The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-05-05
THE SECOND

At 10 o'clock this morning Colonel
Funston determined to cross the
stream in the face of the enemy's fire.
land west of the insurgent trenches
and by an enflading fire to dislodge
them.
With l20 Of the kansans he went tc
a point on the river several hundred
yards from the bridge, where Two pri.
Yates, White and Trembley-swam
with a rope to the opposite shore
They landed and attached the rope t.
u portion of the insurgent trench.
In the meantime the remainder o..
the detachment kept up a vigorous
fire, which was directed toward the
insurgent trenches, while the artillery
maintained L tremendous lombard
ment.
White and Trembley were thus
partly protected from the i%nsurgent
fire. Several insurgents were in the
trench at the point where the men
landed, but they were terror-stricken
and fed when the two Americans be-
gan yelling.
Colonel Funston then sent two men
across the river with the clothes and
rifles Of White and Trembly, but the
boat was capsized. The men swan
ashore, losing all the contents of the
boat.
Three RATS, loaded with fifty men,
then crossed the river under a heavy
but inaccurate insurgent fire and the
men Immediately advanced upon the
trenches, driving the insurgents for
ward until interrupted by a small but
deep stream flowing into the Rio
Grande 200 yards west of the railway,
where the heaviest trenches were 10.
Gated. Here the insurgents attempted
to check the Americans, using Maxim
guns, which obliged Colonel Funston's
small force to retire.
Immediately afterward, however,
Colonel Funston, with Captain Orig
and eight men, crossed the small
stream IN a boat. They charged upon
the trenches, where an immense force
of insurgents, completely terrified,
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 Gen
eral Wheaton, the bridge being no
longer protected by the insurgents
fire.
The insurgents rctreated in several
directions. 1t was assumed that they
had AL fed, but soon it was observed
that their officers were endeavoring to
line them up on a broad field with the
intention to advance and retakc the
trenches. 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 regi-
ments which wrecked all discipline.
The line crumbled and the enemy fed.
Many retreated to a train. which was
waiting at the next station, and the
train Immediately left for the north
ward. Others surrendered, thirty
seven being either captured or taken
prisoners. Many others fed to the
weeds to the eastward, probably going
to the mountains or to a great swamp
several miles away
Fifty Americans were overcome by
the heat and Colonel Funston dropped
utterly exhausted after the battle.
The men of the Kansas regiment
cheered him crafty when he went
among them. The insurgents have
fallen back to San Fernando.
Apalit, the next town from Calum-
pit, was burned, the Americans, with
the remainder of Whcaton's and Hale's
brigades, advancing and occupying
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.
suing the %retreating insurgents the
South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa
volunteers moved across the river and
performed excellent service. The in
surgents lost between thirty and fifty
killed.