The Battle of Pulang Lupa
 | |  |
Pulang Lupa
in Verse
As remembered
as being taught in
school, Laon
Mogpog
Sa bundok ng
mapulang lupa
Doon sila naglaban
alipapa.
Amerikano'y
nakulong nabigla,
ang Kapitan ay
nangayupapa. Ang
sundalo ng ating
guerilla ay
nagpakitang tapang
at liksi nila sa
katunayan ay
kanilang nakuha
trumpeta't,
kombo,pusil at
bandila.
English translation
On the Hills of the
Red Soil There,
they fought a battle
The Americans
were cornered,
surprised The
captain became
helpless. The
soldiers of our
infantry showed
their courage and
speed In fact they
were able to
confiscate their
trumpets, drums,
guns and flag
"AWIT SA
PULANG LUPA"
Titik at Musika:
ELI J.
OBLIGACION
May isang
kahapong nagdaan
Kasaysayang di
malilimutan
'Sang kahapong di
maiwawaksi
Diwang Pilipino'y
naisilang.
May isang
kahapong nagdaan
Kasaysayang di
mallimutan May
kahapng di
maitatanggi Ang
kahulugan ay
Tagumpay ng Lahi.
Sa Pulang Lupa,
kawal na bayani
Gubat ay tinahak
ng buong sidhi
Ang mahal sa
Buhay, inalo't iniwan
Nang ipagtanggol
ang ating bayan.
Dito nga namuno si
Kapitan Abad
Kapitang namuno
ng buong lakas
At naging kasama si
Kang Alapaap
Siya na mapusok at
puso'y marahas.
Isang madaling araw
Sa buwan ng
Setyembre
Sinagupa nila ang
kaaway Sa gitna ng
kabundukan.
(Mga Hiyaw/Mga
putok ng
baril/riple/Mga
Tambol/Simbal)
(Marahan)
At dahan-dahang
nagapi ang kaaway
Kahit kay lakas pa
ng dalang armas
Ang dugo sa lupa,
na di na rin mahupa
Ang nagbigay lakas
sa kanila diwa.
(Mabilis)
At pagsapit ng
hapon Naganap
ang pag-urong
'Merikano'y
tuluyang sumuko
Sa gerilyerong
puno.
(Koro)
Labanan sa Pulang
Lupa ay walang
nakapigil At
damdaming
makabayan ay
nagising Nang di
magpatuloy ang
likong landas Ng
dayuhang
mapang-api
(Solo):
Di ko na malilimutan
sa 'king isip Pulang
Lupa ay hindi
mawawaglit.
(Uulitin ang Koro
hanggang sa
"likong landas")
At sa oras na
mangailangan ng
Lakas ng puso at
tapang pa Pulang
Lupa's aawitin ko!
Aawitin ko!
Aawitin ko!
ENGLISH
TRANSLATION:
"SONG FOR
PULANG LUPA"
Words and Music:
ELI J. OBLIGACION
There's a yesterday
gone by With a
story that couldn't
be forgotten One
yesterday that
couldn't disavowed
be When the
Filipino Spirit was
born.
There's a yesterday
gone by With a
story that couldn't
be forgotten A
yesterday that
coudn't be denied
For it spelled
Victory for the Race.
At Pulang Lupa, our
heroic soldiers
Forests they trod
with all their might
Loved ones, they
comforted and left
behind To defend
our Land.
And there took
charge Kapitan
Abad A Kapitan
who led with all
strength And with
him was Kang
Alapaap He who
was fierce, and with
a heart violent.
One break of day
In the moon of
September They
attacked the enemy
In the midst of the
mountain range.
(Shouts/Riflefire/Dru
ms/Cymbals)
(Slow)
And slowly, slowly
defeated was the
enemy Even with
the stronger arms
he held Blood
dropped aground
and couldn't be
stopped That gave
strength to ther
Spirit.
(Fast)
And then in the
afternoon There
transpired the
retreat 'Mericans
couldn't but
surrender To the
guerrilla leader.
(Refrain)
Battle at Pulang
Lupa, none could
stop it And the Spirit
of Nationalism
came out of sleep.
That the bent ways
would cease Of the
stranger oppressive.
(Solo):
No longer could I
cast away from
memory Pulang
Lupa shall ne'er be
lost.
(Repeat Refrain up
to "bent ways would
cease")
And when time
comes that I shall
need Strength of
Heart and Courage
Of Pulang Lupa I
shall sing!
I shall sing!
I shall sing!
Many thanks to Eli
for providing this
song and other
information about
Pulang Lupa.
in Verse
As remembered
as being taught in
school, Laon
Mogpog
Sa bundok ng
mapulang lupa
Doon sila naglaban
alipapa.
Amerikano'y
nakulong nabigla,
ang Kapitan ay
nangayupapa. Ang
sundalo ng ating
guerilla ay
nagpakitang tapang
at liksi nila sa
katunayan ay
kanilang nakuha
trumpeta't,
kombo,pusil at
bandila.
English translation
On the Hills of the
Red Soil There,
they fought a battle
The Americans
were cornered,
surprised The
captain became
helpless. The
soldiers of our
infantry showed
their courage and
speed In fact they
were able to
confiscate their
trumpets, drums,
guns and flag
"AWIT SA
PULANG LUPA"
Titik at Musika:
ELI J.
OBLIGACION
May isang
kahapong nagdaan
Kasaysayang di
malilimutan
'Sang kahapong di
maiwawaksi
Diwang Pilipino'y
naisilang.
May isang
kahapong nagdaan
Kasaysayang di
mallimutan May
kahapng di
maitatanggi Ang
kahulugan ay
Tagumpay ng Lahi.
Sa Pulang Lupa,
kawal na bayani
Gubat ay tinahak
ng buong sidhi
Ang mahal sa
Buhay, inalo't iniwan
Nang ipagtanggol
ang ating bayan.
Dito nga namuno si
Kapitan Abad
Kapitang namuno
ng buong lakas
At naging kasama si
Kang Alapaap
Siya na mapusok at
puso'y marahas.
Isang madaling araw
Sa buwan ng
Setyembre
Sinagupa nila ang
kaaway Sa gitna ng
kabundukan.
(Mga Hiyaw/Mga
putok ng
baril/riple/Mga
Tambol/Simbal)
(Marahan)
At dahan-dahang
nagapi ang kaaway
Kahit kay lakas pa
ng dalang armas
Ang dugo sa lupa,
na di na rin mahupa
Ang nagbigay lakas
sa kanila diwa.
(Mabilis)
At pagsapit ng
hapon Naganap
ang pag-urong
'Merikano'y
tuluyang sumuko
Sa gerilyerong
puno.
(Koro)
Labanan sa Pulang
Lupa ay walang
nakapigil At
damdaming
makabayan ay
nagising Nang di
magpatuloy ang
likong landas Ng
dayuhang
mapang-api
(Solo):
Di ko na malilimutan
sa 'king isip Pulang
Lupa ay hindi
mawawaglit.
(Uulitin ang Koro
hanggang sa
"likong landas")
At sa oras na
mangailangan ng
Lakas ng puso at
tapang pa Pulang
Lupa's aawitin ko!
Aawitin ko!
Aawitin ko!
ENGLISH
TRANSLATION:
"SONG FOR
PULANG LUPA"
Words and Music:
ELI J. OBLIGACION
There's a yesterday
gone by With a
story that couldn't
be forgotten One
yesterday that
couldn't disavowed
be When the
Filipino Spirit was
born.
There's a yesterday
gone by With a
story that couldn't
be forgotten A
yesterday that
coudn't be denied
For it spelled
Victory for the Race.
At Pulang Lupa, our
heroic soldiers
Forests they trod
with all their might
Loved ones, they
comforted and left
behind To defend
our Land.
And there took
charge Kapitan
Abad A Kapitan
who led with all
strength And with
him was Kang
Alapaap He who
was fierce, and with
a heart violent.
One break of day
In the moon of
September They
attacked the enemy
In the midst of the
mountain range.
(Shouts/Riflefire/Dru
ms/Cymbals)
(Slow)
And slowly, slowly
defeated was the
enemy Even with
the stronger arms
he held Blood
dropped aground
and couldn't be
stopped That gave
strength to ther
Spirit.
(Fast)
And then in the
afternoon There
transpired the
retreat 'Mericans
couldn't but
surrender To the
guerrilla leader.
(Refrain)
Battle at Pulang
Lupa, none could
stop it And the Spirit
of Nationalism
came out of sleep.
That the bent ways
would cease Of the
stranger oppressive.
(Solo):
No longer could I
cast away from
memory Pulang
Lupa shall ne'er be
lost.
(Repeat Refrain up
to "bent ways would
cease")
And when time
comes that I shall
need Strength of
Heart and Courage
Of Pulang Lupa I
shall sing!
I shall sing!
I shall sing!
Many thanks to Eli
for providing this
song and other
information about
Pulang Lupa.
Welcome to the history page of the Battle of Pulang Lupa. On
this page you will find how this battle was recorded by different
sources including American newspapers, historians, The
People of Marinduque and by Captain Devereux Shields, the
American Commander in the Battle. I have also included as
many pictures as I could locate concerning the Battle. Please
scroll down to the bottom of the page to see pictures of the
battle area as it now appears as well of pictures of the
combatants.
this page you will find how this battle was recorded by different
sources including American newspapers, historians, The
People of Marinduque and by Captain Devereux Shields, the
American Commander in the Battle. I have also included as
many pictures as I could locate concerning the Battle. Please
scroll down to the bottom of the page to see pictures of the
battle area as it now appears as well of pictures of the
combatants.
FROM THE MARINDUQUE.GOV SITE
THE BATTLE OF PULANG LUPA
To counteract the continuous guerrilla plunder of the Marinduque
Revolutionary Capt. Devereux Shields, commander of company of the 29th
Infantry USA decided to implement massive pacification campaign in
Torrijos which started on Sept. 11, 1900.
With the arrival of the American Soldiers, Lt. Col. Maximo Abad together
with his trusted leaders, started their plan of attack. It was the consensus
among them that Pulang-Lupa would be the best site to ambush the
American troops.
Pulang Lupa was a very advantageous location. His officers that helped
Abad execute his plan included Capt. Pedro Lardizabal, Captain Cayetano
“Alapaap” Vida Gunersindo dela Santa, Pedro Madrigal, Teofilo Roque,
Raymundo Recalde, Isabelo Silva, Luciano Parreño and others.
In the early morning of September 13, 1900 fierce battle between untrained
but determined and brave Filipino revolutionaries on one hand, and the
expert American soldiers on the other, took place.
After many hours of fighting, Capt. Devereux Shields, wounded on the left
shoulder ordered a slow retreat, taking with them the disabled and wounded.
Because of the set back of the American Force, Capt. Deveruex Shield
ordered the raising of a white flag and finally surrendered to Col. Maximo
Abad after a bloody battle that lasted for many hours.
Though there was great casualty on the part of the Filipinos, it was a major
battle won by the Marinduque Revolutionary Force, The mortality on the part
of the American Force included 4 dead and several wounded.
Although several American reinforcement forces were sent to Marinduque
to rescue Capt. Shields and his 48 soldiers, it was only on October 14,
1900 that on order of the Revolutionary Government in Cavite that Col.
Maximo Abad released the captured American soldiers in Buenavista. The
Battle of Pulang Lupa is recorded in the Annual Reports of War Department
of the United State and in the National Archives and Record Service,
Washington D.C.
It is rather a great regret that the History of the Battle of Pulang Lupa, is
never mentioned in the Philippine History books.
