Prepare for Action!

Upon the instant the Stars and Stripes appeared at every masthead, and simultaneously from all those ships went up a mighty shout, which struck upon the ears of the bewildered Spaniards like an echo from the infernal world, “Remember the Maine!”

Continuing The Battle of Manila Bay,
our selection from The New Pacific by Hubert Howe Bancroft published in 1900. The selection is presented in three easy 5 minute installments. For works benefiting from the latest research see the “More information” section at the bottom of these pages.

Previously in The Battle of Manila Bay.

Time: May 1, 1898
Place: Manila Bay, Philippines

Of the two channels for entrance, the commander chose the narrower one. The harbor was deep and broad, and he had little fear from mines at the entrance; passing that, he must take the chances.

Steaming slowly past Corregidor Island under cover of the darkness, with no lights visible except a stern-light on each ship, all hands at quarters, every eye strained, and every ear on the alert to catch the slightest sound, the fleet entered the bay. Signal lights could be seen flaring up now and then from the surrounding hilltops, presently to die down into the opaque valleys.

All that Saturday night and until the dawn of Sunday morning the Americans remained inactive, under the terrible strain of uncertainty, feeling their way in the darkness with steam enough only for steerage way. At twenty minutes past twelve a flash from the shore, followed by a dull report, and the swishing sound of a flying projectile, marked the first shot of this memorable encounter, the fire being drawn by a light from the furnace of the McCulloch as she passed. It was answered by a four-inch shell from the Concord. Two other shots from the fort, which flew wide of the mark, were answered by the Raleigh and the Boston, and all was still again.

At length through the grey dawn were seen the islands and the shore, Manila the city, a few trading-vessels not far distant, and Cavité the fortress, with its white houses and battlements; and there also, off the starboard bow and outside of Point Cavité, lay the fleet of the Spanish Admiral, Patricio Montojo y Parason, whose boast had so lately been that “not one of the Yankees should escape alive.” At the head of the column the Olympia steamed slowly forward, her battle-flag floating at the mizzen mast, followed by the Baltimore, two ships’-lengths astern, and then the others. The transports had been dropped some time before and were stationed out in the bay. Taking in the whole with one comprehensive glance, the Commodore quietly remarked upon the beauty of the scene, adding, “Those blue hills yonder remind me of Vermont.”

It was now five o ‘ clock, and the flagship signaled, “Prepare for action.” Upon the instant the Stars and Stripes appeared at every masthead, and simultaneously from all those ships went up a mighty shout, which struck upon the ears of the bewildered Spaniards like an echo from the infernal world, “Remember the Maine!”

Suddenly the Olympia changed her course, the other ships following, and swinging round in a wide curve passed along the Manila waterfront, then curving round again struck a course parallel to the line of the Spanish fleet. One or two mines or torpedoes exploded, disturbing the water, but no attention was paid to them, nor to the shots from the forts, nor even to those from Montojo’s ships when first they opened fire.

On came the battleships, Dewey with Lamberton and Reese, chief of staff and executive officer respectively, on the forward bridge of the Olympia, the men at their stations at the guns and in the magazines and shell-rooms, while in the conning-tower was Captain Gridley, alert and ready. The Spaniards now began their fire in earnest, and from ships and shore came a continuous shower of missiles.

“Hold fire until well in,” signaled the Commodore. Then presently came from the commander’s lips the words, “You may begin firing, Gridley.” And shortly afterward the signals for the other ships were given. “Open with all the guns.” “Fire as convenient.” And from a quarter to six until a quarter to eight the thundering of the Hotchkiss guns never for a moment ceased.

One after the other the American ships passed before the enemy, pouring in a broadside; then circling round and passing back, the starboard guns sent forth their deadly missiles. Five times the fleet thus made the circle. The first fire was concentrated on the Reina Cristina, as she came out from behind the pier, until she was bored full of holes by the tons of metal hurled into her from two eight-inch guns, seven five-inch, and ten six pounders. The most destructive single shot of the battle was that which struck the stern of the Spanish flagship as she wheeled disabled from the fight, and which crashed its way through the length of the vessel to the boilers, where it exploded, filling the air with fragments of wood and steel and the mangled bodies of the seamen. Sixty men and officers were killed, and the vessel was so disabled that the gallant Spanish Admiral was obliged to transfer his flag to the Isla de Cuba.

Meanwhile one of the Spanish torpedo-boats made for the transports, and another for the Olympia; one was blown in pieces by the rapid-fire guns of the Petrel, and the other by the machine guns in the tops of the Olympia.

Coffee had been served to the men at daybreak; and as the strain was severe, and the commander considered the battle practically won, at a quarter to eight the signal was given for the fighting ships to rendezvous at the anchorage of the transports.

As the warships came together, and one captain after an other made his report, all were amazed at the result. Not a ship had been disabled, and not a man killed. Some few had been wounded, and there had been many narrow escapes. A shot had passed entirely through the Baltimore but had struck no one. Another shot struck the deck of the Olympia, and yet another exploded just before reaching her bridge, where it would have struck. The Spanish guns were poor, and the gunnery worse, most of the shots falling short or flying wide of the mark.

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