The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-07-13
TOLD BY FUNSTON
The Generals Official Report
Reaches Washington
Detailing the History of Aguin-
aIdO's Capture.
GIVES TAYLOR CREDIT.
Deals Out Praise For Others
Who Aided Him.
Attributes Success to Forged
Letters Which He Dictated.

Washington, July 12-The war de-
partmeut has received Br1gadfeF Gen
eral F'unston's report Of the capture of
Aguinaldo made under date Of May s.
This report presents in detail all the
facts relating to the capture of Aguin-
aldo which were made public at that
time. General Funston shows that his
entire plan of the expedition was sub
mitted to the commanding 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 con-
corning the captured correspondence
from Aguinaldo and the uses he made
of Cecilfo Sagismunlso. who presented
himself to Lieut. Taylor, of the
Twenty fourth infantry with letters of
AguinaIdo that he was to deliver to
various insurgent chiefs.
General Funston gives the following
account of the forged letters which
were used to deceive Aguina1do:
.'On October II, 1900, while scouting
in the vicinity of Gapan, Nueva Ecija,
had surprised the fnSurgent chief
Lacuna in his camp, and had captured
among other things some writing paper
which bore his headquarters seal On
this paper two letters were written to
Aguinaldo over the carefully forged
signature of Lacuna-
zone of these letters was dated Feb
ruary "A, 1901, at Bulaca, a place in the
mountains east of Panaranda- In 1t
Lacuna acknowledged the receipt of
AgufnaIdO's letter of January IS and
IA. and thanked him for the conhrma-
ton of his Q4acuna'sJ appointment as
brfgadier general made some time pre-
vious1y by A1jandiro-
1T viii be remembered that the let
tiers of Agufnaldo referred to had
fallen into our hands. Our letter in
duIged in the usual rhetoric employed
by the insurgent chiefs in their CORE
spondence, and gave a glowing account
of the progress of the campaign from
the standpoint of Lacuna-
Another letter. supposed to have
been from the same place but dated
February e. was prepared, stating
communication from Baldomero
Aguinaldo, ordering him to send one
of his best companies, under reliable
chief to Emilio Aguinaldo, in Isabella
In accordance with these orders he
was sending this force under Iieuten-
ant Colonel Hilario PlacidO. The lat
ter. he stated, had been captured by
the Americans a. year ago, and after
his release 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
Agu1naldO might nave heard that ia
cido had been captured by the Ameri-
cans and had taken the oath Of alle-
glance. The letter also stated that
v
mundO, was with Lacuna and would
accompany the column. These two let
tiers were dictated by me but written
by Segovia. We were in possession of
a number Of samples of Lacuna's sig
nature ana 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 Fun
ston says:
THE Macabebees started up into the
town and we heard a few shots fol-
lowed by scattered firing We crossed
the river and running up on the town,
found that the Macabebees were some
what demoralized and firing wildly in
every direction
sThey were gotten under control
with some difficulty. Aguinaldo's
guard Of about fifty armed and uni
formed men had been drawn up to
receive the reinforcements, and being
fired into broke and ran. a few of them
returning the fire as they retreated-
ssAguinaldo, with his officers. had
awaited in his quarters. Placfdo and
Segovia entered the house to report
their arrival, and after a short CONVEX
sation Segovia stepped outside the
house and ordered his Macabebees, who
had Just come up from the river bank.
to open fire on the insurge who were
standing in line at a distance of about
so yards. The Macabebees were 50 ex-
cited and nervous that the fire was
gents were killed the remainder taking
flight.
"As soon as segovia had given the
order he ran back into the house ard /
opened fire On the officers surrounding /
Aguinaldo.
He wounded Villa and Hambrsa- The
latter jumped out Of the house into the i
river, and was not seen again villa on
being wounded surrendered. as did also
Santiago Barcelona, Aguinaldo's treas
urer. The Eve remaining officers es-
capped from the house and swan the
river. PlaciGo seized Aguinaldo and
told him that he was a prisoner Of the
Americans. At this juncture the Amer
leans arrived on the scene and gave
their attention to getting the Macabe-
bees under control and protecting the
prisoners from them One Macabebee
was slightly wounded by a gunshoE
wound IN the forehead
In conclusion General Funston deals
put praise generously to all who had a
share in the expedition mentioning
Captain Hazard. Captain Newton,
Lieutenant Hazard and Lieutenant
ldfilich while especially praising Lieu
tenant Taylor for the discretion he
showed after obtaining the Aguinaldo
letters He also speaks in high praise
IF Commander Barry. of the Vicksburg.
and the assistance the navy rendered
aim.