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

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

Cloudy, but rainless. Cool breeze.

Read a chapter in Numbers and prayed. Cooked breakfast next. Ditto supper in the evening. Prepared 2 bowls of lemonade at dinner time, one for Private W. Mason, D. Co. 9th U.S. Infantry, who walked in from Caloocan and whose suit of brown & blue was saturated with perspiration. Tried to purchase a pie at the Utah bakery but failed, so had no food to eat. On his way to Manila Mason saw an old Filipino man tottering along under the weight of a small tree. Very much to the surprise of the old man & other Filipino passers-by, he carried the tree half a mile for him. Before M. returned to camp he & I had prayer together.Private Devine came in twice today. He is beginning to look better in health. He brought a Filipino mauser rifle for me to take care of for him. We discussed spiritual matters. Before he left we prayed together.

About 5 o’clock p.m. I & Bro. Turner of the Ecclesia mission took the Jolo street car to the post office. I rec’d 2 letters (1) Ensign May Jackson, Kowloon, China. Her health is bad. Her father wants her to return home. She is probably en route now but hopes to come back again. Wants me to write. (2) Capt. V. Post, stenographer S.A. headquarter, San Francisco, Cal. Wants me to send him photos of the Philippines for his album. Is willing to pay for the same.

Victor Peterson, sailor, returned tonight from San Fernando, where he spent several days. Is in good humor from his outing at the battle front.

Reinforcements are arriving – 13th U.S. Inf. regular, have just came from the Western Hemisphere. There is much talk of Volunteers returning home, but if any have gone yet, I do not know of it.

Completed reading my catalogue of bound books to refresh my memory. The number of bound books catalogued up to date is 1908 volumes.

Rev. & Mrs. Owens are preparing to leave, but say the 2d Oregon Inf. will return on the first transport to leave – s.s. “Hancock” All the space is taken, so can’t go on her. Don’t know whether the sailors can go or not.

The Second Census

26 After the plague the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, 2 “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel.” 3 So on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, Moses and Eleazar the priest spoke with them and said, 4 “Take a census of the men twenty years old or more, as the Lord commanded Moses.”

These were the Israelites who came out of Egypt:

5 The descendants of Reuben, the firstborn son of Israel, were:
through Hanok, the Hanokite clan;
through Pallu, the Palluite clan;
6 through Hezron, the Hezronite clan;
through Karmi, the Karmite clan.
7 These were the clans of Reuben; those numbered were 43,730.
8 The son of Pallu was Eliab, 9 and the sons of Eliab were Nemuel, Dathan and Abiram. The same Dathan and Abiram were the community officials who rebelled against Moses and Aaron and were among Korah’s followers when they rebelled against the Lord. 10 The earth opened its mouth and swallowed them along with Korah, whose followers died when the fire devoured the 250 men. And they served as a warning sign. 11 The line of Korah, however, did not die out.
12 The descendants of Simeon by their clans were:
through Nemuel, the Nemuelite clan;
through Jamin, the Jaminite clan;
through Jakin, the Jakinite clan;
13 through Zerah, the Zerahite clan;
through Shaul, the Shaulite clan.
14 These were the clans of Simeon; those numbered were 22,200.
15 The descendants of Gad by their clans were:
through Zephon, the Zephonite clan;
through Haggi, the Haggite clan;
through Shuni, the Shunite clan;
16 through Ozni, the Oznite clan;
through Eri, the Erite clan;
17 through Arodi, the Arodite clan;
through Areli, the Arelite clan.
18 These were the clans of Gad; those numbered were 40,500.
19 Er and Onan were sons of Judah, but they died in Canaan.
20 The descendants of Judah by their clans were:
through Shelah, the Shelanite clan;
through Perez, the Perezite clan;
through Zerah, the Zerahite clan.
21 The descendants of Perez were:
through Hezron, the Hezronite clan;
through Hamul, the Hamulite clan.
22 These were the clans of Judah; those numbered were 76,500.
23 The descendants of Issachar by their clans were:
through Tola, the Tolaite clan;
through Puah, the Puite clan;
24 through Jashub, the Jashubite clan;
through Shimron, the Shimronite clan.
25 These were the clans of Issachar; those numbered were 64,300.
26 The descendants of Zebulun by their clans were:
through Sered, the Seredite clan;
through Elon, the Elonite clan;
through Jahleel, the Jahleelite clan.
27 These were the clans of Zebulun; those numbered were 60,500.
28 The descendants of Joseph by their clans through Manasseh and Ephraim were:
29 The descendants of Manasseh:
through Makir, the Makirite clan (Makir was the father of Gilead);
through Gilead, the Gileadite clan.
30 These were the descendants of Gilead:
through Iezer, the Iezerite clan;
through Helek, the Helekite clan;
31 through Asriel, the Asrielite clan;
through Shechem, the Shechemite clan;
32 through Shemida, the Shemidaite clan;
through Hepher, the Hepherite clan.
33 (Zelophehad son of Hepher had no sons; he had only daughters, whose names were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah.)
34 These were the clans of Manasseh; those numbered were 52,700.
35 These were the descendants of Ephraim by their clans:
through Shuthelah, the Shuthelahite clan;
through Beker, the Bekerite clan;
through Tahan, the Tahanite clan.
36 These were the descendants of Shuthelah:
through Eran, the Eranite clan.
37 These were the clans of Ephraim; those numbered were 32,500.
These were the descendants of Joseph by their clans.
38 The descendants of Benjamin by their clans were:
through Bela, the Belaite clan;
through Ashbel, the Ashbelite clan;
through Ahiram, the Ahiramite clan;
39 through Shupham,[c] the Shuphamite clan;
through Hupham, the Huphamite clan.
40 The descendants of Bela through Ard and Naaman were:
through Ard,[d] the Ardite clan;
through Naaman, the Naamite clan.
41 These were the clans of Benjamin; those numbered were 45,600.
42 These were the descendants of Dan by their clans:
through Shuham, the Shuhamite clan.
These were the clans of Dan: 43 All of them were Shuhamite clans; and those numbered were 64,400.
44 The descendants of Asher by their clans were:
through Imnah, the Imnite clan;
through Ishvi, the Ishvite clan;
through Beriah, the Beriite clan;
45 and through the descendants of Beriah:
through Heber, the Heberite clan;
through Malkiel, the Malkielite clan.
46 (Asher had a daughter named Serah.)
47 These were the clans of Asher; those numbered were 53,400.
48 The descendants of Naphtali by their clans were:
through Jahzeel, the Jahzeelite clan;
through Guni, the Gunite clan;
49 through Jezer, the Jezerite clan;
through Shillem, the Shillemite clan.
50 These were the clans of Naphtali; those numbered were 45,400.
51 The total number of the men of Israel was 601,730.
52 The Lord said to Moses, 53 “The land is to be allotted to them as an inheritance based on the number of names. 54 To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one; each is to receive its inheritance according to the number of those listed. 55 Be sure that the land is distributed by lot. What each group inherits will be according to the names for its ancestral tribe. 56 Each inheritance is to be distributed by lot among the larger and smaller groups.”
57 These were the Levites who were counted by their clans:
through Gershon, the Gershonite clan;
through Kohath, the Kohathite clan;
through Merari, the Merarite clan.
58 These also were Levite clans:
the Libnite clan,
the Hebronite clan,
the Mahlite clan,
the Mushite clan,
the Korahite clan.
(Kohath was the forefather of Amram; 59 the name of Amram’s wife was Jochebed, a descendant of Levi, who was born to the Levites[e] in Egypt. To Amram she bore Aaron, Moses and their sister Miriam. 60 Aaron was the father of Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar. 61 But Nadab and Abihu died when they made an offering before the Lord with unauthorized fire.)
62 All the male Levites a month old or more numbered 23,000. They were not counted along with the other Israelites because they received no inheritance among them.
63 These are the ones counted by Moses and Eleazar the priest when they counted the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. 64 Not one of them was among those counted by Moses and Aaron the priest when they counted the Israelites in the Desert of Sinai. 65 For the Lord had told those Israelites they would surely die in the wilderness, and not one of them was left except Caleb son of Jephunneh and Joshua son of Nun.

Quite a good deal of firing last night. They are closer than ever. We will have to have a “killin'” soon. Some shooting today. And we went out in skirmish line. Some Newspaper man took pictures of our lines and trenches and church. On No. 4 outpost down the road to Taytay. Wrote to Topsy.

Reached N.Y. 10 a.m. April 5th — left at noon on Black Diamond for Mauch Chunk. Went to N.Y. on 7th, returning home on 9th. To Phila on Monday 11th [Error — Monday was the 10th, and he left my house Tuesday the 11th, my son Cornelius’ 6th birthday] remaining over night with Ethan. Left at 10.45 Tuesday-morning for Chicago. Left Chicago Wednesday evening 14th [12th] for San Francisco over Central Pacific reaching S.F. 11 p.m. Saturday 16th [15th]. Pleasant trip from Omaha where met & travelled with Lt Hamilton. Mr. Thomas B. Bishop, Mr. Morse and Baron Richthofen, German Military Attaché at Tokio. Reported to Adjutant-General Lt. Col. Babcock Sunday morning & assigned to detachment of recruits going to Manila on Morgan City and in meantime to temporary duty with recruits at the Presidio. Hamilton & I dined Sunday evening with Mr. & Mrs. Bishop, very delightful people. Left San Francisco 7 p.m. 25th on Morgan City, 8 officers, 2 a.a. surgeons, & 611 men for various organizations. Lt. Col. Van Horne 18th. Inf. cmdg. Sea sick most of the way to Honolulu which place we reached 8 a.m. May 4th. Coaled and left 8.30 a.m. May 6th. Found the “Warren” there but she left on the 5th. with half the 13. Inf. the balance arriving on “Ohio” next morning as we were pulling out. Crossed 180th. meridian on morning of 11th. & dropped a day from our calendars. Have at last gotten my sea legs on. Ships coal bunkers found to be on fire on afternoon of 16th. News kept from command until the danger had passed. Spontaneous combustion, the Australian coal taken on at Honolulu being very resinous — the danger principally arising from an explosion of the gases. Port holes opened with much difficulty & the coal aired & saturated with water. Have not sighted a vessel since leaving San Francisco except in Honolulu harbor. On Friday 19th at 5 p.m. passed Assumption I’d & sighted two others further north of “Ladrones”. First land since Sandwich Ids. Sighted Philippines about 4 p.m. on 24th, encountered gale in China Sea, delaying us 24 hrs. Reached and anchored in Manila Bay 6.30 a.m. 27th. Marched recruits for 14th. to Cuartel Malate. Reported to Major Matile, Comdg Regt. on morning ofg 28th, directed to return for duty on 31st. Spent interim in Manila (Malate) making purchases & seeing old friends. Lunched on 29th with Webster at Genl. Wheaton’s Hdqrs & on 30th, together with Capt. Taylor with Sladen at Genl. Otis’.

