The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-09
THE PU4OL ENGAGEMENT
Fierce Fight of Colonel Bmkheimer
Against the Filipinos.
A Brief But bloody Battle - The
Enemy strongly Epfre ached-The
United states Troops Greatly Out
numbcred-RcbeIs Driven Through
the Woods In Great Confusion.

In a letter recently received By NJ p.
Canty of 5lI Street northeast. from his
son, W. \. CAVITY OF Company b, Twenty
eighth Infantry who is now serving in the
Philippines, is enclosed a clipping from
the Manila American in which is given
an interesting account of the battle at
Putol on January I. The letter says that
conditions in the islands are becoming
more peaceful, with little prospect of a
further outbreak, and that civil govern
ment in the towns is being organized with
satisfactory results.
According TO the account of the battle at
Putol, given in the Manila American,
the victory gained by the Americans there
was at once decisive and far-reaching in
its effects. 1t seems that it was death
blow to insurgent resistance in the Pro-
vince OF Cavite. The article reads as fol-
lows:
THE fight between the Americans and
the insurgents at Putol on January is
one that cannot fail to attract the atten-
ton of the military critic and the histor
ian. In this brief but bloody engagement,
in which brilliant victory was achieved
under very difficult conditions, the con-
spicuous ability Of the commanding officer,
together with the ardor and courage of the
troops engaged, have made an insignificant
Filipino barrio a place of historic inter-
est forevermore 1t was not intended to
have Gght al Putol. Colonel Burkheimer,
with companies a, b, C, and ID, of the
Twenty eighth Infantry, and a section of
Battery f. Of the Fifth Artillery was sent
out toward Novaleta Oh reconnaissance
with instructions to get in contact with
she enemy at long range and to deceive the
insurgents into thinking that the main at
tack was to come from that direction Hav-
ing made the feint Colonel Burkheimer's
orders were to return TO his former en-
campment at Binacayan, but subsequent
events made it necessary that different
course of action should be pursued. The
march commenced at an early hour in the
morning. The column passed through
Cavite de Viejo without meeting any OPP
position. and not until Barrio de Baltima-
tan was reached was the presence of the
enemy discovered.
The Enemy Strongly Eptrenchcd.
"On the road from Batimatan TO Putol
across the sluggish Mndlot River, there
is an old stone bridge that was built by
| the spaniards. At this crossing of the
Mindlot River the insurgents were pre-
pared to offer desperate resistance. The
| bridge were barricaded and on the west
bank of the stream were strong. skillfully
! constructed entertainments. The insur-
gents In this place OF concealment had
! watched the approach Of the Americans.
| So far numbers were concerned the
United States troops were at serious
| disadvantage The insurgents were well
armed and plentifully supplied with am
munition. Moreover, they were confident
! of defeating the Americans if battle
should occur. They seemed more hopeful
and more defiant than they had been at
any time since the battles around Manila
which followed the outbreak of the war.
! When Colonel Burkhelmer's advance
was within 500 yards OF the stone bridge
the rebels opened up fusillade Of rockets.