History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 60

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146

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On the 27th the South Dakotans became the advance guard for the brigade. Major Howard's battalion was sent to the front, Colonel Stover's came next and Major Allison's formed the rear guard. The advance was ordered and the com- manders were told to beware of flank attacks from the concealed companies of the enemy. Stover's force was finally placed on the railroad to guard against such attacks. Supported by the Third Artillery the South Dakotans then ad- vanced, and were greeted with a long range fire after going about half a mile. The artillery answered the fire, but as it was believed the attack amounted to little the advance was continued. Soon thereafter, just as they crossed a dry creek bed, they received the severest fire yet from a line of trees which had been pointed out by General McArthur as likely to contain a large body of the enemy. The firing was by volley and came, as it was later learned, from Aguinaldo's regulars, who had served in the Spanish army. The mountain artillery, which could now have rendered splendid service, was abandoned owing to the immi- nence of the attack, whereupon it was seen by Colonel Frost that the only course

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to pursue was to assault the force in the woods. Stover and Allison were ordered to deploy their battalions to the right, which they promptly did. This order was taken to them by Adjutant Lien, who was shot through the bowels by a Mauser bullet while on his way back and died within about eight minutes. He was the pride of the regiment, undaunted under fire and his loss was felt by all his com- rades and by all the people of South Dakota. The advance was made in splendid fashion through the hail storm of Mauser bullets that stretched many of the gal- lant boys on the bloody field. Their advance was made by rushes of about fifty to one hundred yards covered in double quick time, followed by their dropping to the ground, their volleys at the enemy while thus prostrate and their further advance under the same programı. The fire of the enemy was deadly, many of the Americans falling, killed or wounded. When within a short distance of the enemy's trenches Colonel Frost ordered the charge, whereupon the whole bat- talion leaped forward, drove out the Filipinos and reached the river bank. Com- panies E and D were ordered to cross the bridge and stop a heavy rifle fire which came from the trenches there, but before they could do so Major Howard's command advanced to the river, waded or swam the same and drove the enemy from the works. Stover's and Allison's commands were on the scene soon after- ward. The heat was so terrific that Major Allison collapsed, seriously stricken, and was finally sent to the hospital in Manila, after which the Third Battalion was commanded by Captain Englesby. This was the most obstinate defense which the South Dakotans had yet encountered, all the previous ones having been mere skirmishes.

During this forward movement a hot fire had been poured upon the boys from a church in Marilao. To check this fire the mountain howitzer was now ordered up, but came too late to be hauled over the bridge, which had been burned down to the girders. Not to be outdone Captain Van Houten, of Company D, a man of great pltysical strength, had the gun taken from the carriage, placed upon his shoulder and then amid the ringing cheers of his comrades, he carried it across the bridge, stepping from girder to girder, almost a superhuman task. Others, in the meantime, took the carriage apart, carried it across, put all together again and soon drove out the Filipino sharpshooters with a few effective shots. Captain Van Houten never recovered from the terrific strain placed upon him by this memorable feat. In the end he died from the effects.

The excitement and dangers of the day and the overpowering heat, with little water and food, completely exhausted the men who sank down to rest when- ever opportunity offered. About this time the Nebraska regiment arrived and deployed on the right of the South Dakotans, both regiments lying down and resting. Near night they were ordered to advance by General Hale, which they did by the left flank. A skirmish line of Filipinos came from cover and advanc- ing fired at the distance of over a mile. They were fired at by the Dakotans and were then charged by the Nebraskans and driven several miles. Then Major Howard with six companies formed an outpost line to protect the remainder of the command from molestation while they slumbered. Soon the Pennsylvania, Nebraska and South Dakota regiments were sleeping almost side by side, after having partaken of a hearty repast of substantial food.

