CHAPTER XXVIII

Battles with the Filipinos before Manila.

The Aguinaldo War Upon the Americans—­The Course of Events in the Philippines Since the Fall of Manila—­Origin of the Filipino War—­Aguinaldo’s Insolent and Aggressive Acts, Including Treachery—­His Agent’s Vanity and Duplicity in Washington—­Insurgents Under Aguinaldo Attack American Forces—­Battle of Manila, February 4 and 5—­Heroism of American Troops in Repelling the Insurgents—­Aguinaldo’s Proclamations—­Agoncillo’s Flight to Canada—­The Ratification of the Treaty of Peace With Spain by the American Senate Followed the Fighting—­The Gallantry and Efficiency of the American Volunteers—­Another Glorious Chapter of Our War History.

When Manila fell, August 13th, the insurgents made demonstrations of their purpose to insist upon the occupation of the city as part of their business, and were so excited by the prohibition of the indulgence of their passion for looting and revenge, that they fired several volleys in the direction of the Americans.  The way they were prevented from executing their purposes is stated in the 10th chapter of this volume,—­“The Official History of the Conquest of Manila.”  The Filipino forces were excluded from the city unless unarmed, and Aguinaldo made various claims to high consideration, asserting that the Spaniards could have escaped from the city if it had not been for his army.  He was, in his conversations before the destruction of the Spanish fleet, and while he was on his way to Cavite, a professed friend of the annexation of the Philippines to the United States, and constantly a very voluble creature.  The American Consul at Manila, writing from Manila Bay, opposite to the city, May 12th, 1898, said: 

“These natives are eager to be organized and led by United States officers, and the members of their cabinet visited me and gave assurance that all would swear allegiance to and cheerfully follow our flag.  They are brave, submissive, and cheaply provided for.

“To show their friendliness for me as our nation’s only representative in this part of the world, I last week went on shore at Cavite with British Consul, in his launch, to show the destruction wrought by our fleet.  As soon as natives found me out, they crowded around me, hats off, shouting “Viva los Americanos,” thronged about me by hundreds to shake either hand, even several at a time, men, women, and children striving to get even a finger to shake.  So I moved half a mile, shaking continuously with both hands.  The British Consul, a smiling spectator, said he never before saw such an evidence of friendship.  Two thousand escorted me to the launch amid hurrahs of good feeling for our nation, hence I must conclude.”

Nov. 3, 1897, the American Consul at Hong Kong gave this account of Mr. Agoncillo, who is an interesting person because of his celebrity for insistent and vain letters written at Washington, and his flight to Canada when the Filipinos attacked the Americans at Manila: