In the Philippines, 1898-1906 or so, the US fought the Spanish, then the Filipinos, then the Moro tribes in that order. I've had this Lantaka (traditional cannon of many Countries in Asian Pacific area) for maybe 20 yeas but didn't have much of the background info on the circumstances of its capture until a few days ago when a web search turned up what I'd been missing. I'd searched the web for the same info in past years but then it just wasn't there. http://1-22infantry.org/history3/taraca.htm The capture inscription on it is hard to read as camouflaged by the bronze patina, but it says words to he effect: "Captured by Det. 17th. Artillery at Rogan River, Mindinao, April 9th 1904." This link goes to a fairly thorough rundown of the brief expedition on which it was captured. There are a number of places in it describing the US Army troops being fired upon by " Lantacas" and the capture of Lantacas is mentioned as well. The primary differences between this Lantaka and all others I've seen include 1. This bears a capture inscription 2. The small muzzle flare, certainly to enable aiming 3. The pintle shaft is bent due to recoil from firing projectiles 4. The vent ("touch hole") is eroded and larger than normal due to much firing. (Cited from: https://www.antiquers.com/threads/cannon-captured-in-1904.9844/#post-142383)

Link to history;

http://1-22infantry.org/history3/taraca.htm

22nd Infantry and 14th Cavalry crossing the Taraca River

From the Parker Hitt photograph collection, University of Michigan
This photo also appeared in the 1904 Regimental History

THE TARACA EXPEDITION

Major General Leonard Wood, commanding.
Troops engaged:
2nd and 3rd battalions 22nd infantry;
four troops 14th cavalry;
four companies 17th infantry;
six companies 23rd infantry;
and one platoon 17th field artillery

The object of this campaign was to subdue the Maciu Moros. Two columns participated in the movement.
The plan was for the larger column, under General Wood, to march from Camp Vicars around the southeast corner of the lake (Lanao)
and unite with the smaller column from Marahui at a point one mile south of the Taraca river, the latter column to force a landing
that could be used as a supply point for the entire command.

The third battalion of the regiment embarked at Marahui at two o'clock on the morning of April 2, and proceeded toward Taraca
in double column of boats manned by soldiers. A heavy fog hung over the lake; only by calling from boat to boat was the command kept together.
At half past six in the morning, after rowing for four hours and a half, the boats stood off about five hundred yards from the mouth of the Taraca river.
The fog had lifted, and many excited natives were seen running toward the cottas. When within the cottas, they at once opened fire on the passing boats,
accompanying the fire with jeers and insolent shouts. This continued for about half an hour, when the boats were out of range.

The native guides in the boats seemed to have little knowledge of the shore line on the eastern coast. The lake apparently merged into a huge marsh,
with tall swamp grass everywhere. Field glasses could discover no solid ground suitable for a landing and supply point. As the boats skirted the shore
in search of the ordered haven, armed natives were seen stealthily following the boats' course.

A mile south of the Taraca river, the column rounded a point. A break of a hundred yards in the marsh grass disclosed a diminutive bay;
behind it, solid ground.

Shutting off the bay from the lake was a line of bamboo piles surmounted by horizontal bamboo. Commanding the bay, fifty feet from the shore line,
was a pretentious cotta.

Toward this landing the column pulled its way. Fifty yards from the water's edge, Colonel Maus stopped the leading boat and explained,
through the interpreter, to the Moros congregated at the entrance to the cotta that he wished to land and to camp there, promising them
that they should not be molested if they were friendly. To this the head man replied angrily and insolently, ordering the command away
and saying that he should not permit the troops to land.

In accordance with orders, Colonel Maus expostulated with the head Moro; but all to no avail. The datto, for such he proved to be,
said that he had many women there. He was answered that if he was friendly and allowed the command to land, neither his women
nor any of his belongings should be molested.

As the parley continued, the Moros became more insolent. It was evident that their reinforcements were fast coming in.
Several times the interpreters gave warning that the Moros were getting ready to fire.

Meanwhile the boats had been ranged on the arc of a circle, broadsides toward the cotta. Suddenly swamp and cotta blazed with fire.
Bullets and slugs whistled through the air, struck boats, and splashed in the water. Lantacas, service rifles, Mausers, Remingtons,
and flintlocks delivered an almost perfect volley.

Company and boat commanders at once returned the shots; a Gatling and a Vickers-Maxim, mounted in boats, answered without a second's delay.
A strong converging fire was poured into the cotta and into the beach grasses north and south where gun-flashes were seen.
Two men were wounded in the early stage of the fight;* afterward American volleys prevented carefulness of aim on the part of the Moros,
and although boats were struck and many slugs from lantacas splashed in the water, there were no further casualties. And realizing that eventually
they should be driven from their stronghold, the Moros made their cotta a pandemonium of frenzied, demoniacal shrieks.
High above the sounds of musketry rose the shrill cries of baffled Moslem rage.

* Privates William H. Reed and John C. De Ginther, company M.

At the end of half an hour, the order was given to land and to charge the cotta. Shots were still coming from the Moros,
but eager arms raced the boats into the little bay. As the keels grounded, men sprang into the water, and silently, in good order, charged the cotta.
But the disheartened Moros had fled; the battalion was in possession of its first captured cotta.

At once it was seen that the fort from which had been delivered the main defense, the one visible from the lake, was only one
of twenty-four distinct cottas, all well built and admirably suited for defense. The remainder were not, however, so well defended,
and the Moros were quickly driven from them and out into the open, where severe losses were inflicted upon them.
The command buried sixty-five of the enemy's dead in the immediate vicinity of Pitud.

