The times., 1899-11-29

II 4
last The United States troops engaged /
were the Sixth Infantry. under command (
OF b A. Poore. captain and adjutant whose !
repor, Of The affair Is as follows:
y left BacoIod by proa September % and /
Started out that night from SHAY with about
twenty men at O'Clock. After a hard
nights march in the mud and rain we
reached the Hacienda Montelibano. near
san Isidro al . a. m. September 80. Dur
ing thai day my detachments were assem- /
bIed. and consisted of four officers and 100
men. with three native police The officers
were Capt Paul Shillock assistant sur
geon: First Lieut. Hayden Y. Grubbs, Sixth
Infantry. second Lieut.. H. A. Hanigan,
Sixth Infantry, and myself
Leaving six men and three native po-
lice al the hacienda as guard for the ra-
tions. Jhe command started at midnight on
the 3oth for the camp Of the insurgents St
Tabuau. The Malugo River, which was but
a few hundred yards away, was running
like a millrace and was fully four feet
deep. Bur for a long rope that we had
taken along a crossing could not have beea
effected without loss OF life. as the men
were taken of their feet by the current. By
3 a. m all had crossed and the march was
resumed and kept UP without any delay
until about 10 a. m. when We found our
selves at the foot OF a slope leading up to
the position of the enemy and about three
quarters of a mile away. The slope was
nowhere less than 20 degrees, and the
ground which was open, was strewn
with fallen timber Of great size This
while making good shelter at times, would
retard progress too effectively. And an at
tack on the front OF a position like that
did not afford the chances Of success that
/ desired. Our guide said that there was
no trail leading around 10 the left. so that
We could attack from the rear but con-
cluded TO make one left twenty men at
the foot of the slope to cut of the retreat
OF the enemy IN that direction. and with
the remainder of the force started around
and up he mountain.
Trail Cut With Nachetes.
After climbing and clearing away
trail for nearly two hog-~ e crossed a
tran Thar led from the "a -- 1babIy from
over the mountainsl to ear of the
position and followed il without being
seen until He were witain 100 yards of
the enclosure. A careful reconnaissance
revealed that we were not discovered nor
expected. and the attention OF the enemy
had been attracted by firing from the party
which / had left behind. and which had
been discovered by a small party Of the
enemy.
4 caused a deployment to be made at
once but while ii was in progress and be-
fore I had two squads deployed, We were
discovered SCme OF the enemy ran at once
toward our left. and il was while trying
TO extend our left and to cut of the re-
treat OF these fUgiuives that Lieutenant
Grubbs was killed We made the usual
reply 10 their FIRE with good results, for
about fifteen or twenty minutes. and then
charged the trenches. Our men climbed
over them and completed the work.
Our loss, besides Lieutenant Grubbs,
mentioned above. was. Capt Paul Shillock,
assistant surgeon, leg. slight; Sergt.
George Stevens, Company A, Sixth In
fantry, left arm, necessitating amputation
Of the fOreinger; Private Harry Campbell
Company B, Sixth Infantry. leg; Private
Elmer Afidalt Company A. Sixth Infantry,
leg slight. The enemys loss was twenty
dead on the field and in the trenches, and
one captured. Many must have been
wounded Their force as given TO me by
one Of their own officers. who was NOR
tally wounded, was about $50. Of whom
sixty had rifles. We captured twelve ri
fes including one Mauser and one Win
chester. and one revolver; 5000 rounds OF
Mauser and LOCO rounds OF Rem
iugton ammunition; q little powder,
and quite an amount OF lead for bullets;
their reloading outfits. many bol0s, spears,
etc. ten sacks Of rice. considerable guam
titles OF clothing hospital supplies, and e
good many papers Of more OF less value
from d secret service point Of view. The
surprise was complete. and there was very
liUte OF value carried away by the in
surgents.
Everything that we could not easily car
Ty away. / caused TO be destroyed, and
ali the houses burned. I handed out the
10 each man TO carry in his pocket. and the
rest 20 native bearers and scattered IL in
the Maiugo River some seven miles from
ehe scene Of action. IL is believed that
SCse vino escaped have gone back TO the
Saciendas. and that no concerted move
meut viii be possible even il they have
ttomach for IT, for some weeks at least
The trenches We could not destroy, but
here are no provisions, no clothing nc
water. and no shelter for them. The ap-
p1oacnes are so difficult that supplies car
u brought I'm only with great trouble and
o. small quantities.
The trenches and other defences are th'
hest have seen or know Of in this ccun'
trv The shelters were about six fee
xigh and four or FIVE feet thick, packed
-ith earth. and riyeted with green timber
-he trenches admitted OF a man passing
zearly the length of the whole enclosur
Eithout being exposed 10 FIRE The shel
3ers were loophoIed and the ditch in from
aad fraises Of split bamboo, sharp a
needles.
caring for the Wounded.
Having inferred the body Of Lieutenau
~rubbs. we started back, carrying ou
sounded on imprDvised litters. The raj
nd mud were such. however. that by
sclock we had made but two miles and
sarFuess coming on rapidly and there be
ing no possible chance Of getting out {
,ne Jungle for hours. the command Wei
5zto blvouac 10 the mud AT daylight "
vefuruad 20 the hacienda, fording the Ma
'rgo much easier than before, and ais
yringiug over our wounded. The next ds
he command marched back 10 Silay. II
distance marched Is. Of course, estimate
szost of the marches having been mao
- night bat was not less than forty mile
The trails were still In fearful COnditiC
xter the recent rains, and from midnigl
A. Sf1tember 90 10 noon OF October the
Was nor . man thai did not have his fe
txd ieg5 saturated with mud and OoZ
-orne OF the ratiOns were lost in fOrdif
the MaIuga and there was 10 breaEfa
on the ID But all pTiyations were mo
shan cheerfully met with by the meE, a.
pot one man fell out from the column.
sThe death OF Lieutenant Grubbs cast
gloom on the party, for al the men had h'
a chance 70 observe him and TO see d
mains be was taking for their safety al
comfort He marched al the point OF q
advance all the time, and with a mache
that be carried assisted greatly In clearil