USA > Nebraska > The first Nebraska in camp and field, by first Nebraska boys > Part 4
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Onr ammunition ran low, a great many had but four or five rounds left, and then we received
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orders to fix bayonets. We thought that our time had come, and prepared to receive the enemy warmly if they attempted to come over. It was not a pleasant situation to be in-out of ammuni- tion in the midst of a hot fire with the enemy close upon us. But just then the firing ceased and we were much relieved. The fight had lasted more than an hour, and, although we did not expect another attack until daylight, lookouts were still kept at the port holes.
A sergeant, while looking through a port hole, saw some ferns waving to much, he thought, for the amount of wind blowing, and he called several others to look at them. They were all of the same opinion, and reported to the officers, but conld not get permission to fire. Finally Lieut. Talbot of M company resolved to take matters into his own hands, and accordingly ordered a volley fired. After that there were no more ferns waving. Some of the boys immediately lay down in the mnd and went to sleep, but for the most of them there was no sleep. They lounged around, sitting or lying in the mud, expecting another attack at daybreak. One of the pickets sent ont in front afterwards told us his experience. He said that though they crouched close to the ground, and fell down whenever the moon came out, they were discovered by a sharpshooter before they got half way to their post, who planted several bullets un- comfortably close to them. When they arrived at their place, they dng a small hole, into which they crawled, bm soon had to move into a darker place on account of the Spanish gentleman's attentions. Afior they had been there awhite, he said, he looked towards Manila and was startled.to see some elephants close upon him. He looked a little
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longer, and as his heart slowly slid out of his mouth down his throat, he thought that they were men on horseback a short distance away, and as his heart settled back to its place with a thnd, he saw that they were men crawling over the breast- works on their hands and knees. He could see them very plainly because they were between him and the lights of Manila, and he called his compan- ion's attention to them. They did not fire and run. as they had been ordered, they simply ran. and ran like an engine going down hill -- the further they went the more momentnm they gained, until they cleared that breastwork at a single bonnd.
The long dreary night passed, and daylight came withont the expected attack. The first light of dawn was hailed with delight by a crowd of cold, wet, hungry, sleepy and tired men. Visions of something to eat, and a half day's rest in camp floated before us, but we had yet some time to re- main, as it would be 9 or 10 o'clock before we were relieved.
Passing down the trench that morning a fel- low noticed that the sight was gone off one of the guns belonging to the Utah battery and asked about it. He was told that the Sunday night be- fore as the lieutenant was reaching for the breech block to open it, a Manser bullet passed just be- tween his hand and the gun, taking away the sight. The same night as a corporal was working at the gun in the open place cut in the bank to run the gun out, a soldier asked if it was safe to pass the opening. The corporal smiled and said, "I am working right in the open." The soldier started, bnt had only taken a few steps when he dropped dead with a bullet through his head.
Some inquisitive soldier, looking over the
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breastworks soon after daylight, saw a dark object lying in the grass just in the edge of the timber. He called an officer with a field glass, who dis- covered that it was a dead Spaniard partly buried in the grass, and with pariah dogs tearing at his shoulders. It was impossible to get to him, as a sharpsho. ter soon located the place where we looked over, and it was dangerous for one to raise his head above the breastworks. One of the boys wanted to creep around the end of the trench and get the dead man's rifle, but the officers would not let him. It seemed a pity to leave him there, but it was the fault of those Spanish sharpshooters.
Abont 9 o'clock we were relieved by the First California, and started back to camp in pleasant anticipation of half a day's rest. But all who went up did not come back. One had offered up his young life for the cause of liberty, Wm. P. Lewis, of Co E, the first Nebraskan killed on the island, had half his head taken off by a shell, and seven were wounded.
