The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-07-13
fUNSTON'S REPORT
OFFICIAL ACCOUNT OF THE
OF EMILIO AGUINALDO.
How Forged Letters Were Used 10 De-
ceive the Filipino Chieftain-
~Sngismundo's Work.

WASHINGTON. July 1.-THE War De-
partment made public Brigadier General
Funston's report Of the capture OF Aguin-
aldo. made under date OF May 6. This re-
port presents in detail all the facts relat-
ing to the capture OF Aguinaldo which
were made public at that time. General
Funston shows that his entire plan Of the
expedition was submitted to the
ing general of the Department of Northern
Luzon. and then was sent to General Mac
Arthur, by whom il was approved.
General Funston goes into details cor
corning the captured correspondence from
Aguinaldo and the use he made OF Cecilio
Sagismundo. who had presented himself 10
Lieut.. ]. d. Taylor. of the Twenty-fourth
Infantry. with letters of Aguinaldo that he
was to deliver TO various insurgent chiefs.
General Funston gives the following ac-
count of the forged letters which were
used to deceive Aguinaldo:
o Oct. q. 1900, while scouting i'm the
vicinity or Gapan. NEeva Eciji, 4 mad sur
prised tne lnsurgent chief Lacuna In ms
camp, and had captured. among other
things, some writing paper which bore his
Headquarters seal. On this paper two let
terS were written 10 Aguindloo over the
carefully forged signature of Lacuna.
O of these letters was dated r'eb. "a.
lsVl, at Bulac. a place i'm the mountains
t01N "a a d4icA ailu ia IL lld1uld d(hUOhI-
ecged the receipt OF Aguinaldo's letters
OF JAN Is and IA, and thanked him tor
the confirmation OF his CLacuna' - appoints
ment as brigaoier general. made some time
previously by AleJandrino.
1T will be remembered that the letters
OF Aguinaldo referred to had fallen into
our hands. our letter INDUCED In the usual
rhetoric employed by the insurgent chiefs
In their correspondence. and gave a glow
Ing account OF the progress OF the cam
.3algn from the standpoint of Lacuna.
Another letter. supposedly from the same
Another letter, supposedly from the same
place, but dated Feb. p, was prepared,
stating that the writer had Just received
a. communication from Baldomcro Aguln-
aldo ordering him TO send one OF his best
Aguinaldo in Isabella. In accordance with
these orders he was sending this force
under Lieut.. Col. Hilario Placido. The
letter. he stated, had been captured by the
Americans a year ago. and after his re-
lease he had lived in Jaen. but recently
had taken to the field again when ordered
TO do so by Lacuna. This was included in
the letter for fear that Aguinaldo might
have heard that Placido had been captured
by the Americans and had taken the oath
of allegiance. The letter also stated that
Aguinaldo courier. Cecilio S~igismundo,
was with Lucana and would accompany the
column. These two letters were dictated
by me, but were written by Segovia. We
were in possession of a number of samples
OF Lacuna's signature and had previously
succeeded in executing a very neat 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 scattering firing. We hastily crossed
the river and running upon the town. found
that the Maccabebes were somewhat de-
moralized and firing wildly in every direc-
ton. They were got under control with
some difficulty. Aguinaldos guard OF about
fifty armed and neatly uniformed men had
been drawn up TO receive the reinforce
ments and on being fired into broke and
ran, a few OF them returning the fire as
they retreated. Aguinaldo. with his off,
Placido and Segovia entered the house TO
report their arrival. and. after a short con-
yersation. segoyia stepped outside the
had just come I'D from the river bank. TO
open fire on the insurgents. VINO. were
standing In line at a distance OF abouf nifty
yards. The Maccabe5es were so excited that
their fire was ineffective. But two 81 the
insurgents were killed, the remainder. in
their flight. throwing away eighteen rifles
and a thousand rounds OF ammunition. AS
soon as Segovia had given the order he ran
back into the house and opened fire on the
officers surrounding Aguinaldo. He wounded
villa and Alhambra. The latter jumped out
of the house into the river and was not
seen again. Villa, on being wounded. sur
rendered, as did also Santiago Barcelona.
THE five remaining officers escaped from
the house and swan the river. Placido
seized Aguinaldo and told him that he was
n prisoner of the americans. At this juno
ture the Americans arrived on the scene
and gave their attention 10 getting the
Maccabebes under control and protecting
the prisoners from them. One Maccabebe
was slightly wounded by a gunshot wound
i'm the forehead"
In conclusion, General Funston deals out
praise generously 20 all who had a share
in the expedition. mentioning Captain Haz-
ard. Captain ewton Lieutenant Hazard
and Lieutenant Mitchell. while especially
praising Lieutenant Taylcr for the discre-
ton he showed after obtaining the Agui-
naldo letters. He also speaks in high praise
| or Barry. OF the NtCkSburE. and
the assistance the navy rendered him.