The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-10-03
DETAILS or the FIGHT.
General MacArthur's Report of the Battle
Of Manila.

General MacArthur's Report of the Battle
Of Manila.
Washington. Oct. 2.-The report oi
Major General Arthur Macarthur. who
commanded the LIST brigade. End divis-
ion. Sth army corps, on ne day OF the
battle OF Manila. mention of which was
made in yesterdays dispatches. gives
some very interesting details Of the
fight of the 18th OF August. Following
are some Of the extracts:
Several hours before the operations
Of the day were intended to commence,
there was considerable desultory firing
from the Spanish line. both OF the can-
non and small arms. provoked no doubt
by Filipino soldiers, who Insisted upon
maintaining a general fusillade along
their lines. with which the American
line connected just east Of the Passia
road. The firing was not returned by
our troops, and when the formation of
the day vas commenced things at the
front were comparatively quiet. BY 8
O'Clock the position was occupied.
about 1856 the naval attack commenced
and some 20 minutes thereafter the gun
Of battery b. Utah artillery. opened on
blockhouse IL. the guns of the Astor
battery having engaged In opposing
battery some minutes after the opening
Of h ava attack. There was no re-
ply from the blockhouse OF contig-
uous lines. either by guns or small
arms. The opposition to the Astor fire.
however, was quite energetic: but af-
ter a spirited contest the opposition,
consisting probably of two pieces, was
silenced.
This contest was the only notable
feature OF the first stage of the action
and was especially creditable to the or
g~anization engaged. The position Sc
lected by Lieutenant March after care
full personal reconnaissance was, per-
hans the nnlV nnn nnGGih1a In tho vi
clnity. and IL was occupied with great
skill and held with commendable firm
ness, the battery losing three men
wounded. one OF whom has since died.
The Utah gun on the road fired IA shots
at ~blockhouse II with good effect. as
was subsequently ascertained upon in
spection Of the work.
Lieutenant Grow and detachment
deserve great credit for the commenda-
bile manner i'm which the piece was
served and pulled through the mud
without assistance of horses.
Some time about II o'clock n con-
centrated infantry fire was hear,i in
front Of the second brigade and not
long thereafter an exultant shout In
dicated substantial success for our
arms on the left. IL was Therefore as
sumed that the enemy had beer so
shaken as To make the advance practice
able without a serious disadvantage to
our troops.
AT about 1880 o'clock a United
States flag was placed upon blockhouse
u. thus concluding the second stage q
the action without opposition and with
out loss. The general advance was
soon resumed. the 18th Minnesota lead
ing with company X as advance guard.
then the Aston battery, the battalion
OF the 23d infantry. the battalion OF the
the 18th infantry and the North Dako-
Ia regiment following in the order
named.
AT a point just south OF Singalon a
blOckhouse was found burning. causing
a continuous explosion of small arms
ammunition. which. together with a
scattering fire from the enemy, re-
tarded the advance for a time. All diff
hculties were soon overcome. however,
Including the passage of the Aston bat
terry by the efforts OF Lieutenant March
and his men. assisted by the infantry Of
the Minnesota regiment. over the gun
emplacement which obstructed the road.
In the village of Singalon the adj
m fell under a loose fire. the inten-
sity Of which increased as the forward
movement was pressed, and very soon
the command was committed TO a fierce
combat. This strong opposition arose
at blockhouse 20 of the Spanish de-
lenses. n detached work with emplace-
ments for six guns. which fortunately
were not filled on the 18th instant: but
the work was occupied by a detachment
OF infantry-probably a strong rear
guard.
The advance party. consisting OF men
Of the Minnesota regiment. reinforced by
volunteers from the Aston battery, led
by Lieutenant March and Captain Saw
telle OF the brigade stan as an indiVid-
ual volunteer, reached a point within
less than 50 yards OF the blockhOuse,
but was obliged to retire To the inter-
sccting road in the village, at which
point a hasty work was i~mprovised and
occupied by a firing lire Of about Is
men. Aside from conspicuous individual
actions in the first rush. the well-regu-
lated conduct of this firing lin was the
marked feature OF the contest. n IL is
proposed. IL possible, to ascertain the
names Of the men engaged. with "A view
20 recommending them for special dis
tinction.
AT about 1880 p. m. all firing had
ceased and W scouting parties. volun-
tarily led by Captain Sawtelle and
Lieutenant March. soon thereafter re-
ported the retreat Of the adversary.
The city was entered without further
incident through the Paceo district. The
contact was mad about II o'clock and
the contest continued with great fero-
city until 1885. that is 10 say, about an
hour ana a half. The loss in the comoat
was three officers wounded. four enlist
ed men killed and 30 wounded"
General Macarthur takes occasion to
commend in strong terms the ~gallantry
n Colonies Ovenshein and Reeve. Cap
tains Sawtelle. BjOrnstad and Seebach,
and Of Lieutenants March, Herman and
Whitworth.