The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-29

Gen. A W. Greedy. CHIEF Signal Officer
Of the Army. has received a report from
Colonel Allen at Manila. which discloses
the movements and fortunes Of Aguinaldo
in the closing months Of 1899. Il consists
of a report of Corporal John D. salisbury,
Signal Corps. United States Army, who
was for nearly three months a prisoner.
The reliability Of Corporal Saulsburys
report has been confirmed by corrobora-
tive information from many different
sources. The report follows:
Having been released from captivity,
I wish to make the following report Of
facts concerning my capture and release.
Having no memoranda, certain dates given
may be incorrect.
4 left Manila October Il with a sig
nal corps party under command Of Captain
Russell. proceeding by way Of san Fernan-
do de Pampanga. Mexico and Santa Anna,
arriving al Arayat about noon October Is.
l learned that our forces were then fight
ing near Cabiao and in order to obtain II
possible pictures Of this work ] had per
mission from Captain Russell to push on
with d troop Of the Third Cavalry which
WAS then leaving Arayat. We reached
Cabiao at about o'clock and camped for
the night. I was Joined here by my as
sistant. L. 5. Smith, who had been with
loves scouts.
Next morning. October 70. we Joined
the advance upon San Isidro. The day be
ing rainy our work was very difficult and
finally our material became so saturated
as to render further progress impossible.
As there were no signs Of insurgents In
that vicinity Everything being ahead Of
our lineD We took refuge In a native hut
which stood close 70 the road, intending to
Slry our material and II possible wait IN
til the weather cleared. As troops had
just passed over this road and supply
trains and hospital carts with guards were
passing from time to time this was Consid-
cred safe. However, about an hour later
we were fred upon by party Of insur-
gents at such short range as to make il
impossible for two men armed only with
revolvers TO do other than retreat.
The Retreat TO san IsidrO.
'Our property being spread out to dry
we were unable to collect ali of it in our
packs, but left il there. hoping to be able
TO return later and reclaim it, Keeping
under cover as much as possible we man
aged to reach San lsidro (which had then
been taken) in safety. As soon as more /
troops reached san Isidro I endeavored TO /
learn Of them il they had seen our prop 1
erty and if there we're still any natives in /
the viciaity. As several guards Of tha
Thirty Infantry supply train and 4
several men Of the Fourth Cavalry. but OF (
what troop ! am unable to recalD had seen
the property and reported that IL was still |
there. but bad seen no natives I started
back to recover it if possible when with
in about 100 yards Of the hut ! was again
fired upon and my horse killed. I then
returned to San Isidro. where ] camped
with the Thirty seventh Infantry.
In the morning l started again with nv
assistant. resolved to regain our outfit or
If that was impossible to return 10 Araya-
and report to Captain Russell. When We
reached the hut (Which We did in safety |
we found that the property had been re-
moved so We hurried on. passing Cabiao
about noon. All went well until we reach
ed a small bario. about half way between
Csbiao and Arayst. where We We're at
tackled by a large body of FiliDinos. who
drove us OF the road toward the river
At the river, however. We met two
gun boats towing cascOes. in one OF which
l saw General Lawton. who. upon my re
porting to him the attack We had re-
ceived. told US that from there to Arayat
either the road or the river was clear and
that l could proceed by either route A.
he had just come up the river 7 took that
!
small banca started down the river At
the mouth OF the Rio Chico We were sud
denly fired upon by party OF about sixty
insurgents, who were in concealed trenches
at that point several balls entering the
banca and many more struck the water
close by. but fortunately neither my COM
psnion nor myself was hurt
Captured by Rebels.
In the excitement OF the moment the
bsnca was overturned and We took refuge
behind it. firing with our reyolvers when
ever we could see any Of the enemy. On
account OF the bullet holes Ia the banca il
soon sank so low as to no longer afford pro
lection 50 removing shoes, leggins, and
coat. / sank my revolver, and taking one
OF the bamboo poles from the side OF the
boat. swan down stream keeping under I
water as much as possible. A few min
utes later a ball struck in the water. lust I
grazing my head. and ] was stunned when
the natives pulled me from the water 10
the bank, where Smith had gone some time
previous
We were taken before Lieutenant Tex
oil. who was iu command of the battalion
located there, and by him sent 10 Tarlac
going by Magaleng and Bambsn. At Tarlac
We were interviewed by Colonel Leba, who
was English interpreter for AguinaldO and
sbnfned in the rear Of the Office lf B-iga-
}ier General Macabulos. who was Seere-
iary Of War. We arrived al Tarlag Oc- d
tober %. Next day Smith with several
ot her prisoners who were then In TarIac. .
was sent &c Victoria. when we were cap
.ured l was suffering from dysentery md.
owing 10 the exposure, had grown rapidly
worse and was unable 10 BE- moved.
finally became so sick that it WAS evident
hat unless 7 obtained medicine would
certainly die.
I endeavored in many ways TO secure
ms return TO Manila for treatment. even
lgreeiug 10 sign an agreement sirIlIaf 10 ,
tR1 signed by the prisoners Nh0 bad for
merly been released. knowing thai b would
not be binding just al this tim, a Srau- .
lard, who also a prisoner. o5ta'a,d
,ome raw opium for me. and vita this and
Nith the diet Of rice which I was given.
began to get better rapidly and October q
,g was sent to san Carlos where NOvem-
Der J. there were assembled as prisoners
wenty-four American soldiers. three de-
'erters. one American and one Eu-li
.ivilian.
While I was in Tarlac, a Sparnri
.hoWed me papers which showed tua- oUa 0
William Miller an American soldier who !
rad been a prisoner and had been released. ,
vas giving information 10 and acting ss %
agent for the insurgents In Manila. d
mention this that ID may De- Investigated. s
"a san Carlos we were separated into par =
les Of four and sent 10 different towns / {
Ny assistant who had Joined me there. GO D
Eg With myself and two others 10 Assugan .
"a The province Of Paugasiuau We were Z
uartered here from November g 10 No
ember 10. on which latter date seys
having been received that the American
.ayalry. which was much feared. was an Y