CHAPTER III.

THE INSURRECTION.

The report of a rifle rang down the quiet Santa Mesa hill on the night

of February 4th. As the flash of the gun died away in the gloom a dusky

warrior fell in death and the spark of an insurrection kindled into

flame. Almost instantly the belligerent Tagalans rushed down upon the

American outposts; the United States forces from Caloocan to Malate

swung into line, and the sturdy Anglo-Saxon and the fiery Malay were

matched in combat.

The violent clash caused no look of surprise to flutter across the faces

of the American soldiers; all knew that the outbreak was coming, all had

waited with expectant excitement for the impending conflict. To the

intoxicated native victory against the Spanish seemed too certain to be

wrested from him by the conquering American; he had long smarted under

the goading reflection that "the wreath of the conquerer" had been

snatched away at the moment when it seemed almost within his grasp. This

bitter knowledge irritated and maddened him, until he only awaited an

opportunity to spring at the throat of his imaginary foe and wrench from

him what he considered his own. He remembered the long years of

wretchedness under Spanish tyranny and oppression. He suspected that his

new masters would prove even more overbearing than his late persecutors.

He had not forgotten the daring rush for liberty which his ancestors had

made. Their blood coursed through his veins and he determined that he

would not relinquish the struggle without one last bold dash for the

coveted goal.

It was not alone a love for liberty which spurred onward the dark horde

which followed the red banner of Aguinaldo. Since 1896 they had striven

with their ancient enemy, with the hope that they might tear from him

all his wealth. Their leader had with subtle diplomacy urged on his wary

braves with the thought that when they battered down the walls of Manila

all that it contained would be theirs to loot and ravage. They loved

liberty, but they loved the gold which it would bring still more. So

they looked with hungry eyes when they saw the Americano enter the city

of their dreams and close the gate against the black hosts who sought

entrance to plunder and steal.

During the few months preceding the outbreak the Filipinos had become

less friendly to their late allies. "La Independencia," the official

organ of the insurgents, frequently came out with loud denunciations

against the Americans and called the sullen natives to action against

the hated usurpers. It was not an uncommon occurrence to see the walls

of public buildings patched over with "proclamos," signed by Aguinaldo,

almost openly declaring war against the Americans and asserting the

rights of the Tagalans to their independence.

The fourteen blockhouses which had been the Spanish line of defense had

been allowed to fall into the hands of the Filipinos, who converted them

into a strong offensive and defensive work. When by chance an American

strayed beyond these fortifications, the attitude of the native sentries

was often violent and abusive. Eventually no soldiers were permitted to

go outside of the territory bounded by our outposts, and the Malay line

of muskets tightened around the city like the arm of a colossal dragon.

Repeatedly there were war alarms, and for several days the men not on

duty were kept in barracks. At times the Tagalans at the pumping station

shut off the water supply merely as an insolent challenge and an

indication of what they were able to do. On certain parts of the line

the Filipinos were seen building new intrenchments and reinforcing the

old ones.

For several weeks natives had been concentrating around the Santa Mesa,

and Lieutenant Webb was sent out to the Nebraska camp with the left

platoon of Battery A to strengthen the Nebraska position. The Santa Mesa

road was looked upon by the multitude of Aguinaldo as the natural

gateway to Manila. It was at the San Juan Del Monte bridge that they

had sought in vain to pound their way into the Spanish lines on many a

desperate battle night. One of the Utah guns occupied the very gun pit

which had been used by the Castilians as a defense from which their

cannon barked back defiance to the onrushing fanatical hordes.

Often there were wrangles between Colonel Stotsenberg and the Tagalan

officers regarding the line of outposts which the native forces should

occupy. Several times the Colonel averted hostilities by a judicious

yielding to minor points. Ultimately at the San Juan bridge a stalwart

American sentry and a diminutive Tagalan paced in parallel lines. The

Filipinos seemed anxious to aggravate the Americans into an act of

hostility, and rigorous orders were issued to prevent such an

occurrence. Night after night the native warriors clustered about one

end of the bridge and uttered curses at the silent Nebraskan outpost.

Before the outbreak actually took place several times our sentries were

forced back by a howling mob of drunken Malays.

One native officer was particularly violent. Not a night passed but that

he gathered a crowd of inebriated Tagalans and tramped down to the

bridge for the purpose of scoffing and hurling vile epithets at the

taciturn American posted there. They were encouraged by the lenient and

apparently submissive attitude of the Americans whom they had begun to

look upon as arrant cowards, who could be wheedled and whipped about as

they chose.

On the night when the signal shot sang out in the darkness and the

battle came, the same haughty officer was coming down towards the

American line to repeat his abusive conduct, when the sharp voice of the

sentry rang out as a warning to halt. He persistently advanced and at

the same time launched some vehement Tagalan curses at the outpost. The

next instant he lay dead with a bullet through his heart; the report

startled the still night air and an insurrection was born.

All that night the thunders of the united American forces in action were

wafted to the Cuartel. The natives were so close that some of the

bullets pattered against the walls of the building and some even struck

the Hotel De Oriente, nearer town. When the commissary wagons probed

their way out to the belligerent front they were fired upon from the

houses lining the streets. Every nipa hut in which a private family

lived became an arsenal.

The trouble had been anticipated and every officer knew what portion he

was expected to defend. Ten minutes after the news arrived in the

Cuartel, the heavy guns of Utah rumbled over the streets to different

parts of the field.

Those under Major Grant rushed out into the night and were instantly

under a vigorous fire near the woods of Caloocan. Captain Wedgewood

disappeared in the blackness and took up the appointed position on the

Balic Balic road near Sampaloe cemetery. The guns under Lieutenant

Seaman dashed out of the barracks and a few moments later their deep

bass was added to the Satanic roar. On McLeod's hill surrounded by the

Nebraskans two guns under Lieutenant Webb menaced the plain below.

At Santa Mesa the fight began. Three minutes after the opening flash the

Nebraskan camp was deserted. As the outposts slowly returned the

regiment swept onward to the fray, and soon the angry rattle of the

"Long Toms" answered back the viperous "ping" of the Mauser.

The sound of the first shot had hardly ceased echoing upon the hill when

the Tagalans, jubilant, confident, flew for the bridge; their onrush was

met with a volley from the Nebraskans. Then from Caloocan and Sampaloe

the din of multitudinous musketry fired in unison, waved over the hill;

then the awful thunder of the guns of the fleet pulverized the enemy's

bulwarks at Malate swelled over the plain. Occasionally a lull came in

the fight and then as if gathering strength by inaction the tumult broke

forth with increased fury. In the darkness it was impossible for the

Utah guns to accomplish anything, as the location of the infantry could

not be exactly distinguished. So all night the men tugged and toiled to

get the pieces in position, that they might take part in the encounter

at dawn. The fifth section gun held a commanding position on the right

and the sixth section was stationed directly in front of McLeod's house,

from which point it could sweep the enemy's line from Blockhouse No. 7

on the north to the Catholic convent on the south.

Just as the first streaks of dawn dappled the east, the two big guns

belched over the plain and the fight began. During the night the

relative positions of the opposing forces had not been changed. The

maddened Filipinos made a renewed attempt to cross the bridge and

penetrate the Nebraska line, that they might gain their coveted

goal--the city of their dreams. The aim of the two guns was concentrated

upon this point. Twice the Tagalans with frenzied courage charged up the

bridge, only to be torn to pieces by the shrieking shells and the deadly

bullets. With desperate energy they hauled an artillery piece into

position on the bridge, but this was demolished by a single shell from

one of our guns.

The position of the artillery became perilous; the insurgents centered a

galling fire upon the big guns, with the hope of ridding themselves of

this new terror. The leaden missiles rained from three points,

Blockhouse No. 7, the bridge and the convent. Every time one of the

cannon roared over the hill, she raised a vicious hail of bullets from

the enemy. Three minutes after the conflict began Corporal John G. Young

received a fatal wound in the lungs. Almost immediately after Private

Wilhelm I. Goodman fell dead with a bullet through his brain.

Instantly men rushed in to fill their places, but the position of the

gun had become so dangerous that Lieutenant Webb ordered it removed to a

more sheltered point, at the north of the house. In the face of a heavy

fire the men lifted the piece out of the pit and rolled it to the

station designated. This ended the casualty list of the artillery for

that day. Both guns now shelled the enemy at Blockhouse No. 7 and the

San Juan Del Monte Church, until the two guns under Lieutenant Gibbs

came up. The skilled aim of the two gunners and the superb courage of

Lieutenant Webb and Sergeants Fisher and Robinson were greatly

commended.

