The Filipino American War as seen by diarists in real time with some additional commentary and sourc

Stories from the Shipyard: USS Monadnock
by Patriot-Bridge Staff • November 25, 2020 • 0 Comments

By Mike Manning – Chair – Friends of the Boston Harborwalk

In terms of name recognition, the USS Monadnock is a lesser known vessel but represents a significant first at the Boston Navy Yard (in Charlestown). The Monadnock, named after the Abenaki word for “isolated mountain”, was launched on March 23rd, 1863 and commissioned on October 4th, 1864. She was the first ironclad built in the Boston Navy Yard – but not the first ironclad built in Boston. That honor goes to the USS Nahant built a year earlier in South Boston.

Designed by John Lenthall of the US Navy’s Design Bureau of Construction and Repair, the Monadnock was one of four Miantonomoh-class monitors commissioned by the US Navy during the Civil War. These warships were named after the chief of the Narragansett – a native American tribe of New England. These were the only ironclads built in US Navy shipyards and not at privately-owned shipyards.

After the pivotal and industry-transforming battle of ironclads at Hampton Roads, Virginia in March 1862, shipyards were scrambling to build these new state-of-the-art warships. The Monadnock and her sister ships were constructed with wooden framing and hull, sheathed with 12- to 14-inch thick wooden planks, and armored with multiple layers of one-inch thick wrought-iron plates. Whereas previous models of ironclads were built with single turrets, this class of monitors had two – each turret housing two 15-inch caliber Dalgren cannon. The redundant propulsion system, designed to improve reliability and speed, powered each monitor with twin 1,400 horsepower coal-fired steam engines. These engines were built by John Ericsson, the designer and builder of the US Navy’s first ironclad, the USS Monitor.

After commissioning, the Monadnock steamed to her home base at Port Norfolk, Virginia as the port had been re-captured by Union forces in May 1862. In mid-December, she was assigned to the North Atlantic Blocking Squadron and steamed towards Fort Fisher – just south of Wilmington, North Carolina. The squadron consisted of a wide array of nearly 60 Union warships.

With Port Norfolk in Union hands, the port of Wilmington had become one of the most strategic ports for the Confederacy. British smuggling vessels called “blockage runners” brought shipments of munitions, armaments, clothing, textiles, and foodstuffs and were exchanged for cotton and tobacco. These vessels coming from British colonies, such as Bermuda or the Bahamas, were forced to avoid the Union naval blockade barring entry to all major southern ports.

On Christmas Eve, 1864, the Monadnock and other squadron vessels began shelling the fort. Unfortunately, the gunfire was ineffective as most shells flew harmlessly over the fort and landed in the Cape Fear River. A landing of Union troops was equally unsuccessful. A second bombardment began on January13th, 1865 and continued without interruption for two days. At this point, most of the fort’s main cannon had been silenced. In a coordinated effort, Union forces landed at multiple points around the fort. In what may have been the largest amphibious assault by Union forces to that date, nearly 10,000 marines and troops came ashore, seized the fort, and accepted its surrender on the evening of the 15th. Fort Fisher’s surrender in effect closed the port of Wilmington, the last port available to the Confederacy, for the remainder of the war. The South was now cut off from all global trade – its lifeline from the beginning of the conflict.^1

After her successful mission at Fort Fisher, the Monadnock was transferred to the South Atlantic Blocking Squadron and steamed to Charleston, South Carolina. The city surrendered a month after her arrival. Once the city was secured by Union forces, she took part in the final assault on the Confederate capital – Richmond, Virginia, which surrendered on April 3rd, 1865. In less than a year’s service, the Monadnock had fought in three significant land-sea battles culminating in the capture of the heart of the Confederacy.

After her service in the Civil War, the Monadnock left Philadelphia on October 5th with the USS Vanderbilt, USS Tuscarora, and USS Powhatan. This was an incredible voyage since the ships’ top speed was a paltry 10 knots. After stopping at various South America ports-of-call, the Monadnock maneuvered through the Strait of Magellan in March 1866 and continued northward to Valparaiso, Chile and finally Acapulco, Mexico. She arrived at her final destination, San Francisco, in early June 1866.^2

After her relatively short service life, the Monadnock was decommissioned on June 30th. She remained at the Mare Island Navy Yard, just north of San Francisco, and was regrettably allowed to deteriorate at her pier for the next eight years. At this point, she was beyond repair. The vessel’s wooden framing and hull, not her layers of armor plating, set in motion her eventual demise. In 1874, the Monadnock was broken up just ten years after her initial commissioning.

However, on paper, the Monadnock remained on the active naval vessel register. A new vessel, of the same name, began to take shape at a shipyard in Vallejo, California, under the guise of “repairs” to the original vessel of 1863.^3 The Navy Department evaded the Congressional refusal to order new ships by claiming that the Civil War-era ship was being repaired while building a new monitor of the same name. This subterfuge lasted throughout the building of the “new” Monadnock. She was launched in 1883 but languished through multiple construction starts and stops. This “new” Monadnock was eventually commissioned in 1896 and saw service in the Spanish-American War.

