Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 68, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 April 1899 — TROOPS SUFFER LOSS [ARTICLE]

TROOPS SUFFER LOSS

EIGHT AMERICANS KILLED BY FILIPINO REBELS. Col. Stotzenberg and Lieut. Sisson of the 1st Nebraska Volunteers Among the Slain—Rebels Drive Back Our Troops Until Re-Enforced. The most furious battle that has yet taken place between the Americans and Filipinos was fought Sunday. For the first time the insurgents forced our troops to retreat. Col. J. M. Stotzenberg and Lieut. Sisson, two brave officers of the First Nebraska volunteers, were pierced through the heart by rebel bullets in the terrific engagement. Six other American soldiers were killed, while forty-three were wounded before the insurgents were driven back. The scene of the battle was Quingna, five miles northeast of Malolos. Maj. Bell left Malolos with sixty-one mounted men early Sunday morning to reconnoiter north of the city, with the idea of determining the enemy’s strength. There tyere no signs of Filipinos till the party arrived near Quingua at daybreak, when the enemy opened with a volley from the breastworks hidden in the brush. The Americans had been on the lookout for trouble, but the attack was more severe than expected. They were not confused, however. They dismounted, and, deploying as infantry, poured a telling fire into the brush, where it was known that the greater part of the attacking force was concealed.

News of the engagement was hurried back to Malolos, and while the Americans held their ground gallantly against a far stronger numerical force, Gen. Hale hastened forward re-enforcements for the cavalrymen. The cavalry detachment held its ground until the enemy threw flanking parties right and left and almost surrounded the American force. Then the cavalry drew back until re-enforced, a battalion of the lowa volunteers, under Maj. Morford, being the first to arrive. This force being insufficient to drive the insurgents back, the remainder of the Nebraska regiment, with the lowa volunteer regiment, was hurried forward. Then four guns of the Utah battery were advanced to the fighting position. Col. Stotzenberg, commander of the Nebraska regiment, arrived on the battlefield at 11 o’clock and was greeted with cheers. He immediately led an advance on the enemy’s position, and fell with his sword aloft, calling to his men to follow him. Shouting with rage, the Nebraskans broke forward into the brush and drove the insurgents out of their works and sent them flying into the jungle. Lieut. Sisson fell in action, shot through the heart. The ball just grazed the picture of a girl hung about his neck on a ribbon. The heat was terrific, and the sun shining through a fog made conditions for fighting almost intolerable. Seven men of the first battalion of the Nebraskans were sunstruck, and one died while lying in the trenches awaiting the arrival of the Second battalion when the charge was made. The Americans were under fire two hours.

The cavalry lost three men killed and five wounded. The loss of the Nebraska regiment was five killed and more than thirty wounded. The lowa regiment losses were slight. The Nebraska regiment’s losses during the present campaign have been larger than any other regiment. The loss on the side of the Filipinos was comparatively small. They were fighting with all the advantages of dense brush and the fog also shielded them in their flank movements. Thirteen dead Filipinos were found in the trench.