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About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 30, 1899)
f I ) an illustrated , true and concise history of the 9 O Special Pictures of the 1st Nebraska Rnlfllnn "Old dlory nt Fort Snnta Crux , I < ndrone Inlands , including the late Colonel Stotsenberg , Camp Mesa , the Hospital f Reproduced from an Illustration tu " On to Manila / illustrations taken pital and the fighting line a complete roster of the regiment , T nt the time by showing promotions , etc. WW Douglas White , the A Book W w a r correspond- Ttt O"j-OPv'f ( * t"O 01 vi a cnt of tlie San to be vO friends Francisco Exam- Pre of the First Nebraska an opportunity of hav- llier' served ing a complete and correct history of the ' * egi- ment The Omaha Bee has at great expense placed this beautiful future Tlie Old Hell nt Sutnaye , Tndroue book within their reach no coupon required order quick as we Islands. Cnst lu zCSo. Rcpruduccil from nn Illustration . lu 11 Ou to Manila. " have only a limited number. tin On sale at the Circulation department of The Sent prepaid to any address upon receipt of the price. The First American Via ? Raised Over Manila * Address , History Department Omaha Bee. Reduced from an illualratlou la "On to Manila. " RECORD OF FIRST NEBRASKA What the War Dop&rtmont Shows Oonoflrn- ing the Volunteers. RIGHT IN ACTION FROM SI ART TO FINISH of tk 'War Department Opened to Bbow 'Wlia.t , Nobrtu > lca' Boldlara Did in the Philippine * . ' ( Continued , from Bovoath Pago. ) the faot und at the earno time cent out ono company and two Nordenfalt guns. "Wo oculd act oeo any further advance , but In , a short time after I had returned to camp I heard all uhnta. Three wore In our direction. Alter ttat there was no further disturb ance by shooting. But In the morning about seventy-five ernted Philippines ) withdraw from the front oC our ou-tjxwt and wont to- warda Mju-lQudno. These men "wore white uniforms goneretHy. All day yesterday largo parties of Philip pines In white gathered green corn from the field near ITiu-lqulna and carried towards the mountains. Towards evening about 600 naUvo troops in uniform and arauod wore aeon near Calnta , evidently renting , or going into bivouac. We fixed four times at them with the ar tillery. What effect It had wo could not learn. Very respectfully. ( Signed ) JOHN M. BTOTSENBURQ , Col. let Nobr. U. B. Vol. Inf. First Nebraska. U. 8. Vol. Infantry , Office of the Commanding Officer , In camp between Deposlto and Pumping Btatlon. " Feb. 20th , 1809. To the Adjutant , lit Nebraska. C. 8. V. Blr : I have the honor to lubmlt the following report : At about 3:80 p. in. , Capt. Ougb , 1st Ne braska , U. B. V. , reported a body of in surgents , lu force * , moving In a direction southeast of my camp , aud that bo bad moved Company "B , " 1st Nob. , U. S. V. . southward to encounter them. I Immediately formed Company "H. " lot Neb. . U. S. V. , and moved southwest , connecting with the loft of "B" company. A small body of Insurgents were seen la our front , and the two com panies were moved forward ( or nearly half a rnlle. when a larger body of Insurgents was encountered. Several volleys were ex changed , when another body of the enemy opened a vigorous volley fire upon our left flank , A we were In on open field , without shelter , we wHhdrew for about fifty yards across a ravine to a higher and moro com manding position , Several volfeys were IIred front thta position. The Insurgent * then withdrew In a southeasterly direction , As U was too lat and the mtm were exhausted both companies returned to camp. " " and "D" withdrew On th point to which "H" drew , "O" company , 1st Neb. , U. B. V. , were formed lu Una of sklrmUher * , occupy ing the right of the position. The number of insurgent * encountered was probably two hundred , with a much stroiiuer force along a bamboo hedge , nearly a half a mile further couth. In this encounter It wa notloaabl * that the Insurgents tired by volley , Their bugla sounded two calls , Two Insurgents were found dead , and two Remington rlfUs , a bolo ami about two hundred rounds of ammunition were secured. No Injurle * ou our side , Very rospacUulfy , ( filmed ) WUMK 1) , J3AQBU , Capt , lit N t ) . . U. S. V. Inf. , Commanding Co , "It" First Nebraska , U. S , Vol. Infantry , Ofllca of the Commanding Officer , Pumping Station , Feb. 17th , 1899. To Capt Holdemen , Commanding Outpost : Scud Sergeant Todd and three to six men out to