Battle of Zapote Bridge (1897)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the battle during the Philippine Revolution. For the battle that
take place at the similar location during Philippine-American War, see Battle of
Zapote River.
Battle of Zapote Bridge
Part of the Philippine Revolution

Zapote Bridge (1899) two years after the

battle.
Date

February 17, 1897

Locatio
n

Zapote Bridge, Bacoor and Las

Pias(ManilaCavite provincial
boundary),Captaincy General
of the Philippines

Result

Filipino victory

Belligerents
Katipunan

Spanish Empire

Magdalo
Commanders and leaders
Emilio
Aguinaldo
Edilberto

Camilo de
Polavieja

Evangelista
Tomas
Mascardo(WIA)
Strength
about 10,000
regulars and
irregulars

12,000 men (1
division
ofinfanterias and
several regiments of
cazadores and
artillery)

Casualties and losses

450 killed,
900+ wounded

441 killed,
870+ wounded, 313
captured

[hide]
v
t
e
Philippine Revolution

Luzon
Pugad Lawin
1st Manila
Laguna
Bulacan
Tarlac
Pasong Tamo
San Juan del Monte

Morong
San Rafael
Camarines
Motin de Manila
Bataan
Agdangan
Pasong Kalabaw
Noveleta
Kawit
Nueva Ecija
Bacoor
Calero Bridge
Imus
San Francisco de Malabon
Lipa
Talisay
Batangas
Binakayan and Dalahican
Nasugbu
Balayan
Lian
Pateros
Kakarong de Sili
Naik
Zapote
Silang

Perez Dasmarias
Montalban
Mount Purog
Pampanga
Aliaga
Paombong
Biak-na-Bato
Camalig
Dagupan
Ilocos
Calamba
Alapan
Bolinao
Baguio
Baler
Tayabas
Lipa
2nd Manila
Masbate
Visayas
Aklan
Capiz
Cebu
Balisong
Batan
Lincud

Iloilo
Negros
Antique
Oton
Pilar
Sara
Jaro
Visayas Expedition
Mindanao
Calaganan
Zamboanga
Misamis
Davao
The Battle of Zapote Bridge was fought on February 17, 1897 as part of
the Philippine Revolution. Filipino revolutionary forces led by General Emilio
Aguinaldo defeated Spanish forces under the command of Governor-General Camilo
de Polavieja. In this battle, General Edilberto Evangelista (a Filipino civil engineer,
trench builder and member of the Katipunan) was killed.
Contents
[hide]
1Background
2Battle
3Aftermath
4See also
5References
Background[edit]
With the loss of the revolutionary battle and the opening of the second phase of the
war, the Spaniards began their campaign to recapture territories. This campaign
was in Filipino hands in the early phase of the revolution after the decisive battles

ofBinakayan and Dalahican in 1896. Governor-General Camilo de Polavieja now fully

aware that the mainweight of the revolution is in Cavite, decided to launch a twopronged assault which will defeat the revolutionaries led by Aguinaldo. He ordered
General Jos de Lachambre with a much bigger force to march against Silang to
take on the Katipuneros from the rear, while he himself will engaged the Filipinos
head on- known as "Cavite Offensive". More than 20,000 Spaniards marched
from Manila towards Cavite province to reclaim the provincial towns lost to the
revolutionaries. The revolutionaries then planned a counterattack to stop the
Spanish offensive in Cavite. The site of the battle was planned for Zapote Bridge
inBacoor.
Battle[edit]
Hiding his army of 10,000 regulars and irregulars in the bushes of the Zapotec
River's southern bank, armed only with spears,bolos and improvised firearms,
Aguinaldo ordered soldiers to plant dynamite along the bridge and place pointed
bamboo sticks in the river beds below the bridge. Several hours later, 12,000
Spaniards began to cross the bridge. The trap was sprung and the dynamite was
detonated, killing several Spanish troops and injuring many more. The rebels then
emerged from the bushes and fought hand-to-hand, repelling consecutive waves of
enemy troops charging across the river. During this fight Evangelista was shot in the
head and died.
After the battle, the demoralized Spanish soldiers retreated towards Muntinlupa. The
Filipino side suffered 450 casualties with more than 900 wounded. The Spanish side
suffered 441 casualties and approximately 870 wounded. In addition, 313 Spanish
soldiers were captured.
Aftermath[edit]
Aguinaldo and his troops resumed the liberation of captured Cavite towns little by
little following battles at Binakayan andDalahican. Two days later, however, the
Filipino offensive was halted when news reached Aguinaldo that the Spanish had
resumed their offensive after storming the rebel stronghold in Silang, Cavite. As the
Spanish forces were marching towardImus, the seat of Aguinaldo's faction,
Aguinaldo redirected his troops to Perez, Dasmarias, where the Battle of Perez
Dasmarias had begun.