USA > Nebraska > The first Nebraska in camp and field, by first Nebraska boys > Part 8
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
116
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
ett .. However, the baggage train arrived in abont a half hour and we had supper. But we were fewer. We had left many on that scorched tield who would never again join the ranks, others who had struggled manfully to keep their places in the line, at last, weak, fainting and sobbing had fallen ont. Many who were with us tonight lay as though dead, with tongues and throats swollen with thirst, yet to exhausted to go for a drink. Only one day, yet what gaps in ouralready thinned ranks!
Firing commenced early in the morning on the left of the line near Malabon. We dragged onr stiff and weary bodies into line, threw out a skirmish line, and advanced to the place we had occupied the previous afternoon. There we laid in the open, under the burning sun until nearly noon, during which time we ate a little meat and hard tack. During the forenoon all the firing ceased.and everything was qniet. We had just started to move by the left flank to the road, when we heard cheering away on the left of our line, and wondered what it was about. Soon a rumor came down that Aguinaldo had surrendered, and then the whole line broke into cheers, though many did not believe it, as rumors of some kind were a ways flying around. When we reached the road we formed colunm of fours and marched nutil about 4 p. m. Oar water gave out and we suffered a great deal from thirst before we found more which was near Polo that night. Withont warning the enemy opened on us, and soon the air was full of the warning notes of Mansers When the first firing started, one of our men, who had not believed the report that Aguinaldo had smrendered, shouted, "Yes the Filipinos have
117
IN CAMP AND FIELD
surrendered. They are turning in their ammuni- tion " For a long time after this the follows who had believed the report were chaffod numercifully. As soon as we began to advance the Filipinos opened fire in earnest from some excellent breast .- works. made by driving stakes into the ground, against which were laid bamboo poles, and then baaked up with dirt. A hard fight was expected bere and the lines were strengthened accordingly.
South Dakota took the firing line, Nebraska the support, and Pennsylvania in two lines the re. serve. It was a pretty sight to see the four suc- cossive lines coming down the hifl with their flags flying, and it doubtless gave an appearance of strength which impressed the little brown soldiers in front of us. Our regiment moved from the right to the left flank wherever the line needed strengthening, the whole four lines advancing steadily under a heavy fire. We were getting more of the fire than the South Dakotas, and as they were tired, we took the firing line. While the main line was making a front attack, two com- panies of our regiment flanked the enemy, taking them by surprise. They fled, and the Americans deliberately shot them down as they ran. In one place in the trenet there were thirty-seven dead Filipinos, but our loss was light.
We rested there that night and had plenty to ett. as there were many chickens, dneks and hogs close-that is they were there before we came. There were not so many when we left. All night we could hear the enemy's train coming and going, carrying supplies and troops back. A few of the boys took the trouble to fix themselves some beds by leveling off the ground with their bayonets and spreading rice straw upon the smooth place, but
118
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
the majority were too tired to do any extra work and laid on the ground.
The next morning the quick, harsh notes of the bugle with difficulty aroused a lot of weary stiff soldiers. We stumbled to our feet, and half asleep and grumbling, prepared our breakfast. Soon came the command "Fall in " Ones in live we changed around until noon. The S. D. hold the firing line on the left of the railroad, and the Brd artillery hold it on the right, while our regi- ment acted as support. We had advanced only about a quarter of a mile when the enemy and- denly poured a terrific fire into ns from breast- works in the edge of some timber on a small ridge, where they were m large force. The fire was so hot that our firing line could not stand it, so they charged and took the trenches, but with a heavy loss, capturing nineteen prisoners. The Dokota men were nearly exhausted by exertion and heat, and nearly ont of ammunition. so onr regiment again took the firing line, this time never to leave it until we reached Calmpit. We went directly over the breastworks and down a small hill to a river before we again met the enemy. Just across this river was a second line of breastworks from which the enemy had been driven by a flank movement of the S. D. who had crossed the bridge on our left. We crossed this river on a bamboo barge and in an old boat, and reformed onr line behind these breastworks. The enemy was lying behind some rice ridges in the open about 200 yards away whither they had retreated. When they saw ns making some change in our position they opened fire, and then charged ns, yelling and firing. Capt. Kilian, who was in command of the Brd battalion could stand it no longer, and shouted
