The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-07-31
ANACONDA NEWS.
WHEATON GIVES PRAISE
General Officially Commends the
Montana Troops.
HIS COMPLETE REPORT
Movements OF His Brigade in the Ad-
vance on San Fernando-Speaks
Highly of Colonel Wallace
and His Good Work.

The fun report of Brigadler General
Lloyd Wheaton on the movements to
San Fernando in which the LIST Mon
4 tana formed considerable portion of
his command. has just been given to
the public. Crisp, curt and military
though the report is, it shows that the
Montana troops were ever in front
Following is the report, written at San
Fernando and dated May 10:
Pursuant to the orders of Major
General Macarthur l moved my bri-
gade out of Malolos on the morning of
April a. with the intention of attack
ing the enemy on the north bank of
the River Bagbag, but the brigade of
General Hale, with which it was de-
! sired 1 should cooperate, not having
advanced from the direction of Quin-
ga on Calumpit sufficiently to attack
that point that day, l was directed by
Major General Macarthur to hold my
brigade in the vicinity of the railroad
at Baraosin until Hale had fought his
|way to the vicinity of a ford across
the Quinga not far from the River
Calumpit. About $50 o'clock on the
morning of the 25th of April by the
ldirection of the division commander |
marched on the enemys position, NOV
fling the Goth Kansas volunteer infan-
TRY on the left of the railroad, and the
Fist Montana on the right. The bat
ftalion of the Sd United States artillery,
tMajor Kobbe. was left at Malolos and
tBaraosin to guard the line of road. l
ldirected the armored train to follow
aft nt, IN. hriu
ewell on the march.
| Our movements being well screened
from the enemy by extensive lines of
bamboo jungle, l moved both regi-
ments of infantry into well protected
position about ZOO yards from the en-
emy's entertainments along the Bag
mag. The armored train having
reached at this time a point on the
Aroad near the infantry, l directed that
fire be opened from the rified six
FOUNDER and the three machine guns
on the train, and at this minute Hale's
artillery, to our front and right, across
the Quinga, opened fire, and the guns
pf the Utah artillery, on our right.
commenced firing. Soon after I moved
the armored train to the front and
advanced several companies of infan-
.try from both regiments to seize all
places near the river from which an
effective fire might be directed upon
the encmy's entertainments. The con-
verging fire Of the two brigades of the
division and the artillery now began
10 shake the enemy. Colonel Funston,
goth Kansas volunteer infantry with
Lieutenant c. NJ. Warner First Ser
geant Raymond E. Enston and Ser
.geant c. P. Barshfield, Company X
goth Kansas endeavored to rush
across the railroad bridge. A span of
the bridge being broken, Colonel Funs-
ton, Lieutenant Ball and Sergeants
E,nCtnD and RarShfieli ,,,
and drove the enemy out of the en-
trenchments near the bridge. At the
same time Hales infantry. on our
right, forded the Calumpit to our front
and right, turned the enemy out of his
entertainments near the bridge along
the Calumpit and pursued him to the
vicinity of the Rio Grande, near the
town of Calumpit, which the enemy
burned. The two regiments of my bri-
gade bivouacked near the Bagbag.
Drove the Enemy OF.
April Is the enemy was in force on
Ahe north bank of the Rio Grande de
Ia Pampanga, a broad and deep river
He was protected by a most elaborate
system of field Notifications and had
near the railroad bridge three piece
of artillery and one rapid fire Maxim
The important strategic position of
Ealumpit would be untenable until he
was driven off. l was directed by Ma
yor beneral macarthur to do this, my
force to be the goth Kansas and list
Montana volunteer infantry, five guns
5tah light artillery and three machine
gums. 1t was effected in 36 hours as
Follows: I advanced the infantry. in
deployed lines, in the extended order
from the Bagbag to an entrenchad 70
Sition about 600 yards from the Rio
Grande, which position had been aban-
1doned by the enemy, placing the goth
kansas on the left of the railroad ard
the list Montana on the right The
main body now being screened from
Ahe enemy's fire, attachments and
small parties Of skirmishers were ad-
Vanced and seized all sheltered places
near the river and within long rifle
range of the railroad bridge Two
brick and stone buildings near the riv-
er were seized and loop-holed for mus
kerry. The machine guns and part of
the artillery placed in position for fire
upon the enemy's entertainments. The
river was reconnoitered below the rail
road bridge for the purpose of ascer-
raining any place possible to cross. A
constant and continued fire of sharp
shooters was kept up and a slow but
continued fire from the 80 guns du, irg
the 18th. On the night of the 10Th the
railroad bridge was found to be n such
condition that to rush it with man car
rying arms would be impractical Die
"A reconnaissance at night by Colo
mel uHsIoH lhdue IL apparent tnat the
enemy was entrenched in force at ell
points for considerable distance
down the river The morning of the
27th / had a 3.2 gun brought to the
brick house near the bridge and opened
fire at short range upon the enemy's
works. Upon consultation with Colo
mel Funston, a point about 900 yards
below the railroad bridge was selected
as the place that he would endravor
TO cross a part of his regiment The
enemy's entertainments opposite this
point were well screened by bamboo
thickets. but I directed a fire from the
brick house near the bridge to be kept
up from the 80 gun and by two com
panies of infantry. Colonel Funston
also advanced to the river bank strong
parties that kept up fire of great
volume. The effect of the heavy and
continued fire was to drive part ui the
enemy's force from his works and Pri-