Landings
On April 8, 1899, Lawton's division boarded a small fleet on the Pasig River east of Manila and sailed towards Laguna de Bay. The flotilla did not reach the opposite shore of the lake because the pilots were unfamiliar with the river and frequently grounded the boats. At 10:30 a.m. on April 9, landing craft began offloading Lawton's troops south of the stronghold of Santa Cruz. Ashore in the afternoon of April 9, the troops set out for Santa Cruz in a long skirmish line, advancing through driving rain. At 5:45 p.m., the right flank encountered a defense complex of entrenchments and bamboo obstructions, through which they advanced slowly against resistance. After darkness fell, the troops camped in the fields.
Read more about this topic: Battle Of Santa Cruz (1899)