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U. S. S. BOSTON, 2nd RATE,
Port Cavite, Manila Bay, May 3, 1898.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the
part taken by this vessel in the late action with the Spanish
fleet on the morning of May 1.
At
daylight the merchant ships off Manila were seen, and soon after
the Spanish fleet, close in to Cavite. This vessel was the sixth
in the column and brought up the rear. Several shots were fired
by the batteries in Manila, and two shots were given in reply.
At 5.35 [a.m.] action with the enemy commenced and was continued
at varying distances, steaming in a circle, until 7.35 a. m.,
firing with a fair degree of deliberation and accuracy. At times
the smoke was dense, interfering very materially with maneuvering
and firing.
The
Spanish fleet and shore batteries replied vigorously, and an attempt
was made with an improvised torpedo boat, but our fire was overpowering
and the enemy received heavy damage and loss.
In
obedience to signal, I withdrew from action at 7.35 and gave the
crew breakfast and rest.
At
11.10 the action was renewed and continued until the enemy ceased
firing and his ships were all burned, sunk, or withdrawn behind
the arsenal of Cavite.
This
vessel was struck four times by enemy=s
shot, doing no material damage. Our own fire destroyed three of
our own boats and badly damaged three others.
No
casualties occurred.
The
conduct of officers and men on this trying occasion was of the
very highest quality, and they bore themselves with courage and
spirit and entirely to my satisfaction. It also gives me pleasure
to bear witness to the courage and resolution of the Spanish fleet
and to say that they defended themselves creditably.
Very
respectfully,
FRANK WILDES,
Captain, U. S. N., Commanding.
The COMMANDER IN CHIEF,
Commanding U. S. Naval Force on Asiatic Station.
U. S. S. BOSTON, 2nd RATE,
Manila Bay, May 1, 1898.
SIR: In accordance with article No. 525, U. S. Navy Regulations of 1898, I have the honor to make the following report of the noteworthy incidents which came under my observation on board this ship during the engagement this day with the Spanish fleet and shore batteries at Cavite. This vessel being stationed at the rear of the column, did not come into action until after the other ships. Firing commenced from the port main battery at 5.35, and continued until 7.35 a.m. The quantity of ammunition on board at the beginning was as follows:
Main battery:
Full charges, 8-inch B.L.R 77
Reduced charges, 8-inch B.L.R. 91
Armor-piercing shells, 8-inch B.L.R 40
Common shells, 8-inch B.L.R. 147
Full charges, 6-inch B.L.R. 254
Reduced charges, 6-inch B.L.R. 138
Armor-piercing shells, 6-inch B.L.R. 60
Common shells, 6-inch B.L.R. 352
Shrapnel, 60-inch B.L.R. 4
Secondary battery:
Steel shell, 6-pounder R.F 663 Common shell, 6-pounder R.F 406 Steel shell, 1-pounder R.F 800 Common shell, 1-pounder R.F 258 Caliber, .45 55,660 Caliber, .38 16,100 Steel shell, 3-pounder R.F 608 Common shell, 3-pounder R.F 482 Steel shell, 47-Millimeter 576 Common shell, 47-Millimeter 513 Steel shell, 37-Millimeter 700 Common shell, 37-Millimeter 1,192
The guns were served rapidly and well. There being no quick and accurate method of finding the range, it was found that a considerable number of the shots apparently fell short. Had the ship been provided with a range finder the effectiveness of the firing would have been somewhat increased; as it was, the result was generally good. After passing the enemy a countermarch was made, and fire was opened with the starboard battery. This maneuver was repeated several times, until the enemy seemed to be silenced. During this part of the engagement full charges with common shell were used in all guns of the main battery. The guns generally worked well, but after an hour=s fighting it was found that most of the breech plugs of the 6 and 8 inch guns were expanded by the heat, so as to make it a somewhat difficult operation to close the breech. After firing the forward 8-inch for half an hour it was found necessary to put in a new gas-check pad, and the firing was then continued. The wire breechings of No. 2 6-inch gun (starboard) were carried away near the end of the firing. The lock of No. 3 6-inch (port) was disabled and a spare one substituted. The vent of the port after 6-inch became choked up about the end of the first engagement, and a spare mushroom was substituted. At 7.35 the fleet hauled off for a rest and consultation. The enemy=s ship Reina Christina and the smaller vessels had withdrawn behind the point and were on fire. The Castilla was apparently aground. This latter vessel was set on fire and abandoned by the enemy.
