Battle of Paye

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Philippine-American War
Manila - Santa Cruz – Pagsanjan – Paete – Quingua - Zapote Bridge - San Fabian – San Jacinto – Tirad Pass - Paye - Siege of Catubig - Pulang Lupa - Balangiga - Mabitac - Moro - Lonoy massacre - Wood's March - Hassan - 2nd Taraca - Dolores - Siranaya - Malalag River - 1st Bud Dajo - 2nd Bud Dajo - Bud Bagsak

The Battle of Paye was a great morale boosting victory for the Filipinos during the Philippine-American War. It was fought on December 19, 1899 near San Mateo in Morong (now Rizal) between the forces of General Henry W. Lawton, and 200 Filipino riflemen under General Licerio Geronimo. In this encouner, General Lawton lost his life and his attack was repelled.

This also would be the climactic battle between the two forces. Lawton had successfully overrun the Morongs headquarters and destroyed a number of the Filipinos' supply and ammunition depots. On the other hand, General Geronimo enveloped and captured 140 of Lawton's command, also recapturing many of the towns that Lawton and his command had previously taken. This would be the final confrontation between the two forces.

The battle began while Lawton and his men en route to San Mateo, received fire from Filipinos under the cover of dense jungle and secure trenches in the town. Very few of the enemy were even visible.

Lawton's forces dug in, and engaged in a fierce fire-fight, during which Lawton walked up and down the line rallying his men. All the while in full sight of the enemy sharpshooters 300 yards away, a band of precious few the Filipinos possessed called "Tiradores del Muerte" or "Marksmen of Death." Cautionary warnings by his officers were shrugged off by Lawton. But Lawton's overconfidence soon got the better of him. Soon a sharpshooter's bullet found it's mark striking Lawton in the heart, resulting in near instant death.

The death of their commander, the highest ranking American commander to die in that war, was a terrible blow to Lawton's men, and after taking scores of casualties without being able to successfully retaliate, they withdrew. His body was borne through thicket and mud, for it was the rainy season, taking almost a day to transport to Manila for funeral rites at Paco Cemetery. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.

Before his death, he had written in a formal correspondence, "Taking into account the disadvantages they have to fight against in terms of arms, equipment and military discipline, without artillery, short of ammunition, powder inferior, shells reloaded until they are defective, they are the bravest men I have ever seen..."

Part of the reason that the Americans could not dent the enemy positions, was as the Filipino rifleman fell dead or wounded, a large number of bolomen were ready take his rifle and keep a steady stream of heavy fire.

The Filipinos rejoiced as their enemy retreated, and celebrated their first victory. The Morong Command would also see victory in other battles against the Americans. Many of the rifleman who fought in this battle, including Colonel Maximo Abad (the commander of the forces at Pulang Lupa), would later annihilate a company of American infantry in The Battle of Pulang Lupa.

All told, Lawton's command suffered around 14 killed and 15 wounded.

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