Item #4575 [The Louis Mahaffey Letters, 1899–1901.]. Louis W. Mahaffey.
[The Louis Mahaffey Letters, 1899–1901.]
[The Louis Mahaffey Letters, 1899–1901.]
[The Louis Mahaffey Letters, 1899–1901.]

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[The Louis Mahaffey Letters, 1899–1901.]

Manila, Santa Ana, etc., Philippines, 24 November 1899–16 April 1901. 2 8vo notebooks (approx. 210 x 170 mm), one with brown cloth spine and marbeld paper over boards, the other with a red leather spine and marbled paper over boards. Vol. 1, 32 letters, 127 pp. of manuscript; Vol. 2, 33 letters, 103 pp. of manuscript, 21 blank leaves. Ownership inscription of Harriet V. Mahaffey in each volume, one date 1899 and the other 1900.

Two notebooks comprising sixty-five highly engaging and rich letters sent home by a U.S. soldier stationed in the Philippines during the Philippine–American War. Spanning three years, Mahaffey’s letters capture the complex and tumultuous wartime scene as well as the well-known, vexing defection of African-American soldier David Fagan.

The son of an Irish-American lumberman and inventor, Louis W. Mahaffey (ca. 1874–1949) was a well-educated young man who enlisted in the 41st U.S. Volunteers in 1898, whereby he became a ‘Jimmy Green’—as Filipinos called the occupying American soldiers. The two notebooks offered here, containing 65 letters that were copied by his sister Harriet from the original letters Mahaffey wrote to his family in Baltimore, chronicle his service as a noncommissioned officer with Company F. of the 41st during the Philippine–American War (1899–1902). Contemporaneous with the events they describe, his letters are all rich in detail, expansive in subject matter, and appear to be otherwise unknown, with the exception of one letter, as noted hereafter. Mahaffy makes frequent mention of eminent figures such as Gen. Frederick D. Grant (1850–1912), the first son of Ulysses S. Grant, who served during the war; Filipino Gen. José C. Alejandrino (1870–1951); Gen. Frederick Funston (1865–1917); a notorious guerilla by the name of Augustin Marand, whom they capture, and so on.

While Mahaffey did not see much combat himself—indeed guard duty, taking prisoners, and military fun and games consume much of his time—his letters are exhaustive in relating all of the action transpiring in the country during his stay there. Of particular interest in these letters is the content relating to the black soldier David Fagan (1875–?) of Tampa, Florida, who upon deserting the U.S. Army became a Captain in the Philippine Army and served as a guerrilla leader. According to Mahaffey’s account, Fagan was spotted one day among some insurgents and called out to his ex-comrades “Tra La, I’m going,” before disappearing into the thicket. Fagan’s defection was likely spurred by the poor treatment of African-American soldiers within America’s own forces in addition to the latter’s racists views of the native Filipinos, whom they often called “niggers” and “gugus.” As revealed by Fagan’s entries, his capture became an obsession of the U.S. military as well as the broader American public back home. At the end of the war, a large bounty was offered for Fagan, whom the U.S. perceived as a traitor. The precise fate of Fagan is shrouded in mystery; some sources say he lived the rest of his life undisturbed in the Philippine mountains with a native wife, while others believe that a certain decapitated head presented for his bounty prize was indeed his.

Consistent with the U.S. Army’s practice of censoring news from the Philippines, Mahaffey was expressly concerned with keeping the information he relates in these letters secret—such as when he describes the U.S. Army’s use of the “water cure,” i.e., waterboarding. In another letter he relates that he has “received a letter from Balt. a few days ago from one of the fellows, and he told me he had seen a letter of mine with my photo in one of the papers.” He continues, “I hope this is not true, as I do not want any of my letters to be used as evidence by any of those brilliant orators in the States, either imperialist or anti-imperialist.” Mahaffey’s frequent references to baseball—which was played regularly among the American soldiers in the Philippines—point to the likelihood that he is the same Louis “Lou” Mahaffey who played professional ball for the Louisville Colonels in the immediate pre-war years, which may help explain his wide circle of acquaintances.