A few dropped out on the march back, but the . most, though tired and hungry, dragged them- selves through the mud and water under the blis- tering sun all the distance. When we arrived at camp we were delighted to find that the thought- ful Pennsylvania boys had come over the night be- fore and closed our tents, and that morning had "policed" our camp. But what interested us the most was mail. Mail from home, the first we had received. Hunger and weariness were forgotten. With a shout we made a rush for it, and then, throwing down our equipments in the most con- yenient place. we were soon lost in news from home. As one fellow was sitting in his tent read- ing a letter, a large fly buzzed into the open front,
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and down the soldier went on his back as though shot.
It was here that some of the horrors of war were brought to our notice. It seems that the in- surgents held quite a number of Spanish prison- ers somewhere in the vicinity of Manila, and as would naturally be expected, did not treat them very well. One day twenty-eight Spanish pris- oners, who had escaped from the insurgents, came to the camp of the Pennsylvania boys, looking for food. They were a pathetic sight. Their clothes were torn and ragged, hanging in shreds from their wasted bodies, their hair and beards were long and unkempt, and their eyes sunken and dull. They were barefooted, and most of them without hats. Some wore only a pair of trousers, torn away from the knee down, some hnd pieces of undershirts, and others the tatters of old coats. All were weak, and many had to be helped along. Altogether they were a pitiful sight. They at- tempted to cross the guard line, and when the guard halted them, bringing his gun to a charge bayonets, they thought that they were going to be shot, and begged for mercy on their knees. The guard was touched with pity, and called the cor- poral, who took them into camp, and notified the colonel. When he saw them heordered his slender store of provisions opened, and feeding them lib- erally, let them go. It would have been more hu- mane to keep and feed them, but that was impos- sible. They went away thanking the American soldiers in the most extravagant way. It is pos- sible that they managed to get through the insur- gent lines to their friends in Manila, and if they did, they surely spoke well of the American sol- diers.
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After that the days passed as usual, with drill and ontpost duty, with its dangers and ever vary- ing events, with its pleasures and hardships, un- til the 12th of Angust. On that day large supplies of ammunition were brought from brigade to regi- mental headquarters, and we knew that soon we were to take Manila, Manila the doomed city. How often have we gone down to the beach and looked up toward the city in the distance, and wondered how its defenders felt. There was a cer. tain romance connected with thoughts of the city that even the realities of war could not dispel. There is always something romatic about all things Spanish, especially to those who had read stories of beautiful Spanish women, and of Spanish chiv- alry during the days of old, when Spain was at the height of her glory.
But the sight of that ammunition brought us back to the present. On the morning of the 13th we started. The Spaniards had a series of trenches in a sort of semicirle around Manila, and it was the business of the army to drive the enemy out of these, into the city, and then the fleet would either compel them to surrender, or blow the city to pieces. Our brigade, consisting of the Pennsyl- vania, Colorado and Nebraska volunteer regiments, and two battalions of the 18th U. S. I. under Gen. Green, had the left of the line near the beach. The assault commenced by the firing of the fleet on the trenches and then on Fort Malate, a short distance south of the Manila wall. In the meantime the army was closing in gradually and driving the Span- iards from trench to trench back toward the city. The Nebraska regiment, with the exception of F company, as they neared Malate, marched along the beach. F company, under Capt. Vickers, was
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detailed to escort three guns of the Sixth artillery along the Calle Real. or royal highway. A water buffalo (cariboo) pulled each gun, except when it got stuck in the mud, then the boys had to lift it out. As they drew near to the Spanish lines, and the fire became heavier, one man had to be detailed to hold his bayonet aganist the native driver to keep him from running away. As they came to each trench they had to get np on top and dig it down, keeping time to the cheerful sound of the bullets whistling past their ears. Meanwhile the rest of the regiment was wading the water waist deep along the sea wall of Fort Malate, while the Colorado band played a "Hot Time." Our band had been left on the boat. As we passed the last trench at Malate, and crossed the bridge just at the corner of the fort we had to pass along the wall for a short distance, in single file, and in a crouching position, as we made good targets against the white of the stone wall, the bullets playing a merry rat-a-tat tat above us. However, nobody was hit, and one or two stopped to pick up a few souvenirs. Souvenirs were plentiful if we had had time to pick them up, and had not been too tired to carry them after we had them. All the trenches showed signs of a hasty flight. In all of them were cigarettes, wine, blankets, swords, rifles and ammunition. In one place we came up- on the dead body of a Spanish soldier with a half burned cigarette between the fingers of his left hand, and in a hole in Fort Malate made by one of Dewey's shell were twenty dead Spaniards.
