Capture of Aguinaldo

Capture of Aguinaldo, March 23, 1901

On Nov. 12, 1899, with his conventional forces shattered, Emilio Aguinaldo ordered a shift to guerilla warfare. Since then, the Americans found it frustrating to crush an enemy who appeared from nowhere, struck at will and slinked back into the shadows. They concluded that the resistance would never be broken until Aquinaldo was killed or captured. However, they did not know his whereabouts.

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General Funston’s headquarters at San Isidro. The house served as Aguinaldo’s capitol from the fall of Malolos on March 31, 1899 until May 17, 1899, when San Isidro was taken by the Americans. It was owned by Crispulo Sideco, also known as “Kapitang Pulong.” It is now occupied by a Christian organization.

On Feb. 8, 1901, Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston was at San Isidro, Nueva Ecija Province on Luzon Island when six tired and famished guerillas surrendered at Pantabangan town to 1Lt. James D. Taylor, Jr., commander of Company C, 24th Infantry Regiment of U.S. Volunteers. The town mayor, Francisco Villajuan, had convinced the worn-out men to give up. The group was led by Cecilio Segismundo, an Ilocano and Aguinaldo’s messenger, who carried some important dispatches. He was a native of Ilocos Norte Province who had moved to Bulacan Province at age 12; he used to be a member of the municipal police (Guardia Civil Veterana) of Manila under the Spanish. He defected to the Katipunan when the Revolution broke out in August 1896. In 1899, he became a corporal in the Philippine army under Major Nazario Alhambra.

Aguinaldo's odyssey and Funston's route

Aguinaldo's bodyguard at Palanan
Original caption: “AGUINALDO’S BODY-GUARD. This was regarded as the finest regiment in the Filipino service, and it was accordingly selected as the body-guard of the commander. The buildings on the hill at the right were occupied by Aguinaldo as his headquarters at the time of his capture.”

Palanan Isabela

Segismundo pinpointed the village of Palanan, in mountainous Isabela Province, as Aguinaldos headquarters. He told Funston that there was no more than fifty guards at Palanan (Aguinaldo later charged that Segismundo did not talk until after he had been given the water cure twice, but American officers insisted that he gave his cooperation voluntarily).

Some of the coded dispatches carried by Segismundo were signed with the names “Pastor” and “Colon de Magdalo,” which were pseudonyms often used by Aquinaldo. Funston, another American officer, and Lazaro Segovia deciphered the messages. The latter was a former Spanish army officer who had defected to the Philippine army and then switched allegiance to the American side; he understood English, Spanish, and the Tagalog dialect, . The most important message was an order to General Baldomero Aguinaldo instructing him to send some troops to Palanan.

Macabebe scouts who captured Aguinaldo
Macabebe scouts that captured Emilio Aguinaldo

Funston disguised the Macabebes and sent them to Palanan, posing as the men Aquinaldo had requested. Funston and four other American officers, disguised as prisoners of war, accompanied the column. Th

e handpicked Macabebes —78 in number, members of Company D, First Battalion, Macabebe Scouts— spoke Tagalog in addition to their dialect. They turned in their Springfields and were issued 50 Mausers, 18 Remingtons and 10 Krag-Jorgensens, which were the types of rifles used by Aguinaldo’s soldiers. Twenty of them wore the rayadillo uniform of the Philippine army. In addition to Segismundo, Funston included in the column Hilario Tal Placido, Lazaro Segovia, Dionisio Bato, and Gregorio Cadhit. Placido had been a Lieutenant Colonel in the Philippine army and he knew Aquinaldo personally.

Some months previously, Funston had captured General Urbano Lacuna’s seal and official signed correspondence. From this material, two letters were forgedsupposedly from Lacuna to Aguinaldo. One letter contained information as to the progress of the war. The other stated that in accordance with instructions from General Baldomero Aguinaldo, he was sending eighty men to Palanan under the command of Placido, Segovia, and Segismundo.

General Lacuna’s signature was forged by Roman Roque, an expert penman and a former officer in the Philippine army who had surrendered to the Americans; he was employed by the US army as interpreter and clerk. Roque was a native of San Isidro, Nueva Ecija.

