The first major study of the Spanish-American Manila and Santiago L War to be published in many years, this book Advance praise for ee T he U.S. Navy’s first two-ocean war k was the Spanish-American War takes a journalistic approach to the subject, e of 1898: a war that was global mrtaaesil almeskv iauan cnwght at tbhro yei nt lcoe owdanadhflyei’cirschs trh evaipaincd dateo str rhbsy.ey T w pthheaieoss pdtweleecot heirnrknvm odolieolnv-geeydd “csiskIrhniet tiaMccnahadle n nsAi alomavf aa ealnr lbdilc a tSathnateln e ptpsia raorigtnfoi cc,t iihJppieama lnW ptLsaae rrteo twki ceeiinpt phrari nScethpsse a.tn ih nLtes,e rraeee kfptreele elusltihsene gawsn ofiidtfrh slt ithiv-nheetlsaeyenr aedbcs aatcticontclugeon sub.t in ooAtgfs g rtfarrheopeamh ttiw c rSaeopla adn - M bseapttalreast aetd iM nb yas cnmoilpoae rBe, a wtyhi taahnn dtth eSena dntheticoaiugsisova edn ned a Cmvuaillb eas . During these battles in this quick, modern of the American Steel Navy. for anyone interested in the Navy and the War with Spain.” war, America’s “New Steel Navy” came of JAMES R. RECKNER a age. While the American commanders sailed Professor Emeritus, author of Teddy Roosevelt’s n to war with a technologically advanced fleet, Great White Fleet i it was the lessons they had learned from l Adm. David Farragut in the Civil War that a prepared them for victory over the Spanish. “Jim Leeke’s Manila and Santiago is a delightful re-visit to the men and events who a vaulted America onto the world stage via the Spanish-American war. He captures n This history of the U.S. Navy’s operations the spirit of the age with genuine heroes, plucky bluejackets, and splendid new steel d in the war provides memorable portraits warships like the Olympia, Oregon, Texas, and New York that quickly became icons for of the colorful officers who decided the a patriotic public.” S outcome of these battles: “Shang” Dewey BENJAMIN FRANKLIN COOLING a in the Philippines and “Fighting Bob” Evans author of USS Olympia: Herald of Empire n off southern Cuba; Jack Philip conning the Jim Leeke, a U.S. Navy veteran of t Texas and constructor Hobson scuttling the i Merrimac; “Clark of the Oregon” pushing his the Vietnam War, has spent his career in “Mr. Leeke has performed a great, scholarly service to the Navy and to the nation a battleship around South America; and Adm. journalism. On the staffs of several national by providing a lucid and compelling story surrounding the great naval battles of the g William Sampson and Commodore Scott magazines, he was a police reporter, life- often forgotten Spanish-American War. Beginning with brief anecdotes of the Civil o Schley ending their careers in controversy. style columnist, sportswriter, and business War and the officers it produced, who would go on to command the fleets at Manila These officers sailed into battle with a navy and technology writer. He is the editor and Santiago, the author goes on to pepper his narrative with observations from of middle-aged lieutenants and overworked of three books on the Civil War and the junior officers whose names would become synonymous with World War II. This bluejackets, along with green naval militia- author of a mystery novel and a nonfiction ‘must read’ study firmly establishes the Spanish-American War as the crucial tipping men. They were accompanied by numerous account of President Kennedy’s funeral. He point between the United States as a continental power and its future role as the correspondent who documented the war. lives in Morgantown, West Virginia, where Great Power of the 20th century. Manila and Santiago clearly explains how it was that he is the creative director and co-founder of the United States went to bed a republic, but woke up as an empire.” In addition to descriptions of the men who a communications and advertising agency. fought or witnessed the pivotal battles on CDR. HENRY J. HENDRIX, USN the American side, the book offers sympa- author of Theodore Roosevelt’s Naval Diplomacy: thetic portraits of several Spanish officers, The U.S. Navy and the Birth of the American Century the “Dons” for whom American sailors held little personal enmity. Admirals Patricio Jacket image: Battle of Manila Bay, 1 May 1898. Con- temporary colored print, showing USS Olympia in the Montojo and Pasqual Cervera, doomed to left foreground, leading the U.S. Asiatic Squadron in sacrifice their forces for the pride of a dying destroying the Spanish fleet off Cavite. Courtesy U.S. empire, receive particular attention. Naval Historical Center. Naval continued on back flap For more information on this and other Institute Jacket design: Chris Gamboa-Onrubia, Fineline Graphics LLC great books visit www.nip.org. Press Printed in the U.S.A. HISTORY • NAVAL 464-9 Leeke_DJ.indd 1 3/26/09 10:48:02 AM Leeke text final:Layout 1 3/4/09 8:26 AM Page i Manila and Santiago Leeke text final:Layout 1 3/4/09 8:26 AM Page ii Leeke text final:Layout 1 3/4/09 8:26 AM Page iii Manila and Santiago The New Steel Navy in the Spanish-American War Jim Leeke Naval Institute Press Annapolis, Maryland The latest edition of this work has been brought to publication with the generous assistance of Marguerite and Gerry Lenfest. Naval Institute Press 291 Wood Road Annapolis, MD 21402 © 2009 by Jim Leeke All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. ISBN 978-1-61251-414-7 (eBook) The Library of Congress has cataloged the hardcover edition as follows: Leeke, Jim, 1949– Manila and Santiago : the new steel Navy in the Spanish-American War / Jim Leeke. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 978-1-59114-464-9 (alk. paper) 1. United States. Navy—History—Spanish-American War, 1898. 2. Spanish-American War, 1898—Naval operations, American. 3. Spanish-American War, 1898— Philippines—Manila. 4. Spanish-American War, 1898—Cuba—Santiago de Cuba. 5. Warships—United States—History— 19th century. 6. Ships, Iron and steel—United States—History—19th century. 7. United States— History, Naval—To 1900. I. Title. E727.L44 2009 973.8’945—dc22 2009006331 Print editions meet the requirements of ANSI/NISO z39.48-1992 (Permanence of Paper). Printed in the United States of America. 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 First printing Leeke_Manila & Santiago_CIP.indd 4 6/5/13 10:12 AM Leeke text final:Layout 1 3/4/09 8:26 AM Page v For Rainey S. Taylor Jr. and Colonel Al Schalk Leeke text final:Layout 1 3/4/09 8:26 AM Page vi Leeke text final:Layout 1 3/4/09 8:26 AM Page vii The pleasant thing about fighting with the Spaniards, Mr. Ellis, is not that they are shy, for they are not, but that they are never, never ready. Jack Aubrey inMaster and Commander, by Patrick O’Brian Leeke text final:Layout 1 3/4/09 8:26 AM Page viii Leeke text final:Layout 1 3/4/09 8:26 AM Page ix Contents Author Note xi Part One. Thirty-Three Years (1865–98) Chapter 1. Fort Fisher 3 Chapter 2. The Doldrums 10 Chapter 3. The Commodore 15 Chapter 4. The Maine 23 Chapter 5. Inquiry 29 Part Two. Manila Chapter 6. Hong Kong 37 Chapter 7. Cruisers 46 Chapter 8. “God of Victories” 51 Chapter 9. Magistrate and Monk 57 Chapter 10. “Perfect Line of Battle” 62 Part Three. Santiago Chapter 11. “Fighting Bob” 77 Chapter 12. Cervera 83 Chapter 13. Battleships 90 Chapter 14. The Crossing 98 Chapter 15. Cienfuegos 104 Chapter 16. The Merrimac 111