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advance. How the artillery was brought through these bogs is a mystery. Lieut. Scott, of the 6th Art., and Lieut. Fleming brought up cannon and horses.

The women and children and, for that matter, many men, remained in the towns. No houses were destroyed, though many were torn by the shells from the warships. Everywhere the Americans found white flags flying.

So far as could be ascertained, the Filipino loss was about fifty killed, about three hundred and fifty wounded and twenty taken prisoners. The 13th U. S. Inf. and the Colorado Volunteer Inf. were ordered to return to Manila, leaving Las Pinas about 5 P. M. same day.

On June 12th, the command remained in their relative positions during the day, except that outposts south of the camp were strengthened by artillery. During the afternoon of the same day the Commanding General examined the insurgent's position along the bay, on board the launch Helena.

THE FIGHTING CONTINUED.

Early the following morning, Gen. Lawton, with two companies, 21st Inf., left camp at Las Pinas and proceeded towards Bacoor to reconnoiter the enemy's position. After going about one mile, the enemy was encountered in large force. They opened fire from all sides, the fire being returned by our men with good effect, and the gunboats in the bay shelled the enemy's trenches. The enemy was found to be too strong for our small force, and they were obliged to retreat for a short distance. Re-inforcements were brought up about noon, and a hot fight ensued, lasting until about 5 P. M.

After an artillery battle and some lively skirmishing, an advance was made in the direction of Bacoor, and it developed into the hardest fight since the hostilities with the Filipinos began.

The main work was the direct attack on Zapote Bridge. Kenley's Battery of four mountain guns and two 3-inch guns, with Company E of the 14th Inf. as support, advanced straight along the road to the bridge. The other companies of the 14th Regiment moved forward to the right and left of the road.

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The rebels had dug enormous trenches along the Bacoor side of the river and had burned the planking in the middle of the bridge to prevent the Americans from crossing and taking their positions. Our men pushed steadily forward until they reached the bank of the river. Then Kenley took his mountain guns right up to the bridge and poured a heavy fire into the trenches, but they were so well

constructed that it was impossible to damage them greatly. So close were we to the enemy that we could see their heads above the earthworks. Gen. Lawton told the writer that the Filipinos here made the bravest defense he had ever seen. Our artillery was within thirty-five yards of their trenches.

A tremendous fire was set up in spite of the galling return. It was not long before the rebels began to grow restive under the hail of bullets that was being poured into them, and finally they broke and ran. That part of our army in front

of the Filipino trenches then ran along the bank of the river, and standing upright, directed a terrible fire upon the fugitives. The 14th Inf. swam across the river and found many Filipinos dead and dying in the trenches and fields. Probably fifty dead natives were found in the vicinity of the bridge.

The rebels had a second line of trenches half a mile away. Half an hour after the retreat from the first line, firing was re-opened from this second line. Fresh troops were hurried forward to relieve the tired men who had captured the first line, and a heavy fire was opened on the enemy, who responded only for a short time and then fled. Gen. Wheaton was slightly hurt by falling from his horse. Gen. Ovenshine commanded the attack on the bridge. Gen. Lawton personally directed the movement. The latter was a conspicuous mark for the enemy. He is a big man and his uniform and his white helmet could be easily distinguished for a great distance, but he went up and down the line unscathed.

Ensign Davis of the Helena came ashore with a Colt rapid-fire gun and saw lively service. He captured a Filipino cannon, which had been placed below the bridge, and found a supply of canister shot and brown powder.

Almost at the same time the 9th and 12th crossed a bar of the bay and came upon their left flank at a point where a body of marines, with Maxim guns, landed under protection of the ships' batteries and fired upon the enemy's left rear with a demoralizing effect. The 21st crossed the river by a bridge as soon as it could be mended. Sixty-five Filipinos were found dead in the trenches, most of them shot through the head. Several five-inch smooth bore guns were captured, with ammunition marked "United States Navy." After crossing the river, the troops were withdrawn, with the exception of the 9th and 21st, these regiments being left with four guns to guard the bridge.

As they were being formed into companies, the insurgents commenced to fire volleys from the bamboo jungle three hundred yards away. The regiments formed into line coolly, though under fire, rushed to the woods, driving the enemy a mile away, the Filipinos disputing every foot. The 14th camped across the river, the men caring for many of the Filipino wounded. Eight prisoners were captured. The majority of the Filipinos wore red uniforms. The American loss in the fighting of the 13th, was nine killed and thirty wounded. The Filipino loss was heavy.

After the engagement of the 13th, the Filipinos retreated to the strongly fortified town of Imus. The shelling of our warships drove the rebels from Bacoor. The Americans by these operations gained control of several miles of the coast, while the long line of entrenchments facing our south line had been cleared.

On the 14th, Gen. Lawton and his staff, and a troop of the 4th Cav., started to ascertain the nature of the insurgent's position. He rode five miles along the

coast to Bacoor, without discovering the enemy.

He found the town full of white flags, but there were no soldiers there. The women and children who had fled to the woods during the bombardment were camping in the ruins of their homes. The shells had knocked the town to pieces. The big church was wrecked and many buildings were ruined. Even trees and shrubbery were torn as if by a hail

storm.

Several hundred women and children came into the American lines for refuge, and the road from Bacoor was covered all day with natives on foot and in carts, driving animals and carrying goods on their heads. The appearances of the battlefield testified to the fierceness of the fighting. The trees along the river were almost torn down by bullets. The American officers estimate that one hundred insurgents were killed and three hundred wounded during the engagement.

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Services at Battery Knoll over the remains of three soldiers, Privates in the Kansas, Washington and 12th Infantry. This made a total of 264 men buried in this place to date, June 2, 1899.

All day many hungry Filipinos were fed at Paranaque and Las Pinas. The first issue of rations that morning consisted of rice and canned roast beef. Some of the beef issued was spoiled. On the 18th a strong reconnaissance had been made south of Noveleta. It was reported that a strong force of insurgents was at San Francisco de Malabon. Gen. Wheaton started a reconnaissance toward Perez Dasmarinas also. The country to the south of Imus had not been scouted. The rebels were reported to be concentrated at Perez Dasmarinas.

June 18th, our troops having occupied Imus, and the enemy threatening an attack from Dasmarinas eight miles north, Gen. Wheaton was sent by the Department Commander to assume, under Gen. Lawton, command of the troops at Imus. On the morning of the 19th, a battalion of the 4th Inf. and one gun, under Maj. John W. Bubb, was sent on the road from Imus in the direction of Dasmarinas to

make a reconnaissance, and found the enemy in force on the road, and about one mile from Imus. A spirited combat ensued, and Gen. Wheaton, at Imus, hearing the firing, proceeded at once to reinforce the battalion with the other two battalions of the 4th U. S. Inf., with three guns. The enemy, about 2500 strong, were immediately attacked in the flank by a heavy fire from the artillery placed by Gen. Wheaton, and the infantry advanced upon him. He was routed with great loss, and fled in the direction of Dasmarinas. The 20th Inf., Gen. Wheaton advanced on Dasmarinas with the 4th Inf., one battalion 14th U. S. Inf., one battalion 9th U. S. Inf., one troop Nevada Cav. (dismounted) and seven guns. Dasmarinas was occupied and the enemy's force entirely dispersed.

RESULT OF THE OPERATIONS.

In this series of operations the enemy were driven from the country in the vicinity of Manila Bay and north of the city. His loss in killed, wounded and captured was at least 2000 men. His forces were in a great measure dispersed.

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