The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-08-23
THE CAREER OF REILLY
Record of the Gallant Artillerist
Who Fell at Pekin.
Conspicuous for Ability and Bravery
since Entering the Service mt the
outbreak of the Civil wnr-Espe-
ciaiiy Commended for GniIantry
In Action in the Philippines.

Capt. Henry ]. Reilly. who was killed on
the entry of the allies into Pekin on the
18th. was one of the most popular officers
OF the army. From the time ho entered
the volunteer service at the outbreak OF
the civil war as private he made himself
conspicuous for ability and ga,lantry. He
had been in the Fifth Artillery every
since he entered the service, serving with
Dupont's famous battery during the civil
war. His services as quartermaster at
Governors Island, New York Harbor, under
General Hancock will always be remem-
bered on account of the improvements
which he had adopted.
He had been in personal command of
Battery for the past six years. and dur
ing that time has received special COM
| mendation In official reports for his con-
duct in battle in the Philippines.
Captain Reilly arrived with his battery
in Manila April z5. 1893. and from that
| time until his departure for China, the
battery saw active service its record
showing nineteen engagements. Captain
Reilly had a narrow escape from being
killed last October in battle on the linus
River Road where Captain Eldridge. of
the Fourteenth Infantry, received his fatal
wound Captain Reilly was conyersing
with Captain Eldridge just ten seconds
before the latter was wounded. As Cap
tain Reilly stepped away from the spot
where they were talking Captain Eid.idge
moved forward to the position just vacated
by Captain Reilly and received his death
wound
Battery F, Fifth Artillery, differed by
Capt. Henry J. Reilly, commanding. First
Lieut.. o. P. Summerall. First Lieutenant
Bargess. and Second Lieut.. Manus Nc
Closky, formed part of General Miles ex-
petition to Cuba. Having finished a meri-
torious campaign with the second Cuban
expedition. the battery returned to the
United States and went into quarters at
MoEtauk Point, subsequently taking sta
tiop at Fort Hamilton in New York Har-
bor. In March. 1883. the battery took
prominent part in the Madison Square
military tournament.
OF the nineteen engagements in which
Battery F took eonspicuously brave part.
the battle of PutoI Bridge is unquestion-
ably the most famous. 1t was brief and
bloody. The American troops achieved
brilliant victory under very diff cult con
ditions. The engagement was not ardci-
pated by the American force, which was
under the command OF Colonel Biskheimer,
of the Twenty-eighth Volunteer Infantry.
Colonel Birkheimer was out with four
on a reconnaissance. Leaving camp at an
early hour in the morning the presence
of the enemy was not discovered until
Barrio de Batamitan ras reached At the
stone bridge between Batamitan and Putoi
the insurgents had hid themselves in
strong barricade of stone and skillfully
constructed entrenchments. They were
prepared to make a desperate resistance.
When Colonel Birkheimer's detachment
reached a point about 500 yards from the
bridge the rebels began terrible fusillade.
Volley after yolley was fired from the en-
trenchments and the barricade On the
bridge. Captain Reilly made gallant
rush with the 3.5-inch guns up to 300
yards of the insurgent barricade. The
rebels were awe-stricken for the moment
and then retreated in disorder One hun
dred Filipinos were killed and $50 we're
wounded.
Captain Reilly has been especially COM
mended by General Schwan and the late
General Lawttn. Colonel Birlheimer also,
in his official report Of the battle OF Putol
Bridge, particularly commended Captain
Reilly for gallant conduct.