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

Last of May now for June. Would not care to call it the first summer month in this tropical land. Heavy clouds. Sun out at times. Alternate spells of heat & comparative coolness – latter caused by clouds over the sun & breezes.

Read a chapter of “Numbers” & a psalm, then prayed. After that cooked breakfast of bacon, oatmeal & cocoa. Rested myself by sitting in my front room & reading. Also wrote & copied a letter to Geo. Berry, Corregidor Hospital saying I will (D.V) visit the island Sunday or Monday next providing General Tarnsley puts on his excursion boat.

Called at the post office & mailed the letter. Received several War Crys. Three came from New York. Our National H. Q. does but little for me on that line. Three or 4 Chinese War Crys came, probably sent by Ensign May Jackson from HongKong. The edition is Numbered 14 and dated February 1899. This was probably published or rather printed in China. Is an experiment. The last edition preceding this one was gotten out by me & is No. 13 is for May 1898. Publication was about suspended after I ceased to be editor. The HongKong edition brings out several Philippine cuts. Perhaps they have printed one of my articles in Chinese.

Called at a Spanish barbershop on the Escolta & was shaved. Met Rev. Owens there. We bought some groceries etc. & returned home.

Afternoon I remained at home. Wrote “Weekly Letters No. 28” to Lieut.-Col. Alice Lewis, New York.

Rumor says the next aggressive campaign will be down in the directions of Paranaque & surrounding country.

Read two or three chapters or parts of do. in “Yesterdays in the Philippines”.

My coat was covered with dust & badly soiled by oil or grease caused by sitting on the greasy floor of the box car yesterday en route from San Fernando.

Bro. Devine called late this evening. We had a conversation on spiritual & other subjects. He seems to be gradually improving in health.

Daily Offerings

28 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Give this command to the Israelites and say to them: ‘Make sure that you present to me at the appointed time my food offerings, as an aroma pleasing to me.’ 3 Say to them: ‘This is the food offering you are to present to the Lord: two lambs a year old without defect, as a regular burnt offering each day. 4 Offer one lamb in the morning and the other at twilight, 5 together with a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives. 6 This is the regular burnt offering instituted at Mount Sinai as a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. 7 The accompanying drink offering is to be a quarter of a hin of fermented drink with each lamb. Pour out the drink offering to the Lord at the sanctuary. 8 Offer the second lamb at twilight, along with the same kind of grain offering and drink offering that you offer in the morning. This is a food offering, an aroma pleasing to the Lord.

Sabbath Offerings

9 “‘On the Sabbath day, make an offering of two lambs a year old without defect, together with its drink offering and a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah[c] of the finest flour mixed with olive oil. 10 This is the burnt offering for every Sabbath, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering.

Monthly Offerings

11 “‘On the first of every month, present to the Lord a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 12 With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, a grain offering of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; 13 and with each lamb, a grain offering of a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil. This is for a burnt offering, a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord. 14 With each bull there is to be a drink offering of half a hin[e] of wine; with the ram, a third of a hin; and with each lamb, a quarter of a hin. This is the monthly burnt offering to be made at each new moon during the year. 15 Besides the regular burnt offering with its drink offering, one male goat is to be presented to the Lord as a sin offering.

The Passover

16 “‘On the fourteenth day of the first month the Lord’s Passover is to be held. 17 On the fifteenth day of this month there is to be a festival; for seven days eat bread made without yeast. 18 On the first day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 19 Present to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 20 With each bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 21 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 22 Include one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. 23 Offer these in addition to the regular morning burnt offering. 24 In this way present the food offering every day for seven days as an aroma pleasing to the Lord; it is to be offered in addition to the regular burnt offering and its drink offering. 25 On the seventh day hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work.

The Festival of Weeks

26 “‘On the day of firstfruits, when you present to the Lord an offering of new grain during the Festival of Weeks, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. 27 Present a burnt offering of two young bulls, one ram and seven male lambs a year old as an aroma pleasing to the Lord. 28 With each bull there is to be a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 29 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 30 Include one male goat to make atonement for you. 31 Offer these together with their drink offerings, in addition to the regular burnt offering and its grain offering. Be sure the animals are without defect.

1 Preserve me, O God,
for in You I take refuge.
2 I said to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
apart from You I have no good thing.”
3 As for the saints in the land,
they are the excellence
in whom all my delight resides.
4 Sorrows will multiply
to those who chase other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood,
or speak their names with my lips.
5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup;
You have made my lot secure.
6 The lines of my boundary have fallen in pleasant places;
surely my inheritance is delightful.
7 I will bless the LORD who counsels me;
even at night my conscience instructs me.
8 I have set the LORD always before me.
Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will dwell securely.d
10For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol,
nor will You let Your Holy One see decay.e
11You have made known to me the path of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence,f
with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.

We left Bacolod for Manapla at 9 a.m. and arrived there at 1.30 p.m.

According to what chiefs and officers closest to General Luna have told me, there had been occasions in which the forces under his command went to the extent of hating him, since in battles, without attending to reasons, circumstances or conveniences, he was taking them to real suicide; in a word he gets mad when he hears the enemy’s fire… People versed in the military art concede to General Luna great merits as chief of a column, whose radius of action he can dominate with his eye, but not as director of great operations, because (of) his foolhardiness.

Outpost fired upon last night and kept us awake all night –and now are firing once in a while if a man shows himself at west porches. The 3.2 in. gun opened at 4 p.m. with percussion shrapnel at trenches at church –at several large “bunches o’ black” on the ridge at 2700 yds. Played a couple of rubbers of whist, Rob I beat. The Filipino PATRIOTS have their trenches shrapnel-proof, made so by covering trenches with bamboo and dirt.

Wake at 4 a.m. and sat out on the balcony. Heard the fillips bugles sound reveille. Very pretty as their trumpeters are splendid musicians, and the notes rose and fell, and “trembled away into silence.” Doctor Daniels out and set my teeth to aching. We got orders to prepare for action at 5 p.m. and we are now ready. Wrote to dear old Topsy. Think we will go up against something harder than usual.

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

Forenoon cloudy, afternoon, dust storm, followed by thunder & a heavy shower. After the latter weather cool & comfortable. Wrote & copied a letter in the forenoon to Private H.B. Nevin, H. Battery, 3d Heavy Artillery, Malolos rephoto films. English Drug store have name on sale.

Studied maps. Rev. Owens again approached me with offer to sell some of his household furnishings for $30 Mex.

Took Jolo street car down to the post office & mailed the abovementioned letter & inquired for mail. Rec’d none.

Requested Peter Weigner the Norwegian sailor to ask Bro. Geo Turner to call & see me at noon repurchasing food for the seven sailors – 4 of whom are staying with me in No. 2.

Down on the Escolta a private soldier stopped me. He belongs to the 13th U.s. Infantry (last arrived of the regts) and said the command is under marching order for the front. Brought the all-important matter of salvation to his attention. Replied yes he may need it pretty soon.

Another man met me & remarked that the 2d Oregon vols. instead of going home by the next steamer, have been issue several days (10) rations & will start this evening for Paranaque. A battle is impending down there – about 6 miles south of Manila’s city limits. After all the fighting on the north line & over on the Laguna de Bay, the Filipinos are still strongly intrenched within easy striking distance of the Philippine capital.

Returned home after purchasing some sugar & peanuts.

Private Devine called & passed several hours in my parlor. He needs rest for mind and body.

Bro. Geo Turner of the Ecclesia Mission, dropped in about 2 p.m. the sweat standing on his face in great drops.

He is not strong. Dysentery pulled him down to a shadow of his former self. Turner agreed to purchase supplies for me at the U.S. Commissary. He is provided with a permit to do so. I gave him a $10 greenback bill & authorized him to purchase; 3, 8 lb. boxes of crackers; 1 ham; 4 lbs sugar and 1 can ground coffee for the sailors; also 3 bottles of lime juice for myself.

Bro. T. passed word on to me that Bro. N. H. Harriman, leader of the Ecclesia movement in Washington D.C., wished me to write him a letter giving my opinion of this country & the missionary outlook. Address: “Ecclesia Voice”, Tacoma, Wash. Before Bro. T. withdrew, himself, the writer and Bro. Devine (Landrum) prayed together.

The Filipinos (children & women principally & some men) collected in my back yard again after dark & had another installment of the Corpus Christi ceremony similar to that of last evening. Another & large procession of natives with candles & music marched down our street this p.m.

Rev. Owens told me today that he is having a $20 gold spectacle frame made for himself. Afterwards paid only $10.

Write up this morning early & read a chapter in Numbers and a psalm. Prayed & cooked breakfast, fried bacon, oatmeal mush & chockolate.

Read an article or two in St. Louis, Central Christian Advocate (Methodist).

Instructed Peter Weigner to go to Turner & bring with the assistance of the 2 Swedish sailors, the purchases made at the U.S. Commissary tomorrow for them.

