A temporary camp was established and General Davis prepared messages in Arabic writing, which were immediately sent to the Sultan of Bayan, demanding his surrender by noon of May 2, or suffer the consequences.
These messages are known to have been delivered but they were not replied to.
PRELIMINARY FIRING.
During the night of May 1, the American outposts were fired upon frequently by the Moros, but they did not reply to the fire of the enemy.
At daylight camp was broken, and the column pushed ahead in the direction of Bayan.
The column was halted about one half mile from the first fort.
The Moro outposts opened fire on the Americans, but they were not replied to.
The Americans were waiting for twelve o'clock.
About one thousand yards to the right and front was a small clump of bamboo, several natives appeared there, firing a few shots and flourishing their weapons, all the time yelling like mad.
It was now plainly seen that the Moros were determined to have war.