Inscribed Filipino-American War souvenir dagger

[carlos]

Hello Jim!!
Wellcome to the forum!!
This dagger is a very beautiful and very good preserved, I just fall in love!!
If sometime you decide to sell it please tell me !! thanks again for the pictures
best regards
carlos

[Jim F]

Thank you, Battara and Carlos, for your kind responses!

I've since learned a lot about the personal history of Corporal Louis Murphy. He enlisted in Co. D of the 21st U.S. Infantry on March 6, 1899, in Philadelphia, for a three-year term. His enlistment officer was a Lt. Moses. Louis was 22 years, 2 months old, and was described as 5' 4' tall, with grey eyes, black hair, and a dark complexion. His occupation at the time of enlistment was "laborer."

He was discharged at Lipa, P.I. at the expiration of his term of service (March 5, 1902) with the rank of Corporal and immediately re-enlisted at Lipa on the very next day, again for a period of three years. This time his occupation was listed as "soldier". Note that he acquired the dagger just two weeks later.

He remained in Co. D of the 21st U.S. Infantry but later transferred to the 11th Cavalry, Company H, and finally the 12th Cavalry, Company E. He was discharged on March 5, 1905, at Camp McGrath in Batangas, Philippine Islands, with the rank of Sergeant and an "excellent" service record.

In answer to your question about my selling the dagger, Carlos, it is my understanding that the forum rules frown on such bartering topics, and I certainly wish to remain respectful here.

Thanks again,
Jim F.

[FONT=Palatino Linotype]

[Rick]

Hi Jim,
Sorry about that little bit of necessary editing .

You may contact Carlos via PM .

BTW, That's what I call provenance .

[David]

Originally Posted by Rick

BTW, That's what I call provenance .

Indeed!

[Bill M]

Katipunan symbol on scabbard

[Ferguson]

An absolutely stunning piece. Congrats!
Steve

[Dimasalang]

Very nice. I envy you sir.

Adding more to the story and other misc info of Batangas in 1902.
From early to mid 1902, times in the Batangas province was extremely turbulent. While all the generals of the 1st Republic already surrendered by mid to late 1901, the last overall commanding general was Miguel Malvar of Batangas. Once Aguinaldo was captured, Malvar took the reins of the government and the war. So all efforts were now focused on Southern Luzon. The last major stand of the Phil-Am War took place in Batangas, Laguna, and parts of Cavite. Malvars base was Mt Makiling which is situated between Batangas and Laguna. Gen Bell was given the command of operations in Southern Luzon, and Lipa Batangas was set up as the main headquarters of the American forces. The 21st Inf played a major roll in fighting Malvars force during this time. I say turbulent times during the first half of 1902 because Bell became so frustrated with Malvar and his forces near the end of 1901, he enacted the plan to use "scorched earth" tactics at the beginning of 1902. Specific towns were targeted in Batangas, Laguna, Tayabas, and Cavite; the right of writ of habeas corpus was suspended, all farming was halted and farm land destroyed(which fed the resistance and civilians), and the civilians and family members of the resistance were rounded up and put in to concentration camps(known as Zonas). This put a major strain on both the resistance and the civilians, all the while spreading of disease and wiping out a lot of the population. These tactics worked, and from Jan to mid 1902 all of Malvars forces came steamrolling in to surrender. Obviously this dagger being of an officer who surrendered, or possibly captured or killed during this time. Gen Malvar surrendered directly to Gen Bell in April 1902 in Lipa Batangas...he stated his surrender was mainly due to the hardship of civilians. Malvars surrender ended the last major conflict, and Pres Roosevelt officially ended the Phil-Am War on July 4th 1902.