Le Petit Journal capture of Aguinaldo April 14 1901 issue
French journal features the capture of Aguinaldo in its issue of April 14, 1901. The “Le Petit Journal / Parisien” was a leading illustrated news journal published in France from 1891 until WWII. It was famous for its brightly colored prints graphically depicting news events around the world as well as happenings in France.
A decoration for birthday of Aguinaldo March 24 1901
A decoration for President Emilio Aguinaldo on his 32nd birthday on March 22, the day before his capture. The remote village was in gala dress, with arches and such other decorations that were provided. The day was celebrated with horse races, dancing, serenades, and amateur theatricals. PHOTO taken at Palanan, March 24, 1901.
Diagram of Palanan
Diagram of Aguinaldo’s headquarters. KEYS TO NUMBERS: A. Aguinaldo’s house. 1. Sitting room. 2. Hallway. 3. Bedroom used by Aguinaldo, Barcelona and Villa. 4. Kitchen. 5,6. Doorways. 7,9. Barracks. 8. Village church. 10,11. Bandstands. 12. Summer house. 13. Window from which Aguinaldo called to the Macabebes to cease firing. 14. Position of Aguinaldo’s guard when fired on. 15, 16. Position of Funston’s men at beginning of attack. The marks “- – – -” indicate trenches placed in the public square around the bandstands.
Funston's trap for Aguinaldo, March 23 1901 issue
Issue dated March 23, 1901.

On March 23, the men in disguise reached Palanan, Isabela Province.

Funston plans to take Aguinaldo, March 23 1901
Issue dated March 23, 1901.
Aguinaldo House where captured 1901
The house in which Aguinaldo was captured. The man in white coat, with his hat on back of his head, is Lazaro Segovia. The rest are Macabebes. The house is still festooned with garlands from the previous day’s celebration of Aguinaldo’s birthday. PHOTO taken at Palanan, March 23, 1901.

In his memoirs, Aguinaldo describes his capture (paraphrasing mine):

“It was not long before the new troops…entered the village…and halted in the plaza in front of my house, where about twenty soldiers of my guard were drawn up waiting to receive them. It was about three o’clock… The officers, Colonel Tal Placido and Captain Segovia…then came into my house… After talking with Tal Placido and Segovia for fifteen or twenty minutes, I gave orders that the newly arrived men be allowed to fall out and go to rest…Segovia immediately left the house and returned to the place where his men were drawn up…Segovia shouted…an order which we did not hear distinctly…Instantly his men began to shoot…not suspecting any plan against myself, I thought it was a salute with blank cartridges…I ran to the window and cried out several times, ‘Cease firing.’ But seeing that the …bullets from the rifles of the attacking party were directed against me as well as against the soldiers of my guard, I for the first time realized that the newcomers were enemies. I…ran into another room … seized a revolver, intending to defend myself, but Dr. Barcelona threw both arms around me, crying out, ‘Don’t sacrifice yourself. The country needs your life.’ …Colonel Villa ran from the house in an attempt to break through the lines of the enemy and rally our men, but he was shot three times and finally taken prisoner.

“Tal Placido…told us that we were the prisoners of the Americans, who, he said, were on the other side of the river with four hundred American soldiers, and would soon be here…several of Tal Placido’s soldiers came into the house…and surrounded Barcelona and myself. A little later five Americans…came into the room where we were…one of them asked, ‘Which one of you is Aguinaldo?’ As soon as I had been identified by the Americans I was placed, with Dr. Barcelona and Colonel Villa, in one of the rooms of the house…We were then informed that our captors were General Funston, Captains Newton and Hazzard, and Lieutenants Hazzard and Mitchell…”

Macabebes at Palanan March 1901 - Copy
Macabebe Scouts patrol in front of Aguinaldo’s headquarters at Palanan.
Quarters of Aguinaldo escort Palanan March 23 1901
The quarters of Aguinaldo’s guard, taken from the window of his house a few moments after the capture. The two white objects are men of his guard who were killed. PHOTO taken on March 23, 1901.

