Battle of Paye

The Battle of Paye was a battle during the Philippine-American War between the United States and the Philippines. It was fought on December 19, 1899, near San Mateo in what was then Manila province (now Rizal) between the forces of General Henry Ware Lawton, and General Licerio Gerónimo's Morong Command battalion and the Tiradores de la Muerte. Lawton was killed in the battle, making him the highest-ranking American commander to die in the Philippine conflict.

On December 18, Lawton and his men were en route to San Mateo along the Marikina River in a punitive expedition against Brig. Gen. Pio del Pilar's 1,000 force, which threatened the Marikina waterworks and the Manila wagon road to the north. Lawton's force included Col. James R. Lockett's squadron of the 11th Volunteer Cavary and Lt. Col. H.H. Sargent's 29th Battalion. A monsoon flooded the river and muddied the trail.

Battle

On December 19, the 11th captured Montalban, while Sargent's squadron made for San Mateo, approaching the Filipinos in rain and mist. The Filipinos forced Lawton's troops to scramble for cover in the rice fields.

Lawton walked up and down the line in a white rain coat and pith helmet, rallying his men even after his aide was struck. Lawton died from a Filipino sniper's bullet to the chest by the name of Bonifacio Mariano.

Sargent located a ford allowing his men to cross the river and drove the defenders from San Mateo.

Aftermath

The death of General Lawton proved to be a terrible blow to his solderis' morale and the U.S. public. Lawton's body was taken to Manila's Paco Park before his final burial at Arlington National Cemetery.

Before his death, Lawton had written about the Filipinos in a formal correspondence, "Taking into account the disadvantages they have to fight against in terms of arms, equipment and military discipline, without artillery, short of ammunition, powder inferior, shells reloaded until they are defective, they are the bravest men I have ever seen..."