On September 10 General Garcia reported to Aguinaldo that on the previous night the Americans had attempted to push back his line at San Lazaro, and that morning had concentrated and penetrated the Insurgent territory, making a reconnaissance through the fields about Sampaloc.  Aguinaldo put an endorsement on this communication saying that he had long since ordered that the Insurgent line should not be passed.  He instructed Garcia to throw troops in front of the Americans at Sampaloc, and order them to leave, and to warn the bolo men.  Obviously, little more was needed to provoke an Insurgent attack. [187]

An unsigned draft of an order in Aguinaldo’s handwriting dated Malolos, September 13 (?), 1898, [188] shows how tense was the situation while the question of withdrawal of the Insurgent forces from the city of Manila was under consideration.  It contains instructions for General Pio del Pilar, General P. Garcia and General Noriel or Colonel Cailles.  Their purpose is hardly open to doubt.

General Pio del Pilar was directed:—­

“To have a detachment posted in the interval from the branch of the river of Paco in a northerly direction to the bridge and so on up to the Pasig river in the direction of Pandacan, the river serving as a line until the suburb of Panque is reached which will be under our jurisdiction.  Proceed to execute this order on its receipt, posting detachments where they are necessary and trenches will be made without loss of time working day and night.  Do not rest for by doing so we may lose the opportunity; beg of the troops to assist in the formation of intrenchments.  Matters have a bad aspect, we especially expect something Wednesday and Thursday, the 15th and 16th of this month.  The danger is imminent on the mentioned days, also in the time that follows.

“Keep strict vigilance at all hours.  In case you receive orders to leave that place, do not do so on any account without my orders, happen what may....

“Concentrate all your forces in Santa Ana before the day arrives.

“Warn your soldiers against firing at random as the Spaniards did, if possible have them calculate the number of their antagonists and how much ammunition there is in comparison with the number of the attacking force, in fact, there are occasions when each shot fired kills as many as four men.

“I hope you will see to the execution of these instructions and that you will maintain the honour of the Philippines by your courage and in no way permit your rights to be trampled underfoot.” [189]

General Garcia was instructed as follows:—­

“On Wednesday, the 14th of this month, you will post detachments in the points indicated by lines on the enclosed plan.  On receipt of this and as soon as you learn its contents, proceed secretly to determine the most suitable places to post detachments and immediately post our troops and have intrenchments made employing day and night in this work.  Beg this of our soldiers.” [190]