The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1899-04-27
ARMY DISASTER.
An Engagement at Quengua in Which
Seven Americans We're Killed.
Rebels Subsequently Attacked and Driven
From Their Trench to the Second
Trench Mile Awsy-Nebraska
Regiment the Loser.

Trench Mile AWoy-Nebraoko
Regiment the Loser.
MANILA, April 24.-Four men Of the
Nebraska regiment, including Col.
Stetsenberg, Lieut.. Sisson and three
men Of the fourth cavalry were killed
and ~ wounded in an engagement at
Quengua. The Filipinos retreated
with small loss The engagement de-
veloped into . disastrous, though sue
cessful fight The insurgents had .
horseshoe trench about mile long en-.
circling rice field on the edge Of q
wood.
The following were killed:
Col. John NJ. Stetsen berg, Of the 1st
Nebraska regiment, formerly Of the
eth cavalry.
Lieut.. Sisson (perhaps Lieut.. August
c. Nisson), of the same regi ment
Two privates Of the Nebraska regi-
ment.
Three privates of the 4th cavalry.
Most of the wounded belong to the
lst Nebraska regiment.
Maj. Bell, with 40 cavalrymen, en-
countered strong outpost. One of his
men was killed and five were wounded
by volley.
The Americans re; ;ired, carrying their
wounded under fire and with great
difficulty, being closely pursued, fog
enabling the enemy to creep up to
them.
Two men who were carrying a COM
rade were shot in the arms, but they
continued with their burden.
Maj. Bell sent for reinforcements to
rescue the body of the killed cavalry
men. and, a battalion of the Nebraska
regiment, under Maj Mufford, arrived
and advanced until checked by volleys
from the enemy's trenches.
The Americans lay about 800 yards
from the trenches, behind rice burrows,
under fire, for two hours.
Several men were sunstruck, one dy-
ing from the effects of the heat, as
they lay there waiting for the artillery
to come up.
Finally the second battalion arrived,
and then Col. Stetsenberg, who had
spent the night with his father at Ma
nila. came upon the field. The men
Immediately recog nized him and raised
cheer. Col. Stetsenberg, deciding to
charge as the cheapest way out Of the
difficulty, led the attack at the head of
his regiment. He fell with bullet in
the breast, dying instantly about 200
yards from the breastworks
Lieut.. Sisson fell with bullet in his
heart, the bullet striking him near the
picture Of girl suspended by a ribbon
from his neck.
In the meantime the artillery had
arrived and shelled the trenches.
The Filipinos stood until the Ne
braska troops were right on the
trenches and then they bolted to the
second line Of intrenchments mile
back.
The Nebraska regiment lost two pri.
Yates and had many wounded, includ-
ing two lieutennts.
The Iowa regiment had several
wounded.
The Utah regiment had one ofdcer
and three mon wounded.
Thirteen dead Filipinos were found
in the trenches Their loss was COM
paratively small on account of their
safe shelter.
The Americans carried the second
trench with small loss and are holding
the town Sunday night.
Col. Stetsenburg has won . reputa
ton as one of the bravest. fighters in
the army. He always led his regiment
and had achieved rema, BILE popular
ity with his men since tn war began,
although during his first colonelcy the
volunteers, who were not used to tho
rigid discipline of the regular troops.
thought him hard officer.
The loss of the Nebraska regiment
in the campaign is the greatest sus-
| tanned by any regiment, and Sundays
disaster has greatly saddened officers
and men, who promise to take fierce
vengeance in the next fight.
WASHINGTON, April 24.-The follow
ing message regarding the fight at
Quengua, was received at the war de-
partment Sunday:
"MANILA, April 2S Adjutant Gener-
al, Washington: A reconnaissance on
Quengua place, six miles northeast of
Malolos made by Maj. Bell and a
troop of cavalry this morning resulted
in contact and battle, in which four
battalions of infantry and four pieces
OF artillery became engaged. Enemy
driven from intrenchments at Quengus
with considerable loss; our casualties
| quite severe. Col. Stetsenberg and
Lieut.. Sissons, 1st Nebraska, killed,
also several enlisted men. Consider
| able numbers wounded, not vet re-