On April 25, 1899, the Battle of Calumpit in Bulacan began as American forces under General Arthur MacArthur advanced from Malolos. Anticipating that the Americans might make use of the railway bridge crossing Bagbag River, President Emilio Aguinaldo ordered General Antonio Luna to have the bridge destroyed. However, not only was Luna nowhere near Calumpit - he and some 1,000 troops were at the time in Pampanga to "discipline" General Tomas Mascardo, who refused to comply with Luna's orders to report in Calumpit - Luna also ignored Aguinaldo's command to take down the railway bridge.
General Gregorio del Pilar, who was left in command of the sector, modified Aguinaldo's plan by cutting only the iron girders of the bridge. Deprived of sufficient cavalry and artillery support, which Luna took with him to Pampanga, del Pilar had to make do with the estimated 3,000 troops remaining in Calumpit.
The intention was to have the American artillery train collapse midway, but the bridge prematurely fell down before the train was able to cross it. Chinese porters helped bring the train through the river while American troops tried to cross it. Seeing how deep the river would be to be swum, Colonel (later General) Frederick Funston took some of his men to use rafts pulled by ropes. This action earned Funston the Medal of Honor by 1900.
The citation went: "Crossed the river on a raft and by his skill and daring enabled the general commanding to carry the enemy's entrenched position on the north bank of the river and to drive him with great loss from the important strategic position of Calumpit."
On the other side, Filipino troops were being bombarded by American artillery. Luna, who was only able to return with his troops when the battle was nearly a day old, attempted to push back the enemy. Perhaps beyond him, the Americans had already crossed the river, and in the ensuing fighting forced the Filipino retreat. The American command thought it was a reserve force, but in reality, it was Luna's belated return from Pampanga after the resolution of his affair with General Mascardo.
The Americans reported 149 casualties, while the Filipinos reported 200 casualties. American engineers were quick to repair the railway bridge. As for Luna, he recommended Aguinaldo to request an armistice. This led to a peace committee under Manuel Arguelles to be sent, but General Elwell Otis rejected their offer, thinking that it would give Filipinos time to rest. Aguinaldo's troops would later retake Calumpit on May 12, 1899, days after the Americans had left the town to proceed to Pampanga.
Learn more about Antonio Luna's career:
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