Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1900-11-26
HOT FIGHTING.
Captain Casteel has Been in
the Thick of 1t.

Rocky Fortress Taken Last Week.-In
surgents Thought 1t was lmpregna.
ble-Storming Parties Swept Il clear.
Letters OF Commentator Received
by Capt. Casteel.
The following from Manila will be
read with interest here as several OF
the captains mentioned are known in
Morgantown
The fortress Of the insurgent Ger
onimo, at Pinauraa. which the insur-
gents boosted was impregnable, was
taken and destroyed Thursday after
noon by picked force OF the Forty
second aud Twenty infantry
and troop &c" of the Fourth cavalry,
under Colonel Thompson. Geronimo
and most of the Filipinos escaped.
The leader has long harassed the
Twenty seventh infantry, operating
in the vicinity OF San Mateo, Montal-
ban and Novalichess. He was finally
located at Pinauran, 80 miles north
Of Manila. His position was consid-
cred the strongest in LuZon. 1t was
stone fortress surrounding steep
hill surrounded by canyons. The
Spanish forces lost heavily in attempt
ing to take it,
Colonel Thompson mobolized 1000
men at Montalbon The attack was
made upon four sides-the main body
under Major Carey, OF the Ferty-sec-
ond, advancing from the south: Cap
tain Atkinson, OF the Twenty seventh,
from the east; Captain Casteel, of the
Twenty-seyenth, from the west, and
Captain Slorn, of the Twenty-se
from tho north.
The aseents were steep and the men
climbed them by grasping the shrub
berry. It was impossible for the east
ern column to reach she summit, but
the Others arrived after three hours
climbing under fire from the fortress
and the hillside intrenchments. The
enemy's force, numbering several
hundred. fed before the attackers
reached the top. The Americans de-
stroyed 1000 insurgent uniforms,
scores of buildings aud large quanti-
ties OF supplies and seized barrel full
of documents. Private Hart, Of the
Twenty seventh, and Private Kopp-
ner, Of the Forty-second, aud two ma
tive scouts were killed and II of the
attacking force were wounded. The
insurgent casualties could not be as
certained.
This is not the first time that Cap
tain Casteel has had fight with Ger
onimo. Last fall he had a hot fight
with him and with couple of COM
panies defeated the insurgents who
had thirteen hundred men. The fight
was one of the most important that
had taken place on the island and the
Captain Is receiving Communications
from everyone over the showing that
he made at that time. These two
letters are samples Of what his super
iors are saying Of him:
HORNS DIST.
DEPT. OF NORTH LUZoN.
Ell DEPosTTo, p. I. Sept. 26, 1900.
The Commanding Officer, 97 I,Jt. US.H
San MdteO, p. l.
SIR:-The result of the encounter
between Capt d. T. e. Casteel's de-
tachment consisting OF Cos. A and l.,
and detachments OF Co.'S. q, D, and /,
9th Init. u. S. ", and the insurgent
forces under General Licerio Geroni-
mo, near Novaiches, on the 18th inst.
is very gratifying.
The manner in which this attack
was conducted by the American for
ces, resulted in defeating, scattering
and putting to flight, a force estima-
ted at 1900 men, bespeaks training
and judgment on the part of the Off
GERS and discipline on the part OF the
enlisted men. 1t is hoped that the
blow dealt to this strong force OF in
surrectos will be lasting in its effect
In recognition Of the valuable SER
vices performed, the District Comd'r.
is DESTROYS of your conveying his con-
CALCULATIONS to Capt. d. II. E. Cas-
teel and to the following officers who
participated in the attack: Capts AL
bert b. Sloan and Julien J. Guajot,
lst. 1t. and Bat. Adjt. Albert u.
Faulkner lst. Lit Robert Il. Knox,
End. Lit. Jas. G. Taylor.
Very respectfully,
JOSEPH II. MCANDREws.
1st. 1t. and Bat. Adjt.
And INIT. U. S. ".