1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

The San Isisdro Campaign

The First Northern Expedition

Campaign streamer awarded to the 22nd Infantry
for its service in the San Isidro Campaign

Company H of the 22nd Infantry
Color tinted photo, in which the artist has incorrectly given the Soldiers blue uniforms.
It appears that a number of men are wearing the model 1883 campaign shirt, which would have been
dark blue, however, their trousers would have been khaki in color.

According to the date in the caption of the photo, this was taken one week before the Regiment
began the First Northern Expedition.

Photo from:
An Illustrated And Descriptive Art Collection Of America's New Possessions
INTERNATIONAL VIEW CO.
Chicago, Ill. 1902

THE FIRST NORTHERN EXPEDITION

Major General H. W. Lawton, commanding. Troops engaged:
1st division, 8th army corps, consisting of:
22nd infantry; 1st North Dakota volunteer infantry; one squadron 4th cavalry (dismounted);
two field guns of 6th artillery, and two mountain guns Hawthorne's separate battery.
Detached from 2nd division, 8th army corps:
2 battalions 3rd infantry; 2 battalions 2nd Oregon volunteer infantry; 13th Minnesota volunteer infantry;
one troop 4th cavalry (mounted), and one gun Utah volunteer light artillery.

The object of this expedition was to drive the insurgent forces from the country between the Rio Grande de Pampanga
and the Bulacan mountains, with San Miguel, and afterward San Isidro, the new capital, as the objective.
The troops of the 1st division, in addition to two battalions of the 3rd infantry, were assembled at La Loma church
on the evening of April 21. The plan of campaign was as follows: the main column to march from La Loma to Novaliches,
to San Jose, and thence to Norzagaray; a flanking column composed of the remaining troops detached from the 2nd division
to march from Bocaue and to join the main column at Norzagaray; the united command to proceed to San Miguel.

Simultaneously with the junction of the two forces at Norzagaray, General MacArthur, commanding 2nd division, 8th army corps,
was to attack Calumpit, to capture it, to proceed northeasterly, and to form a junction with the 1st division at San Miguel.
The regiment marched to La Loma church on the afternoon of April 21. Each man carried one hundred rounds of ammunition;
rations for ten days, and an additional hundred rounds of ammunition were carried on bull carts, three bull carts to two companies.
In anticipation of bad roads, nothing was allowed on the bull carts but rations, ammunition, and the least possible equipment for officers.

At five o'clock in the morning, April 22, the main column marched northward toward Novaliches. South of the town
the insurgents were encountered in force, occupying positions on both sides of the road leading into the town. In the resulting action,
the insurgents were driven from their positions, through the town, and across the Rio de Tuliahan. The division occupied the town
at ten o'clock in the morning, finding it deserted, and everything of value, including rice, removed. The regiment formed the outpost line
to the northeast. During the afternoon, a force of insurgents, intrenched on a hillside near the San Mateo road, opened fire on the pickets;
this fire was temporarily silenced by shell and shrapnel; but from different positions the enemy kept up a desultory fire during the night.

At five o'clock in the morning, April 23, the column moved toward San Jose. Beyond Novaliches, the road became a mere footpath,
leading over hills and through valleys. In the intense heat, many bulls were exhausted, thus impeding the progress of the train.
A native guide intentionally led the column several miles in the wrong direction. Late in the afternoon the regiment, in the advance,
reached the ford crossing the Pasumkambor river, two miles south of San Jose, and bivouacked during the night. A tropical rainstorm,
lasting from 9 to 11 p.m,, added to the discomfort of the exhausted command and necessitated sleeping in pools of water and mud.

At 8 o'clock in the morning, April 24, the 1st battalion of the regiment in advance entered San Jose without opposition.
Transportation was the difficult problem of this campaign. Rough trails and great heat made it necessary to unhitch the carabaos
at frequent intervals, to lead them to water holes, and to allow them to soak and wallow in order to recover from their exhaustion.
The presence of an entire battalion was required with the regimental train, and even with this assistance the train did not arrive in San Jose
until after dark. The bulls were completely exhausted; the carts were pulled in by soldiers.

