Battle of Lonoy

The Battle of Lonoy in 1901 was a bloody American surprise attack launched on Filipino insurgents that killed over 400 in the Philippine-American War. It was fought in Lonoy on Bohol Island.

Before the actual battle, the Filipinos had laid an ambush along a narrow path and carefully concealed themselves in camouflaged pits and trenches, awaiting the unsuspecting American column. These Bohol natives were even more poorly armed than the regular Philippine soldiers. Very few had actual firearms, while nearly all were armed with daggers, machetes, and spears.

Unknown to them, the Americans had learned of the ambuscade from a pro-American native, Captain Francisco Acala, the last Spanish Mayor of Jagna, Bohol during the Spanish regimes. who would lead the Americans to the rear of the Filipino defenses in a devastating surprise attack. The Filipinos were caught totally offguard and found themselves trapped in their own trenches where they were gunned down mercilessly.

In the battle that ensued, all but seven of the Bohol natives were killed. That number totaled 406, including their commander, Captain Gregorio "Guyo" Casenas. In striking contrast, American killed amounted to only three with ten more wounded, which came toward the end of the attack when the Filipinos tried desperately to counter-attack the Americans.

There were also a few Samareno (inhabitants of Samar) natives killed. Most of the Filipinos were killed, as was usually the case with the Filipinos, who fought almost to the last man on more than one occasion. Lone Survivor of the Lonoy Massacre: Loloy Lakar