We marched through Malate, fired upon fre- quently from windows, until men were sent into the houses to clear them. From there we passed the Lunette, the park of Manila, and halted before the
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gray walls of the city, upon the corner of which floated a white flag. Our work was almost done, and with tired bodies hnt exultant hearts, we threw ourselves upon the grass to eat our canned beef and hard tack. Across the moat the Span- iards sat on their outer entrenchments and watched ns. They were picturesque-at least now when they could do ns no harm-with their large white Panama hats, and light blue uniforms, which made a pleasing combination of color with the red blanket roll thrown across the left should- er, and under the right arm. But the American soldiers were far from picturesque-in fact, they would have shocked some. of their friends at home. Each wore a drab colored campaign hat with the brim turned down all around for protection against the sun, brown canvas trousers and leggings, and a blue flannel shirt, open in front, and with the sleeves rolled up to the elbow. The whole uni- form was covered with mud, and on the faces of the men was quite a growth of heard. If those Spaniards had any sense of humor that would have aroused it, but they evidently did not or they concealed it well.
Before we had finished eating we saw two Spanish soldiers come out of one of the gates and walk toward us on a path which ran along the out- side of the moat, and parallel to the wall. As they drew near we discovered that one was a boy not more than fifteen or sixteen years old We at once fell in love with his bright, handsome, smiling face. Passing along the row of Americans he reached out his hand and touched each on the head. Even though we were then tasting the sweets of victory, we could not help thinking of the mother that young boy had left far away
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across the water, and of her sorrow at sending her child thousands of miles away to fight for his country. How we wish that some people in this country who think of Spaniards as robbers, ty- rants and cutthroats, could have seen that sight, and shared our feelings that day, We must cou- fess that it took some of the exultation out of our hearts, to think that an hour before we had prob- ably been shooting at him. We watched him till he passed out of sight, but his memory never left ns, and tonight as we sit here writing, the picture of that far away scene comes vividly before our mind, 'the central figure of which is that bright smiling young face, and we can yet hear his soft "Buenos dias, Americanos."
After he had passed we fell to discussing the chances of taking 'Manila by an infantry assult, and came to the conclusion that five hundred men could hold it against ten times that number. First there was a mout, or wide ditch filled with water, then a few trees fallen outward, a short distance beyond were three barbed wire fences with the wires wove in and out, and a barbed wire tangle directly in front. Beyond this were the onter entrenchments, so covered with green grass, and with port holes so artfully covered, that it was almost impossible to be seen except at short range. Next was a ditch of soft inud over which were narrow bridges leading to the gates. And then behind it all was the wall itself, built of stone, thirty feet high and twenty-five or thirty feet thick, the top fairly bristling with guns, mostly of an old pattern but many of an improved model.
After resting awhile we fell in and started to march to the gates, but on regiment did not go
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into the walled city; instead it crossed the Pasig river into New Manila, the part of the city out- side the wall. As we halted a few moments at the end of the bridge, we saw, standing beside a Spanish soldier, who was leaning on his gun, a lovely lady dressed in red; a white lady, and dressed in European fashion. No wonder our hearts gave a fintter. Any white woman would have been pretty to us who had seen none for so long, but this one would have been beautiful any place, with her pale complexion. beautifully muonlded features, black flashing eyes, black hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. But the expression on her face well nigh spoiled her beauty. It was one of disdain and contempt, probably as much on account of our appearance as our nationality. However it was not much more than a vision, for we passed on and never saw her again, though we must confess it was not our fault.
