Battle of Quingua

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict = Battle of Quingua


caption = Kurz & Allison print of the Battle of Quingua
partof = the Philippine-American War
date = April 23, 1899
place = Quingua — now Plaridel, Bulacan, Philippines
result = U.S. victory
combatant1 = flag|United States|1896
combatant2 = flag|Philippines|old
commander1 = J. Franklin Bell
John M. Stotsenburg †
Irving Hale
commander2 = Gregorio del Pilar
strength1 = 4th Cavalry
1st Nebraskan Infantry
51st Iowa Infantry
Utah Artillery
Ist South Dakota Infantry
strength2 = 700-1000
casualties1 = 15 Killed in actioncite web | last = | first = | title =Arlington National Cemetery Website:John M. Stotsenburg | url=http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jmstots.htm | accessdate = 2008-04-14]
43 Wounded in action
casualties2 = 13 Killed in action

The Battle of Quingua was fought on April 23, 1899, in Quingua — now Plaridel, Bulacan, Philippines, during the Philippine-American War. The engagement was a two-part battle. The first phase was a brief victory for the young Filipino general Gregorio del Pilar over the American Cavalry led by Major J. Franklin Bell, where Bell's advance was stopped. In the second phase of the battle, Bell was reinforced by the 134th Nebraskan Infantry and the Nebraskans routed the Filipinos, but not before they repelled a cavalry charge that killed Colonel John M. Stotsenburg.

Battle

The battle began when Bell and his men, while on a reconnaissance mission, came upon a strong position manned by Filipinos led by General Gregorio del Pilar. The Filipinos laid down heavy fire which halted Bell's advance. After a short firefight, Bell saw that he was in a badly-exposed position, and that his force risked being killed or killed. Bell sent for reinforcements, and the 134th Nebraskans came to his aid under Colonel Stotsenburg.

Once he entered the field, Stotsenburg ordered a charge, and the Nebraskan Infantry—Stotsenburg at their lead with a dozen or so Cavalrymen—rushed the enemy's position. The Filipinos held their ground and opened fire into the charging Cavalrymen. Stotsenberg was one of the first to fall, a bullet in his breast. Several of the Cavalrymen's mounts were also slain. The Filipino soldiers sustained the heavy fire, forcing the 4th Cavalry to retreat.

The Nebraskans, only 200 strong, advanced under the withering fire by the Filipino rifleman, who displayed accuracy never witnessed in previous battles. The fire was heavy and effective, but the Nebraskan line did not waver, and soon the two forces clashed in close combat. After a stiff fight, the Filipinos were driven into their secondary defenses. During the fight, the Nebraskan Infantry lost four killed and 31 wounded.

The Filipinos' secondary defenses seemed extremely formidable, and an American frontal assault might have resulted in extreme casualties. Having seen this, commanding General Irving Hale ordered an artillery bombardment upon the enemy lines. Two artillery pieces were brought up, which fired 20 shots into the Filipino positions. The powerful artillery barrage demoralized the Filipinos, who soon retreated before another attack by the Americans.

ee also

* Fort Stotsenburg

External links

* [http://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/sd/military/sp-am/lxx.txt South Dakota's Participation in the Spanish-American War]

References

* Pandia, Ralli (Feb. 1899) "Campaigning in the Philippines, Part 1", Overland Monthly, page images at Making of America, University of Michigan

Footnotes