Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-23
GEN. OVENSHlNE'S REPORT
Troops in His Command Showed Them
selves E1callently Disciplined
Gallant Advance of the 18th Infantry
on the Trenches Occupied
by the FilipinOs.

Brig Gen. Samuel Ovenshine. command
ing the % Brigade. 1st Division Of the army
in the Philippines has reported upon the
action of his command in the first fight
with the Filipinos. There was some very
brisk fighting done by his brigade. The
insurgents were shelled by the 9th Artillery
also by the Monadnock from the bay. and
after the heavy firing Capt. Murphy, with
detachment of the 18th Infantry did ex-
cellent service in driving the Filipinos from
a strong position. Gen. Ovenshine says
that Maj Frank White. with a battalion OF
the LIST North Dakota. left the trenches and
made a gallant and effective charge on the
insurgents concealed in thickets in front OF
his position. In conclusion, Gen. Oven
shine says:
II wish TO call particular attention TO the
report of Capt. Murphy. 1ith Infantry. and
to particularly commend his services and
the services of those under him. II was
with Capt. Murphy's battalion that the gal
liant Lieut.. James Mitchell, 18th United
States Infantry. lost his life.
All troops under my command were In
excellent discipline and readily handled.
firing being stopped at command in several
instances
Especially Commended.
ct wish to commend the services of Mai.
George H. Penrose. United States Volun-
teers: Brigade Surgeon Capt. w. H. Sage,
I'D United States Infantry, acting assist
ant adjutant general: Capt. c. R. Kraut-
hoff. commissary. L. S. ". and first
lieutenant 1ith United States Infantry. bri-
f-ade cornmissary and First Lieut.. F. w.
Hunt, list Idaho Infantry U. 5. W, bri-
gade quartermaster, for valuable aid all
through the engagement. Lieut.. Hunt
rendering excellent service under ire
Much responsibility rested on Capt. Sage.
and he met the requirements of his pos
ton.
Il commend particularly to superior au-
thorfty the gallant conduct under hre OF
Second Lieut. NJ. c. kerth, 23d United
States Infantry, aid-de-camp. He twice
placed himself in charges in advanced and
dangerous positions, setting splendid ex-
ample to the men, and his services as an
aid-de-camp were most valuable.
ION the field Second Lieut.. W. D. Conner,
Corps of Engineers United States Army.
reported to me and volunteered his services
and valuable, and he did gallant duty I'M
der fire.
Second Lieut.. A S. Flemminy. 9th United
States Artillery. with his guns and detach-
ment. did excellent service.
The work of the vessels of our fleet
were valuable ON my front
First Lieut.. W. G.. Ham. Sd United
States Artillery, with his company. A.
United States Engineers. reported for duty
with the brigade at Singalong Church on
the morning of February ). The Wyoming
battalion was held IN reserve. but was sent
for duty early the 9Th instant with the
LIST Brigade, LIST Division, and not I'M
der my command
Except Capt. Wheeler's troop. E. 4th
Cavalry, which was on outpost duty. the
4th Cavalry squadron was held in reserve
in Manila but part of it afterward came on
the line.
Lieut. Col. T. II. Barry. A.A.G. to the
corps commander. and First Lieut.. F. W.
Sladen. 4th United States Infantry aid to
the corps commander: Lieut.. Col. E. H.
Crowder, Judge advocate, sth Army Corps:
Lieut.. Col. r. E. Thompson chief signal
officer. sth Army Corps were present on
the firing line with the I'd Brigade. LIST Di-
vision. Sth Army Corps. during the day
The work of the 1lth United States In
fantry is worthy of the highest praise"
Capture of the BIockhouse.
In an accompanying report Capt. ]. j.
Murphy of the 18th Infantry reports the
operations of his troops. as follows:
About : o'clock am. February ) 1 was
ordered by the regimentai commander to
take two companies of my battalion. ad-
vance and occupy the old Spanish works
distance about ,ODD yards from the Sing
along road. along which the regiment had
been lying under arms during the preced-
ing night / advanced with Companies NJ
and F, under command of Lieuts. J. Mitch
ell and P. Nullay. respectively, and, when
within ab1It 40 yards of the Spanish
works. Company NJ was Joined in the add
vance by about twenty men of Company !.
who were on outpost duty under command
of Lieut.. p. L Miles. These troops adj
vanced up the swamp. which was about
nfty yards in width. to about 800 yards
from the insurgent line to a thin hedge: and
upon advancing from this position met a
severe fire from the front and left flank.
Al about go yards from the enemys
trenches Lieut. Mitchell fell from a fatal
wound in the stomach. Lieut.. Miles as
sumed command of the company and the
advance was continued. and the old Span
~, lie
and insurgent trenches in front of block
house were carried. after which the troops
entered bluckhOuse No. II. driving out in
SUrgents part of whom retreated across the
road into the underbrush. and others on
the left retired 10 their intrenchments on
Pasay road During this advance Com
pany VI and the detachment of Company
on outpost duty lost eight men killed and
nineteen wounded. Company f in the ad-
vance was on tbs right of the line and
when within about 2tD yards of the
trenches the insurgents opened a heavy
IRE IN our front from the bamboo thiCkets
and underhrush. in which they were con-
cealei. woundiag two men Our men re-
turned the fire, which was continued for a
few minutes, after which the Insurgents re-
treated ana We advanced and occupied the
works Lieut.. Lyle of the 18th Infantry ac-
cOmpanied Company F and rendered eff
cient sarvi,e. there being but one officer
with the company, and for which he has
my thanks.
Fine Conduct of Officers and Men,
The conduct Of the officers and men dur
ing this advance was splendid. and great
credit is due to the cool and efficient man
ner In which the officers performed their
duty. especially so that of Lieut.. Miles
whose co9lness and intrepidity inspired
great confidence in the men, he leading the
advance and being the first to enter the
Old Spanish works. and for which he Ger.
taialy should receive some recognition
About half an hour after the taking of the
works Company d. commanded by Lieut.
hem2tr, reported to me. and placed it in
position on the right of the line. About 10
O'Clock Lieut. Lasseigne. the permanent
commander. who was on sick report, ar
rived and assumed command Of the COM
pany-
After the capture of the Spanish works
n desultory fire was kept up by the insur-
cents from their intrenchments. which was
returned by our men at intervals and
which continued until about O'Clock pm.
when a flank movement made and the
inSurEeut works captured. The battalion
then Joined the regiment and proceeded to
Pasay. where my battalion was ordered 10
remain"
1T.