Some Representative Passages:

15 Dec. 1899 Our trip to Port Said and through the canal was delightful…The place reminded me very much of Atlantic City. It looked very pretty from the ship, but it is said to be one of the dirtiest places in the world… Every now and then some native from the Bedouin camp would come running down to the banks shouting, “roopa, roopa.” I suppose they meant rupee. Some of them would run along for miles and dive in after clothing which was thrown in by the men. I never saw so many good swimmers in my life… One of them gathered in an undershirt, a pair of shoes, and a pair of leggings. He raised a laugh by decking himself out in these articles and executing a few steps.

28 Dec. 1899 There is a fellow in the Hospital Corps named Forbes. He is an old soldier and during the steward’s absence is in charge of quarters. He is an awful liar and is always telling some miraculous tale and also thinks himself a great kidder… The first day he took a bath, the fellows were all guying him about, and Wongo [Frank “the Indian” Wongo, a famous pugilist] wrote his song, ‘The dirty undershirt that old Forbes wore.’ It is very funny, and has a peculiar air, and every time he sings it, the fellows are in fits.

8 May 1900 There are seven “languages” spoken over here, each one resembling Dog Latin. Consequently a linguist is not such a Hot Tamale after all. They are not divided into tribes like our American Indians, but some of them cannot understand the other at all.

2 June 1900 Gen. Alejandrino, who is in command of the nigs over in the mountains, has offered reward of $100 for the [mayor], dead or alive, and two soldiers sleep at the house every night, and then he has the two next door. One of the Alejandrino’s lieutenants was captured… also a corporal and two privates. They were given the ‘water cure’ and the Lieut. confessed that [a man named] Mariano Cabral had received $100 to bring [the mayor] up to the mts. (Mt. Arayat)… The water cure is as follows. The victim is stretched out on the ground, his throat stuffed, and water poured into the nostrils and he soon talks. It is the only way, however. Do not tell any[one]… this as they might feast on it till all hands are tired of hearing of the cruelties practiced on the “poor Filipino.”

4 June 1900 The niggers all along this line opened up last week, and we had some interesting times. The ball started at Candaba, four miles across from here. One man of the 22nd was killed and a few gugus. Arayat at 3 miles north of here was fired on about the same time. About 8:30 P. M., May 29, [1900] they came in to the west end of this town and let drive at the Quarters of the 2nd Platoon. The two platoons are quartered about 500 yards apart at each end of town. The sentry on No. 1 Post banged away at them, and half of the 2nd Platoon. The other half went out and tried to corral them but they were too slick. Our gang chased them back into the hills and lost them in the jungle.

14 July 1900 Four troops of Filipino Cavalry (U.S.) under Major Batson passed through here [Santa Ana] yesterday, and the natives here took a good look at them. These Filipinos fear the Macabebes as they do the devil and always treat them with the greatest respect. The Macs [natives of southern Pampanga who helped capture Emilio Aguinaldo in 1901] are going up to the hills around San Isidro to rout out the few remaining gugus and I think they will be some great footwork on the part of the Aggys when they get a glimpse of this gang of Macs… They are having a great day when they can put in an afternoon plugging away at live niggers. They hate a Filipino worse than a tramp hates a bath.

1 Aug. 1900 An American negro was with the insurgents and crept up within 60 feet of the U. S. men (in a thicket). He seemed to be looking for officers. One of the men shot at him 5 times and missed. After the last shot, the coon called back, “Tra La, I’m going,” and disappeared into the thicket. It seems that there are 5 white and 2 negro renegades with the rebels up there, and the corporal says they will never be brought in alive if the fellows ever get a fair show at them.

25 Aug. 1900 I was Sgt. of the Guard yesterday and about 1:30 P.M. was sitting in the Sgt’s office at the guard house… I sent down for Lt. Towson and he and Corporal Saxon went up and collared Mr. Marlboro and brought him over. He had about $70 and some papers among which were some bearing the stamp of the famous K. K. K…a strong secret society… The apron, which is worn by the members of this society, is white edged with red. In the centre, one hand is holding a human head while another hand is about to plunge a dagger into the throat. It is very suggestive. It is a very powerful organization, and the natives are very much afraid of it.

