USA > Nebraska > The first Nebraska in camp and field, by first Nebraska boys > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11
78
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
seeing each of us get at one pay day what to them seemed a fortune, they thought that we did not care for money, and that they had a right to get as much as they could from ns.
In our wanderings around the city, and in the execution of our duty we came upon many sur- prises. One day whilo patroling along the beach it became necessary to tell some natives some- thing, and as they could not understand, one of them brought up another native, who talked good English. He was simply a stevedore, but was bright, and he and the soldiers soon became friends. The writer would visit him evenings. and listen to his stories of the last rebellion against Spain, for he was a major in the Filipino army. He was much interested in the future of the islands and in the attitude of the United States. He said that they did not want absolute indepen- dence, but an independent government under the protection of the United States, because he said the Filipinos had no navy and would be the prey of other nations. He said that they could main- tain themselves on land by a guerrilla warfare, but it would devastate their country and kill their people. This, remember, from a common laborer.
But though they were not. as wesaid. to be de- pended on in business, yet the following incident will show whether or not it was from dishonesty. One day a little Filipino boy who had been around quarters a day or two asked a soldier for some laundry. Not needing any then, yet wishing to help the little boy, the soldier gave him a white dnek snit that had not been worn for a week or so. He did not know where the Filipino lived or any- thing about him, and half believed that his clothes were gone, but in a day or two the boy not only
79
IN CAMP AND FIELD
brought back the clothes, but also gave him a peseta (Spanish twenty cent piece) which he had found in one of the pockets. This little fellow was adopted by one of the companies, and after. wards became a servant at the headquarters of General Otis, so quickly did he learn the English language and American customs.
But as for our regiment, a severe shaking up was in store for it. The resignation of Col. Bratt was accepted on the 10th of November, 1998, and he immediately left for home. At the same time Major John M. Stotsenberg was appointed Colonel against the wishes of the majority of the boys, and also without their knowledge. Immediately every- thing was changed. The quarters were ordered to be kept cleaner; guards were not allowed to loiter on their beats; and some general orders were issned to all, in regard to guard dnty, on which every gnard was liable to be questioned by officers; the dirty brown uniforms were not allowed to be worn away from quarters; no more nondescipt clothes were permitted at guard mount and dress parade, but a prescribed miform was to be worn, which had to be clean, faces were to be shaved and shoes blacked, and guns and equipments per- feetly clean. In fact a revolution (or reformation) was made.
We will not do justice to Colonel Stotsenberg or ourselves if we do not give the truth of this much discussed matter. Colonel Stotsenberg was a striet disciplinarian, but the boys took hisstrict- ness for ernelly. They thought that he was am- bitions, and wished to use the regiment to make a name for himself. Nobody ever doubted his abil- ity, but they doubted his honesty. He was ae- cused of being the cause of the regiments having
80
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
to stay there, because he had a good job and did not want to lose it. He was accused of misrepre- senting a cablegram to the regiment from the governor, and in fact, all the misfortune of the re- giment were laid at his door. When the cable- gram came from the governor asking to ascertain the views of the men in regard to being minstered out, two drafts of an answer were made, which were submitted to the regiment to sign, under the promise that the one receiving the majority of sig- natures would be sent. One read, "Regiment wishes to be mustered out. Health bad, military condition good." This received nearly all the signatures of the regiment, yet because we were not ordered home, we accused Col. Stotsenberg of being the canse.
However he did many things for us which we did not appreciate at the time, because we did not know that he did them. Our quarters by the Pasig were unhealthful because of the mud under- neath the stone floor, so part of the regiment was moved to another government building nearer the main part of the town, and those who remained in the okl quarters were put in the upper story. Every precantion was taken to prevent disease by those who were capable of doing it, under his di- rection, for the regiment at that time was badly ent np by sickness, not more than 500 at one time being able for duty. Ile took a great deal of in- terest in sports, and did much to encourage base ball. Our regiment had a good team, and won its share of games, but on accountof the poor ground, the heat, and the restlessness of the boys, there was not the interest that would make the game & success. We also had a ministrel show which, thongh good, was not very well attended. It was
81
IN CAMP AND FIELD
for the benefit of the regimental hospital, but the receipts would not found a very large one. How- ever it was amusement and diversion, which in it- self was as good as medicine.
