Siege of Santa Cruz
Siege of Santa Cruz | |||||||||
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Part of Philippine Revolution | |||||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||||
Dictatorial Government of the Philippines | Spanish Empire | ||||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
Paciano Rizal Severino Taiño Jacinto Talcon |
Lt. Col. Alberti Don Antonio del Rio | ||||||||
Strength | |||||||||
10,000 men [1]: 430 |
700 cazadores infantry 2 gunboats[1] : 430 | ||||||||
Casualties and losses | |||||||||
Unknown but heavy |
Entire force surrendered 2 gunboats surrendered[1]: 430 |
The siege of Santa Cruz was launched by Filipino forces led by General
Prelude
When Filipino forces led by Emilio Aguinaldo liberated all of Cavite from Spanish control by the end of May 1898, the nearby provinces including Laguna were set to be next. Accordingly, starting June, Laguneño insurgents who joined the war of liberation in Cavite returned after its liberation, and as they returned to their home province their numbers were subsequently increased as huge numbers of local Laguneños rose up in rebellion.
Just a year before, disgusted and disillusioned with the death of
Siege
Gen. Paciano Rizal marched to Santa Cruz and were later joined by other forces led by Severino Taiño. Don Jacinto Talcon, and several other Laguneño commanders. They arrived at the town by June 24. The combined size of their forces amount to a total of 10,000 men under arms.[1]: 430 Meanwhile, Santa Cruz was defended by a detachment of 700 cazadores marksmen led by Lt. Col. Alberti, with the provincial governor Don Antonio del Rio assisting them. It was also defended from Lake Bay by two gunboats, Otalora and Oceania.[1]: 430 For more than 2 months, Filipino forces attempted to storm the town but each time were repulsed. The Spanish garrison only surrendered to the besiegers on August 30 once their commanders realized that further resistance was futile especially with the Philippine provisional revolutionary government in control of all provinces across the islands save for Manila. Favorable terms were secured and agreed on, including the surrender of the whole remainder of the garrison and two gunboats.
Aftermath
With the fall of the provincial capital of Santa Cruz, all of Laguna is now under Filipino control.
References
- ^ ISBN 9780332735498. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ The National Historical Institute, Paciano A. Rizal (PDF), archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-26, retrieved 2010-08-02