22 Sept. 1900 They have been burying people here all day. At least nine funerals have passed here, and I think there were more casualties than we heard of. A company of the 15th Inf., while on the way to relieve a co. of the 37th near Laguande Bay, were attacked and after a hot fight was reinforced… A captain and 7 men of the 15th were killed and about 8 men of the 37th were killed and their Capt. wounded. At Malabar a few nights ago 20 gugus turned their toes up, and Lt. Top Ward of Balt. put 13 to sleep at Moralichen a few days ago. The niggers are armed with Krags and Mausers and are well equipped.

16 Oct. 1900 We picked up a spy here the day after the last scrap… The whole thing was planned and carried out by Pastor Alejandrino, a brother of the famous Gen. of that name. Pastor is supposed to be an amigo (friend) and has a cedula (citizen’s certificate of allegiance)…The whole Alejandrino family has been arrested and are in confinement… Roy and I were talking to the little devil the afternoon before the attack, and you would think butter would not melt in his mouth.

23 Oct. 1900 The 13th Inf. Gen. Wheaton, our Department Commander, has decided that the paroles which the two men of C Co. signed [on being released by the insurrectionaries] are worthless… I suppose this will cause the niggers to act hard with any more soldiers they may have. About a week ago five men of M Co, 42nd Inf. were ambushed while on patrol and two of them had their ponies shot from under them. The men promptly returned fire and one fellow’s [gun] bolt got hung and came being near the cause of his windup. He was behind a bank and one nigger ran up and pointed his gun down on him, but the fellow bluffed the nig by pointing his gun at him. The gugu jumped back and the fellow made another attempt to work his bolt and succeeded. Then the Nig came again and got a Krag bullet in the stomach.

7 Nov. 1900 Just now all the niggers on the island and of course all of the soldiers are waiting to hear how the election has gone. We do not expect to hear anything before tomorrow night, and if McKinley is elected lots of these niggers will drop dead from disappointment. If Bryan is elected, the fellows have decided to tell them just the opposite and to keep them guessing as long as possible.

7 Nov. 1900 There is a fellow named [David] Fagin who deserted from the 24th to the gugus. A few of the [veteran soldiers] know Fagin but the majority are rookies and have never seen him. He operates around here and about 2 weeks ago captured a steam launch on the Rio Grande River. The launch and cargo is owned by a gang of Chinos up at San Isidro and of course no one is worrying except the Chinks. He has had several close calls and his good luck will desert him in a few days as the whole army is expecting to move about the middle of the month and it will be four o’clock with Signor Fagin.

10 Nov. 1900 Gen. Grant with the 5th District and the Regt. scouts were here for a few moments last night. They were heading for the Mt. Arayat foothills and I suppose he is after Alejandrino. About 150 men (mounted on American horses) were in the party, and all the nigs in town had their heads out of the windows as they passed through the streets. The Gen. came in with his officers and rested about 15 minutes and Lt. Taylor got out some beer. As they were leaving, the Gen. called to a little lame man, a correspondent, “Well, are you going?” The little fellow was looking over a map hanging on the wall. “Yes, I’m going to h—l if that’s where you are going.” The Gen. laughed, and said, “Well, I am not bound for hell, but these scouts out here are liable to send a fellow there if he does not watch himself.”

15 Nov. 1900 The nigs attacked Magalang two nights ago and were right up on the Plaza. “Johnnie” Boston (our old lst lt.) got his I Co. out after the nigs, killed six and wounded three, also picked up three rifles… I’ll bet that Johnnie is tickled to death over it and I can just see him strutting around over there with his chest thrown out and a chip on his shoulders. The gugus are supposed to have been led by the negro Fagin, a deserter from the 24th U. S. Inf., as the commands were shouted at the gugus in English. Fagin and his gang have been seen several times on this side of the Rio Grande and the chances are that it was him. He was a private with the 24th (colored) and a few weeks ago he sent in a letter to Gen. Funston and signed himself “Field Marshal.” He rules his gugu soldiers with an iron hand and is greatly respected by them. But, as they murdered a Major Gamboa about four months ago on account of cruel treatment, the chances are that Mr. Fagin will go the same way as soon as the novelty wears off…his specialty is the attacking of the various small boats going up or down the river..

Sixty-five fascinating letters providing a vivid account of the tumultuous scene unfolding in the Philippines during the Philippine-American War.

CONDITION: Moderate wear, 1.5” tears in a few leaves, but no loss to the text; otherwise very good.

Item #4575

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