Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-14
HAND TOfHAND.
A Lively Engagement
South of Las Pinas.
Americans Flanked and Cut
Way Through Rebel Lines.
Gen. Lawton SEXES Rifle and
Rallies Retreating Troops.
Lieut.. Donovan, Whose Leg Is Broken,
Calamity Heads a Charge.
Fierce Fighting and NumberIess He
roic Deeds Throughout Day.
Fierce Fighting and NumberIess He
roic Deeds Throughout Day.
Strong Reinforcements Garry Day for
Americans--Loss, About 60.

Manila. June 13.-605 p. M.-Gencral
LaWton Unexpectedly stirred up one Of
! the llVelieSt engagements of the war
south of Las Pinas. this morning. on
! which occasion American field guns
| were engaged in the first artillery duel
against a Filipino battery concealed
in the jungles. Companies F and I of
the 21st Infantry were nearly surround
| ed by a large body of insurgents. but
! the Americans cut their way out With
! heavy loss
| The United States turret ship Mo-
nadnock and the gunboats Helena ana
Ialiro, trained their batteries on Ia
koor ana the rebel trenches near Las
Pinas, all the morning. Bakoor was at
once on fire but the natives stopped the
| spread Of the flames.
During the night an insurgcnt can
non was fired three times at the Amer
! leans on the outskirts Of Las Pinas.
General Lawton. this morning. took
| 4 battalion Of the 14th Regiment anI
| two companies Of the 21st Regiment to
locate the rebel battery ana then tNo
guns Of the 9th Artillery and four noun
tain guns We're planted against it ~.
600 yards distance. The rebels had a
large gun from which they were firing
| homemade canister loaded with nails.
ana two smaller guns. Their shooting
was most accurate.
Tho first lot of canister burst direct
| ~ in front of SCOTS guns and another
shattered the legs of private in the
14th Infantry, Several shots struck
the edge Of the town. The country ira
Verse6 was as bad as it is possible to
imagine being mainly lagO1rs, mud
and water, fringed with bamboos
As soon as the fighting opened the
Americans We're attacked by hidden
ritlemen on all sides. even the amigos
or "frpndly'' natives, in the houses Of
the town, shooting into their rear. The
companies Of the 2lst Regiment Skin
mishing along the beach. with Amigo
guides found apparently 4 handful Of
rebels. who retreated. The men Of the
21st followed and. suddenly. the rebels
opened q terrific fire on the troops from
the sides ana rear. The soldiers with
drew to the waters edge, finding what
shelter they could and We're rapidly
picked off
After their ammunition was
nearly exhausted. the companies Of the
2lst retreated. but Gen. LaWtOn rushed
down ana rallied the men. A little
group made a desperate stand. General
LaWton. Major Sarr ana Lieuts. Dono-
van and Connolly taking rifles from the
wounded men and firing at the enemy.
the general bringing down some of the
rebel sharpshOOters from a tree. Finally
their cartridges were all gone and they
We're forced to break through the enc
my's flank. carrying the wounded to the
main body of the troops.
Lieut. Donovan, whose leg was |
broken, foUndered for a while through |
a bog leading his men in the face Of a
greatly superior force.
General Lawton ceased fighting until |
reinfOrcements could be brought up. |
Two battaliOns of the 18th Regiment |
and one battalion Of the 9th Regiment !
were hurried to the front and the bat |
tie was resumed. The MonadnOck an
Ch0red close to the shore and her heavy /
guns pounded the rebels continuously /
while the smaller warships, steaming
along the shore. poured bullets from
their rapid-tire guns at the enemy
The Filipino force engaged appears
to have been the largest and best or
ganized body Of men which has met
our troops.
The Americans are compelled to adj
vance along narrow roads and over
small bridges commanded by earth
works 10 feet thick.