Battle of Bud Bagsak

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Battle of Bud Bagsak was a battle during the Philippine-American war fought on June 11-15, 1913. The defending Moro resistance fighters were fortified at the top of Mount Bagsak. The attacking Americans were lead by General John 'Black Jack' Pershing.

The wiki for June 13, 1913 includes "Bud Bagsak Massacre: US troops under General John 'Black Jack' Pershing kill at least 2,000 relatively defenseless men, women and children, Bud Bagsak, Philippines."

In the interests of a more neutral presentation, let us refer to sources...

Contents 1 From the Moro National Liberation Front website 2 From alibata.org 3 From the U.S. Philippine Commission 4 Problems 5 See also

[edit] From the Moro National Liberation Front website

Battle of Bud Bagsak Jolo, Sulu, Philippines June 11-15, 1913

The four-day battle was personally led by U.S. Brigadier General John "Black Jack" J. Pershing of the 8th Infantry and Philippine Scouts against Moro resistance fighters armed mostly with kris, barongs, spears and few guns. In many other battles in the Morolands, the brave Moro fighters were proven to be unstoppable by the 0.38 caliber pistol and other rifles which led the Americans to invent the more powerful U.S. Army Colt 0.45 caliber pistol.

This battle was a massacre. More than 2,000 Moros died including 196 women and 340 children

[edit] From alibata.org

Moro Warriors vs The Americans at Mt. Bud Bagsak

From January-June, the whole Moro ward of Lati with a population of between 6,000 to 10,000, fortified themselves in a cotta in Mt. Bagsak. On June 11, 1913 Gen. John Pershing ordered the attack with the assistance of Charlie Schuck who reported that it was easy to attack The Moro Fort. General Pershing and his American military attacked the Fort at Bud Bagsak. The Muslim led by their Nakil Amil bravely defended their Fort, first with guns and bullets and knives and bolos.

The four-day battle was personally led by U.S. Brigadier General John "Black Jack" J. Pershing of the 8th Infantry and Philippine Scouts against Moro resistance fighters armed mostly with kris, barongs, spears and few guns. In many other battles in the Morolands, the U.S. Army Colt 0.45 caliber pistol was tested and perfected as an effective "man stopper" against the brave Moro fighters.

During the battle Pershing came up to the front line and: "Stood so close to the trench, directing operations, that his life was endangered by flying barongs and spears which were being continually hurled from the Moro stronghold." At this point in the battle, Pershing sent American officers into the front lines to lead the attack. But, after four days, the Fort at Bud Bagsak, along with every warrior fell. General Pershing in a letter to his wife, he wrote: "THE FIGHTING WAS THE FIERCEST I HAVE EVER SEEN." The Moros fought like Devils. They justified the observation Pershing had made of them: "They are absolutely fearless, and once committed to combat they count death as a mere incident."

[edit] From the U.S. Philippine Commission

Report of the Philippine Commission to the Secretary of War, 1913, Washington, 1914

...opposition as was encountered centered in a small portion of the island known as Lati Ward…. The population, influenced by the disorderly element, when it appeared that movements of troops were to be made, stampeded to the number of several thousand, including women and children to Bud Bagsak…and flatly declined to surrender individual criminals or arms. Finally, after a long period of negotiations and maneuvering, advantage was taken of a time when all but a defiant minority, including practically all the non-combatants, had left the stronghold, and the latter was on the morning of June 11, 1913, carried by a surprise attack of a force of American troops and Scouts...

[edit] Problems

As a general rule, the phrase "relatively defenseless" is not ascribed to either side of a fierce, four-day-long battle. The term "Massacre" is obviously used here in its propaganda sense.

The likelihood that the development of the 1911 model 45 caliber pistol was a direct result of this battle in 1913 seems vanishingly small. The 1911 .45 cal was developed in part for stopping power against the juramentados (Moro Islamic berzerkers).

The likelihood that this battle is being confused with the Battle of Bud Dajo in 1906 is quite high.

[edit] See also

First Battle of Bud Dajo