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.

https://twitter.com/indiohistorian/status/1224507211327643648?s=20

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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