The Worcester Spy

How Manila Was Won.

BRAVE MEN
Who Won Distinction by
Brave Acts in Battle.

Washington, Oct. 2.—The report of
Major General Arthur MacArthur, who
commanded the 1st brigade, 2d division,
8th army corps, on the day of the battle
of Manila, mention of which was made
in yesterday's dispatch, gives some in-
teresting details of the fight of the 13th
of August. Following are some ex-
tracts:

"Several hours before the operations
of the day were intended to commence,
there was considerable desultory firing
from the Spanish line, both of cannon
and small arms, provoked, no doubt, by
Filipino soldiers who insisted upon
maintaining a fusillade along their lines
east of the Pasig road. The fire was
not returned by our troops, and when
the formation of the day was com-
menced things at the front were kept
very quiet. About 9:30 the naval attack
commenced and some 20 minutes there-
after the gun of Battery B, Utah ar-
tillery, opened on blockhouse No. 14,
the guns of the Astor battery having
engaged an opposing battery some min-
utes after the opening of the naval at-
tack. There was no reply from the
blockhouse or contiguous lines, either
by guns or small arms. The opposition
to the Astor fire, however, was quite
energetic, but after a spirited contest
the opposition, consisting probably of
two pieces, was silenced.

"This contest was the only notable
feature of the first stage of the action,
and was especially creditable to the
organization engaged. The position
selected by Lieut. March, after careful
personal reconnoissance, was perhaps
the only one possible in the vicinity,
and it was occupied with great skill
and held with commendable firmness,
the battery losing three men wounded,
one of whom has since died. The Utah
gun on the roof fired fourteen shots at
block-house 14, with good effect, as was
subsequently ascertained upon inspec-
tion of the work. Lieut. Grow and
detachment deserve great credit for
the commendable manner in which the
piece was served and pulled through
the mud without the assistance of
horses. Some time about 11 o'clock
continuous infantry fire was heard in
front of the 2d brigade, and not long
thereafter an exultant shout indicated
substantial success for our arms on the
left. It was therefore assumed that
the enemy had been so shaken as to
make the advance practicable without
a serious disadvantage to our troops."

At about 11:20 a United States flag
was placed upon blockhouse 14, thus
concluding the second stage of the ac-
tion without opposition and without
loss. The general advance was then
resumed, the 13th Minnesota leading,
with Company K as advance guard,
then the Astor battery, a battalion of
the 22d infantry, the battalion, 14th in-
fantry and North Dakota regiment
following in the order named. At a
point just south of Singalong, a block-
house was found burning, causing a
continuous explosion of small arms,
ammunition, which, together with
a scattering fire from the enemy, re-
tarded the advance for a time. All
difficulties were soon overcome, how-
ever, including the passage of the As-
tor battery, by the determined efforts
of Lieut. March and his men, assisted
by the infantry of the Minnesota regi-
ment, over the gun emplacement which
obstructed the road.

In the village of Singalong the ad-
vance fell under a loose fire, the ten-
dency of which increased as the for-
ward movement was pressed, and very
soon the command was committed to
a fierce combat. This strong opposition
arose at block house No. 20 of the
Spanish defenses, a detached work with
emplacements for guns, which for-
tunately were not filled on the 13th in-
stant, but the work was occupied by a
detachment of infantry, probably a
strong rear guard.

The advance party, consisting of men
of the Minnesota regiment, reinforced
by volunteers from the Astor battery,
led by Lieut. March and Capt. Saw-
telle of brigade staff as an individual
volunteer, reached a point within less
than 80 yards of the block house, but
was obliged to retire to the intersect-
ing road in the village, at which point
a hasty work was improvised and oc-
cupied by a firing line of about 15 men.
Aside from conspicuous individual ac-
tions in the first rush, the well-regu-
lated conduct of this firing line was the
marked feature of the contest, and it
is proposed, if possible, to ascertain the
names of the men engaged, with a view
to recommend them for special distinc-
tion.

At about 1:30 p. m. all firing had
ceased, and two scouting parties, vol-
untarily led by Capt. Sawtelle and
Lieut. March, soon thereafter reported
the retirement of the adversary. The
city was entered without further inci-
dent, through the Paco district. The
contact was made about 12 o'clock and
the contest continued with great fero-
city until 1:35—that is to say, about
an hour and a half. The loss in the
combat was 3 officers wounded, 4 en-
listed men killed and 33 wounded. Gen.
MacArthur takes occasion to commend
in strong terms the gallantry of Cols.
Overshine and Reeve, Capts. Sawtelle,
Bjornstad and Zebach and of Lieuts.
March, Kernan and Whitworth.