Spoke again (the 2d or 3d time) to August Hagerlund, the sailor, about Christ & the importance of immediately going to Him for pardon of sin.

Wrote & copied a letter about 9 p.m. to N. H. Harriman regarding the Philippines & the outlook for missionary work: i.e. (1) Needs missionaries (2) latter should not come until after the present war (3) should be foreigners & not Americans to avoid hatred & bitterness caused by the war, (4) Soldiers & sailors should be dealt with now (5) will be difficult because of diverse races & languages (6) can be over come – the difficulties – thro’ God-given power.

The 4 sailors have received their permit to go aboard the transport U.S. “Hancock”. Expect to sail Sunday or Monday next. They are rejoicing at the prospect. Mc [Taggert] is now ailing, gets a touch of ague every third day.

This evening following sunset thought I heard the sound of cannonading down towards Paranaque.

The 2d Oregon troops must feel very bad, because their high hopes of going home soon, fare upset by going to battle.

The Festival of Trumpets

29 “‘On the first day of the seventh month hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. It is a day for you to sound the trumpets. 2 As an aroma pleasing to the Lord, offer a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 3 With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with olive oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 4 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth.5 Include one male goat as a sin offering[d] to make atonement for you. 6 These are in addition to the monthly and daily burnt offerings with their grain offerings and drink offerings as specified. They are food offerings presented to the Lord, a pleasing aroma.

The Day of Atonement

7 “‘On the tenth day of this seventh month hold a sacred assembly. You must deny yourselves[e] and do o work. 8 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a burnt offering of one young bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 9 With the bull offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with the ram, two-tenths; 10 and with each of the seven lambs, one-tenth. 11 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the sin offering for atonement and the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.

The Festival of Tabernacles

12 “‘On the fifteenth day of the seventh month, hold a sacred assembly and do no regular work. Celebrate a festival to the Lord for seven days. 13 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of thirteen young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 14 With each of the thirteen bulls offer a grain offering of three-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with oil; with each of the two rams, two-tenths; 15 and with each of the fourteen lambs, one-tenth. 16 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
17 “‘On the second day offer twelve young bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 18 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 19 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings.
20 “‘On the third day offer eleven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 21 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 22 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
23 “‘On the fourth day offer ten bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 24 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 25 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
26 “‘On the fifth day offer nine bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 27 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 28 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
29 “‘On the sixth day offer eight bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 30 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 31 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
32 “‘On the seventh day offer seven bulls, two rams and fourteen male lambs a year old, all without defect. 33 With the bulls, rams and lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 34 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
35 “‘On the eighth day hold a closing special assembly and do no regular work. 36 Present as an aroma pleasing to the Lord a food offering consisting of a burnt offering of one bull, one ram and seven male lambs a year old, all without defect. 37 With the bull, the ram and the lambs, offer their grain offerings and drink offerings according to the number specified. 38 Include one male goat as a sin offering, in addition to the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and drink offering.
39 “‘In addition to what you vow and your freewill offerings, offer these to the Lord at your appointed festivals: your burnt offerings, grain offerings, drink offerings and fellowship offerings.’”
40 Moses told the Israelites all that the Lord commanded him

 You have rejected us, God, and burst upon us;
you have been angry—now restore us!
2 You have shaken the land and torn it open;
mend its fractures, for it is quaking.
3 You have shown your people desperate times;
you have given us wine that makes us stagger.
4 But for those who fear you, you have raised a banner
to be unfurled against the bow.[e]

5 Save us and help us with your right hand,
that those you love may be delivered.
6 God has spoken from his sanctuary:
“In triumph I will parcel out Shechem
and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth.
7 Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine;
Ephraim is my helmet,
Judah is my scepter.
8 Moab is my washbasin,
on Edom I toss my sandal;
over Philistia I shout in triumph.”

9 Who will bring me to the fortified city?
Who will lead me to Edom?
10 Is it not you, God, you who have now rejected us
and no longer go out with our armies?
11 Give us aid against the enemy,
for human help is worthless.
12 With God we will gain the victory,
and he will trample down our enemies.

regarding the Philippines & the outlook for missionary work: i.e. (1) Needs missionaries (2) latter should not come until after the present war (3) should be foreigners & not Americans to avoid hatred & bitterness caused by the war, (4)

On El Rio Pasig on casco in two going up river, ten battalions of Wn.

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

Finished reading the book of Numbers in the old Testament. Prayed.

My precious God visited me last night and gave me an experience of His wonderful love. Truly God’s love is a mystery, known only to the blessed souls, favored with the experience. To God the Father, Son & Holy Ghost, three in One be eternal glory & praise, amen.

Cooked breakfast of germer mush, coffee and then fried bacon.

Hunted up a lesson in the New Testament & songs from the prison service, then prayed a second time, this time specially for the Lord’s blessing on the Bilibid effort.

Walked leisurely to the prison & found Provost-Sergeant Houser growling again but not at me; Lieut. Wolf had not yet gone on his usual Sunday forenoon inspection round. However, without waiting for him Houser collected quite a procession of prisoners – military – and marched them around to the civil prison & locked us all in behind the iron gate. Had an audience of 25 men, including sailors. Some pretty hard men are in this place. Listened respectfully. A new prisoner, hardly more than a boy – told me he was one time a Salvationist in Detroit, Mich. Wanted a New Testament. Promised him one for the next visit, gave 2 to the men.

Although the Lord, I believe interested the men, no one sought Him publicly. Bro. Freeman stood up to testify to being a Christian. Closed by repeating the Lord’s prayer. Quite in number of the men accompanied me in the same.

Service over all went out, but Houser had not returned to unlock the gate. I lifted an iron picket & crawled thro’. A boy sentinel (20thU.S. Inf.) was on guard. He would not allow the prisoners to follow. So I went around to the Sergt’s quarters & found Houser lying down. Roused him up & he went to the gate to unlock the gate & let the men out.

Remained at home all afternoon. Looked over a map of Texas. Am interested in that states spiritual & material development. Read today in Central Christian Advocate (St. Louis) an article “A Great Missionary Gathering” at Cleveland, Ohio. Feb. 23d ’98 – Students Volunteer Convention – studied a map of China in connection with missionary advancement. I would like to visit that country before returning home in case I am ordered back. Also read “St. Paul’s Crypt” & other articles.

Figured out how I stand financially, personally.

Cooked supper – germen mush, bacon and cocoa. Made dinner of parched peanuts and lemonade.

Feel much interested to learn what is going on at the front, north line and south line.

The Filipinos in our back yard had another Corpus Christi celebration – prayer, candle burning & fruit distribution.

Thence of our sailor guests took their bags away today – one this evening & two this morning. They are to work their way back to the United States for food. This leaves the groceries purchased by me thro’ Bro. Turner from the U.S. Commissary on my hands. They go on the “Hancock”. Bay too rough this afternoon, the men could not go out to the vessel. Returned to No. 2 to sleep.

Vengeance on the Midianites

31 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Take vengeance on the Midianites for the Israelites. After that, you will be gathered to your people.”
3 So Moses said to the people, “Arm some of your men to go to war against the Midianites so that they may carry out the Lord’s vengeance on them. 4 Send into battle a thousand men from each of the tribes of Israel.” 5 So twelve thousand men armed for battle, a thousand from each tribe, were supplied from the clans of Israel. 6 Moses sent them into battle, a thousand from each tribe, along with Phinehas son of Eleazar, the priest, who took with him articles from the sanctuary and the trumpets for signaling.
7 They fought against Midian, as the Lord commanded Moses, and killed every man. 8 Among their victims were Evi, Rekem, Zur, Hur and Reba—the five kings of Midian. They also killed Balaam son of Beor with the sword. 9 The Israelites captured the Midianite women and children and took all the Midianite herds, flocks and goods as plunder. 10 They burned all the towns where the Midianites had settled, as well as all their camps. 11 They took all the plunder and spoils, including the people and animals, 12 and brought the captives, spoils and plunder to Moses and Eleazar the priest and the Israelite assembly at their camp on the plains of Moab, by the Jordan across from Jericho.
13 Moses, Eleazar the priest and all the leaders of the community went to meet them outside the camp. 14 Moses was angry with the officers of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—who returned from the battle.
15 “Have you allowed all the women to live?” he asked them. 16 “They were the ones who followed Balaam’s advice and enticed the Israelites to be unfaithful to the Lord in the Peor incident, so that a plague struck the Lord’s people. 17 Now kill all the boys. And kill every woman who has slept with a man, 18 but save for yourselves every girl who has never slept with a man.
19 “Anyone who has killed someone or touched someone who was killed must stay outside the camp seven days. On the third and seventh days you must purify yourselves and your captives. 20 Purify every garment as well as everything made of leather, goat hair or wood.”
21 Then Eleazar the priest said to the soldiers who had gone into battle, “This is what is required by the law that the Lord gave Moses: 22 Gold, silver, bronze, iron, tin, lead 23 and anything else that can withstand fire must be put through the fire, and then it will be clean. But it must also be purified with the water of cleansing. And whatever cannot withstand fire must be put through that water. 24 On the seventh day wash your clothes and you will be clean. Then you may come into the camp.”

