Under MacArthur in Luzon/Chapter 23
CHAPTER XXIII
GENERAL MacARTHUR'S ADVANCE
So far there had been several breaks in the rainy season, thus allowing the American troops to make movements of more or less importance. But now the wet spell set in steadily, and any movement on the part of the soldiers was out of the question. The whole of the Philippine Islands were flooded, the water rising in the Laguna de Bay to such an extent that several villages were swept away. In Manila Bay the damage done- to the shipping was extensive, the loss including a warehouse stored with government goods.
Under such circumstances our soldiers could simply grin and bear it, as the saying goes. Those who were at the barracks in Manila and other cities were well enough off, but those in the villages and in the field were far from comfortable. The rainy season added to the sickness, until the hospitals at Manila became so crowded those in authority scarcely knew what to do with the patients.
The rainy season was one of unusual cheerlessness to Ben and Larry, for so far nothing had been heard concerning Walter excepting that he had disappeared ashore, and that it was more than likely the young sailor had been killed in the running fight with the Negritos. Both of the Russells had questioned those on the Central closely but without further satisfaction.
"He's gone—that's all there is to it," said Larry, with trembling lips. "Poor Walter, we'll never see him again."
Ben heaved a long sigh. "You must be right, Larry. If only he had remained at home with Uncle Job!"
For a month after the fighting on the Zapote River the regiment to which Ben was attached remained in that vicinity. In the meantime Larry returned to Manila and was placed on the Charleston, then doing duty along the coast. Thus the two brothers were once more separated, not to meet again for some time to come.
During the rainy season everything possible was done to make the insurgents throw down their arms, and in Manila the Filipinos were instructed in the art of self-government. Yet this had no effect upon Aguinaldo and his followers, then safe at Tarlao and in the mountains behind that town. He wanted absolute freedom or nothing, and declared that he would fight to the very last to obtain it. Certainly such qualities must be admired in any man, even though his judgment be questioned.
It was not until November 5 that the autumnal campaign of 1899 opened in the Philippines. In the meantime Ben's regiment had been sent north, to join the forces under General MacArthur, for a vigorous attack was to be made upon Aguinaldo's stronghold, and all the troops available were to be used for that purpose.
The attack was to come from three quarters, and the intention was, if possible, to surprise the insurgents and hem them in. The main body of rebels still rested at Tarlac and in the mountains nearest to the seacoast. It was ordered by General Otis that General MacArthur march from Angeles up the railroad leading to Dagupan, thus striking the insurgents on the south; General Lawton, with some cavalry, was to attack from a point twenty-two miles east of the railroad, and guard the mountain passes in that neighborhood; while General Wheaton, sailing from Manila to Lingayen Gulf, should land his forces at San Fabian beach and press the rebels from the west. Thus it was hoped Aguinaldo's main army would be hemmed in and forced to surrender.
General Arthur MacArthur, Ben's new commander, had been conspicuous in Philippine warfare ever since the outbreak of February 4. He was a born soldier, having entered the Civil War as first lieutenant of the Twenty-fourth Wisconsin Infantry when but seventeen years of age. A year later, for conspicuous bravery, he was decorated with a medal of honor, and at the age of nineteen he became the commander of a regiment which accomplished much under his daring leadership. When the great rebellion ended, he entered the regular service as a lieutenant, but speedily arose to the position of captain. From this his progress was steady until, when the trouble in the Philippines broke out, he was sent to the islands as a brigadier general of volunteers. For services at the taking of the capital he was appointed major-general of volunteers by President McKinley. Although over fifty years of age, he was in the prime of manhood and as full of vigor and dash as ever.
The transfer to Angeles was not unwelcome to Ben, for this meant getting closer to the territory where Walter had disappeared, and he still hoped, though faintly, to obtain some tidings of his lost brother. He felt especially lonely, now that Larry, too, was gone.
"It's the uncertainty that hurts," he said one day, to Gilbert. "If Walter is alive, who can tell what he is suffering, as a prisoner of those savage Filipinos? You know how brutally they have treated some of their prisoners."
"You must hope for the best, Ben," replied the young Southerner, kindly. "And above all, don't allow your mind to brood over this too much." And he did his best to cheer the captain up.
The march of the regiment was a little to the east of the Manila-Dagupan railroad, over paddy fields and through low brush which had something of a familiar look to Ben, who had covered the territory before. At a small village on the bank of a creek, running parallel to the tracks, the soldiers turned off, with orders to take the town of Magalang, where the rebels had some strong intrenchments. It was hardly presumed that the Filipinos would offer any resistance, and when they opened a sudden fire, it came somewhat as a surprise.
