Battle of Dolores River explained

Conflict:Battle of Dolores River
Partof:the post-war insurgency phase of the Philippine - American War
Date:December 12, 1904
Place:Eastern Samar, Philippines
Result:Pulahan victory
Combatant1: Pulahanes
Combatant2: United States
Commander1: Pedro de la Cruz
Commander2: Stephen Hayt
Strength1:1,000 Pulahan fighters
Strength2:43 troops of the 38th Philippine Constabulary Scouts
Casualties1:around~ 300 killed, countless wounded
Casualties2:37 killed38 rifles and countless rounds of ammunition captured

The Battle of Dolores River was an armed confrontation during the later part of the Philippine–American War, in which U.S. forces on the island of Samar launched a failed expedition against Pulahan militants.

Background

The Pulahanes in July 1904 slaughtered the people of Taviran and then burned the town of Santa Elena. In December, over a thousand Pulahanes besieged a detachment of native scouts in the town of Taft.

Battle

In December 1904, the 38th Philippine Constabulary Scouts, under Lieutenant Stephen Hayt, were on patrol along the Dolores River in an attempt to link up with the 37th Constabulary Scouts and another Constable Company led by Lieutenant Hendryx.

The 38th was ambushed en route, by over 1,000 Pulahanes. As the Pulahanes rushed, waving colorful banners and shouting "Tad-Tad!" (Cut To Pieces!) they were met with a volley of rifle-fire that stopped their advance. The Constables held their ground and repelled the attacks, inflicting heavy losses with accurate and steady rifle fire.

The Pulahanes were far greater in number, however, and they eventually enveloped and wiped out the entire scout force.

Aftermath

Of the 43-man contingent, the officer and 37 of his men were killed.[1] The Pulajans on the other hand, suffered much heavier losses. Estimates range as high as 300 dead before the Constabulary fell.

The Pulajan fighters were able to capture 38 Krags rifles, along with a large amount of ammunition.

Notes and References

  1. Foreman, J., 1906, The Philippine Islands, A Political, Geographical, Ethnographical, Social and Commercial History of the Philippine Archipelago, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons