Battle of Bacolod

American bombardment of the major towns on the island of Negros proved to be unpopular with the European powers. This is because it severely affected the livelihoods of their citizens most of which were destroyed along with other structures in the towns. Because of this, they asked the Americans to cease bombardments of areas with European citizens

The American brass meanwhile, although didn't think the Europeans will declare war, didn't want to further provoke the other powers so they ordered all ships to refrain from firing on major towns. One of the things they don't want is international condemnation as the news of the war will quickly spread in the U.S mainland and their attempts at downplaying the entire war as just a Tagalog Insurrection will be for nothing.

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Battle of Bacolod

The Filipinos didn't know that the American ships were ordered to refrain from firing thus were still keeping their distance from the major towns until Juan Araneta made the risky move of retaking Bacolod.

He had a few of his men enter the town as farmers looking to sell their produce. Their mission is to report about the position of the American ships, and existing American defenses.

As a few days passed and more reports came in it became clear that their chances of claiming victory is very low. The Americans have already setup proper defenses around the town and it looks like they are adequately supplied as well compared with their situation where they still lacked supplies and weaponry despite the rifles from Japan augmenting their current shortages.

There is also the fact that the guns of the American ships, and their canons on land are already aimed at the paths north, and east of the town ready to fire at a moments notice. The southern paths are noted to be less guarded as the paths south of Bacolod are already in American hands.

Nevertheless, he ordered his troops to continue the plan to retake the town as he saw it as vital to their communication with neighboring Panay, and Guimaras islands due to its location.

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As dawn broke, the Filipinos started their offensive on the outlying villages north, and east of Bacolod. A brief firefight ensued before the Americans are forced to retreat due to immediately being overwhelmed by the numerous Filipinos charging, and firing at them.

American messengers ran back to Bacolod to alert their commanding officers, who then ordered some troops guarding the south to reinforce the north, and east defense lines and told all of them to be ready for any attack. They also reminded all of their soldiers that their ships cannot support them if the Filipinos managed to get inside the town.

After a few dozen minutes, the first batch of Filipino soldiers appeared from the north and east at the same time with some charging with their bolos becoming a shield for their brothers firing from the back.

The Americans and their ships started firing killing all of the Filipinos charging at them. Unfortunately for the Americans, the marksmen, who have already retreated, killed a few of their soldiers.

Down to the south, a huge number of Filipinos assaulted the American defense line overwhelming the defenders and forcing them to retreat. The Filipinos aggressively chased down the Americans until they reached the town itself.

American messengers are quick to notify their superiors of the collapse of the southern defense line. They are surprised that the Filipinos managed to get past their patrols. They ordered a chunk of the men guarding the north and east to push the Filipinos back to an area where their ships are allowed to fire at.

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The Filipino breakthrough of the American southern defense line is immediately followed by another offensive towards the center of the town where an intense close quarters fighting ensued.

The Filipinos noticed the lack of fire support the American ships gave their comrades and started to become more aggressive in their attack.

American commanders responded by having the rest of the troops guarding the north and east to assist the defenders. This move became the signal for the Filipinos to move in from all sides of the town overwhelming even the American ships as they don't have enough turrets to cover the all the areas where the Filipinos appeared.

Seeing the situation spiraling out of control, American commanders ordered a full retreat back to the port leaving behind all the heavy equipment they have already installed. The ships are also ordered to fire at anything that tries to approach the port, completely disobeying a directive to not fire anywhere near the business center of the town.

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The civilians, Filipinos, and Europeans alike, watched from their windows as the Americans ran back to their ships while a handful, mostly Europeans, who had field glasses watched as the American ships slowly turned their turrets towards their location. It became clear that the Americans are willing to destroy any building near the port as long as their soldiers are safe.

These people immediately told their families and friends to run away from the port as the Americans are planning to bombard the area.

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The last of the American soldiers that arrived at the port told their superiors that the Filipinos are close and seemed hellbent on killing them. After they sailed back to their ships, their warships started shelling the port, and the streets and buildings next to it turning everything in the area into pieces of rubble and killing anyone unlucky enough to be in the area.

The battle in the town and its aftermath will be remembered by both sides as one of the most gruesome battles of the Philippine-American War.

More soldiers on the American side died by hacking, or their limbs being cut-off than by gunfire. Filipino deaths are double or triple than that of the Americans. Civilian casualties were horrific.

The Europeans are angered by this, especially because a few of their own countrymen were among the civilian casualties. Britain, France, and Germany condemned the United States and warned that they will take action if any more bombardments targeting civilian areas with European citizens happened.

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The Battle of Bacolod dealt a blow to the Americans in terms of their international reputation. This also meant that the war in the Philippine Islands is now being closely monitored by the great powers of Europe and news of the war will definitely easily spread across the mainland U.S.

For the Filipinos meanwhile, this battle gave them the information that the American ships are restricted on where they could fire. This started series of battles, known collectively as "The Battle of Negros" aimed at retaking all major towns in the island, and subsequently the rest of the small villages.

In the span of a few months, the Filipinos successfully kicked the Americans out of the island.