make reconnaissance about two or three ml To a to northwest. They should find the beginning of a road here going to Narallshes and watch It for four or flvo hours. To do this properly , men should travel In brush and ravines and not be seen. This lost very Important. ( Signed ) J. M. STOTSENBURG. Col. 1st N br. , U. S. Vol. Inf. A true copy. CBlgnod ) H. L. ARCHER , 1st Lt. and Adj. Pumping Station. Feb. 17th , 1899. To the 'Adjutant , let Nebraska , U. fl. V. Sir : I , Sergeant Poor , Co. "A , " First Ne braska , In charge of the outpost upon the Mariqulna road , at a point commanding the hills west of thiut town , have the honor to make 'the ' following report of on encounter with a iband of souio Ofty armed natives , at about 11:30 : o'clock this morning. Pursuant * o orders from the officer in command I , with Corporal Uoynton and four men , all of Company "A , " proceeded for a distance of throe miles and a half north west of the outpost , for the purpose of mak ing a reooanolEsauoe. We advanced with the utmost caution , but were discovered by several natives In whlto and also carrying a whlto dag. Upon seeing us they turned from their oourso and ran to a house in a clump of trees , tram which wo were subsequently fired upon. We halted under cover to con sider their unusual actions , while I advanced to rocomioltor. I saw that a hostile line of natives was being extended to cover us , with the bamboo as a oontor. They advanced under cover of bushes and the rldgos of the fields , as though to flank us. As I hurried back to my detachment the natives opened ftro , but we , without reply , retreated , bearIng - Ing 'to ' our right. At this time the line , which was firing ujwn us , was not more than 200 yards distant. In a few minute * wo encountered two squads of Insurgents , who , at a distance of 200 yards , had effected a blockade of our retreat. We charged across the open of the xlceflolds toward them , pausing bohlud the ridges to give thecn volleys in reply to the fire which galllngly crossed us. Our flro was to such good effect that we scattered the flanking party , Wil ing or wo'Undlng ' throe or four , and broke through the surrounding lino. With this we made to the Martquina road and , thanks to 1 our use of cover , without loss or injury , At the road we mot the advance Hue of the rcghnont coming to our support. ' Whllo the party whlcli attacked us was 1 not ] orgc , its disposition and action seemed to Indicate a vanguard to a greater oom- I anand. We eaw no women or noncombatants ants In the vicinity. Nearly every bamboo shack or domestic enclosure floated a white rag. Obediently your servant , ( Signed ) WALTER POOR. First Nebraska Infantry , U. S , Vol. , Office of Commanding Officer , Pumping Station , Feb. 17th , 1899 , To the Adj. General , 2nd Brigade , 2nd Division , 8th Army Corps. Blr ; I have the honor to report that at about 11 : < 0 a , m. I heard heavy firing mrthwest of tbto place about two mlloa , It seamed to bo principally mausors , I ordered Companlra "C" and "K" to go at cnco to the outpost on the Marlqutna rose } aud rUnforco the company on duty there It noeeesary , I followed immediately with Companies * "H" and " 0" aud loft orders for "I" company to follow , About three-fourths cf a mlle north of the Mariqulna road I found Co , "A" dot j > loyed , and a largo forca of Philippines In a strong position lu tU9lr ( rent , J should usU' mate there were about 200 insurgents in the position. Seeing that It was impassible to carry the place by a direct attack , it was turned "F" "O" with company and part of company. This movement was successfully executed , bringing us out in rear of the in surgents , who were lying on the rocks firing at the remainder of our lino. We killed one officer and eight men here and the enemy retreated. Although we flanked their posi tion , their Hno overlapped ours and they had a flanking fire on some of our men. They made two moro stands after this , but we drove them out. We followed them through a deserted village and then San Francisco del Monte and broke up their organization. Pan of their forces returned to Mariqulna afterwards without arms. Wo had two officers and six men wounded. I saw eight men and one officer of the in surgents killed in one place. Four were severely wounded and took two prisoners. Wo could not take their wounded in , but dressed their wounds , bung a whlto flag over them and left them water. We did not get In with our wounded until dark. I especially