To counteract the continuous guerrilla plunder of the Marinduque
Revolutionary Capt. Devereux Shields, commander of company of the 29th
Infantry USA decided to implement massive pacification campaign in
Torrijos which started on Sept. 11, 1900.
With the arrival of the American Soldiers, Lt. Col. Maximo Abad together
with his trusted leaders, started their plan of attack. It was the consensus
among them that Pulang-Lupa would be the best site to ambush the
American troops.
Pulang Lupa was a very advantageous location. His officers that helped
Abad execute his plan included Capt. Pedro Lardizabal, Captain Cayetano
“Alapaap” Vida Gunersindo dela Santa, Pedro Madrigal, Teofilo Roque,
Raymundo Recalde, Isabelo Silva, Luciano Parreño and others.
In the early morning of September 13, 1900 fierce battle between untrained
but determined and brave Filipino revolutionaries on one hand, and the
expert American soldiers on the other, took place.
After many hours of fighting, Capt. Devereux Shields, wounded on the left
shoulder ordered a slow retreat, taking with them the disabled and wounded.
Because of the set back of the American Force, Capt. Deveruex Shield
ordered the raising of a white flag and finally surrendered to Col. Maximo
Abad after a bloody battle that lasted for many hours.
Though there was great casualty on the part of the Filipinos, it was a major
battle won by the Marinduque Revolutionary Force, The mortality on the part
of the American Force included 4 dead and several wounded.
Although several American reinforcement forces were sent to Marinduque
to rescue Capt. Shields and his 48 soldiers, it was only on October 14,
1900 that on order of the Revolutionary Government in Cavite that Col.
Maximo Abad released the captured American soldiers in Buenavista. The
Battle of Pulang Lupa is recorded in the Annual Reports of War Department
of the United State and in the National Archives and Record Service,
Washington D.C.
It is rather a great regret that the History of the Battle of Pulang Lupa, is
never mentioned in the Philippine History books.
FROM AMERICAN NEWSPAPERS
NEWARK DAILY ADVOCATE. September 28 New Jersey
CAPTURE Of Capt. Shields and 51 men by Insurgents. Washington,
Sept. 28.
General Macarthur today cables reporting the probable capture by the
insurgents of Captain Shields and 51 men of the 29th Volunteer infantry. His
dispatch reads as follows: Manilla, Sept. 28. Adjutant General, Washington:
Sept. 11, Captain Devereux Shields, 51 men, company F, 29th regiment
U.S. V. Infantry, one hospital corps man left Santa Cruz Marinduque by
gunboat Villalobos for Torijos intending return overland Santa Cruz. Have
heard nothing since from Shields. Scarcely doubt entire party captured with
many killed, wounded; Shields among latter; information sent by
commanding officer Boac, dated Sept. 20, received Sept. 24, consisted of
rumors through natives. Yorktown and two gunboats George S. Anderson,
colonel, 38th Volunteer; two companies 28th Volunteer infantry sent to
Marinduque immediately. Anderson confirms first report as to capture but
unable, Sept. 27, to give details present whereabouts Shields, and party or
names killed and wounded. This information probably available soon.
Anderson has orders commence operation immediately and move
relentlessly until Shields and party rescued. All troops expected soon. Logan
will be sent Marinduque if necessary clear up situation.
CAPTURE Of Capt. Shields and 51 men by Insurgents. Washington,
Sept. 28.
General Macarthur today cables reporting the probable capture by the
insurgents of Captain Shields and 51 men of the 29th Volunteer infantry. His
dispatch reads as follows: Manilla, Sept. 28. Adjutant General, Washington:
Sept. 11, Captain Devereux Shields, 51 men, company F, 29th regiment
U.S. V. Infantry, one hospital corps man left Santa Cruz Marinduque by
gunboat Villalobos for Torijos intending return overland Santa Cruz. Have
heard nothing since from Shields. Scarcely doubt entire party captured with
many killed, wounded; Shields among latter; information sent by
commanding officer Boac, dated Sept. 20, received Sept. 24, consisted of
rumors through natives. Yorktown and two gunboats George S. Anderson,
colonel, 38th Volunteer; two companies 28th Volunteer infantry sent to
Marinduque immediately. Anderson confirms first report as to capture but
unable, Sept. 27, to give details present whereabouts Shields, and party or
names killed and wounded. This information probably available soon.
Anderson has orders commence operation immediately and move
relentlessly until Shields and party rescued. All troops expected soon. Logan
will be sent Marinduque if necessary clear up situation.
THE EVENING DEMOCRAT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1900.
Warren, Penn
CAPTURED BY FILIPINOS.
Final Fate of American Force Under Captain Shields Unknown.
Washington, Sept. 20.—The war department has received the following
cablegram from General MacArthur, dated Manila. Sept. 28- "Sept. 11.—
Captain Devereux Shields, 51 men Company F, Twenty-ninth regiment,
United States volunteer infantry, one hospital corps man left Santa Cruz,
Marinduque, by gunboat Villalobos for Toriijos, intending to return overland
to Santa Cruz. Have heard nothing since from Shields. Scarcely doubt
entire party captured, with many lulled and wounded, Shields among latter.
Information sent by letter from commanding officer at Boac, dated 20th,
received Sept. 21, consisted of rumors through natives. Yorktown and two
gunboats, George S. Anderson, Colonel Thirty-eighth Volunteer infantry, two
companies Thirty-eight volunteer infantry sent Marinduque immediately.
Anderson confirms first report as to capture, but unable Sept 27 to give
details present whereabouts, Shields and party, names killed and wounded.
This information probably available soon.
Anderson has orders to commence operations immediately and move
relentlessly until Shields and party are rescued. All troops expected soon.
Logan will be sent to Marinduque if necessary to clear up situation.
The Twenty-ninth infantry was recruited at Fort McPherson, Atlanta. Captain
Shields was lieutenant colonel of the Second Mississippi during the
Spanish war. He was made captain in the Twenty-ninth infantry July 5, 1899.
He was a resident of Natchez, Miss, where his wife now resides.
The scene of this latest reverse is a small island Iyjng due south of the
southern coast of Luzon and about 300 miles from Manila. Marinduque is
about 24 miles in diameter and was commanded by two small detachments
of United States troops. One of these was at Boac, on the west coast of the
island and the other was at Santa Cruz, the principal port on the north side.
Captain Shields appears to have started from Santa Cruz on a gunboat for
Torijjos a small coast port, and it is inferred that the boat, as well as the
body of troops under that officer has been captured for the dispatch makes
no mention of their return.
Warren, Penn
CAPTURED BY FILIPINOS.
Final Fate of American Force Under Captain Shields Unknown.
Washington, Sept. 20.—The war department has received the following
cablegram from General MacArthur, dated Manila. Sept. 28- "Sept. 11.—
Captain Devereux Shields, 51 men Company F, Twenty-ninth regiment,
United States volunteer infantry, one hospital corps man left Santa Cruz,
Marinduque, by gunboat Villalobos for Toriijos, intending to return overland
to Santa Cruz. Have heard nothing since from Shields. Scarcely doubt
entire party captured, with many lulled and wounded, Shields among latter.
Information sent by letter from commanding officer at Boac, dated 20th,
received Sept. 21, consisted of rumors through natives. Yorktown and two
gunboats, George S. Anderson, Colonel Thirty-eighth Volunteer infantry, two
companies Thirty-eight volunteer infantry sent Marinduque immediately.
Anderson confirms first report as to capture, but unable Sept 27 to give
details present whereabouts, Shields and party, names killed and wounded.
This information probably available soon.
Anderson has orders to commence operations immediately and move
relentlessly until Shields and party are rescued. All troops expected soon.
Logan will be sent to Marinduque if necessary to clear up situation.
The Twenty-ninth infantry was recruited at Fort McPherson, Atlanta. Captain
Shields was lieutenant colonel of the Second Mississippi during the
Spanish war. He was made captain in the Twenty-ninth infantry July 5, 1899.
He was a resident of Natchez, Miss, where his wife now resides.
The scene of this latest reverse is a small island Iyjng due south of the
southern coast of Luzon and about 300 miles from Manila. Marinduque is
about 24 miles in diameter and was commanded by two small detachments
of United States troops. One of these was at Boac, on the west coast of the
island and the other was at Santa Cruz, the principal port on the north side.
Captain Shields appears to have started from Santa Cruz on a gunboat for
Torijjos a small coast port, and it is inferred that the boat, as well as the
body of troops under that officer has been captured for the dispatch makes
no mention of their return.
THE NORTH ADAMS EVENING TRANSCRIPT. TUESDAY, OCT, 2.
1900. Massachusetts
OVERPOWERED BY FILIPINOS
Americans Fought Until Ammunition Was Exhausted and Then
Surrendered. Manila via Hong Kong, Oct. 2.
Persistent native reports, which are generally believed, have been current
in Manila for several days to the effect that Captain Shields and company
F of the Twenty-ninth regiment of infantry, consisting of 54 men, stationed
at Boac, Marinduque Island, embarked Sept. I2 on the gunboat Villalobos
and landed on the Marinduque coast Sept. 14, where 300 of the enemy,
armed with rifles, supposedly from Luzon, surprised the Americans. The
latter fought for several hours, until their ammunition was exhausted, after
which the Americans were overpowered and surrendered, relief being
Impossible, after at least four of the soldiers had been killed among them,
according to reports, was Captain Shields. The Americans also had
several wounded. Lieutenants Reeves and Bates of the staff, on board
the gunboat Yorktown, left Manila Monday. After gathering troops at
Batangas they proceeded to Marinduque to verify the reports regarding
the fate of Captain Shields and his men, and, in case the native rumors
were well founded, to punish the rebels and release the captives. News
from this expedition is awaited with some anxiety at Manila. In, the
meanwhile the censor prohibits the transmission of news concerning the
affair. Colonel Edward E. Hardin of the Twenty-ninth regiment, who is
now at Manila, admits it is possible that the native reports may be correct.
1900. Massachusetts
OVERPOWERED BY FILIPINOS
Americans Fought Until Ammunition Was Exhausted and Then
Surrendered. Manila via Hong Kong, Oct. 2.
Persistent native reports, which are generally believed, have been current
in Manila for several days to the effect that Captain Shields and company
F of the Twenty-ninth regiment of infantry, consisting of 54 men, stationed
at Boac, Marinduque Island, embarked Sept. I2 on the gunboat Villalobos
and landed on the Marinduque coast Sept. 14, where 300 of the enemy,
armed with rifles, supposedly from Luzon, surprised the Americans. The
latter fought for several hours, until their ammunition was exhausted, after
which the Americans were overpowered and surrendered, relief being
Impossible, after at least four of the soldiers had been killed among them,
according to reports, was Captain Shields. The Americans also had
several wounded. Lieutenants Reeves and Bates of the staff, on board
the gunboat Yorktown, left Manila Monday. After gathering troops at
Batangas they proceeded to Marinduque to verify the reports regarding
the fate of Captain Shields and his men, and, in case the native rumors
were well founded, to punish the rebels and release the captives. News
from this expedition is awaited with some anxiety at Manila. In, the
meanwhile the censor prohibits the transmission of news concerning the
affair. Colonel Edward E. Hardin of the Twenty-ninth regiment, who is
now at Manila, admits it is possible that the native reports may be correct.
THE NORTH ADAMS EVENING TRANSCRIPT Massachusetts
Detachment of the Twenty-Ninth Regiment Surprised and
Scattered
Manila, Oct. 17
Full details are now at hand as to the capture of Captain Devereux
Shields and his parity by the insurgents in the island of Marinduque last
month, and their experiences prior to their rescue by General Luther R.