WARSHIP WEDNESDAY APRIL 30. OF GREAT REPAIRS AND SHALLOW WATERS: THE USS MONADNOCK

Posted on April 30, 2014 by laststandonzombieisland 3 comments
Here at LSOZI, we are going to take out every Wednesday for a look at the old steam/diesel navies of the 1859-1946 time period and will
profile a different ship each week.

– Christopher Eger

Warship Wednesday April 30. Of Great Repairs and Shallow Waters: the USS Monadnock


Here we see the USS Monadnock, (BM-3), sitting in calm waters off the Chinese coast in 1901. Yes, that is really how low a freeboard this ship had.

During the Civil War, the twin turreted ironclad USS Monadnock was built 1863-64 by the Boston Navy yard as a 250-ft, 3300-ton, Miantonomoh-class monitor. Completed just seven months before the end of the war, she didn’t see much action as soon afterward was sent (very slowly) to the West Coast all the way around South America (as there was no Panama Canal). Arriving there at Vallejo, California and entered the Mare Island Navy Yard where she decommissioned 30 June 1866 due to lack of funds.


The original wooden‑hull, double-turreted, 1863 ironclad monitor USS Monadnock, complete with a Ericsson vibrating lever engine and pair of Civil war standard 15-inch smoothbore Dahlgren guns, circa 1866 in the Mare Island channel. USN photo courtesy of Darryl L. Baker.

Well, the fresh young ship was allowed to rot at her moorings and by 1874 was nothing but semi-submerged junk.

Then she was ‘repaired.’


Robeson: When I say repair, I do mean, ‘scrap and rebuild from scratch’

You see, then Secretary of the Navy George Robeson knew that the service was a mere specter of its former self by 1874, and war with Spain was looming in one form or another (although did not materialize fully until 1898). With no money for new ships, he set about ‘repairing’ the old monitors USS Puritan and the four Miantonomoh-class vessels (including Monadnock). Of course, the repairs started with selling the ships along with nine other hulks to scrappers and using the money to pay four private shipbuilders to make new ones under the old names with a smile and a wink, but hey, you have to get it done somehow, right?

Well the ‘new‘ monitor Monadnock was laid down again right there in Vallejo as her namesake was scrapped and recycled very near her. With money tight even for ‘repairs,’ the ship languished in the new works of one Mr. Phineas Burgess of whose Continental Iron Works had one ship clogging the ways– Monadnock. With checks from the Navy few and far between, the yard closed, some $120,000 in debt. It was then in 1883 that the Navy finally agreed to get the long-building ironclad off the builder’s way and in 1883 she was quietly and without ceremony launched and towed to the Mare Island Naval shipyard– (again) if you go with the premise that the was still the old Monadnock.


The new monitor being fitted out in the historic dry-dock at Mare Island. This dock still exists and may soon house the old cruiser relic (and Dewey’s flagship) Olympia.

The new ship and her three sisters were extremely close in size to the ironclad monitors they replaced– some 262-feet long and 3990-tons (due to more armor). The fact that these ships often incorporated re-purposed amenities from the old Civil War monitors proved a further nice touch.


USS Mondanancok 1896 San Fransisco in her gleaming white scheme. Click to embiggen

Her teeth were four of the new and very modern for their time 10″/30 (25.4 cm) Mark 2 guns, the same type used on all of her class as well as the follow-on Monterey class monitor M-6) and the famously ill-fated armored cruiser USS Maine (1895). These 25-ton guns, some 27.4-feet long, could fire a 510-pound shell out past 20,000 yards at about 2-3 rounds per minute (although that was with a very well rehearsed crew). With her 14-foot draft, she could stick to the shallows and avoid larger battleships while her guns, capable of penetrating up to 7-inches of steel armor at close range, were thought capable of sinking any smaller ship that could breach those shallows.


Naval cutlass practice under the monitors guns.

Monadnock and her sisters carried some 360 shells for their large guns as well as some 17-tons of rather smokey ‘brown powder’ propellant charges to fire them. To keep torpedo boats away, the monitor carried a pair of 4-inch breech-loaders as well as numerous small deck guns and machine-guns that changed over time. Even if they did get close, she had up to 11.5-inches of steel armor plate.

In short, she was a fire-breathing turtle.

Finally completed 20 February 1896, after just 22-years of ‘repair’, the Monadnock had a unique set of twin triple expansion steam engines that gave the ship a speed of 11.6-knots, a full knot and change faster than her three sisters. When war broke out with Spain in 1898, she was ordered to reinforce the small squadron of Commodore Dewey in the Far East.


Stern shot of the monitor USS Monadnock off the Mare Island Navy Yard, CA, June 1898, ready for her voyage to the Philippines. The old monitor 800-ton Passaic-class monitor USS Camanche (1864-1899), at the time training ship for the California Naval Militia, is visible beyond Monadnock‘s after turret. (Photograph courtesy of the US Navy Historical Center)

Leaving California on 23 June, towed by the new and efficient coaler USS Nero (AC-17), the pair made the journey from Mare Island to Manila Bay in just seven weeks. Her near-sister, the monitor USS Monterey (BM-6), left fully two weeks before her towed by the coaler USS Brutus (AC-15) yet only beat Monadnock/Nero by a single day.



