Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-11

MANILA. April lO-6:5O Z. M-General
Lawton has captured Santa Cruz. at the
extreme end OF the lake. lie drove the
rebels. who were commanded by a China
man named Pao-Wah, into the noun
tains. The Americans had six men
wounded. The rebels lost sixty-eisht men
killed and had forty men wounded
THH EXPEDITION.
An exDedition. consisting OF about 800
men commanded by General Lawton,
eft San Pedro Macau. on the River
p,s,r on Saturday night with the pur-
pose Of crossing IAguna de Bay and cap
turing the town Of Santa Cruz. on the
eastern shore of the lake. The American
troors were then. as planned. TO sweep
the countr. 10 the south. The force con-
sisted Of 900 picked sharpshooters from
the various regiments. Hawthornes
mountain battery; Gales squadron. and
three troops OF the Fourth Cavalry. un-
mounted: Bronkes and Tappen's bat
talions. of the Fourteenth Infantry;
Iinck's battalion. Of the First Idaho In
fantry. and FRAMES battalion. of the
First North Dakota Infantry, under Cen
cral King.
PICTURESQUE SCENE.
a fotina Of twenty canoes. towed by
tlcs and conveyed by the gunboats La
gna de Bay. Oesto and Napidau and
preceded by a launch containing General
Iavton and General King. moved toward
,aa lake just as evening was setting IN.
/. was a truly picturesque scene. The
mon carried rations for ten days. with
The Nchtest possible marching equipment.
General Lawton's plan was 10 reach
Santa Cruz on Sunday morning at day
break. t0 capture or destroy any rebel
gunboa,s or shipping; TO take the town,
and then TO scour the country TO the
south ~ the lake, a district not yet ex-
porcd by the Americans.
a FILIPINO STRONGHOLD.
rP N-Santa Cruz was the Filipino
stronghold on the Lake cor laguna) de
Iay. and it fell into the hands Of Gene
rll Iawtons expedition, after some
sharp. quick fighting. forming one of the
most interesting and important battles
o. the war.
The plans Of the American command
trs worked perfectly. with the exception
that the progress of the expedition was
DELAYED by the difficult navigation Of the
riycr About fifteen hundred picked men
composed the expedition. which was
under the personal cOmmand of General
Iawt0n. on account of the Illness of
General King These troops partly sur
rounded the city, while the gunboats La
elna de Bay. Napidau. and Oeste, under
tle command of Captain Grant, Of the
Utah Battery. shelled the city, and out
lying trenches
INDIAN FIGHTING TACTICS.
General Iawton and his STAFF. accom-
IalNng the troops. leading the charges
iu Indian fighting tactics, caused the
c0mplct. YOute of the rebels, with the
smallest amount of damage TO the city,
and small loss TO the Americans. The
expedition started from San Pedro Ma
cau at dusk. intending to capture Santa
CRUZ Dy assault at daybreak, but in navi-
eating the narrow, tOrtuOus passages of
ths river and perhaps owing 10 the cum
ming ci the native pilots. who
we've not anxious 20 see the Ameri-
cans successful, several boats ground |
oi. and 10 was daylight when
to troops entered the lake. The troops !
.amel cautiously forward. Rebel signal |
fires. however were lighted on the noun !
tain tops giving warning Of the approach /
OF iae troops.
IL was noon before the white church |
towers o, tae city appeared, in the sha- !
COW of frc great volcanic mountain. on /
marshy piaiu dotted with occasional |
palm groves. A canoe with a force Of |
200 picked sharpshooters, under Major |
Weiscnherser mostly belonging 10 the /
First Washington Regiment was run /
into shallow inlet about five miles south |
az The city. A few shells were then sent /
toward the entertainments of the rebels.
ei ihe edge of woods sending the enemy
s.ampering inland
THE AMERICANS LAND.
Then number OF Americans Jumped
INTO the water, and, Wading for about a
l-nlred yards, crept forward and formed
in lle, covering the landing Of the re-
Ha.naer which was finished about 3
t."ck. Three troops Of the Fourth
cavalry unmounted. were sent ashore.
%. t dangerous marshy point. directly
e'-.a oi the city, under fire from the enc
~ 81 trenches.
al. l.s tme in the town itself there
utter silence. and not "a sign OF life
'.''ia. LawtOn, desiring 10 make an in
E.t'1a and 10 give the Inhabitants an
.Ii unity % surrender, went on board
i..-ana de Bay. and accompanied by
.-. ISOLATED Press launch. steamed
.'"l5 to the dock. the whole fleet watch
- enN0usly. When u was discovered
oy .ae glasses that the trenches and stone
,taIaes were swarming with white-ciad
...a'ers. the two boats withdrew. receiving
'..o!s from the trenches thrown up on
". marshy plain north OF the city
ASSAULT OK THE CITY.
ADO hotiila anchored in compact forma-
",i Tor the night, ready 10 resist any
o-'Ifscs from the rebel gunbOats sup
ard to be- In the lake. At sunrise to-
f tAonday) the assault commenced.
American line south OF the city
'l''ched TWO miles inland, and with fits
l' weeping the shore. 1t moved north.
".'e the Fourth cayalrymen. on the
''li advanced toward the city. pouring
''''ys into the trenches. simultaneously.
e sunboats hOyered along the shore.
-.'i.s The woods ahead Of the troops
driving he Fiiipnos inland. The
Netlhgs cleared several trenches. The
."'ie brigade was divided into squads of
"'IFe, and the fighting was carried ON
lHe oid-ume frontier fashion. from be-
' ifees. crawling through bushes. or
,-s.Ns across the open. The trenches
o' were not cleared by the gunboats
1-'' considerable resistance when the |
a. was nearing the city. and the Laguna
""g ana Oeste bombarded for an hour,