April 25, the march was resumed, the regiment acting as rear guard. The difficulties of transportation hourly became greater.
A number of bulls died from sheer exhaustion. Men, burdened with rifle, belt and blanket roll, yoked themselves to carts and pulled cart after cart
up the long slopes. Additional hardships were met with ever-increasing zeal. On the night of this day, the command bivouacked at Norzagaray,
this town having been captured on the previous day by the Bocaue column. On the 26th, rain again added to the difficulties and hardships;
at ten o'clock at night the regiment bivouacked in water-soaked rice fields at Angat. Pending the outcome of a native peace commission
in Manila and awaiting rations, the command remained at Angat until April 30. From the 27th to the 30th, companies B and D of the regiment
were detached and on outpost duty at Norzagaray.

May 1st, the command marched on San Raphael, the regiment moving on the south bank of the Bagbag.
After considerable opposition, principally on the northern side, the town was occupied.

May 2, the regiment captured and occupied Bustos. The town was strongly defended; but after a combined front and flank attack
on the stone barricades, the insurgent forces were compelled to retreat. Young's scouts, with this part of the column, crossed the river
and entered Baliuag at noon. These important towns had been occupied by an insurgent division under General Gregorio del Pilar,
and their comparatively easy capture was a sign of the demoralization existing in the Filipino armies.

Wounded, May 2nd, 1899: Private James Frisbie, company E.

May 3, the regiment crossed the river and took quarters in the native houses of Baliuag. A great quantity of rice that had been stored
by the insurgents was captured in this town; 150,000 bushels were issued to starving non-combatants, who, in the frenzy of hunger,
grovelled in the storehouses, cramming their mouths with the raw grains.

May 4 to May 14, company M occupied Quingua, charged with keeping open the line of communication between Baliuag and Malolos.
While the division remained in Baliuag, a company of the regiment was sent daily on outpost to Bustos. On May 7, the natives of Baliuag
selected a mayor, the first native holding office in the Philippines under the jurisdiction of the United States. This liberal policy of self-government
allowed the Filipinos by the United States was eagerly welcomed by the natives; oaths of allegiance were freely taken. Later, it was discovered
that even greater freedom was used in violating these sacred promises. The first mayor of Baliuag came in daily contact with officers
of the United States forces; all information gained by him was promptly reported to the insurgent chiefs. When at last this treachery was discovered,
he was tried and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. Another system showing the liberality of the United States to the Filipino insurgents
was begun while the division remained at Baliuag. On May 13, proclamations were issued in Spanish and Tagalog offering payment
of thirty dollars (Mexican) for each insurgent rifle surrendered to American officials.

(TELEGRAM.)
Manila, May 13, 1899—9:55 a. m.

LAWTON: You are authorized to pay $30 (Mexican) for each serviceable rifle delivered to you
by disbanded detachments of the insurgent army or others. This order should be known as widely as possible.
BARRY.

(Ed., At that time $30 Mexican was equal to about $15 US.)

May 13, the division scouts, supported by two companies of infantry, captured and occupied San Miguel. On the previous day,
an insurgent officer had entered the lines and, at his own request, had been sent to Manila to arrange for a safe-conduct for a commission
authorized to make terms of peace. This was believed to be only a scheme to delay the American advance until the beginning of the rainy season.
May 14, the main body of the division moved from Baliuag, leaving the 2nd battalion of the regiment behind to garrison this strategic point.
May 17, the 1st and 3rd battalions, after making a forced march on the afternoon of the 16th, took part in the capture of San Isidro.
They formed the left of the battle line, and by a rapid advance, drove the insurgents from the city, the left of the line entering at 9:30 a. m.
The insurgents made only a feeble resistance. Natives remaining in San Isidro reported that Aguinaldo had made his headquarters there
from the time Malolos had fallen until shortly before the American forces occupied San Isidro. It was also learned that
thirteen American prisoners, among them Lieut. Gilmore of the navy, had been confined here while the Filipinos held the town.

Hot Springs, Va., May 19, 1899.
OTIS, Manila:
Convey to General Lawton and the gallant men of his command
my congratulations upon their successful operations during the month,
resulting in the capture this morning of San Isidro
WILLIAM MCKINLEY

May 18, a peace commission, headed by General Gregorio del Pilar, entered San Isidro. They were escorted, by way of Baliuag, to Manila.
Arayat was designated as the next objective. Troops from the 2nd division, originally ordered to connect with the 1st division at San Miguel,
were ordered to make a junction at Arayat. On the afternoon of May 18, the 1st and 3rd battalions of the regiment, in brigade,
proceeded down the Rio Grande de Pampanga. At the barrio of San Fernando, an intrenched insurgent force was encountered.
The two battalions deployed under fire, forced the enemy across the river; but owing to the depth of the water, it was impossible to follow them.
The insurgents took a second position in trenches on the opposite river bank; an attempt was made to dislodge them with shrapnel;
but due to the extremely short range — less than two hundred yards — this fire proved ineffective. During the night the insurgents kept up
an annoying fire; at daylight, all but a few of them had abandoned their position.
The brigade moved at 5:15 a. m., May 19. After a slight skirmish, Cabiao was captured and occupied until the arrival of the main command,
from San Isidro, on the following day. May 21, the entire command, the 1st and 3rd battalions of the regiment in advance,
moved down the river and entered Arayat without opposition. The column of the 2nd division, from Calumpit, joined here.

May 22, the entire command moved down the river to Candaba. During the afternoon of the following day, heavy firing was heard
in the direction of San Miguel. The 1st battalion of the regiment was sent in this direction, but the swamp surrounding Candaba
prevented their going far enough to discover anything. Later, it was learned that ten companies of the 3rd infantry, marching from San Miguel
to Baliuag, had been attacked by considerable forces of the enemy at four different points, but had gallantly driven them off with severe losses.
The 2nd battalion of the regiment (22nd), garrisoning Baliuag, started to the assistance of the 3rd infantry, and after a rapid march,
arrived just as the insurgents were withdrawing from their last attack.

May 23, the troops belonging to the command were assigned to station. After a few slight changes, the regiment occupied the following places:
Headquarters and companies A, E, F, G, I, and K, Candaba; companies D and M, San Luis; companies B, C, H, and L, San Fernando.

Wounded in action, May 18, 1899:

Private Charles L. Diedel, company C;
Sergeant Peter Cosgrove and Private Carl A. Carlson, company H;
Private Simon Schuller, company L.

Died of wounds received in action:

Corporal Henry Langford, company L, May 18, 1899;
Private Carl A. Carlson, company H, May 20, 1899.

OPERATIONS OF THE SUMMER AND FALL 1899

About this time our forces were greatly annoyed by their inability to locate small bands of harassing insurgents.
Outposts and scouting parties, investigating shots fired at them, found peaceful natives working the fields—agricultural implements, not guns,
in their hands. When a large force of Americans passed through a given section of country, only peaceful natives were seen;
if small detachments marched through the same country, they were constantly attacked. Eventually the belief prevailed that insurgent chieftains
had authorized warfare contrary to the rules of civilized nations; occasionally a native was caught wearing a uniform under his ordinary amigo clothes.
An order captured with other insurgent papers showed that this practice was authorized and ordered by the insurgent powers.

You, as well as the chiefs and officers under your orders, will give military instructions to the soldiers,
inculcating in them subordination and discipline, reading to them at least twice a day the penal laws,
making them understand their duties as defenders of the country, and inflicting upon them
the disciplinary punishments which they may deserve.
And, in order that the enemy may not be able to distinguish from a distance our soldiers when,
for instance, a plan is being made to surprise or ambush him, make them dress as country people,
not permitting all, including the officers, to wear uniforms.
In all movements you make with the command, you will always observe much prudence, employing
every kind of artifice to defeat the plans of the enemy.
May God preserve you many years.
Headquarters at Porac, the 12th of May, 1899.
The General in Chief of operations,
TOMAS MASCARDO. [SEAL.]

