's territory for the
purpose of driving back harassing sharpshooters there was a practical
cessation of hostilities at the waterworks. At this time the line over
which our guns were stationed extended from Malabon to Mariquina. At
Caloocan a severe engagement occurred on the 23rd of February. A large
force of insurgents came rushing down from the hill towards our outposts
and finally established themselves within 150 yards of the American
lines. It was during this period that some of them were able to
penetrate the American position and steal their way into Manila to take
part in the burning of the Tondo district. This band was under the
leadership of a bold and gallant chief named Zandico. While Tondo was
disappearing in flames and sharp hand-to-hand skirmishes were taking
place between these Filipino desperadoes and the American police a
furious altercation was going on between the darkly-outlined bulwarks of
the two armies. During this attack sixty men of the Kansas and Montana
regiments alone were killed and wounded.

The work of the sharpshooters showed the watchful alertness of the
enemy. Whenever one of these riflemen espied a piece of American anatomy
there was a report and a still messenger of death went skimming through
the air. Frequently one of the large guns had to be employed to repress
the zeal of one of these ubiquitous Malays. While repairing a breach in
the gun pit Lieutenant Seaman received a wound in the leg, Corporal
Southers was shot in the hip and Private Hill sustained a serious wound
in the back.

About this time existed as remarkable a truce as was ever patched up
between belligerent forces. Some Filipino statesmen came down from
Malabon to see Aguinaldo, and as they carried a flag of truce firing
from our side ceased. The natives signified their desire to talk and
Colonel Funston and Major Young went half way to meet them. The
Tagalans then made known their proposition, which was that there should
be no firing between the two forces at that point for a period of ten
days. Colonel Funston assented. This was directly in front of the Kansas
line. The insurgents rigidly adhered to their promise, and while the
Springfields and Mausers were angrily barking in the vicinity of the
railroad track no messenger of war sped across the space in front of the
Kansans.

* * * * *

The four guns under Lieutenant Gibbs and Webb lifted to a commanding
position on the hill abov