Chapter 2  The Philippine Insurrection

The approach of Americans on the island of Mindanao was resented by defiant Moros in the vicinity of Lake Lanao. The Spaniards had never succeeded in getting the full cooperation of the Mohammedans and tribal people in the interior of Mindanao. Colonel Baldwin had endeavored to make friends with the datos and sultans but it was noted that most of his efforts were not heeded. Runners with letters had been dispatched to the important leaders among the Moros, but only those of small importance and of limited influence made friendly response.

   The situation between the Moros and the Americans on the Island of Mindanao was a delicate one. Many of the natives appeared to be friendly and desired to further develop their friend­ship. Others, and a large number, were hostile and could be influenced only by force. To subdue the hostile ones without stirring up adjoining tribes was a matter requiring careful action.

   On account of the savage antagonism of the unfriendly Moros, it was found necessary to organize an expedition against some of the defiant datos.

   The Twenty-Seventh Infantry was assigned to the Seventh Separate Brigade, and to operations in the southern islands of the Philippine group. Regimental Headquarters, the Band, and the First and Third Battalions departed from Manila on the Army transport “Crook”, February 8th, 1902. Units of the regiment were distributed as follows:

                       Regimental Headquarters                                             at Parang, Mind.
                       Band                                                                           at Parang, Mind.
                       First Battalion Headquarters, Company “C                  at Parang, Mind.
                       Company “A”                                                             at Zamboanga, Mind.
                       Company “B”                                                             at Malabang, Mind.
                       Company “D”                                                             at Tucuran, Mind.
                       Third Battalion Hq., Companies “I” and “fl                  at Job, Job Is.
                       Company “K”                                                            at Bongao, Tawi Is.
                       Company “M”                                                            at Siassi

     On the arrival of the Second Battalion in Manila (March 21st) it was ordered to join the remainder of        the regiment in the south­ern islands, and embarked on March 27th. The transport “Buford” touched at        Zamboanga and arrived at Malabang March 30th. This brought the regiment together as one command for    the first time since its organization. In addition to the regiment, Colonel Bald­win also commanded two          troops of the Fifteenth Cavalry and the Twenty-Fifth Mountain Battery, Field Artillery.

   Colonel Baldwin and Captain Nuttman, adjutant, on detached service, went on a friendly visit to the Dato Piang at Cotabato, from March 5th to 9th, taking t h e Twenty-Seventh Infantry Band to help in the celebration of a Moro wedding. Nevertheless, the hostile acts of the Moros occurring in March and April precipitated a serious situation. On March 9th Private Frank P. Morris, of Company Commander of the Twenty-Seventh  “C”, was murdered within a mile of the post at Parang.1 Careful investigation failed to reveal who fired the shot, but it appeared that a Moro did it. Another murder occurred on March 3Oth when two soldiers-Privates Lester J. Lewis and Joseph I. Whittemore, both of Company “B”-were approached by six    Moros near Mala­bang. The Moros were thought to be friendly, but as the opportunity offered a chance, the only rifle in the possession of the two soldiers was seized, and one of the soldiers was cut to pieces by a bob. The other soldier, although wounded, managed to escape. In the latter case the Moros were known, but the datos refused to give them up. The body of Private Lewis was recovered by Cap­tain Moore with a detachment of scouts from Companies “B” and “D”, and Troop “A”, Fifteenth Cavalry.2 

    On April 15th Lieutenant Forsyth, Fifteenth Cavalry, with a detachment of seventeen men was engaged in scouting and opening trails. His band was ambushed by a greatly superior force of some two hundred Moros, with twenty rifles. The troopers were com­pelled to abandon their animals and seek cover in woods nearby. They finally succeeded in fighting clear with a loss of only one man killed. The Moros lost ten men killed and several wounded. 

    Following this occurrence, General Adna R. Chaffee, Commanding the Division of the Philippines, issued a proclamation stating the purposes of the Americans, namely, to explore, open up roads, and to foster commerce between the provinces and the outer world. He demanded that the murders of American soldiers be given up, and that the captured horses be returned, allowing two weeks in which to do this. In the meantime he required the com­manding officers of units under him to permit the commission of no overt act which would cause a clash with the natives. 

    Colonel Baldwin was convinced that the only way to gain a lasting peace would be to advance troops to the region of Lake Lanao and subdue the chiefs responsible for the trouble. He was authorized to conduct an expedition for this purpose, being cautioned to accomplish his purpose by a display of force only, rather than by aggressive attack, if such were possible.

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1 Buried at Parang, P. I. (Record of Interments.) 
2 Scooting parties from Parang, during March, were led by Major Chubb and Lieutenant S Murphy, Pepper and Fries, with detachments from Companies “C” and April scouting parties and working parties on the “Ganassi Trail” from Malabang. were led by Major Scott, and Captains Rogers, Phillips and Moore.  

 

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