Filipinos Negotiate

Filipino and American peace commissions May 19-20 1899

May 22-23, 1899: Filipinos negotiate with the Schurman Commission The Anaconda Standard, Anaconda, Montana, issue of Aug. 29, 1899, page 15. With the Philippine army unable to contain the American offensive, President Emilio Aguinaldo created a peace commission to negotiate an armistice. He appointed 23-year-old General Gregorio del Pilar to head the … Read more

Fil-Am War Breaks Out

1899 US sentries at San Juan Bridge

First Shot of the War, Feb. 4, 1899 On Saturday night, Feb. 4, 1899, Privates William W. Grayson and Orville H. Miller of Company D, 1st Nebraska Volunteers, while doing sentry duty, encountered 3 Filipino soldiers on Sociego Street in Santa Mesa, Manila, between Blockhouse 7 (Manila City boundary) and Barrio Santol (Sampaloc district). … Read more

Emilio Aguinaldo Returns

aguinaldo etc in hong kong better pic

May 19, 1898: Emilio Aguinaldo Returns In the run up to the Spanish-American War, several American Consuls – in Hong Kong, Singapore and Manila – sought Emilio Aguinaldo’s support. None of them spoke Tagalog, Aguinaldo’s own language, and Aguinaldo himself spoke poor Spanish. A British businessman who spoke Tagalog, Howard W. Bray, … Read more

Collapse, 1901

Surrender in Mindanao, The St. Paul Globe, March 30 1901

Collapse, 1901: General Capistrano surrenders in Sumilao, Bukidnon, March 29, 1901 On March 29, 1901, General Nicolas Capistrano, commander of Filipino guerilla forces in northern Mindanao Island, surrendered in Sumilao, Bukidnon Province; the highland town is approximately 62 kilometers from Cagayan de Misamis (now Cagayan de Oro City). He gave up with … Read more

Capture of Calamba

Company G 21st Infantry at Calamba 1899

July 26-30, 1899: Capture of Calamba, Laguna Province The “Napindan” towing four casco loads of US troops during the advance against Calamba. On July 26, 1899, an expedition under Brig. Gen. Robert H. Hall, attacked Calamba, an important trading town on the south shore of Lake Laguna de Bay about 30 miles … Read more

Capture of Aguinaldo

1901 march 23 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 … Read more

Benevolent Assimilation

william mckinley small size pic_edited

Dec. 21, 1898: Mckinley issues “Benevolent Assimilation” Proclamation The US is ranked among one of the most important global economies of the world. Behind this strong position lies a history of various events and traditions that influenced the US’ power and hold over various territories. One of the most important ones is … Read more

Battles at San Fernando

Americans looking for trouble

Filipinos attack San Fernando, May 24, 1899 and June 16, 1899 On May 24, 1899, at about 7:00 a.m., the Filipinos opened fire on the line occupied by the US 1st Brigade, 2nd Division now commanded by Brig. Gen. Frederick Funston, at San Fernando, Pampanga Province. Two battalions of the 1st Montana … Read more

Battle of San Roque

San Roque causeway Cavite 1899

Feb. 9, 1899: Battle of San Roque, Cavite Province San Roque (ABOVE, in 1899) lies about 22 miles (35 km) southwest from Manila by road; a narrow artificial causeway about 600 yards (meters) in length separates it from mainland Cavite Province. [LEFT, 1896 map]. It adjoins the Cavite navy yard that fell … Read more

Battle of Manila Bay

USS Olympia at Hong Kong ca April 1898

May 1, 1898: Dewey destroys Spanish fleet at Manila Bay On April 22, 1898, the US Asiatic Fleet commanded by Commodore George Dewey was riding at anchor in the British port of Hong Kong. Navy Secretary John Davis Long (LEFT) cabled the commodore that the United States had begun a blockade of … Read more

Battle of Caloocan

MacArthur and staff near Caloocan Feb 1899

Feb. 10, 1899: Battle of Caloocan After capturing La Loma, Brig. Gen. Arthur C. MacArthur, Jr. pushed toward Caloocan, an important railroad center 11 miles (17 km) north of Manila. For several days, trainloads of Filipino soldiers were seen landing in the town. It also barred the way to Malolos, Aguinaldo’s capitol. … Read more

Battle of Angeles

Filipino soldiers n civilians at Angeles Scribner's 1900

Aug. 16, 1899: Battle of Angeles, Pampanga Province After an extended period of comparative quiet due to the continual heavy rains, General MacArthur began his advance north from San Fernando. He ordered Lt. Col. Jacob H. Smith to press 10 miles northward along the railroad. On Aug. 16, 1899, Colonel Smith moved … Read more