10/25/2026
An interesting note in the history of the Filipino fighting man
The performance of the Filipino auxiliary army in the Cochinchina War
The military history of the 19th century is often dominated by the narrative of Western great powers expanding their empires through the ruthless use of native colonial troops—frequently employed as mere human shields or "cannon fodder." However, the Cochinchina Campaign (1858–1863) in present-day Vietnam offers a starkly different historical account that challenges this stereotype. In this conflict, the Filipino auxiliary forces and the Spanish contingent demonstrated not only remarkable combat effectiveness but also a leadership doctrine rooted in the "brotherhood of arms" and the practice of leading from the front—ultimately securing a decisive victory over the Vietnamese imperial forces.
To understand the magnitude of their success, it is essential to examine the famous Battle of Kỳ Hòa in 1861. Period paintings depicting this fierce assault present a scene that challenges the prejudices of European colonialism: Spanish officers are not found sheltered in the rear, directing the advance from the safety of their horses. On the contrary, they are seen on the front lines, sabers in hand, leading the charge on foot and breaching the dense Vietnamese defensive palisades. Following them, without hesitation, are the Filipino *cazadores* (light infantry) and native soldiers—recognizable by their iconic straw hats or white *salacots*. This way of fighting side-by-side stemmed from a deep, professional mutual respect and a doctrine in which an officer had to earn the loyalty of his men by demonstrating equal or greater courage under enemy fire. The Filipino soldier was not an expendable resource; he was a comrade-in-arms, respected for his discipline and bravery.
The performance of the Filipino auxiliary army throughout the entire war was nothing short of extraordinary. In a theater of operations characterized by dense jungle, complex fortifications, and prolonged sieges, these soldiers demonstrated superior tactical adaptability. While the French troops—part of the allied coalition—were decimated by the hundreds due to tropical diseases such as malaria, cholera, and fevers in the swamps of Saigon, the Filipino forces possessed a natural immunity and acclimatization that kept them operational during the most critical moments. Their physical endurance, combined with their ferocity in close-quarters combat and bayonet assaults, made them the preferred shock force for dismantling the positions of Tự Đức’s imperial army.
Both the Spanish army and the Filipino troops were key, indispensable elements in winning the war. The Spanish army provided the veteran officer corps, the artillery, and the tactical leadership for an infantry with a centuries-old tradition. For its part, the Filipino auxiliary force supplied the ideal operational strength for the Southeast Asian environment—light, tireless, and highly disciplined soldiers who remained undaunted by the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Vietnamese. Together, they formed an exceptionally cohesive expeditionary force that withstood the siege of Saigon while cut off from the rest of the world, and subsequently shattered the enemy’s fortified lines, compelling the Empire of Vietnam to capitulate and sign the Treaty of Saigon in 1862. It was a resounding victory, forged through blood shed together in the mud and through courageous leadership—demonstrating that respect and leading by example on the front lines are worth far more than any form of coercion.