There were quite a number of Filipino shows which were well enough to attend once, but a rep- etition of them did not appeal even to us.
But the spirit of restlessness never departed. It is no disgrace to us that we wanted to go home, and wanted to go badly, for we did not know how things were going and could not see why we were kept there. This restlessness was augmented by letters from home saying that from promises made by the war department we would soon be homeward bound. This suspense made the life harder to bear than actual campaigning. These reports led to rumors which were never ending. and went to almost any length of absurdity. Every day somebody had a new report that came from * * good authority," he had heard some officer talk- ing or he had been the colonel's orderly and saw the official dispatches. Even the papers published in Manila contained some of these reports, which, of course, gave them weight. These rumors were not contined to our regiment alone, but were pre- valent among all the volunteers. They became so numerous and were disproved so often that they became the subject of much amusement and chuff- ing, as the following poem, written by a 1st Cali- fornian and published in Manila, will show:
IN MANILA. 1998 Through the streets of oid Manila Aimlessly one day I strode. Till I bumped against a figure Standing silent in the road; Such an odd againy figure
..
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
That I quickly staggered back, Thinking that it was a spirit And I'd run across it's track. On his head he wore a helmet Rather doubtful as to hue, Our his legs some battered leggings And his coat was once a blue. On his shoulder was a musket Rusted with the rust of years Like himself; this apparition Greatly served to rouse my fears.
"What the dickens are you!" asked I And my breath came quick and short, He then ont of force of habit Brought his rifle to a port "You remember then, " he answered, Just a hundred years ago There was trouble with the Spaniards, "Iwas about the Maine, you know.
Then I left home for Manila, With more U. S. volunteers, We were numbered several thousand, All enlisted for two years. Oh! the others? they are sleeping In the ancient church yard here Far from home and loving kindred And their native country dear. Some were stricken by diseases Victims of fever's rage. Some were smitten with small-pox Others died of ripe old age. I'm the last of all those thousands Through this place I still must roam Waiting for expected orders, Welcome orders to go home!
IN CAMP AND FIELD
But there was one event that put life into ns, and which we did not enjoy in a half hearted man- ner, and that was the arrival of mail. When the mail was landed at the captain of the port there was a crowd present to see how many sacks there were for Nebraska, and from then until it was dis- tributed we were in a fever of expectation, and could talk of nothing else. When a non-commis- sioned officer came into the quarters and cried, "Mail" there was a rush that would nearly take him off his feet, but when the distribution was over there were many sad faces of those who did not "hear from home." Little did friends at home know of the joy in one little letter. Why. mail day was much more important than pay day.
In the early part of December the recuits ar- rived from Honolulu where they had been in camp for six months. A few weeks afterward the men in the hospitals, one hundred and eighty nine in nminber, were discharged and started for San Francisco on the S. S. Ohio. This was a death blow to our hopes. We had been saying for some time that if the reernits came we knew that we would have to stay. But if that was not enongh, the next orders we received settled it.
On the 8th of December we received orders to pack our things and to be ready at any moment to move into the country. For once there was no rumor as to where we were going, for details from each company had been at work on the camp for a few days before, but there were rumors as to the canse. One was that the move was for sanitary purposes, and to get the regiment in better shape to stand the trip home. We did not know then, as we now do, that it was for the purpose of ad- vancing our outposts, for at that time the feeling
i
スト
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
between the Filipinos and us was so friendly that we had not the least suspicion of trouble. W .. put our boxes on board cascos that afternoon, but only the first battalion moved that day. the rest of the regiment following the next morning.
