The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-02-18
GEN. HALLS EXPEDITION.


An interesting account of General Halls
expedition to Binangonan over the SINH
loan mountains, in the Philippine islands,
is contained in a letter received in this
city a few days ago from one Of the SOL
diers who took part in the event. The
letter reads, in part, as follows
ION Oct. the United States army trans
port Garonne left Manila bay with two
companies Of and CD of the Second United
States Infantry, with orders to proceed TO
Batangas and meet the gunboat York.
town and follow instructions. Under the
convoy of the Yorktown all haste was
made to reach the mouth of the Agos river,
up which about eight miles distant is sit
uated the town of Binangonan. General
Hall had meanwhile started on what was
probably one of the most difficult marches
ever undertaken in the Philippines by a
large body OF troops. He had in his COM
mand one company of Macabebe scouts,
two companies of the Second United States
regulars Oh and k), two companies OF the
Eighth United States Regiment and two
companies of the Tird omitted States Volun-
teers Owing to the difficult and danger
GUS trail over the Similoan mountains he
took also three hundred Chinese as pack
ers, mule wagons being useless. General
Hall left Similoan for Bnangonan, situated
about forty-fve miles disant, but 1t took
, him six days to make the march. 1t would
be a difficult matter understand the
hardships endured by the troops on this
mdrcn by merely reaulnS a report OF the
expedition. The Passig river and its trib-
utaries were crossed fofty-five times. Rain
fell night and day for six days The rice
and bread were soaking wet and became
sour and unnt for food. In addition TO
this the troops were loaded with their
equipment and one hundred rounds of am
munition. The march was further ham,
pered by the Chinese packers who after
the third day gave out entirely and in
crossing the swollen streams would lose
the provisions on which the troops so much
depended. On the fourth day out
three insurgents were captured and a rebel
camp only few hours old was found.
About this time General Halls horse was
killed. The fearful strain of the march
had told on every one in the expedition,
which was now stretched out in long,
struggling line of suffering men. Relief
came when the head of the column crowded
through the last canyon and struck the
beach about four miles above the York
town and Garonne. Captain TauSSig, or
the Yorktown, had been on the lookout for
the troops. small boats were Immediately
dispatched to the shore. and General Hall,
ragged and footsore. was taken aboard
the Garonne after accomplishing what he
described the worst march he had EYER
experienced. AS rapidly as possible the
sick men were picked up and carried
aboard the Garonne and placed in the hos
pital. For the next two days 165 disabled
men were under trea tment. One of them.
Private Chapman, Company l.. Thirty
seventh United States Volunteers, died
from complete exhaustion. The Yorktown
now rendered great assistance to the
troops. All the small boats from both
ships were lowered and manned by troops
and dispatched up the river to take Binan-
CONAN. When the boats were well under
way the Yorktown threw four shells into
the town, the troops landed and Binan-
| CONAN was taken without a struggle Com
panies Z and G. of the Second United States
army were garrisoned there and the ex-
| petition continued on to Blillo, where the
| Garonne got into difficulties by running
| her nose a reef where she stuck fast
until hauled off by the Yorktown after
| twelve hours of hard work. The expedition
| then started back to Binnangonan and on
| the way the Garonne ran aground twice.
| but was pulled off by the Yorktown. We
| were finally landed at Manila after one Of
| the most terrific marches on record"