The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-04-13
Il. G.. OTIS PRAISED
THE FIGHTING TENTH
Charge Near Caloocan Was
Brilliant,

WASHINGTON, April IL. - Adjutant
General Corbin received the first mail
report of the military operations about
Manila since the Filipino insurrection
began. 1t waa made by General Har.
rison Gray Otis, commanding the first
brigade of the Second division of the
Eighth army corps, and is dated, "In
the Field Near Caloocan, p. l., Feb. 22,
$780," and describes the movements of
his brigade from the 4th to the 22d OF
February. Regarding the Tenth Penn
sylvania, he said:
when the alarm was given on the
night Of the 4th inst, Colonel Hawkins,
commanding the Tenth Pennsylvania
| infantry, moved out four companies
| from their city barracks to support his
outposts, which had sustained an OBJ.
lique fire from block house No. 4, and
from force stationed at the Chinese
hospital, directly at their front. Dur
ing the night the enemy made two ad.
vances in considerable force, but were
| easily checked by the skirmishers with.
out the main line firing shot. At
dawn the enemy made another and
more determined advance, which also
was checked by the outposts.
After daylight the Utah battery, sta
| toned 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 a precipitate retreat.
| The Pennsylvania troops continued
their advance to a valley in front of the
hospital, where they were met with a
heavy fire. At this point Major Bierer,
commanding the Pennsylvania left, was
wounded and compelled to retire. Major
Bell of the engineer corps, reported to
| Colonel Hawkins, and was assigned to
command the left wing, where he
rendered valuable service. The line
continued to advance, it's fire being re-
piled to with spirit by the enemy.
"When within about 300 yards of the
insnrgent line the Pennsylvania troops,
by brilliant charge, swept them from
their position, forcing them to retreat
in a northerly direction. Soon after the
regiment together with detachment
of the First Montana and First South
Dakota, under Colonel Frost, was moved
| in an easterly direction. A new line
was established, promptly entrenched
| anu WAS bllll ilClNl ~ ullC ullC VI bilt lS'
port. Colonel Hawkins speaks in high
terms of the conduct Of the officers and
men of his command, and commends
several of these officers by name"
Further along he said: son receipt
of information that his outposts had
been attacked and had fallen back to St
Lazaro cemetery, Colonel Kessler of the
First Montana proceeded to reinforce
the same with two companies. Firing
was kept up throughout the night, but
with small effect, and on the following
morning a detachment made an ad
vance from st. Lazaro cemetery, free
the houses on its immediate front and
retired TO the cemetery. Subsequently
detachment OF the regiment, in con
junction with the Tenth Pennsylvania
captured the Chinese hospital Th'
First Montana also participated in tht
movement which resulted in the cap
ture of the Chinese cemetery and alsC
in the general advance of the brigad,
upon Caloocan, Feb. TO-"