LUKBAN
country and see if they could find any trace of Rosario’ s band. He also instructed Captain Dey to draw on Capt. John Cooke at Catarman for 60 men, and to station a force at Poponton. From there, they were to try engaging with the rebels. 6
Attack on Lavezares
As in Matuginao, Lukban’ s troops started harassing the Americans in the nearby towns of La Granja and Lavesares. Two Spaniards who had businesses in Gandara told the Americans that the countryside was swarming with insurgents. Anticipating an attack, Gilmore reinforced the 12 men left by Capt. Spellman with another 12 led by Lt. Stewart. Then early morning of the 23 rd, the launch Cuco arrived with a wounded man from Seaman’ s detachment, bearing a report that La Granja was under threat. When Seaman was at Lavezares, he was told that insurgents were just outside the town. Having with him only four men, and fearing that the remainder of his detachment at La Granja might be surprised, he immediately started for Lavezares. He arrived at about 6:00 in the evening, then prepared for the inevitable attack.
The town was difficult to guard with a small detachment. It was about a mile long, and in its center was the camarin( bodega) and house of the agent of Warner, Barnes & Co. Two hundred yards from these houses were located the church and convent. Lieutenant Seaman’ s detachment used the convent as their quarters. The two buildings stood side by side, and just back of them was a hill 50 feet high, covered with underbrush.
An hour later, as the corporal of the guard was returning from visiting the sentinels, he was knocked unconscious as he came opposite the interval between the convent and the church. A party of insurgents had come down the mountain, and under cover of darkness and rain, slipped by the sentinel on the back of the barracks and lay in wait between the two buildings.
The unidentified assailants wanted to carry him off, but two soldiers, who had just started their duty, opened fire even if they could not see in the dark. This caused the assailants to drop the corporal, but they took off with his rifle.
Here at Lavezares the situation remained grave, as Seaman was sure that the presidente was in communication with the insurgents, although he had no proof. There was a Spaniard whose actions have been likewise suspicious. Gilmore wanted to arrest the presidente, but he reconsidered. Leaving him in his town might save it from being burned.
With the overwhelming threat, Gilmore told Seaman on the 25 th
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