119
IN CAMP AND FIELD
"Get after them, boys." Instantly every man in his hatration was on his feet and away. But they had no more than started before the whole regi- ment was over the breastworks also. The Fini- pinos innmediately turned and ran, and we followed shooting as we went. The Filipinos would retreat a short distance, drop behind a rice ridge, fire. and then run again. Soon all our officers and most of tho men dropped out, butstill that groupof " grey- hounds" kept on, shooting individually as they saw a Filipino, or in volleys as one of them would suggest. All the bngles were blowing halt, and away back in the rear Col. Stoltenberg was fun- ing, but to no purpose. Chaplain Mailley. the only officer with the boys, said "The bugles are blowing halt, why don't you stop." But when nobody paid any attention to him he said, "Well, go on then." It was then that Gen. Hale said, .There goes the First Nebraska; all hell can't stop 'em." When the boys got tired, they halted in the edge of some timber nearly a mile away and waited for the rest to catch up, and then went into camp, but not to rest mich on account of the mosquitos. And such mosquitos. One of the boys said that their appearance reminded bim of snow birds at home, and their bite was like the sting of the bee. Even if one was protected from them the noise of their wings would not let him sloop. However, these particular mosquitos did rot nother us long. for about 9 o'clock an orderly came ont and ordered ns to come back to the river where the remainder of the brigade was camped. We went, of course, because we had to, but if it had been in our power to refuse we would have done so As it was there was plenty of grumbling, as we had just got comfortably settled and were
r
120
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
very, very tired. We were removed because the officers were afraid that we might be surrounded during the night, and had we been we could have gotten no help, as we would be liable to receive the fire of any regiment that tried to help ns.
The next day we remained in camp to rest up, for the boys were nearly exhausted. We stationed an outpost on a ridge about 1000 yards in advance to prevent any surprise. There was no flring save an occasionaf shot from the enemy's outpost. The boys on outpost canght some chickens and were having a feast when all at once the Filipinos opened on them causing them to seek cover, but as soon as the firing ceased they went back and continued their cooking.
Just after daylight the next morning we had breakfast, formed our line and started the ad- vance. We did not have to go far to find "game" that day, for when we reached the ridge upon which the outpost had been eating their chick- ens, the enemy opened on us at a distance of about 1000 yards. As we advanced we had to wade through rice fields which had been flooded with water from ankle deep to knee deep, to retard our advance, all the time under a hot fire, and firing rapidly ourselves. We quickly drove the enemy out of the ravine, but by that time they were tir- ing on our right flank. The 3d battalion was sent to dislodge them, which they soon did, advancing, however, quite a distance in that direction, and then circling to the left to rejoin the regiment. In the meantime the regiment had waded a small river waist deep, and the 3rd battallion joined it on the other side. The enemy was discovered over toward our right getting into position. We fired several volleys at them, and then three com-
121
IN CAMIP' AND FIELD
panies formed line and drove them back a short distance. The companies then returned to the line and the advance continued. We minst not forget to mention the "Nebraska Monterey" which did such good service during all the cam- paign. It was a small inch and a quarter gnu drawn by a small Filipino horse, in charge of Lieut. Moore (Lieut. Renben Red Horse) and four or tive men from & company. It fired small -schrapnel, and was very effective in dislodging Filipinos. We will always remember the "Ne- braska Monterey" and its fearless connnander.
But to proceed. We continued to advance without meeting any opposition, though there was heavy lighting on the left along the railroad. This the Filipinos contested every inch of the way. but could not stand before the advance of the Americans. That night when we stopped we were worn ont, and many were so weak that they staggered, yet nearly all went without supper be- cause the wagon train could not keep up. Those who were able caught chickens and with some "canned horse" made a fairly good meal. We could not find any straw for beds, but were only too glad of a chance to lie on the bare ground.
