The San Francisco call., 1899-04-08
CALIFORNIA
ARTILLERY TO
THE FRONT
Does Gallant Work at the
Capture of San Rogue
From the Enemy.
TRICK OF TAGALLOS
Displayed a Flag of Truce and
Then Fired the Place as the
Americans Advanced
Correspondence of The Call.

MANILA March A Cavite special
to Freedom, dated February a. givesthe
first story of the capture of San Rogue,
in which California artillery played a
part, as follows:
The burning of San Rogue and the
complete routing of the insurgent Gen
eral Astrillia and his army of about 1000
on February was a complete success,
and much credit is due to the Iowa In
fantry and California and Nevada Ar
tillery for the quick and effective man
ner in which the work was accomplished.
General Astrillia had been warned that
he must raise a white flag over his head
quarters and lay down his arms by 9
o clock on the morning of the Sth or
our forces would lombard and take the
surrender, and it was with some surprise
that shortly before the appointed time
one of the largest white flags yet brought
into service was hoisted over the insur
gent blockhouse Colonel Lopez of the
Iowa regiment, who is in command here.
and his advisors, put but little confidence
and instead of sending only a few men
over to treat with the insurg9nt leaders
the forces were at once made ready for
an attack
1t was well that no faith was placed in
the flag of truce for as soon as the
treacherous insurgents saw that our
forces were not going to fall into their
trap they poured out of the hidden rifle
pit where they had been stationed and
began to apply the torch to every build
ing in their reach, hoping. in this manner
to delay the advance of the American
forces long enough to allow them to re-
treat which plan worked successfully, as
it was some time before il was safe TO
start in pursuit. and even then the Sec
ond and Third battalions of the Wyoming
boys, with their beautiful three-inch
pieces, could get no further than the
causeWay, as their guns were too heavy
TO allow them to make the speed neces-
sary to carry them through the mass OF
burning and falling buildings upon every
hand. So to the Iowans and Californians
alone was left the task of driving off the
insurgents and preventing any further
spread of the confiagration. The Iowans.
consisting of Companies E, G, L, NJ, q,
l, B and K, under command of Majors
Hume and Moore respectively. and Bat
teries A and D of the California Artil-
lery, armed with Springfelds and several
small eatlings gave chase. It was
through a raging furnace that they
charged and right well did they do their
duty.
The eight companies of Iowans de-
ployed so as TO form a complete line
across the town, and then onward through
the burning city they pressed, closely fol-
lowed by the artillerymen under Major
Rice. Up one street they would go, only
to find it blocked with burning ruins, then
down another, where perhaps they might
get through, though often compelled to
retire TO the coast and plunge into the bay
to their waist in order to pass burning
Instructions the fleeing insurgents had
erected to cover their hasty retreat.
For about five miles through fire and
water our forces pushed onward. when
they were halted and a camp prepared
which camp is now our outpost and has
been thoroughly intrenched and is now
defended by the Third Battalion of the
Iowans, part of Batteries A and D of the
California and Battery A of the Nevada
Artillery and Troop A of the Nevada
Cavalry the Second Battalion of Iowa
being ordered back to Cavite, which city
they now hold. the First Battalion having
been ordered to Manila to do DUTY on the
outposts there.
There was no loss of life on our side
though one of the Iowa boys was badly
cut by knife in the hands of a sneak
ing native, whose life paid the penalty
for the cowardly attempt he made. 1t
is not known what the insurgent loss
fallen before the. deadly Springields
while engaged in their heIlish work of
spreading the fires. and many charred
remains have been found in the ruins
while several bodies have since been dis
covered in the woods near the outpost
1t is thought that their loss was consid-
erable.
This is the first opportunity the Iowa
boys have had to show their skill, but
from the way they did their duty during
this dangerous day it is safe to say that
| if ever given a chance they will prove
themselves worthy the good name they
bear.
Captain Geary of the California Ar
| tillery has been appointed provost
marshal of Cavite and has cleared the
town of spies and suspicious charac-