In June 1898, President Emilio Aguinaldo ordered Manuel Tinio to form an expeditionary army and march north to lay siege to remaining Spanish forces in the Ilocos region.

[1] Initially led by Colonel Casimiro Tinio, the brigade prepared for conflict with the Americans by constructing defensive trenches in Pangasinan and La Union.

After disbanding and reorganizing as guerrilla units following a national council of war on November 13, 1899, they played a key role in delaying American pursuit of President Aguinaldo.

[2] On December 4, 1899, the brigade, comprising 400 riflemen and bolomen, fought in Vigan, suffering over 40 Filipino casualties and causing 8 American fatalities.

In February, Brigadier General James Franklin Bell intensified repression, destroying food supplies and evacuating populations to prevent guerrilla support.