The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-05-03
A HOT SkIRNIS
insurgents in Large Force on the
Banks Of the BagDaY.
THEY DlsPUTEoUR PASSAGE
Several Americans Killed and
Wounded Before the F!lipi.
nos Retreat. They are
Well Drilled.
Well Drilled.


MacArthur'S division fought is way to
the Filipino trenches before Caiumplt
wednesday, advancing four miles, most
y through woods aud jungle and cross
ing the Bagbay river. This was accom-
plished at cost to the Americans OF
six killed and twenty eight wounced,
the First South Dakota regiment being
the heaviest loser.
After fo,diug the river the South Da,
kotaDs pursued Ii. insurgents to the
outskirts Of Calumpit, but the town was
fouzd so strongly protected that Gen
MacArthur deemed it best to wlthcra"
the tired fighters aud to 60 into camp
for nights rest before making tEe ma
assault. The largest bGii0lngs IN Cal
umpit were being ired bv the tlilplEoS
while the Americaas We're crossing me
river fully mile away, Indicating the
enemy's intention to abandon the place;
The Insurgents seeaI to have adopted
a settled policy of retirita from one po-
sition to another after infic;lpg t&e
greatest possible DAMAGE upca the al
vancing army. Their forces iocsy were
well drilled. Every foot Of the ground
was teuaciousIy disputed by thorough
ly organized troops who stood iemarka-
bly, firm even before artillery. The en-
emy had planned 10 wreck our artillery
Scansport train. This attempt was
failure, but span of the iron railway
bridge over the liver was DESTROYED.
hampering the An erican transportation
for some time. The Fllipinos cut the
girders, intending to have the structure
fall with the train, but it collapsed pre-
maturely Of It's own weight.
The Bagbay river which is about
hundred yards wide at that point: was
splendjdly fortified. and the Americans
were compelled to approach across az
open space from which the rebels had
cleared every obstruction to sight. ihe
bank Of the river, high bluff, was
surnounted with trenches, capped with
rocks, loopholed and partly hidden BY
bushes. Gen. Wheaton,s brigade ap
preached the river along the railroad,
leaving camp beyond Nalolos City.
Gen. Hale's which started yesterday
was earlier on the march, and sweeping
westward toward the railroad. The ar,
mored train was being pushed by Chi,
namen, the Tvcntieth Kansas regiment
ADVANCING in extended order on the LEFT
and the First Montana regiment, with
the Utah ight artillery on the right.
The rap.a iriog guns Of the train
''opened the ball al ll:30 a. NJ, about
mile from the river. their popping al
ternatiDg continuously with the ooom
Of the six FOUNDERS. The Montana re-
giment and Utah artillery batteries al
the same time entered the Jungle, from
which the insurgents, who we're occupy
ing large, struggling village Of huts.
poured heavy volleys. In the course ot
an hour the Americans had forced :;
passage through the woods to the open
space in front Of the river, and the ar
tillery, Immediately or wheeling lite
the open, began shelllng the Filipino
trenches.
In the meantime, Co. X, Twentieth
Kansas, led by Capt. Boltwood, per
formed one of the mcst brilliant
achievements Of the campaign: The
regiment was being held in reserve aGd
Co. X charged distance Of a quarter
of mile over cornfeld to the bank Cl
the river, near the bridge, where the
insurgents from trench were pepper
ing the armored train, then about two
hundred yards down the track. The
company found shelter in ditch. Col
Frederick Funston called for volunteers
to cross the river and the colonel him
self, Lieut., Ball. private Ct 20. X
g private of Co. E, Trumpeter Barsleit
and Corporal Ferguson OF 90. |, crawl
ed along the iron girders.
While this was goirg on the men o
Co. & from the ditch we're faslllacln!
the trenches in ,he eudeavor to dlvc'
attention, but the Fiiipinos got th'
range from trench down the rive
and their bullets soca Spatter-d tn
water under the structure. Havin'
reached the broken spau, the snail ou
valorous party OF Americans llG dow
the caisson, avam few yards to Ia
shore and c.awled up the bank, the TX
tie colonel Leading the way 70 tn
trenches, revolver ia hand, wal!e III
few remaining Fllipinos hol;ed.
Col. Funston said at,ec&ard i
wasn't much to do. We knew the
could not shoot straight and that on
bows would a.,end TO them while "
were crossing. Gen. Hales troops, o
the right, had the hardest 1ghuus
They followed the north bank cf III
river nearest the town. from the east
with he First Nebraska regiment o
the left and the First South Dako1
and the Fifty-f Iowa beyond.
The country traverse6 was most!
iungle but the Fllipinos stood the1
ground even in the open spaces.
Gen. Hale's right joined Gen. " be:
tons left soon after neon, a curve
the river enabling the Americans
pour an enfladiug fire into the enemy
trenches. About this time the cheer
Of the Kansas troops announced thS
the Americans had crossed the rive
Gen. Hale's men began to ford the Oh
co, a branch Of the Bagbay, sttetchin
to the northeast The general himse
plunged in up to his neck, aud the r
rimants' all carrying flags, Houndere
across the streams. The guns Of II
Utah light artillery were dragged ov'
next and formed into an extended I'm
to advance upon the trenches beto
Calumpit, from which lhe fihpin
were pouring continuous voIIe1s. y,
The armored car had one man Alll'
and two wounded The Kansas re;
men. had three wounded during Il
oLa-ro, ,G rho Ttah light artillery OF