Hare. After four weeks' of captivity, hard treatment, hunger and continual
marching to avoid the rescuing force, which greatly aggravated the
sufferings of the wounded. Captain Shields and his command were
delivered by the rebels to General Hare last Sunday at Buena Vista, on
the Marinduque coast. Captain Shields and his party, while operating
north of Torrijos, were taken in ambush in the steep hills. They attempted
to cut their way to the coast, but became subjected to the enemy's
four-sided fire, Captain Shields being shot twice and badly wounded.
After four had been killed and five wounded, being out of ammunition, his
command surrendered, through a misunderstanding, to 25 insurgent
riflemen and 1000 bolomen. On this news reaching Manila two companys
of the Thirty-eighth volunteer Infantry, under Colonel George Sanderson,
Were immediately sent to Marinduque. This force was followed by eight
companies of the First infantry, under General Hare. The combined force
of 1309 men proceeded to occupy all the towns in the island and to scour
the country. General Hare gave the rebels one week in which to surrender
the prisoners and the latter's rifles. The rebels perceived that it was only a
question of time when the release of the prisoners would be effected, and
they opened up communications with General Hare, which resulted in the
handing over of the captives. General Hare's command will remain in
Marinduque. He has given the insurgents until Oct. 21 to surrender
themselves and the 51 captured rifles. If they fail to comply, he will
undertake an active punitive campaign.
Detachment of the Twenty-Ninth Regiment Surprised and
Scattered
Manila, Oct. 17
Full details are now at hand as to the capture of Captain Devereux
Shields and his parity by the insurgents in the island of Marinduque last
month, and their experiences prior to their rescue by General Luther R.
Hare. After four weeks' of captivity, hard treatment, hunger and continual
marching to avoid the rescuing force, which greatly aggravated the
sufferings of the wounded. Captain Shields and his command were
delivered by the rebels to General Hare last Sunday at Buena Vista, on
the Marinduque coast. Captain Shields and his party, while operating
north of Torrijos, were taken in ambush in the steep hills. They attempted
to cut their way to the coast, but became subjected to the enemy's
four-sided fire, Captain Shields being shot twice and badly wounded.
After four had been killed and five wounded, being out of ammunition, his
command surrendered, through a misunderstanding, to 25 insurgent
riflemen and 1000 bolomen. On this news reaching Manila two companys
of the Thirty-eighth volunteer Infantry, under Colonel George Sanderson,
Were immediately sent to Marinduque. This force was followed by eight
companies of the First infantry, under General Hare. The combined force
of 1309 men proceeded to occupy all the towns in the island and to scour
the country. General Hare gave the rebels one week in which to surrender
the prisoners and the latter's rifles. The rebels perceived that it was only a
question of time when the release of the prisoners would be effected, and
they opened up communications with General Hare, which resulted in the
handing over of the captives. General Hare's command will remain in
Marinduque. He has given the insurgents until Oct. 21 to surrender
themselves and the 51 captured rifles. If they fail to comply, he will
undertake an active punitive campaign.
Idaho Daily Statesman, The | 1900-10-17
SHIELDS' CASUALTIES.
List of killed and wounded on the island of Marinduque
Washington Oct 16
Following is General Macarthur’s casualty list in Captain Shields'
command on the island of Marinduque: Killed—September 13, Twenty-
ninth regiment United States Volunteer Infantry William Andrews, Elmer
Ruarare, Erwin Niles, September 18 Frank Weighand Wounded
September 13 Captain Devereux Shields neck, mouth and shoulder,
serious; Lieutenant S Colvin hip slight; Robert D. Jackson cheek slight;
Oliver G. Johnson head slight arm serious; John B. Pole head slight; John
Chew head and wrist slight, shoulder serious.
SHIELDS' CASUALTIES.
List of killed and wounded on the island of Marinduque
Washington Oct 16
Following is General Macarthur’s casualty list in Captain Shields'
command on the island of Marinduque: Killed—September 13, Twenty-
ninth regiment United States Volunteer Infantry William Andrews, Elmer
Ruarare, Erwin Niles, September 18 Frank Weighand Wounded
September 13 Captain Devereux Shields neck, mouth and shoulder,
serious; Lieutenant S Colvin hip slight; Robert D. Jackson cheek slight;
Oliver G. Johnson head slight arm serious; John B. Pole head slight; John
Chew head and wrist slight, shoulder serious.
The North Adams Evening Transcript , Friday December 28, 1900
CAPTURE OF SHIELDS.
American Officer's Thrilling Experience In the Philippines.
AMBUSHED BY THE FILIPINOS,
One of the Captors was going to Cut His Hand Of to Secure The Rings
He Wore – He and His band threatened with Death for More Than a
Month. Captain Devereux Shields of the Twenty-ninth infantry, U. S. V.,
who returned to San Francisco the other day on tbe transport Hancock,
has been Invalided home because of two wounds received In a fight with
Filipinos. With 52 men he lett Santa Cruz, on the island of Mariuduque,
on Sept 11 last to reconnoiter the island. They went 24 miles up the river
and after routing some Filipinos started back to Santa Cruz. They entered
ambush in defile and were fired on by about 250 men with rifles, who
were supported by about 2,000 with bolos, says the New York Sun. Their
position was such that there was nothing to do but retreat, and this was
done under heavy fire for four miles. The soldiers were protected by
overhanging cliffs and received little punishment. Captain Shields in
telling of the engagement said: "When the first fire came, I received a ball
through the shoulder and grew weak from loss of blood. After we had
fought for about four miles another ball struck me In tbe neck and passed
out of my mouth. I fell unconscious, but soon recovered and gave the
order for the command to fight its way back to the station. I told them that,
as I was nothing but an impediment, they should leave me with a man
from the hospital corps and get out. I dropped behind a rice stack and
told one of the men to raise the white flag. The insurrectos did not
recognize the flag and continued to fire at us. The men fought their way
back a short distance and were then surrounded and had to surrender or
be killed. Afterward insurrectos came to me, and one of them robbed me
of all my things. He tore the chain and locket from my neck and tried to
tear the rings from my fingers. My hand was so swollen by the wound in
my shoulder that he could not get them off, and he was just going to cut off
the hand when I made him understand that I could take the rings off. After
he had finished his robbing, another man came and was just going to
shoot me when I saw a hand and arm come forward and knock up the
gun. Immediately after the fight we were kept In native hovels for 12 days,
and then we were started on a march over the mountains, through dense
forests and across rivers-, compelled to sleep in mud and rain and getting
only the dirtiest water with -which to wash our wounds. This continued until
about Oct. 12, when we -were told orders had been given to turn us over
to the Americans. I wrote, to General Hare, and be agreed to meet us
and take us. We were taken to Buena Vista and there turned over to the
general.
"Twice during the time we were being taken through the mountains
insurrecto soldiers wanted to kill all of us, but were restrained by their
officers. Once we were lying in a hut in the morning when we beard a
terrible clamor outside, and one of the guards came In and told us that the
soldiers wanted to kill us. Later officers came and told us out trouble was
over. "One other time when Americans were chasing them closely the
Filipinos wanted to kill our whole party and would have done so had the
Americans reached us.
CAPTURE OF SHIELDS.
American Officer's Thrilling Experience In the Philippines.
AMBUSHED BY THE FILIPINOS,
One of the Captors was going to Cut His Hand Of to Secure The Rings
He Wore – He and His band threatened with Death for More Than a
Month. Captain Devereux Shields of the Twenty-ninth infantry, U. S. V.,
who returned to San Francisco the other day on tbe transport Hancock,
has been Invalided home because of two wounds received In a fight with
Filipinos. With 52 men he lett Santa Cruz, on the island of Mariuduque,
on Sept 11 last to reconnoiter the island. They went 24 miles up the river
and after routing some Filipinos started back to Santa Cruz. They entered
ambush in defile and were fired on by about 250 men with rifles, who
were supported by about 2,000 with bolos, says the New York Sun. Their
position was such that there was nothing to do but retreat, and this was
done under heavy fire for four miles. The soldiers were protected by
overhanging cliffs and received little punishment. Captain Shields in
telling of the engagement said: "When the first fire came, I received a ball
through the shoulder and grew weak from loss of blood. After we had
fought for about four miles another ball struck me In tbe neck and passed
out of my mouth. I fell unconscious, but soon recovered and gave the
order for the command to fight its way back to the station. I told them that,
as I was nothing but an impediment, they should leave me with a man
from the hospital corps and get out. I dropped behind a rice stack and
told one of the men to raise the white flag. The insurrectos did not
recognize the flag and continued to fire at us. The men fought their way
back a short distance and were then surrounded and had to surrender or
be killed. Afterward insurrectos came to me, and one of them robbed me
of all my things. He tore the chain and locket from my neck and tried to
tear the rings from my fingers. My hand was so swollen by the wound in
my shoulder that he could not get them off, and he was just going to cut off
the hand when I made him understand that I could take the rings off. After
he had finished his robbing, another man came and was just going to
shoot me when I saw a hand and arm come forward and knock up the
gun. Immediately after the fight we were kept In native hovels for 12 days,
and then we were started on a march over the mountains, through dense
forests and across rivers-, compelled to sleep in mud and rain and getting
only the dirtiest water with -which to wash our wounds. This continued until
about Oct. 12, when we -were told orders had been given to turn us over
to the Americans. I wrote, to General Hare, and be agreed to meet us
and take us. We were taken to Buena Vista and there turned over to the
general.
"Twice during the time we were being taken through the mountains
insurrecto soldiers wanted to kill all of us, but were restrained by their
officers. Once we were lying in a hut in the morning when we beard a
terrible clamor outside, and one of the guards came In and told us that the
soldiers wanted to kill us. Later officers came and told us out trouble was
over. "One other time when Americans were chasing them closely the
Filipinos wanted to kill our whole party and would have done so had the
Americans reached us.
FROM AMERICAN WAR DEPARTMENT ARCHIVE
RECORD
RECORD
On 11 September, Shields decided to take advantage of a visit by the
gunboat U.S.S. Villalobos. Leaving Lieutenant Wilson and forty-one men to
hold Santa Cruz, he loaded fifty-one enlisted men, a hospital corps-man,
and his black servant onto the gunboat and sailed to Torrijos, disembarking
that evening. The next day he had his first contact with insurgent forces
since his company had been on the island, dispersing a band of twenty
guerrillas and destroying their cuartel.
On the thirteenth, Shields led his detachment into the mountains with the
intention of returning to Santa Cruz. Well informed about Shields's
movements, Abad had concentrated nearly his entire force of approximately
250 riflemen and 2,000 bolomen along a steep ridge overlooking the trail.
Shields walked right into the ambush. A fire fight ensued for several hours
before Shields ordered a retreat into a covered ravine. What began as a
slow withdrawal quickly turned into a race down a rocky stream bed, as the
Americans scrambled to escape the pincers that were moving to surround
them. After retreating for about three and a half miles, the beleaguered
detachment entered a rice field near the barrio of Massiquisie. Here
renewed enemy fire forced the Americans to take cover behind some
paddy dikes. Shields fell seriously wounded.
