The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-16
ever our men could get cover they turned

and fired"
The British story, briefly told by Lieut..
=. h Cave in an inclosed report made to
captain stuart, OF III. Nj. :. Touranga, con-
tains no information beyond that set out in
the report of the American officers. He
does not say that the ''friendlies,'' boiling
through the British and American lines,
man ordered the uP Petreat alter the engage
ment had been in progress some little time
because the men were running short of
ammunition and darkness was approaching.
He declares "All ranks behaved ~splendidly.'
First Lieutenant Perkins, United States
Marine Corps; in describing the fight; says
left and rear, and, when the retreat was
ordered. fired boldly. The marines were
manded by a bluff. from which the enemy
fired continuously upon them. Says he:
Had we been a few minutes later i'm cross
would lay been cut off and killed TO a
man. He commends the conduct Of the
uiarIy mmentiioniing ser9eeants Michael Nc
Nally and Bruno Forester, the latter hold
ing the stand at the fence till surrounded,
sea. volunteering TO lead the friendly ma
tives into the bush TO protect the flank The
gallantry of Private Henry L. Hubert, who
and was with Lansdale and Monaghan when
they were killed, is especially mentioned.
Passed 'a Asr fspont 81 sur lre seT Ionr Is W maae u ss
with the expedition, and details closely ev-
cry movement. He says the greatest eau
passing through the ravine and along the
crossroads where the affair occurred. Both
sides OK the road were lined with a heavy
barbed wire fence. which was broken down.
The situation was a most unfavorable one
for the expedition. as the hostiles were
posted on the crest OF the bluff so well en-
trenched that they could not be seen. and
their presence was only nae known By
their firing. The Americans and British, at
the first fire, advanced along the road a
little, then dropped into the ditch at the
roadside and returned several volleys. The
Surgeon Long. probably helped to bring on
the disaster that followed. The hostiles
were closing around the eastern end of the
line. but they could not be charged because
Of the barbed wire fence, so a retreat was
ordered. which encouraged the enemy to in
crease their fire. The retreat was orderly
Cave and Lieutenant Perkins, but, says
Surgeon Long, in a few minutes everybody
remaining on the high ground came through
the second wire In a confused retreat, fioun-
dering, staggering and falling in the deep
mud among the trees. The enemy followed
persistently and poured I'm a terrific fire. In
this hollow Lansdale. Monaghan and Edsall
received their death wounds, Monaghan
losing his life in a heroic effort to save his
shipmate. Lansdale. Reaching the beach,
Lieutenant Perkins gathered his few ma
rlnes with the British marines. while the
surgeon assumed of the blue
jackets h had been landed by Lansdale.
and also rallied some marines and sailors
who were without an officer. Surgeon Long
command would have been killed had they
not retreated when they did. Considering
the odds they had to contend against. the
enemy being about 800 strong. the men be-
haved remarkably well. The enemy he
headed the officers killed and in the case of
enlisted men cut of the right ears of the
British and both ears of the Americans.
Lieutenant Freeman also had his ears
cut OF.