Dividing the Spoils

25 The Lord said to Moses, 26 “You and Eleazar the priest and the family heads of the community are to count all the people and animals that were captured. 27 Divide the spoils equally between the soldiers who took part in the battle and the rest of the community. 28 From the soldiers who fought in the battle, set apart as tribute for the Lord one out of every five hundred, whether people, cattle, donkeys or sheep. 29 Take this tribute from their half share and give it to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s part. 30 From the Israelites’ half, select one out of every fifty, whether people, cattle, donkeys, sheep or other animals. Give them to the Levites, who are responsible for the care of the Lord’s tabernacle.” 31 So Moses and Eleazar the priest did as the Lord commanded Moses.
32 The plunder remaining from the spoils that the soldiers took was 675,000 sheep, 33 72,000 cattle, 34 61,000 donkeys 35 and 32,000 women who had never slept with a man.
36 The half share of those who fought in the battle was:
337,500 sheep, 37 of which the tribute for the Lord was 675;
38 36,000 cattle, of which the tribute for the Lord was 72;
39 30,500 donkeys, of which the tribute for the Lord was 61;
40 16,000 people, of whom the tribute for the Lord was 32.
41 Moses gave the tribute to Eleazar the priest as the Lord’s part, as the Lord commanded Moses.
42 The half belonging to the Israelites, which Moses set apart from that of the fighting men— 43 the community’s half—was 337,500 sheep, 44 36,000 cattle, 45 30,500 donkeys 46 and 16,000 people. 47 From the Israelites’ half, Moses selected one out of every fifty people and animals, as the Lord commanded him, and gave them to the Levites, who were responsible for the care of the Lord’s tabernacle.
48 Then the officers who were over the units of the army—the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds—went to Moses 49 and said to him, “Your servants have counted the soldiers under our command, and not one is missing. 50 So we have brought as an offering to the Lord the gold articles each of us acquired—armlets, bracelets, signet rings, earrings and necklaces—to make atonement for ourselves before the Lord.”
51 Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted from them the gold—all the crafted articles. 52 All the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds that Moses and Eleazar presented as a gift to the Lord weighed 16,750 shekels. 53 Each soldier had taken plunder for himself. 54 Moses and Eleazar the priest accepted the gold from the commanders of thousands and commanders of hundreds and brought it into the tent of meeting as a memorial for the Israelites before the Lord.

The Transjordan Tribes

32 The Reubenites and Gadites, who had very large herds and flocks, saw that the lands of Jazer and Gilead were suitable for livestock. 2 So they came to Moses and Eleazar the priest and to the leaders of the community, and said, 3 “Ataroth, Dibon, Jazer, Nimrah, Heshbon, Elealeh, Sebam, Nebo and Beon— 4 the land the Lord subdued before the people of Israel—are suitable for livestock, and your servants have livestock. 5 If we have found favor in your eyes,” they said, “let this land be given to your servants as our possession. Do not make us cross the Jordan.”
6 Moses said to the Gadites and Reubenites, “Should your fellow Israelites go to war while you sit here? 7 Why do you discourage the Israelites from crossing over into the land the Lord has given them? 8 This is what your fathers did when I sent them from Kadesh Barnea to look over the land. 9 After they went up to the Valley of Eshkol and viewed the land, they discouraged the Israelites from entering the land the Lord had given them. 10 The Lord’s anger was aroused that day and he swore this oath: 11 ‘Because they have not followed me wholeheartedly, not one of those who were twenty years old or more when they came up out of Egypt will see the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob— 12 not one except Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the Lord wholeheartedly.’ 13 The Lord’s anger burned against Israel and he made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the whole generation of those who had done evil in his sight was gone.
14 “And here you are, a brood of sinners, standing in the place of your fathers and making the Lord even more angry with Israel. 15 If you turn away from following him, he will again leave all this people in the wilderness, and you will be the cause of their destruction.”
16 Then they came up to him and said, “We would like to build pens here for our livestock and cities for our women and children. 17 But we will arm ourselves for battle and go ahead of the Israelites until we have brought them to their place. Meanwhile our women and children will live in fortified cities, for protection from the inhabitants of the land. 18 We will not return to our homes until each of the Israelites has received their inheritance. 19 We will not receive any inheritance with them on the other side of the Jordan, because our inheritance has come to us on the east side of the Jordan.”
20 Then Moses said to them, “If you will do this—if you will arm yourselves before the Lord for battle 21 and if all of you who are armed cross over the Jordan before the Lord until he has driven his enemies out before him— 22 then when the land is subdued before the Lord, you may return and be free from your obligation to the Lord and to Israel. And this land will be your possession before the Lord.
23 “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out. 24 Build cities for your women and children, and pens for your flocks, but do what you have promised.”
25 The Gadites and Reubenites said to Moses, “We your servants will do as our lord commands. 26 Our children and wives, our flocks and herds will remain here in the cities of Gilead. 27 But your servants, every man who is armed for battle, will cross over to fight before the Lord, just as our lord says.”
28 Then Moses gave orders about them to Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun and to the family heads of the Israelite tribes. 29 He said to them, “If the Gadites and Reubenites, every man armed for battle, cross over the Jordan with you before the Lord, then when the land is subdued before you, you must give them the land of Gilead as their possession. 30 But if they do not cross over with you armed, they must accept their possession with you in Canaan.”
31 The Gadites and Reubenites answered, “Your servants will do what the Lord has said. 32 We will cross over before the Lord into Canaan armed, but the property we inherit will be on this side of the Jordan.”
33 Then Moses gave to the Gadites, the Reubenites and the half-tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph the kingdom of Sihon king of the Amorites and the kingdom of Og king of Bashan—the whole land with its cities and the territory around them.
34 The Gadites built up Dibon, Ataroth, Aroer, 35 Atroth Shophan, Jazer, Jogbehah, 36 Beth Nimrah and Beth Haran as fortified cities, and built pens for their flocks. 37 And the Reubenites rebuilt Heshbon, Elealeh and Kiriathaim, 38 as well as Nebo and Baal Meon (these names were changed) and Sibmah. They gave names to the cities they rebuilt.
39 The descendants of Makir son of Manasseh went to Gilead, captured it and drove out the Amorites who were there. 40 So Moses gave Gilead to the Makirites, the descendants of Manasseh, and they settled there. 41 Jair, a descendant of Manasseh, captured their settlements and called them Havvoth Jair. 42 And Nobah captured Kenath and its surrounding settlements and called it Nobah after himself.

Stages in Israel’s Journey

33 Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. 2 At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey. This is their journey by stages:
3 The Israelites set out from Rameses on the fifteenth day of the first month, the day after the Passover. They marched out defiantly in full view of all the Egyptians, 4 who were burying all their firstborn, whom the Lord had struck down among them; for the Lord had brought judgment on their gods.
5 The Israelites left Rameses and camped at Sukkoth.
6 They left Sukkoth and camped at Etham, on the edge of the desert.
7 They left Etham, turned back to Pi Hahiroth, to the east of Baal Zephon, and camped near Migdol.
8 They left Pi Hahiroth[d] and passed through the sea into the desert, and when they had traveled for three days in the Desert of Etham, they camped at Marah.
9 They left Marah and went to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there.
10 They left Elim and camped by the Red Sea.[e]
11 They left the Red Sea and camped in the Desert of Sin.
12 They left the Desert of Sin and camped at Dophkah.
13 They left Dophkah and camped at Alush.
14 They left Alush and camped at Rephidim, where there was no water for the people to drink.
15 They left Rephidim and camped in the Desert of Sinai.
16 They left the Desert of Sinai and camped at Kibroth Hattaavah.
17 They left Kibroth Hattaavah and camped at Hazeroth.
18 They left Hazeroth and camped at Rithmah.
19 They left Rithmah and camped at Rimmon Perez.
20 They left Rimmon Perez and camped at Libnah.
21 They left Libnah and camped at Rissah.
22 They left Rissah and camped at Kehelathah.
23 They left Kehelathah and camped at Mount Shepher.
24 They left Mount Shepher and camped at Haradah.
25 They left Haradah and camped at Makheloth.
26 They left Makheloth and camped at Tahath.
27 They left Tahath and camped at Terah.
28 They left Terah and camped at Mithkah.
29 They left Mithkah and camped at Hashmonah.
30 They left Hashmonah and camped at Moseroth.
31 They left Moseroth and camped at Bene Jaakan.
32 They left Bene Jaakan and camped at Hor Haggidgad.
33 They left Hor Haggidgad and camped at Jotbathah.
34 They left Jotbathah and camped at Abronah.
35 They left Abronah and camped at Ezion Geber.
36 They left Ezion Geber and camped at Kadesh, in the Desert of Zin.
37 They left Kadesh and camped at Mount Hor, on the border of Edom. 38 At the Lord’s command Aaron the priest went up Mount Hor, where he died on the first day of the fifth month of the fortieth year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. 39 Aaron was a hundred and twenty-three years old when he died on Mount Hor.
40 The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the Negev of Canaan, heard that the Israelites were coming.
41 They left Mount Hor and camped at Zalmonah.
42 They left Zalmonah and camped at Punon.
43 They left Punon and camped at Oboth.
44 They left Oboth and camped at Iye Abarim, on the border of Moab.
45 They left Iye Abarim and camped at Dibon Gad.
46 They left Dibon Gad and camped at Almon Diblathaim.
47 They left Almon Diblathaim and camped in the mountains of Abarim, near Nebo.
48 They left the mountains of Abarim and camped on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. 49 There on the plains of Moab they camped along the Jordan from Beth Jeshimoth to Abel Shittim.
50 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho the Lord said to Moses, 51 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 52 drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you. Destroy all their carved images and their cast idols, and demolish all their high places. 53 Take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have given you the land to possess. 54 Distribute the land by lot, according to your clans. To a larger group give a larger inheritance, and to a smaller group a smaller one. Whatever falls to them by lot will be theirs. Distribute it according to your ancestral tribes.
55 “‘But if you do not drive out the inhabitants of the land, those you allow to remain will become barbs in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will give you trouble in the land where you will live. 56 And then I will do to you what I plan to do to them.’”

