Organization

The intention was to use the troops in small unit actions, so the company was the largest unit. Always split into small, mobile detachments, capable of living off the country and able to persist on detached duty without benefit of supporting columns or ammunition trains.

Uniform

Steel gray (camano cloth), then Khaki after 1904, with red epaulets for officers, have high collars, nearly knee high boots, peaked cap, pistol on lanyard, and belt with cartridge case. Weapons: armed with single shot Remington shotguns and Colt single-action caliber .45 revolver; later in 1902 they were equipped with cast off Springfield rifles, with black powder ammunition (80% had Springfield's, 20% shotguns, all had revolvers); in 1906 the Springfield's were exchanged for Krag's. They carried no bayonets for melee. Basically, the US Army commanders in the Philippines did not want the Constabulary to have modern weapons "in case they revolted". So that they were always several weapons systems behind the US Army using black-powder ammo rather than smokeless powder like the insurgents.

They carried few rations and were supposed to live off the jungle-python, rat, fruit bat, and other not normally food items, yuk! This is something Howard Whitehouse will use in a scenario. Officers:

Some outstanding officers in the field included:

Jesse Garwood - Assistant Chief, expert pistol shot, is later a member of the PA State Police. He wore a .45 in his belt and a Smith and Wesson .38 under his arm.

Capt. H.H. Bandholtz - inspired loyalty, medium height, thick set, reddish brown hair.

Capt. Leonard Furlong - carefully groomed, slight build, reckless in combat, served six years in combat without a furlough. He would enter the field of battle ahead of his men and go berserk enjoying fighting at close quarters, recommended for the medal of valor on four occasions.

Order of Battle

The Insular Constabulary was established in August 1901 to be known as the Philippine Constabulary. The Average strength of a Constabulary Company was two officers, one 1st SGT., three SGT., four Corp., four PFCs. and 38 privates.

1901

The Constabulary consisted of 183 officers, 2,417 other ranks in 94 stations. After the 'Massacre at Balangiga BG Smith issues the "kill and burn" directive to Maj. Waller of the US Marines.

1902-03

Constabulary consisted of 192 0fficers, 5,317 other ranks in 202 stations.

Leyte - C.O. Colonel Taylor commanded,
Tacloban - Capt. Borseth and Lt. Barrett and 91 men
Dolores - Lt. Waloe and 37 men

There were six other stations, in all 233 men, on Leyte, relief detachments from other provinces brought total to 400. (Patrols captured the insurgent fort at Ormac confiscating cannon, horses and military stores, most of which were originally captured from the Spanish. Most insurgent forces were originally formed to fight the Spanish.)

Between 30 March and 4 June Lt. Crockett engaged in 18 operations against the insurgents, in particular a deserter named Long. Constabulary patrols consisted of from eight to 25 men. Long was a deserter from a volunteer regiment who set himself up as a military commander of the island of Leyte. Long engaged in night attacks that would begin with the scream of a sentry, fusillade of shots and a charge of the bolomen, obviously, his night attacks helped to shatter morale. The camp would be wreathed in black-powder smoke. Typically at dawn there would be 2-3 dead, 6-8 wounded and 1-2 missing. The constabulary kept up pressure on Long's small band; he was eventually killed by his own men-shot in the back-as his prestige dwindled under constant Constabulary pressure.

Two other strong bands operated on Leyte, one under "Papa" Faustino who supposedly had a strong fort near Ormoc but was never found, and a smaller band under Juan Tomayo.

In 1902-03 the Constabulary conducted 2,736 expeditions, from 200 stations manned by 5,000 men. In one campaign the Constabulary was in the field for 56 days, with a force of 153 men, they captured 249 prisoners and killing and wounding 30. The Philippine Scouts, part of the US Army, in 1903 consisted of 99 white officers and 4,805 other ranks, joined the Constabulary against the insurgents.

1904-07

In 1904 the Constabulary consisted of 288 officers and 6,950 other ranks on 250 posts around the islands. There were five districts:

1st was HQ in Manila under Col. Scott with 2,200 men on 80 posts, also in operations but not under his control were 1,700 Scouts.

2nd HQ at Lucena under Col. Bandholtz had 1,000 men at 43 posts, also there were 1200 Scouts but again not under his control.

3rd HQ at Ilo Ilo under Col. Taylor with 1,750 men in 80 posts, also 2,000 Scouts but not under his control.

4th HQ at Vizan under the command of Maj. Garwood, with 900 men at 33 posts. And,

5th HQ at Zamboanga under Col. Harbord with 530 men on 14 posts.

Weapons for the Constabulary were:

7,370 Springfield rifles, single shot,
2,251 Remington rifles, single shot,
4,072 shotguns, single shot, plus a few pump action,
5,129 Colt .45 calibre revolvers, double action,
2,094 Colt .45 calibre revolvers, single action, and
600 Colt .41 calibre revolvers.

While these numbers of weapons seem to be a lot for the number of Constabulary troops, there were shortages of guns as the force was also responsible for arming 10,000 municipal police. The transport division had 780 mules, 172 wagons and 65 small launches.

Things began to become desperate by December of 1904 on Samar where there were 1800 native soldiers and 16 companies of US infantry occupying the coastal towns. Casualty figures were 11 officers and 197 other ranks KIA, four Officers and 991 died of disease, 46 officers WIA. Firearms to the total of 7,424 and 45,018 rounds of Ammo were surrendered or captured along with 11,997 prisoners while 4,862 insurgents were KIA.

1908

In 1908 the Constabulary force consisted of 315 officers and 4573 other ranks. There were no Scouts assigned to help. The Constabulary received 3,365 Krags to replace Springfields. Actions now were based on patrols not mass troop movements. Either Lts or Capts commanded patrols and were 20-25 men, both regular army and Constabulary were sent into the bush to search and destroy insurgents.

1910

In 1910 the US Navy added four gunboats to help against the Moros. They were shallow draft with two three-pounders (one on the fore castle and one on the fan tail, two one-pounders in sponsons amidships, two colt automatic rapid fire guns using Krag ammo on the bridge. Landing parties were equipped with .38 calibre pistols, Krag rifles, shotguns and cutlasses. Each ship carried a crew of 35, with 15 filipinos in addition. The Navy worked in conjunction with the Constabulary who would force the Moros into their boats, from the jungle, to be attacked by the gunboats.

More Jungle Patrol

Introduction
Constabulary 1901-1910
Insurgents: Pulajans and Moros
Scenarios

More Jungle Patrol Part II

Figures
Infantry Actions 1903-1906