The losses this trying day were very severe, the Second Battalion suffering most, losing two-thirds of the whole and sustaining the greatest percentage of

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casualties of any battalion in any engagement of the war in the Philippines. The losses of the South Dakotans were as follows: Killed-Jonas H. Lien, Sidney E. Morrison, Company E; Frank H. Adams, Company H; James Nebron, Com- pany D; Mathew Ryan, Company D; Harvey Keogh, Company E; Lewis Chase, Company E. Wounded-Charles B. Preacher, Company M (died of wounds) ; Benjamin Strobel, Company F; John Stanks, Company E; Sidney J. Connell, Company C; Earnest Madden, Company D; Arthur A. Northrop, Company E; David Elenes, Company M; Ray Washburn, Company D; Isaac Johnson, Com- pany D; Matt Schuber, Company M; Peter J. Tierney, Company F; Fred Bunger, Company L; William F. Panke, Company E; Homer Stockmeyer, Com- pany I; Peter Ryan, Company E; Will May, Company I; George A. Moon, Company C; Alexander Hardy, Company G; Frank A. Schroeder, Company E; Paul D. McClelland, Company I; William Ammo, Company I; Bay S. Nichols, Company K; Frank E. Wheeler, Company E; Charles H. Jackson, Company M; Guy P. Squire, Company I.

The 28th was a day of rest and recuperation, the troops cleaning their cloth- ing and bathing in the river. On the 29th they again advanced, the Nebraskans on the right and a few minutes in advance of the rest of the brigade. The rice fields had been flooded so that the troops were compelled to march two miles through mud and water from knee to waist deep. Only a few hostiles were seen and only a few shots were fired. After getting out of the rice swamp, the South Dakotans marched in fours down the railroad, the Pennsylvanians advancing in front in skirmish formation. At places the troops were deployed to sweep the country clean of straggling or predatory bands. While near the bridge on the Guiguinto River a severe fire from a column of Filipinos was encountered, to which reply was made by the Pennsylvanians. The South Dakotans endeavored to flank this band of the enemy by passing around a bend of the river, while Howard's battalion was assisting the Pennsylvanians. But the flanking move- ment was recalled as soon as it was seen to be impractical. Frost's and Englesby's battalions then crossed the river on the bridge and formed in line with Howard's command. Here they all bivouacked for the night. The losses during the day were: Wounded-Knute K. Peterson, John W. Otman, John P. Rogers and John Donnelly, Company L ; Oscar E. Johnson, Company H ; Oscar Fallon and Charles E. Theiss, Company M; Frank B. Stevens and Lewis F. Barber, Company C; Manuel Pickman, Company D.

On the 30th the brigade in its march out from Guiguinto encountered a severe fire, but pressed forward without serious opposition and finally stopped and deployed at the right of Santa Isabel. First the artillery was used to clear the way, after which the Nebraskans took the advance line, closely followed by the South Dakotans and they by the Pennsylvanians. As they advanced toward Malolos Creek they received a long range fire from the enemy, who could be seen drawn up in line of battle partly behind a line of trees on the further side of the stream. The South Dakotans fired several volleys and advanced rapidly and soon the Filipinos were sent flying to the railroad embankment for shelter. But the advance was so rapid that they were soon driven pell mell from this position. There were many of the enemy and their fire was heavy, though wild, uncertain and ineffective. Soon they were broken up and scattered in the woods. The complete victory of the Americans drove large numbers of the Filipinos from

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this point by rail to Calumpit. The train could be seen steaming away from Malolos. About this time the Kansas and Montana regiments could be seen entering Malolos and the campaign with that city as the objective was at an end after five days of eventful hardships, marches, skirmishes, battles and other ever-memorable occurrences.

Succeeding this campaign the South Dakota regiment remained in camp near Malolos for twenty-four days, but during that period were ever on the alert, were alternately placed on outpost duty and were thus exposed day and night to attacks from small detachments of the enemy. Numerous reconnoissances were made and small engagements were fought. On April 11 Major Howard, in response to an urgent appeal from the Minnesota regiment at Guiguinto, marched there hurriedly with six companies, but arrived too late to be of any assistance. Again on April 23 Major Bell, chief of scouts, while out with a small force mak- ing reconnoissance encountered unexpectedly a large force of the enemy, was almost surrounded and was about to be cut to pieces when in response to his urgent demands the Nebraska regiment was rushed to his assistance. It attacked and carried the works, scattered the Filipinos, but suffered severe losses, includ- ing their colonel, Stotsenberg, who was shot through the heart as he was gallantly leading his men in the charge. The enemy in force retreated beyond the Bayolas River, threw up entrenchments and prepared for a siege. Late in the evening, under orders of General Hale, the South Dakota regiment marched up and encamped near a large church. Upon the appearance of dawn the regiment in marching order advanced to the Bayolas River, but when within about fifty yards of the bridge received a heavy fire from the enemy entrenched on the further bank. At once two pieces of artillery were brought up, placed near the bridge and about twenty shots were sent against the entrenchments, succeeding which the South Dakotans, led by Company F under Captain Brockway, swept across the bridge and stormed the works, but encountered only a feeble resistance, the artillery fire having demoralized the enemy and driven many of them back several miles. They were pursued a considerable distance by the South Dakotans who guarded the bamboo bridge while the other troops crossed. The casualties in this movement were: Killed-Oscar E. Johnson, Charles Stultz and Mortimer Brown, Company H; Harlow DeJean and David C. Dean, Company L; James A. Lezer, Company K. Wounded-Charles P. Greene and Hall Wiess, Company G; Axal Sjoblom, Company L; Charles L. Butler, Company B.