"We are up against it once more!" cried Major Morris, as he passed Ben. "Now, I want this battalion to give a good account of itself."
"I shall do my best, major," answered the young captain. Then the order to advance came, and the soldiers spread out in a long skirmish line.
There was a small hill just in front of the town, covered with long grass much beaten down by former rains. As Ben's command moved forward, twenty yards at a time, the young captain noticed that the grass seemed much cut up.
"It's not natural," he told himself, yet, for the time being, he could not make out what it meant.
"Hike her up!" was the old cry, yet the soldiers could not do much "hiking," for the reason that the insurgents were strongly intrenched. There was a natural wall of rock at hand, and this had been heightened by bags of sand and dirt, making quite a respectable fortification.
"Will, I niver, captain, did ye see that?" came suddenly in a cry from Dan Casey.
"What was it, Casey?"
"Sure, an' the grass is full av powdher, or somethin' like it."
"Powder? Where?"
"There was a bullet struck yonder stone, an' whin the fire flew, it sint up a blaze like powdher burnin'. I'm afther thinkin'—"
Dan Casey got no further, for just then there was a flash and a roar in the grass not fifty yards from where the young captain and his corporal were standing. One private was badly burned and ran off shrieking with pain.
"They have mined this field!" ejaculated Ben, and ran with all speed to Major Morris. "Major, we must retreat!" he yelled.
"Retreat? Are you mad, Captain Russell?" cried the commander of the first battalion.
"No, I am not mad. This field has been mined—some of the powder just went off. If we—"
Boom! It was another explosion, and not a great distance from where Major Morris stood. The air was filled with flying stones and dirt, and it must be acknowledged that many of those close at hand turned pale. Here was something new in Filipino warfare.
"Dot peats poisoned veils," came from Carl Stummer. "Vot've do—go ahead annahow?"
Another roar followed, and the command was ordered to retreat with all possible speed. At this the rebels let out a mad yelling, thinking the day 
Gangway for General MacArthur!" was the cryPage 233
won. Some appeared at the top of their intrenchments, but the American sharpshooters quickly picked them off.
The course of our troops was now to the eastward, around a jungle partly in the water, and then up a small hill filled with loose stones. Everybody was angry over the trick which had been played, and all were aching to "square accounts," as Major Morris expressed it. The soldiers went forward with a rush and with little regard for military formation. To many it was a go-as-you-please affair, and the best man was the one to get to the enemy first.
The top of the hill gained, the Americans found themselves to one side of the rebel intrenchments and facing several old cannon which had done duty in Spanish service years before. There was a small church to one side of the hill, and here were located a company of Tagalog sharpshooters, who began firing as soon as the first of our soldiers showed himself.
"Gangway for General MacArthur!" was the cry from those in the rear, and presently the commander of the column dashed into view, followed by several of his staff.
"Colonel Darcy, you will send two battalions to surround yonder church," was the command of the general. "The remaining battalion can move across the hill to that first rise. A battalion of regulars will join you in a few minutes." And then the general was off to another portion of the field.
The colonel lost no time in following out General MacArthur's orders, and the battalions to be sent over to the church were the first and the third—they containing the best marksmen in the regiment.
To surround the church was easy, but Colonel Darcy knew well enough that he was expected not alone to surround the edifice, but to capture its defenders as well, if the deed could be accomplished. This was a dangerous piece of work, and he looked questioningly at his men.
"It's all right, colonel; I know the men will do it," whispered Major Morris, for he and his superior were very intimate.
"I don't want half the command killed," was the slow answer. "We have lost men enough."
With caution the two battalions moved closer to the church, taking advantage of every tree and bush, rock and stone wall. The sharpshooters, however, saw them coming, and kept up a constant crack! crack! with their Mausers. Evidently they did not intend to give ground without a bitter struggle.
Presently Ben's company reached a stone wall which ran at right angles to the church. The wall was joined to a stone shed, and there was a second wall reaching to the rear door of the church itself.
"Be careful, boys," said the young captain. "Don't take too much for granted. Those rebels may be planning a surprise."
He had hardly spoken, when several reports rang out, and the bullets hit the stone wall just in front of the captain and his men. Only the gun barrels of the enemy were visible, and the Americans did not, therefore, return the shots.