Back to top
Philippine-American War and Postwar Correspondence and Documents, January 11, 1900-July 16, 1911.
- Containers:
- Box 5, Folders 1-8
- Abstract:
- Includes letters, documents, and despatches from American soldiers in the Philippines during the Philippine-American War and revolutionary resistance. Some letters indicate that the soldiers felt the war was nearly over; others indicated a sense that the military campaign was interminable, with the length of marching posing morale and medical problems for soldiers. One soldier notes that Filipinos are spreading rumours that Americans cannibalize children, finding amusement when the adults pull their children into hiding when American troops arrive in a location. That letter continues, "It is a source of great pleasure at present for it affords us unlimited amusement but after the novelty wears off I don't guess it will be so amusing to be looked upon as a beast who satiates his hunger upon human flesh, and such [sic] flesh at that." Other letters express anxiety about being redeployed to China to fight the Boxer Rebellion, as well as frustration or fury at Filipino ambush attacks on flying columns and military bases. By 1901, racial and politicized epithets became common in the letters, more than one drawn from racial epithets used against African Americans in the U.S. Includes a letter written on a Spanish-language map of the Philippines, another letter written on captured paper sealed by the Spanish Royal Mint, and a detailed campaign map showing American military manoeuvres near Montalban, and a concert programme in honour of U.S. Gen. Elwell Otis's birthday. The American soldiers and officers stationed in the Philippines include content on the Moro Rebellion. Many letters refer to the particular form of ambush and guerrilla warfare practised by the resistance in the Philippine Islands, particularly the southern islands. A common sentiment in is a frustration with the military campaign. For example, "I am sick of the whole business; I want to get out and go home" (from a letter sent by Sgt. Anthony Springer, a Marseille-born New Yorker, to his wife Mary Walworth, about a month before he was killed in Luzon). As the Moro Rebellion grew more serious, so too did the American response, including violent actions taken in contravention of orders. Also of note are a 1901 letter that indicates that American soldiers were aware of (and many horrified by) massacres committed against Moros by the U.S. military in the southern islands, and a letter that notes the introduction of the Colt M-series of semiautomatic pistols in the Philippines. Included within these letters are a programme for a 6th Infantry Band concert (led by Frank W. Reed) in Bacolod; a memorial sheet for First Lieut. Morton Avery of the 43rd Infantry; a report by a Scout Sergeant who was guarding rations for the U.S. military; a warning note to the garrison at Montalban (Rizal) to avoid movement far from the American military base; a photograph of a Filipina teenager or young woman [NB: The letter in which this photograph is enclosed was written by Jacob Klein. The William L. Clements Library holds additional letters of Jacob Klein, which are described in the Jacob Klein Letters Finding Aid]; and a small photograph of an American woman. Additional keywords: guerrilla warfare, Moro Rebellion, war crimes, military bands, military scouts, baseball, Balangiga Massacre, marching, military maps, maps of the Philippine-American War, Royal Mint (Spain), Boxer Rebellion. Partial geographical list: Subic (Zambales, Philippines), Centralia (N.Y.), Manila (Philippines), Milwaukee and Green Bay (Wis.), Chicago (Ill.), Montalban (Rizan, Philippines), Binalonan (Pangasinan, Philippines), West Hartford (Conn.), Indan (now Vinzons, Camarines Norte, Philippines), Kokomo (Ind.), Naic (Cavite, Philippines), Potter County (Penn.), Camp Balamban (Sebu, Philippines), Poquetanuck (Preston, Conn.), Worcester (Mass.), Tabaco (Philippines), Ligao (Albay, Philippines), Donsol (Sorsagon, Philippines), Newark Valley (N.Y.), Auburn (N.Y.), San Mateo (Rizal, Philippines), Batangas (Philippines), Florence (Ind.), Baler (Principe, now Auroras, Luzon, Philippines), Lucban (Quizon, Philippines), Pinauran (near Montalban, Rizal, Philippines), Bangued (Abra, Philippines), Denver (Colo.), Tagbilaran (Bohol, Philippines), Monmouth (Ill.), New Haven (Conn.), Legaspi (Legazpi, Albay, Philippines), Bacolod (Negros Island, Philippines), Plattsburgh (N.Y.), Lipa (Batangas, Philippines), Aparri (Cagayan, Luzon, Philippines), Isabela (Philippines), Fort Myer (Arlington, Va.), Cabugao (Ilocos, Philippines), Park Ridge (Ill.), Tayabas (Quezon, Philippines), Asbury (N.Y.), Samar Island, San Mateo (Rizal, Philippines), Topeka (Kan.), Tanauan (Batangas, Philippines), Zamboanga (Mindanao, Philippines), Watertown (Mass.), Evansville (Ind.), Little Marsh (Penn.), Fort Sam Houston (San Antonio, Tex.), Fort William McKinley (Taguig, Manila region, Philippines), East Liverpool (Ohio).
- Extent:
- 52 items
Using These Materials
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
The collection is open for research.
- USE & PERMISSIONS:
-
Copyright status is unknown