Page:Under Dewey at Manila.djvu/302

268 During the time that the men were having breakfast a council of war was held by the commodore and his captains, and it was decided to run in as close as possible to Fort Cavite and silence it, as well as to go at what was left of the Spanish fleet. The order to return to battle sounded at a little before eleven, and this time the Baltimore was allowed to lead, the Olympia and others following.

Again the storm of shot and shell broke forth, fiercely upon the American side, and but feebly upon the part of their enemy. All the big ships of the Spaniards were now either burnt or sunk, and the little craft were fast getting into the same condition.

"The Raleigh, Concord, and Petrel will go inside and destroy shipping," was the next order signalled from the flagship, and those warships hastened to obey. But the Raleigh drew too much water, and after getting aground twice was forced to give up the task assigned to her. The Concord and Petrel, however, crossed the shoals in safety, and began a fierce bombardment from the rear, while the big ships shelled the Arsenal from the front. In the mean time, the batteries near Manila had been silenced by Commodore Dewey, who sent word that the city's guns must cease firing or he would shell the town.