I have always heard it called the Philippines Insurrection.
It was not the Spanish American war tho it did evolve from our getting the Philippines in that war.
I believe you’re right. IIRC, the standard pistol then in use by US marines did not have enough stopping power to take down drugged up Moro fighters. They eventually switched to John Browning’s new .45 ACP pistol and ... problem more or less solved. One COM shot and they’re on the ground, and it’s much faster to reload a spare magazine than six cartridges into a revolver. The first part is a lesson the USMC has apparently re-learned.
My wife’s grandfather was in the Spanish American War and i’ve never heard it refered to as anything else.
The modern generation of idiots suck!
In addition to getting high on drugs before attacking the US troops, the Moros would also wrap multiple layers of vines around their torsos, which helped slow or stop bullets and bayonets.
Then-lieutenant Fuller was rushed by a vine-wrapped Moro who was wielding a machete. His first five rounds failed to stop the Moro, who slashed him across the body, from right shoulder to left hip, with his machete. As he was going down, Fuller managed to put his last round into his attacker's throat, killing him and saving his own life.