Doesn’t that look fun? They probably had a long line of volunteers who would rather have been in the rowboat than the monitor.

Considering the low free-board, row-boat like beam to length ratio, and the fact that monitors were never designed to operate at sea (the original USS Monitor foundered just after her commissioning), the 8000-mile trip was epic. With their cramped and overheated engine-room (in which temperatures measured over 140-degrees on a thermometer suspended from a fishing pole on deck) these ships were miserable for the stokers and water tenders.
crossing



Once in Philippine waters, (Dewey had already captured Manila without Monadnock or Monterery), the two monitor were very busy. Too late to fight the Spanish, they did however, fire their guns in several battles supporting the US troops in hot actions across the wild archipelago including notably the 1899 Battle of Caloocan, where Monadnock was credited largely with transforming that rebel stronghold as “What was once a prosperous town was in a few minutes wiped out of existence.”



Unexploded 10″ (25.4 cm) shell fired by USS Monadnock during her service in Philippine waters. Original caption read “Unexploded ten-inch shell after penetrating a six-foot trench and killing three of the enemy” Photograph copyrighted by Perley Fremont Rockett of San Francisco Library of Congress Photograph ID LC-USZ62-118717

Both Monadnock and Monterey, with the luxury of their low free board and ability to burn crap coal, found themselves often in Chinese waters, patrolling the wild Yangtze all the way to Shanghai. She watched the interned Russian fleet including the damaged cruisers Zhemchug, Aurora, and Oleg in 1905 that only narrowly escaped Adm Togo and made sure that they sat out the rest of the Russo-Japanese war. When the Russian battleship Potemkin erupted in mutiny that summer, the Monadnock and her crew paid extra close attention to prevent the glum sailors of the Tsar, under the unpopular but politically connected Rear-Admiral Oskar Enkvist, from spreading the banner of the Red Flag to Manila harbor.

The three Tsarist protected cruisers, with their 28 rapid fire 4.7 and 6-inch guns, could have smothered the heavily armored Monadnock in medium caliber shells, but each of the American monitor’s 10-inchers could have effected enough of a beating on the very lightly armored Russian ships to have made it a good fight. It should be noted that two of the Russian cruisers were sunk during World War One in very one-sided fights against lesser craft, while the Aurora is preserved as a monument ship in St. Petersburg today.


A French image of her in Chinese waters. Note the extensive canvas awnings and small boats.

Largely replaced in this role by purpose-built river gunboats in China who needed a much smaller crew, the monitors were taken off of patrol duties by 1912. There Monterey languished and was eventually towed to Pearl Harbor while Monadnock served as a tender for submarines at Cavite harbor until 24 March 1919 when she was decommissioned. There is evidence her hulk was used as a receiving ship of sorts for a few more years until she was struck from the Navy list 2 February 1923, and her hull was sold for scrap on the Asiatic Station, 24 August 1923 at a still young age of just 27.

Seems a waste for a vessel that took 22 years to construct, but then again, she was much more at home in the 1860’s than the 1920’s.

Specs:


plan mondanack

Displacement: 3,990 tons
Length: 262 ft 3 in (79.93 m)
Beam: 55 ft 5 in (16.89 m)
Draft: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
Propulsion: 2 × Triple expansion generating 1,600 hp., 2 screws (Monadnock only)
Her sisters had 2 × Compound
Speed: Monadnock: 11.63 knots, rest of class 10.1
Range: 1,370nm @ 10 kn (19 km/h) with 250-tons coal
Complement: 156 officers and enlisted
Armament:
Four 10 inch (254 mm) breechloading guns
Two 4 inch (100 mm) rapid fire guns
Two 6 pounder (57 mm) rapid fire guns
Two 3 pounder (47 mm) rapid fire guns
Two 37 mm Hocthkiss guns
Seven one pounder gun
One Colt revolving guns
Armor:
Armor belt – 180 mm, iron..
Conning Tower – 190 mm
Chimneys and ventilators – 100 mm to height of .9 m
Deck – 40 mm
Turrets – 292 mm (fixed portion) and 190 mm (movable portion)
Double bottom under boilers and engines.

To Pasig to draw clothes in a.m. On the road I saw an armadillo with his scaly hide. Captured some tomatoes from an old hag on way back, they were the first fresh vegetables I’ve had for a long time. In p.m. several of us went up to Lake in a large canoe –7 of us– to shoot ducks. We only got 7 but had lots of target. The Maj. tho’t we had run up against the filips and sent out a relief. We did get shot at but it was long range. Fried duck with tomatoes. Swim often in river. Sun swings almost over head at noon.

Cavite, Luzon Island – Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo



Hot day, although heavy clouds hung in the sky and breezes fanned sultry atmosphere from time to time. Up early & out of bed. Bible lesson and prayer. Cooked breakfast, partook thereof and washed the dishes in a hurry. Then proceeded down to the quay on front of the U.S. Quartermaster’s depot paid 20 cents Mex, fare & traveled 12 miles to Cavite. Saw the battleship “Oregon” in all the glory of white paint and black guns. First time that I have seen the now famous fighter since her completion. Was present in San Francisco at the launching of the hull.



