Battle of Paye

Battle of San Mateo
Part of the Philippine-American War
Death of Lawton
Date December 19, 1899 Location San Mateo, Morong (now Rizal), Philippines Result N/A
Belligerents
First Philippine Republic	United States
Commanders and leaders
Pio del Pilar Licerio Gerónimo	Henry Ware Lawton†
Casualties and losses
40 killed 125 wounded[1]	11 killed 13 wounded

The Battle of San Mateowas a battle during the Philippine-American War between the United States and the Philippines. It was fought on December 19, 1899, near San Mateo in Morong (now Rizal) between the forces of General Henry Ware Lawton, and General Licerio Gerónimo's Tiradores de la Muerte.^[2] Lawton was killed in the battle, making him the highest-ranking American commander to die in the Philippine conflict.^[3]

On December 18, Lawton and his men were en route to San Mateo along the Marikina River in a punitive expedition against Brig. Gen. Pio del Pilar's 1,000 force, which threatened the Marikina waterworks and the Manila wagon road to the north.^[4]:160 Lawton's force included Col. James R. Lockett's squadron of the 11th Volunteer Cavary and Lt. Col. H.H. Sargent's 29th Battalion.^[4]:160 A monsoon flooded the river and muddied the trail.^[4]:160

Battle

On December 19, the 11th captured Montalban, while Sargent's squadron made for San Mateo, approaching the Filipinos in rain and mist.^[4]:161 The Filipinos forced Lawton's troops to scramble for cover in the rice fields.^[4]:161

Lawton walked up and down the line in a white rain coat and pith helmet,^[5] rallying his men even after his aide was struck.^[4]:161 Lawton died from a Filipino warrior's bullet to the chest.^[4]:161

Sargent located a ford allowing his men to cross the river and drove the defenders from San Mateo.^[4]:161

Aftermath

The death of General Lawton proved to be a terrible blow to his solderis' morale and the U.S. public.^[4]:161[6] Lawton's body was taken to Manila's Paco Park^[7] before his final burial at Arlington National Cemetery.^[8]

References