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General Charles King. 6 original Manuscript Documents - battlefield dispatches - and 2 related military documents, one typed and one handwritten, of the native Filipino revolt against US imperial domination which followed the Spanish-American War. February-April 1899, Philippine Islands. 10pp. total. US battlefield dispatches from the Aguinaldo “insurrection”, more properly called the Philippine-American War, are very rare.

Later well-known as the prolific author of juvenile military novels, Charles King, son of a Civil General, was a West Point graduate who first saw Army service against the Indians and, during the Spanish American War, was appointed Brigadier General of Volunteers. He arrived in the Philippines too late to fight the Spanish, but in time to command a Brigade – including troops from California, Washington and Idaho - against the 1899 native insurrection led by Emilio Aguinaldo.

King’s 6 battlefield dispatches are all Autograph Notes Signed “Charles King, Brig. Genl.” or simply “King”, scribbled in pencil on torn sheets of yellowish paper:

• Feb. 17, 1899. Headquarters, 1^st Brigade, 8^th Army Corps, San Pedro Macati. 2pp. to the Adjutant General, commending a Captain for his participation in the capture of a redoubt on Pandacan Island, and describing an action by California whose Springfield rifles “outweighed” the Filipino Mausers and quickly resulted in death of a Filipino “Insurgent Captain” and 12 of his soldiers.
• Feb. 17. 1pg. To Commanding Officers, 1^st Washington, 1^st California, 1^st Idaho: “During afternoon, entrench exposed portion of your line and make slashing in timber…Select rallying points in case of having to fall back before overwhelming force…we have hopes of putting a stop to these annoyances on the part of the Filipinos” and other orders to protect troops in case a retreat proves necessary! He also writes that “we have hopes of putting a stop to these annoyances on part of the Filipinos…”. 
• Feb.18., 6 PM. 1pg. To a Major:  “Capt. Robinson with his company is sent to you to extend line to N. Dakotas. I shall send Idahos as speedily as possibly to relieve the N. Dakotas …Hawthorne’s Battery marches at dusk.  Keep your line to night…”
• Feb. 19, 7:40 PM. San Pedro Macati. 1pg. To Capt. Grant, “Commanding Gunboat”: “Our one casco got adrift and is now down stream near you. I need to land men on opposite shore. Can you come up to us now and bring the casco with you? Be with us during night anyhow.” 
• Undated. 1pg. To Colonel Duboce [Commander of the 1^st California]: “Move your battalion at once to Colonel Smith’s right. Report to him for orders…”
• Undated. 1pg. To Cabell: Pasig and everything else we hold. I had been away up to the Lake. Can I do anything more?”

Related documents:

• Brig. General Wheaton. Pencilled Autograph Note Signed. US Signal Corps telegram, March 20, 1899. San Pedro. 1p. To Major General Otis about meeting that evening at "the Palace"
• Typed copy of General Orders, No. 19, by Assistant Adjutant General Clarence Edwards. Headquarters, First Division. Eight Army Corps,  Manila. P.I., April 6, 1899. 3pp. about various units which must be “immediately prepared to take the field on a special expedition.”