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84-514: The monument was erected to honor Admiral George Dewey , a hero of the Spanish–American War , for his victory in the Battle of Manila Bay . On May 23, 1901, President William McKinley visited San Francisco to break ground for the monument. Six months later McKinley was assassinated and was succeeded by his vice president, Theodore Roosevelt . On May 14, 1903, Roosevelt officially dedicated

168-485: A trident that represents Dewey and a wreath that represents McKinley. Legend holds that Aitken hired Alma de Bretteville Spreckels to model for the statue, but a 1902 article detailing the monument's construction stated that Aitken's model was Clara Petzold , who later became a noted photographer. Architect Newton Tharp designed the base and column within a budget of $ 45,000. The column, over 5 ft (1.5 m) in diameter and over 85 ft (25.9 m) in height,

252-473: A Spanish fleet was imperiled by the U.S. Navy. In August, life in Intramuros (the walled center of Manila), where the normal population of about ten thousand had swelled to about seventy thousand, had become unbearable. Realizing that it was only a matter of time before the city fell, and fearing vengeance and looting if the city fell to Filipino revolutionaries, Governor Jáudenes suggested to Dewey, through

336-508: A battle lasting just six hours. The Asiatic Squadron sank or captured the entire Spanish Pacific Squadron under Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón and silenced the shore batteries at Manila , with the loss of only one life on the American side from a heart attack. Didn't Admiral Dewey do wonderfully well? I got him the position out there in Asia last year, and I had to beg hard to do it; and

420-407: A bloodless solution with Jáudenes. On August 4, Dewey and Merritt gave Jáudenes 48 hours to surrender, later extending the deadline by five days when it expired. Covert negotiations continued, with the details of the mock battle being arranged on August 10. The plan agreed to was that Dewey would begin a bombardment at 09:00 on August 13, shelling only Fort San Antonio Abad , a decrepit structure on

504-631: A dispatch boat, and was often used as the Presidential yacht. In 1885, Captain Dewey undertook another tour of sea service, and for three years was in command of USS  Pensacola , familiar to him in the New Orleans battles, now flagship of the European squadron. Returning to Washington in 1893, he resumed the life of a bureau officer, being attached to the lighthouse board. In 1896, he

588-517: A military role model when he read a biography of Hannibal . Dewey entered the United States Naval Academy in 1854 at the age of 16. The conventional four-year course had just been introduced in 1851 and the cadet corps was quite small, averaging about one hundred Acting Midshipmen . Out of all that entered in his year, only fourteen stayed through the course. He stood fifth on the class roll at graduation. He graduated from

672-407: A newspaper reporter that: "Our next war will be with Germany." Dewey also angered some Protestants by marrying a Catholic and giving her the house that the nation had given him following the war. Dewey withdrew from the race in mid-May 1900 and endorsed William McKinley . In 1900, after his withdrawal from the presidential race, he was named president of the newly established General Board of

756-518: A potential war with Spain, which broke out in April 1898. Immediately after the beginning of the war, Dewey led an attack on Manila Bay , sinking or capturing the entire Spanish Pacific fleet while suffering only minor casualties. After the battle, his fleet assisted in the capture of Manila . Dewey's victory at Manila Bay was widely lauded in the United States, and he was promoted to Admiral of

840-632: A skirmish which left six Americans and forty-nine Spaniards dead when Filipino revolutionaries, thinking that the attack was genuine, joined advancing U.S. troops. Except for the unplanned casualties, the battle had gone according to plan; the Spanish had surrendered the city to the Americans, and it had not fallen to the Filipino revolutionaries. 19 American soldiers were killed, and 103 more were wounded in this action. General Anderson sent Aguinaldo

924-562: A telegram, later that day, which read: Dated Ermita Headquarters 2nd Division 13 to Gen. Aguinaldo. Commanding Filipino Forces.--Manila, taken. Serious trouble threatened between our forces. Try and prevent it. Your troops should not force themselves in the city until we have received the full surrender then we will negotiate with you. -Anderson, commanding. Aguinaldo however demanded joint occupation of Manila. On August 13 Admiral Dewey and General Merritt informed their superiors of this and asked how far they might proceed in enforcing obedience in

