Battle of San Mateo (1899)
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Inconclusive
- Death of General Henry Ware Lawton
- Americans' 29th Battalion successfully cross the river at 11 am
- Filipino forces retreat from San Mateo
| Battle of San Mateo | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Philippine–American War | |||||||
 Death of Major-General Henry Ware Lawton during the battle | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Philippine Republic |
 United States | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Pio del Pilar Licerio Gerónimo |
Henry Ware Lawton † James R. Lockett | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 1,000 | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
|
40 killed 125 wounded[1] |
11 killed 13 wounded | ||||||
The Battle of San Mateo 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 a part of Rizal) between the forces of General Henry Ware Lawton, and General Licerio Gerónimo's Morong Command and a detachment of Tiradores de la Muerte.[2] Lawton was killed in the battle, making him the highest-ranking American commander to die in the Philippine conflict.[3]
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.[4]: 160 Lawton's force included Col. James R. Lockett's squadron of the 11th Volunteer Cavalry and Lt. Col. H.H. Sargent's 29th Battalion.[4]: 160 A monsoon flooded the river and muddied the trail.[4]: 160 [5]
