Thread by @indiohistorian

#TodayinHistory in 1899, the Battle of Zapote River was fought bet. 5,000 Filipino troops led by Gens. Artemio Ricarte & Mariano Noriel, & 3,000 American troops by. Maj. Gen. Henry Ware Lawton. It was the 2nd largest battle in the Philippine-American War. (THREAD)#history #PH

Context: Since 12 June 1898, Filipinos have formed their own representative government, inaugurated on 23 January 1899, w/ its own army, constitution, unicameral congress, & president. It was the 1st republic in Asia. #ArawNgKalayaan tmblr.co/ZtGCUx2HX6x2n

On 10 December 1898, the Treaty of Paris was signed bet. Spain & U.S., selling the Philippines to the U.S. for $20M. This was despite pleas from the 1st #PH Republic, via its official representative, Felipe Agoncillo, to include it in the negotiations. He was rebuffed.

Tensions have been brewing, until the Philippine-American War broke out on 4 February 1899. The Treaty of Paris was not yet in force then since it needed U.S. Senate ratification. After the hostilities commenced, it was ratified.

With the fall of Malolos, the capital of the 1st #PH Republic, on 31 March 1899, the Filipino forces were on a defensive retreat. The Americans had the superior firepower, later on using Gatling guns, among others. tmblr.co/ZtGCUx1WVeh30

The Battle of Zapote River, although lasting for only a day, ending in Filipino defeat, it impressed the Americans. Led by 2 generals of the Filipino army, New York Times calls it "the largest and best organized body of men which had yet met American troops."

📷: A. Dumindin

Zapote River at the time formed a natural divide bet. the towns of Las Piñas and Bacoor. The U.S. side had 75 casualties, w/ 15 killed, while Filipinos had 500+ casualties & approx. 150 killed.


📷: Maps, "The Historical Atlas of the Republic" (2016) archive.org/details/histor…

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