The spanish American war took place from April- August 1898. It was a war that started between Spain and the United States over Cuba leaving. America demanded to let Cuba have their independance, but Spain did not want that. The United States planned to help the other territories; Phillippines,Puerto Rico and Guam gain their independance from Spain. On April 19 1898 Congress passed the Teller Amendment which stated that the United States wouldn`t have permenant contol over Cuba. The amendment demanded Spanish troops to withdrawl and allowed president Mc.Kinley to use as much force as he needed to help Cuba gain their independance from Spain.
Battle of Manila Bay was the first major battle in the Spanish American war. It took place in Manila Bay, in the Philippines. It was fought between The American Asiatic Squadron which are American Naval ships under Commodore George Dewey and Spanish Pacific Squadron under Admiral Patricio Montojo y Pasarón. The Battle was won by Dewey completely due to the undermanned and inexperienced sailors. Spanish had not had training for over a year which was another factor.On the morning of April 30 Dewey was said to be seen Subic bay which is close to Manila Bay. Manila Bay was said to be unnavigatable at night by foreigners so Motojo didn’t expect an attack until morning. The American consol had however provided Dewey with a detailed map of the state and bays so Dewey could get in immediately. Around midnight Dewey boarded the USS Olympia and led some naval ships into Manila bay. As they were passing the entrance two mines exploited but were ineffective. Many ships use the North Channel so they mined it, but Dewey took the south unmined channel. El Fraile and Caballo Islands. The El Fraile battery fired a few rounds but the range was too big. Dewey easily won this battle by a landslide.
Battle of Cardenas wa son May 11, 1898. Two torpedo boats the Foote and the Winslow, two gun boats the winston and the Machias and the U.S. revenue cutter the Hudson were operating on the coast of Cuba. when they were assigned to enter the bay of Cardenas and destroy three spanish gun boats.Captain Todd ordered the Winslow to investigate a steamer sitting along the side of the wharf to determine weather it was an enemy warship or not. The Winslow reached 1500 yards from the ship when a white puff of smoke signaled a battle between the boats which lasted about an hour and twenty minutes. The spanish vessel struck the Winslow several times. One shot hit the torpedos destroying the steam and manual steering gear. The crew tried to make an auxillery steering system, but the ship swung broadside and another shot pierced the the hull near the the engine room and knocked the port main out of commision. The boat managed to maintain a steady return fire with its remaining engine, and along side the two other american boats the Wilmington and the Hudson took down the spanish boat and set several buildings along the shore on fire. The Winslow requested the Hudson to tow it away out of action. As the Hudson began towing away, one last spanish shell struck the Winslow and killed Ensign Worth Bagley. Ensign Bagley was the first American naval officer killed in the Spanish American War.
William Thomas Sampson was a U.S. naval admiral known for his victory in the battle of Sandiago De Cuba. Sampson entered the U.S. naval acadamy in September 1857. After graduating four years later he taught phisics at the acadamy. He bacame the executive officer of the South Atlantic blockaiding station. While Sampson was at a confrence with general William Shaftner admiral Winfeild Scott Schley took over and destoyed every spanish boat in five hours. Sampson then said his famous speech " The fleet under my command offers the nation as a fourth of July presant the whole Cerva`s fleet". Sampson is buried at the Arlington National Cemetary in Washington D.C.
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