[187] An unsigned draft of an order in Aguinaldo's handwriting dated Malolos, September 13 ( ?), 1898, [188] shows how tense was the situation while the question of withdrawal of the Insurgent forces from the city of Manila was under consideration.

It contains instructions for General Pio del Pilar, General P.Garcia and General Noriel or Colonel Cailles.

Their purpose is hardly open to doubt.
General Pio del Pilar was directed:-- "To have a detachment posted in the interval from the branch of the river of Paco in a northerly direction to the bridge and so on up to the Pasig river in the direction of Pandacan, the river serving as a line until the suburb of Panque is reached which will be under our jurisdiction.

Proceed to execute this order on its receipt, posting detachments where they are necessary and trenches will be made without loss of time working day and night.

Do not rest for by doing so we may lose the opportunity; beg of the troops to assist in the formation of intrenchments.