Battle of Caloocan

Battle context

The Battle of Caloocan, fought five days after the American victory at Manila, was one of the opening engagements of the Philippine–American War. American forces under Major General Arthur MacArthur Jr. captured the city of Caloocan from Filipino forces led by Brigadier General Antonio Luna, reinforcing the pattern of American military superiority over the Philippine Republican Army established at Manila. The engagement was part of an offensive planned and led by MacArthur, and the American force of roughly 3,300 faced a Filipino contingent of approximately 5,000. Despite the capture of Caloocan, the battle did not deliver the decisive blow MacArthur had sought; Filipino resistance continued for another three years, signaling that territorial seizures in the opening weeks of the war would not translate quickly into a strategic conclusion.