The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-30
OF GENERAL
THOMAS ANDERSON
Gives an Interesting Account of
Operations Around
Manila.

1
the insurgents in the Philippines, was
made public at the war department today.
| 1t is dated February g. and relates mainly
to the operations of February 5. The re-
port in part is as follows:
"a line OF delimitaton has been agreed
| upon between the department commander
and the insurgent Filipino authorities.
Finding that we did not hold out lines of
| delimitation. the Filipino military forces
| advanced beyond this line, and began to
| throw up formidable line of entrench-
mentS. They also constructed other en-
trenchments. AS the insurgents saw their
formidable works approaching completion
| they became more insulent day by day,
and finally did everything they could in
insolelce and insults to provoke us to be-
gin the conflict. AS they were permitted to
go and come through our lines at will, they
knew just what troops we had, where they
were located, and that we were making no
visible preparations for defense 1t seems
proper to make these statements in order
to justify the assertion that no troops ever
behaved better under intense provocation
showing excellent discipline and self-con-
troll. The first brigade of this division was
under Brigadier General Chas. King.
The second brigade was under Brigadier-
General Samuel Ovenshine. The only prep
arations which could be made for battle in
view Of orders to stand on the defensive
were the assignment of the different organ
izationS to places on the firing line and the
selection of positions for the artillery.
Nothing more apparently could be done, as
our government had to preserve a waiting
policy until the treaty of peace with Spain
was signed. Nevertheless, an attack from
the front might be followed by an uprising
in the city, and this procrastination placed
the army under a great disadvantage. At
$40 a. m. on the morning of the 5th the in
surgefts opened fire on block house II with
Mauser rifles. had just rode up to my
headquarters in the city, from which l tel
egraphed communications to every part of
my command. l first telegraphed corps
headquarters for permission TO take the Of
fensive when it became light enough to do
so. At o'clock / directed General Oven
shine to open artillery fire on block house
II and the wood near by, and to be pre-
pared to drive the enemy from the malate
front, and il they yielded easily to turn to
the left with part of his command and
sweep the enemy from his entire front. If
successful to be ready to reinforce Kings
right, and turn the left of the insurgent
force operating from Santa Ana. rms
project was not carried out until later In
the day, as permission was not given to
assume the offensive until o'clock In the
meantime the firing on Kings line became
heavier the day advanced.
At last at 8 o'clock a telegram came from
General Otis authorizing an advance II not
made too far. / went at once to Battery
Knoll, taking with me the wyoming pat.
TALON. Finding there three companies OF
Calfornians l placed these seven COM
panies under the command of Colonel
Smith OF the First California, and directed
him to deploy and advance in line with the
rest of Kings brigade, substituting for
the intended cooperation Of Ovenshine.
General King was ordered to advance as
soon as Smith deployed. These officers re-
ceived these orders with delight and their
troops with enthusiasm. The movement be-
gan at $50 a. with rush over the creek
in our front; as cheer and rafting voleys
as the whole line advanced, not by rushes,
but with a rush. The insurgent line fell
back before our advance fighting, how
ever, with spirit.
AT the same time the California battalion
charged and drove the enemy out of Santa
ANA, driving them from stone walls and
converts, churches and houses and fighting
their way through blazing bamboo huts,
from which the natives were firing. Brig
adler General Ovenshine, commanding the
Second brigade, had, the North Dakota
regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel True
mann occupying the other Spanish trenches
from Fort Malate the bay to an al
most impossible swamp, which divided his
line into two sections.
At about 10 o'clock Ovenshine ordered an
advance The North DakotaS drove the
enemy from their front back to the Car
meite convent.
Hearing of the successful advance of the
North Dakotas L telegraphed General
Overshine to carry out the project l had
arranged with him to attempt to roll the
enemy by a movement from right to left
AS there was long delay in carrying OUT
this order repeated several times by tele-s
graph, and aides were sent with oral or
ders. 1t was at last found that he was
under a false impression, that he had re-
ceiyed other orders from the corps COM
mander. When this misrepresentation was
removed he made the movement with COM
plete success.
The GOODNESS, energy and bravery of the
officers and men of this division are worthy
of the highest consideration. Beginning on
the left, the Idaho regiment under Major
Figgings did splendid service. Major Nc
Conville, who served under my command
in the war of the rebellion, was killed lead
ing his battalion, like the brave and faith
full officer that he was. Captain Whiting
ton is especially commended by his brigade
commander.
The Washington regiment, under Colonel
Whalley received its baptism of fire. It's
men fought like veterans. From the Cali
forria regiment L expected excellent SER
vice. Colonel James ]. Smith showed the
very best qualities of volunteer officer.
His services in every position in which he
has been placed has been most valuable
and efficient. / cordially recommend him
as a brigadier general of volunteers.
Major Sine of the same regiment,
proved he is a natural born soldier. He is
not only brave, but cool and discreet
Captain HAN, lieutenant Third artillery,
in command of the engineer company,
showed special efficiency. The Wyoming
battalion, although not well handled at
first when it got into action showed the
bravery I have seen before in Wyoming
men, In the Second brigade the North
Dakotas made a dashing charge.
The part of the Fourth cavalry under
fire fought as we'll as they always have In
their many battles. The fighting of the
Fourteenth infantry under the trying cir
cumstances and surroundings in which
they were placed was little less than he
role; certainly it was most effective. They
were well led by Major Potter, Captain
John Murphy, a well tried veteran, and
other efficient company officers, Matile
Eastman, Hasbrouck, Lasseigne, Biddle,
and, in FACT all present, including Cap
tains Martin and Kauthoff, who, although
on staff duty, went to the front with their
own regiment, performing excellent serv-