After ordering that a message be passed to the senior NGO, Sergeant
James A. Gwynne, to lead the command out of the closing trap, Shields
raised a white flag to surrender himself and the other wounded. The
insurgents thought the flag meant that the command was surrendering. So
too did Gwynne, who later claimed never to have received the escape
order, and thus the entire force lay down its arms. All told, the Insurgents
killed four Americans and captured fifty, six of whom, including Shields,
were wounded. Shields later claimed that the Filipinos lost thirty dead,
though this number was never confirmed. After months of hiding, Abad in a
few short hours had destroyed nearly a third of the entire American garrison
on Marinduque
gunboat U.S.S. Villalobos. Leaving Lieutenant Wilson and forty-one men to
hold Santa Cruz, he loaded fifty-one enlisted men, a hospital corps-man,
and his black servant onto the gunboat and sailed to Torrijos, disembarking
that evening. The next day he had his first contact with insurgent forces
since his company had been on the island, dispersing a band of twenty
guerrillas and destroying their cuartel.
On the thirteenth, Shields led his detachment into the mountains with the
intention of returning to Santa Cruz. Well informed about Shields's
movements, Abad had concentrated nearly his entire force of approximately
250 riflemen and 2,000 bolomen along a steep ridge overlooking the trail.
Shields walked right into the ambush. A fire fight ensued for several hours
before Shields ordered a retreat into a covered ravine. What began as a
slow withdrawal quickly turned into a race down a rocky stream bed, as the
Americans scrambled to escape the pincers that were moving to surround
them. After retreating for about three and a half miles, the beleaguered
detachment entered a rice field near the barrio of Massiquisie. Here
renewed enemy fire forced the Americans to take cover behind some
paddy dikes. Shields fell seriously wounded.
After ordering that a message be passed to the senior NGO, Sergeant
James A. Gwynne, to lead the command out of the closing trap, Shields
raised a white flag to surrender himself and the other wounded. The
insurgents thought the flag meant that the command was surrendering. So
too did Gwynne, who later claimed never to have received the escape
order, and thus the entire force lay down its arms. All told, the Insurgents
killed four Americans and captured fifty, six of whom, including Shields,
were wounded. Shields later claimed that the Filipinos lost thirty dead,
though this number was never confirmed. After months of hiding, Abad in a
few short hours had destroyed nearly a third of the entire American garrison
on Marinduque
FROM CAPTAIN DEVEREUX SHIELDS 29TH
INFANTRY REGIMENT, COMPANY F, UNITED STATES
VOLUNTEERS
(THIS INFORMATION AND PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIA MILLS, HIS
GRANDAUGHTER)
INFANTRY REGIMENT, COMPANY F, UNITED STATES
VOLUNTEERS
(THIS INFORMATION AND PHOTO COURTESY OF JULIA MILLS, HIS
GRANDAUGHTER)
FIRST RESERVE HOSPITAL
The Adjutant General,
Department of Southern Luzon,
Manila, P. I.
Sir:
I have the honor, in compliance with the request of the Department
Commander, to submit the following report of an engagement with the
enemy on Marinduque Island September 13th 1900.
On September 11th 1900, with fifty-one enlisted men of Company F, 29th
Infantry, and one private of the Hospital Corps, U.S. Army, I left my
station at Santa Cruz at 12:30 p.m. on the U.S.S. “Villalobos” and
proceeded to Torrijos, a small town twenty-five miles distant, where we
arrived at 3:30 p.m., disembarking without opposition.
I spent the night at Torrijos and, on the morning of September 12th,
made a reconnoissance some five or six miles eastward over a mountain
trail. During this march we discovered a band of guerillas about twenty
strong at a distance of about one thousand yards upon whom I opened fire
and advanced, on, but the character of the country prevented a successful
pursuit. The guerillas did not return my fire although all were well armed.
Shortly after this I burned their garrison and a large quantity of rice, and
finding letters and other evidences of two American soldiers the insurgents
had captured in a recent engagement with Company A, 29th Infantry, I made
an unsuccessful effort to locate them.
I then returned to Torrijos where I remained until 2:25 a.m. September
13th at which hour I took a mountain trail leading to Santa Cruz with the
intention of returning to my station. At 5:30 a.m. after a difficult and trying
march of three hours in the mountains, when about fourteen miles from
Santa Cruz, my advance guard discovered what was believed to be an
insurgent outpost upon which they fired. The enemy proved to be lying in
ambush and immediately opened up a heavy fire from a position about
three hundred yards above and extending in an arc of about 180 o around
us. Finding myself entirely surrounded and largely outnumbered I took the
best position available until I could select a safe retreat; I held this position
for about two hours during which time three privates were killed and two
wounded slightly and myself wounded in the left shoulder while two
corporals had fallen out from heat prostration.
About 7:30 a.m. I ordered a slow retreat instructing Corporal McCarthy
to bring up the rear, with the disabled and wounded. I took a northeast
course leading to the valley down a rocky gully well protected by a light
woods of small trees on each side. The banks of the gully afforded excellent
protection from the enemy’s fire. The enemy did not close in upon me
after I gained this cover but continued to fire from a distance. I replied to
this fire whenever I could locate their position.
Shortly after beginning this retreat one private was wounded. At this
time three of my men were dead and seven missing, leaving my total
strength at forty-two including the wounded and sick.
It was necessary to move cautiously and slowly so my flankers could
keep informed of the enemy’s movements, and the exhaustion of my men at
onetime necessitated a halt of one hour when I made an equal distribution
of ammunition giving each man forty rounds.
Finding that the enemy was moving to the north to intercept my retreat
to Santa Cruz and slowly closing in on my right flank and rear, I was
compelled to move rapidly. It now became necessary to march in a brook
which gradually increased in width and depth and ran over an extremely
rocky bed, the retreat proved very severe and it was with difficulty that I kept
up being very weak from loss of blood.
Corporals McCarthy, Williams and Maxwell, and Privates Johnson,
Weigand and Kraft were now some distance in the rear leaving me thirty-six
men one of whom had fallen and broken both arms and the hospital private
being armed with a revolver only left my effective strength at thirty-four.
After a retreat of about three and one-half miles we reached the valley
where the water course widened into a small stream. I then moved to the
north through rice fields. This course lead directly to Massiquisie, a small
village about two miles distant; from which place I would have had a much
better country to retreat through. After I had proceeded about a quarter of
a mile the enemy opened fire from entrenchments on the left and from some
small hills on my right flank to which I replied successfully diminishing their
fire.
At this important moment I was again wounded the bullet passing
through my neck and mouth. I fell forward and a few moments later upon
recovering consciousness and calling for assistance I was lifted out of the
water and borne about one hundred yards by Privates Ilitz, Hospital Corps,
and Robert D. Jackson, Henry McDaniel, Frederick Mass and Webster
Cassell, Company F, 29th Infantry. An improvised litter was then made by
these men upon which I was carried a hundred yards farther. I told Sergeant
Woodward, who passed by me at this time, that they must cut their way
through to Santa Cruz which he states he immediately transmitted to
Sergeant Gwynne, the ranking sergeant.
Recognizing that I was an impediment to the column, I instructed my
men to place me under cover of a rice dyke. I then repeated to Private Ilitz
the order I had given Sergeant Woodward telling him to send word to the
sergeant to take command and leave me on the field. I then instructed Ilitz to
remain with me as my wounds did not seem fatal and I believed the
wounded who were now cut off would be captured and need attention also.
As the enemy continued to fire upon me I instructed Ilitz to put up a flag
of truce for our protection. For this purpose he used a triangular bandage
from a first aid package, but after two shots entered the dyke above me
and several passed through the flag I ordered it removed.
About this time Private Ilitz reported that Sergeant Gwynne reported
that he was entirely surrounded and wished to know what he should do. For
the third time I ordered him to proceed to Santa Cruz. I was growing weaker
every moment from my last wound which had not been bandaged, lying on
my back and unable to move I was absolutely helpless.
About fifteen minutes after my last order the firing ceased and I heard the
shouts of the enemy in great numbers very near me. Soon I was told that
the sergeant had surrendered and several of my men in the hands of the
enemy were marched by me. I was threatened with death by several of the
enemy some of whom began to rob me of my clothing and personal effects.
Nine of my men succeeded in cutting through the enemy’s lines and
eight of them reached a swamp near the sea shore but were captured about
six o’clock in the afternoon. Private Shew who was in this party received two
slight bolo wounds and two severe bolo wounds. Private Poole, who in
some way got separated from this party, was captured the same afternoon
after receiving two slight bolo wounds.
The total number who were surrendered by Sergeant Gwynne was
twenty-seven men, himself included, at about two o”clock in the afternoon.
Private Johnson who had been wounded early in the morning and was out
off from the column was captured September 15th after receiving a severe
bolo wound in the left forearm.
Private Kraft who had been cut off from the column was captured about
midnight September 14th after getting within about five miles of Santa
Cruz.
During the afternoon of September 13th the seven men who were missing
united with Corporal McCarthy making a total of eleven men. Private
Weigand who was in this party was killed in the afternoon of September
14th and the same evening the remaining ten men were captured.
The number of the enemy engaged I estimate from 225 to 250 armed with
rifles and 2,000 armed with bolos. The number of his killed counted by
my men after capture was 30 though I believe he suffered a heavier loss. I
am unable to estimate the number of his wounded.
The enemy’s rifle-men were closely supported by his bolo-men and I
could not reduce his fire as the rifles of the killed and wounded were at
once put back into action. The enemy was aggressive and maintained good
discipline throughout the engagement.
The night of my capture Private Ilitz induced the Filipino commander,
Maximo Abad, to send to Santa Cruz for medicine which was received
several days after. This was used with great ability by Private Ilitz upon the
wounded and it was through his care, excellent judgement and faithfulness
that the lives of the wounded were saved. The insurgents not only had no
medical officer or supplies whatever but confiscated half of my medicine for
their own use.
From the day of my capture until the afternoon of the 13th of October
I was kept separated from my men with Private Ilitz, two wounded and one
other enlisted man. I used every effort to induce Abad to put me with my
men or to allow all my wounded to be with me but the most he would consent
to was to permit Private Ilitz to visit the other wounded.
On September 13th I offered Abad twenty dollars each for the delivery
of my dead to Santa Cruz which he refused to do. I was recently informed by
William Huff, and American negro who was with me in the capacity of
servant during the expedition, that he had seen the enemy mutilate the body
of one or our dead and probably this fact caused Abad to refuse my offer.
Some days later Abad demanded of me an order on Lieutenant Wilson
whom I had left in command at Santa Cruz to surrender that garrison to him,
Abad. This, of course, I refused to do both because I had no right and no
wish to do so.
My treatment for the first twelve days was considerate, after which I
was continually moving, marching and sleeping in the mountains under
varying conditions of weather and without shelter. My men report having
undergone similar treatment.
About October 9th Abad informed me that he had written to the
commanding officer at Santa Cruz requesting him to designate a place
where he would receive all the American prisoners as he, Abad had
received orders from General Trias to release them. He stated that he had
not received a reply and requested me to write to the commanding officer at
Santa Cruz explaining the circumstances and request him to have all the
troops remain at their stations pending our delivery. In reply to my letter I
received a communication from General Hare instructing me to inform Abad
that he would agree to his request and was ready to receive us at once. This
letter was delivered to me at two o’clock a.m. October 11th after having
been opened by Abad. With it I received instructions from Abad to make an
immediate reply; that I should say to General Hare that he, Abad, would
deliver us in the afternoon of October 13th at Gasan. This letter was
forwarded at once. Abad then addressed a letter to General Hare
changing the place of delivery from Gasan to Buena Vista. In reply to my last
communication I received a letter from General Hare October 12th telling
me to urge prompt action upon Abad and that he would receive us at Buena
Vista. Later Abad came to me stating that he had received orders from
General Trias to parole me and my men and in case I would not accept a
parole to march us farther into the mountains and to keep us on the march
our of the way of any rescuing party. This of course made me believe that
the intention to deliver us to General Hare had been given up and there
would be no further communication. All my men being much exhausted,
almost destitute of clothing and without any subsistence except a short
ration of native rice, and being without any kind of supplies for the sick and
wounded, I considered that to march much more as we had been doing
would be almost certain death to the wounded if not to some of the sick and
being in the hands of semi-savages - these conditions induced me to give
my parole and allow my men to give theirs.