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1008-574: A very short space of time should you decline to comply with my Government's demands; and I hereby serve notice on you that unless your troops are withdrawn beyond the line of the city's defences before Thursday, the 15th instant, I shall be obliged to resort to forcible action, and that my Government will hold you responsible for any unfortunate consequences which may ensue. After further negotiation and exchanges of letters, Aguinaldo wrote on September 16: "I have given appropriate orders that my troops should abandon their most advanced positions within some of

1092-706: The Philippine–American War started. In 1902, Dewey testified during the Lodge Committee's investigation into alleged American war crimes against Filipinos. There, Dewey seemingly reversed his previous positions, stating that "neither the Filipinos nor the Cubans are capable of self-government" and the Philippines would "lapse into anarchy" if the United States granted them full independence. Despite

1176-540: The southern outskirts of Manila , and the impregnable walls of Intramuros. Simultaneously, Spanish forces would withdraw, Filipino revolutionaries would be checked, and U.S. forces would advance. Once a sufficient show of battle had been made, Dewey would hoist the signal "D.W.H.B." (meaning "Do you surrender? ), whereupon the Spanish would hoist a white flag and Manila would formally surrender to U.S. forces. Under this plan, Spanish forces would be defeated by American forces, while Filipino forces would not be allowed to enter

1260-595: The Academy on June 18, 1858. As a midshipman, Dewey first went to sea on a practice cruise aboard USS  Saratoga ; on this cruise he earned recognition as a cadet officer . As a result, he was assigned to one of the best ships of the old Navy—the steam frigate USS  Wabash . Wabash under Captain Samuel Barron was the new flagship of the Mediterranean Squadron . On July 22, 1858,

1344-587: The Americans, all while ensuring that the Philippine Revolutionary Army would be kept at bay. The underlying motivations for this meticulously coordinated sham battle were multi-faceted, encompassing both racist and political elements. Spain, being a predominantly white nation, sought to avoid perceived humiliation on the international stage by losing to the predominantly nonwhite indigenous Austronesians , Negritos , Malay Filipinos, and mestizos of Hispanic and Chinese descent who comprised

1428-402: The Americans. They had looked on the Americans as liberators aiding against Spanish occupation. On February 4, a U.S. Army private fired the first shot at a Filipino revolutionary soldier and Filipino revolutionary forces returned fire. This began the Battle of Manila of 1899 . Aguinaldo sent a ranking member of his staff to Elwell Stephen Otis , the U.S. military commander, with the message that

1512-471: The Belgian consul, Édouard André , that the city be surrendered to the Americans after a short, "mock" battle. Dewey had initially rejected the suggestion because he lacked the troops to block the Filipino revolutionary forces, but when Merritt's troops became available he sent a message to Jáudenes, agreeing to the mock battle. Merritt was eager to seize the city, but Dewey stalled while trying to work out

1596-487: The Captain-General. General Merritt soon personally followed, met with Governor General Jáudenes, and concluded a preliminary agreement of the terms of capitulation. Insurgents made an independent attack of their own, as planned, which promptly led to trouble with the Americans. At 08:00 that morning, Aguinaldo received a telegram from General Anderson, sternly warning him not to let his troops enter Manila without

1680-464: The Chinese waters of Mirs Bay . On April 27, 1898, he sailed from China aboard USS  Olympia with orders to attack the Spanish at Manila Bay . He stopped at the mouth of the bay late the night of April 30, and the following morning he gave the order to attack at first light, saying the now famous words "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley ." True to his word, Dewey defeated the Spanish in

1764-767: The Confederacy. Its access to the sea was protected by Fort Fisher , at the mouth of the Cape Fear River . A joint Army-Navy attack in December failed (the First Battle of Fort Fisher , December 7–27, 1864). A second attack came in January (the Second Battle of Fort Fisher , January 13–15, 1865). Colorado was engaged, and Dewey played a key role in her success. Colorado , being a wooden ship,

