PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR COVER - 13th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, 2 FEB 1899, MIL.STA. NO. 1

PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR COVER

Cover sent by Capt. William S. McWade of the

13th Minnesota Volunteer Infantry on 2 FEB 1899

just prior to the outbreak of the Battle of Manila.

US Scott #__ with MIL STA NO.1, PHILIPPINE ISLS., SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. cancel.

IMPORTANT COVER!

During the Battle of Manila in February 1899, the 13th Minnesota was part of the Manila Provost Guard, which consisted of the 2nd Oregon, 13th Minnesota, 23rd Infantry, and a small artillery battery.  Two companies of the 13th Minnesota were involved in heavy fighting to protect firefighters attempting to put out fires in the northern suburb of Tondo next to Manila Bay.

From the 13th Minnesota Infantry Roster (http://www.spanamwar.com/13mnroster.htm),

William S. McWade served in Company A. 

He passed away in April 16,1948, in Excelsior, Minnesota.

PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR - Troop K, 4th US Cavalry on 4 FEB 1899 at the Battle of Manila

PHILIPPINE AMERICAN WAR COVER

 Cover sent by Private Walter Mangus of

Troop K, 4th US Cavalry on 4 FEB 1899

at the outbreak of the Battle of Manila.

US Scott #279 with very early use of Manila A-6 type cancel,

of which this is a new time/date variety (ref. GOODALE).

VERY IMPORTANT COVER!

After almost half a year of negotiations, minor incidents, shootings, alarms, and unremitting tension, the impasse at Manila erupted into open hostilities on the night of 4 February 1899. 

The Philippine Army of Liberation, whose numbers have been estimated at anywhere from 15,000 to 40,000 men, had maintained a loose envelope around American positions in the city. 

At the beginning of February, the U.S. Army forces in the Philippines numbered some 800 officers and 20,000 men, of which about 11,000 were in a pentagonal defensive line which extended some sixteen miles around Manila. 

From Blockhouse 12 to Fort Malate on Manila Bay was Brig. Gen. Samuel Overshine's 2nd Brigade of ten companies of the 14th US Infantry, the 1st North Dakota, and six troops of the 4th US Cavalry. 

(adapted from The Philippine War, 1899-1902, by Brian McAllister Linn, 2000)