Two of Aguinaldo’s guards were killed. Colonel Simeon Villa, aide to Aguinaldo, suffered superficial gunshot wounds.

Lazaro Segovia etc Palanan March 24 1901
The 5 ex-Philippine army officers who helped the Americans to capture President Emilio Aguinaldo. LEFT to RIGHT: Gregorio Cadhit, Cecilio Segismundo, Hilario Tal Placido, Dionisio Bato and Lazaro Segovia. PHOTO taken at Palanan, March 24, 1901.
Five Americans captured Aguinaldo at Palanan March 24 1901
The 5 American officers in the expedition. LEFT to RIGHT: Capt. Harry W. Newton, 1Lt. Burton J. Mitchell (who brought a small camera), 1Lt Oliver P.M. Hazzard, Brig. Gen Frederick Funston, and Capt. Russell T. Hazzard. PHOTO taken at Palanan, March 24, 1901.
Villa Aguinaldo Funston Barcelona at Palanan March 24 1901
LEFT to RIGHT: Col. Simeon Villa, President Emilio Aguinaldo, Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston, and Dr. Santiago Barcelona. Funston, at 5’4″ (162.6 cm), was an inch taller than Aguinaldo (160 cm). PHOTO taken at Palanan, March 24, 1901.
Macabebes n Capt and Lt Hazzard at Palanan March 24 1901
The Macabebes with Capt. Russell T. Hazzard and 1Lt. Oliver P.M. Hazzard. PHOTO taken at Palanan, March 24, 1901.
Aguinaldo near beach Palanan Bay March 25 1899
March 25, 1901: Aguinaldo and his aides are being prepared for loading onto the USS Vicksburg. PHOTO was taken near the beach at Palanan Bay.

On the morning of March 25, Aguinaldo and three of his men were marched six miles (10 km) to the seashore at Palanan Bay, arriving there at noon.

USS Vicvksburg 1898
The USS Vicksburg. Photo taken in 1898.

The Americans made two signal fires and hoisted a white flag. A little later, a steamer rose on the horizon. Within two hours the warship USS Vicksburg was anchored near the beach.

1901 march 23 aguinaldo boarding uss vicksburg on way to manila
President and General Emilio F. Aguinaldo boarding the USS Vicksburg as a POW

By five o’clock in the afternoon, the prisoners and their captors were all on boardthe anchor was hoisted, and the ship made for the open sea bound for Manila.

Funston n Aguinaldo on Vicksburg March 1901
Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston and President Emilio Aguinaldo on the USS Vicksburg, on the way to Manila.
Aguinaldo Villa Barcelona on Vicksburg March 1901
Aguinaldo (LEFT), Col. Simeon Villa (CENTER) and Dr. Santiago Barcelona (RIGHT) on the USS Vicksburg. Funston wrote: “The prisoners were treated with the greatest courtesy, being entertained in the officers’ messes, and sitting about on deck whenever they desired.”
1901 March aguinaldo on vicksburg
Aguinaldo on board the USS Vicksburg on the way to Manila

During the trip, Aguinaldo admitted to Funston that he had been completely fooled by the phony dispatches. He later confided that he could “hardly believe myself to be a prisoner” and that he was gripped by a “feeling of disgust and despair for I had failed my people and my motherland.”

Aguinaldo captured by Funston, SFC March 28 1901
Issue of March 28, 1901

At 2:00 a.m. of March 28, the USS Vicksburg anchored in Manila Bay, with all lights screened, to keep the return of the expedition secret.

Vicksburg on way to Malacanan March 28 1901
The Vicksburg launch, with Aguinaldo and his aides on board, steaming for the mouth of the Pasig River, at daybreak, March 28, 1901.

At 6:00 a.m., General Funston and Aguinaldo, accompanied by some officers, boarded one of the launches and left the USS Vicksburg.

Malacanang Palace 1904 or 1905
Malacaan Palace: Photo taken in 1904 or 1905

They went up the Pasig River to the residence of the Governor-General in Malacaan, where they disembarked. Aguinaldo was presented to Brig. Gen. Arthur C. MacArthur, Jr. as a prisoner of war. He was treated by the Americans more as a guest than as a prisoner.

