The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-05-05

the river, with the bridge so stripped |
Of it- flooring that passage across
under fire was impossible. The in
,urgent works were so construct |
ell a. to be bomb-proof and the Amer |
lean artillery was consequently less
effective than usual.
At 10 O'Clock this morning Colonel
Funston determined To cross the
stream in the face OF the euemy's fire,
land west of the insurgent trenches
ant by an euiilading fire to dislodge
them
with l2O of the kansans he went to
a point on the river several hundred
yards from the bridge, where two
privates-W White and Trembley-
swan with rope to the opposite
shore They landed and attached
the rope to portion of the insurgent
trench.
In the meantime the remainder of
the detachment kept up vigorous
fire, which was directed toward the
insurgeut trenches, while the arti-
lery maintained a tremendous bonn
bardment.
White and Trembley were thus
partly protected from the insurgent
fire. Several insurgents were in the
trench at the point where the men
landed, but they were terror-stricken
and fled when the two Americans be-
gan yelling.
RATS TO THE RESCUE.
Colonel Funston then sent two men
ac ross the river with the clothes and
rifles Of White and Trembley, but the
boat was capslzed The men swan
ashore, losing all the contents of the
boat.
Three RATS, loaded with fifty men,
then crossed the river under heavy
but inaccurate insurgent fire and the
men Immediately advanced upon the
trenches, driving the insurgents for
ward until interrupted by small
but deep stream flowing into the Rio
Crande POO yards west of the railway,
where the heaviest trenches are To-
Gated. Here the insurgents attempted
to check the Americans, using Maxim
guns, which obliged Colonel Funston's
small forces to retire.
Immediately afterward, however,
| Colonel Funston, with Captain Orig
aud eight men crossed the small
stream in boat. They charged up
ON the trenches, where an immense
force of insurgents, completely terri
fled, began to break.
Colonel Funston, yelling and shout
ing, dashed up the railway and the
Montana and Kansas troops at once
began crossing the bridge with Cen
eral Wheaton, the bridge being no
longer protected by the insurgents
| fire.
The insurgents retreated in several
directions. 1t was assumed that
they had all fled, but soon it was Oh
served that their officers were en-
deaVoring to line them up on a broad
field, with the intention to advance
and Tetake the trenches. The in
surgents appeared wholly demOraliz-
ed, their ranks breaking repeatedly,
although their generals, on horses,
frantically ordered them forward.
THE INSURGENTS IN FLIGHT.
Then was started an effective fire
from the Kansas and Montana regi-
ments, which wrecked all discipline.
The line cTumbled and the enemy
fled. Many retreated to a train,
which was waiting at the next sta
ton, and the train Immediately left
for the nOrtbward Others surreR-
dered, thirty-seven being either cap
tured or taken prisoners Many
others fled to the weeds to the east
ward, probably going to the noun
tains or to a great swamp several
miles away.
Apalit, the next town from Calum-
pit, was burned, the Americans, with
the remainder of Wheaton's and
Hale's brlgades advancing and occu-
plying the railway station.
During the engagement the Utah
battery, the Sixth artillery and the
Montana and Kansas regiments did
the most effective work, but in pur-
SUNG the retreating insurgents the
south Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa
volunteers moved across the river
and performed excellent service. The
insurgents lost between thirty and
fifty Killed, as nearly as 1 can Judge
General Macarthur is pleased with
the result of the operations, giving
high praise to Colonel Fnnston
While not bloody engagement
General Macarthur considers it one
of the most brilliant and dashing
in history.