The Battle Of Tirad Pass

Today in Philippine History (Philatelic Edition):

DECEMBER 2, 1899

The Battle of Tirad Pass was fought between General Gregorio del Pilar and 60 soldiers of the Philippine Revolutionary Army against 300 American troops from the US 33rd Volunteer Infantry Regiment commanded by Major Peyton March. 

Del Pilar was ordered by President Emilio Aguinaldo to block the American advances in Tirad Pass, a mountain gap in the Cordillera Mountain in Northern Luzon. 

The Americans were in pursuit to capture Aguinaldo. The well-positioned Filipino troops on top of the mountain could see the battalion of 300 US soldiers advancing. 

Firing erupted between the two forces then suddenly the Americans stopped shooting. 

Unknown to del Pilar and his men, a Filipino led the Americans to a shortcut that led them to the rear side of the Filipinos. The Americans started firing from the back killing a lot of the troops. 

When del Pilar saw his men fall one by one, he took out his diary from his pocket and wrote ”What I am doing now is for my beloved land.” 

He then mounted his horse holding his saber but a shot rang out hitting him in the neck that instantly killed him. The Americans rushed to where he fell and took his diary and his belongings including his boots and spurs. 

US Lt. Dennis P. Quinlan who saw del Pilar’s heroism ordered his men to bury the young general with military honors, and marked his grave with a headstone with the words: “GENERAL GREGORIO DEL PILAR, KILLED AT THE BATTLE OF TIRAD PASS, DECEMBER 2, 1899, COMMANDING AGUINALDO'S REAR GUARD, AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN."

(Design, concept, stamps and research: Richard Allan B. Uy) All rights reserved

Photo credit: Pintas.Iti.Ilocos.Sur.com