The Malacanang Palace in Manila
Malacaang Palace (with the letter “G”), 2010
Aguinaldo and family SF Chronicle Aug 4 1901
San Francisco Chronicle, August 4, 1901

At breakfast, MacArthur promised Aguinaldo that he would immediately send for his family, whom he had not seen for a long time.

Aguinaldo complimented his captors: “At all times since our capture, as well in Palanan as on board the Vicksburg, we have been treated with the highest consideration by our captors, as well as by all the other American officers with whom we have come in contact.”

Aguinaldo tells of capture SF Chronicle Aug 4 1901

The administration in Washington called Aguinaldo’s capture “the most important single military event of the year in the Philippines.”

May end war, New York Tribune March 29 1901
Issue of March 29, 1901
Hilaria Aguinaldo in SFC March 29, 1901
Hilaria Aguinaldo, wife of Emilio Aguinaldo, issue of March 29, 1901

Aguinaldo's oath of allegiance

Nine days after his capture, on April 1, Aguinaldo swore allegiance to the United States.

Aguinaldo oath cartoon

Aguinaldo to be good
Issue of April 4, 1901
Twenty-two Macabebes who captured Aguinaldo March 1901
Macabebe Scouts who captured Emilio Aguinaldo
Capt and Lt Hazzard, Co D 1st Bn Macabebes, NY Tribune June 23 1901
Photo published in the New-York Daily Tribune, issue of June 23, 1901

The Macabebes were fierce freedom fighters when they first appeared in written history; they fought the Spanish invaders in 1571. Ironically, it was the Tagalogs (under Lakandula of Tondo and Rajah Soliman of Manila) who eventually welcomed the Spaniards while the Kapampangans (under Tarik Soliman of Macabebe) had to die fighting in the Battle of Bangkusay.

Years later, Macabebes helped the Spaniards drive away the Chinese pirate Limahong, and that was the start of a friendship that would endure to the very last day of the Spanish Period. The Macabebes helped the Spaniards colonize the rest of the archipelago; they also joined in the invasion of the Marianas, Moluccas, Borneo, Formosa, Indochina and the Malay Peninsula.

Without the Macabebes, the Philippines would have been colonized by the Dutch and later by the British, two Protestant nations. This is the reason the feast of the La Naval is celebrated only in two places, Manila and Pampanga.

Maximino Hizon nhi.gov.ph

When the Revolution broke out, the Macabebes sided with the Spaniards even while the rest of Pampanga threw its support for the quest for independence. On June 26, 1898 representatives from all Pampanga towns, except Macabebe, gathered in San Fernando and swore allegiance to Gen. Maximino Hizon (LEFT, image from www.nhi.gov.ph) who was the provincial military governor and representative of General Emilio Aguinaldo. Macabebes in the Spanish military were called “Voluntarios de Macabebe“. Macabebes protected the retreating Spaniards, rescuing friars and the families of the Spanish Army. The Spaniards promised to return and resettle the Macabebes to the Caroline Islands should the revolution succeed.

In retaliation, Antonio Luna’s troops burned the town of Macabebe and executed a large number of its residents (hundreds, according to one unverified account). When the Americans bought and colonized the Philippines, Macabebes enlisted in the US Army by the hundreds. These events fueled the enmity between Kapampangans and Tagalogs, climaxing in the sensational capture of the Tagalog general, Emilio Aguinaldo, President of the Republic of the Philippines. The US President and US Congress, jubilant over Aguinaldo’s capture, authorized the formal inclusion of the Macabebes into the Philippine Scouts, a special unit of the US Army.