Most of the boys awoke early the next morn- ing to get the first chance at the chickens and dneks. They were hard to catch until the Span- iard showed us how. When they ran into a clump of bamboo he would take a sharp bamboo stick and spear them. We got quite a number that morning and boiled them with a handful of hard tack for seasoning. After breakfast. we took our place on the right of the firing line, but waited for rations and ammunition, which did not arrive until nearly noon, and by that time it was
122
THE FIRST NEBRASK.1
raining hard. After receiving ammunition and
the left flank. All the time the enemy could be nseless marching, first by the right and then by ritions, we did what seemed to us, a good deal of
seen in skirmish line in front and on our right,
evidently expecting an attack. Finally we started
with Cos. D, Fand E under Capt. Herpolsheimer
fire on our right, and from such a direction that Soon the enemy opened a heavy and well directed marching behind the right to protect that flank.
the three companies had to swing around under
the hot fire to get into position before replying.
Then down the line came the order "Charge!" and
like a whirlwind they swept toward the Filipinos,
yelling and firing. The Filipinos maintained
down. Again and again the enemy emptied the stricken soldier throwing up his hands and going still that line came on, with here and there a their position ror a time, firing with accuracy, but
magazines of their Mausers, but seeing not a waver in that line, they fled. When we reached the trench, exhausted, we found several dead Fil- ipinos, but our regiment had lost four killed and
bnt we only advanced abont two miles. Tired as reported that we were to enter Malolos that day, twelve wounded in abont fifteen minutes. It was
They stumbled over rice ridges, plowed ground, company were awakened to go back for rations. plies. Abont 10 p. m. several boys from each as the train had not arrived from Manila with sup- we were, we had to forage our supper that night,
In the meantime they slept by a fire at the camp to wait for a train, which arrived about 2 a. m. and through brush for abont a mile, and then had
of the 3rd artillery, and wore awakened by a sen- try when the train arrived. This is one of the
123
IN CAMP AND FIELD
joys of a soldier's life. If any boy who reads this is anxious for military honors let him rest assured that in the army every joy is known-but not ex- perienced. Then when the train did arrive they were given a load that would stagger a mule, with which they stumbled over the rough ground back to the regiment, weary and sleepy, and express- ing a few opinions of army life.
Near morning onr outpost mistook two water buffalos and their riders for insurgent cavalry preparing to attack us, and they fired on them. When the natives slid off and ran, they saw their mistake and had a good langh, as did the rest of us when we heard of it. When we wanted to have a little amusement with the corporal after that we would say, "Load quickly; they're right onto us."
We arose early in the morning and prepared for some hard work, for we were before Małolos, the native capital, and we knew that there would be a stubborn resistance before we could capture the city. As soon as it was light, the heavy artil- lery, a Hotchkiss and Colt's rapid fire gun opened fire on the woods and Filipino trenches. It was an awe-inspiring sound, the deep. heavy boom of the big guns seeming to keep time for the rapid music of the smaller ones. The Hotchkiss gun on onr right hurled distrnetion into the enemy in a ditch and behind a hedge, which were concealed from ns. We immediately formed a skirmish line and moved forward under cover of the artillery fire. The main part of the regiment did not re- ceive any fire, because there were but few bili- pinos in its front, but Cos. F and D, which were protecting the right flank, received it all. They saw some natives get behind a small breastwork which they watched very closely. They saw a
124
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
puff of smoke and every man dropped. Then when the bullets went over their heads they jumped mp and ran forward until another pull of smoke cansed them to fall again. Then the "Ne- braska Monterey" came up and drove the Filipinos out with its little shrapnel shells. But the tight was to come. We moved across a creek and soon met a perfect bail of bullets from the Filipinos en- tranched behind the railroad track, their last re- fuge, which they consequently defended most stub- bornly. The track hore curved so that while our loft was near it the right was nearly a mile away. with an open space between. Over this they ad- vanced from rice ridge to rice ridge nuder a very heavy fire. Half the line ran crouchingly out
into the open, and falling behind a rice ridge, opened fire. Then at the command "advance to the next rice ridge, " the other half sprang up and «ronchingly ran to the next rice rige beyond, fell down and opened fire, while the first ran past them, and so on. When half way across, one fel- low heard a dull thad, and saw the man next to
him go down with an awful cry. He was hit m-
der the heart with a brass Remington ballet. A comrade bent over him to bind his wound, when he himself was shot in the shoulder, the bullet Foring a hole through his shoulder blade. The hospital corps took care of them and their places in the line were soon tilled. The fire, though heavy, was mostly high, because our boys made the enemy keep their heads down by a well di- r. cted fire, in fact, it was so well directed that the lead bullets kept smashing on the rails. The enemy had a train abont a mile np the track onto which they were embarking, but never ceasing their fire. When we finally took the track the
125
IN CAMP AND FIELD
Filipinos still kept firing at us, while we could do no execution among them on account of the short range of our Springfields. If the artillery had been there it could have knocked the train off the track, but it could not be gotten up in time. The enemy kept living until the train pulled out of range, the "Nebraska Monterey" trying all the time to knock it off the track with its little shells.
