Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-07-06
GEN. ANDERsoN's REPORT.
Interesting Account of the Opening Of
HostilIties by the FiIipInos and
Events Leading Thereto.

Washington, June 3O.-The report OF
Maj.-Gen. Thomas NJ. Anderson, COM
handing the first division of the
Eighth army corps during the first bat
ties with the insurgents in the Philip
pines, was made public at the war de-
partmert yesterday. 1t is dated Feb
ruary 10, and relates mainly to the
operation of February 5. The report
in part is as follows:
Filipino Intolerance.
"a lire of delimitation had been
agreed upon between the department
commander and the insurgent Filipino
authorities. Finding that we did not
hold our line Of deliInitation, the Fill
pino forces advanced beyond this line,
and began to throw up a formidable
line intrenchnents. They also con-
structed other intrenchments. As the
insurgents saw their formidable works
approaching completion they became
more insolent day by DAY, ana finally
did everything they could in insolence
and insults to provoke us to begin the
conflict. AS they were permitted to
go and come through our lines at will,
they knew just what troops we had,
where they were located, and that we
were making no visible preparations
for defense. It seems proper to make
these statements, in order to Justify
the assertion that no troops ever be-
haved better under intense provocation,
showing excellent discipline and self
control.
The first brigade of this division
was under Brighten. Samuel Oven
shine.
The Americans at Disadvantage.
The only preparations which could
be made for battle, in view OF orders
to stand on the defensiye, were the
assignment of the different organiza-
tiOns to places on the firing line, and
the selections of positions for the ar
tillery. Nothing more apparently 'ould
be done, as our government had to
preserve a waiting policy until the
treaty of peace with Spain was signed:
nevertheless as an attack from the
front might be followed by an up
rising in the city, this pr"crastination
placed the army under great disad-
vantage.
Inc OpeHeu EIres
At 3:45 a. M, on the morning of the
5th, the insurgents opened fire OF.
Blockhcuse No. II with Mauser rifles.
/ had just ridden up to my headquar-
tiers in the city, from which l had tele-
graphic communication with every
part of my command. I first tele-
graPhed corps headquarters for per-
mission to take the offensive when it
became light enough to do so.
WeIl-Laid Plans Delayed.
At seven o'clock I directed Gen.
OveEshine to open artillery fire
BlocEhouse No. IA, and the wood near
by, ana to be prepared to drive the
enemy from the Malate front, and if
they yielded easily, to turn to tie left
with part of his command and sweep
the enemy from his entire front. If
successful, to be ready to reinforce
Kings right, and turn the left OF the
insurgent force operating from Santa
Ana. This project was not carried out
until later in the day, as permission
until eight o'clock.
In the meantime the firing OH Kings
line became heavier as the day adj
vanced.
Permission to Advance.
At last, at eight o'clock, a telegram
came frohI Maj .-Gen. Otis, authorizing
an advance if not made too EAR. l
went at once to Battery Knoll, taking
with me the Wyoming battalion. Find
ing there three companies of Caiifor-
mans, l placed these seven companies
under the command of Col. Smith. of
the First California, and directed him
to deploy and advance in line with the
rest of Kings brigade, substituting
this for the intended cooperation of
Ovenshine. Gen. King was present,
and was ordered to advance as soon as
Smith deployed. These officers re-
ceived this order with delight, and
their troops with enthusiasm.
The Movement Begun.
The movement began at $50 a. m.
with a rush over the creek in our
front; cheer and rafting volleys as
the whole line advanced, not by
rushes, but with rush.
The Insurgents Fall Back.
The insurgent line fell back before
our advance, fighting, however, with
spirit. At the same time. the Califor-
MIA battalion charged and drove the
enemy out of Santa Ana, driving them
from stonewalls and converts, churches
and houses, and fighting their way
through blazing bamboo huts, from
which the natives were firing.
Brighten. Ovenshine, commanding
the second brigade of the North Da-
kota regiment under Lieut.-Col. True
mann, occupying the other Spanish
trenches from Fort Malate, on the
bay, to an almost impossible swamp
which diveded his line into two Sec
tons.
Desperate Fight.
At about one o'clock Ovenshine or
dered an advance. The North Dakotas
drove the enemy from their front.
back to the Carmelite convent. Mai. Pot
ter, with Matiles' battalion. the Four.
tenth infantry, advanced through the
woods. After a desperate fight the
enemy were driven out, but not with
out infiicting serious losses upon us.
Delay Caused by misunderstanding.
Hearing of the successful advance
of the North Dakota, L telegrarhet1
Gen. Ovenshine to carry out the project
/ had arranged with him. and at
tempt to hold up the enemy by a
movement from right to left. AS there
was a long delay in carrying our this
order, / repeated it several times by
telegraph, and aides were sent with
oral orders. 1t was at last found that
he was under false impression that