Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-08

we mao 10 cross 10 b&nacayan- II was RAIN
ing, the mud was very deep and the river
was high: there was no bridge and no
ferry. and it was growing dark. We were
expected to be in the town that night We
set to work at once to get the troops across
in few small bancas which happened to
be tied near. search up the stream was
rewarded by finding an old bamboo raft.
This we brought down, and with the aid OF
some boards picked up here and there a
raft was constructed which would hold four
horses and about dozen men for a trip.
Here we worked hard in the rain getting
the troops over. The regiment across the
river. the next problem was the train of
bull carts and wagons. 1t was now quite
dark No sleep was to be had while work
OF this kind confronted US. The bull carts
We're unlOaded and the contents placed in
the bancas- Then We used the bamboo raft
again Two or three carts could be taken
across on it, and the bulls were swum over
behind the bancas. In this way the troops
and supplies were gotten over the river.
Too much credit cannot be given to Lieut..
Bash the coTnmissary officer, for his inces-
SAINT labor in getting supplies across this
river ard up to the troops at every camp
made during the campaign.
That night ! got into the town of Bina-
cayan about IL O'Clock. The town con-
sisted IF about dozen broken-down nipa
hIits in more or less of a state Of tlilapida
ton. After little search l found Col Bis
bee. and turned in with him in a one
room shack. occupied by about dozen
officers.
The next morning. bright and early. we
Were up and ready for the work which we
knew was before us. The troops consisted
of the 18Th Infantry. under Col. Bisbee:
three companies of the 1ith Infantry, I'M
der Capt Frank Taylor; Troop G. 18th Cav
airy. diEmounted under Capt. H. ]. Nc
Grath: company of engineers, under Lieut..
II. W. Sickle: signal corps. under Lieut..
W. l.. Clark. and one mounted troop, I'd
Cavalry. Capt. d. l.. Tate: Capt loves
W. rNiat Att
Capt. II. j. Reilly, numbering forty-one off,
GERS and 1.I3o men. The train consisted Of
eleven escort wagons, three ambulances.
four Chinese coolies to each company and
thirteen carabaO carts.
A Hot Fight.
"Orders were given that the order of
march was to be as follows: loves
scouts, dismounted troop 4th Cavalry, two
companies 14th Infantry, one platoon of
artillery. which constituted the advance
guard. a detachment of the engineers was
directed to march with the reserve. The
main body consisted of the 18th Infantry
a company of the 1ith Infantry, two COM
panies engineers and a platoon of artillery
all under Colonel Bisbee. The rear guard
was composed of Captain Tate's troop of
the Sd Cavalry.
lat $50 Sunday Captain McGrath's
troop and the scouts We're sent ahead to
reconnoiter the road leading to Old Cavite
The enemy had evacuated the town and
our troops were pushed forward to that
place. General Schwan here rode out some
distance on the road between Novaleta,
where the enemy was found strongly in
trenched Reconnaissance showed That a
flank attack was impracticable. so prepara-
tons were made for a frontal attack. Two
companies of the 14th Infantry and Troop
G, 4th Cavalry, the scouts and one piece
of artillery under Lieutenant McCluskey,
all commanded by Captain McGrath, We're
assigned to make the attack. Three COM
panies of the 18th Infantry, commanded by
Captain Saffold, with another field gun was
sent to support Captain McGrath's line.
The sharpshoOters of the enemy poured a
sharp and exceedingly annoying fire on the
town occupied by the main body. Soon our
troops became engaged with insurgents
rushing from one dyke to another, and de-
liVerinS effective fires when hating His
Were well constructed. Cap
tain McGrath was mortally wounded few
hundred yards east of the bridge across
the Rio Mindalot just back of the enemys
position. Captain Suffold was also mortal
ly wounded near by. and Lieutenant Fen
ton, aid-de-camp, also received a slight
wound but which did not prevent his con-
tinuinS on duty. Eleven enlisted men were
also wounded in this engagement, and two
field pieces fell into our hands. The col
umn resumed its march to NOvaleta and
with the exception of few shots delivered
by the enemy, the journey was without in
cldent. On entering the town the advance
guard was fired upon from houses, and
during great part of the night fire was
kept up by pickets and insurgents Here
we connected with some scouts of Colonel
Elliots battalion of marines, which had
come down from Cavite upon hearing our
fire during the mornings engagement.
Marching Under Steady Fire.
Lieutenant Cunningham of the navy,
with steam launch was off Old Cavite
with load of supplies for the brigade
but word was sent to him to go to Rosario
where we could better connect with him.
Old Cavite is Aguinaldo's home 1t is. a
pretty town, with beautiful view of the
bay. and its inhabitants, although once
solid for their native leader. are now turn
ing to the Americans. They want peace.
The following morning we started for
Rosario. The road was extremely bad for
a time, but grew better after marching a
few miles. The insurgents kept up con-
slant fire on US from bamboos skirting the
road which greatly hindered our progress.
We reached Rosario about 8 o clock. About
2O0 prisoners were taken and the town
searched. Here it was learned by scouts
and through other sources that the enemy
was located in force at San Francisco de
Malabon, and we decided to divide our
column into two parts. One column, con-
sisting Of four companies of infantry, a
detachment of engineers and a pla toon of
artillery, under command of Major Bubb,
was selected for this service. His instruc-
tons Were to follow the left bank of Canas
river and to keep abreast of the principal
column, which was to ascend the opposite
side. Lieutenant Cunningham's launch
came in and supplies were unloaded. Ro-
sario was made the base of supplies and
a company detailed to occupy 1t. The city,
which has a population of 1000, is an in
tereSting old place on the shore of Ma
Mia bay and the home of many insurrec-
tors.
Our main column started about o'clock