Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/795

 army. As

these military-appearing soldiers with their modern rifles and accoutrements lined up before the ragged looking Oregon companies who were clothed in the worst apologies any civilized nation ever offered for uniforms, the contrast was striking in the extreme.

Col. Owen Summers was chosen provost marshal general for the walled city by General Merritt. A squad from Company A, commanded by Lieutenant Young, escorted Lieutenant Povey of Company L, and Admiral Dewey's flag lieutenant to the main wall, where the great Spanish ensign floated. This em- blem of a decadent nation was hauled down and the stars and stripes run up, -viile a number of Spanish officers and their ladies stood near, bowed in deepest grief over their nation's decline upon territory that had been claimed by Spain by virtue of Magellan's discoveries.

From August 13 until February 4 of the following year, the Oregon regiment, qt.artered in the walled city as a portion of the provost guard, suffered a greater strain upon patience than field service ever imposed. With the exceptions of Company F, assigned for special duty at the commanding general's headquar- ters, and Company H, taking charge of the customs house, the weary months were a routine of guard and drill. It was clear to all that the Spanish war was o>/er with the surrender of the troops, and when the official signature of the treaty of peace was announced some months later, it was known to all volunteers tba^ their term of enlistment had expired. During this long period, when busi- ne. men and students were kept on the commonplace duties of policing a city, th ^ was much discontent, which developed to some of the volunteer organiza- ti( insisting that their commanding officers arrange for return home. In this cr^^.o, which was one of the most vital tests given the volunteer soldiers in the Eig th Army Corps, the Oregon troops were the most disciplined, and the least insistent upon strict observance of legal rights when their services were needed.

C >nspicuous services by Oregon officers and men where professional talent and knowledge of business were necessary, was frequently credited during the six-month wait. Major Gantenbein was made a member of the military com- mission, which was the supreme court of the islands during the military regime, and as later tendered a position on the supreme court of the Philippines. He also served as member of the board of claims against the Spanish government, and also on a similar board against the American government. Capt. Sanford Whiting, assistant surgeon of the regiment, was given complete control of the smallpox hospital for the entire corps, in which capacity he did highly meritorious work. Lieut. George Povey was depot quartermaster at Cavite for a period, and later was made assistant depot quartermaster in Manila. Captain Cardwell was promoted to the rank of major, and placed on Brig.-Gen. Alderson's staff, as ch" f surgeon of volunteers. Many other officers and numerous men did splendid work in the various places assigned in reestablishing order in the de- pleted town and province of Manila.

Outbreak of hostilities with the Filipinos occurred the night of February 4th, after weeks of most severe patience test for the troops, who were practically be- leagured by the nominally friendly Filipinos and yet looked daily into the muzzles of gtmb pointing from frowning trenches thrown up around Manila. The out- break found the Second Oregon doing provost guard duty, and in splendid con- dition for any emergency. Prompt action by this command and others on simi- lar duty held the uprising of the Filipinos outside the city, the 220,000 inside being kept in fear of the few regiments dominating them.

The night of the 4th, when bullets rattled over the city, there were no casual- ties among the Oregon men. Next morning the main command continued guards within the city. Major Eastwick took his battalion to Paco for a clearing move- ment, and was later replaced in the work by Major Gantenbein. Many shots were fired, but none of the Oregon men were wounded. The next day Com- panies C, K and G under Major Eastwick, joined in the assault upon the water- works fortifications of the Filipinos, and captured the water system which sup-