New-York tribune., 1901-07-13
THE CAPTURE OF AGUINALDO.
GENERAL FUNSTON'S REPORT MADE
PUBLTC-THE USE OF FORGED
LETTERS.

Washington, July 12-The War Department to-
DAY made public Brgadier- General Funston's
port of the capture of Agunaldo, made under date
of May g. The report presents in detail all the
facts relating to the capture, which made
public at the time. General Funston shows that
the plan of the expedition was submitted the
commanding general of the Department of North
ern Luzon and then sent General Mac
Arthur, by whom 1t approved. Details
given concerning the captured correspondence
from Aguinaldo and the use made of Cecio Sigis-
mundo who had presented himself to Lieutenant
j. D. Taylor. of the oath Infantry. with letters of
Aguinado that he to deliver to various in
surgent chiefs. General Funston gives the follow
ing account of the forged letters which were used
to deceive Agunaldo:
On October "a. 1860, while scouting In the vicinity
e bf Nufxa e I had hs bad the cap m
tured among other things some writing paper
paper two letters were written to Aguinaldo over
the carefully forged sgnatGre of LaTHna S One Ra OF
a place in the mountains east Of Panaranda. IN It
letters of January IS and a. and thanked him
the confirmation of his dacunas) appointment as
brigadier-general, made some time previously by
Alejandrino.
letter INDUCED In The usual rhetoric employed by
gave gswing account of the progress Of the cam
Ter, supposedly from the same place, but dated lated
February g. was prepared stating that the writer
Aguinado. ordering him to send one in OF ms eesl &
nado in Isabella In accordance with these orders
he sending ths f9ee % he sees had
asfer bs reease had ved in Jaen but recently
had had taken to the field again when ordered 70 do
so by Lacuna, This was included in the letter th
PIacdo 3f had aa been Captured By the and
stated that Agunaidos courier. Ceco slgsmundo.
with Lacuna and would accompany the COZ, COZ.
wer wtten Sy eser in
Of Of samples Of in eSeean9 Ver aaa
forgery of his autograph at the end of each one OF
the two sheets
OF the actual capture General Funston says:
The Maccabebes started up into the town, and we
heard a few Shots followed by scattered firing We
hastily crossed the river and running up into the
demoralized and firing wildly in every direction
cuity. Agunaldo's guard Of about fifty armed and
neatly uniformed men had been drawn up to receive %
and ran. few of them returning the fire as they
ed in his quarters Placdo and segovia entered the
house to report the arrival. and after short con,
ordered the Maccabebes. who had just come up
from the river bank to open fire on the insurgents
ffty yards The Maccabebes were so excited and
OF the sha5 r were killed the remainder in
their flight throwing away eighteen rihes and a
As soon as segovla had given the order he he ran
back into the house and opened ire on the oficers
hambra. The latter jumped out OF the the mouse INTO INTO
wounded surrendered did also Santiago BARGE
Iona, Aguinaldo's treasurer.
The five remaining officers escaped from the
house and swan the river. Pacido seized Aguinal-
do and told him that he was a prisoner OF the
Americans At this juncture the Americans ar
rived on the scene and gave their attention 70 get
ting the Maccabebes under control and protecting
tbe s prisoners from them One Maccabebe was
slightly wounded by a gunshot wound In the fore
head
IN conclusion General Funston deals out praise
generously to all who had share in the expedi-
tioni mentioning Captain Hazard. Captain Newton
Lieutenant Hazard and Lieutenant Mitchell. while
especially praising Lieutenant Taylor for the dis
cretion he showed after obtaining the Aguinado
letters He also speaks In high praise of Com
mancer Barry Of the Vicksburg and the assist
ance the navy gave him.