LOCATION OF THE FIRST SHOT OF PHILIPPINE-AMERICAN WAR

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The currently accepted location is at the corner of Sociego and Silencio Streets, Santa Mesa District, Manila.
While this is not conclusive, and it remains uncertain that it happened exactly on this corner,
as according to Prof. Ambeth Ocampo, it is the closest they can gather.

For a long time after Philippine-American War, the accepted location was on the bridge itself.
This, inspite of the fact that the story of Grayson was already there right from the start.
Why was Grayson's story ignored then, and now being put front and center, after decades, would invite some explaining.
Below: The location of the first shot as suggested or indicated by materials back then.


Santa Mesa, near Manila, where the fighting began
(Harper's Pictorial History)


Where the Fighting Began - A picture of Santa Mesa, three miles east of Manila, near which the first Filipino attack was made on the American lines. In the distance are seen the San Juan Mountains, at the foot of which is the town of San Jesus del Monte, near which are the water works and reservoir which supply Manila with water. (San Francisco Call, February 7, 1899)


Santa Mesa, Where the First Fighting Began. (San Francisco Call, February 10, 1899)



Bridge of San Juan del Monte - This was where the war with the Insurgents started, and where the sons of Nebraska did some hours of hard fighting.
(Souvenir of the Eight Army Corps, Philippine Expeditions)


San Juan Bridge - From this bridge the first shot from the American side was fired by Private Grayson, of the Nebraska regiment, in return to a volley from the insurgent outpost on the bridge to the left, which set the ball rolling on the night of February 4, 1899.
(Our Boys in the Philippines)



Bridge from which the first shot of the Philippine War was fired.
(Fighting Twentieth)

Lieut. Bright of the 1st Tennessee mentioned in his letter that "The first shots were fired by the Nebraska Regiment who were on guard at San Juan Bridge." - The statement that the 1st Nebraskans were on guard at San Juan Bridge is accurate, as not only did the regiment have outposts and a camp facing the bridge (see map below), but they had outposts on the bridge itself, on one end of the bridge, on their side, as the incident of Jan. 4, 1899 would indicate. - Lieut. Bright however wasn't specific as to the exact spot where the first shot happened. (Map provided by Williamson Grays) The San Juan Bridge incident of January 4, 1899 (Image by Scott Slaten)