Evening star., 1900-03-29
CHARGEDWITH THE BAYONET
GALLANTRY OF AMERICANS UNDER
FIRE AT CALBAYOG.
FfIipinos Driven From Strong Posi-
tiOns by Troops Under Major J. c.
Gilmore, 43d Infantry.

recent report received at the War De-
partment gives an interesting account OF
General Kobbe's exciting expedition to Cal
bayog P. l., a feature of which was the
gallant conduct of Major ]. c. Gilmore. jr..
43d Volunteer Infantry. Major Gilmore Is
the son of General j. c. Gilmore adjutant
general at headquarters of the army, and
is especially we'll known in this city through
his long service as aid-de-camp to Prest-
dent Cleveland and President Mckinley.
He assisted General Wilson and Colonel
Bingham In the management OF the state
and social functions at the Executive Man.
sion until the outbreak of the Spanish war.
since which time he has been constantly
employed in active tieid duty.
Seizure of gnlbayog.
Leaving Sorsogon bay South Luzon.
January 25' says the report, "the 43d In
fantry, accompanied by General Kobbe, ar
rived at CaIbayog just before daybreak ON
the morning Of January 26. The I'd Bat
talon of that regiment. under Major ]. c.
Gilmore. jr., was selected to make the
landing and establish American rule at this
point The transports were accompanied
by the gunboatS Nashville and Helena ana
the Mariveles. The Filipino flags could be
plainly seen from the ships, but the town
looked practically deserted. The boats or
the Nashville and Helena. towed by steam
launches. were used to land Company ID,
commanded by Captain II. M. Dey. and
Company E, commanded by Captain John
s. Fair, also forty-five men Of Company F.,
under Lieutenant Phillips. Captain Deys
company formed a skirmish line and, pre-
ceded by Lieutenant Seaman's scouts
marched through the town, taking possess
sion of the public buildings and hauling
down the rebel flags without opposition.
Major Gilmore at once placed strong
guard over the church and all other public
h,,S1I hoard
vile and Mariveles had stood to their guns.
fondly hoping that resistance would be
made in the town. but the assistance OF
the bluejackets was not required.
Drove Enemy From the Hills.
"As Company E, in column of fours.
marched around the town to the north some
Filipino riflemen were noticed In the hills.
The fact was reported to Major Gilmore.
He Immediately took Captain Fairs COM
pany, numbering eighty-six men. also forty
men of Company F. and started after the
insurgents. The major assumed the COM
mand of the advance guard in person.
While one platoon of Company Z, under
mishes and went up steep hill on the left.
Major Gilmore took the narrow trail to the
right with a squad.
This little party had not advanced fifty
yards when from the thick undergroWtn
ahead a big puff of white smoke burst out
and pieces of scrap iron fell all around
them. The discharge of the cannon was
followed by a sharp rattle of small arms.
The majors little party fired a few shots
and then drove the enemy from their first
position The enemy had given up the hill
on the left with three pieces of artillery
without firing shot. and the rest or Com
pany e hurried on to catch up with the ad-
vance party. The company moved along
the crest of the second ridge about hum
dred yards, when there suddenly burst out
along the crest of a parallel ridge $50 yards
away very pretty volley from the Rem
ingtons Of the enemy. Major Gilmore for
bade the return of the fire until he could
get the detachment well along on the ridge
opposite the enemy's position. After send
ing two parties, one under Captain Gulich
of General kobbe's staff. and another un-
der Lieutenant Seaman, to get on the right
flank of the enemy, he ordered Captain
Fair to begin firing.
Took the Position With a Bayonet.
When the order was given to charge, fix
ing bayonets the little detachment dashed
out into the open with yell, and there was
an instantaneous cessation of all firing from
the rebel position. When the troops entered
the enemy's trenches they found two dead
Filipinos and two cannOns. The soldiers
pushed ahead again with small advance
party under Major Gilmore. The major
had set his officers and men noble exam
pie of coolness under fire. He took charge
of the advance again. and after moving on
almost half mile, struck the enemy in
very strong position The major ordered
charge without firing shot. and when less
than hundred yards from the intrench-
ments the Filipinos discharged a cannon
loaded with slugs at the advancing line.
The line of blue shirts knelt. and pouring
in a hot fire for few seconds. charged the
enemy again, capturing the cannon and
driving the insurgents into the distance.
The major here ordered Company E to
return to Calbayog with the captured can
non. and pushed after the enemy with a
detachment of Company F, under Lieuten-
ant Phillips and Lieutenant Sterret The
fight seemed to have been knocked out of
the Fiipinos and as no further resistance
could be met with in any quarter the troops
returned to town.
In all thirteen pieces of artillery were
captured Private James Robertson of
Company f, was left alone in charge of two
of the captured cannon, and shot two in
surgents who tried to recapture them