On the evening of October 13th we were marched from the mountains to
Buena Vista where we remained until the afternoon of October 14th when
General Hare (who had been compelled on October 12th to put into Santa
Cruz on account of bad weather) arrived on the U.S.S. “Bennington” and we
were immediately taken on board the “Bennington” where I reported to
General Hare.
Recommendations for medals of honor will be made for the
following-named men for bearing wounded from the field under fire:
Private Michael Ilitz, Hospital Corps, U.S.Army; and Privates Repard
B. Caswell, Robert D. Jackson, Frederick Mass, Henry McDaniel and
Webster Cassell, Company F, 29th Infantry.
Recommendations for certificates of merit will be made for the
following-named men for exceptional gallantry in action:
Corporals Curtis E. Lowe and Thomas C. Williams, and Privates Juan B.
Poole, Toliver G. Johnson and John Shew, Company F, 29th Infantry.
The loss in killed and wounded is as follows:
KILLED:
Private William R. Andrews Company F, 29th Infantry, U.S.V.
“ Elmore E. Murray “ ” “
“ Erwin Niles “ ” “
“ Frank Weigand “ ” “
WOUNDED:
Captain Devereux Shields Company F, 29th Infantry, U.S.V.
Private Toliver G. Johnson " " "
” Livious S. Colvin " " "
” Juan B. Poole " " "
” John Shew " " "
” Robert D. Jackson " " "
Very respectfully,
Devereux Shields
Captain 29th Infantry, U.S.Volunteers.
The Adjutant General,
Department of Southern Luzon,
Manila, P. I.
Sir:
I have the honor, in compliance with the request of the Department
Commander, to submit the following report of an engagement with the
enemy on Marinduque Island September 13th 1900.
On September 11th 1900, with fifty-one enlisted men of Company F, 29th
Infantry, and one private of the Hospital Corps, U.S. Army, I left my
station at Santa Cruz at 12:30 p.m. on the U.S.S. “Villalobos” and
proceeded to Torrijos, a small town twenty-five miles distant, where we
arrived at 3:30 p.m., disembarking without opposition.
I spent the night at Torrijos and, on the morning of September 12th,
made a reconnoissance some five or six miles eastward over a mountain
trail. During this march we discovered a band of guerillas about twenty
strong at a distance of about one thousand yards upon whom I opened fire
and advanced, on, but the character of the country prevented a successful
pursuit. The guerillas did not return my fire although all were well armed.
Shortly after this I burned their garrison and a large quantity of rice, and
finding letters and other evidences of two American soldiers the insurgents
had captured in a recent engagement with Company A, 29th Infantry, I made
an unsuccessful effort to locate them.
I then returned to Torrijos where I remained until 2:25 a.m. September
13th at which hour I took a mountain trail leading to Santa Cruz with the
intention of returning to my station. At 5:30 a.m. after a difficult and trying
march of three hours in the mountains, when about fourteen miles from
Santa Cruz, my advance guard discovered what was believed to be an
insurgent outpost upon which they fired. The enemy proved to be lying in
ambush and immediately opened up a heavy fire from a position about
three hundred yards above and extending in an arc of about 180 o around
us. Finding myself entirely surrounded and largely outnumbered I took the
best position available until I could select a safe retreat; I held this position
for about two hours during which time three privates were killed and two
wounded slightly and myself wounded in the left shoulder while two
corporals had fallen out from heat prostration.
About 7:30 a.m. I ordered a slow retreat instructing Corporal McCarthy
to bring up the rear, with the disabled and wounded. I took a northeast
course leading to the valley down a rocky gully well protected by a light
woods of small trees on each side. The banks of the gully afforded excellent
protection from the enemy’s fire. The enemy did not close in upon me
after I gained this cover but continued to fire from a distance. I replied to
this fire whenever I could locate their position.
Shortly after beginning this retreat one private was wounded. At this
time three of my men were dead and seven missing, leaving my total
strength at forty-two including the wounded and sick.
It was necessary to move cautiously and slowly so my flankers could
keep informed of the enemy’s movements, and the exhaustion of my men at
onetime necessitated a halt of one hour when I made an equal distribution
of ammunition giving each man forty rounds.
Finding that the enemy was moving to the north to intercept my retreat
to Santa Cruz and slowly closing in on my right flank and rear, I was
compelled to move rapidly. It now became necessary to march in a brook
which gradually increased in width and depth and ran over an extremely
rocky bed, the retreat proved very severe and it was with difficulty that I kept
up being very weak from loss of blood.
Corporals McCarthy, Williams and Maxwell, and Privates Johnson,
Weigand and Kraft were now some distance in the rear leaving me thirty-six
men one of whom had fallen and broken both arms and the hospital private
being armed with a revolver only left my effective strength at thirty-four.
After a retreat of about three and one-half miles we reached the valley
where the water course widened into a small stream. I then moved to the
north through rice fields. This course lead directly to Massiquisie, a small
village about two miles distant; from which place I would have had a much
better country to retreat through. After I had proceeded about a quarter of
a mile the enemy opened fire from entrenchments on the left and from some
small hills on my right flank to which I replied successfully diminishing their
fire.
At this important moment I was again wounded the bullet passing
through my neck and mouth. I fell forward and a few moments later upon
recovering consciousness and calling for assistance I was lifted out of the
water and borne about one hundred yards by Privates Ilitz, Hospital Corps,
and Robert D. Jackson, Henry McDaniel, Frederick Mass and Webster
Cassell, Company F, 29th Infantry. An improvised litter was then made by
these men upon which I was carried a hundred yards farther. I told Sergeant
Woodward, who passed by me at this time, that they must cut their way
through to Santa Cruz which he states he immediately transmitted to
Sergeant Gwynne, the ranking sergeant.
Recognizing that I was an impediment to the column, I instructed my
men to place me under cover of a rice dyke. I then repeated to Private Ilitz
the order I had given Sergeant Woodward telling him to send word to the
sergeant to take command and leave me on the field. I then instructed Ilitz to
remain with me as my wounds did not seem fatal and I believed the
wounded who were now cut off would be captured and need attention also.
As the enemy continued to fire upon me I instructed Ilitz to put up a flag
of truce for our protection. For this purpose he used a triangular bandage
from a first aid package, but after two shots entered the dyke above me
and several passed through the flag I ordered it removed.
About this time Private Ilitz reported that Sergeant Gwynne reported
that he was entirely surrounded and wished to know what he should do. For
the third time I ordered him to proceed to Santa Cruz. I was growing weaker
every moment from my last wound which had not been bandaged, lying on
my back and unable to move I was absolutely helpless.
About fifteen minutes after my last order the firing ceased and I heard the
shouts of the enemy in great numbers very near me. Soon I was told that
the sergeant had surrendered and several of my men in the hands of the
enemy were marched by me. I was threatened with death by several of the
enemy some of whom began to rob me of my clothing and personal effects.
Nine of my men succeeded in cutting through the enemy’s lines and
eight of them reached a swamp near the sea shore but were captured about
six o’clock in the afternoon. Private Shew who was in this party received two
slight bolo wounds and two severe bolo wounds. Private Poole, who in
some way got separated from this party, was captured the same afternoon
after receiving two slight bolo wounds.
The total number who were surrendered by Sergeant Gwynne was
twenty-seven men, himself included, at about two o”clock in the afternoon.
Private Johnson who had been wounded early in the morning and was out
off from the column was captured September 15th after receiving a severe
bolo wound in the left forearm.
Private Kraft who had been cut off from the column was captured about
midnight September 14th after getting within about five miles of Santa
Cruz.
During the afternoon of September 13th the seven men who were missing
united with Corporal McCarthy making a total of eleven men. Private
Weigand who was in this party was killed in the afternoon of September
14th and the same evening the remaining ten men were captured.
The number of the enemy engaged I estimate from 225 to 250 armed with
rifles and 2,000 armed with bolos. The number of his killed counted by
my men after capture was 30 though I believe he suffered a heavier loss. I
am unable to estimate the number of his wounded.
The enemy’s rifle-men were closely supported by his bolo-men and I
could not reduce his fire as the rifles of the killed and wounded were at
once put back into action. The enemy was aggressive and maintained good
discipline throughout the engagement.
The night of my capture Private Ilitz induced the Filipino commander,
Maximo Abad, to send to Santa Cruz for medicine which was received
several days after. This was used with great ability by Private Ilitz upon the
wounded and it was through his care, excellent judgement and faithfulness
that the lives of the wounded were saved. The insurgents not only had no
medical officer or supplies whatever but confiscated half of my medicine for
their own use.
From the day of my capture until the afternoon of the 13th of October
I was kept separated from my men with Private Ilitz, two wounded and one
other enlisted man. I used every effort to induce Abad to put me with my
men or to allow all my wounded to be with me but the most he would consent
to was to permit Private Ilitz to visit the other wounded.
On September 13th I offered Abad twenty dollars each for the delivery
of my dead to Santa Cruz which he refused to do. I was recently informed by
William Huff, and American negro who was with me in the capacity of
servant during the expedition, that he had seen the enemy mutilate the body
of one or our dead and probably this fact caused Abad to refuse my offer.
Some days later Abad demanded of me an order on Lieutenant Wilson
whom I had left in command at Santa Cruz to surrender that garrison to him,
Abad. This, of course, I refused to do both because I had no right and no
wish to do so.
My treatment for the first twelve days was considerate, after which I
was continually moving, marching and sleeping in the mountains under
varying conditions of weather and without shelter. My men report having
undergone similar treatment.
About October 9th Abad informed me that he had written to the
commanding officer at Santa Cruz requesting him to designate a place
where he would receive all the American prisoners as he, Abad had
received orders from General Trias to release them. He stated that he had
not received a reply and requested me to write to the commanding officer at
Santa Cruz explaining the circumstances and request him to have all the
troops remain at their stations pending our delivery. In reply to my letter I
received a communication from General Hare instructing me to inform Abad
that he would agree to his request and was ready to receive us at once. This
letter was delivered to me at two o’clock a.m. October 11th after having
been opened by Abad. With it I received instructions from Abad to make an
immediate reply; that I should say to General Hare that he, Abad, would
deliver us in the afternoon of October 13th at Gasan. This letter was
forwarded at once. Abad then addressed a letter to General Hare
changing the place of delivery from Gasan to Buena Vista. In reply to my last
communication I received a letter from General Hare October 12th telling
me to urge prompt action upon Abad and that he would receive us at Buena
Vista. Later Abad came to me stating that he had received orders from
General Trias to parole me and my men and in case I would not accept a
parole to march us farther into the mountains and to keep us on the march
our of the way of any rescuing party. This of course made me believe that
the intention to deliver us to General Hare had been given up and there
would be no further communication. All my men being much exhausted,
almost destitute of clothing and without any subsistence except a short
ration of native rice, and being without any kind of supplies for the sick and
wounded, I considered that to march much more as we had been doing
would be almost certain death to the wounded if not to some of the sick and
being in the hands of semi-savages - these conditions induced me to give
my parole and allow my men to give theirs.
