Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-16
Gen. King Describes the Work of His
Brigade.
A REPORT OF UNUSUAL INTEREST
The Soldier Novelist Tells of Deeds
sl6sting.
MANY GALLANT ACTS

/ The report of Brigadier General Charles
King, commandins the first brigade, first
division during the early fighting at Manila,
has been made. public at the War Depart
ment This brigade, composed of the list
California, list Washington and LIST Idaho,
saw some very hard fighting during the
first days of the insurrection. The report,
which is of unusual interest, is in part as
follows:
Opening HOstiIities.
After several nights of promised attack
1 was again riding to our night station at
E. Pace, when overtaken by the division
commanders dispatch directing me to have
my brigade in readiness for action. Orders
We're instantly sent the LIST Idaho and list
California to move up to the point desig-
mated in event of attack. On arriving at
Pace 1 found the generals letter and the
usual night supports at block house IL were
reinforced by the full battalion Qst Wash
ington) called for in his order. Lively fir
ing was heard across the Pasig but up to
midnight not shot was heard on our front
Just at 2:40 O'Clock Sunday morning Feb
ruary 5, the rattle of rifle fire broke out
along my line All had been quet that
the Californians had been sent back to
their quarters, the ldahos We're also taking
a rest but now both commands were
marched well forward. The line of the
Washingtons extended from Captain Fort
sons position along the bend of the Con-
coria on our left to Battery Knoll on our
extreme right, and the eastern (opposite)
bank of the Tripa de Galina was thickly
covered by insurgents, visible only by the
| incessant flash of their .Mausers-many of
the bullets of which flew high and spattered
into both East and West Pace, wounding
two men of the idahos halted on the Gale
Real.
"A reconnaissance along the line, Just
after Capt. Dyer reached the knoll with
his guns convinced me that the sooner |
could get the order to advance the quicker
we could sweep the front and wind I'D the
entire business. This led to my appeal to
you to be permitted to attack at dawn,
which was necessarily refused; but omit
ting minor incidents, such as the firing on
our officers and men from many a Nipa hut
and from Pace Church ITSELF / at last at
about $3.50, received from Gen. Anderson in
person the long prayed for order, and who
added to this the caution to advance no
farther than Santa Ana.
Charged Through Water Waist Deep.
While the division commander himself
supervised the advance from Battery
Knoll which <as otnade by several COM
panies Of Calffornians, supported by the
| Wyoming battalion, 1 FASTENED over to Pa
| co and led the Idaho. regiment to the front.
| Two companieseof the California regiment
| had been thrown in on Wholley's right,
| near block house Il, owing to the heavy
| fire the WashNgtoHs were receiving and
| their many cashalties These swept with
the Washingto obs With eager impetuosity,
Waist-deep thr9pghIthe boggy Tripa and
were speedily deployed in long Hne con-
tinuing to the left the advance of Col.
Smiths line from ,'Rattery Knoll Here it
was comparatively plain sailing, but to our
left of the Santa Ana road it was hard
| pounding indeed hawthorne, with his lit
tie 'Astor' guns, had reached Concordia
bridge and was replying with calm preci-
sion to the enemy's Krupps over toward
the river, while sthe bridge was heavily
from> every direction on our left front.
Fortson' had earlier reported that his two
companies were outfanked and CALLED by
sharp fire, which, L felt convinced, must
come from the redoubt in front Of Pan
dacan. This, the iKrupps and the hostile
trenches between the Pasig and the Santa
Ana road became the objects Of solicitude
to me. Many Of the Washingtons were
lying down behind the road firing coolly to
our left front, and. directing Maj, Higgins
with his first three companies to support
the right attack, l sent everything else,
including the University company of the
LIST California, into the assault of the vii
lage and the trenches on the river side,
giving orders to Maj McConville to take
the remaining three companies, LIST Idaho,
and attack the redoubt from the south.
1t was his last order, for this gallant old
soldier fell leading his men.
Carried the Redoubt.
But that redoubt lasted only short
time longer. Fortson dashed in across the
Concordia from Pandacan and, aided by one
company of the Idahos Uhe other two hav-
ing had to charge a sharply firing line 10
their right, they completely carried it,
leaving the insurgents lying in heaps in the
trenches and whirling their survivors into
the river, where many were drowned or
shot.
BY this time, fearful that the right ad-
vance, under Col. Wholley, was going
straight east instead Of wheeling to half
left to round up insurgents attempting 10
escape, l left the left attack and joined his
line. There was no time to be lost, SO 1
personally ordered the left to halt, and
gallopng along the line, by dint of much
shouting, swung it around, pivoting on the
left, until our right center broke through
the native huts and entered the town to the