Naval officer; born in
Montpelier, Vt., Dec. 26, 1837; graduated at the
United States Naval Academy in 1858; and served on the frigate
Wabash in the Mediterranean squadron until the beginning of the
Civil War, when he was assigned to the steam sloop
Mississippi of the West Gulf squadron.
On April 19, 1861, he was commissioned lieutenant, and was with
Admiral Farragut when the latter's squadron forced the passage of
forts St. Philip and
Jackson in April, 1862.
He also took part in the attack on
Fort St. Philip and the subsequent battles with gunboats and ironclads which gave
Farragut control of New Orleans.
In the smoke of the battle the
Mississippi ran aground within range of the shore batteries.
When it was seen
that the ship could not be saved, the officers and men set her afire and escaped in the boats.
Later,
Dewey served in the North Atlantic blockading squadron, and still later with the European squadron.
In 1872 he was promoted to commander; in 1884 to captain; and in 1896 to commodore.
He was appointed to command the Asiatic squadron in January, 1898, an assignment then considered but little short of exile.
About March of the same year, when it became evident that war would be declared between the
United States and
Spain,
Commodore Dewey, acting on orders from
Washington, began to mobilize his vessels in the harbor of
Hong-Kong.
After the declaration of war he received orders to capture or destroy the Spanish fleet known to be in Philippine waters.
It was then supposed that the harbor of
Manila, where the Spanish fleet was most likely to rendezvous, was mined with explosives and supplied with search-lights, and that the forts of
Cavite (q. v.)had been put in readiness for an attack.
Taking all chances, the United States squadron sailed boldly into the bay on the night of April 30.
Dewey's squadron comprised the flagship
Olympia, a steel protected cruiser; the
Boston, partially protected steel cruiser; the
Raleigh, protected steel cruiser; the
Concord, steel gunboat; the
Petrel, steel gunboat; the
McCulloch, revenue cutter; and two new-
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Triumphal arch erected in New York City to celebrate Dewey's return. |
ly purchased supply ships.
The Spanish squadron consisted of the
Reina Christina, steel cruiser; the
Castilia, wooden cruiser; the
Don Antonio de Ulloa, iron cruiser; the
Don Juan de Austria, iron cruiser; the
Isla de Cuba, steel protected cruiser; the
Isla de Luzon, steel protected cruiser; the
Isla de Mindanao, auxiliary cruiser; the gunboats
General Lezo,
El Cano, and
Marques del Duero, and two torpedo-boats.
Early on Sunday morning, May 1,
Dewey attacked the Spanish squadron, under command of
Admiral Montojo. Two engagements were fought; during the interval between them the American ships drew off to the east side of the bay, that the men might rest and have breakfast.
The fight lasted two hours, and resulted in the destruction of the Spanish squadron, by fire and sinking, without the loss of an American ship or man. Immediately after the receipt of
Dewey's brief message of victory, the
President promoted him to rear-admiral, and Congress voted him the thanks of the country and a sword.
Subsequently, the grade of admiral was revived, and the
President conferred it on him. Holding the bay of
Manila and the Cavit6 works, he had the chief city of the Philippines at his mercy, but made no attempt to occupy that city.
There ensued a period of masterful diplomacy, which won for the victor high commendation.
Between the imminent dangers of foreign complications and the operations of the native insurgents under
Aguinaldo (q. v.), he acquitted himself with rare judgment.
After the occupation of
Manila (q. v.) by the
American troops, he was granted leave to return home, whenever and however it should suit his convenience; and, sailing in his battle-scarred flag-ship, he reached New York on Sept. 26, 1899, and was given the grandest reception ever accorded a public officer, the demonstrations comprising a naval parade up the river to
General Grant's tomb, on the 29th, and a land parade on the following day. Subsequently, he established his residence in
Washington, D. C., in a dwelling presented to him by popular subscription.