After .crossing the bridge we marched through crowds of Filipinos and Chinamen, who cheered us loudly, and jabbered to one another abont our appearance. They seemed very glad to think that we had at last driven the Spaniard from power. We afterwards learned that they were surprised, both at the size and at the appear- ance of the Americans. They had never before seen so many big men, and their respect for the "Americanos" grew accordingly.
We again halted just across the bridge and looked in wonder at the quaint buildings; and at the oddly dressed, jabbering population. But we were to tired to take much interest in anything; we wanted a little rest and a drink of water. It was then after 3 o'clock and we had had no water since 10 o'clock that morning, and had been
FIRST NEBRASKA ENTERING MANILA AUGUST 13. 1999
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marching all the time under a burning tropical sun. Rumor had it also that water was very scarce in the city because the Filipinos had ent off the supply, which came to the city through large pipes from the hills.
We then marched around through the city to the office of captain of the port, on the left bank of the Pasig. and some distance below the bridge. There the 3d battalion of the Ist Nebraska regi- ment, under Major Mulford, pulied down the Spanish flag and hoisted the stars and stripes, the first in New Manila.
After the ceremony we stacked arms, except the guards, and sought some rest. We had noth- ing to eat except some hard tack, but contrary to expectation, we got plenty of water. A native woman carried it to us in a large earthen jar, passing down the line and giving each a drink out of half a cocoanut shell fashioned into a dipper. In return we gave her hard tack, at which she was much pleased, as were we to get rid of it. We discovered the next day that there was plenty of water in the c ty. The honses were built to catch the rain, which was run either into large iron tanks or large earthen jars, of which we saw many sitting along the streets. A few of the boys who had money tried to buy something to eat, but all they could get was a few canned sardines, and that was about all there was in the city in the way of provisions.
That evening as we sat along the paved bank of the sluggish Pasig, we saw many strange things. In the river, near its mouth, a boat had been sunk, and another, a gunboat, was burning. We watched the latter until the ammunition began to go off, and then we did not watch it any longer.
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Directly opposite us a boat had been moored, and fifteen minutes later only the front end was ont of the water. As one watched a small fleet of coasters np the river a short distance, a sort of uncanny feeling would come over him, and he would imagine that his mind was slipping from him. They seemed to be moving slowly, and gradually settling. A handsome little launch came gliding up the river, and was tied on the op- posite side. While we were admiring it, it left its moorings, glided out from the bank a short dis- tance and went down. The meaning then dawned upon ns. They had all been scuttled hy the Spaniards to prevent their falling into our hands. However it did no more than cause the American authorities a little trouble, far they were all after- wards raised and unt to use. This was only a be. ginning, though. That night the Spaniards further tried to cirenment the Americans by throwing guns, ammunition and other supplies into the river from the wall. During part of the night they could be heard falling into the water. bnt why it was not stopped we cannot tell, as the Oregon regiment was gnarding the arsenal.
When darkness fell the granite pavement along the river front was onr hed, and so tired wore we that, lying on the stones with a poncho under and nothing over ns, we slept through a hard rain without waking. We had expected to go into the Spanish barracks when we entered the city, but instead, the Spanish prisoners occupied them, and the Americans took such vacant build- ings as they could find. The first battalion of on regiment used an old government building along the canal, the second had another near by, and the third was quartered in part of an old warehouse
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beside the river. The stone floor of the building was covered with a kind of chaff, upon which we slept for a few nights, but we afterwards cleaned that out and used bales of hemp for beds. By putting two end to end they made a very good bed, except that they were very hard. These we used for a long time, until they were taken away by the owners, some Englishmen, and then we were given captured Spanish canvas cots.
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CHAPTER V. MANILA.
The next morning we began to see some of the curions sights of the quaint old city. Just across the street from our quarters was a police station with groups of policemen standing around staring at the American soldiers. They were gandy fellows, wearing blue miforms with a wide red stripe down the tronsers leg, and carrying Remington rifles. The officers' uniforms were nearly covered with red and gold braid, and they carried swords. However, they were soon dis- banded, onr gnards taking their place.
