A small fort in Macahambus Hill was the gateway to the headquarters of Western Mindanao Division in Langaon that was under the command of Col. Apolinar Velez y Ramos. On the early morning of June 4, 1900, Capt. Walter B. Elliot, commanding officer of the 1st company, 40th infantry regiment of the US volunteers, led an expedition to capture Macahambus Hill. The resistance fighters strengthened their defenses around the fort. As the American troops neared the hill, a sentry in a place called Kabula, Apolinario Nacalaban, ran to notify Lt. Cruz Taal, the fort commander. He and his men had very few ammunitions. However, they made use of two small cannons that were left behind by the Spaniards. They were entrenched along the side of the hill behind the breastworks from the entrance of the Macahambus pass to the gate of the fort. As the Americans entered the pass, cannons opened fire, breaking their formation. Many fell in the precipice. Boulders were also rolled down to quell further enemy advances. The Americans were forced to retreat, leaving many of their dead and wounded behind. Among the defenders, only one died-Apolinario Nacalaban, while three others were wounded. It took tremendous effort and careful strategy for the Americans to finally capture Macahambus Hill, until the resistance fighters weakened and retreated into the forest.