The Americans again prepared to advance, two battalions of the South Da- kotans on the right and the other within supporting distance, with the Nebraskans on the left in the same order and the Iowa regiment in reserve about half a mile in the rear. As the advance approached Pulilan, a considerable town, they received a fire from a trench in their front whereupon all dropped to the ground and exchanged volleys with the enemy. A charge on the works was ordered, and the men began to advance; but at that moment, the artillery having arrived, they were ordered to halt. This restraining order was not heard by companies H, L and G, under the command of Captain Englesby, which accordingly swept up to the trenches and over them, scattering the Filipinos or shooting them down behind the breastworks. This charge was gallantly executed by the three companies mentioned. Many dead and wounded Filipinos and many rifles were found where the companies had done their deadly work.

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After a few artillery shots had been fired against the flying enemy, the South Dakotans led by Colonel Stover's battalion and the remainder of the American force marched rapidly through Pulilan, then wheeled to the left and marched in the direction of Calumpit. When within four miles of that city a strong force was encountered and a sharp engagement was sustained. The ground was diffi- cult, the advance being through a dense jungle. When this was passed the regi- ment reformed and with the Iowans on the right the advance was made, the men dropping after each of several volleys and finally moving swiftly forward, firing as they approached the enemy's works about eight hundred yards distant. But the Filipinos had escaped through "get-away-trenches" and but few were found and they dead. Here night fell upon the scene and the tired men went to rest after about fifteen hours of almost constant marching and fighting. They were so tired that though very hungry they ate a hurried supper only, but were gladdened with letters from home which were brought up by Chaplain Daley and were read by the campfires ere the boys spread their blankets and surrendered to the attacks of "Nature's sweet restorer."

On the 25th the Americans moved forward with the Iowans on the right, the South Dakotans in the center, and the Nebraskans on the left. Near noon as they approached Baghag River they received a severe though scattering fusil- lade from the trenches across that stream. Here the enemy had thrown up the strongest entrenchments thus far encountered by the Americans. They had covered the works with railroad iron and numerous fragments of boiler iron and were in force and prepared for stubborn resistance. The river being unfordable, the South Dakotans were moved up to the bank and were ordered to engage the enemy in concealment while the Nebraskans were directed to cross a nearby ford in order to flank the works. The battalions of Howard and Stover advanced to the bank, and fired volley after volley into the trenches distant only about sev- enty-five yards. Englesby's battalion was held in reserve about four hundred yards in the rear and was under fire. In this advance Corporal Breed, though shot through the heart, called it nothing but a "scratch" and continued the for- ward march until he fell dead on the river bank. The South Dakotans con- tinued their deadly and continuous fire in order to divert the attention of the Filipinos until the Nebraskans could execute the flank movement. When word came that this had been accomplished the South Dakotans ceased their fire, but were still exposed to the severe musketry volleys from the Filipino trenches for an hour and a half before the attack of the Nebraskans was finally made. Soon the latter were seen swarming over the enemy's works and the enemy were seen flying in retreat. During the battle Colonel Stover was overcome with heat and was not again able for service until May 6, when he joined his command at San Fernando. Many instances of individual gallantry were shown by the South Dakotans during their trying experiences while under the severe and deadly fire of the Filipino Mausers. Officers and men alike were intrepid and undaunted under these exacting and unnerving conditions. The killed were: Henry Breed, Company B; Guy Jones and Charles E. Peterson, Company H; and the wounded : Walter S. Doolittle, Company G; Oliver C. Lapp, Herbert A. Putnam, Charles Wagner and William H. Harrison, Company I; Christ Myhre and Thomas H. Coleman, Company E; Quartermaster Sergeant Antone Jurich, James H. Davis, Company L; William K. Reaman, Company F; Arthur W. Swenson, Hammond

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H. Buck, James A. Gibbs, Robert Hawkins and Frank Goebel, Company B; Ray E. Ranous and Don J. Ranous, Company K.

