Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-18
from every house. killing about twenty
five and burning all the houses and coltos.
Capture Of Fort Pitacus.

from every house. killing about twenty
five and burning all the houses and coltos.
Capture Of Fort Pitacus.
AS we came around a little bend we saw
big fort ahead of US covered with red
flags and on our side of the river. We
didn't know of this fort before and ap-
preached 1t carefully. though skirmshng
all the time.
When we came up to the fort 1t was
quiet, and until we came Immediately In
its rear not shot was fired. Then, when
on the very edge Of the ditch. the Moros
fired at US with cannon and rifles.
This fort, known as Fort Pitacus. was 100
feet square, with the river in front and
ditch fifteen feet deep and as wide on
three sides. The bottom of the ditch was
just above the river level. Above the dltch
was perpendicular parapet of clay, hfteen
feet high rivetted on the outside with plankS
and large bamboo. The work was not quite
finished. and much of the timber was not
fastened to the parapet. At one corner lor
a space Of about four feet, there was no
timber, and looking it over carefully it was
point make a stand there. throw down
some Of the timber and then, getting up
more soldiers, take the place by storm
Corporal Schwartz Company F; Private
John Carroll. Company c. and Private Sta
pies Company F, volunteered to follow the
leader of this detachment into the ditch
and up the walk
So up we went, the others keeping up
fire on the fort. When we reached the top
there was a warm time. There were over
160 Moros in the fort, with more than NIFTY
guns Of all sorts. They had shelters OF
timber and opened us as soon as we
stuck our heads over the top.
Our agaZine fire made their aim DIT
uncertain. but it was very hot
Corporal Schwartz was shot through the
breast and slid down dead Private FRANKIE.
NJ w in his place,
was shot through the head and fell back
ward to the bottom Of the ditch mortally
wounded. Private Carroll was hit In the
cartridge belt and knocked of the Parapet,
but only hurt slightly. 1t was a most
critical moment. but DR.. r. G. Patterson
first lieutenant assistant surgeon. U. 8.
A. and Lieut.. Miller. 27th Infantry. pushed
and pulled naare men up. threw down tim
Der and sent up loaded rifles to those on the
parapet, and Lieut.. Oracle. who had kept
pace with US on the west side of'the river,
led hts men. under fire, across the river
waist deep and climbed up the front of the
fort Then our concentrated fire simply
overwhelmed the MoroS. They soon put
out a white flag and surrendered. We
probably had ut: that time forty men on the
fort -. :. - r.. -.
=. The Norcs had 1Os men in the fort.
Sevehty-two were killed and twenty eight
wounded, Of. whom many died that mig ut
Among the killed were two sultaps, nine
dattos and two 'panditas or priests. We
took. sixteen cannon of all sorts, over
fifty guns and. about 100 krises, kampa-
langs and spears
Our force had one man killed. one NOR
tally wounded. two seriously wounded and
one slightly wounded.
Fort Manalang surrenders.
Meanwhile the firing on the other fort.
known as Fort Manalang, had continued
The remaining infantry and dismounted
cavalry had almost surrounded 1t and main
ha N Gh
Taking all the arms from Pitacus we
moved our dead and wounded across the
river and went into camp in front Of Man
alang. first ministering to all the wounded
Moros as far as possible
When daylight came white nag was
flying over Manalang and Its garrison,
which at that time consisted OF twenty
eight Moros surrendered. We took about
twenty cannon, but very few small arms.
Datto Pedro had arrived the night before
and his boats were on the lake a Few miles
away. So we sent our killed and wounded
in to Camp Vicais by boat on May s, bur-
led the dead Moros in Pitacus, burned
Manalang and got ready to advance.
The soldiers rested and filled themselves
with fine sweet potatoes, OF which there
were acres nearby.
On May 9 the expedition crossed the Jar
AGA river and continued toward Marahui
White flags were flying everywhere and
all the cotlas were covered with men A
great part of this days trip was over flat,
DOGGY country, and in one place we cor
duroyed at least half mile with brush
and grass to enable the pack trains to
pass. 's''--'<
The main column had no trouble all day.
but in the afternoon the rear guard had
many shots fired at it, and killed some
Moros. Toward night we reached the limit
of the Marciu-Taraca country, and passing
over big mud wall marking the boundary.
camped for the night in DOGGY place in
the Bayabas country. On May we at
tempted to avoid the boys and work
through the, hills: The, entire morning
work hardly found the long column well
started. About noon We were met by Ami
Mauanbflang. Sultan of Medaya Opposite
Maraline), who came out from Medaya to
show US the good road. We did well for
try and into that OF Rerfaeyn. Across a fiat
countryf for Ami Mauanbilang told us 1t
wo,t}d take us two days. to go through
the hills, and that the Maciu Moros would
wait for US IN the mountains.
A Terrible Storm.
Just as we were nicely started across the
great plain at Remeyn a terrible rain came
down from the mountains. and in a short
time the plain was a lake Then we had
work to get the artillery through. Time
after time everything, guns and ammuni-
ton. was unpacked, the mules pulled out
of the mud, and reloaded and then the
same thing done again after going fifty
yards. But at last we reached hard ground.
The storm had stretched like a ribbon
across the plain and in an hour we crossed
the Remeyn river. were in the friendly ter
ritory of Medaya and camped for the night
at Sugud, on fine arm of the lake and
about three miles from Medaya. The next
morning we marched to Medaya Datto
Padro was waiting for US with his boats
river the outlet of the lake. All the ami
mails swan across and by noon the entire
expedition was across and in camp at our
old camp in Marachui.
General Sumner met us there and seemed
much pleased with the work. Rations came
down from Pantar, and we got ready for
the two days march to-Vicars
From this expedition we gained a much
greater knowledge Of the east end OF LaRas
than we had ever had before. Some. in fact
a great many of the people, have become
no longer be open enemies. There will be
no more red flags flying, for the lessons OF