Otto Reinel
Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 September 1899, page 3
Otto Reinel, a returned soldier who saw active service in the
Philippines, is staying with friends in Newport Ky. Reinel was discharged on
account of a wound received in battle. Pervious to his going to the Philippines
he served three years and three months in the famous Sixth Regiment. At the
breaking out of the American Spanish War he re-enlisted in the volunteer
regulars and was assigned to the Twenty-Second Infantry with which he
distinguished himself in the battle in which the lamented Colonel Egbert lost
his life.
Reinel was at his side and helped place him on the litter which bore the brave soldier off the battle field. In speaking of his treatment Reinel said: "We were deprived of many comforts that should have fallen our lot while in action. Transportation was by water buffalo and the animal could stand but four house of army treatment when they would die. Consequently the men had to carry their own supplies and rations through rice and bamboo swamps, in many cases as far as 30 miles. From this a person can imagine what an awful job we had in addition to fighting the natural conditions of the country, the foremost of which was the climate. The day of the battle of Guadeloupe Church we were ordered to storm the town of the church, which had been converted into a citadel. This duty was performed on an empty stomach of two days standing. I should have been discharge within 60 days after signing of the treaty of peach with Spain. This was not done. Neither did I receive travel pay, which I am entitled to under the law. The travel pay includes fare from Manila to San Francisco. I have placed the claim in the hands of Colonel Berry of Newport."
Reinel has in his possession an honorable discharge that enumerates the battles in which he took part and a letter of praise from General Wheaton. The letter was given out the day after the battle of Guadeloupe Church to each and every man in the regiment.