Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-27
SAN JAC!!NlT!O FIGHT
Memorable Struggle for the Dagupan
Road
DISASTROUS FOR THE FILIPINO REBELS
Troops Waded Through Mud and
Water to Reach the Scene.
DEATH OF MAJOR LOGAN

| Mail advices have reached the War De-
partment in regard to the crushing defeat
| administered by Wheaton's brigade to the
| Filipino insurgents near San Jacinto, early
| in November. in which engagement Maj.
| John A. Logan, jr., lost his life. According
! to the correspondent of the Manila Ameri-
| can, the 33d Infantry, under Col Hare,
| encountered force of the enemy between
| San Fabian and San Jacinto, and brought
| on one of the sharpest engagements of the
| war, resulting in the death of more insur
| gents than in any other fight since the be-
ginning of the lnsurrection.
Disastrous for FilfpinOs.
The battle ragged for two hours, and at its
| conclusion q dead Filipnos were found in
| the trenches. Many wounded were found
| hidden in the high grass and creek bottoms.
| 1t is estimated that over 100 insurgents
were killed in the fight, from twenty to
thirty being found in single pile. Twenty
nine prisoners and 100 rifles were captured.
The Americans lost one officer killed and
six men wounded The officer killed was
Mai. John A. Logan, jr., who was shot
through the head during the first few min
utes of the engagement while at the head
Of his battalion, which formed an advance
guard. He was in the act of assisting
wounded soldier, and was hit by Mauser
bullet, fired by sharpshooter concealed in
the top of a cocoanut tree. He died a few
hours later.
A reconnaissance on the Tuesday preced-
ing, made by Maj. Bucks battalion of the
18th Infantry, in the vicinity of San ia
cinto, developed rothing of Importance, but
afterward Gen. Wheaton received inforrna-
ton that the enemy was assembling in
strong force there for the purpose of pre-
venting our control of the road from Da-
gupan north through San Jacinto, by which
raI hob hot fna
Tarlac army would attempt to retreat. The
SD ordered out, accompanied by a
Calling gun. with a detachment of tho
18th under the command Of Capt. How
land of Gen Wheatou's staff. The troops
encountered five miles of the worst road
ever found in Luzon, being a succession of
creeks and miry bitches into which the
men sank to their waists in mud and wa
ter. Every bridge was unserviceable, and
had to be repaired where possible, but in
most cases the men, with horses and guns,
plunged into the quagmire and struggled
through as best they could. Nothing but
the indomnitable energy of Capt Rowland
enabled the Calling to get into action. A
score of times it was necessary to unhtch
the horses and lead them around through
nee fields while hundred soldiers dragged
the gun over bitches or broken bridges.
Heavy Fire From Thickets.
The fight was opened by the insurgents
two miles from San Jacinto while the lead
ing battalion was passing clump of ma
tive houses surrounded by grove of coco
anut trees and the men were knee-deep in
mud. The first fire came from sharpshoot-
ers AT trees ana houses and from small
trench across the road, all at close range.
There was also a heavy fire from thickets
| more distant to the right and left. The
aim of the sharpshooters was deadly and
was directed at the officers, for the first
| five men that fell wore either chevrons or
shoulder straps The other officer hit, be-
! sides Major Logan, was Captain Green.
He was also shot from tree, but his
wound was slight.
| The regiment never wavered a moment.
The crack marksmen it contains To-
Gated the natives and began knocking them
out of trees like squirrels. The men rushed
at the trench, through the soft mud, waist
deep, and passed over it, leaving four dead
Filipinos within.
Al the same time the regiment deployed
as skirmishers, Major Logan's battalion in
the center, Major Cronn's on the right and
Major Marsh's on the left. Colonel Hare
and Lieutenant Colonel Brereton directed
the general movement. The skirmish line,
which was nearly two miles long, rushed
| forward rapidly through water-soaked rice
fields, bitches, creeks and thickets, firing
all the time and doing deadly execution.
The Fhipinos made good stand for a
long time, several cases being reported of
the rebels remaining in position behind
cover until the Americans were within
TALON surprised a trench full of insur-
gents by coming upon their flank. They
poured terrible nre along the trench,
slaughtering nearly all in it.
Occupied San Jacinto.
Just before entering the town the Calling
did good execution by killing five of party
that was guarding a broken bridge and after
ward swept the country beyond the town.
driving 80 rebels into the hills. Major
Marsh's battalion entered the town first
and captured a large battle flag that was
floating over a convent. Not a native was
left in the town when the troops arrived
except blind boy and one woman. Most
of the survivors of the insurgent force are
supposed to have escaped toward Magaldon
or DaSupan. 1t was impossible to pursue
them further as the troops were exhausted
the ammunition was low and the troops
only had two days rations with them and
no possibility of getting further supplies
from San Fabian owing to the condition of
the road. The column camped for the
night at San Jacfnto
Five more rebels were killed during the
night by the outposts. Among the bodies
found was that of lieutenant colonel, sup
posed to be in command of the rebels at
that point.