Shortly before 11 o'clock two Nordenfelt guns under Lieutenant Gibbs

arrived at the hill and under the orders of Colonel Smith of the

Tennesseeans advanced up the Santa Mesa road. The Tagalans were still in

strong force in the woods to the right of the road, and, as the two guns

moved forward, they received a pelting fire from this locality.

The guns dashed up the road and swung into action on the bridge. The

forces then began an advance up the road, running twenty and thirty

yards at a time, supported by the infantry from Tennessee. After a half

hour of sharp fighting the Tagalans fled before the cannister and

shrapnel of the big guns and the bullets of the Tennesseeans, and thus

the hills as far as the Deposito were won. Meanwhile, a battalion of

Tennesseeans had deployed out to the left and taken the Deposito, and

the two guns were moved to this point.

The Tennesseans left the Nebraskans in charge of the Deposito and

disappeared off to the right. Late that night Lieutenant Webb and the

fatigued warriors of Santa Mesa joined Lieutenant Gibbs at the Deposito,

where they bivouacked with the prospect on the morrow of an advance upon

the pumping station, four miles beyond.

The movement upon the pumping station was not easily accomplished; there

were several sharp skirmishes on the way. Though the power of the

insurgents seemed to have been broken on the previous day, there were

some in whom the spirit of resistance was not entirely extinguished and

they contested the march of the Americans with vigor. When the move was

made on the morning of the 6th the artillery was under the personal

command of Major Young. A straggling line of infantry deployed on either

side of the road and with the artillery in the rear the forward movement

began. Scarcely half a mile from the Deposito the moving column

encountered a small body of Tagalans, who opened fire. Once more the

angry guns pealed forth in menacing thunder and the terror-stricken

natives retreated for the kind shelter of the bamboo thickets beyond.

Two similar skirmishes happened farther up the road. About a mile and a

half from the Deposito the mutilated body of Dr. Harry A. Young was

found lying by the side of a ventilator. Some distance back the body of

his horse had been discovered. Major Young was the first to locate this

gory evidence, which mutely told the tragic story of the end of Dr.

Young. All the clothing had been rent from the body, a bullet hole was

in his forehead, and a bolo wound from the elbow of the left arm to the

waist told the tragic story of how he died. The supposition is that the

Doctor was surprised on his way to the Deposito, where he had an

appointment with Major Young, and took the wrong road, which led him to

a grim death in the Tagalan territory. A few minutes later, while the

body was being conveyed to Manila, the Major calmly commanded his men in

a rush with the enemy, in which eighty of them were killed. This

exhibition of splendid courage was ever after an inspiration to the

Utahn when he felt like being disheartened.

Gradually the uncoiled infantry line pushed back the recalcitrant

natives, and late in the morning the heights above the beautiful

Mariquina valley were reached. Here the artillery was placed in

position, and, with the Mariquina Church steeple as a target, the town

was bombarded. Now and then a shuddering shrapnel was sent shrieking

after fugitive bands of Tagalans, who made all haste for the protecting

shelter of the mountain on the opposite side of the valley.

From that place they were content to look with dismay upon the

death-dealing monsters which frowned from the hill above the bulwarks.

When the first platoon of Battery A, under Captain Wedgewood, sped out

into the gloom on the night of the 4th it took up a position in the

Balic Balic road near the Cemetario de Sampaloe. All night long the two

guns were under a straggling fire from the Filipinos, who at this place

held Blockhouse No. 5, about 300 yards to our front, and a diminutive

stone church which was located off to the right of our position. The

section two gun was placed inside the Cemetario, but that of section

one remained outside, where it was exposed to the enemy's fire.

At 3 a.m. from two points the Malays centered a vicious fusilade upon

the artillery, which remained inactive owing to the obscurity of the

Tagalan line of defense. No. 1 gun was moved back about 100 yards to a

more sheltered station by the cemetery. Just as the first streaks of

dawn appeared in the east the two guns blazed toward the blockhouse and

the small church, in which were a large number of natives.

Simultaneously the Colorado infantry swung into position and with a

withering fire slowly advanced upon the enemy. Several well-directed

shells sent the Filipinos flying from the blockhouse and a few more

accurately trained shots annihilated the little church. As the Tagalans

moved from their cover they fell many deep before the blasting volleys

of the invincible Coloradoans.

As the natives fled from the church, the artillery turned its attention

to Blockhouse No. 4, 1700 yards distant, and while the South Dakotans

made a wonderful charge they demolished this wooden bulwark. Next the

big guns were ordered to shatter Blockhouse No. 6, but before they could

be brought into play against this point the insurgents had disappeared

into the woods with the swift-moving Colorado infantrymen hard on their

track. On the 6th the platoon was moved to a position left of Blockhouse

No. 7. On this part of the line it remained until March 23rd, when it

was ordered to Caloocan to take part in the fierce engagement at that

point when the whole line charged the enemy's works on March 25th.

The damage inflicted on the natives of Sampaloe was very considerable.

Over a hundred bodies were buried there and in many a battered form

could be seen that ripping course of a shrapnel. General Hale personally

praised the work of Sergeants Emil Johnson and W.E. Kneass, who were in

immediate charge of the two rifles.

The guns of Battery B took a position on the left of the line to the

south of Caloocan on the night of the war alarm. Second Lieutenant

Seaman went out on the Caloocan road with one 3.2 gun. Major Grant left

the Cuartel with three 3.2-inch guns, and after leaving one at Bilibid

Prison took the remaining two up the rugged Bulum Bugan road as far as

Lazaro Hospital. Emplacements were made under a spattering fire from the

enemy at this point, facing the Chinese Hospital and the Binondo

Cemetery, in both of which places the Tagalans were strongly lodged.

Only an occasional shot blazed towards the enemy during the night, but

from a commanding position the artillery fire began at dawn with

destructive and terrifying results. Besides driving the

sturdily-intrenched Tagalans back, the Utah attack entirely covered the

simultaneous advance of the Tenth Pennsylvania and South Dakota

infantry.

The advance of the slowly-moving regiment was irresistable and the

natives fell back from their position after a stubborn fight. All that

day the Malay resisted the American advance with fanatical frenzy. The

artillery moved forward at the same moment, but many times was delayed

by burning huts. After an advance of about 400 yards they again joined

the infantry line, but they had arrived at a conspicuous and dangerous

position on the road, where for thirty minutes they fought desperately

in the open under a heavy fire from the Filipino intrenchments. It was

here that Major Bell of General McArthur's staff rode up and requested

Major Grant to move up beyond the Chinese Hospital, where the Tagalans

in a fierce engagement were inflicting heavy damage on the infantry.

Almost at the same moment Colonel Wallace sent word that a company of

the Tenth Pennsylvanians had been cut off to the left, and Lieutenant

Critchlow was sent with one gun up the Leco road to its assistance. The

remaining guns tore the woods in front of the advancing infantry and

cleared the way for the Pennsylvanians and South Dakotans, so that the

right wing advanced at this point almost without a casualty. Still

towards Caloocan the artillery advanced with the musketeers, and beyond

the Cemetery Church the big guns shelled the woods to the left of La

Loma in front of the advancing Third United States Artillery (infantry)

and Twentieth Kansas. Just when the Tagalans were fleeing, bleak with

terror, from the artillery shells; when Colonel Funston, like a young

Jove, was pounding his way irresistibly up from the left, and when

everything looked auspicious for an easy dash into Caloocan, word came

from General MacArthur that the firing should cease. The spires of

Caloocan were then almost in view, and there is an opinion that had

General MacArthur not feared that the line would grow too thin by a

further advance Funston would have taken Caloocan that night, with many

railway cars and many supplies, and with the saving of many lives which

went out on the next advance when the Filipinos had had time to bulwark

themselves behind their wonderful intrenchments.

On the same day the guns were moved to a position close to La Loma

Church. Later two Nordenfelt guns arrived, one of Battery A, and were

stationed first at Blockhouse No. 3 and afterwards east of La Loma

Church and in front of the left battalion of the South Dakota infantry.

These were commanded by Lieutenant Critchlow.

Meanwhile Lieutenant Seaman withstood a destructive fire on the Caloocan

road. Early in the fight he was reinforced at the suggestion of the

division commander by the addition of another gun. Major Young took

personal command of the Nordenfelt which arrived there late that night.

Frequently in the encounter the natives rushed up to within 150 yards of

our position, from which they went reeling back before the awful thunder

of the big guns. At times the powder-begrimed Utahns were in advance of

the main line, carrying death into the very teeth of the foe. So fierce

was the conflict that Major Young had the gun manipulated in short

reliefs, and this shortened the casualty list of our organization.

