Part III: US Military Operations in Batangas from 1901-02 during the Fil-American War

We continue with the series on the operations of the United States Army in Batangas from 1901 to 1902, during the Philippine-American War. The information continued in this article is taken from an annual report of the United States War Department¹. Brief details are presented in snippets arranged in chronological order, as they similarly appear in the original War Department document.

For the benefit of readers who might have missed the first two installments of the series, these are archived under the Fil-Am War section of the main menu at the top of this page.

22 October 1901

On Mount Makiling in Cuenca, Batangas, an American group led by 1^st Lieutenant Samuel R. Gleaves surprised a group of Filipino rebels including Comandante Igralisce Maloles, Captain Santiago Malijan and three other individuals. Captured with them were 5 rifles and some papers. With Gleaves were 2^nd Lieutenant Walter Harvey of the 16^th Infantry, 2^nd Lieutenant Christian Bach of the 20^th Infantry, and detachments of cavalry, infantry and Macabebe Scouts.

American troops during inspection in Batangas Town.  Image source:  Sandra Plummer Collection of the Fort Worth Library Digital Collection.

23 October 1901

In Taysan, 1^st Lieutenant James D. Tilford of the 1^st Cavalry, accompanied by detachments from Troops D and I, struck a band of Filipino rebels led by Captain Biristo Castillo. One of the Filipinos was mortally wounded and two others captured. Rebel barracks and a storehouse containing 8,000 pounds of rice, 31 uniform coats and 30 numbered blankets were destroyed.

24 October 1901

Local police and scouts were attacked by a band of some 30 ladrones (bandits) at a village called Sabang near the town of Nasugbu. The bandits or tulisanes were led by one Silvester Bebing. One scout and two policemen were killed while the others managed to escape. The bandits confiscated 2 Krag rifles, 2 shotguns and 200 rounds of ammunition, which would be a source of concern for the Americans.

6 November 1901

An American detachment led by 1^st Lieutenant Patrick A. Connolly of the 21^st Infantry, scouting west of Mt. Makulot and Buquil, Batangas found and destroyed two rebel cuartels (barracks) then fired on the retreating band of rebels.

12 November 1901

A detachment from Bauan, led by Captain John D. L. Hartman of the 1^st Cavalry engaged a large group of some 400 Filipino rebels, half of whom were armed with rifles. The encounter was at the Bauan-Taal road, where the Filipinos had taken position and constructed rifle pits². Despite being Ambush, Hartman and company managed to strike the rebels at their flank. In all, 25 rebels were killed, many more wounded, 2 captured and taken were 9 guns and 11 bolos. The Filipinos ultimately ended up being routed and scattering in all directions. Cavalry from Batangas Town and Bauan were sent to scamper after them in pursuit. Of the Americans, Corporal William McNabney and Private William I. Rudd were wounded.

15 November 1901

A detachment of some 30 men of the 21^st Infantry, led by Captain Herman Hall and accompanied by a Dr. Lowe, after two days of scouting in and about the mountainous area south of San Juan de Bocboc destroyed a Filipino rebel camp under the command of a Tomas Ruidas. The camp had 10 buildings and 50,000 pounds of rice. The group had two engagements with a rebel band numbering 30, whose “guns were silenced.” The terrain in San Juan was described as “very rough.” One rebel who surrendered to the Americans pointed the latter in the direction of the camp.

16 November 1901

One Filipino rebel named Captain Felipe Morales was killed in the barrio of Antipolo in Lipa while attempting to steal cattle. He was killed by Filipinos who were friendly to the United States.

19 November 1901

A detachment of the 20^th Infantry led by 2^nd Lieutenant James V. Guthrie came upon a small group of Filipino rebels while scouting the mountains of Lobo. The rebels were scattered and eluded pursuit, but found and destroyed a large amount of rice that they left behind.

23 November 1901

In Nasugbu, a detachment of Company H of the 4^th Infantry encountered a group of some 200 ladrones led by Comandante Siriaco Arraro. Eight of the bandits were killed while three were wounded and captured. On the American side, 1^st Lieutenant Louis J. van Schaik was severely wounded by a bolo attack.

25 November 1901

Two carabaos earlier reported as stolen in Nasugbu were recovered after soldiers of Company B of the 4^th Infantry, assisted by the local police of Indang, encountered a band of ladrones two miles south of the town.

26 November 1901

A Filipino employee of the United States Army quartermaster³ named Albero (Alberto?) was murdered on the street in Tanauan, Batangas, in full view of 13 houses. The reason for the murder was because he did not contribute his pay to the rebel movement and that he would not stop being friendly to the Americans. In retaliation, Captain John E. Morrison of the 20^th Infantry warned the inhabitants of those houses that these would be burned if they did not furnish him with information about who murdered Albero. No information being given, he ordered the burning of the houses.

28 November 1901

A detachment of the 24^th Infantry led by a Major Daniel Cornman returned from scouting the area of Mt. Maquiling near Santo Tomas, Batangas, where it captured 4 Filipino rebels and destroyed their barracks, where dynamite and explosive powder were also stored.

2 December 1901

In the mountains near Lipa (presumably Malepunyo), a group of soldiers from the 8^th Infantry under the command of 1^st Lieutenant Edgar T. Collins struck a group of some 60 Filipino insurgents, burning 14 cuartels and capturing 2 of the rebels along with 2 Mausers and 1 Remington rifle.

TO BE CONTINUED…

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