Artifacts
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Six-inch projectile fired at the Spanish in Manila Bay, May or August 1898 from a ship in the squadron under the command of George Dewey, commodore and admiral.
In the collection of Columbia River Maritime Museum (CRMM). With thanks to Jeff Smith, Curator, and Sam Johnson, Director, CRMM. The donor’s grandfather, Captain William Gadsby, Company G, Second Oregon Regiment, US Volunteers, “retrieved the shell from a stone wall fortification after the battle.” UNCERTAINIES: Where was the stone wall? What ships carried six-inch guns? During which of two “battles” was the shell fired? May 1, 1898, the American squadron first fired in response to a few shots from Spanish fortifications along the City of Manila esplanade, the Lunetta Promenade, as well as from Fort San Antonio Abad and Fort San Augustin. Only USS Boston and USS Concord fired in response. Both carried six-inch guns. The squadron then turned toward Cavite, five miles distant, where the Spanish fleet lay. They sank the Spanish fleet, and in the process fired on Spanish shore batteries at Sangley Point and Cañacao. Boston, Concord, Raleigh and Baltimore were the only ships with six-inch guns engaged there, as the Battle of Manila Bay ended. All of the Spanish shore targets had stone walls.
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June 30, 1898, saw the arrival of the first American troops, including the Second Oregon and Captain Gadsby. They were accompanied by several more ships, but only one, USS Charleston, carried six-inch guns.
August 13, 1898 marked the Battle of Manila. This was a token battle arranged between the Americans and the Spanish, a “show of resistance” so that the Spanish could surrender with dignity without risking being overrun by the Filipino troops whose emnity toward Spain was high. A modest bombardment was mounted again Fort Abad, Fort Augustin, and some shore emplacements in Manila, by eight US ships, but only two, Raleigh and Charleston, carried six-inch guns. Within two hours, the Spanish surrendered Manila.
Therefore, depending on the timing and location of Captain Gadsby’s find, the shell’s origin and battle circumstances can be limited to the sources noted above.
This shell is one of 15 artifacts present in the Pacific Northwest connected with the actions at Manila Bay, actions that ushered in what some term “the American Century.”
A two-gun six-inch battery from USS Concord is at Woodland Park in Seattle. Conceivably, one of those guns could have fired CRMM’s shell. A two-gun, eight-inch battery from USS Boston is found in Hamlin Park, Shoreline, WA. Ten Spanish shore guns from Manila which may have fired at the US squadron can be found in Washington State, eight on-post at Fort Lewis (now, JBLM), and two at Memorial Stadium, Port Townsend, WA. A silver tea service donated by Washington citizens to the Olympia’s officers after the battles is on loan from the Navy to the Washington Governor’s Mansion.
Compiled by Les Eldridge, Executive Secretary, Washington State Friends of the USS Olympia (FOTO)
navycruiserolympia.com
lmeldridge@earthlink.net
August 13, 1898 marked the Battle of Manila. This was a token battle arranged between the Americans and the Spanish, a “show of resistance” so that the Spanish could surrender with dignity without risking being overrun by the Filipino troops whose emnity toward Spain was high. A modest bombardment was mounted again Fort Abad, Fort Augustin, and some shore emplacements in Manila, by eight US ships, but only two, Raleigh and Charleston, carried six-inch guns. Within two hours, the Spanish surrendered Manila.
Therefore, depending on the timing and location of Captain Gadsby’s find, the shell’s origin and battle circumstances can be limited to the sources noted above.
This shell is one of 15 artifacts present in the Pacific Northwest connected with the actions at Manila Bay, actions that ushered in what some term “the American Century.”
A two-gun six-inch battery from USS Concord is at Woodland Park in Seattle. Conceivably, one of those guns could have fired CRMM’s shell. A two-gun, eight-inch battery from USS Boston is found in Hamlin Park, Shoreline, WA. Ten Spanish shore guns from Manila which may have fired at the US squadron can be found in Washington State, eight on-post at Fort Lewis (now, JBLM), and two at Memorial Stadium, Port Townsend, WA. A silver tea service donated by Washington citizens to the Olympia’s officers after the battles is on loan from the Navy to the Washington Governor’s Mansion.
Compiled by Les Eldridge, Executive Secretary, Washington State Friends of the USS Olympia (FOTO)
navycruiserolympia.com
lmeldridge@earthlink.net
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The Olympia and her squadron are pictured in action at Manila Bay, May 1, 1898. USS Olympia leads USS Baltimore, Raleigh, Petrel, Concord and Boston against the Spanish squadron at Cavite, in the bight of Canacao Bay. The Spanish are led by their flagship, Reina Christina, and by the cruiser Castilla. Drawing by W.A. Rogers from a sketch during the battle by John T. McCutcheon.
Courtesy of the Hon. Gerry Alexander, former Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court. |
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Souvenir coin from the propeller of USS Olympia, with the cruiser depicted and Commodore Dewey’s order to the Olympia’s captain, Charles Gridley, “you may fire when you are ready, Gridley.”
Courtesy of the Hon. Gerry Alexander. |
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Brochure of the Cruiser Olympia Association, forerunner of Independence Seaport Museum of Philadelphia, after Olympia’s establishment as a museum ship in 1957. She had been decommissioned in 1921. Depicted are the ship, Dewey after his promotion to Admiral of the Navy, a five-star rank created for him, the ship’s helm and engine room.
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A second, earlier booklet of the Cruiser Olympia Association, predating the Zip Code address system (Note “Philadelphia 3, Pa.”). It was “published for the interest of school children and citizens of America,” and paid for by the Patriotic Order Sons of America.
Depicted are Dewey, the ship, drawings of the ship’s bell and one of her anchors. The brochure and booklet are courtesy of the Hon. Gerry Alexander. |
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An article from the December 1963 issue of “It’s the Water,” the Olympia Brewing Company employee newsletter.
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