And, in addition to destroying the Spanish
fleet, a series of powerful shore batteries had been silenced, and the
way prepared for the American occupation of the Philippines. Dewey's
place as one of the great commanders of history was secure.
News of the victory created the wildest excitement and enthusiasm in the
United States. Dewey became a popular hero, and when he returned from
the Philippines, was welcomed with triumphal honors, which recalled the
great days of the Roman empire. He was commissioned admiral of the
navy, a rank which had been created for Farragut, and which has been
held by only two men besides him.
Another great American naval victory marked the brief war with
Spain--the destruction of Admiral Cervera's powerful fleet as it tried
to escape from the harbor of Santiago, Cuba, on the third day of July,
1898--a victory which made the Independence Day which followed one long
to be remembered in the United States. There, as at Manila, the entire
Spanish fleet was destroyed, without a single American vessel being
seriously injured, and with a loss of only one killed and one wounded on
the American side. But the victory at Santiago was the victory of no one
man. The ranking officer, William Thomas Sampson, was miles away when
the engagement began. The next in rank, Winfield Scott Schley, so
conducted himself that he was brought before a court of inquiry.
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