Boundaries of Canaan

34 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter Canaan, the land that will be allotted to you as an inheritance is to have these boundaries:
3 “‘Your southern side will include some of the Desert of Zin along the border of Edom. Your southern boundary will start in the east from the southern end of the Dead Sea, 4 cross south of Scorpion Pass, continue on to Zin and go south of Kadesh Barnea. Then it will go to Hazar Addar and over to Azmon, 5 where it will turn, join the Wadi of Egypt and end at the Mediterranean Sea.
6 “‘Your western boundary will be the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. This will be your boundary on the west.
7 “‘For your northern boundary, run a line from the Mediterranean Sea to Mount Hor 8 and from Mount Hor to Lebo Hamath. Then the boundary will go to Zedad, 9 continue to Ziphron and end at Hazar Enan. This will be your boundary on the north.
10 “‘For your eastern boundary, run a line from Hazar Enan to Shepham. 11 The boundary will go down from Shepham to Riblah on the east side of Ain and continue along the slopes east of the Sea of Galilee.[f] 12 Then the boundary will go down along the Jordan and end at the Dead Sea.
“‘This will be your land, with its boundaries on every side.’”
13 Moses commanded the Israelites: “Assign this land by lot as an inheritance. The Lord has ordered that it be given to the nine and a half tribes, 14 because the families of the tribe of Reuben, the tribe of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh have received their inheritance. 15 These two and a half tribes have received their inheritance east of the Jordan across from Jericho, toward the sunrise.”
16 The Lord said to Moses, 17 “These are the names of the men who are to assign the land for you as an inheritance: Eleazar the priest and Joshua son of Nun. 18 And appoint one leader from each tribe to help assign the land. 19 These are their names:
Caleb son of Jephunneh,
from the tribe of Judah;
20 Shemuel son of Ammihud,
from the tribe of Simeon;
21 Elidad son of Kislon,
from the tribe of Benjamin;
22 Bukki son of Jogli,
the leader from the tribe of Dan;
23 Hanniel son of Ephod,
the leader from the tribe of Manasseh son of Joseph;
24 Kemuel son of Shiphtan,
the leader from the tribe of Ephraim son of Joseph;
25 Elizaphan son of Parnak,
the leader from the tribe of Zebulun;
26 Paltiel son of Azzan,
the leader from the tribe of Issachar;
27 Ahihud son of Shelomi,
the leader from the tribe of Asher;
28 Pedahel son of Ammihud,
the leader from the tribe of Naphtali.”
29 These are the men the Lord commanded to assign the inheritance to the Israelites in the land of Canaan.

Towns for the Levites

35 On the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho, the Lord said to Moses, 2 “Command the Israelites to give the Levites towns to live in from the inheritance the Israelites will possess. And give them pasturelands around the towns. 3 Then they will have towns to live in and pasturelands for the cattle they own and all their other animals.
4 “The pasturelands around the towns that you give the Levites will extend a thousand cubits[g] from the town wall. 5 Outside the town, measure two thousand cubits[h] on the east side, two thousand on the south side, two thousand on the west and two thousand on the north, with the town in the center. They will have this area as pastureland for the towns.

Cities of Refuge

6 “Six of the towns you give the Levites will be cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone may flee. In addition, give them forty-two other towns. 7 In all you must give the Levites forty-eight towns, together with their pasturelands. 8 The towns you give the Levites from the land the Israelites possess are to be given in proportion to the inheritance of each tribe: Take many towns from a tribe that has many, but few from one that has few.”
9 Then the Lord said to Moses: 10 “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you cross the Jordan into Canaan, 11 select some towns to be your cities of refuge, to which a person who has killed someone accidentally may flee. 12 They will be places of refuge from the avenger, so that anyone accused of murder may not die before they stand trial before the assembly. 13 These six towns you give will be your cities of refuge. 14 Give three on this side of the Jordan and three in Canaan as cities of refuge. 15 These six towns will be a place of refuge for Israelites and for foreigners residing among them, so that anyone who has killed another accidentally can flee there.
16 “‘If anyone strikes someone a fatal blow with an iron object, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. 17 Or if anyone is holding a stone and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. 18 Or if anyone is holding a wooden object and strikes someone a fatal blow with it, that person is a murderer; the murderer is to be put to death. 19 The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death; when the avenger comes upon the murderer, the avenger shall put the murderer to death. 20 If anyone with malice aforethought shoves another or throws something at them intentionally so that they die 21 or if out of enmity one person hits another with their fist so that the other dies, that person is to be put to death; that person is a murderer. The avenger of blood shall put the murderer to death when they meet.
22 “‘But if without enmity someone suddenly pushes another or throws something at them unintentionally 23 or, without seeing them, drops on them a stone heavy enough to kill them, and they die, then since that other person was not an enemy and no harm was intended, 24 the assembly must judge between the accused and the avenger of blood according to these regulations. 25 The assembly must protect the one accused of murder from the avenger of blood and send the accused back to the city of refuge to which they fled. The accused must stay there until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the holy oil.
26 “‘But if the accused ever goes outside the limits of the city of refuge to which they fled 27 and the avenger of blood finds them outside the city, the avenger of blood may kill the accused without being guilty of murder. 28 The accused must stay in the city of refuge until the death of the high priest; only after the death of the high priest may they return to their own property.
29 “‘This is to have the force of law for you throughout the generations to come, wherever you live.
30 “‘Anyone who kills a person is to be put to death as a murderer only on the testimony of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.
31 “‘Do not accept a ransom for the life of a murderer, who deserves to die. They are to be put to death.
32 “‘Do not accept a ransom for anyone who has fled to a city of refuge and so allow them to go back and live on their own land before the death of the high priest.
33 “‘Do not pollute the land where you are. Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it. 34 Do not defile the land where you live and where I dwell, for I, the Lord, dwell among the Israelites.’”

Inheritance of Zelophehad’s Daughters

36 The family heads of the clan of Gilead son of Makir, the son of Manasseh, who were from the clans of the descendants of Joseph, came and spoke before Moses and the leaders, the heads of the Israelite families. 2 They said, “When the Lord commanded my lord to give the land as an inheritance to the Israelites by lot, he ordered you to give the inheritance of our brother Zelophehad to his daughters. 3 Now suppose they marry men from other Israelite tribes; then their inheritance will be taken from our ancestral inheritance and added to that of the tribe they marry into. And so part of the inheritance allotted to us will be taken away. 4 When the Year of Jubilee for the Israelites comes, their inheritance will be added to that of the tribe into which they marry, and their property will be taken from the tribal inheritance of our ancestors.”
5 Then at the Lord’s command Moses gave this order to the Israelites: “What the tribe of the descendants of Joseph is saying is right. 6 This is what the Lord commands for Zelophehad’s daughters: They may marry anyone they please as long as they marry within their father’s tribal clan. 7 No inheritance in Israel is to pass from one tribe to another, for every Israelite shall keep the tribal inheritance of their ancestors. 8 Every daughter who inherits land in any Israelite tribe must marry someone in her father’s tribal clan, so that every Israelite will possess the inheritance of their ancestors. 9 No inheritance may pass from one tribe to another, for each Israelite tribe is to keep the land it inherits.”
10 So Zelophehad’s daughters did as the Lord commanded Moses. 11 Zelophehad’s daughters—Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milkah and Noah—married their cousins on their father’s side. 12 They married within the clans of the descendants of Manasseh son of Joseph, and their inheritance remained in their father’s tribe and clan.
13 These are the commands and regulations the Lord gave through Moses to the Israelites on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho.

Figured out how I stand financially, personally.

[Kalaw: The following morning, June 6th, General Concepcion received a telegram from the President of the Council of Government advising him of the death of General Luna at Cabanatuan the day before, on June 5th.]

Immediately I went to see General Aguinaldo and told him of the lamentable happening showing the telegram I received and he showed great surprise not being able to say a word for five minutes, and then said at last: “Please return to your headquarters; in the meanwhile reserve to yourself such a grave incident and order the presentation to the captain-generalship of all the forces armed with mausers!”

At Taguig –but will take up story where I left off. The Wn. left field before Taytay –with the 12th & N.D. hard at it– and got back to Pasig, any old way –I got there at 10 p.m. It was 102° and fully 1/3rd Co. D dropped out. Got some coffee and lay down on courtyard tiles at church to sleep but a crazy woman prisoner kept me awake and at 4 a.m. we were fell in went to casco. We were in to of the Oresta gunboat and got stuck. Had to get out and swim river to pull boat off –which took until daylight. The rest of the fleet lay out of reach of the guns at Augono [Angono] awaiting us. Then we started across the lake to Morong in the following order:

The gunboat Cavadonga (a Fil. Gunboat captured at St. Cruz) led –followed by Suerta on the left –with two cascoes –Oesta in the center with three and the Norte on rt. With two –all Wn troops– nine Coi’s. Met the Napindan at the strait –with her heavy guns. The gunboats got to within 1300 yds andf the cascoes polled to within 900 –then under the guns we jumped into H²O and made for the level field to the SW of city.

I was the second man on shore –and was sent with the scouts under Sergt. Rawson. We adv’n’d 250 yds. when the Filipino PATRIOTS opened up, six hundred yds. The reg. quickly formed and started under Fie & Wisenberg, Scouts on extreme rt. with trenches directly in front. Gunboats opened with shell and rapido’s over our heads. After 30 min. of close fire, we advanced in rushes and at 30 yds. they broke and ran, and we took possession. Only a few wounded men captured. The city was deserted and the inhabitants in the hills. We started the battle at 11.55 and by 2.30 had coffee in the church. The city is a daisy. The church is on a hill and from the hill four long, wide streets lead S.

Some splendid houses were burnt by the shells –but we had positive orders against firing or looting^1. The gov. gen. palace is on the we. of the river which divides the town, running thro’ a deep canyon –this is spanned by an arched stone bridge built in 1855. W. side of city has about four st’s. To N.W. about four other sts. lead up along river about ½ mi. where I killed gugu and got his knife. He also was a scout. We were dogged by two others, but got home all OK. The reg. scouts were out to the N.W. and had a scrap.