Corporal Wardlaw and Private Peter Anderson sustained wounds while

serving their pieces in this manner. The natives trained two big guns on

our position and fired fifteen ineffective shots from them. Next day the

two guns supported the Kansas troops in their advance upon the Filipino

intrenchments and Blockhouse No. 1. As the swift-moving column charged

the enemy's line the two rifles tore great gaps into this wooden

structure and plowed furrows into the wonderfully-constructed

earthworks. When the insurgents had fled before the deadly volleys of

the Kansans one gun was stationed at the blockhouse and the other at the

Binondo Cemetery. Here they remained until February 10th, when they took

part in the demonstration against Caloocan.

The next three days Major Grant's three guns did nothing except to fire

occasionally at some enthusiastic Filipino sharpshooters. On the 11th a

general advance was made by the Montana and the Kansas infantry and the

Third United States Artillery. The artillery force consisted of two guns

under Lieutenant Seaman on the hill to the left, two guns under

Lieutenant Fleming of the Sixth United States Artillery on the railroad,

Lieutenant Critchlow with two Nordenfelts at Blockhouse No. 2, and Grant

with three 3.2-inch B. and L. rifles at La Loma Church. The prearranged

signal for the attack was to be a bombardment by the navy accompanied by

a similar action by Major Young's artillery force. The big guns pounded

shell against the native defenses, and sent shrapnel singing into the

woods surrounding the town, and under the somewhat ineffectual, but

loudly-thundering labors of the fleet the infantry column hurried

forward, and the Tagalans gradually swayed back. As the enemy retreated

the aim of the guns was directed higher and several of these iron

messengers went crashing into the town. Some remarkably good work was

performed by our gunners on this day. It is said that a small body of

Filipinos could be seen reinforcing the intrenchments at the gate of the

Caloocan Cemetery. A Utah gunner saw this, and turned his piece on the

gate and shortly after a shell shuddered through the air on its

2600-yard journey. When the smoke cleared away, gate, Filipinos and war

weapons strewed the ground for many yards.

Major Bell with a flanking column of Montanas deployed through a ravine

on the right. Suddenly a long, rope-like column of natives whipped out

of the fringe of the woods and quickly coiled around the company. Major

Young saw the predicament in which the Americans were placed, and soon

the murderous shells fell in the midst of the column, which broke into

fragments and disappeared the way it had come. The next day Major Bell

was lavish in his praise of the batteries, and several British officers

who were watching the progress of the fight complimented the gunners on

their expert and effective gunnery.

During the attack on Caloocan Lieutenant Seaman followed with the

infantry as far as the flames from the burning houses would permit and

pulled the gun through Caloocan to a position on the Kansas line. On the

11th guns were moved to a position on a hillside near the residence of

Mr. Higgins near Caloocan at a place where he commanded the causeway

between Caloocan and Malabon. At this point the two guns were joined by

a platoon of the Sixth Artillery and a 3.6 mortar under Corporal Boshard

of Battery B.

[Illustration: LIEUT. GIBBS' SECTION AT FT. MACARTHUR.]

At this time Utah soldiers on different parts of the line manned

thirty-two pieces of artillery, including 3.2-inch B.L. rifles,

Hotchkiss revolving cannon, Hotchkiss mountain guns, Maxim Nordenfelts

captured from the Spanish, Mortars, Colt's rapid-fire (Browning's) gun,

a navy field piece, navy six-pounder and Gatling guns of various

calibers.

After Caloocan was taken possession of by the troops scarcely any

fighting was indulged in until March 25th, when an advance was made.

Except for occasional incursions into the enemy's territory for the

purpose of driving back harassing sharpshooters there was a practical

cessation of hostilities at the waterworks. At this time the line over

which our guns were stationed extended from Malabon to Mariquina. At

Caloocan a severe engagement occurred on the 23rd of February. A large

force of insurgents came rushing down from the hill towards our outposts

and finally established themselves within 150 yards of the American

lines. It was during this period that some of them were able to

penetrate the American position and steal their way into Manila to take

part in the burning of the Tondo district. This band was under the

leadership of a bold and gallant chief named Zandico. While Tondo was

disappearing in flames and sharp hand-to-hand skirmishes were taking

place between these Filipino desperadoes and the American police a

furious altercation was going on between the darkly-outlined bulwarks of

the two armies. During this attack sixty men of the Kansas and Montana

regiments alone were killed and wounded.

The work of the sharpshooters showed the watchful alertness of the

enemy. Whenever one of these riflemen espied a piece of American anatomy

there was a report and a still messenger of death went skimming through

the air. Frequently one of the large guns had to be employed to repress

the zeal of one of these ubiquitous Malays. While repairing a breach in

the gun pit Lieutenant Seaman received a wound in the leg, Corporal

Southers was shot in the hip and Private Hill sustained a serious wound

in the back.

About this time existed as remarkable a truce as was ever patched up

between belligerent forces. Some Filipino statesmen came down from

Malabon to see Aguinaldo, and as they carried a flag of truce firing

from our side ceased. The natives signified their desire to talk and

Colonel Funston and Major Young went half way to meet them. The

Tagalans then made known their proposition, which was that there should

be no firing between the two forces at that point for a period of ten

days. Colonel Funston assented. This was directly in front of the Kansas

line. The insurgents rigidly adhered to their promise, and while the

Springfields and Mausers were angrily barking in the vicinity of the

railroad track no messenger of war sped across the space in front of the

Kansans.

* * * * *

The four guns under Lieutenant Gibbs and Webb lifted to a commanding

position on the hill above the waterworks, menaced the valley below.

Frequently they boomed from the mountains as a warning to the curious

natives down on the wide plain of the San Mateo. The encounters which

took place between the Americans and the Tagals at this place are

illustrative of the peculiar mode of warfare carried on by the natives.

Not a few times our forces made invasions in the enemy's country at

Mariquina under the protection of the guns and drove his army into the

foothills on the opposite side of the valley, only to find him back in

his old position before nightfall with his camp fires piercing the gloom

of the valley as darkness settled in.

These successive defeats seemed to have no power in dampening the ardor

of the ducky warriors of the plains. They continued to make invasions on

the American territory, and frequently waylaid belated American troops.

Up to March 25th the infantry force was not sufficiently large to hold

the country which had been taken. Four times the town of Mariquina was

captured in this style. Finally, by some peculiar decision of fate, a

battalion of Coloradoans descended into the valley and after dislodging

the enemy set fire to the hideous nipa huts. Thereafter fewer skirmishes

occurred in this locality. The white and shining church steeple arose

above the blackened ruins as a ghostly monument of the work of war.

About four days after the occupancy of the waterworks by the American

troops Colonel Stotsenberg with a small body of the infantry scoured the

Mariquina plain, but though he met with some heated skirmishes and

drove the enemy back, there was no visible results from his excursion.

The artillery was first used in an advance on February 17th, when the

two Nordenfelt guns were taken down the Mariquina road by Lieutenant

Gibbs. None of the Utah men were hurt on this occasion, although the

natives fought stubbornly at short range and several men and officers of

the Nebraska regiment were wounded. Meanwhile General Montenegro, known

as one of the fiercest Filipino chiefs, had congregated his forces in

the woods southwest of the pumping station towards Pasig Lake and

Cainta. A plan was formed for surrounding the insurgents and the

Nebraska and Washington infantry and the two Maxim Nordenfelts took part

in the engagement. The artillery worked with the Nebraskans and shelled

the woods. Then there was a simultaneous advance from two sides by the

regiments. The Washingtons did their work well and the shells from the

guns were effective, but for once the Nebraskans failed in their usual

dash and came up too late to cut off the retreat of the enemy and

prevent his escape.

[Illustration: GUN AT PUMPING STATION FIRING ON MARIQUINA.]

Again on the 24th the two Nordenfelts under Lieutenant Webb moved down

the Mariquina road, and did excellent work in aiding the Nebraskans to

drive the natives back towards San Mateo. The B. and L. rifles from the

hill fired into bodies of natives to the left of Mariquina Church on

this occasion, and the death roster of the insurgents for that day was

very great. A revolving Hotchkiss under Corporal Hesburg, located close

to the Deposito, also inflicted severe damage on the natives. Still the

enemy at this point was alert and aggressive. The next day Major Mulford

went scouting with a small force to the right of Mariquina. Soon after

he reached the valley he was completely surrounded by the insurgents.

Then the big guns on the hill sent bursting shells fast into the

Filipino ranks and soon they retired stubbornly into the woods. Several

of Major Mulford's men were killed or wounded, and he stated afterwards

that the Utah guns had saved himself and party. This skirmish proved

that the natives were gathering there in a larger and more formidable

force, and this circumstances led to the burning of Mariquina. All night

the flames from the bamboo huts and old Spanish mansions illumined the

valley, and when the troops descended the next morning they found that

all the south and the greater part of the north end of the city were

entirely destroyed.

There was comparative quietude after that until March 6th, when the

natives began to resume the annoying fire on the infantry, and an

artillery demonstration became imperative. As the insurgent attack came

about daylight, the guns under Lieutenant Gibbs bombarded the valley

from the hill, driving the enemy northward. Another large force of the

Tagalans swept down upon the Nebraskan outposts on the left and a deadly

affray commenced. Reinforcements were rushed to the aid of the stricken

sentries, who were gradually forced back by the superior numbers of the

assaulting party. Sergeant Ford Fisher with the fifth section gun dashed

out of the camp to the front. For three-quarters of a mile the

diminutive Filipinos horses with which the guns had lately been equipped

sped down the ridges under a galling fire. On the brow of the hill the

gun whirled into action long enough to drive the enemy back a few

hundred yards. Again the piece limbered up and rattled over the hard

lava road for a new position. The Tagalans soon centered a murderous

fire from three points upon the big gun as a desperate measure to

annihilate this new terror. A horse ridden by Private Engler was shot

down, but was able to recover himself sufficiently to gain the shelter

of a small gulch a few yards farther on. From its shelter the big gun

pounded over the road to another gulch which had been deserted just a

few minutes previously by a company of Nebraskans. The heavy limber

chest was left at the foot of the hill and on their hands and knees the

men pushed the piece forward until the bore of the gun gleamed down the

slope. A heavy volley answered from the plain below. Ford Fisher said

afterwards that he saw a Filipino sharpshooter behind a rock fire six

times point blank at the gunner as he was sighting the piece. Suddenly

the roar of a cannon tore down the hill. The Tagalans answered it with a

fiendish yell and came steadily onward. The men on the gun worked like

Trojans, but they could not force the Malays back. Just as it seemed as

if the gun would have to retire the tall white figure of Colonel

Stotsenberg could be seen with galloping steed coming up the hill.

Instantly the wavering infantry line tightened. The Colonel's pistol

flashed in the sunlight, and the whole column swung up the eminence to

victory. The voice of the big gun bellowed back its notes of defiance

and the haughty foe fled in terror.

During the encounter Corporal McDonald with a revolving Hotchkiss cannon

performed some excellent service on the right in aiding the Oregon

infantry. Most of the fighting had been done at from 100 to 150 yards

range. The casualty list of the Nebraskans was heavy, and an immense

number of Filipinos was killed. The infantry followed the retreating

natives for three miles.

On the 7th, in conjunction with the river fleet, the guns aided the

Nebraska, Wyoming and Washington infantry in forcing the enemy through

the woods towards Guadaloupe and Pasig Lake. The guns under Captain

Wedgewood shelled the insurgents to the south of San Juan del Monte and

aided the infantry very materially in its advance. The gunboats

hammered the natives on the left bank of the river and sent them

scurrying into the woods beyond Guadaloupe.

It was decided to take the town of Mariquina on the 16th of March, and

Major Young with the left platoon of Battery A shelled the woods to the

north and west of the town so effectively that when the infantry forces

entered the place they found it deserted.

This ended the fighting in that vicinity until the general advance of

March 25th.

[Illustration: UTAH GUNS ON MANILA & DAGUPAN RAILWAY EN ROUTE FOR THE

FRONT.]

On March 25th began that remarkable advance which never ended until the

native forces were driven beyond Calumpit and San Fernando into the

hills north of San Isidro and Tarlac. The American forces had long been

inactive gathering strength for the difficulties before them, and now

that this strength had been mustered they were eager for the fray. The

plan was for the commands of Generals H.G. Otis and Hale to swing around

to the right and cut off the retreat of the enemy from that quarter,

while General Wheaton's brigade was to strike the foe in front and not

move forward until the other forces had had sufficient time to

straighten out the line. A large body of the insurgents had assembled

at Malabon. The entire preparation had been made for the capture of this

force.

Otis's brigade on the left consisted in the order given of the Kansas,

the Third Artillery (infantry), and the Montana regiment; in the center

was the divisional artillery under Major Young and then troops of the

Fourth United States Cavalry, and on the right was Hale's command,

containing the Tenth Pennsylvania, South Dakota and Nebraska regiments.

The Nebraskans were on the extreme right, while the Kansans formed the

pivotal regiment.

The artillery designated to take part in the forward movement were two

B. and L. rifles, under command of Lieutenant Critchlow; two B.L. rifles

of the Sixth United States Artillery, under Lieutenant Fleming, and an

automatic gun under command of Ensign Davis of the navy. On the evening

of the 24th Lieutenant Fleming's guns were removed from the old

intrenchment in front of Fort MacArthur, and were replaced by two B. and

L. rifles under Lieutenant Gibbs of Battery A, who had formerly been

stationed in front of the Colorado line at Sampaloe. Major Grant at this

period was no longer in immediate command of Battery B, as he had been

detailed as commander of the river gunboats on February 17th. During the

period of waiting the Government mules had arrived and the rifles under

Lieutenants Critchlow and Fleming were now equipped for the journey into

the jungle.

Few artillery exploits can compare in dash and daring with that

performed by Lieutenant Naylor out on the right of the line early in the

morning of the 25th. Many brave and reckless deeds with guns at close

range were done by artillery forces on other occasions in the Filipino

campaign, but it is hardly probable that any field pieces have been

rushed so far beyond infantry support as they were on this day before

the enemy at San Francisco del Monte.

Lieutenant Naylor's position lay in a sunken road at a point where the

lines of the Tenth Pennsylvania and South Dakota regiments joined. For a

distance of about 800 yards the road, which had been constructed by the

Spanish, extended toward the Tagalan earthworks. At the point the road

abruptly ends, and there is a plat of hard ground. Fifty yards farther

on a rude barricade had been erected as a shelter for the native

outposts, and a hundred yards in advance of this the enemy's strong line

of earthworks widened out across the top of a gently rising eminence.

This position had been accurately located several days previously by a

reconnoitering party.

Early in the morning the guns moved to the end of the sunken road and

began the perilous journey up this narrow defile. With Lieutenant Naylor

were Captain Crainbuhl and Lieutenant Perry of General Hale's staff and

a detachment of eight men of the Tenth Pennsylvania Regiment under

charge of a sergeant. Every one knew the danger that accompanied an

expedition of this character, and there was silence as perfect as that

of a tomb, save when one of the wheels of the heavy guns rumbled in a

rut. A few hundred yards from the camp they crossed a small stream and,

as the road broadened at this place, there was ample room to unlimber

the pieces. This was done so that there would be no delay when the time

for action should come. The pieces were placed in front and the two

limbers followed. At the end of the road the squad of infantry deployed

as skirmishers to drive back the Filipino sentries. Then the guns were

rushed up on the flat; two shells shrieked through the air towards the

insurgent intrenchments, which loomed up darkly on the hill, and the

bombardment began. At the first bark of the big guns the native outposts

fled precipitately for the protection of the heavier works on the summit

of the knoll. The roaring monsters now hurled a perfect stream of iron

into the place, and after responding feebly for a few minutes the foe

retired in haste across the San Juan river towards San Francisco del

Monte. The artillery advanced to the stream and sent shells flying after

them until it became too hazardous to continue the bombardment, owing to

the approach of our troops. Down the causeway over which the Tagalans

fled in their mad desire to escape whole squads of Filipinos lay. As the

guns had made the advance almost entirely unaided by the infantry it

was purely an artillery charge, and to the artillery belonged the

victory. General Hale rode up a few minutes later and personally

complimented Lieutenant Naylor upon the ability with which he had

handled his men in this successful maneuver.

As the guns were unprovided with mules they were unable to proceed and

retired to their former position.

The engagement opened up by Lieutenant Naylor's men on the right found

an echoing response from the guns of Lieutenants Critchlow and Fleming.

As they were to continue the advance their general course lay along the

railroad track, which stretches entirely across Luzon Island from Manila

to Dagupan. Just after dawn on the 25th the infantry moved forward about

700 yards ahead of the artillery, which followed the Novaliches road. A

strong force of the enemy was encountered heavily intrenched in a

position commanding the Novaliches and Malinta roads. The infantry swung

into line and attempted to force back the Tagalans, who stubbornly

resisted the attack of our column. Two large guns were soon brought into

play and the natives gradually retired. An examination later showed that

the defenses of the insurgents were remarkably constructed; in some

cases the main breastworks were twenty feet thick. The first day's

fighting had taught them a lesson by which they had profited.

General MacArthur gave orders for the artillery to remain with him

during the advance, as it was impossible to move over the ridges. A

troop of the Fourth Cavalry, under Major Rucker, also remained with the

General. In the afternoon the artillery had turned down a small valley

toward the bed of the Pulilan river. The infantry had entirely

disappeared from the division commander's view, owing to a mountain

which lay between our forces and the artillery position. The general

whereabouts of our troops could be ascertained by the battle-sound, but

occasionally this died away as the moving column advanced. The General

sent forward one of his aids with a view of re-establishing our lines;

but he was fired upon and compelled to retire. The troops of cavalry

then dismounted and deploying as skirmishers soon dislodged the enemy.

Soon heavy firing was heard and an orderly rushed back asking for

reinforcements. The General sent word back that he had no reinforcements

to give. Just then Major Bell rode up and said he wished one of the Utah

guns and the General authorized Major Young to take one of the big

rifles and a Browning gun under Ensign Davis.

Majors Bell and Young went forward to locate a position for the pieces.

They discovered that where the road crosses the river the banks of the

Pulilan rise to an almost perpendicular height of nearly fifteen feet. A

road a little distance above, so small that it could only be utilized

for carometas, crosses the river a short distance beyond the dismantled

bridge. On the right abutment of the bridge the Filipinos had

constructed a very formidable breastwork of earth and stone, and the

heavy steel beam of the bridge was arranged above this so as to leave a

long slot for the rifles the whole length of the work. This menaced the

surrounding approaches. A short distance below this was a boiler and

engine-house and on the other side of the river and lower down was a

remarkable field work. It extended along the river a distance of two

hundred feet, and was constructed with the same wonderful skill as the

smaller one at the bridge abutment. It had the same long slot flaring

outward about eighteen inches and the upper part of the work was

substantially held by bamboo flooring.

The two Majors left the artillery piece and went forward to discover a

good site for the big gun. Major Young selected a place just under the

brow of the hill. The enemy was only 100 yards beyond, but our exact

location was screened from his view by a thick undergrowth of bamboo. A

heavy stone wall was used as a shelter for the men. Meanwhile the

cavalry stood a terrific fire. Out of less than forty men who took part

in the encounter nine were killed and wounded, a casualty list of almost

one-fourth of their number. The guns rushed into action. Major Young

directed that the Colt's automatic be turned on the slots to protect the

big gun. At the first boom of the rifle all the attention of the

insurgents was turned upon the crews working the piece, but the bamboo

screen kept them from taking accurate aim. Of the three shells fired by

Corporal Don Johnson, two struck immediately in the slot holes and burst

in the interior, doing considerable damage to the bamboo shed and above

all terrifying the dusky warriors, who turned and fled. The spitting

Colts and breaking shrapnel followed them with deadly effect. The

artillery then lumbered up and dashed to a position on the hill, from

which the boiler-house could be bombarded with annihilating effect. The

cavalry had stood a heavy fire during all this time at a range of

seventy-five yards, and when the beam had been examined after the enemy

had been driven out it showed the marks of eighty-nine cavalry bullets.

That night the weary troops rested on the banks of the river. The next

morning, March 26th, an early advance was made upon the insurgents'

position at Malinta and Polo. It was here the moving column met the

advancing lines of General Wheaton, and then it was learned that he had

marched forward simultaneously with Hale's flying command, and that the

wily native had had ample time to flee out of Malabon and his old

position at Caloocan. So the projected coup had failed. Lieutenant Gibbs

with the right platoon of Battery A and one gun of Battery B and a

mortar bombarded Malabon and the surrounding country. When the shelling

ceased the Oregon regiment charged over the open and assaulted the

enemy's works, which were taken after a stubborn fight. The routed

Tagalans fled along the railroad track towards Malinta.

One gun under Lieutenant Seaman accompanied Wheaton on this march as far

as the foot of the hill leading to Malinta, and was unloaded from the

car under a shower of Mauser bullets. Private Parker J. Hall of Battery

B was wounded at this point while standing on the track. A few shells

were fired into distant intrenched position on the hill, but when

Wheaton resumed his advance early in the morning the B. and L. rifle was

returned to its position at Fort MacArthur. It was during the advance up

the hill a few moments later that the gallant, white-haired General

Egbert, veteran of many battles, was fatally shot through the stomach.

In the meantime the artillery with General MacArthur's division

continued the march up the road close by the railway line. While the

artillery was sending shell fast into the Filipino position at Malinta

and Meycayauan, and occupying their attention, General Hale executed a

rather brilliant flank movement and forced the enemy to retreat with

considerable loss. When the march was resumed on the 27th, the artillery

was moved up to a position just behind the first battalion of the Kansas

regiment, while all the rest of Otis's brigade remained in the rear.

[Illustration: FIRST PLATOON. BATTERY A, READY TO MOVE TO MALOLOS.]

When General MacArthur's division moved forward on March 25th, General

Hall, with the Colorado and Minnesota regiments, moved down the

Mariquina valley towards the San Francisco del Monte, where the bullets

of the South Dakotas and Lieutenant Naylor's shells were battering

against the walls. General Hall's advance was so warmly contested that

it became necessary for the guns on the hill to bombard the city and

surrounding woods to the north and west. The infantry was then able to

press forward and drive the natives back from the valley toward San

Mateo.

On the 31st of March General Hall essayed a more extended advance, and

on this occasion his forces consisted of the Fourth and Twenty-third

regular infantry, the Minnesota and Colorado regiments and two Utah B.

and L. rifles, commanded by Captain Wedgewood. The movement began at

dawn. The regulars came from the South and the Minnesotas and

Coloradoans around the north of Mariquina. The town was entered before

the enemy had begun to fire. The attack was sudden and effective, and as

the natives began to retreat a gun under Sergeant Nystrom and another

close by the Mariquina Church commanded by Captain Wedgewood played

vigorously on their ranks. The infantry followed the natives six miles,

and from the hills overlooking the city San Mateo was bombarded by the

two guns.

The natives were again in retreat when a telegram arrived from Otis,

which showed that he feared the natives might be preparing to make

another entrance into Manila. It read: "Wheaton has engaged enemy at

Malolos and taken that place. A very small force of the enemy was there.

Withdraw all your forces which are moving towards San Mateo and bring

them back to La Loma Church." It was a wearisome march to La Loma after

the fatigue of the day's campaign, and when the men arrived there with

the guns they were forced to sleep among the graves of the churchyard

without blankets and in a pelting rain. The next day the guns were

ordered back to their old position above Mariquina, where they remained

until relieved by the Sixth United States Infantry, when they joined the

rest of the command at San Fernando.

On April 27th our forces met the Filipinos on the banks of the Marilao

river, on which occasion the noses of the big guns were pushed to within

fifty yards of the native earthworks. The guns employed were two under

Lieutenant Critchlow, a platoon of Dyer's light battery and Colt's

automatic under Ensign Davis. The Kansans under Major Metcalf had

deployed on the left and approached the river, but they were forced back

by the heavy fire of the insurgents, who had cut away the intervening

trees to give a clear sweep for their rifles. The whole north side of

the river had been cleverly and completely intrenched so that it formed

an almost impregnable fortification when attacked from the front. The

causeway up which the artillery had to advance was commanded by the

insurgent infantry. Across the river where the infantry first engaged

the enemy, the natives were about 800 yards distant. Major Young went

forward with Ensign Davis to locate a good position for the guns. While

there General Funston came up and stated he had seen quite a number of

cascos further down the river, and that if Major Young would protect his

men with an artillery fire he would be able to cross the river and flank

the enemy. This was agreed to, and a company of Kansans accompanied the

guns as a support. Lieutenant Critchlow's guns were quickly turned upon

the earthworks. As the big rifles roared across the stream the small

arms and the Colt's automatic centered a withering fire on the

intrenchments to keep the enemy's fire inaccurate. This vigorous

demonstration terrified the Tagalans and soon several white flags

appeared fluttering above the trenches. The firing ceased and the

Filipinos were ordered to stand up. Some few of them reluctantly showed

themselves, but the greater number ran through the get-away ditch and

vanished in the dark fringe of the bamboo forest. Lieutenant Coulter of

the Tenth Pennsylvania regiment with an enlisted man stripped and swam

the river and walked directly into the enemy's trenches. The two naked

men took as many rifles as they could hold from the defeated Malays. By

this time Colonel Funston, who had crossed the river, came up and took

some thirty natives prisoners.

As the bridge crossing a branch of the Marilao river at this point had

been destroyed by the insurgents, the artillery moved to a new position

by the railroad track until a new bridge could be constructed by the

engineers. Just as night came on the natives were seen to emerge in a

large force from the woods and move towards our lines. Soon the entire

American host was sturdily engaged in repelling the attack. In the dark

it was impossible to exactly locate our infantry, but Major Young, at a

venture, directed several shots over our column at a range of from 2000

to 2500 yards. The Filipinos soon retreated. It was afterwards learned

that these shells had fallen in the midst of the attacking force.

This spirited encounter was the subject of a special report of the chief

of artillery to the division commander in which Lieutenant Critchlow and

the cannoneers received special mention for their gallantry.

That night a pontoon bridge was built across the river and on the

morning of the 28th the artillery moved across and encamped during the

succeeding day and night in the suburbs of Malolos. An advance of only a

short distance had been made the next morning when a body of the enemy

was encountered at Bocaue. Here it was necessary to cross the Santa Mone

river. This was attempted with some difficulty, as only the guns could

be taken over on the bridge and the mules had to be swum across. The

pieces and accoutrements across, the artillery immediately went into

action against the long lines of Filipinos. A railroad train in the

hands of the insurgents could be seen in the distance and some natives

were busily engaged in applying torches to the engine-house. A few

shells were sent screaming in that direction and the engineer needed no

further orders to speed with all dispatch toward the north country.

Again the guns were limbered up and the force advanced to the Bagoa

river, where it was again necessary to drag the guns across the shaky

bridge and force the reluctant mules to swim.

By this time the infantry had pushed some distance ahead, and suddenly

there was heavy firing near another dismantled bridge close to the

Guiguinta. Both the town and the bridge had been burned by the

insurgents, and as soon as the infantry force crossed the railway track

it was greeted with such a heavy fire that there were thirty casualties

within a few minutes. The artillery came forward, as it had done before

in many desperate fights, at the critical moment. The mules were

unhitched and the cannoneers dashed with two of the guns across the

shattered bridge and began firing from the top of the track. The

insurgent fire came directly down the railroad grade. Private Pender was

shot through the hip while working at the gun. In a few moments the

shrapnel had torn the Filipino earthworks and in the semi-darkness the

dusky figures of the Filipinos could be seen in retreat. The river which

barred the way was crossed the next day.

When evening fell on the 30th, the towers of Malolos, the insurgent

capital, where a few months before Don Emilio Aguinaldo had been crowned

president of the Filipino republic, were almost within view. A long line

of Filipino intrenchments defended the approaches to the city. All eyes

had been turned from the beginning of the insurrection toward Malolos,

and here it was expected that on the morrow Aguinaldo, with a host of

his black warriors around him, would make a desperate effort to resist

the aggression of the American troops. The four big rifles and the

Colt's automatic were moved into a position at dusk close to a deserted

line of intrenchments south of Malolos. Majors Bell and Young, later in

the evening, went forward to locate a position for constructing

emplacements for the guns. Suddenly there was a long flash from a low

line of Filipino intrenchments 1000 yards to the front. They saw the

flash in time to guard themselves by the shelter of a rice stack from

the pattering bullets. Their mission by this time was accomplished, for

they had discovered a strong position for the rifles just within a

circle of bamboo trees from which there was an easy view of the enemy's

works.

Late that night, in the tropic darkness of the overhanging trees, a line

of men, carrying picks and spades, trudged out slowly from the

encampment. They were guided by First Sergeant John Anderson of Battery

B. Soon the rice stack where the emplacements were to be made could be

seen through the gloom. The work was begun quietly, for the Filipinos in

the distance were known to be on the alert. An axe struck sharply

against a bamboo and a pick dinned resoundingly in the hard earth. Every

one looked searchingly into the distance, where a response was looked

for from a hundred guns. Major Young stated that he had posted a lookout

near by so that when he called "flash" the men could take care of

themselves as they saw fit before the winged bullets arrived. So the

work went on. When the earth had been reared about one foot, the lookout

suddenly called "flash" and twenty men dropped to the ground. But there

was no report and no bullets came. The lookout had seen some restless

Filipino lighting a cigarette. The intrenchments were ready shortly

after midnight, and before dawn on the morning of the 31st the guns were

moved into position. The insurgents formed a belligerent half-circle

around the city, and were prepared to advance from three sides when the

roar of one of the big guns gave the signal to move. When the light came

it brought into bright relief the heavy earthworks of the enemy, and a

body of soldiers was observed standing idly on the railroad track about

ten hundred yards away. Suddenly the yawning big guns roared over the

plain and a shell burst over the Filipino intrenchments. There was a

brief response. The vigorous click-click of the automatic joined in with

the roar of the big guns. Within an hour the infantrymen were advancing

upon the outer works of the city from three sides, and the Filipinos

could be seen fleeing down the railroad grade. They were followed by

bullets from rapid-fire guns and several shells were sent into the

insurgents city at a range of four kilometers. Afterwards it was learned

that the natives had been driven from their two lines of intrenchments,

which were 1000 yards apart, a fact which clearly indicated the accuracy

of the firing. As soon as the enemy was dispersed the pieces were

limbered and while one section took the winding course of the Malolos

road into the city the other went by way of the railroad. For several

thousands yards in front of Malolos the track had been torn up by the

insurgents and the gun which went up the track had great difficulty in

passing. At one place where the bridge had been destroyed it was

necessary to replace a large number of ties which had been hurriedly

thrown into a body of water near by.

All morning a long curling line of smoke could be seen from the distance

arising from the heart of the city. When the artillery swept into the

city side by side with the rigid column of infantry they found half the

place in ruins; the great church which had been used as a congressional

hall was fading in the flame. The American had found the city a burning

Moscow and the people, like the patriotic Russians, had applied the

torch to the capital upon which they had centered their fondest dreams.

The soldiers trooped into city, mud-bespattered and weary, and commented

in loud tones of surprise on their peaceful entry into a city where they

had looked for the bloodiest strife of the insurrection. The artillery

made a striking appearance as the big mules galloped over the evacuated

town. The guns were parked in the plaza before the Hall of Congress of

the insurgent capital, and Major MacArthur accorded to Major Young the

honor of raising the first American flag over the walls of the rebel

capital. It may be added here that several weeks later the Utah band

played patriotic airs in the hall where but a short time ago Aguinaldo

was declared president of the Philippines.

[Illustration: UTAH GUNS IN PARK, AT CONGRESSIONAL HALL, MALOLOS.]

The troops remained for several days inactive at Malolos to recuperate

after the rigors of the long march. During this time the two guns

commanded by Lieutenant Gibbs at Caloocan were brought to Malolos by

rail, and Captain Wedgewood took charge of them, while Lieutenant Gibbs

returned to the two platoons stationed at the waterworks.

On April 7th a reconnoitering expedition went out to investigate the

enemy's position to the east of Quingua in the vicinity of Bag Bag.

Major Bell commanded the party, which consisted of a troop of the Fourth

Cavalry, a Hotchkiss revolving cannon and one Hotchkiss mountain gun, in

charge of John A. Anderson. They found a place where the river could be

forded and discovered that the insurgents were strongly intrenched on

the banks of the Bag Bag river. The country at this time was heavily

timbered and the party was able to return unnoticed by the enemy.

A severe battle occurred on April 23rd as the forces closed in on

Quingua. A reconnoitering party of cavalry encountered a large body of

insurgents and the fire was so withering that Major Bell was forced to

retire. Reinforcements of infantry were promptly called for and soon the

Nebraskans moved forward to the fray. The fight lasted several hours,

and the infantry and cavalry were forced to endure a heavy fire out in

the open from a long line of Filipinos intrenchments hidden in a line of

underbrush and trees. It was during this engagement that the gallant

Stotsenberg was killed while rallying his men for the charge over the

open. The artillery did not arrive until 11 o'clock, when two rifles,

one from each battery under Captain Wedgewood and Lieutenant Critchlow

came to the front and as usual soon ended the argument. Private D.J.

Davis of Battery A was shot through the fleshy part of the leg, and

while standing twenty yards behind the piece Captain Wedgewood was

wounded in the hand and stomach by a flying piece of copper from the

defective gun breech. The artillery occupied a position at one hundred

yards range during this stubbornly fought engagement. The guns were

partially sheltered by the foliage of a clump of trees to the left of

the Pulilan road and the Nebraska infantry. Firing from the artillery

was plainly effective, and after forty-five minutes of continual

bombardment the insurgents retired over the Pulilan road toward Bag

Bag.

During this engagement Lieutenant Fleming of the Sixth United States

Artillery arrived from Malolos with one of his own and a Battery B gun,

manned by a Utah detachment, and did valuable service at a

one-thousand-yard range. As the natives retreated in columns they

afforded a conspicuous target and bursting shrapnel tore large holes in

the retiring lines. Private Abplanalp of Battery B, one of the drivers,

was shot through the hand and arm while in the rear of the firing line.

This was considered to be as fierce a fight as that in which the rough

riders won their way to glory at Las Guasimas. At that point three

regiments were engaged and there were seventy casualties. At Quingua

there were only five hundred Americans against a large body of

insurgents and sixty of these were killed or wounded. General Gregoria

del Pilar, the dashing young Filipino leader, who had previously visited

General Otis for the purpose of arranging terms of peace, commanded the

dusky warriors at this place. Though he was forced to retreat he took

upon himself the credit of killing Colonel Stotsenberg, and afterwards

boasted that he had slain one thousand Americans in the engagement.

The next morning Lieutenant Fleming with two big rifles and a Hotchkiss

revolving cannon, in charge of Gunner Corporal M.C. Jensen, forded the

Quingua river, a tributary of the Rio Chico, which in turn draws its

waters from the Rio Grande de Pampanga, at Calumpit. The remainder of

the artillery, consisting of a platoon of Battery A, under Lieutenant

Naylor, and one gun under Lieutenant Critchlow, went on down the Pulilan

road toward Bag Bag. There was a sharp encounter on this road, during

which a body of the enemy about a thousand yards to the right attempted

a flank movement, but a few shots from the big guns and the Hotchkiss

forced them to change their course. The guns directly under Major Young

on the other side of the river became involved about three hundred yards

south of the enemy's long low line of earthworks at Bag Rag. Their

intrenchments occupied the strip of land at the junction of the Rio

Chico and the Bag Bag rivers. When a reconnoitering party visited this

place on April 7th the plain surrounding the Bag Bag was covered with

bamboo and underbrush, but now all the plain was as clean and level as

if it had been swept by a cyclone. Thus the intrenched Malays had

cleared a spot which commanded the plains for miles around.

Infantry and artillery advanced from both sides of the Quingua--Hale

with Fleming on the other side and Wheaton with Utah to the south. Soon

the artillery was engaged on the Pulilan road, 225 yards from the enemy.

At this time the infantry force was fifty yards in the rear, where it

was masked from the enemy but could render no important assistance. The

fire from the Tagalan intrenchments was murderous. While the artillery

fire was as rapid as possible at least two responsive volleys came from

the intrenchments after each shot. Private Max Madison fell, killed

instantly, early in the action; Private Frederick Bumiller received a

fatal wound through the hips. Two other cannoneers were hit in their

attire by glance balls and all three of the big guns were cut with

Mausers. In Lieutenant Critchlow's single detachment of eight men five

were struck--two killed and one seriously wounded. Wheaton's line

meanwhile bore in from the left and the artillery swung forward with the

line until they were almost on the opposite bank from the enemy. The

armored train, equipped with Gatlings revolving cannon, pulled up at

this point and turned loose its armament upon the enemy at a 200-yard

range. The insurgents stubbornly fell back under the terrific fire.

On the opposite bank Corporal Jensen and his crew, sixty yards from the

enemy's position, were ripping the low intrenchments with the revolving

cannon. His position was perilous and his gallant fight soon ended. He

was pierced through the stomach with a bullet and on the next day died

from the wound. Lieutenant Fleming, in his report to the chief of

artillery, says of him: "I desire especially to mention Corporal M.C.

Jensen for gallantry in this action. His fearlessness undoubtedly cost

him his life." He also recommends in this report that Corporal Jensen be

awarded a certificate of merit.

Calumpit is a city which the insurgents looked upon as invulnerable. Its

huts and stone bridges are on both sides of the Rio Grande de

Pampanga--the broadest and longest river in Luzon. It was here a few

months before that the insurgents captured many thousand Spanish

prisoners with all their arms, and they were prepared to vigorously

contest the advance of the American troops.

The guns of Utah and the two big rifles of Lieutenant Fleming were on

the south side of the Bag Bag, and it is only a mile from here to the

Filipino stronghold. The advance began early on the morning of the 27th.

A platoon under Lieutenant Naylor, who had been in charge of Battery A

pieces since the wounding of Captain Wedgewood, one gun under Lieutenant

Critchlow, Fleming's two guns and a Hotchkiss in charge of Corporal

Bjarnson were pushed by hand over a bridge hastily constructed over the

waters of the Bag Bag. The clattering din of the infantry could soon be

heard in altercation with the insurgents at the front. The insurgents,

behind intrenchments, were sending volleys fast into the Americans from

the north bank of the Pampanga. It was observed that the long bridge had

been partially destroyed and the rails torn from the track for several

hundred yards. The heavy iron beams of the bridge were placed above the

two lines of intrenchments. Iron rails supported the ponderous beams,

and between them was formed a long slot for Filipino rifles.

The three big Utah guns were rushed to a position on the right of the

station, about 100 yards from the enemy, and where there was partial

protection from a nipa hut. Earthworks were quickly thrown up and to

divert the enemy's attention while this was going on, a squad of Montana

men kept up a constant fire from a position immediately in front of the

artillery. Bullets came in sheets from the Filipino position. A Montana

sharpshooter, shot through the head, fell dead at the foot of the

half-made emplacement. Fleming's guns pointed through an aperture broken

through the solid brick walls of the station facing the half-demolished

bridge. Further off to the left Corporal Bjarnson with the revolving

Hotchkiss was with the line of Kansas infantry under Colonel Funston.

Out on the left Colonel Funston was performing the famed and intrepid

feat by which he was able to cross the river. Protected by the swift

fire of the revolving Hotchkiss, a Kansas man with a rope swam the swift

moving waters of the Pampanga and fastened one end to the base of a

bamboo tree. Then Funston with about forty of his men crossed the river

on hastily constructed rafts, guided by the long ropes. Suddenly this

small body of warriors charged and attacked the insurgents on the left

flank. The insurgents who had valiantly and stubbornly held their

position, were terrorized by the unexpected onslaught, and the whole

line in the east side of the bridge sprang from the intrenchment and

fled northward along the railroad embankment. Natives were strewn thick

upon the banks of the river as they ran. A mounted Filipino officer was

shot through the heart as he stood with flashing sword vainly trying to

rally his confused and fleeing troops. The Tagalans to the right were

touched with consternation and fled from their bulwarks. And so during

this one hour Colonel Funston performed the most dashing deed of the war

and the Malay hosts were driven from their strongest defense. Fifteen

hundred American soldiers in this battle contested with 12,000

intrenched warriors of Luzon, and won by their prowess and the strategy

of a gallant leader.

The two brigades were allowed to rest for several days on the sunny

banks of the Pampanga. On May 14th the troops began the march toward San

Fernando, which lies green and low at the base of Mt. Arayat, which can

be seen for many miles around. The artillery, with the mules, crossed

the river on rafts. Wheaton advanced up the railroad track while Hale's

brigade strung out over the Apalit road.

A revolving Hotchkiss cannon and one Gatling gun, manned by Battery B

detachments, were mounted on trucks. This moving battery was commanded

by Lieutenant Naylor. As the troops approached Santo Tomas the

insurgents were discovered, intrenched on both sides of the railroad. As

the infantry engaged them on the right, Lieutenant Naylor's machine

guns played on the thin line of smoke curling above the Filipino

intrenchment. As the infantry pressed them on the right they retreated

over the railroad towards a long line of intrenchments, and the bullets

from the Gatling fell among them here faster than autumn leaves. Colonel

Funston, at the head of his troops, took the fire line of intrenchments

on the left of the track and moved down on the Tagalans, who had

constructed a long line of intrenchments parallel with the railway. They

were beaten back by the Kansas men, but in this charge Colonel Funston

fell, having sustained a slight wound in the arm. During this engagement

General Luna, most renowned of the Filipino chiefs, was wounded in the

arm, and as there was only a light infantry fire, the opinion prevailed

that this was inflicted by Lieutenant Naylor's fast-clicking Gatling

gun. General Wheaton personally praised Lieutenant Naylor for his work

in the Santo Tomas battle, and afterwards in his report recommended him

for meritorious service.

