Battling at Bayan: on May 2, 1902, the U.S. Army fought its last major engagement of the Philippines War, and launched a new war against the Islamic Moros of Mindanao

VFW Magazine, May, 2002

Precisely two months prior to the official end of the hard-fought Philippines War, America found itself embroiled in a far lengthier conflict, lasting a dozen years.

The islands of the southern Philippines harbored harsh followers of Islam called Moros (Spanish for Moslem). Their piratical way of life was destined to clash with U.S. authority. The immediate cause of this battle was the murder of two soldiers and an attack on a U.S. cavalry detachment in the spring of 1902.

American authorities even employed an Afghan religious figure residing on Mindanao to extend peace feelers. After these efforts were rejected, an expedition was mounted to apprehend the murderers, retrieve stolen horses and enforce peace. It consisted of 492 men of the 27th Infantry Regiment (seven companies) and the 25th Mountain Battery (Field Artillery).

Led by Col. Frank D. Baldwin, the campaign centered on the Lake Lanao region (25 miles into the interior) and easily resulted in the capture of Fort Binidayan. Thirty Moros were killed at the cost of one American wounded. The next objective, however, was a tougher nut to crack.

Situated some 1,000 yards distant, with the surrounding terrain pockmarked by pits containing sharpened stakes, was Fort Pandapatan. Four artillery pieces shelled it for close to an hour. Then G Company led the assault in the face of withering fire.

Attempting to scale the cotta's (fort) thick walls (several feet and 10 feet high) was by far the deadliest task. Cpl. John Ward of F Company took the initiative, standing on the shoulders of two fellow infantrymen so he could fire over the walls.

"Our troops continued to fire rapidly in order to keep down the fire of the Moros," wrote Capt. George A. Hunt in the 27th's unit history, "as it was necessary to make the advance over an open area and exposed to the fire from the fort."

The hail of bullets felled 50 men that day. Yet camaraderie in combat was commonplace. 1st Lt. Charles G. Bickham was conspicuous enough in his gallantry to rate the Medal of. Honor. "Crossing a fire-swept field," read his citation, "in close range of the enemy, he brought a wounded soldier to a place of shelter."

At one point, G Company ran out of ammo, with men fixing bayonets for the anticipated charge against the cold steel of the campilan--a two-handed, broad-bladed sword--wielded by Moro warriors.

But by dark, most firing ceased, although it was intermittent during the night. Those who fell on the battlefield were stranded because of the lethal terrain. "Added to the misery of the situation both for the wounded and men on the line," reported Baldwin, "was a heavy rain [that] set in and lasted all night long."

Surprisingly enough, daylight revealed white flags fluttering over the cotta's walls. And by 6 a.m., the fort was fully occupied. Some 83 Moros surrendered, but later bolted for freedom. Only nine were recaptured; 35 were killed. All told, upwards of 300 warriors died.

According to the official War Department report: "The Pandapatan community was almost obliterated, and of the Bayan people the most prominent survivors said that there were but 15 or 20 men left. There were no women or children killed, for all had fled."

Army casualties would prove to be among the highest of the Moro War. Killed in action totaled 10 along with 40 WIA. Many of the wounded had suffered intensely through the night. F and G companies sustained the heaviest losses.

President Theodore Roosevelt cabled the Philippine Department two days later, congratulating the 27th Regiment for its "splendid courage" for the "country's sake." He wrote, "Your fellow countrymen at home will ever reverence the memory of the fallen, and be faithful to the survivors."

Though the Moros of Mindanao's Lake Lanao region were severely chastised, the U.S. Army soon learned that this was only the beginning--not the end--of the Moro War.

LAST CHAPTER: This concludes the 14-part 100th anniversary series on the Philippines War. Campaigns continued on the islands into 1913, but they were against the Moros.