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However, the effect of such shrapnel as did reach, was the next day attested by our column on that side of the river finding several rifle-pits filled with new earth. Our loss, suffered from the first fire from the barricade across the road, was five wounded, two of whom afterward died. The enemy left two killed and four wounded. Col. French's command bivouacked when darkness overtook them, and next morning moved out and occupied Cabiao.

THE EXPEDITION REACHES CANDABA AND BREAKS UP.

On the morning of the 20th, the entire command left San Isidro, proceeding down the river toward Candaba, with the exception of the signal detachment, which returned toward San Miguel, recovering the telegraph line. LieutenantColonel Voran and the two battalions of the 2d Oregons, crossed over to the west bank of the river, the remainder of the command moving along the road on the east bank, arriving at Cabiao about 10 A. M., at which point Col. French's command joined the main column, and all proceeded on down to the vicinity of Mount Arayat, and went into camp about dark.

Just before starting from San Isidro, two or three Mauser volleys were fired from across the river, some of the bullets going through the house occupied as Division Headquarters. The scouts under Lieut. Thornton, 2d Oregons, as planned the night before, shortly afterwards crossed over, and under cover of the morning mist, secured a good position directly in the enemy's rear, and waited to communicate with the force under Col. Yoran. Col. Yoran's column after crossing the river at San Isidro proceeded up the road toward San Antonio, where, after a junction was effected, they engaged the enemy under Col. Tecson, in force of about five hundred and fifty, who were driven back in great disorder, leaving five dead on the field, and with an estimated loss of twenty-five. Col. Yoran then proceeded down the west bank of the river and re-crossing, joined the main command at Cabiao. The entire command left its bivouac early on the morning of May 21st, and proceeding down the river, arrived at the ferry near the town of Arayat shortly after sunrise. Much to our surprise, no resistance was encountered. It was an ideal place for defense, and the crossing was commanded by many deserted rifle trenches.

Much difficulty was experienced in preparing the approach to the ferry for the passage of wheeled vehicles, and in improvising a suitable raft for the crossing of stores and ammunition. The river at this point was about four and half feet deep, and, as indicated by its banks, is subject to a considerable rise at some seasons of the year.

The advance of the column, a battalion of the 22d Inf., entered the town of Arayat at 7:12 A. M., and found no evidence of the presence of the enemy anywhere in the vicinity. Many of the residents of the town were in their houses, and many others came in during the day.

As rapidly as possible the command was ferried over to the west bank of the river, and entered the town. Col. French's command was brought over before dark, and even Col. Summers completed his crossing before the end of the day. The column which had been advancing up the river under command of Maj. J. A. Kobbe 3d Art., joined the expedition at Arayat, and remaining over night

accompanied the main column down the river toward Candaba where they arrived without incident. The launch and cascos carrying supplies had grounded about two miles below Arayat, and no effort was made to push them further up the river. At Candaba were found the U. S. A. gunboats, Laguna de Bay and Covadonga, the armored launch Oceania, and cascos carrying supplies. Telegraphic communication was again secured, and instructions were received to send the Oregons, Minnesotas and Andrews' Battery to the south side of the river at Calumpit. These organizations left en route to Calumpit early in the morning of the following day.

During the day, after the departure of the troops for Calumpit, considerable firing was heard to the eastward in the direction of San Miguel and Baliuag. A battalion of the 22d Inf., commanded by Capt. Ballance and the detachment of scouts were sent in the direction from which the sound of firing came, but were unable to discover anything, the swamp preventing their continuing to the San Miguel-Baliuag Road. Later it was learned that the troops in San

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Miguel in obedience to orders from Corps Headquarters had, under command of Capt. Hannay, 3d Inf., started to Baliuag to join the garrison at that place, and had met the enemy near San Ildefonso, and were engaged almost continuously all the rest of the way to Baliuag. The insurgents were in strong force and suffered severely. Capt. Hannay was prostrated by heat, result of over-work during the expedition. Insurgent loss estimated at fifty killed and fifty wounded.

Capt. Hannay's command performed an excellent day's work, comprising, as it did, fifteen hours marching, covering a distance of fourteen miles, during which time the command fought four different battles. Capt. J. W. Hannay was awarded much credit for the way he handled his regiment, (ten companies) during a series of difficult situations. A battalion of the 22d Inf., came to the support of the 3d just after the last skirmish. The two Captains who had been captured were sent to Manila, and turned over to the Provost Marshal-General.

During the evening of the 23d, telegraphic orders were received from the Corps Commander breaking up the expedition, stating that it was contemplated assigning Gen. Lawtor to the command of the forces, including, and south of the

Caloocan, Taguig and Pasai line of trenehes, except certain organizations in the city of Manila performing special duties. In accordance with these instructions, one battalion of the 22d Inf., and one Utah gun were left at Candaba and San Luis, with orders to report to Gen. MacArthur. The remainder of the troops composing the expedition with the exception of the four troops of 4th Cav., the 1st North Dakotas, the battalion of the 9th Inf., and Scott's Battery, which were ordered to return to Manila, were turned over to Major-General MacArthur.

