The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-05-04


Manila, April 29.--Gen. Lima, Agui-
haldos chief of staff, has sent an in
surgent colonel through the lines I'M
der flag of truce TO ask for cessa
ton Of hostilities.
Col. Funston has been overcome by
The heat
! Manila, April %. - Col. Frederick
Funston. of the Twentieth Kansas vol
unteers, is the hero of Calumpit. He
crossed the Rio Grande river yeSter-
day morning with small force, after
brilliant but unsuccessful attempt
the night before, fanked the insur-
gents. and drove them from the strong
position they held. The crossing was
effected under a tremendous fire from
the rebel trenches, which were
manned by the strongest force the in
surgents could assemble to guard the
for a mile on either side This was
the most daring enterprise of the en-
tire campaign in the Philippines. 1t
was Col. Funstons second attempt to
cross the river. On the opposite side
lay. supposedly, the whole of the in
surgent army, heavily intrenched. 1t
was also armed with artillery. The
control of the river was of immense
strategic value. 1t was necessary to
cross. Col. Funston's first attempt to
get over failed because the barking of
dogs disclosed the movement TO the
enemy on the opposite side. But he
was entirely successful yesterday
morning.
held the entire town of Calumpit ex-
cept the bridge. Heavy inSurgent
forces occupied trenches at the further
end of the bridge, extending a mile on
either side of the railway. The entire
strength of the insurgent army was
believed to be holding these trenches.
They had one or more artillery pieces
with which
They Threw SchrapneI
into the American lines. Undaunted
by two previous failures, Col. Funston
persevered in his enterprise and sue
ceeded in taking the Rio Grande de-
lenses opposite Calumpit. 1t was one
of the most daring and courageous
achievements of the present war The
insurgents, numbering several thou
sand. occupied almost impregnable
earthwOrlls on the north bank of the
river, with the bridge so stripped of
its flooring that a passage across I'M
der fire was impossible. The insur-
gent earthworks were so constructed
as to be bombproof. and the American
artillery was consequently less eff
fective than usual. Three RATS load
ed with fifty men crossed the river I'M
der heavy fire, and Immediately adj
vanced upon the trenches, driving the
insurgents forward until interrupted
by a small but deep stream flowing
into the Rio Grande two hundred
yards west of the railway, where the
heaviest trenches are located. Here
the insurgents attempted to check the
Americans, using Maxim guns, which
caused Col Funston's small force to
retire. Immediately afterward, how
ever, Col. Funston. with Capt. ORIG
and eight men, crossed the small
stream I'm boat. They charged upon
the trenches, where an immense force.
of insurgents,
Completely Terrified,
began to break. Col. Funston. yelling
and shouting, dashed up TO the rail-
way. and the Montana and Kansas
troops at once began crossing the
bridge with Gen. Wheaton, the bridge
being no longer protected by the IN
surgent fire. The insurgents appeared
wholly demoralized, their ranks break.
ing repeatedly, although their gener-
ais. on horses. frantically ordered
them forward. Then was started an
effective fire from the Kansas and
Montana regiments which wrecked all
discipline. The line crumbled and the
enemy fled. Many retreated to tram
which was waiting at the next station,
and the train Immediately left for the
northward. Others surrendered, thir-
ty-seyen being either captured or tax
en- prisoners. Many others ned TO the
eastward, probably going TO the noun.
tains or to great swamp severai
miles away. Apalit, the next town TO
CaIumpit. was burned, the Americans,
with the remainder of Wheatons and
Hale's brigades, advancing and occu-
plying the railroad station.
During the engagement the utan
battery. the Sixth artillery and the
Montana and Kansas regiments diu
the most effective work, but In pufsu-
inv the retreating insurgents the
South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa vol
unteers moved across the river ana
performed excellent service. The IN
srirgents lost between thirty and nfty
killed. The Americans lost two killed.
Gen. Macarthur was mucn Pleased
with the result Of the operation, CIV
Eng high praise to Col. FUNSTON.
While not a bloody engagement Gen.
Macarthur considers 1t one or the
most brilliant and dashing IN history.