A Howling Wilderness - The Court Martial of Tony Waller (a play in four acts)

A Howling Wilderness - The Court Martial of Tony Waller

A Play in Four Acts – An unprofessional “treatment”.  

John S. Naylor – December 2, 2025

 

ACT I – Establishing the situation

Opens at Waller’s HQ in Olongopo, Philippine Territory. October 1902.

Marines sitting in office discuss with new join the exploits of Major Waller, a hero to many, and a proper ‘field Marine’ breveted for bravery in China.

A Navy Admiral, Frederick Rodgers visits Waller, finds him too drunk to get out of bed.

Later, the Admiral Rodgers tells Waller, a hero of the Boxer Rebellion, that he and a battalion of his Marines will be “loaned” to the Army to fight Filipino rebels on the island of Samar.

Waller meets with the Brigadier General Jacob Smith, who orders him to “Kill and burn! The more you kill and burn, the better you will please me. I want no prisoners, do you understand?” and turn Samar into a “howling wilderness”. Smith orders him to kill “anyone over the age of 10”.

Marine officers discuss the orders with each other. We’re introduced to the history and authority of General Order 100, “The Lieber Code”, which was used during the Civil War to crush the Confederacy. 

Waller accepts his orders but asks his subordinates if they heard the orders the way he did. 

Jokes about how the Army conquered the American West, and how Arthur MacArthur and MGen Adna Chaffee were pushing for “more drastic measures” against a populace that wasn’t operating by the rules of war. 

Punitive measures will extend to prisoners and non-combatants. 

 

ACT II – Kill and Burn!

Waller and his officers meet the survivors of the Balangiga Massacre. They describe how an armed company of Army veterans was “ambushed” by villagers working with the rebels, armed with bolos—short sharp machetes—and stolen Army rifles. Half of Company C wiped out at Sunday breakfast in the village square and in their beds.

Waller directs his officers to burn villages and crops in search of rebels. 

Waller directs moving locals into concentrated villages.

Waller bans any fishing without registered boats. 

Lt. Gridley ordered to fire on Filipino civilian fishermen.

Waller leads assault on rebel positions at Sohoton Cliffs, but his boats cannot manage stream’s current. Porter and Bearss become the heroes. 

Waller’s officers execute prisoner rebels in the villages. 

 

ACT III – The March Across Samar

Army officers discuss how they recommended Waller not try to cross Samar. The jungle is too thick, and the rivers unnavigable. 

Waller and his column struggle in the jungle. He divides his command as they fail to progress to any recognizable point. Their uniforms, bodies, and will deteriorate along the way.

Waller catches a porter stealing Waller’s bolo, takes prisoner.

Waller takes most fit Marines and makes a dash for safety “to get help”. 

As Marines walk into camp, or are rescued on the trail, they recount the breakdowns and leaving ten Marines behind.

Waller attempts to go back out in search of his command but winds up in hospital.

From his hospital bed, delirious, he orders execution of one Filipino for every Marine lost on the “hike”. 

His bad-news adjutant directs the executions. 

 

ACT IV – On Trial for Following Orders

Civilian administrators discuss how Teddy Roosevelt’s administration is sick of having to answer questions about atrocities occurring in the Philippines, a U.S. Territory.

Army generals discuss how some of their brethren have executed prisoners without trial, but not been charged. Accept that Waller is a fall-guy for the administration.

The Court Martial opens, and Waller admits he ordered the executions, but that he was within his rights as delegated by General Smith and civil administration of the Philippines.

Waller adamantly denies General Jacob Smith is to blame for his actions.

Admits that his command was in daily contact with Smith, through his adjutant with BGen Jacob Smith’s office. 

Smith turns on Waller and denies culpability—denies giving Waller extrajudicial powers. Claims he never issued the orders to murder.

Waller realizes Smith has forsaken him, has three officers testify on his behalf showing Smith issued commands.

Waller’s defense brings up the subject that Marines cannot be assigned to serve with the Army by anyone but the President, under Act for the Better Organization of the Marine Corps of 1834. Admiral did not have the authority to assign Waller’s unit to serve under Jacob Smith. 

Final scene at Waller’s deathbed. Over the past twenty-five years he’s been passed over for Commandant of the Marine Corps twice for his notoriety garnered as the ‘Butcher of Samar’. We find out BGen Jacob Smith was court martialed, found guilty and dismissed by the Army. 

fin

Alternate ending: In Oval Office TR and cabinet members discuss how to wash hands of the Philippines. TR assures cabinet members that Waller will never be made Commandant of the Marines.