The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1899-04-12

Twentieth Kansas infantry, under tbs
veteran Captain Elliott. was ordered tc
the support Of che First Montana. Al
three regiments went forward at abou
the same time, sweeping the ground
driving the insurgents from their cover
and killing number Of them. Thess
movements resulted 10 establishing the
line on better ground. Major Kobbe dis.
covered a continuous firing line OF In.
surgents posted among the bushes and
along the walls Of the chinese church
on his flank Major K0bbe ordered vol.
ley airing TO begin from two Of his bat
teries driving back the enemy in con-
siderable numbers.
THE forward movement was continued
as far as the stone block house, which
was taken by company @. OF the Twen-
| tIeth Kansas which company is highly
praised by its then immediate COM
mander Major Robbe. On the action Of
February 70. the Third artillery advanced.
depioying on the ground in front Of It's
original position By opening fire by COM
mand only. On the right cleared a ra-
vine on which Il haa previously rested.
almost AZ right angles 10 Major Kobbe's
right front. whose tanks then practically
rested In the air"
THE Montana men were firing as they
advanced on the insurgent entrench-
ments and by 50 doing rendered timely
aid TO the forward movement Of the
Third artillery.
ION receip, Of the Information that
his outposts had been STACKED and had
fallen back 20 ST. Llzare cemetery
Colonel Kessler, Of the First Montana
proceeded TO reinforce the same with
TWO companies Firing was kept up
throughout the night. bur with small
effect. and on the following morning
detachment made an advance from 81.
Lizare cemetery. fired the houses on its
immediate front and retired to the cem-
etery. Subsequently a de achment Of the
regiment In conjunction with the Tenth
Pennsylvania captured The Chinese hos
pltal. The First Montana also partiri-
pated IN the movement. which suited
in the capture OF the Chinese cemetery
and also In the general advance Of the
brigade upon CaiOcan February 10.
The outposts OF the Twentieth Kan
sas, located near the tramway station
on the Calocan road was fred upon by
insurgent patrol about 10 o'clock D. m.
February t. An alarm instantly put the
entire regiment under arms IN its bar
racks In the city. one battalion was held
In quarters and two under Colonel Fun
sion marched to the support OF the out
posts line, which by that time was
sharply engaged. They were Joined by
a detachment from the Utah battery
The enemy's fire. which was concealed
came from the woods about 80 yards IN
front The fire was returned by occa-
sional volleys. The next day Colonel
Funston advanced his line without diff
Guilty. the two field pieces opening fire
on the insurgent barricades and the
trenches, distant only about 800 yards,
This fire became so CALLING that the
commander Of the regiment deemed an
advance Imperative and led seven COM
panies on a charge up the road and
through the gardens and bamboo thickets
thanking Il and advancing directly upon
the enemy's strong positions. The charge
was gahantly made. the men firing as
they advanced. The Insurgents stood
until the Kansas line had come within
90 or 20 yards OF them. when they gave
way.
'"The viotors occupied both barrie AIDES
and were preparing to assault the small
blockhouses, when the regiment was re-
called by the division commander. The
combat resulted In small loss to the
regiment and much more serious NOR
tality to the enemy. The next day the
regiments advanced 10 the barricades
which had been taken the previous even
ing and occupied them. On the afternoon
OF the 9Th the regiment had another
brush with the enemy. which had become
bold and aggressive. One OF the COM
panies, having become involved with
the enemy in the timber in front OF the
regimental lire, It became necessary to
dislodge the enemy. Permission 10 do
this was given to Colonel Funston by
the brigade commander. He promptly !
lth AAAANN NNihiAAlNo " Nit SuHtOlk tA
the men engaged in the wood, attacked
the insurgents position and carried it a |
the point Of the bayonet. The combat
lasted less than than half an hour, but
was exceedingly sharp. One officer.
Lieutenant Afford. was killed outright /,
and six enlisted men wounded in this en-
gagement, and q insurgents were found
dead.
"The companies then fell back TO the
intrenched line. On the 10th, in conjunc-
ton with the First Montana and Third
artillery, the regiment advanced on the
town OF Calocan. The advance Of the
Twentieth Kansas holding the left OF
the brigade line. was made through dense
woods and In the face of hot. though
badly directed fire. On this day the
regiment lost two enlisted men killed
and one officer and eight enlisted men
wounded, but did not stop its advance
until 1t had passed through and some
distance beyond Calocan, where 1t was
halted and a new hne made.
Colonel Funston bears testimony to
the good conduct of his officers and men
generally, especially singing out Major
Metcalf, who was his strong hand dur
ing all the operations.
1.-Two battalions of the First Idaho
infantry, under Major Higgins, also
rendered efficient services in the advance
upon Calocan. During the open fighting
on the 10th and nth, Captain Thomas
Hamer was wounded. The battallons OF
the First Idaho having rendered willing,
gallant and arduous service to the first
brigade, was relieved on February T and
returned to Manila"
General OTIS says that this concludes
the report Of the infantry troops en-
gagged. The services of the divisional
artillery which co-operated with his
brigade in the various operations, is ae-
knowledged by General Otis.
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