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1848-415: The Filipino forces. By preventing the Filipino forces from achieving victory at this crucial juncture, Spain hoped to maintain its image and reputation. Consequently, the outcome of this strategic maneuver left the American forces in control of Intramuros , the heart of Manila, while being encircled by Philippine revolutionary forces. As a result of the battle, American forces gained control of Intramuros,

1932-663: The Navy Department, which was the Navy's major policy‑making body. He remained in active naval service on the board until his death, and played a major role in championing the introduction of new technologies into the expanding U.S. Navy with his support of the development of naval aviation and the submarine. In 1866, Dewey was assigned to duty in the Portsmouth Navy Yard in Kittery, Maine , and there met

2016-730: The Navy in 1903. Dewey explored a run for the 1900 Democratic presidential nomination, but he withdrew from the race and endorsed President William McKinley . He served on the General Board of the United States Navy , an important policy-making body, from 1900 until his death in 1917. Dewey was born in Montpelier, Vermont , on December 26, 1837, directly opposite the Vermont State House , to Julius Yemans Dewey and his first wife, Mary Perrin. Julius

2100-475: The Philippine-Spanish War is commonly referred to as the "Mock battle of Manila". This unique and covert operation was meticulously planned by the local commanders of the Spanish and American forces, who were legally at war with each other. Their clandestine collaboration aimed to orchestrate a simulated battle that would facilitate the transfer of control over the city center from the Spanish to

2184-593: The Philippines and achieving victory in the Pacific. Emilio Aguinaldo had presented surrender terms to Spanish Governor-General of the Philippines Basilio Augustín , who refused them initially, believing more Spanish troops would be sent to lift the siege. As the combined forces of Filipinos and Americans closed in, Augustín, realizing that his position was hopeless, secretly continued to negotiate with Aguinaldo, even offering ₱1 million, but

2268-469: The Philippines at the time. Dewey and Aguinaldo at first enjoyed a cordial relationship, and Dewey wrote that the Filipinos were "intelligent" and well "capable of self-government." In August after ground troops arrived, Dewey aided U.S. Army General Wesley Merritt in taking possession of Manila on August 13, 1898, during the 1898 Battle of Manila , the "mock Battle of Manila", while Aguinaldo's troops, surrounding Manila, were kept out. In February 1899,

2352-561: The Secretary of the Navy asking that 50 Chinese sailors who had served with the Asiatic Squadron at Manila Bay be allowed to enter the United States. In Dewey's letter he noted that the Chinese had "rendered the most efficient services upon that occasion" and that they had "shown courage and energy in the face of an enemy." At that time an immigration law, the 1882 Chinese Exclusion Act , prohibited Chinese laborers from landing in

2436-608: The Spanish forces consisted of around 21,000 men, including 4,000 Filipinos, with the majority in Manila. However, Dewey's more accurate report showed that the Spanish forces numbered around 40,000 troops, including approximately 16,000 Filipinos, with about 15,000 situated in Manila along with nine artillery guns. By June, Filipino forces had taken control of most of the islands, except for the walled city of Intramuros . The first contingent of American troops arrived in Cavite on June 30,

2520-591: The U.S. on January 17, 1899. This battle marked the end of Filipino-American collaboration, as the American action of preventing Filipino forces from entering the captured city of Manila was deeply resented by the Filipinos. The war with Spain came to an end, but in February 1899, the Philippine–American War broke out. Tensions between the Filipino forces under Aguinaldo and the American Expeditionary forces were high. The Filipinos felt betrayed by

2604-672: The U.S. warships lying in Hong Kong harbour. Upon arrival, he learned that the Maine had blown up in Havana Harbor. Dewey was skeptical that the country would go to war, writing, "I don't see what we have to gain in a war with Spain." However, he was confident of victory, writing, "I expect to capture the Spanish ships and reduce the defenses of Manila in one day." As the war clouds loomed, Dewey assembled his squadron at Hong Kong and made preparations. The cruiser USS  Baltimore

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2688-538: The United States. Dewey had enlisted the Chinese sailors against the wishes of the Navy Department and, despite his very public entreatment that they be granted US citizenship, Congress refused to even take up the issue. On October 3, 1899, Dewey was presented a special sword by President McKinley in a ceremony at the Capitol building. The presentation of the sword was followed by a parade down Pennsylvania Avenue. Congress, by unanimous vote, had authorized $ 10,000 to fund

2772-657: The banks, and even occasionally by light artillery. In spring 1863, Union forces moved to take the Confederate fortress at Port Hudson, Louisiana , where at that time the Red River joined the Mississippi. Farragut attempted to pass the fortress with his fleet and cut it off upriver, thereby completing the Siege of Port Hudson . The attempt was made on March 14, 1863. In this action, Dewey saw fiercer fighting than he

2856-637: The barracks. Summarily, he entered the United States Naval Academy in 1854. He graduated from the academy in 1858 and was assigned as the executive lieutenant of the USS ; Mississippi at the beginning of the Civil War . He participated in the capture of New Orleans and the Siege of Port Hudson , helping the Union take control of the Mississippi River . By the end of the war, Dewey reached

2940-688: The beginning of the American Civil War , Dewey was executive lieutenant on USS  Mississippi , a steam paddle frigate assigned to the Union West Gulf Blockading Squadron . At the beginning of 1862, Mississippi was attached to David Farragut 's fleet for the capture of New Orleans . On the night of April 24–25, 1862, Farragut led his ships up the Mississippi River past the Confederate defenses at Fort St. Philip and Fort Jackson . Mississippi

3024-465: The blockhouses, trenches, and woods to his front, advanced and held the bridges and the town of Malate. This placed Manila in American possession, except for Intramuros. Shortly after entering Malate, U.S. troops observed a white flag displayed on the walls of Intramuros. Lieutenant Colonel C. A. Whittier, United States Volunteers , representing General Merritt, and Lieutenant Brumby, U.S. Navy, representing Admiral Dewey, were sent ashore to communicate with

3108-467: The center of Manila, while being surrounded by Philippine revolutionary forces. This event set the stage for the Battle of Manila in 1899 that marked the beginning of the Philippine–American War . Events/Artifacts (north to south) Events/Artifacts Artifacts After the American victory in Manila Bay on May 1, 1898, the United States Navy, commanded by Admiral George Dewey , blockaded

3192-544: The city of Manila . The United States organized the Eighth Army Corps as an expeditionary force under Major General Wesley Merritt . On May 16, the vanguard of the force departed from San Francisco under Brigadier General Thomas M. Anderson . Merritt requested information on the strength of the Spanish in the Philippines, which was provided by the American consul in Hong Kong . The information revealed that

3276-404: The city. This minimized the risk of unnecessary casualties on all sides, while the Spanish would also avoid the shame of possibly having to surrender Intramuros to the Filipino forces. On the evening of August 12, on orders of General Merritt, General Anderson notified Aguinaldo to forbid the insurgents under his command from entering Manila, stating "Do not let your troops enter Manila without

3360-482: The clear difference between his testimony and his earlier statements, Dewey stated that his testimony reflected the opinions he always held. Dewey was promoted to rear admiral in May 1898, and full admiral the following year. Returning to the United States on September 27, 1899, Dewey received a hero's welcome. New York City's September 1899 welcome-home celebration for Dewey was a two-day parade. When Boston paid tribute, he

3444-565: The company of women. In 1893, he was escorting two women aboard a warship when he unexpectedly ran into his son. Thinking on his feet, Dewey introduced his son as his younger brother. On November 9, 1899, after his triumphal return from the Far East, Dewey was married for the second time to Mildred McLean Hazen (1850–1931), widow of General William Babcock Hazen , in the rectory of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Washington, D.C. Since Hazen

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3528-520: The consent of the American commander, who was situated on the south side of the Pasig River . General Anderson's request was ignored, and Aguinaldo's forces crowded forward alongside the American forces until they directly confronted the Spanish troops. Although the Spanish were waving a flag of truce , the insurgents fired on the Spanish forces, provoking return fire. Though a bloodless mock battle had been planned, Spanish troops had opened fire in