Also a party were out to the E. and shot Private Thygensen. A fine boy and scout, with a record of 10 Filipino PATRIOTs, Co. D. The only one killed, one other wounded. About noon Gen. Hall’s brig –composed of Or; 2nd Batt. 9th; 4th; 4 troops Cav., 1 mounted and the Mountain battery. Wn boarded cascoes in p.m. and with the gunboats left for Pasig –leaving Hall in Morong. Met Gen. Lanton [Lawton] in bay and awaited orders but late in p.m. started again. A heavy head sea made it hard –and off Angona [Angono] were fired upon by cannon and the upper afterdeck of the Cavodonga.

We lost mouth of rio, but at daylight got stream, unloaded at Pasig, and crossed ferry, then to Taguig. Slept all day until 4 p.m. As a memento I bro’t an old history pair of shoes; art. Officer’s epaulets, and a dead flip’s knife; a hard trip and hard fighting. Very hot today. A man on outpost No. 1 shot early this morn in leg. We expect to go up against the bunch here, before many days. A fine country up there at Morong –tobacco, corn, cane, rice &c. Very tired, sunburned & sore.

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

A sweltering day in the tropics – very hot. Had a sweat bath since morning. Up before 6 a.m. Read 2d chapter of Deuteronomy & prayed. Cooked breakfast of coffee, bacon & oatmeal mush. Then away to the train down on the Pasig quay. Train crowded. I wedged into a section, with three Mormons, and Irish Roman Catholic and two Filipino men for traveling companions.

Much of the talk among volunteer, “Well, where are you going home?” A question easier to ask than to answer.

On the way north embraced opportunities to speak to soldiers personally about Christ & salvation.

At Malolos, 2 bananas given me by a Mormon soldier (Utah Light Artillery corporal) took the edge off my appetite at the noon hour.

Going & coming on these military trains is a trial for a Christian. The fearful blasphemy is constantly assailing the ear. One would think a trap-door of hell was open & the conversation of the damned reached the cars of the living. The Lord gave me opportunity to speak for Him to the Mormons & Catholic Irishman re the way of life.

Arrived at San Fernando about 1:30 p.m. Had no difficulty to find my way out to the region where are billeted the Montanas and 20th Kansas & Filipino horses. These 2 regiments have been in a sense consolidated. Each is short handed thro’ death and sickness etc.

I learned at E. company’s quarters that the company was out doing outpost duty. I accompanied a soldier thro’ a sugarcane field to the extreme outpost where recently the Filipinos attacked our lines & killed a Montana soldier with a cannon shot.

Brothers Hines & Lloyd quickly discovered me. They, with 2 other soldiers occupied a temporary booth made of matting, between the field of growing sugar cane & a forest of bamboo. A road runs along the fence & turns towards the bay. We talked rapidly for my time was short. Learned that Bro. Turner of the Ecclesia mission is in San Fernando. He tried to hold a meeting last night but failed as rain kept soldiers from attending. Expects to try again tonight. I concluded not to interfere with his plans. Would have remained overnight in the case the Lord opened the way to do good. I knelt down with Hines & Lloyd on the ground beneath the booth & each of us took turn at praying to our God. These two stalwart soldiers are not ashamed to pray before their comrades in arms. Lloyd looks very rough. Has been in every fight but one, one which the Montana reg’t took part. Is well in body. Hines is improving & reports Freeman picking up again. I left with the boys 2 New Testaments 1 copy “Harbor Lights” & 1 copy Toronto War Cry. Lloyd then shouldered his gun & he & I struck down the road to an elaborate French captured from the Filipinos where are two more American outposts, to look for Dave Freeman, but learned that he was stationed a long distance in another direction. Asked to be remembered to him & hurriedly struck across the sugar cane field to catch the 3 p.m. train to Manila. On the road passed quite a member of able bodied Filipino men squatted by the roadside selling, bananas plantations, eggs, mangoes etc. They eyed me closely with a half-served, curious look – curiousity & fear held sway in their minds. Probably they have been Insurrectos, yes & some may slip off now to fight after dark following a day given to selling fruit to American soldiers.

Arrived at the depot very hot & hungry. Climbed into the section of a passenger & gladly rested & perspired in the shade. When the train got in motion 2 Filipino men climbed in. No pass. “Get off; vamoose – pronto!” Cried the 2d Oregon train guard. “Yo mucha pore”, pleaded the men “Yo, Macabebe”. Had to jump off.

I met Private Tan at Calumpit – G. Battery, 3d Reg’t Heavy Artillery. At Guiguinto, other members of the 3d H. Battery. Thro’ the car door got in hasty words of salvation advice for Jesus – with Privates Lambert, and others – their comrades. These men are not detached service. Train’s stop very brief.

Personal dealing on salvation lines marked the trip down & after my arrival in Manila.

Very tire & hot, but cooked supper & wrote this entry. Now for bed & a night’s rest. To God be the glory. Amen.

On the train going north Private Mike Ryan, our Irish Roman Catholic of the Utah Light Artillery, hinted that he had a priest’s robe & other vestments of the R. G. church to sell. I do not know how they came into his possession.

three Mormons, and Irish Roman Catholic and two Filipino men for traveling companions

“Well, where are you going home?”

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

More or less clouds overhanging the earth all day but no rain. Atmosphere quite cool. No rain. Sun out at times.

Out of bed early. Expected to make a trip to Malolos but not feeling right physically changed my plans. Read a chapter in Deuteronomy. Prayed to my God.

Cooked breakfast. Read Daily “American” & “Freedom”. Bill collector of Daily “Times” called with bill for half a month’s subscription to the same – $1 Mex. Paid it & discontinued the paper.

Rev. Owens & I walked down to the bay beach skirting Tondo district to look for a photographer. A very interesting scene is presented here – a fleet of bancas and other small craft bringing in supplies for the city. The people are an interesting study. After hunting some time found my Filipino man; B. Caramanzana, Plaza Leon XIII, No. 72 Tondo, opposite the Tondo church. Hunted several squares before leaving the location of his house. Left 2 films with him to develop. $1 Mex. a film & 11 cts each for printing pictures.

Returning thro’ Tondo burnt district stopped at a Filipino undertaking establishment & purchased 2 mangoes. I gave one to Rev. Owens. The thrifty Filipino not only kept coffins for the accommodation of dead people and burial wreaths with which to decorate tombs, but mangoes & shirts for their living.

I had quite a long conversation with Mrs. Owens. She volunteered the information that dating back one year from last October, herself & Rev. Owens spent over $2,000. Their trip – Missionary – to the Philippines, will cost them by the time they arrive on American shores again $1,000.

Started again on my War Cry copy and wrote up to page 10 before laying aside the MS.

Chaplain Stephenson of the 1st Idaho Vol. Inf. dropped in this afternoon. Wants to get back to his pastorate in the interior of Idaho. Says his idea re an Army chaplain is that he is a failure.

Obedience Commanded


4 Now, Israel, hear the decrees and laws I am about to teach you. Follow them so that you may live and may go in and take possession of the land the Lord, the God of your ancestors, is giving you. 2 Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the Lord your God that I give you.
3 You saw with your own eyes what the Lord did at Baal Peor. The Lord your God destroyed from among you everyone who followed the Baal of Peor, 4 but all of you who held fast to the Lord your God are still alive today.
5 See, I have taught you decrees and laws as the Lord my God commanded me, so that you may follow them in the land you are entering to take possession of it. 6 Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations, who will hear about all these decrees and say, “Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.” 7 What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to him? 8 And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?
9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them fade from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them. 10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.” 11 You came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. 12 Then the Lord spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words but saw no form; there was only a voice. 13 He declared to you his covenant, the Ten Commandments, which he commanded you to follow and then wrote them on two stone tablets. 14 And the Lord directed me at that time to teach you the decrees and laws you are to follow in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess.

Idolatry Forbidden

15 You saw no form of any kind the day the Lord spoke to you at Horeb out of the fire. Therefore watch yourselves very carefully, 16 so that you do not become corrupt and make for yourselves an idol, an image of any shape, whether formed like a man or a woman, 17 or like any animal on earth or any bird that flies in the air, 18 or like any creature that moves along the ground or any fish in the waters below. 19 And when you look up to the sky and see the sun, the moon and the stars—all the heavenly array—do not be enticed into bowing down to them and worshiping things the Lord your God has apportioned to all the nations under heaven. 20 But as for you, the Lord took you and brought you out of the iron-smelting furnace, out of Egypt, to be the people of his inheritance, as you now are.
21 The Lord was angry with me because of you, and he solemnly swore that I would not cross the Jordan and enter the good land the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance. 22 I will die in this land; I will not cross the Jordan; but you are about to cross over and take possession of that good land. 23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden. 24 For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God.
25 After you have had children and grandchildren and have lived in the land a long time—if you then become corrupt and make any kind of idol, doing evil in the eyes of the Lord your God and arousing his anger, 26 I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you this day that you will quickly perish from the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess. You will not live there long but will certainly be destroyed. 27 The Lord will scatter you among the peoples, and only a few of you will survive among the nations to which the Lord will drive you. 28 There you will worship man-made gods of wood and stone, which cannot see or hear or eat or smell. 29 But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. 30 When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him. 31 For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your ancestors, which he confirmed to them by oath.



The Lord Is God

32 Ask now about the former days, long before your time, from the day God created human beings on the earth; ask from one end of the heavens to the other. Has anything so great as this ever happened, or has anything like it ever been heard of? 33 Has any other people heard the voice of God speaking out of fire, as you have, and lived? 34 Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the Lord your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes?
35 You were shown these things so that you might know that the Lord is God; besides him there is no other. 36 From heaven he made you hear his voice to discipline you. On earth he showed you his great fire, and you heard his words from out of the fire. 37 Because he loved your ancestors and chose their descendants after them, he brought you out of Egypt by his Presence and his great strength, 38 to drive out before you nations greater and stronger than you and to bring you into their land to give it to you for your inheritance, as it is today.
39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other. 40 Keep his decrees and commands, which I am giving you today, so that it may go well with you and your children after you and that you may live long in the land the Lord your God gives you for all time.