Cavite is filling with Filipinos again. When the war broke out these people cleared out in short order.



This day might appropriately be termed a prayer circle day. I chased up and down the streets of Cavite an hour or two trying to find Private Chester Blaney of H. G. 10th Pennsylvania Vol. Inf., who was on guard detail. At last I found my man in bed resting on the back second floor of the Colegio de la Sagrada Familia – Roman Catholic – made notorious by the Filipinos (this building) when filled with sick and starving Spanish prisoners when I first landed in Cavite last July. I talked with him about various subjects not omitting spiritual. When about to leave I knelt down & prayed & requested Blaney to do the same. He bowed his head but did not kneel or pray. Says he is keeping saved. Advised him to be brave for Jesus or be aggressive. Together we visited a backslider Salvationist, but the latter appeared asleep.



Bidding Blaney good-bye I crossed the street to the Divisional hospital. Met Brother [A.J] Smith. Together we visited Bro. Hans [Verweibe], Salvationist, pastry cook, Verweibe, myself, Brother A.J. Smith, Hospital corps, Bro. Geo Baker of A. Battery, California Heavy Artillery had a little prayer gathering of our own in the sleeping room occupied by Verweibe and Smith on the ground floor of the hospital. Up stairs I was take to Bro. Z. K. Miller of the Ice factory. The latter not satisfied with the quietude of the ice plant, wen out to the front & helped the North Dakota regiment in battle. Consequence: sun struck or over heated. He is improving again. I kneeled down & prayed with him.



Verweibe accompanied me to the Naval Hospital down in the Arsenal. A sailor on Calle Real informed me that Bro. Eletson was therein sick. When I entered the main entrance the first thing that caught my eye was a commode with a bible & small book – help to the study of the bible – on top & behold near behind the door lay Brother e. on a cot. He is troubled with malaria, & thro’ too much hard work broke down. Looks pale. Comforted him. Before leaving kneeled down by his bedside & prayed. Says the Doctor may send him to the U.S. Naval hospital at Yokohama, Japan. Showed me two begging letters one from Adj. Ellis, Yokohama, which stated that the S.A. Sailors’ Home is running behind & that unless same thing was done financially it may have to be closed. I was under the impression that that home was a source of income. Staff Captain Symour S. A. Sailor’s Home at HongKong also wants money. The S/C complains of his wife’s poor health & hints that a change of climate may be necessary.



Verweibe gave me $7 U.S. coin Tenth League payment.


Verweibe gave me $7 U.S. coin Tenth League payment. I spoke to several individuals personally re salvation.


Arriving in Manila, called at the post office. Returned home, cooked supper, washed dishes & am now tired & sleepy.

Matthew 7:16 

“By their deeds you will know them. Does a man gather grapes from thorns or figs from briars?”

cooked supper, washed dishes & am now tired & sleepy

 Return to Manila after 14 days of vigilance–We were attacked most ever night by the rebs We are under orders to prepare for a long Campaign through the center of Luzon.

The weather is fine. We are resting but several orders are read to us. The regular routine of business will commence on the 20th. the Colonel [Alexander Hawkins] made a trip across Manila.

Nothing to note in last three days except mail arrived yesterday and massing of brigade to move down valley. Now Col. Summers is in charge of brigade. All quiet.

Manila, Luzon Island – Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo

The time is now about 8 p.m. Word has lately – since dark been brought from U.S. Headquarters to the Utah artillerymen across the street from my house, that the Filipinos are expected to rise tonight in Manila. An attack is expected to be made on the Cuartel Meisig close to my house. The old Spanish woman, Senora Dolores Valcacer is frightened. She got wind of it somehow & made a flying visit up stairs.

I attempted the article for “Harbor Lights”, Mrs. Brewer wrote me to send her, the title will probably be Four (or five) nights in the Philippines. Did not make much progress because of much company. Rev. Rogers, a Presbyterian missionary from the Southern part of Brazil arrived today by steamer. Left his wife or children in China. Mr. Randall of the Bible Society brought him around. A lady came also.

Bro. D. G. Hines came. Is not improving as rapidly as one could wish. Capt. Morrison & daughter, Agnes, also called. They are staying with the Owens’ tonight. I have given the latter permission to use one of my rooms during the night. They borrowed 2 cots from the Utah men.

I went to the post office this morning but rec’d nothing; U.S. mail came but was not distributed; called again this p.m. with better success. (1) a short letter of no importance from Lt.-Col. Alice Lewis, New York, enclosing a pamphlet of instruction re Self Denial Week. I have no heart to do any more self-denying than I am doing to raise money for the General or Booth-Tucker. Their reputation for wasting money is discouraging. Com. B.-T. is the author of the pamphlet.

(2) Adjutant C. Wilfred Bourne, written at New York, March 13th, brings heavy news & hints at move. Says he learned in Commanders’ office that the San Francisco Cal. War Cry is doomed – “sure thing” this time. God forbid. For a period of long years the U.S. leader stationed in New York tried to suspend the little paper. I prayed God and trusted him & worked to keep it going. The Lord did not permit it to fail praise His dear name. The N. Yorkers are again at their old game. May God block it again if best in His sight.

