 Marcus Miller |
1. USS Newport - Light Battery G, 6th U.S. Artillery,
2. USS Arizona - 18th U.S. Infantry,
3. USS Pennsylvania - 51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
4. S.S. Union - Filipinos native to Panay Island, formerly with the Spanish Army
5. USS Baltimore (Naval Escort)
Historians tend to miss one, the S.S. Union.
Perhaps it's because they were putting too much undue attention to G.O. #39, which was supposed to create the Miller Expedition.
But the Miller Expedition was the result of 3 orders, not just one, namely:
1. G.O. #39 issued on December 24 1898
2. Initial Special Instructions from Otis to Miller given December 24 1898
3. Further Special Instructions from Otis to Miller given December 26 1898
In G.O. #39, the forthcoming special instructions were mentioned (highlighted below):
General Orders, No. 39
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC AND EIGHT ARMY CORPS
Manila, P.I., December 24, 1898
I. Brigadier General Marcus P. Miller, U.S. Volunteers, is assigned to the command of the following designated troops, viz:
Light Battery G, 6th U.S. Artillery,
18th U.S. Infantry,
51st Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
and will proceed with them to Iloilo, Island of Panay, by transports
Newport,
Arizona and
Pennsylvania,
under such Naval escort as the Rear Admiral Commanding the Asiatic Squadron may furnish him,
and there execute the special instructions he will receive from these headquarters.
These troops will constitute a separate brigade, within the meaning of the 73d Article of War, to be known and designated as the First Separate Brigade of the 8th Army Corps. They will be equipped and supplied as orders already and hereafter to be issued indicate.
The following named officers will constitue the staff of the First Separate Brigade of the 8th Army Corps:
First Lieutenant C. G. Woodward, 3d U.S. Artillery, Aid, Acting Assistant Adjutant General,
Captain John B. Jefferey, U.S. Volunteers, Quartermaster,
Captain C. R. Krauthoff, Commissary of Subsistence, U.S. Volunteers, Commissary,
Major E. R. Morris, Brigade Surgeon, U.S. Volunteers, Chief Surgeon.
II. The Headquarters and 2d Battalion of the 1st Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, are relieved from duty with the Provost Guard of Manila and will proceed to Cavite, P.I., and there take station.
Colonel William C. Smith, of that regiment, is assigned to the command of the Cavite District, relieving Colonel D. D. Van Valzah, 18th U.S. Infantry, who has been designated for service in another section of the Philippine Islands.
The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation.
III. Captain William J. Whitthorne, 1st Tennessee Volunteer Infantry, is hereby appointed Judge of the Inferior Provost Court at Cavite, and will relieve from the duties of that position Captain R. F. Bates, 18th U.S. Infantry. He will hold sessions of the Court at such times and places as may be directed by the Commanding Officer at that point. The jurisdiction of the Court, its methods of procedure and reports of proceedings will continue as defined in General Orders No. 28, of November 5th, last, Headquarters Department of the Pacific and 8th Army Corps.
BY COMMAND OF MAJOR GENERAL OTIS:
THOMAS H. BARRY,
Assistant Adjutant General
In the Further Instructions of December 26, 1898, the S.S. Union was mentioned (highlighted below), indicating its inclusion in the Miller Expedition:
HDQRS. DEPT. PACIFIC AND EIGHTH ARMY CORPS,
Manila, P. I., December 26, 1898.
Brig. Gen. M. P. MILLER, U.S.V.,
Commanding First Separate Brigade, Eighth Army Corps.
SIR: I am directed by the major-general commanding to furnish you with the following instructions:
In case the Spanish forces have evacuated Iloilo, you will, on approaching that city, keep your transports Arizona and Pennsylvania well to the rear and beyond the view of the inhabitants of Iloilo, and you will take into the Iloilo waters your naval escorts, the Baltimore and Callao, and the transport vessel Union, on which are the native Spanish troops, with your vessel, the Newport. You will make known to the insurgent authorities the object of bringing the large force with you, which is, viz: To take possession of other ports in the islands, if conditions and circumstances are favorable, but that it maybe necessary to keep troops at Iloilo until definite instructions concerning other ports of the islands are received from Washington.
Very respectfully,
THOMAS H. BARRY,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
When Miller arrived in Iloilo on December 28, 1898, he wrote a letter to the Estado Federal de Bisayas, the purpose of which was to initiate communication with the Filipinos occupying Iloilo City. He mentioned the S.S. Union and the Filipino Troops (highlighted below):
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, EIGHTH ARMY CORPS,
ON BOARD TRANSPORT NEWPORT,
Iloilo Harbor, P. I., December 28,1898.
TO THE COMMANDING OFFICER OF THE TROOPS AT ILOILO, ISLAND OF PANAY,
AND THE PEOPLE OF ILOILO AND THE ISLAND OF PANAY:
The troops under my command appeared here under an order of the President of the United States of America promulgated by Major-General Otis, commanding all of the troops of the United States in the Philippine Islands.
It is accompanied by the United States naval ship Baltimore, sent by Admiral Dewey, commanding the United States squadron in these Asiatic waters.
When these orders were communicated to me it was supposed that the troops of Spain were still in possession at Iloilo, and that the transfer of possession and governmental authority would be by them to representatives of the Government of the United States, which has succeeded, by virtue of conquest supplemented by treaty stipulations, to all the rights heretofore exercised by Spain in these islands.
Upon arrival I find that the city of Iloilo is in the reported possession of native troops. The intention of this letter is to place myself in communication with those now exercising authority at Iloilo, with the view to the accomplishment of my mission to this place as above indicated.
This communication will be handed you by my aid, Lieut. M. K. Barroll, Third Artillery, who is accompanied by four gentlemen, former residents of Iloilo, who will make known to you more in detail the purpose of the presence of my command at this place.
There accompanies my command, on the steamship Union, certain Spanish soldiers, natives of the island of Panay, whom it is my purpose, at a later date, to release with the privilege of returning to their homes, an act which it is hoped will be interpreted as an evidence of the good will of the major-general commanding in the philippines, under whose orders i am acting.
I shall be pleased to receive a call from representatives of those to whom this communication is addressed on board the transport Newport at as early an hour as your convenience will allow.
Very respectfully,
M. P. MILLER,
Brigadier-General, U. S. V.,
Commanding First Separate Brigade, Eighth Army Corps.
The S.S. Union departed Iloilo on December 30, 1898 to return to Manila bearing Miller's second report to Otis.
General Miller's second report, dated December 30, and forwarded by a merchant vessel, is as follows:
HEADQUARTERS FIRST SEPARATE BRIGADE,
ON BOARD TRANSPORT NEWPORT,
Iloilo Harbor, P. I., December 30, 1898.
ADJUTANT-GENERAL DEPARTMENT OF THE PACIFIC AND EIGHTH ARMY CORPS.
SIR: I want to report that a committee of people having civil control of the city of Iloilo, and claiming also control of the island, met me here yesterday at 6 p. m., and again claimed that they could not turn over the control of Iloilo to my command without consulting Aguinaldo. Should they agree to do it their lives and property would be in danger. After a long talk, setting forth the intention of our government, explaining the kind of government, and reading to them extracts of your letter of instructions in reference to the same matter, I told them there was no time to consult Aguinaldo and my demand was that the President of the United States, as successor to the rights of Spain in these islands, required them to turn over the control of the city of Iloilo. I then asked them directly: "Should we land would you meet us with armed resistance?" They could not answer that question. I asked them if they would not have their troops march out of the city and permit us, their friends, to move in without resistance to-morrow, the 31st instant. They requested time to consult with the committee that they represented, promising to return with a definite reply at noon, December 30 (to-day).
Lieutenant-Colonel Potter, corps engineer, arrived here yesterday evening with a letter of instructions from you to me. It is my intention to land troops in twenty-four hours, after having served notice on the foreign consuls of the city and the people to that effect.
The estimate of armed native troops to-day is 3,500, who are said to be massed in the city and at Jaro and Molo, and six or seven thousand from the mountains armed with bolos, who are massed at the same places.
I think i should have the Twentieth Kansas Regiment sent to me as soon as possible; 20,000 rounds of .45 caliber ammunition for Gatling guns should be supplied. Two field mortars (3.6 inches), with equipments and supply of ammunition, should be sent to me at once.
I forward this communication by the steamer Union.
M. P. MILLER,
Brigadier-General, U. S. V., Commanding Brigade.