1901 march funston with 4 officers that captured aguinaldo
Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston (sitting) and the 4 officers who helped capture Aguinaldo: LEFT to RIGHT, Captains Harry W. Newton and Russell T. Hazzard, and First Lieutenants Oliver P.M. Hazzard and Burton J. Mitchell. [Aguinaldo’s son, Emilio Jr., entered West Point in 1923, in the same class as Gen. Funston’s son; see their photo below, in section entitled “Aguinaldo, In Later Years”].
Aguinaldo capture Harper's Weekly, April 6, 1901In 1901 scarcely an American alive was unfamiliar with the story of the “hero of the Philippine insurrection”. [LEFTHarper’s Weekly, April 6, 1901]

But Funston soon fell under criticism for his methods used to capture Aguinaldo. An editorial in the Boston Post made the following comments:

“When the capture of Aguinaldo by Funston was announced by cable, it was hailed as a great exploit… But, as the details have come to light, contempt and disgust have taken the place of admiration. The American people accepted, though not without some qualms of conscience, the forgery, treachery and disguise with which Funston prepared his expedition.

In 1902, Funston toured the United States to increase public support of the Philippine-American War. He became the focus of controversy by bellicosely promoting total war, enthusiastically endorsing torture and condoning civilian massacres.

In Chicago, he stated, in reaction to the courts-martial of Brig. Gen. Jacob H. Smith and Maj. Littleton Waller for atrocities committed in Samar:

“I personally strung up thirty-five Filipinos without trial, so what was all the fuss over Waller’s ‘dispatching’ a few ‘treacherous savages’? If there had been more Smiths and Wallers, the war would have been over long ago. Impromptu domestic hanging might also hasten the end of the war. For starters, all Americans who had recently petitioned Congress to sue for peace in the Philippines should be dragged out of their homes and lynched.”

General Funston and family at San Francisco, California.

In San Francisco, he suggested that the editor of a noted anti-imperialist paper “ought to be strung up to the nearest lamppost.” At a banquet in the city he called Filipinos “unruly savages” and claimed he had personally killed fifty prisoners without trial.

Captain Edmond Boltwood, an officer under Funston, confirmed that the general had personally administered the water cure to captives, and had told his troops “to take no prisoners.”

Frederick Funston was born on Nov. 10, 1865 in New Carlisle, Ohio. He graduated from High School in 1886 and entered the University of Kansas, but left college without earning a degree. In 1896, he enlisted in the Cuban Revolutionary Army and was made a captain of artillery. Before he became sick with malaria in 1898 and returned home he had risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel. When the Spanish-American war broke out, Funston was appointed a Colonel of the US 20th Kansas Volunteer Infantry Regiment.

Frederick Funston as Maj GenHe rose to the rank of Major General (LEFT). In the 1910s his subordinates included Brig. Gen. John J. Pershing and future generals, then Captain Douglas MacArthur, Lieutenant George S. Patton, Jr., and Lieutenant Dwight D. Eisenhower.

On Feb. 19, 1917, he was having dinner with friends at the St. Anthony Hotel in San Antonio, Texas, close to his headquarters at Fort Sam Houston. He had just finished dinner and was listening to the hotel orchestra play when a moment later he was dead. A heart attack took his life; he was 51-years-old. The people of Texas showed their respect by opening their most sacred shrine, the Alamo, so that he could lie in state there. He was the first person ever so honored. His body was then taken to the San Francisco City Hall Rotunda, where he laid in state for two days.

He was laid to rest at the Presidio (San Francisco National Cemetery) in full dress uniform on a hill overlooking the city.

A San Francisco park was named after General Funston.

Death of Frederick Funston, Feb 20, 1917

Had he not died in early 1917, President Woodrow Wilson would have picked him, not General John J. “Black Jack” Pershing, to command the American forces in World War I.

Malacanang Palace entrance in 2Lt. Robert B. Mitchell album 1898 to 1902
Entrance to Malacaan Palace in San Miguel District, Manila. Photo was taken in 1900 or 1901

Aguinaldo’s quarters in the Malacaan Palace grounds, Manila

Aguinaldo at Malacanan with Annie Mitchell, 1901
Aguinaldo at Malacaan Palace with an American visitor, Annie Mitchell, a few days after his arrival in Manila.
Aguinaldo Barcelona Villa at Malacanang Dec 4 1901
Emilio Aguinaldo, Colonel Simeon Villa, Chief of Staff, and Dr. Santiago Barcelona on the balcony overlooking the Pasig River at Malacaan. PHOTO was taken on Dec. 4, 1901.