I quote Bourne: “Rumour says that we are likely to lose Commander in a year or so. He will have been with us then five years. Remember I received above in confidence but was allowed to write you.” Evidently the General had been petitioned to recall Commander & Mrs. Booth–Tucker & he does not wish to comply with the request for a year or two, which is equivalent to not granting it. Bourne says he wrote another on the can but I did not get it.

Tonight the moon gives light thro’ light clouds. There will be some light at least in case they make an attack.

This a.m. at a Chinese gallery on Calle Nueva, I obtained 10 photographs of the recent fight over at Santa Maria, with kindred pictures taken by Corporal Krell. lI mailed some papers to Bro. Berry at Corregidor Is. hospital yesterday morning & this p.m. sent a package of envelopes, 2 lead pencils & some writing paper to Private Frank Amie, Battery H. 3d Heavy Artillery at Paombong.

Taps is now sounding over in the Cuartel Meisig. I am hot & sleepy & want to retire. Unto my God I give praise for His providential care over me

I have no heart to do any more self-denying than I am doing to raise money for the General or Booth-Tucker. Their reputation for wasting money is discouraging. Com. B.-T. is the author of the pamphlet.

Was on lower river outpost last night. Saw only one filip. Heavy volley Krags firing to the east over Smith’s run for ½ hour. Hot today. 2000 (Filipino patriots.) in view at noon coming our way in double skirmish line but they did not attack.

Review given to Filipino Congress.

We left Manila (for good) with a force comprising the 22 Infty, 3rd U.S. Infty. 4th U.S. Cav. 1st Oregon Vol. 2nd Ore. Vol., 13th Minn. Vol. 1st N. Da. Vol. part of the 6th U.S. Art. and two Bats of Utahs, Maj. Gen [Henry Ware] Lawton is in command of the expedition

The weather is fine. The regular routine of drills goes into effect. Today nine men from each company go on guard and patrol and the same amount, which consists of the old guard, do partack(?) duty and five men receive a pass good to go to Manila. In the evening we received mail. I received five letters and some papers.

Sunday. All quiet in town. 4 Cavite [natives) & Nebraska got into a mix-up. We lost about 25 men wounded & killed. Col. Stottemberg [Stotsenberg] of Neb. and his Adjutant were killed. It seems that calvary was ambushed & Nebs. [Nebraskans] went to their support were also surrounded and had to charge as bunch to get out

Wrote to Tops –a long one. More cannon (I think they are sells) are being placed on the hills for our benefit? Co F Wn came to our relief and are q’t’d in the auditorium. Will make work easier for us. We gathered on balcony in eve and sung all songs from gospel hymns to “Roll Dem Bones.” Then told stories, real army stories. To bed late. How it rained, sky opened and fairly emptied torrents. Glad I wasn’t on outpost.

Manila, Luzon Island – Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo



So Provost-Sergeant M. Ryan of Bilibid prison is dead! I was very much surprised today when the news was imparted to me. Last Sunday forenoon he was full of life characteristic of young men & led a procession of military prisoners out of their wards to my cell & on Tuesday passed into eternity to appear before the dread tribunal of God. While treating me well so far as I could see, he never manifested openly any interest in Christ or the salvation for which He, the Lord, gave His life to purchase for sinners. One may hope that in some way he may have found eternal life at last, still, such a hope is a miserably poor straw upon which to hang a hope. Our blessed Jesus says, “behold I came quickly.” May every one of us like the beloved John be able to answer “Amen, even so come Lord Jesus. My Savior is precious to me.

A new Provost-Sergeant, John Houser, brought some prisoners (4) out today & my meeting was held in the ward given over to white civil prisoners – usually a rough set of sailors. My audience of 17 was disturbed by some one coming to get seamen to fill up his crew. Two splendid specimen of muscular humanity attracted my attention, one of them remarked when I spoke sympathizingly of Ryan’s death, “I hope he is in the south-eastern corner of hell.” Appeared to be incensed against the dead man. I gave 2 new testaments to the prisoners – one copy to the hard case at his request. Left some hymn brooks also to the men.

My meetings are much too short to suit me. Lieut. Wolf makes a tour of inspection on Sunday forenoon. Sometimes he is late. I am then late too. Must close at 11.45 a.m.

A conspiracy was discovered in Bilibid this week. The Filipino convicts made knives & sharpened files with the intention of killing the guards and making their escape. The plot was discovered and the weapons confiscated.

After the close of my meeting in the civil prison, one of the military prisoners whose sentence will expire Tuesday greatly pleased me with the news that he is now saved. He sought salvation two days since & is now a different man. Said I spoke to him about salvation in Honolulu. Name: James Rusher, Co. B. 23d U.S. Infantry. To my God alone be the glory and praise, amen.

Walking to & from Bilibid was hot work, but I do not mind it, now since the dear Lord is using me there.