3612-645: The decisive victory by Commodore Dewey 's Asiatic Squadron at the Battle of Manila Bay . The belligerents were Spanish forces led by Governor-General of the Philippines Fermín Jáudenes , and American forces led by United States Army Major General Wesley Merritt and United States Navy Commodore George Dewey. American forces were supported by units of the Philippine Revolutionary Army , led by Emilio Aguinaldo . The battle that took place in Manila during

3696-558: The famous frigate USS  Constitution , which was berthed at Annapolis as a training ship. Some tranquil years followed the end of Dewey's cruise on Colorado . For two years, from 1868 to 1870, he was an instructor at the Naval Academy. The next year he did special surveying work on the steam sloop USS  Narragansett . He was then briefly assigned to the Naval Torpedo Station at Newport, Rhode Island. It

3780-621: The flagship of the European Squadron . The admiral in command of the ship and squadron was Louis M. Goldsborough , and one of Dewey's companions was John Crittenden Watson —the same man, who, as rear admiral, relieved Admiral Dewey of his duties at Manila, when he wished to return to the United States in the summer of 1899. Lieutenant Commander Dewey was in charge of the vessels at the Naval Academy in Annapolis from November 6, 1867, through August 1, 1870. This duty included commanding

3864-413: The forts. This included CSS  Manassas , a small ironclad. Manassas tried to ram Mississippi , but Dewey safely maneuvered Mississippi to evade. Manassas then attacked Brooklyn and Hartford in the next division, and then turned back upriver. Farragut signaled Mississippi to run Manassas down. Dewey steered Mississippi into a ramming attack. Manassas dodged, but ran aground and

3948-678: The gift shortly after the Battle of Manila Bay. The elaborately decorated sword was custom-made by Tiffany & Co. Its hilt and fittings were made of 22 carat gold. The sword is now on display, along with uniforms and medals belonging to Admiral Dewey, at the National Museum of the United States Navy at the Washington Navy Yard . Many suggested Dewey run for President on the Democratic ticket in 1900. His candidacy

4032-543: The grade of commander . This residence in Washington as a bureau officer of high rank gave him an extensive acquaintance, and he became one of the most popular men in the capital. He was a member of the Metropolitan Club , the leading social club of Washington. In 1882, this leave of absence in Washington came to an end when he was sent to the Asiatic station in command of USS  Juniata , where he studied

4116-510: The latter refused. When the Spanish parliament, the Cortes , learned of Governor-General Augustín's attempt to negotiate the surrender of the army to Filipinos under Aguinaldo, it was furious, and relieved Augustín of his duties as Governor-General, effective July 24, to be replaced by Fermin Jáudenes . On June 16, warships departed Spain to lift the siege, but they altered course for Cuba where

4200-588: The matter. General Merritt received news of the August 12 peace protocol on August 16, three days after the surrender of Manila. Admiral Dewey and General Merritt were informed by a telegram dated August 17 that the President of the United States had directed: That there must be no joint occupation with the Insurgents. The United States in the possession of Manila city, Manila bay and harbor must preserve

4284-574: The monument, which "commemorates the victory of Admiral George Dewey and the American fleet over Spanish forces at Manila Bay, the Philippines, on May 1, 1898, during the Spanish–American War" and also is a tribute to the sailors of the United States Navy . Robert Ingersoll Aitken was hired to sculpt a 9-foot (2.7 m) statue representing Nike, the ancient Greek Goddess of Victory in honor of McKinley and Dewey. The statue holds

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4368-516: The peace and protect persons and property within the territory occupied by their military and naval forces. The insurgents and all others must recognize the military occupation and authority of the United States and the cessation of hostilities proclaimed by the President. Use whatever means in your judgment are necessary to this end. Insurgent forces were looting the portions of the city which they occupied, and were not confining their attacks to Spaniards, but were assaulting their own people and raiding

