FISCUS, OCTOBER 4, 1899

CEBU, P.I., October 4, 1899.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL, UNITED STATES ARMY,
Washington, D. C.

SIR: I have the honor to inform you that in accordance with orders from the commanding officer, subdistrict of Cebu, P. I., I, with Lieutenant Little and 76 enlisted men, took the field against the insurgent forces, who held an intrenched position among the Bocaue Hills. My command was made a part of the column under command of Major Whitthorne, First Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, and camped for the night, September 21, 1899, in the valley underneath the position held by our fieldpiece. During the entire night the insurgents kept up a scattering fire on us, which, however, did no damage. My men, at my direction, slept in shelter trenches underneath a small knoll and were secure from even chance shots. The next morning, September 22, 1899, at a little after 6 o'clock, we commenced our forward movement. The advance guard of our column consisted of 41 men commanded by myself. We advanced under cover of the ridge, being subjected throughout our forward movement to heavy front and cross fire by arms — Mausers, Remingtons, and other rifles being used by the insurgents. Our advance was slow, partly due to the heavy undergrowth through which we were obliged to advance and partly to the fact that we were, by our cross fire, protecting the advance of the left column, under command of Major Maguire, First Tennessee Volunteer Infantry. At about 10 o'clock the advance guard had attained the highest point of the ridge, directly under the insurgents' forts and about 300 yards from the nearer of those upon which our direct attack was concentrated. Whilst the point and advance party were firing by volleys upon the forts I caused the remainder of my portion of the company to throw up shelter trenches, from which they afterwards fired upon the enemy with comparative security. During this part of our attack, and at about 12.30 p. m., Sergt. James Covey, Company K, Nineteenth Infantrv, who commanded the support of the advance guard, was shot through the right lung by a Mauser or Krag-Jorgensen bullet. (The insurgents had possession of several Krag-Jorgensen rifles. ) Corpl. Frederick Prediger, Company K, Nineteenth Infantry, who was in charge of the point and who throughout the day had acted with great caution and bravery, immediately went to the assistance of Sergeant Covey and rendered marked aid, not only in assisting in removing him from the firing line, but afterwards in conveying him to the rear amid great, difficulties. Because of this I recommend that Corporal Frederick Prediger, Company K, Nineteenth Infantry, he granted a certificate of merit. It should also be mentioned that Chaplain Sutherland, Nineteenth U. S. Infantry, and Acting Assistant Surgeon Stearns, U. S. A. came up immediately and helped care for Sergeant Covey. The remainder of the detachment of Company K, Nineteenth Infantry, which was engaged was commanded by Lieutenant Little, Nineteenth U. S. Infantry, and so far as I could observe acted coolly and bravely throughout.

During the night the entire 76 men of Company K, Nineteenth Infantry, concentrated under my command on the crest of the ridge and continued to act as advance guard for the column. All slept in shelter trenches. No firing occurred on our side during the night save two volleys fired at my command. The insurgents fired one shell and two solid shots at us during the early part of the night, but these did no damage. The next morning it was found that the forts were abandoned, and a forward movement was• made upon them. In the lower fort was found a brass 3.2 cannon, of which I took possession and delivered to the commanding officer, Colonel Snyder, Nineteenth U. S. Infantry. In connection with this action I desire to put on record my appreciation of the bravery shown by Sergeant Covey, Corporal Prediger, Corporal Galvin, and Private Heimbrod, all of Company K, Nineteenth Infantry.

Very respectfully,

W. W. FISCUS, Jr.,
First Lieutenant, Nineteenth U. S. Infantry, Commanding Company K.