Cities of Refuge


41 Then Moses set aside three cities east of the Jordan, 42 to which anyone who had killed a person could flee if they had unintentionally killed a neighbor without malice aforethought. They could flee into one of these cities and save their life. 43 The cities were these: Bezer in the wilderness plateau, for the Reubenites; Ramoth in Gilead, for the Gadites; and Golan in Bashan, for the Manassites.



Introduction to the Law


44 This is the law Moses set before the Israelites. 45 These are the stipulations, decrees and laws Moses gave them when they came out of Egypt 46 and were in the valley near Beth Peor east of the Jordan, in the land of Sihon king of the Amorites, who reigned in Heshbon and was defeated by Moses and the Israelites as they came out of Egypt. 47 They took possession of his land and the land of Og king of Bashan, the two Amorite kings east of the Jordan. 48 This land extended from Aroer on the rim of the Arnon Gorge to Mount Sirion (that is, Hermon), 49 and included all the Arabah east of the Jordan, as far as the Dead Sea,[c] below the slopes of Pisgah.

On sick call with my head. Slept most of time –all done up. Wrote to Tops and sent her some photos. Cool winds. A good deal of sharpshooting at the church. They are using a cannon, too –but it has yet done any damage. The boys are having a parade and a Salvation Army Rally with a captured brass band of 30 or 40 pieces. It’s a fine concert.

Heavy firing at 4 a.m. awakened me. The advance upon Paranaque had begun. The line of the U.S. Army was in sight on the hills to the S.E. and the rebels made a very poor stand, altho’ they were in splendid trenches. Five thousand rebels in our front left their trenches –and while some of them got away south to Batangas, others were driven by the gunboats on the lake– to Paranaque. We went thro’ their trenches clear to the “tree.” They are simply wonderful –shrapnel-proof– all loopholed, and some of them are double-deckers, where two lines of fire could be directed to us –one above the other. Had we attacked them from the front they would have slaughtered us. But they are gone now. This is the last big bunch left now close to Manila. And this may, perhaps, let us have less work. It was a grand sight to see the army from the hills.

The Conway Cabal

In our time George Washington's name is virtually unsullied and unassailable. So it's difficult to comprehend that, like anyone serving in a public capacity for half a century, he had his detractors, especially when things were not going well.

During the dismal autumn of 1777, these detractors included Granny Gates, an American general, a factious Congressional clique, Benjamin Rush, the highly esteemed "Father of American Medicine," and a certain ambitious foreign officer named Thomas Conway. They were all critical of Washington's handling of the war and they all wanted Washington replaced. Whether they united deliberately to form a "cabal," or plot, is debatable; regardless, their sniping, griping, and machinations have come to be known as the "Conway Cabal."

George Washington learned of a letter written by Conway to Gates that called him a weak general; he learned of anti-Washington talk in Congress; and he was aware of broadsides, letters, and talk questioning his abilities. This "cabal" so frustrated and embittered Washington that he indicated that he would resign from the army if his performance continued to be brought into question.


Portait of Horatio Gates

by Charles Wilson Peale
National Portait Gallery



Benjamin Rush
by Charles Wilson Peale
Second Bank Portait Gallery
Indepndence National Historic Park



Benjamin Rush
by Thomas Sully
Pine Center Building, University of Pennsylvania Hospital

The campaign of 1777 was, by most estimations, the low point of Washington's military career. He retreated from Brandywine and he let slip away a probable triumph in the fog at the Battle of Germantown. Meanwhile his countryman General Horatio Gates had won a smashing victory at Saratoga. There was a desire expressed within the military and within Congress to have the commander in chief sent home to Mount Vernon and to replace him with the more successful Gates.

Among Washington's detractors in Congress were Samuel Adams, Thomas Mifflin, and Richard Henry Lee. This group was dissatisfied with many aspects of the war - ranging from how supplies were procured, to battlefield performance, to the supervision of soldiers by the commander in chief.

One of the most vocal critics of Washington's handling of troops was Dr. Benjamin Rush, the Father of American Medicine. This Signer of the Declaration of Independence, though no longer a member of Congress, was a respected army physician. He wrote a scathing, though unsigned letter to Patrick Henry, disparaging Washington's generalship and commending General Gates who was at the head of the northern army. In this letter was the following:
In a separate letter Rush wrote, "The present management of our army would depopulate America if men grew among us as speedily & spontaneously as blades of grass."

John Adams, Rush's best friend, echoed the doctor's disgust, "I am sick of Fabian systems in all quarters!"

Thomas Conway's name will forever be linked to the criticism of Washington due to his conspicuous attacks on the General.

After Conway's able performance at the Battle of Brandywine on September 21, 1777, General Sullivan wrote: "His regulations in his Brigade are much better than any in the Army, and his knowledge of military matters far exceeds any officer we have." (It was in rallying Conway's Brigade at Brandywine that the Marquis de Lafayette was wounded in the leg.)

Buoyed by his own bravery at Brandywine, Conway wrote a boastful letter to Congress asking for a promotion to major general. Such a promotion would have hopscotched him over many senior brigade leaders. While he waited for a reply from Congress, Conway continued disparaging Washington. He was overheard saying, "as to his (Washington's) talents for the command of an Army, they were miserable indeed."

When Washington got wind of Conway's self-important letter to Congress, he wrote to Richard Henry Lee protesting any appointment of Conway. "General Conway's merit, then, as an Officer, and his importance in this Army, exist more in his own imagination than in reality: For it is a maxim with him, to leave no service of his own untold, nor to want any thing which is to be obtained by importunity..." Washington goes on to write that promoting Conway would also have a disastrous effect on the morale of his longer-serving, more devoted officers who might resign. Washington continues,
Some have suggested that Washington was oversensitive to criticism. But gossip, innuendo, and direct criticism flew about the commander in chief like grapeshot. Likely, he was privy to the reports sent from South Carolina Congressman Henry Laurens to his son John, who was an officer on Washington's staff. These letters were full of juicy anti-Washington whisperings floating about Congress. Laurens, who would later be President of Congress, cannily never named these "Actors, accommodators, Candle snuffers, Shifters of scene and Mutes" who impugned Washington.

Then there were annoyances such as the circulation of an anonymous paper entitled, "Thoughts of a Freeman," written by Washington's enemies in Congress. It was critical of Washington's generalship, and particularly critical of the apotheosizing cult that had grown around him: "The people of America have been guilty of making a man their God."

James Lovell, a Massachusetts delegate to Congress, and anti-Washingtonian wrote to Samuel Adams to complain about his fellow delegates, calling them, "privy Councillors to one great Man whom no Citizen shall dare even to talk about, say the Gentleman of the Blade." In other words, Lovell was concerned that various members of congress were unwilling to hear criticism of the General, while the General's defenders within the military were willing to defend his reputation with their swords. Lovell proved prescient as we shall see later.

Conway and the "weak General" letter

In late October 1777 Conway wrote a letter to General Gates which would bring the situation to a boil. It contained the following paragraph:
As to Conway's motivations in writing Gates, only speculation serves. Perhaps he wished a transfer to Gates's army; perhaps it was part of his overall self-promoting public relations campaign; perhaps it was to rouse anti-Washington sentiment.

Washington received word of the letter in a roundabout manner. A Gates aide, General James Wilkinson, was visiting the headquarters of the American officer Lord Stirling. Apparently while drunk, Wilkinson revealed the contents of the letter to a Stirling officer, Major McWilliams, who relayed its contents to Stirling. Stirling, mortified by "such wicked duplicity of conduct" felt obligated to report the letter's contents to Washington. In turn, Washington fired off a brief letter to Conway letting the upstart know that the contents of his letter had been exposed. Conway wrote back immediately saying falsely that he had never called Washington "a weak General." He went on to write that while he considered Washington a "brave man" he also thought that the general had been "influenced by men who were not equal to him in point of experience, knowledge or judgment." Now he had not only disparaged the General, but his staff as well.

On November 14 Conway offered his resignation to Congress. In enumerating reasons for his resignation he cited the rebuff by Washington, but also Congress's failure to promote him, and the promotion of Baron de Kalb who had held a lower rank than Conway in the French army. Congress passed Conway's letter on to the Board of War, whose members included the influential Thomas Mifflin.

Washington's foes promote Conway

While the War Board considered Conway's resignation, political foes of Washington in Congress promoted Conway to the newly formed position of Inspector General, which bore the rank major general. The Inspector General (ironically the post was conceived by Washington after a suggestion by a foreign volunteer) was to devote himself full time to the preparing of a training manual and assembling and implementing a guide to military maneuvers. Conway would work alongside Washington who was now at Valley Forge but would be responsible only to the War Board. To add insult to injury as far as Washington was concerned, Congress had appointed Horatio Gates as President of the Board of War, on November 27, 1777.


Bust portrait of Baron Johann de Kalb
by Charles Wilson Peale
Second Bank Portait Gallery
Independence National Historic Park

War of the Letters

Naturally, when Conway arrived at cold Valley Forge on December 29, Washington gave him the cold shoulder. Inspector General Conway began to shrink before Washington's wrathful eye and icy formality. In one charged exchange of letters, Washington wrote to Conway asking him how he intended to conduct business. Conway wrote back to the effect that if Washington found his service "disagreeable" that "I am very ready to return to France." Washington shot back that while he was very willing to work with Congress and accept their decisions, members of his staff felt slighted by Conway's promotion - particularly in light of how Conway complained after Baron de Kalb's promotion.

Given enough time a loose cannon will shoot himself in the foot. Conway wrote another letter to Washington:
On January 2, 1778, Washington forwarded Conway's diatribe to Congress along with a cover letter. In his letter, Washington confessed personal disdain for Conway but made it clear it never affected the professional manner in which business was conducted nor was the support Conway expected ever withheld.