The part of the city which our regiment guarded was called the Binondo district. It was the native quarter, the sinms, the dirtiest. tough. est place in a dirty, tough city. The streets were narrow and dirty, some so bad, in fact, that an American . could not pass with ont holding his nose. These were the streets lined with Chinese junk shops and slipper factories and native res- tamrants Still the city was nearly all the same, ox- cept the Escolta, or main street, which was rather a nice place. Back of the city, in the Binondo, were many old shops and warehouses, but worst of all were the bamboo huts along the beach. There was a row of them which was a veri- table mystic maze. They were all joined to- gether, yet each was a separate house, and one could scarcely find his way through. This row
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was rather narrow, being situated between the railroad track and the beach. This place was a smuggler's paradise, to prevent which we put out patrols, a corporal and two privates. It was not an uncommon thing to see the three come mp in the morning with a few pesos (Spanish silver dol- lar) in their pockets. When asked how they got them, they would reply "Oh! a native had some flour to land and could not get a pass at that time of night, nor conld he leave it our in the rain, so" -- And everybody knew and said nothing.
But we started on a brief description of the city of Manila, realizing at the same time that it is a diffienit task. We wish that we could give our readers a picture of what we saw from day to day.
The streets, as we said. were narrow. They were also crooked, or rather curved, and at many places, two or three or more, would meet in a plaza, always in front of a cathedral. Most of the fronts of the honses looked like one continual stone wall with holes ent through for doors and windows. The lower parts of the houses were built of stone. while the upper was of wood, jut- ting over the lower part four or five feet, making a narrow awning over the sidewalk. The upper part had sliding windows which were so arranged that they could be shoved together, leaving the room like a veranda. The lower windows were all barred with iron bars running perpendicular, while the doors were always large donble ones, with a strong bar inside, giving the house the ap- pearance of a prison. Truly there "every man's honse was his castle." Most of the vacant pieces of ground in the city were protected by stone walls with port holes cut through, and broken
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glass cemented in the top. The whole city had the appearance of being built to repel an attack.
Among the better class of natives the upper part of the house was the residence, while in the lower was kept the horses. carriages, dogs and servants. But the poorer class lived on the ground floor. Fifteen or eighteen Chinamen or Filipinos would eat, sleep and carry on their busi- ness in a room twelve by fifteen reeking with filth. This, however, is only in the center of the city. The principal residence part of the city, where are the houses of the wealthy Spaniards and foreigners is further up the Pasig. A row of the finest of these is situated along the bank of the river, abont fifty feet back from the water. These honses are like those already described except that they are much larger. From the rear of the house to the river is a wide covered walk, and at the edge of the river are some stone steps, lead- ing to the water. Above this walk is a wide ver- anda extending the whole length of the house. In front is a cirenlar driveway, in the center of which is a fountain, surrounded by a round bed of flowers and grass. Instead of a grassy lawn the space in front of the house is filled with ferns, shrubs and palm trees. In front of this row of houses is a fine boulevard, so lined with trees that it is nearly always shady, except at noon. 'I here are several of these fine drives in this part of the city, but none so shady as this. The ont- skirts of the city, in fact, are not so crowded as the center. In the northern part of the city is a driveway nearly a mile long and nearly a block wide, very smooth, lined on either side with small neat cottages, while in the center is a row of beautiful trees. Just beyond this is the large
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cemetery. While there are here a few graves, the principal part was a stone wall abont seven feet thick. In one side of this are holes just large enongh for a coffin, and into these places the corpses were put and then sealed up. They stayed there if the relatives owned the place, otherwise after a certain length of time the bones are taken ont and thrown onto the bone pile.
Besides the Escolta, where were all the retail stores, there was one other principal business street, the Rosario, lined on either side with small Chinese shops, which were neat and clean, but. in the rest of the city nearly all the business was done by these little stands set up in doorways. A very few places had a few shelves on which were some bottles of brandy, wine, and vino, a native drink which was like liquid fire,
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