Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1898-08-13
FIGHT AT MANILA.
Try to Break
American Lines.
THEY FIND UNBREAKABLE MATERIAL.

THEY FIND UNBREAKABLE MATERIAL.
American Loss, Thirteen Killed and
Forty-seyen Wounded-The Span
ish Attack Was In the Nature of a
Surprise.
New York Sun, Wednesday,.
The first loss of American life in
action in the conquest OF the Philip
pines occurred on the night of July 81,
when in sharp fight that lasted four
hours, 8 Americans were killed out
right and AZ wounded. Some of the
mortally wounded have since died,
p1aking the total number of deaths 13.
On the morning of July 20 the Amer
lean troops moved forward and occu-
pied an old insurgent trench, from
which the Filipinos were withdrawn
at the request of General Greene. The
First Colorado regiment and four guns
of the Utah batteries occupied the
trench, which was later found to be
utenable.
The Americans then advanced 100
yards and threw up a line of breast
works $50 yards long, extending from
the Manila road to the beach. An old
Capuchin chapel was in the centre of
the line. Two guns from each battery
were posted on each side of the chapel, ,
which is on a high bank raised about
$50 yards from the Spanish breast
works in front of Malate.
The Americans were not disturbed
by the Spaniards while building their
breastworks. There was, however,
some desultory firing, which was with
out result.
The First Nebraska regiment reliev-
ed the First Colorado on July 80, and
the work on the trench continued that
day and night without interruption.
There was some firing at the Nebras-
kans, but no damage was done.
On Sunday the Tenth Pennsylvania
regiment went into the trench. Two
battalions were commanded by Major
Cuthbertson. Colonel Harkins was
sick. Four companies were posted in
the trench, two on the Manila road as
supports and two under Major Bierer
as reserves at the field hospital in the
rear of the old insurgent trench.
The breastwork was finished that
day without interference by the Span
iards.
At 10 o'clock at night heavy fire
began all along the Spanish line. Our
men replied vigorously. The firing
was very good. The volleys of the
Utah artillery did excellent work.
The Spanish fire was surprisingly
accurate. The enemy had the range
pat, and made frstclass practice. A
perfect hailstorm of bullets burst all
about the American line.
Soon the pickets that had been post
ed on our right and front came back
and reported that the Spaniards were
attempting to turn our right flank.
The trench did not extend beyond the
road.
The ground there was fairly open,
but there was a small bamboo and
acacia scrub and high grass. The
Spaniards maintained terrific fire.
The Pennsylvanians got excited and
began to fire irregularly, and their vol
leys lost effect.
The Spaniards in advance got far
enough on our right to have a crossfre
on the Americans. Our ammunition
now began to run low, and courier
was sent to General Greene for rein
forcements and ammunition.
Meantime the Utah battery pound
ell away coolly as veterans. The
Pennsylvanlans held on as best they
could. Companies K and B moved
from the road up to our right, and the
reserves, Companies D and E, were
brought across the open field and sent
beyond the right end of the American
trench. These companies suffered
most of the loss while crossing the
open field near the American line be-
tween our trench and the old insur-
gent trench. The Spanish fire that
was too high for the American line
swept this field necessarily and made
it perfect death trap. 1t was the
only way up, however, and the Penn
sylvanians crossed it gallantly.
Meantime help was coming. Lieu
tenant Krayenbuhl, with the first pla-
toon of Battery K of the Third Regu-
lar Artillery acting as infantry, had
been posted at the junction of the Ma
Mia and Pasai roads, with orders to
avance if necessary.
Lieutenant Kessler, with the second
platoon of the same battery, was
posted on the Pasai road. Lieutenant
Krayenbuhl was on the right with the
same orders. The latter met the mes
senger from the front and went for
ward Immediately after sending word
to Lieutenant Kessler to follow quick
ly. He arrived just in time. The
ammunition of the Pennsylvania was
almost gone. The men were firing at
will. Lieutenant Krayenbuhl drew
his revolver and threatened to shoot
the first man who fired without orders.
This soon restored confidence.
The regulars began volley firing at