Battle of Caloocan

This Battle of Caloocan was a battle fought in the early stages of the Philippine-American War.

Background
After the Battle of Manila on 4–5 February 1899, Filipino forces which had been pushed out of a strong position on the Santa Mesa ridge north of the City regrouped at Caloocan about 12 miles north of Manila. General Arthur MacArthur wanted to attack immediately, but was urged by General Elwell Otis to delay a few days to allow time both for reinforcements to be shifted into position and for the Filipino forces to concentrate into the Caloocan pocket.

Battle


At 4 pm on 10 February, after three hours of preparatory bombardment by the Utah battery of the 6th Artillery and naval gunfire from the USS Charleston and the USS Monadnock, MacArthur's 1st Brigade under General Harrison G. Otis began the ground attack and overwhelmed the defending Filipino forces. After a short, vicious fight at the town church, Filipino forces retreated towards Malolos, the capital of the insurgent First Philippine Republic.

Result
The capture of Caloocan left American forces in control of the southern terminus of the Manila to Dagupan railway, along with five engines, fifty passenger coaches, and a hundred freight cars. After consolidating control of Caloocan, the obvious next objective for American forces would be the insurgent capital at Malolos. However, General Otis delayed for almost a month in hopes that insurgent forces would be deployed in its defense.

Colonel W. S. Metcalfe was later accused by some of his men of having been responsible for the shooting of unarmed prisoners at this battle. Brigadier General Frederick Funston was accused of interfering with the investigation. Metcalfe denied the charges before a Congressional committee, which included Porter J. McCumber.

A few weeks later the Second Battle of Caloocan occurred.

Notes and references


14.65°N, 120.96667°W