The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1900-01-20
HEROIC WORK Of
MARGINS BATTALION
followed Aguinaldo Through Moun-
tains Which spaniards De-
clared impossible.
FIGHT IN WHICH DEL Pillar FELL.
Detailed Account of the Battle or
December 2, In Which the
Noted Filipino Leader
WIS Killed.

Manila, iJCc. IL, Twin San Francisco,
Cal, Jan. 17.)-The Associated Press
correspondent with March's battalion
pursuing A%guinaldo through the
mountains which Spanishssoldiers and
writer's have said We're impossible to.
white men, sends from Bontoc the fol-
lowing account Of the fight of Decem-
Der 2, wherein General Gregorio del
Pillar was killed.
THE entire march of March's bat
talon of the Thirty-third infantry
from Candon 10 Ceryantes has been
n remarkable exploit. With four de-
| pleted companies and Cunningham's
handful of scouts the command lett
Yonng's headquarters at Candon on
the afternoon of November 80, March
having received information on his
journey up the coast which led to the
belief that Aguinaldo had left the
coast road at Candon for the moun-
tains, instend of going further north
as had been supposed. This informa-
lion was confirmed by General Young.
who remained at Candon with one
troop of the Third cavalry, sent two
other troops to occupy Santiago and
then ordered March's battalion into
the mountains after Aguinaldo. The
men had only fourteen rounds of am
munition, 10 rations and had to live
On the country.
THE four companies were command
ed by Captains Jenkinson and Davis
and Lieutenants Toinpkins and White.
After two days hard climbing the
command reached a point two miles
beyond the village of Lingai, where
the fight occurred. There was "a
snalSe-Hke trail leading up the precip-
itous mountain side and half way up
the insurgents had constructed
trenches from which they could pour
n deadly fire down on the troops nd
vancing up the lower reaches of the
trail or in the valley below.
"Cunningham's scouts with Davis
company were in the advance and
were fired upon first. Jenkinson's
company went to their support, and
after exchanging n few shots these
troops waited in the shelter of n hill.
"The enemy continued their fire and
Jcnkinson ordered Il charge around a
bend in the trail. Captain Cunning
ham and Lieutenant McClelland led
the charge. aud as the men rushed
around the bend they came into full
view of the insurgents. 200 Yards
above, who opened n well directed fire
from trenches and from behind rocks
and trees.
Half y dozen of %Jenkinson's men
fell, killed or wounded, within n few
feet of each other, some hit in several
places. Their comrades dragged them
behind n shelter and March, with the
remainder of the battalion coming up,
the troops sought what shelter they
could, while March SEN twelve sharp.
shooters to the top of the knoll on the
opposite side of the valley, overlook.
ing the trenches.
These men made The ascent of tile
knoll under heavy fire. but when they
reached the top their well directed
shots soon had the effect of making
the insurgents careful not to expose
themselves. March then directed
Tompllins to execute n flank move.
ment with his company by climbing
the side of Il Hill 1000 feet high on the
insurgents eft. Tompliins, with Lieu.
tenant TlHc and fifty men, made the
ascent of the hill by dragging them
selves up with the aid of bushes and
punches of grass, and reaching the
rocks above found several insurgents
there, who fred on them, but were
soon put to flight.
"%Tompkins then took "a position
overlooking the entire rebel force and
took them completely by surprise, as
they evidently never supposed that the
Americans could climb the hill and
flank them out of their position. The
company on the Hill and the sharp
shooters on the knoll poured in a muir
| 1cCnnS fro md ut tha ~ <S,oN
March, with three companies, below
charged up the hill, shooting and yell
ing.
The insurgents broke from behind
the rocks and trenches and every other
position and fed OH the trail and into
the thick underbrush, and the fight
was over.
Their forces were not large, prob
ably not over 200, but only twenty-five
passed in retreat over the trail
through Augagui to Cervantes. The
remainder We're killed, wounded OF
escaped into the brush. Pillars body
was found in the road, where his men
had been compelled to abandon it.
THE bodies of six others, including
a lieutenant, were found, but this was
only a small proportion of their loss,
for a number We're seen to fall from
the rscks and mountain side into m
inaccessible abyss below. and bloody
trails led in every direction. showing
where the dead and wounded had been
carried into the brush. The American
loss was two killed and nine wounded.
Part of the battle was fought in the
clouds, as a heavy mist settled over
the mountains, concealing the trail.
The two American dead were buried
where they fell, and the reminder of
the column moved on in search of the
hiding place of the Filipino refugee
president"