IR CAMY AND FIELD
CHAPTER VI CAMP SANTA MESA
Santa Mesa (our new camp) was a pretty place about five miles from the heart of the city. It was on a knoll, surrounded on three sides by rice fields sloping gently toward the Pasig river on two sides, and the San Juan on one. The banks of the Pasig were mostly open, but there was a fringe of trees along the San Juan. From the camp to the rivers, across the nce fields, was about five hundred or six hundred yards. Across the Pasig was a building which had formerly been some Spanish barracks, now used by the Filipinos for the same purpose. A little to the left was an old stone church also used as barracks by the na- tive army, and still further to the left, and across the road that ran past the powder mill and water works further up, and across the San Jaun, was blockhouse number 7. sitnated on a hill overlook- ing the camp. On the other side of the camp, near the Pasig, which we must say, makes a big curve here, was the large rope factory owned by Mr. McLeod, an Englishman. For that reason the place was sometimes called McLeod's hill. His house was also on the hill near the camp, and there were many fine residences near on the road to the city. These were mostly owned by foreign- ers. All this around here was historic ground. Across the hill on which we camped had been a Spanish trench, which we dug down, and a little
86
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
further up the road a troop of Spanish cavalry held back the Filipino army, and then made a charge and ent their way through, in the begin- ning of the rebellion of 1896. The Spaniard with F company, who had fonght over all the ground. made a map of it and explained to us the different fights he had there been in.
This Spaniard had come to F company after the capture of Manila and wanted to go to America with us. Many attempts were made by the Span- ish officers to induce him to go back, yet he would not leave the Americans, and in the subsequent fighting he was at the front all the time, render- ing valuable services, both as a soldier and guide.
The camp hud been a muddy place, or rather portions of it had, but we drained and ditched it. The entrance, it is true, was so muddy that the natives would not drive their empty quiles (cov- ered two-wheeled carriages) in, but a plank road was laid there.
We there had tents as at San Francisco, but. were not so crowded. One tent contained ouly there, and we had cots besides. The large water main was tapped and pipes laid to the camp, So that we really had a nice place, but we were not satisfied, the desire to go home was as strong as ever and never left until the Filipino ontbreak.
From our elevated camp we could see the Filipinos at drill, and conld plainly hear their bngle calls. One must hear one of those Spanish bugles before he can appreciateit. It is a combina- tion of a challenge and a pitiful wail, and as it floats from the distance, it almost makes the cold chills creep over one. Then, too, we used to hear our own calls from there. The Filipino buglers. with their natural aptness for music, learned them
87
IN CAMP AND FIELD
and repeated them after our buglers. But whether they did this to mock us we could never tell.
The rainy season had been over since about the first of November, but it rained occasionally, and was often cool and cloudy.
After we had been in camp a short while we put bamboo floors in the tents, which we raised off the ground, and also got bamboo beds instead of the old canvas cots. But while everything was nice, time still hung heavily on our hands, and we needed some diversion, and something that was a little rough was better to keep our blood circulat- ing. It is true that we drilled-company drill in the morning and dress parade in the evening, but after one has been in the army as long as we, and had taken the amount of drill that is deemed necessary for a volunteer, it ceases to be a pleas- ure. But a crowd of fellows with the ingenuity and fun loving propensity of an American will not be long without sport, and it will usually take the form of jokes on each other, and we had enough of these to keep us either laughing or an- gry all the time. We could not get out of camp, nor did we care very much, as there was no forage near. Of course we had some base ball, for who ever heard of an American withont base ball, and sometimes a few of the boys would go to town. when they could get a pass. In the day time it was too hot to take any exercise, so we would read, write, sew. wash, clean equipments, or sleep. In the morning we would have inspec- tion of quarters, and right here it would be well to explode a certain mistaken notion that some people have about the army. We had often heard it said that the army was a good place to
:
88
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
learn neatness and system. It is a good place to get a whole lot of unpleasant experience in the way of work and danger, but not much else. It teaches one to become an adept at subterfuge- to hide his faults. For instance, at inspection the officers must not see any dirty clothes, but did that cause us to keep our clothes clean all the time? Hardly. We simply hid them under a neatly folded blanket. You cannot teach a man anything by making a machine out of him and letting someone else do his thinking. One fellow who was independent at home, and had no one to look after but himself, would fume at the restric- tions of army life. He said that he did not like to be told when to arise in the morning, when to eat, what clothes to wear, when he should talk, when he should work, and when he should go to bed. This is all comprised in that one magic word-discipline, which people on the streets say is very 'necessary to an army, but of which they know-nothing.
