33rd US Volunteer Infantry (Texas Regiment)

[79thfoot]

By the way, speaking of Fil-Am War history... right now I'm in Dallas and a friend of mine here told me that his alma mater, Texas A&M fought in the Spanish American War - and it turns out they also fought in the Philippines.

books.google.com/books?id=CVUbXc0Fc7UC&pg=PA1877&lpg=PA1877&dq=Texas+A%26M+Spanish+American+War&source=bl&ots=hN19tQQCKU&sig=eXlL9oVxFeBt6TxfVq_IkzEHTtQ&hl=en&ei=HWp-S7T-JoOQNrH1kfEP&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CBAQ6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=Texas%20A%26M%20Spanish%20American%20War&f=false

www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/tnghist15.htm

"Texas was also represented in the service in the Philippine Islands by the 33rd United States Volunteer Infantry, which was organized at San Antonio, Texas, under Colonel Luther R. Hare, a native Texan of the regular army, afterwards promoted to Brigadier General of volunteers for gallantry. This regiment was recruited almost entirely from Texas and did gallant service in the Philippines. Besides being in several battles and skirmishes, they rescued Lieutenant Gilmore and his party after one of the most trying and severe marches on record. The "Captain and Quartermaster" of this regiment was none other than Brevet-Lieutenant General John A. Hulen, later commanding general of the 36th Division."

Col.Hare characterized them as "1,200 sharpshooters and 1,200 crapshooters" and included Texas Aggies Eugene Appleby and Colin Brown.

www.freewebs.com/philippineamericanwar/thewarrages1899.htm

And it turns out that the 33rd US Volunteers were the very unit that engaged General Gregorio del Pilar at the legendary last stand at Tirad Pass.

That totally blew my mind when I found that out! Looks like it was Aggies vs Atenista on Dec.2, 1899.

[dimasalang]

Ive always been a big fan of the Battle of Tirad Pass, so Ive known about the 33rd USV Regiment for a good while now. The 33rd also helped clear out the Ilocos region and defeat much of Gen Tinios Brigade. I think many fail to realize who the 33rd were...they were all volunteers from Texas(just as the Rough Riders were), as well being made up of real Cowboys, they were considered one of the toughest and meanest battalion during the Phil-Am War. They were also lead by Peyton March, who was a Major at the time and who lead the attack at Tirad Pass. Peyton March would later become a 4 star General and Chief of Staff of the US military during WWI. It is also Peyton March who called the Battle of Tirad Pass the "Philippines Thermopylae", and not named by some Filipino historian who looked to glamorize the battle.

79thfoot, I need to ask a favor from you. Please let me know if you can help me out. Sending you a PM.

[VeeVee]

Fast forward to WW2... Gen. Moore, overall commander of the Manila Bay forts during the siege was also an Aggie. He held an Aggie "Muster" during the siege that became a much talked about legend.

Here are Aggies in 1946, outside of Malinta Tunnel.

[79thfoot]

Well I talked to my friend and I'll be going to Texas A&M one of these sundays/mondays - though I dont think I'll be able to make it before my trip out of town this April. But I'll get there, rest assured and will try and dig up what I can find.

best wishes,
Tom