Battle of Santa Cruz (1899)

Battle of Santa Cruz

Battle of Santa Cruz, Laguna (48th Squadron)

Date	April 9–10, 1899
Location	Santa Cruz, Laguna
Result	U.S. victory

Belligerents

United States

First Philippine Republic

Commanders and leaders

Henry W. Lawton
Charles King

Strength

provisional brigade

Casualties and losses

1 killed
9 wounded

93 killed
40 wounded

For the WWII battle of the same name see: Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands

This Battle of Santa Cruz was a battle fought in the early stages of the Philippine-American War during General Henry W. Lawton's .

After defeating the Filipino nationalists at the second battle of Manila, General Elwell S. Otis, commander of the US VIII Corps, sent the 1st Division under Arthur MacArthur to the north to threaten the Filipino capitol at Malolos. At the same time, the 2nd Division under Henry W. Lawton was sent south into the Laguna province, to the Filipino stronghold located in the town of Santa Cruz.

On April 8, 1899, Lawton's division boarded a small fleet of cascos escorted by the gunboats Oeste and Napindan, on the Pasig River east of Manila and sailed towards Laguna de Bay. The flotilla did not reach the opposite shore of the lake until early afternoon the next day, because the pilots were unfamiliar with the river and frequently grounded the boats. At 10:30 a.m. on April 9, landing craft began offloading Lawton's troops south of the stronghold of Santa Cruz. Ashore in the afternoon of April 9, the troops set out for Santa Cruz in a long skirmish line, advancing through driving rain. At 5:45 p.m., the right flank, consisting of the 1st Idaho and 14th Infantry, encountered a defense complex of entrenchments and bamboo obstructions, through which they advanced slowly against resistance, until darkness fell, when the troops camped in the fields.

Early on April 10, General Lawton personally went ashore with the 4th Cavalry north of town. They advanced along the main road leading into the town. The road was lightly guarded until the approach to a bridge just outside the town, which was heavily guarded by the Filipinos. Lawton ordered a charge and a regular battalion supported by Idaho and Washington volunteers routed the local force. That same day, Lawton took control of Santa Cruz as the local units withdrew to Pagsanjan.

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