Over on the right up the Apalit road Captain Wedgewood and Lieutenant

Critchlow were encountering difficulties. The insurgents had constructed

pitfalls in the road. They were thinly covered with a layer of leaves

and earth and the wayward feet of mule and soldier were menaced beneath

with sharp pointed wedges of bamboo. These were discovered early in the

march and no accidents resulted from them. There was some brisk fighting

on this end of the line and the big guns shelled the insurgents on the

opposite side of the river. The whole of the next day was consumed in

transporting the artillery and equipage across the river on a raft

constructed by the engineers, and on May 6th they entered San Fernando.

This fair city was half destroyed by flames, and when the troops entered

no lingering black warriors could be found. They had all retreated

farther north, following in the general direction of the railway.

Major-General MacArthur's headquarters were established near the center

of that part of the city which was untouched by the flames, and close by

the Utah guns were parked. Later one of the big guns was utilized for

outpost duty, a rather remarkable use for artillery. Every night after

the Filipinos had begun to gather again near the city one of the pieces

with a gun crew would go down a sunken road and watch all night with the

farthest outposts of the infantry.

During this period Major-General Otis had issued an order offering

thirty pesos to every Filipino warrior who would return his rifle to the

American authorities. On May 23rd Major Bell went on an expedition up

the railway track for the purpose of posting up the order, and took with

him two troops of the Fourth Cavalry and a revolving Hotchkiss gun,

manned by Sergeant Emil Johnson and Corporal Hesburg of Battery A and

Private Martin of Battery B. All the men were mounted and the cannon

equipped with a small Filipino horse, so that if necessary a hasty

retreat could be made. They proceeded up the railway track, and notices

were duly and conspicuously left at Bacalor and Quiuag. Just as the

forces reached the outskirts of Santa Rita they were fired on by a large

body of insurgents, who were heavily intrenched around the city. The

revolving cannon was used effectively and Major Bell and his men went

into action five times, but the insurgent attack was too fierce for the

small force and it was obliged to retreat. With a whoop of joy the

Filipinos rose from their trenches in pursuit, cheering loudly as they

came. They followed for five miles through Bacalor, and as far back as

their old intrenchments surrounding San Fernando. The rather meagre

encouragement of having been able to chase a small troop of cavalry

seemed to give the Tagalans at this time an idea that they had the whole

American force in retreat.

During the night word was brought to General MacArthur that the

Filipinos were preparing to make an attack early the next morning. At

dawn the Montana and Kansas regiments and a platoon under Lieutenant

Naylor went out to meet them. The Filipinos were in force in their old

position to the northwest. The Kansas went through some cornfields on

the left and the Montanas through a sunken road to the right. The

artillery remained in a concealed position in the center and waited

until the two regiments had moved up on the startled natives from both

flanks. As the insurgents retreated in confusion the big guns played on

the scattered ranks. A large number of the natives were killed during

this clever maneuver and thirty of their rifles were captured.

The Tagalans when on the warpath are persistent. The next day they

occupied intrenchments farther to the north. They were again driven back

and this time they took up a position towards Mexico and in front of the

Iowa troops.

During the next few days the Malay hordes came toward San Fernando from

all sides. Eventually their forces completely surrounded the city.

General MacArthur watched their plans, saw them tearing up the earth for

intrenchments and waited. It was apparent that they were preparing to

march with crushing force upon the American troops.

The cloud burst on June 16th. Just at that time, when the Americans were

not looking for them, the Tagalans descended on the town. Captain Fred

Wheeler was out on a plain drilling a troop of the Fourth United States

Cavalry. It was in the morning and there was a heavy mist. One of

Captain Wheeler's men informed him that he could see the "niggers"

coming. The Captain could see nothing and sent for his glasses, but

before they arrived the long skirmish line of the Tagalans could be seen

emerging like spectres from the mist. Then there was a remarkable

spectacle--the Fourth Cavalry and the Tagalan warriors racing for the

same intrenchments. The cavalrymen arrived first and there the battle

began.

The natives came in from four sides. The outposts waited in the old

Filipino intrenchments and on some parts of the line the attacked

Tagalans were allowed to approach within 200 yards. Most of the guns,

when the fight began were located close to MacArthur's headquarters, but

they were soon on all parts of the line. When the attack by the

Filipinos began the gun under command of Lieutenant Naylor was on its

way to the outposts. It had been the custom to take the gun there just

before dawn and bring it back immediately after darkness came. The

advancing Filipinos began firing before the gun was in position.

Corporal Hanson was in charge at the time, and the rifle was at once

rushed to the emplacement. Word came at the same hour to Lieutenant

Naylor, who was officer of the outpost, and he went through a heavy fire

down the road leading to the intrenchment. When he arrived there the

Filipinos were within three hundred and fifty yards and were advancing

over the rice ridges at a rapid gait. The Lieutenant had a shell sent

into the approaching insurgents, who seemed astounded to find that the

artillery occupied such an advanced position. When nine shells had been

sent into their line, the Filipinos gradually drew back and were not

seen any more on this part of the line during the fight.

[Illustration: PREPARING FOR AN ENGAGEMENT.]

The Seventeenth and Twenty-second Infantry were the support on this end

of the line, which faced to the north.

On the west, east and part of the north line were the Kansas and Montana

infantry. It was to this point that the two guns of Lieutenant Gibbs

were moved when the firing began, and here the guns inflicted severe

damage on the islanders. Another gun of Battery B was also placed near

this part of the line under Lieutenant Hines, but it was unnecessary

from this position to use the artillery.

This fight was the first time the American soldiers during the whole

campaign had repulsed an attack from behind intrenchments, and they laid

back and smiled as the black men approached and then passed out some

volleys that made the whole advancing line reel. When the Tagalans began

to retreat under the awakened storm, the Americans followed, and as the

Filipinos recoiled from one regiment they were broken against another. A

company of the Twentieth Infantry located near Santo Tomas was almost

cut off by the advancing column of the enemy, and a company of the

Montana men was sent to its assistance. The fight lasted nearly two

hours and the Filipino loss amounted to several hundred. The only

casualty on the American side was a slight wound received by a Montana

man, which shows clearly what the Americans could do in a contest with a

black man under conditions more or less equal. Colonel Funston stated

afterwards that a shell from one of Lieutenant Gibbs's guns had killed

fifteen Filipinos.

The burying of dead Filipinos the next day was a tragic sight.

Sixty-four were engulfed in one trench. They were brought up in caribou

carts, and the American pulled them off with ropes and deposited them in

the common grave.

There was another fight on the 22nd, but the Filipinos seemed to have

lost their dash and courage of a few days before, and on this occasion

the artillery was not called out.

A few days later word came that the Utah battalion was ordered home, and

on the 24th day of June the Utah men boarded the train for Manila and

were carried away from the smoke of war and the darkly fought

battlefields of the East.

* * * * *

Sergeant John A. Anderson with one gun of Battery B and a rifle of the

Sixth Artillery was in the flying column of General Lawton, who left a

path of ashes around the Pampanga province and finally drove the

insurgents from San Isidro with his detachment on the 21st of March and

arrived on the same day at Bocaue. The order to march came on the 23rd

and the Sergeant was given a position on the left of the Thirteenth

Minnesotas. From the brow of the hill above Norzagaray the guns began

shelling at 1500 yards. The front line was silenced but at this point

the natives made an effort to turn the right flank, and it was necessary

to throw many shrapnel into the advancing insurgents column before it

turned. The next day Norzagaray was entered after the place had been

shelled, and during this slight advance the artillery was in action five

times. Colonel Sommers personally commended the detachment on the

accuracy of its gunnery and its promptness. On the 25th Ongaut was

burned and on the 26th there was an engagement which lasted for some

time below Baliuag. San Maguel was taken on the 4th, and on the 13th a

few shells were thrown into San Isidro, but the insurgents, after

repeated defeats, showed small resistance here and soon retreated.

On the 24th the artillery arrived with the infantry at Candaba, and the

detachment remained quartered here until the order arrived for the Utah

men to return to Manila. The plan of Lawton's campaign was for his

troops to drive the insurgents towards Candaba, where they could be met

by the advancing forces under Major Kobbe and the river gunboats. But

when General Lawton came down to Candaba there were none but American

soldiers there as the insurgents forces had disappeared in the interior.

Shortly after the arrival in Malolos the Utah men were joined by

Corporal Dusenbury and two other men of Battery B. They with a revolving

Hotchkiss cannon were picked up by General Wheaton early in his advance

from Caloocan, and were highly praised by the General for the skill and

efficiency they had shown in many dangerous places. General Wheaton

showed his appreciation of the work of the guns by attaching several

regular and Oregon infantrymen to the pieces, in order that they could

be carried over rough places with the greatest possible dispatch.