On the evening of October 13th we were marched from the mountains to
Buena Vista where we remained until the afternoon of October 14th when
General Hare (who had been compelled on October 12th to put into Santa
Cruz on account of bad weather) arrived on the U.S.S. “Bennington” and we
were immediately taken on board the “Bennington” where I reported to
General Hare.
Recommendations for medals of honor will be made for the
following-named men for bearing wounded from the field under fire:
Private Michael Ilitz, Hospital Corps, U.S.Army; and Privates Repard
B. Caswell, Robert D. Jackson, Frederick Mass, Henry McDaniel and
Webster Cassell, Company F, 29th Infantry.
Recommendations for certificates of merit will be made for the
following-named men for exceptional gallantry in action:
Corporals Curtis E. Lowe and Thomas C. Williams, and Privates Juan B.
Poole, Toliver G. Johnson and John Shew, Company F, 29th Infantry.
The loss in killed and wounded is as follows:
KILLED:
Private William R. Andrews Company F, 29th Infantry, U.S.V.
“ Elmore E. Murray “ ” “
“ Erwin Niles “ ” “
“ Frank Weigand “ ” “
WOUNDED:
Captain Devereux Shields Company F, 29th Infantry, U.S.V.
Private Toliver G. Johnson " " "
” Livious S. Colvin " " "
” Juan B. Poole " " "
” John Shew " " "
” Robert D. Jackson " " "
Very respectfully,
Devereux Shields
Captain 29th Infantry, U.S.Volunteers.
PICTURE GALLERY
| Lt. Col. Maximo Abad |
| CAPTAIN DEVEREUX SHIELDS |
| COMPANY F, 29TH INFANTRY REGIMENT, UNITED STATES VOLUNTEERS |
| Road marker on the National Highway just north of Torrijos. It is approx 7km from this point to the actual site |
Mural wall and memorial plaques
| Left side of mural |
| Middle of mural |
| Right side of Mural |
| Memorial marker |
View from downhill at viewing stand
| View down the canyon to the rice fields |
| Vegetation down the canyon |
| Torrijos from the site |
Captain Shields Obituary
THE NATCHEZ NEWS, SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1910
An Account of the Military Career of Captain Devereux Shields
He came of fighting stock and gave early indications of his inherited martial tastes
and inclinations His appearance and character – character revealing incidents –
sad features connected with his death some weeks ago. During the Philippine
insurrection a decade ago the desultory warfare which was carried on by the
American forces against the insurgents under the command of Aguinaldo and
other noted leaders, afforded few opportunities for American soldiers to distinguish
themselves by conspicuous gallantry or heroic self-sacrifice. Nevertheless, the
Philippine campaign, guerrila warfare as it was, added several names to the roster
of American heroes; names of men whose exploits will be related and whose
eulogies will be written by future generations. Of those, who, by their conduct
during the Philippine campaign, placed their names upon the pages of future
histories of America, none takes a higher rank than does Capt. Devereux Shields,
of Natchez.
A typical soldier: Capt. Shields was a typical soldier in appearance and character.
Of the brunette type, when he was young he was one of the handsomest men ever
seen in Natchez, although in later years the sufferings from his wounds robbed his
features of much of their beauty. His character as revealed in his military life, his
domestic relations, and in his everyday association with his fellow men, was one
that not only merited but compelled admiration and respect. He was absolutely
without fear, either of the weapons of his foes or of the more deadly shafts of
ridicule and slander to which every man of great moral force is subjected. He, in
common with most brave men, was gentle and kindly in his disposition, shrinking
from inflicting pain upon any fellow creature however humble. As an officer he
demanded and received implicit obedience from his subordinates; but he was
always thoughtful of their comforts, treating them with every consideration
compatible with the dignity of his position.
MARTIAL TASTES INHERITED. Captain Shields came of an heroic ancestry. Both
his paternal and maternal ancestors had fought their country’s battles on sea and
on shore. His father, Lieutenant Commander Wilmer Shields, served for seventeen
years in the United States Navy. His grandfather, Richard Watts Ashton, ran away
from school at the age of thirteen, impelled to this act by his military instincts.
Ashton served during the War of 1812 with distinction and afterward entered West
Point where he graduated and served as Lieutenant of Marines for a number of
years. His paternal grandfather, Thos. Shields, of the navy, is mentioned in Cooper’
s Naval History for conspicuous gallantry under fire and valuable services
rendered his country on the Great Lakes [instead of ‘on the Great Lakes’ should
have said ‘in the Battle of New Orleans,] during the War of 1812.
EARLY INDICATIONS: Even in his earliest childhood Captain Shields showed
unmistakable evidences of the trend of his inclinations. In the choice of the toys
among which he spent the fleeting hours of his young boyhood; in the books which
appealed to his childish fancy; in the games which were the chief delight of his
school days, and in numberless other ways was revealed the gradual but
unceasing development of his leaning toward things military and his admiration for
the warrior heroes of history. These things were but indications; yet they were
convincing, though faint, foreshadowings of the characteristics which were to
dominate his life. From papers and records in the posession of the family the News
has compiled the account which follows of Capt. Shields Military experiences. The
story of the engagements of San Mateo and Torrijos, as told in this article is
authentic and substantiated by reports of the War Department and of the war
correspondents stationed in the Philippines during the campaign. It will prove of
interest to all who are unfamiliar with the history of the soldier whose deeds they
chronicle.
BIRTH AND EDUCATION. Captain Devereux Shields was born at Laurel Hill
[Plantation], Miss., on the 28th day of November 1869. [Actually born 24th day of
April 1869] He was the second son of Lieutenant Commander Wilmer Shields, of
the United States Navy, and of Mrs. Julia Ashton Shields, a descendant of one of
the most prominent Southern families. Captain Shields’ martial tastes received the
greatest encouragement during his residence at the University of the South at
Sewanee, Tenn., which at that time had a Government military instructor; and
there, his natural bent fostered and developed by his instructions and
associations, he gained the fundamental principles of that intimate knowledge of
military strategy and tactics which enabled him in after years to act with
promptitude and decision during the various exigencies of the battle field. After his
graduation from the University of the South, Captain Shields returned to Natchez,
deeply versed in military lore as well as in the more academic branches of learning
taught in that institution. Shortly after his return he was unanimously chosen
captain of the Natchez Rifles. His wide acquaintance with military affairs soon
gained for him such prominence in the military affairs of the states that he received
the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard; a position rarely
attained by one of his youth.
RECEIVES COMMISSION: When the long list of atrocities committed by Spanish
governors in Cuba became such as was viewed with disgust by civilized nations
and the tragedy of the Maine Precipitated war between Spain and the United
States, Colonel Shields immediately proffered his services to the government and
was given a commission of Lieutenant Colonel in the Second Mississippi United
States Volunteer Regiment. He had no opportunity, however, during the brief
struggle which resulted in the overthrow of Spanish dominion in the island of Cuba,
of testing in actual warfare the stores of military knowledge, the possession of
which had gained for him his commission. His regiment was stationed at
Jacksonville, being a part of the division under the command of General Fitzhugh
Lee. At the close of the war he was mustered out at Columbia, Tenn., and returned
to his home in Natchez.
SAILS FOR MANILA: Some months after the conclusion of the Spanish War the
United States government issued a call for Volunteers for service in the Philippine
Islands, where the noted insurgent Aguinaldo was conducting a species of guerrila
warfare, and endangering the lives of Americans and other Caucasian races in the
islands. Capt. Shields immediately responded to the call and applied for a
commission. Upon the recommendation of many officers of high rank who had
been impressed by the profound knowledge of military strategy shown by the
young soldier during his encampment at Jacksonville, he was given a commission
as captain in the twenty-ninth regiment, U.S.A. He received the commission on the
fifth of July 1899, and on the fifth of October his regiment sailed from San
Francisco on board the transport Zelandia, arriving in the Philippines just in time to
participate in the battle of San Mateo in which Gen. Lawton was killed.
HIS FIRST BATTLE: He fought in this engagement with great gallantry, winning the
commendation of his ranking officers. The reports of this battle state that Capt.
Shields acted with conspicuous bravery, using to advantage his military
knowledge; and by the skillfully directed volley firing of his company smothered the
fire of the entrenched Filipinos, opening the way for the charge which changed the
fortunes of the day and resulted in the capture of the Philippine entrenchments.
EXECUTIVE ABILITY: After the battle of San Mateo he was appointed governor of
the island of Corregidor. Six months he remained on Corregidor, administering the
affairs of the island with a success that gained for him the highest commendations
from his superior officers, to whom his executive ability was as surprising as it was
gratifying.
SENT TO MARINDUQUE: On June 1, 1900 he was detailed with his company to
take charge of the island of Marinduque, one of the most turbulent of the islands of
the Philippine archipelago. Marinduque is a small island 200 miles south of Manila
and its inhabitants were noted for the resolution with which they opposed American
occupation. On this island he remained up to the time of the engagement in which
he was captured in which he received wounds [which made necessary] his return
to Natchez.
DOUBT AND ALARM: No words can portray the degree of apprehension with which
the relatives and friends in Natchez of the gallant officer heard that he had been
kiled or captured. His wife and his mother were on the verge of prostration,
alternating between hope and despair; awaiting anxiously the news from the
islands which would announce his fate. Weeks elapsed before any definite
information was received. When a telegram received by the New Orleans Times-
Democrat and forwarded to Mrs. Shields in Natchez conveyed the glad intelligence
that Capt. Shields was alive and that he had been rescued, all Natchez breathed a
sigh of relief and thankfulness. It was not, however, until the return of Captain
Shields to Natchez that his freinds learned the complete particulars of the
engagement that so nearly cost him his life.
THE FATAL EXPEDITION: Shortly before noon on the eleventh of September
Captain Shields and his men left Santa Cruz, Marinduque, on board the gunboat
Villabois, intending to return overland to Santa Cruz. At about three o’clock in the
afternoon of the same day the men and their gallant commanding officer reached
their destination, Torrijos. Landing without opposition the detachment went into
quarters for the night. On the following day Captain Shields made a reconnoitering
sortie in a westerly direction and about five miles from Torrijos came upon a rebel
garrison. The fire of the Americans forced the enemy to flight, the fleet-footed
Filipinos dispersing into the underbrush where it was impossible for the Americans
to pursue them. Among the papers left by the fugitive garrison Captain Shields
found letters from two prisoners. Nothing better illustrates the noble character of
Captain Shields than the incident that followed, for it was in the endeavor to rescue
these two prisoners that Captain Shields so nearly lost his life and was captured.
Fully cognizant of the danger of his course but determined to exert every effort to
save the two soldiers who had fallen into the hands of the merciless Filipinos,
Captain Shields and his men started out on the next day in search of the two men.
THE AMBUSCADE: The company was ambushed that afternoon. Seemingly from
every point of the compass came a hurricane of lead from myriads of unseen
enemies. In good order the detachment deployed in a circle and commenced a
heroic defense. The enemy proved stubborn, advancing in hosts upon the small
but intrepid band of Americans. Hundreds of the raging Filipinos, banishing their
weapons with yells of rage, swarmed out of the ambuscade. The hundreds
developed into thousands until a conservative estimate of their number placed it at
about two thousand five hundred men. Surrounded by merciless foes, out
numbered fifty to one, the undaunted Americans, inspired by the fearless conduct
of their commander kept their foes at bay for over eight hours, their ammunition
supply, small to begin with, running lower and lower. The enemy learning from the
diminishing fire of the Americans the lack of ammunition became bolder and
pressed on more furiously.
