The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-04-28
THE DARING KANSAS.
Company z Performs a Brilliant
Deed in a Charge.
AMERICANS IN FRONT OF CALUNPIT.
Col. Fred Funston Calls for Volunteers to
Cross the River-Three Wounded in
the Kansas Regiment-FIIi-
pinos Fight Wei.

PinOs Fight Well.
Manila, April 26.-Gen. MacArthur's
division fought its way 70 the Filipino
trenches before Calumpit yesterday,
advancing four miles, mostly through
woods and jungle and crossing the
Bagbag river. This was accomplished
at a cost to the Americans Of six killed
and % wounded, the First South Dakota
regiment being the heaviest loser.
After fOrding the river, the South Da-
kOtans pursued the insurgents to the
outskirts Of CalUmpit, but the town
was found TO be so strongly protected
that Gen. Macarthur deemed 1t best to
withdraw the tired fighters and go into
camp for nights rest before making
the final assault.
The largest buildings in Calumpit
were being fred by the FlipinOs while
the Americans were crossing the river
fully a mile away, indicating the enc
my's intention to abandon the place.
The insurgents seem to have adopted a
settled policy Of retiring from one posi-
ton after another, after infiicting the
greatest possible damage upon the ad-
vancing army. The forces yesterday
ground was tenaciOusly disputed by
OrOughIy-Organized troops, who stood
remarkably firm even before artillery.
The Bagbag river, which is about 100
yards wide at that point, was splendidly
fortified, and the Americans were com
PEELED to approach an open space from
which the rebels had cleared every OBJ
structiOn to sight. The bank of the
river, a high bluff, was surmOunted
with trenches, capped with rocks, loop
holed and partly hidden by bushes.
Gen. WheatOn's brigade approached
the river along the railroad, leaving
camp beyond MalOlOs city. Gen. Hale's,
which started Monday, was earlier on
the march and sweeping westward to-
ward the railroad. The armOred train
was being pushed by Cinnamon, the
Twentieth Kansas regiment advancing
in an extended order on the left and
the First Montana regiment with the
Utah light artillery, on the right.
The rapid-fring guns on the train
"Opened the ball" at 1850 a. m, about
mile from the river, their popping al
ternating continuously with the boom
Of the six-POunders- The Montana
regiment and the Utah artillery bat
teries at the same time entered the
jungle, from which the insurgents, who
were occupying a large struggling vii
Iage Of huts, poured heavy vOleys-
In the course Of an hour the Ameri-
cans had forced a passage through the
woods to the open space in front Of the
river, and the artillery. Immediately
on wheeling into the open, began she'll
ing the Filipino trenches
In the meantime, company K, Tween
tieth Kansas, led by Capt. BOltwoOd,
performed one of the most brilliant
achievements Of the campaign. The
regiment was being held in reserve,
and company 4 charged a distance Of
a quarter Of a mile over a cOrnfield to
the bank Of the river, near the bridge,
where the insurgents, from a trench,
were pepPering the armOred train,
then about 200 yards down the track.
The company found shelter in a ditch.
Col. Frederick Funston called for vol
unteers to cross the river, and the col
onel himself, Lieut.. Ball, a private Of
company K, a private Of company H,
Trumpeter Bansfeld and Corporal Fer
gusOn, Of company I, crawled along
the iron girders-
While this was going on the men Of
company X, from the ditch, were fusil-
lading the trenches in the endeavOr to
divert attention, but the FilipinOs got
the range from a trench down the
river and their bullets soon spattered
the water under the structure. Hav-
ing reached the broken span. the small
but valOrOus party Of Americans slid
down the caissOn, swan a few yards to
the shore and crawled up the bank, the
colonel leading the way 70 the trenches,
revolver in hand, while the few remain
ing FiipinOs bOlted,
Gen. Hale's right joined Gen. Whea-
tons left soon after noon, a curve in the
river enabling the Americans to pour
an enflading fire into the enemy's
trenches About this time the cheers
Of the Kansas troops announced that
the Americans had crossed the river.
Gen. Hale's men began to ford the
Chico, q branch Of the Bagbag, stretch
ing to the northeast. The general
himself plunged IN up to his neck, and
the regiments all carrying flags, hOun-
dered across the stream. The guns Of
the Utah light artillery were dragged
over next and formed In extended line,
to advance upon the trenches before
Calumpit, from which the FIlipinOs
were pouring continuous volleys-
The armored car had one man killed
and two wounded. The Kansas regi-
ment had three wounded during the
charge and the Utah light artillery one
killed and two wounded Most OF the
other casualties befeu the South Da-
kota regiments It is difficult to esti-
mate the msurgent losses, but they are
no fewer than 20 killed, many Of them
by the artillery.