as long as we remained there. As is the case with all these towns of considerable size, no reliable information is at hand concerning their population. The inhabitants cannot even guess, and it is not easy to form a satisfactory estimate, owing to the crowding of houses and huts customary among the lower classes of the natives and Chinese. Of the latter a large number appear to have lived in each of these larger provincial towns, and to have constituted the commercial class, conducting a multitude of small shops. These Chinese merchants have been scattered by the unsettled conditions in the provinces, some remaining, paying heavy war taxes to the insurgent officials, for which they are supposed to receive protection from the Filipino soldiers who are said to have ruthlessly slaughtered

many.

LIEUT. THORNTON SUCCEEDS CHIEF SCOUT YOUNG.

About the time that Capt. Gale's column moved out on its reconnoissance toward Sibul, Col. Summers and his column advanced toward, and occupied San Roque, where they arrived about nine o'clock. The scouts under 2d Lieut. J. E. Thornton, 2d Oregons, (successor to Chief Scout Young) were sent forward in search of water. About

two and one-half miles out they were fired on by the enemy, whom they engaged and forced back across a river about forty feet wide, and too deep to be forded, necessitating the use of a large wooden bridge by any one desirous of crossing to the north bank. The insurgents retreated across the bridge, which they set on fire, and entered their trenches which commanded the approach to the bridge by a frontal and enfilading fire. The scouts charged across the bridge, followed by a battalion of the Oregons, and engaged the enemy in their trenches, completely routing them, with a known loss of six killed and eight prisoners, six of whom were wounded. Fourteen Mausers, and two Remingtons with equipments and ammunition, were captured. Many killed and wounded are known to have been carried away to San Isidro, which is not far from the bridge.

SCOUT HARRINGTON KILLED.

Our loss was numerically small, but was nevertheless severe, in that Scout James Harrington of the 2d Oregons was killed. As Young's assistant, he had done many gallant deeds of which official records exist. Prior to the organization of Young's scouts, Harrington's reputation as a successful, intelligent scout had extended beyond his regiment, his many daring encounters with outposts of the

enemy being known generally throughout the whole command; and after the beginning of the operations of the scouts as an organization, he was invariably placed in charge of any detachment sent out from Young's charge.

The bridge was saved from destruction by the efforts of the Oregons and the scouts, and, occupying both sides of the river, they set about repairing it, wisely recognizing the delay that would otherwise be caused the main command in advancing. Col. Summers and his troops were again commended in reports, and great regret expressed at the loss of the two most important and valuable members of the detachment of scouts.

THE COLUMN REACHES SAN ISIDRO.

Orders were then issued for an advance on San Isidro, the new objective, to take place early on the morning of the 17th. Col. J. W. French, 22d Inf., commanding his own regiment and the 1st North Dakotas, was sent forward in the evening of the 16th to join Col. Summers for the contemplated movement of the morrow. About four o'clock, May 17th, Gen. Lawton and staff left San Miguel for the front, which was found to be just north of the bridge and trenches occupied the day before by the scouts and the 2d Oregons. Telegraphic communication was established with San Miguel, and Corps Headquarters without delay, and the movement on San Isidro commenced. Col. Summers deployed the column; the 22d Inf. on the left, their right resting on the road, the 1st North Dakotas and 1st Battalion, 2d Oregons on right of road; along which Scott's Battery followed; the scouts preceded the right of the line. Troop I, 4th Cav., operated on the left of the road.

The command advanced toward the town, and when within about 1800 yards of it, fire was opened on the scouts and on the right of our line. The advance was continued and the city occupied by our forces. Our casualties, one enlisted man, each, 13th Minnesotas and 2d Oregons slightly wounded. Insurgent loss, fifteen killed, twenty wounded, three prisoners. Seven guns and four horses fell into our hands. Several Spaniards who claimed to have been held prisoners by the insurgents were found in the city, among them three officers. Many wealthy natives remained with their property and families, and at once applied for, and were accorded protection by our troops. Dr. Albert a former Peace Commissioner selected by the Filipino Congress, of which he was still a member, reported the presence at his residence of a large number of non-combatants, including the wives and children of insurgent officers, and gave much imformation concerning the doings of the insurgent leaders.

THE FILIPINO PEACE COMMISSION.

Arrangements were made for the entry of Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, and three other members of the Filipino Peace Commission, who desired to go to Manila for conference with the American Commission, with a view to the termination of hostilities. These persons came within our lines, May 18th, and next morning started for Manila, accompanied by Lieut. E. L. King, Aide-de-camp, with orders to commanders of all forces of this expedition, located on their route, to secure for the party every accommodation and courtesy possible. It was learned that the

insurgents had had at this place fourteen prisoners, thirteen Americans, including a lieutenant of our navy, and one Englishman, whom they had moved back into the mountains on our advance. The afternoon of the capture of San Isidro, it was reported that the enemy had fled toward Gapan, a town of considerable importance, about four miles east of San Isidro. The insurgents had a hospital there, which was reported to be, filled with wounded Filipinos. It was further alleged that stores and munitions were there located.

One battalion of Oregons and one of Minnesotas were sent to Gapan from San Isidro, and their departure so timed as to effect a junction with another column, under Capt. Hannay, from San Miguel, by way of cross-roads at San Roque, the second column consisting of Gale's dismounted squadron and a battalion of the 3d Inf. The two columns joined as anticipated, and with the exception of a desultory fire from the other side of the river, no resistance was encountered. The town was deserted. The San Isidro troops were returned next morning and the San Miguel troops were sent to San Miguel the same afternoon.

Capt. Hannay, with ten companies of the 3d Inf. and one gun from Hawthorne's Mountain Battery, was ordered to remain at San Miguel, and Gale's squadron, with another gun from Hawthorne's Battery, were ordered to re-inforce the garrison at Baliuag, which was reported to be in danger of attack by a large force of the enemy.

AN ENGAGEMENT NEAR SAN FERNANDO.

Col. French with the 22d Inf., 1st North Dakotas and Scott's Battery (two guns), proceeded down the Rio Grande toward Candaba, on the afternoon of the 18th. When near San Fernando they met the enemy in trenches, or behind embankments commanding the road, and an engagement ensued which lasted until

ENGINEER CORPS REPAIRING RAILROAD TRACK TORN UP BY INSURGENTS.

darkness came on, the enemy being forced back across the river, where they poured in a hot fire from that side of the stream. Scott's guns were brought up, and threw shrapnel at point-blank range. Many of these shrapnel burst in the piece, the projectiles falling harmlessly into the water. This frequently occurred during the campaign, and experience had rendered the use of shrapnel for the protection of our advancing infantry too dangerous an experiment to hazard.

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 Yoran 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

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. Lawton to the command of the forces, including, and south of the