Commenced day with 2 chapters in Leviticus & a few verses in the 24th Chapter of Joshua. Prayed. My God was near me. Praised him in my sleep and dreams last night.

Cooked breakfast and supper and washed dishes, made dinner of lemonade and dry bread.

This evening a hard breeze – about sunset – resembling a Texas norther without the cold, slammed doors & windows & brought up rain clouds. Tonight we are having sheet lightning & a light rain.

Being alone this afternoon gave my attention to lifelong work & wrote 2 short parts of my article for “Harbor Lights”.

The “City of Pueblo” arrived & brought several companies of the 9th U.S. Infantry. The troops landed.

News of a “scrap” came in this afternoon. A reconnoitering party got engaged which drew in the battle lines & there followed much exchanging of shots. One third of a 4th Cavalry troop is reported killed or wounded & Col. Stotsenberg of the 1st Nebraska Vol. Inf. is killed. This fight is conclusive that the Filipinos do not want peace.

Rev. & Mrs. Owens saw Schumerhorn in the 1st Reserve hospital. Dysentery. A shot just fired.

Leviticus 26

Reward for Obedience

26 “‘Do not make idols or set up an image or a sacred stone for yourselves, and do not place a carved stone in your land to bow down before it. I am the Lord your God.
2 “‘Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the Lord.
3 “‘If you follow my decrees and are careful to obey my commands, 4 I will send you rain in its season, and the ground will yield its crops and the trees their fruit. 5 Your threshing will continue until grape harvest and the grape harvest will continue until planting, and you will eat all the food you want and live in safety in your land.
6 “‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country. 7 You will pursue your enemies, and they will fall by the sword before you. 8 Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred of you will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you.
9 “‘I will look on you with favor and make you fruitful and increase your numbers, and I will keep my covenant with you. 10 You will still be eating last year’s harvest when you will have to move it out to make room for the new. 11 I will put my dwelling place among you, and I will not abhor you. 12 I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be my people. 13 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt so that you would no longer be slaves to the Egyptians; I broke the bars of your yoke and enabled you to walk with heads held high.

Punishment for Disobedience

14 “‘But if you will not listen to me and carry out all these commands, 15 and if you reject my decrees and abhor my laws and fail to carry out all my commands and so violate my covenant, 16 then I will do this to you: I will bring on you sudden terror, wasting diseases and fever that will destroy your sight and sap your strength. You will plant seed in vain, because your enemies will eat it. 17 I will set my face against you so that you will be defeated by your enemies; those who hate you will rule over you, and you will flee even when no one is pursuing you.
18 “‘If after all this you will not listen to me, I will punish you for your sins seven times over. 19 I will break down your stubborn pride and make the sky above you like iron and the ground beneath you like bronze. 20 Your strength will be spent in vain, because your soil will not yield its crops, nor will the trees of your land yield their fruit.
21 “‘If you remain hostile toward me and refuse to listen to me, I will multiply your afflictions seven times over, as your sins deserve. 22 I will send wild animals against you, and they will rob you of your children, destroy your cattle and make you so few in number that your roads will be deserted.
23 “‘If in spite of these things you do not accept my correction but continue to be hostile toward me, 24 I myself will be hostile toward you and will afflict you for your sins seven times over. 25 And I will bring the sword on you to avenge the breaking of the covenant. When you withdraw into your cities, I will send a plague among you, and you will be given into enemy hands. 26 When I cut off your supply of bread, ten women will be able to bake your bread in one oven, and they will dole out the bread by weight. You will eat, but you will not be satisfied.
27 “‘If in spite of this you still do not listen to me but continue to be hostile toward me, 28 then in my anger I will be hostile toward you, and I myself will punish you for your sins seven times over. 29 You will eat the flesh of your sons and the flesh of your daughters. 30 I will destroy your high places, cut down your incense altars and pile your dead bodies on the lifeless forms of your idols, and I will abhor you. 31 I will turn your cities into ruins and lay waste your sanctuaries, and I will take no delight in the pleasing aroma of your offerings. 32 I myself will lay waste the land, so that your enemies who live there will be appalled. 33 I will scatter you among the nations and will draw out my sword and pursue you. Your land will be laid waste, and your cities will lie in ruins. 34 Then the land will enjoy its sabbath years all the time that it lies desolate and you are in the country of your enemies; then the land will rest and enjoy its sabbaths. 35 All the time that it lies desolate, the land will have the rest it did not have during the sabbaths you lived in it.
36 “‘As for those of you who are left, I will make their hearts so fearful in the lands of their enemies that the sound of a windblown leaf will put them to flight. They will run as though fleeing from the sword, and they will fall, even though no one is pursuing them. 37 They will stumble over one another as though fleeing from the sword, even though no one is pursuing them. So you will not be able to stand before your enemies. 38 You will perish among the nations; the land of your enemies will devour you. 39 Those of you who are left will waste away in the lands of their enemies because of their sins; also because of their ancestors’ sins they will waste away.
40 “‘But if they will confess their sins and the sins of their ancestors—their unfaithfulness and their hostility toward me, 41 which made me hostile toward them so that I sent them into the land of their enemies—then when their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they pay for their sin, 42 I will remember my covenant with Jacob and my covenant with Isaac and my covenant with Abraham, and I will remember the land. 43 For the land will be deserted by them and will enjoy its sabbaths while it lies desolate without them. They will pay for their sins because they rejected my laws and abhorred my decrees. 44 Yet in spite of this, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or abhor them so as to destroy them completely, breaking my covenant with them. I am the Lord their God. 45 But for their sake I will remember the covenant with their ancestors whom I brought out of Egypt in the sight of the nations to be their God. I am the Lord.’”
46 These are the decrees, the laws and the regulations that the Lord established at Mount Sinai between himself and the Israelites through Moses.