The action was resumed at 11.10 a. m., the starboard battery being first engaged. The reply was principally from the forts, but these were soon silenced. Advantage had been taken of the interval to put the battery in order again. The breechings on No. 2 6-inch were replaced by the gunner=s mate of the division. The guns were still very hot, and the breech plugs became still harder to work. The forward 8-inch gun was put out of commission for about twenty minutes from this cause. At 12.20 the ship was turned around and the port battery brought into play. At 12.40 p .m. Acease firing@ was sounded, a white flag having been raised at Cavite.
During the whole engagement the ammunition supply was kept up in a highly efficient manner. As soon as a gun was fired, another charge was on hand. It was intensely hot on the berth deck and in the magazines and shell rooms. Several of the after powder division were temporarily disabled from this cause, and men had to be taken from the second and third divisions to fill their places. The following quantity of ammunition remained on hand at the end of the action:
8-inch full charges, B.L.R 31 6-inch full charges, B.L.R 93 8-inch reduced charges, B.L.R 89 6-inch reduced charges, B.L.R 137 6-pounder steel shell, R.F 443 3-pounder steel shell, R.F 448 1-pounder steel shell, R.F 560 3-pounder common shell, R.F 482 47-millimeter common shell, R.F 513 8-inch shell, armor piercing, B.L.R 40 6-inch shell, armor piercing, B.L.R 60 8-inch common shell, B.L.R 99 6-inch common shell, B.L.R 210 47-millimeter steel, R.F 480 37-millimeter steel, R.F 520 6-pounder common shell, R.F 406 1-pounder common shell, R.F 258 37-millimeter common shell, R.F 1,192
The following very slight injuries resulted from the enemy=s fire: 4-inch shell pierced foremast 13 feet 7 inches above the upper deck, going through from starboard to port, cutting one swifter of standing rigging on port side; one 2-inch shell pierced turtle back 5 feet forward of port amidship 6-inch gun, 5 feet from gun deck; one 2-inch shell pierced ship=s side 14 inches above load line, passing through stateroom No. 5 on port side, exploding berth and drawers; one 2-inch shot pierced the outside shell of hammock netting on port side abreast after end of chart room, exploding on inside among some men=s clothing, setting it on fire; a shell grazed after part of the main topmast, just above the lower cap.
The
discharge of the after 8-inch gun, when it was pivoted to port
and fired across the deck, caused great damage in the rooms below
on the port side; the seams of the deck were opened to some extent.
Toward
the end of the first period of firing the electric-bell system
of communication with the central station became partially disabled,
the shock of the discharge breaking the wires.
The
ship=s boats were covered
with canvas with their sails disposed on the inboard side. They
received injuries from the discharge of guns in their vicinity
as follows:
First whaleboat: Side blown out and back broken; complete wreck.
First cutter: Starboard quarter blown off; 8 timbers and gunwale broken; planking all over opened and split; complete wreck.
Second cutter: Five planks blown out; bow timbers started, bow sagged; stern timbers broken away from fastenings and planking started; seams all opened; complete wreck.
Third cutter: Whole port quarter broken from fastenings; can be repaired on board.
Sailing Launch: Whole starboard strake on port side blown off; one after frame broken; can be repaired on board.
Dingy: Calking started; can be repaired on board.
Steam launch: Starboard side three planks blown off bow; wood ends started from stem; deck planks started; boat spread; planking on starboard side started from fastenings; calking generally started; can not be repaired on board.
There
were no casualties among the crew. The shell which pierced the
foremast did not explode, but scattered small pieces of iron from
the mast which slightly scratched one or two of the occupants
of the bridge.
Too
much can not be said in praise of the conduct of the officers
and men who came under my observation. Very few if any of them
had ever been under fire before, but their coolness was remarkable.
They were full of zeal, energy, and enthusiasm, and were untiring.
Where the conduct of all was so commendable it would be impossible
to single out any individual for special praise. One noteworthy
feature was the conduct of the Chinese messmen who were stationed
in the after powder division. While they are usually considered
entirely alien in their ideas and are not regarded as good fighters,
yet in this case they displayed as much zeal, bravery, and energy
as any other person. The uninterrupted ammunition supply in the
after part of the ship was largely due to their efforts.
The
three men, William Woods, seaman; Charles W. Lenderman and William
R. White, apprentices, first class, sentenced by general court-martial
to terms of imprisonment and who were made prisoners at large
the day before the engagement, displayed the same zeal, bravery,
and energy which characterized the rest of the crew.
Very
respectfully,
J. A. NORRIS,
Lieutenant-Commander, U. S. N., Executive Officer.
The COMMANDING OFFICER,
U. S. S. Boston, 2nd Rate, Manila Bay.
Continue
to Ship Action Reports: USS McCullochSource: Appendix to the Report of the Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, Annual Reports of the Navy Department for the Year 1898. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1898.
23 July 1999