Invite attention to Sgt. Poor's report. I gave him his orders when I in spected the outpost at 10:00 : a , m. The movement accrued to be either a con centration on the part of the Insurgents to attack our outpost or make a night attack on the Deposlto , or our fines. Very respectfully , ( Signed ) JOHN II. STOTSENBURG. Col. lit Neb. , U. S. Vol. Inf. l t Nebraska , U. S. Vol. Infantry , Office of the Commanding Officer , Pumping Station , Feb. 12th , 1899. To the Ad ] , General , 2nd Brig. , 2nd Dlv. , 8th Army Corpa , Sir : I have the honor to report that last night I had reports of a train of carotuettos going toward Antlpolo from the northwest. I sent out a scouting party of twelve , men and an officer , and then followed it up with throe companies , aa the distance when first seen was under-estimated. We went to a largo stream which was Impassable for our com mands , Three small parties crosied It , but although they went a mile further , they could not reach the road In the dark on ac count of another stream which we could not ford or cross. The train was composed of caribou carts , caromettcs and qulleses and were from about 9:0 : p. m. until 2:00 : a. m. i There seemed to bo no armed escort with them. Very respectfully , ( Signed ) JOHN M. STOTSENBURO , Col. l t Neb. , U. S , Vol. Inf. 1st Nebraska , U. S. Vol. Infantry , Office of the Commanding Officer , Pumping Station , Feb. Hth , 1899. To the Ad ] , General , 2nd Brig. , 2nd Dlv. , 8th Army Corps , Sir ; I have the honor to report that everything has been quiet In this vicinity today. The troops have been employed In strengthening our position with Intrenchments , Lt. W. K. .Moore , Co. "H , " Jst Neb , , with a squad of four men ran into an armed body of ten Insurgents about two miles north of the Mariqulna road. , Co. "M" la in the old camp at Santa Mesa. Very rwpoctfully , ( Signed ) JOHN M. 8TOTSENBURO , Ool. 1st Neb. , U. S. Vol. Inf. In the Field , Deponito , Pumping Station { Road , Feb. 16th , 1899. To the Adjutant , First Nebraska Infantry , U , B , Vol. Blr ; I have the honor to submit the following rapertl About eight a , m , I lent Lieut , Moore with fllttxHi men of my company to return to pUeo wliera he hod Men a Philippine force yesterday , aa4 find out its probable strength and what they were doing , En-1 route they were joined by five more men , Who asked to uo with them , Lieut , Moor states that he y'as ' advancing carefully in advance guard formation , .when they ran into about twenty insurgents at ten o'clock. They exchanged several shots , when the in surgents were reinforced by a comrany of fifty or sixty insurgents. The patrol re treated slowly about eighty rods , when the patrol found a secure position , and forced the natives to retreat. At that time I came up with a support. As the Insurgents tvers then retreating and had gone so far , and had disappeared , I did not deem it well to pursue them further. As wo advanced we found two natives mortally wounded and secured a Remington rifle and a sword from them. Musician Wm. H. Dlsbrow was wounded In the thigh , not serious. About three miles north of the Deposlto Pumping station road wo found the natives threshing rice and transporting It to the army in the hills. Several hundred natives , men and children , wore engaged in this kind of work. I would mention the following men of Company "II , " 1st Nebraska Infantry , U. S. V. , for very meritorious conduct , viz. : First Sergeant R. B. McConnell , Privates Charles R. Stall , Charles H. Youngs , Lewis H. Brisbln , Reea Robblns , Cecil I , Bolten- fleld , Giles Knapp and Muse. Wm. H. Dls ' brow. These men were on the firing line bravely holding their position when I ar rived. Very respectfully , ( Signed. ) FRANK D. EAGER , Oapt. Co. "II , " lot Neb. Inf. U. S. Vol. Headquarters 2nd Brigade , 2nd Division , 8th Army Corps , Manila , P. I. , Fob. 27th , 1899. Adjutant General , Socccd Division , Eighth Army Corps. Sir : I have the honor to enclose copies of re ports of Colonel Stotsenburg , 1st Nebraska Infantry , U. S. V. , Cnpt. Barber and Lieut. Murphy , 2nd Oregon Infantry , U , S. V. , on I expedition consletlng of Hotchklss revolv ing cannon and gun detachment , with escort of twenty-five men , to drlvo Insur gents out of a position near Mariqulna road , from which they were delivering an an noying flro on the Nebraska camp and out post. This movement was based on the fol lowing telegraphic correspondence : , Dfrp'stto , Feb. 24tn. 1899. TO A. u zna ung. . A. , , . M / Want General Kale's apprpvjti to send one Hotchkisa and 25 Oregon 'men out Marl- ' quiua road , to chell insurgents sautlnvest' ' of our outposts. They can reach our camp occasionally from the rocks , la the gen eral coming out here this evening ? ( Signed ) STOTSENBURG , Col. Hdqrs. 