Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-18

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| launches. One of the objects of the ex-
petition was to prove to the Filpinos that
| the Americans could conduct a campaign
| through a hostile country according to the
| most generous rules of civilized warfare.
| Owing to the winding, narrow channel of
| the river, inexperienced pilots and frequent
! grounding of launches and cascoes, the
| journey to the lake consumed the entire
night. Through the interchangeable efforts of
| Capt. Grant the entire fiotilla was assem-
| bled off Santa Cruz about 10 O clock the
| following morning.
Gen. LawtOn tells the story of the sue
| cess of the expedition in the following
words:
| The Landing.
The landing was accomplished with
| much difficulty owing to the stiff breeze
| blowing and consequent rough sea. Many
| of the men were compelled to wade ashore
| through water at first shoulder deep
| After landing the command under Mai
Weisenburger the senior officer advanced
| a short distance, according to plan AL
| most Immediately sharp fire was devel-
| oped on their right; the enemy was rout-
ed with loss, leaving ten dead. Darkness
| coming on, the troops bivouacked for the
night on the lines.
Along the north of the city the enemy
was in force and well fortified. During a
personal examination of the condition of
the command, made after nightfall, 1t was
ascertained that Gen. King was so serious
ly i'll that he had been unable to land
with his command, and that he would prob
ably not be able to participate in any part
of the expedition.
The immediate command of the line was
| assumed by myself; Gen. King was author
lied to return to his headquarters and
the next officer in rank, Mai. Wefsenhur-
ger, was appointed to the command of the
Provisional Brigade.
AT daybreak next morning. the 10th in
slant, the troops were at once put into DO
siti0n three companies on the right of the
road leading north toward the town, the
remainder extending to the left until the
flank rested on the beach. The artillery
moved along the road supported by Com
pany |, 1st Idaho Volunteer Infantry. The
advance toward the city Immediately
taken up.
embarra Ssment, some confusion and delay
but thanks to the energy and efficiency of
my stan officers, this was soon overcome
To Maj. Clarence r. Edwards assistant
adjutant general was ntrusted the center
OF our advancing line, and Mai. Chas c.
Starr, inspector general, conducted the left
flank These gallant officers. fully alive to
the responsibilities resting upon them were
equal to the occasion, and no line of battle
coulG nave been more courageous or intel
I&entiy led, the results proved. | de-
sire to commend these officers in the high
est terms Tor the gallant work done by
them on this occasion. 1t must be under
stood that no transportation accompanied
the expedition, officers We're all on foot and
carried on their back all their supplies and
equipments. Still these officers moved from
point to point where their presence was
required, led in the charge and in the ad-
vance over difficult and dangerous places
keeping the Inc continuous unbroken moy-
ing continually, driving and destroying the
enemy at every point | especially COM
mend these officers for conspicuous gal
lantry on this occasion.
ITO Maj. Weisenburger | wish to Express
my appreciation of his valuable services
Crossed Bridge Under Fire.
More or less opposition was encoun-
tered, but when the large bridge crossing
the river in the edge of the city was ap-
preached the enemy was developed i'll
strong force, intrenched and occupying
Weil-fortttied positions. Without hesitation
Capt. Hasbrouck and his battalion of the
l4th Infantry, the Washington Sharpshoot-
ers and some of the Idaho Battalion
charged across the bridge and completely
routed the Insurgents. AT the same time
the troops both sides of the bridge
Waded rapidly across the river and en-
gagged the enemy at close range, inficting
severe loss.
Insurgents Fled.
Under cover OF the fire of the gunboat
Napidan the cavalry had landed and
charged the trenches on the water front,
as planned. The enemy was driven back
out of these trenches into the city against
our main line, which, advancing from the
south, had just crossed the river and en-
tered the city. The only means of escape
was toward the northeast, in which direc-
ton the insurgents fled in great disorder.
IN doing so they were exposed not only to
the fire of our land forces but also to d
very effective fire from the machine guns
on the boats Ninety-three insurgent dead
We're picked up on the streets and the
open ground northeast of the city and
buried. Thirty of their wounded We're cap
tured and taken in hospital, where three
shortly afterward died. Forty-One other
prisoners were captured, and. with the eX-
ception of a few, were afjerward given
their freedom. Many of the dead and
wounded OF the enemy were undoubtedly
earned away by their comrades or escaped
discovery in the thickets where much OF,
the hghting was done and which also
nanked their avenue of escape from the
city. Fortytwo dead insurgents were sub
sequentiy found in these thickets and
buried by our troops
Our casualties were three enlisted men.
i4th infantry; two enlisted men, LIST Ida
hos. and one officer and one enlisted man,
4th Cavalry. wounded. None killed: none
missing.
The prisoners and wounded of both ar
the battle.
Mr.. H. A. Ramsden, H B. NJ. vice con-
SUI at Manila, had presented credentials
rom the military governor and accompa-
city He participated in the engagement
resulting in the occupation of Santa Cruz,
ana was of great assistance during the en-
tire expedition. His thorough knowledge of
the Spanish language and of the charac-
teristics of the natives was of much aid
IN securing Information from captives and
friendly Filipinos.
Only Chinese Found.
with the exception of the few Chinese
shopkeepers whom we found in the city.
all the inhabitants had fled to the noun
talns on the day previous. The provincial
governor and commandant of the insur-
gent forces had also made his escape be-
fore we landed. His immediate subordinate
In military command, colonel whose name
was not learned is reported to have died
nshting In the trenches south of the city.
headquarters We're established in the
governors palace, and proper disposition
was made of the troops for the night
captain Gale as provost marshal with
MS dis1nounted squadron as provost guard,
protected the houses and such property
as were left in the city from injury and re-
mONal. NO burning houses lOOtjng of