The days passed until Christmas. We had been wondering for some time how we would fit- tingly celebrate the occasion. A feast was neces- sary, but how were we to have one? was the qnes- tion. Company funds were low, and very few of the soldiers had any money, so we were naturally worried. But it was settled by the generous and timely contribution of the World-Herald of $1000. When the news of the fund was read to the com- panies they cheered the World-Herald heartily, and at once began active preparations for the day. Most of us were in a state of nervous expectancy to get the Christmas boxes from home, and many an evening we sat. in front of our tents or lounged within them, hazarding guesses as to what they
Private Grayson Firing the First Shot on the Night of Feb. 4, 1899.
IN CAMP AND FIELD
would contain, and telling what we would do with such and such an article if it were there. At last the day came. It broke clear and cooler than nsual, the bright sun rising over the hills seemed to shed over the whole lovely landscape a promise of "peace on earth, good will toward man," but maybe it failed to touch a responsive chord in the hearts of the soldiers of the two armies lying far. ing each other. We arose at the nsnat time and spout the morning lounging around camp waiting for dinner, for a special dinner is a thing to tu longed for in the army. At last our impatience ended, and we sat down to a long table amid much talking and laughter. The menu consisted of chicken, chicken broth, primes, canned peaches, rice pudding with prines, blackberry jam, broad and mashed potatoes, and coffee. Afterdinner we had base ball and foot ball, and in the evening the chaplain held services. And thus ended our Christmas in the army. To us from the north, where snow and ice seemed a necessary comple- ment to the holiday, one may imagine that Christ. mas with the thermometer near 100 degrees seemed a little out of the ordinary. But neverthe- less we enjoyed it.
At first the Filipino soldiers would come to our camp, and were very "mucho amigo," but. about the middle of January these visits ceased, and the air was full of that mysterions something which foreboded trouble. Everybody expected it. but nobody could tell exactly why. We had had outposts around the camp all the time, and and now these began to be strengthened. The boys were, as a general rule, of the opinion that if fighting commenced it would not take long to make the Filipinos sue for peace. They were
90
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
judging from the way they had fonght Spaniards, and of course considered our army much superior to the Spanish. But they failed to take into con- sideration the determination of the natives, and that with their natural quickness they had been learning American ways of fighting. These op- timists however soon saw their rosy tinted sky become clouded. We had been all the time ex- pecting orders to go home, but the length of time. and the premonition that the Filipinos would cause trouble, gradually dispelled this hope. We would say that if the Filipinos would not start a fight we would soon go home. A fruitful source of discussion during all this time was whether or not we could be held our full two years, since the peace treaty was now signed. After a fellow who had been arguing that we could, had been worsted in the argument on the law, he resorted to another which could not be denied -- "Well they've got us here and we can't get away."
On the night of February 4th, all hope fled, and we knew that many of us would never soo home again, but we resolved that who of us it might be, we would make those natives sorry that they had not let us go sooner.
91
IN CAMP AND FIELD
CHAPTER VII THE FILIPINO WAR.
About 9 o'clock on the night of February 4. 1899, we heard a shot fired from a Springfield on post No. 2, followed by two more in quick succes- sion, and then the Filipino line open up on our outpost. Suddenly the call to arms rang ontclear and weird on the night air, but most of the com- panies had already began to get ready. In a few minutes the Filipinos commenced to fire at the camp, wounding quite a number before we could get out, and soon the shonting of the officers giv- ing commands was mingled with the peenliar sing- ing of the Mansers, as each company formed and advanced on double time to the position which had already been assigned it by the colonel. Major Mulford had been to a Filipino show in Manila and came ont riding his horse on a run. In three or four minutes he was in charge of his battalion. By this time we could hear the firing along the whole line around Manila. Truly the night was hideous with the crack and pop of the rifles and the boom of the big guns, followed by the shriek- ing and bursting of the shells. For the first half hour the Filipino line was a string of fire, and then it dwindled down to intermittent shots and occasional volleys, which however, served to keep us under cover and on the alert all night.