Placing Blame and Covering Up

Conway had tracked down that it was Wilkinson who revealed the content of his letter to Gates. He reported this to Thomas Mifflin, who chastised Gates for being careless with his letters.

Gates then wrote a letter concurrently to Washington and Congress. In it he asks for assistance in discovering the means by which Washington came in possession of Conway's letter to him. "Those Letters have been Stealingly copied," he wrote. Washington could do "a very important service, by detecting the wretch who may betray me, and capitally injure the very operations," he wrote. This was the first time that Washington discovered that Gates and Conway had been exchanging disparaging correspondence behind his back. Washington wrote back to Gates. In opening he expresses his dismay at Gates having sent the letter to both himself and Congress, questioning the motives, and then responding by doing the same himself, "lest any Member of that Honbl. body, should harbour an unfavourable suspicion of my having practiced some indirect means, to come at the contents of the confidential Letters between you and General Conway." He then revealed the sequence of events and goes on to say that the act rather than being one of betrayal of Gates was intended rather as an act of "Justice." Washington further stated that he had revealed the contents of Conway's letter to no one outside his family except the Marquis de Lafayette and then only upon demand and with the oath of secrecy. Washington stated that he was desirous of "concealing every matter that could, in its consequences give the smallest Interruption to the tranquility of this Army, or afford a gleam of hope to the enemy by dissentions therein."

Fulfulling Lovell's prediction, Gates challenged Wilkinson to a duel. The challenge was not accepted.

Congress Reviews the Matter

The Cabal collapsed on January 19 when Conway and Gates made a trip to Congress sitting at York. They went before Congress to try to clear their names but would not reveal the original "weak general" letter which was the catalyst for the cabal. Lafayette delegated himself spokesman for the French court. He did his utmost to convey the conviction that France regarded Washington as one and the same with the American cause. France could not even conceive of another commander, he implied. Eventually, that would be the French attitude, but only after Lafayette's efforts - especially his year of personal lobbying in France in 1779 - had worked to make it so.

As we have seen other officers remained loyal to Washington throughout the affair, from the brigadier generals protesting Conway's promotion to the colonels writing anti-Wilkinson memorials to Congress.


Portrait of Alexander Hamilton

John Trumbull, 1806

National Gallery of Art

Another staunch ally was aide-de-camp Alexander Hamilton, a master manipulator who wrote a series of letters castigating the plotters.

Congress, in light of the duplicity and foolishness of Gates and Conway, and in possession of letters of support from the majority of Washington's officers was forced to fully support Washington. The movement to unseat Washington lost all steam.

The Fall Out

Thomas Mifflin resigned from the Board of War.

James Wilkinson resigned as Secretary of the Board of War.

Horatio Gates returned to his troops a chastened general.


Portait of Thomas Conway
Unknown artist, 18th century.

Thomas Conway was transferred to a subordinate command in the Hudson Highlands. Naturally he protested this transfer and so resigned from the army. In 1778, Congress accepted his resignation. Yet Conway would not go away. He remained a burr in Washington's saddle by badmouthing the general to anyone who will listen. General John Cadwalader, a staunch Washington supporter, challenged Conway to a July 4 duel, grievously wounding him. Believing his wounds to be fatal Conway wrote a letter of apology to Washington.

After recovering from his wounds, the lucky and still plucky Conway headed back to France. He served as governor of the French colonies in India and then fought against the armies in the French Revolution. Appropriately for someone who had spend his life as a soldier of fortune, he died in exile, in the year 1800

The telegram was dated June 5, 1899. According to Lisa Guerrero Nakpil, curator of the Leon Gallery, Emilio Aguinaldo appeared at the telegraph office before dawn on June 4 and ordered the operator, one Teodoro Cada, to send a series of urgent messages to Luna. Cada described Aguinaldo as “remarkably disheveled, dressed ‘only in an undershirt and shorts’, probably reflecting his sleeplessness over a terrible decision.”

Four telegrams arrived in telegraph offices in Tarlac where Luna was camped. At the time, Luna was the only Filipino General who was Western trained in military tactics and strategy, surprising the Americans with his superior skill in the battlefield.

As a general, Luna was a firebrand whose double-edged tongue suffered no one, not even President Aguinaldo. It was this penchant for harsh yet honest speech that earned Luna many enemies, especially influential businessmen close to Aguinaldo who he called duplicitous and unpatriotic. In fact, among these enemies were Felipe Buencamino, who Luna mentioned in his reply in the return telegram:

“Felipe Buencamino not yet detained based on my accusation,” reads the clipped portion of the document bearing Luna’s handwriting.

Luna had legendarily snapped at a cabinet meeting, slapping Buencamino across the face as he accused him of treason, which was what Luna was referring to in his reply. Buencamino was the Secretary of Foreign Affairs at that time.

According to Nakpil, the telegram implies that the Luna was being summoned not for a promotion in the cabinet but to bring down an influential enemy.

Luna made haste for Cabanatuan the next day, bringing his two best officers, Colonel Francisco Roman and Captain Eduardo Rusca. During the journey, Luna, in his anxiety to reach Cabanatuan at the soonest time, discarded his cavalry escort and two carriages that broke down carrying his guards. He proceeded with only one carriage with Roman and Rusca. Upon reaching headquarters in Cabanatuan, they were set upon by soldiers, leading to the death of Luna and Roman, while leaving Rusca severely wounded.

[Battle at Las Pinas. See Report of Maj. Genl. Amy. for 1899–Part 2. p. 136 & 137]

Left S. P. Macati 5 a.m. Marched & fought all day. Leonard & 4 men wounded — 2 killed. Made camp in rice paddy west of Las Pinas at 7 p.m. After about hardest days experience since entering army. Terrifying incident at night.

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

Heavy clouds hang on the horizon all day. No rain; warm, light wind. So tired this morning that I indulged myself by lying abed until about 6.30. Then up; read a chapter in Deuteronomy and prayed to my precious Lord for His protection, guidance & that He would use me through the untried hours of the day. It is a great comfort when facing the unknown hours of the just begun to know that the Lord’s providence will not fail.

Cooked breakfast: germen mush, fried ham & coffee.

Purchased a copy of Freedom & read it.

Walked over to the Tondo church thro’ the burnt district, to Senor B. Caramanzana, photographer. Films developed. Satisfied with the Filipino’s work. Prices reasonable. Left the films & ordered 24 prints. Also bought 1 photo for myself & half a dozen for Rev. Owens, then walked back to Calle Jolo street car & visited the post office. Given a letter from Major Acum, London, overlooked several days in the office.

Met Rev. Owens. Paid me for his photos.

Purchased a fancy sea shell. Also dropped into the Spanish grocery store on the Escolta adjoining the bridge of Spain, to purchase a box of oatmeal. The Spanish clerk who waited on me spoke a little English. Reading the band on my cap – “Salvation Army”, he imparted the information that he is a Salvationist belonging to an Australasian corps. The new clerk’s name is Feol. The Lord my have work for him to do.

Returned home. Mrs. Owens cooked the pineapple brought down from Malolos yesterday. Gave her part of it.

Continued my narrative of the Philippine S.A. war. Made the MS. 15 pages note. Subheads: “San Fernando”, “Prices”, “Corpus Christi” and “Rifle Shots”. Wrote & copied a letter to Lieut-Col. Wm Evans, San Francisco Cal. & sent it & a photo of main plaza at San Fernando, to him for the Cry.

Down town, patronized a Spanish barber shop on the Escolta. Paid $30 Mex. Strikes me, the price, as extortion.

The Daily Manila “American” sent a bill collector, a Filipina, around to collect $2 Mex. sub. to July 1stMade out a list of missing copies & wrote the Business Manager, to send them to complete my file; also to send paper to No.2.

Rev. Owens brought the news this evening that heavy or sharp “scrapping” – fighting – has been going on down at Paranaque. Said he saw upon the Luneta the ships of war firing at the place. Quite a number of men are reported hurt in the South Dakotas & Colorados. My first thought is re the safety of the Salvationists in those regiments. God protect our precious boys. Amen. Perharps they are fighting tonight.

Cooked supper. Oatmeal mush, fried ham and cocoa.

 Love the Lord Your God

6 These are the commands, decrees and laws the Lord your God directed me to teach you to observe in the land that you are crossing the Jordan to possess, 2 so that you, your children and their children after them may fear the Lord your God as long as you live by keeping all his decrees and commands that I give you, and so that you may enjoy long life. 3 Hear, Israel, and be careful to obey so that it may go well with you and that you may increase greatly in a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord, the God of your ancestors, promised you.
4 Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
10 When the Lord your God brings you into the land he swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you—a land with large, flourishing cities you did not build, 11 houses filled with all kinds of good things you did not provide, wells you did not dig, and vineyards and olive groves you did not plant—then when you eat and are satisfied, 12 be careful that you do not forget the Lord, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.
13 Fear the Lord your God, serve him only and take your oaths in his name. 14 Do not follow other gods, the gods of the peoples around you; 15 for the Lord your God, who is among you, is a jealous God and his anger will burn against you, and he will destroy you from the face of the land. 16 Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. 17 Be sure to keep the commands of the Lord your God and the stipulations and decrees he has given you. 18 Do what is right and good in the Lord’s sight, so that it may go well with you and you may go in and take over the good land the Lord promised on oath to your ancestors, 19 thrusting out all your enemies before you, as the Lord said.
20 In the future, when your son asks you, “What is the meaning of the stipulations, decrees and laws the Lord our God has commanded you?” 21 tell him: “We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the Lord brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand. 22 Before our eyes the Lord sent signs and wonders—great and terrible—on Egypt and Pharaoh and his whole household. 23 But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land he promised on oath to our ancestors. 24 The Lord commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear the Lord our God, so that we might always prosper and be kept alive, as is the case today. 25 And if we are careful to obey all this law before the Lord our God, as he has commanded us, that will be our righteousness.”