The McCune Collection

Harper’s History of the War in the Philippines

Item:
Title: Harper’s History of the War in the Philippines
Author: edited by Marrion Wilcox

Printer: Harper & Brothers
Place of Printing: New York and London
Date of Printing: 1900
Format: Elephant Folio. 16.5 x 12 inches
Language:
McCune Location:
Reference:

Author and Commentators

Marrion Wilcox (1858-1926) was born in Georgia. He graduated from Yale University in 1878 and received his L.L.B. from Hamilton College and was admitted to the New York Bar. Wilcox acted as an instructor at Yale and wrote A Short History of the War with Spain and Harper’s History of the War in the Philippines.

The Book

Approximately 473 pages. Contains a listing of the U.S. soldiers by rank on pages 413-465. Extensively illustrated and containing numerous maps. Approximately twenty-six full-page colored illustrations and over a thousand black-and-white illustrations and photograph. On page 384 there is an illustration of General Lawton by Frederic Remington. Some of the war correspondences contributing to this book were John F. Bass, William Dinwiddie, and Frank D. Millet. There are also accounts by the officers commanding the actions such as Admiral Dewey and Generals Greene, Lawton, Merritt, and Otis.

This book discusses the war in the Philippines from1899 thru 1900). It covers the insurrection of 1896 by the Filipinos against Spain, the revolutionary government of Emilio Aguinado et al. and the pact of Biak-na-Bato, in which the Spanish government ended hostilities with the revolutionaries by granting amnesty and paying them a monetary indemnity. Then in April 1898, the Spanish-American War began. Admiral Dewey brought his squadron to Manila to defeat the Spanish squadron under Admiral Montojo.

Although the Filipinos had fought against the Spanish and controlled much of the Philippines, the United States did not recognize Philippine independence. Filipino troops were not allowed to enter the city of Manila which had been captured by the Americans. The Spanish seceded the Philippines to the United States at the Treaty of Paris in 1898.

The declaration of independence by Emilio Aguinado was not recognized by the United States. This let to conflict between the American and Filipino forces.

In February 1899, an American soldier on guard duty shot a Filipino officer who refused to stop when challenged. This lead to the start of the war with the Filipinos under Aguinado. Brigadier General Wheaton led a flying column to cut communications between the north and south insurgent armies. The Americans under Arthur McArthur soon overtook Maloslos (the first insurgent capital) and then when the capital was moved to San Isidro and Cabanatuan, these were also captured.

The American army pursued Emilio Aguinado and his government throughout the Philippines. But the war did not always go the American’s way. In 1899, Lieutenant Gilmore and twelve sailors were captured off the coast of Luzon. After marching them for quite a distance, the Americans were to be executed but were saved due to other American troops being in the area. During the night the Filipinos left their prisoners and escaped. In November 1899, the cruiser Charleston was wrecked off a reef near Luzon. In another incident, Brigadier General Henry Ware Lawton was on the battle lines in San Mateo in December of 1899 when he was shot and killed by an insurgent sharpshooter.

Although not included in the book, the war began to come to an end during the next few years. Finally, in 1901, Aguinado was captured and accepted the authority of the United States over the Philippines. However, General Malvar took over the government and continued guerilla operations. He did not surrender until 1902.

Contents

1. How Magellan Came To Cebu
2. How the Philippine Islands Received Their Names
3. The Final Revolt Against the Spaniards
4. The Overthrow of the Spanish Dominion in the Philippines
5. To the Philippines with American Troops
6. The Vain Hope of Independence
7. The Third Battle of Manila
8. From the Attempt to Destroy Manila to the Flying Columns Success
9. On to Malolos; the Taking of the First Insurgent Capital; the Santa Cruz Raid
10. The Taking of the 2nd and 3rd Insurgent Capitals
11. Military Operations East & South of Manila in June 1899; Luzon & Visayas
12. Progress in Central & Southern Islands; Constitution-making in Negros; Treaty-making in Sulu
13. Contrasts: Naval Activity in Philippines, Admiral Returns; Typical U.S. Regiment
14. Attempt to Capture Aguinaldo; Loss of the Cruiser Charleston; Garrison Life
15. Pursuit of Aguinaldo; Luzon Highlands; Lt. Gillmore Captivity; General Lawton
16. Last Expeditions
17. Agriculture, Commerce, Transportation

Appendix

1. Treaty with the Sultan of Sulu.
2. Troop F. Third Cavalry.
3. Brigadier-General Grant’s Report.
4. Report on Battle of San Mateo.
5. American Volunteer Soldiers.
6. The Astor Battery

Gallery