Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-06-15
BATTLE OF MANILA.
FIRST OFFICIAL MAIL ADvICEs RE-
CEIvED At WASHINGTON.
ADMIRAL DEWEY'S OWN STORY.
Modest Recital of the Remarkable
Victory Won in the Waters of the
Subordinntes.

WASHINGTON, June 1.-THE Navy
Department has made public the follow
ing letter, received from Admiral Dewey
yesterday being its first mail ad-
vices from him since he reached Manila:
Flagship Olympia, cavite, May 4. 1855.
THE squadron left Mrs bay on May
9th.
Arrived off Bolana on the morning OF
April Both; finding no vessels there, pro-
ceeded down the coast and arrived of
the entrance to Manila bay on the same
afternoon. The Boston and Concord were
sent to reconnoitre.
Port Subic A thorough search
Of the port was made by the Boston and
the Concord, but the Spanish fleet was
not found.
at MANILA.
Entered the south channel at 11:30 =.
NJ, steaming in column at eight knots.
After half the squadron had passed, a
battery on the south side of the channel
opened fire, none OF the shots taking eff
feet. The Boston and McCulloch returned
the fire. squadron proceeded across the
bay at slow speed, and arrived off Ma
Mia at daybreak; was fired upon at 5:l5
A. NJ. by three batteries at Manila ana
two near Cavite, and by the Spanish fleet
anchored in an approximately east and
west line across the mouth of Baker bay,
with their left in shoal water in Cana
Gao bay the squadron then proceeded TO
attack, the flagship Olympia, under my
AT
distance by the Baltimore, Raleigh, Pc
trel, Concord, and Boston. in the order
named, which formation was maintained
throughout the action.
THE ATTACK.
The squadron opened fire at 5:n A. NJ.
While advancing to the attack two mines
were exploded ahead Of the flagship, too
far off 10 be effective. The squadron
maintained a continuous and precise fire,
at ranges varying from 5000 10 1000 yards,
countermarchng in a line approximately
parallel to that Of the Spanish feet The
enemy's fire was vigorous, but generally
ineffective. Early in the engagement two
| launches put out toward the Olympia,
with the apparent intention OF using tor
| pedoes One was sunk and the other dis
abled by our fire and beacbed before an
| opportunity occurred to fire torpedoes. At
]
/ tina made a desperate attempt to leave
/ the line and come out to engage at short
/ range, but was received with such a gall
! ing fire, the entire battery Of the Olympia
/ being concentrated upon her, that she
was barely able to return TO the shelter
| Of the point. The fires started in her
| by our shells at this time were not extin-
guished until she sank.
BATTERIES IGNORED.
1.-THE three batteries at Manila had kept
up continuous report from the begin
ming of the engagement, which fire was
not returned by this squadron. The first
of these batteries was situated on the
south mole-head at the entrance 10 the
| Pasig river the second on the south
baston of the walled city of Manila, and
the third at Malate about one-haf mile
further south. At this point ! sent mes
sage to the Goverhor-General 10 the Ell
feet that if the batteries did not cease
firing the city would be shelled. This
had the elect Of silencing them. At 7:3s
A. VI. ceased firing, and withdrew the
squadron for breakfast. At l116 ~ NJ
returned TO the attack BY this time the
Spanish flagship and almost the entire
fleet were in flames. At 1913 p. VI. the
squadron ceased firing, the batteries be
ing silenced, and the ships sunk, burned
and deserted. At 12:4O r. NJ. the squad
ron returned and anchored off Manila
the Petrol being left behind TO complete
the destruction of the smaller gunboats
which were behind the point of Cavlte
This duty was performed by Commando
r. p. Wood in the most expeditions anc
complete manner possible
SPANISH LOSS.
The Spanish lost the following vessels
"Sunk-Reina Christina, Castillo, Dor
Antonio dc Ulloa.
Burned-Don Juan de Austria, lsla dt
Luzon. and Isla de Mindanao transport
"Captured-Rapido and Hercules tugs
and several small launches. L am un
able to obtain a complete account or th'
enemv's killed and wounded, but believe
their losses 10 be very heavy. The Rein;
Christina alone had one hundred aht
fifty killed, including the captain, an(
ninety wounded.
81 am happy TO report that the damas
done TO the squadron under my com
mand was inconsiderable. There was
none killed and only seven men In TN
squadron were very slightly wounded
Several of the vessels were strucl
and even penetrated, but the damage wa
|
as good condition now as before the Dat
tie.
| SPECIAL MENTION.
ST beg to state TO the department ina
| doubt if any commandments was
ever served by more loyal efficient, an
gallant captains than those OF the squad
ron now under my command. captain
Frank Wildes, commanding the Boston
volunteered to remain in command
his vessel although his relief arrived be
fore leaving Hongkong. Assistant-sur
eeon Kindleberger, Of the Olympia, an
! Gunner j. c. Evans. of the Boston als'
volunteered TO remain after orders de
| taching them had arrived. Inc conduc
of nv personal staff was excellent. com
rnander Is. p. Lamberton, CHIEF or stan
was a volunteer for the position AM
gave me most efficient aid. Lleutehan
Brunby, flag lieutenant and Ensign W
p Scott. aid, performed their duties
signal officers in a highly creditaole man
ner. The Olympia being short OF o1hcer
for the battery, Ensign H. IL. Caldwell
aav secretary. volunteered for and wa
assigned to a subdivision OF the 5-incl
battery. Mr.. ]. l.. Stickney, formerly a
| officer in the United States navy an
now correspondent for the New iorl
Herald. volunteered for duty as my alo
and rendered valuable service. desir
enecially TO mention the GOODNESS OF Lieu
I tenant G. G.. Calkins, the navigator oil IN
| OLYMPIA. who came under my persons
observation, being on the bridge WIN III
tbroughout the entire action ana giVih
| The ranges TO the guns with an accurae
mat was proven by the excellence oil IN
| sr,ng m, Nav ID the day following IN