Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-04-29
VICTORY FOR OUR TROOPS.
Calumpit the Filipino Capital
Has Fallen Into the Hands
of the Americans.
OUR LOSS IS SMALL
Only Eight Amer cans Killed in the
Advance Upon City While Native
Loss Was Terrific.
sCaIumpit on Fire When the Concerted
Advance of General MacArthur's Divi-
sion Was. Ordered-The Native Army
Chased Through the Burning City Flee
to the Hills Closely Pursued.

Manila, April 2S.-Calumpit, the
Filipino capital, is in the possession
of the American troops. The flower
of Aguinaldo's army has been annih.-
lated and General Macarthur holds
the strategic key to the entire north
ern part of Luzon.
Eight Americans were killed in the
assault upon the city. The loss to
the natives was terrific. What re-
manned OF their army was finally driv-
en- back into the town and beyond it
to the hills.
General Macarthur had 6.o00 troops
engaged in the attack. Their valor
was unparalleled.
Calumpit was on fire when the con-
certed advance of General MacArthur's
division, comprising the brigades of
Generals Hale, Wheaton and Lawton,
was ordered.
The Filipinos met the advance with
severe firing. The greater part of
Aguinaldo's army was in the town
and the trenches before it, having
made a stand there after the fall of
Malolos.
The strategic attack upon the city
was made by Haie's brigade, which
moved down the right bank of the
Il at sAA ~ o&AtF " ANttt
on's brigade on the left bank.
Gen. Wheaton's command, the Kan
sas aud Montana Volunteers, repaired
the bridge over the Bagbag River. The
volunteers hen crossed and rushed up
on the Filipinos in the trenches.
The southern defences of the insur-
rent capital were first attacked and
taken. They were a mile south of the
city and on the north bank of the
Bagbag River.
The order to advance upon Calumpit
was received enthusiastically by the
American troops. There had long
been a thirst among the troops Il
avenge the death of several of their
fellows during the fighting march
from Malolos. and they were eager fol-
the capture of the main stronghold
of Aguinaldo and his men.
Scouting parties sent out a short
time before the attack returned to re-
port that Calumpit had been set afire
by the rebels.
In the attack the American troops
were deployed in a. long line before
the city. This line was gradually
closed in. maintaining an intense fir
ing upon the trenches and immediate
defences of the capital.
IL Was SHUT Idh-e HSuitHS. anu tnt
Americans were more than equal to it
while the natives We're pressed back
whenever they attempted a stand.
The guns of the Utah Artillery did
masterful work. They tore great gaps
in the trenches and drove the rebels
out with appalling slaughter. Then
the infantrymen charged the trenches
The rebels stood their ground as long
as they could and then fled.
The Americans then had little diff
Guilty in entering the city. The fire
set by the natives was spreading rap
idly and it seemed a forlorn hope tC
attempt extinguishing it.
On all sides was to be seer the hav
oc wrought by the intensity of tn,
American firing. The dead lay tive
and even three deep in some places
The trenches were choked with dead
bodies.
What remained of the native army
fled to the hills, closely pursued by the
American soldiers. although the lat
ter were in a worn out condition from
the continuous fighting of the last few
DAYS.
Before the advance upon Calumpii
p. could be made ii was necessary for the
American soldiers to cross the Rio
aGrande River. This was accomplished
by wading and swimming in the face
the first who foundered across the
stream, which was neck deep at the
ford.