As I sit here on the demolished walls of Fort Pandapatan, contemplating
the magnificent scene spread out before me, my mind reverts to that
awful Battle fought on the 2d of May of this year, which was rightfully
designated by General Adna R. Chaffee as the hardest fought battle of
the entire Philippine insurrection. And as I look down the grassy slopes
of Pandapatan hill, and across the open towards Binidayan hill, on which
once stood that impregnable Moro stronghold, Fort Binidayan, I can see
in fancy those advancing lines of determined men and hear the awful
screech of flying projectiles, just as if that terrible drama of reality
were being enacted over again for my own especial benefit.
And while I am in the mood and have the inspiration to do so, I shall
endeavor to convey to the reader a slight conception of what the Battle
was like, and how it appeared to me on that eventful day, and which will
go down in history as one of the most glorious feats of American arms.
I can see again, in fancy, that column of determined fighting men, at
the head of which rode General (then Colonel) Frank D. Baldwin,
struggling over the slippery mountain trails, fording the swift running
rivers, and sweltering in the hot tropical sun, just as they did on
April 17, 18, and 19, 1902.
It does not seem that several months have elapsed since General Chaffee
issued an ultimatum to the Sultan of Bayan and other leading Moros of
the Lake region, demanding the surrender of several Moro tribesmen for
the murder of Pvts. Lewis and Mooris of the 27th Infantry, in March
last, and for the return of several horses which had been deliberately
stolen from Lieut. Forsyth, 15th Cavalry, at Buldoon, a small village in
the mountains along the south coast of Mindanao.
When General Chaffee visited the little town of Malabang in the early
part of April, inviting the Sultans and Dattos of the Lake region to
come in and hold a friendly conference with him, little did he dream
that he was taking the first step in what was to be one of the most
aggressive campaigns ever inaugurated.
But when, instead of complying with the terms of the ultimatum, the
Moros insolently replied to it and defied the Americans to come and
fight, General Chaffee realized then that the situation was grave
indeed, and accordingly telegraphed to Washington immediately for
permission to proceed to the Lake region and administer a lesson to the
recalcitrant Sultans and Dattos.
But it was not until after much delay that the War Department
reluctantly gave permission to proceed against the Moros, and General
Chaffee was cautioned not to go to the extreme of warfare, until every
peaceful method had been exhausted.