Succeeding this battle the Americans marched at night to the junction at the Juinga and Calumpit rivers and went into camp. Early on the morning of the 26th the South Dakotans crossed the Calumpit and occupied a position with Bagbag River on the rear, the right reaching the railroad track. At this time Calumpit was occupied by the Kansas and Montana regiments in spite of the rapid fire upon them from the enemy's trenches north of the Quingua and Calumpit rivers. Soon this fire was silenced.

On the 27th Colonel Frost was ordered by General McArthur to hold the railroad bridge, and accordingly stationed one battalion on the north bank at Calumpit and the other two on the south bank. Here the regiment remained until May 2 when it participated in the movement under General Hale to reinforce General Lawton. It moved rapidly to Pulilan in a heavy downpour of rain and bivouacked with everything drenched, but learned the next morning that Lawton did not need help, whereupon the regiment and other commands were marched back to Calumpit. The South Dakotans were now assigned to ground north of the Rio Grande de la Pampauga on the railroad near Apalit Station. The next day the entire brigade was ordered to advance upon Santo Tomas, the South Dakotans now being in reserve and the Iowa regiment leading the movement. As they approached Santo Tomas River where the enemy was entrenched the artil- lery opened fire and after a sharp fusillade the Iowa regiment was deployed and sent against the trenches under a galling fire. Soon the Nebraskans were deployed for the attack on the right of the Iowans and thrown into the conflict. After about half an hour of intense rifle fire the South Dakotans were ordered to advance to the right to prevent a threatened flank movement of the enemy. This movement was one of the most dreadful experienced by the men during the whole war. The heat was intense, the water was poor, and the men were exhausted with the lack of food and the hardships of the campaign. In addition all were suffering more or less from malaria, diarrhoea and stomach troubles and from sores on their legs and bodies caused by scratches and abrasions that had become poisoned and foul. Now the broken-down men were required to march through swamps and bogs where the dirty water and dirtier mud was at all stages knee deep and often above their waists. Literally they dragged them- selves for a mile through this filth, under the blazing sun, until many suffered sunstroke and scores were forced to stop on the mounds of grass to gain strength for a further advance. At the end of a mile dry ground was reached and here it was found that less than three hundred men of the whole regiment had come through the swamp and reached dry ground in readiness to continue the flanking movement. Here they sheltered themselves as best they could from the fierce rays of the sun, dried their clothing and rested. It was then learned that no danger of a flank movement from the Filipinos was to be apprehended. While the South Dakotans were going through the swamp the Nebraskans crossed Santo Tomas River, drove the Filipinos from the works and held the ground thus gained.

After two hours the regiment joined the Iowa regiment on the railroad, forded the river and formed in line on the right of the Nebraskans. Then the whole brigade advanced a mile and went into camp. In this march the First

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Battalion was compelled to march through a swamp nearly as noisome and bot- tomless as the one through which they had marched earlier in the day. In the new bivouac they built fires, ate their army rations, erected Nipa sheds, but were compelled to sleep on the ground in line of battle during the heavy and almost incessant rains of the night. During the day Robert J. Van Hook was wounded by a Filipino bullet. On the next morning only 304 men were fit for duty.

