Connecticut western news., 1899-06-15

 heavy fire. The mornings reconnaissance had determined accurately the enemy's position, and consequently the American troops were employed to the best advan- tage.
 Early in the afternoon a battalion of the Ninth regular infantry attempted to re-enforce the two companies of the Twenty-hrst infantry who were holding their own against largely superior nu- merical force between the road from Las Pinas to Bacoor and Manila bay. The attempt was rendered fruitless, however, by the tide. which in rising had so food ed the mud flats and swamps that it was impossible for the men of the Ninth to cross them.
 Fight at Zapote Bridge.
 The main work was the direct attack on the bridge. Kenley's battery of four mountain guns and two 3 inch guns. with Company E of the Fourteenth infantry as supports, advanced straight along the road to the bridge. The other companies of the Fourteenth regiment moved for wnd to the right and left of the road. The rebels had dug enormous trenches alolg the Bacoor side of the river and had burned the planking in the middle of the bridge to prevent the Americans from charging across and taking their positions.
 The Americans pushed steadily for ward until they reached the bank of the river. Then Henley took his mountain guns right up to the approach of the bridge and poured heavy fire into the trenches but they were so well construct ed that it was impossible to damage them greatly. Osr men were so close to the enemy that they could see their heads above the earthworks.
 The Americans kept up tremendous fire in spite of the galling return. A few minutes after the Americans had reached the bridge approach several of them were wounded, some mortally.
 It was not long before the rebels began to grow restivc under the hail of bullets that was being poured into them. and finally they broke and ran. The Ameri- cans then ran along the bank of the river and, standing upright, directed terrible fire upon the fugitives. The Fiji pinos were compelled to cross either the open road or an open field and thus pre- sented excellent targets for the regulars. Few of the insurgents succeeded in get ting away unhurt.
 Rebels Routed.
 In a few minutes all was over. The Americans swarmed across the river and found many dead and dying Filipinos in the trenches and fields. Probably 90 dead natives were found in the imme- diate vicinity of the bridge. The rebels had a second line of trench es half a mile away. Half an hour after the retreat from the first line firing was reopened from this second line. Fresh troops were hurried forward to relieve the tired men who had captured the first line, and a heavy fire was opened on the enemy. who responded for only a short time and then fled.
 After the fighting was over General Lawton said that it was more like war than anything he had seen since he had been in the Philippines.
 The casualties on our side were five killed or mortally wounded and about % wounded, including three officers. Gen eral Wheaton was slightly hurt by fall ing from his horse.
 General 0venshine commanded the at- tack on the bridge. General Lawton per sonally directed the movement. The lat ter was conspicuous mark for the en- emy. He is a big man, and his uniform and white helmet could be easily distin- guished for great distance. but he went up and down the line unscathed. All the afternoon the guns of the mon itor Monadnock and gunboat Helena kept up a heavy smelling of the woods ahead of the American troops, the posi- tion of the enemy being signaled to the warships from the beach.
 Ensign Davis of the Helena came ashore with a Colt rapid fire gun and saw lively service. He captured a Fili- pino cannon which had been placed be- low the bridge and found a supply of canister and brown hexagonal powder.