GLEASON, SEPTEMBER 25, 1899

CEBU, P.I., September 25, 1899

The ADJUTANT-GENERAL,
Subdistrict of Cebu, Cebu, P. I.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the movements of detachment of 17 men of Company C, Sixth Infantry, and Second Lieut. M. Childs and detachment of 28 men of Company A, Sixth Infantry, under my command, in the operations of September 21, 22, and 23, 1899. On the evening of September 21 we moved into camp in the valley below the position of our 3.2-inch fieldpiece, taking the left of the line under command of Major McGuire, First Tennessee Volunteer Infantry.

At about 6 a. m., September 22, Major McGuire's column moved out to protect the advance of Major Whitthorne's column, my detachment taking position under long-range infantry fire on the right of the trail. We were soon moved forward to a higher position on the left of the trail, where the fire from the works in our front could be replied to somewhat, but seemed to be ineffective, on account of the long range and strength of the enemy's positions.

We next moved to the protection of the ridge along which Major Whitthorne's column was moving, and after a short rest, by quick rushes under a heavy fire, went through the valley to the left, and reached, without loss, the top of the ridge along which we were ordered to move to reach our objective—two strong earthworks at its head. From that point we moved up the ridge under protection of the crest from fire from two strong forts and several trenches on our left, my detachment taking the head of the column.

At about 2 p. m. Lieutenant Childs, with the men of the detachment from Company A, Sixth Infantry, after reaching the top of a knoll beyond a small earthwork which we found vacated, encountered a fire from front, rear, and left, and lost one man killed, shot through the heart.

Major McGuire examined the position and decided we would be unable to advance farther along that ridge without heavy loss. I sent a message to that effect by flag to the gun position. Just previous to this time one man of Company A, Sixth Infantry, had been wounded, shot through the arm, while passing an opening in the ridge, by fire from the left. Lieutenant Childs was directed by Major McGuire to take his men down from the ridge under cover. Some of his men fell back and joined me. We were then soon under an enfilade fire from the second knoll in front, and two men were wounded, one man from Company C, shot through both legs, and one man of Company A, shot through the leg. I directed about 6 of my men to fire at the line on this knoll, first by volleys and afterwards by individual fire, and they were able to keep down the fire of the enemy in front of us the remainder of the afternoon, until relieved by some men of Captain Caraway's Company of the First Tennessee Regiment Volunteer Infantry. We were ordered to withdraw from the ridge about dusk, leaving a few men to keep up the fire and cover our withdrawal, and went into camp with Major Whitthorne's column on the next ridge.

On the morning of the 23d Lieutenant Childs was sent with all the men of the detachment from Company A, Sixth Infantry, to carry the dead and wounded to Cebu. The remainder of my detachment advanced at the head of Major McGuire's column, as support for Major Whitthorne's column in the advance on the works in our front. These works were found deserted, as was expected from the number of fires observed during the night.

We went into camp near one of the most advanced works of the enemy, detachments of our men destroying all property and stores of use to them.

About noon September 24, I was ordered to return with my detachment to the position of our 3.2-inch fieldpiece, which I did, reaching that point about 5 p. m.

Very respectfully,

W. E. GLEASON,
First Lieutenant, Sixth Infantry, Battalion Adjutant,
Commanding Detachment Companies A, and C, Sixth Infantry.