The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-06-28
BATTLE With FILIPIN0S
Lawton's Mea Drove Them From
Two Lines Of Trenches.
FIGHT OF THE Waa.

Five Of Our DIen K,lled-Genera1 Wheaton
Slightly Hurt by = Fall From His
Horse.Rebel LOSS Hea ry-Brave In
fantry Charge Thro ugh Bayous In
Water Chin Deep.
MANILA (By Cable. After an artillery
battle and some lively infantry sktrm tshes
few days ago the advance in the dlree-
ton OF Bacoor was resumed soon after
noon, and it developed into the hardest
light since the outbreak Of hostilitles With
the Filipinos.
As told to General Otis by General PIC
del Pillars secretary, who deserted from
the insurgents few days ago, the bridge
across the Zapote River was selected by
the rebels as the point at which they would
attempt to prevent any further advance OF
the American forces. ...,
Our troops went forward with rushes,
cheering as they went ahead; Under
heavy flre. The mornings econnoissance
had determined accurately the enemy's
position, and consequently tho American
troops were employed to the best sdvan.
The main work was the direct attack on
the bridge. Kenley's battery OF four mount,
ain guns and two three-inch guns. with
Company E Of the Fourteenth Infantry q!
supports, advanced straight along the roa(
to the bridge. The other companies OF thu
Fourteenth Regiment moved forward totht
right and left Of the rond. -.
The rebels had dug enormous trenches
along tho Bacoor side OF the river, and had
burned tho planklng in the middle OF the
bridge to prevent the Americans from
charging across and taking their positions
The Americans pushed steadily forward
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 we'll constructed that 1t was
impossible to damage them greatly. OuI
could see their heads above the earth
works.
The Americans kept up tremendous
fire in spite OF the CALLING return. A Few
minutes after the Americans had reached
the bridge approach several OF them we're
! wounded, some mortally.
It was not long before the rebels began
to grow restive under the hall OF bullets
that was being poured into them, and
finally they broke and ran. The Americans
then ran along the bank OF the river, and,
upon the iugItivss. The Filipinos were
| compelled to cross either the open road OF
an open field, and thus presented excellent
targets for the regulars. Few OF the In
surgents succeeded In getting away un-
hurt.
In a few minutes all was over. The
Americans swarmed across, the river and
found many dead and dying Fllip1nos IN
the trenches and fields. Probably fifty
| dead natives were found In the immediate
vicinity OF the bridge.
The rebels had second line OF trenches
half q mile away. Halt an hour after the
retreat from the first line firing was re-
| opened from the second line. Fresh troops
were hurried forward to relieve the tired
men who had captured the first line, and
heavy FIRE was opened on the enemy, who
responded for only short time and tnen
fed.
After the fighting was over General Law.
| ton said that 1t was more like war tnan
ANYTHING he had seen since he had been IN
the Philippines.
The casualties on our side were FIVE killed
| or mortally wounded and about twenty.
| fye wounded, including three officers
General Wheaton was slightly hurt by fall
Ing from his horse.
General Ovenshine commanded the at;
tack on the bridge. General Lawton per-
! SOQ8lly UlEcCIcu IuS uONot1ons'
was conspicuous mark for the enemy. He
| Is a big man, and his uniform and white
helmet could be easily distinguished for O.
great distance, but he went up and down
! the line unscathed.
All the afternoon the guns Of the monitor
Monadnock and gunboat Helena kept up
heavy shelling OF the woods ahead OF the
American troops, the position OF the enemy
being slgnaled to the warships from the
| beach.