The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-02
THE PRECURSOR OF MANILA.
Capt. McDOugal's Brilliant Naval Feat
in Asiatic Waters in 1868.

VIM. E. Griffis, in Harper's Magazine.
Captain David McDougal was then in
search of the Alabama. His ship, the sloop
of war Wyoming, mounted six guns, two
of them being eleven-inch Dahlgrens. He
heard the news of the Pembroke from Min
lister Robert Pruyn at Yokohama. He de-
termined to cheer up his c0untrymen
Though without charts of the strait or map
of the batteries, McDougal ordered coal and
stores on board with all dispatch. He
learned the exact draught of the Japanese
steamer Lancefield. and was delighted to
find it greater than the Wwomings. On July
16, under a cloudless sky, without a breath
of wind, and the sea as smooth as tank
Of oil, the Wyoming, with her ports COW
cred with tarpaulin, so as to look like a
merchantmen, arrived in the strait. The
lieutenant in the forecastle called out that
he sighted two square-rigged vessels and a
steamer at anchor close in to the town.
Most of the Wyomings men and her Japa-
nese pilot had never been under fire. When
therefore, McDougal called out ''All right;
we will steer right in between them and
take the steamer" not a few aboard turned
pale at the thought of their captains thus
running amuck." Moreover, McDougal,
noticing the stakes that marked the chan
mel, and suspecting that the Choshiu guns
were all trained on it, ordered his man at
the wheel to run the ship inside, between
the stake line and the northern shore. The
Japanese pilot seemed paralyzed with terror
at the ships running so close under the bat
teries. Yet McDougal took his risks, with
full knowledge of the situation and
depths of water, and without foolhardiness.
Even before the ship was thus steered
the S-inch guns on the bluffs opened fire.
The American flag was hosted at about
lO:S0, and the artillery of the Wyoming be-
gan to play. McDougars wisdom was
quickly justified. Great red dragon-like
tongues of flame and white clouds Of smoke
revealed fresh batteries on the hills and be-
hind the town. Shot and shell screeched
through the air, but they flew ten or fifteen
feet above the heads of the Wyoming's men,
for the guns on shore had all been pointed
upon the channel. There were six finished
batteries, mounting in all thirty guns. The
three Japanese men-of-war carried eighteen
pieces, making forty-eight cannon opposed
to the Wyoming's six. The first Americans
killed were two sailors near the anchor, and
then marine named Furlong, from Maine
Excepting F'urlong, all the casualties were
in the forward division.
By 1O:50 a. m. the Yankee ship, now in
front of the town, dashed directly between
the steamer and the two briggs. The jap
anese gunners on the Lanrick. who were so
near that their faces could be seen, fired no
fewer than three broadsides from their
bronze twentyfour prounders, while the
muzzles of the Wyomings four thirty-two
Founders nearly touched theirs. The Lance
field, having her heavier guns pointed up
the channel, was not able to make use of
them, but fired swivels and muskets. The
Wyoming rounded the bow Of the steamer,
and when out into the clear water again
became the target of the batteries behind
the town and of one brig, the other brig
showing signs of sinking.
Unfortunately the wyoming grounded.
Seeing this. the heavily manned japanese
steamer began. to move, either to escape
ming and board her while stuck in the mud.
fortunately the Yankees propeller worked
the ship off, Then, neglecting the sinking
brig, the Wyoming maneuvored, in the ter
ribly swift stream, until the pivot guns had
the range of their splendid target. Then
both Dahlgrens spoke. Their shots so de-
field that the dgnitaries from under the
magnificent purple canopy got off in sculling
boats and were rowed away, while the sail
ors leaped overheard by the score, dotting
the water with topknots. Again McDougal
ordered the gunners of the eleven-inch
DahlgrenS to fire. At first they seemed to
pay no attention and the order was given
three or four times. The gun captain of the
forward pivot was only waiting to get the
exact range. The big shell struck the
Lancefeld at the waterline. passed through
the boiler, tore out her sides, and burst far
away In the town beyond. The frightful
explosion, casting out steam smoke ashes,
iron. timber and human beings, was sue
ceeded by a gurgling swell, under which the
steamer disappeared from sight. On her
way back. the Wyoming dropped shells with
marvellous accuracy into the batteries, one
of which was wholly destroyed.
At 1920 the firing ceased. Fifty-five shot
and shell had been fired within a space Of
one hour and ten minutes. Counting time
lost when aground, this meant more than
a gun per minute. The Wyoming was
hulled ten times, her funnel had six holes
in ii. two masts were injured. and the upper
rigging badly cut. The Choshiu clansmen
fired chainshot. grape, shell and round shot
from guns mounted on carriages of i'm
wide arc and to change their elevation
quickly. Their 100 rounds killed five and
wounded seven of our men. The loss of the
Japanese, beside one battery ruined and
two ships sunk. was probably over one
hundred.
After studying the original papers and
questioning numerous eyewltnesses, both
writer TO qualify his matured Judgment
that in the annals OF the American navy
no achievement OF a single commander IN
a single ship sUrpasses that OF David Me-
Dougal in the Wyoming at Shimonoseki
McDougaI set the mark for Commodore
Dewey. The Manila victory was on a
larger scale. II cannot have been mQralsy
80. ~