After we had gone we marched back to the road where we had received the first tire, and went. into camp. We commenced to fix up little houses. for we were resolved to stay a few days and got some rest. Out of eight hundred mon, with which we left the block houses, we had lost nearly tive hundred, two hundred and twenty live of these had been killed or wounded. and the rest over- come by heat and exertion. Our clothes were in tatters from the brambles, many had the soles of their shoes tied on, and others had no soles at all to their shoes. The bottoms of the feet of nearly all were a solid mass of blisters, so that it was ex- fremely painful to walk. All were dirty from wading rivers and lying in the mud. In fact, if the regiment had been seen in this country it would have been mistaken for a mob of tramps. We had held the firing line from the time we started, and could go no further. When a man is so worn out that he cannot move, even military "disipline" can not force him to do so. Most of the companies had resolved that if ordered to move they would refuse. Perhaps the reader may think this mutiny, but if he understood the sitna- tion he would probably say that it was right. This was on the 31st of March and one regiment had been in constant service since the 4th of February, with the exception of a few days, and most of that.
-
1
1:26
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
time had been on the firing line; from the time we started from the waterworks we had left onr men strung along the road, overcome by the intense heat and fatigue and the bullets of the enemy. The Pennsylvania regiment was relieved and sent to Cavite, while they had not done half the work we had, and all the time the regulars were in Ma- nila and the outskirts holding the trenches miles behind the firing line. We believe that on this testimony a jury would return a verdict of "not guilty." The very concise diary kept by a No- braskan will tell more than volumes. "The boys are homesick and tired of the war. There is much grumbling. They curse every one from the presi- dent down to a corporal. The generals get the biggest share of it, especially Gen. Otis."
As we said, we intended to stay here a day or two and rest. Accordingly every one went to work to fix up a little shelter of some kind, and the kinds were numerous and grotesque. These we called "casas," the Spanish naine for house. They were made of bamboo, or an old shack would be torn down and used. These "casas" were only large enough for one man, which gave the camp the appearance of a prairie dog town. The camp was on the northern outskirts of Malolos as we (the right of the line) had passed around the city.
It was in this fight that much was written in: the papers about Col. Funston and several Kansans running up the street and driving out the few re- maining Filipinos, and raising the first American flag in the native capital. As a matter of fact the Kansas regiment met little opposition all day, and by the time they arrived the whole Filipino army was on it way to safety. We do not claim the honor of raising the first flag in the city, it is suf-
127
IN CAMP AND FIELD
ficient for us that we made it possible for them to do it. And for that we want the First Nebraska to get the credit, as it deserves.
We were supposed to be resting, and that is what we did when we could, but the outpost duty was so ardarons that we bad not much time for anything else. It was nearly the same as at the waterworks -- each man went on outpost every other night and often every night, for the native army was not much more than a mile away, and hardly friendly enough to suit ns. It must not be understood that the advance continued, leaving our regiment behind to rest. The whole live stopped and the Filipinos were still all along our front pre- paring to resist our advance as strongly as ever.
'The first day there while we were lying around grumbling, mail was announced. Instant- ly everything was changed; smiles took the place of frowns, weary limbs, empty stomachs and tat- tered clothes were forgotten in the joy of receiv- ing news from home. How much joy those tet- ters gave us. Mail day on the firing line is a touch of earthly paradise.
We had no more than become settled in camp than the rumors again bogan circulating. One was that we were going no further, but were to be relieved in a week or two and sent home, and every one that told it bad good authority. One said that the colonel's orderly (the chief source of fake rumors) had told him that the colonel was betting on it, and another said that he ovorheard Gen. Hale tell an officer that Nebraska was going home in abont two weeks. Another rumor was that the Filipino army was deserting and laying down their arms so fast that Aguinaldo was forced to surrender, and that the war was over.