On May 24th, Gen. Lawton proceeded by steam launch to Calumpit and thence by rail to Malolos to carry out instructions from the Corps Commander in regard to distribution and rationing of troops, added to Gen. MacArthur's command, and to supervise the re-arrangement of the 13th Minnesotas, guarding the railway. On May 26th, it was reported that a force of the enemy was being concentrated in the vicinity of Baliuag, and instructions were given to the commanding officer at that point to send out reconnoitering parties in the direction of the enemy to ascertain the facts. One company of the 3d Inf., under 1st Lieut. Moore, of that regiment, developed a force of the enemy in the direction of San Rafael, and being encumbered with two wounded men was forced to continue the engagement until relieved by two more companies, when the enemy were dispersed in short order. Other scouting parties failed to discover evidences of the enemy.

The troops destined for Manila were shipped in by rail from Calumpit as rapidly as possible, and the wagon train marched in overland.

Gen. Lawton returned to Manila on the 27th, with his staff. The wagon train arriving in the city on the 30th, closed the expedition, although it was practically completed at the breaking up on the 23d at Candaba.

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CHAPTER XII.

LAWTON'S PARANAQUE CAMPAIGN.

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EN. LAWTON'S command, composed of the following-named troops, concentrated at San Pedro Macati on June 9th, for operation against the insurgent forces in the vicinity of Paranaque, Gen. Wheaton now coinmanding King's old brigade.

Gen. Ovenshine's Brigade-13th U. S. Inf., (complete); 14th U. S. Inf., (nine companies); 12th U. S. Inf., (two companies); two guns, 6th Art., (Battery D); two guns, Hawthorne's Separate Mountain Battery; two guns, Andrews' Battery E, 1st Art. Gen. Wheaton's Brigade-9th U. S. Inf., (eight companies); 21st U. S. Inf., (eight companies); 1st Colorado Volunteer Inf., (six companies); two guns, 6th Art., (Battery D); two guns, Hawthorne's Separate Mountain Battery; two guns, Andrews' Battery E, 1st Art.

On the following morning, June 10th, the command left camp at San Pedro Macati at 5 A. M., and moved in the direction of Paranaque. The line of march was over the ridges of Guadalupe to attack the town in the rear. The intention was to clear out the country lying between Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay. It is a rough grazing country, cut by gulches and overgrown by grass and chaparral. While the men slept with no tents, the rain poured down heavily for an hour. The men only laughed, for in the gentle air of these favored isles, rain, however it may dampen, seldom chills one. Then again, the lust of war was in our blood, and we knew that to-morrow would show us the terrible beauty of skilled and legal murder.

Before dawn we passed out of the shadow of the church and in sight of the benediction in the chapel. Out to war and past the blessed Christ who taught us to love one another; along Pasig River; then up past ruined Guadalupe; over the hill, till we came to a high ridge, where the white tents of the 12th Inf. kept watch and ward over the sleepy fields. A long procession of men, miles long, a file of ruthless steel, a wall of iron and will, came over the ridge and went across the face of the ground, towards Paranaque, hidden in the woods, yet revealing the white steeple of a church, and pointing a finger to the skies, and to the infinite. Justice throned there.

THE CLICK OF THE GUNS.

A kind of soothing rap-tap-tap, tickety-tick-tick, comes to your ears, and somebody looks two miles off among the ranges and ridges. "They are using black powder," he says. We had heard that the Filipinos were manufacturing their own powder at Lipa, in Batangas province, out of the sulphur from the volcano of Taal,

This tapping is not hard or unpleasant. If this is death, you say, it is an easy death; some such quiet feeling as a man has who has taken laughing gas. He knows something tragic is going on, but he does not care nor bother about it.

At last, as we look over the land we see long files of brown men stalking knee deep in long grass. Some one says, "that looks like the Colorados." No. The Colorados are away a mile and a half making those rapid tick-tacks which are so

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caught in a cheese trap like that. You could see his men vamoose over the hill, and no cannon could shoot away a hill. Not yet, Pilar, whether you are a traitor or a patriot, shall Yankee hands be laid on you.

We are standing under a tree, which, from its shape, the boys have christened the "T" tree. It is on the topmost ridge and commands the prospect of the field of fight and flight. But we want to hear those tick-tacks a little closer. So we follow a trail down the hillside and into a valley. Tick-tacks over in these wolds. The 14th Inf. must be tacking up proclamations of the peace commissioners. What did you say about peace? Did you notice those "rookies," or new men, duck? Did you hear an angry bee buzz past your ear? Well, then listen, and look out. You may not be an inch from death.

THE SIGNAL CORPS AT WORK.

As we marched into the rough land, we were surprised to see a man uncoiling a wire. He must be out surveying the land for a farm. No. He is the Signal Corps man. His wire does not measure land, but conveys thoughts. It runs from Lawton's headquarters to those of Otis. It took a curt message to-day.

Otis is fussy, sends word to Lawton about something. He thinks so and so, and like a school girl, wants to talk it over. Lawton can't be reached. Again and again Otis tries to reach the Indian Exterminator. At last, he gets this out to him: "Where is Lawton?" The grizzly fighter sends back in reply: "At the front firing line with his men, where he ought to be."

The Signal Corps are brave. To-day they got ahead of their body-guard, and were almost bagged by Pilar's men.

Anon, Maj. Penrose of the staff goes over a hill to a grassy field. Here he establishes a temporary hospital. No sooner is this done, than the enemy fires

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