But as to the actual results
in warfare, there was nothing but theory to go upon until that first
day of May, 1898, when George Dewey steamed into the harbor of Manila,
at the head of his squadron, and opened fire upon the Spanish fleet.
Dewey had received his training under the best of masters, Farragut.
Graduating from Annapolis in 1858, he served as lieutenant on the
Mississippi, when that vessel, as part of Farragut's fleet, ran past the
forts below New Orleans. A short time later, in trying to pass the
Confederate batteries at Port Hudson, the Mississippi ran hard and fast
aground. Half an hour was spent, under a terrific fire, in trying to get
her off; then Dewey, after spiking her guns, assisted in scuttling her
and escaped with her captain in a small boat. He saw other active
service, and got his first command in 1870. He was commissioned
commodore in 1896, and on January 1, 1898, took command of the Asiatic
squadron.
Few people in the world beside himself suspected, even in the dimmest
manner, the task which lay before him; but with a rare sagacity, he had
foreseen that, in the event of war with Spain, the far East would be the
scene of operations of the first importance. He thereupon applied for
the command of the Asiatic squadron, and his application was granted.
Dewey proceeded immediately to Hong Kong, and began to concentrate his
forces there and to get them into first-class condition.
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