The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-05-12
OPERATIONS IN PHILIPPINES.
Detailed Report From General Wheaton
Of Engagements Fought by
His Command.

WASHINGTON. May 1.-THE war
department has made public report
from Brigadier- General Wheaton. U. S.
A.. concerning the operations Of an ex-
pedition led by him early in January
into the country stretching south from
Manila to Lake Taal
His forces consisting OF the Fourth.
Twenty Eighth. Thirty Eighth. Forty
Fifth and companies d and H Of the
Thirty-seventh infantry and a detach-
ment Of the Third and Fourth artillery.
concentrated at linus, and about one
mile south of that point. On the 7th of
the month the first engagement oc-
CURED, in which Lieutenant Ward
Cheney was mortally wounded while
leading a detachment against the enc
my, 500 strong.
The American loss was two privates
killed and one wounded while the in
surgents lost so killed and wounded.
On this same day Colonel Birkhimer.
with a detachment Of the Twenty
Eighth infantry. and Captain Reilly in
command Of a section of the FIFTH ar
iillery. engaged the enemy at Putol,
where the insurgents were routed with
great slaughter. Our loss was IL men
wounded.
Still another sharp engagement oc-
CURED on the 7th, when Major Tag
CART with the second and third battaI-
ions Of the Twenty Eighth infantry at
tackled force Of insurgents estimated
at 1000 strong near linus, driving them
from the field, killing 60 and wound
ing more than so. Major Taggart had
one man killed and six wounded.
Lake Taal was reached on the 10th.
and several slight skirmishes occurred
on the northern and eastern shores. On
the 18th. Major W. H. Johnston with !
three companies Of the Forty Sixth in |
fantry met the enemy at Lemering, 500 !
strong, with four cannon and drove
them across the river to TaaI. On the I
2Oth. he was reinforced by four COM
panies sent from Batagus by Colonel 1
Thirty Eighth infantry, and !
and carried Taal dispensing /
the insurgents and captured their can
nor. /
Colonel DOrst. with a battalion OF the |
Forty Fifth infantry and squadron of /
the Eleventh cavalry was ordered on
the 24th 20 clear the country around |
Lemery and he was engaged upon that
duty when this report was forwarded.
The whole province Of Cavite, so the
report states. is being thoroughly ira
yersed by various minor expeditions.
All Of the principal towns have been
occupied, in many OF them municipal
governments being established and
great numbers Of insurgents have re-
turned to their homes and gone to work
IN the fields.
In conclusion General Wheaton calls
particular attention 10 the gallant con-
duct Of Lieutenant Ward Cheney, who
lost his life in the charge near linus,
IN the 1th, to the 'skillful as well as
gallant conduct" of Colonel Birkhimer,
twenty Tighth infantry, in combat a.
Putol ana 10 prompt and energetic
ot Colonel George P. Ander-
ioh iiitrty Eighth infantry volunteers,
7'hile under his command.
He also mentions as deserving great
TO the skilful and gallant services
-end-fed by Major Taggart, Twenty
Eighth infantry; Major Johnson, who
ed the attack on the Taal; Major Price,
commanding the Fourth infantry; Cap
ain Rowland, Twenty-eighth infantry,
and First Lieutenant F. NJ. Smith, Of
The Twenty Eighth infantry, who was
acting aide upon the generals staf.