|
|
Post by insurrectomad on Apr 27, 2009 2:32:05 GMT -5
It seems that The Arthur Howard wasn't British at all, but a black American deserter from the Californian Vol. Regt. Howard was already branded a problem soldier by his officers before being accused of taking "potshots" at Gen. Lawton on the day of the Battle of San Mateo. Fearing an unfair court-marshal and instant firing squad, he fled to Mindoro with a boat of guns. He then led a band of 200 Fils, giving the Americans a hard time until he was betrayed by Macabebe Scouts acting as loyal Republican soldiers. Was tried and equited of the attempted murder of Lawton. After a reendoctrination program, Howard once more swore his allegiance to the "Stars & Stripes" and was returned to the army. His local knowledge and relations with all the influential people in Mindoro, earned him the post of commander of the newly formed police company. See Google= The Biography Channel: Black History in the Philippines? or check Ref. Nat. Arch. Washington RG No.350(PR) Entry 1919, at HQ 30th Batt. Infantry Camp Wallace, Manila, 4th July 1901. So our elusive English "Soldier of Fortune" now has only one name put forward to his identity. That being MacDonald; a very common name amongst Scottish soldiers of both the 1st & 2nd Boer Wars. Even with a first name before it, one could be confronted with dozens of ? MacDonalds to eliminate. It's not known which regt. he served in: Scots or English, even.
|
|
|
|
Post by dimasalang on Apr 29, 2009 13:48:02 GMT -5
insurrectomad,
Arthur Howard was NOT BLACK. That ONE source is so full of holes it is ridiculous. We have looked in to this extensively and can provide SEVERAL sources(several which are officer reports) that state Arthur Howard was indeed Caucasian. They have him mixed up with David Fagan...whom was also blamed for the death of Lawton.
|
|
macky
History Student
Posts: 63
|
Post by macky on Apr 30, 2009 8:04:19 GMT -5
Yes david he was not black, he was a caucasian. He claimed he was a mestizo british-spanish during his trials but not black americans. The story about david fagan was not accurate also. He was reported to be with Gen. Jose Alejandrino in the north and not with Gen. Geronimo in san mateo in 1899. Distance and time would make him impossible to teach and command the Tiradores dela muerte.
I think Mcdonalds is also a different person. He was mentioned by Col. James Parker on his memoir I think he was the one refered to by filipino historians as the "soldier of fortune" and the one who tought the Tiradores dela muerte how to shoot their rifle.(it appears to me that all of the Tiradoreas dela meurte were commandered and officered by white men)
This "holes", "Misleading informations", and many "inaccuracies" in san mateo papers is very common specially in filipino documents.
I am now relying on the battlefields this wont lie, I mean "Terrain and topography" wont lie, it will tell us what really happen in san mateo.
You want the truth david? study the battlefield!
|
|
|
|
Post by insurrectomad on Apr 30, 2009 22:36:33 GMT -5
I had a sneaky thought there may be a confusion with Fagan who we know was with Alejandrino. My wife's family the David's are related to Alejandrino. Her late father told me by marriage. I hope to visit Marikina & San Mateo battle terrain on 12th May next, prior to an evening meet with the BNK chaps at Murphy's Pub. Manila. You speak of the T.D. Meurte in the plural. was this name given to units of other Regts. or did Gen. Geronimo create several units/companies? meanwhile I try and trace who was the first appointed police commander in Mindoro by the Americans, which should confirm if he was an American soldier even.
|
|
|
|
Post by dimasalang on Apr 30, 2009 23:44:32 GMT -5
You speak of the T.D. Meurte in the plural. was this name given to units of other Regts. or did Gen. Geronimo create several units/companies? meanwhile I try and trace who was the first appointed police commander in Mindoro by the Americans, which should confirm if he was an American soldier even. All brigades had their own "Tiradores" unit. But "Tiradores dela muerte"(Shooters of Death) was exclusively of Gen Geronimos brigade. All were said to be sniper/marksmen armed with Mauser rifles. It is unsure how many of them there were, or even if Geronimo had several units. We believe they were divided up in to the regular units...much like todays units in Iraq where they have one or two SDM(Squad Designated Marksman); and in some instances they would travel and band together and go hunting. |
|
|
|
Post by sumaquel on May 1, 2009 1:54:04 GMT -5
Arthur Howards identity was confirm later by Filipiniana.net when they posted a document(Appointment of Howard as Captain in the Tercera Zona, the document was signed by Gen. Licerio Geronimo)from the Philippine Revolutionary Records stating that Arthur Howard was a Captain in the Republican Army under the command of Gen. Licerio Geronimo in the Tercera Zona of manila.
His claim during his trials was somehow confirmed by the document.(that he is a half british and half Iberian)His real name was Arthur "Nombrado" Howard a very spanish sounding middle initials.
Im afraid this will be another "Battle of Paye"(Somebody wrote an article about the battle of san mateo and rename it into Battle of Paye. After that, opinions and articles in the internet used battle of paye as a new name for the battle of san mateo)I hope Richard and Kevin wrote an article to counter this Fallacies he he he he
Macky
|
|
|
|
Post by insurrectomad on May 1, 2009 4:25:21 GMT -5
I thought I would try and tract down who was this fellow who was admitted back into the US Army & then later given a post in the Police force in Mindoro. Lt.Col. T. Alien of the Cav. Vols. was commissioned Chief of Constabulary 1901. He appointed over 68 hand picked men from the ranks of the Vol. Regts. and gave them the rank of Inspector (1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th class), just like Geronimo was commissioned as an inspector also. I could not find a list of their names. It would be interesting to find a MacDonald listed as a passenger disembarking at Manila from a ship arriving from S. Africa or H.K. during 1897-1899 wouldn't it?
|
|
|
|
Post by sumaquel on May 2, 2009 9:53:56 GMT -5
I will also try..... , T. Allen has a book..., "The Jungle Patrol" the story of the Philippine Constabulary in the Philippines. I'll try to find who is this black man in mindoro that they trying to mixxed-up with Arthur Howard.
Macky
|
|
|
|
Post by Taga-ilog on May 2, 2009 14:24:28 GMT -5
insurrectomad,
may i know how i can access this info that you had mentioned:
Ref. Nat. Arch. Washington RG No.350(PR) Entry 1919, at HQ 30th Batt. Infantry Camp Wallace, Manila, 4th July 1901.
maraming salamat!
tagailog
|
|
|
|
Post by insurrectomad on May 4, 2009 23:21:35 GMT -5
I'm not sure how one accesses the archives, Tagilog, but in the past I've plotted a route via USArmy historical records at their records HQ. At Fort Carlisle Barracks. I have left the Web. ref. in my files in London. I stumbled upon the article via a website Labeled "Black Filippinos" when seeking info on Gen. Lawton & B. San Mateo. I had hoped to get a copy of the illustration done for Harper's Mag. dipiction the 'New' uniforms of the US army 1900. it is a coloured illust. of Lawton on his horse surrounded by assorted officers in various uniforms. A Fil. model maker and wood carver here in Angeles has asked me for it. I have a copy in a book I have In London. "Burnams (?) Spanish American War" I think. I just repeated the ref. given in the article. ---David
|
|
