Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-06-10
GENERAL LAWTON'S
PURSUIT OF REBELS
Americans Have a Large Force Of
FiIipinos Cornered on the
Morong Peninsula.
FIGHT EXPECTED THERE TODAY
General Lawton's Division to
ON the Insurgents Early This
Morning---Two Fights
Yesterday.

Manila, June SIS p. m.-The posi-
ton of the American troops tonlght
indicates that they will tomorrow
sweep the peninsula of Morong, the
land projecting to the south into La
guna de Bay, where the insurgents
are supposed to have a large force near
the town of Morong, as well as h bat
terry on the western shore of the
peninsula which recently smashed the
propeller of the gunboat Rapidan.
General Hall is marching from Anti
polo, about six and a half miles north
west of Morong, toward the peninsula
with his forces spread out to cover q
large section. Colonel Truman, with
the First North Dakota regiment n
Twelfth infantry, is advancing along
the coast of the lake from Taytay, in-
cidentally clearing several small
towns. Colonel Wholley, with the
First Washington regiment, has land
ed on the peninsula above the town OF
Morong. The army gunboats, Rapldan,
C~ovadonga and Ceste are in a position
to cooperate.
The original plan was TO surround
the forces of General Pho del Pillar SO
that he must retreat to the Morong
peninsula, where capture would have
been inevitable. This was not n COM
plete success, because General Hairs
column found the country full OF
handicaps to marching. There were
several streams to be bridged or ford
ed, and the troops frequently HOUND
cred through morasses waist deep IN
mud, an experience which, under the
terrific sun, exhausted the Americans
beyond endurance. Most of General
Pho del Pillars followers are supposed
to have escaped northward, probably
reaching Bosoboso, a stronghold III
the mountains.
Colonel Wholley, having successfully
completed his share of the movement,
brought the Washington regiment to
the river Pasig, where, last night
about midnight, the men embarked
upon cascoes and started for their
destination under the convoy OF the
gunboats.
They encountered a repetition of the
experience undergone by almost every
expedition on attempting to enter La
guna de Bay, as the boats went
aground in the shadows at the mouth
OIL the river anu NClC uNluiiNo nv
several hours.
Major General Lawton, in the mean"
time, was indefatigable, riding from
one force to the other and supervising
the loading of cascoes, without sleep
for two nights.
General Halls column, which as
sembled at the waterworks, or pump
ing station, late Friday night, under
" -.-~.lan. glyxy nanGiGtnI of
the Second Oregon volunteers, who
marched to the point of rendezvous
from the city barracks, a battalion or
the Second Wyoming regiment, Tour
troops of the Fourth c~avalry-one
mounted on the big American horses
which so impressed the natives, the
others unmounted-two battallonS or
the Fourth infantry, n battalion or
the Ninth infantry, the first six COM
panies of the First Colorado regiment,
and two mountain guns. The men
rolled themselves in their blankets and
lay upon the wet grass for a few hours
under a drilling rain.
The progress of the column was con-
'siderably delayed while passing up
the steep mountain by a small band OF
insurgents, but these were effectually
routed by the Fourth cavalry, which
was in advance, and the troops reached
Antipolo in a few hours.
Our lines were Immediately thrown
around on three sides of the town, and
then the final advance was made. But
it was found unnecessary to fire a shot,
Not q rebel was visible, and the town
was entirely abandoned.
Two hours later, after a conference
between General Lawton and General
Hall, the column proceeded toward
Morong. to drive any rebels found in
that quarter. When the start was made
from Antipolo in the morning the Ore
gon regiment and the Ninth infantry
were left behind as n rear guard, and
there was considerable firing along
their lines in clearing the enemy from
the hill between their position and the
lake.
General Halls objective point was
Antipolo, ten miles off, and there wa!
desultory firing all along the line o,
march. The gunboats could be heard
shelling the hills in advance of the col
umn.
The column, after driving the rebels
from the foothills near Maria Chino
about noon yesterday, with a loss o
but two or three slightly wounded
proceeded with all possible hast,
toward Laguna de Bay, the Fourtl
cavalry in the lead, the Oregon regi
ment next and the Fourth infantr!
last. At s o'clock those three regi
ments fought their second battle,of tn,
day. and il resulted, like the first, il
the complete rout of a large Filipino
force located in the mountains ant
having every advantage of position. II
this fight the American loss was fou
k~illed-three of the Fourth cavalr.
and one Oregonian-and about fifteeI
wounded. The Filipino loss could no
be ascertained, but the terrific fir
which the Americans poured into then
for half an hour must have inflicted st
we're punishment. In this engagement
our troops made one the most gallan
charges of the war, and the enemy wa
forced to flee in the greatest disorder