The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-10-18

Slndelon tor supper That evening. by
5 o'clock next morning; Wednesday,
August 16, we were in line, and march
ing up the railroad track. We covered
about three miles in this position, when
halt was made and the companies di-
vided up; the lst battalion went tothe
right, the second was to continue up
the track and the third to 60 off to the
left. In this position We advanced a
mile or more without seeing any sign Of
insurgents, when the Sd battalion the
one l accompanied came to one those fire.
quent streams, lined with brmbao trees.
Here we deployed as skirmishers, as the
dome and steeple of the church could
be seen in a cluster of trees. Hardly
had the advance been made beyond the
shelter Of the trees when the singing OF
Mauser bullets could be heard, though
we were TOO far off for them to dc any
damage. The first volley fred by our
boys was at 1,S00 yards, so we must
have been 1000 yards off when they
opened up, but as We continued to ad-
vance the firing became more deadly,
and We protected ourselves behind those
saviors Of American soldiers, arice pat
ty, which has been the means OF saving
many life. By means Of these rice
ratties you can fire volley and then
advance to the next one, a distance of
about one hundred to one hundred and
fifty feet. Just before our advance,
and while waiting for developments,
Col. Smith rode up aud, halting, said:
well, boys, we will eat our dinner IN
Angeles To-Day"
His words came true, for after one Of
the hottest fights and the most stub
born stand yet taken by the insurgent
army we finally drove them from their
trenches and scattered them in every
direction. Gen. Nliscarso. who COM
manded the army in Angeles, has been
several days trying to gather his forces,
and what started out asa reconnaissance
in force wound up in the capture Of one
of the largest towns outside Of Manila;
also TWO locomotives and several cars,
several tons of rice, the control Of
twelve miles more of railroad and the
best accommodations for large num-
Der of troops during the rainy season.
The soil is sandy, and soon absorbs
the surplus water, and the air and
water purer than at San Fernando.
Though three of the boys were killed
and several wounded, 1t seems miracul-
GUS that more were not hit by the
enemy's bullets, as they showed in their
firing more order than any encountered
as yet. But they cannot stand the vol
ley firing and yell of the Americana.
The skirmish line Of the Sd battalion
as it advanced across the rice field made
a beautiful picture-not break in it,
and every man moving forward and fir
ing as if by machinery. But nothing
less could be expected with such efici.
ent officers, and under the guidance of
such a cool and collecte! officer as Capt.
Wood, who commanded the battalion.
Always with the men, never hurry
ing them, but directing their fire where
the enemy was the strongest, and hus-
banding their strength for final
charge, if need be, has instilled that
frmness in the men that sure to win
the day. At one time the insurgents
tried a flank movement, and for few
moments the bullets we're flying entire
" too close to make it comfortable,
but their move was discovered by Lieut..
Cocben, commanding Company G, Of
the 18th, who ordered platoon to
check their move, and after a few vol
leys their line disappeared. In short
time we advanced over their trenches
and were in possession Of their city,
while they were flying in all directions.
If there had been large force or a
troop Of cavalry SO as to pursue them a
valuable pack train could have been
captured; but the men who had taken
part in the engagement were complete
" exhausted frem the effects of the
sun and the mire they were compelled
to march through. The loss of the in
surgents must have been heavy, as
trails of blood could be seen where they
had carried off their dead and wounded.
The dead found in the trenches showed
that they were not rowing squads, but
organized and equipped regiments, and
from the statement of a native hotel
keeper who remained there were $500
men, of which at least 1900 men were
armed, under Gen. Mescardo. He said
that the day before they we're entirely
out of ammunition, but large supply
arrived that morning, large quantity
of which was captured. It was new and
had no indication Of rust on the shells,
proving that they nave a steady supply
station. After two days rest, with
only aslight skirmish at times, Com
panies H and | went out to a large
sugar mill to burn it, as number of
insurgents could be seen lowering
around it. After burning the mill
they decided to proceed about 1900
yards farther on and burn a small set
tlement of bamboo shacks, situated in
3 bamboo thlcket.
This turned out disastrous move,
for the insurgents waited until the first
company was about one hundred yards
of, when they opened murderous fire,
killing one of the most popular officers
in the regiment, Lieut.. Albert Drew:
of Texas, an officer loved by his entire
company. 1t must have been their
aim was directed at the officers, for in
advancing to the relief of | company,
Lieut.. Uline, of Company b, was seri-
ously shot in the head, butt is thought
not necessarily dangerous. After re-
covering the bodies Of their dead and
wounded commanders the companies
fell back in order with no other casual
ties.
We expect to remain in Angeles for
some tlme, we hope until the rainy sea-
snn is over and we can be reinforced,
for such weather as we are now having
totns oil the health and vitality out of a