Battle of Bud Bagsak

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

Background

In the first months of 1913, the Moro ward of Lati, with a population of between 6,000 to 10,000, fortified themselves in a cotta in Mt. Bagsak. General John J. Pershing, the U.S. Army commander on the battlefield, opened negotiations and persuaded most of the Moros to leave. 500 holdouts refused to come down. On June 11, 1913, Pershing ordered the attack. After reducing outlying cottas, the last holdouts were killed on June 15. Only a handful survived.

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 Moro fighters, who often fought with berserker tendencies.

Battle

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.

During the battle, Pershing came up to the front line and stood so close to the trench, directing operations- 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. 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... They are absolutely fearless, and once committed to combat they count death as a mere incident."

See also

• First Battle of Bud Dajo

External links

• The New York Times (March 8, 1914) "PHILIPPINE HONOR ROLL. Officer and Six Enlisted Men Likely to Get Merit Certificate"