Spanish-American War: Dewey Crushes the Spanish at Manila!

May 1, 1898 - Commodore George Dewey destroys the Spanish fleet at the Battle of Manila Bay (left). With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War, Commodore George Dewey, commanding the US Asiatic Squadron, steamed from Hong Kong to the Philippines with the goal of engaging the Spanish Pacific Squadron. Possessing old and obsolete ships, Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón hoped to fight the Americans while protected by shore batteries at Subic Bay. Steaming into Subic Bay in late April, Montojo was alarmed to find that the guns emplacements were not ready. Retiring back to Manila Bay, he anchored his squadron in shallow water near Cavite. On May 1, Dewey arrived, and after reconnoitering into Subic Bay, pressed on into Manila Bay. Spotting the Spanish ships, Dewey formed his squadron for battle with his flagship, USS Olympia, in the lead. Steaming in a oval pattern, his four protected cruisers and two gunboats pounded the older Spanish vessels. After two hours, Dewey withdrew to assess his squadron's status. Finding all well, he returned to finish off the Spanish. When the firing ended, Montojo's entire squadron was destroyed and he had suffered 371 casualties. Dewey's losses were a remarkable 1 dead (from a heart attack) and 9 wounded.

Photograph Courtesy of the US Naval Historical Center