Battle of Manila (1899)

For the Spanish-American War battle of the same name, see Battle of Manila (1898).

Battle of Manila
Part of the Philippine-American War
U.S. soldiers of the First Nebraska volunteers, company B, near Manila in 1899
Date February 4-February 5, 1899 Location Manila, Philippines Result American victory
Belligerents
United States	Philippines
Commanders and leaders
Elwell S. Otis	Emilio Aguinaldo
Strength
12,000 United States Troops	15,000 Filipino Troops
Casualties and losses
50-60 killed, 225 wounded, 2 artillery pieces captured	2,000 killed, wounded, or captured

The Battle of Manila was fought on February 4 and February 5 1899 between 12,000 Americans and 15,000 Filipinos, and was the first and largest battle fought during the Philippine-American War.

Background

One eyewitness account claimed that the battle began when Private William Grayson of B Company, 1st Nebraska Volunteers, on guard duty at Manila's San Juan del Monte bridge, fired the first shot to halt a drunken mob. Accounts of the details vary, but his memoirs describe the events as follows:

"There were repeated war alarms, and men not on duty were restricted to barracks. The insurgents, who controlled the Manila pumping station, often shut off the city's water supply. It was an insolent challenge, and an indication of what they could do. The Filipinos also were observed constructing new entrenchments and reinforcing the old ones.

"The Santa Mesa Road was looked upon by the insurgents as the gateway to Manila. It was at the San Juan Del Monte bridge crossing that they had fought many a battle against the Spanish. In fact, one of our artillery pieces now occupied the very gun-pit used by the Spaniards.

"The Filipinos seemed anxious to provoke us into a hostile act, and strict orders were issued to prevent any action on our part. Night after night they would cluster at the east end of the bridge and shout curses at our silent outpost.

"One insurgent officer was particularly abusive. He would gather a crowd of drunken natives, and they would march down to the bridge for the purpose of harassing and scoffing at us. They were encouraged by the apparently submissive attitude of the Americans, whom they had begun to look upon as cowards.

"On the evening of 4 February, Private Willy Grayson, Nebraska Regiment, was on guard duty at the bridge. At 8:30 P.M., the obnoxious officer and his pals, shouting the usual insults, assembled on the riverbank and proceeded to cross the span. Grayson called for the Filipinos to halt, but they kept advancing. Once again Grayson shouted, 'Halt!' The demand fell on deaf ears. The unruly mob pushed forward—all the while screaming drunken tirades at the lone sentry.

"Willy nervously pointed his rifle at the inciting officer. He never heard the gun go off. The sound of the shot cracked the air like broken glass, and gunfire immediately erupted all along the line. "The sound of the first shot had barely ceased to echo across the hills, when a large group of Filipinos, screaming at the top of their lungs, began a dash across the bridge. Their onrush was met and stopped by heavy volley fire from the Nebraskans.

The Bridge of San Juan del Monte in 1899

There is some controversy as to Aguinaldo's immediate intentions. He was away in Malolos when the conflict started on the 4th. That same night, a Filipino captain in Manila wired him in Malolos, stating that the Americans had started the hostilities.

Aguinaldo’s wanted to avoid open conflict with the Americans while maintaining his position of leadership with his nationalist followers. The next day (February 5) Aguinaldo sent an emissary to General Elwell Otis to mediate, saying "the firing on our side the night before had been against my order."

Otis was a veteran of the Indian Wars and reacted much as he might have to his Sioux opponents decades before: "Fighting having begun, must go on to the grim end."

Aguinaldo then reassured his followers with a pledge to fight if forced by the Americans, whom he had come to fear as new oppressors come to replace the Spanish.

"It is my duty to maintain the integrity of our national honor, and that of the army so unjustly attacked by those, who posing as our friends, attempt to dominate us in place of the Spaniards.

"Therefore, for the defense of the nation entrusted to me, I hereby order and command: Peace and friendly relations between the Philippine Republic and the American army of occupation are broken—and the latter will be treated as enemies with the limits prescribed by the laws of War."

Battle

Caught off guard by the sudden outburst, the Filipinos remained in their trenches and exchanged fire with the Americans. A Filipino battalion mounted a charge against the 3rd U.S. Artillery, routed a company of American soldiers, and succeeded in capturing a few artillery pieces for a little while. The Filipino troops had been caught unprepared and leaderless, as their generals had gone home to their families for the weekend. The American soldiers, in contrast, were ready and needed only to follow previously prepared planning. The next day, General MacArthur ordered an American advance, not bothering to investigate the incident of the previous night.

Even when their officers did arrive on the field, many influential leaders tried to stop the fighting. Aguinaldo sent emissaries to negotiate a cease fire. But both Otis and Arthur MacArthur thought the crisis should be brought to a head and refused to negotiate.

At daybreak the Filipinos were shocked when the Americans attacked. They were used to Spanish tactics of retreating into fortified cities after a night time raid. Brigadier General Arthur MacArthur's attack in the north captured the ridge overlooking Manila. (MacArthur was later promoted to Major General and became Governor General of the Philippines.) After initial confusion, Brigadier General Thomas M. Anderson's attack in the south captured the village of Pasay and Filipino supplies stored there.

The Filipinos were counting on an uprising by the citizens of Manila to divide American forces and interrupt American supply lines. Although some fires were set inside the city, no general uprising occurred. However, some small units of Philippine soldiers who had not been part of the force that routed, skirmished with the Americans for several days on the outskirts of Manila before being driven out.

Aftermath

While both sides suffered losses, the Filipinos suffered far greater casualties. The Americans suffered 50-60 killed and more than 200 wounded. The Filipinos in turn, suffered around 2,000 killed, wounded, or captured. The high casualty figures are due largely to the Americans use of artillery and warships, along with superior marksmanship and firearms.

Order of Battle

Utah Battery in action on McCloud Hill.

U.S.

VIII Corps - Major General Elwell S. Otis

• 1st Division - Brigadier General Thomas M. Anderson
  • 1st Brigade - Brigadier General Charles King
  • 2nd Brigade - Brigadier General Samuel Ovenshine
• 2nd Division - Major General Arthur MacArthur
  • 1st Brigade - Brigadier General Harrison G. Otis
  • 2nd Brigade - Brigadier General Irving Hale

Filipino

Emilio Aguinaldo

See also

• Battles of the Philippine-American War

References

• Agoncillo, Renato (1975), The Philippines : A Past Revisited, Tala Pub. Services
• Feuer, A. B. (2002), America at War: the Philippines, 1898-1913, Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 0275968219 {{citation}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |unused_data= (help); Unknown parameter |ISBN status= ignored (help)