Battle of Imus
The Battle of Imus (Filipino: Labanan sa Imus, Spanish: Batalla de Imus), or the siege of Imus (Filipino: Pagkubkob sa Imus, Spanish: El Cerco de Imus), was the first major battle of the Philippine revolution against the Spanish colonial government in the province of Cavite. It was fought between September 1–3, 1896 at Imus, Cavite province in the Philippines, right after Bonifacio's attack on the gunpowder magazine at the Battle of San Juan del Monte in Manila.[2]
Background[edit]
The revolution began in Cavite province shortly after it joined the pro-independence Katipunan revolutionary movement under Andres Bonifacio. Emilio Aguinaldo began the revolution in the province by staging the Kawit Revolt on August 31, 1896. He had gathered more men and armament for the imminent combat with the Spanish troops stationed in the province, and as time went on he and his men destroyed several Spanish units along the way, prompting the Spaniards to meet the revolutionaries in battle. The Spanish military commander in the province, Brigadier General Ernesto de Aguirre, felt confident that he could defeat the Caviteño fighters as his units are more properly armed and fed.
The town of Imus was the rebels' great strategic point. The town itself, situated in the center of a large well-watered plain, surrounded by agricultural land with a mere collection of wooded and bamboo dwellings. The distance from Manila, in straight line, would be about 14 miles, with good roads leading to the bay-shore towns. The people were very poor, being tenants or dependents of the friars, hence the only building of importance was the estate house of the Recollects (on what is now Cuartel or Camp Pantaleon Garcia). This estate house, situated in the middle of a compound surrounded by massive high walls, was a fortress through the eyes of the natives.
Prelude[edit]
Baldomero Aguinaldo, President of the Magdalo Council, led the first attack on Imus. Baldomero Aguinaldo rallied forth to Imus with a handful of men armed only with spears and bolos to test the reflexes of the Spanish defenders of the town. Emilio Aguinaldo and his men covered the rear in Binakayan against a possible attack coming from the marines stationed in Polverin in Kulaute. A contingent of civil guards on patrol, however, intercepted Aguinaldo and his men before they could make their way into the town plaza. A running battle ensued, resulting in a rout of the rebel forces. Aguinaldo, left isolated on the battlefield, escaped capture by feigning death.[3]
Battle[edit]
Opening phase[edit]
On the morning of Tuesday, September 1, Jose Tagle, the Captain Municipal of Imus with a force of around 100 men, went to Kawit to seek the help of Aguinaldo. The Spaniards, according to Tagle, had entrenched themselves in the church, and it would need to mobilize all available forces.
Initial attacks[edit]
The first to be attacked was the church and convent where Aguinaldo was told the friars and civil guards had barricaded themselves.
Failed Imus Estate House attack[edit]
Aguinaldo and his men braced themselves for the assault on the estate house with its fortification-like walls providing the friars and civil guards the protection against rebel attack. The Spaniards, led by Fray Eduarte were waiting for the rebel assault intending to wait out the reinforcements from Manila. Some rebels fired by their number, tried to rush the estate house, but they were met with gunfire that sent them back.
Regrouping[edit]
Aguinaldo regrouped his men and changed tactics. Aguinaldo and some of his men tore a hole through the thin walls and ran straight to the rice warehouses adjoining the estate house where the friars and the civil guards had taken sanctuary and poured petroleum on it. Rafael Sabater from Imus applied a torch. The refugees were unable to stand the thick smoke and raging fire dashing out of the warehouse to captivity.
In the words of John Foreman,[4]
Aftermath[edit]
After the battle of Imus, and because Kawit was under bombardment from Cavite port and the Spanish gunboats at Manila, Aguinaldo transferred his seat of government to Imus. The first revolutionary government then had Baldomero Aguinaldo as president and Candido Tria Tirona as War Secretary and portfolios for finance, natural resources, agriculture and justice. Aguinaldo had upped his title to Jefe de Abanderado (Flag Lt. General). An armament factory, the Imus arsenal, was also set up in the town.