The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1913-10-10

Company of Scouts; Lieutenant Cra-
ven and Tucker with the Gath Co.
of Scouts: Lieutenant Sayles with 90
men of Troop H, Sth Calvary, and a
pack trian, formed flying column
at Jolo city and marched rapidly over
land to Bagsak. Captain Parrett with
Lieutenant Aldenand the 18th Co.
of Scouts, accompanied by Captain
| McElderry and Lieutenant Miller,
with Lieutenant Dillman and his
mountain gun detachment, marched
overland to attack Sahipa's Gotta.
The Wright and the launches arrived
at Bun Bun at four o'clock, a. m. and
the troops were disambarked at once
and the advance on Bagsak commenc-
ed at five-f1fteen. In this way the
return of the women and children,
together with other supposedly nom
combatants, was cut off and the
Moros were left to fight alone.
The right wing was ordered to at
tack the Languasan stronghold.
This wing was composed of Co. M.
8th U. S. Infantry, Lieutenant Adams
commanding, Lieutenant Brush and
Shute attached the 10th Company of
Scouts, and McKinney's Mountain
Gun Detachment, the entire wing
commanded by Major Shaw (These
acabae and Matunkup. This wing
consisted of 51st adm SIND companies
of Scouts and Van Natta's Mountain
Gun Battery. Captain Moylan, with
the Gath and 31st Companies of
Scouts were ordered to cut off retreat
and assistance by taking station on
the south slope of the Bagsak Noun
tains.
Thus the troops were delayed, a
small force to cope with the Difficult
ties confronting, but force of Ameri-
can officers, and, be it said, Moro
Scouts (all of the Scout force is
spoken of as philippine Scouts" but
these engaged against their own
people were loyal Moros) who proved
they were heros.
1t would be impossible to describe
the fight accurately without giving
a description of the mountain in
order that the difficulties which were
overcome may be appreciated. The
mountain forms a huge irregular half
circle or horseshoe, approximately
eight hundred yards in diameter and
about one thousand yards from front
to rear. Gotta Puyacabae is on one
heel and Gotta Bunga is on the other,
each about the same height. The large
stone Gotta Bagsak constitutes the
tow and is about two hundred and
fifty feet higher than the two heels.
Gotta Matunkup is about half way be-
tween Puyacabae and Bagsak on the
North. LangUasan is about where the
frog Of the foot would be, and Pujagan
is in the center of the foot.
The attack, all along the line, was
perfectly planned and was carried
out to perfection. The Gotta Puya-
cabas commanded Languasan and
Matunkup, but it could also be swept
by the fire from the other two. 1t
was evident that the three places
should be taken as nearly simulta-
neously as practicable. After prelim-
mary Smelling on the part of the
mountain guns which had been sta
ton at as advantageous points as was
possible, the various columns adj
vanced to the attack. The concerted
movement was so we'll timed and
executed that Captain Nicholas and
his trusty Moros captured Puyacabae
at noon sharp, Captain Charlton with
his 51st Company of Moros took Mat
unkup at twelve-flve, and Languasan
was captured at twwelve-twenty. 1t
was well established that had there
UeeU tue lGdSL ldCh Vi wv ~
alton between the commanding Off
GERS of the attacking column there
would have been great loss of life
among the attacking troops. The
cooperation was perfect. AS one OF
the newspapers boys expressed it,
excellent team work all the time, and
that wins in a fight of this nature as
well as on the gridiron or the dia-
mond. In taking Matunkup, Captain
Charlton and his Moros were COM
PEELED to climb an almost sheer cliff,
over one hundred feet high. This was
only accomplished by hanging onto
grass and vines. Three of the COM
mand were killed and five wounded.
Lieutenant Raekley was later severe
~ wounded in the foot and is now in
hospital Captain Nichols who was