Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-06-14

Dodies OF TWO Americans who had at
tempted to rush across. and many wound
ed men were carried from the open
ground before the bridge
After firing in voleys for q short time,
the Americans were ordered to nre wnen
and whore they could see the enemy. 1t
was every man for himself and the best
our men could do was TO aim at the mist
made by the smokeless powder.
GENERALS DID GOOD WORK.
General Lawton. though exhausted by
The mornings fight, rallied by sheer will
power, and was the commanding figure
IN the battle lie went along the lines.
directing and encouraging the troops.
General Wheaton and General Ovenshine
were equally courageous. In fact, the
generals were among the few men on the
battlefield who refused to take shelter,
under the hottest fire.
The only approach Of the fighting
ground was by a narrow winding road,
where the rebel bullets dropped thickly,
woundins several OF our men.
At 4 O'Clock there was an hours lull
I'm the lighting.t and an artillery sergeant
galloped back to where TWO guns OF the
mountain battery were waiting in reserve
and shouted: Bring up those guns.
The sergeant then tumDled, exhausted,
from his horse.
Twenty wounded men were carried 10
a casco native boaD waiting on the
beach which was rowed TO Paranaque.
IL IL impossible at the present time 10
estimate the number of the Filipino dead.
There are many dead bodies IN the fields
the Americans traversed.
AN HISTORIC BATTLE FIELD.
This battlefield, incidentally. was form
erly the scene OF several of the
greatest struggles between the Spaniards
and the FilipinOs The IaDOte was con-
sidered impregnable. and hundreds OF
Spaniards and Filipinos have been killed
while fighting over the same bridge in
former contests for its possession.
In June, 1891, Generals Pho Eel Pillar and
Tras turned the scale of war 10 The
side Of the Filtpinos 10y deserving the
Spanish army there, on the eve of de-
cisire battle, carrying the native militia
with them and thereby breaking the
chain OF defences around Manila.
THE INSURGENTS AGGRESSIVE.
$40 i. M.-The lighting at Las Pinas
continued holly all day long. General
LawtOn called out the whole force of
5000 men, and at o'clock he was only
able TO push the insurgents back 800 yards
TO the Zapote river, where they are ell
trenched The insurgents resisted despe-
rately and aggressively. They attempted
To turn the left flank OF the American
troops.
The American loss Is conseryatively es-
tmated at sixty.
The battle continues.
At daylight to-day the rebels at CaVite
Vieio dropped two shells from Big
smooth-bore gun mounted in front Of the
church. into the navy-yard The only
damage done was splnterng the top OF
the huge shears on the Mole. The gun
boats Callao, Manila and Mosquito then
proceeded 10 dismount the gun.
ENEMY'S FIRE VIGOROUS.
After breakfast the rebels opened fire
along the beach to BakoOr. After ST.
lencing the big gun at Cavite Niejo, the
gunboats ran close along the shore, bonn
harding the rebel position. The rebels
replied with rife fire. and with the fire
Of some small pieces of artillery. 80
vigorous was the enemys fire that at y:ZO
A. NJ the gunboat Helena joined the
small gunboats already named, and the
Princeton, Monterey, and MOnadnoch,
from their anchorages, dropped occasional
big shells among the rebels. This, APP
paTently, only served TO incite the rebels,
as they kept up an incessant fire OF mus
kerry and artillery near the mouth of the
LIKE ANOTHER NAVAL BATTLE.
The fire of all seven warships was con
ccntrated on this point shortly after noon'
when the upper bay presented the appear
ance of being the scene Of a great naval
battle. The rebels we're eventually forced
to abandon their guns, after holding out
for about four hours. only to be con-
fronted by General Lawton's force on
land and I'm their rear, where there was
heavy fighting.
Beyond the destruction of several build
ings along the Waterfront. the effect OF
the bombardment Is not known.
REPORT FROM OTIS
WASHINGTON. ID. c., June I.-The
following cablegram has been received
from General Otis:
Manila, June Northumberland,
Washington: Lawton's troops had severe
engagement to-day with enemy in strong
intrenchments at crossing Iapote river
near Bakoor, Csvite province. Have
driven enemy. with heavy loss our casu-
altes some thirty Insurgents IN TINS
southern section not mOlested until they
threatened attack in strong force on
Manila. Now scattered and in retreat.
Doubtful if they make further stand.
lcio,,.d, "OTlS."
WASHINGTON, June 70. The news Of
the heavy fighting almost within slgnt
of Manila and adjacent TO the maynard
al Cayite where Admiral Dewey landed
his forces more than a year ago, was
received with intense interest here. 1t
l. evident to the officials that the iLsur-
gents either are stronger than has Deen
realized. or that they have come to the
end Of their resources and are making
this last struggle in sheer desperation.
Otherwise, il is hard TO understand why
they should come down 10 the shore OF
the bay and fight the warshlps.
Acknowledgement Corbin has steadfastly
maintained his confidence IN the sue
cess Of the present movement in
I.uzon. and said to-day he felt encouraged
at the advices that came from there,
particularly in view of General Ois's
statement that Lawton had driven the
enemy with heavy loss ana that the lat
ter could not be reassemDlcd in force.
MUCH CONCERN.
stu, there is great concern exhibited
over the conditions that confront the
American troops in this campaign, and
there was a renewal of the inquiry as
to whether or not there IS 20 be further
reinforcement Of the troops or another
call for volunteers.
The statement was made IL reply TO
this. that General Otis has, or VIII nave.
all the men he estimated tor, and the
opinion of General Otis in these matters,
il can be said is 20 determine the policy
of the President in the matter.
CoIored Troops for philippines.
WASHINGTON, June 1S.-The President
has decided 10 send the Nv enty-fOurth
and Twenty-hfth regiments of infantry
TO the Philippines Both are colored reg
iments. and rendered gallant service in
thn Saniingo campaiEn. They are hardy |