Table Of ContentThe 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
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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
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Manila and Santiago
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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
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For Rainey S. Taylor Jr. and Colonel Al Schalk
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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
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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
