Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 64, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1899 — CAPTURE SANTA CRUZ [ARTICLE]

CAPTURE SANTA CRUZ

LAWTON’S FORCES TAKE ANOTHER REBEL CAPITAL. Filipinos Are Driven to the Mountains Leaving Cver a Hundred Dead and Wounded Natives Lei by a Chinaman—More Troops Needed. Maj. Gen. Lawton’s expedition captured Santa Cruz, a rebel stronghold on the southeast shore of Laguna de Bay. The Filipinos made a strong resistance, but were routed with great loss. Their killed number 68, and 40 were wounded. The American casualties were six wounded. The American fire in this engagement showed remarkable precision, and was the most deadly of the war. The Americans captured many prisoners, a number of cannon and a large stock of rifles and ammunition. The expedition, consisting of about 1,500 men, commanded by Maj. Gen. Henry W. Lawton, left San Pedro Macati, on the River Pasig, Saturday night, with the purpose of crossing Laguna de Bay and capturing the town of Santa Cruz, on the eastern shore of the lake. The American troops were then, as planned, to sweep the country to the south. The force consisted of 200 picked sharpshooters from the various regiments, Hawthorne’s Mountain Battery, Gale’s Squadron and three troops of the Fourth cavalry unmounted; Bronk’s and Tappen’s battalions of the Fourteenth infantry, Linck’s battalion of the First Idaho, infantry and Fraine’s battalion of the First North Dakota infantry, under Gen. King. The flotilla of twenty canoes, towed by tugs and conveyed by .the gunboats Laguna de Bay, Oesto and Nappidan, and preceded by the launch containing Gen. Lawton and Gen. King, moved toward the lake just as evening was setting in. It was a truly picturesque scene. The men carried rations for ten days, with the lightest marching equipment. Gen. Lawton’s plan was to reach Santa Cruz Sunday morning at daybreak, to capture or destroy any rebel gunboats or shipping, to take the town and then scour the country to the south of the lake, a district not yet explored by the Americans. The fighting began on the outskirts of the city. The Filipinos were driven in and the main body of the rebels charged. A hot fight followed. Americans needed little urging and gradually drove the enemy back. A flank movement at a critical time completely demoralized the Filipinos and their slow retreat was turned into a rout. The flying natives were pursued through the streets of Santa Cruz, and for some distance into the interior. Then a halt was called, guards posted throughout the city and the men rested. Santa Cruz is a town of considerable importance. It is the capital of the province of Laguna, and has a population of about 15,000. It was a rebel stronghold, and the capture of this place is looked on as the opening wedge to the great stretch of country beyond, as good roads lead out in all directions from Santa Cruz.