The practice of discarding the uniform enabled the insurgents to appear and to disappear at their convenience.
At times they appeared in the ranks of their own army as soldiers; immediately after, they were within the American lines
in the attitude of peaceful natives. This peculiarity of the war placed in the hands of the insurgent leaders a perfect system of espionage
and spy service that defeated, at times, our most carefully laid plans.

Captain Kreps and Company M, stationed at San Luis, were engaged in constant skirmishes with small rebel units.
The enemy would strike quickly and unexpectedly from concealed locations—fleeing before a counterattack could be made.
Kreps described the frustrations of fighting a guerrilla war: "Our forces were greatly annoyed by their inability to locate bands
of harassing Insurgents. Outposts and scouting parties, investigating shots fired at them, would only find
'peaceful natives' working in the fields.

"Whenever a large body of American troops passed through a certain area—only amicable Filipinos were to be seen.
However, small army detachments, marching along the same path, were constantly attacked.
"The belief prevailed that the Insurgent chieftains had authorized a type of warfare contrary to the rules of civilized nations.
Occasionally a native was caught wearing a rebel uniform under his ordinary clothes. And many American officers
began to take for granted that every Filipino was their enemy.

"The rebels were able to appear and disappear as they wished. At their own discretion they would attack as soldiers,
and an hour later were within American lines as peace loving farmers. The peculiarity of this war has placed in the hands
of the Insurgent leaders a perfect system of espionage—which often upset our carefully laid plans.

"Almost every village—captured or not—furnished Aguinaldo's soldiers with food and supplies. The Eighth Army Corps
began to believe that they were fighting the entire population of the Philippines....

"Day after scorching day, every soldier was armed, alert, and exposed to the roasting sun—which was almost as killing,
and often harder to bear, than the enemy Mausers. Devotion and duty increased with adversity. The corps was ready and eager
to confront the rebels as occasion demanded."

The Third Battalion of the Twenty-second Regiment was bivouacked at San Fernando to guard the railroad.
A long row of Insurgent trenches stretched across the northern front of the battalion's line. Practically every night,
the Filipinos kept up a constant barrage of rifle fire—and often launched nuisance raids against the American defenses.
Company H was kept busy pushing an armored railroad car—by hand—a mile to the front to repulse enemy attacks. *

At the same time, all American forces were under most strict orders to protect peaceful natives. Despite these conditions,
officers and men fought and worked with unwearied constancy. Each one appeared to feel that upon his individual exertions
depended the issue of the campaigns. For three months, day after day, every man had been constantly under arms, exposed to scorching sun
almost as destructive and harder to bear than the enemy's fire. Devotion and duty increased with hardship;
all were eager to close with the adversary as occasion offered or duty required.

During the summer and fall of 1899, the companies at Candaba were constantly engaged in scouting. Continual rains
changed the surrounding swamps to lakes; scouting parties moved through waist-high water; at times only native bancas made scouting possible;
the work required of these companies was more than ordinarily severe.

At the end of May, the 3rd battalion was assigned by General MacArthur to provost duty in San Fernando. This town was covered
on the north side by a long line of insurgent trenches, from which the Filipinos delivered nightly fire. On the mornings of June 16 and July 4,
the insurgents made determined attacks on all sides of the town; the 3rd battalion was posted in reserve along the railroad track.
Both attacks were repulsed with heavy losses to the insurgents. In addition to the provost duties, company H acted as escort to an armored car,
pushing it by hand a mile to the front on several occasions. The insurgents were particularly active during this period in tearing up the railroad track,
carrying away or hiding the rails. To the provost guard fell the task of repairing these damages.

July 23, companies D and M had a slight skirmish near San Luis.

