovered. The first battalion, consisting of companies A, B, and L, deployed, and attacked the enemy from the front. The second battalion, companies E, G, K, and M, deploying at nearly right angles to the line of entrenchments, and the first battalion, gradually swinging to the left, drove the enemy in a southerly direction along the trench, completely routing them, and compelling them to retreat in disorder, the first battalion following them through and beyond Bacolor.
At six A. M., May 25, a reconnoissance party, consisting of companies D, H, and one platoon of I, together with two com- panies of First Montana, under General Funston, left San Fernando, passing through Bacolor to Santa Rita, engaging the enemy in a skirmish for about an hour at the latter place, returning to San Fernando at about four P. M., at which time, the outpost being threatened on the north, companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, I, and L, reinforced, the enemy were engaged and driven north beyond Calumpit, our forces returning from there.
On the morning of May 26, the outpost being attacked, com- panies B and F were sent to reinforce company L, on duty at the outpost. The engagement lasted about half an hour. No casualties .- METCALF.
REPORT FOR JUNE.
Up to the morning of June 16 all was quiet on the outpost, although a portion of the regiment was sent out on various
Insurgent prisoners, captured by the Twentieth Kansas, on their way to prison. [From a snap-abot.]
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nights to reinforce the companies on duty at the front, owing to the fact that there were rumors to the effect that the in- surgents would attack the city of San Fernando, where the regiment was stationed.
On the morning of June 16 a large body of insurgents at- tacked the Montana and Kansas line, the attack extending around the city. Companies D and G were on duty at the outpost, and were reinforced by C and H, followed shortly by the entire regiment. Companies C and E, under command of Major Bishop, moving north under cover of a strip of timber, surprised a body of insurgents, and moving by the left flank drove the enemy to the west and north in disorder, killing and wounding many. Casualties, one private, severe.
After about an hour's engagement the enemy was repulsed, and retreated with considerable loss.
The forces at San Fernando were again attacked on the night of June 22, the firing commencing on the east of the city, very heavily, but upon reaching our line the attack was only half-hearted, the insurgents being easily and quickly re- pulsed.
On June 24 the first and third battalions, and on the 25th the second battalion, left San Fernando and returned to Ma- nila, the regiment having been on the line since February 4, or 140 days. The first and third battalions went into quarters at Cuartel de Espana, and the second at Cuartel del Fortin, where they are now stationed. Since our arrival in Manila the regiment has been performing provost-guard duty, having been temporarily assigned for duty to the provost guard .- METCALF.
REPORT FOR JULY.
On the 12th of July companies C, D, H, and I, composing the third battalion of the regiment, were sent to Paranaque, P. I., to join General Lawton's division, where they arrived at two P. M. of that date, relieving a detachment of the Four- teenth United States infantry .- METCALF.
Our " Little Brown Sisters."
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RETURN OF THE KANSAS HEROES.
By the terms of the enlistment the members of the "fighting Twentieth" were entitled to their discharge papers when the treaty of peace was signed between the United States and Spain. At that time things were in a serious condition in the Philip- pines. The Kansas boys, filled with patriotism and love of country, waived their rights under the enlistment agreement and noti- fied the War Department that they would remain in the field until sufficient reinforcements could reach the islands from the United States. In the meantime people at home became anxious about the Kansas heroes. They felt that the regiment had done its full duty and was entitled to come back. The War Department hurried reinforcements to the Philippines as fast as possible, and when the Twentieth felt that it could be spared from the scene of war it prepared for its departure from Manila.
After an active campaign of over eleven months it embarked on the transport Tartar for home September 3, 1899. On the day of sailing the numerical strength of the regiment was 708 men and 41 officers. These were all that were left of the regiment which left for San Francisco in May, 1898.
On board the Tartar, besides the command under Colonel Metcalf, was General Funston, formerly colonel of the regiment. Colonel Little was in Japan, as was also Lieutenant Whisner, who expected to join the regiment upon its arrival at Yokohama.
The homeward journey began on the afternoon of September 3, and the Tartar sailed into the harbor at Hong Kong three days later. Here the transport was put into dry dock where extensive repairs were made. The regiment spent the time on shore, where the Kansans enjoyed the hospitality of the British troops.
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