Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-18
REPORT OF GENERAL LAWTON
Gives Details Of Expedition to Santa Cruz,
Province Of La Laguna.
GENERAL KING TOO Ill TO LEAD FORCES
Major weisenberg Takes Command
of Provisional Brigndc-North Da-
kota Private Recommended
for Medal of Honor.

l. WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE War de-
partment has made public the report from
| Major General Lawton, giving the details OF
! his expedition in April last to Santa Cruz
province Of La Laguna. The report is dated
August l. General Lawton says the object
| of the expedition was the capture Of Santa
| Cruz destruction OF telegraph lines, to cut
off the enemy's retreat II possible and to
distribute the proclamation Of the United
States commissioners.
This expedition went by water from a
point opposite Manila on Laguna de Bay to
Santa Cruz. The command consisted Of /, 200
| men and, in the order for the expedition.
| Brigadier General. Charles King was placed
in immediate command of the provisional
brigade, with directions to report to General
Lawton.
General Lawton then describes the move
ment of his command. the difficult landing,
the advance under Major Weisenburg and
the rout Of the enemy near the CITY, The
report then continues:
During a personal examination OF the
condition OF the command, made after night
fall, 1t was ascertained that General King
was so i'll that he had been unable to land
with his command and would probably not
be able to participate in any part Of the
expedition.
THE immediate command of the line was
assumed by myself General King was
authorized to return to his headquarters and
the next officer in rank, Major Weisenburg,
was verbally appointed to the command of
the provisional brigade
"At daybreak next morning, the 10th inst,
the troops were at once put into position,
three companies on the right of the road
leading north toward the town, the remain
4 80 ,,,NG H. a,,.I
rested on the beach.
THE artillery moved along the road, sup
ported by Company l, First Idaho volunteer
infantry. The advance toward the city was
Immediately taken up.
Kings Illness Causes Delay.
"The illness of General King caused much
embarrassment. some confusion and delay,
but thanks to the efficiency OF my staff Of
fcers, this was soon overcome. To Major
Clarence A. Edwards, assistant adjutant gen.
oral. was entrusted the center of our ad-
vancing line, and Major Charles G. Starr, in
spsctor general, commanded the left flank.
These gallant officers, fully alive to the re-
sponsibilities resting upon them, were equal
to the occasion and no line of battle could
have been more courageously or intelligently
led, as the results proved. l can only COM
mend these officers in the highest terms for
the gallant work done by them on this oc-
casicn. ] especially commend these officers
for conspicuous gallantry on this occasion.
To Major Weisenburg 1 wish to express
my appreciation of his valuable services
The report gives the casualties heretofore
published and also gives details OF the oc-
cupation of the city. Plans were formulated
for the capture of the small gunboats which
the insurgents had in the Pagsangan river.
In this the gunboats on the lake partci-
pated. The movement was not resisted seri-
ously by the insurgents General Otis mem
tions in terms of praise the services of Sec
ond Lieutenant Thomas Franklin, who COM
manded the gunboat Napidan. -.
General Lawton thus describes a gallant
action:
with a view to securing good place to
re- embark the troops for movement on
Caaba the North Dakota battalion was sent
from Longcs shortly after noon the 18th
inst, to reconnoiter the town of Paete.. 10
Gated about four miles further north on the
lake shore, where it was reported a good
landing place could be found After advanc
ing about one mile the enemy was discoy-
cred entrenched across the road and imme-
diately opposite from behind almost impen-
etrable underground on the mountain side.
Major Frame promptly disposed his COM
mand to execute flank movement on the
enemy, who were pointing heavy fire into
the advance guard, four of whom were killed
and three wounded, one mortally. OF these
the latter and three killed belonged to a
party of five flankers who had been sent UP
the hillside. Their surviving comrade Pri-
vate Thomas Sletteand. Company G, First
North Dakota. remained with them and by
his cool and unerring aim successfully held
INF ptc
Then, after carrying his wounded comrade to
the rear, he assisted in recovering the bodies |
Of the killed He has been recommended for |
oil Of L