August 9, the 3rd battalion participated in the general advance made by the 2nd division from San Fernando.
The line of battle was formed before daylight, fronting the insurgent works on the north side of the town.
As part of General Wheaton's brigade, the battalion occupied the center of the line east of the railroad. The engagement was begun
with artillery fire directed upon strong points of the enemy's line. Although taken by surprise, the insurgents promptly returned a spirited rifle fire.
This was answered by company volleys for about thirty minutes, when the fire of the enemy slackened.

The advance that followed is unequaled in hardships. Incessant, tropical rains had made the ground a swamp of mud and tangled,
waist-high grass. As the line floundered through, the fire from the insurgent trenches became more and more ragged, and finally ceased.
The trenches were found abandoned, but containing dead and wounded in sufficient numbers to show the punishment inflicted.
Beyond, the battalion found its way through the swamp of mud and water and through a labyrinth of sugar cane head-high.
Physical resources were taxed to the utmost. Intense heat and lack of air in the continuous canefields prostrated many men.
Six hours of marching were required to cover six miles of this terrible front. Forty men of the battalion succumbed to exhaustion
during the advance; one man carried from the field died without regaining consciousness.
On the night of August 9, the 3rd battalion bivouacked along the road at Calulut. August 11, the battalion, in brigade,
moved on Santa Rita, which was occupied without resistance.

Wounded in action, August 9, 1899:

Private Edward M. Neuman, company C;
Private William Kneisler, company H.

August 12, companies D and M repelled a night attack on San Luis. August 15, the 3rd battalion returned to San Fernando.
September 4, it relieved a volunteer regiment at Sindalon.

September 18 and 23, companies D and M dispersed two bands of ladrones near San Luis. On the 23rd, the 3rd battalion changed station
to Angeles, where it formed the right of the outpost line. September 28, the battalion was ordered to make a demonstration against the insurgents
intrenched north of Angeles, while the brigade moved on Porac. After a terrific bombardment of the trenches by artillery and the armored car,
the battalion advanced, forded the Rio Anayo under fire, and completely silenced the enemy's fire in an engagement lasting three quarters of an hour.
Afterward, under instructions, the battalion was withdrawn, and returned to Angeles.

Bridge north of Angeles. During his retreat Aguinaldo ordered the destruction
of nearly every bridge across every river and stream, to slow down the American advance.

Photo from the 1904 Regimental History

October 1, companies I and G crossed the Rio Grande Pampanga at Arayat, and while scouting, were fired upon by insurgents
intrenched on the left bank of the river, one mile below Arayat. The companies drove the enemy from their position
and inflicted heavy loss upon them.

October 4, companies E, F, and K attacked a large force of the Manila battalion of insurgents on both sides of the river below Arayat.
These picked troops, sent specially to hold this point against the American advance, offered a determined opposition,
but their fire was completely silenced. The three companies were annoyed by fire from insurgent outposts at Arayat;
but having orders not to enter this town, drove in the outposts and returned to Candaba.

October 12, the 1st battalion—Ballance's—was detached and ordered for duty with the 1st division, 8th army corps.

October 13, this battalion and the 3rd battalion— Baldwin's—marched to Arayat,
where were mobilizing the forces for the last great campaign in northern Luzon.

Killed in action, August 12, 1899:

Private Ira W. Cox, company D.

Wounded in action, August 12, 1899:

Private James O'Connell, company D.

The above narrative is taken from the 22nd Infantry Regimental History,
published by the Regiment and printed in the Philippines in 1904.
Additional photos and comments were added by the website editor.

* From the book: Combat Diary EPISODES FROM THE HISTORY OF THE
TWENTY-SECOND REGIMENT, 1866-1905
by A. B. Feuer

Praeger Publishers, New York, N.Y.

NEXT PAGE

BACK

Home | Photos | Battles & History | Current |
Rosters & Reports | Medal of Honor | Killed in Action |
Personnel Locator | Commanders | Station List | Campaigns |
Honors | Insignia & Memorabilia | 4-42 Artillery | Taps |
What's New | Editorial | Links |