Co. I, on a point across the San Juan river
.-
92
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
from the Filipinos was receiving a hot fire, and to relieve them F company commeuced volleying in- to the enemy and siloneed them. After that we had about two hours quiet, during which we kept a good lookout for an expected attack. We could hear the Filipinos cough and talk across the river, and we thought they acted somewhat frightened. Perhaps it was like the man who, when drunk, thought everybody else was.
Abont 12 or 1 o'clock the light on the San Juan bridge suddenly went out, and we immedi- ately prepared to resist an attack. The enemy across the bridge and up the road near the maga- · zine raised a yell for a charge, but we poured volley after volley into them with such effect that they did not dare to attempt an attack, but instead they raised a tantalizing yell, which they kept mp till morning. We knew by their yelling that they were in a safe place, so we reserved our fire to save ammunition. All night we lay constantly on the lookont for an attack, and exchanging shots. sometimes volleys, and sometimes simply a few shots So close were the enemy, just across the river, that we talked to each other. The Filipinos would say, "Americans, come over here" (Ameri- canos, vamoos agni) and the Americans would ro. ply, "Filipinos, come over here," and then both sides would fire a volley or two. They also yelled tanntingly at ns in Spanish "Vivo Filipino. Ona Chinaman is equal to six Americans. In a little while the Americans will not want to fight." To call a man a Chinaman in that country is putting the lowest possible estimate on both his courage and his ability to fight.
As the first ray of sunlight appeared over the eastern hills, the Filipinos opened a terrific fire on
93
IN CAMP AND FIELD
our camp, on the different companies, and in fact, on everything in sight. They were lying in the timber and brush in a semicircle around camp, so that their fire reached everything. The fonts were literally riddled with bullets, and many of the boxes even sitting on the ground had ballet holes through them, showing that the fire was not high. The air was so full of bullets coming from three sides that it seemed to us that they must strike each other. How anything could live on that steel swept field was a mystery, yet it was done. F company, lying in a pit not over fifty yards from the bridge, from behind the stone bal- ustrades of which the enemy were pouring a hot fire apon them, was cunning short of ammunition. and two fellows volunteered to go to camp after more. They crawled out of the pit. while therest of the boys made the natives keep their heads down, and started up the gentle slope a quarter of a mile long and perfectly open. We watched them anxiously, expecting every minute to see them both go down, but on they went, a target for many a Filipino rille, with the bullets throw- ing np little clonds of dust right at their very feel. What made it more miraculous was that they were going up a hill and the Filipinos conid not fire over them. They reached camp safely, got the ammunition and started back. Again they were the object of Filipino marksmanship, but they arrived at the pit muhurt. It was sur- prising that they were not hit ont in the open, but it was astounding that they escaped as they drew near the pit, for one of the natives on the bridge had proved himself an excellent marksman These, on the bridge, were commanded by a white man, who could be heard giving the commands .
9-4
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
partly in English and partly in Spanish.
All the time two guns of the Utah battery on a hill behind ns were sheffing the country beyond the river. The natives also had a cannon near the old church, which they fired several times. One shot came near the Utah battery, who then sil- enced it with three shots. In the meantime Co. D had been ordered to take blockhonse 7 and Co. K blockhonse 6. After half an hour's severe fight- ing, during which the Utah battery shelled the places ahead of them, both were captured.
Abont the same time companies L and M in open order, marched across an open rice field, a distance of about five hundred yards, toward the Pasig, from the timber on the other side of which the enemy was directing a heavy fire npon them. They advanced steadily in the face of that fierce fire, occasionally lying down and firing, and then again advancing. The Utah boys on the hill behind watched them in admiration for a while and then one exclaimed "Look at those fellows. They are heroes." They reached the timber and returned with interest the fire of the Filipinos, but they left several of their men on that field, evidences of Filipino marksmansliip. Soon after these movements the artillery placed a shell di- rectly on the bridge, scattering the natives. The instant they left their cover, F company rose and ponred volley after volley into them. They tried to regain their position, but the fire of the Ameri- cans was too hot and well directed. By this time Major Mulford had come down and ordered F company across the bridge. They rushed over the intervening space in the face of a fierce fire, and halted behind the stone balustrades to fire at the enemy. The stop was bnt for a few minutes.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.