The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1900-04-12
Thursday, April II. - 1900
LIEUT.. MeMASrEE DIsTINGUlsNEy
HIMSELF.

The Amsricsn, pab!i'hs 1t Nanils,
gives thu following graphic account,
ia which s yousg South Caroliniar
played q conspicuous part. Liest.
AeNaster is a soa OF the late Col.
F. W. AeMaster who is well known
in Wiansboro:
On the morning Of the 3rd Of De-
cember about II O'Clock, A company,
oar advance party, was fred on BY
the insurrectors from their mountaiR
intreRehments. But the moment the
firing commenced, Lieut.. McAaster,
uader orders from Captain Bachelor,
at once deployed his company to the
right and opened fire oa the insurrec-
toa from the opposite hills, bu: finding
their fire Ineffective from 80 great a
distance. moved on down the gulch
that was covered with high grass, and
fallen trees, recently fslled by the
enemy az an inpedinsrt, and on up
the mountain occupied bY the insur-
gents, and while under q CALLING 8re
charged their entrsEchments, killing 6
and woundins II, securing many
rounds of ammunition, rifles, horses
snd prisoners. While Il company,
lead By Lieutenant NeAaster, was
working its way through the guleh to
charge the enemy, A, F, aud E COM
psnies kept up q deadly FIRE holding
them in their trenches, killing and
woandisg many, when they were
forced to best retreat.
AL went we'll Nutil the 7th when the
battslion moved forward with q COM
pany in advances. Everything was in
perfect order and the boys were itch
Jag for . scrap. They did not have
long to wait, for the battslien had not
been on the march more than two hours
when q conpany's advance guard or
nearing the banks Of the Rio Grande.
preparatory to crossing tie river and
sntering the city Of Naguilion, were
greeted with vollsy of Remington
snd Naussr bullets, bat the boys were
equal to the emergency aad in less
than s minutes the entire battalion
was aeployed and pouring volley sitter
Yolley into the very trenches of the
enemy. The insurrectes knew Il
would certainly be long raage fight.
as the river was at least 2 hundred
yards wide and unford.ble, and they
held their strong stations behind en-
trenchments. The boys made several
charges to the very waters edge bat
were unable 10 unlodgs the enemy
After about2 hozrs fighting of This
bind in vh;nb rzFEl65:8ssiA
Le:Sal LCStna ~ NssaSsr "etssr called 4s
to swim The river with kfEs, ~
deadly fire, &snk the eaeray, 6riz
them frem their trenches, when the
would make short work Of
hem. Among those who volunteered ;
70 60 were, Lieut.. Miller, Corperal
Johnson, Co II, Privates Amos
stnckey L. J. Clarke, Benjsnin
ierde, 49," and Co. "F" men &C.
'epted, and at oace moved down the
iver to the left Of the enemy, and
while the battalion held the iusurrec-
os' attention in THAR trenches, they
,roeseded under very heavy fire to .
;ross the river almost in the mouths !
# the saemy's rifles, carrying their
'uns and belts Of ammunition with
hem, all reaching the bank in safety
xcspt Corporal Jshnson, who was
illed within 3 few feet Of the bank.
'nee or shore, with q ysll and vslley
hat sent the fear of God through the
they charged their en-
and sent them helter-
zelter from their strongholds, and
1s battslion On the opposite bank
!ade many good Filipinos before thsy
ould run ont of reach of the deadly
rag. Casualties to the battalion
ere 8 wounded l killed. To the in c,
,rrectos IS killed rs wounded. Sc
'eat was their surprise on being fred II
4 from their flank, that they STAN al
sded. leaving their killed and to
ourded in the very trenches where
eY fell, to be buried and cared for e.
: the battalion.