SHIELDS WOUNDED: Early in the battle Captain Shields received a wound in the
shoulder but rallied and bravely urged on his command. Shortly before the
ammunition was entirely exhausted he received a terrible wound in the neck which
incapacitated him from further participation in the hopeless struggle. The
command devolved upon Sergeant Winn who gallantly carried on the futile
struggle against overwhelming odds. Captain Shields’ second wound came near to
inflicting instant death. The ball entered the back of the neck nearly grazing the
spinal column, passed through the throat and mouth knocking out four teeth, and
breaking the jaw bone passed out through the cheek. The gallant officer fell partly
in a small stream and his life was probably due to this circumstance; the cold water
partly resuscitated him, restoring him to consciousness.
HIS UNSELFISHNESS. Even in his terribly wounded condition Captain Shields
displayed the noble unselfishness which characterized his life. To the men who
came to his aid he remonstrated, commanding them, with as much emphasis as he
could in his condition, to leave him to his fate and save themselves. Displaying a
nobility that vied with that of Captain Shields himself, the brave men refused to
obey the behest and stayed beside their helpless commander until overcome by
overwhelming odds. This engagement is considered by military authorities to be
the most brilliant of the numerous battles of the Philippine War.
WEEKS OF SUFFERING: The capture of Captain Shields and his men was
followed by four weeks of suffering such as could only be appreciated by men who
have gone through similar experiences. Marched relentlessly over steep cliffs,
down valleys, through underbrush and almost impenetrable jungles they were
shown no mercy by their barbarous captors. Night and day they were compelled to
march, strong and wounded alike, with no food other than the small quantities of
rice doled out to them at irregular intervals. During the latter days of their captivity
the food which the unfortunate prisoners received was hardly sufficient to keep
body and soul together. An unembellished recital of their sufferings during the four
weeks before they were rescued reads almost like fiction.
RESCUED: When they were finally rescued by the regiment sent to search for
them they were almost dead with fatigue and hunger, so thin and emaciated as
hardly to be recognized by their intimate friends. The sufferings of the wounded
during captivity would have been unendurable but for the devoted and
unintermitting attentions of the hospital corps man who formed a member of the
attachment and whose devotion to Captain Shields during his long weakness is
one of the brightest incidents of the Philippine War.
INVALIDED HOME: After in some measure regaining his strength in Manila, whither
he was taken after being rescued, Captain Shields was invalided home. During his
illness in Manila he bore always in mind the anxiety of his friends at home and
especially of his wife and his mother, keeping them informed in regard to his
progress as well as circumstances would permit.
HIS RECEPTION: The reception given Captain Shields upon his return to Natchez
was the greatest ever tendered a man by this city. The citizens of Natchez, in a
body, assembled in the Temple Opera House and about its doors awaiting to
welcome the returning hero and to congratulate him upon his return to life and
health.
HIS SAD DEATH: The recent death of Captain Shields was replete with saddening
features. He was still quite a young man, and had he been spared to complete the
splendid promise of his nature and character he might have performed services for
his country and his fellowmen which would have eclipsed his achievements, brilliant
though they were, in the American insular campaign. But such was not Heaven’s
decree. Capt. Shields never entirely recovered from the terrible wounds received
in the battle of Torrijos. His shattered health continued to grow worse from the time
of his return home to the hour when the gallant soldier breathed his last. Great in
heart as in brain Capt. Shields was broken in spirit by the tragic death some years
ago of his wife, Mrs. Julia Jenkins Shields, whose unwavering affection had been
his greatest incentive to worthy and sustained effort in every task to which his duty
called him. The marriage of Capt. Devereux Shields and Miss Julia Dunbar Jenkins
was one of those ideal unions which are, alas, too rare in this imperfect world.
Capt. Shields’ death was hastened by the loss of his wife. He never recovered from
the blow given him by the fatal termination of their happy wedded life; and the
knowledge that they were soon to be reunited robbed death of all its dread.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
THE NATCHEZ NEWS, SATURDAY, MARCH 26, 1910
An Account of the Military Career of Captain Devereux Shields
He came of fighting stock and gave early indications of his inherited martial tastes
and inclinations His appearance and character – character revealing incidents –
sad features connected with his death some weeks ago. During the Philippine
insurrection a decade ago the desultory warfare which was carried on by the
American forces against the insurgents under the command of Aguinaldo and
other noted leaders, afforded few opportunities for American soldiers to distinguish
themselves by conspicuous gallantry or heroic self-sacrifice. Nevertheless, the
Philippine campaign, guerrila warfare as it was, added several names to the roster
of American heroes; names of men whose exploits will be related and whose
eulogies will be written by future generations. Of those, who, by their conduct
during the Philippine campaign, placed their names upon the pages of future
histories of America, none takes a higher rank than does Capt. Devereux Shields,
of Natchez.
A typical soldier: Capt. Shields was a typical soldier in appearance and character.
Of the brunette type, when he was young he was one of the handsomest men ever
seen in Natchez, although in later years the sufferings from his wounds robbed his
features of much of their beauty. His character as revealed in his military life, his
domestic relations, and in his everyday association with his fellow men, was one
that not only merited but compelled admiration and respect. He was absolutely
without fear, either of the weapons of his foes or of the more deadly shafts of
ridicule and slander to which every man of great moral force is subjected. He, in
common with most brave men, was gentle and kindly in his disposition, shrinking
from inflicting pain upon any fellow creature however humble. As an officer he
demanded and received implicit obedience from his subordinates; but he was
always thoughtful of their comforts, treating them with every consideration
compatible with the dignity of his position.
MARTIAL TASTES INHERITED. Captain Shields came of an heroic ancestry. Both
his paternal and maternal ancestors had fought their country’s battles on sea and
on shore. His father, Lieutenant Commander Wilmer Shields, served for seventeen
years in the United States Navy. His grandfather, Richard Watts Ashton, ran away
from school at the age of thirteen, impelled to this act by his military instincts.
Ashton served during the War of 1812 with distinction and afterward entered West
Point where he graduated and served as Lieutenant of Marines for a number of
years. His paternal grandfather, Thos. Shields, of the navy, is mentioned in Cooper’
s Naval History for conspicuous gallantry under fire and valuable services
rendered his country on the Great Lakes [instead of ‘on the Great Lakes’ should
have said ‘in the Battle of New Orleans,] during the War of 1812.
EARLY INDICATIONS: Even in his earliest childhood Captain Shields showed
unmistakable evidences of the trend of his inclinations. In the choice of the toys
among which he spent the fleeting hours of his young boyhood; in the books which
appealed to his childish fancy; in the games which were the chief delight of his
school days, and in numberless other ways was revealed the gradual but
unceasing development of his leaning toward things military and his admiration for
the warrior heroes of history. These things were but indications; yet they were
convincing, though faint, foreshadowings of the characteristics which were to
dominate his life. From papers and records in the posession of the family the News
has compiled the account which follows of Capt. Shields Military experiences. The
story of the engagements of San Mateo and Torrijos, as told in this article is
authentic and substantiated by reports of the War Department and of the war
correspondents stationed in the Philippines during the campaign. It will prove of
interest to all who are unfamiliar with the history of the soldier whose deeds they
chronicle.
BIRTH AND EDUCATION. Captain Devereux Shields was born at Laurel Hill
[Plantation], Miss., on the 28th day of November 1869. [Actually born 24th day of
April 1869] He was the second son of Lieutenant Commander Wilmer Shields, of
the United States Navy, and of Mrs. Julia Ashton Shields, a descendant of one of
the most prominent Southern families. Captain Shields’ martial tastes received the
greatest encouragement during his residence at the University of the South at
Sewanee, Tenn., which at that time had a Government military instructor; and
there, his natural bent fostered and developed by his instructions and
associations, he gained the fundamental principles of that intimate knowledge of
military strategy and tactics which enabled him in after years to act with
promptitude and decision during the various exigencies of the battle field. After his
graduation from the University of the South, Captain Shields returned to Natchez,
deeply versed in military lore as well as in the more academic branches of learning
taught in that institution. Shortly after his return he was unanimously chosen
captain of the Natchez Rifles. His wide acquaintance with military affairs soon
gained for him such prominence in the military affairs of the states that he received
the appointment of Lieutenant Colonel in the National Guard; a position rarely
attained by one of his youth.
RECEIVES COMMISSION: When the long list of atrocities committed by Spanish
governors in Cuba became such as was viewed with disgust by civilized nations
and the tragedy of the Maine Precipitated war between Spain and the United
States, Colonel Shields immediately proffered his services to the government and
was given a commission of Lieutenant Colonel in the Second Mississippi United
States Volunteer Regiment. He had no opportunity, however, during the brief
struggle which resulted in the overthrow of Spanish dominion in the island of Cuba,
of testing in actual warfare the stores of military knowledge, the possession of
which had gained for him his commission. His regiment was stationed at
Jacksonville, being a part of the division under the command of General Fitzhugh
Lee. At the close of the war he was mustered out at Columbia, Tenn., and returned
to his home in Natchez.
SAILS FOR MANILA: Some months after the conclusion of the Spanish War the
United States government issued a call for Volunteers for service in the Philippine
Islands, where the noted insurgent Aguinaldo was conducting a species of guerrila
warfare, and endangering the lives of Americans and other Caucasian races in the
islands. Capt. Shields immediately responded to the call and applied for a
commission. Upon the recommendation of many officers of high rank who had
been impressed by the profound knowledge of military strategy shown by the
young soldier during his encampment at Jacksonville, he was given a commission
as captain in the twenty-ninth regiment, U.S.A. He received the commission on the
fifth of July 1899, and on the fifth of October his regiment sailed from San
Francisco on board the transport Zelandia, arriving in the Philippines just in time to
participate in the battle of San Mateo in which Gen. Lawton was killed.
HIS FIRST BATTLE: He fought in this engagement with great gallantry, winning the
commendation of his ranking officers. The reports of this battle state that Capt.
Shields acted with conspicuous bravery, using to advantage his military
knowledge; and by the skillfully directed volley firing of his company smothered the
fire of the entrenched Filipinos, opening the way for the charge which changed the
fortunes of the day and resulted in the capture of the Philippine entrenchments.
EXECUTIVE ABILITY: After the battle of San Mateo he was appointed governor of
the island of Corregidor. Six months he remained on Corregidor, administering the
affairs of the island with a success that gained for him the highest commendations
from his superior officers, to whom his executive ability was as surprising as it was
gratifying.
SENT TO MARINDUQUE: On June 1, 1900 he was detailed with his company to
take charge of the island of Marinduque, one of the most turbulent of the islands of
the Philippine archipelago. Marinduque is a small island 200 miles south of Manila
and its inhabitants were noted for the resolution with which they opposed American
occupation. On this island he remained up to the time of the engagement in which
he was captured in which he received wounds [which made necessary] his return
to Natchez.
DOUBT AND ALARM: No words can portray the degree of apprehension with which
the relatives and friends in Natchez of the gallant officer heard that he had been
kiled or captured. His wife and his mother were on the verge of prostration,
alternating between hope and despair; awaiting anxiously the news from the
islands which would announce his fate. Weeks elapsed before any definite
information was received. When a telegram received by the New Orleans Times-
Democrat and forwarded to Mrs. Shields in Natchez conveyed the glad intelligence
that Capt. Shields was alive and that he had been rescued, all Natchez breathed a
sigh of relief and thankfulness. It was not, however, until the return of Captain
Shields to Natchez that his freinds learned the complete particulars of the
engagement that so nearly cost him his life.
