Commander Edward P. Wood to Rear Admiral George Dewey, Commander, Asiatic Squadron
U.S.S.“PETREL”,
Manila Bay,
May 17, 1898.
Sir:-
I respectfully report that on May 11th, acting under instructions of Captain Dyer1 of the Baltimore, I landed a party in charge of Lieutenant Hughes2 upon GordaPoint, and destroyed a battery consisting of 3-7 inch Armstrong muzzle loading guns. In carrying out my instructions, he spiked the guns with rat tail files and tumbled both the guns and carriages from the platforms into the sea. They lay in the water about half submerged.
Very respectfully,
E.P. Wood
Commander, U.S.N.,
Commanding.
Source Note: CyS, DNA, AFNRC, M625, roll 363. Addressed below close: “The Commander-in-Chief,/U.S.Naval Force on/Asiatic Station.” Document reference: “#25-98.” Docketed: “U.S.S. ‘PETREL’,/Manila Bay,/May 17, 1898./Wood, E.P./Commander,/U.S.N.,/Commanding./Report of destruction of/a battery of 3 guns on Gorda/Point on May 11th 1898.”
Footnote 1: Capt. Nehemiah M. Dyer.
Footnote 2: Lt. Edward M. Hughes.
