The Hawaiian gazette., 1899-05-05
The Little ,Kalial Sill a Gal.
liant Leader.
MS BRAVE MEN FOLLOW
one Of the Most BriIlisst Charges Of
the War : Gen. HsIss Briesde
Ia Action.

MANILA, April %, 1890 y. m.-Gen-
oral MacArthurs division fought Its
way to the Filipino trenches before
Calumplt today. advancing four miles.
mostly through woods and jungle and
crossing the Bagbag river This was
accomplished at the cost to the Ameri-
cans of six killed and twenty eight
wounded. the First South Dakota regi-
ment being the heaviest loser.
After fording the river the South Da-
kotans pursued the insurgents TO the
outskirts of Calumpit, but the town
was found to be so strongly projected
that General Macarthur deemed 1t best
TO withdraw the tired fighters and go
into camp for nights rest before
making the final assault.
The largest buildings In Calumpit
were being fired by the Filipinos while
the Americans were crossing the river
fully a mile away, indicating the enc
my's intention TO abandon the place.
The insurgents seem to have adopted
settled policy of retiring from one po-
sition after another, after inflicting the
greatest possible damage upon the ad-
vancng army. The forces today were
well drilled. Every foot OF the ground
was tenaciously disputed by thorough
ly organized troops, who stood remark
ably firm even before artillery.
The enemy had planned TO wreck our
artillery transport trains This attempt
was failure, but one span OF the iron
railway bridge over the river was de-
stroyed hampering the American trans
portation for some time. The Filipinos
cut the Orders, intending to have the
structure fall with the train, but 1t col
lapsed prematurely OF its own weight.
The Bagbag river, which is about
hundred yards wide at that point, was
splendidly fortified and the Americans
were compelled TO approach an open
pace from which the rebels had cleared
every obstruction to sight The bank
OF the river, a high bluff, was sur
mounted with trenches, capped with
rocks, loopholed and partly hidden by
bushes.
General Wheaton's brigade approach
ed the river along the railroad, leaving
camp beyond Malolos City. General
Hale's, which started Yesterday, was
earlier on the march and sweeping
westward toward the railroad. The
armored train was being pushed by
Cinnamon, the Twentieth Kansas regi-
ment advancing in extended order on
the left and the First Montana regi-
ment with the Utah ! Int Artillery on
the right.
The rapid-hre guns on the train
mile from the river, their popping al
ternating continuously with the boom
of the six-pounders.
The Montana regiment and the Utah
batteries at the same time entered tho
jungle, from which the insurgents, who
were occupying large, struggling viii
lagos Of huts, poured heavy volleys.
In the course of an hour the Ameri-
cans had forced passage through the
woods to the open space in front OF the
river and the artillery, Immediately
on wheeling into the open, began she'll
ing the Filipino trenches.
In the meantime Company X, Twen-
tieth Kansas, led by Captain. Beltwood.
performed one OF the most brilliant
achievements of the campaign. The
regiment was being held in reserve and
Company X charged a distance OF a
quarter of a mile over a corn field to
the bank of the river. near the bridge.
where the insurgents from a trench
were peppering the armored train, then
about 200 yard down the track. The
company found shelter in ditch.
Colonel Fred Funston called for vol
unteers to cross the river and the
colonel himself Lieutenant Ball. a pri-
waite Of Company X. a private OF Com
.,any L, Trumpeter Barsefeld and Cor
poral Ferguson of Company l crawled
along the iron Orders. While this was
going on the men OF Company X from
the ditch were fusillading the trenches
in the endeayor to divert attention, but
the Filipinos got the range from q
trench down the river and their bullet:
soon spattered tho water under the
structure. Having reached the broker
span OF the bridge the small but valor'
Gus party of Americans slid down thu
oaisson, swan few yards to the shor'
and crawled up the bank. the littl'
colonel leading the way to the trenches
revolver In hand. while the few remain
ing Fllipinos bolted.
Colonel Funston said aft"rward: ~
was not much TO do. We knew the,
could not shoot straight and that GU
boys would attend TO them while w
were crossing"