4452-513: The permission of the American commander. On this side of the Pasig River you will be under fire". On August 13, with American commanders unaware that a peace protocol had been signed between Spain and the U.S. the previous day, Dewey began his bombardment as scheduled. Dewey directed his ship captains to spare Manila any serious damage, but gunners on one ship, unaware of the negotiated arrangements, scored several direct hits before its captain

4536-475: The property of foreigners as well. U.S. commanders pressured Aguinaldo to withdraw his forces from Manila. Negotiations proceeded slowly and, on September 8, General Elwell Otis (General Merritt being unavailable) wrote, in a long letter to Aguinaldo: ... I am compelled by my instructions to direct that your armed forces evacuate the entire city of Manila, including its suburbs and defences, and that I shall be obliged to take action with that end in view within

4620-714: The rank of lieutenant commander . After the Civil War, Dewey undertook a variety of assignments, serving on multiple ships (including the USS  Constitution ) and as an instructor at the Naval Academy. He also served on the United States Lighthouse Board and the Board of Inspection and Survey . He was promoted to commodore in 1896 and assigned to the Asiatic Squadron the following year. After that appointment, he began preparations for

4704-577: The reason I gave was that we might have to send him to Manila. And we sent him — and he went! In the early stages of the Spanish-American War in the Philippines, Dewey and the Americans were aided by the Filipino nationalists led by Emilio Aguinaldo who had fought previously the Philippine Revolution and were attacking the Spanish by land after Dewey had defeated the Spanish at sea. There were no U.S. Army ground troops in

4788-401: The second under General Francis V. Greene on July 17, and the third under General Arthur MacArthur on July 30. By this time, some 12,000 U.S. troops had landed in the Philippines. By mid-June, some 40,000 Filipino revolutionaries under General Antonio Luna had dug fourteen miles of trenches around Manila. Filipino revolutionaries, seizing control of Manila's only pumping station, cut off

4872-659: The ship left Hampton Roads for Europe. Wabash reached her first port of call, Gibraltar, on August 17, 1858. She cruised in the Mediterranean , and the cadet officers visited the cities of the Old World accessible to them, often taking trips inland. Dewey was assigned to keep the ship's log . Wabash returned to the New York Navy Yard on December 16, 1859, and decommissioned there on December 20, 1859. Dewey served on two short-term cruises in 1860. At

4956-400: The situation with care and acquired information of immense importance ten years later. He was promoted to the rank of captain in 1884, and he was ordered home and given command of USS  Dolphin —one of the first four ships of the original "white squadron" , steam-powered ships with steel hulls which formed the basis of the modern United States Navy. Dolphin was officially classed as

5040-454: The suburbs, ... For all practical purposes, the fall of Manila brought about the end of the Spanish–American War in the Philippines. Merritt and Dewey finally received word of the peace protocol on August 16. Captain Henry Glass of the protected cruiser USS  Charleston had accepted the surrender of Guam on June 20, while en route to Manila, and Captain E.D. Taussig of the gunboat USS  Bennington claimed Wake Island for

5124-435: The water supply to the city. Eighth Corps had only one division , curiously numbered as the Second Division, and these revelations informed General Merritt of the relatively formidable opposition his force faced. With this knowledge, they could plan and strategize their campaign accordingly. The stage was set for an epic struggle as the United States aimed to confront and overcome the Spanish forces, securing their foothold in

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5208-402: The woman who became his first wife: Susan "Susie" Boardman Goodwin (1844–1872), daughter of New Hampshire's war governor , Ichabod Goodwin , a Republican who fitted out troops for the war at his own expense. The Deweys were married on October 24, 1867, and had one son, George. Susie died on December 28, 1872, five days after giving birth. The longtime widower cut a dashing figure and enjoyed

5292-462: Was Admiral of the Navy , the only person in United States history to have attained that rank. He is best known for his victory at the Battle of Manila Bay during the Spanish–American War , with the loss of only a single crewman on the American side. Dewey was born in Montpelier, Vermont . At age 15, Dewey's father enrolled him at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont . Two years later Norwich expelled him for drunkenness and herding sheep into

