The Portland daily press., 1899-06-05
GENERAL HALLS COLUMN.
Marched Over Twenty Miles OF Rough
Country and Fought Two Engage

ments.
Manila, Juno 4--s.5 .. m.--Gen. Halle
column in the movement upon the Mo-
rong peninsula, completed q circuit of
over 20 miles over rough and mountain
Gus country, having two engagements
with the insurgents, one Of them severe
and keeping mp an almost constant fire
against scattered bands Of rebels for nesr.
ly "a hours from O'Clock Saturday morn
ing, when the column left the pumping
station.
The Filipinos were driven In every
direction and the country through which
Gen. Hall passed, was thoroughly cleared.
At 10 O'Clock this morning the column
reached point few miles from Tay
Tay. where Gen. Hall was met BY Gen.
Lawtoni who had already entered the
town and found 1t deserted.
Gen. Halls objective point was Anti.
polo, 10 miles OF, and there was a desui-
tory firing all along the line Of march.
The gunboats could be heard sheIling the
hills in advance Of the column.
The column after driving the rebels
from the foot hills near Maria Chino.
about noon yesterday, with loss of but
two or three slightly wounded. proceeded
with all possible haste toward La Guna
de Bay, the Fourth cavalry In the lead.
the Oregon regiment next and the Fourth
infantry, last. At 5 O'Clock these three
regiments fought their second battle Of
the day and It resulted like the first In
the complete route of a large Filipino
force located in the mountains and having
every advantage of position. In this
fight the American loss was four killed,
three of the Fourth cavalry and one
Oregnnian and about Is wounded. The
Filipino Joss could not be ascertained.
but ehe terrific FIRE which the Americans
poured into them for half an hour must
have inflicted severe punishment. III this
engagement our troops made one of the
most gallant charges Of the war; and the
enemy was forced to flee In the greatest
disorder. 1t was the intention to press on
to Antirole last light, but this was found
impossible owing to two fights and the
constant marching for more then 12
hours, with nothing to eat since morning
and no supply train in sight. The troops,
moreover, suffered from the intense heat,
may being Frustrated and I'll greatly ex-
hausted, consequently they bivouaced for
the night on the second battlefield.
The cavalry. the Oregonians and the
two companies of the Fourth infantry
had just crossed a-smnll creek about
O'Clock yesterday afternoon and entered
upon suDken road from which they
were emer ging upon small valley sur
rounded on all sides by high and heavily
wooded hills, when the rebels, concealed
In the mountains on the three sides OF the
plain, opened q hot fire and sent
showers of bullets into the ranks Of the
Americans. The latter deployed immedi-
ately In three directions. Then followed
a charge across the fields and bitches and
up the hillsides from which the shots
came all the time pouring in terrific hail.
while the air resounded with the constant
rattle..or inusketry.
The Fourth cavalry being in front,
suffered the severest loss when the attack
opened. two of their number killed being
sergeants, and the other private. The
oregoniau killed was a private.
The natives were unable to stand the
vigorous firing OF the Americans and at
the first sign of their wavering, the
cavalry. Oregonians and Fourth infantry.
men, broke into wild cheers and charged
still faster up the hillsides., pouring in
yoliey after volley until the enemy left
the places where they were partially con-
ceaied by the thicket. fled over the SUM-
NIT in the widest confusion and disap.
peared in the surrounding valleys.
After the fight wassoyer, the firing was
continued by the Americans for over an
hour in clearing out the bushes and
driving away struggling Filipinos.
The troops, after camping for the night
on the battlefield, started at this morn
ing for Antipole, where 1t was expected a
strong resistance would be made. Anti
pole is place far up In the mountains,
which the Spaniards had said the Ameri-
cams could never capture. 1t cost Spain
the lives Of 300 troops.
The progress of the column was con.
siderably delayed while passing up the
steep mountain grade. by small band OF
routed by the Fourth cavalry. which was
in advance, and the troops reached Anti
pole in few hours Our lines were i'm
mediately thrown around three sides of
the town and then the final advance was
made, but 1t was found necessary to fire
shot. Not q rebel was visible ard the
town was entirely abandoned.
Two hours later, after conference be-
tween Generals Lawton and Hall, the
column proceeded toward Morong. to
drive away rebels found in that quarter.
When the start was made for Antipole in
the morning, the Oregon regiment and
the Ninth infantry were left behind as a
rear guard and there was considerable
firing along their lines In clearing the
enemy from the high hill betwesn their
position and the lake.