The evening times., 1899-05-06
GENERAL MLLER'S
NARROW ESCAPE
He Was Nearly Captured by
the IloiIo Rebels.
Filipines Showed Courage and Abil.
i.y in the Fight
Tried strataEen to Pefeat the Amer.
They Rroke and Ran.

San Francisco. CAL, May 6.-The first
detailed account Of the battle of IloiIo.
fought after the Americans had captured
the town and intrenched themseivessun the
outskirts, has just reached here.9at, de-
scribes the very narrow escape - Gen.
Marcus p. Miller and his staff fron capture
by Filipinos- % s..i0
All was quiet In Iliolo in the forenoon OF
March 16 There had been talk T an up
rising in the town similar to that in Ma
Mia. when the Tondo district was burned.
,but guards were doubled and the threat
ened rebellion seemed to have been nip
ped in the bud. It was noticed at noon
that natives were leaving the city in con-
siderable numbers. and it was suspected
some treachery was in the wind. 49, :
General Miller and his staff decided soon
after noon to make a survey Of the Ameri-
can lines and outposts. He took with him
a strong escort Of a battalion OF the Eight
eenth Infantry, and moved to position
one mile west of Jaro. Two companies
were depfoyed. and on seeing signs Of
trenches OF the enemy a ffanking party Of
one company was sent out.
While the troops were moving forward
in an apparently deserted locality a COM
pany on the flank suddenly met a terrific
fire from the jungle. This fire. however,
was high and did little execution. Down
went the men Of the Eighteenth. and their
Krags were soon singing death songs to
the foe. Firing was by volleys and had the
effect for a time OF slackening the irsur-
gent fire. In fifteen minutes the whole
battalion was in action. 1t was seen that
the Americans were almost up against
the insurgent trenches and in a poor po-
sition for retreating without loss. They
were confronted by a force that outnum-
bered them three to one.
General Miller and his aides were sup
ported by Company b. of the Eighteenth.
and were being made the centre OF the
rebel fire. General Miller showed the
greatest coolness and isued orders immetIi-
ately for his men to lie down. Two field
pieces of the Sixth Artillery, which were
c0mILs up in the rear. were wheeled ipio
position and began firing on the rebels.
Strange to say the insurgents used black
powder and their position was located.
so tina; the Artillery checked them by sew
eral well directed yolleys.
Seeing that the Americans were weak
numerically the insurgents commenced to
advance They showed courage. and faced
the fire OF our guns bravely. The Eight
eenth fired with telling effect. and literally
raked the jungles with terrible volleys OF
bullets. The battery OF GatiinS guns WIS
moved over a stream on the rebel ilank.
aui rcured in a heavy cross fire. yet the
rebels held their ground. They wee
mcving large body of men to outiiank the
Americans. and the situation became very
critical.
General Miller rushed a courier 10 the
rear for re-enforcements- Several COM
mands hurried to the line. but Battery G.
of The Sixth Artillery, got there FIRST. The
men of this battery went into battle With
a wEoop. after their ;hr,e mile race. and
I,oured a fearful fire on the closing lines OF
insurgents.
A. this time the Calling gun battery lad
actually been moved by tho Americans TO
within 100 yards of the cntrenchme1t BAT
terry G used shrapnel. and fired with such
accuracy that one shot is said to have an
initiated a detachment of rebel sharp
shooters.
At this stage Of the fight the insurgents
tried to play a very clever game. They or
dered a, retreat. and the infantry ran after
them in their eagerness to get shot at
the enemy. Suddenly the Filipinos wheel
ed and charged They reckoned without
their host however for the Americans hred
into them in the most disastrous manner.
and in trice the natives were thrown into
the utmost confusion. They broke for the
brush on every hand, leaving 500 dead and
wounded on the field.