5376-457: Was Thomas E. Dewey , Governor of New York and two time Republican Party presidential nominee. Dewey attended school in the nearby town of Johnson . When he was fifteen years old he went to the American Literary Scientific and Military Academy. The school, better known as Norwich University , had been founded by Alden Partridge and aimed at giving cadets a well-rounded military education. Dewey attended for two years (1852–1854). Dewey found

5460-407: Was a physician who received his degree from The University of Vermont . He was among the founders of the National Life Insurance Company in 1848, a member of the Episcopal Church , and was among the founders of the Christ Episcopal Church in Montpelier. George was baptized and attended Sunday school there. George had two older brothers and a younger sister. Dewey's third cousin twice removed

5544-571: Was a Roman Catholic and Dewey was not, they were not permitted to have their wedding inside a Catholic church. The marriage was criticized by some anti-Catholic voices , as was Dewey's transfer to his wife of the $ 50,000 Washington mansion given to him by the American public through a fund-raising campaign. In later life, Dewey wore stylish clothes and a handlebar mustache, which was his trademark. His inherited wealth allowed him to live in comfort. He often went horseback riding with President Theodore Roosevelt in Washington's Rock Creek Park , and he

5628-442: Was a fellow member of Washington's prestigious Metropolitan Club . Battle of Manila (1898) Filipino-American victory [REDACTED]   Spain The Battle of Manila ( Filipino : Labanan sa Maynila ; Spanish : Batalla de Manila ), sometimes called the Mock Battle of Manila , was a land engagement which took place in Manila on August 13, 1898, at the end of the Spanish–American War , three months after

5712-403: Was abandoned. She was set on fire by a boat from Mississippi , and then shelled. Farragut's fleet then continued upriver and forced the surrender of the city. This was the first battle in which Dewey distinguished himself. For the remainder of 1862, Farragut's ships (including Mississippi ) patrolled the lower river. This was dangerous, as the ships were fired on by Confederate sharpshooters on

5796-404: Was able to cease firing and withdraw from the line. General Greene's brigade pushed rapidly through Malate and over the bridges to occupy Binondo and San Miguel The advancing Americans made good use of new weapons, such as the M1897 Trench Gun which was ideal for close combat. General Arthur MacArthur Jr. , advancing simultaneously on the Pasay road, encountered and overcame resistance at

5880-439: Was assembled from individual blocks weighing 40,000 lb (18,144 kg). Timbers over 100 ft (30.5 m) long were shipped from Oregon to support the block and tackle system used to construct the monument. The column stands on a square base with inscriptions on each side. George Dewey Spanish–American War Philippine–American War George Dewey (December 26, 1837 – January 16, 1917)

5964-399: Was dispatched to Hong Kong via the Republic of Hawaii . Dewey purchased the merchant colliers Nanshan and Zafiro , retaining their crews. The warships were repainted from white to gray. Upon the outbreak of war between the United States and Spain, the United Kingdom declared its neutrality and Dewey was ordered by Wilsone Black to leave British waters. The Asiatic Squadron moved to

6048-522: Was during this assignment that his wife died just after the birth of his son. In 1873, Dewey was given command of Narragansett and spent nearly four years on her, engaged in the Pacific Coast Survey. This entitled him to a period of rest ashore; and he was ordered to Washington , and made lighthouse inspector in 1880, and then secretary of the lighthouse board , a service in which he took great interest. Meanwhile, he had been promoted to

6132-444: Was ever to see again. Mississippi ran aground and was the target of concentrated enemy fire for half an hour, until she had to be abandoned. Dewey was among the last to leave the wreck. Dewey was highly complimented by his immediate superiors and by Farragut himself, who appointed him executive officer of USS  Agawam , a small gunboat the admiral used frequently for dispatches and his personal reconnoitering. This little vessel

6216-458: Was frequently under fire by concealed sharpshooters and temporary batteries. In July of that year a small engagement at Donaldsonville, Louisiana , resulted in the death of Captain Abner Read , of USS New London , and the severe wounding of his executive officer. Dewey was present, and was so conspicuous for gallantry that he was recommended for promotion on the strength of it. Meanwhile, he