THE FATAL EXPEDITION: Shortly before noon on the eleventh of September
Captain Shields and his men left Santa Cruz, Marinduque, on board the gunboat
Villabois, intending to return overland to Santa Cruz. At about three o’clock in the
afternoon of the same day the men and their gallant commanding officer reached
their destination, Torrijos. Landing without opposition the detachment went into
quarters for the night. On the following day Captain Shields made a reconnoitering
sortie in a westerly direction and about five miles from Torrijos came upon a rebel
garrison. The fire of the Americans forced the enemy to flight, the fleet-footed
Filipinos dispersing into the underbrush where it was impossible for the Americans
to pursue them. Among the papers left by the fugitive garrison Captain Shields
found letters from two prisoners. Nothing better illustrates the noble character of
Captain Shields than the incident that followed, for it was in the endeavor to rescue
these two prisoners that Captain Shields so nearly lost his life and was captured.
Fully cognizant of the danger of his course but determined to exert every effort to
save the two soldiers who had fallen into the hands of the merciless Filipinos,
Captain Shields and his men started out on the next day in search of the two men.
THE AMBUSCADE: The company was ambushed that afternoon. Seemingly from
every point of the compass came a hurricane of lead from myriads of unseen
enemies. In good order the detachment deployed in a circle and commenced a
heroic defense. The enemy proved stubborn, advancing in hosts upon the small
but intrepid band of Americans. Hundreds of the raging Filipinos, banishing their
weapons with yells of rage, swarmed out of the ambuscade. The hundreds
developed into thousands until a conservative estimate of their number placed it at
about two thousand five hundred men. Surrounded by merciless foes, out
numbered fifty to one, the undaunted Americans, inspired by the fearless conduct
of their commander kept their foes at bay for over eight hours, their ammunition
supply, small to begin with, running lower and lower. The enemy learning from the
diminishing fire of the Americans the lack of ammunition became bolder and
pressed on more furiously.
SHIELDS WOUNDED: Early in the battle Captain Shields received a wound in the
shoulder but rallied and bravely urged on his command. Shortly before the
ammunition was entirely exhausted he received a terrible wound in the neck which
incapacitated him from further participation in the hopeless struggle. The
command devolved upon Sergeant Winn who gallantly carried on the futile
struggle against overwhelming odds. Captain Shields’ second wound came near to
inflicting instant death. The ball entered the back of the neck nearly grazing the
spinal column, passed through the throat and mouth knocking out four teeth, and
breaking the jaw bone passed out through the cheek. The gallant officer fell partly
in a small stream and his life was probably due to this circumstance; the cold water
partly resuscitated him, restoring him to consciousness.
HIS UNSELFISHNESS. Even in his terribly wounded condition Captain Shields
displayed the noble unselfishness which characterized his life. To the men who
came to his aid he remonstrated, commanding them, with as much emphasis as he
could in his condition, to leave him to his fate and save themselves. Displaying a
nobility that vied with that of Captain Shields himself, the brave men refused to
obey the behest and stayed beside their helpless commander until overcome by
overwhelming odds. This engagement is considered by military authorities to be
the most brilliant of the numerous battles of the Philippine War.
WEEKS OF SUFFERING: The capture of Captain Shields and his men was
followed by four weeks of suffering such as could only be appreciated by men who
have gone through similar experiences. Marched relentlessly over steep cliffs,
down valleys, through underbrush and almost impenetrable jungles they were
shown no mercy by their barbarous captors. Night and day they were compelled to
march, strong and wounded alike, with no food other than the small quantities of
rice doled out to them at irregular intervals. During the latter days of their captivity
the food which the unfortunate prisoners received was hardly sufficient to keep
body and soul together. An unembellished recital of their sufferings during the four
weeks before they were rescued reads almost like fiction.
RESCUED: When they were finally rescued by the regiment sent to search for
them they were almost dead with fatigue and hunger, so thin and emaciated as
hardly to be recognized by their intimate friends. The sufferings of the wounded
during captivity would have been unendurable but for the devoted and
unintermitting attentions of the hospital corps man who formed a member of the
attachment and whose devotion to Captain Shields during his long weakness is
one of the brightest incidents of the Philippine War.
INVALIDED HOME: After in some measure regaining his strength in Manila, whither
he was taken after being rescued, Captain Shields was invalided home. During his
illness in Manila he bore always in mind the anxiety of his friends at home and
especially of his wife and his mother, keeping them informed in regard to his
progress as well as circumstances would permit.
HIS RECEPTION: The reception given Captain Shields upon his return to Natchez
was the greatest ever tendered a man by this city. The citizens of Natchez, in a
body, assembled in the Temple Opera House and about its doors awaiting to
welcome the returning hero and to congratulate him upon his return to life and
health.
HIS SAD DEATH: The recent death of Captain Shields was replete with saddening
features. He was still quite a young man, and had he been spared to complete the
splendid promise of his nature and character he might have performed services for
his country and his fellowmen which would have eclipsed his achievements, brilliant
though they were, in the American insular campaign. But such was not Heaven’s
decree. Capt. Shields never entirely recovered from the terrible wounds received
in the battle of Torrijos. His shattered health continued to grow worse from the time
of his return home to the hour when the gallant soldier breathed his last. Great in
heart as in brain Capt. Shields was broken in spirit by the tragic death some years
ago of his wife, Mrs. Julia Jenkins Shields, whose unwavering affection had been
his greatest incentive to worthy and sustained effort in every task to which his duty
called him. The marriage of Capt. Devereux Shields and Miss Julia Dunbar Jenkins
was one of those ideal unions which are, alas, too rare in this imperfect world.
Capt. Shields’ death was hastened by the loss of his wife. He never recovered from
the blow given him by the fatal termination of their happy wedded life; and the
knowledge that they were soon to be reunited robbed death of all its dread.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
We arrived in Manila bay October 1st. Soon after our transport anchored
a government steam launch arrived with orders for two battalions of the Ist
infantry to transfer to the transport of Sumner and sail for Marinduque
island, where a captain and fifty-four men of the 29th volunteer infantry
were held prisoners by Philippine insurgents.
OCTOBER 8th we arrived at Santa Cruz, Marinduque island, where
company B. landed and where a company of the 29th volunteers were
stationed. Early the next morning we sailed farther along the coast and
landed companies F., G. and H. at Torijos. Two gunboats, the Bennington
and Villalobis, were with our expedition and protected the landing of the
soldiers, who went ashore densely packed in small boats. The third day
after we arrived our transport sailed for Gusan where companies D., E.
and fifty men of company C. were landed. At night the search lights on
the gunboat Bennington and transport Sumner were used to search the
hills for signs of the enemy or American prisoners.
October 11th company A. and the remainder of company C were
transferred to the old exSpanish ship Venus which proved to be the most
filthy troop ship of any we had previously been aboard. We sailed back
along the coast about twelve miles and anchored at Buena Vista, where
we remained all night. The night was very beautiful. There was bright
moonlight and water in the bay was so calm that it caused only a gentle
rocking of the ship. The sea air in that tropical climate was just cool
enough to feel comfortable and Stroetz said it was too pleasant a night to
be sleeping, so we stood until nearly midnight at the side of the ship
looking out over the waters and engaged in pleasant conversation. In the
morning several boats went ashore' and it was rumored that General
Hare had sent a message addressed to the insurgent leader,
commanding him to surrender the American prisoners within three days'
time, and that all property on the islands would be burned or otherwise
destroyed if he allowed the prisoners to be killed.
From Buena Vista we sailed back to Santa Cruz and remained three
days, during which time it rained the greater part of the time. We slept on
the open deck with not much shelter and partly for that reason were
becoming very anxious to land.
October 14th we started for Boac, but when we arrived near Buena Vista
we saw a crowd of people with a white flag on shore. Boats from the
Venus and Bennington were taken to the shore and they brought back the
American prisoners. They were brought aboard the Venus and we soon
heard the story of their capture and treatment during captivity. Their
captain and many of the enlisted men had been wounded during the fight
in which they were captured. One man was shot in the face by a bullet
which had first struck and glanced off from a tree. The bullet was lodged
in his neck near the jawbone where its shape could plainly be seen under
the skin. They said they were surrounded by about eight times their own
number and after their ammunition was exhausted they saw no way for
escape and surrendered. The Americans who were killed were
buried near the place where the fight occurred. They had been held
prisoners about one month, and during that time their clothing had
become worn into rags, all were barefooted and some had no hats or
shirts. Their greatest hardship was almost continuous marching over
mountains with their captors who were in retreat before the pursuing 1st
infantry. Our transport sailed to Santa Cruz, where the released prisoners
rejoined their company.
a government steam launch arrived with orders for two battalions of the Ist
infantry to transfer to the transport of Sumner and sail for Marinduque
island, where a captain and fifty-four men of the 29th volunteer infantry
were held prisoners by Philippine insurgents.
OCTOBER 8th we arrived at Santa Cruz, Marinduque island, where
company B. landed and where a company of the 29th volunteers were
stationed. Early the next morning we sailed farther along the coast and
landed companies F., G. and H. at Torijos. Two gunboats, the Bennington
and Villalobis, were with our expedition and protected the landing of the
soldiers, who went ashore densely packed in small boats. The third day
after we arrived our transport sailed for Gusan where companies D., E.
and fifty men of company C. were landed. At night the search lights on
the gunboat Bennington and transport Sumner were used to search the
hills for signs of the enemy or American prisoners.
October 11th company A. and the remainder of company C were
transferred to the old exSpanish ship Venus which proved to be the most
filthy troop ship of any we had previously been aboard. We sailed back
along the coast about twelve miles and anchored at Buena Vista, where
we remained all night. The night was very beautiful. There was bright
moonlight and water in the bay was so calm that it caused only a gentle
rocking of the ship. The sea air in that tropical climate was just cool
enough to feel comfortable and Stroetz said it was too pleasant a night to
be sleeping, so we stood until nearly midnight at the side of the ship
looking out over the waters and engaged in pleasant conversation. In the
morning several boats went ashore' and it was rumored that General
Hare had sent a message addressed to the insurgent leader,
commanding him to surrender the American prisoners within three days'
time, and that all property on the islands would be burned or otherwise
destroyed if he allowed the prisoners to be killed.
From Buena Vista we sailed back to Santa Cruz and remained three
days, during which time it rained the greater part of the time. We slept on
the open deck with not much shelter and partly for that reason were
becoming very anxious to land.
October 14th we started for Boac, but when we arrived near Buena Vista
we saw a crowd of people with a white flag on shore. Boats from the
Venus and Bennington were taken to the shore and they brought back the
American prisoners. They were brought aboard the Venus and we soon
heard the story of their capture and treatment during captivity. Their
captain and many of the enlisted men had been wounded during the fight
in which they were captured. One man was shot in the face by a bullet
which had first struck and glanced off from a tree. The bullet was lodged
in his neck near the jawbone where its shape could plainly be seen under
the skin. They said they were surrounded by about eight times their own
number and after their ammunition was exhausted they saw no way for
escape and surrendered. The Americans who were killed were
buried near the place where the fight occurred. They had been held
prisoners about one month, and during that time their clothing had
become worn into rags, all were barefooted and some had no hats or
shirts. Their greatest hardship was almost continuous marching over
mountains with their captors who were in retreat before the pursuing 1st
infantry. Our transport sailed to Santa Cruz, where the released prisoners
rejoined their company.
Private Andrew Pohlman, 1st infantry describes the search
for the 29th
for the 29th