2nd Brig. 2nd Dlv. 8th A. C. , Feb. 2 b , 1S69. To Col. Stotsenburg , Deposlto. Approve sending gun and Oregon detach ment aa support , as recommended , but avoid any Infantry engagement If possible. You had better go with them or send some offi cer familiar with location of insurgents. Da os economical of ammunition as poeslblb , Will probably stay at B. H , 5 again tonight unlcea some-thing special out your way , la * eurgents in considerable force 800 to 1,000 yards front of South Dakota and Colorado. ( Signed ) HALE , Jirlg. Gen. I supposed that the Insurgents could Da driven out with the gua from the road or Immediate vicinity , and that the Infantry detachment would be required only as escort and support , but It appears from the development of circumstances and failure of Hotchklss gun , as specified in reports , that considerable Infantry flro was neces sary , The general effect on the Insurgent * ieoms to have been good , Very respectfully , IRVING HALH , Brigadier General Commanding. Flrnt Nebraska , U , B , Vol , Infntry , Office of the Commanding Officer , Pumping Station. Fob , 25 , 1899 , To the AdJ , General , 2nd Brig , 2nd Dlv , BUi Army Oorpi. Bin I have the honor to eta to that yetterday about 4 ft , TO , s company of char- ! shooters in the fields west of Mariqulna and others In the rocks , about 800 yards north of the Marlquina road , began firing Into our camp. This had stopped the night before about 11. Several of their shots came into our tents. The Insurgents ore occupying a poeltlon about 400 yards from our outpost , on the Marlquina road. After daylight wo drove them out of the fields near Mariqulna with 'the artillery and then they got into the rocks north and northwest ol the Mariqulna road and madu It very unpleasant for us. About 12:30 : p. m. I catno in to the Deposlto intending to get permission to dislodge them frcm thero. ' When I arrived Major East- wick , Second Oregon , asked for permission to send about twenty men out the Mariqulna ' road to make a reconnaissance and dislodge , aomo insurgents who seemed to bo north east of the Deposlto. I told him that with the approval of General Halo he could do it. I waited until nearly 2 o'clock and as the firing of ithe tfhanpshooters seemed to Increase the movement to begin , which I had sug gested in my telegram to Gen. Hale , having boon approved , wus ordered. The detach ment of twenty-five selected men of Major ' Eastwlck'a battalion started out , and after marching In line of skirmishers about a mile and a haft on the Mariqulna road , and this continued until they nearly reached the No- ! broska outpost. The HotchkUs gun became j disabled and besides the moral effect was | of little use to us. This was no fault of the | gunners , as they did hard work. Ono of the > ' Utah battery guns came over and drove the , Insurgents out towards Marlquina. They ro-1 mained away un'tll this morning , when they returned again in small bodies , but up to the i present have done no firing. Last night was , the quietest one we have had on our outpost. The entire Second Oregon detachment under Capt. Barber did gocd work , and as we did not get In until late , remained all night. | The only casualty wus Corp. Wra. Ponath , ' Co. "G , " 2nd Oregon , slightly wounded In chest and muscla of the arm. I enclose a , copy of Cpt. Barber's report. i Four insurgents are known to have been killed. | A Spaniard , who was with ua , Informed methat three battalions of Insurgents were nt San Mateo and that this was their ad vance guard. Very respectfully , ( Signed ) JOHN M. STOTSENBURO , Col. 1st Nobr. U. S. Vol. Inf. ' In the Field , Powder Magazine , February 25th , 1899. To the Adjutant , 3rd Battln. , 2nd Or. Vol. Inf. Sirs : I have the honor to report that I received orders at 100 ; p , m. , Feb. 24th , to prepare to advance with 25 picked mon from Companies "C , " "K" and " 0 , " 2nd Or. Inf. , along Mariqulna road , Left Pulverln with detach ment from Co , "G" to cross-roads , where I received written orders from Major East- wick , Ccnidg , 3rd Battln. 