The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-04
CAPTURE OF O'DONNELL.
Interesting Account Of the Work of
Col. Burt's Black Troops.

BAMBAN. Luzon, Nov. 26, 1S99.-In the
advance from Angeles to Dagupan by our
soldiers during the last two weeks, the
taking of the town of O'Donnell by COL
Burts Twenty-fifth United States Regu-
lar Infantry is worthy Of more than pass
ing mention. O'Donnell lies some six miles
northwest of Bamban and off the railroad
from Manila to Dagupan. Our main adj
vance missed O'Donnell on it's way north
The Twenty-fifth was stationed at Bam-
ban, having arrived there after a hard
march from down the track. They had
missed the fighting and excitement.
On Nov. II Filipino officer came to
the outposts of the Twenty-fifth, and,
throwing his captains shoulder straps on
the ground, said expressively: II don't
want any more"
He was taken to Colonel Burt. well
treated and well fed. 1t was soon learned
that this man had several followers out
in the bush, also anxious to surrender
and only awaiting news of their leaders
reception at our hands before venturing
in themselves.
Go and fetch them.' said Colonel Burt
''Well give each man Sl5 who turns in
rifle"
These men came and their eyes stuck
out with wonder at their good fortune
when the colonel counted out thirty Mex
lean dollars for each good rife surren-
dered.
lover here about six miles is O'Donnell
filled with soldiers and arms" said the
Filipino captain, land If you want TO send
men to surprise and capture the town, I'll
lead them"
ryho tho \,
wanted to do. Preparations were made at
once and on the evening Of the 18th, at Z
o'clock, Companies Il, X and f, under
command of Captain Leonhauser, started
for O'Donnell under the guidance of the
Filipino captain. Lieutenants Martin and
Sharan commanded Company Il. Company
Is was commanded by Lieutenant Bates,
and Captain Albright and Lieutenant Nc
Nally Differed Company T.. Lieut.. Schenck
accompanied the expedition as battalion
adjutant.
In order to surprise the garrison the
Americans course was roundabout and
over the foot hills of the mountains
Through gulleys, ravines and rice fields,
fording rivers, up hills, down in the bril-
liant tropical moonlight that silvered the
sloping hills and gave mystery and charm
to the jungle, the line of men stumbled,
fell, splashed and marched.
AT 4 o'clock i'm the morning the command
sighted Filipino outpost on top of hill,
but it was deserted. Yesterday morning
when I came out" said the Filipino cap
tain, 'the guard at this post tried to stop
me, but 1 was able to bluff my way past
them. Their next outpost is at the edge of
the town.
The column started again. The next Fill
pino outpost was at palm leaf shack
at the edge of the road. Lieutenant Bates
surrounded the house with a detail of
Company X. Inside men could be seen
moving.
1--WE have the town surrounded" said
inf Rnfn ME II inc int
a back window two feet from his head.
IF you surrender quickly we won't hurt
you; If you give an alarm, we'll kill YOU"
This was too tempting a proposition even
to consider. Out of the dark windows the
insurgents passed three rifles and three
bags of cartridges. and even a bowl of
rice Then three abject and frightened
Tagalos came out with humble protesta-
tions of friendship.
AT this moment the yellow, barking,
bowling ours that invest every village on
the island gave the alarm. There was an
immediate move toward the town and
few scattered shots were fired as our
troops entered. We were in the town now
and the colored soldiers showed q grim
and great earnestness in their work of
gathering in prisoners, rifles and bolos.
Strong black arms caught fleeing insur-
gents on the streets and hauled them from
under beds and beneath houses. Native
women screamed in alarm and on their
knees offered money and food to our Amer
lean troops.
At o'clock in the morning the command
started to return. bringing with it the
prisoners. some Dds rifles and nearly 10000
rounds of ammunition, loaded on bull
carts procured in the town. That same
afternoon Company Z. of the Twenty fifth
returned to O'Donnell TO gather i'm sixty
nine more rifles and they destroyed GER
tain insurgent supplies and an outfit for
the reloading of rifle cartridges. The 125
prisoners were fed and then released.