The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1899-12-27

Filipino stronghold, fell into the
hands OF General Lawton's expedition
after some sharp fighting which form
| ed one OF the most interesting battles
Of the war.
The next hard fighting took place In
his attack on San Rafael. After the
capture of San Isdro By General Law
ton, President Mckinley sent him a
dispatch OF congratulations. 1t was
announced In Juno that General Law
toa had been placed in command OF
the defense OF Manila and the troops
forming the line around the city.
Early in October General Lawton was
engaged in dispersipg the insurgents
and cutting off the communication
maintained by them between Bacoor
and linus, by the means Of the road be-
tween those places. He was success
fu! In clearing the country of the
Filipinos.
General Lawton ard General Young
arrived at Arayat, October 10, with o
force OF about 5000 men, He NEXT
made his headquarters at Cabanatuan.
About the middle OF November the
whereabouts OF Generals Lawton aud
Young, on account of the rapidity OF
their movements, became almost as
mysterious as that Of Agunaldo
Gen. Law ton was at Tayaug on Dc.
cember |, his troops having captured
large quantities of insurgent supplies
Later he returned to Manila and start.
cd December lS to capture San Matco,
where he was shot and killed.
Geueral LawtOp's luck In battle had
been marvellous. He had been in hun.
dreds of skirmishes and midnight at
lacks. He was regarded as a man of
action and Of splendid courage, but
not considered reckless. He never ex.
posed his men without due consider
alton of the risks and the stake. His
men knew this and would unhesitating-
~ follow his lead under what seemeC.
to be the most desperate conditions.
The Indians came to know him as
the most active, vigilant, wary and de
termined OF foes and his pursuit and
capture OF Geronimo, the famous Apa.
che chleftain, has gone down to history
as one OF tho most remarkable cam
paigns ever undertaken with the email
force In hand. General Miles picked
out Lawton to lead the chase after the
Indian chief, and for three months,
day and night, without a pause,
through all sorts of vicissitudes of
weather and pereonal suffering, Law
ton hung on the trail like blood dhound
until the game was run to death, and
Tor the first time In quarter of cent
ury, southeastern Arizona was pacified,
Gen. Lawton's death caused upiyer.
al sorrow in Manila. No American
thloer has greater popularity among
ail ranks and In his dealings with the
natives he commanded their respect
ana confidence to q remarkable degree.
10 his executive ability and person
al le adership is chic fly due the brill.
ian' execution of the plan of campaign
In north Luzon, wh.1h has scattered
the tnsurrecttonary forces from San
lsidro to the Gulf OF Lingayen. That
section of the island, which had to be
traversed during the very worst season
OF the year, presented difficulties con-
sldered by all acquainted with it to he
almost insurmountable, but Con. Law
Ton thoroughly covered the programme
assigned him.
When he reached Tayaug and found
that the other division had not arrived.
he went through to Dagupan on his
own responsibility. Although he i'm.
posed great hardships on his men, he
Invariably shared their lot checrfully.
Thirteen Americans, including three
othcers, were wounded in the engage.
mont At San Mateo where Gen. Law.
ton was killed. Capt. Breckenridge's
wound is not considered dangerous, al
though the bullet penetrated his arm
and side. 1t is estimated that the In
surgents numbered 500 and that half of
them were armed with rifles. The
Americans numbered 1900, but the
com mand had been much depleted by
sickness.
The insurgents retreated to the
leaving six dead.
This region, although close to
Manila, has proved the most difficult
from which to dislodge the enemy. 1t
is now reported that the insurgents In
tehd to concentrate at Santa Cruz,
Laguna province.
Tho American secret service reports
that Aguinaldo has joined the Mariqui-
na force.