2nd Or. Vol. Inf. . to proceed along Mariqulna road In company with a detachment with Hotchklss gun , under command of Lt. Murphy , Co. "K , " 2nd Or , V. Inf. Throw e-ut - line of skirmishers north of road. Marched along Marlijulna road and reaching stone barricade , the detachment was thrown out as skirmish ers along north sldo of road , keeping touch with HotcbklBg gun , which Joined our right Hank. No obstruction was met with until after paeslng native village and reaching row of huts some 300 yards from village , when we were flred upon by sharpshooters , ata- tioned in native huts and trees. They seemed strong in number , and our fire fall ing to dislodge them and there being a favorable position , fire from the Hotchkles was opened on the village , but the sheila failed to explode on striking the grass huts. We advanced and the enemy retreated to wards our left flank , where a heavy flro was encountered from a trong body of the enemy who were pouted In that vicinity , Obaniied direction to the left and took up position behind hedge which afforded fair cover , and tudeavored to locate the enemy , who were now flrlng upon us with volleys. Wo replied brlekly and the enemy retreated to probably 1,000 yards , leaving behind them sharpshooters , who annoyed us until they were disposed of. The enemy divided Into two large bands , one going to the right and the other to the left , In an apparent en deavor to flank us. The gun was brought up and put Into a favora ble position , and shelling began In the places whore the enemy were hidden , ospo- clally in a house where some CO or' CO wore seen to congregate , at range of 1,100 yards. The shells burst close to the house , and the enemy evacuated it. A rapid fire of shells seemed to work damage , the shells falling amongst them and exploding. The enemy continued a heavy fire from the right , which waq situated on a rldgo screened by brush. A few shells were thrown there and the gun Jammed. A Co. of 1st Neb. Inf. came up aud formed on our left , supplying us with ammunition , which was needed , and flred volleys at various ranges. The enemy re treated beyond range and wo changed di rection to the right. Leaving the Neb. Co. to cover our right , wo took gun to the road and advanced slowly while repairs were made to gun. Having advanced U or J/4 mlle wo wore flred on by a number of the enemy , who were concealed In the cano fields and trees aud on the surrounding heights. The flro was chiefly volleys aud well directed , sweeping all the open ground and cane from the left front and left en tirely. Wo could locate but few of the enemy , owing to the fact that they used smokeless powder , while wo were at a dis advantage , having the 'black ' powder shells , As we were exposed wo advanced the right and swung back the loft , so as to avoid the flanking flro and afford better pro tection. The men sheltered themselves aud wo endeavored to drlvo the enemy back , but they gave way very little , and did not relax their flro. The gun being repaired now came up and wo opeBod on the- position of the enemy , but after a few rounds the Hotchklss gun again Jammed , owing to the breaking ( rottenness ) of the shells. The gun iHtlnu useless and the enemy having our range , we communicated with the j Nob. Co. at the outpost and endeavored - ' deavored to withdraw to the road , i which afforded a certain amount of protection. Hero Corpl. Ponath , Co. "G , " 2nd Or. Inf. , was wounded in the chett , Ho was carried to a disused sugar cane mill , which afforded eomo protection. I wont 'to him and ordered Ilia remimil tu the road , having in the meantime Bent for a litter. This was done under a heavy IIro. The enemy having accurately located the mill , I received order from the outpost to withdraw to the road and come to outpost. The useless gun having guno ahead , wo withdrew quickly as posslWe to the road , advancing under cover of the bushes , und reached outpost. I would venture to suggest ihat black powder is dangerous , as betray ing our position , while the enemy , using only smokeless , can only bo located by the nu'&o ' or a quick eye , and that is uncertain , while each time we fired black po-wder they iwmidlatcly sent a volley towards the smoke , Their flrlng wus controlled by bugle , heard at Intervals , and they evidently had the range , as In the second light the bullets were well aimed and not too high , as la usual , Our only casualty was Corporal Ponatii , Co. "G , " 2nd Or. Vol. Inf. The men wore cool und obeyed orders promptly , As regards the JOBS of the enemy , we could only locate them by sounds ; those we snw wo left thero. I can Ive no accurate statistics , as It U impossible' to estimate the damcgn done by the shells or our volleys In the brush. The Bharpshootors , who stayed too long behind the main 'body ' cf the enemy , wo could Iccato , and as wo had picked men wo had no diffi culty In disposing of them. After reporting to Col. EtoUenburg at the outpoet wo were sent to the Nebraska camp for eupper ; we returned to the outpost and took up at mid night outpost work there. Wo were sup plied with food by the Ndb. . Vola. and at 0:30 : , Feb. 25th , the men having breakfasted , we started to return to our camp (1'ulvuln ( ) , I desire to draw attention to the fact that when Corpl. Ponath was wounded he wna at the left of the line. Ho was promptly carried to the shelter of the mill by Sorgt. Lane , Pvta. Wnn. A. Shoemaker , Albert A , Etdo and Jno. J. Maxwell , all of Co. "G , " 2nd Or. Vol. Inf. under a heavy fire. Ou < my requeat for volunteers to carry him to the rood , as there was a raking flro across the open , these wen promptly responded and carried the wounded man gently across the road , the bullets meanwhile ftpattorlng all around them. Distance traveled , seven miles , . Resp'ly submitted , ( Sgd. ) R. H. BARBER. Capt.2nd Or. Vol. Inf. First Nebraska , U. 8'Vot. Infantry , Fob. 25 , 1899. To the Adjutant , 1st Nebraska Infty , U. B. V. : Sir : I have 'the honor to report thnt about 1:30 : p. m. today the sentry on look out reported that he had noticed a body of about a dozen Philippines stop and turn back throe carromatos in succession , on the road leading from the south Into Mariqulna. I took about a dozen men tinder Sorgt. Mur- dock and went down with the Intention of investigating the occurrence. Upon reach ing the corner of the village , where the road runs Into the village , I left three mon , with Instructions to watch the village , and if any Insurgent soldiers were seen In the village to report same , and also sent Sergt. Mur- dock up through the village for the same purpose , with Instructions to come out at the north end of village. Taking tbo rest of the party , I went along north up the woatern edge of plain , and when about halt way up tlio village , struck out cant ocrossj the plain , having waited a while for Sergt , Murdock to report ; nnd ho having reported < that although a great number of natlvta < wore sitting around In the houses , no aol- dlera had been seen. The party continued east until the creek was xcactiod , and having scon nothing suspicious north or south , Htruck out to work back , but noticing R house half a mile oouthwest , with several moving around It , first went over there , and were about to eit down and rest awhlla v.-lien Phlllpplnn soldiers were observed crossing the plain from north end of Marl quina , and also coming down tbo plain from the north , as well as coming west from the foothills across the creek. Almost at' the same tlmo a large number of natives dressed in white came out from Mariqulna and ran for the stucks of straw In the vicinity. Suspecting thnt an attempt was to t > made to cut off the party , I at once directed that wo move back towards camp , but as soon as wo started fire was opened upon us from the stacks , from the village , from ridges north of UH and from the cdgo of the creek northeast of us , Wo at once re turned the flro , at the name ( line worklni over to tbo west and kept up a scattering fire , at the eamo tlmo working west arid keeping as much under cover as possible. The enemy advanced at one time to about flvo hundred yardu , when the artillery from the hill opened flro end the enemy at once ceased to advance and 1 > cean to retire. Our party then began to advance , as wo saw company In the distance coming to our sup * port. The enemy by this time had gotten about one thousand yards away , and our party then advanced to Marlquina again , where tbo three men reported that a large number of natives had run out from the vil lage dressed In white , had go-no to the strait etacks and then opened fire , evidently hav * Ing had arms concealed in the ttacks , The scouting party again went through Marl * qulna up to the northeast c rnur , and found a small party of insurgents about four hundred yards distant , and opened fire and drove them back out of range , after which the party started south again through the village. When reaching the southern end of village , It was found to 'be ' In flames and upon IB * i t ( Continued on T nth F c . )