The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1899-10-18

August 1G, wc woro in line, and maroh-
ing up tho railroad track. We covered
about three miles in this position, when
a halt was made and tho companies di
yidcd up; tho 1st battalion won't to the
right, tho second was to continue up
tho track and tho third to go off to tho
loft. In this position wo advanced a
milo or moro without seeing any sign Of
insurgents, whom tho Sd battalion tho
ono accompanied oamo to ono those fre-
quont streams, lined with brmbao treos.
Hero wo doploycd as skirmishors, as the
dome and stccplo Of the church could
be seen in a cluster of trces. Hardly
had tho advance been made beyond the
sholter Of tho trccs whom tho singing of
Mausor bullets could be hoard, though
wo were too far off for them to do any
damage. Tho first volley fred by our
boys was at | 800 yards, so wo must
have boon 1000 yards off whom they
opened up, but as We continued to ad-
vance tho firing beoamo mo1e deadly,
and wo protected ourselves behind those
saviors of American soldiers, rico pat
ty, which has been the means Of saving
many n life. by means Of these rice
patties you can fire volloy and then
advance to the next one, distance Of
about one hundred to ono hundred aud
fifty feet. Just before our advance,
and while waiting for developments,
Col, Smith rode up aud, halting, said:
We'll, boys, We will cat our dinner in
Angeles to-day"
His words camo truc, for after one Of
tho 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 Con. Nliscardo. who oom-
imandod the army in Angeles, has bcon
several days trying to gather his forces,
and what started out as reconnaissance
in force wound up in the capture of one
Of tho 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 largo mum
Der of troops during tho rainy season.
The soil is sandy, and soon absorbs
tho surplus water, and the air and
water purcr than at San Fernando.
Though thrco of the boys wero killed
and several wounded, 1t seems miracul-
Gus that moro were not hit by the
onemy's bullets, as they showed in their
firing moro order than any encountered
as yct But thoy cannot stand tho vol
ley firing and yell Of tho Americana.
The skirmish line Of tho Sd battalion
as it advanced across tho rice field made
a beautiful picture not break in it,
and every man moving forward and fir.
i yy,C 90 - 1,x1,,, oh DIT 4.
less could be expected with such cflici-
ent officers, and under tho guidance Of
such a cool and COLLECTED officer as Capt.
Wood, who commanded the battalion.
| Always with tho men, never hurry
ing thom, but directing their fire where
the enemy was the strongest, and hus-
| banding their strength for final
charge, if need bo, has instilled that
firmness in the mon that suro to win
tho day. At ono time the insurgents
tried q flank movement, and for few
moments tho bullets were flying entire
ly too close to make it comfortable,
but their move was discovered by Lieut..
Cochon, commanding Company G., Of
the 18th, who ordered a platoon to
check their move, and after a few vol
leys their line disappeared. In short
timo wo advanced over thoir trenches
and were in possession Of their city,
while thcy were flying in all directions.
Ii there had been a large forco or a
troop of cavalry SO as to pursue thom a
valuable pack train could hayo boen
captured; but tho men who had takon
part in the engagement were complete
ly exhausted frcm the effects Of the
sun and the miro they woro compelled
to march through. Tho loss of the in
surgonts must havo been heavy, as
trails of blood could be seen where they
had carried off thcir dead and wounded.
The dead found in the trenches showed
that they wore not rowing squads, but
organized and equipped regiments, and
from the statement Of native hotel
keeper who remained thoro were $500
men, Of which at least 1900 men were
armed, under Gen. Mescardo. He said
that tho day before they were entirely
out of ammunition, but largo supply
arrived that morning a large quantity
OF which was captured. 1t was now and
had no indication Of rust on the shells,
proving that they have steady supply
station. Aftor two days rest, with
only aslight skirmish at times, Com
panics II and [ went out to a large
sugar mill to burn it, as a number Of
insurgents could be seen lowering
around it. After burning the mill
they decided to proceed about 1900
yards farther on and burn small set
tlcmcnt Of bamboo shacks, situated in
a bamboo thickct.
This turned out a disastrous move,
for the insurgents waited until the first
company was about ono hundred yards
oil, whom they opened murdcrous fire,
killing ono of the most popular officers
in the regiment, Lieut.. Albert Drow,
Of Texas, an officer loved by his ontire
company. 1t must have bcon thoir
aim was directed at tho officers, for in
| advancing to the relief Of | company,
Lieut.. Uline, Of Company II, was sori-
ously shot in tho head, butt is thought
not necessarily dangerous. After re-
covering tho bodies of thoir dead and
wounded commanders the companies
foil back in order with no other casual
ties.
Wo cxpoot to romain in Angeles for
somo tlmo, We hope until tho rainy sea-
snn is over and wo can be reinforced,
for such weather as wo arc now having
takes all tho health and vitality out Of q
person. There is not man il tho
company or rogimont that can truthful
ly say after fow months active service
at tho front that no is noar the man he
was before hc came to these islands.
| In conclusion, tho sum and substance