The Covenant Renewed at Shechem

24 Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel at Shechem. He summoned the elders, leaders, judges and officials of Israel, and they presented themselves before God.
2 Joshua said to all the people, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: ‘Long ago your ancestors, including Terah the father of Abraham and Nahor, lived beyond the Euphrates River and worshiped other gods. 3 But I took your father Abraham from the land beyond the Euphrates and led him throughout Canaan and gave him many descendants. I gave him Isaac, 4 and to Isaac I gave Jacob and Esau. I assigned the hill country of Seir to Esau, but Jacob and his family went down to Egypt.
5 “‘Then I sent Moses and Aaron, and I afflicted the Egyptians by what I did there, and I brought you out. 6 When I brought your people out of Egypt, you came to the sea, and the Egyptians pursued them with chariots and horsemen as far as the Red Sea. 7 But they cried to the Lord for help, and he put darkness between you and the Egyptians; he brought the sea over them and covered them. You saw with your own eyes what I did to the Egyptians. Then you lived in the wilderness for a long time.
8 “‘I brought you to the land of the Amorites who lived east of the Jordan. They fought against you, but I gave them into your hands. I destroyed them from before you, and you took possession of their land. 9 When Balak son of Zippor, the king of Moab, prepared to fight against Israel, he sent for Balaam son of Beor to put a curse on you. 10 But I would not listen to Balaam, so he blessed you again and again, and I delivered you out of his hand.
11 “‘Then you crossed the Jordan and came to Jericho. The citizens of Jericho fought against you, as did also the Amorites, Perizzites, Canaanites, Hittites, Girgashites, Hivites and Jebusites, but I gave them into your hands. 12 I sent the hornet ahead of you, which drove them out before you—also the two Amorite kings. You did not do it with your own sword and bow. 13 So I gave you a land on which you did not toil and cities you did not build; and you live in them and eat from vineyards and olive groves that you did not plant.’
14 “Now fear the Lord and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord. 15 But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us to forsake the Lord to serve other gods! 17 It was the Lord our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. 18 And the Lord drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the Lord, because he is our God.”
19 Joshua said to the people, “You are not able to serve the Lord. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. 20 If you forsake the Lord and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you.”
21 But the people said to Joshua, “No! We will serve the Lord.”
22 Then Joshua said, “You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the Lord.”
“Yes, we are witnesses,” they replied.
23 “Now then,” said Joshua, “throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the Lord, the God of Israel.”
24 And the people said to Joshua, “We will serve the Lord our God and obey him.”
25 On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws. 26 And Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak near the holy place of the Lord.
27 “See!” he said to all the people. “This stone will be a witness against us. It has heard all the words the Lord has said to us. It will be a witness against you if you are untrue to your God.”
28 Then Joshua dismissed the people, each to their own inheritance.

The weather is lovely and a fine beeze is blowing. We have service at 10:30 a.m. and Bible class at 3:00 p.b. and Praise Service at 7:00 p.m. Received a small mail at 9:00 p.m.

About 40 wounded & dead brought in last night mostly Nebraskas (sic) & Cavalry. No one yet from [Col. Owen] Summers[.] Troops are now near Calumpit which will probably be taken in a few days at most. Mail leaves tomorrow.

The "Real" Bagbag Bridge? (Calumpit, Bulacan)

Posted on 2 November, 2012 by Benjie Layug — 2 Comments ↓

On our way to Pulilan, I was on the lookout for the Bagbag Bridge, site of, according to Wikipinino.org:

“the first battle between Filipino and American soldiers during the retreat of Aguinaldo to the Ilocos Region and of the longest battle during the Filipino-American Wars (sic) led by Gen. Gregorio del Pilar on April 25, 1899. The bridge commemorates the bravery displayed by the Filipinos as they victor (sic) in the battle against the American forces.”



Bagbag Bridge

Upon crossing a concrete bridge, I espied the much lower, similarly concreted bridge on the right. This old, now disused bridge was impassable as one span has fallen into the river. I guess I got the right bridge as pictures at the the Bulacan provincial government website depicts it as such. However, looking at it, it begs the question “Was it the actual bridge that was the site of that battle?” “We’re Filipino forces really victorious in that battle?” First, let me state the facts, on the Battle of Calumpit, as I researched it at “Philippine-American War, 1899-1902” (written by Arnaldo Dumindin).

