The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-07-27
FIGHTING DONE BY WHEATON
Three Interesting Reports to the
Mnr Depnrtmcnt.

Three Interesting Reports to the
War Department.
The War Department has made public
three reports by Brig. Gen. Lloyd Wheaton
on the operations OF his brigade in the
Philippine campaign from March u to
May 10. In his report of March Il he
says: Il was assigned to the command OF
the provisional brigade, composed OF the
Twentieth and Twenty second Regiments
United States Infantry; two battalions OF
the First Washington Volunteer Infantry.
seven companies of the Second Oregon
Volunteer Infantry, platoon of the Sixth
United States Artillery and squadron OF
three troops Fourth United States Cav
airy. My instructions were to clear the
enemy from the country to Pasig and to
strike him wherever found. The brigade
was formed on the night of the 18th
instant. and biyouacked in line rear of
the entrenched position extending from
San Pedro. Macati, on the Pasig. one nile
and half in the direction of Passay. from
right to left Soon after daylight on the
morning of March 10 the brigade moved,
under my Instructions. When the cavalry
and Twenty-second United States infan-
try had advanced one and one half miles the
line wheeled to the left and marched to-
ward the river road along the Pasis. the
whole line moved on and occupied the
Pasig road, and then, marching east along
the road, soon came under fire Of the
enemy from his entrenched position at
Pasig. on the north side of the river. The
gunboat Laguna de Bay, under command
of Captain Grant came up and night Closed
with the enemy driven to the north side
of the Pasig. March II EXTENDED my line
to the south and west of Pateros and
reconnoitred the country to the west and
south. The cavalry engaged the enemy
in force in the direction of Taguig and
drove him beyond that place. The town
of Pateros took fire and burned. March
10 the battalion of the Twentieth United
States Infantry carried the city by storm
Crossed a part of the Second Oregon Vol
unteer Infantry below Pasig and when the
rebels fell from Pasig they were exposed
to n heavy flank fire from this detachment.
Sent the whole of the Twentieth United
States Infantry over to Pasig, the regiment
being taken across upon the steam launch
Maritime. Advanced the First Washing
ton Volunteer Infantry on my right to
Taguig and captured about 500 prisoners.
| Night came on with the enemy in my
! front and on my right. The enemy lost
at least 1000 men this day.
March 10th, Major William p. Rodgers
commanding Third Battalion. Twentieth
/ Infantry, came upon the enemy entrenchei
| LOCO strcHg. at the village of Cienta. He
carried the entertainments and burned the
I town, the enemy flying in the direction OF
1 Tay Tay. Major Rodgers returned with
! his battalion TO Pasig. In this affair he
lost two killed and fourteen wounded.
"On the 18th instant, returned to the vi
! cinity of Pateros and there bivouacked. re-
l ceiving orders to return the command to
( former encampmsnts near Manila, except
/ in that the First Washington Volunteer
! Infantry was designated to hold Pasig, Pa
teros. Taguig. and adjacent country. This
/ ended the operations of the provisional
/ brigade. In one week all the enemy's pc,
sitions were attacked, taken, and his troops
/ killed, captured, or dispersed. The towns
from where he brought over troops or in
which ne resisted US. burned or destroyed
I he burned them himself. His loss in killed
wounded, and captured was not less than
/ $500 men. | was ably supported and as
7 sisted by the several regimental comman-
ders through the series OF operations
In report dated at San Fernando. May
J TO- General Wheaton describes the capturc
! of the insurgent trenches on the north bank
of the Rio Grande de la Pampanga River
Before this engagement however, he moved
the armored train from MaIolos TO the front
4 and advanced several companies of infan,
try to seize ali places near the river from
which an effective fire might be directed
upon the enemy's entertainments. General
/ Wheaton says:
THE converging fire of the two brigadea
OF the division and artillery now began &c
! shake the enemy. A span of the bridge be-
ing broken. Colonel Funston, Lieutenant
Ball and Sergeants Ensten and Barshfield
swan the river and drove the enemy Out
OF the entertainments near the bridge. Al
the same time Hale's infantry on our right
forded the Caiumpit to our front and right
turned the enemy out of his entertainment!
near the bridge along the Calumpit and
pursued him to the vicinity of the Rio
Grande near the town Of Calumpit, whict
the enemy burned.
April &c the enemy was in force on the
north bank CT the Rio Grande de la Pam
panga, broad and deep river. He wa:
protected by a most elaborate system o
field Notifications, and had near the rail
read bridge three pieces OF artillery ant
one rapid fire Maxim. The important
strategic position of Calumpit would bt
untenable until he was driven off. / wa:
directed by Major General Macarthur Il
do this. II was effected in thiTtys
hours, as follows: / advanced the infantry
to an entrenched position about 500 yard
being screened from the enemy's fire, de
tachments and small parties Of skirmisher
were advanced and seized all sheltere,
places near the river. On the night CT III,
10Th the railroad bridge was found to b
in such condition that to rush it with mel
carrying arms would be impracticable. J
reconnaissance at night by Colonel Fun
ston made it apparent that the enemy wa
entrenched in force at all points for con
siderable distance down the river.
Upon consultation with Colonel Fun
ston. point about 900 yards below tn
railroad bridge was selected as the plac.
that he would endeavor to cross part o
his regiment. The enemy's entertainment
opposite this point were well screened b.
bamboo thickets, but / directed fire from
the brick house near the infantry. Colone
Funston also advanced to the river banl
strong parties that kept up fire of grea
volume. The effect of the heavy and con
tinued fire was to drive part of the enemy