On the 5th the Iowa regiment entered San Fernando without opposition and occupied the city. In the evening the South Dakotans also entered and soon afterward Colonel Frost was directed to act as provost marshal. The city had been the headquarters of Aguinaldo after he was driven out of Malalos and here were many beautiful homes of the wealthier natives. But owing to the condition of the men their stay there was anything but pleasant. In addition the Filipinos built entrenchments close around the city from which they poured a rain of Mauser bullets whenever there was a chance day or night of bringing down the hated "Americanos." In a short time the men were so run down by privations, exposures and sickness that there were left hardly enough well ones to guard the outposts. Camp life aggravated and intensified the deplorable con- ditions. The sick could not get suitable food, medicine and treatment generally and diseases hung on with torturing tenacity. Colonel Stover at this juncture spent $800 of his own money to purchase delicacies for the sick and convalescent, but was repaid later by the men themselves from their slow arriving pay pittance. In time nearly every man of the South Dakota regiment was on the sick list. Letters telling the melancholy and dangerous condition of the troops went home to South Dakota and at once kindled a blaze of protest from the Black Hills to the Big Sioux Valley. Soon the time of the First Regiment expired and the men were expected home; but they were needed on the islands and were retained against the remonstrances of hundreds of citizens at the head of whom was Governor Lee. The latter protested, expostulated, pleaded and demanded in open letters addressed to the President and the War Department the muster out of the men and their return home. But the War Department replied that the men could not be spared until enough regulars to take their places and hold the rebellion in check had arrived at Manila.

The South Dakotans did their full duty from the time they enlisted until they were mustered out long after their terms of service had expired. In the dreadful camp at San Fernando they stood on guard, returned the harassing fire of the enemy and swallowed their unfit rations without a murmur, though scarcely able to stand and not able to march. In fact at times when attacks threatened even the sick ones toftered to the ranks and answered "here" to the call of the roll and staggered as best they could to the stirring blasts of the bugles. All this was thought necessary by General Otis in order to impress the Filipinos with the idea of the fighting strength of the Americans. He even sent the army surgeons through the hospitals of Manila to find who might be able to do duty at the front. And all this, too, when thousands of volunteers were suffer- ing from inaction and sickness in Camp Chickamauga and other army hells and would have been only too glad to share the hardships of the insular campaign. As it was several South Dakotans absolutely unable to do duty were ordered to the front; there were twenty-five of such men, several of whom yet suffered from unhealed wounds received in battle. Others thus ordered out were yet so low

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from disease or dysentery that they could scarcely move. No wonder an indig- nant protest from South Dakota shook the War Department and even the White House itself. They are marched to Calumpit, a distance of four miles, but were then so weak and exhausted that they could go no farther. The army surgeon reported that they were incapable of doing any duty and that it was impossible for them to march to Calumpit, a distance of ten miles. They were then ordered into the buffalo carts and conveyed to San Fernando, where their condition was found by Doctor Warne to be so alarming that he at once ordered them into the hospital and positively refused to allow them to perform camp or field duty.

Although the Filipinos kept up more or less of a continuous fire day and night while the troops were encamped at San Fernando, no considerable engagement transpired until May 25th, when they were seen advancing to the attack by Cap- tain Hageman in charge of Company K on the right outpost. At once Colonel Frost formed a skirmish line behind a belt of timber in the direction of the advancing enemy. Evidently the latter became aware of this plan to give them a warm reception, for they remained skulking under cover at a distance waiting until chance or opportunity should give them an advantage. A few of the enemy could be seen here and there adjacent to the jungles, in which their main force was believed to be ambuscaded. General Hale was present and made a recon- naissance by walking up the railroad beyond the outpost when he suddenly was fired upon without effect by two Filipinos not over two hundred yards distant. He returned and at once Colonel Frost led an attack on the enemy in the jungle with the First and Second battalions. They rushed the enemy's skirmish line before the latter could escape, shot down many of them behind the breastworks, and advanced a hundred yards farther to be sure that there were no inner entrenchments. Those who escaped were careful to remain beyond the range of the Springfield rifles. Upon their return the battalions found many dead and wounded Filipinos in the trenches. They captured two and wounded many, the most of the latter escaping with the aid of their comrades. The troops returned to their quarters, but were again attacked at 3.20 o'clock the next morning and were quickly in line again and held in readiness until break of day, when the First and Second battalions were posted in front of a sugar mill near where the enemy was presumed to be waiting for an opportunity to attack. The Iowa regiment came and took position on the right and when they were near the sugar mill the Filipinos opened fire along the line. But they were quickly driven away, scattered and silenced. This was the last important engagement fought in the Philippines by the South Dakota regiment. The casualties in these attacks were: Killed-Dan Colleran, Company G. Wounded-George Barker, Company A; David Martindale, Company C; Edward Heald, Company D; Carl McCon- nell, Bert Kellet and James Black, Company G.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume III, Part 60

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1146

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1146