Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-06-15
FIERCE
BATTLE
Gen. Lawton Stirs Up
Liveliest Engagement
of the War.
Rebels Hem In Two Conn
panies of American
Soldiers.
Terrible Slaughter on Both
Sides---Remarkable
Bravery Shown.


Gen. l.awton unexpectedly stirred ny
one OF the livelicst engagements OF the
war, south OF Las Pinas Tuesday morn
ing upon which occasion the American
field guns engaged in their first artil-
lery duel against a Filipino battery
concealed in a jungle Companies +
and |, list infantry. were surrounded
by large body Of insurgents but the
Americans cut their way ont With 4
heavy loss The monitor Monadnock
and the gunboats Helena and Hahro
trained their batteries on Bacoor aud
the rebel trenches near Las Pmas all
the morning Racoor was ouco on fire
but the natives stopped the spread Of
the flames.
During the night the insurgent can
non fired three times at the Americans
on the outskirts of Las pinas. Law
ton In the morning took battalion of
the 1ith and two companies of the
21st to locate the rebel battery. They
took two guns and planted them
against the rebel guns at GOO yards dis
tance. The rebels had Il large gun
from which they were firing home
made canister loaded with nails. and
most accurate. The first lot of canis-
ter burst directly in front of SCOTS
guns; another shattered the legs OF a
private in the 18th infantry, Several
shots struck the edge OF the town.
The country traverSed was as bad as II
is possible to imagine, being mainly
lagoons mud and water, fringed with
bamboos. As soon as the fighting
opened the Americans were attacked
by hidden rilemen on all sides, even
the Amigos or "frendcss" In the
houses Of the town shooting into their
rear.
The companies OF the 2lst, skirmish-
ing along the beach, with Amigo
guides, found, apparently, n handful of
rebels, who retreated. The men OF
the 2lst followed. Suddenly the rebels
opened a terrific fire on the troops
from the sides and rear. rhe soldiers
n
what shelter they could and were
picked off rapidly After their ammu-
milton was nearly exhausted, the com
panies of the DIST retreatod, but Gen.
Lawton dashed down and rallied them.
The little group made a desperate
stand, Gen. Lawton, Maj. Starr and
Lieuts Donovan and Sonnelly taking
rifles from wounded men and firing n
the enemy. bringing down some of the
rebel sharpshooters from the
trees. Finally their cartridges were
all gone and they were forced
to break through the enemy's
flank, carrying the wounded to the
main body OF the troops. Lieut..
Donovan, whose leg was broken.
noundered for mile through the bog
after leading his men In the face OF
A greatly superior force. Gen Law
ton ceased fighting until reinforce
ments could be brought up. Two bat
talions of the 1ith and one battalion
of the 9Th hurried to the front, and In
the afternoon the battle was resumed
The Monadnock anchored close to
shore and her heavy guns pounded the
rebels continuously, while the smaller
warships, steaming along the shore,
poured bullets from rapid fire guns at
gagged appears to have been the largest
and best organized body which has
met our troops.
The Americans were compelled to
advance along narrow roads and over
small bridges commanded by earth
works 10 feet thick. The only means
Of crossing the Zapole was by small
bridge, which the Filipinos commanded
with trenches spreading V-shapei
whence they could concentrate their
fire on the bridge. They also had the
advantage OF the trees and jungle, so
the Americans could hardly see ahead.
When the battle was resumed at one
O'Clock, our battery having silenced the
cnemy's guns, the Americans wading
waist deep in the mud OF the Salt fats
slowly and pouring steady volleys Of
HIhEttiy a. tHS IEp-Iht dIDNS tHNlh
beyond the river. Then the two ar
mics lay facing each other across the
deep stream, the enemy being practi
caliy out Of sight, while the men In
blue and kahaki lay In the main
bushes, many OF them without shelter,
for three hours, without moments
cessation In firing, pouring bullets at
the enemy as fast as they could load.
The thousands Of rifles blended into
continuous roar vastly different from
the intermittent gkirmish-like rattle
Of most engagements. One battalion
after another. Gen. Lawton summoned