Based on this research, the bridge in question was actually a railway bridge made of iron, not concrete. The bridge in the recent photo I took was probably a more recent replacement but the location may be the same. Here’s an actual photo taken of the damaged railway bridge, then being repaired by American troops, taken after the battle. Aside from the difference in the materials used, I also noticed that the bridge supports are also different in size and shape.

Second, there was no Filipino victory in this battle. Probably, the victory being referred to was the April 23, 1899 (not April 25) Battle of Quingua (now Plaridel) where the same Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, with 700 to 1,000 men, halted the advance of 62 Scouts plus a troop of the 4th Cavalry, all led by Maj. James Franklin Bell; or of their subsequent halting of the cavalry charge of Col. John M. Stotsenberg (who was killed together with 6 of his men). This all happened in Quingua, not Calumpit. In spite of these small victories, the Americans still triumphed in the end and took the town.

This moment in history deserves a second look ……..

On outpost across river in ruins of old house. Close to bamboos. All quiet. Sabia’s husband came in at 8 a.m. with presents of chickens & eggs for me. I got him a pass and went with him to his grass hut at Ususan. They fed me on eggs, boiled chicken and rice and fried bananas. Then, as I was on outpost last night Sabia spread mat and I laid down, while she squatted down on her haunches and fanned me to sleep. When the canoes were loaded, she awakened me and I had a few raw bananas. Then we floated down the river past the black ruins of Pateros, and on down the winding river until we reached the ferry at lower Pasig. I went to Pasig & had Col. Fife sign the pass. Then we swung into the river and made good time to San Pedro Macate [Makati]. 12th U.S. all along river road. A couple of catacombs on n. bank which is hilly & rocky. At Macati a Brig. Gen. Wholley signed pass and I left them to float down to Singalon [Singalong] alone. They gave me all dinero they had –12¢ Mex. and paddled down the Pasig with their loads of rice, chickens &c and white flag on bows. They used to work in the tabacalaria [Tabacalera], 5 men & 20 women and children. Came back to Pasig on H²O boat New York –& walked across to Taguig.

Manila, Luzon Island – Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo

Paid rent for the month of April, to Mrs. Ysabel Wood – Amount $35. Mexican silver. This money is for No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Manila. My landlady instead of asking rent in advance was content to let the month get pretty well on before sending her usual recibo to “Juan Major Milsaps”. Paid her the money. Read a chapter or two in Leviticus, a psalm & prayed, then cooked breakfast. In company with Rev. Owens went to the post office. Was handed out some more papers.

Purchased some more shells for my cabinet from a Filipino. Am keeping a sharp look out for different for different kinds. Want to make my collections as complete as possible. Also purchased groceries and treated my companion to a couple of oranges.

Hurried back home. Capt. Morrison, his daughter Agnes & a little girl from Australia a sea Captain’s daughter were awaiting my return to hear the gramophone. Gave them their desire in the matter.

Dinner peanuts, an orange & lemonade.

Supper, oatmeal mush, fried bacon and cocoa.

Company claimed more of my time than I cared to give. Private D. G. Hines & “Red” another soldier, called re preparing for a stereopticon. To Hines I gave a New Testament & 2 War Crys to take to Bro. Schumerhorn – No. 1 Reserve Hospital.

Bro. Clayton Scott rode up on his poney. Had a brief spiritual talk & prayer together. He informed me of a Salvationist – a packer – just over with the last batch of U.S. Government mules. His name is A. J. Merritt. Belongs to S. F. No. 2 Corps. Gave Scott 2 War Crys to read & pass on to the new comer.

Tried to write more for “Harbor Lights”, but made little progress. Bothered too much. This knocks an expected trip to the country in the head. I must catch the next mail.

The Utah Artillery sentinel captured a Filipino man this afternoon with his revolver. The Filipino is a prisoner of war. Was taken to the Utah quarters & by making himself useful to the soldiers won their good will & secured the freedom of the troops. Commenced to dress in spotless white. Lately he contracted the habit of holding up Chinese & robbing them. Tried it this afternoon. Struck a Chinese on the head. When I saw the men, blood was running down the face of the Chinese. Mr. Filipino’s priviledges will probably be restricted now.

News is coming in this evening late that Calumpit was captured. Some of our men were killed & wounded; ditto the enemy. I heard that an advance to be made to the next town forthwith.

God blessed me with His love last night.

Leviticus 25:39

39 “‘If any of your fellow Israelites become poor and sell themselves to you, do not make them work as slaves. 40 They are to be treated as hired workers or temporary residents among you; they are to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then they and their children are to be released, and they will go back to their own clans and to the property of their ancestors. 42 Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. 43 Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God.

Psalm 37:21


The wicked borrow and do not repay,
but the righteous give generously.

A telegram was received from Manila stating Colonel Smith had been promoted to Brigadier-General. The order was read out at dress parade. Someone in ‘B’ Company shouted out ‘three cheers for the general’ and about a score responded.

The weather is clear but hot. We had regular drills. We furnished twelve for guard duty and patrol. In the afternoon I was detailed to go after meat to the meat boat. Although the water was rough and excitement high, we returned safely at 7:00 p.m. Our rations are poor and there is much dissatisfaction prevails.