Strict orders forbade an advance, and although native strongholds could be seen in all directions, the battalion was compelled to camp
and await General Wood's column. As the command was not strong enough to guard the entire group of cottas, the one first captured was selected,
as commanding the landing; in it were camped the four companies.

On the morning of April 3, the command was increased by the second battalion of the regiment and by two troops of the 14th cavalry.
Many allegedly friendly natives presented themselves; some came bearing white flags, others carried American flags of Chinese make—
curious, thirteen-starred affairs that they claimed had been given them by former commanding officers at Marahui.
They came from parts of the lake that previously and afterward were openly hostile, but in the face of a victorious force they were loud
in their protestations of friendship. One battalion of the regiment had planted the American flag on hitherto unconquered Taraca's soil
and had sounded the death-knell to Maciu's power.

April 4, the larger column, under General Wood, completed its march around the southeastern part of the lake and went into camp on Taraca river.

April 5, the two battalions of the regiment captured and destroyed without resistance Lalabuan, an important group of twenty-two cottas.
Moros were encountered in these cottas; but under orders, the troops refrained from firing upon them despite the intense enmity
that had been engendered by many acts of treachery on the part of the Moros.

April 8, the battalions marched northward and camped at Delama. During the day, two Filipinos that had been in Moro slavery came in
under a flag of truce. On the following day, camp was made near the mouth of the Ramaien river.*

* Private Anton M. Andersen, company E, accidentally drowned, April 9, while working on the boats at the mouth of the Ramaien river.

These two marches were through swamps and unbridged streams. Camps were not reached until late in the afternoon;
many halts were necessary in order to investigate nearby cottas. On the morning of the 9th, a detachment was sent back to Patoan,
a cotta reported by the liberated slaves as containing arms and hostile to the United States. Although unoccupied the previous day,
the small detachment was fired upon when approaching the cotta; the fort was at once taken by assault, the occupants killed,
and a number of rifles and lantacas captured.

At Delama, the sultan of Ramaien endeavored to propitiate the second advance of Americans toward his territory,
by sending in a Moro purporting to be one of the men who had attacked the Pantar sentinel on the night of February 27, 1904.
This peace offering was a crippled slave, of no value as Moro property. Before bringing him in, his alleged captors had cut open one cheek with a kris.

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 4. HEADQUARTERS 22ND U. S. INFANTRY.
CAMP MARAHUI, MINDANAO, P. I.
April 11th, 1904.

It becomes the sad duty of the Regimental Commander to announce the death of 2nd Lieutenant Harry Parshall, 22nd infantry,
at this post on the 8th instant.
He was born at Fairfield, Wisconsin, October 31, 1877. Enlisting in the 20th infantry, November 15, 1898,
he served as private and noncommissioned officer of that regiment to October 14, 1901, when he was promoted 2nd lieutenant
and assigned to this regiment, serving with it until the date of his death.
Although suffering from ill-health with a disease which would prove fatal, he still remained with his regiment
to bear his share of its hardships and dangers in a foreign clime. His service has been characterized by loyalty, zeal, and efficiency—
an example of a faithful soldier's life which may well be emulated.
The usual badge of mourning will be worn by the officers of the regiment for thirty days.

BY ORDER OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL MAUS:
J. L. DONOVAN, Captain 22nd Infantry, Acting Adjutant.

Marion P. Maus

Graduated from West Point in 1874, served with the 1st Infantry in the Indian Wars
and Western United States from 1874-1894. Received the Medal of Honor
for actions in battle against the Apaches in 1886.

Appointed Lt. Colonel of the 22nd Infantry on June 28, 1902,
he temporarily commanded the Regiment in August and September of 1903.
He again was temporarily in command of the 22nd Infantry
from February 17 to April 23, 1904.

Though promoted to Colonel of the 20th Infantry on January 24, 1904,
Maus did not join that regiment until May 2, 1904.

Photo from the George Grantham Bain Collection (Library of Congress)

Except at Patoan, the marches of April 8 and 9, although through hitherto hostile country, were entirely without opposition.
The lesson at Pitud had been well taught; deputations of flag-bearing Moros continually met the command, making loud protestations
of their firm allegiance to the United States. One procession was headed with a transport flag, obtained, undoubtedly,
by ways and means not to be inquired into. Colonel Maus, as commanding officer, was offered many presents of fruit, eggs, and chickens.
Mud was knee-deep, but the marches were triumphal processions, resplendent with flags and fancifully attired "friendlies."

On April 10, the battalions returned to Camp Marahui. To the regiment had fallen the honor of being the first troops, American or Spanish,
to penetrate Taraca's stronghold.
Companies F and G had been ordered to Sapungan, near the mouth of the Taraca river, on April 5. On the 9th, while making a reconnoissance
to the west of Pitud, these companies were fired upon from a cotta belonging to Datto Gadapuan. In the face of heavy fire,
the companies charged the cotta and took it by assault.*

* Wounded in action:

Sergeant Claude M. Toney, company F;
Sergeant Theodore Huber and Corporal Samuel Treadway,company G.

Corporal Treadway closed with the Moro that wounded him, wrested away the kampilan, and killed the native with the latter's own weapon.

Moro Kampilan
The bottom edge is sharpened all the way from the crossguard to the tip.
The scabbard is two-piece, usually lashed together with rattan or flimsy bamboo strips, and thrown away when going into battle.
When the sword needs to be used immediately, the sword bearer will simply strike with the sheathed sword
and the blade will cut through the lashings, thereby effecting a tactical strike without the need to unsheathe the sword.
Primarily a two-handed sword, this example measures 41 inches long