128
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
These stories were half believed by many becanse "the wish is father of the thought, " and so we were kept in a continual state of suspense and don't; one day riding high on the wave of hope and the next cast into the trongh of the sea of despondency. Perhaps some who read this si- ting by their own firesides with their families around them will think that we were weak or cowardly, but it was not so. Even a brave man has feelings. America and home seemed far away, while death by disease or a bullet seemed very near. We were not professional soldiers, content any place where there was adventure, but we had homes and the ties that bound us to them were strong. But, however much grumbling there was, as soon as there was work to do every man was ready to do his share.
We visited Malolos during some of our spare time. It was difficult to tell what the city had been like, as so much of it was burned, but the old stone church and prison, and capital buildings were intact. On the walls of the prison were the names of the American prisoners, many of whom had learned to write Spanish. From the top of the tower one could obtain a good view of the sur- rounding country, low and swampy to the south toward Manila. and higher, with timber, to the north. This city was situated in the lovely and fertile valley which extended northward from Manila, and up which ran the railroad.
One day we heard heavy firing north of us toward Calmpit. We conld not understand it as that was ahead of our lines, and we knew of no American troops there. Afterwards wo learned that the Montana regiment were scouting with a detachment and two guns of the Utah battery, and
199
IN CAMP AND FIELD
had encountered the enemy in force, who opened fire on them suddenly. The regiment began to retreat so fast that the artillery was in danger of losing their guns. The Utah boys were furions, and the officers and men alike cursed the Montana officers until they finally made a stand and got out in good order.
The rest was beginning to do is good, to- gether with the food we got, which, by the way was not furnished by the government. The conf missary brought supplies up on the train and these we bought. This buying from the commuis- sary was against our principles, but we could not help it, as all the chickens, ducks and hogy had long ago gone to build up American soldiers. The boys began to come in slow.y from the hos- pitals and fill our depleted companies, so that some which had only about twenty men now had thirty-live or forty.
On the 6th of April, twenty-five Krag-Jorgen- sen rifles were issued to each company, to the one who were on the firing line the most. This caused the thermometer of our hopes again to take a drop, as we knew that they would not be given to us if we were going home, but it brought. its blessings-the rumors about a speedy depart- ure for home were stopped, and we did not have to face the prospect of being kicked over every time we fired one of those Springfields.
Near morning on the 10th of April we heard firing south of Malolos, along the railroad. This was garrisoned and guarded by American troops to maintain our line of communication with the front. On this night a body of insurgents had sur- prised a company of the Minnesotas and ent of an ont post, and also ambnshed a 2nd Oregon patrol,
:
1
1
130
THE FIRST NEBRASKA
killing three and wounding two at the first volley, two escaping The Minnesotas had gnite a lively time getting out, and a battalion of S. D.s. was sent from Malolos to help them. They had done their work of guarding well, as the Filipinos had tore mp two miles of track uear them. This little incident, except the killing of the Oregon men, caused much merriment for the Minnesota has al- ways made fon of us of course we did not like them.
But onr inactivity was soon to come to an endl. On April 23. a few days after this, we fought the hotly contested battle of Quingna, in which we lost our colonel. A little while after day light we heard firing, which soon became heavy and rapid, east of our camp. The boys scrambled into trees and on to every elevation to see what was going on, and the sight that met our eyes was not very reassuring. It was Major Bell's cavalry battalion, abom 200 men, retreating and lighting desperately. They had been sconting and were ambushed from two sides and forced back. the enemy following. They left one man dead on the field and had six wounded severely. One man was shot on his horse and just as he was falling a comrade caught him, and taking him on his own horse escaped. The Iowa regiment, which was near, was ordered out to protect the retreat, but Major Bell sent them back because they were green men and the enemy very determined. We were still watching when the call to arms rang through camp, and we semuubled for our equipments, and fell in. How- ever, we only marched to headquarters and were sent back by Major Eager. In a few minutes an orderly came running through the camp shonting. "Get on equipments and fall in." We obeyed
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.