Evening star., 1899-04-11
First Report in Regard to the Mill
tary Operations
RECEIVED FROM GEN. B. G. Otis
Regiments That Took Part in the
Engagements.
HIS BRIGADE MOVEMENTS

Adjt Gen. Corbin has just received the
first mail report in regard to the military
operations about Mantle since the Filipino
insurrection began on the night of the 4th
of February. 1t was made by Gen. Har-
rison Gray Oris, commanding the 1st
brigade Of the I'd Division of the Sth Army
Corps, and is dated, "In the field near
Caloocan, p. l., February %, 1899" 1t is.
in the main, a synopsis of the several regi-
mental reports describing more particularly
the movements of his brigade in the opera
tions around Manila from the sth to the 22d
Of February. The regiments in question are
the 10th Pennsylvania, Sd Artillery, 1st
Montana Infantry, Goth Kansas Infantry
and 1st Idaho Infantry. Their movements
are described in detail, and make record
of gallantry and promptness that has prob
ably never been excelled.
When the alarm was given on the night
of the 4th instant, Colonel Hawkins, COM
manding the 10th Pennsylvania Infantry,
whose troops occupied the right of the ad-
vanced line in rear of the Chinese Hospital,
moved out four companies of his command
from their city barracks to support his out
posts, which had sustained a considerable
obhque fire from block house No. and
from force stationed at the Chinese Hos
pitai, directly at their front. The enemy
had, however. made no advance, ana no
casualties had been caused by his nre Dur
ing the night the enemy made two advances
in considerable force, but were easily cneck-
ed by the line of skirmishers without the
main line firing shot. At dawn the enc
my made another and more determined ad-
vance, which was also checked by the out
post lines.
Shelled the Enemy's Position.
After daylight the Utah battery. station
ed near the Chinese cemetery, shelled the
enemy's position for half an hour, and
Colonel Hawkins advanced his entire line
rapidly forward. He was met with heavy
volley firing, but when within 200 yards OF
the insurgent line the enemy made pre-
cipitate retreat. His fire had been hlgn
and wild and the only casualties at that
point were two men wounded in the Penn-
SylVania command.
The Pennsylvania troops continued their
advance to a valley in front OF the nos
pital, where they were met with heavy
fire from the insurgents in and about the
red church near the Chinese cemetery. Al
this point Major Bierer, commanding the
Pennsylvania left, was wounded and com
PEELED to retire. Major Bell OF the Engi-
+, neer Corps reported to Colonel Hawkins
and was assigned to command the left
wing, where he rendered valuable service.
The line continued to advance, its fire being
replied to with spirit by the enemy When
/ within about 800 yards of the insurgent
line, the Pennsylvania troops. by a bril-
liant charge swept them from their posi-
ton forcing them TO retreat in northerly
direction. Soon after the regiment, togeth-
er with detachment of the 1st Montana
and 1st South Dakota, under Colonel Frost,
formed a line to the north of the block
house. was halted by the division COM
mander facing Caloocan and started off
in an easterly direction. new line was
established, promptly intrenched, and was
still held at the date, of the report. Colonel
Hawkins speaks in high terms of the con-
duct of the officers and men of his COM
mand. and commends, several of these Off
GERS by name. .
The 3d Artillery.
The Sd Artillery left its barracks in Ma
nila at 10 o'clock on the aight of February
4 and deployed in the darkness behind the
line of dykes situated upon rice fields and
I bamboo thickets, it's left resting on the
railroad track and its right on the leper
hospital. The troops at that point had al
ready been engaged and hostile advance
repelled by our force. The following day
an almost continuous fire was kept up by
the Montana and Kansas regiments to the
right and left, respectively. The dykes
were heavily wooded, bamboo thickets in
tervened and rice fields dotted with numer-
Gus native huts extended some distance
away. The concealed fire of the enemy
was very annoying and caused many casual
ties. At this juncture a company of the
10Th Kansas Infantry, under the veteran
Captain Elliott, appeared upon the scene,
and was ordered to the support of the 1st
Montana. All three regiments went for
ward at about the same time, sweeping the
ground. driving the insurgents from their
cover and killing number of them. These
movements resulted in establishing the line
on better ground. Major Kobbe having pre-
pared to join in the attack on the insurgent
position at the Chinese cemetery on his
flank, discovered a continuous firing line of
insurgents posted among the bushes and
along the wall of the Chinese church. the
enemy directing his shots against our lines
a fnrf Ixx,St1 y, aral
Volley firing to begin from two of his bat
teries, driving the enemy in considerable
numbers back past the open gate in his
front, despite the efforts of their officers to
stay the flight
The forward movement was continued as
far as the stone block house which was
taken by Company G of the 10th Kansas
which company is highly praised by IFS
then immediate commander, Mai. Kobbe.
In the action of February 10 the Sd Artil-
lery advanced, according to its orders de-
pioying on the ground in front of its origi-
nal position, and opening fire by command
only. AS the right cleared the rayine from
upon which 1T had previously rested Mai
Bell of the engineers led a company of the
Montana regiment forward out of the
ravine. almost at right angles to Mai.
kobbe's right front, whose flank then prac-
tically rested ''in the air. The Montana
men were firing as they advanced upon the
insurgent intrenchments. and by so doing
rendered timely aid to the forward move
ment of the Sd Artillery.
The 1st Montana
On receipt of information that his out
posts, consisting of two companies, had
been attacked and had fallen back to St
Lazaro cemetery, Col. Kessler of the 1st
Montana proceeded to reinforce the same
with two other companies. Firing was kept
up throughout the night, but with small ef-
feet, and on the following morning a de-
tachment made an advance from ST. Lazaro
cemetery, fired the houses on it's immediate
front and retired to the cemetery under
heavy fire. Subsequently a detachment of
The regiment, in conjunction with the 10th
Pennsylvania, captured the Chinese hos
pital. The 1st Montana also participated
In the movement, which resulted in the cap
ture of the Chinese cemetery and also in
the general advance of the brigade upon
Caloocan February 10. The casualties in
the regiment included the wounding of
Lieut.. Col. R. B. Wallace.
The Goth Kansas.
The outpost of the Goth Kansas, located
near thu tramway car station ON the Ca
loecan road, was fired upon by insurgent
patrols about 10 o'clock pm, February 4.
An alarm instantly put the entire regi-
1