PHILIPPINE  INSURRECTION  AND  CHINA RELIEF EXPEDITION

The U.S. was deploying troops to the Philippines during the Spanish American war. After the U.S. Victory over the Spanish in Cuba, the 9th Infantry Regiment was mobilized for the Philippine insurrection. In 1899 the 9th Infantry Regiment was sent to Manila and prepared for battle with the objective to pacify the region. From 1900-1901, the 9th Infantry Regiment sailed from Manila to Taku, China. The Regiment earned its title of ‘Manchu’ from the Chinese during the Boxer Rebellion after the Regiment marched for 85 miles across China. Also, the Regiment’s motto of “keep up the fire” in is commemoration of COL Liscum’s final words after being mortally wounded during the Battle of Tientsin. COL Liscum’s men suffered a ten percent casualty rate during this battle before they were able to take the city, saving millions of dollars’ worth of silver in the process. As a show of gratitude, the Chinese government gifted two silver ingots to the Regiment. These ingots were used to create the Liscum Bowl which today is worth approximately $5 million. The Manchu Regiment would return to Manila in 1901 to subdue the reignited hostilities in the Philippines. While conducting military operations in the town of Samar, the Company C of the 9th Infantry Regiment was ambushed. Only four men survived the ambush. In reprisal, General Jacob H. Smith ordered that Samar be turned into a “howling wilderness” and to shoot any Filipino males above the age of ten who was cable of bearing arms. This lead to the most widespread killing of Filipino civilians during the entire war. The Americans seized three church bells from the town, now known as the Bells of Balangiga. The Filipino people, to this day, remember this massacre and the Bells were returned after 117 years. All organized insurrection was effectively ended with the capture of the Philippine president, Emilio Aguinaldo on March 23, 1902. By May 1902 the island was cleared and the Regiment returned home