The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-26

COLONEL FUNSTON.
The largest buildings in Calumpit were
being fired by the Filipnos while the
Americans were crossing the river, fully
q mile away. indicating the enemy's in
tention to abandon the place.
The insurgents seem 10 have adopted
q settled policy OF retiring from one
position after another after infiictng the
greatest possible damage on the advanc-
ing army. Their forces yesterday were
well drilled. Every foot of the ground
was tenaciously disputed by thoroughly
organized troops. who stood remarkably
firm even before artillery.
The enemy had planned to wreck our
artillery transport train. This attempt
was failure. but span OF the iron rail-
way bridge over the river was destroyed,
hamperins the American transportation
for some time. The Filipnos cut the
girders. intending TO have the structure
fall with the train, but IL collapsed
prenaturely OF it's own weight.
The Bagbag river. which is about 100
yards wide at that point. was splendidly
fortified, and the Americans were COM
PEELED TO approach across an open space
from which the rebels had cleared OBJ
struction In sight The bank OF the
.-ver. high bluff, was surmounted with
trenches. capped with rocks, loop-holed
and partly hidden by bushes.
General Wheaton's brigade approached
the river along the railroad, leaving
camp beyond Malolos city. General
Hale's brigade. which started Monday,
was earlier on the march. sweeping west
ward toward the railroad. The armored
train was being pushed by Cinnamon,
the Twentieth Kansas regiment advanc-
ing in extended order on the left and the
First Montana regiment, with the Utah
light artillery, on the right.
The rapid-ffrfng guns on the train
Opened the BALI at 1880 a. m, about a
mile from the river. their popping al
ternating continuously with the boom
Of the six Founders.
The Montana regiment and the Utah
artillery batteries at the same time en-
tered the jungle. from which the insur-
gents. who were occupying a large,
struggling village OF huts. poured heavy
volleys. In the course Of an hour the
Americans had forced a passage through
the woods to the open space in front OF
the river. and the artillery. Immediately
on wheeling into the open, began she'll
ing the Filipinos' trenches.
In the meantime company X. Twen-
tieth Kansas, led by Captain Boitwood,
performed one of the most brilliant
achievements the campaign. The
regiment was being held in reserve, and
company X charged a distance Of a
quarter OF a mile over cornfeld to the
bank of the river near the bridge, where
the insurgents from trench were
-peppering the armored train, then abodt
200 yards down the track. The company
found shelter in ditch.
Colonel Frederick Funston called for
volunteers 20 cross the river, and the
colonel himself. Lieutenant Ball.
private Of company X, private of COM
pany T.. Trumpeter Barsfeld and Cor
along the iron girders.
While this was going on the men OF
company X. from the ditch. were fusl-
lading the trenches in the endeavor to
divert attention, but the Filipinos got
the range from a trench down the river
and their bullets soon spattered the
water under the structure.
Having reached the broken span the
small. but valorous. party Of Americans
slid down tho ceisson, swan few yards
to the shore and crawled up the bank.
the little colonel leading the way To- 'he
trenches. revolver in hand. While the few
remaining Filipinos bolted.
Colonei Funston said afterward; II,
wasn't much to do. We knew they could
not shoot straight and that our boys
would attend TO them while we were
crossing"
General Hale's troops. on the right.
had the hardest fighting. They followed
the north bank OF the river. nearest the
town. from the east, with the First Me-
braska regiment on the left and the First
South Dakota and the Fifty-hrst Iowa
beyond. The country to be traversed
was mostly jungiss, but the Filipinos
stood their ground even in the open
spaces.
General Hale's right Joined General
Wheaton's left soon after noon. "A curve
In the river enabling the Americans 10
pour an enfiliding fire into the enemy's
trenches.
About this time the cheers of the
Kansas troops announced that the
Americans had crossed tie river. Cen
eral Hale's men began to ford the Chico.
a branch of the Bagbag. stretching TO
the northeast The general himself
plunged In up 20 his neck. and the regi-
ments. all carrying flags. noundered
across the stream.
The guns OF the Utah light artillery
were dragged over next and formed into