6300-556: Was given temporary command of the frigate. In the latter part of 1864, after some service in the James River under Commander McComb, Lieutenant Dewey was made executive officer of the first-rate wooden man-of-war USS  Colorado , in the North Atlantic Blockading Squadron under command of Commodore Henry Knox Thatcher . By late 1864, Wilmington, North Carolina , was the only port left to

6384-589: Was greeted at City Hall by 280 singers from the Handel and Haydn Society who sang the anthem "See the Conquering Hero Comes" from Handel's Judas Maccabaeus . By act of Congress , he was promoted to the special rank of Admiral of the Navy in 1903, with his date of rank retroactive to 1899. A special military decoration , the Battle of Manila Bay Medal (commonly called the Dewey Medal ),

6468-482: Was not permitted, but Dewey was promoted to lieutenant commander . After the end of the Civil War, then Lieutenant Commander Dewey remained in active service, and was sent to the European station as executive officer of USS  Kearsarge —the famous ship that had sunk the Confederate privateer Alabama . Dewey's next tour of duty was in 1867 and 1868 as executive officer of USS  Colorado —the same vessel in which he had won his honors at Fort Fisher, and now

6552-444: Was one of only four Americans in history (the other three being Admiral William T. Sampson , Admiral Richard E. Byrd , and General John J. Pershing ) who were entitled to wear a US government-issued medal with their own image on it. Such was his high regard by the public that "Dewey" was the 19th most popular boys' name in 1898, jumping from 111th the year prior. Shortly after the Battle of Manila Bay, on May 31, 1898, Dewey wrote to

6636-410: Was placed in the line outside the monitors and other armored vessels but got a full share of conflict. Toward the end of the second engagement, when matters were moving the right way, Admiral Porter signaled Thatcher to close in and silence a certain part of the works. As Colorado had already received considerable damage, her officers remonstrated. But Dewey, who had now acquired marked tactical ability,

6720-447: Was plagued by public relations missteps. He was quoted as saying the job of president would be easy since the chief executive was merely following orders in executing the laws enacted by Congress and that he would "execute the laws of Congress as faithfully as I have always executed the orders of my superiors." He admitted to never having voted in a presidential election. He drew yet more criticism when he offhandedly, but prophetically, told

6804-480: Was promoted to commodore and transferred to the Board of Inspection and Survey . In 1896, Dewey applied for a sea posting as commander of the Asiatic Squadron. Although Dewey was a long shot for the position, his friend Theodore Roosevelt arranged for President William McKinley to select Dewey over a more senior officer. The Commodore hoisted his pennant on board USS  Olympia at Nagasaki in January 1898, and departed for Hong Kong in February to inspect

6888-527: Was quick to see the advantage to be gained by the move and the work was taken in fifteen minutes. The New York Times , commenting upon this part of the action, spoke of it as "the most beautiful duel of the war". When Admiral Porter came to congratulate Commodore Thatcher, the latter said generously: "You must thank Lieutenant Dewey, sir. It was his move." Nevertheless, Thatcher was promoted to rear admiral . He tried to take Dewey with him as his fleet captain when he went to supersede Farragut at Mobile Bay . This

6972-519: Was struck in honor of Dewey's victory at Manila Bay. It was awarded to every American officer, sailor, and Marine present at the battle. The medals were designed by Daniel Chester French , sculptor of the Lincoln Memorial , and produced by Tiffany & Co. of New York. Each medal was engraved with the recipient's name, rank, and ship. Since his own image appeared on the obverse of the medal, out of modesty, Dewey wore his medal reversed. Dewey

7056-472: Was the third in Farragut's first division, with Dewey at the helm. The first division (all big ships) kept near the west bank where the current was weaker and the water deeper; but this brought them right under the muzzles of the guns of Fort St. Philip. Dewey steered Mississippi through shallow water where he expected to run aground any moment. There was a squadron of Confederate gunboats waiting above

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