Lonoy massacre
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Lonoy in 1901 was a bloody American
surprise attack launched on Filipino
insurgent
s 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 camouflage
d 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 dagger
s, machetes, and spear
s.
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 mercilessly down.
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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
surprise attack launched on Filipino
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
insurgent
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
s that killed over 400 in the Philippine-American War
Philippine-American War
The Philippine–American War, also known as the Philippine War of Independence or the Philippine Insurrection , was an armed conflict between a group of Filipino revolutionaries and the United States which arose from the struggle of the First Philippine Republic to gain independence following...
. It was fought in Lonoy on Bohol
Bohol
Bohol is an island province of the Philippines located in the Central Visayas region, consisting of Bohol Island and 75 minor surrounding islands. Its capital is Tagbilaran City. With a land area of and a coastline long, Bohol is the tenth largest island of the Philippines...
Island.
Before the actual battle, the Filipinos had laid an ambush along a narrow path and carefully concealed themselves in camouflage
Camouflage
Camouflage is a method of concealment that allows an otherwise visible animal, military vehicle, or other object to remain unnoticed, by blending with its environment. Examples include a leopard's spotted coat, the battledress of a modern soldier and a leaf-mimic butterfly...
d 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 dagger
Dagger
A dagger is a fighting knife with a sharp point designed or capable of being used as a thrusting or stabbing weapon. The design dates to human prehistory, and daggers have been used throughout human experience to the modern day in close combat confrontations...
s, machetes, and spear
Spear
A spear is a pole weapon consisting of a shaft, usually of wood, with a pointed head.The head may be simply the sharpened end of the shaft itself, as is the case with bamboo spears, or it may be made of a more durable material fastened to the shaft, such as flint, obsidian, iron, steel or...
s.
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 mercilessly down.
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