Lieutenant Gilmore, of the United States Navy, and his fellow prisoners were detained in this building for a time.
On January 14, 1899, the people at Aparri shouted: “Death to the Americans,” and held a review to celebrate the rupture of friendly relations with the United States.[37]
At this time Aguinaldo had a dream about a victorious attack upon Manila and telegraphed it to some of his officers. General García replied from Caloocan on January 17 that the dream would come true as soon as the conflict with the Americans began.[38]
In January 21, 1899, Aguinaldo was still not quite ready, and ordered that the Filipino soldiers in the walled city keep on good terms with the Americans, in order to deceive them, “since the hoped-for moment has not yet arrived.”[39]
The Insurgents grew surer and surer that the Americans were cowards,[40] and openly boasted that when the attack began they would drive them into the sea.
On January 21 General Otis wrote to Admiral Dewey that:—
“The insurgents will not now permit us to cross their lines and have been very insulting to our officers, calling to them that very shortly they will give us battle. My best information is that they have fully determined to attack both outside and within the city before our additional troops arrive, and the least spark may start a conflagration.”[41]
As the date of the proposed attack drew near, the work of strengthening the Insurgent positions around Manila was pushed with all possible speed.[42]
About the middle of January General Otis stationed the First Nebraska Regiment upon the high ground at Santa Mesa for sanitary reasons. Of conditions at this time, and of the circumstances leading to the actual outbreak of hostilities Taylor says:—