Battle of Tirad Pass

Battle of Tirad Pass
Part of the Philippine-American War
Date December 2, 1899 Location Tirad Pass,Ilocos Sur. Luzon, Philippines Result Strategic Filipino Victory, Tactical American Victory
Belligerents
United States	Philippines
Commanders and leaders
Peyton C. March	Gregorio del Pilar†
Strength
500	60
Casualties and losses
30 dead and 9 wounded	52 dead and wounded

Tirad Pass

Location of Tirad Pass.

The Battle of Tirad Pass, sometimes referred to as the "Philippine Thermopylae", was a battle in the Philippine-American War fought on December 2, 1899, in northern Luzon in the Philippines, in which a 60-man Filipino rearguard commanded by Brigadier General Gregorio del Pilar [Gregorio S. Del Pilar] succumbed to 500 Americans of the 33rd Infantry Regiment under Major Peyton C. March, while delaying the American advance to ensure Emilio Aguinaldo's escape.

Background

The retreat of Aguinaldo through the mountainous terrain of which the pass provided a strategic bottleneck was protected by a rear guard under Gen. Gregorio del Pilar who had prior knowledge of the terrain of Tirad Pass (Pasong Tirad), and hunkered down to defend it while Aguinaldo made good his escape through the mountains. The hand-picked force of Filipinos constructed several sets of trenches and stone barricades, all of which dominated the narrow trail that zig-zagged up towards the pass. There were only 60 Filipino men while there were hundreds of Americans.

Battle

At about 6:30 in the morning of December 2, the Americans advanced up the trail and were met with a steady volley of fire, leading to several U.S. casualties. The Americans abandoned the idea of a frontal assault and instead sent elements of their force to outflank the defenders. Texan sharpshooters stationed themselves on a hill overlooking the trenches and proceeded to whittle down the Philippine rearguard with measured volleys. Nevertheless, the Filipinos continued to hold their ground, utilizing focused volley fire that repelled other advances by the Americans.

With the help of local villager named Januario Galut, another group of Americans were led up a trail by which they could emerge to the rear of the Filipinos' positions.

More than five hours after the battle began, Americans fell upon the flank and rear of the outnumbered defenders, killing or wounding some 52 of the 60 Filipinos. Among the dead was General del Pilar, shot through the neck at the height or end of the struggle (depending upon which eye-witness account is to be believed). The Americans lost 30 dead and 9 wounded, most of which resulted from the repelled frontal assault. Despite nearly total annihilation, however, the Filipinos held off the Americans long enough for Aguinaldo to escape.

According to Filipino writer and historian Nick Joaquin however, the main objective of the Americans was not to pursue Aguinaldo but to keep him away from linking up with the elite Tinio Brigade. In his critical book of essays "A Question of Heroes" he notes that Tirad Pass was an "exercise in futility" in that it only allowed Aguinaldo to "run to nowhere".

Aftermath

Del Pilar's diary was recovered among the possessions looted by the victorious Americans, who had stripped him bare of his military decorations, his uniform and his personal belongings, leaving him, as the eyewitness, correspondent Richard Henry Little wrote, "We carved not a line and we raised not a stone, But we left him alone with his glory". The exact wording of its poignant final entry, written on the night of December 1, differs somewhat between sources quoting it. Two versions are:

“

The General has given me the pick of all the men that can be spared and ordered me to defend the Pass. I realize what a terrible task has been given me. And yet I feel that this is the most glorious moment of my life. What I do is done for my beloved country. No sacrifice can be too great.

”

“

The General has given me a Platoon of available men and has ordered me to defend this Pass. I am aware what a difficult task has been given me. Nevertheless, I feel that this is the most glorious moment of my life. I am doing everything for my beloved country. There is no greater sacrifice.

”

Del Pilar's corpse lay unburied for days. Lt. Dennis Quinlan later buried his body and left a plaque, "Gen. Gregorio del Pilar, Died December 2, 1899, Commanding Aguinaldo's Rear Guard, An Officer and a Gentleman."

Memorials

Gregorio del Pilar's tomb (Bulacan Provincial Capitol plaza and his equestrian statue).

In honor of Del Pilar's heroism, the Philippine Military Academy was named Fort Del Pilar and a historical marker placed at the site of the battle.

The Battle of Tirad Pass and the death of Del Pilar was also commemorated during World War II when the Japanese-backed government of President José P. Laurel sought to re-kindle anti-American sentiment by reviving memories of the Philippine-American War with the creation of the Tirad Pass Medal. The design of the obverse (front) of the medal included a bust of Del Pilar and a view of Tirad Pass. The design of the reverse (back) includes the date 1944. The Tirad Pass Medal was the only military medal or decoration issued by the Laurel government during the Japanese occupation.